KOR KOSMOU

extracts from the hermetic dialogues of isis to Hhorus, on

creation, the spiritual world & the fall of man
(From !he "irgin of the #orld of Hermes Mercurius !rismegistus$ by %nna
Kingsford & &dward Maitland$'
a(ing thus spo)en, *sis +rst pours out for Horos (Horus' the sweet
draught of immortalit, which souls recei(e from the -ods, and thus
.egins the most hol, discourse/ Hea(en, crowned with stars, is placed
a.o(e uni(ersal nature, O m, son Horos, and nothing is wanting to it of that
which constitutes the whole world/ *t is necessar,, then, that all nature
should .e adorned and completed ., that which is a.o(e her, for this Order
could not proceed from .elow to a.o(e/ !he supremac, of the greater
m,steries o(er the lesser is imperati(e/ 0elestial order reigns o(er terrestrial
order, as .eing a.solutel, determined, and inaccessi.le to the idea of death/
#herefore, the things .elow lament, .eing +lled with fear .efore the
mar(ellous .eaut, and eternal permanence of the hea(enl, world/ 1or,
indeed, a spectacle worth, of contemplation and desire were these
magni+cences of hea(en, re(elations of the -od as ,et un)nown, and this
sumptuous ma2est, of night illumined with a penetrating radiance, al.eit less
than that of the sun, and all these other m,steries which mo(e a.o(e in
harmonious cadence, ruling and maintaining the things .elow ., secret
in3uences/ %nd so long as the Uni(ersal %rchitect refrained from putting an
end to this incessant fear, to these anxious in(estigations, ignorance
en(eloped the uni(erse/ 4ut when He 2udged good to re(eal Himself to the
world, He .reathed into the -ods the enthusiasm of lo(e, and poured into
their mind the splendour which His .osom contained, that the, might +rst .e
inspired with the will to see), next with the desire to +nd, and lastl, with the
power to read2ust/
H
5ow, m, wondrous child Horos, all this could not happen among mortals, for
as ,et the, did not exist6 .ut it too) place in the uni(ersal Soul in s,mpath,
with the m,steries of hea(en/ !his was Hermes, the Kosmic !hought/ He
.eheld the uni(erse of things, and ha(ing seen, he understood, and ha(ing
understood, he had the power to manifest and to re(eal/ !hat which he
thought, he wrote6 that which he wrote, he in great part concealed, wisel,
silent, and spea)ing ., turns, so that while the world should last, these
things might .e sought/ %nd thus, ha(ing en2oined upon the -ods, his
.rethren that the, should follow in his train, he ascended to the stars/ 4ut he
had for successor his son, and the heir of his )nowledges, !at, and a little
later, %sclepios, son of *mouth7, ., the counsels of 8an and Hephaistos, and
all those for whom so(ereign 8ro(idence reser(ed an exact )nowledge of
hea(enl, things/
Hermes then 2usti+ed himself in the presence of those who surrounded him,
in that he had not deli(ered the integral theor, to his son, on account of his
,outh/ 4ut *, ha(ing arisen, .eheld with mine e,es, which see the in(isi.le
secrets of the .eginnings of things, and at length, .ut with certaint,, *
understood that the sacred s,m.ols of the Kosmic elements were hidden
near the secrets of Osiris/ Hermes returned to hea(en, ha(ing pronounced an
in(ocator, speech/
*t is not +tting, O m, Son, that this recital .e left incomplete6 thou must .e
informed of the words of Hermes when he laid down his .oo)s/ 9O sacred
.oo)s,9 he said, 9of the *mmortals, ,e in whose pages m, hand has recorded
the remedies ., which incorrupti.ilit, is conferred, remain fore(er .e,ond
the reach of destruction and of deca,, in(isi.le and concealed from all who
fre:uent these regions, until the da, shall come in which the ancient hea(en
shall .ring forth instruments worth, of ,ou, whom the 0reator shall call
souls/9
Ha(ing pronounced upon his .oo)s this in(ocation, he wrapped them in their
co(erings, returned into the sphere which .elonged to him, and all remained
hidden for a su;cient space/
%nd 5ature, O m, Son, was .arren until the hour in which those who are
ordained to sur(e, the hea(ens, ad(ancing towards -od, the King of all
things, deplored the general inertia, and a;rmed the necessit, of setting
forth the uni(erse/ 5o other than Himself could accomplish this wor)/
9#e pra, !hee,9 said the,, 9to consider that which alread, is, and that which
is necessar, for the future/9
%t these words, the -od smiled .enignant, and commanded 5ature to exist/
%nd, issuing with His (oice, the 1&M*5*5& came forth in her perfect .eaut,/ !he
-ods with ama<e .eheld this mar(el/ %nd the great %ncestor, pouring out for
5ature an elixir, commanded her to .e fruitful6 and forthwith, penetrating the
uni(erse with His glance, He cried, 9=et hea(en .e the plenitude of all things,
and of the air, and of the ether/9 -od spa)e, and it was done/ 4ut 5ature,
communing with herself, understood that she might not transgress the
commandment of the 1ather, and, uniting herself to =a.our, she produced a
most .eautiful daughter, whom she called *n(ention, and to whom -od
accorded .eing/
%nd ha(ing di>erentiated created forms, He +lled them with m,steries, and
ga(e the command of them to *n(ention/
-od creates the Spirits
!hen, not willing that the upper world should .e inacti(e, He saw +t to +ll it
with spirits, in order that no region should remain in immo.ilit, and inertia6
and in the accomplishment of His wor) He used His sacred art/ 1or, ta)ing of
Himself such essence as was necessar,, and mingling with it an intellectual
3ame, He com.ined with these other materials ., un)nown wa,s/ %nd
ha(ing achie(ed ., secret formulas the union of these principles, He
endowed with motion the uni(ersal com.ination/ -raduall,, in the midst of
the protoplasm, glittered a su.stance more su.tle, purer, more limpid, than
the elements from which it was generated/ *t was transparent, and the %rtist
alone percei(ed it/ Soon, it attained its perfection, .eing neither melted .,
the +re, nor chilled ., the .reath, .ut possessing the sta.ilit, of a special
com.ination, and ha(ing its proper t,pe and constitution/ He .estowed on it
a happ, name, and, according to the similitude of its energies, He called it
Self?0onsciousness/
-od creates human souls
Of this product he formed m,riads of Souls, emplo,ing the choicest part of
the mixture for the end which He had in (iew, proceeding with order and
