[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Sol.
78. The Air succeeds the Water, drawn about by seven circles or revolutions, which is wheeled about with so many
circles and reductions, until it be fixed downwards, and Saturn being expelled, Jupiter may receive the Sceptre and
Government of the Kingdom, by whose coming the Philosophers' Infant is formed, nourished in the womb, and at
length is born; resembling the splendour of Luna in her beautiful and Serene countenance.
79. The Fire executes the courses of the Nature of the Elements, extreme Fire assisting it; of the hidden is made the
manifest; the Saffron dyeth the Lily; Redness possesseth the cheeks of the blushing Child now made stronger. A
Crown is prepared for him against the time of his Reign. This is the consummation of the first work, and the perfect
rotation of the Elements the sign whereof is, when they are all terminated in Siccum, and the body void of Spirit
lieth down, wanting pulse, and motion; and thus all the Elements are finally resolved into Terra.
80. Fire placed in the Stone is Nature's Prince, Sol's Son and Vicar, moving and digesting matter and perfecting all
things therein, if it shall attain its liberty, for it lieth weak under a hard bark; procure therefore its freedom that it
may succour thee freely; but beware that thou urge it not above measure, for being impatient of tyranny it may
become a fugitive, no hope of return being left unto thee; call it back therefore by courteous words, and keep it
prudently.
81. The first mover of nature is External Fire, the Moderator of Internal Fire, and of the whole Work; Let the
Philosopher therefore very well understand the government thereof, and observe its degrees and points; for from
thence the welfare or ruin of the work dependeth. Thus Art helpeth Nature, and the Philosopher is the Minister of
both.
82. By these two Instruments of Art and Nature the Stone lifteth itself up from Earth to Heaven with great ingenuity,
and slideth from Heaven to Earth, because the Earth is its Nurse, and being carried in the womb of the wind, it
receiveth the force of the Superiors and Inferiors.
83. The Circulation of the Elements is performed by a double Whorl, by the greater or extended and the less or
contracted. The Whorl extended fixeth all the Elements of the Earth, and its circle is not finished unless the work of
Sulphur be perfected. The revolution of the minor Whorl is terminated by the extraction and preparation of every
Element. Now in this Whorl there are three Circles placed, which always and variously move the Matter, by an
Erratic and Intricate Motion, and do often (seven times at least) drive about every Element, in order succeeding one
another, and so agreeable, that if one shall be wanting the labour of the rest is made void. These Circulations are
Nature's Instruments, whereby the Elements are prepared. Let the Philosopher therefore consider the progress of
Nature in the Physical Tract, more fully described for this very end.
84. Every Circle hath its proper Motion, for all the Motions of the Circles are conversant about the subject of
Humidum and Siccum, and are so concatenated that they produce the one operation, and one only consent of Nature:
two of them are opposite, both in respect of their causes and the effects; for one moveth upwards, drying by heat;
another downwards, moistening by cold; a third carrying the form of rest and sleep by digesting, induceth the
cessation of both in greatest moderation.
85. Of the three Circles, the first is Evacuation, the labour of which is in extracting the superfluous Humidum and
also in separating the pure, clean and subtle, from the gross and terrestrial dregs. Now the greatest danger is found in
the motion of this Circle, because it hath to do with things Spiritual and makes Nature plentiful.
86. Two things are chiefly to be taken heed of in moving this Circle; first, that it be not moved too intensely; the
other, that it be not moved for too long a time. Motion accelerated raiseth confusion in the matter, so that the gross, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]