He next proceeds further to object against himself[784] what is said on
behalf of man, viz. that the irrational animals were created on his
account, saying: “If one were to call us the lords of the animal
creation because we hunt the other animals and live upon their flesh, we
would say, Why were not _we_ rather created on _their_ account, since
they hunt and devour us? Nay, _we_ require nets and weapons, and the
assistance of many persons, along with dogs, when engaged in the chase;
while they are immediately and spontaneously provided by nature with
weapons which easily bring us under their power.” And here we may
observe, that the gift of understanding has been bestowed upon us as a
mighty aid, far superior to any weapon which wild beasts may seem to
possess. We, indeed, who are far weaker in bodily strength than the
beasts, and shorter in stature than some of them, yet by means of our
understanding obtain the mastery, and capture the huge elephants. We
subdue by our gentle treatment those animals whose nature it is to be
tamed, while with those whose nature is different, or which do not
appear likely to be of use to us when tamed, we take such precautionary
measures, that when we desire it, we keep such wild beasts shut up; and
when we need the flesh of their bodies for food, we slaughter them, as
we do those beasts which are not of a savage nature. The Creator, then,
has constituted all things the servants of the rational being and of his
natural understanding. For some purposes we require dogs, say as
guardians of our sheep-folds, or of our cattle-yards, or goat-pastures,
or of our dwellings; and for other purposes we need oxen, as for
agriculture; and for others, again, we make use of those which bear the
yoke, or beasts of burden. And so it may be said that the race of lions,
and bears, and leopards, and wild boars, and such like, has been given
to us in order to call into exercise the elements of the manly character
that exists within us.
Footnote 784:
ἑαυτῷ ἀνθυποφέρει.