The First Day 19 



VENATOR. Well, Sir, and I will now take my 

 turn, and will first begin with a commendation of 

 the Earth, as you have done most excellently of the 

 Air ; the Earth being that element upon which I drive 

 my pleasant, wholesome, hungry trade. The Earth 

 is a solid, settled element ; an element most uni- 

 versally beneficial both to man and beast ; to men 

 who have their several recreations upon it, as horse- 

 races, hunting, sweet smells, pleasant walks : the 

 earth feeds man, and all those several beasts that 

 both feed him, and afford him recreation. What 

 pleasure doth man take in hunting the stately Stag, 

 the generous Buck, the wild Boar, the cunning Otter, 

 the crafty Fox, and the fearful Hare ! And if I 

 may descend to a lower game, what pleasure is it 

 sometimes with gins to betray the very vermin of 

 the earth; as namely, the Fichat, the Fulimart, 

 the Ferret, .the Pole-cat, the Mouldwarp, and the 

 like creatures that live upon the face, and within 

 the bowels of, the Earth. How doth the Earth 

 bring forth herbs, flowers, and fruits, both for 

 physick and the pleasure of mankind ! and above 

 all, to me at least, the fruitful vine, of which when I 

 drink moderately, it clears my brain, cheers my 

 heart, and sharpens my wit. How could Cleopatra 

 have feasted Mark Antony with eight wild Boars 

 roasted whole at one supper, and other meat suit- 

 able, if the earth had not been a bountiful mother ? 

 But to pass by the mighty Elephant, which the 

 Earth breeds and nourisheth, and descend to the 

 least of creatures, how doth the earth afford us a 

 doctrinal example in the little Pismire, who in the, 

 summer provides and lays up her winter provision, ' 

 and teaches man to do the like ! The earth feeds 

 and carries those horses that carry us. If I would 

 be prodigal of my time and your patience, what 

 might not I say in commendations of the earth? 



