Text.Penot.1594-01.K6r/Translation
Of the powers of the hidden spirit.
To the most noble and supreme philosopher and Mathematician, Lord Petrus Wincius of Olomouc, a famous Physician, Bernhardus G. Penotus from Port of Aquitaine, sends many greetings.
Whatever is comprehended as being actively spread within the ambit of any circle, is simultaneously contained within the center of the same circle in a potential, collected form. And when that which is collected in the center in potential is explained in action, then that which is spread in the ambit in action, is hidden in potential. For example, the light of the sky is dispersed in countless and many stars, and yet in one sun, it is at once both collected and in which it is dispersed in many, the circle is of the sky's light, in which it is collected into one, the center of the sky's light is. The light of the sky is dual, masculine & feminine, the masculine dispersed in one half of the sky's summer stars. The other feminine dispersed in the other half of the sky's nuptial stars: Again, the masculine light of the sky is collected into one, namely in the Sun and the feminine light of the sky, all collected into one, namely in the Moon: just as it is now with the dispersion and collection of the sky's light: so also with the dispersion, distinction, and collection of all other things similarly it is thus all animal virtues dispersed in countless animals of the earth, are collected into one center in one Lion: And all reasons or animal intelligences dispersed in all the animals of the world, are collected into one in the head of one man.
In the same way, Earth is the mother and receptacle of all elements: in which the powers of hidden things are all actually hidden, which potentially can burst forth into specific forms: hence Rasis in the book of divinity says (he says) know that the things of nature are so subtly bound together that in any thing, is any thing in potential, although they do not seem to be seen in action Albertus in the book of minerals says gold is found everywhere: because there is no thing without the four elements. Elemental, in which gold is not naturally found, in the ultimate definition: & therefore he says the material of the stone is found everywhere. Also, he proves that the greatest mineral power is in any man & especially in the head between the teeth as at his time gold was found in small & oblong grains, which cannot be, unless that mineral power was in man, Which mineral power is in our Elixir.
Furthermore, a certain virgin earth lies hidden in the center of the earth, which must be investigated with utmost diligence. You (o prince of all philosophers of our time) know her well: You know one earth, another to be better, therefore more choosable. Let therefore the investigators of hidden things learn to recognize her, which being known, is to be freed from original sin through fire & water. And let us celebrate the craftsman of things who wished to reveal the riches of such a treasure to mortals, through the only-begotten Jesus Christ: I wrote this as a monument of our service. But you truly wrote & are the glory and ornament of the author. Farewell, most blessed. Frankenthal, the Kalends of January 1594.
