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THE
HERMETIC
AND
ALCHEMICAL
WRITINGS
OF
By
IN
TWO VOLUMES.
VOL.
I.
HERMETIC CHEMISTRY.
ont(on
E.C.
Kl
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME
I.
PAGE,
ix.
PART
I.
HERMETIC CHEMISTRY.
The Ccelum Philosophorum,
or
Book
formed thereof.
Canons according
...
The Preface of Theophrastus Paracelsus to all Alchemists and readers of this book. The
concerning the nature and properties of Mercury. The Second Canon
First Canon
concerning the nature and properties of Jupiter. The Third Canon
concerning Mars and his
The Fourth Canon concerning Venus and her properties. The Fifth Canon
properties.
concerning the nature and properties of Saturn. The Sixth Canon concerning Luna and the
The Seventh Canon concerning the nature of Sol and its properties.
properties thereof.
Certain treatises and appendices arising out of the Seven Canons. God and Nature do
:
What is to be thought concerning the congelaConcerning the Recipes of Alchemy. How to conjure the crystal so that
Concerning the heat of Mercury. What materials and
all things may be seen in it.
instruments are required in Alchemy. The method of seeking Minerals. What Alchemy is.
nothing in vain.
tion of Mercury.
Lord Jesus
The
Son of God
Christ, the
Preface.
Chapter
I.
...
...
...
written
life
of our
...
Chapter
...
II.
ig
concerning the definition of the Subject and Matter of the Tincture of the Philosophers.
concerning the Process of the Ancients for the Tincture of the Philosophers,
Chapter III.
:
and a more compendious method by Paracelsus. Chapter IV. concerning the Process for
Tmcture of the Philosophers, as it is shortened by Paracelsus. Chapter V. concerning
conclusion of the Process of the Ancients, made by Paracelsus. Chapter VI. concerning
concerning
Transmutation of Metals by the Perfection of Medicine. Chapter VII.
Renovation of Men.
:
the
the
the
the
dation,
The
First Gradation.
31
vi.
PAGE.
36
Concerning the Green
...
41
Concerning the First or Royal Cement. Concerning the Second Cement Concerning
The Sixth Cement. Conthe Third Cement. The Fourth Cement. The Fifth Cement.
clusion.
Paracelsus, which
Monarchia
calls his
...
...
...
..
...
48
Chapter
I.
Chapter IV.
Chapter VI.
Chapter V.
Prologue.
I.
72
..,
Chapter
II.
concerning the multiplicity of Fire from whence spring the varieties of Metals. Chapter
III.
concerning the Spirit or Tincture of Sol.
Chapter IV.
concerning the Spirit or
Tincture of Luna. Chapter V,
concerning the Spirit of Venus. Chapter VI. concerning
the Spirit of Mars.
Chapter VII.
concerning the Spirit of Jupiter,
Chapter VIII.
con:
Chapter IX.
The
Second Treatise. Concerning the Philosophers' Mercury, and the Medium of Tinctures.
Chapter I.
from what Tinctures and Leavens are made.
Chapter II. concerning the
Conjunction of the Man with the Woman. Chapter III. concerning the Form of the Glass
Instruments.
Chapter IV. concerning the Properties of Fire. Chapter V. concferning the
Signs which appear in the Union of Conjunction. Chapter VI.
concerning the Knowledge
:
of Tinctures.
Chapter
III.
Chapter VII.
Black Colour.
Chapter VI,
concerning the
Red
concerning the
Bud
Chapter VIII.
Colour.
Man
Husband with
:
with the
Woman.
his Wife.
Chapter VII.
and Multiplication.
Conclusion.
Chapter
called the
Genealogy of Minerals
and the Trees of Minerals. Chapter IV. concerning the Fruits and the
Harvest of Minerals. Chapter V. concerning the Death of the Elements, especially of
Water. Chapter VI. concerning the Death of the Tree of Minerals.
Chapter VII.
concerning the variation of the Primal Matter of Minerals, in proportion to the different
Field, the Roots,
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX. concerning
;
So
Vitriol.
Chapter XV.
Chapter XIX.
Bodies.
in
Chapter XVI.:
Medicine. Chapter XVII.: concerning
concerning Quicksilver.
Conclusion.
...
114
120
128
..
135
...
138
146
...
130
151
160
...
...
...
..,
...
...
Minerals.
...
171
195
igy
igg
Concerning Monstrous Signs in Men. Concerning the Astral Signs in the Physiognomy
of Man. Concerning the Astral Signs of Chiromancy. Concerning Mineral Signs. Concerning certain particular Signs of Natural and Supematiu*al Things
!
...
...
...
201
...
210
concerning the Sun, Light, Darkness, and Night. Concerning Winds. Concerning the
Temperate Stars. Concerning Nebulae. Concerning Metals, Minerals, and Stones from the
Upper Regions.
Concerning Metals.
Concerning Crystals
and Beryls.
226
its
231
viii.
APPENDICES.
Appendix
I.
237
Silver.
Concerning Jove.
Recapitulation concerning
Of
Generation.
the
Generation of Marcasites.
Autograph
Schedule by Paracelsus.
Appendix
II.
concerning-
Salt
Salt
257
Correction and Addition on the Subject of a second time correcting and reducing
Dry
Salt.
Appendix
III.: concerning"
Sulphur
...
...
...
...
...
265
...
278
.,,
283
Alchemy.
Appendix IV.
A
Book concerning
Appendix V.
De Transmutationibus Metallorum
...
...
Concerning the Visible and Local Instruments and first of all concerning the Spagyric
Uterus. The Phcenix of the Philosophers. A Very Brief Process for attaining the Stone.
:
Appendix VI.
the
Appendix VII.
the
Manual
Secret.
Manuscript
Vatican
Catechism of Alchemy
...
...
of
...
Paracelsus.
...
...
Short
...
...
of Paracelsus
306
A Cement of
Method of calcining Mercury.
Red
Luna and
Sol.
The Gradation
Corporal Mercury.
Process of Sulphur. Operation for Sol. To make Precious Stones. Water which makes
Luna into Sol. Fixation of Sulphur. How every Stone can be transmuted into a clear one.
The Adepts' Fire. Sol produced with Pars cum Parte, Concerning Cements. Method of
making Luna.
and the Sun.
Augmentation
Albatio.
Quintessence of Luna,
for Sol.
Attinkar of Venus.
Fixed Luna,
Cement Regal.
etc.
288
Rubification of Mercury.
Fixation of Orpiment.
Philosophic Water.
Oil of
Mercury
Spirits of
Water.
The Hermetic
Bird.
THERE
are
many
Levi,
who
little
in his
Dogme
et Rituel de la
in his Histoire
German ** Monarch
manner of a Frenchman.*
knowledge
is
and phantasmal.
thin
Paracelsus
of the
wisdom of a
he
is
somehow supposed
to be standing evidence
Thus
there
all
a very
is
schools have
derived from a species of mystical tradition, and this represents one side of
it
is
not obtained. at
first
It
is
hand.
it
may
success. /^/.,
inspiration
\\.
'
X.
obtains
among
was a great
charlatan,
at the
same time
physics enabled
true that he
is
it
its
if
knew anything
the criticism
about it. It is not a crux for the mystics, because by these it would be replied
that Paracelsus was a veritable adept, that his Hermetic teachings require to
be interpreted, and that the key to their meaning would lay open for those
who
possess
significance
make
only a bizarre
choice here.
either to
abundant
an
it
is
judge
of sapience
to
It is
this
treasure
veil.
it
who
which the
is
literal
unnecessary to
are
interested in
and
in
proposed, also, by
celsus.
It is
facts in
life
way
may
be useful at the
beginning of an inquiry.
There
are,
however,
many
life
of
What
to
is
precise
his
manner of
life,
about which
considerable uncertainty, and they are at this day not likely to be set-
tled.
alchemy, and
The surname
it
signified that
To
the style of
of Paracelsus
was conferred by
his father
monastic
state,
or Notre
Dame
ancient fame.
a doubtful right.
in his
He
appears to
writings he indifferently
M.
scientist,
accuracy,
'
which, so far as
it is
possible to judge,
is
not true at
'
all.
Preface
to
the
English Translation.
xi.
tradition
which
is
dates have been indicated, the earliest being 1490. According to one account
he was descended from the ancient and honourable family of Bombast, which
was a physician of
who
repute,
identified as the
of Einsiedeln. "
is
it
He
is
was a
natural son.
is
traced indirectly, but with sufficient distinctness, in his writings.* About 1502
removed
the family
medicine
to Carinthia,
his death in
till
received the
first
From him
1534.
Paracelsus
to practise
supposed to have
is
To
had
some introduction through the works of Isaac the Hollander, which are said
to have inflamed him with the ambition of curing diseases by medicine
superior to the materia at that time in use.
It was from the same source that
the
first
is
writings, namely, that salt, sulphur, and mercury are the three elementary
constituents of
all
first
substances.
was a follower
is,
The
* So free was Paracelsus of all amourous weaknesses, that he made even his sex seem doubtful.
Haute Magie^
of
Dogme
de la
c. ii.
t Contemporary with Basilius Valentinus were Isaac the Hollander and his son, who are supposed to have worked
with success. They were the first alchemists of Holland, and their operations were highly esteemed by Paracelsus,
In practical chemistry they followed the traditions of Geber, and their alchemical experiments
are the most plain and explicit in the whole range of Hermetic literature.
describing minutely the particulars of every process.
by
Their
lives are
They worked
almost unknown.
principally in metals,
They
Philosophers.
"P*^
xii.
tuition of the
is
and had been previously the instructor of the more celebrated, though
who
From
illustrious,
is
remembered
at
all, is
best
known by
"the
to have acquired
his
less
About 1516 he
is
begun
at the
by necromantic
even said,
Hungary,
Italy,
if
it
is
it
practices.
he
it,
is
reported to have been made prisoner by the Tartars, to have been brought
before "the Great
Cham,"
to
Constantinople.
something to
learn,
less
nomadic legend
is
It is
in the lives
However
fire.
no other
It is
all
probability,
is
his
may
Danube
this
whom
to
he had apparently
into Italy,
where he appears as an
army surgeon, and where also his wonderful cures began. He is said to have
re-entered Germany in 1526, at the age of thirty-two, and if this be accepted
the date 1516, when he is supposed to have been at work with Sigismund
will be found approximately correct.
It is to the period immediately
succeeding his return that most of his biographers assign his induction into a
Fugger,
knowledge.
He
bom
in 1535.
'
Preface
to the
English Translation.
xiii.
as a youth.
at the instance of
He began by
medicine.
The
after
'
that the Hermetic doctor did not long retain his professorship at Basle.
came
He
In 1528 he proceeded to
life.
Colmar
in
1530 he
is
found at Nuremburg,
his
whom
he was de-
For the
movements
ten years succeeding this date there are no certain records of his
still
to the accusations of
performing cures
at Salzburg,
'of
the
same
and
drinking to excess. f
there, according to
manner of
in
fire
By an
alternative statement
a Strasburg hostelry.
One
it
occurred
writer supposes
the event to have been accelerated by a scuffle with assassins in the pay of
the orthodox medical faculty.
and there
is
also
no doubt that
this vi'as
immeasurably increased
life,
after death.
* Paracelsus, who was the first who made known zinc, has obtained an immense and deserved reputation by
introducing into medicine the use of chemical compounds furnished by metals. To the old therapeutics of the Galenists,
abounding in complicated and often inoperative preparations, he substituted the simple medicaments furnished by
pathology.
Louis
first
Figiiier,
to
V Alchiinie et
les
Alchbnistes^ troisihne
'tdiiio7i^
t Marvellous Paracelsus, always drunk and always lucid, like the heroes of Rabelais.
Introduction.
Dogme
de la Haute Mag,k^
He
proceeded to Maehren, Kaernthen, Krain, and Hungary, and finally landed in Salzburg, to which place he
by the Prince Palatine, Duke Ernst of Bavaria, who was a great lover of the secret arts. In that place
Paracelsus obtained at last the fruits of his long labours and of a widespread fame. But he was not destined to enjoy
X
was
invited
.
He died, after a short sickness (at the age of forty-eight years), in
a long time the rest he so richly deserved. .
a small room of the White Horse Inn, near the quay, and his body was buried in the graveyard of St. Sebastian.
.
Hartmann's Paracelsus.
xiv.
in
that he
was
The works
He was termed
the
it
sift
seems to
have become evident, from the experience of his followers, that his prescriptions in
many
It will scarcely
letter of his
still
more
in
The
need of interpretation.
very curious influence exercised by Paracelsus for something like two hundred
years over certain sections of restless experiment and speculation
unwritten, and
would be interesting
it
and
will
to trace here,
task so ambitious
is,
were
it
however,
is
still
possible within
outside
those
it
is,
medical literature
which follow are concerned only with the Hermetic writings of Paracelsus, to
the exclusion of many formidable treatises on surgical science, and on the
causes and cure of disease. They comprise what Paracelsus would himself
have comprised
in
in itself is
It
of the
to the
in
More especially, dear friends, have we to complain of the devilish cunning way
in which the works of
Theophrastus have hitherto been suppressed, only a few of which (and those to be reckoned the very
worst) having
appeared in print. For although they have been collected together from all countries in which Theophrastus
has lived
and travelled the books he has written in Astronomy, Philosophy, Chemistry, Cabala, and Theology, numbering
some
thousand volumes yet the same has only been done from avarice to get riches. For, having been trafficked
in and
sold for great sums, they have become scattered among the courts of princes and nobles, while Christendom
for
benefit
at lam
Particularly his theological works
(because the
by the devil) have hitherto b
But, at the Last Day, I, together with all true Sons of the Doctrine, shall
demand a
shut Truth away in boxes, walls, and vaults, and behind locks and
.
.
bolts
by God
As regards our
Firmament, but will heartily defend his honour and teaching to the very end of our life. Benedictus Figulus
Blessed Casket of Natures Marvels.
and
No
rt
our part, will not suppress his Life, his well-merited praise,
'
belly-servers, deceived
A G
Preface
Thus
Nature.
first
also
the English
to
xv.
included the
it
Translation.
It
included
whether
the
the
in
in the
matrix.
Finally, it included the development by man's skill and art of
whatsoever was capable of improvement in the products of Nature. Thus
the Hermetic and Alchemical writings of Paracelsus have a wider scope than
might
at first
first
time, a complete
and
The purpose of
title.
this translation is
It
Paracelsus
known
is
or
does not attempt to distinguish between the works which have been falsely
attributed to
him
of criticism, for those which have been indicated by the old author of the
in
present state, and he will possibly reject altogether the treatise " Con-
it
is
question which has been raised by some of his biographers as to his employ-
ment of
who reduced
and have
of to-day
is
is
the
There
is
it is
outside possibility
no doubt that
it
would be an
Should
it
is
this translation be
regarded as
final
by students, or at
it is
proposed, after
all
to the
and
dawn
for
historically,
chemical
of the Reformation.
It is
xvi.
anticipated
first
The
connection therewith.
this inquiry
has been alone attempted here, and the simple provision of a text,
as intelligible
as the
circumstances will
The
editor
specialists,
lation,
and
it
is
his
task with
the
of
collaboration
other
Paracelsus,
allow,
has accomplished
and
in
less
body of
and treating
and
directly
of
{b)
as
it
stands,
alchemy,
Magnum Opus
The work,
collation.
literature, entire
So much of
the Hermetic philosophy and cosmogony of Paracelsus as has been judged
literature of the Great Elixir
to the treatment
is
of diseases
(e)
An
practically inclusive
modern student.
(d)
{c)
One important
treatise
present edition
it
is
works of Paracelsus.
Thus, the
thought,
is
exoteric
PART
I.
Hermetic Chemistry.
By
and containing a
and Appendices.
THE PREFACE
OF Theophrastus Paracelsus to all Alchemists and Readers
OF this Book.
YOU who
Alchemy
who
willingly
in different
undergo
toil
you
equally, too,
to be freed
from them,
you have attained your rewards, and the fulfilment of the promises made
you
experience teaches this every day, that out of thousands of you not
until
to
no
say,
but
Is this
is
it
operator.
Since, therefore, the characters of the signs, of the
stars
and planets of
heaven, together with the other names, inverted words, receipts, materials,
it
to recur to these
same
subjects in
the present book, although the use of such signs, names, and characters at
the proper time
But herein
is
will
be noticed another
way
of treating
Alchemy
different
from
the previous method, and deduced by Seven Canons from the sevenfold series
of the metals.
in
many
pompous parade
of
'
of Paracelsus.
differ
philosophers,
experimentation.
in
Art nothing
this
is
true process shall have been found, the substance itself while transmuting
The
straight road
is
it is
Sometimes
it
may happen
He need do nought
in
in
by
thing into nothing, and again bring back something out of nothing.
not wholly
is
own
his
Yet
this
false.
which
good
is
for _the
The good
it.
metals
is
By
is
least
the element of
that
fire all
is
imperfect
is
On
same
They remain
and
same
fire.
visible to the
in the
fire
at the
eyes.
this
learnt
and property of each metal, what it effects with the other metals, and what
are its powers in commixture with them.
But
this
first
place
Canons
Many
The
is
fire,
there
is
here contained.
by
th
I
'
the
separated the three pure substances are displayed. -De Origine Mothot-icjn ex Trthus Primis
Subsi
Fire separates that which is constant or fixed from that which is fugitive
Parnmt^ztm, Lib. I., c. I.
matter
is
or vol
De Morbis
I.
Fire
is
"
Third Fr
'
t
t'\
ALL
all.
One
of them
spirit,
and so
all
and movable.
corporeal
all is
visible,
is
be found for
therewith,
it
And
its origin.
since
it
may be
no heat
fire
is
designated
All lique-
a living and
it,
when
No name
still
less
can
so strong as to be equalised
of Gehenna.
liquefaction of this
kind has no sort of connection with others made by the heat of natural
fire,
or
in
Celestial
No
of action, f
any metal can be generated from Mercury. At the same time, Mercury is
is the end of all metals.
Up to the halfway point of their generation all metals are Mercury. Gold, for example, is Mercury but it loses the Mercurial
nature by coagulation, and although the properties of Mercury are present in it, they are dead, for their vitality is
The essences and arcanas which are
destroyed by coagulation. Z?tf Morbis Metallicis, Lib. III., Tract II., c. 2.
There are two genera of
latent in all the six metals are to be found in the substance of Mercury. ~/^*t^., c. 3.
Mercury, the fixed Mercury of earth and another kind which descends from the daily constellation. /^/(/., Lib. I.,
As there is a red and white Sulphur of Marcasites, a yellow, red, and black Sulphur of Talc, a
Tract II., c. 4.
*
By the
mediation of Vulcan, or
imperfect as a metal
it is
fire,
purple and black Sulphur of the Cachimise, a Sulphur of Cinnabar, and, in like manner, of marble, amethyst, etc., so
Mercury is not Quicksilver, for Mercury
Mercury of Copper, Plumbago, Zinc, Arsenic, ate Ibid.
there a special
is
living.
De
is
is
Hvdropisi.
is
manifest (that
to say, the
is
corporeal metals are spiritually concealed, but one more deeply and
tenaciously than another.
position, but
liquefaction
manner, he
On
this
account his
fire,
and, in like
is
is
liquefactions of
nature, the
all
more
easily he
it
like
he
affinity
is
to
with the
some other
remote.
has
is
easier
is
He
cold.
it is
by moderate
coagulated
is
press
do not aspire to the superior orders of creation, because they are far distant
their glory.
much
fear
those of an inferior order, because they are remote, and none of the living
knows
this
For
For more remote objects
cause an infernal
spirit is
accounted as nothing.
its
place,
since
is
The more remote, therefore, Jupiter is found to be from Mars and Venus,
and the nearer Sol and Luna, the more " goldness " or " silveriness," if I
may so say, it contains in its body, and the greater, stronger, more visible,
more tangible, more amiable, more acceptable, more distinguished, and more
true
is,
it is
found than
in
present
is
is it
esteemed
is
absent.
what
is
clear the
as an Alchemist,
where Jupiter
also
may
is
corporeally posited
so that, in the
your eyes.
little silver.
will
be augmented.*
* Tin, or Jupiter,
of white Sulphur.
Mercury, and
its
is
"^
The six occult metals have expelled the seventh from them, and have
made it corporeal, leaving it little efficacy, and imposing on it great hardness
and weight.
This being the case, they have shaken off all their own strength
of coagulation and hardness, which they manifest in this other body.
On the
contrary, they have retained in themselves their colour and liquefaction,
together with their nobility.
The other
of
all
their colour
understand
thing
may
this,
and method of
in
that
a manifest
order to
by means of
fire
six metals
stones,
and
bodies.
If
Whatever
fire.
is
earth.
many new
rust,
metallic
can again
it
fire.f
Of
own
his
as their examiner.
They have
spiritual place.
so that
They have
may be what
my
is
The other
six
forth from
it
is
have cast
me
out
me
penetrate
also
thrust
am
My six
put in the
brothers
fire
they
and Luna
a larger proportion of Salt and Mercury, while the red Sulphur from which
It contains also a cuprine salt, but not in equal proportion with
own body, which preponderates then comes Salt, afterwards Mercury, and, lastly,
more Salt than the composition of Sulphiu" requires, the metal can in no wise be made, for it
depends upon an equal weight of each. For fluxibility proceeds from Mercury and coagulation from Salt. Accordingly,
if there be too much Salt it becomes too hard.
De EUinento Aqute, Lib. IV., Tract III., c. 4.
t Venus is the first metal generated by the Archeus of Nature from the three prime principles after the marcasite.
and cachimiae have been separated from these. It is formed of the gross redness which is purged olF from the primal
Sulphur, of the light red expelled in like manner from the Mercury, and of the deep yellow separated in the
purification of the prime Salt by this same Archeus. /^/i^., c. 3.
Mercury.
Sulphur.
When
there
is
excepted.
my
my
My spirit is a
water.
brothers.
water
my body
Yet
is
am
Deserting
is in
me.
This
is
is
in
all
me and
and
make
it
The stone
this is to
promote Sol
with Luna.*
Two
has great
affinity
with Jupiter,
one the
common
with Saturn.
also called
It
it
augments Luna.
or easier
itself
itself.
For
this
And
seventh always
So also no
corporeal metal can have place or essence without those six spiritual ones.
The seven corporeal metals mix easily by means of liquefaction, but this
mixture is not useful for making Sol or Luna.
For in that mixture each metal
remains
mix,
in its
own
in
and Luna.
It
other five that, by the agency of Sol and Luna, these will become Sol and
For though all be liquefied into a single mass, nevertheless each
Luna.
remains
in
its
passed on
be
Lead
nature whatever
corporeal
it
mixture.
is.
This
is
But concerning
spiritual
must
mixture and
is
metallic nature in
them
existing.
For
first
all
of
mortification
is spiritual,
Though
times
in
the
metals,
because such
no
separation
into
perfect, that
And
true,
Luna
question
and from
origin
and
nature
If
it
this
we
reply
that
from themselves
the
metals ah
six
be true that
is
To
arise
it
a better
said above,
as frequently
may
is
is,
then,
this
to say,
is
spirits
that
most
most
known
should be
it
From
six,
The caus
two good virtues of the other six, of which altoge
there are twelve.
These are the spirit of Luna, which thus in a few w
may be made known. Luna is composed of the six spiritual metals and
Altogether, therefore, twelve are
virtues, whereof each possesses two.
posited in one corporea.l metal, which are compared to the seven planets
Luna has from the planet Mercury, and
the twelve celestial signs.
Aquarius and Pisces, its liquidity and bright white colour.
$ sii, anc
So Luna has from Jupiter, with -b (Sagittarius) and Taurus, its white cc
Luna has from Mars, with Ca
and its great firmness in fire.
^\ W
VLuna has
and Aries, its hardness and its clear sound.
$ as, and f
Venus, with Gemini and Libra, its measure of coagulation and its malleab
From Saturn, with Virgo and t^ (Scorpio), its homog
? n, and Libra.
ous body, with gravity.
h>W< ^"^ r6 From Sol, with Leo and Virgc
spotless purity and great constancy against the power of fire.
0, S^, anc
of
natural
exaltation
and
the
course
of the s
of
the
knowledge
Such is the
nature
and
wisdom
briefly
summaris
and body of Luna, with its composite
Furthermore, it should be pointed out what kind of a body such mel
spirits acquire in their primitive generation by means of celestial influx,
Sol,
>
the metal-digger,
pearance, liquefies
it,
corrupts
it,
more that
putting
spirit
itself
it
with
it
is
ir
'
fire.
and
artificially
Then comes
the Alchemist,
corruption of elementary
light,
except
it
who
Thus
perfect t
be Sol or Luna.
fire,
When the three prime principles have been purged of their superfluities, and from the said superfluil
imperfect metals have been generated, there remains nothing gross or crude, either in colour or substance, but
very subtle nature of a white and purple hue. This is the most pure quality of IMercury, Salt, and Sulphur, mo
lo
The seventh
~~N
is
more
brilliant,
which
more
its Properties.
What
fire.
is
clear
?
outward appearance
in
And
it is
in itself
more beautiful,
or more homo-
this,
namely, that
contains in itself the congelations of the other six metals, out of which
made
elementary
or
fire,
for Sol,
when
to coagulate
easily
is
the heat
it
proceeds from
it.
in
is
whose nature
it
is
is
Its liquefaction
it
embraces
solid, there is
^Jupiter,
in itself
of this
an embrace.
is
But
after liquefaction,
five metals,
In
these five metals the cold abodes with their regimens are especially found.
Hence
fire,
it
difficulty
For Mercury
cannot assist with his natural heat or liquefaction, or defend himself against
the cold of the five metals, because the heat of Mercury
is
not sufficient to
always to flow.
can
To
liquid.
Hence
it
nothing, since
eff'ect
render
happens that
its
nature
fluid is the
is
in
not to
life,
is
compared
to death.
For
example, the six cold metals, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Luna,
they are to be liquefied must be brought to that condition by the heat of
Snow
or
ice,
which are
cold,
will
it
or solid, but
eff'ect,
if
fire.
harden.
this is
away by
the vulgar.
For the vulgar man judges only falsely, and always holds
So then let him who loves truth withdraw therefrom.
Mercury,
in fact, lives
not at
all
warm and
fiery nature.
and excellent in form, substance, essence, and colour. These two essences, namely, the white and the purple
are
separated by the Archeus, and out of the first, fixed and coagulated, is formed silver, while from the
purple there is
generated gold, which is the most noble Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, separated from all other colours,
and
consistinir
of purple alone.
all
Its
'
because heat
lives is fire,
of Sol
Is life,
of itself pure, not indeed alive, but hard, and so far shews
is
tl
colour of sulphur in that yellow and red are mixed therein in due proportio
The
five cold
metals are Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, and Luna, which assi|
colour
terrestrial fire,
one
fire
to fire
is
even corrupted,
is
it
is
is in
increased,
is
effected
celestial fire
with us
is
it
is
but rather
not such a
Tl
fire
fire.
is
its
Celestial
Essence three-
Elementary
Metallic
is in
it
is
F^
be add(
operations.
in its
in
ai
Sol.
fire
if
liquefied, like
fold
Gold
by the firmness of
it
fir
heaven, neither
according to
celestial fire
there
nor
itself
Dissolved
and
rT^7tuid
Corporeal.
PART
II.
Vain.
in
beginning
eternal position of all things, independent of time, without
otherwise
where
essentially
It works
or end, operates everywhere.
THE
there
is
no hope.
It
deemed impossible.
is
wonderful
appears beyond belief or hope emerges into truth after a
What
fashion.
The
earth with
its
frigidity is a coagulation
For the house is always dead but he who inhabits the house
you can discover the force of this illustration you have conquered.
of hardness.
If
lives.
and
Burn
Recipe. Salt
Mix and
and
ounces
a moiety of sulphur
tartar,
one ounce.
liquefy.
What
To
nitre, four
verbena.*
fat
is
it
into Luna,
it
involves a
to sublimate
it
Luna
more
much
and
is
existing therein.
There
is
little
another method,
waste of Mercury
Virg.,
Eel.
viii.
65.
It is
Do
you
will
Wait
then
this,
proceed as follows,
a very rich
is
is
about
last year's
if
no more nee
is
one wished to
snow.
waters,
its
oils,
we
shall
limes,
wax, lutum
sapientiae,
pounded
fel vitri,
many
croci
lazurium,
things.
other
digestions,
ovorum,
elixir,
probations,
solutions,
concerning
preparations,
cementings,
filtrations,
putrefacti
reverberati
be learnt.
So, then,
all
may
ask.
and yet
and openly explained
fully
in the
its life
who does
It
is,
diflfic
this
would be
has
lost la
Our answer
Seven Canons.
would be impossible
with
The Art
this
in
made heaven,
on
it all
an open sense.
or the sphere of Sa
more, as you wish, so that the portion of Luna may be the smallest. Le
Then all those pli
run, until heaven, or Saturn, has entirely disappeared.
will
obti
That body is the spirit of heaven. From it these planets again rece:
body and life, and live as before. Take this body from the life and the e
14
Keep
If
well.
It
How
To
and
it.
entire.
conjure
is
understand what
to
appears
the
in
The
it is.
object
crystal
is
a figure of the
air.
For the
air,
know
Whatever
air,
in it.
in
the
is
seen.
is
and
liquidity
from
flux
its
own
and renders
And this is
many of them
seven metals, or as
spirits of the
life,
may put forth its powers and virtues in the endeavour to get the
way of liquefying and transmuting. ^One seizes on the virtue,
so that each
mastery
fire,
in the
and form of another, and assigns some other nature and form
So then the
to this one.
heat
to congeal,
consolidate,
in their place
Let
the pixis.
takes
Fill
it
moisture and
such an extreme cold introduced as
T
in order that its
adds an external heat, and conand Luna (which are both planets of
is
compelled to congeal,
and harden.
Note also that the coldness (which Mercury needs in its consolidation and
is not perceptible by the external sense, as the cold of
snow or
mortification)
of ice
is,
It is
way
is it
is
is
the cause of
way
its
as one of our
qualities.
is
perceptible.
Whence
Sophists (a race which has more talk than true wisdom) falsely assert
Mercury is cold and of a moist nature, so that they go on and advise
congeal
it
by means of heat
own
loss rather
it
more
fluid,
as
than gain.
True Alchemy which alone, by its unique Art, teaches how to fabr
Sol and Luna from the five imperfect metals, allows no other receipt
this, which well and truly says
Only from metals, in metals, by metals,
with metals, are perfect metals made, for in some things is Luna and in
:
<
metals
is Sol.
What
There
is
in
Alchemy.
up
to Saturn.
avarice or their
God dowers men not only with gold or silver, but also with poverty, squi
and misery.
He has given to some a singular knowledge of rrietals
minerals, whereby they have obtained an easier and shorter metho(
fabricating gold and silver, without digging and smelting them, than they
commonly accustomed to, by extracting them from their primitive boi
^
And
cei
and knowledge they have extracted them from the five metals gene
is to say, from metals excocted from minerals which are impe
and called metals), viz., from Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Ve
from all of which, and from each of them separately, Sol and Luna cai
made, but from one more easily than from another. Note, that Sol and I
arts
(that
can be made easily from Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter, but from Mars
Venus with
difficulty.
It is
possible to
In such matters
it is
quite superfluov
their aspects,
prosperous or unlucky
less
If otherwise,
feasible process,
operate
will
fail
you
in
your work.
If metals
consumed by
For there
found
is
in the
rust, but
many of these
money of
but this
is
known
to few.
metallic, but
through the
What Alchemy
Alchemy
endeavour
According to
is
transmute the
to
this,
Art,
purpose,
kinds of the
way and
himself a better
is.
own mental
and therein
one to another.*
It is
and subtle
intention,
metals from
man who
follows
tial
itself
fire,
pure
off,
in its
it
The whole
brightness.
something thrown
liquefied into
celes-
same expulsions and rehas been separated and brought, clear and
coals, ashes, the
its
seat
and gradually
and its rest in
Further
with be set
it is
to be
down have
and
incorruptibility,
shall forth-
power of withstanding
earth, t
They have,
Alchemy
They
and with
are found by
by which the sun is separated from the moon, day from night
refuse. Zl Cotica.
Therefore learn Alchemy, which is otherwise
called Spagyria.
This teaches you to discern between the true and the false. Such a Light of Nature
is it that it is
a mode of proof in all things, and walks in light. From this light of Nature we ought to know and
speak, not from
mere phantasy, whence nothing is begotten save the four humours and their compounds, augmentation,
stagnation and
decrease, with other trifles of this kind. These proceed, not from the clear intellect, that full
treasure-house of a good
man, but rather are based on a fictitious and insecure foundation. Paramintm Lib. L c. ^.
is,
is
useful from
what
is
t When the occult dispenser of Nature in the prime principles, that is to say, the potency
called Ares has
produced the gross and rough genera of stones, and no further grossness remains, a diaphanous
and subtle substance
remains, out ofwhich the Archeus of Nature generates the precious stones or gems. .0?
Elrmenlo Aaua Lib IV
y
.,
Tract IV., c. lo,
,
and accounted
sold,
to be great
The Emerald.
eyes and the
This
It
defends chastity
their
cole
them follows :
is
memory.
on account of
riches,
brief description of
and
if
It
this
does good to
be violatec
him who carries it, the stone itself does not remain perfect.*
The Adamant. A black crystal called Adamant or else Evax, on ace
of the joy which it is effectual in impressing on those who carry it.
It is c
obscure and transparent blackness, the colour of iron. It is the hardest of
but
is
Its size at
It
in fishes,
(ot
shrub
*
it
hardens
The body
coagulated with
t
in the air,
of the Emerald
spirit of Salt.
is
and
is
Idid.^
It receives
fire.
its
c. 12.
all
The white
ad
body from Mercury, and its coagulation from the spirit of Salt. Ibid.^ c. 14.
t Fortified by experience, which is the mistress of all things, and by mature theory, based on experience, I
that the Magnet is a stone which not only undeniably attracts steel and iron, but -has also the same power o^
matter of all diseases in the whole body of man. De Corallis, See Herbarius TkeophrasiL
It generates milk abundantly in women if they are deficient the
The Pearl is a seed of moisture.
De Aridura.
The Jacinth, or Hyacinth, is a gem of the same genus as the Carbuncle, but is inferior thereto in its nai
De Elemenio Aguce, Lib. IV., Tract IV., c. 11.
It is
IT In the matter of body and colour the Sapphire is generated from Mercury (the prime principle).
over white Sulphur and white Salt from a pallid petrine Mercury. Hence white Sapphires frequently occur bee
white Mercury concurs in the formation.
In like manner a lute-coloured Mercury sometimes produces a cl;
has
its
11
gems possessing a ruddy hue are generated from the red of Sulphur, and their boc
For Mercury is the body of every precious stone. Ibj'd., c. 13.
Mer
tt The Carbuncle is formed of the most transparent matter which is conserved in the three principles.
the body and Sulphur the colouring thereof, with a modicum of the spirit of Salt, on account of the coagulation
light abounds therein, because Sulphur contains in itself a clear quality of light, as the art of its transmi
petrine Mercury.
demonstrates.
Ibtd., c. 11.
There are two species of red Corals one a dull red, which varies between sub-purple and semi-black the
resplendent and brilliant red.
As the colours differ, so also do the virtues. There is also a whitish species w
almost destitute of efficacy. In a word, as the Coral diminishes in redness, so it weakens in its qualities. Net
Theo^hrasH; De Corallis.
tt
liver coloured.
It is
the lowest of
all
fold
Is
It is
ice.
like
sub-
As a pledge and firm foundation of this matter, note the following conIf anyone intelligently and reasonably takes care to exercise himself
n learning about the metals, what they are, and whence they are produced
spirit
le may know that our metals are nothing else than the best part and the
is
least
But
this
oil,
and
stone.
fat,
pitch,
grease,
is,
if common stones, that
with
or
mixed
remains
hidden
it
lure, uncontaminated, and perfect, so long as
tusion.
he stones.
lised
in
It
iquefied.
For then
it is
is,
forcibly
it
were, stones
Whoever,
uch reason and intelligence that he shall not regard only those common and
:nown metals which are found in the depth of the mountains alone. For there
s
it
)ur
view, be
gated
it
great or small,
flint
And
is
and weighed with a true balance, according to its nature and properties.
commop stone, thrown away and despised, is worth more than a
/ery often a
Regard must not always be had to the place of digging from which
came forth for here the influence of the sky prevails. Everywhere
here is presented to us earth, or dust, or sand, which often contain much gold
)r silver, and this you will mark.
:ow.
his stone
ire
extracted
Magna; De Tumoribus,
The Topa2 is an extract from the minera of Mars, and is a transplanted Iron. Ibid.
The Amethyst is an extract of Salt, while Marble and Chalcedony are extracted from
he Amethyst.
%
is
The
etc.,
Morhi
Gallici'
c. 6.
the
same
principle through
Ibid.
origin of Crystals
is
to be referred to water.
They
c. 7.
By ph.
THEOPHRASTUS BOMBAST,
IN
THE
AGl
of hohenheim,
PREFACE.
understand and
know nothing
what good
yours against
me
By
who
the present time are but mere empty forms and idols.
who
Although
Sophis
this
art
and experience
in
like,
Diocletian ordered
his
all
still
his
intolerable yoke,
Sophist, which shall one day be put upon the neck of yourself and
yi
colleagues.
From
For
this
Monarchy of
all
Go
20
all
words of
proceeding as
it
and a half
it
Aristotle, Galen,
their followers.
My
away
tency, pass
among
or be changed
will
The
consis-
its
its
millennium
practice at the
same time
theory,
following upon the theory will be proved by wonderful and incredible signs, so
common
how firm and immovable is that
and they
people,
understand
of the Sophists
am
thoroughly
will
and imperial
its
In that
privileges.
esteemed by you a mendicant and vagabond sophist, the Danube and the
Rhine
will
many
me have
hold
my
tongue.
often displeased
Those calumnies
courts and
many
Forum
have a
Julii, at
an
inn,
a treasure which neither you, Leo of Rome, nor you, Charles the
German, could purchase with all your substance. Although the signed star
all
who
be
reduced to poverty.
clearly
By
and compensated
this
all
who
arcanum the
age
may
shall
be illuminated
last
of the spirit of truth, so that since the beginning of the world no similar
germination of the intelligence and of wisdom shall ever have been heard
In the meantime, vice will not be able to suppress the good,
of.
nor will the resources of those vicious persons, many though they be, cause
I.
one and the same end, at a long life, so much desired by the philosoph
and also at an honourable sustenance and means of preserving that life in
at
Now
Valley of Misery.
at this time,
Theophrastus Paracelsus
I,
Bomb
work may be
forcec
however
spagyrists, of
lofty
labours,
who
name ye may
corporeal regeneration.
this
be,
are exalted by
me
will
will
to
all myste
For every person may and ought to believe in another c
in those matters which he has tried by fire.
If any one shall have brou
forward anything contrary to this method of experimentation in the Spag
Art or in Medicine, there is no reason for your belief in him, since, experiments
through the agency of fire, the true is separated from the false. The ligh
and of
all
Nature indeed
light
we
is
may
will teach,
before
me
foolishness.
On which
means thereof
who walk
to their
account, from
is
own
my
standpoint,
all th
many
danger of
rustics
tl
have b
not the virtue {virtus) but the essence {vis) and the potency (J>otenfia\
With
Many
name
things are elsewhere set forth concerning the Quintessence, but what
termed an Arcaniun.
the proof or
in this light.
have approached
scribed
works.
of everything
who
lie
it is
more con
22
ennobled
but,
many
of these
nobles have been changed into clowns, and since they carried
golden mountains
First of
in their
then, there
all,
is
Alchemy and
profit in
But so long
books, you are
at
in Medicine.
as, relying
fitted
Thus
and tongs.
and predestinated
fictitious
for
CHAPTER
n.
kept
in
a specially occult
for,
way by
up
it is
needful that
me
in
open
always been
a Spagyrical sense)
is
a certain thing
which, by the art of Vulcan,* passes out of three essences into one essence, r
it
may
remain.
But, that
may
give
it its
called
it is
beyond
as do these two
when kept
in one.
Now,
if
much
the Cabalists and the old astronomers, you are not born by
Spagyric
art,
God
for
to
the
open
then,
is
a very great pearl and a most precious treasure, and the noblest thing next to
the manifestation of the
exist
upon
earth.
