Page 25 - Paracelsus Three Books of Philosophy

coldness, there is none of all the rest. The same may be said of moisture and dryness.
Every element is simple and solitary by itself, not mixed in composition. The possibility
which philosophers talk of, concerning a conjunction of the elements, is as much as
comes to nothing. For no element of water hath any heat in it. Nor can there by any
heat in moisture. Every element is alone by itself. So also cold cannot of itself endure
dryness, it subsists pure by itself. And thus much be spoken to be understood of the
proper essence of the elements. All dryness is a dissolution of cold. As moisture and
dryness cannot be mixed; so much less can coldness and dryness close or consist
together. For as heat and cold are contrary things, so heat and cold have a contrariety
against moist and dry.

Because all things are constituted of the four elements, therefore to go about to
prove that those elements must necessarily be mixed together, is very erroneous. For
every mixture is a composition. Therefore they cannot be a mystery, because they are
compounded. Every mystery is simple, and one only element. Now the difference
betwixt the elements and compounds is this: an element, and so may a mystery too,
can generate something else out of it. A compound can generate nothing, but what is
like itself; as men beget men. But a mystery does not produce a mystery like itself, but
a contrary thing, as a divertallum16. The element of fire is the generator of the stars,
planets, and the whole firmament, yet neither of them is made and forms like this. The
element of water made water, which is altogether contrary to the element of water; for
that of itself is not so moist as the element of water. The very element itself of water
hath such moisture that will soften stones and hard metals. The substantial water takes
away that excellent vertue of mollifying, that its power is not perfect. The element of
air is so dry that it can dry up all waters in a moment. But that force is taken away and
broken by the substantial air. The element of earth is so cold, that it would bring all
things to the ultimate matter, as water into crystal, and [burning water - brengt17] into
Duelech18, living creatures into marble, trees into giants. The fundamental of the
elements may be known as this, to understand, that they are of such an excellent and
quick activity or efficacy, that nothing besides can be found or imagined like them. The
things wherein those are, be attracted and assumed by them, as fate, that may become
corporeal, yet hath not one whit of virtue without them.

That we may more fully understand what an element is, we must know that an

16 Something generated by the combination or mixture of the elements
17 Margin note from the German edition – missing in the English.
18 Deulech - A dangerous and painful tartarous stone which forms in the human body especially in the
bladder and kidneys. A very precious spongy stone.

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