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As for those who suppose that they feel cold air and water, but are less sensible of earth’s coldness, what they perceive is that portion of earth which is closest to them and has come to be a medley, a congeries, abounding in air and water, sun and heat. There is no difference between such people and those who declare that the aetherCf. 951 d supra. is not naturally and primordially hot, but rather that scalding water or red hot iron are - because they can feel and touch these, but are unable to touch and feel the primordially pure and heavenly fire. Nor likewise are these persons able to touch and feel the earth at its bottommost, which is what we particularly mean by earth - earth set off alone by itself, without admixture of any other element. But we can see a sample of such earthiness in that statement about the cliffsCf. 954 c-d supra. that display from deep down so intense a cold that it can scarcely be endured. Then, too. those who want a colder drink throw pebbles into the water,Cf. Mor. 690 f - 691 c. which becomes thicker and denser through the coldness that streams upward, fresh and undiluted, from the stones.
