VISIO SECUNDA, cap. XL
The Firmament's Hidden Fire
The pure ether and shining air are filled with stars whose fires warm the firmament and hold the clouds within their appointed bounds.
But you see that the circle of pure ether, and the circle of the thick, white, and shining air as well, are full as if with stars, which send their own bright flashes toward the clouds set opposite them; this means that the higher pure ether, and beneath it the thick, white, and shining air, are thoroughly suffused and strengthened by larger and smaller stars, because existing in no excess, with their own fires they warm and strengthen the whole firmament, and pouring their own rays into the clouds beneath the thick, white, and shining air, they pass through and hold them, so that they do not exceed the bounds appointed for them by God.
The Tongues of the Image
The four states appear as tongues on either side of the image, and their purpose is questioned.
As for the four states appearing in the form of tongues on the right and left of the image because of their mobility — what good might they serve?
Read the original Latin
Quod autem vides quod circulus puri aetheris, circulus quoque fortis et albi lucidique aeris, quasi stellis pleni sunt, quae velut fulgores suos ad sibi oppositas nubes mittunt, hoc est quod superior purus aether, et sub eo fortis, et albus lucidusque aer stellis majoribus et minoribus pleniter perfusi et firmati sunt, quia in nulla superfluitate existentes, ignibus suis totum firmamentum calefaciunt, et confortant, radiisque suis nubes sub forti et albo lucidoque aere infundentes pertranseunt et tenent, ne metas a Deo ipsis constitutas excedant.
De quatuor statibus in modum linguarum propter mobilitatem suam dextro laevoque imaginis apparentibus quid utilitatis habeant.
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