6. Let husbands listen as well: here is a lesson for them. The viper vomits forth its venom in respect for marriage; and you, will you not put aside the barbarity and the inhumanity of your soul, out of respect for your union? Perhaps the example of the viper contains another meaning. The union of the viper and of the lamprey is an adulterous violation of nature. You, who are plotting against other men’s wedlock, learn what creeping creature you are like. I have only one object, to make all I say turn to the edification of the Church. Let then libertines put a restraint on their passions, for they are taught by the examples set by creatures of earth and sea.

My bodily infirmity and the lateness of the hour force me to end my discourse. However, I have still many observations to make on the products of the sea, for the admiration of my attentive audience. To speak of the sea itself, how does its water change into salt? How is it that coral, a stone so much esteemed, is a plant in the midst of the sea, and when once exposed to the air becomes hard as a rock? Why has nature enclosed in the meanest of animals, in an oyster, so precious an object as a pearl? For these pearls, which are coveted by the caskets of kings, are cast upon the shores, upon the coasts, upon sharp rocks, and enclosed in oyster shells. How can the sea pinna produce her fleece of gold, which no dye has ever imitated?  29  The Pinna is a bivalve with a silky beard, of which several species are found in the Mediterranean. The beard is called by modern naturalists byssus. The shell of the giant pinna is sometimes two feet long. How can shells give kings purple of a brilliancy not surpassed by the flowers of the field?

“  Let the waters bring forth .” What necessary object was there that did not immediately appear? What object of luxury was not given to man? Some to supply his needs, some to make him contemplate the marvels of creation. Some are terrible, so as to take our idleness to school. “God created great whales.”  30  Gen. i. 21. Scripture gives them the name of “great” not because they are greater than a shrimp and a sprat, but because the size of their bodies equals that of great hills. Thus when they swim on the surface of the waters one often sees them appear like islands. But these monstrous creatures do not frequent our coasts and shores; they inhabit the Atlantic ocean. Such are these animals created to strike us with terror and awe. If now you hear say that the greatest vessels, sailing with full sails, are easily stopped by a very small fish, by the remora, and so forcibly that the ship remains motionless for a long time, as if it had taken root in the middle of the sea,  31  “Tamen omnia hæc, pariterque eodem impellentia unus ac parvus admodum pisciculus, echeneis appellatus, in se tenet. Ruant venti licet, et sæviant procellæ imperat furori, viresque tantas compescit, et cogit stare navigia: quod non vincula ulla, non anchoræ pondere, irrevocabili jactæ…Fertur Actiaco marte tenuisse navim Antonii properantis circumire et exhortare suos donec transiret in aliam.…Tennit et nostra memoria Caii principis ab Astura Antium renavigantes.” Plin. xxxii. 1. The popular error was long lived. “Life is a voyage, and, in our life’s ways, Countries, courts, towns, are rocks or remoras.” Donne, To Sir Henry Wotton. do you not see in this little creature a like proof of the power of the Creator? Sword fish, saw fish, dog fish, whales, and sharks, are not therefore the only things to be dreaded; we have to fear no less the spike of the stingray even after its death,  32  Pliny (ix. 72) says it is sometimes five inches long. Ælian (Hist. An. i. 56) calls the wound incurable. and the sea-hare,  33  Pliny (ix. 72) calls it tactu pestilens, and says (xxxii. 3) that no other fish eats it, except the mullet. whose mortal blows are as rapid as they are inevitable. Thus the Creator wishes that all may keep you awake, so that full of hope in Him you may avoid the evils with which all these creatures threaten you.

But let us come out of the depths of the sea and take refuge upon the shore. For the marvels of creation, coming one after the other in constant succession like the waves, have submerged my discourse. However, I should not be surprised if, after finding greater wonders upon the earth, my spirit seeks like Jonah’s to flee to the sea. But it seems to me, that meeting with these innumerable marvels has made me forget all measure, and experience the fate of those who navigate the high seas without a fixed point to mark their progress, and are often ignorant of the space which they have traversed. This is what has happened to me; whilst my words glanced at creation, I have not been sensible of the multitude of beings of which I spoke to you. But although this honourable assembly is pleased by my speech, and the recital of the marvels of the Master is grateful to the ears of His servants, let me here bring the ship of my discourse to anchor, and await the day to deliver you the rest. Let us, therefore, all arise, and, giving thanks for what has been said, let us ask for strength to hear the rest. Whilst taking your food may the conversation at your table turn upon what has occupied us this morning and this evening. Filled with these thoughts may you, even in sleep, enjoy the pleasure of the day, so that you may be permitted to say, “I sleep but my heart waketh,”  34  Cant. v. 2. meditating day and night upon the law of the Lord, to Whom be glory and power world without end. Amen.

