Philonos Ioudaiou Syngrammata / Omnia Quae Extant Opera (1691 Greek)

...and the dry land to appear, the sweet moisture having been left behind in it for its endurance. For this measured sweet moisture is a kind of glue for the separated parts. And this also happened so that the earth might not, being entirely dried up, become unfruitful and sterile: and so that, like a mother, it might provide not only one kind of nourishment, food, but both food and drink to its offspring. Wherefore it overflowed with veins similar to breasts, which, having been opened, were to pour forth rivers and springs. Nevertheless, he also placed hidden moistures in all fields and wide lands, for a most abundant fertility of fruits. Having arranged these things, the Creator imposed names upon them, calling the dry land Earth, and the water separated from it, Sea. And so, having begun to decorate the earth, he commands it to bring forth herbs and ears of corn, producing all kinds of greens, and pastures green with hay, and whatever was destined to be fodder for cattle or food for men. By the same command, all species of trees were also brought forth, none being omitted, whether of mild or wild wood. And all these abounded with their fruits immediately at their very birth, otherwise than today. For now, individual things are generated in their own turns, not all at once. For who does not know that first there is the sowing and planting, then follow the growths of crops and plants, which send their roots downwards like foundations, and likewise lift high stems upwards. Then shoots and leaves germinate, and finally fruit is brought forth, and not even that is perfect, but receives various faces in succession, and now changing its form, now its size. For at first it is so small that it almost escapes sight, similar to atomic corpuscles, which cannot rashly be called the first sensible things. After this, little by little, with the arrival of the nourishment that waters the tree, and the temperate breathings and mild breezes that nourish it, it grows and arrives at its proper size. With which it also varies its qualities, as if tinted with this or that color by the art of painting. But in the first generation of this universe (as I said), God produced from the earth the whole forest of plants perfect, filled not with incipient, but with mature fruits, without delay inviting the animals soon to be present to enjoy them. But the earth, at his command, as if long pregnant and in labor, brings forth all the crops, trees, and fruits...

...the dry land to appear, the sweet moisture having been left behind for its endurance. For this measured sweet moisture is a kind of glue for separated things. And in order that it might not be utterly dried up and become unfruitful and sterile, and so that, like a mother, it might provide not only one kind of nourishment, food, but both food and drink, as if to its offspring. Therefore it overflowed with veins similar to breasts, which, having been provided with mouths, were to pour forth rivers and springs. And no less did he extend the hidden moistures to all arable and deep-soiled land, for a most abundant fertility of fruits. Having arranged these things, he imposed names on them, calling the dry land Earth, and the water that was separated, Sea. Then he begins to decorate the earth. For he commands it to produce grass and ears of corn, bringing forth all kinds of herbs, and pastures rich in grass, and all that was destined to be fodder for cattle and food for men. Moreover, he also made all the ideas of trees grow, leaving out nothing of the wild or the so-called tame wood. And all things teemed with fruits immediately at their first generation, in the opposite way to the one now established. For now, things that are generated happen in parts at different times, not all at once in one moment. For who does not know that first there is sowing and planting; second, the growth of the sown and planted things, which sends roots downwards like foundations; the other, upwards, lifting and strengthening themselves to a height; then shoots and the growth of leaves. Then the bearing of fruit; and again, fruit not perfect, but having various changes, both according to the quantity in size and the qualities in polymorphous ideas. For the fruit is born looking like indivisible grains, barely visible because of its smallness, which one might not wrongly say are the first sensible things. After this, little by little, from the nourishment supplied, which waters the tree, and from the tempering of the pneumata spirits/winds, which invigorates and nurses it with cold and softer breezes, it grows together and gives itself to a most perfect mass. And along with the size it also changes the qualities, just as if varied by the colors of the art of painting. But in the first generation of all things, as I said, God brought forth from the earth the entire matter of plants, perfect, having fruits not incomplete, but flourishing, for the most ready and immediate use and enjoyment of the animals about to be born. God commands the earth to generate these things; and it, as if from...