measure, according to His )nowledge and His reason/ !he souls were not
necessaril, di>erent, .ut the choicest part, animated ., the @i(ine motion,
was not identical with the rest/ !he +rst la,er was superior to the second,
more perfect and pure6 the second, inferior trul, to the +rst, was superior to
the third6 and thus, until sixt, degrees, was completed the total num.er/
Onl,, -od esta.lished this law that all e:uall, should .e eternal, .eing of one
essence, whose forms He alone determines/ He traced the limits of their
so2ourn on the heights of nature, so that the, might turn the wheel according
to the laws of Order and of wise discretion, for the 2o, of their 1ather/
!hen, ha(ing summoned to these splendid regions of ether the souls of e(er,
grade, He said to themA 9O souls, .eautiful children of m, .reath and of m,
care, ,ou whom * ha(e produced with m, hands, in order to consecrate ,ou
to m, uni(erse, hear m, words as a lawA??Buit not the place assigned to ,ou
., m, will/ !he a.ode which awaits ,ou is hea(en, with its galax, of stars
and its thrones of (irtue/ *f ,ou attempt an, transgression against m, decree,
* swear ., m, sacred .reath, ., that elixir of which * formed ,ou, and ., m,
creati(e hands, that * will speedil, forge for ,ou chains and cast ,ou into
punishment/9
-od commands human souls to create life on &arth
Ha(ing thus spo)en, -od, m, Master, mingled together the rest of the
congenial elements, earth and water, and pronouncing certain powerful and
m,stic words??al.eit di>erent from the +rst??He .reathed into the li:uid
protoplasm motion and life, rendered it thic)er and more plastic, and formed
of it li(ing .eings of human shape/ !hat which remained He ga(e to the
loftiest souls inha.iting the region of the -ods in the neigh.ourhood of the
stars, who are called the Sacred -enii/ 9#or),9 said He, 9m, children,
o>spring of m, nature6 ta)e the residue of m, tas), and let each one of ,ou
ma)e .eings in his image/ * will gi(e ,ou models/9
!herewith He too) the Codiac and ordained the world in conformit, with ?(ital
mo(ements, placing the animal signs after those of human form/ %nd after
ha(ing gi(en forth the creati(e forces and generati(e .reath for the whole
range of .eings ,et to come, He withdrew, promising to unite to e(er, (isi.le
wor) an in(isi.le .reath and a reproducti(e principle, so that each .eing
might engender its similar without necessit, to create continuall, new
entities/
!he Souls create animals and life on &arth
%nd what did the souls do, O m, MotherD
%nd *sis answeredA??!he, too) the mingled material, O m, Son Horos, and
.egan to re3ect thereon, and to adore this com.ination, the wor) of the
1ather/ 5ext, the, sought to disco(er of what it was composed, which,
indeed, it was not eas, to +nd/ !hen, fearing that this search might excite
the anger of the 1ather, the, set themsel(es to carr, out His commands/
!herefore, ta)ing the upper portion of the protoplasm, that which was
lightest, the, created of it the race of .irds/ !he compound ha(ing now
.ecome more compact and assuming a denser consistenc,, the, formed of it
the :uadrupeds6 while of the thic)est part which needed a moist (ehicle for
its support, the, made +shes/ !he remainder, .eing cold and hea(,, was
emplo,ed ., the souls in the creation of reptiles/
!he human souls diso.e, -odEs orders
1orthwith, O m, Son, proud of their wor), the, were not afraid to transgress
the @i(ine law, and, in spite of the prohi.ition, the, receded from their
appointed limits/ 5ot willing to remain longer in the same a.ode, the, mo(ed
ceaselessl,, and repose seemed to them death/
4ut, O m, Son??(thus Hermes informed me'??their conduct could not escape
the e,e of the =ord -od of all things6 He minded to punish them, and to
prepare for them hard .onds/ !he Ruler and Master of the uni(erse resol(ed
then for the penance of the souls, to mould the human organism, and ha(ing
called me to Him, said Hermes, He spo)e in this wiseA??9O soul of m, soul,
hol, thought of m, thought, how long shall earthl, 5ature remain sadD How
long shall the creation alread, produced continue inacti(e and without
praiseD 4ring hither .efore me all the -ods of hea(en/9
!hus -od spa)e, :uoth Hermes, and all o.e,ed His decree/ 9=oo) upon the
earth,9 He said to them, 9and upon all things .eneath,9
Straightwa, the, loo)ed, and understood the will of the =ord/ %nd when He
spo)e to them of the creation of Man, as)ing of each what he could .estow
upon the race a.out to .e .orn, the Sun +rst repliedA??9* will illumine
man)ind/9 !hen the Moon promised enlightenment in her turn, adding that
alread, she had created 1ear, Silence, Sleep, and Memor,/ Kronos announced
that he had .egotten Fustice and 5ecessit,/ Ceus said, 9*n order to spare the
future race perpetual wars, * ha(e generated 1ortune, Hope, and 8eace/9
%res declared himself alread, father of 0on3ict, impetuous Ceal, and
&mulation, %phrodite did not wait to .e called uponA 9%s for me, O Master,9
she said, 9* will .estow upon man)ind @esire, with (oluptuous Fo, and
=aughter, that the penalt,, to which our sister Souls are destined ma, not
weigh on them too hardl,/9 !hese words of %phrodite, O m, Son, were
welcomed gladl,/ 9%nd *,9 said Hermes, 9will endow human nature with
#isdom, !emperance, 8ersuasion, and !ruth6 nor will * cease to all, m,self
with *n(ention/ * will e(er protect the mortal life of such men as are .orn
under m, signs, seeing that to me the 0reator and 1ather has attri.uted in
the Codiac, signs of Knowledge and *ntelligence6 a.o(e all, when the
mo(ement which draws thereto the stars is in harmon, with the ph,sical
forces of each/9
Hermes creates human .odies to imprison the Souls
He who is Master of the world re2oiced at hearing these things, and decreed
the production of the human race/ %s for me??said Hermes??* sought what
material ought to .e emplo,ed in the wor), and in(o)ed the =ord/ He
commanded the Souls to gi(e up the residue of the protoplastic su.stance,
which ha(ing ta)en, * found it entirel, dried up/ !herefore, * used a great
excess of water wherewith to renew the com.ination of the su.stance, in
such wise that the product might .e resol(a.le, ,ielding, and fee.le, and
that 1orce should not .e added therein to *ntelligence/ #hen * had achie(ed