Ἀκουέτω δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τῆς προσηκούσης αὐτῷ παραινέσεως. Ἡ ἔχιδνα τὸν ἰὸν ἐξεμεῖ, αἰδουμένη τὸν γάμον: σὺ τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς ἀπηνὲς καὶ ἀπάνθρωπον οὐκ ἀποτίθεσαι αἰδοῖ τῆς ἑνώσεως; Ἢ τάχα τὸ τῆς ἐχίδνης ὑπόδειγμα καὶ ἑτέρως ἡμῖν χρησιμεύσει, ὅτι μοιχεία τίς ἐστι τῆς φύσεως ἡ τῆς ἐχίδνης καὶ τῆς μυραίνης ἐπιπλοκή. Διδαχθήτωσαν οὖν οἱ τοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις ἐπιβουλεύοντες γάμοις, ποταπῷ εἰσιν ἑρπετῷ παραπλήσιοι. Εἷς μοι σκοπὸς, πανταχόθεν οἰκοδομεῖσθαι τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν. Καταστελλέσθω τὰ πάθη τῶν ἀκολάστων, καὶ ἐγγείοις καὶ θαλαττίοις ὑποδείγμασι παιδευόμενα. Ἐνταῦθά με στῆναι τοῦ λόγου ἥ τε τοῦ σώματος καταναγκάζει ἀσθένεια, καὶ τὸ τῆς ὥρας ὀψέ: ἐπεὶ πολλὰ ἔτι προσθεῖναι εἶχον τοῖς φιληκόοις θαύματος ἄξια περὶ τῶν φυομένων ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ: περὶ θαλάσσης αὐτῆς. Πῶς εἰς ἅλας τὸ ὕδωρ πήγνυται: πῶς ὁ πολυτίμητος λίθος τὸ κουράλλιον χλόη μέν ἐστιν ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, ἐπειδὰν δὲ εἰς τὸν ἀέρα ἐξενεχθῇ, πρὸς λίθου στερρότητα μεταπήγνυται: πόθεν τῷ εὐτελεστάτῳ ζῴῳ τῷ ὀστρέῳ τὸν βαρύτιμον μαργαρίτην ἡ φύσις ἐνέθηκεν. Ἃ γὰρ ἐπιθυμοῦσι θησαυροὶ βασιλέων, ταῦτα περὶ αἰγιαλοὺς καὶ ἀκτὰς καὶ τραχείας πέτρας διέρριπται, τοῖς ἐλύτροις τῶν ὀστρέων ἐγκείμενα. Πόθεν τὸ χρυσοῦν ἔριον αἱ πίνναι τρέφουσιν, ὅπερ οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνθοβάφων μέχρι νῦν ἐμιμήσατο Πόθεν αἱ κόχλοι τοῖς βασιλεῦσι τὰς ἁλουργίδας χαρίζονται, αἳ καὶ τὰ ἄνθη τῶν λειμώνων τῇ εὐχροίᾳ παρέδραμον. Ἐξαγαγέτω τὰ ὕδατα. Καὶ τί οὐ γέγονε τῶν ἀναγκαίων; τί δὲ οὐχὶ τῶν πολυτελῶν ἐχαρίσθη τῷ βίῳ; Τὰ μὲν εἰς ὑπηρεσίαν ἀνθρώπων: τὰ δὲ, εἰς θεωρίαν τοῦ περὶ τὴν κτίσιν θαύματος. Ἄλλα φοβερὰ, παιδαγωγοῦντα ἡμῶν τὸ ῥᾴθυμον. Ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ κήτη τὰ μεγάλα. Οὐκ ἐπειδὴ καρίδος καὶ μαινίδος μείζονα, διὰ τοῦτο μεγάλα εἴρηται, ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ τοῖς μεγίστοις ὄρεσι τῷ ὄγκῳ τοῦ σώματος παρισάζεται: ἅ γε καὶ νήσων πολλάκις φαντασίαν παρέχεται, ἐπειδάν ποτε ἐπὶ τὴν ἄκραν ἐπιφάνειαν τοῦ ὕδατος ἀνανήξηται. Ταῦτα μέντοι τηλικαῦτα ὄντα οὐ περὶ ἀκτὰς, οὐδὲ αἰγιαλοὺς διατρίβει, ἀλλὰ τὸ Ἀτλαντικὸν λεγόμενον πέλαγος ἐνοικεῖ. Τοιαῦτά ἐστι τὰ πρὸς φόβον