ÉPINOMIS.

feet, all those that move forward, and those that are immobile and attached by roots. One must understand here by unity of species that there are all the species within that one; but that the dominant element is earth and the solid. In the second species, one must place other animals, whose nature is all at once to be produced and to fall under the sense of sight. These hold mainly from fire; but small particles of earth, air, and the other elements also enter into them. From this mixture results an infinity of animals different from each other, and all visible. One must believe that these animals are those that we see in the celestial vault, and whose reunion forms the divine species of the stars, which are endowed with the most beautiful body and the happiest and most perfect soul. As for their destiny, one cannot refuse them either an incorruptible, immortal, and entirely divine existence, or a life so long and so sufficient to each of them that they have no wish to live any longer.

But first let us conceive well the nature of these two species of animals. To say it, then, a second time, both are visible; the latter, to judge only by appearances, is all fire; the former all earth. The terrestrial species moves without any rule; the igneous species, on the contrary, has its movements regulated with an admirable order. But everything that moves without any order must be regarded as devoid of reason; and such are, in fact, almost all terrestrial animals; whereas the order that reigns in the march of celestial animals is great proof that they share in reason. For, as they always follow the same direction with the same speed, as they always do and suffer the same things, it is a sufficient motive to conclude that their life is directed by reason. The ne-