m, wor) it was .eautiful, and * re2oiced in seeing it/ %nd from .elow * called
upon the =ord to .ehold what * had done/ He saw it, and appro(ed/
Straightwa, He ordained that the Souls should .e incorporated6 and the,
were sei<ed with horror on learning what should .e their condemnation/
!hese words, said *sis, struc) me/ Hear)en, m, son Horos, for * teach thee a
m,ster,/ Our ancestor Kamephes had it also from Hermes, who inscri.es the
recital of all things6 *, in turn, recei(ed it from the ancient Kamephes when he
admitted me to the initiation of the .lac) (eil6 and thou, li)ewise, O
mar(ellous and illustrious child, recei(e it from me/
!he souls are ordered into human .odies and lament their punishment
!he Souls were a.out to .e imprisoned in .odies, whereat some sighed and
lamented, as when some wild and free animal suddenl, enchained, in the
+rst moment of su.2ection to hard ser(itude and of se(erance from the
.elo(ed ha.its of the wilderness, struggles and re(olts, refusing to follow its
con:ueror, and if occasion presents itself, sla,ing him/ Others, again, hissed
li)e serpents, or ga(e (ent to piercing cries and sorrowful words, glancing
aimlessl, from height to depth/
9-reat Hea(en,9 said one, 9principle of our .irth, ether, pure airs, hands, and
sacred .reath of the so(ereign -od, and ,ou, shining Stars, e,es of the -ods,
unwear,ing light of Sun and Moon, our earl, .rethren, what grief, what
rending is thisG Must we :uit these (ast, e>ulgent spaces, this sacred sphere,
all these splendors of the emp,rean and of the happ, repu.lic of the -ods,
to .e precipitated into these (ile and misera.le a.odesD #hat crime, O
wretched ones, ha(e we committedD How can we ha(e merited, poor sinners
that we are, the penalties which await usD 4ehold the sad future in store for
us??to minister to the wants of a 3uctuating and dissolu.le .od,G 5o more
ma, our e,es distinguish the souls di(ineG Hardl, through these water,
spheres shall we percei(e, with sighs, our ancestral hea(en6 at inter(als e(en
we shall cease altogether to .ehold it/ 4, this disastrous sentence direct
(ision is denied to us6 we can see onl, ., the aid of the outer light6 these are
.ut windows that we possess??not e,es/ 5or will our pain .e less when we
hear in the air the fraternal .reathing of the winds with which no longer can
we mingle our own, since that will ha(e for its dwelling, instead of the
su.lime and open world, the narrow prison of the .reastG 4ut !hou, #ho
dri(est us forth, and causest us from so high a seat to descend so low, assign
a limit to our su>eringsG O Master and 1ather, so :uic)l, .ecome indi>erent
to !h, handiwor), appoint a term to our penance, deign to .estow on us
some last words, while ,et we are a.le to .ehold the expanse of the
luminous spheresG9
!his pra,er of the Souls was granted, m, son Horos, for the =ord was
present6 and sitting upon the throne of !ruth, thus He addressed themA??
9O Souls6 ,ou shall .e go(erned ., @esire and 5ecessit,6 after me, these
shall .e ,our masters and ,our guides/ Souls, su.2ected to m, sceptre which
ne(er fails, )now that inasmuch as ,ou remain stainless ,ou shall inha.it the
regions of the s)ies/ *f among ,ou an, .e found to merit reproach, the, shall
inha.it a.odes destined to them in mortal organisms/ *f ,our faults .e light,
,ou shall, deli(ered from the .ond of the 3esh, return to hea(en/ 4ut if ,ou
.ecome guilt, of gra(er crime, if ,ou turn awa, from the end for which ,ou
ha(e .een formed, then indeed ,ou shall dwell neither in hea(en nor in
human .odies, .ut thenceforth ,ou shall pass into those of animals without
reason/9 Ha(ing thus spo)en, O m, son Horos, He .reathed upon them and
said, 9*t is not according to chance that * ha(e ordained ,our destin,6 if ,ou
act ill, it will .e worse6 it will .e .etter if ,our actions are worth, of ,our
.irth/ *t is m,self and not another who will .e ,our witness and ,our 2udge/
Understand that it is .ecause of ,our past errors that ,ou are to .e punished
and shut up in 3eshl, .odies/ *n di>erent .odies, as * ha(e alread, told ,ou,
,our re?.irths will .e di>erent/ @issolution shall .e a .ene+t, restoring ,our
former happ, condition/ 4ut if ,our conduct .e unworth, of me, ,our
prudence, .ecoming .linded and guiding ,ou .ac)wards, will cause ,ou to
ta)e for good fortune that which is reall, a chastisement, and to dread a
happier lot as though it were a cruel in2ur,/ !he most 2ust among ,ou shall, in
their future transformations, approximate to the di(ine, .ecoming among
men, upright )ings, true philosophers, leaders and legislators, true seers,
collectors of salutar, plants, cunning musicians, intelligent astronomers, wise
augurs, instructed ministrantsA all .eautiful and good o;ces6 as among .irds
are the eagles which pursue not nor de(our those of their own )ind, and do
not permit wea)er ones to .e attac)ed in their presence, .ecause 2ustice is in
the nature of the eagle6 among :uadrupeds, the lion, for he is a strong
animal, untamed ., slum.er, in a mortal .od, performing immortal toils, and
., nothing tired nor .eguiled6 among reptiles, the dragon, .ecause he is
powerful, li(ing long, innocent, and a friend of men, allowing himself to .e
tamed, ha(ing no (enom, and, lea(ing old age, approximating to the nature
of the -ods6 among +shes, the dolphin, for this creature, ta)ing pit, on those
who fall into the sea, will carr, them to land if the, still li(e, and will a.stain
from de(ouring them if dead, although it is the most (oracious of all a:uatic
animals/9
Ha(ing spo)en these words, -od .ecame an *ncorrupti.le *ntelligence (i/e/,
resumed the unmanifest'/
%fter these things, m, son Horos, there arose out of the earth an exceeding
powerful Spirit, unencum.ered with an, corporeal en(elope, strong in
wisdom, .ut sa(age and fearful6 although he could not .e ignorant of the
)nowledge he sought, seeing the t,pe of the human .od, to .e .eautiful and
august of aspect, and percei(ing that the souls were a.out to enter into their
en(elopesA
9#hat are these,9 said he, 9O Hermes, Secretar, of the -odsD9 9!hese are
men,9 replied Hermes/ 9*t is a rash wor),9 said he, 9to ma)e man with such
penetrating e,es, such a su.tle tongue, such a delicate hearing that can
hear e(en those things which concern him not, such a +ne scent, and in/ his
