§20.18Διὰ τί πήγανον κάλλιστον καὶ πλεῖστον γίνεται ἐάν τις ἐκφυτεύσῃ εἰς συκῆν;
Why is it that rue grows most beautiful and abundant if one grafts it onto a fig tree?
ἐκφυτεύεται δὲ περὶ τὸν φλοιὸν καὶ περιπλάττεται πηλῷ.
It is grafted around the bark and plastered with clay.
ἢ ὅτι θερμότητος δέονται αἱ ῥίζαι τοῦ πηγάνου καὶ ἀλέας (διὸ καὶ τὴν τέφραν ἐάν τις περιβάλλῃ, ὀνίνανται), ἡ δὲ συκῆ θερμή ἐστιν.
Or is it because the roots of rue need heat and warmth (which is why they also benefit if one strews ashes around them), and the fig tree is warm?
δηλοῖ δὲ καὶ ὁ ὀπὸς πάντων δριμύτατος ὤν, καὶ ὁ πολὺς καπνός.
This is also shown by its juice being the most pungent of all, and by its producing much smoke.
ἔχει οὗν τοιαύτην θερμότητα καὶ ἰκμάδα οἵαν καὶ ἡ τέφρα, ὥστε εἰ ἐκείνη ὀνίνησιν, ἀναγκαῖον καὶ ἐκ τῇ συκῇ μάλιστα εὐσθενεῖν, ὅσῳ ἡ μὲν τέφρα οὐκ ἐπιρρεῖ, τὸ δ’ ἀπὸ τῆς συκῆς ἀεὶ ἐπιρρεῖ, οὐκ ἀναλισκομένου τοῦ ὑγροῦ τῇ συκῇ.
It has, therefore, such heat and moisture as ashes have, so that if the latter benefits it, it must of necessity flourish most of all on the fig tree, inasmuch as ashes do not flow in additionally, whereas that from the fig tree always flows in, since the moisture is not consumed in the fig tree.
§20.19Διὰ τί ἔνια τῶν φυτῶν ἀεὶ κενὸν φέρει τὸν καυλόν;
Why do some plants always bear a hollow stalk?
ἢ ὧν ἀνάγκη ἄλλο φύειν;
Or is it because it is necessary for them to produce something else from them?
§20.20Διὰ τί ἐν τῇ Ἀττικῇ οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι καρποὶ γλυκύτατοι γίνονται, τὸ δὲ θύμον δριμύτατον;
Why is it that in Attica, while other fruits become sweetest, thyme becomes most pungent?
καίτοι καὶ τοῦτο καρπός τίς ἐστιν. . . ὥστε οὐ πολὺ ὑγρὸν τὰ φυόμενα ἔχει.
And yet this too is a kind of fruit... so that the things growing there do not have much moisture.
ὅσα μὲν οὖν φύσει γλυκέα ἐστὶν διὰ μετριότητα τοῦ ἐνυπάρχοντος ὑγροῦ, ὅταν ἀπάγῃ ὁ ἥλιος τὸ πλεῖστον, τὸ ὑπολειπόμενον ῥᾳδίως πέττεται· τὸ γὰρ πολὺ ἔργον πεπάνθαι, τὸ δὲ μέτριον ῥᾷον.
Now, as for those that are sweet by nature owing to the moderation of the moisture present in them, when the sun carries off the greater part, that which is left behind is easily concocted; for it is a great task to ripen much, but a moderate amount is easier.
ὥστε γίνονται οἱ φύσει γλυκεῖς γλυκύτεροι ἐν δὲ τοῖς φύσει ξηροῖς τε καὶ μὴ γλυκέσι καρποῖς λείπεται δι’ ὀλιγότητα τὸ οἰκεῖον, τοῦτο δ’ ἐστὶν ἥκιστα γλυκύ· ἀφαιρεῖται γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος τὸ γλυκύτατον καὶ κουφότατον·
Consequently, those sweet by nature become sweeter; but in fruits that are by nature dry and not sweet, what is left behind owing to its small quantity is their own proper substance, which is the least sweet; for the sun carries away the sweetest and lightest part.
οὗτοι δὴ οὐκ ἔχουσι περιττὸν ὥσπερ οἱ ἄλλοι καρποί.
These indeed do not have a surplus like other fruits.
§20.21Διὰ τί γλήχων καὶ τὰ λείρια καὶ τὰ κρόμμυα τὰ κρεμάμενα ὑπὸ τὰς τροπὰς ἀνθεῖ;
Why do pennyroyal, lilies, and suspended onions bloom around the solstices?
ἢ ἐνυπάρχει αὐτοῖς τροφὴ ἄπεπτος, ἢ τοῦ μὲν χειμῶνος οὐ πέττεται διὰ τὸ ψῦχος, ὑπὸ δὲ τροπὰς πεττομένης διὰ τὴν ὥραν ἡ αὔξησις γίνεται;
Or is there unconcocted nourishment present in them, which in winter is not concocted because of the cold, but being concocted around the solstices because of the season, the growth takes place?
