The Summary of Physics Restored

117That the mixture of contraries—light and darkness—produces tempered things rather than contraries is sufficiently indicated by the song of the prophet king, breaking forth in these words about eternal light: * “He bowed the heavens and came down, and darkness was beneath his feet,” and so forth. “He made darkness his hiding place; his tabernacle was round about him,” and so forth. The very fountain of uncreated light, in order to show human eyes the splendour of his infinite glory, veiled it in cloud and dark mist as in a garment, and brought darkness beside light, so that from both extremes he might produce a tempered light and moderate the flashing of immeasurable light beyond human powers. Philosophers also affirm that the rainbow, given by God as a sign and token of the covenant made with human beings and of divine grace, is produced from a mixture of darkness and light. Thus this very symbol of tempered divine vengeance, resulting from contraries, was to be blended from varied colours in the greatest harmony and friendship.