Chapter IX.
Of the foreknowledge of the hedgehog announcing a future storm. That he has received this gift from God, whose mercy is proclaimed in all things created.
24. The sea urchin, a small, lowly and despised animal, is often said to be a harbinger of future storms or calm seas for sailors. Indeed, when it senses a storm approaching, it grabs hold of a strong pebble and carries it like a burden and drags it like an anchor, so that it is not shaken by the waves. Therefore, it does not rely on its own strength, but is guided by the weight of an external stability. Sailors take this as a sign of future disturbance and take precautions so that they are not caught unprepared by an unexpected whirlwind. Who, as a mathematician, as an astrologer, or as a Chaldean, can comprehend the courses of the stars, the movements of the sky, and the signs? With what genius did he gather this knowledge? Through what teacher did he acquire it? Who was his interpreter of such great divination? Often, people see a confusion in the air, and often they are deceived, because most of the time, it disperses without a storm. The hedgehog is not deceived, it never overlooks its own signs.
25. From where does such knowledge come to a small animal, to predict the future? The more there is nothing in it, the more it can have such wisdom, believe that it has also received this gift of foresight through the kindness of the Lord of all things. For if God clothes the grass, so that we marvel; if he feeds the birds; if he provides food for the raven, for its young cry out to the Lord; if he has given wisdom to women in weaving; if he has not left the spider, which suspends its delicate and skillfully woven webs on doors, immune to wisdom; if he himself has given strength to the horse, and has taken away its fear from its neck, so that it rejoices in the field and mocks kings when they come near, smells the battle from a distance, and is aroused by the sound of the trumpet; if he has filled most of these irrational and other insensible things, like grass and lilies, with the disposition of his wisdom, why do we doubt that he has also bestowed the gift of foresight on the hedgehog? For nothing remains unexplored, nothing hidden. He sees all things, who feeds all things; wisdom fills all things, who made all things in wisdom, as it is written (Ps. 103:24). And if he did not overlook the hedgehog of his visitation; if he considers it, and informs of future things by signs, does he not consider you? Indeed, he does consider, as his divine Wisdom testifies, saying: If he looks at the birds, if he feeds them, are you not worth more than them (Matthew 6:26)? If God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith?