416The other animals in their various forms the earth bore of her own accord, after the old moisture grew warm from the fire of the sun, and the mud and wet marshes swelled with heat, and the fertile seeds of things, nourished in the life-giving soil as in a mother's womb, grew and with time took on some form. 422So when the seven-mouthed Nile has left the soaked fields and returned its streams to their old bed, and the fresh mud has grown hot under the heavenly star, the farmers find very many animals as they turn the clods, and among them they see some just begun, at the very moment of birth, others unfinished and lacking their proper parts; 428and often in the same body one part lives, the other part is raw earth.
430For when moisture and heat have taken on a temperate blend, they conceive, and from these two all things arise; 432and though fire is at war with water, moist heat creates all things, and discordant concord is suited to births. 434So when the earth, muddy from the recent flood, grew warm again under the heavenly sun and deep heat, she brought forth countless species, and partly restored ancient forms, partly created new monsters. 438She did not wish it, indeed, but then she bore you too, mighty Python, and to the new peoples, unknown serpent,