Once as this Artist more with mirth than meat,
Feasted some friends that he esteemed great;
From under's hand an Iron Fly flew out,
Which having flown a perfect round about,
With weary wings, return'd unto her Master,
And (as judicious) on his arm she plac'd her.
[Or wonder not more at the operation of two souls in those little bodies, than but one in the Trunk of a Cedar?]] That is, the vegetative, which according to the common opinion, is supposed to be in Trees, though the Epicures and Stoiques would not allow any Soul in Plants; but Empedocles and Plato allowed them not only a vegetative Soul, but affirm'd them to be Animals. The Manichees went farther, and attributed so much of the rational Soul to them, that they accounted it Homicide to gather either the flowers or fruit, as St. Aug. reports.
[We carry with us the wonders we seek without us.]] So St. Aug. l. 10. de civ. c. 3. Omni miraculo quod fit per hominem majus miraculum est homo.
Sect. 16. Pag. 25.
[Another of his servant Nature, that publique and universal Manuscript that lies expansed, etc.]] So is the description of Du Bartas 7. jour de la sepm.