hands a sense of touch capa.le of appropriating e(er,thing/ O generating
Spirit, thin)est thou it is well that he should .e free from care??this future
in(estigator of the +ne m,steries of 5atureD #ilt thou lea(e him exempt from
su>ering??he whose thought will search out the limits of the earthD Man)ind
will dig up the roots of plants, the, will stud, the properties of natural 2uices,
the, will o.ser(e the nature of stones, the, will dissect not onl, animals .ut
themsel(es, desiring to )now how the, ha(e .een formed/ !he, will stretch
forth their daring hands o(er the sea, and, cutting down the tim.er of the
wild forest, the, will pass from shore to shore see)ing one another/ !he, will
pursue the inmost secrets of 5ature e(en into the heights, and will stud, the
motions of hea(en/ 5or is this enough6 when nothing ,et remains to .e
)nown than the furthest .oundar, of the earth, the, will see) e(en there the
last extremities of night/ *f the, apprehend no o.stacle, if the, li(e exempt
from trou.le, .e,ond reach of an, fear or of an, anxiet,, e(en hea(en itself
will not arrest their audacit,6 the, will see) to extend their power o(er the
elements/ !each them, then, desire and hope, in such wise that the, ma,
)now li)ewise the dread of accident and of di;cult,, and the painful sting of
expectation decei(ed/ =et the curiosit, of their souls ha(e for .alance, desire
and fear, care and (ain hope/ =et their souls .e a pre, to mutual lo(e, to
aspirations and (aried longings, now satis+ed, now decei(ed, so that e(en
the sweetness of success ma, .e an allurement to draw them towards
misfortune/ =et the weight of fe(ers oppress them, and .rea) in them all
desire/9
!hou su>erest, Horos, in hearing this th, motherHs recitalD Surprise and
wonder sei<e thee in presence of the e(ils which now fall upon poor
humanit,D !hat which thou art a.out to hear is still more sad/ !he speech of
Momos pleased Hermes6 he deemed his ad(ice good, and he followed it/
9O, Momos,9 said he, 9the nature of the di(ine .reath which enwraps all
things shall not .e ine>ectualG !he Master of the uni(erse has charged me to
.e His agent and o(erseer/ !he @eit, of the penetrating e,e (%drastia' will
o.ser(e and direct all e(ents6 and for m, part, * will design a m,sterious
instrument, a measure in3exi.le and in(iola.le, to which e(er,thing shall .e
su.2ect from .irth e(en to +nal destruction, and which shall .e the .ond of
created entities/ !his instrument shall rule that which is on the earth, and all
the rest/9
*t is thus??:uoth Hermes??that * spo)e to Momos6 and forthwith the
instrument operated/ Straightwa, the souls were incorporated, and * was
praised for m, wor)/
!hen the =ord summoned anew the assem.l, of the -ods/ !he, gathered
together, and He thus addressed themA
9-ods, who ha(e recei(ed a so(ereign and imperisha.le nature, and the
swa, of the (ast eternit,, ,e whose o;ce it is to maintain unceasingl, the
mutual harmon, of things, how long shall we go(ern an empire un)nownD
How long shall creation re?main in(isi.le to the sun and moonD =et each of us
underta)e his part in the uni(erse/ 4, the exercise of our power let us put an
end to the cohesion of inertia/ =et chaos .ecome a fa.le, incredi.le to
posterit,/ *naugurate ,our great la.ours6 * will direct ,ou/9
He said, and immediatel, the Kosmic unit,, until now o.scure, was opened,
and in the heights appeared the hea(ens with all their m,steries/ !he earth,
hitherto unsta.le, grew more solid .eneath the .rightness of the sun, and
stood forth adorned with enfolding riches/ %ll things are .eautiful in the e,es
of -od, e(en that which to mortals appears uncomel,, .ecause all is made
according to the di(ine laws/ %nd -od re2oiced in .eholding His wor)s +lled
with mo(ement6 and with outstretched hands grasping the treasures of
nature/ 9!a)e these,9 He said, 9O sacred earth, ta)e these, O (enera.le one,
who art to .e the mother of all things, and henceforth let nothing .e lac)ing
to theeG9
#ith these words, opening His di(ine hands, He poured His treasures into the
uni(ersal font/ 4ut ,et the, were un)nown, for the souls newl, em.odied and
una.le to support their oppro.rium, sought to enter into ri(alr, with the
celestial -ods, and, proud of their loft, origin, .oasting an e:ual creation
with these, re(olted/ !hus men .ecame their instruments, opposed to one
another, and fomenting ci(il wars/ %nd thus, force oppressing wea)ness, the
strong .urnt and massacred the fee.le, and :uic) and dead were thrust forth
from the sacred places/
!hen the elements resol(ed to complain .efore the =ord of the sa(age
condition of man)ind/ 1or the e(il .eing alread, (er, grie(ous, the elements
hastened to -od the 0reator, and pleaded in this wise??the +re .eing su>ered
to spea) +rstA??
9O Master,9 he said, 9Ma)er of this new world, !hou whose name, m,sterious
among the -ods, has hitherto .een re(ered among all men6 how long, O
@i(init,, halt !hou decreed to lea(e human life without -odD Re(eal !h,self
to the world which calls for !hee, correct its sa(age existence ., the
institution of peace/ -rant unto life, law, grant unto night oracles6 +ll all
things with happ, auguries6 let men fear the 2udgment of the -ods, and no
man shall sin an, more/ =et crimes recei(e their 2ust punishment, and men
will a.stain from unrighteousness/ !he, will fear to (iolate oaths, and
madness will ha(e an end/ !each them gratitude for .ene+ts, so shall *
de(ote m, 3ame to pure o>erings and li.ations, and the altars shall ,ield
!hee exhalations of sweet sa(ours/ 1or now * am polluted, O Master, .ecause
the impious temerit, of men forces me to consume 3esh/ !he, will not su>er
me to remain in m, nature6 the, per(ert and corrupt m, purit,G9
!he air spo)e in its turnA??9* am de+led ., the eIu(ium of corpses, O Master6
* am .ecoming pestilent and unwholesome, and from on high * witness things
which * ought not to .ehold/9
!hen the water too) up the word, and spo)e on this wise, O m, illustrious
sonA??
91ather and wondrous 0reator of all things, @i(init, incarnate, %uthor of
5ature who .rings forth all through !hee, command the waters of the
streams to .e alwa,s pure, for now .oth ri(ers and seas are compelled to
.athe the destro,er and to recei(e his (ictimsG9
!hen at the last the earth appeared, O m, glorious son, and thus .eganA??
