THE PRODROMUS 267 



yet been covered with water ; that, moreover, the water which 

 not only is always present in the air but also was mixed with it 

 in the manner previously described, fell in the form of rain ; 

 (3) That the bottom of the sea was raised through the enlarg- 

 ing of subterranean caverns ; (4) That the cavities remaining 

 on the surface of the earth were filled with earthy matter 

 washed from the higher places by the constant falling of rains ; 

 (5) That the very surface of the earth was less uneven, because 

 nearer to its beginnings — if we shall have granted all this, we 

 shall have admitted nothing opposed to Scripture, or reason, or 

 daily experience. 



What happened on the surface of the earth while it was cov- 

 ered with water, neither Scripture nor Nature makes clear; 

 this only can we assert from Nature, that deep valleys were 

 formed at that time. This is (i) because the cavities, made 

 larger by the force of subterranean fires, furnished room for 

 greater downfalls; (2) because a return passage had to be 

 opened for the waters into the deeper parts of the earth ; 

 74. (3) because to-day, in places far from the sea are seen deep 

 valleys filled with many marine deposits. 



As for the fifth aspect, which revealed huge plains after the 

 earth had again become dry, Nature proves that those plains 

 existed, and Scripture does not gainsay it. For the rest, 

 whether the entire sea presently receded, or whether, indeed, 

 in the course of ages new chasms opening afforded opportunity 

 for disclosing new regions, it is possible to determine nothing 

 with certainty, since Scripture is silent, and the history of 

 nations regarding the first ages after the deluge is doubtful 

 in the view of the nations themselves, and thought to be 

 full of myths. This, indeed, is certain, that a great amount 

 of earth was carried down every year into the sea (as is easily 

 clear to one who considers the size of rivers, and their long 

 courses through inland regions, and the countless number 

 of mountain streams, in short, all the sloping places of the 

 earth), and that the earth thus carried down by rivers, and 

 added day by day to the shore, left new lands suited for 

 new habitations. 



This is in fact confirmed by the belief of the ancients, in 

 accordance with which they called whole regions the gifts 



