Observe in the Depth: 10. Hardness is the fountain or wellspring of the tone, but it alone cannot generate the same, yet it is the father thereof, and the whole Salitter is the mother; otherwise, if the hardness were both father and mother of the tone, then a hard stone also must have a ringing sound. But a hard stone doth make only a noise, like a knocking, as a seed or beginning of a tone, and that it is, certainly. 11. But the tone of voice riseth up in the middle centre, in the flash or lightning, where the light is generated out of the heat, where the flash or lightning of life riseth up. Observe how this is done: 12. When the astringent quality rubbeth itself with the bitter, so that the heat riseth up in the sweet spring or fountainwater, then the heat kindleth the sweet spring or fountainwater, like a flash of lightning, and that flash is the light; which in the heat goeth into the bitter quality, and there the flash is distinguished according to all the powers. 13. For all powers are discerned or distinguished in the bitter, and the bitter receiveth the flash of the light, as if it were horribly terrified, and goeth with its trembling and terror into the astringent and hard quality, and there it is bodily captivated. 14. And the bitter quality is now impregnated with the light, and trembleth in the astringent and hard quality, and stirreth therein, and is captivated in the astringent quality, as in a body. 15. And now when the spirits do move and would speak, the hard quality must open itself;
for the bitter spirit with its flash breaketh it open, and then there the tone goeth forth, and is impregnated with all the seven spirits, which distinguish the word, as it was decreed in the centre, that is, in the middle of the circle, whilst it was yet in the council of the seven spirits. 16. And therefore the seven spirits of God have created a mouth for the creatures, that when they [the creatures] would utter their voice, which is their speaking, or [when they would] make a noise,* they need not first tear themselves open; and therefore it is that all the veins and powers or qualifying [conditioning] or fountain spirits go into the tongue, that the tone or noise may come forth gently. * " make a noise " (schallen), " sound." Here observe exactly the * Sense and Mystery. * Mind or Meaning 17. When the flash riseth up in the heat, then first the sweet water catcheth or captivateth it, for therein it becometh shining. Now when the water catcheth the flash, that is, the birth of the light, then the sweet water is terrified, and being so thin and pliant or feeble, it yieldeth, very much trembling; for the heat riseth up in the light. 18. Now when the astringent quality, which is very cold, catcheth the heat and the flash, then it is terrified, as in a tempest of lightning; for when the heat cometh with the light into the hard cold, then it maketh a fierce flash, of a very fiery and light colour.
19. Then that flash retireth back, and the sweet water catcheth it, and riseth up in that fierceness, and in that rising and terrifying changeth itself into a green or azure or blue colour, and trembleth because of the fierce flash. 20. And the flash in itself keepeth its fierceness, from whence existeth the bitter quality, or the bitter spirit, which now riseth up in the astringent quality, and inflameth or kindleth the hardness with its fierce quality, and the light or flash drieth itself in the hardness, and shineth clear and bright, far brighter than the light of the sun. 21. But it is caught in the hard quality, so that it subsists in a bodily manner, and must shine so eternally, and the flash trembleth in the body, like a fierce rising up, whereby all the qualities are stirred, always and eternally. 22. And the flash of fire in the light trembleth and triumpheth thus continually, and the sweet water softeneth [or quencheth] the fire also continually* and the hardness is always the body, which retaineth, preserveth, and drieth it. * The clause printed in italics is not in Sparrow's translation. It is here supplied from the German editions of 1682, 1715 and 1730. It is not in 1656, nor in Schiebler. 23. And this stirring in the hardness is the tone, so that [there is a] sound; and the light or flash maketh the ringing, and the sweet water maketh the ringing soft: so that a man can use the sound to the distinction of speech, or articulation of syllables.
Observe in the Depth: 10. Hardness is the fountain or wellspring of the tone, but it alone cannot generate the same, yet it is the father thereof, and the whole Salitter is the mother; otherwise, if the hardness were both father and mother of the tone, then a hard stone also must have a ringing sound. But a hard stone does make only a noise, like a knocking, as a seed or beginning of a tone, and that it is, certainly. 11. But the tone of voice rises up in the middle centre, in the flash or lightning, where the light is generated out of the heat, where the flash or lightning of life rises up. Observe how this is done: 12. When the astringent quality rubbs itself with the bitter, so that the heat rises up in the sweet spring or fountainwater, then the heat kindls the sweet spring or fountainwater, like a flash of lightning, and that flash is the light; which in the heat goes into the bitter quality, and there the flash is distinguished according to all the powers. 13. For all powers are discerned or distinguished in the bitter, and the bitter receives the flash of the light, as if it were horribly terrified, and goes with its trembling and terror into the astringent and hard quality, and there it is bodily captivated. 14. And the bitter quality is now impregnated with the light, and trembls in the astringent and hard quality, and stirrs therein, and is captivated in the astringent quality, as in a body. 15. And now when the spirits do move and would speak, the hard quality must open itself;
for the bitter spirit with its flash breaks it open, and then there the tone goes forth, and is impregnated with all the seven spirits, which distinguish the word, as it was decreed in the centre, that is, in the middle of the circle, whilst it was yet in the council of the seven spirits. 16. And therefore the seven spirits of God have created a mouth for the creatures, that when they [the creatures] would utter their voice, which is their speaking, or [when they would] make a noise,* they need not first tear themselves open; and therefore it is that all the veins and powers or qualifying [conditioning] or fountain spirits go into the tongue, that the tone or noise may come forth gently. * " make a noise " (schallen), " sound." Here observe exactly the * Sense and Mystery. * Mind or Meaning 17. When the flash rises up in the heat, then first the sweet water catches or captivats it, for therein it becomes shining. Now when the water catches the flash, that is, the birth of the light, then the sweet water is terrified, and being so thin and pliant or feeble, it yields, very much trembling; for the heat rises up in the light. 18. Now when the astringent quality, which is very cold, catches the heat and the flash, then it is terrified, as in a tempest of lightning; for when the heat comes with the light into the hard cold, then it makes a fierce flash, of a very fiery and light colour.
19. Then that flash retirs back, and the sweet water catches it, and rises up in that fierceness, and in that rising and terrifying changes itself into a green or azure or blue colour, and trembls because of the fierce flash. 20. And the flash in itself keeps its fierceness, from whence exists the bitter quality, or the bitter spirit, which now rises up in the astringent quality, and inflams or kindls the hardness with its fierce quality, and the light or flash dries itself in the hardness, and shines clear and bright, far brighter than the light of the sun. 21. But it is caught in the hard quality, so that it subsists in a bodily manner, and must shine so eternally, and the flash trembls in the body, like a fierce rising up, whereby all the qualities are stirred, always and eternally. 22. And the flash of fire in the light trembls and triumphs thus continually, and the sweet water softens [or quenches] the fire also continually* and the hardness is always the body, which retains, preservs, and dries it. * The clause printed in italics is not in Sparrow's translation. It is here supplied from the German editions of 1682, 1715 and 1730. It is not in 1656, nor in Schiebler. 23. And this stirring in the hardness is the tone, so that [there is a] sound; and the light or flash makes the ringing, and the sweet water makes the ringing soft: so that a man can use the sound to the distinction of speech, or articulation of syllables.
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