על הנטיעה ג׳Concerning Noah's Work as a Planter 3
א׳
1[11] On this wise was the tree planted which yields all fruit that grows. On this wise when planted was it held fast. Among lesser plants, that did not partake of its universal character, some were created with a capacity of moving from one place to another, others, meant to be stationary, lacked such capacity for change of place.
ב׳
2[12] Our name for those which have the power of locomotion is animals. These took to (i.e. were so made as naturally to belong to) the several main divisions of our universe, land animals to earth, to water those that swim, the winged creatures to air, and to fire the fire-born. It is said that the production of these last is more patent to observation in Macedonia than elsewhere. The stars found their place in heaven. Those who have made philosophy their study tell us that these too are living creatures, but of a kind composed entirely of Mind. Of these some, the planets, appear to change their position by a power inherent in themselves, others to do so as they are swept along in the rush of our universe, and these we call fixed stars.
ג׳
3[13] The creations endowed with a nature incapable of taking in impressions, to which the name of “plants” is specially given, do not share the power of locomotion.