This
is
the
The ofSce of Vulcan is the separation of the good from the bad. So the Art of Vulcan, which
is Alchemy is like
unto death, by which the eternal and the temporal are divided one from another. So also this art might
be called the
death of things. iJe.A^orfej Metallicis, Lib. I., Tract III., c. i.
Vulcan is an astral and not a corporal fabricator.Theartist working in metals and other Minerals transforms them into
Dt Caduco Mntricis, Par. VI.
other colours, and
For as the artist excocts by means of Vulcan, or the igneous
element, so heaven performs the work of coction through the Sun. The Sun, therefore, is the
Vulcan of heaven accomplishing coction in the earth.-ZI Icteritiis.
Vulcan is the fabricator and architect of all things, nor
is his habitation in heaven only, that is, in the firmament, but equally in all the other elements. Xii. Meteorum,
c. 4.
Where
the three prime principles are wanting, there also the igneous essence is absent. The Igneous
Vulcan'is'nothing else
but Sulphur, Sal Nitrum, and Mercury. Jbid., c. 5.
in so doing his operation
is
heaven
itself.
The Tincture of
the Philosophers.
stage of the Tincture has been given to us but the true founda
colleagues must imitate, has been left for me, so that no one sh
mingle their shadows with our good intentions. I, by right after my
initial
which
my
experiences, correct the Spagyrists, and separate the false or the erroneous
the true, since, by long investigations, I have found reasons why I shoul
able justly to blame and to change diverse things.
If,
indeed,
had founc
have
tions
laid
down
which at
to
last the
Age
made
first
age,
wish to add
my own
in
its
in
adhei
leaders.
CHAPTER
III.
The
distilled
spirits,
until at
'
before fixation, none the less our ancestors often attained a perfect realis;
recently published.
("
from' the
Among
the
German
many
By
Benedictus
Figulus.
London
James
No
Ellii
writings which have been fabulously attributed to Hermes, there does not seer
any record of an apocalypse, and it is impossible to say what forged document may have been the subject ol
pretation by Paracelsus. As the collection of Figulus is now so readily accessible, it is somewhat superfluous
produce the treatise here, but since this translation claims to include everything written by the physician of Hohf
on the subject of Alchemy and the Universal Medicine, it is appended at this point. It should be premise
Benedictus Figulus complains bitterly of the mutilation and perversion to which the works of Paracelsus were sub
and the Revelation of Hermes seems in many parts to betray another hand, especially in its quotation of autl
who are not countenanced by its reputed author.
Hermes, Plato, Aristotle, and other philosophers, flourishing at different times, who have introduced the An
more especially have explored the secrets of inferior Creation, all these have eagerly sought a means whereby
body might be preserved from decay and become endued with immortality. To them it was answered that t
nothing which might deliver the mortal body from death but that there is One Thing which may postpone decay,
youth, and prolong short human life (as with the patriarchs). For death was laid as a punishment upon our first p
Adam and Eve, and will never depart from all their decsendants. Therefore, the above philosophers, and many other
;
24
has
faithful)
own
its
my
times has been great and heavy; but. this, by the help of the Holy Spirit
flowing into us,
For
patience.
ditions,
and
will, in
all
those
who
be lightened and
know
its
made
clear
by
my
work with
its
greatest gift for a philosopher, and never understood by the sophists up to this
When,
time.
therefore, the
earliest
made two
first
experience of the
But when
after-
wards, in the Middle Age, this invention had died out, their successors by
named
they
and
namely, Lili, as
it with one word,
At length the imitators of Nature putrefied
Tincture.
this
matter at
proper
its
period just like the seed in the earth, since before this corruption nothing could
be born from
off the
it,
moist
spirits
it.
until at length,
the dry were also equally sublimated, so that, in this way, just as the rustic
fire,
sought this One Thing with great labour, and have found that that which preserves the human body from corruption, and
prolongs life, conducts itself, with respect to other elements, as it were like the Heavens from which they understood that
;
the
And just
fifth substance (for they are indestructible, stable, and suffer no foreign admixture), so also this One
Thing (compared to the forces of our body) is an indestructible essence, drying uf) all the superfluities of our bodies,
and has been philosophically called by the above-mentioned name. It is neither hot and dry like fire, nor cold and
moist like water, nor warm and moist like air, nor dry and cold like earth. But it is a skilful, perfect equation of all
the Elements, a right commingling of natural forces, a most particular union of spiritual virtues, an indissoluble
uniting of body and soul. It is the purest and noblest substance of an indestructible body, which cannot be destroyed
nor harmed by the Elements, and is produced by Art. With this, Aristotle prepared an apple, prolonging life by its
scent, when he, fifteen days before his death, could neither eat nor drink on account of old age.
This spiritual
Essence, or One Thing, was revealed from above to Adam, and was greatly desired by the Holy Fathers this also
Hermes and Aristotle call the Truth without Lies, the most sure of all things certain, the Secret of all Secrets. It is
the Last and the Highest Thing to be sought under the Heavens, a wondrous closing and finish of philosophical
work, by which are discovered the dews of Heaven and the fastnesses of Earth. What the mouth of man cannot utter
is all found in this spirit.
As Morienus says " He who has this has all things, and wants no other aid. For in it are
all temporal happiness, bodily health, and earthly fortune.
It is the spirit of the fifth substance, a Fount of all Joys
(beneath the rays of the moon), the Supporter of Heaven and Earth, the Mover of Sea and Wind, the Outpourer of
Rain, upholding the strength of all things, an excellent spirit above Heavenly and other spirits, giving Health, Joy,
Peace, Love driving away Hatred and Sorrow, bringing in Joy, expelling all Evil, quickly healing all Diseases, destroying Poverty and misery, leading to all good things, preventing all evil words and thoughts, giving man his heart's
desire, bringing to the pious earthly honour and long life, but to the wicked who misuse it. Eternal Punishment."
This
is the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot comprehend without the interposition of the Holy Ghost,
or without the
instruction of those who know it.
The same is of a mysterious nature, wondrous strength, boundless power. The
Saints, from the beginning of the world, have desired to behold its face.
By Avicenna this Spirit is named the Soul of the
World. For, as the Soul moves all the limbs of the body, so also does this Spirit move all bodies. And as the Soul is
in all
held to be the
of all creatures
fection.
is
action
its
By virtue
is
found in
for it exists in
all
all
Adam and the Patriarchs preserve their health and live to an extreme age, some
great riches. When the philosophers had discovered it, with great diligence and
laboiu-, they
straightway concealed
under a strange tongue, and in parables, lest the same should become known to the unworthy,
For if everyone knew it, all work and industry would cease
man would desire
live wickedly, and the world be ruined, seeing that they
would provoke God
by reason of their avarice and superfluity. For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath the heart of man
understood
what Heaven hath naturally incorporated with this Spirit. Therefore have I briefly enumerated some
and the
it
nothing but
this
of the qualities
may reverently praise Him in His gifts (which gift of God shall
herewith shew what powers and virtues it possesses in each thing,
also its outward
appearance, that it may be more readily recognised. In its first state, it appears as an impure earthly
body, full of imperfections.
It then has an earthly nature, healing all sickness and wounds in the bowels
of man, producing good and
consuming proud flesh, expelling all stench, and healing generally, inwardly and outwardly. In its
second nature it
of this Spirit, to the
Honour
I will
The Tincture of
the Philosophers,
does at the proper time of year, they might come to maturity as one after anc
is wont to ascend and to fall away.
Lastly, as after the spring comes sum
they incorporated those fruits and dry
the Tincture to such a point that
It
spirits,
came
itseli
for ripening.
CHAPTER
IV.
The
my
repetition
if
school.
But
Monarch
all
When
these,
well,-
with far
is
hand
for finding
Wherefc
and the gluten fron
coagulate them according to th
Spagyrists before me.
Eagle.
wish just as
their
at this time,
the Lion
appears as a watery body, somewhat more beautiful than before, because (although still having its corruptic
Virtue is greater. It is much nearer the truth, and more effective in works. In this form it cures cold and hot
and is a specific against poisons, which it drives from heart and lungs, healing the same when injured or woundec
fying the blood, and, taken three times a day,
an
aerial
is
of great comfort in
all
all diseases.
But
it
does
it
app<
ducing beauty and strength of body, and (a small quantity being taken in the food) preventing melancholy and h
of the gall, increasing the quantity of the blood and seed, so that frequent bleediftg becomes necessary. It expar
blood vessels, cures withered limbs, restores strength to the sight, in growing persons removes what is superfluoi
makes good defects in the limbs. In its fourth nature it appears in a fiery form (not quite freed from all imperfectiot
somewhat watery and not dried enough), wherein it has many virtues, making the old young and reviving those
point of death. For if to such an one there be given, in wine, a barleycorn's weight of this fire, so that it rea
stomach, it goes to his heart, renewing him at once, driving away all previous moisture and poison, and restori
natural heat of the liver. Given in small doses to old people, it removes the diseases of age, giving the old young
and bodies. Hence it is called the Elixir of Life, In its fifth and last nature, it appears in a glorified and illun:
form, without defects, shining like gold and silver, wherein it possesses all previous powers and virtues in a high
more wondrous degree. Here its natiu*al works are taken for miracles. When applied to the roots of dead tree
and
without diminution.
fruit.
lamp, the
therein.
This essence also reveals all treasures in earth and sea, converts all metallic bodies into gold, and tl
nothing like unto it under Heaven. This spirit is the secret, hidden from the beginning, yet granted by God to
holy men for the revealing of these riches to His Glory dwelling in fiery form in the air, and leading earth with
to heaven, while
Heavens
from
its
body
This
spirit flies
a morning mist, leads its burning fire into the water, and has its shining realm in the heavens,
although these writings may be regarded as false by the reader, yet to the initiated they are true and possible, wh
like
For God
hidden sense
in its fiery
is
form
properly understood.
is
is
wonderful
deep for understanding, for it is the last, greatest, and highest secret of Nature. It is the Sf
Beginning filled the earth and brooded over the waters, which the world cannot grasp witho
gracious interpositton of the Holy Spirit and instruction from those who know it, which also the whole world desi
For it reaches to the planets, raises the clouds, drives away mists
its virtue, and which cannot be prized enough.
of
God
is
far too
God, which
in the
26
process, and you will have the Tincture of the Philosophers, which an infinite
after
is
If you look
seems a paltry thing to transmute another into something
it
far
from without
it
was
it
before.
it is
body which
is
who by
this,
the art of
If you, in like
most noble and most precious essence.
Hght
of
Aristotle,
or
from
us, or from
manner, have learnt anything from the
the rules of Serapio, come forth, and bring that knowledge experimentally to
light.
Preserve now the right of the Schools, as becomes a lover of honour
excites another
and a doctor.
despise
me
me
But
if
as though
as a wandering
vagabond
Art
is
its
idols.
leper, brightens the eyes, banishes sorrow, heals the sick, reveals all
all
Through this spirit have the philosophers invented the Seven Liberal Arts, and thereby gained their riches. Through
same Moses made the golden vessels in the Ark, and King Solomon did many beautiful works to the honour of God.
Therewith Moses built the Tabernacle, Noah the Ark, Solomon the Temple. By this Ezra restored the Law, and
Miriam, Moses' sister, was hospitable Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and other righteous men, have had lifelong abund-
the
and
all
of all things.
Yea, there
is
O unspeakable
honour and boundless joy granted to mortal man
For the destructible things of Nature are restored by virtue of the
said Spirit. O mystery of mysteries, most secret of all secret things, and healing and medicine of all things
Thou
last discovery in earthly natures, last best gift to Patriarchs and Sages, greatly desired by the whole world
Oh, what
a wondrous and laudable spirit is purity, in which stand all joy, riches, fruitfulness of life, and art of all arts, a power
which to its initiates grants all material joys
O desirable knowledge, lovely above all things beneath the circle of the
Moon, by which Nature is strengthened, and heart and limbs are renewed, blooming youth is preserved, old age driven
away, weakness destroyed, beauty in its perfection preserved, and abundance ensured in all things pleasing to men
O
thou spiritual substance, lovely above all things
O thou wondrous power, strengthening all the world O thou
united and comprised in the virtue and power of this
!
One
is,
although despised by the ignorant, yet held by the wise in great praise, honoiu-,
and glory, that -proceeding from humours wakest the dead, expellest diseases, restorest the voice of the dying! O
thou treasure of treasures, mystery of mysteries, called by Avicenna "an unspeakable substance," the purest and most
perfect soul of the world, than which there is nothing more costly under Heaven, unfathomable in nature and power,
wonderful in virtue and works, having no equal among creatures, possessing the virtues of all bodies under Heaven
For from it flow the water of life, the oil and honey of eternal healing, and thus hath it nourished them with honey and
water from the rock. Therefore, saith Morienus " He who hath it, the same also hath all things." Blessed art
Thou
Lord God of our fathers, in that Thou hast given the prophets this knowledge and understanding, that they have
hidden these things (lest they should be discovered by the blind, and those drowned in worldly godlessness) by
which
the wise and the pious have praised Thee
For the discoverers of the mystery of this thing to the unworthy are breakers
of the seal of Heavenly Revelation, thereby offending God's Majesty, and bringing upon themselves many misfortunes
and the punishments of God. Therefore, I beg all Christians, possessing this knowledge, to communicate the same to
nobody, except it be to one living in Godliness, of well-proved virtue, and praising God, Who has given such a treasure
to man.
For many seek, but few find it. Hence the impure and those living in vice are unworthy of it. Therefore
is
this Art to be shewn to all God-fearing persons, because it cannot be bought with a price.
I testify before God that I
lie not, although it appear impossible to fools, that no one has hitherto explored Nature so deeply.
The Almighty
be praised for having created this Art and for revealing it to God-fearing men. Amen. And thus is fulfilled this
precious and excellent work, called the revealing of the occult spirit, in which lie hidden the secrets and
mysteries of
the world. But this spirit is one genius, and divine, wonderful, and lordly power. For it embraces the whole
world
and overcomes the Elements and the fifth Substance. To our Trismegistus Spagyrus, Jesus Christ, be praise and
;
glory
immortal.
Amen.
'
The Tincture of
the Philosophers.
Sol out of
Luna
in Carinthia,
is
made, which
is
perfectly well
Luna out
of
Venus
tl
more
effects
known that V
;
and
in
Hunj
That you may rightly understand me, seek your Lion in the East,
your Eagle in the South, for this our work which has been undertaken,
light.
will
gain
in trinity
so in Cyprus shall
all
we have done
may by
There are
at present.
exhibit transmutations,
the Lord
still
many more
God be made
manifest to anyone,
of these arcana
And although
the rumour of
still,
Art does not on that account at once break forth, but the Almighty
therewith the understanding
how
and other
to conceal these
the coming of Elias the Artist, at which time there shall be nothing so
that
shall not
it
You
be revealed.
of Sulphur
fire
loftier
it
shall be omitted
in
my
thj
But
and gems
about
is
oi
by
me
Secret of Secrets, in
As
this gradation of m(
have written
sufficis
will
CHAPTER
now
perfectly conclude
it.
V.
MADE BY Paracelsus.
Lastly, the ancient Spagyrists haying placed Lili in a pelican
fixed
it
and
drie
continued so long
fire,
me
make
to
who seeks
this pearl.
For then
become heated
at length
and
you
in the Philosophic
swan
It will
be very
difiicul
this clearer to you unless you shall have learnt in the Schoi
Egg,
it
afterwards, in
at last, passing
fire,
soon
your
Lili shall
it
28
any blood.
and
it
food
shall be
mouth of a
in the
knock,
Spagyrist, and you shall find
would be impious and indecorous to put
first
It
perfidious bird.
will lead
you
to its perfect
down more
knowledge.
It is
fly
to
it,
even as
I,
with
for this
fully or
shall
made manifest
to
then at length be so
is
difficult
which cannot be
this Art.
advanced to
its
highest perfection,
as can be seen in this place from the unity, or the union, of our duality.
man ought by
by Nature.
it
thither
where
it
But
was ordained
Let this have been sufficiently said by me, concerning the process
my
Moreover, since
remains that
we
now we have
it
Magistery
turn
it
to our use
in
mutation of metals.
Since, then,
I,
me
better
and more
CHAPTER
perfectly.
VI.
If the
of
it
will
the metals.
same
the rustics in
commonly
fatuous.
For
truly,
when
Hungary
is
it
like
them, are
known
to simple
men
rather
The Tincture of
the Philosophers.
And
another.
of the ignorant, and partly, too, on account of the just envy of the
But
(al.
artifi(
other kinds.
artists
arcanum, and
this
soi
by m
For the transmutation of an inferior n
into a superior one brings with it many difficulties and obstacles, as
change of Jove into Luna, or Venus into Sol. Perhaps on account of
sins God willed that the Magnalia of Nature should be hidden from many
For sometimes, when this Tincture has been prepared by artists, and they
not able to reduce their projection to work its effects, it happened thai
it
of a perfect preparation to
its
it
end.
their carelessness
feathers thereupon
way
fell off,
and, as
transmutation, through
came
into Medicine
its
was eaten up by
this
fowls,
and Alchemy.
w
In
art
to use
Tincture according to their desire, they converted the same to the renovatic
men, as
shall be
in the
CHAPTER
following chapter.
VII.
Some
means of
what
is
of the
first
possible to
its
so firmly in that
it
the
consumes
all
diseases,
invisible fire.
The dose
means thereof
is
a Universal Medicine,
its
called, just
effect is
lik
most powerful,
cancer,
fs
nol
sickness,
Now,
also
How
This
is
can your A(
the Catholicum o
30
Philosophers, by which
resisting
and
diseases,
effectually,
and
so,
all
they
have
attained
end
this
entirely
it
for
life
and
most
The Tincture
sound
all
else is perfected.
sophists since
it
What
removes nothing as
it
ought
This, therefore,
is
the
most
and
opposed to
it.
To
new essence
itself drives
out
all
that
in secret
WE
now purpose
w^ith
cineritium,
some
difference,
silver,
however,
We
others
will set
may be
down, then,
conjunction,
lesser metals
may
in
be brought
fourteen gradations.
Many
Some
diff'erentiation.
others are
so that
in this place,
we
clear
their
in
and transmuted.
in
oils,
oils,
and
like order, as is
put, first of
all,
lastly liquids.
Vitriol, Alum, and Salt Nitre, two pounds each ; of Flos Aeris,
Crocus of Mars, and Hzematitis, a quarter of a pound each of Cinnabar, a
;
of Arsenic, one-
eighth of a pound.
Let
and
all
fire
which purify
From
in
in iron forty-six
Mercury eighty-three
grades of hardness
in
properties or branches.
Preface.
performed in Medicine.
It is variously described
32
it transmuted.
Let that which is still in the aquafortis be precipitated
and fulminated as above, and thus the remainder of the silver can be obtained.
Care should be taken that the aforesaid simples be prepared and separated,
find
of
first
all,
in
because
purgation,
this
work of
it
gradation
it
is
being one which can be adopted with greater gain and subtlety, as
follows
all
distillations tinge so
more
third gradation,
to be understood
and Antimony, each half a pound, of Saltpetre two pounds, and of Sulphur
half a pound.
Let these be pounded together, mixed, and distilled to strong
water with a very powerful fire. Afterwards take two parts of this water, of
when
it
has been
clarified,
let it
be digested therein.
to Sol than
You
will
afterwards
the Art.
after
the
of Antimony, in which
is
Let the
Take
of
33
distilled
together over a
fire
Colcothar.
a second time,
Distil
constant colour.
Put
remains, separate
it
in
Luna, and
and afterwards
let it
remain
and a
purity
to
rectify
Reduce what
in digestion.
in aquafortis,
gradation,
sixth
way
following
into
an
and
let it
To
oil.
in
order
among
the
oils,
be treated just as
it
if
was
for the
longer, so
compound.
much
Let
Remove
Distil
be digested
again as before.
Afterwards pour
Distil
whatever
will
in
Luna be digested
and
a
in
off
it
in
there
let
plates of
distilled
oils.
the
in
glass cucurbite,
powder.
the liquids,
it
After this
the better.
let it
made
ascend.
is
four pounds.
oil)
third
it
When
distilled.
as required.
the
Lastly,
at length reduced
by a
process of fulmination.
in
two
different forms,
Live Sulphur
De
is
PraparatioJtibus^ Lib.
I.,
Tract
it
being in a dissolved or
?.,
fluid
state.
34
wards
let
let
them stand
then
let
them remain
moderate digestion
in
until
and fulminated.
perfect.
After-
Sol,
Pour
more
To
therefrom.
add
this
distil
five parts
until
this
again on
a thick liquid
and
in
it let
and thus
all
the
Lastly,
will be
Let
Keep
let it
its
produced
is
liquid.
in
pour
it
from
it.
on again,
and pour
distil
it
oil is
produced
its
being
nevertheless
it
amount of metal
in
proportion to
its
own
quantity.
Take the
compound
in
dissolve as
understood
much
Steel as possible.
of one colour.
which metallic
liquid is to be
it
filings
Then let both be fulminated together that is to say, the liquid and the
metal by means of Saturn. Then will be found this transmutation, which
must be separated and prepared in the usual way.
ated.
is
made by
the
first
Take four pounds of the most highly purified Saltpetre, and repurge this
its phlegma by combustion.
Add two pounds of Common Salt duly
prepared.
Mix these together, and distil with an alembic six or nine times
from
35
of this
Water
two
ounces each of Flowers of Antimony, Flos Aeris, Flos Martis, and Flower of
Sulphur, with two oiuices and a half respectively of Sal Ammoniac and of Alum.
Mix
all
days.
Luna and
the
fulminated by
Saturn,
Twelfth Gradation.
By means
in the
following manner
Take
is
produced
we have
and transmuted, as
above concerning
said
the others.
is
produced
in
the
following manner
it
Isteris of Blood.
as
and fulminated
well
Distil
it
thirteen times
from
its
in
may
Know
Saturn.
as that of metals,
be consumed.
is
Afterwards
let
coagulated
according to
them be coagu-
common
Mercury,
the conditions
of
made
for
Transmutation
is
the
Water
of Mercury, which
is
Take one pound of Mercury sublimated twenty times with Sal Ammoniac,
and one ounce respectively of the Flowers of Venus, Mars, Sulphur, and
Antimony. Grind and mix all together, and then let them be resolved into a
water.
it,
wonderful manner.
D3
NATURE
in
kinds of
it,
in
many
districts of
Europe.
The
best
which has been offered to me, which also has been found genuine
experimentation, is externally in the figure of the greater world, and is in
the
eastern part
Star,
now
is
forth through
lie
hid
about
The other,
The bowels of the
first efflorescence.
its
its
surface.
It is
found red
in
its
it is
in the
Southern
coagulation, and in
first
all
it
of the
in
Much
it
So far as relates to the knowledge of it and experiment with it, all the
NJ
philosophers before me, though they have aimed at it with their missiles, have
gone very wide of the mark.
the mother of
They
But
Now,
Mercury,
coagulate
when
which are
and the Mineral Water which has served to naturally
Spagyric science is able to extract this last from its proper juice
Sulphur,
it.
March
then
and so on
it
first
of
due order,
autumn
all
when
month
of
the pear
grows
ripe.
So is it with the
bowels of the earth. Let
the Alchemists who are seeking the Treasure of Treasures carefully note this.
I will shew them the way, its beginning, its middle,
and its end, In the
minerals.
in
until in
in like
manner,
in the
The Treasure of
following treatise
the proper
Balm
Treasures.
37
By means
thereof.
it
in the following
manner.
Then
purify
it
Cook
it
carefully,
common
salt.
Distil this in
Pour
an alembic.
Let
it
putrefy for a
it
month
If
carefully the
horse-dung
in
puts forth
it
its
then
sign,*
So the water and the air will again ascend first, and afterwards the
fire, which expert artists recognise.
The earth will remain in the
bottom of the vessel. This collect there. It is what many seek after and
few find.
ashes.
element of
nights.
When
fire
of the
will prepare
according to the
degree for
first
five
days and
these have elapsed you must apply the second degree for the
nights,
material enclosed.
At length you
containing in
the
itself
will find
Astrum of
fire
and
earth, t
salt, like
a thin
Mix
this
alkali,
elements that have been preserved, the water and the earth. Again place it
on the ashes for eight days and eight nights, and you will find that which has
been neglected by
many
Artists.
and according to the rules of the Spagyric Art, and you will have a white earth,
from which its colour has been extracted. Join the element of fire and salt to
the alkalised earth.
Digest
Then a new
in
you see
its tincture,
water, the
* The Sign
air,
that
and the
is
in the pelican
which also
Separate
earth.
it
fire
from
is
found
[atj first,
when
its
skill
and
by an operation.
left
in
man (corresponding
38
Thus you
will
Aqua Regia.
This Oil of the Sun, enclosed in a retort hermetically sealed, you must place
Then put the
for elevation that it may be exalted and doubled in its degree.
Thus it will not be dissolved, but
vessel, still closely shut, in a cool place.
Place
coagulated.
Thus
times.
Keep
will
this in its
own
place.
Take the
vitriol of
Spagyric Art, and add thereto the elements of water and air which you have
Resolve, and set to putrefy for a month according to instructions.
reserved.
When
the putrefaction
you
finished,
is
will
Separate, and you will soon see two colours, namely, white and red.
is
The red
reddens
all
Work upon
operation until
it
by means of a
this tincture
Treat
all
it
retort,
The red
so powerful that
is
is
it
wonderful.
and you
will perceive
Go
on,
Rectify until you find the true, clear Green Lion, which you will recognise by
You
great weight.
its
You
it
is
how
is
to find
it
and use
it
This
is
the
will see
Roman
for a tincture
Happy he who
Leo.
Stars,
It is
if it
of Gold.
at
Where your
wandered out of
is
Is
their course,
Pot ihile
doctors
is,
is
your treasure?
Where
are your
in
Have your
Potable Gold, Oil of Gold, and Quintessence of Gold, are distinguished thus.
The Quintessence
stars
gold rendered potable by intermixture with other substances, and with liquids.
who
decocters of woods,
of Gold
Oil of Gold
is
Anntiit
an
oil
ex-
is
t If
Chirurgm Magna.
.J
all things a Balsam created by God, without which putrefaction would imThus, in corpses which are anointed with Balsam we see that corruption is arrested, and thus in
the physical body we infer that there is a certain natural and congenital Balsam, in the absence of which the living and
complete man would not be safe from putrefaction. Nothing removes this Balsam but death. But this kind diifers
t
There
is,
mediately supervene.
more commonly called Balsam, in that the one is conservative of the living, and the other of the dead.
The confection of Balsam requires special knowledge of chemistry, and
Magna, Pt. II., Tract II., c. 3.
discovered by the Alchemists. /iJzV. Pt. I., Tract II., c. 4.
from what
is
Ckirurgia-
was
first
it
39
trom the
was
letters to
Avicenna
sits in
In the
tail.
and
and Philosophers' Stone, his Mithridatic, his Theriac, and all the rest. O,
you hypocrites, who despise the truths taught you by a true physician, who is
himself instructed by Nature, and is a son of God himself
Come, then, and
!
my
After
who
impostors
listen,
death,
my
light,
and
expose your dirty drugs, wherewith up to this time you have compassed the
death of princes, and the most invincible magnates of the Christian world.
shall
Woe
be mine.
Mine, too,
will
day of judgment
Of her
know
which
The
same
her.
proved the
But
full
light
am
born
her
her
have beheld
light of
is in
know
in order to satisfy
if
It
my
know
have
disciples to the
in that universe.
become
water.
Take, then, of
parts by weight
which
two parts
Put these together into a pelican, congelate, and dissolve them three
times. Thus you will have the Tincture of the Alchemists. We have not here
part.
described
its
weight
but this
is
So, now, he
best metal.
common
Mercury.
If
stood as to the Astra of the other planets, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Luna, and
length upon them in the book on the Nature of Things and in the Archidoxies.
So, too, the
first
entity of metals
* It
is difficult
concerning
weight
is
The Nature
and
which reference
discussed in the
terrestrial minerals
Aurora of the
Philosophers.
No
is
made
Cetiieiits.
here.
The
It
us.
40
This work,
months
may go on by the
it,
putrefy
it,
ferment
But
it
it,
coagulate
it
into a stone,
fly
carry the body of the phoenix to the nest of the parent, where
fire,
by the balsam of
its
alchemical
and produce
by the element of
Spaygric Art
fix this
its
eyes
a sphere and
it
is
nourished
out of
own
its
cabalists.
Know
man.
is
Liber Azoth,
is,
the
first
It is
CONCERNING THE
TRANSMUTATIONS OF METALS AND OF CEMENTS.
By THEOPHRASTUS.
JUST
the
same way
separated,
cineration, coloration,
conditioned.
how
muted
least
teaches
is,
it
Sol.
how
metals
may
work of transmutation
But
this at
which masters
into Sol,
fulfil
is
all
* From
come down
Some have
so.
first
of
be reduced
how
all
that has
indefatigable
was
method
it
for preserving
for the
purpose of Medicine
metals were endowed with greater virtues than the metals themselves, they attempted to
of the physician.
minds, those Tinctures were discovered and improved, the efficacy of which
is
fertility
of their
but
we do
42
to their flowers
not necessary.
is
In like manner,
some
species colour according to the red Sol, others according to the clayey Sol
some
some
in flux,
should be paid to
fire,
half cement.
in
cements
all
Alchemy by
the whole of
as
IS,
it
native
its
it
power
and
to tinge, graduate,
it.*
fix,
even of greater
is
moment than
Paying
Cement.
Among
all
these the
the
for
as being those
first
little
whereby
which
Every elaborator of
method
diligent attention
is
we
the
Royal
will follow
we
Thus
will omit.
Take Flower of Brass, Antimony, Brick Tiles, Common Salt, of each half a
Having pounded all these very small and mixed them together, let
them be imbibed with wine and dried. Repeat this process twenty-four times.
With this powder let plates of Luna be cemented, in a moderate degree of fire,
Then at length take Regulus, plated and crude from the
for four hours.
former process, and cement it with the same materials and an equal degree of
pound.
fire,
it
it
The instruments,
etc.,
kind of cement.
Note, too, that the flowers of brass should be extracted from copper by
means of
For herein
vitriol.
is
when
it
is
* Fire
tries
Para7mrum,
everything
Lib. L,
Whatsoever pertains
but
in
is
impure
it
removes, and
it
its
what
c. i.
good house
exist in
Z*;? Mofbis
Alchemy.
It
teaches
how
to
I.
c. i.
extract, coagulate,
and
Whatsoever man does the planets do
the Alchemist seeks saltpetre in nitre, mercury in dung
c. 16.
fire,
who confound
because
s. v.
its initiates
Paralysis.
it
with (what
Nigromancy
is its
is
true
These four
that
fire
metal
is
and
Luna, cleansing
fixes leprous
and be put
must be
specially observed
applied
and
after
is
it
from
it
To
and noticed.
fulminated
it
this
43
its
;
blackness.
but
the
it is
cement no other
discloses
The
first is
that Sol
to
is
we
to be
cemented
in
set
The second
and
down
in
order that
object
it is
is
in the
The
in this
cement defective
it
its
is
only for
may be
Wherefore
its
own
its
has
it
volatile body,
flies off" in
that a
able to retain
in the fourth'
degree without
remain
second place
in the
it is
down
to put
sometimes found
it
its
found which
is
know how to
bring
it
is
defective
to its perfection
bulk,
specimens.
third
ance of Luna,
is
may
be cemented, so that
it
may
retain the
colour thence
it is
esteemed as
somewhat common.
is
sometimes defective,
when it proves its higher quality by its colour, and a higher grade of Sol
For the weight deceives no true artist, as the probe
exists, for many reasons.
may, also, for many reasons.
By means of cement gold can be perfected in these four particulars so that
to
it,
it,
oil
in
is
by
fire for
it
into a form.
So
you will have the very best and most abundant cement for rendering Sol free
from defects and in its highest degree,
incinerations, and quartations.
fixed
and permanent
in all
cements,
Sol,
So far we have set down the two fixations or cementations for Luna and
which ought to be adopted when these metals are to be multiplied. But
44
them
fit
is
metal has not been prepared and smeared over for this tincture
take
it,
not able to
it is
Quicksilver,* which
is
common
comprised under
is
among metallic
cement
For where a
in
cement.
in a colouring
made thus
to be
this
cement,
not
Saltpetre,
The
one pound
Having mixed
Salt
is
these
all
one.
When
this
let all
cementings of
is
to
all
kind do not exhibit the Regulus, but some of them only the
this
loppas.
will
means of the
And
it.
here
mark
on the cineritium.
which
is
With regard
When
given
it
to this
it
may
it
is
jar.
Metal
jar,
turn out
this
remains on the
it
tincture,
The metal
jar,
by cementation.
cement
it
can be blended together in one mixture and one body, which will be better than
before.
The following
Jupiter, or Saturn.
is
Take
the method.
in
fire
filings
The cement will be more useful, if besides the above there be taken
Antimony and Salt each one pound filings of Mars, Venus, and Saturn,
half a pound each.
Treat them as before mentioned.
Addition.
of
fourth cement
is
that which
is
it
process of liquefaction.
when they
are crude.
Transmutation of
this
may
in the
Therefore
we
in
will
The former
is
Quicksilver is generated from the Mercurial prime principle. It is not ductile, and is opposed to
ductility.
Although of all metals it is chiefly assimilated to Mercury, it differs in this, that it has not received ductility from the
Archeus, through the weakness occasioned by its small quantity of salt and sulphur. It can, however, by the Spagyric
process of addition, become a ductile metal, as is demonstrated by the philosophy of transmutation, which
shews
that it is capable of conversion into any metal.
De Eietneuio Aguts, Tract III., c. 7,
45
fixations of minerals
when they
the
assist
colours of the matter, which properties have not yet been destroyed by
we
fully point
a metal in
its
Take of
The following
own
mineral
as
fire,
is
pound
Cover them
to which
add two
closely, lute
them,
The following
is
Crocus of the flowers of Mars and flowers of the Crocus of Venus, each
Prepared common salt,
one pound. Vitriol and Alum, each half a pound.
Of
one pound.
the mineral,
two pounds.
and fulminated
in Saturn.
When
this is
all
done there
You can
Let
be liquefied, deprived of
Afterwards
let
will be
them be
found
liquefied
in the vat
kind, add a mixture of metals, taking into account, however, the special
aptitude existing in them by means of which one can be more easily transmuted
than another.
common one
does.
So, too,
it
the corporal and the common, should be first of all coagulated in order that
they may be able to resist the cement, and to recover their corporal substance,
together with their tincture and colouring, as the best metals should.
Take Aquafortis, weakened
The coagulation of Mercury* is as follows
:
a thick mass.
it
warmed a
little
and afterwards
stirred to
is
performed thus
When
the water be
coagulated by Lead, for no roetal has greater affinity for Mercury than lead possesses. Coagulation
Take Jii- of fine lead. Melt it in a vessel of clay remove it from the fire, and let it cool somewhat.
approaches congelation, pour into it the same quantity of living Viaaxrj . Archidoxis Magicir, Lib. VII,
Mercury
is
let
Then
it
46
Take
the following:
it
Borax,
Afterwards
in urine.
let
following
Common
Calcined
two ounces
of each
Salt,
first six
still
be one body.
Then add
Let them be
them be slowly heated for
treated with a greater fire, and at last
afterwards
most violent
let
heat.
cement you
its
the
shall
it
fifth
transmutation as aforesaid.
In this
It
mented so that
what way Part with Part comes to be cemore of the tincture, and receives it sooner than by
to be said in
receives
it
cement.
It
wards
liquefied at the
stratified in
same
time,
and made
after-
Cinnabar,
exposed to a gentle
it
fire,
liquefy
fulmen of Saturn.
In this
more
transmutation,
may
transmutation.
Lastly, liquefy
If,
by a
however, you have
be
Ceme7its.
47
Conclusion.
In these few words
we have
our
own enumeration,
putting
down
in this place
believing that
useful.
By
CHAPTER
I.
ADAM
was the
first
Thence he predicted
From this cause, too, it came
the world's destruction by water.
about that his successors erected two tables of stone, on which they engraved
things as well after the Fall as before.!
all
all
natural
arts
in
At length
man became an
its
this
knowledge was
universal
By means
cain,
land of Canaan into Egypt, whereupon the Egyptians rose to so great a height
folio published at
in Latin
celsus,
by the
but
is
it
is
in 1688.
It
Gerard Dome.
was
first
is
nations.
The
This personage was a very persevering collector of the literary remains of Para-
not altogether free from the suspicion of having elaborated his original.
as an instance in point
respects
this title
Geneva
editor,
this
does seem to
t He who created man the same also created science. What has man in any place without labour? When the
mandate went forth Thou shalt live by the sweat of thy brow, there was, as it were, a new creation. When God
uttered His fiat the world was made. Art, however, was not then made, nor was the light of Nature. But when Adam
was expelled from Paradise, God created for him the light of Nature when He bade him live by the work of his hands.
In like manner. He created for Eve her special light when He said to her
In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children.
Thus, and there, were these beings made human and earthy that were before like angelicals.
Thus, by the word
were creatures made, and by this same word was also made the light which was necessary to man.
Hence the
:
interior
nition
man
followed from the second creation, after the expulsion from Paradise.
which was requisite to man had not begun to develop in him. He received it
Man was made complete in the order of the body, but not
out of Paradise.
Before the Fall, that cogfrom the angel when he was cast
.
De
The Aiirora of
patriarch Jacob painted, as
it
the Philosophers.
49
and
this
Hebrews, Persians,
and Egpytians, they held these arts to be the highest philosophy, to be learnt
by their chief nobles and priests. So it was in the tiine of Moses, when both
of leprosy.
cost
and care of Pharaoh's daughter, so that he excelled in all the wisdom and
Thus, too, was it with Daniel, who in his youthful
Mene, Tecelphares."
cabalistic Art.
numbers.
walked
in
His statutes
devil's part,
but became, by
we
CHAPTER
II.
When
a son of
Noah possessed
The
this Art broke into Chaldaea and Persia, and thence spread into Egypt.
Art having been found out by the superstitious and idolatrous Greeks, some
of them who were wiser than the rest betook themselves to the Chaldeans and
reference
is
made
among
The
subjects to which
Sagax,
50
own
of the law of
peculiar genius,
This
is
fabulous conceptions, and from their errors respecting the doctrine of Moses.
was the custom of the Egyptians to put forward the traditions of that
surpassing wisdom only in enigmatical figures and abstruse histories and
terms.
This was afterwards followed by Homer with marvellous poetical
skill
and Pythagoras was also acquainted with it, seeing that he comprised
in his writings many things out of the law of Moses and the Old Testament.
In like manner, Hippocrates, Thales of Miletus, Anaxagoras, Democritus, and
And yet none
others, did not scruple to fix their minds on the same subject.
of them were practised in the true Astrology, Geometry, Arithmetic, or
Medicine, because their pride prevented this, since they would not admit
Even when they had got
disciples belonging to other nations than their own.
some insight from the Chaldeans and Egyptians, they became more arrogant
still than they were before by Nature, and without any diffidence propounded
the subject substantially indeed, but mixed with subtle fictions or falsehoods
and then they attempted to elaborate a certain kind of philosophy which
descended from them to the Latins. These in their turn, being educated
It
herewith, adorned
with their
it
own
doctrines,
system flourishes with the Germans, and other nations, right down to the
present day.
CHAPTER
What was Taught
The Chaldeans,
in
III.
all
of them the
men
It
wisdom
of old.
in Arabia, Africa,
among
the Arabians
and among
;'
the
" Before
from divine
Magus
all
things
virtue.
there
is
it is
There
the
is
Magus
V^riS.\\or\, Phitosophia
of Faith, that
Sagax^
Lib. II.,
is,
c. 6,
one whose
faith
There
is,
lastly,
the
Magus
of
The Aurora of
called a wise
the Philosophers.
51
priestcraft
many
called wise
men
of philosophy
or
Magi
CHAPTER
What Magi
IV.
Many persons have endeavoured to investigate and make use of the secret
magic of these wise men but it has not yet been accomplished. Many even
ot our own age exalt Trithemius, others Bacon and Agrippa, for magic and the
;
cabala*
Magic, indeed,
fruits,
is
way
to
from
God
Him
men, to shew them how they may act with Him, and prophesy
is full of divine mysteries, even as Magic is full of
It teaches of and foretells from the nature of things to come as
for
natural secrets.
its
what is
them what are their occult virtues for what they were originally designed, and with what properties they are endowed.