9O King, 0hief of celestial choirs and =ord of their or.its, Master and 1ather of
the elements which lend to all things increase and decrease, and into which
all must return6 .ehold how the impious and insensate tri.e of man
o(erspreads me, O (enera.le One, since ., !h, commands * am the
ha.itation of all .eings, .earing them all and recei(ing into m, .osom all
that is slain6 such is now m, reproach/ !h, terrestrial world in which all
creatures are contained is .ereft of -od/ %nd .ecause the, re(ere nothing,
the, transgress e(er, law and o(erwhelm me with all manner of e(il wor)s/
!o m, shame, O =ord, * admit into m,self the product of the corruption of
carcases/ 4ut *, who recei(e all things, would fain also recei(e -od/ -rant to
earth this grace, and if !hou comest not !h,self??for indeed * cannot contain
!hee??let me at least recei(e some hol, eIux of !hee/ =et the earth .ecome
the most glorious of all the elements6 and since she alone gi(es all things to
all, ma, she re(ere herself as the recipient of !h, fa(ours/9
!hus the elements discoursed, and forthwith -od +lled the uni(erse with His
di(ine (oice/ 9-o,9 said He, 9sacred o>spring, worth, of ,our 1atherHs
greatness, see) not to change an,thing, nor refuse to m, creatures ,our
ministr,/ * will send ,ou an eIux of m,self, a pure 4eing who shall
in(estigate all actions, who shall .e the dreadful and incorrupti.le Fudge of
the li(ing6 and so(ereign 2ustice shall extend its reign e(en into the shades
.eneath the earth/ !hus shall e(er, man recei(e his merited deserts/9
!hereupon the elements ceased from their complaints, and each of them
resumed its functions and its swa,/
%nd in what manner, O m, mother, said Horos, did the earth afterwards
o.tain this eIux of -odD
* will not recount this 5ati(it,, said *sis6 * dare not, O powerful Horos, declare
the origin of th, race, lest men in the future should learn the generation of
the -ods/ * will sa, onl, that the Supreme -od, 0reator and %rchitect of the
world, at length accorded to earth for a season, th, father Osiris and the
great -oddess *sis, that the, might .ring the expected sal(ation/ 4, them
life attained its fulness6 sa(age and .lood, wars were ended6 the,
consecrated temples to the -ods their ancestors, and instituted o.lations/
!he, ga(e to mortals law, nourishment, and raiment/ 9!he, shall read,9
Hermes said, 9m, m,stic writings, and di(iding them into two parts, the,
shall )eep certain of them, and inscri.e upon columns and o.elis)s those
which ma, .e useful to man/9 *nstitutors of the +rst tri.unals, the,
esta.lished e(er,where the reign of order and 2ustice/ #ith them .egan the
faith of treaties, and the introduction into human life of the religious dut, of
oaths/ !he, taught the rites of sepulture towards those who cease to li(e6
the, interrogated the horrors of death6 the, shewed that the spirit from
without delights to return into the human .od,, and that if the wa, of entr,
.e shut against it, it .rings a.out a failure of life/ *nstructed ., Hermes, the,
engra(ed upon hidden ta.les that the air is +lled with genii/ *nstructed .,
Hermes in the secret laws of -od, the, alone were the teachers and
legislators of man)ind, initiating them in the arts, the sciences, and the
.ene+ts of ci(ilised life/ *nstructed ., Hermes concerning the s,mpathetic
a;nities which the 0reator has esta.lished .etween hea(en and earth, the,
instituted religious representations and sacred m,steries/ %nd, considering
the corrupti.le nature of all .odies, the, ordained prophetic initiation, so that
the prophet who lifts his hands to the -ods should .e instructed in all things,
and that there., philosoph, and magic might pro(ide nourishment for the
soul, and medicine might heal the su>erings of the 3esh/
Ha(ing performed all these things, O m, son, and seeing the world arri(ed at
its fulness, Osiris and * were recalled ., the inha.itants of hea(en6 .ut we
could not return thither without ha(ing +rst praised the =ord, so that the
celestial "ision might +ll the expanse, and that the wa, of a happ, ascension
might open .efore us, since -od delights in h,mns/
JO m, motherE, said Horos, Jteach me this h,mn, that * also ma, .e
instructed in itE/
JHear)en, m, sonE, answered *sis/
O m, illustrious son, if thou wilt )now an,?thing further, as) it of me/ %nd
Horos said, Re(ered Mother, * would fain )now how ro,al souls are .orn/ %nd
*sis answeredA??Herein, m, son Horos, lies the distincti(e character of ro,al
souls/ !here are in the uni(erse, four regions, go(erned ., a +xed and
immuta.le lawA hea(en, the ether, the air, and the most hol, earth/ %.o(e, in
hea(en, dwell the -ods, ruled as are all the rest, ., the Ma)er of the
uni(erse6 in the ether are the stars, go(erned ., the great +re, the sun6 in
the air are the souls of the genii, go(erned ., the moon6 upon earth are men
and other animals go(erned ., the soul who, for the time, is their )ing/ 1or
the -ods themsel(es engender those who shall .e )ings .e+tting the
terrestrial race/ 8rinces are the issue of )ings, and he who is most )ingl,, is a
greater )ing than the rest/ !he sun, nearer to -od than is the moon, is
greater and stronger than she, and to him she is su.2ect as much ., ran) as
., power/ !he )ing is the last of the -ods and the +rst of men/ So long as he
so2ourns upon earth, his di(init, is concealed, .ut he possesses something
which distinguishes him from other men and approximates him to -od/ !he
soul in him comes from a loftier region than that from which descend the
souls of common men/ Souls destined to reign upon the earth descend
thither for two causes/ !here are those who in former li(es ha(e li(ed
.lameless, and who merit apotheosis6 for such as these ro,alt, is a
preparation for the di(ine state/ %gain, there are hol, souls who, for some
slight infringement of the interior and di(ine law, recei(e in ro,alt, a
penance where., the su>ering and shame of incarnation are mitigated/ !he
condition of these in ta)ing a .od, resem.les not that of others6 the, are as
.lessed as when the, were free/
%s to the (arious characters of these )ings, the (ariet, is not in the souls, for
all are ro,al, .ut it is due to the nature of the angels and genii who assist
them/ 1or souls destined to such o;ces are not without ministers and escort/
Hea(enl, 2ustice, e(en while exiling them from the a.odes of the 4lessed,
treats them as their nature .e+ts/ #hen, then, O m, son Horos, the
ministering angels and genii appointed are warli)e, the soul in their charge
ta)es that character, forgetting its own, or rather la,ing it aside until some
future change of condition/ *f the guardian angels are of a gentle order, then
the soul follows its path in peace6 if the, are friends of 2udgment, the soul
lo(es to 2udge6 if the, are musicians, then the soul sings6 if the, lo(e truth,
the soul is that of a philosopher/ !hus the souls necessaril, follow the
teaching of their guardians6 falling into human .odies the, forego their
proper estate, and while exiled from it the, approximate to those
intelligences ., whom the, ha(e .een em.odied/
!hine explanation is complete, m, mother, said Horos, .ut thou hast not ,et
informed me in what manner no.le souls are .orn/
!here are upon earth, O m, son, di>erent o;ces/ So also is it among souls6
the, occup, di>erent stations, and that soul which issues from a more
exalted sphere is no.ler than the rest6 e(en as he who is free among men, is
