for there arises then a most violent contention between two things which are natural adversaries, the lightest and the heaviest of things, each of them pressing onwards to reach its own place, and each striving against the violent efforts of the other; accordingly the fire, which is drawing up the earth with it, is compelled to sink down by its descending power; and the earth naturally inclining to the lowest point is nevertheless to a certain degree made light, and lifted up by the upward tendencies of fire, and so is raised on high, and being at last overpowered by the more influential power which lightens it is thrust upwards towards the natural seat of fire, and established on high.
 Why then need we wonder if the mountains are not entirely washed away by the impetuosity of the rains, when so great a power, which keeps them together, and by which they are raised up, is very firmly and steadfastly connected with them? For if they were released from the bond which holds them together, it would be natural for them to be entirely dissolved and to be dispersed by the water; but since they are bound together by this power of fire, they resist the impetuosity of the rains more surely.
 These things, then, may be said by us with respect to the argument that the inequalities of the surface of the earth are no proof of the world having been created and being liable to destruction; but with respect to that argument which was endeavoured to be established by the diminution of the sea, we may reasonably adduce this statement in opposition to it: "Do not look only at the islands which have risen up out of the sea, nor at any portions of land which, having been formerly buried by the waters, have in subsequent times become dry land; for obstinate contention is very unfavourable to the consideration of natural philosophy, which considers the search after truth to be the chief object of rational desire; but look rather at the contrary effects: consider how many districts on
 
the main-land, not only such as were near the coast, but even such as were completely in-land, have been swallowed up by the waters; and consider how great a portion of land has become sea and is now sailed over by innumerable ships." Are you ignorant of the celebrated account which is given of that most sacred Sicilian strait, which in old times joined Sicily to the continent of Italy? This is alluded to by Virgil—
 Haec loca vi quondam, et vastâ convulsa ruinâ 
 Tantum aevi longinqua valet mutare vetustas, 
 Dissiluisse ferunt, quum protenus utraque tellus 
 Una foret: venit medio vi pontus, et undis 
 Hesperium Siculo latus abscidit, arvaque et urbes 
 Litore diductas angusto interluit aestu.— Aen. iii. 419. 
 Or, as it is translated by Dryden, 
 The Italian shore 
 And fair Sicilia’s coast were one before 
 An earthquake caused the flaw; the roaring tides 
 The passage broke that land from land divides, 
 And where the lands retired the rushing ocean rides 
 Distinguished by the straits on either hand 
 Now rising cities in long order stand, 
 And fruitful fields; so much can time invade 
 The mouldering work that beauteous nature made. and where vast seas on each side being excited by violent storms met together, coming from opposite directions, the land between them was overwhelmed and broken away; from which circumstance the city built in the neighbourhood was called Rhegium, Ῥήγιον , from ρ́ήγνυμι , " to break." and the result was quite different from what any one would have expected; for the seas which had formerly been separated now flowed together and were united in one expanse; and the land which had previously united was now separated into two portions by the strait which intersected it, in consequence of which Sicily, which had previously formed a part of the mainland, was now compelled to be an island.
 And it is said that many other cities also have disappeared, having been swallowed up by the sea which overwhelmed them; since they speak of three in Peloponnesus— "Aegira and fair Bura’s walls, And Helica’s lofty halls, And many a once renowned town, With wreck and seaweed overgrown,"
 This is alluded to by Virgil- Haec loca vi quondam, et vastâ convulsa ruinâ Tantum aevi longinqua valet mutare vetustas, Dissiluisse ferunt, quum protenus utraque tellus Una foret: venit medio vi pontus, et undis Hesperium Siculo latus abscidit, arvaque et urbes Litore diductas angusto interluit aestu.-Æn. iii. 419. Or, as it is translated by Dryden, " The Italian shore And fair Sicilia’s coast were one before An earthquake caused the flaw; the roaring tides The passage broke that land from land divides, And where the lands retired the'rushing ocean rides Distinguished by the straits on either hand Now rising cities in long order stand, And fruitful fields; so much can time invade The mouldering work that beauteous nature made." 
 Ῥήγιον , from ῥήγνυμι , " to break." 
 
as having been formerly prosperous, but now overwhelmed by the violent influx of the sea.