NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

The creation of terrestrial animals.the flesh of the viper, finds in the virtue of marjoram a specific against this venomous animal1704 and the serpent heals sore eyes by eating fennel. 1705And is not reasoning intelligence eclipsed by animals in their provision for atmosphericchanges? Do we not see sheep, when winter is approaching, devouring grass with avidityas if to make provision for future scarcity? Do we not also see oxen, long confined in thewinter season, recognise the return of spring by a natural sensation, and look to the end oftheir stables towards the doors, all turning their heads there by common consent? Studiousobservers have remarked that the hedgehog makes an opening at the two extremities of hishole. If the wind from the north is going to blow he shuts up the aperture which looks towardsthe north; if the south wind succeeds it the animal passes to the northern door. 1706What lesson do these animals teach man? They not only show us in our Creator a carewhich extends to all beings, but a certain presentiment of future even in brutes. Then weought not to attach ourselves to this present life and ought to give all heed to that which isto come. Will you not be industrious for yourself, O man? And will you not lay up in thepresent age rest in that which is to come, after having seen the example of the ant? The antduring summer collects treasures for winter. Far from giving itself up to idleness, beforethis season has made it feel its severity, it hastens to work with an invincible zeal until it hasabundantly filled its storehouses. Here again, how far it is from being negligent! With whatwise foresight it manages so as to keep its provisions as long as possible! With its pincersit cuts the grains in half, for fear lest they should germinate and not serve for its food. Ifthey are damp it dries them; and it does not spread them out in all weathers, but when itfeels that the air will keep of a mild temperature. Be sure that you will never see rain fallfrom the clouds so long as the ant has left the grain out. 1707What language can attain to the marvels of the Creator? What ear could understandthem? And what time would be sufficient to relate them? Let us say, then, with the prophet,“O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.” 1708 We shall1704 Plut. πότ. τῶν. ζ. κ.τ.λ. χελῶναι μὲν ὀρίγανον, γαλαῖ δὲ πήγανον, ὅταν ὄφεως φάγωσιν, ἐπεσθίουσαι.cf. Pliny xx. 68: “Tragoriganum contra viperæ ictum efficacissimum.”1705 ὁ δράκων ὁ τῷ μαράθρω τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἀμβλυώπτοντα λεπτύνων καὶ διαχαράττων. Plut. πότερα τῶνζ. κ.τ.λ. 731.1706 Ar., Hist. An. ix. 6. περὶ δὲ τῆς τῶν ἐχινων αἰσθήσεως συμβέβηκε πολλαχοῦ τεθεωρῆσθαι ὅτιμεταβαλλόντων βορέων καὶ νότων οἱ μὲν ἐν τῇ γῇ τὰς ὀπὰς αὑτῶν μεταμείβουσι οἱ δ᾽ ἐν ταῖς οἰκιαις τρεφόμενοιμεταβάλλουσι πρὸς τοὺς τοίχους.1707 ὑετοῦ ποιεῖται σημεῖον ὁ ῎Αρατος ῾ἢ κοίλης μύρμηκες ὀχῆς ἐξ ὤεα πάντα θᾶσσον ἀνηνέγκαντο.᾽ καίτινεςοὐκ ὠ& 129· γράφουσιν, ἀλλὰ ἵνα τοὺς ἀποκειμένους καρποὺς ὅταν εὐρῶτα συνάγοντας αἴσθωνται καὶφοβηθῶσι φθορὰν καὶ σῆψιν ἀναφερόντων, ὑπερβάλλει δὲ πᾶσαν ἐπινοιαν συνέσεως ἡ τοῦ πυροῦ τῆςβλαστήσεως προκατάληψις. Plut. ποτ. τῶν. ζ. κ.τ.λ. 725.1708 Ps. civ. 24.348