Paracelsvs Of the supreme mysteries of nature.: Of [brace] the spirits of the planets. Occult philosophy. The magical, sympathetical, and antipathetical cure of wounds and diseases. The mysteries of the twelve signs of the zodiack. / Englished by R. Turner, philomathēs.

Of the Imagination, and how the same cometh into it's exaltation.

WHat powerful operation the Imagination hath, and how the same cometh to its hight and exaltation, may be seen by an example taken from experience in the time of pestilence, where∣in the Imagination poysoneth more then any infected Aire; and against which, no Antidote, neither of Mithridate nor Treacle, nor any such preservative, can exhibit any helpe; unless that such an Imagination do pass away and be forgot∣ten, nothing else will helpe. So quick and swift a Runner and Messenger is the Imagination, that it doth not onely fly out of one house into another, out of one streete into another, but also most swiftly passeth from one City and Country into another; so that by the Imagination onely of one person, the Pestilence may come into some whole City or Country, and kill many thousands of men: as may be understood by this example. Put case there were two brethren dearly loving one another, and one of them lives in France and the other travels into Italy, who is taken away by the Pestilence in the middle way, and newes should be brought to the bro∣ther living in France, that his brother in Italy was dead of the Plague; at which he being af∣frighted, it pierceth through his Skin, into his Imagination, so that he cannot forget it; and it is

kindled in him, and this fire doth so long rever∣berate and worke, as it may be seen in the try∣al of Gold and Silver, which do send forth their flowers so long, until they shine bright again; which is not before they are perfectly cleare, and separated from the other impure Metals: After the same manner also the Imagination striketh backe, and worketh it self unto the highest de∣gree, after there will be a relucency thereof, now it is received in a vessel in the man, as the sperme of a man is received in the Matrix of the woman, whereby the conception of the wo∣man immediately follows. So doth the Pestilence go from one to another, so long till it spread o∣ver a whole City or Country: Ir is good there∣fore to keep far off; not because of any corrupt or infected Aire, for it infects not the Aire, (as some Ignorant people say) but that they may not see or heare the operations of the Pestilence, which may infect their mindes. But those peo∣ple to whom any such newes is reported as be∣foresaid, ought not to be left alone, neither must they be suffered to muse silently with them∣selves, whereby the Imagination may labour in their mindes; but they are to be comforted, and the Imagination is to be expelled from their mindes, by exciting them to mirth and joy: Neither let any think that I speak this as a fable. as though it should seem to be a light business; neither is the remedy so easie for opprest Ima∣ginations; for the Imagination is as it were pitch, which easily cleaveth and sticketh, and soone taketh fire, which being kindled, is not so easily

extinguished: wherefore the onely remedy to resist the Pestilence in such men, is to quench and expel the force of the Imagination. This is one example wherein the power and operation of the Imagination is declared, with the exhala∣tions thereof.

But now to speake of another example, know, that the Imagination doth not onely operate on men in time of Pestilence, and to deprive many of their lives, but also in war: how many have perished in war with the feare of the shot? the cause of whose death hath been onely their Ima∣gination which they have had unto their death: That is, they have been so greatly overwhelmed with feare, and so terrified at every shot, that they have thought no otherwise but that they should be wounded with every dart: such men are far oftner slaine then those that are bold, who go couragiously and without feare against their enemies; they feare no shot or wound, but have a firm faith and hope of Victory be∣yond the other Souldiers; such are stout and true Souldiers: how many Towers, Castles, Ci∣tyes and Countryes have such warred against, and overcome and Vanquished the people there∣of? But the other that are fearful, whether they be great or little, Noble or Ignoble, Knights, Earls, or others, do scarce deserve a halfe-peny to go against an enemy, much less any wages. Wherefore it becometh him that desireth to be an old Souldier, or to gain Knight-hood or any honour in war, to fix and fasten his minde and Imagination firmly upon some most excellent

stout Head and leader of an Army, such as Julius Caesar, and many amongst the Romans have been; and by so doing, if he know how to use this Ima∣gination well, and be of a firm and constant minde, and as he if would attain to and accom∣plish all the heroick noble acts of such a man; he shall not onely attain to be an old Souldier, but shall accomplish his desires in attaining to the like honours.

This hath suddenly happened to many who have followed the process of their Imagination, so that they have attained to great honour and Riches.

Object. But some may Object, that fortune, strength and industry hath helped them, and promo∣ted such men; also, that some have worne herbs, rootes and stones, &c. by reason of the virtue where∣of, they could not be overcome nor wounded.

Answ. I say that all these things are consorts and helpers with the Imagination, which is the chiefe and general ruler over all others; al∣though I grant that there are many such things, which do preserve in the greatest necessity a∣gainst all enemies and their Armes, so that he that wears them, could not be wounded; where∣of I shall make no mention in this place, but re∣serve it to another. Nevertheless faith is the ex∣altation and confirmation of all those things: for without faith these things and all such like are vayne and void of strength.