The Tree of Science

Arbor Elementalis. 13

About the Branches of the elemental tree.

The Branches of the elemental tree are the four simple elements. And there are four so that in them there may be difference, concordance, and contrariety. For if there were three or fewer, these would not be received in them. And if there were five, one would be superfluous, because it suffices for difference that it be in concordance and contrariety, just as the difference which is between fire and air, and is in the concordance of heat in this, that fire and air are of a hot complexion. And it suffices that it be in the contrariety of water and fire: inasmuch as fire is hot and water cold. The same is true of earth, which must stand in the concordance of dryness, which is between fire and earth, and that it be in the contrariety of earth and air through dry and humid, which are contraries. But this could not be, if the elements were not four. The same is true of the concordance of fire and air, which must agree in heat. And similarly of air and water, which must agree in humidity. And of water and earth, which must agree in coldness. And this same is true in its way of contrariety, which must be subject to the hot and cold complexion, and similarly to the humid and dry complexion. As in pepper, in which are all these complexions, and it suffices for it that it be subject to the differences and concordances and contrarieties which we have mentioned. And furthermore, because the elements are four and no less nor more, they are disposed to be figured in elementates in a quadrangular, circular, and triangular figure, which three figures are indeed necessary to be assigned in elementates. The quadrangular figure is inasmuch as it is from four elements, and a straight line is made from fire to air through the concordance of heat, and from air to water through the concordance of humidity, and from water to earth through the concordance of coldness, and from earth to fire through the concordance of dryness. And from these four lines and concordances results in elementates a natural quadrangle: through which they are extended and ample. The circular figure is, inasmuch as certain elements enter into others, just as fire, which enters into air giving it its heat, which does not abandon its own proper subject, which is fire. And the same is true of air, which enters into water giving it its humidity. And water, which enters into earth giving it its coldness. In a similar way is earth, which enters into fire giving it its dryness. And therefore in elementates consists roundness, as in an apple and in the head of a human. The triangular figure is caused by the line which goes from fire to air, and from fire to earth, and from earth to air. And this triangle is composed of two concordant lines and one contrary. And the same is true of the triangle which is of air, fire and water, and of the triangle which is of water, air and earth, and of the triangle which is of earth, water and fire, and thus there are four triangles, which complete the quadrangle, and the quadrangle completes the circle. And therefore it is necessary that there be four elements and no more nor fewer, so that in elementates there may be fullness and not emptiness, so that between one element and the rest there can be difference, and the same for concordance and contrariety, it is necessary that there be certain and proper and appropriate qualities, by which the four elements are distinguished as concordant, contrary, and differentiated, such as heat, which is a proper quality.