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第19章

timaeu-第19章

小说: timaeu 字数: 每页4000字

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natures fire has the smallest parts; and therefore penetrates

through earth and water and air and their compounds; nor can

anything hold it。 And a similar principle applies to the human

belly; for when meats and drinks enter it; it holds them; but it

cannot hold air and fire; because the particles of which they

consist are smaller than its own structure。

  These elements; therefore; God employed for the sake of distributing

moisture from the belly into the veins; weaving together network of

fire and air like a weel; having at the entrance two lesser weels;

further he constructed one of these with two openings; and from the

lesser weels he extended cords reaching all round to the extremities

of the network。 All the interior of the net he made of fire; but the

lesser weels and their cavity; of air。 The network he took and

spread over the newly…formed animal in the following manner:…He let

the lesser weels pass into the mouth; there were two of them; and

one he let down by the air…pipes into the lungs; the other by the side

of the air…pipes into the belly。 The former he divided into two

branches; both of which he made to meet at the channels of the nose;

so that when the way through the mouth did not act; the streams of the

mouth as well were replenished through the nose。 With the other cavity

(i。e。 of the greater weel) he enveloped the hollow parts of the

body; and at one time he made all this to flow into the lesser

weels; quite gently; for they are composed of air; and at another time

he caused the lesser weels to flow back again; and the net he made

to find a way in and out through the pores of the body; and the rays

of fire which are bound fast within followed the passage of the air

either way; never at any time ceasing so long as the mortal being

holds together。 This process; as we affirm; the name…giver named

inspiration and expiration。 And all this movement; active as well as

passive; takes place in order that the body; being watered and cooled;

may receive nourishment and life; for when the respiration is going in

and out; and the fire; which is fast bound within; follows it; and

ever and anon moving to and fro; enters through the belly and

reaches the meat and drink; it dissolves them; and dividing them

into small portions and guiding them through the passages where it

goes; pumps them as from a fountain into the channels of the veins;

and makes the stream of the veins flow through the body as through a

conduit。

  Let us once more consider the phenomena of respiration; and

enquire into the causes which have made it what it is。 They are as

follows:…Seeing that there is no such thing as a vacuum into which any

of those things which are moved can enter; and the breath is carried

from us into the external air; the next point is; as will be dear to

every one; that it does not go into a vacant space; but pushes its

neighbour out of its place; and that which is thrust out in turn

drives out its neighbour; and in this everything of necessity at

last comes round to that place from whence the breath came forth;

and enters in there; and following the breath; fills up the vacant

space; and this goes on like the rotation of a wheel; because there

can be no such thing as a vacuum。 Wherefore also the breast and the

lungs; when they emit the breath; are replenished by the air which

surrounds the body and which enters in through the pores of the

flesh and is driven round in a circle; and again; the air which is

sent away and passes out through the body forces the breath inwards

through the passage of the mouth and the nostrils。 Now the origin of

this movement may be supposed to be as follows。 In the interior of

every animal the hottest part is that which is around the blood and

veins; it is in a manner on internal fountain of fire; which we

compare to the network of a creel; being woven all of fire and

extended through the centre of the body; while the…outer parts are

composed of air。 Now we must admit that heat naturally proceeds

outward to its own place and to its kindred element; and as there

are two exits for the heat; the out through the body; and the other

through the mouth and nostrils; when it moves towards the one; it

drives round the air at the other; and that which is driven round

falls into the fire and becomes warm; and that which goes forth is

cooled。 But when the heat changes its place; and the particles at

the other exit grow warmer; the hotter air inclining in that direction

and carried towards its native element; fire; pushes round the air

at the other; and this being affected in the same way and

communicating the same impulse; a circular motion swaying to and

from is produced by the double process; which we call inspiration

and expiration。

  The phenomena of medical cupping…glasses and of the swallowing of

drink and of the projection of bodies; whether discharged in the air

or bowled along the ground; are to be investigated on a similar

principle; and swift and slow sounds; which appear to be high and low;

and are sometimes discordant on account of their inequality; and

then again harmonical on account of the equality of the motion which

they excite in us。 For when the motions of the antecedent swifter

sounds begin to pause and the two are equalised; the slower sounds

overtake the swifter and then propel them。 When they overtake them

they do not intrude a new and discordant motion; but introduce the

beginnings of a slower; which answers to the swifter as it dies

away; thus producing a single mixed expression out of high and low;

whence arises a pleasure which even the unwise feel; and which to

the wise becomes a higher sort of delight; being an imitation of

divine harmony in mortal motions。 Moreover; as to the flowing of

water; the fall of the thunderbolt; and the marvels that are

observed about the attraction of amber and the Heraclean stones;…in

none of these cases is there any attraction; but he who investigates

rightly; will find that such wonderful phenomena are attributable to

the combination of certain conditions…the non…existence of a vacuum;

the fact that objects push one another round; and that they change

places; passing severally into their proper positions as they are

divided or combined

  Such as we have seen; is the nature and such are the causes of

respiration…the subject in which this discussion originated。 For the

fire cuts the food and following the breath surges up within; fire and

breath rising together and filling the veins by drawing up out of

the belly and pouring into them the cut portions of the food; and so

the streams of food are kept flowing through the whole body in all

animals。 And fresh cuttings from kindred substances; whether the

fruits of the earth or herb of the field; which God planted to be

our daily food; acquire all sorts of colours by their inter…mixture;

but red is the most pervading of them; being created by the cutting

action of fire and by the impression which it makes on a moist

substance; and hence the liquid which circulates in the body has a

colour such as we have described。 The liquid itself we call blood;

which nourishes the flesh and the whole body; whence all parts are

watered and empty places filled。

  Now the process of repletion and evacuation is effected after the

manner of the universal motion by which all kindred substances are

drawn towards one another。 For the external elements which surround us

are always causing us to consume away; and distributing and sending

off like to like; the particles of blood; too; which are divided and

contained within the frame of the animal as in a sort of heaven; are

compelled to imitate the motion of the universe。 Each; therefore; of

the divided parts within us; being carried to its kindred nature;

replenishes the void。 When more is taken away than flows in; then we

decay; and when less; we grow and increase。

  The frame of the entire creature when young has the triangles of

each kind new; and may be compared to the keel of a vessel which is

just off the stocks; they are locked firmly together

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