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177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
43
"There
are
four
Elements,
and
each
has
at
its
centre
another
element
which
makes
it
what
it
is.
These
are
the
four
pillars
of
the
earth."
Of
the
element
Earth,
he
says:--"In
this
element
the
other
three,
especially
fire,
are
latent....
It
is
gross
and
porous,
specifically
heavy,
but
naturally
light....
It
receives
all
that
the
other
three
project
into
it,
conscientiously
conceals
what
it
should
hide,
and
brings
to
light
that
which
it
should
manifest....
Outwardly
it
is
visible
and
fixed,
inwardly
it
is
invisible
and
volatile."
Of
the
element
Water,
Basil
Valentine
says:--"Outwardly
it
is
volatile,
inwardly
it
is
fixed,
cold,
and
humid....
It
is
the
solvent
of
the
world,
and
exists
in
three
degrees
of
excellence:
the
pure,
the
purer,
and
the
purest.
Of
its
purest
substance
the
heavens
were
created;
of
that
which
is
less
pure
the
atmospheric
air
was
formed;
that
which
is
simply
pure
remains
in
its
proper
sphere
where
...
it
is
guardian
of
all
subtle
substances
here
below."
Concerning
the
element
Air,
he
writes:--"The
most
noble
Element
of
Air
...
is
volatile,
but
may
be
fixed,
and
when
fixed
renders
all
bodies
penetrable....
It
is
nobler
than
Earth
or
Water....
It
nourishes,
impregnates,
conserves
the
other
elements."
Finally,
of
the
element
Fire:--"Fire
is
the
purest
and
noblest
of
all
Elements,
full
of
adhesive
unctuous
corrosiveness,
penetrant,
digestive,
inwardly
fixed,
hot
and
dry,
outwardly
visible,
and
tempered
by
the
earth....
This
Element
is
the
most
passive
of
all,
and
resembles
a
chariot;
when
it
is
drawn,
it
moves;
when
it
is
not
drawn,
it
stands
still."
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