BEWiTTl MYTH OF THE EARTH-GRASPER 595 



should tlo. Verily, the handiwork of Him who formed our natures 

 is marvclously grand, His power is also great, His mercy is also 

 great, aiul all that He has done is also altogether good. So, then, 

 I shall begin with telling what are my thoughts. Verily, the Earth 

 here present rightly has life; iu the next place, begmnmg at the very 

 surface of the ground grasses grow, differing among themselves in 

 kmd, and all difl'ering among themselves in form; and m the next 

 place, all are severally charged with exclusive duties, each one having 

 a certain duty to perform, and all are alive. Thus, too, are they, 

 the several shrubs that grow; they differ among themselves in form 

 and they are of different kinds also, and they also are all alive; thus, 

 too, so are they, are the several growing trees; they are severally 

 different in kind and differ among themselves in size also, and they, 

 too, are all alive. Thus, too, so are they, the animals that fly about; 

 they differ in size and they also differ in their kinds, and they too 

 are all alive; thus, too, so are they, all the animals that run about, 

 they differ in kinds and also as to then- size, and they also are all alive. 

 Thus, too, so it is, are those thmgs upon which we live; they differ 

 among themselves in size and also as to their kinds, and they also 

 are alive; thus, then, too, so is it, are the several pools of water, they 

 severally differ among themselves as to kind; some are flowing 

 streams of water, and some also are flowing sprmgs of water, they all 

 are alive; and thus, too, it is, as to all those whom He has charged 

 with the task of protecting us; the diurnal Orb of Light (Sun) and in 

 the next place the nocturnal Orb of Light (Moon), and next to these 

 the several Stars fixed iu the sky, and ne^t to these our Grandfathers, 

 the Thunderers, who habitually come from the west, and next to 

 these the Wind that stii-s the air on the earth; these all differ 

 among themselves as to size and they differ as to Icinds, also as to 

 the nature of the things with which they are severally charged they 

 differ among themselves, and these also, are all alive; so then, 

 do you consider in what manner exist all the things which He has 

 completed; He thus made them to difl'er in kind and that causes 

 everything to be good, and they are all charged with different duties 

 to perform; and in the next place. He has placed us in control over 

 all these, so then, thereby our flesh and also our minds shall live. 

 So then, so it is, we will understand that, verily, these have differing 

 clans, that, in the next place, they severally' have titles, that they 

 severally are called by names; that next. He has made some to be 

 medicines and He has mixed them severally together; some will con- 

 tinue to aid the hvmian beings whoever it may be who will have such 

 luck as to become ill; so then, it is so, that if one employs himself 

 with it, it will aid one, and one will be contented in mind, and also 

 one will go about in peace. So then, now, look, we, human beings, 

 are placed under like conditions. So then, we should imitate those 



