G2 FABLE OF CUPID. 



mobility, and which partakes of a middle nature between 

 the sun and the pure earth. It is requisite, therefore, that 

 that pure earth be placed lower than the bottom of the sea, 

 than minerals, and every thing that is generated : and 

 that from that pure earth, even to the moon, or perhaps 

 higher, there be placed a certain middle nature, proceeding 

 from the temperaments and refractions of the heaven and 

 earth. But having sufficiently fortified the interior of 

 both kingdoms, he proceeds to the march and to the war. 

 For in the space within the outermost region of heaven and 

 the innermost of earth, is all kind of tumult, and conflict, 

 and horror; as it is with empires, the borders of which are 

 infested with incursions whilst the interior provinces enjoy 

 profound peace. That so these natures with their concre 

 tions have the power of incessantly generating and multi 

 plying themselves, and of pouring themselves on every side, 

 and of occupying the whole bulk of nature, and of mutually 

 opposing and invading each other, and of casting one the 

 other from their proper seats, and of establishing them 

 selves in them ; that they also have the power of another 

 nature and its actions, both those that are proper to per 

 ception and apprehension, and that from this kind of 

 perception they have the power of moving and adjusting 

 themselves; and that from this conflict is deduced the 

 whole variety of all entities, actions, and influences. But 

 it seems elsewhere to have ascribed to it, though rather by 

 the way and hesitatingly, somewhat of the property of 

 matter ; first, that it should not admit of increase or dimi 

 nution through forms and active entities, but should be 

 made up of one whole: then, that the motion of gravity or 

 descent should be referred to it. He moreover inserts 

 something on the blackness of matter : but that he does 

 plainly; that heat and cold by the same force and power 

 remit their strength in extended matter, expand it in con 

 tracted, since they do not fill their own measure but that 

 of matter. But Telesius devises a method by which to 

 explain the rise of so various a fecundity of entities out of 

 this discord. And first he has regard to the earth, though 

 the inferior element, and shows why it is that it has not 

 been and never will be absorbed and destroyed by the sun. 

 The chief reason he makes to be the immense distance of 

 the earth from the fixed stars, sufficiently great from the 

 sun itself, and such as it should be, well proportioned in 

 measure. Secondly, the declination of the sun s rays 

 from the perpendicular respect being had to the different 



