The Sixth Day

Post haec sexta die produxit terra animam vivam, quando caro nostra, abstinens ab operibus mortuis, viva virtutum germina parturit, secundum genus scilicet suum, id est, vitam imitando sanctorum, sicut Apostolus ait: Imitatores mei estote. Secundum nostrum quippe genus vivimus, quando in opere bono sanctos viros, quasi proximos, imitamur. Deinde produxit terra bestias, homines in potentia rerum, sive ferocitate superbiae. Similiter et pecora; fideles in simplicitate vitae viventes; serpentes quoque innoxios, sanctos videlicet viros, astutiae vivacitate bonum a malo discernentes, et in quantum fas est, reptando scrutantes terrena, per quae intelligant sempiterna, non illos venenosos qui se in hujus mundi cupiditatibus terrenis collocant. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis, Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Genesin, Caput I Source: Migne PL 83.211c

After this, on the sixth day, the earth produced the living soul, which is when our flesh, withdrawing from the works of death, bears the living seed of the virtues, according to its type, 1 that is, life in imitation of the saints, as the Apostle said: 'Be imitators of me.' 2 Certainly we live according to our type when we imitate holy men by good works, like neighbours. Then the earth produced beasts, men powerful in the world, or wild with pride. Likewise cattle, who are the faithful living a simple life. Also serpents that are not venomous, who are holy men, who, possessing acute minds, are able to discern between good and evil, and in much as it is right, crawl around looking about at the things of the earth, through which eternal things are understood, and not as those venomous ones who amid the desires of this world gather to themselves the things of the world. Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On Genesis, Chapter 1 1 Gen 1.24 2 1 Cor 11.1