Page 15 - Paracelsus Three Books of Philosophy

presently out of it were distributed fates, impressions, enchantments, superstitions,
shrewd turns, dreams, divinations, lotteries, visions, apparitions, Fatacests3,
Melusines4, spirits, Diemeae5, Durdales6, and Neuferans7. At the separation of the
things aforesaid every thing had its proper place and peculiar essence appointed it.
Hence things invisible in themselves became sensible unto us. No element was by the
supreme secret made more thin than the air. The Diemeae dwell in the rocks, for such
there created with the air into a vacuity. The Durdales betook themselves into woods,
for their separation was into such a kind of substance. The Neuferans inhabit in the Air
or pores of the earth. The Melusines stepped aside into man’s blood, for their
separation from the air was into bodies and flesh. The spirits were distributed into air
that is yet in a chaos. All the rest are in peculiar places of the air, every one keeping its
place assigned to it, and separate from the element of the air, yet so as that it must of
necessity live therein, nor can it change that place for another.

By the separation of the elements the water was gathered into the place which the
mystery had allotted it. Thus every thing whatsoever that lurked in the elementary
vertue and property thereof was more fully divided by a second separation, and the
water parted into many special mysteries, all which had their matrix from the element
of water. One part thereof became fishes, and they are of many forms and kinds, some
beasts, some salt; much of it sea-plants, as Corals, Trines and Citrons; a great deal of it
sea-monsters contrary to the manner and natural course of the elements, very much
became Nymphs, Sirens8, Drames9, Lorind10, Nesder11; some reasonable creatures,
having something eternal in their body, and propagating themselves; some also that die
totally, and some that are again separated in time. For the perfect separation of the
element of water is not yet made. But as the great harvest hastens and comes on, a
new increase may spring up every year in the element of water. And this separation is

3 Fatacests - Will o’ the wisps, Fata morgana, wandering and deceiving lights.
4 Melusines - A fairy spirit with a human body but a serpent from her waist downward. Despairing
women, now living in a phantastic brutish body, nourished by the Elements, into which at last they
shall be changed, unless they chance to marry with a man.
5 Diemeae - Spiritual essences which inhabit large stones.
6 Durdales - Wood nymphs, spirits of the trees.
7 Neuferans - Elemental spirits.
8 Sirens - Sea-monsters, who lead people astray, bred of the Nymphs.
9 Drames -
10 Lorind - Water spirits which move the waters, with a musical noise, and are a sign of some
change at hand.
11 Nesder -

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