These and the like
subjects are the bonds wherewith things celestial are bound up with things of
constitution of
all
latent within
the earth, as
may sometimes
* Learn, therefore,
was
also,
but
falsely, called
it
named
I call cabalistic.
caballa,
-De
and afterwards
PesHlitate,
caballia.
It is
I., s. v.
Tract I,
This
a species of magic.
art,
It
was of an unknown
it was corrupted,
It
whom
The object which received the influence and exhibited the sign thereof appears to have been termed Gamaheu,
Gamahey, etc. But the name was chiefly given to certain stones on which various and wonderful images and figures
of men and animals have been found naturally depicted, being no work of man, but the result of the providence and
counsel of God.- -Z'f' /w/T^ziJwj, c. 7 and c. 33.
It is possible, magically, for a man to project his influence into
these stones and some other substances. /(^/rf., c. 13.
But they also have their own inherent virtue, which is indiThere was also an artificial Gamaheus
cated by the shape and the special nature of the impression.- Ibid., c. 7.
t
invented and prepared by the Magi, and this seems to have been more powerful.
De Carduo
Angelica.
E2
52
or the marriage of the celestial powers and properties with elementary bodies.
excellent
commixtures of
bodies, celestial
all
and
terrestrial,
namely, of the sun and planets, likewise vegetables, minerals, and animals.
The
light
of
it,
devil
among
that people
human
all
Greece
speculations
Magic,
it is
true,
had
its
or produced that lacks this magistery of the Divine Ternary, or that does
St.
it.
The
Paul
testifies to
the
Romans.
By this,
also,
we have
is
indis-
For the Ternary, with the magical Quaternary, produces a perfect Septenary,
endowed with many arcana and demonstrated by things which are known.
When the Quaternary rests in the Ternary, then arises the Light of the World
on the horizon of eternity, and by the assistance of God gives us the whole
bond.
Here also it refers to the virtues and operations of all creatures, and to
stamped and marked with their arcana, signs, charthem scarcely the smallest occult
point which is not made clear on examination.
Then when the Quaternary and
the Ternary mount to the Denary is accomplished their retrogression or
their use, since they are
acters,
and
reduction to unity.
made more
Herein
is
comprised
plainly manifest to
CHAPTER
V.
The Magi
is
at length,
itself
the
Man was regarded by Paracelsus as himself in a special manner the true Quintessence. After God had
created
the elements, stars, and every other created thing, and had disposed them according to His will, He
proceeded
lastly, to the forming of man.
He extracted the essence out of the four elements into one mass ; He extracted also the
all
The Aurora of
the Philosophers.
53
of experimenting,
strange
own
effects.
call this
Magi, but the arcanum of the Philosophers' Stone according to the counsel
and judgment of Pythagoras. Whoever obtained this Stone overshadowed it
with various enigmatical figures, deceptive resemblances, comparisons, and
fictitious
so that
titles,
knowledge of
it
its
CHAPTER
or no
its
it
Arnold, observing
'
says in his
;
is
may
Lunaria "
'
this,
difficulty is to find
known
to such wise
LuUy's
little
VI.
The
Very
be cited.
men
same Stone.
but
it
intention of those
philosophers that you should think they meant thereby any projection upon
metals, or that any such preparations should be
made
afterwards to convert
who
in this
hidden similitude.
that he
it
it
way
the liquid of
to coagulate Mercury, *
and
in
this,
it
Now, although
is
This attracts to
essence of wisdom, art, and reason out of the stars, and this twofold essence
Scripture calls the slime of the earth.
From
the liquids of
some
resin, fat,
itself
and
the moisture
These, according to the light of Nature, are called the qitintum esse. The mass was extracted, and therein the firmament and the elements were condensed. What was extracted from the four after this manner constituted a fifth.
The Quintessence
All nature
came
is
into the
these
Lib.
I.,
in
all
hand of God - all potency, all property, all essence of the superior and inferior globe. AH
His hand, and from these He formed man according to His imsig^.Pfiiloso^hia Sagax,
c. 2.
* All created things proceed from the coagulated, and after coagulation must go on to resolution. From resolution
All bodies of minerals are coagulated by salt. Z)f
all procreated things. Z) Tartaro (fragment).
proceed
III.,
Tract
2.
54
of the Mercury which rises with the substance in the process of coagulation,
as
is
am
to their cost.
in
it is
Alchemy,
true,
coagu-
Mercury with the white and milky juice of tittinal, on account of the
intense heat which exists therein; and they have called that liquid "Lac
lated
Virginis "
yet this
is
a false basis.
it
gold.
asserted concerning
it
idea.
rooted up this vegetable, from which they sought for a soul or quintessence,
But
tincture.
CHAPTER Vn.
Concerning the Errors of those who seek the Stone
Some
thickness,
which,
and put
it
this
fine
black powder,
powder
others
the
by
to
it
who,
should turn
in vain.
Others
Colcothar of Vitriol,
They brought
Ammoniac allowed an
result.
was accomplished.
boiled
out of celandine,
Sol.
Vegetables.
it
in
vulgar,
who
give
out that he
it
who is able
we have
oils,
Out of such
and sulphurs
On
all
said before.
Mercury without
Many, too, have
and sulphurs no coagulation of Mercury, or percan be made. But when the philosophers compare
salts, oils,
matter includes
artificially
to coagulate
its
it
these
lie
this
flowers.
The comparison,
also, is apt,
if it
towards heaven.
in the
production of
They
say, therefore,
like
itself
CHAPTER
spirit,
55
its
as vegetables do.
VIII.
in
Animals.
They have also, by a name based only on resemblances, called this matter
Lac Virginis, and the Blessed Blood of Rosy Colour, which, nevertheless, suits
only the prophets and sons of God.
philosophical matter
was
in the
with
Some have
all
that this
Sometimes, too,
in hairs, in
it
fix
Mercury.
of the Stone.
Some
stones found in
little
in
sharp lixivium, with which they also mixed calcined &^^ shells as white as
snow. To these they have attributed the arcanum of fixation for the trans-
mutation of Mercury.
with
common
salt,
and
means of
Magistery, they
this
"a
would
part,"
part with a
up
in
it,
a vessel, and
shut them
less,
copper or of electrum.
They suppose
so that they
This one
is
filings of
Finally, they
but
burn this animal into a red powder, which they thought must be gold
Others, again, having burned the fishes called truitas
they were deceived.
;
(?
trouts),
but there
* So acute
is
is
if it
In Lib.
it
produces in the
II.,
Tract
II.
first
place a white-
56
TJie
and streams meet with certain small scales and sparks of gold, which they
eat.
seldom, however, that such deceivers are found, and then chiefly in
It is
The matter of
animals
this
announce to
all.
the philosophers
Still,
is
it
is
not to be sought in
called their Stone animal, because in their final operations the virtue of this
most
in their vessels.
come
and that
this
man
bloody drops of a red colour, by means of which he should redeem the world
from sin. In the same way, after its own kind, the blood of their Stone freed
the leprous metals from their infirmities and contagion.
therefore, they
Concerning
animal.
Calid
justified in
mystery Mercurius
On
these grounds,
speaks as follows to
King
"This mystery it
Hence it comes to pass
soul lies hid.
It
is
likewise
is
called
it
is
composed of body,
spirit,
microcosm, because
their
God
to
know.
it
it
and
soul.
For the
named
animal, as Plato
all
the
CHAPTER
IX.
and
mineral.
Hence
far
in
Minerals.
the stone to be
it
They
Now,
in minerals.
Now,
and
this
is
is
its mineral sperm into various kinds, as, for instance, into sulphurs,
boraxes, nitres, ammoniacs, alums, arsenics, atraments, vitriols, tutias,
haematites, orpiments, realgars, magnesias, cinnabar, antimony, talc, cachymia,
distributed
salts,
marcasites, etc.
although
in
In
some of
all
the species
named
it
Truly,
long
experience
in the
universal.
Hence, then, the sophists take occasion to persecute Mercury
himself with various torments, as with sublimations, coagulations, mercurial
waters, aquafortis, and the like.
All these erroneous ways should be avoided.
The Aurora of
the Philosophers.
57
together with other sophistical preparations of minerals, and the purgations and
fixations of spirits
and metals.
as of Geber, Albertus
tions,
cementations,
sublimations
distillations,
rectifications,
circulations,
profitless,
athanor, in
in the
phial, fixatory,
Red Philosophic
Taken
Stone.
White and
for example,
his sevenfold
untrustworthy.
Some
made by a
sepulchre,
have endeavoured to
others
which things
all
Mercury with
fix
the sulphurs of minerals and metals, but have been greatly deceived.
It is
true
this Art,
CHAPTER
X.
Concerning those who have sought the Stone and also Particulars
IN
Some
Minerals.
oil
In this
way
vitriol
seven
times by calcination, solution, and coagulation, with the addition of two parts
of sal ammoniac, and by sublimation, so that
it
might be resolved
white water, to which they have added a third part of quicksilver, that
it
into a
might
fixing Mercury, but to no purpose, for therein nothing perfect or constant can
be had.
cesses,
It is
since by all of
them he
is
stirred
up
to greater malice,
is
rendered
58
more
lively,
So,
perfection.
be very
difficult,
then,
Mercury
thence.
somewhat imperfect
is
to greater
and
is
to bring
times
coagulated.
This, however,
silver.
is
fix,
to perfection will
nothing therein
is
it
There
and by
arsenic
of tartar and
oil
it
would make
to
it
So, then,
all
have just
now spoken
give notice
grounded on a
is
false basis,
false coiners
who bought
Some
it.
who
and
because, however
it is
prepared,
it
this
has
proves to be nothing
but whiteness.
Some, again, have gone further and dealt with common sulphur, which,
in vinegar, lixivium, or sharpest wines, for a
from common
yet,
this
until
it
became
white.
it
From
this,
oil.
it
in
common
into a
it
or laterine
into the
first distilled
fire.
an
number
infinite
of them.
One
ilium, set
shall not
make
coals, so that
they
may
much
But
of
As there
is
upon
is
or
way
they have found to their loss that they could not do anything in the
oil,
form of a
is
as follows
Take
Continue
till
ebullition
Place these in a
and evaporation
tig-
cease,
and the substances shall have settled to the bottom of the vessel like fat melting in a frying-pan
then, for the space
of an hour and a half (the longer the better), set it apart to settle. Subsequently pour the compound upon marble, and
In a damp place it will assume the consistency of a fatty fluid. De Naturalibtts Rehus^
it will acquire a gold colour.
c. g.
Again The fixation of arsenic is performed by salt of urine, after which it is converted by itself into an oil.
Chirursia Minor, Lib. II.
;
most potent
Luna
few persons.
common
fixation
in
known, even
at
by vinegar, saltpetre,
formulas prescribed
of the metals,
oils
of
Beware
special treatise.
and antimony.
59
like,
books
of
the
by sublimation, descension,
ammoniac, according
to the
sophists.
sophisticated tinctures taken from marcasites and crocus of Mars, and also of
that sophistication called by the name of " a part with a part," and of fixed
Luna and
similar
trifles.
Luna by
little
the preparation
means of which
appearance of
superficial
still
the progress of
third by antimony
by
upon Mercury and upon the
;
imperfect metals.
CHAPTER
XI.
nature of Sulphur.
may
It
may
Magnus,
compounded
But
this is not
"The Sum
it
trans-
done
in the
way
pointed
Albertus
for those
The
spirit
crystalline
only to those
and sweet.
who
The
it
third
is
a tingeing
spirit
itself
receipts
three natural
first is volatile,
artifice relates
is
of the
is
of Perfection,"
This
it
such that
and Polydorus
spirits.
of Mercury and
out by such
is
all
metals.
But
spongy.
The second
this
spirit
natural
properties in arsenic with a view to the perfect projection of the wise men.*
and
crystalline
nature separated from the tingeing spirit for use in the cure of wounds, buboes,
* Concerning the kinds of arsenic,
it is
to be
noted that there are those which flow forth from their proper mineral
Next there are arsenics out of metals after their kind. Then there are those
made by Art through transmutation. White or crystalline arsenic is the best for medicine. Yellow and red arsenic are
utilised by chemists for investigating the transmutation of metals, in which arsenic has a special efficacy. Z'f Naturaor metal, and are called native arsenics
libus Rebus,
c.
g.
</
6o
carbuncles, anthrax, and other similar ulcers which are not curable save by
As
gentle means.
for
tingeing
that
tincture
it
spirit,
it,
will
not in any
All
This
philosophers have hidden this arcanum as a most excellent mystery.
join
to
the
you
must
tingeing spirit, separated from the other two as above,
spirit of Luna, and digest them together for the space of thirty-two days, or
After it has, on the fortieth natural day,
until they have assumed anew body.
been kindled into flame by the heat of the sun, the
length
for
fit
spirit
appears in a bright
Then it is at
endued with a perfect tingeing arcanum.
projection, namely, one part of it upon sixteen parts of an im-
whiteness, and
is
From
it
thence
CHAPTER XIL
General Instruction concerning the Arcanum of Vitriol and
THE Red Tincture to be extracted from it.*
Vitriol
is
among
in
with wonderful
gifts.
itself;
noble,
subtle,
production
is
in
juice,
and a pure
oil.
lies
The method
distillation.
its
hid a
of
its
For.
it
must not be deprived on any account of its green colour. If it were, it would
at the same time lose its arcanum and its power.
Indeed, it should be observed
at this point that minerals, and also vegetables and other like things which shew
greenness without, contain within themselves an
their
arcanum. Hence
vain, foolish,
it is
oil
is
turns
all
which
is
arises
Thus
is
this is so slowly
who
oil
accomplished
distil it,
which
water
is
is
elicited
by
is
The
wine digesting
itself into
The greenness
is
a lemon colour
An example
itself.
and
in
of this
is
white
balsam, which
6i
is
among
noblest
and of the
oil
CHAPTER
XIII.
viscous imperfections.
Therefore
its
puts off
all
it
When
all
rectified until
that the matter shall not be exposed to the sun, for this
greenness pale, and at the same time absorbs the arcanum. Let it
be kept covered up in a warm stove so that no dust may defile it. Afterwards
turns
let it
all
its
be digested
in
suppose that by
this
is
sufficiently fixed.
must,
It
in
From
extracted.
this tincture,
its
tincture,
which
is
oil is
to be
redness.
its
is
Marriage of the Soul, consummately prepared and washed by the blood of the
So long as the
excocted so that
When
it is
the moisture
evaporated from
it is
vitriol,
it is
it
fire
salt,
But if it be
can be struck.
and the
vitriol
turns
of vitriol, for
kinds of
oil
it is
worthless in
its
crude state.
most acid of
all
It is like
oil,
by
The Art
distillation in
Nor
Vitriolo,
let it
Aweniium, Meihodus
its
II,, c.
is
a paramount
in the preparation
oil, distilled
it is
it
substances, and has also a corrosive quality also a green and a white
by descension, Z?tf
resides, secret
a red
in
spiritual,
When
it is
from crude
vitriol
this
like
Three
this is the
golden
spirit
of vitriol
is
vola-
De Morhis
62
lamb, with
own
its
by which
supercelestial marriage
its
Take, therefore,
its
and
own
will receive
its
blood,
affected
may
the true
is
and predestined
last
this
The body
oil.
spirit
This
purified body.
prolonged to the
life is
day.
and
splendid, shining,
it
pour gradually
When
it
of
oil
wondrous
perfection, in
Now
Mercury,
let
in the
oil,
and
weight and
let
multiplication.
its
pour
it
CHAPTER
By
becomes
infinite.
XIV.
Antimony
is
Philosophers
call it
Poets say that in this bath Vulcan washed Phoebus, and purified
the stilanx.
him from all dirt and imperfection. It is produced from the purest and noblest
Mercury and Sulphur, under the genus of vitriol, in metallic form and brightness.
Some
as you will.
adding a
philosophers call
it
the
Dissolve this in
little
own
its
aquafortis,
be placed
White Lead of
way
it
it
fire.
It
sublimated substance
is
in
may
it
must be
all
dregs.
After
it
Let
it
some calcined
it
much
carefully
tutia,
sublimated to
of this
Place
Antimony a sublimation
and throw
or simply
kind, as
its
will
part, in
Wise Men,
it
this
the
the Lead.
it
a phial that
let
spirit
the
work be urged on at
Then at length on
first
with a slow
fire
let it
For with too great heat the glass vessels are broken',
even
the
furnace
and sometimes
goes to pieces. While the vapour is ascending
Let the fire be moderated until a red matter is seen.
different colours appear.
Afterwards dissolve in very sharp Acetum, and throw away the dregs. Let
be gradually increased.
the
let it
be again dissolved in
distilled
of the
63
Antimony
will
fire
ascend as
like the colour of a ruby, and will flow into the receiver, drop by
most fragrant smell and a very sweet taste.* This is the supreme
arcanum of the philosophers in Antimony, which they account most highly among
a very red
oil,
drop, with a
the arcana of
way
Take
spirit of
Let the
wine.
of times let
it
Then,
oils.
lastly,
let
the
much
in the following
it
in rectified
Afterwards
let
ounce of
This
oil
even
if
this dissolved
embraces
it
and be brought
gold
in the
let
to
its
spirit
down
flow
made
of Sol be
be dissolved again.
oil
supreme essence.
To
it
may
half an
it
way you
In this
let it
go,
will
mystery and arcanum of Nature, to which scarcely any equal can be assigned
in the
in
nature of things.
oils in
By
to perfection.
fire
although,
if
the
fire
be regulated
and brought
Mercury and any other imperfect metals acquire the
is
concluded
in thirty-one days,
perfection of gold.
CHAPTER
XV.
No
tincture itself
may
the
fitting appliances.
instance, one
Venus
is
if
in projection.
and hence
it
This alone
much
happens that no
is
worth noting,
too
much
error
is
of the subject,
easily
pap witli the water of vitriol, and then purified by sal ammoniac, and in this mana thick purple or reddish liquor. This is oil of antimony, and it has many virtues.
Take three pounds of antimony and as much of sal gemmas. Distil them together m a
Chirurgia Magiui, Lib. V.
cases of otherwise
retort for three natural days, and so you will have a red oil, which has incredible healing power in
ner there
may be
into a
obtained from
incurable wounds.
it
II., c. ii.
64
in
There
crude Antimony.
is
him put before himself a fact which has been passed over
by the philosophers, and by some studiously veiled, namely, that in projections
there must be a revivification, that is to say, an animation of imperfect bodies^nay, so to speak, a spirltualisation concerning which some have said that
their metals are no common ones, since they live and have a soul.
operator
only
let
Animation
is
Produced
and calcined
Then
much
and calcined
tartar,
in
Venus be
in their
own
made
pulverised, washed,
and thoroughly
You
sulphur.
common
will
thick greenness
its
of arsenic
and from
its
purified.
way
own impure
In this
For whatever
out
is
all
sulphur.
ten
away
cast
is
To
therewith.
is
defiled
is
accomplished
by means of an impure
is
it
must
first fall
purified, as
on gold, afterwards on
we have
silver,
directed above.
or
From
CHAPTER XVL
Concerning the Universal Matter of the Philosophers' Stone.
After the mortification of vegetables, they are transmuted, by the concurrence of two minerals, such as Sulphur and Salt, into a mineral nature, so that
at length they themselves become perfect minerals.
So it is that in the
mineral burrows and caves of the earth, vegetables are found which, in the
long succession of time, and by the continuous heat of sulphur, put off the
vegetable nature and assume that of the mineral.
This happens, for the most
part,
is
From
from
this mineral
state, too,
sometimes a perfect
But
let
certain writers
have mentioned,
is
above
all
else
The matter
difficult to
of this, as
discover and
The Aurora of
careful
For
65
abstruse to understand.
this, as well
the Philosophers.
as other subjects
this,
to our knowledge.
all
is
absolutely
and also of the manner in which Nature proceeds from imperfection to the end of perfection.
Now, for this consideration it is well to
have it thoroughly understood from the first that all things created by Nature
necessary;
consist of three primal elements, namely, natural Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt
in
combination, so that
Wherever corporal
into one body,
Salt
mixed with
is
spiritual
in
vessels,
by means of a separating
By
fire.
is
is
segregated from
and the clouds from the Mercury, while those purer parts are
preserved, which Nature again welds together into a pure geogamic body.
This operation
is
down through
its
coagulated by
is
however,
It is,
still volatile,
When
if this,
this
union
is
when flowing
it
is
that
certainly reported
not, however,
Now
a pure Mercury.
it
spirit.
is it
Mercury and
by miners.
It is
the metals, but the Mercury and the Sulphur of the philosophers are incor-
never
from the
fly
in the
fire,
It
is
subdued, as
is
all
Under
this
form of words our Mercury comes to be drawn from perfect bodies and from
the forces of the earthly planets. This is what Hermes asserts in the following
terms
Hamuel says
in
From
Stone
like
is
the
Moon
it is
produces
like.
We
know
The Son of
the red.
is
This
is
There are also two matters of the Stone, Sol and Luna, formed
artificial.
Now, as we see
man or the woman, without the seed of both, cannot generate, in the
same way our man, Sol, and his wife, Luna, cannot conceive, or do anything
Hence the
in the way of generation, without the seed and sperm of both.
philosophers gathered that a third thing was necessary, namely, the animated
whole of
their
man and
work was
the
fruitless
and
in vain.
Such a sperm
is
that the
Mercury,
66
which, by the natural conjunction of both bodies, Sol and Luna, receives their
nature into
itself in
Then
union.
at length,
and not
before, the
work
is fit
for
congress, ingress, and generation, by the masculine and feminine power and
Hence the philosophers have said that this same Mercury is composed
of body, spirit, and soul, and that it has assumed the nature and property of
all elements.
Therefore, with their most powerful genius and intellect, they
asserted their Stone to be animal.
They even called it their Adam, who carries his own invisible Eve hidden in his body, from that moment in which they
were united by the power of the Supreme God, the Maker of all creatures. For
this reason it may be said that the Mercury of the Philosophers is none other
than their most abstruse, compounded Mercury, and not the common Mercury.
So then they have wisely said to the sages that there is in Mercury whatever
wise men seek.
Almadir, the philosopher, says
"We extract our Mercury
from one perfect body and two perfect natural conditions incorporated
together, which indeed puts forth externally its perfection, whereby it is able
virtue.
to resist the
fire,
so that
its
By
external perfections."
internal imperfection
this
may
be protected by the
is
under-
stood the Adamic matter, the limbus of the microcosm,* and the homogeneous,
The sayings
we have
before
is
Sum-
fiery
and perfect Mercury extracted by Nature and Art that is, the artificially prepared and true hermaphrodite Adam, and the microcosm.
That wisest of the
;
philosophers,
Our Mercury,
orphan.
perfections, force,
CHAPTER XVn.
Concerning the Preparation of the Matter for the Philosophic
Stone.
What
is
that
its
Man
creatures.
Man was
is
is
termed limbus.
it
matter of man.
is
first
The Aurora of
Moreover,
sophic Stone.
it
the Philosophers.
Albertus Magnus,
parations of Geber,
67
Thomas Aquinas,
common
pre-
Rupescissa, Poly-
more than some particular solutions, suband calcinations, having no reference to our universal substance,
Azoth therefore
fire
of the philosophers.
From
calcination,
like,
make
distillation, sublimation,
and the
of,
fire,
common
but not
copulates by
itself, it
crocus-coloured and
black by
itself,
itself,
It is
descends.
is
It is
made
in itself.
ascends, and
it
in
The
fire.
white and the red spring from one root without any intermediary.
dissolved by
and
fire
ceration, fixation,
in their universal
fulfils all
Let the
it
arcanum
it is
wrong
monks, such as
erroneous.
By
body into a
one
but
is
rectification to
in vain.
be no contemptible
itself,
it
Lully,
in
And although
not so.
in
a certain sense, be
way
can again be separated into another element, but these elements cannot after-
wards by circulation
one
they themselves
is
in
a pelican, or by
distillation,
but they always remain a certain volatile matter, and aurum potabile, as
call
it.
man's disjunctions, as
own
and copulations of which she brings about without the aid of any operator or
manual artifice, provided only the matter be contained in the secret fire and in
its
impossible by man.
work which he
self
has
is
The separation
falsely
place,
that
but
therefore,
it
is
is
not true,
who again
joins
together
elements,
of the
aid of man.
68
about
recipes
false
this
volatile gold.
This
is
it is
more
secret
it
grows black.
name
The ascent and descent thereof they term distillation,
and descension.
The exsiccation they call coagulation and the
call the
blackness by the
mains
make mention
while because
When
of ceration.
it
it
becomes
and
fluid
soft in
In this
manner
it
is
the terms
of philosophical
operations are to be
CHAPTER
XVIII.
Sham
vessel,
and worse
metallic
vessel
in
its
;
and
its
an earthen vessel.
all
the
is
our root for the white and the red, necessarily our vessel must be so fashioned
that the matter in
celestial influences
it
may be governed by
Otherwise
it
in
For
the very
would be impossible
invisible
first
degree
than
is fitting,
If the vessel
fire
(which
is,
spirit
and soul
desire, the
excite the matter and urge it on to excessive operation, so that the vessel is
shivered into a thousand pieces, with imminent danger to the body and even
the life of the operator.
On the other hand, if it be of greater capacity than
is
required in due proportion for the heat to have effect on the matter, the
The Aurora of
the Philosophers.
own
its
must
69
is
primal quintessence.
Enough has
The method
it
earthly body.
first
solution,
is difficult.
It
should be
own
its
itself.
it
may be
its
should have this form, too, in order that the separation and
purification of the elements, when the fire drives one from the other, may be
It
which
their
is
adheres
it
lars
it
In
all
these particu-
and of height.
The instruments
cucurbites,
CHAPTER
XIX.
is
and Azoc
suffice thee."
Moreover, they
who
build their
fire
is
and keep
the coal
fire,
it.
in
a bath,
first
the
it
this fire,
it
fire
In vain
error.
placed
work and
the whole
daily.
saying that
of
all in
fire in
in
quicklime, in tartar,
What blasphemy
is
Is
it
Others,
Some have
their Stone.
;
boiling water.
God and
making
not a manifest
lie
falsely of
file,
that
but use
God
is
not
by those means which have been mentioned are utterly useless for our work
Take care not to be misled by Arnold de Villa Nova, who has written on the
subject of the coal
fire,
invisible
rays of our
fire
of themselves suffice.
70
Another
cites,
its
motion
it
"Make
vaporous,
fire,
digesting,
as
Now,
what he
air,
exciting heat.
in truth,
cooking,
for
and penetrating.
If
dew
"Ours
a corrosive
is
we
fire
has
fire
are hidden.
If
fail,
shall not
shew
is
of sensible
spirit
is
fire,
committed."
its
This
says.
Salmanazar remarks:
with
and of
fire
understand."
will
continual
from the
reflections
its
fire,
namely, that
fire,
it
it
must urge
vessel,
it
above our
fire
to the
CHAPTER XX.
Concerning the Ferment of the Philosophers, and the Weight.
Philosophers have laboured greatly in the art of ferments and of ferment-
ations,
all
With
others.
reference thereto
some
have made a vow to God and to the philosophers that they would never
divulge
its
arcanum by
similitudes or by parables.
all
Book of
the
Seven Treatises," most clearly discloses the secret of ferments, saying that
they consist only of their
own
paste
is
and more
is
which
it
etc.,
He
the key and the end of the work, concluding that the ferment
this
in
common
it
effects nothing.
Some
if
moon
this
be
zealots of
is
is
It
is
sought
is
the
same
as that from
fer-
mentations of this kind do not succeed according to the wishes of the zealots
in the way they desire, but, as is clear from what has been said above, simply
in the
way
of natural successes.
But, to
come
at length to the
weight
this
must be noted
in
two ways.
The Aurora of
The
first is
the Philosophers.
The
Of
this,
natural attains
its
Arnold says
If
of this be taken
it
will
bring a corresponding
loss.
much
there be too
little,
fire
air present,
is
same with
the
It is
it
is
suffocated,
the water.
burnt up
if it
result in the
more or less
and no result
If more or less
it is
same way,
In the
If
the tincture
be too slack,
it
if
if
the
In these
weight
is
quite occult.
Between the
ponderations.
comprised
It is
it
thus
it
by reason of
Our matter
in
soul,
spirit,
is
weight.
its
degree, so that
it
may
itself,
in
its
fire,
and through
it
all,
expecting
it
fire.
all
its
its
is
thanks.
proportionate
Sun
will rise
which
may
weight,
to the ultimate
PROLOGUE.
HAVING
Saviour,
copper, copper into silver, and silver into gold, but also to heal
all infirmities
Art was bestowed by the Lord our God, the supreme Creator, graven, as if in
a book, in the body of the metals from the beginning of Creation to this end,
that
we might
When,
from them.
diligently learn
therefore,
thoroughly and perfectly to become acquainted with this Art from its veritable
foundation, it will be necessary that he should learn the same from the Master
thereof, that
is,
He
all
things
who
says,
absolutely
take
will therefore
Him
Him
its
is
"Of Me
also alone
Him we
is
able
can be taught
ye shall learn
properties,
knows what
He, therefore,
He who
all
things."
created
all
We
all.
most
veritable Art.
attain to the
and
beginning to
its
we may
desired end, and to attain the deepest joy and charity in our
hearts.
But
if
any one
and
will
so that he cannot
know
all
others
is
not included in
The
edition
tlie
Geneva
made use
folio,
He who
is
it
learns
corresponds
A considerable
De Transmutationibns Metallorum^
Frankfort,
portion
i8-i.
is like
own
73
own
Even
opinions.
if,
at
follow
who based
their
all
it
who
Such. teachers
final
issue.
own fantasies,
By means of
and
these, then,
This
virtues
metals.
it is
The
initiator of this
all
is
all
He
God
finger,
He is
who
But he
God
to creatures or to visible
all
one God, we
itself
art
In the
of these
first
is
we
will lay
down what
it
is
metal.
Secondly, by what method a man may work and bring similar powers
and forces of metals to a successful issue and, thirdly, what tinctures are to
be produced from the Sun and from the Moon.
;
The Holy
are from
all
God
Man
What
by the enlargement of this light of Nature within us, the same does the devil seek to corrupt,
adulterate, and convert into falsehood.
Thus are all arts and operations corrupted at this day. Even so is Alchemy
debased and given over to lying tongues and depraved professors. /"rtrfl^riTwr/^w, Tract IV.
things soever are found
CHAPTER
I.
IN what
and
and what
its peculiarities.
Art
is fire,
which always
one and the same property and mode of operation, nor can
from anything
its life
is
it
is its subject',
First
exists in
place,
first
which
to all fires
lie
all
it
and power,
receive
common
appointed by
is
can shine only as they borrow their light from the Sun, and are in themselves
dead.
God
Just so
It
No
fire.
Art,
is it
rules
from no
light
God Himself
The fire in the furnace may
it,
Who
Himself,
and work
embracing
prehended
all
It is
It
else.
abides by
itself,
first
of
all,
we have undertaken
CHAPTER
it
and have
but
life
made
of
be com-
it
wherefore,
Arcanum
the Great
anything
in
it.
from
all
it,
clear.
II.
Having
per
se, it
first
now remains
to
speak of a manifold
fire
spirit
which
or
fire
lives
which
and subsists
is
the cause
of variety or diversity of creatures, so that not one can be found exactly like
is not to be regarded as an element, and so there is a distinction between fire and the firmament, which
Fire is a matter which cooks and disintegrates, reducing into the ultimate matter, and, in this
an element.
For fire, like death, consumes and devours everything. Therefore, fire cannot be an
sense, fire and death are alike.
element, but it can be, and is, a visible and sensible death. The other death is invisible, and is seen by no man.
* Fire
latter is
M eteorujHj
IZiib.
The
c.
congeries
i.
De
Transtitutatvynibus Meiallorum, to which reference has already been made, gives the following
Just so in the Spagyric art is this fire of athanor and the secret fire of the
and the
fire
is
seen to
which
is
an element
is
the firmament,
Fragmenta
and the
Modus Pharviacandi,
Lib. Meteorutn,
c. i.
i.
But that
fire
This
may
like itself.
that
all
Jupiter, tin
Venus, copper
In the
75
the
Moon
it
the manifoldness of
is
so
men and
fire.
For example, the Venter Equinns produces one kind of creature through the
moderate heat generated by its corruption
the Balneum Maris produces
;
another
ashes another; sand, in like manner, another; the flame of fire another;
and so on.
coals another,
simple
is
fire,
And
amongst
all
is
this is the
reason
why
individuals.
its
first
For
this
is
transmu-
it is impressed by this
no great mixture of the elements, Sol is produced where,
it is a little more dense, Luna
where still more so, Venus and thus according
to the diversity of mixtures are produced different metals, so that no metal
Where
fire.
there
is
appears
in its
fire
they would be so
form
It
introduced
among
much
creatures.
Hence
it
fire
may
alike that
whereas,
intervening, variety of
be easily gathered
why
why no one
is
so
like
another.*
CHAPTER
III.
now come
Let us
spirit
its
The
fire,
* That fire, then, is manifold which is varied according to the diversity of the subject whereinto it flows, and by
means whereof it is afterwards kindled in other subjects, as the fire of ashes, sand, the bath, filings, etc., has a mediated heat flowing from an immediate source into the subject-matter of the instrument, and from hence into the matter
This is for the reason that nothing in the
In that manifold fire there is a difference of position.
is in all
respects like to
any other
thing,
be members in the same individual. One metal produces gold from that which generates silver
another brings forth the metal of Saturn, of Venus, or of Mars. Each one of these is varied according to the difference
No two men, no two members of the same body, no two
of the place whence it proceeded and was created.
may
leaves of the
same
tree, are
and so of the
rest.
first fire
of
created things, but from the differing rule over the elements
moment, by
heat in
generated Sol
Venus
do the
where
spirits of
Where
Luna
is
it is
little
greater,
and
less pure, is
generated
but the intervention of the manifold, no distinction of forms could occur either in metals or in any other created things,
why there are in use no more than seven metals, of which six are solid and the seventh fluid and thin, is explained in
But this statement concerning
adept philosophy but not in h\c}iQmy.De Trattsmuiaiiohibus Metahorum^c. 3.
the seventh fluidic metal seems to be at variance with other teaching of Paracelsus, to which a congeries that has been
subject to editing
must
natiu'ally defer.
76
which reason
for
metals.
far surpasses
it
all
It
in the fire,
agency
nor
its
is
it
nor does
becomes
injure
it,
therefrom,
fly
it
and
clearer, purer,
as they can injure the other spirits or tinctures of metals, and for this reason
that the body which
and enables
it
once assumes
it
defends from
it
but
fire,
flies
from
from the
it
but
alone which
when
in Sol
it
be
in
bodies of
men when
it,
will
shut
cannot
fly off
receives
it
effect in
the
Magna we have
In our Chirurgia
it
is
If,
it
received therein.
it is
it
does not
but remains fixed and constant, this affords a most certain proof that
to the
it
all
In like manner, the strength and virtue of other metals may be known
from true experience, not from the wisdom of men and of the world, which is
and all who build and rest their hope
foolishness with God, and with His truth
life.t
CHAPTER
IV.
remains to put forward something about the tincture of Luna, and of the
it
This, indeed,
* It
is
known
well
is
spirit of Sol
but, nevertherless,
it
all
is
manner,
in like
Tr.zjtsntutatWHiOus Metalloruvi,
to all
body of Sol
is
who
stand the
all
fire,
but
spirit,
excels in
order
it
in
It
does not
flees
from
it.
De
lo.
c.
t In the collection of treatises to which reference is here made, there is the following process for the manufacture
that is to say, let it be
of a tincture of gold : Let the body be first deprived of its metallic and malleable nature
;
corrupted
then
the residue be cleansed with sweet water, and the colour extracted
let
let it
Seal
by a slow
all
fire.
Place
it
As soon
as
it
has passed
size,
that
in
Pour the
spirit
will
know by
fire,
it in a glass, keep it for a month in a warm bath to digest, when the colour
win be separated and commingled with the spirit. A white powder will remain at the bottom. Having separated all
these things, melt the powder, and it will be separated into a metallic water. Evaporate the spirits according to art,
and the desired spirit will remain at the bottom. Perform its gradation in a retort of the proper size. This is done
most conveniently by elevation, which is highly attenuating. - Chirurgia Magna, Part II., Tract III., c. 2.
"
is
it
consumed
may
below, for
preserves in the
it
Hence
or loss.
Mercury, what
itself produces
another body.
do the same
will
its
own
a medicine
is,
And
bodies of men.f
it
into
its
own
body,
it
life,
who waste
beat the
corruptible body by
special grade.
who
own
in its
effect
if it
down
beyond
Surely
in the
the
in
of which
all
this
if
other metals,
fire,
more
it
be able to
will
it
far
is
the body
is
it
fire
jj
air.
fixed,
on vegetables,
If
a great disgrace.
it
Therefore
CHAPTER
V.
We
Now we
spirit,
more
less, it is
On
is
this
account
it
remains
in the fire
The
follow.
Mars, just as
air also
it
own
is,
in
Nature conceded to
can
affect
Venus,
it.
It
it
Since, then,
it.
accomplishes as
wounds
air or the
its
it
all
Luna
is
This
it
consistent,
if it
human
it is
effect in its
man
as
is
by
that no accident
It also
drives
away
breaks up the
fire,
by
fire
Congeries
powerfully
this, if it
it
will act
body
into
produces such an
which
it
effect in
its
'boiy. Ibid.
be mixed with certain metals, even among those which are perfect, it tears asunder their
any way until they are set free from it,
Hid,
way
spirit further
by means of the
On
itself,
as to
Venus
c. lo.
also in
such a
in
Paracelsica,
produces this
much
degree.
it
in the fire.
to say, its
is
preserves
all
is
body, that
it-
is
so soon pass
it
or colourless Tincture.
Spirit,
which
78
when
it is
venient results.*
It is
not suitable,
is
it
it
produces incon-
who
desires to
more
perfect spirits,
Still,
It is
who can
that
it is
to his
spirit of
Venus. |
CHAPTER
VI.
Spirit of
Mars,
this
But Mars
precede.
so that
it is
is
comes from a more dense and comwas the case with the others which
fire
True,
as they are.
dryness
it
it is
exceeds
all
fire,
it
is
it
is
altogether destroyed by
as experience proves.
But
in
So, then,
hardness and
effect
itself,
But when
is
which
it is
on metals,
is, it
it
is
a sign that
this is
produces a struggling
not adapted,
Since, then,
pro-
especially
when
it is
taken for
it
it
it
CHAPTER
is
its
degree,
endowed with no
it
less
VII.
it
Ihid.
for
preparations.
X
Ibid.
Under favourable
astrological circumstances,
it
many
I., c. ii.
no
less
79
and fragility, not malleable like Mars. It, therefore, heats other
and renders them capable of being broken with hammers.
An
crepitation
metals,
example of
this
be brought to
same
If it
effect
it
produces
may be
when
it is
In these
bodies.
seen
it
can scarcely
it
do the same
will
in
human
it
that they are completely cut off from their perfect workings, and lose them, so
that they are unable to
fulfil
it
Never-
CHAPTER
not
VIII.
The
spirit
of Saturn
is
dark, cold
effect of
away
takes
their malleability.!
pains, as Jupiter
Nevertheless,
It
and Mars.
it
is
it
it
it
It
and similar
the
to
If this
it.
be well considered
it
can do no harm.
CHAPTER
IX.
The
spirit
of Mercury, which
is
Hence
itself.
metal, just as
.elementary
it
happens that
it
and
and takes
*
By
in like
manner
it
their properties to
it
For
coagulated with a
much more
this reason,
It
it
dense
For
if
if
Luna,
so far as relates to
its
corrupts and decomposes them, especially Luna, and only with great labour can
this
admits every
So
receive into itself the spirit of Sol, Sol will be produced from
Luna
it
it
of whatever form.
Ibid.
it
Ibid.
spirit
is
/
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
8o
body,
For Sol
becomes
it
is
is
fixed.
subject to
so
and
But
working.
at their
nevertheless
if
by which the
moderation be not
be too weak.
mean
means
in this Art,
it is
Therefore
to be ruled,
is
it is
If the fire
and how
* It
if it
the
it is
is
the abovementioned
ought
to a
the body of Mercury, save only that Sol fixes Mercury and
observed
woman
it is
man.
we would
is
it
first
spirit
and
know what
is
also
by what
them
to their
apparent.
