Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/36

 

Here are two things (aith Hermes) viz. Fire and Earth, which are ufficient for the operation of all wonderfull things: the former is active, the latter paive. Fire (as aith Dionyius) in all things, and through all things, comes and goes away bright, it is in all things bright, and at the ame time occult, and unknown; When it is by it elf (no other matter coming to it, in which it hould manifet its proper action) it is boundles, and inviible, of it elf ufficient for every action that is proper to it, moveable, yielding it elf after a maner to all things that come next to it, renewing, guarding nature, enlightening, not comprehended by lights that are vailed over, clear, parted, leaping back, bending upwards, quick in motion, high, alwayes raiing motions, comprehending another, not Comprehended it elf, not tanding in need of another, ecretly increaing of it elf, and manifeting its greatnes to things that receive it, Active, Powerfull, Inviibly preent in all things at once; it will not be affronted or oppoed, but as it were in a way of revenge, it will reduce on a udden things into obedience to it elf, incomprehenible, impalpable, not leened, mot rich in all dipenations of it elf. Fire (as aith Pliny) is the boundles, and michievous part of the nature of things, it being a quetion whether it detroys, or produceth mot things. Fire it elf is one, and penetrates through all things (as ay the Pythagorians) alo pread abroad in the Heavens, and hining: but in the infernall place treightened, dark, and tormenting, in the mid way it partakes of both. Fire therefore in it elf is one, but in that which receives it, manifold, and in differing ubjects it is ditributed in a different manner, as Cleanthes witneeth in Cicero. That fire then which we ue is fetched out of other things. It is in tones, and is fetched out by the troke of the teele: it is in Earth, and makes that, after digging up, to moake : it is in Water, and heats prings, and wells: it is in the