Two Treatises on the Nature of the Elements and the Fifth Essence

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[...]mitum like crystal. Here it was possible to see the Spirit (Spiritus) warring against the Body (Corpus), which, when it had finally overcome it, from both was made ONE (UNUM). The Body served the Soul (Anima), and it was to her as a stable dwelling. The Spirit uplifted the Body and the Soul, not otherwise than the crystalline (crystallinus) heaven. The Soul added ornament both to the Spirit and to the Body by her own rosy, and I might almost say, celestial color. Here I noted with my own eyes destruction, resurrection, and immortality (immortalitas): whence I could not but be grateful toward my Creator (Creator), and love most wise Nature (Natura) more and more.

Soon I also resolved for your sake, Reader, to commit all these things to writing, if by chance any utility might redound thence to your advantage, and you might thus be withdrawn from useless exercises. I hope that this, whatever it is, will not be despised by you, nor that you will turn it into a fault against me, because I have not fortified this writing with the authority of the ancient Philosophers (Philosophus). To tell the truth, I have neither read nor consulted any [of them] upon this matter. At least these things to you [...]