With
tract.*
conclude this
has
it
which
spirits, just
its
- Ibid.
as his wife
is
prepared for a
projected, after
the
first
spirits
etc.,
medium
of tinctures, that
tinctures
is,
In this second
we
made
in
CHAPTER
I.
whence
it
it
to its
own end
that
is,
its
kill
it
fixed in the
spirits of metals,
is
The
not fixed.
one, however,
we
thus
If
will
but
appropriated to the
is
by an example,
will illustrate
gather barley
fire,
if
None otherwise is it in this Art. If anyone sows Sol he will gather gold,
Luna he will collect silver, and so with regard to the other metals.
In this way we say here tinctures are produced from the metals, that is,
while from
it
had
is
But
mercury.
this
before conceived.!
a supreme secret.
De Ulcerum
Curatioiu,
c.
lo.
The dead wife of the metal, like an uncultivated field or soil, if it be macerated or revivified by the philosophic
plough (the wife remaining fixed and incorrupt during the process), it is united Co the aforesaid corporal spirit by the
grades of fire, into its own nature and substance, and this with the dead body of the metal. Now, this cannot be done
t
common mercury,
And
is
the
same
result ensues.
De
Transmuiationzbits Aietallornm^
c. lo.
82
CHAPTER
II.
may be
joined, and this latter united with the fixed, it must of necessity be known how
much of it must be taken, since more or less than the proper quantity may
In order that the Philosophers' Mercury and the quick mercury
But by
it
cannot
so that
able
is
it
ascertained
to
how much
live until
it is
end.
as follows, namely
to four,
err,
if,
indeed,
is
fixed
and you
will
not
CHAPTER
III.
When
it is
If
whence
germ
is
under a
No
it
woman,
that
suff'ocated so that
tree, or
among
it
cannot come to
thorns,
has occurred
it
it
may
will
is
is
dispersed,
when seed
is
sown
fruit.
fruit, just
as
in the
you
the phlegm,
is,
save the matter from being dispersed, and prevent the phlegm, or the
CHAPTER
IV.
with natural heat, so that the outside shall not exceed the inside.
For
if
It
the
heat be excessive, no conjunction will take place, because by the intense heat
the matter is dispersed and burnt, so that no advantage arises from it.
On
this
account the mid region of the air has been arranged by Nature
otherwise the sun and the stars would burn up
;
Take
any way to do
In this
fire
way
easily
be able
For
if
in
injury,
it.
you interpose an
still
less to burn.
way upon
own humidity
its
so
None otherwise
cannot grow of
and can
rest,
unless
is
it
its
When
In the very
work in just
work will never
for this
fire
otherwise this
dead, and
is
CHAPTER
moved
metals are of
spirits of
it
be carried on to
For the
fixed.
in the great
itself
place, therefore,
first
be dried or
will
it
83
to blackness.
fire
Afterwards,
is
V.
in
when
is
by degrees
in
the glass,
Sometimes, too,
before.
gold.
it is
woman,
man
is
ruling
it
the humidity has died out before the process of drying, those colours disappear,
grow
at length begins to
first
taken not to hasten the matter unduly, according to the opinion of those
think that such a process
is in all
respects like
human
womb
the
be in
its
of the earth.
is
who
what
it
is
Sol and
necessary for
its
production.
For
it
should
Both herbs
is
born
is
their
life
short.
men
this.
It is
;
whence
it
life
for
CHAPTER
VI.
we
In this
perfect.
will
Do
make
this
clear
When
on
a plate of copper.
we have
said
by what means
the
from
it
If the
it is
it
it
84
CHAPTER
VII.
and
it
it
to
augment or
common
The longer
Proceed
mercury.
it
did previously.
much
You can
it
remains
it
will
transmute an
IN or
In this third
sufficient length,
and
in
CHAPTER
we
say
will
make
Shall
how
clear at
planets, should be
I.
new
For
world.
in the
its
fire
who
little
mound
be raised, sloping on
all
Let holes be
in breadth,
and
to
each hole
own
let its
Then take
left
furnace
the best
coals,
may meet
it
if
too
the air
nature, so that
it
little, let
This
is
itself,
and
to all
we have
there
another
is
in the glass.
and heat
After
to be placed
is
to the
it
whole
encloses.
II.
And
CHAPTER
life,
its
furnace
way you
In this
we now propose
to describe
more
at length
how
the
86
man and
the
its wife,
may
dissolve the
husband loves
that
is
its
his
is the manner.
Take
supreme degree. Dis-
This
together.
Philosophers'
the
fix
woman.
woman
wife
pursues the quick mercury with the most supreme love, and their nature
moved with
is
her,
so
have no
difference,
man is
woman is
the
and he
quence.
the
as
far
fixed,
body
save as
but the
united to the
fixes her
woman may
regards
us.
their
Conceal both
in
is
the
For
the
this reason,
in
reduced to nothing.
CHAPTER
Concerning the Copulation of the
When
III.
in the
etc.
matrimonial bed,
may operate upon her and impregnate her, and that the seed
of the woman may be coagulated into a mass by the seed of the man, without
which she can bring forth no fruit, it is necessary that the man should perform
in order that
he
his operation
on the woman.
CHAPTER
IV.
As soon as you see the woman take a black colour, know for a certainty
become pregnant and when the seed of the man
embraces the seed of the woman, this is the first sign and the key of this whole
work and Art. Therefore preserve a continuous natural heat, and this blackness
will appear and disappear through being consumed, as one worm eats another,
and goes on consuming until not one is still left.
that she has conceived and
CHAPTER
V.
As soon
the
woman
appear, that
is
and
its
wings
until
it
manifest,
it
may
be
known
tail
that
begins to
and extending
is
shall
is
have conquered.
it
common mercury,
When, therefore, the
acting on the
CHAPTER
VI.
When
in the
different colours,
87
in
it is
the Glass.
fire, until
the peacock's
tail is
quite
consumed, while the matter of Luna becomes white and glittering as snow, and
the vessel attains
its
degree of perfection.
it,
it
Then
at length
on a heated copper
then
it is
plate.
If it
off
remains firm
That King has strength and power, not only for transmuting
metals, but also for healing all infirmities. He is a King worthy to be praised,
and adorned with many virtues, and so great power, that he transmutes Venus,
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury into Luna, which will stand all tests. He
also frees the bodies of men from an infinite number of diseases, as fevers,
the falling sickness, leprosy, the gallic disease, and many mineral ailments
perfection of Luna.
which no herbs or
uses
constantly this
healthy
Whoever
remove.
fixed,
long,
and
life.
CHAPTER
VII.
for so long as
tint,
must be conthis
being the
and dry matter, the longer such action lasts, the more is it tinted with yellow
and saffron colour, until it arrives at redness, like the colour of a ruby. Then
at last the fermentation is prepared for gold, and the oriental King is born,
sitting in his seat,
all
CHAPTER
VIII.
The multiplying
in the
following manner.
Let
it
be dissolved in
its
own
is
performed
wards subjected to the regimen of fire as before. It will act on its own
humidity more quickly than it previously did, and will transmute into its own
substance, just as a little leaven seems to transmute into leaven the whole of a
Wherefore it is an unspeakable treasure on the earth,
large quantity of flour.
of which the universe has not the equal, as Augurellus witnesses.
Conclusion.
This secret was accounted by the old Fathers who possessed it as among
the most occult, lest it should get into the hands of wicked men, who by its aid
would be able more abundantly to fulfil their own wickedness and crimes. We,
therefore, ask you,
this gift of
God,
that, imitating
88
these Fathers, you will treat and preserve this divine mystery in the most secret
manner
possible, for
if
you tread
it
under
foot, or scatter
swine, be sure that you will hear pronounced against you the severe sentence
But to those who, by the special grace of God, abstain most from
vices,
this
others.
Whoever
shall
this kind
whom
have found
this
more wisdom
Art
this secret
is
in
and
fully revealed
is
all
than to any
no way discovered.
gift of
God,
let
most high God, the Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit. And from this God
alone let him implore grace, by which he may be able to use that gift to God's
glory and to the good of his fellow-man. The merciful God grant that this may
be so for the sake of Jesus Christ His Son, and our Saviour
ALTHOUGH
tations
practice,
still,
have thought
it
by
its
very beginning.
prised in
more
who
which
facts
is
mere demonstrations. It is true that these demonstrado a very great deal for those who are some way advanced rather than
for initiates.
For these it is best that from the very first they should have a
tions
blunders
is),
they make.
making mistakes
will
No
the true path so long as he holds back from the goal through fear of
Nature.
It will
own
natural methods.
So, then,
his
it
errors
we
if
was thought
we may
fail
well to
recall those
genealogy of minerals, as
who
let
artificial
Alchemy
to a safe anchorage.
if
making
It
seemed
opportune, nay, even necessary, to provide some such anchorage for this pur-
who
CHAPTER
I.
When
had most
found
in the
another collection of the works of Paracelsus, namely, the Frankfort 8vo. of 1584.
Mineralibus^ which
is
about Minerals.
But
at the
same
It will, accordingly,
time,
it
be found
in
much
Geneva
folio,
and
is
translated from
A corresponding treatise,
is,
entitled
Dg
an appendix
go
matter
and,
thereof,
be described,
to
determined
from
first
you
this
end should
its
of
all
We
their origin.
first
to lay before
will easily
may
observes
much
be noted down.
all
issue
its
it
virtually blind.
Now
at.
what end
is
therefore
is
visible
which we see that disease tending, as though towards a mark set up for
aim
did
less
no knowledge, because
is
it
of
consequence,
in
If the
it
know
to
for
God
turns to
otherwise
its
it
will often
abuse.
On
it.
this
God
who knows how
account
be possessed by one
to use
it
He
own
God
to apply
to learn
,-^
This
fire.
is,
as
it
manifest whatever
hidden
in
anything.
among
have an
it
regarded as the
first
of everything
It is this
it is
is
which makes
we understand
dissolved by
fire
so
in
clear that
resolution
is
It at once makes
beginning was Mercurial Water, not Sulphur, since its
not accompanied with flame, as would be the case with resins.
its
first
proved not to be
I call
the ultimate matter of anything that state in which the suhstance has reached its highest grade of exaltation
as, for example, gold, when it has been separated from all superfluities, foreign matter, etc., and remains
and perfection,
in its
II., c. II.
ter.
Lib, III.
God
to create
in her, as
and Mercury
Salt,
are
which
everything as
it is,
water
is
not like
were
is
in her
matrix
that
to say. Mineral
is
is
own
nature
mineral
all
In this
way
the
And
Who
so
makes
As, therefore,
way
is,
that
same
In the
source.
it
its
Now,
it
different
is
Everything
it
it
all
of the rest.
Thus
gi
as
it
were,
wood and
it
same
comes from
from water,
and the
earth,
As,
exist.
you have now heard so far concerning the mother of the minerals, we
The ancients have falsely written
will in the sequel teach you more fully.
that this is the earth but they have never been able to prove it.
then,
CHAPTER
II.
The first principle with God was the ultimate matter which He Himself
made to be the primal, just as a fruit which produces another fruit. It has
seed
and
this seed
which seed
water.
It
is
under
its
So
also for
it
its
is, it
was made
so that
it,
it
this is in water.
itself for
is in
water
and what-
gems, stones, the magnet, and other things of that kind, each
its
own
kind.
fruits,
needful for
man
wherein there
is
to the
and to other
should
it
into
becomes
wheat
it
This resolves
He
spirit.
has
For the
profits nothing,
92
and root of
minerals
all
its
kind,
He
and
for
is
who
is
he
its
disposes every-
ultimate matter,
which at length man receives as a sort of artificial primal matter that is,
where Nature ends, there the Art of man begins, for Nature's ultimate matter
:
is
man's primal matter. After such a wonderful method has God created water
as the
first
fruit the
CHAPTER
own
state of constitution.
HI.
it
were, a
field in
which the roots of mineral trees, springing forth from their seeds, should be
and thence the trunk and the branches should be thrust forth over the
He separated it, therefore, from the other three, so that neither in the
fixed,
earth.
air,
nor in the earth, nor in heaven, but placed on the lower globe,
exist
by
where
bear
itself as
it
man upon
it
after
;
though
it
from
own
its
limits,
surface on
its
own
in
man borne
What
is
in
at
should
it
should
more marvellous
still
it
centre there
so that
it.
its
is
fall
that
down
from the element of water are protruded into the earth, just as from the
element of earth all fruits are pushed forward into the air, so that nothing but
Exactly so, all metals, salt, gems, stones, talc,
the root remains in the earth.
marcasites, sulphurs, and every similar substance, pass from their mother, the
water, to another mother, namely, the earth, in which the operation of their
trees
is
which derive
in
their
the earth, so that they reach, as the others did, their ultimate matter.
The
93
were so
little
No less mythical was the saying of that man who asserted that
things which were produced on the earth had their origin from the air, because
they are in the air and are perfected there, though he saw their roots in the
from water.
all
earth.
he
would even feign that they are fixed in the earth. Such is the physical science
of the Greeks, deduced only from what is seen, recognising nothing occult by
mental experiment.
It is
CHAPTER
IV.
all
When
time of maturity.
own
subsequently produced
from
the earth,
aqueous body,
it fills
From
air.
property of
but
is
into the
germinates they
first
in the
first
of
all
tree,
element of water.
This tree
its species,
fruit is
in
is,
an
the earth so
fills
the
We
up
is
manner.
of the visible
bitter,
which, that
So
is
Some
green and
fruits,
in the following
happens
produced
is
same way as
it
So
is
trees
all,
own
the
rise to their
generated.
far as
autumn on
air,
also
etc.,
where there
some aqueous
fruits
is
no
trees produce
gold,
silver,
corals,
94
beneath
no moment
may be
spirit
in the mineral,
in
of
is
itself is
the
The
its
body of gold,
pure
the
fruit,
So the
incorporated.
are
fruits
first
wherewith
its
inseparably
is
spirit
whom
seen in man, to
is
been given two bodies, one corrupt, but the other incorrupt, which
eternally united with him, since
especially
man
differs
from
all
it is
its
have
be
will
possession
other creatures.*
CHAPTER
V.
die, as
at its death, as
own
and
it
Whatever
fruits.
lost, just
is
born from
is
it
As water
its
own
returns to
fruit,
it
again,
is
its
swallowed up
we
It is
no weightier
to-day than yesterday, not even by a single grain, and will after a thousand
years be of the same weight
it
consumes. The
still.
As
it
is in its
same degree,
in
that great terminus and centre of water, the sea, wherein the rivers, and what-
it,
die
in the fire.
Rivers,
indeed, are not the element of water, but the fruit of that element, which
sea
and
from
and
in this
is
the
life
their death.
CHAPTER
VI.
its
matrix, whether to produce a metal, a stone, a gem, salt, alum, vitriol, a saline
or sweet, cold or hot spring, a coral, or a marcasite, and after
it
has thrust
forth the trunk to the earth, this trunk spreads abroad in different branches,
* The flesh and blood which man received from Adam can in no wise enter into the kingdom of God. For nothing
can ascend into heaven which did not come forth out of heaven. Now the Adamic iiesh is eai-th. Thus it cannot enter
heaven, but is again converted into earth. It is mortal, subject to death, and nothing mortal can enter heaven. There
It admits not of purging or gloriis no fire which can purge it from its stains in such wise as to make it fit for heaven.
At the same time, man cannot enter heaven* unless he be true man, clothed upon with flesh and blood. For it is,
fying.
Herein
only by flesh and blood that man is distinguished from the angels, for, otherwise, both are of the same essence.
man hath more than the angels, in that he is endowed with flesh and blood, and for man was the Son of God born into
the world for him He died upon the cross, that so man might be redeemed and made eligible for the kingdom of heaven.
;
But when God had thus shewn His love for man, his flesh still excluded him from heaven, whence He gave him another
flesh and blood which was built up of the Son, and then this creature, not of the Father, but the Son, enters heaven.
For the Adamic flesh is of the Father, and returns whence it came, though had Adam not sinned his body would have
But Christ, compassionating our calamity, gave us a new body.
Of the spirit who
remained immortal in Paradise.
a water, nor an
oil,
wood growing
as
95
sprung therefrom.
They
in fact,
it
is,
neither
manner
though
is
human body
But the
when
all
its
nature, a
water
new
and
it
tree appears.
and
tree dies
its
is
fruits
utterly
consumed by dryness,
Afterwards, according to
first
state of
its
These minerals
all
minerals,
metals, gems, salts, and other things of that kind, like different seeds in a bag.
These being poured into water. Nature then directs every seed to its peculiar
final fruit, incessantly disposing them according to their species and genera.
These and like things proceed from that true physical science, and those
fountains of sound philosophy from which, through meditative contemplation
of the works of God, arises the most intimate knowledge of the Supreme
Creator and of His virtues. To the minds and mental sight of true philosophers, no less than to their carnal eyes, the clear light appears. To them the
occult becomes manifest.
But that Greek Satan has sown in the philosophic
field of true wisdom, tares and his own false seed, to wit, Aristoteles, Albertus,
Avicenna, Rhasis, and that kind of men, enemies of the light of God and of
and
CHAPTER Vn.
Concerning the Variation of the Primal Matter of Minerals,
proportion to the different species and individuals thereof
also concerning the various colours, etc.
in
We
as
if in
it is
in its
mother, just
in one.
gives life cometh forth a living flesh, wherein is no death but life. This is the flesh whereof man has need, that he may
become a new man, and in this flesh and in that blood, at the last day, shall he arise, and shall possess the kingdom of
heaven with Christ. Now, this flesh which has its life from the spirit was first born, without the generation of male
So, also, we who aspire to the
seed, from a daughter of Abraham, by promise, and became man by the Holy Ghost.
Thus man must to eternity be
kingdom must be born again out of a virgin and faith, incarnated by the Holy Spirit.
flesh and blood
thus is there a dual flesh that which is Adamic and is nothing, and that of the Holy Spirit which is
;
vivific.
So high and so
heaven.
subjects.
ence.
De
And
lofty
is
II., c. 2.
human wisdom
that
it
hath in
its
2.
power
also
it
all
itself,
and universal
are its
96
For a
gold
in sapphire,
gems, another
exists in
Sulphur
different
is
found
in lead, iron,
in stones, marcasites,
So, too,
salts, etc.
is it
in metals.
Gold
is
times found, one specimen heavier or more deeply coloured than another
so of the
diversities of
many Sulphurs
rest.
some-
and
lesser degrees.
is
Nature
may be compared
The only
difference
He
imitates these.
things.
Now,
all
number
infinite
is,
of pictures,
In
parabolically to a painter,
no one exactly
like another.
represents the
same things
God alone assigns life to all, so that from every one should be produced that which
had predestinated to be thence produced, as He
all should be.
Whoever, therefore, wishes to
natural
things,
let
him
learn from natural Sulphur that
understand the bodies of
which he may first of all have well understood, if he seeks natural colours as the
He,
from
eternity,
all
But
if
he wishes to
he wishes to learn.
All
these
in one,
and separate
at the
same time
distributing,
Consider,
beseech you, this tiny grain of seed, black or brown in colour, out of which
grows a vast
tree,
variegated colours in
flowers,
and flavours
all
in its fruits
in
its
leaves, such
marvellous, so rich, in her mysteries that you will have enough to last you
all
life in this
which
my
write,
which also
know
to be true.
Still, I
will
confess
surge up to
revealed
when
There
time.
This, however,
know, that
live,
nothing- so occult
is
which
shall not be
so to be.
it
me
after
who
but
97
will
come a
CHAPTER
many
will disclose
things.
VIII.
them
one
What
or liquefactor?
no
of
first
him.*
these
adapt
to
but
still
nor the
separator, preparer,
its
those
buyer unless
metals
she needs
her
for
own
He, too,
Nature
use.
mineral Sulphur,
is
and nature
of
not
these
is,
ministers under
does
Among
who has
is
someone
be
there
people.
all,
He
be
it
he,
avail
need
is
the
a second,
first,
who
namely, the
falls,
who
fabricates
the properties and virtues, and operates on the previously existing matter, say,
Mercury
for instance.
is
all
When
and enclosed
earth
in
all
may do
with
virtues,
and
kind are
this is decocted
fulfilled,
Mercury
it,
and on
itself.
When
all
the decoctions of
it
By
first
on the other
condensing, afterwards
its
autumn
is
It
which
this
its
is
remains that
we
is
would admonish
it is
my
and virtue of
necessary to learn
things, until
like themselves,
* Archeus is Nature and the dispenser of things, Annotationes in Lihros duos de Tartaro,
The anatomy of the
Archeus is the anatomy of life. - Fragmenta Anatoinia.
Archeus is the separator of the elements and of all those
things which exist in them, dividing each thing from the rest, and gathering it into its own place. De Etemento Ag-uce,
Tract II., c. I,
98
place
them so that
life
more
easily,
at least
principles of minerals,
first
to say, right
is
up
to the very
CHAPTER
which are
Salts,
we
will
IX.
in
Alchemy and
IN Medicine.
God,
man
in
should be led by
live naturally
without
man must
it
use ardent
the Mercury, and salted foods for keeping the Salt in a faculty for building up
the body.
dead
will still
power
Its
flesh for
for conservation
is
more preserve
living flesh.
hence
Coming,
it is
Marine
is
Spring Salt
and,
is
Salt, the
chiefly
second
Spring
conducive to health
Salt,
in the
first
it
life.
The
first
of
Salt.
This and the Marine Salt are not comprised under the nature
only by Nature.
is
keeps
these
it
is
decocted
is first
of
salt.
all
There
are, therefore,
two
descriptions of Salt to be put forward by us, one from muria, the other from
wholly refined
which
is
is
no correction
digest
them.
But,
salt.
common
first,
to every Salt.
;
and
There
if
is
Where
Salt
an expulsive
force,
all
it
is
unable to
acting through
the
in their regular
red vitriol, cuprine vitriol, rock alum, alumen plumosum, alumen scissum, alumen entali, alumen
gemmae, rock salt, mountain salt, sea salt, spring salt all these species originate from the salt of the
three prime principles, and are subject to calcination, reverberation, or sublimation.
Now, if all these things subsist in
usnetum,
vitriol,
sal
a proper proportion or, so to speak, essence, they are called by one universal name, liquor of Nature, or liquor of salt
Besides these, there are arsenic, realgar, ogertum, black auripigment (that is, orpiment), antimony
or balsam of salt.
These, in like manner, are subject to calcination, reverberation, distillation, etc., and if they subsist
wholly in one essence they are called the balsam of Nature, the liquor of Mercury, or the balsam of Mercury. Finally
mercury, asphalt.
there are the various species of sulphur, petroleum, carabe, pitch, etc., which are also subject to the same processes and
if they subsist unseparated in a single essence they are called the tincture of Nature, liquor of sulphur, or balsam
of
Fragjnetita Medica, No. 3,
sulphur.
in their
powers of expulsion.
The blood
passes
it
away
is
99
own
in its
If it does,
nature
salt,
and
to decay.
may
Moreover, there
lies
in the
The
is,
the microcosmic
the excrements.
salt,
salt
which
Now,
this
salt,
know
is in
associated with
made when
Salt.
is
is
urine
when he wishes
this, especially
to
the kind
comes from gems, which, above all others, has the faculty of attacking
and expelling this natural Salt. The operations of these three different kinds
of Salt should be carefully watched in practice, a method which opens the
that
CHAPTER
X.
Concerning Muria.
First of all,
I just now mentioned two kinds of Salt, Muria and dry Salt.
Muria has the greatest power of drying up all superfluous moisture. It does
more in one hour than dry Salt could effect in a month. Although this has
been reduced to Muria, it has not the same power as the natural in curing
moist gout, dropsy, moist tumours of the tibia, and other tumours as well, in
all
Its
heat should be so
tempered that a patient could sit in it as in a bath without injury. The proof
of perfection in Muria is that an e:^^ shall swim on its surface when thrown
It should be noticed that a bath of this kind is only adapted for stout
into it.
people.
much.
People
for a time in
who
it,
as
it
dries
up too
If after
CHAPTER
it
XI.
them be mixed with Sulphur and applied to wounds as a plaster, and then
as a lotion, it keeps them from worms, and even if the worms have already
been produced, it drives them away and prevents any more from coming. By
of
H3
lOO
Paracelsus.
The same is
it.
if
useful
these Salts
Muria very
artificial
found
in
less
little
much weaker
cases, but
spirit in
it
is
For
same kind of Salts calcined into
dissolved Into an oil and separated from it so
made from
is
is
the
knew how
they only
concerning pure
Salt,
to prepare
it
Before
it
arrives at
it is
an
salt of
if
is
body, or by the preceding, even the dry and specially nutritive ones.
it
in external surgical
alcali
is
that
The
in internal cures.
This Salt
human
chemically.
It
is
of silver, and renders the metal malleable without the customary burnings.
It
CHAPTER
XII.
is
which
is
called nitre, t
It is
composed
naturally of the natural salt of animals' bodies, and the salt of nutriment in
The two
due course.
that from
One
salt
is
them
results
constituents are
form of cones or of
clearly in the
from
again decocted
its
clods, provided
is
closely united, so
earth.
it
from the superfluous nutrimental Salt not yet digested by the animal decoction
* Every urine
I.,
Tract
III., c.
is
I,
11.
De Tartaro
Lib.
expositio.
For the earth whereon they make water is aftert Nitre forms in the pens and stables where cattle make water.
wards cooked and the salt nitre obtained from it. For all urine is salt. Z> Tartaro, Lib. I., Tract III., annotationes
Nitre is excrement and the dead body of esile and nutrimental matter.
in c. 2.
And this dead body is that out of
which putrefaction grows. Fragmenta Medica, De Tararo Niireo.
It is an essential spirit and excrement of
all
salts,
De
PesHlitate, Tract
I.
it is
would be
recount
idle to
how
great
Alchemy
In
was
which
is
In the
when
result,
there
it
from
is
it
all
this
coagulated
way
It
experiment
first
is
very frequent.
is
again
use
its
loi
is
in
it
which afterwards
the form of cones
changed
its
name
of
particularly useful as an
nor
is it
very safe remedy, unless the two are mixed with Salt of Copper, or else the
three are subjected to a process of extraction, and formed into one body for
employment
in this special
way.
CHAPTER
XIII.
makes a thorough
transit,
expelled in
is
it
sometimes to per-
is
Salt
causes
shewn by anatomy. If, however, it remains unthe stomach, eructations and heartburns arise, with many other
It
which proceed many severe diseases which are little understood, and that not
only in this particular part of the body but in others also, especially the urinary
organs.
and
We
their faults.
character,
and
is
now
named
Vitriol.
It
excels
all
is
more mineral
others by
its utility,
in its
both
in
CHAPTER
XIV.
Concerning Vitriol.*
Nature produces from the bowels of the earth a certain kind of
salt,
named
Vitriol, possessed of such virtues and powers as can scarcely be described to the
full
by any.
In
it
* An important variation of this and the following chapters on vitriol occurs in the Geneva folio. Concerning the
USE OF viTRioLATED OIL IN Alchemv and in like manner concerning its crude form. By way of saying something about
the hidden alchemical powers in Vitriol, I would iirst of all submit to you, concerning crude vitriol, that each separate
kind of crude vitriol makes copper out of iron. It is not the Alchemist who does this, but Natiu-e or Vitriol by the operation
of the Alchemist. In the light "of Nature it is the subject of no small wonder to observe how any metal, as it were,
It is really very much the same as if a woman should be produced from a
-puts off itself and becomes something else.
man. In these matters, however. Nature has her own peculiar privileges conferred upon her by God, for the benefit of
;
I02
worms, the falling sickness, and many other diseases which are very difRcult to treat, and arising from obstructions, as we shall describe at greater length
below.
In both faculties, that is to say, in Medicine and in Alchemy, it pro-
fevers,
duces marvellous
eifects,
preparation.
its
body various
As from one log of wood different images are carved, so from this
most excellent medicines are prepared, not only for internal disorders but also
In a word, whatever other
for surgical cases, such as ringworm and leprosy.
remedies are not able to effect against diseases, on account of their own weakness, this
Some
of
it
does from the very foundation by removing the cause of the disease.
its
powers
water, others
it
when
is
when
calcined, others
oil
others, again,
it
it
is
it is
reduced to
reduced to a green
possesses
when
in the
oil,
form of
a white
which
when
it
It
oil.
it
There
of.
is
his
feet,
in this
treasure of Nature than India, Egypt, Barbary, and Greece could bring him.
CHAPTER XV.
Concerning the Species of Vitriol and the Tests of
The
is
The tests
extracted.
First, if
it
it is
it is
But
considered.
this
is
the highest of
it
in
that in
tion
all
parts of the
we can
German
many
nation you
many
is
order to
it
to
kinds.
make copper
it
does
Secondly,
worms
better
simply fatuous.
more deeply
all
it
when
it.
it
is
out of iron.
From
this
itself,
so
power of transmuta-
unknown
to us.
It
and that these are not revealed by God because we are not worthy of
knowing them. Of course the change of iron into copper is not of the same importance as the change of iron into gold.
God manifests the lesser, but the greater is kept occult until the time of knowledge and of Elias who is to come. For
cannot be denied that
arts are
still
occult,
The
following
is
Take
Having continued the decoction for ten or twelve hours, then separate as much of the
and wash it carefully so that it may be quite clean. Receive the quicksilver in a bag
made of soft leather or cotton and squeeze it out. Then you will see an amalgam left. Let that amalgam expend
Of this copper take half an ounce and the same quantity of silver. Let
itself, and you will find pure and good copper.
them pass into a state of flux or liquefaction, and the silver will forthwith ascend to the sixteenth degree. And this is the
method of proving that such copper is made from iron. It is not, however, true that the grades are fixed. But whoever
can work well with regale will be abundantly rewarded. Everything in this operation depends on skill in working. This
By the above-mentioned process you can always make copper out of iron. I mention
is where most operators fail.
The nature of vitriol is such that if its colcothar be calthis to confirm the transmutation of one body into another.
passes
away
to the quicksilver.
quicksilver as
is left
from the
iron,
is
it is
also
considered to be as a medicine.
The more
copper.
should
be esteemed
it
third test is
when
perfectly
in
it
it
is
103
transmutes iron into
does
the better
this,
the greatest
affinity
between these two metals. Nor is this remarkable when by means of borax
water quicksilver is made in like manner from lead. There are other kinds of
cachimiae which convert metals
and besides these there is a fountain in
Hungary, or rather a torrent, which derives its origin from Vitriol,
;
nay,
its
whole substance
consumed and
once
reduced
the
to
fire,
best
A fourth
and bellows.
exhibits copper of
and
to
is
This
its
is
We
altogether coerulean
this
permanent
when
itself.
while
rust,
most
test is
That which
Vitriol,
is
turned
it
is
'
at
immediately
means
by
copper,
into
is
of
fire
comparatively
is
rust
weak
to
in
Medicine, but of
speak of
its
colours.
under the same colour has red and yellow spots mixed together. That which
is of a pale sky blue colour should be selected before all others for the preparof the green and the white
colour
is
gall nuts
it
preference to
all
the others.
The
to the tests.
CHAPTER
XVI.
in the
in Medicine.
the inordinate use of food or drink, exhibit crude Vitriol to the extent of six
To weak
patients
in distilled
it
wine.
should be
It
purges
remains, unless
you.
You
only
I04
Vitriol
up and down.
it
hellebore,
Neither
or Grilla.
Grillus,
In arcana
it is
nor
nor colocynth,
digridion purge so strongly or cure so perfectly as this, nor have they the
same faculty for driving out worms. For curing the falling sickness, too, the
purgation by Vitriol
from
its
account
call
it,
is
of
all
methods the
its
much
is
to say,
best.
its
acetosity
Its
but
its oil
may
and
De
mutation.
medical books,
Here
Naturalibus Rebus.
purpose.
what
it
Its
we had
intended
medicinal
the treatise
only
to
way
treat
of trans-
Although, then,
at the outset.
into gold,
first
an
grade of malignity
entitled
God
it is
we
not so
difficult
be performed
and
first,
that the greater ones should remain occult until the Elias of the Art arrives.
understood
in other
All arts
as
arts.
is
wooden spoon.
twelve hours
and
fresh,
stir
constantly with a
and also
Vitriol.
After
let
Mercury from the other part of the Iron which has not
and when the Mercury has been pressed out by a leather,
remain a paste of amalgam, and when this is reduced by fire it
been transmuted
there will
equal part of
to be
silver, six
Half an ounce of
this
is
at once
mixed with an
may have
made from Venus,
Vitriol is also
dissolved by
to copper.
Having
now
to
a stone of wonderful
pass on to Sulphur.
tint
CHAPTER
105
XVII.
useful in neither.
in
arcanum
Its
alone,
though
its
variety of sources
we
art.
It
has as
many
it
are
is
seen in
different virtues as
it
has
is
impurities, operates
in
crude form
As
said above, under the similitude of chestnuts and other nuts, that minerals
in their nucleus,
in their rinds,
is
it
is
of
it is
The
concealed,
lies
is
external
There
our mineral.
is
also a third kind, extracted from the nuclei of minerals or of metals, which
in the art
It
first Sulphur, which we have said to be a resin of the earth, as it were, the
mother and the father of other sulphurs, we name universal. The second
the
kind
where
is
it
bryonated
pure from
all superfluities, is
this
is
Animated Sulphur.
made
is
volatile
embryonated Sulphur
But sometimes
it is
it
its
nay,
it
fixes the
or volatile.
The
or a disease.
fire
which
extraction of the
wood
is
is
fortis,
the other
notice.
now em-
it is
all
gold
But gold
itself
This,
its
when
is
prepara-
fire in
it
it is
to
it
it is
shall
have previously
It
more than
another, as in
hand
him
first
of
remember and
to turn his
carefully note to
separate Sulphur of this kind from gold with the greatest activity, and cleverly
withal, so that nothing shall perish with the gold.
this,
God,
but
it
io6
come
fulfil
The
to mineral Sulphur.
They have
arranges
He
things.
all
summoned
has
joined to linseed
is
is
woman
with-
oil,
a certain form results in the shape of a liver or a lung, and from thence
afterwards a twofold liquid, one as white as milk, thick and oily
the other
on the surface.
floating
But any crystal or beryl placed therein at the proper tirne, and
least, is transmuted into a stone very like a
sufficiently tinted
The same
colour
is
inserted.
Luna.
is
it
placed
it
it
by Nature,
and
is,
in
also a
is
of Sol, though
most excellent
be placed therein,
If this
it
it
it
grows
black,
has arrived at
fection.
It is
tion
is
concerned.
so
much
it,
not of virtue.
This
oil
They have
metals.
all
failed
but
This,
it
however,
is
to set
down
is
intensely that
its
own body
Luna,
that
it
it
is
every quartation.
here the
its
natural
it
still
and beyond, so
remains constant and
too, exalts
will
from the
antimony and
fixed in
not
it is
[it is
it
is
with the
own
107
its
own
it
[sulphur], so that
does not
fix
it.
it
ment does not turn out as desired. It should be remarked, meanwhile, that
Sulphur demands a very expert operator, not a mere boaster or charlatan.
CHAPTER
XVril.
seems right
it
is,
with desire of gold, and a sort qf yellow dropsy, when they saw in arsenic the
white Tincture of Venus, and the red tincture in the calamine stone, believing,
white and
red
electrum were
when
name
the
ancients passed into oblivion, there has forthwith followed the ruin of those
* In this case,
also, the
Geneva
in
Arsenic A
it
stands above.
Concerning
forth
io8
who changed
name
that
its own
Would it
What
copper.
need
the copper in its own natural essence, to keep one's money, and devote time
and labour to a more useful work? The ancients called Electrum by its proper
name; the moderns falsely call it silver. The ancients were not losers, because
they knew the Electrum itself the moderns, because they have no knowledge
;
Now, since in
new
hope, it was
mistakes are constantly propped up with some
Arsenic by means of reverberations for some weeks, and by other
away
of Electrum, throw
Alchemy
tried to fix
Thence
devices.
but of no use
in
it
Alchemy except
it
happens that
in
its
for Electrum, as
Thus
and time.
all
own
all
It is
true
and that
this
and
tinctures.
means only
It
this
is
produced by
it
generally
was
is,
his operations
made with
persistent
it
good hope.
may
its
be, or
from
is
fragility.
There
is
no place
Moreover,
it
this
method
it is
its ore.
It is
nearly
many
Arsenic has been rendered like crystal, red and beautiful, like red glass for
By
his
Hence
may
process.
said.
it
investigations shall be
but
or
by some
similar
by another method of
is
some weeks,
its
by descent.
equivalent to the species already mentioned. Some
preparation, namely,
have precipitated it, and it has approached, or even reached, a red coloiu* and yet not all the operators in this way
have reaped the fruit of their labours or arrived at the result they contemplated, but only at the electric stage of it,
which, on account of their ignorance and inexperience, led many artists astray.
Wherefore it is necessary that everyHe who has not full knowledge and comprehension of all names
one in these things should be farsighted.
does nothing, and the heads, however full of brains, do not get at the foundation of the matter. One thing is wanting
to them for a foundation to know electrum and other substances when they see them. Then they understand of themNevertheless it often happens that arsenic is auriferous in its
selves whether they can progress with electrum or not.
Now, if an operator is skilled in separating gold from arsenic, whether by a cement or
nature, and contains gold in it.
by some method of projection, or by another process, so that he can reduce that gold to some metal, such as silver
copper, or lead, without doubt he will find it to be gold, and of excellent quality too. To follow this up so that a
;
whole matter
lies in
at least, nothing which it is lawful and expedient to make known, whether with reference to
I have put forward
medicine or to alchemical operations. Whoever has prudence ought to be sufficiently skilful for this purpose. If he
has it not, let him altogether abstain. No faculty can subdue itself but failiu-e must ensue if due order and a genuine
mode of procedure have not been preserved. You should follow the guidance of your own judgment. The man who
;
is
other substances.
or
its
in
what
it is
have
far, then,
advisable to write.
faculties,
which
is
Let everybody
109
of
first
Otherwise error
all
is
diligently
know,
examine
CHAPTER
XIX.
Concerning Quicksilver.
It
who
it
test.
make
and even
tin, lead,
iron.
In a word,
It is of
a wonderful nature,
shews
heaviest of
all
metals.
It
it
it
The
first
especially those
CHAPTER XX.
Concerning Cachimi.s; and Imperfect Bodies.
There
is
antimoniacs,
imperfect
arsenicals,
etc.
auripigments,
and derive
fly,
as
it
is
it
various talcics,
cobleta,
their origin
from the
first
three
is
etc.
all genera, whether you have regard to colour, brilliancy, form, or any other
For they are nothing else than the superfluity of metals, that is, matter abundant in metals, being
something which metals are unable to bear or contain within them, or convert into their own form. First of all, when
the salts are separated from Ares (the occult dispenser of Nature), a separation of metals follows. Out of these, firstly,
marcasite is produced which is unfit to become a metal, and yet in that matter it so resides that at first out of Ares
there grows that matter of the metals. And it is the first matter, consisting of three things, the spirit of salt, the spirit
of mercury, and the spirit of sulphur, hut in such a manner that these three are one. Of these all metals and minerals
consist.
These things being so ordered, Archeus (the occult virtue of Nature) institutes the first operation of metals,
But before he deals with the metals
so as to produce them and distinguish them into their forms and natures.
themselves, he ejects the superfluity which abounds in salt, mercury, and sulphur, and purges the three, after
which the superfluity emerges along a simple line into its own yliadum (chaos), and is at first divided into two genera,
marcasites and cachimiae
Here it is coagulated into a mineral, consisting of salt, sulphur, and mercury. Yellow
marcasite obtains its colour from the predominance of sulphur the white from the predominance of mercury. For
sulphur and cachimis acquire their colour from salt, for this is derived from the spirit of salt, just as gravity is
derived from mercury in all three. But if the separation be properly effected, each of the minerals, that is to say
mercury, sulphur, salt, settles in its own place.
Of these three all minerals consist. i?? Elemenio Aqua
property.
Tract III.,
c.
i.
1 1
different
if
killed
house and
in his
of consist
Others
belonging to
There are
this foe.
this
as all
in Salt,
talc.
many
purposes.
An
imperfect metal
is
made from
is
cobleta.
of a blacker
ultimate matter has not yet been discovered, nor the process of
There
no doubt
is
it
is
its
barely
it
separation.
the case in iron and steel, but these cannot be perfectly welded until
method of separation
zinchinum
Its
it.
is
There
discovered.
is
is
some
is
peculiar kind in
itself.
to be admired
and are
bear the
The
among
minerals.
called granates,
hammer
but
on account of
still
Many
Alchemy.
known
clear as crystal,
much
and there
is
Some granates
They con-
CHAPTER
XXI.
densest of
all
and
(though
white, yellow, and red inhere therem), Mercury a similar one, and Salt one
* As in the generation of marcasites, so in cachimise.
times mercury, sometimes sulphur, sometimes
salt, will
In marcasites sulphur and mercury prevail, as two very light things which
very heavy.
