THE EARTH. 49 



its substance. It also serves again as a store- 

 house, from whence animal and vegetable nature 

 are renewed ; and thus are all vital blessings con- 

 tinued with unceasing circulation. This earth, 

 however, is not to be supposed entirely pure, but 

 is mixed up with much stony and gravelly matter, 

 from the layers lying immediately beneath it. It 

 generally happens, that the soil is fertile in pro- 

 portion to the quantity that this putrified mould 

 bears to the gravelly mixture ; and as the former 

 predominates, so far is the vegetation upon it 

 more luxuriant. It is this external covering that 

 supplies man with all the true riches he enjoys. 

 He may bring up gold and jewels from greater 

 depths ; but they are merely the toys of a capri- 

 cious being, things upon which he has placed an 

 imaginary value, and for which fools alone part 

 with the more substantial blessings of life. It is 

 this earth, says Pliny,* that, like a kind mother, 

 receives us at our birth, and sustains us when 

 bom. It is this alone, of all the elements around 

 us, that is never found an enemy to man. The 

 body of waters deluge him with rains, oppress 

 him with hail, and drown him with inundations : 

 The air rushes in storms, prepares the tempest, 

 or lights up the volcano : But the earth, gentle 

 and indulgent, ever subservient to the wants of 

 man, spreads his walks with flowers, and his table 

 with plenty; returns with interest every good 

 committed to her care ; and, though she pro- 

 duces the poison, she still supplies the antidote ; 



f Plin. Nat Hist lib. ii, cap. 63. 

 VOL. I. D 



