That man may attain unto the knowledg of all voices and tongues.
THe docility of mans wit is so great, and facility of the body obeying that divine gift of wit, such, that he is not only able to learn to speak the Tongues of divers Nations differing in so many peculiar Languages;* 1.1 and not only to imitate and counterfeit the voices of all Beasts though so much different from man, which many flattering and jugling companions, followers of other mens Tables, will do; but also be able to know and understand both what they pretend and sig∣nifie. In confirmation of which thing, they cite the Philosopher Apollonius most famous in this kind of study and knowledg. He walking on a time amongst a company of his friends through the field, and seeing a Sparrow come flying and chirping much to divers other Sparrows sitting upon a tree, is reported to have said to those which were with him: That Bird which came flying hither, told the other in her language, that an Ass laded with corn was fallen down at the City∣gate, and had shed the wheat upon the ground. Wherefore Apollonius, and all his friends which were with him went thither to see whether it were so, and found that it was so, as he had told them, and observed that the Sparrows, moved thereto by the coming of the other, were eating up the grains of Corn, shed on the ground.
But for Crows and Pies artificially taught to counterfeit mens voices, it is too small a thing, that for that cause they should contend with men. For they have quickly babled all they have learnt with longer cost and labour, tediously singing still the same song, and whatsoever they prate they do it without sense, understanding, or any reason for what they say. But man alwayes contemplating somewhat more high, still thinks of greater things than these present, and never rests.* 1.2 But burning with an infinite and endless desire of knowledg, he doth not only covet to know those things which appertain to food and cloathing, but by casting his eyes towards heaven, and by the light of his mind, he learns and understands things divine. Which is so certain an ar∣gument of the celestial original of our soul, that he which considers those things, can no wayes doubt, but that we have our minds seasoned, by the universal Divine Understanding. But now it is time for us to set upon the Description of the Body, the habitation and fit instrument of all the functions of the Divine Mind.