Examples and proofs of the growth of the earth.

Take a pot and fill it with pure earth and set it on a roof. You will see that it will at once begin to sprout leafy grasses, and those, grown, will make various seeds; and, the offspring having fallen at the feet of their old mothers, you will see the grasses, having made their seeds, dry up and, fallen back to the earth, in a short time turn into it and give it growth. After this you will see the newborn seeds run the same course, and always the things born, having run their natural course, you will see with their death and corruption give growth to the earth. And if you let ten years pass and measured the increased ground, you could see how much the earth has universally grown; and multiplying, you will see in a thousand years how much the world's earth has grown. Some may say that the example of the said pot does not satisfy the assigned proof, since it is seen that in the said pots, for the reward of the awaited flowers, one must often refill with new and rich soil for the sunken soil. And I answer you that the soil put there, because of the mixed fatty matter and clippings of various things, cannot be called pure earth, and the mixed things, through their putrefaction, diminishing part of their form, are converted into the rich and nourishing humour of the rooted grasses set above; and this is the reason that makes it seem to you that the earth diminishes; and if you were to let the grown grasses die within it and their seeds be reborn, you would see in time its growth.

Now do you not see, in the high mountains, the walls of the ancient and ruined cities being occupied and hidden by the growth of the earth?

Now has it not been seen that on the rocky peaks of the mountains the living stone has, over long time, with its growth, swallowed up a column leaning against it, and — laid bare with cutting irons and the column drawn out — has left in the living stone its fluted form?

O how many times were you seen amid the waves of the swollen and great Ocean, with your bristly and black back in the guise of a mountain, and with grave and proud bearing!

And often you were seen amid the waves of the swollen and great Ocean, and with proud and grave motion going wheeling amid the sea waters, and with bristly and black back in the guise of a mountain overcoming and overwhelming them.

O how many times were you seen amid the waves of the swollen and great Ocean, in the guise of a mountain overcoming and overwhelming them, and with bristly and black back furrowing the sea waters, and with proud and grave bearing!