Havinglaidthesescripturalfoundations，Isidoreshowsconsiderablepowerofthought；indeed，attimes，whenhediscussestherainbow，rain，hail，snow，andfrost，histheoriesarerational，andgiveevidencethat，ifhecouldhavebrokenawayfromhisadhesiontotheletterofScripture，hemighthavegivenastrongimpulsetotheevolutionofatruescience。[203]
[203]ForCosmas，seehisTopographiaChristianainMontfaucon，Collectionovapatrum，vol。ii，andthemorecompleteaccountofhistheorygiveninthechapteronGeographyinthiswork。ForIsidore，seetheEtymologiae，lib。xiii，cap。7-9，Deordinecreaturarum，cap。3，4，andDenaturarerum，cap。29，30。
Migne，Patr。Lat。，vol。lxxxii，pp。476，477，vol。lxxxiii，pp。
920-922，1001-1003。
Aboutacenturylaterappeared，attheotherextremityofEurope，thesecondinthetriooftheologicalmenofscienceintheearlyMiddleAges——BedetheVenerable。Thenucleusofhistheoryalsoistobefoundintheacceptedviewofthe“firmament“andofthe“watersabovetheheavens。”derivedfromGenesis。Thefirmamentheholdstobespherical，andofanaturesubtileandfiery；theupperheavens，hesays，whichcontaintheangels，Godhastemperedwithice，lesttheyinflamethelowerelements。Astothewatersplacedabovethefirmament，lowerthanthespiritualheavens，buthigherthanallcorporealcreatures，hesays，“SomedeclarethattheywerestoredtherefortheDeluge，butothers，morecorrectly，thattheyareintendedtotemperthefireofthestars。”HegoesonwithlongdiscussionsastovariouselementsandforcesinNature，anddwellsatlengthupontheair，ofwhichhesaysthattheupper，sereneairisovertheheavens；whilethelower，whichiscoarse，withhumidexhalations，issentofffromtheearth，andthatinthisarelightning，hail，snow，ice，andtempests，findingproofofthisintheonehundredandforty-eighthPsalm，wherethesearecommandedto“praisetheLordfromtheearth。”[204]