88. But so long as the sweet water is in the stalk, the stalk retaineth its greenish colour according to the kind of the sweet quality. 89. Such substance the qualities always bring to pass with the heat in the stalk, and the stalk always groweth farther, and always one storm or assault is held after another, whereby the stalk always getteth more knots, and still spreadeth forth its branches farther and farther. 90. In the meanwhile the heat from without always drieth the sweet water in the stalk, and the stalk is always smaller at the top; the higher it groweth the smaller it is, growing on so long till it can escape or run no farther. 91. And then the sweet quality yieldeth to be taken captive, and so the bitter, the sour, the sweet and the astringent reign jointly together, and the sweet stretcheth itself a little forth, but it can escape no more, for it is captivated or caught. 92. And then from all the qualities which are in the body, there groweth a bud or head, and there is a new body in the bud or head, which is formed or figured answerable or Uke to the first root in the earth, only now it gets another more subtile * form. * " subtile " (subtile), " delicate " or " fine," and implying the idea of their underlying positions. 93. And then the sweet quality extends itself gently or mildly, and there grow little subtile * leaves in the head, which are of the kind of all the qualities, and then the sweet water is as it were a pregnant woman new with child, having conceived the seed, and it always presseth onward, till it openeth the head.
94. And then also the sweet quality presseth forth in little leaves, like a woman who is in travail and bringing forth, but the little leaves or blossoms have no more its colour and form, but the form of all the qualities; for now the sweet quality must bring forth the children of the other qualities. 95. And when this sweet mother hath brought forth the fair, green, blue, white, red and yellow flowers, blossoms or children, then she groweth quite weary, and cannot long nourish or nurse these children, neither can she have them long, seeing they are but her stepchildren, which are very tender. 96. And so when the outward heat presseth upon these tender children, all the qualities in the children come to be kindled, for the spirit of life qualifieth or floweth in them. 97. And seeing they are too weak for this strong spirit, and cannot elevate themselves, they yield or surrender their noble power, and that smells so lovely and with so pleasant a savour that it rejoiceth the very heart, and maketh it laugh; but they must wither and fall off, because they are too tender for this spirit. 98. For the spirit draweth from the head or bud into the blossoms, and the head or bud is formed according to the kind of all the qualities; the astringent quality attracteth or collecteth the body of the bud or head, and the sweet quality softeneth it and spreadeth it abroad, and the bitter quality parteth or distinguisheth the matter into members, and the heat is the living spirit therein. 99. Now all the qualities labour or work therein, and bring forth their fruit or children, and every child is qualified or conditioned according to the kind and property of all the qualities. 100. This they drive and act so long, till all the matter is quite dried, till the sweet quality or sweet water is dried up, and then the fruit falls off, and the stalk drieth also and falleth down. And this is the End of Nature in this World. 101. Concerning this, much higher things are to be written, which you will find concerning the creation of this world: This is only brought in for a similitude, and described in the briefest manner. 102. Now the otlier form of the qualities, or of the divine powers, or of the seven spirits of God, is especially to be observed or known by the instance or example of heat. 103. First there is the ground, or the corporeal being, although in the Deity, or in the creatures, it [the heat] hath no peculiar or several body, for all the qualities are one in another as one, however the operation of every quality is perceived in particular and severally. 104. Now in the body or fountain is the heat, which generateth the fire, and which is a form or kind of thing that a man can search into; and out of the heat goeth the light through all the spirits and qualities; and the light is the living spirit, which a man cannot search into. 105. A man can search into its will, and know what it willeth, or how it is: For it proceedeth in the sweet quality, and the light riseth up in the sweet quality in the sweet water, but not in the
88. But so long as the sweet water is in the stalk, the stalk retains its greenish colour according to the kind of the sweet quality. 89. Such substance the qualities always bring to pass with the heat in the stalk, and the stalk always grows farther, and always one storm or assault is held after another, whereby the stalk always getts more knots, and still spreads forth its branches farther and farther. 90. In the meanwhile the heat from without always dries the sweet water in the stalk, and the stalk is always smaller at the top; the higher it grows the smaller it is, growing on so long till it can escape or run no farther. 91. And then the sweet quality yields to be taken captive, and so the bitter, the sour, the sweet and the astringent reign jointly together, and the sweet stretches itself a little forth, but it can escape no more, for it is captivated or caught. 92. And then from all the qualities which are in the body, there grows a bud or head, and there is a new body in the bud or head, which is formed or figured answerable or Uke to the first root in the earth, only now it gets another more subtile * form. * " subtile " (subtile), " delicate " or " fine," and implying the idea of their underlying positions. 93. And then the sweet quality extends itself gently or mildly, and there grow little subtile * leaves in the head, which are of the kind of all the qualities, and then the sweet water is as it were a pregnant woman new with child, having conceived the seed, and it always presses onward, till it opens the head.
94. And then also the sweet quality presses forth in little leaves, like a woman who is in travail and bringing forth, but the little leaves or blossoms have no more its colour and form, but the form of all the qualities; for now the sweet quality must bring forth the children of the other qualities. 95. And when this sweet mother has brought forth the fair, green, blue, white, red and yellow flowers, blossoms or children, then she grows quite weary, and cannot long nourish or nurse these children, neither can she have them long, seeing they are but her stepchildren, which are very tender. 96. And so when the outward heat presses upon these tender children, all the qualities in the children come to be kindled, for the spirit of life qualifies or flows in them. 97. And seeing they are too weak for this strong spirit, and cannot elevate themselves, they yield or surrender their noble power, and that smells so lovely and with so pleasant a savour that it rejoics the very heart, and makes it laugh; but they must wither and fall off, because they are too tender for this spirit. 98. For the spirit draws from the head or bud into the blossoms, and the head or bud is formed according to the kind of all the qualities; the astringent quality attracts or collects the body of the bud or head, and the sweet quality softens it and spreads it abroad, and the bitter quality parts or distinguishes the matter into members, and the heat is the living spirit therein. 99. Now all the qualities labour or work therein, and bring forth their fruit or children, and every child is qualified or conditioned according to the kind and property of all the qualities. 100. This they drive and act so long, till all the matter is quite dried, till the sweet quality or sweet water is dried up, and then the fruit falls off, and the stalk dries also and falls down. And this is the End of Nature in this World. 101. Concerning this, much higher things are to be written, which you will find concerning the creation of this world: This is only brought in for a similitude, and described in the briefest manner. 102. Now the otlier form of the qualities, or of the divine powers, or of the seven spirits of God, is especially to be observed or known by the instance or example of heat. 103. First there is the ground, or the corporeal being, although in the Deity, or in the creatures, it [the heat] has no peculiar or several body, for all the qualities are one in another as one, however the operation of every quality is perceived in particular and severally. 104. Now in the body or fountain is the heat, which generats the fire, and which is a form or kind of thing that a man can search into; and out of the heat goes the light through all the spirits and qualities; and the light is the living spirit, which a man cannot search into. 105. A man can search into its will, and know what it wills, or how it is: For it proceeds in the sweet quality, and the light rises up in the sweet quality in the sweet water, but not in the
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