The Dialogue of Creatures

Here. Those who climb higher experience greater falls.

They are lifted high so that they might fall with a heavier crash. And note that the greater the ascent, the greater and more dangerous the fall. For he who falls from a level and low place rises again quickly; however, he who falls from a height cannot rise. For the branches of a tree—as Chrysostom John Chrysostom (c. 347–407), an influential early Christian preacher known for his eloquence. says—which are at the top are quickly broken by a great wind, but those at the root are preserved. Whence also Quintus Curtius A Roman historian (1st century AD) who wrote a famous history of Alexander the Great. says that someone once told Alexander that although a great tree may grow for a long time, it is uprooted in a single hour. And although the lion is so proud, he is nevertheless made into food for small birds. A certain philosopher, coming to the tomb of Alexander, said: "Yesterday, the whole world was not enough for this man; today, he is content with a tomb five feet long."

¶ On Saturn and the Cloud. Chapter Two.

On the distance between the planets [or planetary order]

There are seven planets according to the sayings of the philosophers: namely Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. But there is a great distance between planet and planet, as Master Moses Moses Maimonides (1138–1204), the preeminent Jewish philosopher, whose "Guide for the Perplexed" influenced medieval Christian thought., the greatest philosopher, relates, as is found in the legends. In such a way that

A woodcut illustration within a square frame. On the left side are several stylized, stacked cloud shapes. In the upper right of the frame is a large, bright eight-pointed star.

each circle of every planet has a thickness [equivalent to] a journey of five hundred years; that is, as much space as someone could travel in five hundred years on a flat road. Provided, however, that each day's journey is forty miles, and each mile is two thousand paces. Now on a certain occasion, a certain large and thick cloud began to lift itself up, saying: "Great is my excellence, for because of my magnitude the planets are unable to appear in the world while I place myself in the air. If, therefore, I am far and distant from them yet still cloud them so, how much more will I be able to darken and trample them—and much more the earth—if I ascend higher." And saying this, she began to stretch upward. And when she had ascended as far as Saturn and wished to climb above him, Saturn said: "Who are you who desires to climb where no one [else] ascends?" To him the cloud [replied]: "I shall ascend above you and cast you down." Hearing this, Saturn was immediately disturbed, ran to arms, and blocked her path. Moreover, he cast the cloud down and reduced her to nothing, saying: "It is fitting for him to fall back who wishes to stand above all." For this happened to Nebuchadnezzar The Babylonian king who, according to the Bible, was humbled by God for his pride., who busied himself with climbing above all kings and princes of the earth so that he might be king of kings and lord of earthly lords. Of whom it is said in Daniel, chapter four: "When the heart of Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up and his appearance was hardened into pride, he was deposed from his throne." Whence it was said to him: "God shall cast you out from among men, and your dwelling shall be with beasts and wild animals; you shall eat hay like an ox, and seven times original: "septem tempora." This refers to the seven years of madness described in the Book of Daniel. shall pass over you." As it is said in the Scholastic Histories The Historia Scholastica by Petrus Comestor, the standard medieval textbook on sacred history.: He was not changed according to the passing of time, but according to the alienation of his mind, and his sense and use of language were taken away from him. And it seemed to him that he was an ox or a bull in his front parts, and a lion in his rear parts. Daniel also prayed for him. And so seven times...