no.ler than the sla(e/ &xalted and ro,al souls are necessaril, the masters of
men/
How are souls .orn male or femaleD
Souls, m, son Horos, are all e:ual in nature, since the, come from one region
wherein the 0reator has formed them/ !here are not among them either
males or females6 this distinction exists onl, .etween .odies, and not
.etween incorporeal .eings/ 4ut some are more energetic, some are gentler6
and this .elongs to the air in which all things are formed/ 1or an air, .od,
en(elopes the soul6 in it are the elements of earth, water, air, and +re/
%mong females this com.ination contains more of cold and of moisture than
of dr,ness and heat, and the soul which is enfolded therein is water, and
disposed to softness/ !he contrar, happens among males6 their en(elope
contains more of dr,ness and of heat, less of cold and of moisture6 hence in
.odies so formed the souls manifest greater (i(acit, and energ,/
%nd how, O m, mother, are .orn the souls of the wiseD
%nd *sis answeredA??!he organ of (ision is en(eloped in tunics/ #hen these
tunics are thic) and dense, the sight is dull6 when the, are +ne and su.tle,
the sight is penetrating/ &(en so is it with the soul6 she li)ewise has her
co(erings, incorporeal as herself/ !hese co(erings are the interior airs6 when
the, are su.tle, clear, and transparent, then the soul is perspicuous6 when,
on the contrar,, the, are dense, thic), and turgid, then she cannot see far6
and discerns onl,, as though in cloud, weather, that which lies immediatel,
.efore her steps/
%nd Horos saidA??1or what reason, m, mother, are the minds of men who are
not of our hol, countr, less open than the minds of those who .elong to itD
%nd *sis replied KA??!he earth is set in the midst of the uni(erse li)e a man
l,ing on his .ac) and ga<ing into hea(en, and the (arious regions of earth
correspond to the di>erent mem.ers of the man/ !he earth turns her ga<e
towards hea(en as towards her father, following in her changes the changes
of the s)ies/ Her head lies to the south, her right shoulder to the east, her left
is turned towards the =,.ian wind, her feet are under the constellation of the
4ear, the right .eneath the tail, and the left .eneath the head of the 4ear6
her loins are under the regions of hea(en nearest to the 4ear6 the midst of
her .od, is .eneath the centre of hea(en/ 4ehold as a proof of these things,
how the, who dwell in the South ha(e a .eautiful countenance and plentiful
hair, while the orientals ha(e hands hard, in con3ict and read, with the .ow,
for the, are right?handed6 the westerns are strong and +ght with the left
hand, attri.uting to the left side the functions which .elong in others to the
right6 those who dwell .eneath the 4ear are distinguished ., the attri.utes
of their feet, and ., the .eaut, of their legs6 those who inha.it .e,ond the
4ear in the climate of *tal, and of -reece are remar)a.le for the .eaut, of
their loins, and hence their tendenc, to prefer males/ !his part of the .od,
also, .eing whiter than the rest, produces men of a whiter hue/ !he hallowed
region of our ancestors is in the midst of the earth, and since the midst of
the human .od, is the seat of the heart, and the heart of the soul, this is
wh,, m, son, the men of this land, .eside the :ualities which all men
possess in common, ha(e also a loftier intelligence and wisdom, .ecause the
heart of the earth .rings them forth and nourishes them/
Moreo(er, m, son, the south is the storehouse of the clouds6 it is there the,
assem.le, and thence, it is said, 3ows our ri(er (5ile', when the cold
.ecomes a.undant/ 5ow, where the clouds descend, the air grows thic) and
is +lled with (apours which spread themsel(es as a (eil not onl, o(er the
sight, .ut o(er the intelligence/ !he east, m, son Horos, is continuall,
distur.ed and glowing under the sunrise, as is the west under the sunset6
there?fore, the, who dwell in these regions can hardl, preser(e a clear
perception/ !he north, ., means of its ic, temperature, thic)ens the mind
e(en as it does the .od,/
!he central land alone, clear and serene, is fa(oured as are those who
inha.it her/ She .rings forth in a perpetual tran:uillit,, she adorns and
completes her o>spring, she contends alone against all others, she triumphs,
and li)e a worth, ruler parta)es with the (an:uished the fruits of (ictor,/
&xplain to me further, m, august Mother, what it is that causes in li(ing men
during long maladies, an alteration of discernment, of reason, e(en of the
soul itself/
%nd *sis answeredA??%mong animals there are those who ha(e a;nit, with
+re, others with water, others with earth, others with air, others again with
two or three elements, or with all the four/ Or, in(ersel,, some ha(e an
antipath, for +re, some for water, some for earth, some for air, or again for
two, three or four elements/ !hus, the locust and all )inds of insects 3ee from
the +re6 the eagle, the haw), and other .irds of 3ight fear the water6 the +sh
dread the air and earth6 the serpent a.hors the open air, and li)e all crawling
creatures lo(es the ground6 all +shes delight in the deep, the .irds in the air
where the, pass their li(es6 those who 3, highest delight in the +re (of the
sun' and so2ourn in its (icinit,/ !here are e(en certain creatures who disport
themsel(es in the +re, such are the salamanders who ha(e their a.ode in it/
!he elements enfold the .od,, and e(er, soul inha.iting a .od, is weighed
down and enchained ., the four elements6 wherefore, it is natural that the
soul should ha(e a;nit, with certain elements and a(ersion for others, for
which reason she cannot en2o, perfect happiness/ 5e(ertheless, as the soul
is of di(ine origin, she struggles and meditates e(en .eneath this .odil,
co(ering6 .ut her thoughts are not what the, would .e if she were free from
the .od,/ %nd if the .od, .e distur.ed and trou.led ., sic)ness or ., terror,
the soul herself is tossed a.out li)e a man in the midst of tempestuous
wa(es/
!hou hast gi(en me admira.le instruction, O m, most powerful Mother *sis,
concerning the mar(ellous creation of Souls ., -od, and * am +lled with
wonder6 .ut thou hast not ,et shewn me whither souls depart when set free
from .odies/ 1ain would * contemplate this m,ster,, and than) onl, thee for
the initiation/
%nd *sis saidA??Hear)en, m, son, for th, most necessar, en:uir, holds an
important place, and ma, not .e neglected/ Hear m, repl,/
O great and mar(ellous scion of the illustrious Osiris, thin) not that souls on
:uitting the .od, mix themsel(es confusedl, in the (ague immensit, and
.ecome dispersed in the uni(ersal and in+nite spirit, without power to return
into .odies, to preser(e their identit,, or to see) again their prime(al a.ode/
#ater spilt from a (ase returns no more to its place therein, it has no proper
localit,, it mingles itself with the mass of waters6 .ut it is not thus with souls,
O most wise Horos/ * am initiated into the m,steries of the immortal nature6 *
wal) in the wa,s of the truth, and * will re(eal all to thee without the least
omission/ %nd +rst * will tell thee that water, .eing a .od, without reason,
composed of m,riads of 3uid particles, di>ers from the soul which is, m, son,
a personal entit,, the ro,al wor) of the hands and of the mind of -od,
a.iding herself in intelligence/ !hat which proceeds from Unit,, and not from
multiplicit,, cannot mingle with other things, and in order that the soul ma,
