P R O O E M I U M.

because all corruption comes from a contrary, and those contraries are proportionate at their height, and therefore they are not corrupted. But that this is possible is proven thus: where there is a greater equal and a lesser equal, there is an equal simply. I say that it is not possible to give that which is mixed and moved by the nature of the predominant element, that is, the heavens. But to the reason where there is a greater and lesser equal, etc., answer that it is true as far as the equal suffices and as far as it is possible. Wherefore, a mixture that is equal in humor is to be placed according to justice, but it is not possible to give an equal according to the quantity of the movable, because the earth always predominates in many mixtures. Another statement: assuming that such a mixture were weighted thus according to every quality of the elements, it would still be corruptible from the outside, namely from the celestial virtue, because it could be chilled by means of cold water, and thus return to this state, namely from the equality of humors, and in this way be corrupted. Note that the text says men are similar to God in mind; that is evident, because man becomes divine through knowledge. Seneca: A speculative man is like unto God and most beloved by Him. This is evident in the second book of the Metaphysics, where Aristotle says that in men there is delight for a short time, which they perfect through intelligence within themselves. And he understands by this the knowledge of God, in which there is the greatest delight. Note that all delight happens through a certain likeness or assimilation of the knower to the known, by means of the exemplary form