On İki Anahtar

There can be no generation of man, nor of any other animal, without putrefaction: and no seed cast into the earth, nor any vegetable thing whatsoever, can germinate unless it first rots: and even many imperfect animals take their life and origin from rot alone, which should rightly be placed among the wonders of Nature. The good women of the countryside know well how to give an example of this, for they cannot raise a hen for their little household without the putrefaction of the egg from which the little chick is hatched. From bread placed in honey, ants are born through the rot that the honey welcomes, which is no small wonder of nature. Everyone sees every day that flesh-worms are engendered from spoiled and rotten flesh in the bodies of men, horses, and other beasts: just as spiders, worms, and other vermin are born in rotten walnuts, pears, and other similar fruits: in short, who is it that can number the infinite species of insects and imperfect animals, which are born from putrefaction and corruption. But you, who must know a more elevated science, penetrate further than the common folk, and seek through reason the principles and the causes from which, by means of putrefaction, such a vital virtue is created, not as the common people understand it through mere habit, but as the wise and diligent inquirer into the effects of nature must know it, seeing that all life proceeds from putrefaction.