.e 2oined to the .od,, -od su.2ects this harmonious union to 5ecessit,/
Souls do not, then, return confusedl,, nor ., chance, into one and the same
place, .ut each is despatched into the condition which .elongs to her/ %nd
this is deter?mined ., that which the soul experiences while ,et she is in the
tenement of the .od,, loaded with a .urden contrar, to her nature/ HearA
therefore, this comparison, O .elo(ed Horos6 suppose that there should .e
shut up in the same prison, men, eagles, do(es, swans, haw)s, swallows,
sparrows, 3ies, serpents, lions, leopards, wol(es, dogs, hares, oxen, sheep,
and certain amphi.ious animals, such as seals, h,dras, turtles, crocodiles,
and that at the same moment all the creatures should .e li.erated/ %ll at
once would escape6 the men would see) cities and the pu.lic places, the
eagles the ether, where nature teaches them to li(e, the do(es the lower air,
the haw)s the higher expanse6 the swallows would repair to places
fre:uented ., men, the sparrows to the orchards, the swans to districts
where the, could sing6 the 3ies would haunt the proximit, of the ground as
high onl, as human exhalations extend, for the propert, of 3ies is to li(e on
these and to 3it o(er the surface of the earth6 the lions and leopards would
3ee to the mountains, the wol(es to the solitudes6 the dogs would follow the
trac) of man6 the hares would .eta)e themsel(es to the woods, the oxen to
the +elds and meadows, the sheep to the pastures6 the serpents would see)
the ca(es of the earth6 the seals and the turtles would re2oin their )ind in the
shallows and running waters, in order to en2o,, conforma.l, to their nature,
ali)e the proximit, of the shore and of the deep/ &ach creature would return,
conducted ., its own interior discernment, into the a.ode .e+tting it/ &(en
so e(er, soul, whether human or inha.iting the earth under other conditions,
)nows whither she ought to go6 unless, indeed, some son of !,phon should
pretend that a .ull ma, su.sist in the waters or a turtle in the air/ *f, then,
e(en when immersed in 3esh and .lood, souls do not infringe the law of
order, although under penance,??for union with the .od, is a penance,??how
much more shall the, conform thereto when deli(ered from their .onds and
set at li.ert,G
5ow this most hol, law, which extends e(en unto hea(en, is on this wise, O
illustrious childA .ehold the hierarch, of soulsG !he expanse .etween the
emp,rean and the moon is occupied ., the -ods, the stars, and the powers
of pro(idence/ 4etween the moon and oursel(es, m, son, is the a.ode of the
souls/ !he unmeasured air, which we call the wind, has in itself an appointed
wa, in which it mo(es to refresh the earth, as * shall ., and ., relate/ 4ut
this mo(ement of the air upon itself impedes not the wa, of the souls, nor
does it hinder them from ascending and descending without o.stacle6 the,
3ow across the air without mingling in it, or confounding themsel(es
therewith, as water 3ows o(er oil/ !his expanse, m, son, is di(ided into four
pro(inces, and into sixt, regions/ !he +rst pro(ince from the earth upwards
comprehends four regions, and extends as far as certain summits or
promontories, which it is una.le to transcend/ !he second pro(ince
comprises eight regions in which the motions of the winds arise/ 4e thou
attenti(e, m, son, for thou hearest the ine>a.le m,steries of the earth, the
hea(ens, and of the sacred 3uid which lies .etween/ K *n the pro(ince of the
winds 3, the .irds6 a.o(e this there is no mo(ing air nor an, creature/ 4ut
the air with all the .eings it contains distri.utes itself into all .oundaries
within its reach, and into the four :uarters of the earth, while the earth
cannot lift itself into the mansions of the air/ !he third pro(ince comprehends
sixteen regions +lled with a pure and su.tle element/ !he fourth contains
thirt,?two regions, in which the air, wholl, su.tle and diaphanous, allows
itself to .e penetrated ., the element of +re/ Such is the order which,
without confusion, reigns from depth to height6??to wit, four general di(isions,
twel(e inter(als, sixt, regions, and in these dwell the souls, each according
to the nature thereof/ !he, are indeed all of one su.stance, .ut the,
constitute a hierarch,6 and the further an, region is remo(ed from the earth,
the loftier is the dignit, of the souls which dwell therein/
%nd now it remains to .e explained to thee, O most glorious Horos, what
souls the, are who a.ide in each of these regions, and this * shall set forth,
.eginning ., the most exalted/
!he expanse which stretches .etween earth and hea(en is di(ided into
regions, m, son Horos, according to measure and harmon,/ !o these regions
our ancestors ha(e gi(en (arious names6 some call them <ones, others
+rmaments, others spheres/ !herein dwell the souls who are freed from
.odies, and those who ha(e not ,et .een incorporated/ !he stations which
the, occup, correspond with their dignit,/ *n the upper region are the di(ine
and ro,al souls6 the .aser souls??the, who 3oat o(er the surface of the
earth??are in the lowest sphere, and in the middle regions are the souls of
ordinar, degree/ !hus, m, son, the souls destined to rule descend from the
superior <ones, and when the, are deli(ered from the .od,, thither the,
return, or e(en higher still, unless indeed the, ha(e acted contrar, to the
dignit, of their nature and to the laws of -od/ 1or, if the, ha(e transgressed,
the 8ro(idence on high causes them to descend into the lower regions
according to the measure of their faults6 and in li)e manner also it conducts
other souls, inferior in power and dignit,, from the lower spheres into a more
exalted a.ode/ 1or on high dwell two ministers of the uni(ersal 8ro(idence6
one is guardian of the souls, the other is their conductor, who sends them
forth and ordains for them .odies/ !he +rst minister guards them, the second
releases or .inds them, according to the will of -od/
*n this wise the law of e:uit, presides o(er the changes which ta)e place
a.o(e, e(en as upon earth also it moulds and constructs the (essels in which
the souls are immured/ !his law is supplemented ., two energies, Memor,
and &xperience/ Memor, directs in 5ature the preser(ation and maintenance
of all the original t,pes appointed in hea(en6 the function of &xperience is to
pro(ide e(er, soul descending into generation with a .od, appropriate
thereto6 so that passionate souls should ha(e (igorous .odies6 slothful souls
sluggard .odies6 acti(e souls acti(e .odies6 gentle souls gentle .odies6
powerful souls powerful .odies6 cunning souls dexterous .odies6??.rie3,, that
e(er, soul should ha(e a .e+tting nature/ 1or it is not without 2ust cause that
winged creatures are clothed with feathers6 that intelligent creatures are
gifted with +ner senses and superior to others6 that .easts of the +eld are
furnished with horns, with tus)s, with claws, or other weapons6 that reptiles
are endowed with undulating and 3exi.le .odies, and lest the moisture of
their natures should render them fee.le, are armed either with teeth or with
pointed scales, so that the, are, e(en less than others, in peril of death/ %s
for +shes, these timid souls ha(e allotted to them for a dwelling?place that
element in which light is .ereft of its dou.le acti(it,, for in the water, +re
neither illuminates nor .urns/ &ach +sh, swimming ., the help of his spin,
