springing, boiling mobility, for it moveth or boileth through and in the bitter quality in itself, as in its own imaged, formed or framed body; but without the heat, which is the spirit of nature [or naturespirit], it hath as yet no life to growing, vegetation, springing or spreading abroad. 75. But when the heat of the sun shineth upon the earth, then there spring and grow in the earth all manner of images or figures of ores or minerals, herbs, roots and worms, and all whatsoever is therein. Understand this aright. 76. In the earth the heat of the sun kindleth the sweet quality of water, in all imaged or framed figures; and then through the heat the light cometh to be in the sweet water, and that enlighteneth the astringent or sour quality, and the bitter, so that they see in or by the light; and in that seeing the one riseth up into the other, and proveth the other, that is, in that seeing the one tasteth of the other's sharpness, from whence cometh the taste. 77. When the sweet quality perceiveth the taste of the bitter quality, it caggs * at it [checks or stops it], and giveth back; even as a man, when he tasteth astringent, harsh or bitter gall, openeth both the gums of his palate [throat or jaws] in his mouth in his cagging, and wideneth his palate more than it is of itself; and just so doth the sweet quality against the bitter. * " caggs... cagging " (flend sich). The German verb, sich flennen, means, to make a wry face. 78. When the sweet quality thus stretcheth or wideneth itself, and retireth from the bitter, then the astringent always presseth after it, and would also fain taste of the sweet: and always maketh the body, that is behind it, and in it, to be dry; for the sweet quality is the mother of the water, and is very meek, mild, soft and gentle. 79. Now when the astringent or harsh and the bitter qualities get their light from the heat, then they see the sweet quality, and taste of its sweet water, and then they continually make haste after the sweet water, and drink it up, for they are very hard, rough and thirsty, and the heat drieth them quite up. 80. And the sweet quality always flieth from the bitter and the astringent, and always stretcheth its palate wider, and the bitter and the astringent continually hasten after the sweet, and refresh themselves from the sweet, and dry up the body. 81. Thus is the true springing or vegetation in nature, be it in man, beast, wood, herbs or stones. Now observe the End of Nature in this World. 82. When the sweet quality thus flieth from the bitter, and from the sour and astringent, then the astringent and the bitter make all the haste they can after it, as their best treasure; and the sweet presseth vehemently from them, and striveth so much that it driveth and penetrateth through the astringent or harsh quality, and rends the body, and goeth forth from the body, out above the earth, and hasteneth so fast, till a long stalk groweth up. 83. Then the heat above the earth presseth upon the stalk, and so the bitter quality is then kindled by the heat, and it [the stalk] receiveth a repulse from the heat, so that it is terrified, and the astringent quality drieth it. 84. Therein the astringent, the sweet, the bitter and the heat struggle together, and the astringent quality in its coldness continually maketh their dryness, and so the sweet withdraweth on the sides, and the others hasten after it. 85. But when it seeth that it is like to be taken or captivated (the bitter quality from within pressing so hard upon it, and the heat from without pressing upon it also), it maketh the bitter fervent or burning, and inflameth it, and there it [the sweet quality] leapeth, springing up through the astringent quality, and riseth up again aloft; so there cometh to be a hard knot behind it in that place where the struggling was, and the knot gets a hole or orifice. 86. But when the sweet quality leapeth or springeth up through the knot, then the bitter quality had so much affected or wrought upon it that it was all in a trembling; and as soon as it cometh above the knot it suddenly stretcheth itself forth on all sides, striving to fly from the bitter quality; and in that stretching forth its body keepeth hollow in the middle, and in the trembling, leaping or springing up through the knot, it still gets more stalk or leaves, and now is frolick or cheerly that it hath escaped the battle. 87. So when the heat from without thus presseth upon the stalk, then the qualities become kindled in the stalk, and press through the stalk, and so become affected or wrought upon in the external light of the sun, and generate colours in the stalk, according to the kind of its quality.
springing, boiling mobility, for it moves or boils through and in the bitter quality in itself, as in its own imaged, formed or framed body; but without the heat, which is the spirit of nature [or naturespirit], it has as yet no life to growing, vegetation, springing or spreading abroad. 75. But when the heat of the sun shines upon the earth, then there spring and grow in the earth all manner of images or figures of ores or minerals, herbs, roots and worms, and all whatsoever is therein. Understand this aright. 76. In the earth the heat of the sun kindls the sweet quality of water, in all imaged or framed figures; and then through the heat the light comes to be in the sweet water, and that enlightens the astringent or sour quality, and the bitter, so that they see in or by the light; and in that seeing the one rises up into the other, and proves the other, that is, in that seeing the one tastes of the other's sharpness, from whence comes the taste. 77. When the sweet quality perceives the taste of the bitter quality, it caggs * at it [checks or stops it], and gives back; even as a man, when he tastes astringent, harsh or bitter gall, opens both the gums of his palate [throat or jaws] in his mouth in his cagging, and widens his palate more than it is of itself; and just so does the sweet quality against the bitter. * " caggs... cagging " (flend sich). The German verb, sich flennen, means, to make a wry face. 78. When the sweet quality thus stretches or widens itself, and retirs from the bitter, then the astringent always presses after it, and would also fain taste of the sweet: and always makes the body, that is behind it, and in it, to be dry; for the sweet quality is the mother of the water, and is very meek, mild, soft and gentle. 79. Now when the astringent or harsh and the bitter qualities get their light from the heat, then they see the sweet quality, and taste of its sweet water, and then they continually make haste after the sweet water, and drink it up, for they are very hard, rough and thirsty, and the heat dries them quite up. 80. And the sweet quality always flies from the bitter and the astringent, and always stretches its palate wider, and the bitter and the astringent continually hasten after the sweet, and refresh themselves from the sweet, and dry up the body. 81. Thus is the true springing or vegetation in nature, be it in man, beast, wood, herbs or stones. Now observe the End of Nature in this World. 82. When the sweet quality thus flies from the bitter, and from the sour and astringent, then the astringent and the bitter make all the haste they can after it, as their best treasure; and the sweet presses vehemently from them, and strives so much that it drivs and penetrats through the astringent or harsh quality, and rends the body, and goes forth from the body, out above the earth, and hastens so fast, till a long stalk grows up. 83. Then the heat above the earth presses upon the stalk, and so the bitter quality is then kindled by the heat, and it [the stalk] receives a repulse from the heat, so that it is terrified, and the astringent quality dries it. 84. Therein the astringent, the sweet, the bitter and the heat struggle together, and the astringent quality in its coldness continually makes their dryness, and so the sweet withdraws on the sides, and the others hasten after it. 85. But when it sees that it is like to be taken or captivated (the bitter quality from within pressing so hard upon it, and the heat from without pressing upon it also), it makes the bitter fervent or burning, and inflams it, and there it [the sweet quality] leaps, springing up through the astringent quality, and rises up again aloft; so there comes to be a hard knot behind it in that place where the struggling was, and the knot gets a hole or orifice. 86. But when the sweet quality leaps or springs up through the knot, then the bitter quality had so much affected or wrought upon it that it was all in a trembling; and as soon as it comes above the knot it suddenly stretches itself forth on all sides, striving to fly from the bitter quality; and in that stretching forth its body keeps hollow in the middle, and in the trembling, leaping or springing up through the knot, it still gets more stalk or leaves, and now is frolick or cheerly that it has escaped the battle. 87. So when the heat from without thus presses upon the stalk, then the qualities become kindled in the stalk, and press through the stalk, and so become affected or wrought upon in the external light of the sun, and generate colours in the stalk, according to the kind of its quality.
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.