Pereq V
Mishnah 1. The properties of the twelve simple letters (or their attributes) -
ψ+ξζωη θχ(σ Νλ - their foundation: sight, hearing, smell, speech, eating, concubitus,
working, walking, anger, laughter, thinking, sleep. Their measurement twelve boundaries
in the hypothenuse (points in transverse lines), the boundary N. E., the boundary S. E.,
the boundary E. upwards, the boundary E. downwards; the boundary N. upwards, the
boundary N. downwards, the boundary S. W., the boundary N. W., the boundary W.
upwards, the boundary W. downwards, the boundary S. upwards, the boundary S.
downwards, and they extended and go on into the eternal (boundless space), and they are
the arms of the world.
Mishnah 2. Twelve simple letters, θχ (σ Νλ ψ+ξ ζωη. He drew them, and melted them,
and formed of them the twelve constellations in the world (sign of the Zodiac): Aries,
Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius,
Pisces (these are expressed in the original in an abbreviated, contracted form). These are
the twelve months of the year: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Abh, Elul, Tishri,
Marcheshvan, Kislev, Tebheth, Shebhat, Adar (thus the number twelve is marked, first in
the functions of man, then in the points of the compass, then in the starry skies, and then
in the year). And these are the twelve leaders in nephesh (living beings): two hands, and
two feet, and two kidneys, the spleen, the liver, the gall, the intestine, the upper stomach,
the lower stomach (perhaps gullet, stomach, and intestine - at any rate, three organs
connected with deglutition and digestion). He made them like a land (province), and set
them in order like war, and also - this as against that, ordered God. Three mothers,
which are three fathers, because from them issue fire, wind, and water. Three mothers,
and seven duplicate, and twelve simple ones.
Mishnah 3. These are the twenty-two letters with which the Holy One has founded (all),
blessed be He, Jah, Jehovah Tsebhaoth, the living God of Israel, high and lifted up,
dwelling eternally, and holy is His Name, exalted and holy is He.
Pereq VI
Mishnah 1. Three fathers and their generations, seven subduers and their hosts
(planets?), seven boundaries of hypothenuse - and the proof of matter: faithful witnesses
are the world, the year, and the nephesh. The law (statute, settled order) of the twelve,
and of the seven, and of the three, and they are appointed over the heavenly dragon, and
the cycle, and the heart. Three: fire, and wat er, and wind (air); the fire above, the water
below, and the wind (air) the statute intermediate between them. And the demonstration
of the matter: the fire bears the water, µ is silent, # hisses, and ) is the statute
intermediate between them (all these have further mystic meaning and application in
connection with words and ideas).
Mishnah 2. The dragon is in the world like a king on his throne; the cycle is in the year
like a king in his land; the heart is in the nephesh like a king in war. Also in all that is
pursued God has made the one against the other (opposite poles and their reconciliation):