+ns, 3ies where he wills, and his wea)ness is protected ., the o.scurit, of
the deep/ !hus are souls immured in .odies resem.ling themsel(es6 in
human shape, those souls who ha(e recei(ed reason6 in 3,ing creatures,
souls of a wild nature6 in .easts, souls without reason, whose onl, law is
force6 in reptiles, deceitful souls, for the, attac) not their pre, face to face,
.ut ., am.ush6 while +shes enshrine those timid souls who merit not the
en2o,ment of other elements/
*n e(er, order of animals there are indi(iduals who transgress the laws of
their .eing/
*n what wa,, m, MotherD said Horos/
%nd *sis answeredA *n this wiseA??% man who acts against reason, a .east
which eludes necessit,, a reptile which forgets its cunning, a +sh which loses
its timidit,, a .ird which renounces freedom/ !hou hast heard what was to .e
said concerning the hierarch, of souls, their descent, and the creation of
.odies/
O m, son, in e(er, order of souls there are found a few ro,al souls, and of
di(ers charactersA some +er,, some cold, some proud, some gentle, some
craft,, some simple, some contemplati(e, some acti(e/ !his di(ersit, .elongs
to the regions from whence the, descend into .odies/ 1rom the ro,al <one
the ro,al souls go forth, .ut there are man, ro,alties6 the ro,alt, of spirit, of
the 3esh, of art, of science, of the (irtues/
%nd how, said Horos, dost thou name these ro,altiesD
O m, son, the )ing of souls who ha(e hitherto existed is th, father Osiris6 the
)ing of .odies is the prince of each nation, he who go(erns/ !he )ing of
wisdom is the 1ather of all things6 the *nitiator is the thrice great Hermes6
o(er medicine presides %sclepios, the son of Hephaistos6 force and power are
under the swa, of Osiris, and after him, under thine, m, son/ 8hilosoph,
depends on %rne.as)enis6 poetr,, ,et again, on %sclepios, *mouth7Hs son/ So
that, if thou thin)est thereon, thou wilt percei(e that there are indeed man,
ro,alties and man, )ings/
4ut the supreme ro,alt, .elongs to the highest region6 lesser )ingships
correspond to the spheres which .ring them forth/ !hose who issue from the
+er, <one handle +re6 those who come from the water, <one fre:uent li:uid
spheres6 from the region of art and learning those are .orn who de(ote
themsel(es to art and science6 from the region of inacti(it,, those who li(e in
ease and idleness/ %ll that is done and said upon earth has its origin in the
heights, from whence all essences are dispensed with measure and
e:uili.rium6 nor is there an,thing which does not emanate from a.o(e and
return thither/
&xplain to me this that thou sa,est, O m, Mother/
%nd *sis answeredA??%n e(ident to)en of these exchanges has .een stamped
on all creatures ., most hol, 5ature/ !he .reath which we indraw from the
upper air we exhale and again in.reathe ., means of the lungs within us
which perform this wor)/ %nd when the wa, destined to recei(e our .reath is
closed, then no longer do we remain on earth6 we depart hence/ Moreo(er, O
m, glorious son, there are other accidents ., which the .alance of our
com.ination ma, .e destro,ed/
#hat is, then, this com.ination, O m, MotherD
*t is the union and admixture of the four elements, whence emanates a
(apour which en(elops the soul, penetrates into the .od, and communicates
to .oth its own character/ !hus are produced (arieties among souls and
.odies/ *f in the composition of a .od,, +re dominates, then the soul .eing
alread, of an ardent nature, recei(es there., an excess of heat which
renders it the more energetic and furious, and the .od, the more (i(acious
and acti(e/ *f the air dominates, the .od, and soul of the creature are
there., rendered unsta.le, errant and restless/ !he domination of the water
causes the soul to .e mild, a>a.le, .land, socia.le, and easil, moulded,
.ecause water .lends and mixes itself readil, with all other things, dissol(es
them if it .e a.undant, moistens and penetrates them if it .e less in :uantit,/
% .od, softened ., too much humidit, o>ers .ut a wea) resistance, a slight
malad, disintegrates it, and little ., little dissol(es its cohesion/ %gain, if the
earth, element .e dominant, the soul is o.tuse, .ecause the .od, lac)s
su.tlet,, nor can she force a wa, through the densit, of its organism/
!herefore, the soul remains indrawn upon herself, .orne down ., the .urden
she supports, and the .od, is solid, inacti(e, and hea(,, mo(ing onl, with
e>ort/
4ut if the elements .e all in 2ust e:uili.rium, then the whole nature is ardent
in its actions, su.tle in its motions, 3uent in its sensations, and of a ro.ust
constitution/ Of the predominance of air and +re .irds are .orn, whose nature
resem.les that of the elements which generate them/ Men are endowed with
an a.undance of +re united with .ut a little air, and of water and earth e:ual
parts/ !his excess of +re .ecomes sagacit,, seeing that intelligence is indeed
a )ind of 3ame, which consumes not, .ut which penetrates/ !he
predominance of water and earth with a su;cient admixture of air and .ut
little +re engenders .easts6 those endued with more +re than the rest are the
more courageous/ #ater and earth in e:ual :uantities gi(e .irth to reptiles,
which, .eing depri(ed of +re, ha(e neither courage nor truthfulness, while
the excess of water renders them cold, that of earth, sordid and hea(,, and
the lac) of air ma)es all their mo(ements di;cult/ Much water with .ut little
earth produces +shes6 the a.sence of +re and air in them causes their
timidit,, and disposes them to lie hidden, while the predominance of water
and earth in their nature approximates them ., natural a;nit, to earth
dissol(ed in water/ Moreo(er, ., means of the proportional increase of the
elements composing the .od, is the .od, itself increased, and its
de(elopment ceases when the full measure is attained/ %nd so long, m,
.elo(ed son, as e:uili.rium is maintained in the primiti(e com.ination and in
the (apours arising therefrom, that is, so long as the normal proportion of
+re, air, earth, and water remains unchanged, the creature continues in
health/ 4ut if the elements de(iate from the proportion originall,
determined??(* spea) not now of the growth of acti(ities, nor of that resulting
from a change of order, .ut of a rupture of e:uili.rium whether ., addition
or diminution of +re or of other elements'??then malad, super(enes/ %nd
should air and +re, whose nature is one with that of the soul itself, pre(ail in
the con3ict, then, through the dominance of those elements, destro,ers of
the 3esh, the creature a.andons its proper state/ 1or the earth, element is
the pa.ulum of the .od,, and the water wherewith it is permeated
contri.utes to consolidate it6 .ut it is the aerial element which confers
motion, and the +re engenders all energies/ !he (apours produced ., the
union and com.ination of these elements .lending with the soul, as it were
., fusion, .ear her along with them, and clothe her in their own nature,
whether good or e(il/ So long as she remains in this natural association the
soul )eeps the ran) she has attained/ 4ut if a change should occur either in
the com.ination itself or in an, of its parts or su.di(isions, the (apours,
altering their condition, alter li)ewise the relations .etween soul and .od,6
the +re and air, aspiring upward, draw with them the soul, their sister, while
the water, and terrestrial elements, which tend earthwards li)e the .od,,
weigh it down and o(erwhelm it/