Ibid.
completely departs,
c. 2,
there
is
By
others fusible.
all
corruption
is
it
1 1
the rest.
Tin
made up of white fixed Sulphur and fixed Salt but of Mercury not fixed.
And because it is fixed in body, not in Mercury, it easily loses its metallic
fusion, the spirit passing away by the fire
and when this is absent it is no
is
This Sulphur
and
and
if
is
root,
is
made
This
is
is its
for
it
in its tree
is
the true
universal test.
Its
Mercury,
by Nature perfectly separated from all terrestrial and accidental supertransmuted separately into its mercurial part, and into extreme
and
that
vitriolic
it
When
all
it,
now
and transparency.
is
nourished in
its
tree as a
cow
in its pastures, or
an epicurean
in his
cook-shop
grows
And as some
and eating-house.
lean, and so is it with gold
it is
it
the gold are deteriorated or diminished too so that Nature's sum total of
twenty-six is reduced in Art to ten. The accidents, or rather the incidents, of
;
the stars or of the elements sometimes hinder the generation of gold, so that
But it is especially init becomes ruder and less tractable in its nature.
equality in the weights of the three primals which has
it
too pale.
plentiful supply of
With
Sulphur
too
it
eff'ect.
much Mercury
is
rendered red.
it
Too great a
grows yellow,
In Nature, just
much
as in the
work
In Sulphur nothing should be looked for but a body, in Salt confirmation, but
1 1
in
Mercury
anywhere
spirit
it
does therein
has departed,
powers,
else as
in
all virtue,
but
we
which, however,
rather as in
try to
remains of the
fire
are
esse,
because the
trinity acquires
a condition of unity in
it
found.
we
its
attracts the
weight.
is
its
it
tree,
spreading forth
first
from
when
is
the extremities of the twigs, but sometimes a hundred paces farther off in the
tree, occasionally in its
earth.
by
its
It will
superfluity
it
By
Salt,
its
diff"er
it
when
however, the
On
produced,
If,
is
is,
is
is
the
burnt up,
produced by the
into a metal.
the scoria
and
This
if it
be
will afford
no
steel
scoriae at
and
iron,
all.
and
can be separated in the same way, so that two different metals are thence produced.
Silver
is
Salt,
prepared and fixed to the highest degree of purity and transparency, next after
gold, in ashes, not in antimony, or in royal cement, or in quartation.
The
dif-
ference of fixation between gold and silver can easily be learnt by considering
that gold
is
masculine, and has the male virtues very strongly fixed, while
It
should be remarked, too, that metals are not always found with their mascu-
and feminine portions separated by Nature, as is the case witli gold, silver,
and steel, each by itself. Often the two are found together, as gold and
silver in one metal, also steel and iron together, or tin and lead, the one not
hindering the other, or being separated one from the other.
Sometimes two
line
iron,
adulterated metals are found, as gold and silver naturally mixed with others,
tree.
Conclusion.
fitting treatise
necessary in
on
order that
the' natural
it
might
be understood what
is
all
ought
those
who
is
meant by the
The opinion
So, then,
it
was necessary
to
IF so far as
is
relates to supernatural
aflfairs,
we
will
own
noblest of
treat
first
little
result
them
You
in
is, if
first
even though
patient.
it
be pre-
*
it is
tract belongs
more properly
to the section
inserted at this point for the further illustration of the subject of electrum,
which
is
So
far as the
its
praises in silence,
but since
its
we should
to pronounce an eulogium on
its
belief,
We will
made
consider that
1 1
If
it,
because
in
it
will
so
is
much
sympathy towards man through the force, efficacy, and influence of the planets
and the stars of Olympus, that for very pity, and as though in difficulty,
directly it is taken in hand it betrays the poison by breaking out into a sweat
and projecting spots.
For this reason our ancestors used to have their
drinking-cups, dishes, and other utensils made of the said material. There still
remain in our age many necklaces and ornaments, such as rings, bracelets,
remarkable coins, seals, figures, bells, shekels, made out of this, which of old
were hidden in the earth. When they were dug up nobody, or very few, understood them, and in their ignorance they gilded them over or tinged them with
It is just
silver.
it
it
cares nothing
Nature and such a great treasure of His own should be hid any longer, but
that what had been hidden by the more than Cimmerian darkness of the
We do not
sophists should now, after a long season, come to light again.
assume
The
ribald genius
of the
would
would be hurt the crowd of fools would
Over and over again we have
receive what we said with idiotic laughter.
been on our guard against scandalising this impious crowd so to avoid such
sophists
be offended, and
a result
that
it
will
we can
electrum
altogether pass
since they
Not, however,
shall be able to
speak the
more freely concerning them, without any suspicion that we are romancing or
making up a story. We have seen rings, for instance, which removed all fear
of paralysis or
their fingers.
These
If an epileptic patient
put such a ring on the third finger, even though he be so overcome by the
violence of the paroxysm as to be prostrated on the ground, he comes to himself
and gets
up.
Here, too, should be added something which we do not give from the
report of others, for the same we have seen with our own eyes and know by
forth spots
in
If the
in
appearance, as
we
shall
shew more
fully
ii6
Lastly,
electrum,
latent in
since
it is
it
in
favour of
There
is
make
and Chaldsea
If we sought to enumerate all
attempted and accomplished much by its aid.
the cases specifically, we should indeed enter upon a marvellous chronicle.
Not, however, to give any occasion of offence or allow persons to make a
us the more
easily
Magi
believe
Persia
in
The
in few words.
would not hesitate to proclaim me
Arch-Necromancer. But I cannot refrain from telling a miracle which I saw
in Spain when I was at the house of a certain necromancer.
He had a bell
weighing, perhaps, two pounds, and by a stroke of this bell he used to
summon, and to bring, too, visions of many different spectres and spirits. In
the interior of the bell he had engraved certain words and characters, and as
handle of
Sophists,
who
my
are
deadliest enemies,
desired.
midst
in the
many
this bell
spirits
appeared
was so powerful
and even of
in
any form he
that he produced
cattle,
whatever he
what
particualarly noticed
names and
this
over
and of
this
to impart to
At length
began
in silence here.
words
was
characters.
circumstance
man
this
to speculate
in
my mind ideas
into
me
which we
electrum of ours.
You
pass
will
will therefore
have no
this.
it
was composed
difficulty in believing
At
its
stroke
the
all
adulterers and adulteresses in the king's palace were so excited and alarmed
that suddenly, as
river.
Think not
if
struck with lightning, they rushed over the bridge into the
this story a
mere
fable
For
Nor
if,
as
you know to be the case, a visible man cart call another visible man to him by
a word, and force him to do what he wants when a mere word, without the
aid of arms, can effect so much, much more can it be that an invisible man
can do this, since he commands both the visible and the invisible man, not by
The inferior always
the aid of a word, but by the direction of his thought.
stands
him
in
the
light
of
superior,
and
to
a
subject.
obeys the
So, then, you
will easily come round to our opinion if you settle it that the interior or
invisible
man
in the senses
is
exterior, visible
by
celestial
impression as to
make
as
itself,
is
117
may be
so constellated
shewn
above mercury, so that the white fume of the mercury touch and penetrate
the body of the gold, the gold will be rendered fragile, and will melt with the
greatest ease like wax.
is
* Moreover,
operation,
and
the
altogether certain, and experimentally proved, that the mutations of time have singular force and
when certain metals are melted and elaborated together. Further, no one can
it is
Their
oils,
in nourishing
is
them
their
own, with
life,
How,
fresh
if
and
this distinction,
the sphere of the planets, the signification and formation of the characters, signs, and
manner have
its
own
force
and operation
And why,
And
Objectors
may
letters,
why
without the
who
signs or figures, and that none at least can compare in efficacy with the cross.
But how
is
it
Helvetia, Algovia, or Suavia, understands the Greek phrase Osy^ Osyn^ Osy, although in none of tliese countries
so
common
that
venomous
reptiles
can acquire
it ?
How is it
is
Greek
that, the
Lib.
VII
ii8
and Elyxeria
may
Many
quickly liquefy.
tinctures
[sic)
poses them to
assert that the
own
its
it
We
nature.
and that
resides in Mercury,
is
it
cannot be co-
in the fire.
Nothing
and unable
to bear the
Just as
so
it is
easy for a
spirit to
penetrate walls,
it is
How many
We
all.
But shall we send you away empty to
some other source? We know from experiment that if Mercurius vivus be
sublimated from some one of the metals which'has been several times calcined,
and if then the calcinated metal which remains at the bottom be again reduced
metals
to its metal,
it is
melted in the
much wax
or as
snow and
it
fire
if it
ice
as easily as lead,
though
it
were gold,
silver,
can be changed
into Mercury.
Afterwards by digestion
We
have mentioned
this
Time.
The
It is literally as follows
If you
is
entitled,
time.
of the Philosophers.
In this
way you
it
or seen by them.
and mystery of Nature, and
into the
get to
my
hands of
know
it.
may
fitly
is
But
know
at
and
price
its
now
in their
books
am well assured
does not
it
would be an indignity
value.
God
for
them
fall
to
It
We
It is
work
the outset.
the Mercury
it
which
since
this, yet
It will
is
We
adversaries
This
Mercury of Gold, of
Although
would have
it
we promised
of our electrum, as
according to the revolution of the heaven and the conjunctions of the planets.
These
Take
pour
done
the conjunction
up
in
hand
Then
moment
work
is
it
shall
have fused,
pour
lest the
at the very
into
fire,
you must
Mercurius vivus.
when
First,
smoke.
Let this be
of conjunction.
in
coagulated.
Then
Mercury or Saturn
the time or pass
it
is
by.
may
of conjunction
move
will
and
not be ignorant of
want be ready
moment
when
in the
to
hand as
moment
before
of conjunction,
fire,
At
and pour all into one crucible. When they have coagulated into one
body you will have three metals softer and more easily melting over the fire.
When they are united let it not escape your notice that in the very first place
Then notice when there is a conthese are to be dissolved and conjoined.
little,
Sol,
with
one of the three former, Saturn, Mercury, or Jupiter. Have all instruments
and materials ready. Let them be dissolved singly first then when liquefied
pour them into one at the very point of conjunction, and keep them. In a
;
now been
said.
BOOK THE
FIRST.
THE
generation of
all
natural things
is
twofold*
is
to say,
it
all
things
For putrefaction
to generation.
But putrefaction
For a constant moist heat produces putrefaction
and transmutes all natural things from their first form and essence, as well as
their force and efficacy, into something else.
For as putrefaction in the bowels
is
first initiative
all
all
also,
without the
belly,
essence to another, from one colour to another, from one odour to another,
one virtue to another, from one force to another, from one set of
from
daily
experience that
many good
For
it is
by
multiplied
putrefaction
first
is
putrefaction
essence of
all
regeneration and a
Since,
generation,
* There
is
then,
it
is
that
they
all
new
birth ten
putrefaction
in the highest
produce
things,
excellent fruit.
For
and the destruction of the
whence there
issues
forth
for us
the
first
step
and
commencement of
we should thorough!)'
is also twofold, as, for example, that of wood and other thin^^s takes
But the worms which destroy wood are the product of a monstrous sperm.
Hence there
Every sperm in living things has within it another sperm which is monis also a monstrous sperm in all minerals.
Parngraphoruvi Lib. II.
so
the
its
We
another.
grade and
first
the beginning of
moist and
is
putrefaction,
warm
constitutes
which procreates
Wherefore by and
eventually turns
You
out to be.
an example
see
in
Any man,
too,
quickened
is
to
And
noticed.
it
is
wherein
eggs,
all
putrefaction
in
in glass,
process.
this
one produces
is
to be
and then,
still
and
enclosed in
and
By
become a
restored, can
its
jar or receptacle.
which
clarification,
and restored.
This
is
This
is
so,
renovated
is
live, to
be renovated
this result
and impiety.
If
man have
still
it
man
its
womb, and
up there, then the seed necessarily putrefies, and, through the continuous
is born from it.
For alwa3's,
whatever seed is sown, such a fruit is produced from it. If this were not so it
shuts
it
is,
such
light of
is
it.
From
Whatever
an onion springs up, not a rose, a nut, or a lettuce. So, too, from corn comes
from barley, barley from oats, oats. Thus it is, too, with all other
corn
have seeds and are sown.
which
fruits
In like manner, it is possible, and not contrary to Nature, that from
;
woman and
man an
Neither on this
ation
is
122
woman
so active that in conceiving seed into her body she can transmute
is
ways
Wherefore an infant in
hand and under the
womb
during
is,
its
formation, as
much
in the
mother as clay
in the
But as you have already heard that many and various things are generknow that from different
who have
in
such as canker-worms,
in locusts,
many
tails,
It is
many
heads,
many worms,
too,
feet,
all
ful
like of
many
fishes' tails
born from parents unlike themselves, that are called monsters, but those which
a monster above
since a
man can
sesses a poison
all
others,
be killed
more
virulent than
others, with
all
which nothing
else in the
it
carries in
* Here, as elsewhere throughout his writings, Paracelsus lays special stress on the power exercised by the imaginIt is necessary that you should know what can be accomplished by a strong imagination.
It is the principle of
De Fesie^ Lib. I.
The imagination of man is an expulsive virtue. De Peste, s. v. Additanienta
all magical action.
The imagination dwelling in the brain is the moon of the microcosm. De Pesiiliiaie ^Tr&ct XL, c. 2,
ml.ih. I.
AH our sufferings, all our vices are nothing else than imagination.
De Pyromatitica Peste.
And this imation.
agination
heaven
it
penetrates and ascends into the superior heaven, and passes from star to star.
overcomes and moderates. .
.
Whatsoever there is in us of immoderate and inhuman,
is
such that
De
evil
This same
it
Peste^
itself
Addifamenta
imagination of a pregnant
on heaven, and,
II., c. 2.
is
in Lib.
this done,
I.,
Any
often impressed
Prol.
that is an
heaven has, on the other hand, the power of
So, also, a strong imagination is the source of
upon the
foetus.
an
by persistently thinking upon a wise and great man, such as Plato or Aristotle
a great musician, like HofiFhammer
or a painter, like Durer
Ceesar or Barbarossa
;
illustrious soldier,
;
so to
by the
such a woman,
such as Julius
plastic ten-
But
must be something also in the mother which
which she has imagined. Dc Origine Morborum Jnvisibiiium^ Lib. III.
and deform the foetus, and in this manner many wonders are produced, when there are no
it
all
talents
Ibid.
there
123
By her breath, too, as well as by her look, she affects many objects, rendering them corrupted and weak, and also by her touch. You see that if she
handles wine during her monthly courses it soon turns and becomes thick.
cure.
Vinegar which she handles perishes and becomes useless. Generous wine
its potency.
In like manner, amber, civet, musk, and other strongly
loses
smelling substances being carried and handled by such a woman lose their odour.
Gold, corals, and
many gems
basilisk how
But to
return to
my
that
be placed
in
as to wish to produce
even to take
and
once
it
in the
so
at
kill it,
much so
human
presence of
beings, unless
all
men.
It
it
them
be at once
should be known,
can only conjecture that they are shapen by the Devil, and born for the service
God since from no monster was any good work
his sons
sin,
when he
and
all
gouges out
their eyes, brands their cheeks, cuts off their fingers, hands, or head, so the Devil,
marks
too,
his
own
any member, or
Devil,
*
treatise
on
this subject
All
men,
For that
and a certain sign of hidden wickedness and craft.*
A special
follows.
less
is
a presage of the
and cognate matters is found elsewhere in the Geneva folio. It is, briefly, as
which are not products of the original creation, but are born from the
in the sea
124
some truth in this thing, although for a long time it was held in a
most occult manner and with secrecy, while there was no little doubt and
question among some of the old Philosophers, whether it was possible to
Nature and Art, that a man should be begotten without the female body and the
For there
natural
is
womb.
it is
this
is
in
perfectly possible.
man
In order to accomplish
it,
cucurbite v/ith the highest putrefaction of the venter equinus for forty days, or
until
it
begins at last to
it
will
be
live,
some degree
in
If
now,
like
human
after this,
it
and fed cautiously and prudently with the arcanum of human blood, and kept
for forty weeks in the perpetual and equal heat of a venter equtjius, it becomes,
thenceforth a true and living infant, having all the members of a child that is
This we call a homunculus and it
born from a woman, but much smaller.
;
grows up
and begins to display intelligence. Now, this is one of the greatest secrets which
God has revealed to mortal and fallible man. It is a miracle and marvel of God,
an arcanum above all arcana, and deserves to be kept secret until the last
should be afterwards educated with the greatest care and
zeal, until
it
Thus monsters are somesperm of fishes of unlike species coming together contrary to the genuine order of Nature.
times found in the sea exhibiting the form of man, which yet have not been generated ex sodomia from men, but arise
Even among men monsters are sometimes found that remind us partly of
by the conjunction of diverse fishes.
This is a repellent subject, but requires to be fully explained, that the first
a human being, and partly of an animal.
birth may be correctly understood.
The same also takes place in the sea.
There is, for example, the syren, of which
the upper parts are those of a woman and the lower those of a fish. This does not form part of the original creation, but
is a hybrid off"spring from the union of two fishes of the same kind, but of different forms.
Other marine animals are
also found, which, without corresponding exactly to man, yet resemble him more than any other animal.
However, like
the rest of the brutes, they lack mind or soul. They have the same relations to man as the ape, and are nothing but the
apes of the sea. As often as they unite, marine monsters of this kind are produced. Another such monstrous generation is
the monachus or monk -like fish. But there are many genera of fishes, and many modes of generation, which do not always
result from the sperm familiar or customary to them, but happen in various other ways.
For example, certain monsters
are drowned in the sea, and are devoured by the fishes.
Now, if a sperm, constituted in exaltation, were to perish by
immersion, and, having been consumed by a fish, were again exalted within it, a certain operation would undoubtedly
follow from the nature of the fish and the sperm, whence it may be gathered that the majority of marine animals which
recall the human form are in this manner produced.
Yet, having the nature of a fish, they live in the waters and rejoice
therein.
The marine dog, the marine spider, and the marine man are of this class. If they are generated in any other
way, it must be set down to sodomia- But there may be a third cause, namely, when spermatica of this kind acquire digestion, and by reason of this conjunction a birth takes place.
Monsters are likewise generated in the air, from the
droppings of the stars from above. For a sperm falls from the stars. The winds also in their courses bring many strange
things from other regions to which they are indigenous. The sperm of spiders, toads, and other creatures floating in the
air are resolved, and hence other living things are produced.
In this way grasshoppers and other monsters are begotten, their generation being of one only and not of two.
Such births are more venomous and impure than are other
worms. Therefore, houses ought to be scrupulously cleaned, or else so constructed as not to favour the accumulation of
much filth.
For the air is efficacious against seeds dispersed in this manner.
The earth is, however, the most fruitfu
matrix of monstrous growths. There the animals both of land and sea congregate.
The basilisk is generated from the
sperm of a toad and a cock. The sperm of the cock uniting with that of the hen produces an egg. But if the cock emit
his sperm without the hen doing likewise, the egg will be imperfect, and something will be generated unnaturally.
There is another kind of basilisk, produced h^ the union, sodfjipitice, of a cock and a toad. After the same manner
lizards unite with geckoes, and the copulation produces a peculiar worm, partaking of the nature of each, and known as
a dragon. The asp is another instance of this unnatural generation.
From all that has been set down we may
learn that whoever lives for his body alone is a basilisk, a dragon, and an asp, not, indeed, generated as yet, but meanwhile moving alive until he dies. You can now understand the abominable manner wherein unnatural monsters are
For if a man lives in sperm, his very sperms turn into worms, and remain worms, and in the day of the
generated.
resurrection shall they be buried in the deepest parts of the earth, over which shall walk those who have risen.
De
.
125
when there shall be nothing hidden, but all things shall be made manifest.
And although up to this time it has not been known to men, it was, nevertheless, known to the wood-sprites and nymphs and giants long ago, because they
themselves were sprung from this source
since from such homunculi when
times,
come
they
people,
manhood
to
who
their enemies,
acquire their
and know
all
life,
who
As by Art they
flesh,
is
no need
for
Here, too,
it
of Metals, -we will treat the matter very briefly here, and only in a short space
point out
Know,
then, that
all
Salt,
but with
and peculiar colourings. In this way, Hermes truly said that all the
seven metals were made and compounded of three substances, and in like
These three substances
manner also tinctures and the Philosophers' Stone.
he names Spirit, Soul, and Body. But he did not point out how this was to be
understood, or what he meant by it, though possibly he might also have known
I do not therefore say
the three principles, but he makes no mention of them.
distinct
that he
was
in error,
tinct substances
should be
may
Now,
in
soul,
and body,
it
known that they signify nothing else than the three principles. Mercury,
Mercury
silent.
is
between the
which indeed
is
is
all
For
is
the body.
The metal
Sulphur.
fire
but
all
these seven
The
* Elsewhere Paracelsus states that giants are born from sylphs, and dwarfs from pigmies. Of these monsters are
as, for example, nymphs and syrens. Albeit these are rare, they have appeared with sufficient frequency, and
produced,
doubt of their existence. /?^ Nytiiphls, Pygmiis, Salamandris^ etchomunculi there is also the following passage : Porro hoc etiam sciendum est,sodomQuod si in stomachum tanquam in matricem recipiatur, ex
itas hujusomodi sperma quandoque etiam in os ejaculari.
ipso ibi monstrum, aut homunculus, aut simile aliud generatur, ac inde morbi multi, iique difficiles surgunt, tamdiv
saevientes, donee generatum excernatur. Z?^ Homiinculis ft Monstris.
t As a sure and fundamental conclusion to those things which have been advanced, let it be notified to those who
desire to be acquainted with the true essence and origin of metals, that our metals are nothing else than the most potent
With regard
to the generation of
spirit,
oil,
still
combined
Paracelsus.
126
alchemist will more easily transmute metals than generate or make them.
Nevertheless, live Mercury is the mother of all the seven metals, and deserves
to be called the
contains in
and so
also,
fire it
to the earth
itself.
man
first
to the
womb
anew at the last day, so also all metals can return to quick mercury, can become Mercury, and be regenerated and clarified by fire, if they remain for forty
weeks in perpetual heat, like a child in its mother's womb. Now, they are
however,
born,
if,
not as
common
Luna
is
it
Luna.
understood of
all
medium
the only
will
Sol,
and
not
is
metals
And
things,
all
common
since Sulphur
it
must be
it
is
was
is
since
fire,
it
is
spirit
to be
itself
hastens
fire, it
therefore, be
for
metals to
all
manner
in like
which tinge
afterwards tinge
other metals.
on and prepares
but as metals
metals,
regenerated,
entirely
cannot,
It
and, in
fire,
it is
spirit of
Hold
gold.
this in
commendation as a treasure
for
making you
rich
and you
than
we
Con-
known
stated at the beginning concerning the metals, namely, that they are
produced, in like manner, from those three principles. Mercury, Sulphur, and
Salt,
though
in their perfection,
Salt, yet
still
but
with
The generation
of
gems takes
of the earth, from the clear and crystalline Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, also
know
minerals and metals, he should clearly vealise that they are not always to be sought in the
minerse, nor in the depths of mountains, because they are very often found
despised pebble
and Luna.
is
flint,
its
bowels.
For
De
So, also,
Contractvris^ Tract
easily,
and
common and
in greater
familiar
abundance, upon
this reason,
Chirrtrgia Minora
more
II., conclusion
own
distinct colours."*^
The generation
of
127
common
stones
For
all
stones are produced by the mucilage of water, as also pebbles and sand
same source
into stones/f
This
is
itself.
If,
The
in the
be
When
its
all
such a manner that hardness and very great transparency are 6rst prepared.
gems are afterwards developed, each according to its own form and essence. Very great subtlety and artitice
De Elemento Aqitte^ Tract IV., c. to.
The body of every kind of stone is sulphur, as that of metals is mercury. The hardness is from salt, and the
Hence
the
after
itself
now,
is
Salt.
Ihid.
c. 5.
BOOK
II.
is
fruitful
Nature,
who
rain,
and
by the Divine
Since, then,
by a prudent and
over to him as
if
subjected
by
is
fruit is
man
possesses this
same power
make
grow ?
The
them
own property, so that he might use them for
God
natural things
all
will
all
plainly demonstrated
rendered
is
all
increase and
all
Wherefore
endowed him, so
that all God's creatures are compelled to obey Him and to be subject to Him,
especially all the earth, together with all things which are born, live, and
move in it and upon it. Since, then, we see with our eyes, and are taught
by daily experience, that the oftener and the more plentifully the rain moistens
fowls of the
man ought
air,
to rejoice because
come
it
forth
God has
again with
and
let
say that
What
Wherefore
distillations,
humidity
its
while
ripen,
distillation,
For what
and glow of the
effect.
it
will
take place in
many
it is
possible
in all
minerals,
made equal
and
1-29
silver,
So, also, the Elixir and Tinctures of metals are matured and perfected.
^
grow,
none wonder
let
long time,
that, after a
and
grow
nails
nor
It
it.
all
things and
in the case
let
make them
of a criminal on the
this
is
natural causes.
many
and
talcs,
virtue, both in
antimony,
granites,
also
increase in
in body, if only
So
weight and
will
it
grow
The process
marvels.
regis so that
good and
it
fresh
is
as follows
in
is
Extract
it
Do
distillation as before.
this until
Alchemy you
This
may
will
This
Thus there
do what
different,
flint
its
again be extracted by
distillation, as
If
filled
means of Alchemy,
in
stone can be made, such as the Archeus of the waters could scarcely
many
glass.
make
in
years.
flint in
Golden
Repeat
produced
the
is
may be
is
call the
is
nothing
fire until
The process
Know
of
distilled water,
it
cucurbite,
full
in
art of
many wonderful
a cucurbite with
more ascends.
may have
all
fingers across.
in the
corals,
it
human
gems, pearls,
bismuths,
it
If
Though
this
may
be of no profit to you,
still
it
is
a very wonderful
thing.
III.
IN sary that
first
of
all its
so that
injury,
it
it is
may be
neces-
shielded
it
he
loss
Surely, no one.
It is
if
enemy ?
enemy should be known.
is
ignorant of his
good.
it
away, so there
is
one stone over against another, one mineral over against another, one poison
over against another, one metal over against another
other matters,
But
it
all
of which
that
many
many
flowers and
all fruits
All roots,
So also
new
is
be kept in
in
fruits,
it is
especially,
In
like
in water.
in water,
So
also
many
other
and blood, which very soon putrefy and become rancid, can
cold spring water
and not only so, but by the co-optation of
flesh
renewed and fresh spring water they can be transmuted into a quintessence,
131
and conserved for ever from decay and bad odour without any balsam. And
not only does this process preserve flesh and blood, but (so to say) it preserves
all other kinds of flesh and blood, and especially the body of man, from all
decay and from many diseases which arise from decay, better than the
common mumia does.* But in order that blood may be preserved of itself from
decay and ill odour, and not as a quintessence and in order, also, to protect
;
other blood,
Magna how
to
make.t
salt,
our
in
and so conserves the blood that it never putrefies or grows rancid, but remains
fresh and exceedingly red after many years, just as well as on the first day
which, indeed, is a great marvel.
But if you do not know how to prepare this
water, or have none at hand, pour on a sufficient quantity of the best and
most excellent balsam, which produces the same effect. Now this blood is the
Balsam of Balsams, and is called the Arcanum of Blood. It is of such great
;
Therefore
it.
you
may
and
shew
salts,
metals,
strong waters
all
their hostility
in
its hostility
by
its
all
is
smoke
by
for
it
its
corrosives
to nothing.
smoke
white.
all
aquae regise,
this circumstance,
sulphur shews
thing to learn
first
it
From
takes
all
Crude
away
the
white metals, as
them, or induces in
moreover,
the sulphur,
like
it
genuine
metals of their
robs
colour and
substitutes another.
with which
it
is
conjoined, in that
it
it
makes an amalgam from them. Moreover, its smoke, which we call the soot
it calcines them and
of Mercury, makes all metals immalleable and fragile
It is the chief enemy of iron and
whitens .all red and gold coloured metals.
;
According
to
one explanation
De Origine Morboruitty
Lib. II.,
Mumia
c. 3.
is
The
man
himself.
will find
this is
This process
will
is
Paraminim
De Origine Morhorum
Mumia which is man), and so
Mumia.
forth in potencies
Mumia
of
life,
K2
132
for
steel,
common mercury
if
with
anointed
and cut
mercurial
This
off.
In the
occult.
same way,
rod,
be
afterwards
can
it
steel
or
broken
be
rod
the
if
glass
like
strictly
too, the
exerts hostility on
it
common mercury
which
oil,
indeed
is
touches
touches, or which
is
oil,
or
only placed in Mercury, never afterwards attracts iron.* Let no one be surprised
at this
there
is
it,
in itself.
agreeing with
but of
its
own
nature.
This should be
known not
all
and
animals.
After this
it
should be
known
amongst each
and mutually hate one another from their inborn nature as you see in
the case of Saturn, which is the principal enemy of Sol, from its congenital
nature.
It breaks up all the members of gold, renders it deformed, weak, and
other,
hates
It also
tin,
and
erate, unmalleable,
it
an enemy of
is
hard and
all
unfit, if
it
it
in fire or
flux.
Since, therefore,
then,
learn,
it
and
all
loss
in addition,
it
be boiled
if it
is
guard
strengthen them in
renewed,
salt.
if it is
in
it
acquires
common water
or acetum in
In this
boiled
only
So,
also,
it is
afSrmed that
Morbis Amentium,
nothing
botin.
till
De
it
never rusts.
it
the
gem
oil
of salt, so
5.
c. 2,
133
it
it
become of a
green colour.
is its
and
in
damp
nature.
is
place,
better
than
If the
around them.
row
at the top
drops of olive
added, so that
to the top
may
be covered.
The
the top, and, in this way, will protect the liquid or the water a
No water
filled
all
or liquid,
if it
be covered with
way
also
In this
liquids, two wines, can be kept separately in one vessel, so that they shall not
mix
and
For
united.
As
oil
oil
the
still
more,
if
only
oil
be between
them
oil
from
fleas, lice,
to flight moths,
and bugs.
in water,
in the
ground, under the ground, or out of the ground, whether exposed to rain or
wind, air, snow, or ice, in summer or winter, and moreover, preventing them from
decaying or worms breeding
in
them when
felled.
The method
of conservation
fortis as will
is
it
is
completely dry.
'^^^^
134
of timber so that
it
may
This
oil.
is
may
Many
obliterated.
decay
oil,
so that
it
it
it
afterwards
can never be
masts of ships,
For
if
other like things which are being frequently used in water and rain, and would
similar things.
these five
enemy.
This
courses.
them,
in their virtue,
is
if
women
thick, beer
its acidity,
monthly
known
before anything
is
sulphur and
of sulphur, by
oil
is
in particular.
it
said specially
Moreover, the
means of which
all
is
in
The means
it
which
we wish to keep
know their chief
if
becomes
If
necessary to
is
it
noticed, under
are put
oil
of conserving beer
is
by
oil
of garyophyllon,
in,
if
a few drops of
Better
still
is
the
which preserves beer from acidity. The prethe oil of sugar, which must be used in the same way
of benedicta garyophyllata,
oil
The
preservative of vinegar
of almonds.
The
protects
touches
is
preservative of cheese
all
it,
is
no
worm
is
produced
in
oil
If
it,
it
and
enemy.
from
preservative, only
bread.
perishes entirely.
it,
If
it
is
its
made
BQOK
IV.
NONE
and substantial
But as to what
known
that the
invisible
there
is
as just
lives
of things
life
is
spirit
now
said, is
we
acts,
know
should
all
So
Absolutely nothing.
looked
worms
It
it is
its
spirit
for
its
it
under
For
own
spirit,
is
which
spirit
is
For
the body
in
alive,
is
death,
own body
it is
contains after
it
Hence
things,
all
and
spirit,
in
various ways,
bound up with
is
firmament.
which,
life,
also keeps
and
account
this
For what
itselfTj
an
essence,
On
spirit
for.
is
spiritual thing.*
it
itself
should be
it
spiritual
is,
spiritual thing.
as men, animals,
life.
and a
here
life
air of
own
it,
whence it
the higher and lower
its
place
as there are different kinds of bodies. [There are celestial and infernal spirits,^
human and
metallic,
spirits, spirits
the
of potables,
spirits
The
life
is
of the body
is fire.
Di-
arsenical
three principles
Ente Asirorum,
c. 6.
sulpliur,
There
is
salt,
a twofold
life
and balsam
life in
man
there
is
the
life
of the soul,
which proceeds from the nature of God but I speak here as a physician, and not as a theologian. There is also a life
of the animal kind, which is of air and fire, and the same is domiciled in the body, which is earth and water. So
In another sense the life of man is said
is man dowered with an animal and a sidereal life. -De Pesiiliiate, Tract I.
That
be triplex necrocomic, cagastric, and salnitric. But this has reference to the animal life only Liliur Azoth.
t
This life consists in four
which sustains the body is the life, but the life itself is from God, and not from man.
things ~ humours, complexions, natural species, and gifts or virtues. - De Generatione Homiuis.
;
136
of
corporeal things.
all
Now we
go on
v/ill
to its species,
and here
will
of each natural
life
thing.
The
then, of
life,
men
all
is
am
name
unable to
many
it
more
we
will
clearly,
although
Since, however,
distinctive titles.
could
it
names.
The
of metals
life
This
sulphur.
is
is
shewn from
on account of
their fluxion,
its
we
The
life
of mercury
to say, within
is
aptly to be
it
is
So
it
For
if
garment of
in
but
worn both
The
The
of
life
the water
is
it
if
in
it is
still,
in the cold
As
it
is
with mercury.
of sulphur
life
it
in
is
skins, so
That
in this respect
frigidity.
and
is
it
within,
causes cold
it
all
to a
compared
all
hidden fatness.
its evil
is
odour
all salts is
it
may be
Whilst
it
fortis
for
when
is
called
flames
said to live.
spirit of
aqua
dead earth.
The
gems and corals is mere colour, which can be taken from them
The life of pearls is their brightness, which they lose in
their calcination.
The life of the magnet is the spirit of iron, which can be
extracted and taken away by rectified vinwn ardens itself, or by spirit of wine.
The life of flints is a mucilaginous matter. The life of marcasites, cachy-
by
life
of
spirits of wine.
mias, talc, cobalt, zinc, granites, zwitter, vismat (rude tin), is a metallic spirit
the
power
salt.
The
flesh
and
bloiid of
Chirtirgia
is
members, and
Magna,
Lib. V.
Of
to tinge.
life is
arsenicals, auripigment,
the marrow, in
the
this
balsam
The
is
the
bal.sam of
body of
man
exists
etc.
The
animals,
life
is
The
their strong
and
this is lost
The
men and
is
If
itself.
like, is
of
life
odour
dung
to say, of the
is
When
fcetid smell.
i2i7
life
taken away by
distillation,
The
gum,
life
They
glittering fatness.
all
a mucilaginous,
is
The
else
life
is
nothing
if
they are
The
is
of
life
wood
a certain
is
that
is
deprived of resin
The
life
of bones
is
the liquid of
spirit of salt,
of water
is
life
it,
When
ice,
life
of
fire is air,
extinguish a candle or to
therefore,
must be
life
is
it
then
if it
lift
it is
Some
air
ill
is
odour and
this to
The
be known.
dead, and
all
is
flowing.
its
The
mumia.
is
Any wood
resin.
makes the
is
in
fire
proceeds from
a light feather, as
blaze
more strongly
to
All live
its
air,
suffocated.
The
however,
air lives of
is
itself,
of itself dead
and gives
but
its
life
own element
is its
invisible
The
earth,
and occult
life.
BOOK
V.
THE
death of
natural things
all
is
known
retain
that
little
many
things which in
life
different nature.*
For
their
it
should be
own
virtues,
or none of that virtue when they are dead, but appear altogether
So, on the other hand,
new and
many
things in their
are
life
but in death, or after they have been mortified, they display a manifold
power and
efficacy,
but that
this,
see that
and
it
We
could recount
many examples of
may
my mere
plausible, but
experience,
quiet
is
well that
is
opinion,
however
from
who
my
will
this
how
mines, that
is,
and
tardily
still
For look
small
is
their virtue,
But
if,
resolved,
is, if
and turned
the
Mercury be coagulated,
into oil
how
more
lightly
evil
than
by the industry of a
prepared (that
at Mercury,
and prudently
precipitated, sublimated,
speak or write of
it.
For
Death
nor
faithful
are contained,
139
physician, ought to seek into these three things during his whole
life,
them.
his
all
pastime
his
in
and even
labour, study,
Most
and
expense.
But
come
us
let
and
to particulars,
fication of
mortified.
First of
all,
and the
spirit,
is,
and
in
it
what way
man,
it
is
should be
it
is
air,
to his mother's
womb. For
which he
death
and morti-
its
in
to
Him by
night.
as Christ
flesh,
For, as
we
said, these
structure,
by
salt,
the metal
formed into
is
fortis,
and precipitated
about thus
plates, stratified
when
is
the metal
is
therein.
let
is
brought
an earthen vessel, narrow at the top but broad below, and afterwards set on
a moderate coal fire, which should be blown a little until the mercury begins
smoke, and a white cloud issues from the mouth of the vessel. Then let
the plated metal be placed on the orifice of the vessel. Thus the common
to
let
the mercury
know
many
and
cinnabar
is
is
mortified copper
mortified mercury
mortified lead
all
lazurius
is
all
you must
For instance,
steel is
life,
all
it
should be
known
that
all vitriol,
mortified silver.
So, also,
all Sol,
from which
is
its
dead.
140
because
it
is
silver.
But now
the metals
that
it
let
brought about.
is
vinegar
made from
become very
and
First of
all, it
should be
distil
When
red.
way
This
is
most
the
making
a dry pov/der.
steel,
wine.
in the
There
is,
however,
of
the Crocus of
from the
plates.
In the
fortis, it
oil
ammoniac, water of
salt nitre,
the
it
to a crocus
The
sublimated mercury,
all
medicine
steel
Such
is
and reduce
if
compared with
Alchemy and not in
to be
first
it
rest.
ways and there are various proand more useful than another.
Wherefore it will be well to make a note of the best and most useful, and to
say nothing about the others. The best, easiest, and most reliable method of
reducing copper to vitriol is as follows
Let plates of copper be smeared with
water of salt or of saltpetre, and hung or exposed in the air until the plates
begin to become green. Wash off this greenness with clear spring water,
dry the plates with a rag again smear the plates with water of salt or saltpetre, and again proceed as before, repeating the process until the water
brass, can also be accomplished in various
is
better
becomes quite green, or sends forth much vitriol to the surface. Then
remove the water by tilting the vessel, or by drawing it off, and you will have
an excellent medicinal
vitriol.
is
is
made by aqua
no more beautiful,
fortis,
or aqua regis,
leaden plates.
entirely
you cannot
Water
fail
hare's foot, or by
is
vitriol,
such as
to admire.
of saltpetre
is
made thus
it.
Afterwards dissolve
it
water of saltpetre.
Water
ammoniac and
resolve
In order to
of sal
ammoniac
is
a case on marble.
We
made
This
is
as follows
water of
sal
Calcine sal
ammoniac.
verdigris
itself in
in
it
make
141
two
The
Take plates of
copper, and smear them with the following compound
Take equal
quantities of honey and vinegar, with a sufficient quantity of salt to make the
three together the consistence of thick paste.
Mix thoroughly, and afterwards put in a reverberatory, or in a potter's furnace, for the same time as the
fold
for Medicine
for
Alchemy.
potter bakes his vessels, and you will see a black substance adhering to the
Do
not let this circumstance cause you any anxiety or detain you at
you suspend or expose those plates in the open air, in a few days
the substance will turn green, and will become excellent verdigris, which may be
plates.
all
for
if
and
is
highly esteemed by
first
all
And
physicians.
becomes green
in the
air,
a beautiful green.
duced, though, for the most part, they flow from the blackness of dead earth.
You who
cerulean
sometimes mingled, as
in the
All
tail.
