Works of Constantine the African, Vol. II

On mixture or complexion. Chapter IV.

In the previous treatment of elements, we proved that all bodies subject to construction and destruction are made from the mixtures of elements, diverse in quantity and quality, according as the necessity of the body to be formed from them demanded. For quantity is equal and unequal. Therefore, the equal is called tempered; the unequal, intemperate, which exceeds by one or two. We say that to be a complexio complexion/constitution, which is fashioned from the mixture of elements. If, therefore, a body composed of elements is equal in quality and quantity, it will be tempered. If the igneous part exceeds, it is hot. If the aerial, moist. If the watery, aqueous. If the earthly, it will be dry. If igneous and aerial, it will be hot and moist. If igneous and earthly, it will be hot and dry. If watery and aerial, it will be cold and moist. If watery and earthly, it will be cold and dry. There are, therefore, nine complexions: one equal, and eight unequal. Of the unequal, however, four are simple and four are composite. These two are in the highest extremity. For one extremity is tempered, the other intemperate. Between which there are many degrees. For example: if we mix different colors—whiteness, blackness, yellow, and red—in equal weight, we return different colors to the previous ones. But if we remove a part and add another color, it becomes another, and so on to infinity. The same happens with complexions; for because of the diversity of their quantity in bodies, their forms appear to be different.

On the division of complexion. Chapter V.

Most people divide each complexion in different ways. Some, they say, is tempered, some intemperate. The tempered is equal in all parts of its extremities, and contains the quantity of the four elements equally. This complexion is equal, and certain, and true. There is also another tempered complexion, according to what is necessary for the temperaments of each body. But the human [complexion] was certainly and truly near to being tempered. For while brute animals are content with only one function, man performs all things, and therefore he is rational and intellectual. Because he understands what he does and discerns it by reason. The palms of the hands are more tempered than the whole body, so that they might touch things to be touched more easily and hold things to be held more firmly. For if the sense of touch were not tempered, it would not discern hot from cold, nor soft from hard, nor smooth from rough. For no one feels anything unless the sense of touch is changed in the quality of the sensed thing. Therefore, for it to hold things to be held, it was necessary for the touch to be tempered. If the hand were too soft or too hard, it would not hold what is to be retained. But yet, something holding a thing must be harder than that which is soft. Concerning the tempered complexion, Galen says:

No body, he says, is found to be equally tempered in all its extremities sensually, but intellectually.
For with some body conceived in the mind as subsisting equally in four qualities, there is nevertheless understood to be one quality there which is assimilated to none of the others, and this is said to be tempered. If, however, we wish to take it sensually, let us take the hottest water and snow in equal weight. Which, when mixed, if they are touched, are found to be tempered between hot and cold. If we mix dust and water, we feel the tempered between hard and soft. And thus we can judge many similar things, through which the tempered can be discerned. But the tempered, according to what is necessary, is not equal to every body in all its extremities by a certainly and truly tempered temperament, but according to what is necessary for the appearance of the body in which it is established. For example: a lion is hotter so that it might be irascible and rapacious. A hare is colder so that it might be timid and skittish. But the temperament of every complexion is discerned only from its own function; for example, a horse, because it is swift and fit for war, will be said to be tempered. A dog, because it is sagacious regarding hunting and the familiar acquaintance of its master, is likewise tempered. The same is understood in things born from the earth. For the vine and the fig are said to be tempered, because they are both fruitful and have good flavor. Similarly, in pigments and spices, those that are helpful are said to be better tempered in their nature. It suffices to have said these things concerning temperament according to what is necessary. We have said the intemperate complexion is hot, cold, moist, or dry, which are either understood by quality alone outside a subject, or as they are in a subject. In a subject, either actually or potentially, or accidentally. Potentially: things which, although they do not appear to the sense, can nevertheless exist, as pepper, although it is of a hot nature, is not sensually discerned except when it heats the body of the one eating it. Therefore, its heat is potential. Accidentally, we say it is in a subject, as water being hot, yet not from itself, and similar things. But actual heats are either in the highest extremity, or in the four elements, or under the extremity, as in animated bodies. In the body of an animal, qualities are said to exist either because one exceeds the others, or by comparison. By comparison according to temperament or lack of temperament. According to temperament, as when we say an irrational animal is hot in comparison to man. For man is more tempered than all other species of animals. According to lack of temperament, as when we say an animal is hot in comparison to another animal. The same must be said concerning those things which happen by potentiality.