The Chemical Theater

Third Discourse.

Anaxagoras Anaxagoras was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who proposed that "mind" or "reason" (Nous) ordered the universe. says: I say that the principle of all things which God created is piety and reason, because piety rules all things, and in reason, piety appeared alongside the density of the earth; yet piety is not seen except within a body. And know, all you of this Assembly, that the density original: spissitudo; referring to the thickness, solidity, or "grossness" of matter compared to "subtle" or "rare" things. of the four elements rests in the earth. For the density of fire falls into the air; the density of the air, along with what is gathered from the density of fire, falls into the water. Furthermore, the density of the water, aided by the density of the fire and the air, rests in the earth. Do you not see that the density of the four elements is joined together in the earth? Therefore, the earth itself is the densest of all. The Assembly said: You have spoken the truth. The earth is certainly denser than the others. Which, then, of the four elements is the rarest original: rarius; meaning the thinnest, most subtle, or least dense., and which is most worthy to possess that rarity? He says: Fire is the rarest of these four, and the rarity of these four reaches its height in it. Air, however, is less rare than fire, for it is hot and moist, while fire is hot and dry; for that which is hot and dry is rarer than that which is hot and moist. They say to him: What is of less rarity than air? He says: Water, because in it there is coldness and moisture, and everything cold and moist is of less rarity than that which is hot and moist. They said: You have spoken the truth. What, then, is of less rarity than water? He says: Earth, because it is cold and dry. And the cold and dry is of less rarity than the cold and moist. Just as the dry and hot is rarer than the hotter moist Anaxagoras is outlining the Aristotelian qualities of the elements: Fire (Hot/Dry), Air (Hot/Moist), Water (Cold/Moist), and Earth (Cold/Dry)., so the hot and dry is of less rarity than the cold and moist. You have well-fitted, O sons of doctrine, the description of these four natures from which God created all things. Blessed is he who understands what you have described, for from the head of the world original: mundi capite; likely referring to the primary principles or the beginning of creation. he shall find something greater than his own purpose. Complete, therefore, our discourse. They say: Rather, command anyone you wish to continue our discourse. You speak, Pandolfus.

Fourth Discourse.

Pandolfus A legendary figure in alchemical literature, often associated with these dialogues. then said: I signify to posterity that air is a "thinning" of water, and it is not separated from it; if the earth were not above the moist water, the air would not remain. They say: You have spoken well. Complete your oration. He said: It is said that the air hidden in the water which is beneath the earth is what carries the earth, lest it be submerged in the water that is beneath the earth; it also prevents the earth from being washed away by the water. Therefore, the air was made as a filler and a separator between diverse things—namely, between water and earth—and creating a balance between the adversaries, water and fire...