The breath issuing from its mouth has produced a fog.
In this fog Antony traces masses of clouds and imperfect curves. Finally, he distinguishes what appear to be human bodies.
And first advances the group of Astomi, like air-balls passing across the sun.
"Don't puff too strongly! The drops of rain bruise us; the false sounds excoriate us; the darkness blinds us. Composed of breezes and of perfumes, we roll, we float—a little more than dreams, not entirely beings."
The Nisnas have but one eye, one cheek, one hand, one leg, half a body, and half a heart. And they say, in a very loud tone:
"We live quite at our ease in our halves of houses with our halves of wives and our halves of children."
The Blemmyes, absolutely bereft of heads—
"Our shoulders are the largest;—and there is not an ox, a rhinoceros, or an elephant that is capable of carrying what we carry.
"Arrows, and a sort of vague outline are imprinted on our breasts—that is all! We reduce digestion to thought; we subtilise secretions. For us God floats peacefully in the internal chyle.
"We proceed straight on our way, passing through every mire, running along the verge of every abyss; and we are the most industrious, happy, and virtuous people."