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| Origin of Chaos.
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Chapter IV.—Origin of
Chaos.
“This matter, of four kinds, and endowed
with life, was an entire infinite abyss, so to speak, in eternal
stream, borne about without order, and forming every now and then
countless but ineffectual combinations (which therefore it dissolved
again from want of order); ripe indeed, but not able to be bound so as
to generate a living creature. And once it chanced that this
infinite sea, which was thus by its own nature driven about with a
natural motion, flowed in an orderly manner from the same to the same
(back on itself), like a whirlpool, mixing the substances in such a way
that from each1062
| 1062 This is the
emendation of Davisius. The Greek has ἐξ
ἀκουστοῦ; the Latin,
“mirum in modum.” Wieseler suggests ἐξακοντιστόν. | there flowed down
the middle of the universe (as in the funnel of a mould) precisely that
which was most useful and suitable for the generation of a living
creature. This was carried down by the all-carrying whirlpool,
drew to itself the surrounding spirit, and having been so conceived
that it was very fertile, formed a separate substance. For just
as a bubble is usually formed in water, so everything round about
contributed to the conception of this ball-like globe. Then there
came forth to the light, after it had been conceived in itself, and was
borne upwards by the divine spirit which surrounded it,1063
| 1063 This is
Wieseler’s emendation for “received.” | perhaps the greatest thing ever born; a
piece of workmanship, so to speak, having life in it which had been
conceived from that entire infinite abyss, in shape like an egg, and as
swift as a bird.
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