Tres Orationes

than that of plants and herbal medicine. For as the earth first emerged from the mass and filth of the waters, which had already been led away to downward places, and breathed, being absolved of their contagion, listening to the word of the Creator without delay and with incredible speed—even though it was still immune, untouched by the rake, and wounded by no plowshares—it began to sprout and grow green with a certain internal motion. This it had not drawn from the sun as a source of ζωτικῆς δυνάμεως vital power (for that did not yet exist in the nature of things, with the light of heaven even then being poured out and extended in every direction), but had conceived within itself by the command of God. From this, the earth, formerly cold and barren, drew such a vital force, contrary to today, at the very moment of its origin, that it seemed to shine forth as if long pregnant and in labor. From its hidden and innermost bowels, it poured forth innumerable germs, so many species of plants clothed in their own innate and vernacular properties, and so many trees heavy with fruit-bearing progeny. From the fruits of these, which contain a seminal power to be brought forth in established cycles of time, nutriment was later provided to man, to terrestrial beasts, to the rest of the birds, and to whatever was animated by a vital spirit and moved, the greenness of herbs being adjudicated to them for their pasturing. Indeed, the fruits of trees were the food proper to man before the fall, for which reason a garden was sown by the hand of God and planted with all kinds of trees, or rather, it was produced by the power of the word in the manner of other things—