καὶ ἔκπληξιν ἡμετέραν δημιουργηθέντα ζῷα. Ἐὰν δὲ ἀκούσῃς ὅτι τὰ μέγιστα τῶν πλοίων ἡπλωμένοις ἱστίοις ἐξ οὐρίας φερόμενα τὸ μικρότατον ἰχθύδιον ἡ ἐχενηῒς οὕτω ῥᾳδίως ἵστησιν, ὥστε ἀκίνητον ἐπὶ πλεῖστον φυλάσσειν τὴν ναῦν ὥσπερ καταρριζωθεῖσαν ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ πελάγει, ἆρ' οὐχὶ καὶ ἐν τῷ μικρῷ τούτῳ τὴν αὐτὴν τῆς τοῦ κτίσαντος δυνάμεως λαμβάνεις ἀπόδειξιν; Οὐ γὰρ μόνοι ξιφίαι, καὶ πρίονες, καὶ κύνες, καὶ φάλαιναι καὶ ζύγαιναι, φοβεραὶ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τρυγόνος κέντρον τῆς θαλασσίας, καὶ ταύτης νεκρᾶς, καὶ λαγωὸς ὁ θαλάσσιος, οὐχ ἧττόν ἐστι φοβερὰ, ταχεῖαν καὶ ἀπαραίτητον τὴν φθορὰν ἐπιφέροντα. Οὕτω σε διὰ πάντων ἐγρηγορέναι ὁ κτίστης βούλεται, ἵν' ἐν τῇ πρὸς Θεὸν ἐλπίδι τὰς ἀπ' αὐτῶν βλάβας ἀποδιδράσκῃς. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἀναδραμόντες ἐκ τῶν βυθῶν, ἐπὶ τὴν ἤπειρον καταφύγωμεν. Καὶ γάρ πως ἄλλα ἐπ' ἄλλοις καταλαβόντα ἡμᾶς τῆς δημιουργίας τὰ θαύματα, οἷόν τινα κύματα, ταῖς συνεχέσι καὶ ἐπαλλήλοις ἐπιδρομαῖς ὑποβρόχιον ἡμῶν τὸν λόγον ἤγαγε. Καίτοι θαυμάσαιμι ἂν, εἰ μὴ μείζοσι τοῖς κατ' ἤπειρον παραδόξοις ἡ διάνοια ἡμῶν ἐντυχοῦσα, πάλιν κατὰ τὸν Ἰωνᾶν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν δραπετεύσει. Ἔοικε δέ μοι ὁ λόγος ἐμπεσὼν εἰς τὰ μυρία θαύματα ἐπιλελῆσθαι τῆς συμμετρίας, καὶ ταὐτὸν πεπονθέναι τοῖς ἐν πελάγει ναυτιλλομένοις, οἳ πρὸς μηδὲν πεπηγὸς τὴν κίνησιν τεκμαιρόμενοι, ἀγνοοῦσι πολλάκις ὅσον διέδραμον. Ὃ δὴ καὶ περὶ ἡμᾶς ἔοικε γεγενῆσθαι, τρέχοντος τοῦ λόγου διὰ τῆς κτίσεως, μὴ λαβεῖν τοῦ πλήθους τῶν εἰρημένων τὴν αἴσθησιν. Ἀλλ' εἰ καὶ φιλήκοον τὸ σεμνὸν τοῦτο θέατρον, καὶ γλυκεῖα δούλων ἀκοαῖς δεσποτικῶν θαυμάτων διήγησις, ἐνταῦθα τὸν λόγον ὁρμίσαντες, μείνωμεν τὴν ἡμέραν πρὸς τὴν τῶν λειπομένων ἀπόδοσιν. Ἀναστάντες δὲ πάντες εὐχαριστήσωμεν ὑπὲρ τῶν εἰρημένων, καὶ αἰτήσωμεν τῶν λειπομένων τὴν πλήρωσιν. Γένοιτο δὲ ὑμῖν καὶ ἐν τῇ μεταλήψει τῆς τροφῆς ἐπιτραπέζια διηγήματα, ὅσα τε ἕωθεν ὑμῖν, καὶ ὅσα κατὰ τὴν ἑσπέραν ἐπῆλθεν ὁ λόγος: καὶ ταῖς περὶ τούτων ἐννοίαις ὑπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου καταληφθέντες, τῆς μεθημερινῆς εὐφροσύνης καὶ καθεύδοντες ἀπολαύσοιτε, ἵνα ἐξῇ ὑμῖν λέγειν, Ἐγὼ καθεύδω, καὶ ἡ καρδία μου ἀγρυπνεῖ, μελετῶσα νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Κυρίου, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.