PHILOSOPHY TO THE ATHENIANS original: "PHILOSOPHIÆ AD ATHEN."

The Fourth Text.

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And although within us mortals there are Composites Composita: Mixtures or combinations of different qualities., such as Warm and Moist, this is not to be understood in the way the old physicians defined it. For Colic original: "Colica." Paracelsus often attributes diseases to elemental imbalances rather than just digestive issues. comes from the Element of Fire, and it has no doubling, such as being both Hot and Dry; rather, it is solely Hot. The same applies to the other Complexions Complexiones: The "humors" or temperaments of the body.. Therefore, if a disease is noticed with Heat and Dryness, one should consider instead that two elements are present in that place—one in the liver, the other in the spleen, or likewise in other limbs—and not that two elements are within a single limb. For it is possible that a particular element dwells in each individual limb (which we leave to the physicians to determine). But it cannot be said that two elements may stand together, or that one element could be both Hot and Moist. It is not possible for a Composite to occur in that way, for the elements exist without being compounded, for the reasons stated before. For where there is Heat, there is no Cold, no Dryness, no Wetness; likewise, where there is Cold, none of the others are present. So it is also with Wetness and Dryness. For each element stands simply within itself, and only in combination does it appear twofold. But to understand what our philosophy attributes to the possibility of the elements regarding their Conjunction: a pairing such as Heat with Wetness cannot exist. For no Element of Water original: "Elementum Aquæ." tolerates Heat. Nor can any Heat stand within Wetness, for each is a distinct element. Likewise, Cold in itself cannot suffer Dryness; rather, Cold is unstained original: "unbesleckt," meaning pure or unmixed. within itself. This is said regarding the true nature of the elements; and any Dryness is a breaking
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of Cold. For just as little as Wetness and Dryness can agree, so too can Cold and Dryness, or Wetness, or Warmth, or Heat not come together or stay as one. For just as Heat and Cold hold themselves in discord, so too do Cold and Heat hold themselves in discord against Wetness and Dryness.

The Fifth Text.

But to think that because all things are created from the four elements, they must therefore stand in Conjunction, is false. For every conjunction is a composition. So long as they are composed, they cannot be a Mystery Mysterium: In this context, a pure, primordial essence or a singular state of being.; for every Mystery is singular and a single element. But the difference between elements and composites is this: The element, like a Mystery, has the power to generate a Divertallum Divertallum: A Paracelsian term for the diverse individual forms or "offshoots" that emerge from a single element.. But a composite could generate nothing except its own likeness original: "simile."; just as humans make humans. But the Mystery does not give rise to another Mystery like itself, but rather to something diverse, like a Divertallum. The Element of Fire is the mother of the stars, planets, and the entire firmament, and yet none of these are formed exactly like it or are singular in the same way. The Element of Water original: "Elementum Aqua." has given us "substantial" water, which is entirely contrary to the Element of Water itself; for it is less wet than the Element of Water is in its own nature. For the Element of Water is such a wetness that it softens stones and the hardest metals; such great softening power is taken away from it by "substantial" water, so that its power is not complete. The Element of Air is so dry that it withers all water in an instant; but this power is taken from it and mixed with the "substantial" parts of the air. The Element of Earth is so cold that it brings all creatures to an ultimate matter original: "vltimam materiam.": it turns water into crystals, Footnote marker in text(*) [it turns minerals] into tufa stone, animals into marble, and trees into flint original: "Kiſern." While "Kiefern" means pines, in the context of petrification (marble, tufa, crystal), it likely refers to "Kiesel" or silica/flint.. This is the basis for recognizing the elements: they exist in such powerful operations that their equal cannot be found or known. And the things in which they dwell are drawn to them and taken like a Fate original: "Fatum." that becomes corporeal, and has no more power beyond this.

The Sixth Text.

For a greater understanding of what an element is: an element is nothing other than a Soul. Although its essence is not exactly like a soul, it is uniform with the soul. For there is a difference between the soul of the element and the Eternal Soul. The soul of the element is the life of all creatures. The fire that burns there is not the Element of Fire original: "Elementum Ignis" as we see it; rather, the soul that is within it, invisible to us, is the Element of Fire and its life. Now, the Element of Fire may well be in green wood just as it is in the fire; but the life is not there as it is in the fire. Therefore, there is a difference between the soul and the life. For when the fire lives, it burns; but when it is in the soul—that is, in its element—it is without burning. And it is not the case that because a thing is cold, it must be from the cold element; it may rather be from the hot one, and much cold comes from the Element of Fire. For whatever grows, grows out of the Element of Fire, but in another form. Whatever is fixed original: "Fir," likely "fix" or "firm." comes from the Element of Earth. Whatever nourishes comes from the Element of Air. And whatever consumes comes from the Element of Water. For growth belongs solely to the Element of Fire, and where that is not present, there is no growth. And if the Element of Earth were not there, there would be no stopping of growth; for it fixes original: "figirt.", that is, it gives an end to the Element of Fire. Likewise, if the Element of Air were not there, nothing could be moved; for through the air alone are all things driven. Also, nothing could be broken or consumed if the Element of Water were not there; for through the Element of Water all things are reduced original: "gerödt," meaning dissolved, rotted, or cleared away. or brought to nothing.

The Seventh Text.

But since the elements are thus entirely invisible and imperceptible, hidden within one another, they nonetheless have other mysteries to distribute. Just as the Element of Fire has distributed from itself the...