The Second Part of the Mineral Work

which it finally brings to light as a mother brings forth a mature fetus. This conception and generation of metals, taking its origin from the birth of the world, will last until its dissolution. For by the energy of the Elements fundamental building blocks of nature, new things are generated daily, and old ones, conversely, are corrupted, which is most manifest not only in metallic things but also in Vegetables plants and Animals. For no one will deny that various herbs and small animals are produced upon this stage without the graft of herbs or the seed of animals, solely by the virtue of the Elements; if it were necessary, I would provide many documents for this, but to speak of a matter known to all is superfluous. Who, indeed, will not believe that the same can happen in metallic things? The Almighty implanted in the Stars, or the Element of Fire, a vivifying, prolific, and seminal power for all things, which it does not keep enclosed within itself, but by divine command, through the medium of Air and Water, it drives and sends it down into the center of the Earth. These fiery rays do not cease to advance with their implanted impulse and power until they finally encounter a place beyond which it is impossible to proceed, nor can they linger there any longer, but rebounding, they are dispersed through the whole world, from the Center even to the circumference, fostering and impregnating the Earth. If this did not happen, and those sidereal virtues powers/influences remained in the Center of the earth and never returned upwards, nothing would germinate upon the earth. But because heat and whatever comes from fire is endowed with this nature, that it proceeds as far as it can, and where it is not given to go further, it is reflected,