268 THE NATURE OF THE GODS.But this degree is that on which the nature of all things is placed ; and since she is possessed of this, and she pre sides over all things, and is subject to no possible impedi ment, the world must necessarily be an intelligent and even a wise being. But how marvellously great is the ig norance of those men who dispute the perfection of that nature which encircles all things ; or who, allowing it to be infinitely perfect, yet deny it to be, in the first place, animated, then reasonable, and, lastly, prudent and wise ! For how without these qualities could it be infinitely per fect? If it were like vegetables, or even like beasts, there would be no more reason for thinking it extremely good than extremely bad ; and if it were possessed of reason, and had not wisdom from the beginning, the world would be in a worse condition than man ; for man may grow wise, but the world, if it were destitute of wisdom through an infinite space of time past, could never acquire it. Thus it would be worse than man. But as that is absurd to im agine, the world must be esteemed wise from all eternity, and consequently a Deity : since there is nothing exist ing that is not defective, except the universe, which is well provided, and fully complete and perfect in all its num bers and parts. XIV. For Chrysippus says, very acutely, that as the case is made for the buckler, and the scabbard for the sword, so all things, except the universe, were made for the sake of something else. As, for instance, all those crops and fruits which the earth produces were made for the sake of ani mals, and animals for man ; as, the horse for carrying, the ox for the plough, the dog for hunting and for a guard. But man himself was born to contemplate and imitate the world, being in no wise perfect, but, if I may so express myself, a particle of perfection ; but the world, as it com prehends all, and as nothing exists that is not contained in it, is entirely perfect. In what, therefore, can it be defec tive, since it is perfect ? It cannot want understanding and reason, for they are the most desirable of all qualities. The sajne Chrysippus observes also, by the use of similitudes, thnt everything in its kind, when arrived at maturity and perfection, is superior to that which is not as, a horse to

a colt, a dog to a puppy, and a man to a boy so vh:;U>v(.T