For
in
the death of
changed from
natural things
all
new
colours appear,
Moreover, we
and properties.
dedicate to Alchemy.
will
The process
of
preparation
its
them out
fire,
tile
is
as follows
tile
nature
we
Form
break the
own
that which
with a strong
air,
Then take
adheres to them, for a few days, and the matter on the plates will be converted into most beautiful verdigris, which in all strong waters, in waters of
gradations, in cements and colourings of gold, tinges gold and silver with a
deep colour.
But
in
may become
cbs
ustum, which
let
is
copper be formed
142
smeared with
into plates,
put on a large
with a strong
still
fire,
salt
tile,
may not
solved
half an ounce
a pound of vinegar.
in
them
off
in
Then
let
Keep doing
this until
distillation, or let it
dis-
by
melt.
let it
coagulate into a
very hard stone. Thus you will have the crocus of copper used in Alchemy.
Many persons commonly make ces ustum, .or the crocus of Venus, from
Venus by the extraction of alcohol (others of vinum aceti), like the crocus of
Mars but I much prefer this method.
The mortification of Mercury, in order that it may be sublimated, is
brought about by vitriol and salt. When it is mixed with these two and then
;
sublimated
it
becomes as hard as
crystal
In order that
extracted from
it
five times,
Sweeten
red colour.
in the fire
this precipitate as
burns
more
it
much
as possible
and
finally distil
it
tate of Mercury.
Mercury.
by
distilling
it
until the
is
altogether sweet,
wounds and
principal
arcanum
that no
for all
despondent alchemists.
For
much
for these
labour and
toil
and returns
to
gain from
sufficient
any kind.
You
it
it
it is
gold
may
ulcers
;
and the
and
it,
it
it,
and
Although,
compensates
Moreover, you get
it
the
is
insomuch
moreover, brightens up
an augmentation of Sol,
is
This
Gallic disease,
to
artifice of
me
is
Fragmenta
is
Medica,s,. v. Annolationes in
All
cavernous ulcers (except those of the eating and spreading kind) are completely cured by its use. But
experience
oil of argent vive, when outwardly applied, has much greater efficacy.-Z>s
Tumoribus.etc.
X.
The
Morbi
it
to be ignorantly confused
with the
ruddy powder into which the sweet balsam of mercury is reduced when it is prepared without sublimation or calcination
by
Precipitated mercury of the metals is the reduction of the
means of the water of eggs. -/ii'rf.
metals into their first
matter, which afterwards is deposited below, -Chirurgia Magnit, De Tnifostnmis in Mario Gnllico, Lib. II.
143
But in order that Mercury may be calcined, I have already said that
must be done in sharp aqua fortis, which must be abstracted by
distillation, and the precipitation is made.
But in order that Mercury may be
for
it.
this
Reduce
it
of
first
all
to a white
mortify
it,
and liquefy
The
is
it
it,
with salt
it,
a cucurbite
in
it
customary.
is
Thus
as hard as haematite.
may be reduced
to white lead,
The preparation
of
may
that no spirits
behind the
fire.
is
as follows
ammoniac must be
warm
escape.
is like
sufficient
it
must
jar, stirring
is
first
it
to
tin or lead,
make
it
made up
The
other,
which dealers
grows
sell in
will
or for
a glazed
This minium
red.
in
Medicine as
the shops,
is
of no
lead ore,
we wish
well as in Alchemy.
It is
if
way you
In this
use.
But
The other
cerussa.
and replace
foot,
it
Such minium
is
useful
only for pictures, but neither for Medicine nor for Alchemy.
In order to reduce lead to a yellow colour a process
Afterwards
fire,
careful
The
may
In this
way you
will
it, is
stirred
Otherwise
it
lest
the heat
be produced from
required not
must be
it
is
some
similar substance,
into plates, mixed with Mercury, and suspended in a glazed jar over the best
it
sal
ammoniac and
wipe
off'
In
calcined tartar.
all
Afterwards dissolve
will
have the
you
* The physicians of Montepes'sulano and Salerno committed the error of supposing that cinnabar was different from
Cinnabar i
mercury, when it is clear that they are the same. De lutnoribits, eic,^ Morbi GalHciy Lib. I., c. 8,
gXtracted from Saturn and Mars by means of mercury. /^/*f. Lib. IIL, c, 7.
,
44
We
do not deem
gold so that
quintessence,
it
may
resin,
it
be reduced to
crocus,
its
and sulphur.
vitriol,
we have
we
will
in the
the
of Sol,
resin
impart here.
means
the least
Take two or
Crocus of
the
Sol.
of Sol* and
among such
In order to
secrets,
extract vitriol
from
Sol, proceed
thus
three
verdigris from the plates of copper, the cerussa from the plates of Saturn,
enough of
some
it
you have
therefore,
Then
vitriol.
When,
sort of spatula.
all
same preparation.
continually with
with other
Luna
is
taken away,
rises
it
up
So also proceed
evaporate
that
rain
in a damp place.
In these two arcana,
and the sulphur of gold, a diaphoretic virtue
is
However, we
is latent.
have
sufficiently
will
them
indicated
the
in
we
elsewhere.
The
fcetid fatness,
way
and reducing
it
to a fixed substance.
away
This
is
its
combustible and
accomplished
in the
following
colour, with
sulphur.
antimony.
Then
it
will
become, at
in
first
Artificial acids are from the minerals of metals and cognate substances.
is really vitriolated copper of Venus.
For copper is vitriol.
vitriolated acid
But note
liere that
what
is
usually called
therefore,
...
c.
16
When
as cinnabar.
you have
body
it
is this
tinges into
it
for
is
it
into
its
rejoice
Of so great virtue
health.
The
mortification of
removal and
earth, or caput
The
all salts,
for
and whatever
is
of a salt nature,
distillation of their
is
the
and besides of
part,
if
mortuum.
gems and
mortification of
in that
it
145
corals
is
The
mortification of pearls
that they be calcined and resolved in sharp vinegar in the form of milk.
The
mortification of the
or touched by
The
The
common
mortification of flints
Then
vitriol.
is
no
is
be smeared with
it
It
attracts
no
oil
of mercury
iron.
calcination.
is
sublimation, that
their
life,
which
Is,
is
spirit of salt.
may
wherein
and stones
and antimony,
zwitter, vismut,
that
is
Afterwards
mortification
with the
magnet
mercury.
be removed from
It,
and you
will
virtue.
fixed.
The
The
is
a coagulation of the
air.
is
good
odour.
The
is
The
reduced to
The
oil
and
turpentine,
gum
is
their being
oil
and water
or varnish.
shall be distilled
is
that their
and afterwards
The
The
The
The
woods
is
mortification of bones
is
their calcination.
mortification of
mortification of flesh
water.
all
Thus you
is produced by fire
for the heat of fire
So the mortification of fire is by water
will set
fire
it Its
natural things
how
force
and
dries
up
for the
eff'ectlveness.
how death
is
latent In
nature, as also
we
is
mortification of water
and consumes
all
and blood
BOOK THE
SIXTH.
THE
resuscitation
important
in the
is
human and
natural.
would, however,
my
to
judged), as
that
same
most
my
fixed opinion, as
so that
may
whom
lies
am
and mis-
constantly
if I
careful observation
violent or spontaneous.
Do
is
From
twofold, that
to say,
is
and restoration
Nature according to
is
its
own
its
own
is
great.
It is
indeed
predestination,
God
it
mountain
itself
there
"
to you."
But
let
What
is
the difference
between
dying and being mortified, and from which of these conditions is resuscitation
possible ? The matter is to be understood thus.
Whatever dies by its own
nature has
its
147
dispensation of God arranges. But this, too, happens from different diseases
and accidents, and herefrom there is no resuscitation, nor is there any preservative
which can be used against predestination and the cognate end of life. But
human
conserves other
life
to die
affected
it
which
dead, and
is
but has
life,
itself.
is
is
a balsam
also, indeed, as
dead
is
consumed with
latent,
is
bodies.
the greatest
is
is
mortified.
and
its
cause,
know
scoriae.
its
own
metal.
this
and more
especially does
capable of
flux,
Hence
them.
it
it
all
The
fluxion.
retains
its
resin
which of
its
own
still
and more
less fatness
is
and
lime
is
its fluxion,
special nature
is
volatile.
little
depends upon
it.
Among sham
prevalent.
is
when given
out per
to
anum
men,
is
the bowels,
is
it is
and
in the
or else by
incrusts
and clogs
reduced, so that
diseases,
it
and
Sol,
bowels, or passes
L2
148
as with Sol, so also in the case of other metals, you should take no
And
arcanum or medicament
metallic
Wherefore the
first
it
into the
Aurum
Potabile
this
is
becoming
Jupiter, Saturn,
But
and
who
are
all
born
and are
dead,
and
not dead
by illustrations and by
to prove
are
Mars,
Luna, Venus,
potable
and Mercury.
continue
Just as you
and inseparable.
volatile
and
resuscitated
You
rule.
vitalised
by
vitalised
first
compelled to
the
horrible
awakened by a shout.
So the lions are stirred up not that they are sleeping in the same way
for one who sleeps a natural sleep would necessarily wake but this is not
the case with lions.
Unless they were stirred up with this noise they
Hence it is
would remain dead, and life would never be found in them.
noise of their parents, just as a sleeping
person
is
same thing
see the
putrefaction, like
in
flies,
life
which,
warm
produced from
But
if
If
this
former
life,
it
whole serpent
life
So you see
You
by that noise.
if
dead.
vitalised
all
in the
and are
in the
the
fishes.
Now, if these little worms are as they ought to be
brought out by putrefaction and nourished, more than a hundred serpents
will be produced from the one, any single serpent being as big as the original
spawn of
one.
And
serpent, so
resuscitated, recalled,
and restored.
By
this
process,
but the experiment did not turn out according to their intention and
was
it
unsuccessful.
Let us, however, pass by these examples, and come to the practical
method of
It is
human
bodies.
Know,
too,
first
is
matter.
The former
then,
is
body
the
a reduction to
Calcine a metal by
means
Concerning
oi
th.Q,
Put
fuligo Mercurii.
Nature of Things.
the
this calx
and a
149
into
Metcitrius vivus,
and
that
let
is,
into
have found
So
it.
is
its
This
matter.
first
Many
vivus from
all
the
called
is
it,
but few
metals, namely,
The
distillation in retorts.
up with
raises
may
it
should
first
resolve from
itself in
it
is
brought about
of
all
if
It is
and
hot water.
it
boiling water,
in
If,
vitriol,
be repeated seven
this
or nine
times,
it
be
will
and renovate
it
never be revivified.
will
as you
Sublimate
it,
therefore,
it
be sublimated
it
The
may
aurum musicum,
or precipitated
is
effected as
make
At
pills,
its orifice
fastened with
The
Distil
little
resuscitation
fire,
holes,
and
so that
be
let it
may
it
fall
vivus.
is
difficult
and arduous
and
method of its revival Take wood which has
been first of all carbon, then ash, and place it in a cucurbite with the resin,
Let them be mixed and
liquid, and oil of its tree, the same weight of each.
Then there will be produced a mucilaginous
liquefied over a gentle fire.
possible, indeed, but not to be accomplished without exceptional skill
industry.
The following
is
the
matter, and so you will have the three principles together from which
are born and generated, namely, phlegma,
fat,
and
ash.
all
things
The phlegma
is
50
is
ash
all
place
it,
will see
burnt
is
Sulphur;
If
it
Salt.
in
respectively.
you
Salt.
is
them
fire is
is
which, indeed,
is
in its
nature
little
soil,
is
really
nothing
something
eflncacy
than
it
which afterwards
had been at
we may speak
that
taken from
it
make
to each thing
and separated
specifically here
so
these things
things.
we
is
much
nobler in
its
virtue
and
its
first.
this
resuscitation
in mortification.
It is difficult to
explain this
more
BOOK
VII.
we
IF just
and necessary
is
in
all
natural objects,
and before
all else,
it is
we should
it is
own
form, and
is
so changed that
bears no resemblance to
it
its
its
anterior shape,
but assumes another guise, another essence, another colour, another virtue,
as
if
if
wood becomes coal if clay becomes stone and slate hide, glue
All these are transmutations of natural
rag, paper
and many such things.
After this it is most necessary to know the steps to transmutation,
objects.
For although some
how many there are. There are not more than seven.
stone or
persons reckon a greater number, there are, of a truth, only seven principal
steps
They
seven.
may
be included
among
Coagulation, Tincture.
If
The
first
many
will arrive at so
Among
as relates to Calcination.
is little
is
difference so far
for
reverberated
glasses,
in
and
a naked
*
One
of the
or cemented.
all
By
Calcination
fire,
Fragmenta Medica
contained in the
first
metals,
Alchemy
to understand calcination
the
it is
minerals,
;
and
By means
air.
all
folio,
therein.
for the
done
of this
when explaining
eminently necessary
stones,
this is
all
the process of
physician
who
con-
152
we
to lime, as
Sublimation*
many
of
matic and
and
but
all
respectively.
is
Under
natural objects.
Fixation!
is
For, as from
it is
vs^atery objects,
water ascends
in distillation,
and
all
and
phleg-
separated from
is
its
the spiritual
is
For
found
in
in
minerals,
which
fixed
its
way
own
be repeated until
let this
and wonderful
virtues
is
many excellent
and many things are
Sublimation
Let
dregs.
it
sublimates no
it
longer, but
sour or bitter
it
whilst
many
made sweet
may
an
stone in the
tions in
may be coagulated to a
one of the greatest and most complete transmutanatural objects, namely, to transmute a metal into a stone.
oil in
all
Here
as sugar.
brought to a state of
afterwards be dissolved into
is
This
fire.
air,
and, contrariwise,
is
The
when you
Solution, however,
fire,
corrosives,
be
is
it
twofold
fire.
The
resolves into an
oil,
it
is
often acquires
which
is
in
all salts,
place in a
may
damp
marble or glass.
For
quality there
and assumes
in
Subhmation or
is
Distillation.
And
everything
fire
changed
By
sublimation the lower minerals are separated from those elements which are the source of their poverty
and
many other virtues. For example, the sublimation of quicksilver has
this operation, that even the air in its vicinity has a recreative effect.
For in the air permeated by mercury all the virIn like manner, the sublimation of arsenic releases a fervid spirit into the
tues of mercury are present.
*
atmosphere
which cures quartan fever and other acute diseases. Z>^ Morbis Metaiitcis^ Tract III., c. 5.
\ Exaltation, conjunction, opposition, and kindred processes are not materially performed, but
is
altogether spiritual.
Paramirum^ Tract
III.,
c. 6.
after
a mode which
bodies
fire
is
not
fire.
dissolved in
fire,
Thus, and
Putrefaction*
first,
which
lies
and by
and sulphurous
itself
chamber
a corrosive
fire.
its
no other way,
dissolve.
dissolves,
and
So whatcold, but
Solution to be understood.
is
Circulation.
stand
is
in
air
ever
all fat
153
only that would be contrary to the just order and to the mystery
is
known
to very few.
follow one another in turn, as has been said, like the links in a chain, or the
rounds of a ladder.
For
if
And
so, too, if
one of
renders them soft and sweet, transmutes their colours, separates the pure from
the impure, and places the pure higher, the impure lower, each by
Distillation
Under
it
is
the
fifth
all
itself.
natural objects.
By
Fixation.
extracted from
substances the
oil
and
oils
all liquids,
by Cohobation, especially
this is fixed
it is
oil is
called colcotar.
Alum,
if it
is
own
When
water,
is
generation.
By
in
Digestion
a substance
is
is
I.
its
essence, as
this difference, that the earth separates nothing, in the sense that
it
it
was
created.
is
In so far as
it
and augments by the power and ministry of the stars. There is no excremental separation,
Yet this is not precisely a deprivation of the earth,
but there is a separation of seed into salt, sulphur, and mercury.
because the earth contains in itself salt, sulphur, and mercury. The earth, moreover, requires no nutrimental support after
The earth
the manner of human beings, but the seed is sown in it just as the male seed is sown in the female womb.
generates, augments, and multiplies by means of its own indwelling Archeus. De Pestiliiate, Tract II.
digests, putrefies, generates,
154
This, too,
called Zuccari.
is
be putrefied for a
if it
month
it
And just
Metallic Diseases.*
salt nitre
The process
with
own
its
Moreover,
in
again drawn
is
Distillation.
by means of
off'
Distillation
Many aromatic
oil
of vitriol or vinegar, or
Many
it
excrementitious things
And just
as Sublimation alters
Coagulation
is
There
is,
Each of
fire.
these, again,
by
two by
common
air,
or without
fire.
and
by
is
fire is
fixed
produced by the
mineral
fire
one of the
another of
air,
Another
all
is
The Coagulations by
fire.
One, indeed,
and graduated
artificial
Another Coagulation
is
produced only
and permanent.
becomes permanent.
is,
is
that
is
ice.
The Coagu-
fire
of the alchemist,
fire
coagulates, that
in
and whatever is
and graduates in much the same way as the alchemist
coagulated by such a fire is also fixed and constant, though originally its
;
But
it
work
and
it
is
it
it
all
fire
natural things.
was
flints,
originally
For
this
reason no phlegm
a corporeal matter,
whereto,
fire,
be
coagulated into a body and corporal material, but cannot again be resolved
Medicines are therefore chosen which are free from coagulation, such as alum, in which humidity and coagulation
exist.
If these two be separated one from another, the quality withdraws into one place, and the element,
simultaneously
in like
also consists in
its
its
excoction, and
is
most akin
when
it
to the
element of water.
its
it
passes into
pure and proper element, despoiled, however, of its medicinal arcana. But alum does not suffer this privation. For
water alone prevails against the microcosmic fire.
Whence the matter stands thus, that the aquosity must be separated
its
from the alum, and must be rectified therein till it is almost like sugar.
The dose is one scruple.
If the symptoms of
the elementary disease again present themselves, they must be again extinguished as before.
There are many such
arcana, which
II.,
Tract IV.,
c. 6.
it is
in this
place. ZJ^
And
into water.
155
know
also
water unless
it
originally
is
is
mineral
all
substances.*
Tincture
work
of our
all
transmutes them into their noblest essence and highest state of health, and
Tincture, therefore,
is
a Tincture.
word, of
all
no longer
like
human
minerals,
it is
For
or material which
is
if
the tincture
is
was
it
oils, salts,
fire,
all
is
with another
it
before,
tinctures, that
a state of fluxion.
what
may
be called
to say, of metals,
substances
fat
in
to tinge,
it is
and
in
a state of flux
For
for
would be just as
though one were to cast saffron, or some other colour, into coagulated water
or ice it would not tint the ice so quickly with its colour as if one were to put
And, although it might tinge the ice, it would at the
it into other water.
same time reduce it into water. Wherefore, metals also, which we wish to
tinge, must be liquefied by fire, and freed from their coagulation.
And here
it
it
should be
known
that the
more
more
rapidly
the tincture runs through them, just as fermentation penetrates the whole
mass and imparts acidity to it, and the better it is covered up, and the warmer
mass is kept, the more perfectly it ferments, and the better bread it gives
is a Tincture of the farinaceous mass and of the bread.f
fermentation
for
the
From a
* All created things proceed from a coagulate, and afterwards this coagulate must pass into a liquid.
then, all procreated things proceed, whether these be liquids or solids possessing a defined shape.
solid
same with
all
For example
other substances.
salt,
liquid,
Further, the
when
it is
Moreover, no solid
dissolved
is
so com-
it
other.
from God.
De
FestlHtate, Tract
I.
156
It is also to
than their
in
liquid, of
is distilled
just as
that
is
kindled, so,
and
commonly
is
dis-
would consume
it
all
if
little
of
it
fluxible,
and incombustible,
float like
oil
if
as vinum ardens
distilled,
it
will presently
metal as
is,
in the
case of
Luna and
the Tincture
is
Sol.*
lastly,
evolved,
fixed,
colour.
supreme
state of health,
and
diseases
may
powers and colours may be restored, and they themselves invigorated and
renewed are these
Gold, pearls, antimony, sulphur, vitriol, and the like,
lost
we
give in
many
other books, so
it
But concerning Tinctures nothing more need be written, seeing that every
extracted colour
may be
a per-
manent colour things which do not enter the fire, or keep their colours fixed
All these things are in the hand and power of the dyer or the
in the fire.
painter, who prepares them according to his own pleasure.!
It is especially necessary, too, in this book to know the degrees of fire,
which can be graduated and intensified in many ways, and each degree has its
own peculiar operation, while no one gives the same result as another, as
every skilful alchemist finds from his daily experience and the practice of his
art.
One is the live flaming fire which reverberates and calcines all bodies.
is
to
When,
is,
is
accomplished,
twenty-four, for
it
we must immediately
'
Part
II.,
Tract
III.,
c. 2.
fire
com-
and of fire.
The ancient artists marvellously wearied themselves at conjoining
they anticipated a medicine in their almost sacred conjunction, but all in vain.
Ibid. c.
fire,
for
is
Another
is
the
fire
the coal
157
volatile bodies.
all
fire,
Another
the metals.
all
the
is
of an ignited
fire
iron plate, on which the tinctures of metals are probed, which also
for other purposes.
in
which many
yet another
in another,
way
and
fire,
concerning which
table.
all fat
balneum maris, by
in another, the
roris, in
and
place,
way
fire
and
operation
its
virtue
By
by means of
fluxible things
all
it
metals
Art,
another
in
and displays
In
Of so wonderful a
useful
on a
is
produces heat,
shewn by a mirror, or
effect,
alkali) of iron
{i.e.,
is
ashes
distillations, sublimations,
also
their
graduates more highly Sol and Luna, takes the whiteness from Venus,
scoriae,
fire, I will,
Before
of various
secondly, of stones
The transmutation
hindrances and
difficulties.
God, as many
Yet
But
falsely say.
of metals, then,
difficulty,
five
what we
But since we
the great
metals, Sol and Luna, you must have the Philosophers' Stone.
of the Tinctures,
is
all,
it is
in
thirdly,
this,
but rather
of Metals.
for
But there are further transmutations of imperfect and impure metals, as,
This may be effected in different ways
instance, of Mars into Venus.
Firstly,
if
calcined
vitriol
thirdly, if
tinguished with
best, natural,
on a tigillum
iron,
but
in a blast furnace,
let it
stand as
if
in a
make a strong
fire,
not so
much
as to melt the
158
fire
cool of
itself,
and you
melt.
will find
But
in
First of
all,
it
On
This
skill required.
is
it is
much
is
any great
vitriol,
or stratify
the process
lastly, liquefy.
Then you
will see as
ductile
copper.
If,
now, such copper, or any other copper, be made into plates and
if,
lastly, it
be cast,
it is
stratified
changed
into
you wish to change Saturn into Jupiter, take plates of Saturn, and
with sal ammoniac, cement, and, lastly, cast, as above.
So all its
blackness and darkness are taken away from the lead, and it becomes in
If
stratify
in brief
transmuted
in
it,
lies
and
summary
know concerning
mutation of gems
tin.
hid in
in
means
some transmutations of
alike.
Any
of sulphur.
oil
of
but
it
in the coals to
still
Mars, which
much
as
you can
it
is
made
can take.
Moreover,
is
be at a high temperature,
oil
Thus you
will
make
can be transmuted
it
of the crocus of
may
imbibe as
it
in the
situated in the
may
it
It
:
common magnet
and
transmutations of gems,
two grades of
tincture
an &gg can be tinged with saffron, and afterwards coagulated into a beautiful
yellow amber, with the dye of a pine into black amber, with verdigris into
green amber, like the cyanean or Turkish stone, with green juice into the likeness of an emerald, with lazuleum into a cerulean amber like sapphire, with
Brazilian wood into a red amber like the grained jacinth or ruby, with a purple
made
means of
their brightness
159
appearance so
Proceed thus
Purify as
much
mix some
fair
white
or pearl shell,
talc,
pound
it
in
marble very
fine,
so that
it
warm
be dried
sun or behind a
in the
Lastly, from
Almost
in the
this
same way
corals are
white of eggs
in
earth.
of.
Afterwards dry
it
you
like potter's
will
lastly,
dry them thoroughly, and anoint them externally, as you did the pearls, with
white of ^%%.
Dry them
become
should also be
known
gem,
is
if
at a particular time
in
it
be put
in the
water of the
fire,
salt of
So, too,
coal.
In the
is
is
made from
hides, paper
silk
produced out of linen with a very sharp lixivium made from lime and the
ashes of woad.
If the
downy
and woven
finis.
like cotton.
Any
oil
or spermatic
All these are
chaos
built
Water
first
World,
the Greater
first
separated into
From
four
that
distinct
Fire
World.
that you may learn our method in this Eighth Book as briefly as
you must know that we do not propose to treat herein concerning
the Separation of the Elements in all natural things, since we have fully and
Now,
possible,
of the Elements.
where some one thing is singly, and by itself, materially and suband segregated, when two, three, four, or more have
been mingled in one body, and yet only a single matter is touched and seen.
And here it frequently happens that corporeal matter of this kind can be known
by nobody, nor be designated by an express name, until the process of separation
things,*
stantially separated
is
instituted.
conceals
all
proceed from
in
it,
is
made
But
is
all
namely, gold,
is
If this,
evident.
By way
by alchemical
still
art,
be
copper,
is,
it is
nothing else but the segregation of one thing from another, whether two,
three, four, or more have been mixed
I mean the segregation of
three
:
* Separation
is
grounded
in heat, as in
is
formed.
Modus Pharmacattdi^
there can be no metal, and unless there be separation in the smaller world, that
is,
in the
there can be neither health nor disease, but an equable and perpetual disposition of
1.
all
is man
Magna^
microcosmos, which
things,
Chirurgict
i6i
three, four, or
or the dissolution and liberation of things linked and bound together, which
are by nature adverse, and perpetually act contrariwise one to the other, and
known
to us
but those
among
all
down and
species.
The
is
Separation of which
first
since he
the Microcosm, the lesser world, and for his sake the Macrocosm, the
was founded,
greater world,
that he might
be
its
But the
Separator.
separation of the Microcosm begins from death.* For in death the two bodies
man
of
an eagle
is
to say, the
One
Celestial
of these soars
and
the
on high,
consumed.
It
which, being buried in the earth, never again comes forth or appears.
the Sacrame^ital body, that
is
is,
Hence we have
after death.
From
more
is
seen even
treated of
spectres, visions,
at length in the
is
After this separation has been made, then, by the death of the man, the
three substances separate one from the other, that
soul,
and the
spirit,
each wending
its
way
to its
own
is
from
* There are two kinds of death -one from the Yliadus, and one from the Ens.
With that which comes from the
may attempt to do battle with that which comes from the Ens it is useless to attempt to cope. Z?^
Tartaro^ comment, in Lib. II.
t It has, therefore, seemed good to me that man should first of all be described according to his nature and condition, so that it may become more clearly intelligible what is to be sought in the mortal body, that is to say, mere
mortality, and what also is to be sought in the sidereal body, forsooth mere mortality. Afterwards we must become
acquainted with the soul, which is by no means mortal, but is the eternal man. You must further know that the soul is
flesh and blood, and that it consists of flesh and blood, but that there is a twofold flesh, namely, mortal and eternal.
The mortal takes its essence from mortal flesh the eternal is perfect flesh and blood unto life eternal. Therefore if
man considers within himself who and what he is, and what will be his future condition, he will thence readily understand that in this body, incarnate from the Holy Spirit, he shall see God, his Redeemer, and that whatsoever God
our Redeemer operates in us, He does through the man of new generation, because that is not of a mortal but an
Only this body is secure from the devil. The second is from Adam, and is like a seed in water. The
eternal body.
other body is suitable for the performance of works Divine, for a mortal body can accomplish nothing of those things
which are celestial. It cares only for things earthly and things of the firmament, and it produces men skilled only in
natural light. Hence God ordains man to gain a wider experience from that which is naturally formed, to pass from
one to the other, and to emulate Nature. For in a new body and a celestial philosophy is life eternal. Death is
inherent in natural strength, but life, on the contrary, consists in eternal strength. The instruction of Nature is from
Nor yet does man recognise God
the earth, and she knows not God, except that she admires the Creator in man.
according to Nature or in Nature. But he who is born from on high is acquainted with supernal things. The first of
these is Christ. AH who are reborn in flesh and blood, conceived and incarnate from the Holy Ghost, do follow Him,
and these same have the knowledge of things above. For they are from Him who cometh from on 'high. Hence there
Vliadus medicine
are two instructions, one of the earth earthy, the other from on high, which
whom we
He
imparts
who
also
is
whose flesh and blood we are, etc. Philosophia Sagax^ Lib. II., c. 2.
% The sole work on the cabala which has been preserved in the name of Paracelsus, is a short treatise, which forms
a detached portion of the book entitled De PesHiitate.
It is not cabalistical in the sense which properly attaches to
that term, nor does it exhibit any special acquaintance with that section of Jewish traditional literature to which it is
In its general outline it seems to be fairly in harmony with the great body of cabalistical cosmogony,
referred in name.
derive,
62
which
it first
the elements
of
all
forth
now been
has
first
matter of
first
What
came
Microcosm
should also be understood of the greater world, which the mighty ocean has
separated into three parts, so that the universal world is thus divided into
This separation
is
a sort of pre-
figuration of the three principles, because they, too, can be separated from
and
Salt.
Of these
From
this
should be
mountains, that
is
known
is built
By
many come
the
separation which
is
instituted in these,
forth
Vegetables
in their
Mercury, Sulphur,
Animals
in their
Whoever,
oils,
juices,
resins,
gums,
flesh,
bones, skin,
fat,
etc.
briefly as follows.
Earth, water,
air,
and
fire
have
their origin
Besides
natural objects.
the
Salt, etc.
and
and
Salt, etc.
oils,
know what
is
or
is
this,
not
for by the
truly, sulphur,
it its
own May
and
woman who
Now, every
autumn, and
its
peculiar harvest.
So are there
doctrine of the three prime
elsewhere treated at considerable length in the text
of
various springs, summers, and autumns, according to the infinite varieties of creatures.
The
and is
which involves the subject seems to warrant the citation of
passages
such as the above, not exactly to cast light upon the question, but to exhibit the primeval mystei-y of Paracelsican
philosophy with
At the same
all its
available variations.
in
fixed
is
every object
and what
its
and
Moreover,
necessary to
is
it
volatile,
is
163
know
quality.
beration,
sublimation,
reduction,
water and
distillation,
oil
coagulation,
others,
is
and the
By
By
lavation.
pulverisation,
all
corporeal substances.
By
is
separated from the lean, the pure from the impure, the
By
is
impure, the spirit and the quintessence from their body, and the pearl from
By
dense body.
colour, odour,
separated
and whatever
colour, odour,
whatever,
in
a word, there
otherwise combustible.
is in
from the
fluxible is separated
solid, the
fat,
fluxible or inconstant,
is
and the
metal from
from another, metal from ash, the fat from that which
is
reverberation are
Salt, the
By
all
and the corporeal, the pure from the impure, the Sulphur
from the
is
inflammability,
By sublimation
and so on.
its
By
rest.
is
not
fat.
reduction, the
its
By coagulation
By pulverisa-
All
lime, the
chaff'
from the corn. By washing or ablution, ashes and sand are separated, the
mineral from its metal, the heavy from the lighter substance, the vegetable
and animal portion from the mineral. Sulphur from Mercury and Salt, Salt from
Mercury.
come down
separation of metals
is
let
work of
must be remarked that the
For this reason, therefore, we
to special details.
all.
It
The separation
many
gemmae,
saltpetre, etc.
a furnace.
Then
You must
them
ash, sal
liquefy in
ash.
let
vitri,
reverberatory, until
all
is
in
will
become
a furnace by means of a
M2
In
164
this way, the metal is thoroughly digested and (so to say) refined or purged
from all its dirt and scoria.
Mineral ores of this kind will sometimes
copper and
one
metal, as
very
silver,
is
often the
case
silver, tin
and
in
be
if
it
may
metals in
example,
for
silver, etc.,
tin, lead,
much
as of the regulus), and then only fine silver and gold remain in the vat.
similar result
is
the lumps.
By
attained, too,
if
is
liquefied
That which is
lighter mounts above.
Two
water, and one can be extracted from the other, and extended and resolved.
But
if
sand or
calx,
in that resolution,
salt
as
according to the
Besides
this,
following process.
to a state of flux.
When this
has been
done, throw in for every pound of the metal one ounce of the most perfectly
It will there
operation
it will
So
it will
attract to itself,
in the
will
lightest, whilst
way
until cool.
if
by a wall, even
two bodies of water, so that that they cannot join and be commingled.
In the same way sulphur acts with these metals.
Sulphur, therefore, is an arcanum, worthy of the highest esteem.
Volatile and fugitive metals, such as gold and silver, if they are to be
as
oil
cuts off
separated from their minerals, since they can neither be treated in the
fire
nor
separated from the calx of the gold or silver by the grade of distillation.
In this way, other metals, too, as gold, silver, copper, iron,
tin, lead,
and
muted metals
is fine
it is
the
tin,
fifth
165
part with part, then lead ashes, next laton, afterwards casting brass,
first is
Mercury, for
its part,
it is
strip is to be inserted,
pass over.
like lime,
it
to a metallic body,
by liquefying
it
separated from
all
the metals
tin, too,
without any
we have
said.
fire
leaf,
amalgam
covered with
tin,
and
of Mercurius vivus, as
corrosives,
is
manner
mmute
portions.
be macerated until
silver,
Let
common
quantity of
it
aquafortis be poured
all
the metal
in
it,
is
upon
is
it.
mixed
most
sufficient
If it
be
By
sand.
this
state of resolution, then put into that resolution a small copper plate,
and
thereupon the silver will sink in the water, and occupy the bottom of the glass
it
grains
put
necessary.
-in
it
itself,
In this
way
the silver
If
and converted
abstracted through a glass funnel from the silver calx into a separate glass
vessel,
common
rain or
66
so that
it
will
The separation
for this
fine
gold alone.
This same aqua regis also separates fine gold from gilded clenodia.
be smeared over these,
it
If it
also,
these mixtures,
cement, and
is
iron, or tin
iron,
and so
is
and so on
in
order with
the others.
we have
far
it
was
to be
done, using the greatest brevity consistent with accuracy, and following the
alchemical art and practical experience.
we
Now, next
in order,
it
and
and the
lazurium,
is
like.
degree of sublimation.
is
found the
first
the
tin.
the
first
first
essence of copper.
found the
first
minium,
is
found.
In cobalt, zinctum,
the
first
bismuth,
etc.,
the
first
essence of lead.
essence of
In cinnabar
it
should be
known
that
it
is
is
a fugitive
mother.
talc,
found by the
essence of silver.
Concerning
spirit, still
is
is,
essence of iron.
In antimony,
be
Salt,
will
sometimes assimilated to a
womb
of
sometimes to alcohol.
Whoever, therefore, is anxious to have the prime essence of any body, and
to separate it, needs great experience and knowledge of the Spagyric Art.
its
It
is
liquid,
167
him nothing,
How the first essence is to be separated from
all mineral bodies has been sufficiently explained in the books of the Archidoxis, and need not be repeated here.
But as to the separation of minerals,
it should be remarked that many things of this kind are separated by means
of sublimation, as the fixed from the non-fixed, spiritual and volatile bodies
from the fixed, and so throughout all the divisions, as is detailed in the case
of metals. With all minerals the process is one and the same, through all
If
and
it
will avail
also arranged in
many ways.
By
distillation is
When
Art, remarkable
and external
all
oil,
first
made according
result,
to Spagyric
use.
indeed,
etc.,
to such
do not wonder,
now
If
is
no doubt that
all
do without them
In the meantime,
in pre-
would
I
extol
and adorn, with the eulogium rightly due to them, the Spagyric physicians.
These do not give themselves up to ease and idleness, strutting about with a
haughty gait, dressed in silk, with rings ostentatiously displayed on their
fingers, or silvered poignards fixed on their loins, and sleek gloves on their
But they devote themselves diligently to their labours, sweating
whole nights and days over fiery furnaces. These do not kill the time with
hands.
empty
talk,
among
the coals,
the lute,
glorify the
very
little
therefore,
own
medicines.
alchemical knowledge.
Of
sick folks.
Passing by
fire
all
these
separations
are
and
Distillation,
Reverberation,
all
these vanities,
Resolution, Putrefac-
But how
work should
go a
They
workman
and do not
like.
made according
to
Spagyric and
68
Alchemical Art by the help of distinct degrees has before been said generally,
and
to repeat the
and
method,
Herbs require
roots another,
woods another,
fire
trees,
made
The
seeds,
The third is
made by aqua
and the
the second.
like,
grade of
another,
leaves
in
fire
first
degree of
of
fire,
degrees of
MaricB-
fire is distillation
as also distillation
Leaves,
fire.
Each
the fourth.
like require
fruits another,
Balneum
the
is
fortis
require the
seeds
degree of
first
in water.
in ashes.
generally
woods,
stems another,
and
stalks,
in this
made
the distillation
is
another,
flowers
process,
And
etc.
cannot be
all
distillation.
have to be considered.
This
is
one
to specialities
is
another,
be
that
To go on
known that
vain.
is
let it
Herbs, flowers,
fruits, etc.,
need
etc.,
of these substances
must be
So much has
been said as to the distillation of waters and vegetable substances. As regards
the separation and distillation of oils the same process must be followed as we
minutely cut up or pounded before being brought into the
have spoken of
in the
They cannot,
still
still.
ascend
like waters,
waters and
like
by
oils,
should be
known
that
some
oils, in like
but are
distillation,
manner, just as
in
Liquids,
And
liquids, are
here
it
squeezed
out from their corporeal substances and separated by means of the press for
this reason, that
Of
like.
this
This also
is
fire,
oils
of
be called a sulphur
and
gum, or a kind of
resin, which,
might also
if
the species
left
in
the
still
is
necessary to
is
preface the
flesh,
etc.,
stand each by
The
phlegmatic moisture.
first
That
is,
by
itself,
down
~De
in
the
in this
manner,
book on Conservations,* an
Mumia* comes
and a
forth,
human
separated from
is
produced, allaying
all
The
while warm.
is
members
the
if
This, therefore,
third separation
It is
feet, if
kinds of leprosy.
specific,
it
69
in
is
flesh,
is
further
It
it.
For
if
these
and
if,
lastly,
which
after binding
setting
it
arcanum and
with
specific,
j'ou will
them up only
thrice,
specific in the
form of a
The same
plaster.
wounds of
the skull, or any contusion of the bones, in the shortest possible time.
The
intestines,
and tendons.
For the
is
resin
is
gums from
the skin,
human body
forth,
wound
with which a
the lips brought together, just as two sheets of paper are stuck together with
paste,
if
off'
wound two
substance.
is
if it
In
Mumia is
bitter form.
The former
them now.
etc.,
is
adapted
to
is,
sweet mercury.
is
For mercury
latter to ulcers.
Mumia
is
It is divided as follows
required.
is
bone
in the arteries
70
Here
it is
down
that which
we have
not mentioned
elsewhere.
But
final
of
end of
at last, at the
all
God
come
shall
in
Him
shall
be
but His Cross, and crown of thorns, and nails piercing His hands and
and the spear with which His side was wounded, and the reed and
sponge on which they stretched out that which they gave Him to drink, and
feet,
be blown by the angels towards the four parts of the earth, and at their
tremendous sound
all
who
among
are
God
fly
like eagles.
fire,
on the
left
tribunal of
hand, "
Go away,
gave
Me
For
no drink
You
When
My
all
Me
many mansions
and so
will pity
On
the
contrary,
all
sacramental creatures
and
of the
you "
these things are finished and done,
pitied
in
God
Amen.
is,
their
they shall be
Creator, from
book, our
IN signature of
of
all,
what signator
first
first
exists,
exist,
The
Be
things signed
first
with the
it
man
signs
In this
Moreover,
Stars.
carry with
known,
man
The
is
how
them
perfect
the
Now,
in order that
as possible,
man
is
it is
above
the signator.
to the others,
we may
all
explain
all
When
we
more
For instance,
rightly attain
it is
known
that
* Note with reference to the books De Nati/ra Rerun?. In most editions, seven books only are included under
In the other cases
heading, but the Geneva folio, from which the translation has been made, gives nine as above.
the treatises on Separations and Signatures are regai'ded as independent works. There can be no doubt that the
classification adopted by the Geneva folio is correct, for in method and design these treatises are integrally connected
this
is
one which
This science
is
is
called
Nigromancy.
everywhere and by
all
It has
rejected
who are ignorant of it. For this science is a natural one, born of the stains.
