Latin — 1533, repaired
[XXXIV]
Unusquisque optans ex aliqua mundi parte stellae vel virtutem accipere, adhibitis quae ad stellam hanc attinent, eius proprium subit influxum, velut lignum per sulphur, picem et oleum paratur ad suscipiendam flammam.
Nihilominus, quando cuidam rerum speciei vel individuo rite adhibes multa quae sparsa sunt eiusdem inter se ideae ac stellae conformia, mox per materiam hanc ita opportune paratam, singulare munus ab idea infunditur per rationem animae mundi. Dico autem opportune parata, scilicet sub harmonia simili harmoniae, qua quandam virtutem infuderat materiae. Nam licet res virtutes aliquas, quales diximus, habeant, tamen illae virtutes ita delitescentes sunt, quod raro opus sit aliquod ab illis tali virtute perfectum extat; sed sicut in grano sinapis contusio latentem excitat acuitatem, et sicut calor ignis literas scriptas succo cepae vel lactis producit in aspectum prius delitescentes, et literae hirci adipe lapidi inscriptae, et prorsus occultae, quando submergitur lapis, aceto prodeunt, et quasi sculptae eminentes existunt; atque sicut castus scopae vel arbuti rabiem suscitat consopitam: sic ipsa harmonia caelestis latentem in materia virtutem prodit, excitat, corroborat, et manifestam efficit, atque, ut ita loquar, de potentia producit in actum, quando res illi sub caelesti opportunitate rite exponuntur.
Exempli gratia: si cupis virtutem a Sole attrahere, quaere ea quae solaria sunt inter vegetabilia, plantas, metalla, lapides, et animantia: haec sunt adhibenda, haec sumenda, potissime vero quae in ordine solari sunt superiora: haec enim magis conferunt: sic singulare munus a Sole trahes, per radios Solis simul opportune susceptos, perque spiritum mundi.
De commixtionibus rerum naturalium ad invicem, earumque utilitate.
Close translation
Whoever wishes to receive, from some part of the world, the power of a star, by applying those things which pertain to that star, undergoes that star's own particular influence — just as wood, by means of sulphur, pitch, and oil, is made ready to receive the flame.
Nevertheless, when you duly apply to some species of thing, or to an individual, many things scattered about that are conformable, among themselves, to the same idea and star, then, through this matter thus opportunely prepared, a singular gift is at once poured in from the idea, by the working of the soul of the world. And I say "opportunely prepared" — that is, under a harmony similar to the harmony by which a certain power had been poured into the matter. For although things have certain powers, such as we have described, yet those powers lie so hidden that rarely does any work exist perfected by them with such a power; but just as crushing a mustard seed rouses its hidden sharpness, and just as the heat of fire brings into view letters written with onion juice or with milk, letters previously hidden, and letters inscribed on a stone with goat's fat, and altogether concealed, when the stone is submerged, come forth in vinegar, and stand out as if engraved, raised up; and just as the scent of broom or of the strawberry tree rouses a lulled rage: so does the celestial harmony itself bring forth the power lying hidden in matter, rouses it, strengthens it, and renders it manifest, and, so to speak, brings it from potency into act, when things are duly exposed to it under celestial opportunity.
For example: if you desire to draw a power from the Sun, seek out those things that are solar among plants, herbs, metals, stones, and living creatures: these are to be applied, these are to be taken up — above all those which stand highest in the solar order, for these contribute more. Thus you will draw a singular gift from the Sun, through the rays of the Sun opportunely received at the same time, and through the spirit of the world.
On the mixtures of natural things with one another, and their usefulness.
Modern rendering
Suppose you want to draw a star's power from somewhere in the world. Apply the things that belong to that star, and you take on that star's particular influence — the same way wood is made ready to catch flame by means of sulphur, pitch, and oil.
Still, when you correctly gather and apply, to some particular kind of thing (or to one individual thing), the many scattered items that share the same underlying pattern and star, then through this properly prepared material a distinct gift pours in at once from that pattern, working through the soul of the world. By "properly prepared" I mean matched to the same harmony that originally poured a given power into the matter. Because even though things carry the powers we've described, those powers usually stay so latent that you rarely see a finished effect produced by them on their own — the way crushing a mustard seed brings out its hidden bite; the way heating a page with writing done in onion juice or milk makes the hidden letters appear; the way letters written on a stone in goat fat, completely invisible, show up raised and clear once the stone is dipped in vinegar; the way the scent of broom or the strawberry tree stirs up a dormant rage. In the same way, celestial harmony draws out a power that's lying dormant in matter, activates it, strengthens it, and makes it visible — brings it, so to speak, from potential into actual — whenever things are properly exposed to that harmony at the right astrological moment.
For example: if you want to draw power from the Sun, look for solar things among plants, metals, stones, and animals. Use these, take these up — especially whichever ones rank highest in the Sun's hierarchy, since those contribute the most. That's how you draw a distinctive gift from the Sun: by catching the Sun's rays at the right moment, and through the spirit of the world.
On how natural things combine with one another, and the uses of that.
Editorial flags — draft status
- uncertain: 'castus' in 'castus scopae vel arbuti rabiem suscitat consopitam' is read as referring to scent/odor stirring dormant rage — the underlying classical reference (broom or strawberry-tree provoking dormant fury, possibly of an animal) is not fully certain from this OCR pass and should be checked against a clean edition.