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THE SECOND BOOKE 303
we lose our selves in this troublesome and vaste Ocean
of Fhysicall errours. Let us know whether they agree
but in this one, that is to say, of what matter men are
derived and produced one from another. For, touching
their first production, it is no marvell if in a thing so
high and so ancient mans wit is troubled and confounded.
Archelaus, the Physitian, to whom (as Aristoxenus
affirmeth) Socrates was disciple and Minion,
assevered that both men and beasts had beene made of
milkie slime or mudde, expressed by the heate of the
earth. Pythagoras saith that our seed is the scumme
or froth of our best blood : Plato, the distilling of the
marrow in the back-bone, which he argueth thus because
that place feeleth first the wearmesse which followeth
the generative businesse. AICRIFPOII, a part of the
braine substance, which to prove he saith their eyes
are ever most troubled that over-intemperately addict
themselves to that exercise. Democritus, a substance
extracted from all parts of this corporall masse. Epicurus,
extracted from the last soule and the body.
Aristotle, an excrement drawne from the nourishment
of the bloud, the last scattereth it selfe in our severall
members ; others, blood, concocted and digested by
the heate of the genitories, which they judge because
in the extreame, earnest, and forced labours, many
shed drops of pure bloud; wherein some appearance
seemeth to be, if from so infinit a confusion any likelihood
may be drawne. But to bring this seed to effect,
how many contrary opinions make they of it ? Aristotle
and Democritus hold that women have no sperme, that
it is but a sweate, which by reason of the pleasure and
frication they cast forth, and availeth nothing in
generation.
Galen and his adherents contrariwise, affirme that
there can be no generation except two seeds meete
together. ' Behold the Physitians, the Philosophers,
the Lawyers, and the Divines pell-mell together by
the eares with our women about the question and disputation
how long women boare their fruite in their
wombe. And as for me, by mine owne example, I