αὕτη δὲ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἐπίρρυσιν ταχὺ μαραίνεται.
But this growth, owing to its not having any influx, quickly withers.
οὐ γάρ τινα ἔχουσα ἀρχὴν οὐδέ τινα ἐπίρρυσιν ἀποξηραίνεται, ὥσπερ Σκύθαις διὰ τὸ πολλὴν τὴν χιόνα γίνεσθαι συμβαίνει τὸν σῖτον μένειν καὶ ταχὺ ἀνατρέχειν.
For having no principle nor any influx, it dries up, just as it happens to the corn in the land of the Scythians, where, because the snow becomes deep, it remains and then quickly shoots up.
§20.22Διὰ τί τὸ κρόμμυον μόνον οὕτως περιττῶς δάκνει τὼ ὀφθαλμώ (διὸ καὶ τοὔνομά φασι τοῦτ’ ἔχειν αὐτό, ὡς τὴν κόρην ποιεῖν συμμύειν), ἡ δὲ ὀρίγανος οὔ, οὐδ’ ἄλλα δριμέα ὄντα;
Why is it that the onion alone so excessively stings the eyes (for which reason they say it also has this name, as making the pupil close), while marjoram does not, nor other things that are pungent?
καὶ γὰρ τὸ ἀνάρρινον μᾶλλον δάκνον οὐ ποιεῖ ὁμοίως δακρύειν προσφερόμενον, τὸ δὲ 〈κρόμμυον〉 προσφερόμενον καὶ τρωγόμενον.
For indeed snapdragon, though more stinging, does not make one weep in the same way when brought near, whereas the onion does so when brought near and when eaten.
ἢ ὅτι διαφοραὶ πολλαὶ ἀκολουθοῦσιν ἑκάστοις τῶν δριμέων, ἃ ποιεῖ τὴν ἰδίαν ἑκάστου δύναμιν;
Or is it because many differences accompany each of the pungent things, which produce the peculiar power of each?
τὸ μὲν οὖν ἀνάρρινον διὰ τὸ θερμότερον εἶναι ξηραντικώτερόν ἐστι τῆς γινομένης ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ συντήξεως, ἐπεὶ ποιεῖ γε δάκρυον ἐσθίοντι· προσφερόμενον δὲ οὔ, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπατμίζει ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ λεπτόν τι· ξηρότερον γάρ ἐστι καὶ θερμότερον.
Snapdragon, then, because it is warmer, is more drying of the melting fluid produced by it, since it indeed produces tears in one who eats it; but when brought near it does not, because nothing thin evaporates from it, for it is drier and warmer.
ἡ δὲ ὀρίγανος καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα θερμὰ ξηρά ἐστιν ἠρέμα· δεῖ δὲ τὸ μέλλον δάκρυον ποιήσειν δηκτικὸν καὶ ὑγρὸν εἶναι καὶ γλίσχρον.
But marjoram and such things are gently warm and dry; but that which is to produce tears must be stinging, moist, and viscous.
διὸ καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον ποιεῖ δακρύειν, ἀσθενῆ ἔχον δῆξιν· διὰ γλισχρότητα γὰρ καὶ λεπτότητα παραδῦνον ποιεῖ τὸν πόνον, καὶ τὴν σύντηξιν διὰ τὸν πόνον.
Therefore also oil makes one weep, though having a weak sting; for owing to its viscosity and thinness, slipping in, it produces pain, and the melting fluid because of the pain.
τὸ δὲ κρόμμυον τοιαύτην ἔχει τὴν δύναμιν ὥστε καὶ τὸ ὑγρὸν καὶ τὴν ἀτμίδα αὐτοῦ θερμὴν καὶ λεπτὴν καὶ γλίσχραν εἶναι.
But the onion has such a power that both its moisture and its vapor are warm, thin, and viscous.
ὥστε προσφερόμενον μέν, διὰ τὸ τὴν ἀτμίδα τοιαύτην εἶναι καὶ συναφιέναι ὑγρότητα λεπτήν, ποιεῖ δακρύειν, ἐσθιομένου δὲ ἡ ἀναθυμίασις διιοῦσα. . .
Consequently, when brought near, because its vapor is of this kind and emits a thin moisture along with it, it makes one weep; and when eaten, the exhalation passing through...
τὸ δὲ σκόροδον θερμὸν μὲν καὶ δριμύ ἐστι καὶ ὑγρότητα ἔχει, ἀλλ’ οὐ γλίσχρον· διὸ οὐ ποιεῖ δακρύειν.
But garlic is warm and pungent and has moisture, but is not viscous; therefore it does not make one weep.