Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
4 Or a being Sleep is nothing else but 4 an overcoming ; for the overcome. . ... n sun and the stars are still in a mighty strife, and the element of water, [viz.'] the matrix, is too weak for the fire and the stars, for that [element] is the [being] overcome in the centre of nature, as you find before in many places.
19. And the light of the sun is as it were a god in the nature of this world, and by its virtue [and
Or bath.
Cb. 12] OPENING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE 205
influence] it continually kindleth the stars [or constellations], whereby the stars [or constellations] (which are of a very terrible and anguishing essence) continually exult in triumph very joyfully. For it [the sun] is an essence like the light of God, which kindleth and enlighteneth the dark mind of the Father, from whence, by the light, there ariseth the divine joy in the Father.
20. And so it [the sun] maketh a triumphing, or rising [to be] in the l matrix of the water, always J root or like a 2 seething ; for the stars altogether cast their 3 Or ^ virtue [or influence] into the matrix of the water, as s being therein ; in like manner also now the 3 the stars matrix of the water is continually seething and matrix, rising, from whence cometh the * growing in trees, « vegetation, plants, grass, and beasts. For the uppermost regimen [or dominion] of the sun and stars, and also of the elements, ruleth in all creatures, and it is a blossom or bud from them, and without their power, there would be in this world, in the third Principle, no life, nor mobility, in any manner of thing, nothing excepted.
21. But the living creatures, as men, beasts, and fowls, have the tincture in them, for in the beginning they were an extraction [taken] from the quality of the stars and elements by the Fiat. And in the tincture [there] standeth the continual kindling fire, which continually draweth the virtue or oleum [the oil] out of the water ; from whence cometh the blood, in which the noble life 6 standeth. • Or i«.
p. 206
22. Now the sun and the stars [or constellations] continually kindle the tincture, for it is fiery ; and the tincture kindleth the body, with the matrix of the water, so that they are always boiling [rising] and seething. The stars [or constellations] and the sun are the fire of the tincture, and the tincture is the fire of the body, and so all are seething. And therefore when the sun is underneath, so that its beams [or shining] is no more [upon a thing], then the tincture is weaker, for it hath no kindling from the virtue of the sun. And although the virtue of the stars and the quality are kindled from the sun, yet all is too little, and so it becometh feeble [or as it were dead]. And when the tincture is feeble, then the virtue in the blood (which is the tincture) is wholly weak, and sinketh into a sweet rest, as it were dead or overcome.
4 Or a being Sleep is nothing else but 4 an overcoming ; for the overcome. . ... n sun and the stars are still in a mighty strife, and the element of water, [viz.'] the matrix, is too weak for the fire and the stars, for that [element] is the [being] overcome in the centre of nature, as you find before in many places.
19. And the light of the sun is as it were a god in the nature of this world, and by its virtue [and
Or bath.
Cb. 12] OPENING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE 205 influence] it continually kindls the stars [or constellations], whereby the stars [or constellations] (which are of a very terrible and anguishing essence) continually exult in triumph very joyfully. For it [the sun] is an essence like the light of God, which kindls and enlightens the dark mind of the Father, from whence, by the light, there arises the divine joy in the Father.
20. And so it [the sun] makes a triumphing, or rising [to be] in the l matrix of the water, always J root or like a 2 seething ; for the stars altogether cast their 3 Or ^ virtue [or influence] into the matrix of the water, as s being therein ; in like manner also now the 3 the stars matrix of the water is continually seething and matrix, rising, from whence comes the * growing in trees, « vegetation, plants, grass, and beasts. For the uppermost regimen [or dominion] of the sun and stars, and also of the elements, ruls in all creatures, and it is a blossom or bud from them, and without their power, there would be in this world, in the third Principle, no life, nor mobility, in any manner of thing, nothing excepted.
21. But the living creatures, as men, beasts, and fowls, have the tincture in them, for in the beginning they were an extraction [taken] from the quality of the stars and elements by the Fiat. And in the tincture [there] stands the continual kindling fire, which continually draws the virtue or oleum [the oil] out of the water ; from whence comes the blood, in which the noble life 6 stands. • Or i«.
206 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 12
22. Now the sun and the stars [or constellations] continually kindle the tincture, for it is fiery ; and the tincture kindls the body, with the matrix of the water, so that they are always boiling [rising] and seething. The stars [or constellations] and the sun are the fire of the tincture, and the tincture is the fire of the body, and so all are seething. And therefore when the sun is underneath, so that its beams [or shining] is no more [upon a thing], then the tincture is weaker, for it has no kindling from the virtue of the sun. And although the virtue of the stars and the quality are kindled from the sun, yet all is too little, and so it becomes feeble [or as it were dead]. And when the tincture is feeble, then the virtue in the blood (which is the tincture) is wholly weak, and sinks into a sweet rest, as it were dead or overcome.