The Magnetic Art

by which it happens that a needle attracts a needle, and imparts the power implanted in it to another, and this in turn to another, and thus they are confederated by a certain nexus, adhering to each other. For the magnet has nothing, nor can it do anything, which the iron animated by the magnet cannot do, nay, not even by touch, but only by being placed in the vicinity. For as soon as it is within the circle of the magnet's powers, although it may be at a distance, it is immediately altered, and has its form renewed, which was previously sleepy and inert in the body, but is now vivid and powerful.

THEOREM IV.

The magnet attracts and expels the magnet, just as

excited iron attracts another piece of iron.

We must by no means be silent about that (which has always seemed inexplicable to philosophers) discordantly concordant relationship of magnet to magnet, not badly called magnetic jealousy Zelotypia magnetica, by which parts joined in friendly companionship burn with such love that unless one enjoys the embraces of the other, and the power of touching is given, they cannot rest; but opposing parts exercise mutual hatreds of natures, and burn with blind discords, so that when touched by the inimical concurrence of the points, as if an adversary were present, they are indignant and, ceasing from their duties, are destitute of powers, of which thing take this experiment.

Experiment IV.

Let there be two stones A, C, D and E, B, F. In the first stone, let the point A be the northern, G the southern; in the stone E, F, B, let the northern part be H, the southern B. I say if you bring the southern part G of the stone C, A, D toward the southern part B of the stone E, F, B, it immediately drives it away and puts it to flight. The same will also happen if you oppose the northern A to the northern H.