In these are beheld the past, present, and future. Let no one be surprised at this, because the constellation impresses
the image and similitude of its influence upon the crystal in the likeness of that concerning which inquiry is made.
those
This must take place by a compulsion of the constellation, as is recorded in magic. As the splendour of the sun flows in
upon the crystal, so the constellation pours it from above upon the object. Moreover, all things which exist in Nature
are known to the constellations, and when the stars are subject to man, he can bring them to such obedience that they
favour his
will.
It is universally
it
can accomplish
many
things.
This
is,
from the truth, for Christ Himself bears witness to it. And since faith is an operative principle it is evidently nothing
For virtue works in a word, and words make the dead alive.
In a similiar fashion,
else but a virtue and an efficacy.
what else is there in the stars than that by faith in Nature they are conquered ? And as by the word of faith the
mountain is cast into the sea, know that it is owing to natural faith that by a word the stars are brought down, so that
they may perform their operation according to our imagination, for he is wise who rules the stars he is wise, I say,
who can
rest,
bring their virtues under his rule, for in this manner are constituted visions in glasses, mirrors, waters, and the
made
in conception.
172
Jews wear a yellow sign on their cloak or on their coat. What is this but a
sign by which anybody who meets him may understand that he is a Jew ? So,
known by
magistracy decks its ministers with its own proper colours and adornments.
The mechanic marks his work with its peculiar sign, so that everyone may
who
understand
has produced
it.
the insignia of his master or his city on his garment, except that
clear he
is
it
may
be
So, too, the soldier carries a sign or symbol, black, white, green, blue, or
red, that
one
he
may
is
Hence
that one
is
an
it is
known
Italian,
that
another a
etc.
relate to
rank and
Next
money,
by which
it
office
in order,
may
be
its
with regard
belongs, where
it
circulates
and
that coin
passed.
is
jurors and those appointed for the purpose, after due inspection has been
previously made.
An
instance of this
it
may
Why
may
be
found
is
known
is
is
marked with
none
trials.
in the cloths
authority
The
seal
in
In the same manner, by a few letters, names, or words, many things are
designated, just as books which, though lettered outside with only one word,
in that way signify their contents.
Such, too,
are
all
is
distinguished by peculiar
were not done, who could distinguish one from the other among so many
powders, seeds, ointments, and the like ?
too,
the
alchemist in his laboratory marks with their own
In the same way,
proper names and labels, all the waters, liquors, spirits, oils, phleo-mata
different waters, liquors, syrups, oils,
all
he wants.
Without
this
safeguard
it is
impossible to
Thus
also
separately.
173
at
in
order that
first
mastered these,
Men.
in
womb
a distorted foot,
is
in
So also
One man
the rest,
in
Of monstrous
all
of which are
Hence has
more
distorted,
the
more
wicked";
grown up the old proverb "The
and again
"lame limbs, lame works." These are signs of vices, and rarely denote
anything good.
parents
tho stigmata
in their
forehead or cheeks, or
hands,
eyes, or tongues.
ears,
it,
for the
gamblers.
most
The
woman,
loss of a
or
if
particular vice.
there be a lopping
Loss of fingers
tells
If there
ofi^
of the
of cheating
and calumniators.
above.
Hence, through fear or fright on the part of those who are pregnant, many
monsters are born, or children signed with marks of monstrosity in the womb
of their mother.
appetite,
of these things
is
aroused.
is
alarm,
terror, or
If the pregnant
woman
its
move by imagination.
174
until there comes a sort of bounding, in which the stars of the imagination
produce an influence and an impression on the pregnant woman, just as
seal or
Whence
those
signs and birthmarks derived from the lower stars are called "impressions."
About these matters many men have philosophised and tried to form from
them a solid judgment, without being able to do so. For these things adhere
to, and are impressed on, the foetus in proportion as the stars of the mother
press frequently or with violence on the foetus, or the desire of the mother is
unable to get
is
That
perish.
that
it,
we must
it.
among
is
the
with
men and
errors,
it
in the highest
nor was
it
This
altogether lost
rest,
whose custom
among
Christians.
It
in
fool
about everything.
evil
slaves
so
explains other
when every
from the
in
first
to sell
Many
science of
it
The
it
is
it
If the
not satisfied.
and
is
men
themselves.
Now if anyone at this point argues against us, saying, "The signs of
physiognomy are from the stars, but no one has the power of compelling or
urging on the stars," he does not speak amiss.
who
it is
stars.
and also
is
not
Nay, the stars are subject to the wise man, and are forced
The stars compel and coerce the animal man,
to obey him, not he the stars.
subject to them.
so that where they lead he must follow, just as a thief does the gallows, a
What
other reason
fishes,
is
own powers,
or reflect that he
man
is
does not
know
or
called animal
theless,
dominating
created
right
all
man
last,
when
was afterwards
lost
all
by the
Fall.
Yet, the
It is right,
is
And although he
is the son of
he can withdraw himself from him and
so conquer
175
same way
to
him as
of his
to
all
existence,
At length he holds
life.
spend
your
life
by continuous labours
will
my
master, and
follow another where my life shall flow pleasantly on, where- I shall have
plenty of food and drink, where my garments may shine, where no work and
much reward shall be given to me, and where I shall not be oppressed by the
In this
all his
way he can
life
where
away
now
man
perceived that
and can
or Mercury, can withdraw himself from that benignant planet and subject
This
man
is
like
other respects a
man
Such, too,
who must
of no esteem,
is
life,
becomes a
afterwards spend
soldier, or in
his life in
all
all his
when
all is
now even
aspire to
And, although of himself he had not known how to fight against his
he could have turned his mind to the examples of other men,
but by foolish
within himself: " See how rich this man was
thus
thinking
them.
stars, yet
and
"
Again,
must such a man thus address himself " What have I done ? How
have I thrown myself headlong down by wasting prodigally the substance I
had collected and acquired ? Who will restore it to me ? If I could only
recover what I have lost, quite another mode of life should be begun, and so
from my own loss, and compensate for my evil deeds
I would learn wisdom
How often
176
by wiser counsel
loss,
it
own
He who
He who
loss.
He who
again.
is
well to
is
it
restore
it
God
If
the
"
My
why should
is
my
If in
second or
my
who
in
misery
All this
third."
has to spend
first
is
it
my
shall not be in
man who
deserted,
He who
grows
that nobody
a second time.
tries to steal
know
dice will
gallows
But
He
will
This
is
the reason
Who,
dishonour.
why he
then,
would
his
For by bringing
anyone can
own
to bear his
free himself.
Look
fowler, relying on
has no need to pursue birds, for the birds will follow him, and though their
nature rebel they will
fly
In like manner, to
swim of
The hunter
the fisherman at his ease and relying on his wisdom, the fishes will
own
their
exerting his
And
impulse of Nature.
clination, and, as
their birth,
it
were, sign
yet that
is
signs.
But to return
signs of
men
know
that these are twofold, like indeed in outward form, but dissimilar in
power and effect. Some are from the upper stars of heaven others from the
;
up to mid-age.
peculiar force.
whatever the lower star of the microcosm signs from birth has its origin from
the father and the mother, as often as the mother affects by her imagination or
signs by
means of
their
or uterine marks.
We
own
close contact.
it is
alone,
those signs of
men
in the
177
Of
flat
dovv'n
Of these
hair thick
signs,
if
one
more appear in a man, be svire that he will not lack the qualities signified
Only you must judge them according to the rules of physiognomy,
thereby.
and have had experience in the art of signature, according to which you can
judge a man by outward signs.
or
let
us repeat a
faithless,
and the
like.
eyes,
Eyes which are constantly winking indicate weak sight, a timid and careEyes which move quickly hither and thither, under the glance of
ful man.
men, indicate an amorous heart, provident, and of quick invention.
Eyes continually cast down show a reverential and modest man.
bold, brave
man.
a hero, a high-
foes.
man who
78
is
a good sign.
still
flat
denotes a strenuous,
It
just.
lustful,
false,
untruthful, in-
constant.
A
A
is
A
speech
shews a
cleft chin
man who
large,
man,
and
faithful
officious, of
means another
small
shew a dense,
Concerning the hair of the head or beard, the signs are not very
plain,
as
is
is
it
persons,
who
Hence
it
that
many
If the
neck
is
it
denotes
Broad shoulders and back shew a man who is strong for carrying and
moving things. Muscular arms also shew a man who is strong and robust
in beating, thrusting, throwing, and the like.
Hard hands bespeak a laborious, mercenary man
soft hands, the
;
contrary.
satisfied with
man who
With
is still,
in
however, vivacious.
reference to
easily
known
The
is
what astronomers
signator's business
is
179
For
if
artifice
be
brows, frequent agitation of the mouth, strong and deliberate step, and light
spirits, indicate of necessity a generous, active man, or soldier, such as any
one could easily shew himself by his own activity, and so stand better when
put to the proof, and command higher pay, so, likewise, must judgment be
and the
folly, truth,
falsehood, fortune,
rest.
it
lines, veins,
woods,
and wrinkles.
earths,
flints,
But neither
this science free from its errors, which astronomers have alleged against it.
For they have assigned the fingers of both hands to the planets and the
principal stars, when, notwithstanding, there are on one hand only five fingers
is
but on both hands ten, while the planets are only seven
it
Now,
if
in
How
number.
man
But
still
and, moreover, the persons were not born in this way, so this matter has no
if it did so happen that a man was born with seven
hand or on both, that would be a monstrous birth, not
according to Nature, and therefore not to be assigned to the stars. So here,
It would have been better, then,
again, no comparison can be instituted.
planets
should
cast
lots
and
the
see
which
two ought to retire. This,
that
relevance here.
Besides,
however, could not be done, because the planets had neither dice nor
in the
firmament
so one wonders
who took
it
upon him
lots
up
by name, giving the thumb to Venus, the index finger to Jupiter, the middle
a great error to suppose that chiromancy is concerned only with the hands, for it includes the significance of the
upon the entire body. Nor is it confined to the body of man, for it deals also with the trunks of trees, and with the
tracery upon the leaves of trees. Every peculiarity of line, whether in leaves or in human hands, has its special meaning.
No man deserves to be called a doctor who is ignorant of chiromancy, because, for example, the presence upon the hand
but then
of those lines which are called linca architectcp^ indicate that the person will be likely to die of the colic
So also the linta
there are certain leaves which possess corresponding lines, and these leaves are the cure of colic.
line
apoplexy,
and
this
line
is
found
the
sweet
flag),
which
is
a
medicine
ancorn is the
of
in the acorus (Z.*".,
of
Thus by the same sign Nature indicates the existence of the disease and its remedy. But the
apoplexy.
But as physiognomy is both outward and inward, so
physician who is ignorant of the sign is ignorant of everything.
there is an internal and external chiromancy, and that which is without is an evidence of that which is within. Z>wf7
I have frequently indicated that chiromancy is the inventress of arts, if it
Alii Libri de Fodiigricis Morbis, Lib, I.
It is
lines
II., rrr/.
N2
i8o
Tfie
Moon weakened
error
if
his brain, or
strife
Would
is
this.
It
in
And
this is the
chiromancy.
lines of the
It is just
mountain
obstacle, or covered by a
inundation.
as
if
falling
on
it.
it,
or destroyed by an
lines
of the hand.
new
finger to
with him
some
little
and the
in righteous indignation
keep up continual
allotter, or
first
Moon
Mercury.
new
flesh
and the
lines
And now
mancy, and
let
in
make no change
chiromancy
therein, but
But
acquiesce
in this practical
and the
like.
And
first it
all
herbs, of what-
same chiromancy.
some than in others,
their age.
We
expressly
avow
less in
If their lines
this is
through
Someone
in
arguing
as
it
more than four or at the most five months old, that is,
reckoning from May to autumn, after which time every herb perishes and
drops away from its root. To this I answer that a unique virtue exists in
the root, which is the first essence and spirit of the herb, from which the
herb is born and sustained to its predestined time, and so is exalted right up
adheres to
its
root can be
And
back again into the root, and thus the herb withers. But as long
as that spirit, which is the supreme force of the herb, remains in the root,
every year that herb is renewed, unless it happens that the spirit is taken away,
and withers along with the herb. Then for that herb there is no renovation.
virtue goes
be discussed
in this place.
root, or
It is
spirit is
taken
its
whom
What we
i8i
we
here omit
will give in
the Herbary.*
and
fails in his
But
in
their faculties.
order to
their force
know what
is
is
with herbs.
is it
is
required, since
Now
said.
we have
not characters,
letters,
only lines and veins and wrinkles, as a means of reckoning the age.
older anything
is
more
in
The
and the
and operation of the thing are less active. For as a disease of one
month or one year is more easily cured than one of two, three, four, five
months or years, so a herb of one year more quickly cures its disease than one
of two or three years.
And on this account for old ills young herbs and those
virtue
For
fall
if
This
is
the reason
why many
medicines
They are in the body and they fill the limbs, but only
the shoes.
Hence the diseases are often doubled.
are inoperative.
sticks to
Now
here
is
and
as
mud
guished by water.
If the disease
fire will
be extin-
medicine turns into a poison, and afterwards diseases are redoubled and made
more
severe.
Steel
cannot be conquered by
weaker
is
Thus,
if
part of
my
the
subdued.
Although, therefore,
it
was no
still,
fire
their indica-
tions and signs which they have received at once from the Archeus and from
the higher stars, each one telUng its genus by differences of colour and of
earth.
The mineral
The mineral
So the mineral
of copper differs
* The Herharius Theopkrasli^ concerning the virtues of herbs, roots, and seeds, etc., will be found in the second
volume of the Geneva folio. It is an incomplete treatise which discusses the virtues of black hellebore, persicaria,
The portions of this treatise to which reference is made
common salt, carduus angelicus, corals, and the magnet.
above, and again upon p. i8g, are apparently in the missing fragments.
82
And
iron.
So
None can
from that of
tin
and of
lead.
all
lie
within are brought forth, but also the exact depth and richness of the mine
and yield of metal are made manifest. Now, in this chiromancy three things
are necessary to be known, the age, depth, and breadth of the veins, as was
said just now in the case of herbs. For the older its veins, the richer and more
abundant
in
metals
is
On
the mine.
this
subject one
all
Whence
increase.
placed outside
this,
multiplied,
its
predestined time.
age of
all
things.
is
is
in substance,
That which
For there
itself dies.
is
but
which
that any
less,
minerals, vegetables, and animals, which are the three chief genera
all terrestrial
matrix
grow
is,
of
too, is clear,
matrix, cannot
its
is
still
in
its
is
it
will
it
For they
may
it
be destroyed.
it
follows that
all
is
the end of
air,
by
perish,
in their
applies also to
hundred years
Hence
perish.
in
feel neither
which they
but
That
in
* Men of abnormal height, who, however, are naturally begotten, are distinguished by Paracelsus from another
genus of giants who belong to a wholly different order of existence. Concerning the generation of giants and dwarfs,
it is to be understood that giants are born of sylphs and dwarfs of pigmies.
These beget various monsters, and it
should be noted that both giants and dwarfs are possessed of remarkable strength. They are not a lusus uaiurte, but
are the product of a singular counsel and admonition of God.
They deserve consideration on account of the great
achievements they accomplish. Moreover, being monsters, produced in a singular manner by God, they finish without
Their parents have not the same kind of soul as themselves. They are the offspring of
offspring as to body and blood.
animal men, and hence
many
it
follows that they have derived no souls from their parents, although they have performed
and past
which are not present to the eyes themselves, but are hidden.
They have reason in common with man, save only the soul.
and the reason of spirits, if we except those things which pertain to the nature of God.
present,
things,
Endowed
pursuit of our
purpose,
present
then,
183
pass on to
chiromancy of mines.
may be known
a very brief
When
to be.
the tracts
of the veins are stretched to a very long distance, and then gape,
bad
is
it
toil.
other
way
that
off,
any
in
is
mines are good not only on the surface, but that they increase
are multiplied, so that they are rendered rich mines,
in
depth and
treasure.
is
metallurgists
praise
west.
many
It is
in the piines
us that very often veins which stretch from west to east, or from south to
north, or, contrariwise, from north to south,
No
others.
good
earth,
soil,
one
is
abound
in
is
When
there any
this point.
to those signs
may
In like manner,
fat,
is
which
is
this is a vein is
dug out
is
now not
a very
far off.
is
Then
the
digging.
green earth or chrysocolla, copper green, lazurium, cinnabar, sandarach, auriWherefore God hath produced
them what great things God works in those creatures. Gnomes
They are about half the size of man, or a little taller.
(J.e.t pigmies) are like unto men, but of stunted stature.
If the gnomes have once bound themselves
The devil at times enters into gnomes and ministers unto them
to our service, they abide by their bargain, but they require to be served in turn, and those things ought to be given to
them which they request. If the pacts into which we enter with them are fulfilled on our part, they remain sure,
constant, and faithful in their office, especially in obtaining money. For the gnomes abound in money, which they coin
powers, they lead and attract
man to make
themselves.
sum
of money, he obtains
it
this as follows
and has
it.
The
has whatsoever
spirit
money
it
to
wishes, for
if
many men
go away again. The lot of man is very hard. To hope or to wish will profit him nothing, and he
but the gnomes have whatever they seek without any labour in getting or preparing
he wants
Concerning their day and night, their sleeping and waking hours, the case is exactly the same with them
it
Moreover, they have a sun and a firmament no less than we have, that is, the gnomes have the earth
as with men.
which is their chaos. This is to them only as our atmosphere it is not as earth to them in our sense. Hence it follows
that they see through the earth just as do we through the air, and the sun shines for them through the earth as it does
For they have the sun, the moon, and the whole firmament before their eyes, even as have we
for us through the air.
The gnomes dwell in the mountain chaos in which they construct their dwellings. Hence it is that very
men.
often arches, caves, and other similar constructions are found in the earth, about a cubit in height, the work of these
persuade them
must work
to'
for all
The gnomes pass through .solid rocks or walls like spirits, for all these things are
The more crass the chaos, the more subtle is the creature, and iiicc versn.
....
[h
Pygiiin'is ci
Satamandrls^
184
silver, etc.
mark copper
silver,
metal.
auripigment, red sulphur, or litharge of gold, for the most part portend gold.
So,
too,
when
auripigment, are found mixed and combined, excellent and rich minerals are
When
generally indicated.
it
That
is
a good sign
when
it
some
appears.
Diggers, therefore, should not relax their labours in face of such a sure and
If,
it is
come
Here, too,
it
should be remarked,
still in
essence.
their first
carefully
too,
it
Add
just as
you see
excellent metals,
and
So, too,
better fruit.
vice versa.
In addition to this,
known
should be
it
that
is
its
Now
let
fire,
is.
just as
ore, but
still
It
same way,
exists in its
woman.
borne along
its
In the
fire.
own
track,
some-
times from east to west, or, contrariwise, from west to east, from south to
And so, a straight line drawn from any hour or part of
north, or vice versa.
the mountain
the
map towards
map which
is
marked
off'
two parts
whenever they appear, afford most reliable indicafrom them may be recognised the metals too
185
as certain gifts of
He
it
should not
Here
same way,
men themselves, if they bury treasure, mark the place by the addition of some
sure signs. They bury them at landmarks, or statues, or fountains, or some
other object, so that, if need be, they themselves can find them again and dig
them up. The old Chaldeans and Greeks, if in time of war they feared siege
and exile, buried their treasures, and only marked the place by proposing to
They waited
themselves a certain fixed day, hour, and minute of the year.
until the sun or the moon cast a shadow there, and in that spot they hid or
buried their treasures. This art they called Sciomancy or the Art of Shadows.
From these studies of shadows many arts arose, and many occult matters
were revealed, as, for example, the methods by which all spirits and sidereal
bodies might be distinguished. These are the infallible cabalistical signs
and should be carefully watched.
You must take particular care, however, not to let yourselves be beguiled
These are vain and misleadby divinations obtained through uncertain arts.
and among the first of them are the divining rods, which have deceived
ing
has added these particular outward signs leading to investigation.
Just in the
many
miners.*
times.
If
way
devil
and the
like.
gives these signs merely from fraud, and with intent to trick you.
is
ever built where the devil does not have his chapel
That
be
is
Good seed
altar.
same
way.
when produced by a
first
it.
in all,
have foully abused the commandment of God and the light of Nature
this
temple
is
it
No
no chapel where he
different
method.
By us
We
itself in
They have
are
now no
Christians then,
as the ancients used them in the Old Testament, for these people were living
in the first generation.
live
under the
New
Testament.
all
first
generation, accomplished by
these things,
is,
we
should seek
it
we
New
in faith
Christians,
means of ceremonies
who belong
to the second
In these
three primary points consists the whole foundation of magical and cabalistical
* Elsewhere Paracelsus says that
Morhoruitt Jttvisihitiuni, Lib-
I.
it
is
faith
86
science,
we
all
We
with us.
nothing
shall be impossible.
institutions,
forbear to repeat
Christ, the
us,
this in the
it
here.
book
See
in us,
members
He
of Christ, since
is
our head,
is, He lives in us, that so we may live in Him, as is handed down in the
books on The Lord's Supper.
But to return to our subject of mineral signs, and especially to the
coruscations from metallic veins.
Know that as all metals which are still
that
good
silver or
silver,
it is
or silver
is
free
and
purified
is
Natural sleep
night to spirits
is
from
all
thrown
all
these
it
lies
is
hid in
its first
essence, has
The
its
wasted energies.
sleep of the
body
is
Now
own
moon
peculiar
its
is
rendered astral
fire,
Philosophic Tincture
is,
fine
morsel of
little
if it
all
the
day pertains
copper
to bodies,
two cannot operate together, being contraries, and mutually incompatible things. Whatsoever is done by the body during
sleep is really performed by the spirit.
For some speak and give answers in their sleep some arise and walk therein,
but all this is done by the spirit governing the body. Hence it happens that if such a man be called by his name, he
wakes up because the spirit in him is terrified by being called by the name of the man, for spirits are no less terrified by
the voice of a man than are men by the voice of a spirit. The man in baptism receives a name, but not so the spirit.
;
Therefore the
when
man
Hence
promiscuously,
is
the
is
called.
who
who
sleep-walkers should by no
are afflicted
talk in their sleep, are not thus to be invoked or shouted at, because they
may
be in communion
whose voice is not heard. For, although the spirit voice may be much clearer than that of humanity, it is
not audible commonly by humanity, for the material ear can be, and is, closed by the power of such an intelligence, as is
well known to those who divine by nigromancy by means of the spirits of the air, who are intermediate spirits, neither
precisely good nor evil.
No man holding such a conversation should be disturbed, so long as his accents are cheerful,
but if he answers with trembling, fear, and consternation, this i,s a sign of a bad apparition, and such a person ought to
be awakened by shouting. Such conversations are not, however, always conducted with the bodily organs of voice on
the part of the sleeper, but also with those of the spirit, in which case there is no audible sound, and this last kind of
speech is not only more frequent but of greater importance. It was profoundly investigated by the ancient Magi, who
by this means could extract from the spirits of the departed a knowledge of those secrets which they had concealed
from the whole world while they yet lived in the body. In this way they became acquainted with the mysteries of
Alchemy, Astronomy, Astrology, Medicine, Theology, etc. namely, by direct communication of their spirits with the
spirits of those who had professed these sciences on earth.
In order to acquire the arcane method of communication
with such intelligences, the first requisite is to implore by faith the mercy of God in the matter then we must, also with
faith, make an image of that man with whom we desire to communicate.
On the body of such image the name of the
man must be written, and also the question to be asked. Put this image at night under your head and sleep upon it.
That .Tian himself will then appear to you spiritually, and will answer your questions, teaching you whatever he can.
There is, however, a more certain and better manner. This dispenses with the image, and has recourse only to faith
and imagination. No danger attaches to this e.\periment, but it requires great confidence in the validity of the
operation.
I have several times had practical evidence of its truth. - De Pkilosopkiay Tract V.
with a
spirit
t A work of Paracelsus, entitled De Ccma Domiin, exists in the Harleian collection among the MSS. of the British
Museum. It is numbered 508, and is a large volume, very legibly written. No printed copy is known to the present
editor.
the stars of
come
they have
Mars
of Jupiter
lead
As soon, however, as
to their perfection,
187
body, their stars withdraw from every one of these, and leave their body
Hence it follows that all the bodies alike are dead and inefficacious,
and that the unconquered star of the metals subdues all of them, converts
them into its own nature, and so makes them all astral. For this reason, our
dead.
gold and
silver,
tincture, are
much
that gold itself which Nature generates in mines, and afterwards segregates
metal,
is
all
How
all
no
book
it is
to the
So
powder
its
all
consistency, of
most
of gold,
of a sub-
is
its
entire
body that
of the ruby.
same way,
consummate whiteness, fluid
weight like the adamant.
The
is,
in the
is
its
own
resin,
as resin,
iron
is
brittle as glass,
metal.
The
star of lead
is like
much
parent, fluid as resin, brittle as glass, equal to gold in weight, heavier than
other lead.
in
a deep
The
frost,
star of quicksilver
within the
From
will
white, you
snow
fire, volatile,
this
is
must take
at
first,
know
flies
warm
before
a mistake
is
made
at the outset,
you
red or the
fire.
all
first
the sub-
88
Moreover,
forth
some
it
each of them
Among
can be recognised.
these are,
For instance,
in the reverberation of gold or silver, the genuine sign is a brightness above
the vessel or vat.
When this appears, it is certain that the lead, and other
accessory metals, have disappeared in the fumes, and so the gold and silver
sparks, flames, brightness, colours of the
fire,
Iron,
signs in the
whether
fire,
a sign that
it
it
it
earthly
will
fire, it
body exhibits
its
If it smokes before
more Mercury than sulphur.
has most.
contains
own
peculiar
salt,
and
distinct
and of which of
it
If,
it
burns with a flame and blazes forth without any smoke, it is a sign that a
good deal of sulphur, and no Mercury, or very little, lies hidden within it.
This you see take place with fatty substances, as with fat itself, oil, resin,
and the like. But if without any flame nothing goes forth through the fumes,
it is a sign that much Mercury and very little sulphur exists therein.
This you
see take place with herbs, flowers, and the like
and also with other vegetable
substances and volatile bodies, such as minerals and metals, as yet in their first
essence, and not yet mixed with corporeal sulphur.
These send forth only
smoke, and no flame.
Minerals and metals which in the fire emit neither fume nor flame that is,
neither smoke nor blaze shew an equal mixture of Mercury and sulphur, and
a fixity and perfection beyond all consistency.
it
We must now,
which nothing up
in
you who boast your skill in the science of signawho also wish to be yourselves called signators, should rightly understand
In this place we are not going to speak theoretically, but
what we say.
practically, and we will put forth our opinion comprised in the fewest possible
it
tures,
words
First of
all,
know
genuine names to
all
entirely understood.
proper
name
So
it
All of these
was
that after
Adam
how
to give true
and
its
own
waters, and the like, as well as to other fruits of the earth, of the water, of
air, and of the fire.
Whatever names he imposed upon these were ratified
the
and confirmed by God. Now these names were based upon a true and intimate
foundation, not on mere opinion, and were derived from a predestinated knowledge, that
is
Adam
is
the
first
signator.
it
189
from the Hebrew
fortli
condition.
"This
say,
name
Hebrew tongue
is
Hence
it
its
remarkable beyond
is
nature
life
all
else
he
is
is
placid
and useful,
called a pig
is
a cow, because he
knqws no moderation
a dog, because he
is
;
a fox, because he
and not
all,
never tired of
a bear, because
is
and
anybody
versatile
easily offending
all
and
is
of
sanguinary herb
The
bleeding.
is
on
is
nobody but
horse
which he
nature and
animal
its
indicate by their
virtue,
So when we
belong.
thus
is
named because
it
is
all
of
better than
it
all
others to stop
so called because
is
And
So
The
so v/ith
it
cures
of which
of their
virtue
as the
Hepatica,
Syderica,
Prunella, Heliotrope,
Petfoliata,
Herbary.
The same
is
manner, from the blood and its circulation, from the urine and the circulation
From the liver of a
thereof, all diseases which lie hid in men are recognised.
slaughtered animal
For
and perforated,
if the liver
account,
its flesh is
by natural signs.
is
unwholesome.
The
It is
this reason,
can
>e
is in
For
it is fit
livid
and
ill-affected liver
is
it
flows
coagulated into
flesh.
coagulated.
liver,
90
yellow or
livid.
is
If
disease.
But, moreover, there are other signs which are worthy of our wonder,
is
it
can be told
how many
The same signator signs the horns of the stag with branches by which its
known. As many branches as the horns have, so many years old is the
Since there is an addition of a new branch to the horn every year, the
stag.
age of the stag can be set down as twenty or thirty years.
So, too, the signator marks the horns of the cow with circles from which
Every circle indicates one calf.
it is known how many calves she has borne.
The same signator thrusts out the first teeth of the horse so that for the
When the
first seven years its age can be certainly known from its teeth.
horse is first born it has fourteen teeth, of which it sheds two every year, so in
seven years all of them fall out. For this reason a horse more than seven
age
is
who
is
its
If the
tongue
is foul,
so
is
whereby the
So also he signs the circle of the moon with distinct colours, each one of
which has its own special interpretation. Redness generally indicates coming
wind
greenness or blackness,
this is
rain.
good
sign, especially
on the ocean.
rain.
At sea
Brightness and
So
far
we have
is
Now
many
like.*
most necessary
here
arts,
With regard to
a matter of special science and experience, as
it is
Whatsoever Nature generates is formed according to the essence of the virtues, vi-hich is to be
understood as
According to the soul, the property, and the nature of any man, the body is constituted. For this proverb
is
often quoted the more distorted the more wicked. Adam was originally created in such a manner that
he was
without inherent vice of body or soul
but when he distinguished between good and evil. Nature then commenced
to
mark each person according to his constitution. Adam was well pleasing to God before he knew good and evil but
afterwards, God repented having made man. Man was therefore made subject to the rule of Nature, so that
Nature
treats him even as a flower of the field, which she marks, and so makes recognisable to all.
Man also is marked like a
flower of the field, so that one person can be discerned from another, after the same way that flowers
and all
follows
growing
And
since there
nothing hidden in
man
It is
its
own
191
particular stars,
on the
whdle world
in
landslips,
figures
and images
having remarkable powers and potencies, which they receive from the seven
planets, just as the shield or target receives the pellet or the dart
But
slinger.
to
know how
from a
may
be
distinguished one from the other, and what they signify in magic, requires
must be
it
way
be in any
perfectly
gamaheus possesses only the power and properties of one planet, and so can be endowed only
by that one planet. And though, indeed, two or more planets may be conjoined
dealt with here.
But
this
by the other.
him out by force, and makes himself master, arranging all things by his will
and pleasure, while the other is reduced to slavery, so also one star expels the
other, one planet the other, one ascendant the other, one influence another,
if a seed be cast into the earth and concealed therein, the latent nature of that seed, at the proper
above the earth, and anyone may see clearly what manner of seed has lain in that place. It is the
same with the heart ifor) and seed of man out of that seed Nature produces a body so that anyone can see what kind
of heart has been there. And, although there be a great difference between herbs or trees and men, yet art in man
We men in this world explore all things which lie hidden in the
sufficiently demonstrates and proves those things.
known
to all that
time, manifests
it
signs.
discoverer suitable for their purposes, then added fitting disciples to these, namely, cultivators and admirers of the
said arts. The first discoverers were obsessed by the devil, and sought out through his power and instigation arts of
There are some, indeed, who, hiding the matter, affirm that they have been revealed from God but they are
God is not the author and teacher of inquiries into the future by means of such devices. He in no wise created
us that we might devote ourselves to the investigation of what is to come, but ordered rather that, directing His attention
to His commandments, we should seek out the knowledge of Himself and His manifest will. It is, therefore, afalse pretence
this kind.
deceived, for
least
becoming
to
do
so.
Thus,
in order that
superstitions,
they have devised the four above-mentioned methods for inquiring into the future. Geomancy is the art of points,
having sixteen signs and figures, which they have arranged according to their property. To these they added translations,
creta (,sr'r\ form, points, and similar things, and have taught the erection of the whole figure, fixing certain rules by
which each figure could be understood, each recognised in its own house, with a sufficient and necessarj' interpretation,
192
As water extinguishes
so one planet strikes out the property of the other and brings in
And
so
some
that
is it
fire,
own.
with their signs, which are manifold, and not only characters, as
think, but
all
map
everything which
is,
its
is
me add
the domination,
all
all
all
To
an example.
planet Sol there belong the crown, the sceptre, the throne,
and majesty,
of the planets,
the
power
ornaments, and
the royal
To
the planet
travellers,
To
Luna
the planet
Mars
To
are subject
all
and
all
breast-
all
To
and
this kind.
all
literary
men,
all
mechanical
in-
art.
all
Levltical order, all ministers of the church, the decorations of temples, orna-
To
the planet
Venus
are subject
is
as follows
But the
spirits
all
points until a
required to
judgment
make
is
made concerning
the proposed
door, and
lie.
We have finished,
now
the fault
lies
now with
make
their
way
astronomy
called
is
on falsehood.
who
is
is
Nor without
its
own heaven
or stars
The process
is
as follows
down, and notice the direction of the wavy movements as the water quiets down.
is
Take a basin
full
of water which
To
who work
those
all
193
in
all
by them.
Pyromancy puts
forth
its
firmament by
among
common
;
fire
by
in the
form of
in the
stars,
in
mines by coruscations
in
fire
fire.
Hydromancy
gives
its
stalks.
upper
air,
Manna
fall
Now,
figures,
and the
Near the
figures, rules
the spirit moves the bubbles, originates the shaking, the rest, the calm, according to the necessity of
may
result a figure
is
Those, therefore,
desired.
who have
well-disposed
whom few things are forbidden, make good sorcerers in the art. On the other hand, a bad sorcerer has a mute
mendacious spirit. Among spirits one may be more mute and lying than another. When, therefore, one sorcerer
spirits, to
and
is
said to be
more
it
skill, for
he
may
possess
a more
reliable
by means of vexing and deluding men to cause them to hate one another, and this,
Were the foundation of this art more closely investigated by men, it would be seen that
indeed, is their first object.
Yet, even if men arrived at perfection in this art, what solid advantage would it
it was a hoax of the spirits.
confer on them but a futile prediction and a pretext for wasting time. Suppose I desire to marry, and consult'an'omen as
spirit.
Now,
it
its
truth
it is
In any case,
how will
it
help me ? If
escape this
But
evil, it
names at different times, and so make game of men.^ Now, concerning the nature of shades, whatever is seen in a figure
He who is favoured by spirits sees many things, but otherwise, little or nothing.
image is to be considered such.
Did God permit it, these beings would be always in our midst, enticing us to desert God, and devote our mind to them.
But if we carefully regard what they have performed during a given year we shall see that it has been mere trifling,
devoid of use and profit, destructive to body and soul, health and property, praise and honour, in a word, disgraceful
O
allurements, frauds, and devices, sprung from the root of lies itself.
or
194
Paracelsus.
voices are heard from graves, tumults and tremblings arise in the charnel-house,
arjd the
dead appear
in the
living, are
seen in visions,
Evestrum
appear, or for
we
may
We
are for-
bidden to reveal them, since they belong only to the ancient school and to the
Divine power.
So now we bring
this
In certain editions tiie following dedication is prefixed to the Nine Books containing the Nature of Thin^s^
Theophrastus Paracelsus gives greeting to the honourable and prudent gentleman. John Winckelstein of Friburg, his
initimate friend and dearest brother
It is right, O intimate friend and dearest brother, that I should satisfy your
friendly and assiduous prayers and petitions which you have addressed to me in your several letters, and since, in your
:
you have earnestly and courteously requested that I should at length come to you, if it were
it is not meet for me to conceal from you, that this course is, by reason of various
hindrances, impossible. But with regard to the second request you have made to me, that I should furnish you with
an excellent and clear instruction concerning certain matters, I neither can nor will refuse you, but am compelled to
gratify you therein
for I am well acquainted with your disposition
moreover, I know that you hear and behold with
delight anything that is fresh or marvellous in this art.
I know, also, that you have devoted a great portion of your
which
life to the arts,
have formed the chief element of your curriculum. Since, therefore, you have displayed, not only
latest letters of all,
consistent with
my
convenience,
am
am
indeed of necessity grateful, and, in case I should not see you in person again, I must leave a brotherly farewell
you and yours, as a memorial of myself For herein I shall not only answer and clearly explain those points
oncerning which you have consulted me and asked me in brotherly fashion, but will dedicate to you a special treatise
on those points, which treatise I shall name Concerning the Nature of Things^ and shall divide it into nine books.
This work satisfies all your requests, and, indeed, more than you have requested of me, although you will greatly
wonder at its matter, and will doubt whether things are just as I have described them. But do not so act, nor think
that they are mere theories and speculations, whereas they are of practice and proceed from experience. And, in spite
of the fact that I have not personally verified them all, notwithstanding, I both possess, have proved, and know these
things by experience from and by means of other persons, as also from the light of Nature. But if in certain' places you
do not rightly understand what I say, and in one or more processes require of me a further explication, write to me
secretly, and I will put the matter more clearly before you, and give you a sufficient instruction and understanding,
although I do not believe that there will be any need for this, but that you will easily comprehend without it, since I
know how richly you have been endowed by God with the arts and with good sense. Moreover, you know myself and
my feelings, wherefore you will easily and quickly take my meaning. But, above all, I hope and am confident that you
will look upon the present work, and will fittingly regard it as a treasure, will by no means publish it, but
exclusively
keep it in great secrecy for you and for yours, exactly as a vast hidden treasure, noble gem, and precious thing, which
is not to be cast before swine, that is, before sophists, contemners of natural blessings, arts, and secrets,
which persons
are not worthy to read, much less to have, know, and understand them. And, although this book be
very small
containing few and scanty words, yet it is full of many great mysteries, for herein I shall not write from
speculation
and theory, but practically from the light of Nature and experience itself, nor will I burden you and render it tedious
by much speech. Wherefore, dearest friend and most intimate brother, since 1 have addressed this book out of love
to
you alone, and to no one else, I request you to keep the book as a precious and secret thing, and not to part with
it
to
until
Furthermore,
fall
into the
calumny
with their
it is
my
it
hands of sophists and mockers, who despise all things which do not agree with them, and cover them
with
also are pleased only with that which is their own, as is the case with all fools
; who are pleased only
who
own
bells.
Wherefore, dearest friend, be faithfully admonished, as I have entreated you do that which I expect
of you, so shall
you do well and rightly. Farewell, under the care of God. Given at Villacm, in the year J537.
;
TO
in fact, as
it
was
is
matter
first
that
is,
running
damp and
Such Mercury
is
Take
Nitre,
and Alum
and sublimate
in
has cooled, remove the sublimate with a feather, and sublimate with the rest
as before.
and
in the
cooled
this,
take
it
out
grind
it
it
it,
any
damp
place,
from
all its
rectify
and put
in
it
it is
by
it
it is
Grind
further.
it
marble
and dissolve
wax.
Having
in
spontaneously
times, until
in
it
When
no longer sublimate,
will
fluid like
into a beautiful
it
oil,
in ashes.
Take
very small on
eight ounces of
Then you
will see
Having made a
solu-
tion of the
02
196
* For example, the red Mercury of Gold constitutes a good medicament for the cure of wounds and of the plague,
is, if it be reduced to a precipitate to prevent vomiting.
This is accomplished by the upward separation of its
laxative part.
For in every preparation of gold the chief point is to remove superfluity from it.
In the plague there is
that
no necessity
for purging.
Gold, however,
is
Take
it
away
THE
is
endowed with very many virtues for the health of man.* Another
sulphur is drawn from metals before they have undergone the fire, as
from the golden and silver marchasites and others, which take rank and excellence according to the nobility of the mineral.
So also is it drawn from the
mineral of marchasite and cobalt, according to the nature and property of
selves,
each.
of extraction
to take
is
Acetum
carefully dis-
which has stood for twenty-four hours on a Caput Mortuum made out of
distilled Vitriol, Salt, Nitre, and Alum, which also has itself been distilled by
tilled,
means of an alembic.
body
This,
in
fingers.
Then
Acetum'
distil in
place
it
say,
it
The coloured
rectify in
shall stand
it
comes
You
to a superfluous
will then
oil,
which you
will
the metallic body, which you will rightly use at your discretion.
