[2174] De civ. Dei, XXI, 6; XVIII, 18.
[2175] De diversis quaestionibus, cap. 79; De doctrina Christiana, II, 20, in Migne, PL 34, 50.
[2176] Migne, PL 40, 581-92.
[2177] De trinitate, III, 8; PL, 42, 875.
[2178] De trinitate, III, 7-8. It seems strange to me that they should have failed on minute insects who in ancient and medieval science are often represented as produced by spontaneous generation. The Talmudists also, however, state that the Egyptians were unable to duplicate the plague of lice, as their art did not extend to things smaller than a barleycorn.
[2179] De civitate Dei, XVIII, 22. In commenting on Genesis (PL 34, 445) he speaks even more harshly of “that absurd and harmful notion of the changing of souls and of men into beasts, or of beasts into men”; but perhaps he has reference to the doctrine of transmigration of souls rather than to magic transformations.
[2180] Confessions, X, 42, in PL vol. 32.
[2181] Quaest. VI; PL 40, 162-5.
[2182] II, 3; PL 40, 142-4.
[2183] De civitate Dei, XXI, 4-6; PL 41, 712-6.