In the view of the wise, Heaven is man and Earth woman: Earth fosters what Heaven lets fall. When Earth lacks heat, Heaven sends it; when she has lost her freshness and moisture, Heaven restores it. Heaven goes on his rounds, like a husband foraging for the wife’s sake; And Earth is busy with housewiferies: she attends to births and suckling that which she bears. {035} Regard Earth and Heaven as endowed with intelligence, since they do the work of intelligent beings. Unless these twain taste pleasure from one another, why are they creeping together like sweethearts?
