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

ON THE ELEMENTS (DE ELEMENTIS).

[...]ter from which they were begotten, which no one would have said of Fire (Ignis). For in no way can water be rendered pure and splendid by the benefit of fire. I respond: Two contraries can never be united or harmonize (conspirare) without the intervention of some medium (medium). For indeed, after the Creator (Creator) had separated the subtler, more splendid, drier, and hotter part from the first mass of creation (which we call Chaos), soon thereafter its contrary likewise emerged, namely a thicker, darker, more humid, and colder Being (Ens), which was the element of Water (Aqua) and Earth (Terra).

Truly, that humidity of water is tempered by the dryness of Air (Aer) and earth; likewise, the thickness and dryness of earth [is tempered] by the subtlety of air and the humidity of water. Hence you see that nothing can be united without the benefit of some medium. Therefore, water cannot be composed with fire if it is destitute of the subtlety of air and the dryness of earth, which mixture indeed shines forth in water of life (aqua vitae) or oil, and is thus coupled with fire.

O profound Wisdom (Sapientia)! How hidden are your works! How excellent are your creatures! Who would not attribute to you due glory, to whom at least some spar[...]