was rife within； the heart； beating against a yielding body； might
be cooled and suffer less； and might thus become more ready to join
with passion in the service of reason。
The part of the soul which desires meats and drinks and the other
things of which it has need by reason of the bodily nature； they
placed between the midriff and the boundary of the navel； contriving
in all this region a sort of manger for the food of the body； and
there they bound it down like a wild animal which was chained up
with man； and must be nourished if man was to exist。 They appointed
this lower creation his place here in order that he might be always
feeding at the manger； and have his dwelling as far as might be from
the council…chamber； making as little noise and disturbance as
possible； and permitting the best part to advise quietly for the
good of the whole。 And knowing that this lower principle in man
would not comprehend reason； and even if attaining to some degree of
perception would never naturally care for rational notions； but that
it would be led away by phantoms and visions night and day…to be a
remedy for this； God combined with it the liver； and placed it in
the house of the lower nature； contriving that it should be solid
and smooth； and bright and sweet； and should also have a bitter
quality； in order that the power of thought； which proceeds from the
mind； might be reflected as in a mirror which receives likenesses of
objects and gives back images of them to the sight； and so might
strike terror into the desires； when； making use of the bitter part of
the liver； to which it is akin； it comes threatening and invading； and
diffusing this bitter element swiftly through the whole liver produces
colours like bile； and contracting every part makes it wrinkled and
rough； and twisting out of its right place and contorting the lobe and
closing and shutting up the vessels and gates； causes pain and
loathing。 And the converse happens when some gentle inspiration of the
understanding pictures images of an opposite character； and allays the
bile and bitterness by refusing to stir or touch the nature opposed to
itself； but by making use of the natural sweetness of the liver；
corrects all things and makes them to be right and smooth and free；
and renders the portion of the soul which resides about the liver
happy and joyful； enabling it to pass the night in peace； and to
practise divination in sleep； inasmuch as it has no share in mind
and reason。 For the authors of our being； remembering the command of
their father when he bade them create the human race as good as they
could； that they might correct our inferior parts and make them to
attain a measure of truth； placed in the liver the seat of divination。
And herein is a proof that God has given the art of divination not
to the wisdom； but to the foolishness of man。 No man； when in his
wits； attains prophetic truth and inspiration； but when he receives
the inspired word； either his intelligence is enthralled in sleep；
or he is demented by some distemper or possession。 And he who would
understand what he remembers to have been said； whether in a dream
or when he was awake； by the prophetic and inspired nature； or would
determine by reason the meaning of the apparitions which he has
seen； and what indications they afford to this man or that； of past；
present or future good and evil； must first recover his wits。 But；
while he continues demented； he cannot judge of the visions which he
sees or the words which he utters； the ancient saying is very true；
that 〃only a man who has his wits can act or judge about himself and
his own affairs。〃 And for this reason it is customary to appoint
interpreters to be judges of the true inspiration。 Some persons call
them prophets； they are quite unaware that they are only the
expositors of dark sayings and visions； and are not to be called
prophets at all； but only interpreters of prophecy。
Such is the nature of the liver； which is placed as we have
described in order that it may give prophetic intimations。 During
the life of each individual these intimations are plainer； but after
his death the liver becomes blind； and delivers oracles too obscure to
be intelligible。 The neighbouring organ ＇the spleen＇ is situated on
the left…hand side； and is constructed with a view of keeping the
liver bright and pure…like a napkin； always ready prepared and at hand
to clean the mirror。 And hence； when any impurities arise in the
region of the liver by reason of disorders of the body； the loose
nature of the spleen； which is composed of a hollow and bloodless
tissue； receives them all and dears them away； and when filled with
the unclean matter； swells and festers； but； again； when the body is
purged； settles down into the same place as before； and is humbled。
Concerning the soul； as to which part is mortal and which divine；
and how and why they are separated； and where located； if God
acknowledges that we have spoken the truth； then； and then only； can
we be confident； still； we may venture to assert that what has been
said by us is probable； and will be rendered more probable by
investigation。 Let us assume thus much。
The creation of the rest of follows next in order； and this we may
investigate in a similar manner。 And it appears to be very meet that
the body should be framed on the following principles：…
The authors of our race were aware that we should be intemperate
in eating and drinking； and take a good deal more than was necessary
or proper； by reason of gluttony。 In order then that disease might not
quickly destroy us； and lest our mortal race should perish without
fulfilling its end…intending to provide against this； the gods made
what is called the lower belly； to be a receptacle for the superfluous
meat and drink； and formed the convolution of the bowels； so that
the food might be prevented from passing quickly through and
compelling the body to require more food； thus producing insatiable
gluttony； and making the whole race an enemy to philosophy and
music； and rebellious against the divinest element within us。
The bones and flesh； and other similar parts of us； were made as
follows。 The first principle of all of them was the generation of
the marrow。 For the bonds of life which unite the soul with the body
are made fast there； and they are the root and foundation of the human
race。 The marrow itself is created out of other materials： God took
such of the primary triangles as were straight and smooth； and were
adapted by their perfection to produce fire and water； and air and
earth…these； I say； he separated from their kinds； and mingling them
in due proportions with one another； made the marrow out of them to be
a universal seed of the whole race of mankind； and in this seed he
then planted and enclosed the souls； and in the original
distribution gave to the marrow as many and various forms as the
different kinds of souls were hereafter to receive。 That which； like a
field； was to receive the divine seed； he made round every way； and
called that portion of the marrow； brain； intending that； when an
animal was perfected； the vessel containing this substance should be
the head； but that which was intended to contain the remaining and
mortal part of the soul he distributed into figures at once around and
elongated； and he called them all by the name 〃marrow〃； and to
these； as to anchors； fastening the bonds of the whole soul； he
proceeded to fashion around them the entire framework of our body；
constructing for the marrow； first of all a complete covering of bone。
Bone was composed by him in the following manner。 Having sifted pure
and smooth earth he kneaded it and wetted it with marrow； and after
that he put it into fire and then into water； and once more into
fire and again into water…in this way by frequent transfers from one
to the other he made it insoluble by either。 Out of this he fashioned；
as in a lathe； a globe made of bone； which he placed around the brain；
and in this he left a narrow opening； and around the marrow of the
neck and back he formed vertebrae which he placed under one another
like pivots； beginning at the head and extending through the whole
of the trunk。 Thus wishing to preserve the entire seed； he enclosed it
in a stone…like casing； inserting joints； and using in the formation
of them the power of the other or diverse as an intermediate nature；
that they might have motion and flexure。 Then again； considering
that the bone would be too brittle and inflexible； and when heated and
again cooled would soon mortify and destroy the seed within…having
this in view； he contrived the sinews and the flesh； that so binding
all the members together by the sinews； which admitted of being
stretched and relaxed about the vertebrae； he might thus make the body
capable of flexion and extension； while the flesh would serve as a
protection against the summer heat and against the winter cold； and
also against falls； softly and easily yielding to external bodies；
like articles made of felt