Chapter II.
By the power of this voice, aquatic reptiles are produced, much more in the sea than on land; and this grace is added to the waters, that what is harmful on land is harmless in the sea.
5. God said, 'Let the waters bring forth reptiles.' Brief, but powerful, and widely spreading, He infused a common nature into the smallest and largest creatures. In the same moment, the whale is produced as the frog is born from the same force of operation. God does not labor in the greatest things, nor does He disdain the smallest. Nature does not grieve when giving birth to dolphins, just as it does not grieve when producing tiny mussels and snails. Take note, O man, how many more things there are in the sea than on land. If you can count, there are numerous species of fish, both small and large, cuttlefish, octopuses, crustaceans, crabs, and countless others of their kind. What about the various species of snakes, dragons, moray eels, and eels? And let's not forget scorpions, frogs, turtles, weasels, and sea dogs, sea calves, huge whales, dolphins, seals, and lions. Shall I also mention blackbirds, thrushes, and even peacocks, whose colors we see depicted in birds, such as blackbirds with black feathers, thrushes with different colored backs and necks, and thrushes with various colored bellies, and so on, which have their own land species and names? For first of all those things began in the sea, and in divers rivers. For the water, by the divine commandment, brought forth the living creatures that swim.
6. Add to this grace that those things which we fear on land, we love in water. For what is harmful on land is harmless in water, and even snakes are without venom. The lion is terrifying on land, but sweet in the waves. The moray, which they say has something harmful, is a more precious food. The frightening frog in marshes is beautiful in water, and surpasses almost all other foods. If anyone wants to know more, let them ask different fishermen from different places; for no one can comprehend everything. Certainly beware of dogs, whom the Apostle teaches are annoying and to be avoided in the Church, saying: Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers (Phil. 3:2). The heavy smell of a weasel is pleasant underground and in water. Earthly vengeance knows how to avenge the stench: it has no less charm when captured than when free. Nor will I leave you dishonored, O thymalum, by our prosecution, to whom a name has grown from the flower: whether the water of the Ticino river or the water of the pleasant Adige river has nourished you, you are a flower. Finally, a saying affirms that regarding someone who emanates a pleasant fragrance, it is said wittily: Either he smells of fish or he smells of flowers; thus, it is expressed that the smell of a fish is the same as the smell of a flower. What is more attractive than your appearance? What is more delightful than your sweetness? What is more fragrant than your scent? Just as honey is fragrant, so do you emit it with your own body. What can I say about the tenderness of crows and even of wolves? The lamb does not fear these wolves. Such is the grace of the waters, that their calves and lions flee from them, so that this prophetic saying about the sanctity of the Church rightly applies to them: Then wolves and lambs will graze together, and lions and oxen will eat straw together (Esa. LXV, 25). No wonder, since even in the Church, water works in the same way, that the washed-away wickedness of the thieves is compared with the innocence. And why should I not mention the purple, which adorns the banquets of kings, and taints the garments? Therefore, there is something in water that is worshipped by kings: it is the appearance of water that shines. Add to this, the sea pigs are also pleasing to the Jews; because there is nothing common that water does not wash away, and therefore they cannot consider them as common, who are born on the land.