perfected； and harmonised in due proportion。
From all that we have just been saying about the elements or
kinds； the most probable conclusion is as follows：…earth； when meeting
with fire and dissolved by its sharpness； whether the dissolution take
place in the fire itself or perhaps in some mass of air or water； is
borne hither and thither； until its parts； meeting together and
mutually harmonising； again become earth； for they can never take
any other form。 But water； when divided by fire or by air； on
reforming； may become one part fire and two parts air； and a single
volume of air divided becomes two of fire。 Again； when a small body of
fire is contained in a larger body of air or water or earth； and
both are moving； and the fire struggling is overcome and broken up；
then two volumes of fire form one volume of air； and when air is
overcome and cut up into small pieces； two and a half parts of air are
condensed into one part of water。 Let us consider the matter in
another way。 When one of the other elements is fastened upon by
fire； and is cut by the sharpness of its angles and sides； it
coalesces with the fire； and then ceases to be cut by them any longer。
For no element which is one and the same with itself can be changed by
or change another of the same kind and in the same state。 But so
long as in the process of transition the weaker is fighting against
the stronger； the dissolution continues。 Again； when a few small
particles； enclosed in many larger ones； are in process of
decomposition and extinction； they only cease from their tendency to
extinction when they consent to pass into the conquering nature； and
fire becomes air and air water。 But if bodies of another kind go and
attack them ＇i。e。 the small particles＇； the latter continue to be
dissolved until； being completely forced back and dispersed； they make
their escape to their own kindred； or else； being overcome and
assimilated to the conquering power； they remain where they are and
dwell with their victors； and from being many become one。 And owing to
these affections； all things are changing their place； for by the
motion of the receiving vessel the bulk of each class is distributed
into its proper place； but those things which become unlike themselves
and like other things； are hurried by the shaking into the place of
the things to which they grow like。
Now all unmixed and primary bodies are produced by such causes as
these。 As to the subordinate species which are included in the greater
kinds； they are to be attributed to the varieties in the structure
of the two original triangles。 For either structure did not originally
produce the triangle of one size only； but some larger and some
smaller； and there are as many sizes as there are species of the
four elements。 Hence when they are mingled with themselves and with
one another there is an endless variety of them； which those who would
arrive at the probable truth of nature ought duly to consider。
Unless a person comes to an understanding about the nature and
conditions of rest and motion； he will meet with many difficulties
in the discussion which follows。 Something has been said of this
matter already； and something more remains to be said； which is；
that motion never exists in what is uniform。 For to conceive that
anything can be moved without a mover is hard or indeed impossible；
and equally impossible to conceive that there can be a mover unless
there be something which can be moved…motion cannot exist where either
of these are wanting； and for these to be uniform is impossible；
wherefore we must assign rest to uniformity and motion to the want
of uniformity。 Now inequality is the cause of the nature which is
wanting in uniformity； and of this we have already described the
origin。 But there still remains the further point…why things when
divided after their kinds do not cease to pass through one another and
to change their place…which we will now proceed to explain。 In the
revolution of the universe are comprehended all the four elements； and
this being circular and having a tendency to come together； compresses
everything and will not allow any place to be left void。 Wherefore；
also； fire above all things penetrates everywhere； and air next； as
being next in rarity of the elements； and the two other elements in
like manner penetrate according to their degrees of rarity。 For
those things which are composed of the largest particles have the
largest void left in their compositions； and those which are
composed of the smallest particles have the least。 And the contraction
caused by the compression thrusts the smaller particles into the
interstices of the larger。 And thus； when the small parts are placed
side by side with the larger； and the lesser divide the greater and
the greater unite the lesser； all the elements are borne up and down
and hither and thither towards their own places； for the change in the
size of each changes its position in space。 And these causes
generate an inequality which is always maintained； and is
continually creating a perpetual motion of the elements in all time。
In the next place we have to consider that there are divers kinds of
fire。 There are； for example； first； flame； and secondly； those
emanations of flame which do not burn but only give light to the eyes；
thirdly； the remains of fire； which are seen in red…hot embers after
the flame has been extinguished。 There are similar differences in
the air； of which the brightest part is called the aether； and the
most turbid sort mist and darkness； and there are various other
nameless kinds which arise from the inequality of the triangles。
Water； again； admits in the first place of a division into two
kinds； the one liquid and the other fusile。 The liquid kind is
composed of the small and unequal particles of water； and moves itself
and is moved by other bodies owing to the want of uniformity and the
shape of its particles； whereas the fusile kind； being formed of large
and uniform particles； is more stable than the other； and is heavy and
compact by reason of its uniformity。 But when fire gets in and
dissolves the particles and destroys the uniformity； it has greater
mobility； and becoming fluid is thrust forth by the neighbouring air
and spreads upon the earth； and this dissolution of the solid masses
is called melting； and their spreading out upon the earth flowing。
Again； when the fire goes out of the fusile substance； it does not
pass into vacuum； but into the neighbouring air； and the air which
is displaced forces together the liquid and still moveable mass into
the place which was occupied by the fire； and unites it with itself。
Thus compressed the mass resumes its equability； and is again at unity
with itself； because the fire which was the author of the inequality
has retreated； and this departure of the fire is called cooling； and
the coming together which follows upon it is termed congealment。 Of
all the kinds termed fusile； that which is the densest and is formed
out of the finest and most uniform parts is that most precious
possession called gold； which is hardened by filtration through
rock； this is unique in kind； and has both a glittering and a yellow
colour。 A shoot of gold； which is so dense as to be very hard； and
takes a black colour； is termed adamant。 There is also another kind
which has parts nearly like gold； and of which there are several
species； it is denser than gold； and it contains a small and fine
portion of earth； and is therefore harder； yet also lighter because of
the great interstices which it has within itself； and this
substance； which is one of the bright and denser kinds of water；
when solidified is called copper。 There is an alloy of earth mingled
with it； which； when the two parts grow old and are disunited； shows
itself separately and is called rust。 The remaining phenomena of the
same kind there will be no difficulty in reasoning out by the method
of probabilities。 A man may sometimes set aside meditations about
eternal things； and for recreation turn to consider the truths of
generation which are probable only； he will thus gain a pleasure not
to be repented of； and secure for himself while he lives a wise and
moderate pastime。 Let us grant ourselves this indulgence； and go
through the probabilities relating to the same subjects which follow
next in order。
Water which is mingled with fire； so much as is fine and liquid
（being so called by reason of its motion and the way in which it rolls
along the ground）； and soft； because its bases give way are less
stable than those of earth； when separated from fire and air and
isolated； becomes more uniform； and by their retirement is
compressed into itself； and if the condensation be very great； the
water above the earth becomes hail； but on the earth； ice； and that
which is congealed in a less degree and is only half solid； when above
the earth is called snow； and when upon the earth； and condensed
from dew； hoarfrost。 Then； again； there are the numerous kinds of
water which have been mingled with one another； and are distilled
through plants which grow in the earth； and this whole class is called
by the name of juices or saps。 The unequal admixture of these fluids
creates a variety of species； most of them are nameless； but four
which are of a fiery nature are clearly distinguished and have
names。 First there is wine； which warms the soul as well as the
body： secondly； there is the oily nature； which is smooth and
divides the visual ray； and for this reason is bright and shining
and of a glistening appearance； including pitch； the juice of the
castor berry； oil itself； and other things of a like kind： thirdly；
there is the class of substances which expand the contracted parts
of the mouth； until they return to their natural state； and by
reason of this property create sweetness；…these are included under the
general name of honey： and； lastly； there is a frothy nature； which
differs from all juices； having a burning quality which dissolves
the flesh； it is