Paracelsus Opera (Huser Edition)

BOOK ONE.

The Seventh Text.

A

Thus the Great Mystery original: "Mysterium Magnum" was divided, and from it was carved that which remained from the other. From what remained, something else became: for the Great Mystery was not made of elements, even though all elements were within it. It was also not made of flesh, even though all types of humanity were contained within it. It was also not made of wood or stone; rather, it was a Matter meaning the "prime matter" or fundamental substance that was able to contain all mortal things within itself, without any recognition of its own essence, and through the division, it gave each thing its own essence and form. Just as food that is eaten is taken in by a person and becomes flesh—yet it looks nothing like flesh—or if it is taken as manure original: "Feilung," likely referring to "Fäulung" or decay/refuse, it becomes grass, which it also does not resemble. Even more so is this wonder to be understood in the Great Mystery, for the mysteries reveal themselves thus: one into stone, another into flesh, the third into herbs, and all in many wonderful forms.

The Eighth Text.

B

And when each thing was separated into its own form and property, standing in its own free will and its own nature, then the Substantial Matter was recognized. For that which was meant for compaction Compaction: The process of becoming solid or dense matter. became compacted; the rest remained empty, in terms of its substance. For when the compactions gathered together, not everything could be made solid; rather, the greater part remained empty. This is seen in water: when it coagulates, only a small quantity is compacted; the same occurs in the separation of the elements. For all compaction became stone, metal, wood, and flesh, and the like; the rest remained empty, each according to its essence and the properties of the planets. And such a Great Mystery was, in its compaction, no different than a smoke that is large and wide, which has nothing of substance in itself except a tiny quantity of soot; the other vastness which the smoke occupies is pure air, as is seen in the separation of smoke from soot.

The Ninth Text.

In the beginning of all birth was the mother and producer: SEPARATION original: "SEPARATIO". For the Separation of the philosophies is the greatest wonder. Although it is not for humans to philosophize about such things—as it contains more than human, mortal reason can hold—nonetheless, to understand in what way such a thing happened and continues to happen, it is thus: it is no different than vinegar being mixed into lukewarm milk, causing a separation to arise in many ways. Or like a * Refining cupel. * cupel original: "Traphat," an alchemical vessel used for refining metals of ore, which strikes and brings each metal into its own essence. So too was there something. For just as a tincture of silver is etched in, so it also passed through the Great Mystery and ordained each thing into its own being, and separated them so wonderfully that every form is in its own essence. But what such Magic original: "Magy," referring to a natural or divine transformative power was, which had such an entry, was a singular wonder. If it happened divinely through His Godhead, we will not philosophize on it, for the Godhead does not allow us to know such things. But if that Magic was natural, then it was a wonder-bearing Magic, a swift passage during a separation, and of great virtue, the likes of which it is impossible for Nature to give or make again. For there, one part was separated into elements, the second into the invisible, and the third into the vegetable, which is indeed a special miracle and sign.

The Tenth Text.

C

And now that the Great Mystery was full in such Essence and Deity, with an inclusion of the greatest eternity, the Separation of all creatures began first of all. And when this occurred, every creature was found in its own majesty, power, and free will, which will remain so until the end of all things—that is, in the Great Harvest, when all things will bear fruit and cut down their growth. For the Harvest is the end of its growth, and signifies nothing other than the mortal destruction of all things. Although there are many such things, there is nonetheless only one Harvest, in which all the things of the creatures are cut and led into the barn. And just as the Great Mystery is wonderful in the beginning, so too is the Harvest of all things wonderful in its end. And although the free will of things may harm one another—for nothing is without a friend, and nothing without an enemy—free will floats alone in virtue, and the friend or enemy in the works. Thus, this does not affect the Separation, for it is a distribution to give each thing its own form and essence.

The Eleventh Text.

And in the beginning of the separation of the Great Mystery, the separation of the elements came forth first, so that the elements came into being. The Fire became the heavens and a chest i.e., a container or treasury of the firmament. The Air became an emptiness in which nothing is to be seen, nor can be seen, at the ends where no substance or corporeal matter was placed; it is a chest of the fatalistic invisible ones. The Water became a liquid original: "Liquor" and settled itself around the center in its hollows, between the other elements and the ethers, and is a chest...