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.

CHAP. VI. Of the Spirit of ♂.

THat we may now come to speake of the Spi∣rit of Mars, that is of a more Gross and combustible mixture of Elements, then the other spirits going before; but the Spirit of Mars is en∣dued with a greater hardness then the other Me∣tals; so that it doth not so easily melt and dissolve in the fire, as the other following. But it suffers much hurt both by the water and the Aire, so that it is consumed by them, and is burnt with the fire, as experience makes appeare: Wherefore the Spirit thereof is more imperfect then any of the superiour spirits: but in hardness and dryness it exceedeth all other Metals, both superiour and inferiour: for it doth not onely retain a perfect substance, and resist the hammer, as the Sun and Moon, but also as those which are within it self, as Jupiter and Saturn, and the like. Whereas therefore it thus worketh in Metals, it sheweth that it hath the same effect in the bodies of men, that is, it produceth reluctancy; especially where it is taken for a disease not convenient, it grievous∣ly afflicteth the members with pain. Neverthe∣less, when it is taken and applyed for wounds, such as do not exceed its own degree, it cleanseth and mundifieth them, &c. Wherefore this spirit is not much less in power and virtue then one of the superiours, in those things for which it was by God and Nature ordained.