Those same ships that Earth mentioned could not move without Water as their foundation. Water can match the highest mountains of Earth with her deepest seas. Fountains, lakes, and ponds run throughout the lands. Pearls that adorn women’s ears are fashioned in Water's bosom. The water is home to numberless fishes and the great and necessary whales.
Water can cure the sick and make lands flourish, like the Nile does for Egypt. Without her, the Sun would wither away the Earth, the animals would have no strength, and men would have no sustenance. If she withholds herself, they will shrivel up and die. She says they are all bound to her because she is their drink, their sap, and their blood.
Water begins by telling her sisters that they inadvertently praised her as they were speaking. Earth concludes by reminding her sons that “your mould is of my dust,” and all men will return to her because they are borne from the Earth. There is poison in Earth's veins and some plants are deadly for men and beasts. The abysses of Earth’s womb quake and cities are entombed as Italy well knows. Trees and plants die and hunger prevails, while people who venture into the deep mines are buried alive. All of her hard work sometimes yields only thorns and thistles. Earth also exhorts her sister, Fire, to remember that she needs the Earth to fuel her existence.Įarth also explains her “adverse quality,” which is that she can bring about man’s mortality.
The stones used to build cities come from the Earth’s bones, and the stones dug up by “greedy misers” are but the Earth’s bowels. Even the anchors, oars, sails, and, of course, the ships themselves, are made from the Earth. Merchants fill their ships with her rich commodities. She proceeds to account for the great cities and civilizations she has made and the lovely hills and dales on her landscape. She is fruitful, and is the “original of man and beast.” Her soil yields rich crops, and her regions and countries are manifold. Fire will only cease her roaring on Doomsday.Įarth is next, and she claims that her wealth and usability surpasses that of all her sisters. In one word, Fire can consume everything. Lightning and thunder amaze but all of these things can make the rich poor and the strong weak. She bursts from Vesuvius and can turn towns into “cinder.” The seats of Kings fall into heaps of ash and great cities like London and Sodom fall. Her choler is a source of wars and her season is Summer. The Sun heats the Earth, and all beasts rejoice to see it.įire explains what she can do when she reveals her dangerous side. Fire is also celebrated for her kinship with the celestial world, especially the burning orb called the Sun. The philosophers speak of her transmutation and silversmiths need her to do their work. Fire warms everyone's limbs when winter chills. Vulcan’s forge used her, and so do everyday cooks. Artists use her for their tools, weapons need her, and cities require her presence in order to be built. Fire begins, because she is the “noblest and most active Element.”įire claims that her worth is readily known, because all living things benefit from her. They try to speak calmly at first but soon descend into warlike behavior, making everything look like “Chaos or new birth.” Finally, Air quells their rage and says that each sister should each take a turn explaining why she is the best element.
The four elements, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth, argue amongst themselves to determine which one of them is the noblest, strongest, and worthiest.