XXIV. Look also at the fishy tribe gliding
through the waters, and as it were flying through the liquid element,
and breathing its own air, but in danger when in contact with ours, as
we are in the waters; and mark their habits and dispositions, their
intercourse and their births, their size and their beauty, and their
affection for places, and their wanderings, and their assemblings and
departings, and their properties which so nearly resemble those of the
animals that dwell on land; in some cases community, in others contrast
of properties, both in name and shape. And consider the tribes of
birds, and their varieties of form and colour, both of those which are
voiceless and of songbirds. What is the reason of their melody,
and from whom came it? Who gave to the grasshopper the lute in
his breast, and the songs and chirruping on the branches, when they are
moved by the sun to make their midday music, and sing among the groves,
and escort the wayfarer with their voices? Who wove the song for
the swan when he spreads his wings to the breezes, and makes melody of
their rustling? For I will not speak of the forced voices, and
all the rest that art contrives against the truth. Whence does
the peacock, that boastful bird of Media, get his love of beauty and of
praise (for he is fully conscious of his own beauty), so that when he
sees any one approaching, or when, as they say, he would make a show
before his hens, raising his neck and spreading his tail in circle
around him, glittering like gold and studded with stars, he makes a
spectacle of his beauty to his lovers with pompous strides? Now
Holy Scripture admires the cleverness in weaving even of women, saying,
Who gave to woman skill in weaving and cleverness in the art of
embroidery? Job xxxviii. 36. LXX. This
belongeth to a living creature that hath reason, and exceedeth in
wisdom and maketh way even as far as the things of heaven.