original of water and air, in which everything acteth and standeth; every life and mobility standeth therein. Of this I shall write plainly, concerning the creation of the stars. Of the Influences of the other Qualities in the Three Elements, Fire, Air, and Water. Of the Bitter Quality. 28. The bitter quality is the heart in every life; for as it attracteth together the water in the air, and also dissipateth the same, so that it [the water] becometh separable; so also in other creatures, and in the vegetables of the earth. For leaves and grass have their green colour from the bitter quality. 29. Now if the bitter quality dwelleth meekly and gently in any creature, then is it the heart or joy therein; for it dissipateth all other evil influences, and is the beginning or cause of joy or of laughing. 30. * For the bitter quality, when stirred, causeth the creature to tremble and be joyful, and to be lifted up in its whole body; for the stirring of the bitter quality is, as it were, a glimpse or ray of or from the heavenly kingdom of joy, an exaltation of the spirit, a spirit and virtue in all plants of the earth, a mother of life. * A new translation of this par. has been substituted for Sparrow's rendering. 31. The Holy Ghost springeth, moveth and driveth vehemently in this quality, for this quality is a part of the heavenly joyfulness, as I shall demonstrate afterwards.
32. But it hath also in it another species or kind, namely, the fierceness or wrath, which is the very house of death, a corruption of all good, a perdition and destruction of the life in the flesh. 33. For if it be too much elevated or too preponderant in any creature, and be inflamed in the heat, then flesh and spirit separate, and the creature loseth its life and must die; for then it moveth and kindleth the element fire; and in the great heat and bitterness no flesh can subsist. But if it be kindled in the element water, and springeth [becometh active] therein, it causeth debility and sickness* in the flesh, and finally death.+ * The German word Siechtage, translated " debility and sickness," implies lingering sickness, and is aptly rendered des langueurs by St Martin. + The last clause of this par. does not appear in Sparrow's translation. It is in the German eds. of 1682, 1715, and 1730, but not in 1656, nor in Schiebler's ed. Of the Sweet Quality. 34. The sweet quality is set opposite to the bitter, and is a gracious, amiable, blessed and pleasant quality, a refreshing of the life, an allaying of the fierceness. It maketh all pleasant and friendly in every creature; it maketh the vegetables of the earth fragrant and of good taste, affording fair, yellow, white and ruddy colours. 35. It is a glimpse and source of meekness, a pleasant habitation of heavenly joyfulness, a house or mansion of the Holy Ghost, a qualification of love and mercy, a joy of the life.
36. But, on the other side, it hath also a fierce or wrathful source, a source of death and corruption. For if it be kindled in the bitter quality in the element water, then it breedeth diseases, and the blotchy plague* or pestilence, and corruption of the flesh. * " blotchy plague " (aufgeschwollene Pestilentz), lit., " swollen plague." St M. renders this, " des enflures et des maladies pestilentielles," "swellings and plaguelike [i.e. infectious] sicknesses." 37. But if it be kindled in the heat and bitterness, then it infecteth the element air, whereby is engendered a sudden spreading plague and sudden death. Of the Sour Quality. 38. The sour quality is set opposite to the bitter and the sweet, and is a good temper to all, a refreshing and cooling when the bitter and the sweet qualities are too much elevated or too preponderant. It is a longing delight in the taste, a pleasure of life, a stirring, boiling, flowing joy + in everything; a desire, longing and lust of joyfulness, a still joy or habitation of the spirit. Thus it is a temperature to all living and moving creatures. + " a stirring, boiling, flowing joy " (eine quellende Freude), " a wellingup joy." 39. It containeth also a source of evil and corruption: For if it predominate too much, or stirreth too much in anything, so that it be inflamed, then it engendereth sadness and melancholy. 40. In the water it causeth a stink, putridness and rankness,* a forgetfulness of all good things,
original of water and air, in which everything acts and stands; every life and mobility stands therein. Of this I shall write plainly, concerning the creation of the stars. Of the Influences of the other Qualities in the Three Elements, Fire, Air, and Water. Of the Bitter Quality. 28. The bitter quality is the heart in every life; for as it attracts together the water in the air, and also dissipats the same, so that it [the water] becomes separable; so also in other creatures, and in the vegetables of the earth. For leaves and grass have their green colour from the bitter quality. 29. Now if the bitter quality dwells meekly and gently in any creature, then is it the heart or joy therein; for it dissipats all other evil influences, and is the beginning or cause of joy or of laughing. 30. * For the bitter quality, when stirred, causes the creature to tremble and be joyful, and to be lifted up in its whole body; for the stirring of the bitter quality is, as it were, a glimpse or ray of or from the heavenly kingdom of joy, an exaltation of the spirit, a spirit and virtue in all plants of the earth, a mother of life. * A new translation of this par. has been substituted for Sparrow's rendering. 31. The Holy Ghost springs, moves and drivs vehemently in this quality, for this quality is a part of the heavenly joyfulness, as I shall demonstrate afterwards.
32. But it has also in it another species or kind, namely, the fierceness or wrath, which is the very house of death, a corruption of all good, a perdition and destruction of the life in the flesh. 33. For if it be too much elevated or too preponderant in any creature, and be inflamed in the heat, then flesh and spirit separate, and the creature loses its life and must die; for then it moves and kindls the element fire; and in the great heat and bitterness no flesh can subsist. But if it be kindled in the element water, and springs [becomes active] therein, it causes debility and sickness* in the flesh, and finally death.+ * The German word Siechtage, translated " debility and sickness," implies lingering sickness, and is aptly rendered des langueurs by St Martin. + The last clause of this par. does not appear in Sparrow's translation. It is in the German eds. of 1682, 1715, and 1730, but not in 1656, nor in Schiebler's ed. Of the Sweet Quality. 34. The sweet quality is set opposite to the bitter, and is a gracious, amiable, blessed and pleasant quality, a refreshing of the life, an allaying of the fierceness. It makes all pleasant and friendly in every creature; it makes the vegetables of the earth fragrant and of good taste, affording fair, yellow, white and ruddy colours. 35. It is a glimpse and source of meekness, a pleasant habitation of heavenly joyfulness, a house or mansion of the Holy Ghost, a qualification of love and mercy, a joy of the life.
36. But, on the other side, it has also a fierce or wrathful source, a source of death and corruption. For if it be kindled in the bitter quality in the element water, then it breeds diseases, and the blotchy plague* or pestilence, and corruption of the flesh. * " blotchy plague " (aufgeschwollene Pestilentz), lit., " swollen plague." St M. renders this, " des enflures et des maladies pestilentielles," "swellings and plaguelike [i.e. infectious] sicknesses." 37. But if it be kindled in the heat and bitterness, then it infects the element air, whereby is engendered a sudden spreading plague and sudden death. Of the Sour Quality. 38. The sour quality is set opposite to the bitter and the sweet, and is a good temper to all, a refreshing and cooling when the bitter and the sweet qualities are too much elevated or too preponderant. It is a longing delight in the taste, a pleasure of life, a stirring, boiling, flowing joy + in everything; a desire, longing and lust of joyfulness, a still joy or habitation of the spirit. Thus it is a temperature to all living and moving creatures. + " a stirring, boiling, flowing joy " (eine quellende Freude), " a wellingup joy." 39. It contains also a source of evil and corruption: For if it predominate too much, or stirrs too much in anything, so that it be inflamed, then it engenders sadness and melancholy. 40. In the water it causes a stink, putridness and rankness,* a forgetfulness of all good things,
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