The
separated lixivium.
made by means
we make
a clavellated
corrosive substance, and also on account of the lime of which such lixivia are
The Sulphur thus extracted can be washed with sweet water and
The subsequent digestion requires a double space of time. The
precipitated.
lixivium also ought to be rectified from all earthy deposit by means of sublimation, so that such sulphurs may not be incorporated with it and become
composed.
the
So
It is
far
materials.
But now, these having been fused and depurated, you may draw forth
There is no more certain, noble, or better way than by the
their sulphur.
water of
salt or
by
its oil,
and causes
it
prepared
way
in the
~De
is,
Hydropiii.
as
it
is
in
my
said to be of special
were, a sun, or solar beat, which disperses this rain of the body,
198
treatise
on Alchemy.
most excellent
it
from
its
It
resolves
some
other,
THE
The
and of Chalybs.
is
of four kinds
best
is
that of Chalybs.
It is
extracted by rever-
manner,
like
made by the
consumed by
filed iron is
rust.
In
rust
is
Take
and skim
it
away from
ground
its
When
Salt.
in
it,
which
boil
it,
it
carefully.
with two or three ounces of bruised Sal Ammoniac, and then carefully skim
again.
pulverised.
continually stirring
it
filings,
and
reverberate
it
boil
changes from
with
easily,
when
it
is
spirits of
wine or
distilled
until
it
can be
over a powerful
acetum, draw
its
From
own
this
fire,
colour to
you can
and
remains at the bottom of the glass, by means whereof you will be able to
produce wondrous
effects,
For making the crocus of Venus, take one or two pounds of copper-rust
carefully alcoholised, pour on it plenty of distilled Acetum, and stir it well
Gently pour off the coloured Acetum, and thoroughly
sublimate
it
in
ashes until
it
is
dry.
all acridity,
and then
dried.
You
will
The Crocus
of the
its
wine
This
is
is
warm
is
then
you
in the
explained.
use
if
destroyed.
When
salt,
whereby
and, this being again separated, the Crocus will remain at the bottom.
elevation,
200
effects.
But there
is
* The flow of blood from wounds can be stopped by means of the most skilfully reverberated Crocus of Mars.
II., c. lo.
Moreover, the Crocus and Flower of Mercury may be successfully made use of
for the cure of ulcers. Ckiritrgia Magna, Pars. III., Lib. V.
The Crocus of Iron, if it be reduced by the
reverberatory into alcool, is supposed to cure the same ulcers that are successfully treated by the Oil of Iron, provided they
artificers
BOOK THE
FIRST.
TEXT
the beginning, Iliaster, which
the stem.
But
Thus, that
is
is
t It
I.
this Iliaster
was
nothing,
was even
it
again attracts to
what
itself
was before
it
are the
And
Iliaster.
is
produced
whatever
after,
is in it
which
is
The
but
its
same
end
For
same form
four elements
Of
world
but
nothing
this family
is
time.
perishes at the
The
in the
and
away,
but. will
remain
like the
philosophy of Paracelsus concerning the generation of the four elements and concerning the three prime
Mercury, and Salt, appears to have been regarded by himself and by his editors as an essential
principles, Sulphur,
To
include
it
first
adept
who regarded
is
by no means
accomplishment of the Magnum Opus as offering a rigorous analogy with the creation of the greater world. All
alchemy insists on it. He who succeeded in accomplishing the Grand Magisterium, the confection of the Philosophers'
Stone, became initiated thereby into the secret of the Mysterium Magman; and, on the other hand, an exact
comprehension of the true principles which obtained in the universal genesis, was enough to possess anyone with a full
and practical illumination concerning the arcanum of philosophy. The cosmological philosophy of Paracelsus is the
necessary complement of his alchemy, and whether or not their combined study is likely to throw light upon either, an
opportunity must be offered to the student for the comparison of the two. The treatises which have been selected for the
purpose are translated from the second volume of the Geneva
derived from analagous writings which Paracelsus
folio,
left unfinished,
or which, for
us in an imperfect state.
When God
determined to form the world and deliberated with His Divine Prudence concerning its nature and the
He divided it into four parts or bodies, which he designed to be the mother of all things, but
subject to him whom God intended to create after His own image, even the man Adam. When, therefore, the matter
had been deliberated on and decreed by God, the four said bodies were created that is, heaven, earth, water, air. For,
t
manner of
its creation,
was created
first,
may
produce
fruit,
202
soul,
which
is
made and
indeed
Such
is
of this world.
TEXT
Now,
own
father of His
transitory, blessed
own
will.
duced
earth,
We
From
another
is
things,
all
He formed
who
manent and
heaven and
Divine
II.
it is
which had
that
and
nature,
any nature.
never perceived
following
He
nature
that
pear-tree,
fire
pro-
wherein His
possesses.
He
differ,
thistle,
snow.
and how unlike they seem to the first source from which they sprang, we
ought to make it a matter of knowledge and of philosophy, that the element
of water
is
or that
fire* is
it
who
TEXT
The
is
is
rest.
III.
duces.
water, earth.
earth
water and
all
is
produced therefrom.
And an element is
From these
And the speech
produced.
element
is
compound
is
inconsiderate of those
who
assert that
is
an
of these.
understand it thus the earth is cold and dry, cold and moist, warm and dry,
This is how matters stand.
warm and moist.
Whatever thing which is
and
dry
grows
warm
out of the earth, grows out of that which in the earth is
warm and dry. Whatever is or is produced cold and moist, is produced from
:
plexions
proceed.
is
of a similar nature.
Snow,
for
the
before
all
fire
also
that
which
from
in
is
fire
the
fire
warm and
four com-
which
dry.
in the treatises
and fragments of
treatises
is
It is
at this point,
So
example, from
com-
203
is,
tangible, but
not
it
be cold or warm.
TEXT
Now,
IV.
of
all
;
things
earth,
fire,
which
which
is
aff"ords fruits
all
given forth
all
and water.
The two former nourish us as if spiritually and invisibly the
two latter materially and corporeally.
These four elements are divided into
two classes. One is constituted of air and fire the other of earth and water.
The air sustains fire, the earth water. Air and fire hold water and earth;
while these two hold air and fire.
So then all things were created in due
order, that the one might support, seek for, and nourish the other.
Thus the
Iliaster was divided into one domor, of which there are two globules, an outer
and an inner, each enclosed with two elements.
Beyond is nothing, so far as we know. Within is what we see, and
touch, and what the light of naiture suggests to us.
He who created these
;
things
of
is
Him
not
is
among
amongst
us,
us.
we must not
TEXT
way
for us.
V.
But
is
body of heaven.
their peculiar bodies, but, indeed, all the four bodies of the four elements are
made
made only by
the
Word
of God.
is
and separate, as though someone were to take lead and make of it minium,
So then, these three species are distributed into four elements, a peculiar body
being assigned to each. To pay more exact attention to these numbers, God Himself chose three, and constituted
For the origin of this number is immediately from God, the principle
all things out of three, and separated all three.
So
ceruse, glass,
and
spirit
of Saturn.
204
God and
of
on
this
is
it
Here, therefore,
the centre of
unfolded, that
house.
it
God
For as corporeally He
perishable.
But although
it
will
it
is
called the
was produced.
Of man
As
manner
to the
He
we must
is
His
believe that
of the
be permanent.
TEXT
account.
itself
in
reduced
originally
VI.
it
to
would be
useless, invents
Deity being
in the
Now,
and produces.
of
creatures.
all
and
three.
is
that
of the earth
this
it
is,
and humid,
frigid
He
all
away
the
fire,
was extraneous.
First of all
air.
afterwards took
that
205
From
water, earth.
fire,
these
He
succession.
TEXT vn.
The
four
fields, therefore,
having been
in this
way
set apart
and separated,
there remained also four storehouses for keeping the four elements, namely,
important.
Each of these was far from being unwas arranged afterwards the fire then the earth
;
From
Of
was so arranged
For
instance, from the Iliaster of the earth beech wood was extracted and the wood
of apples removed.
Each was disposed in its own place
nothing being
corrupted or intermixed. In water gold was separated from the rest of the
metals, and afterwards the others also were removed in turn.
In the fire, the
that from the superfluity
was
cold withdrew from the heat, the light from the darkness.
was
heaven.
These four
elements, that
before
union.
all else
is,
;
Iliastri
from
fire.
was prepared
in
Afterwards the earth, too, and the water, being separated from the two
and
and the
fire.
In like
Iliastri.
The
air is
by
and balsam. It is the same with those fruits which have water for their matrix. It is the same with heaven, of
which the fruits are the sun, etc. It is in like manner with snow and rain. The art, therefore, of Nature does not,
then, teach us how to extract anything out of fruits except fire, salt, and balsam, which also are so separated from one
another by the force of fire that the fire, salt, and balsam become separate. Now, fire is also called sulphtu:
salt,
balm and liquor, mercury. It is necessary, however, that we should have a clear idea what an element is. Now, man
has a large body, containing many substances. But that which is the man himself, namely, soul and spirit, is a small
thing.
The reason why the body i.s called man is because the man remains bidden in the body. So also the eye is a
considerable part in man, but the force which sees is very small in respect of the eye.
In like manner, the earth is
called an element, whereas it is a rude body, and its true element is hidden therein, invisibly, like the spirit in man.
It is the same with the other elements, which are, indeed, corporal, but are yet spirits according to their nature and
substance.
So often, then, as you hear that this or that proceeds from an element, understand that it proceeds from
the element itself, and not from its body. In man the tongue speaks and does not speak, for the spirit speaks in it,
whose intimate permixture and union with the body causes it to be thought that the body does everything
The odour of the box tree is the spirit of the box tree ; what there is else is its body. The soul of musk is in its odour.
In corals the colour is the spirit. Thus, all fruits, like their element, have spirit as well as body, and the true fruit is
not seen by the eyes. Yet there is a certain difference between the natural and the supernatural spirit, for the first is
corporeal and material, subsisting in a corporeal body, but the second is altogether destitute of a body. The body of the
natural spirit is clothed by Nature with another body of its own element. But concerning heaven it is to be noted that
God has given it the name of firmament. The firmament is the heaven and its whole substance. The three other
elements are included in the firmament, as the egg in its shell. By the demonstration of the name which He has given
to it God teaches that He has endowed the firmament with power that it may be as a sure shell, wherein all the
creatures of Nature are firmly contained. And, just as the yolk remains immovable in its place, whether the egg be put
up or down, so is it with heaven. Wherever we dwell, we live at a high level or a low, and can call ourselves dwellers
on high or dwellers below. For a circle has neither summit nor base. Liber Meteoruin, c. 2.
fire, salt,
2o6
Thus
it
was
that
God made
and
after-
grow.
their
TEXT
so,
VIII.
These four elements were sundered into their own places and seats, so
All these were removed, just as a
that none of them should be mixed.
what does not suit the intended
away
throws
sculptor when making a statue
'"'^
So there are four elements, but only three primary ones three in
Everythe air, three in the fire, three in the earth, and three in the water.
in
Mercury
is,
one
where there is only a single triad of the primaries, that
image.
one Sulphur
all,
in all,
one Salt
Yet they
in all.
Whatever is growing, herb, leaf, grass, or the like, was relegated to the
Whatever is mineral withdrew into the water. Whatever is warm,
earth.
Whatever is air spread itself out
cold, day, night, betook itself to the fire.
And
over chaos.
a stone
is
all
It is just
itself.
is
made a
as
when
statue, out of
another a pitcher, out of a third some other kind of a vessel, and out of
the fourth a milestone yet all are stones, nay, all one stone, though divided
;
Of
God
more
He was
So
And now
it is
air,
TEXT
The element
of the air
IX.
was appointed
all
The
way.*
it
were, within
its
God
dwells,
fall
Moreover,
it
cannot
fall,
because
all
any bottom or profundity- For the air is so compacted and confirmed in its circle that it can no more be broken or dissolved than the external kingdom can perish till its time arrives,
when it will collapse inward towards the centre, the air and stars rushing towards the globe of earth, and then the globe
For the manner of this destruction shall be
shall by them be so utterly consumed that not a single ash shall remain.
things tend upwards, nothing downwards, nor
is
there
that
circle,
but
all
is
And
no profundity outside.
is
It
fields.
from what
off
it
207
dam
together, as a
it
does a
marsh.
And just
what
outside
is
as there
The
it.
is
again,
air,
like a skin in
is
The
served.
air,
then,
this sky,
is
which
stored up a
is
is
beyond which nothing can burst through, and within which nothing can
break in. Moreover the air is breath, from which all draw their life. This is
truly air itself, and puts forth the air which nourishes the four elements, and
air,
but
fire
TEXT
From
same element,
this
may
it
without materiality or
means
is
of
it
not
fall
down.
visibility,
chaos, which
its
X.
inserts
between the
pellicle
This
and the
it
does by
There
earth.
also a middle space extending from heaven to earth, in which are balanced
the
fire,
Eggr
by
And
as the chicken
arid prevents
it
from
It is
shell,
This chaos
tottering.
is
sustained in the
is invisible,
though
appears of a
it
not
shall
fall
from
its
As the
position.
water.
It
of the cucumber
its
own
is
placed in
generating seed
liquid, or the
in
what
is
like
clear
sperm,
in that
it is
a bird
which
And
in the
illustrations
it
placed in
it
in its flight.
from the
is
as the seed
is
In no other
lie
way
lies in
in this
are they
There
itself,
mucilage.
its
Otherwise, in
all its
2o8
TEXT
XI.
what
is
below.
it
s.gg.,
The rotundity
So we are prisoned within a
Walking over the
shell, and do not know which is up and which is down.
whole world, we look up to the sky, and everywhere there is height, whilst
The cause lies in the rotundity
at the same time everywhere there is depth.
of the globe and of the sky, and thus it is natural to every mortal body that
all things grow in a threefold line, and not only man v/alks, but also trees,
As God created the circle of
veins of metal, and springs take this course.
the globe and the sky, so he founded also the semicircle, the diameter and the
For in heaven and earth,
meridian a threefold line and other similar ones.
Here, too, are the true
in fire and water, are found all lines and all circles.
Cosmography,
and
Geometry.
By
the
elementary
Geography,
geography of
the air are conserved the structures of the air, that is, the sun and moon, all
the stars, the trees of the earth, and other things, as the minerals of the
water and the rest. Here, too, beyond a doubt, is found the true basis of all
geometry, where man stands like the straight line looking up to heaven. Of
this geometry God alone is the artificer, the mason, the geometrician.
From
this line nothing falls away or emerges, be it water, fire, ea,rth, tree, man,
part looked towards the sky and which towards the earth.*
"up"
beast.
"down."
or
towards
this aerial
geometry, which
TEXT
~^
Now,
how
spirit of Salt
and
and
primal parts
it is
into
two
and
is
one
The Sulphur
subtle,
is
it.
and diaphanous.
is
changed
following way.
air,
it
clarified
shell
must be seen
Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt are so
air.
air that
this pellicle
in the
XII.
all
may
and
centre.
Land and
is the circumference.
Earth and water constitute one globe, resting on
being encompassed by the element of air, which is like a vast chaos, which conceals
that
heaven
by
the
called
ignorant.
Within
this
which is
chaos all creatures are included and involved. Between the
the
the
air
and
globe
of
earth
and
water
which is at the centre, a sustaining operation intervenes, which may be
circle of
compared to the albumen interposed between the shell and yolk of an &%g.lbid.
all sides,
The
third
is
it
it
was
before.
Such
thus
air,
209
is
If
the
air.
wood
is
it
fire,
where more
is
set
THE PHILOSOPHY OF
THE GENERATION OF THE ELEMENTS.
TREATISE
WE
TEXT
I.
I.
according to the
air,
The
next to
We
the
is
it
air is first
fire.
fire.
Afterall, from the Iliaster were separated the air and the fire.
wards these two were sundered the one from the other, so that the air
First of
occupied the
first place,
were divided.
as
and
fire,
fire
darkness.
of
fire
it
fire
we
find
because
As
fire.
It is not,
many have
air, is
foolishly said.
is
It is
contrary- to
fire
it, is
congelation.
The element of fire is not by its constitution warm and dry the cold and the
moist come from the element of fire. They are quite beside the mark, then,
who seek the element of fire in the element of earth or of water. Though
these probably produce something of a warm complexion, still that warmth
;
an element because
subsists.
It is
it
is
fire,
fire.
This element
is
it
all
impressions.
down
and
their impressions
inferior.
Fire
is
God
It is also
is
it
the place
called an element.
be the element of
The two
material
to be understood also of
it
fire is
when
called an element
of
when
it
but
fire,
is like
which we use,
fire,
1 [
a difference, because
elementary
like
is
it
Material
rains.
it
is
is
it
a place where
fire in
Yet there
fire.
It is
not
that
fire in
the element
the four
in
is
elements
within
it is
as
itself,
can shew
its
and
called Tristo,
exists in
is
it,
because
of the
is
it
same nature as that by which the element of fire moistens the earth with rain.
As the element of fire moistens the earth, and it is its nature and property to
do so, it kindles wood also by a mirror in the sun.
The material fire is
brought to the globe just as rain to the earth. Both come from one element
divided as to their nature.
But the fire which is extracted from stones and
metals has penetrated thither from the sun by means of its own Ares. As the
earth is nourished by the sun, so is the one element by another.
Of the three
So
primaries, Salt could not coagulate unless the element of fire were in it.
Mercury could not give a body unless it contained in itself the element of
water.
The air is
So neither is Sulphur without its terrestrial quality.
without material or body, impalpable.
elements,
it
but
Therefore, of
TEXT
Having thus
water,
it
Beyond
endowed with beyond
these there
stars.
De
treatise
is
it
is
as follows
is
all
This element of
fire
What
come from
know
the element of
is
placed
in
the element of
body of the
other.
is,
in the
fire,
its
its tree.
in the sky,
and
sun moves
fire
Originally
sufficient to
these things
fire.
the like
other
no element of
Here
Natiird.
firmament, to wit,
is
the
two elements,
it,
II.
the distribution of
itself, like
it
lies still,
another
air.
fire
For just as
flies,
one
it
air are
mingled
so has
air.
and the
it is
appointed that
swims
in the
water,
is in this
its
mode, another
own
in that,
P2
And
manifold
phise
is
their nature
stituted
is
men by Nature
as
by
fate.
all,
so
is it
and condition.
On
this
like
stars
so
first treatise it
IN with
all
From
gether.
was furnished
all
mingled
to-
Herein shall be
to the element of
fire.
element of
first
element, that
and besides
fire,
this
no white brightness at
is
element.
stars, that
is,
to the
moon and
is
all in
the whole
parts.
it is
Where
is.
two natures
fire
exist,
it
none
in the sun.
Hence
means of his
the ground a
thus
rays.
it
stars.
:
is
also be
known
Heat
All fire
which
All coldness
clear that
In the sun
not, there
a cold one.
must
warm and
in
is
is
is
is
just as the
no white
that in the
is
warm
in the stars
is
Moreover,
element of
that globe
its
universal
is
;
in the
there
is
an
to the earth
by
cave, or as from
stalk rises above the earth, so heat goes forth from the sun
which receives its motion according to the will of the Creator. The
it radiates upon the earth there is day, but elsewhere night
The red
reigns, for all the brilliance of day is in it, and without its radiation there is no brilliance upon earth.
De
brilliance of the other stars is the light of the fire in red, only in sulphur, where there is no mercury or salt
Meleoris^
c.
32
star,
When
214
l^h^
Heat is the fruit of the sun on the globe, and it has no other fruit.
Hence it follows that the sun has two operations, a greater and a lesser heat,
in this way.
The sun divides his heat in two modes. Hence it is granted
to the stars to lose their coldness.
The matter stands thus For us Germans
if the sun is supreme his heat is greatest with us.
Then the autumn and
harvest are at hand.
In winter the cold comes on, not because the sun is
low and depressed (for it is the same sun which can by his rays shed heat
All
everywhere), but because his harvest is not then imminent as in June.
fruits are then in a state of repose, and have been harvested.
But below
us, in Ethiopia and other places which verge towards the antarctic pole,
:
the sun
is
warm
makes more or
with us he
v.'hile
but with
his harvest-time,
us
for
cold,
is
the
this
reason
less.
because
it
is
season.
fallow
fruit
and unless the sun were lying fallow, its heat would be equally
intense with us in winter as it is in summer.
In the meantime, while the sun. is lying fallow, the harvest and autumn
sleep
no
sterility,
Now
the
snow
shall
falls,
be
and
Then follow the east and the south winds, which are
Thus are produced v/inter and summer, night and
whole year. In this way is there transition from one autumn to
wind blows.
the north
and the
da)^,
Moreover,
on
subject
this
Dryness
must
it
is
Moisture
brightness.
This
is
is
all
in the
of
fire is
other
is
is
cold
is
dissolved
is
is
no
in
Coldness never
heat coagulates
itself.
the cold.
is in
only as
is
So
quite foreign.
if
In one
is
is
What
There
in
is,
dr3ness and
that
in the sun.
is,
fire
Heat consumes
heat.
cold, that
in
remarked
in heat, that
of the stars.
}'ear
be
If
is in
coldness some-
in the sun,
stars,
It is
though
not on account of their dry nature, but on account of their cold nature,
whereby they are able to coagulate so that a thing seems dried up. Thus
must
their nature
By
heat
its
this to
it
There
is
what respect
of the sun.
is
But what
is
is
his
is
the
it
method
liquefies,
Nothing.
These
and the
like,
as metals
and
Where
Such, too,
humidity?
It
its
does not
original matter ?
last.
What
is it
if,
And
so
indeed.
wards
so that
it
No
fat ?
no longer moistened.
it is
star
do
damp
again, that
The
wherever
breaks forth,
it
dry remains
heat
in
But
we
the
All heat is
first place,
may
fire
poured out,
it is
So, that
which
is
in
will, in
wet, in cold
is
wood
ashes.
is
what
it
it is
Wherever
is
it
stars
After-
It dries
fire.
so long as
is,
It
dry again.
it is
It is the
glass, glass
into
as follows
is
The whole
Magdalion.
is therein.
Thus, then, white light and heat make up Magdalion,
composed of ignited white Sulphur, congested into one body of noblest
Mercury, pre-eminent over all the other elements, and coagulated by the
most subtle spirit of salt. Out of these three the sun exists, so dry and so
warm that there is place for no humidity, but it would all be consumed. In
white light
this
other elements
is
consumed by the
is
is
nature, both of the sea and of the Rhine, Danube, Nile, and Tiber.
which
is
invisible.
They
are
So man has
within bounds.
So dryness has
death, fire
and
;
its
it
his
is
fire
of the sun.
In this course
which
From
this
wind
is
motion
not of
So
;
aroused
for,
due succession.
itself
nothing but
wind.
is
is
It
itself
generate any
warm by
grow warm.
its
If
it
course
be warm,
is
it
it
its
would
a globe, and
2i6
mode
of motion.
It
is
to say,
if it
be fallow.
But
For Magdalion
its brightness remains always and under all
is fixed, and will remain from the first point of time to the latest in one shape
and appearance and one proportion of light, of Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury.
These have only one year of their fixation, which will endure from the first
circumstances.
as
the year of
to its
if
renewed.
will be
manner
all
say there
is
That
fire,
own
In like
daughter.
we must speak
coldness and red brightness, as, for instance, in the moon, planets, and the
In this red brightness
rest.
is
For the moon has no fallow season, but simply dies and departs. The seed
only is left there, from which the new moon is born. And the generation is
Whatever
of such a nature that it gains its power of increase from the sun.
sun's
heat,
grows at all. When, therefore, the Creator made the moon after such a
manner as that she should wane and wax, He did it for this purpose, that
the moon, like seed, should be united with the sun, and should thence acquire
her power of increase. Thus it is that she increases and comes to fulness, and
then afterwards wanes.
For whatever increases, the same also decreases.
As man by disease wastes away and dies, so the decrease of the moon is her
sickness even to death, wherein she passes away, leaving only her seed behind.
The moon is, in fact, the phoenix of the firmament, from which, when it dies,
So, in like manner, there are other stars,
a new one constantly issues forth.
and they are made up of the redness of Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt. And
there
is
its
Thus
own.
its
it is
origin in that
that the
moon
has such strong influence over the earth on account of her coldness and her
She
humidity.
of
fire.
but,
still
fire is
is
superior to
The other
all
divided into
many
if
in others,
snow,
rain,
and the
and
there were but one Magdalion, like the sun, possessing only a
Now,
is
cold produces
a healthy man.
warm
ones.
should exist by
come
forth
itself
warm
fire is
divided into
which
many
is
stars, so that
winds,
warm
showers,
warm
tempests,
each virtue
From
these
and the
rest,
On
without ardour.
Yet,
all
217
fire,
is
Concerning Winds.*
circle
and
at the
But we
is
to
winds
east,
...
generating winds, and disposing of them according to their nature and quality.
As a
But the
which consists in wood and marrow, so also the same is to be understood of the stars.
seed of the winds is the first matter of the three principles, salt, sulphur, and liquor. These three are the mothers
In the northern quarters they are of a cold and dry
from which are born those foetuses which we call winds.
For as is the
in the east, warm and dry ; in the west, cold and humid.
in the south, warm and humid
nature
nature of the three principles, so are their fruits. Moreover, you must know that the winds arise from their stars by
internal nature,
2i8
There are very many which surround the whole Zedoch, like the Galaxy, and
Concerning the elementary nature of
over against the Galaxy is Deneas.
Antiquity has given to
these stars it may be said that they are all humid.
these four
names which we
retain,
All those stars which are situated at the north throughout the entire
Censeturis
is
It is
it
appears dry.
it
away
so
Auster
much
not so.
comes
is
of
its
called humid,
is
and
it,
is
That
So Auster with
consumption.
it
is
moisture for
preits
its
rule of time
and season.
Moist coction, as of water, produces a moist wind the dry coction which is known to the alchemists occasions
a dry wind. There is no other generation of the winds than when the three principles are set in motion and driven to
This action produces wind, and imposes its own nature thereon, whether warm, cold,
their work by Vulcan.
humid, or diy. We must understand that God has constituted a generation of the firmament of such a nature that the
humid.
all
Above
all
things, therefore,
it
is
by God, and
These three principles are all of an igneous nature till they arrive at
Sulphur is a fire which burns salt nitre burns also and it is in like
manner with mercuiy. Now, fire cooks wind, and in the generation of winds the stars are vials and cucurbites, containing in themselves meteoric sulphur, mercurj', and salt, which operate in these phials by means of our ethereal
Vulcan. From these ethereal operations ethereal works are produced, such as the winds.
From earthly
e.\-amples we understand the operations of the firmament, not, indeed, according to one grade, for as the heaven is
higher than the earth, so also is it stronger and as the heaven has more of clarity than has earth of grossness,
so much more sublimely graded and intense is its operation. That which is unseen by the eye is judged analogically by
things which the eye beholds. But you must know that the hour and time of the generation of those winds must be
fundamentally understood by astronomy and all its branches. If the winds blow, they .advance to places suited for
them. Much concordance produces strong wind. To frequently concord and generate is frequently to excite winds.
Many species and a strong Vulcan generate mighty and violent winds, which root up trees and demolish houses. For
the wind is, according to its own nature, as corporeal, and substantial as stone or any matter hurled down from a
great height. And although a stone is one body and wind is another, yet the latter is capable of great bodily
destruction, for therein are invisible as well as visible corporeities created by God, diverse in appearance but equal in
virtue.
Concerning the origin of winds it is then to be concluded that they are generated in windy stars above, and by
the operation of Vulcan they are matured at their proper time, when they dash forth into the centre of the globe, transforming all obstacles into their own nature and property. As Boreas coagulates, so the south wind dissolves, the
three principles should be rightly recognised.
is,
at those times
Among
They perform
blow
when
c. 5.
etc.
Wind
it
way
itself,
whence
it
again
iss\ies
tremblings of the earth are generated, although this is not the sole
has the power of penetrating all stones, all metals, and all things without ex-ception.
In this
As
how wind
to
method.
ig
its
no
is
other nature and property except to produce winds, which are decocted from
Their wind
blowing gently and peacefully over the whole world.
So
the respective winds must be learnt in the course of our exposition as to the
is
daily, hourly,
The following
Every star has
Cold
is
is
in
a certain amount of
it
the parent of
The
like.
truth
is
that
rain,
all
in
which
all
winds,
*
is
and
intermittent
all
hail
some
and the
temporary,
proceed
beget their
that
is
the firmament.*
The mode
in
winds.
all
stars
frigidity.
is
as follows
By
is
means of
manifold
in
the stars in the firmament and, generally, concerning the constitution of heaven,
discussed elsewhere at greater length by Paracelsus, and in connection with the four elements, as follows
Of
the
Man has need of these. Bat they are divided into four complexions,
has been said that they are four.
which are by no means as the ancients have imagined them, as, for example, that the eai'th is cold and dry. This is
without foundation certainly in some places it is cold and diy, but in others it is cold and wet, while in yet others it is
elements
it
warm and
dry.
Nevertheless,
it is
an element, that
is,
The
case
It is called
an element, inasmuch as
the
it is
specified to
is often dry
be cold and humid. It ought certainly to be humid, but not equally -cold.
and warm, by reason of the virtue. The body itself, in its corporal nature, is humid. The earth is dry, so that its fruit
can be conceived in it and come forth from it. So, al?o, the heaven is not of one complexion, but of many complexions.
The fire thereof is at times a water, at others a
It is not fire, but is understood as fire, because it proceeds therefrom.
fire, now cold, now warm, etc. We must consider, therefore, that the elements are only matrices, nor are they restricted
For, as the offspring is, so is that which generated and produced it. Thus, a flammula proceeds
to one complexion.
It
and
all
move and swim through it, which can by no means take place on land. The same ought also to produce salt and
Now, all these things must be humid in their first matter, and must pass from humidity into a coagulate.
stones.
But that which is born from the earth has seed, that is, a dry body, such as are seeds, roods, trees, etc. For all these
things are dry and compacted from the first matter. But in the first matter of water there is no compact body, the
whole being liquid. The matrix hereof is from the element of water. In this element grow those ultimate matters, the
which is liquid and humid. The third body is the air. This element has need of another kind of body,
which must not be humid like water, or solid like earth. Out of this element whatsoever things are born have
Man has been surrounded by an aeriform vehicle that he
their ingress in the body of the air, just as the fish in water.
may walk in it, as the fish moves in water. Thus the air also sustains all trees and whatsoever grows. It is necessarj-^,
therefore, that the air should be a chaos; not earth, not water, but something perspicuous, diaphanous, impalpable,
invisible, so that the palpable and the visible may be insphered (literally, tovched') by it, and may be seen through it
principle of
is a body of this kind, not humid as the water, not perspicuous as air, nor
one of another essence, so that heaven is not earthy, but is yet compact in its essence, not,
however, with terrene compactness. It is also tenuous and permeable as water, but still is not water; it is likewise
limpid and perspicuous without being air. It is most comparable to smoke, which is diverse from other bodies in
as through glass.
mixture or
affinity
with others.
not like stone or wood, earth, water, or air, but is a body without
manner with heaven, and the bodies which are born therefrom are at once
is, it is
It is in like
bodies and not bodies, compact and not compact, permeable like water, yet not water, perspicuous and impalpable as air,
Heaven is without complexion and
yet not air. Such a body is the sun, such is the moon, and such are the other stars.
the element of fire, and the matrix out of which fire is generated and grows. For as fire has a certain corporality, so
have heaven and the stars, which take their nature and substance from heaven. Consider, therefore, that such corporality
derived from heaven, the peculiar quality thereof, and the very element of fire and whatsoever fire is about to do,
the same is performed by heaven, whence fire proceeds. But we must make inquiry concerning the colour of heaven.
is
220
character.
own
wind
is
The
is
Zedoch perform
this process of
raise
up winds
in
the world for moderating the heat of the sun and dispersing the cold in the
is
alike.
water
is
frozen
is
is
of
cold,
When
these winds
all
it.
is
no other use of
to
moderate
their
For the
stars attract to themselves the heat of the sun, just as the fruits of the earth
The
Whatsoever
black.
things.
all
Its colour,
it
The
case
is
is
Earth, too,
same with
the
is
air,
it
is
is
So water has
its
own
which
from their
and yet up
to a certain point
is
it
neither white,
it is still
- like
summer and
man
fire
shews that
first.
c. i.
is
day and
Meteorum,
it is
winter, increasing
is
element, which
we
h.-ive
here
named
for the
fourth. Z/fc;-
22
This resolution
frigidity.
from
his nostrils,
down
all
falls
on the
earth.
is
is
it
thus
falls
drop by drop.
its
wards.
Concerning Nebula.
Nebula
is
former only
When
stars.
water, and
dew.
Nebula
it falls
is like
this kind,
smoke.
It
it
it is
rests
differing
from the
excreted by certain
certain part of the vapour passes into dew, the rest into nebula.
is
imperfect
and vanishes.
the earth
to
But
if
it
is
own, where
its
If
it is
thin
it
falls
is
it
however,
of a
Earth
is
is
But
if
sometimes
more
subtle
Water
is
more
subtle,
pure,
eye can penetrate far into its depths. The air is completely pellucid and intangible, so perHeaven is, however, by far superior to the air, but, though it
fectly purified that nothing foreign can he seen in it.
is the clearest of all the elements, it is yet a body, which is proved by the fact that its fruits are bodies, such as rain,
and
foundation
in-
heaven.
The
its fruits
reason
is
this
trees
do not need to be removed from the place where they are planted, but
the stars must describe their orbit, for which reason they are separated from the heaven, while at the same time they
are in the heaven.
garden.
Now,
At the same
so often as there
time, they
is
their
tree
from
its
The same
must be understood of herbs and all things that grow on the earth. Growing things correspond exactly to the number
of influences and stars. Every genus corresponds to its like. But as some trees produce pears and others apples, so
some stars yield rain, others snow, hail, etc., and in this fashion is generated whatsoever falls from heaven. The
qualities which are specialised on earth exist more strongly in the heaven, because that element is superior to earthly
things.
And as the magnet attracts towards itself, so also the stars attract in the heaven. Accordingly, as certain
natures on earth are dry and others humid, so throughout the whole firmament some stars are drier than others. Concerning the operations of the stars, they are produced out of congenital properties, and they arise from the three prime
That meteorology is false which makes absurd statements about the heat of the sun, of its motion, or other
principles.
modes of generation, made by attraction from the earth. There is no star which attracts rain, and then again pours
The operation of rain proceeds from a nature congenital thereto. Even summer and winter are produced
it down.
from the stars, the sun being supreme among those of the calorific kind, which arise at the beginning of summer, and
TEXT
I.
Concerning Metals.*
HE
metals which come from the upper regions derive their origin from
suns,
are only called seven because they produce seven metals, and one kind of
They
metal
is
point out
in error
nor
in
test of the
In this
lower metals.
are strengthened
by
their
own heat
till
The varying
own
way
the metals
Neither, again, do
There
is
summer
The moon
is
chief
among
The
The sun
all
is
obscurity.
is
the
Its
brilliancy
beyond
all
all iron
or steel,
some miraculous conjunction of elements, which produces them in bodily form. Many marvellous
matters are carried up into the heaven and fall down to us. If it were possible for the stars of mercury, salt, and
sulphur to be joined in a like copulation, several impressions of this kind would fall hourly. But the disposition
of
is
solely
things
is
owing
to
not favourable herein, except in the case of the thunderbolt, Z>^ Metdorls^
I^ib. \\.
the
ductility,
metallic operation
them
still
and nature of
such metals
in
there
lie
Europe.
found amongst
same
in the
stars,
some
And
fire,
in
found
is
kidneys.
For
strikes against
is
stars,
them
a few
itself
according to
fire, is
its
is
So,
the
down from
effluxes.
Many
in Africa,
and fewer
whether they
lie
own
and
all
in the stars,
purges
all
and similar
Their origin
which
fire,
without
element of
in Asia,
other.
all
the
in
is
is
one as
223
come
and coagulates of
itself up.
itself
It
purely and
These metals, just like those in the element of water, exist in comSalt, and Mercury, save that the igneous metals have
not a watery fixation, just as the aqueous metals have not a firmamental
entirely.
fixation.
TEXT
When,
II.
then, the three primals have completed their effect in the metallic
as when,
star
some furnace. This is shaken in falling, is coagulated in the cold, and lights
upon the globe. In the same way, also, the star of the moon makes a compoWhen these are brought to their effect
sition of Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt.
them
forth. The same thing takes place
(just as in the case of the sun) it casts
with Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter. It must be remarked, however, that out of the seven kinds of the seven stars, each one
many
If
liquids fall
down from
embraces the
In the
same way,
too,
a state of coagulation.
the earth be moistened with these, a brightness rises thence like cachimise,
and sometimes marcasites, though it does not fully and perfectly arise
from any of these, nor perfectly bears reference to the same. Hence it will be
inferred that the superior metals excel those of the lower earth by many
talcs,
greater praise.
all
respects deserve
2 24
TEXT
Paracelsus.
III.
same way
In the
For Sulphur,
Salt,
and
gems.
Mercury
There are many stars which consist of ruby Sulphur, many of sapphire Salt,
and many which are powerful in emerald Mercury. There are also stars
which contain the primals of copper, vitriol, salt, or alum. Hence, many of
appear rainy.
this kind
If
There, Salt
From
is
the
body, solidly coagulated with pure Sulphur and with the spirit of Mercury.
In the emerald Mercury is the body, having the nature but not the body of
copper.
It
has
its
body
white
colours,
Mercury
if
only the
is
from
iron,
its
Salt
in
predominates,
it
produces various
carbuncle or jasper
;
is
is
silver stone
is
a stone
the jacinth
a golden stone
of Jupiter
either
These stones are very rare, and those which are of a metallic
Thus, the emerald is a copper stone
the
and so on.
stones
a red
impressed.
marked by many
produced
lightly or deeply
is
lead, the
from gold,
its
from
they
if
is
a mercurial stone.
own
stars,
* In the height of the firmament stand the three principles from which impressions arise.
We
so lofty that
colour.
generated they
fall.
Although
The
this
see,
of,
it
any number of thunderbolts may be generated, for with every peal there is a stone. The matter of such stones exists
first of all in an aerial condition, and is afterwards coagulated into an earthy one, so that the air can retain them no
Furthermore, the matter of these stones may collect into one place in the
longer, and they ultimately fall to the earth.
absence of any tempest, but it will remain aerial until it comes in contact with a contrary nature, when it will at once
begin to coagulate and to fall, even as a cloud is precipitated downward in the form of rain. /^?V,
TEXT
225
IV.
Of crystals and beryls it should be known that they are generated from
the snowy stars, which produce snow, in the following manner In the snowy
stars, the power of congelation is so strong that sometimes they are of a
double nature
that is, one and the same star contains within it both snow
and congelation, and so becomes twofold. Now, a star of this nature, which
has gained at the same time the power of congealing and also of producing
snow, easily generates the crystal, the citrine, and the beryl. For, if snow
:
falls,
and
frost
accompanies
it,
globe where Boreas predominates, while the sun or the solar nature does not
prevail strongly, then the water
which
is
Now,
if this
water
is
in
falling, stones
falling.
But,
if
is
when
not
it
is
before they
fall
in
proportion as the
this seizing
all
itself
is
nor
is it
dissolved,
and the
like,
is
snows of
In
snowy.
and
The reason of
snow-water.
But
this
down
often, too,
is,
in that form.
their shape
found
Very
in places
They
them
THE PHILOSOPHY OF
THE GENERATION OF THE ELEMENTS.
TEXT
I.
TO
made on
if
Iliaster,
in
Its
matter was
its
first
but the element of water was segregated, and these were afterwards joined
together into one globe, which
these two elements,
first
it
is
the earth
should be
known
that
all
consisted of
all trees,
alone,
and not
in
is,
For
all
cattle,
by means
and
and
man, but
But
of food
From
this
element of earth
is
peculiar to the
is
called,
power of nourish-
TEXT
""1
These three
Sulphur,
Salt,
II.
and Mercury
are
is
For
there the element and the three others were one Iliaster, in which the four
elements existed. They were, however, divided one from the other, and the
Iliaster
was
divided.
forth be joined or stand together, but each subsists separately by itself in its
own place. Those, therefore, labour in vain who endeavour to separate the
four elements, or to seek besides these a fifth essence,
From
the air
end
it
such form as
in
the
fire,
about that
from
silently
it
it
now
is
should be included
it
the
And
seen.
all
as
the virtues of
all
those
it.
III.
of fungi, and also the force whereby the stem rises, and
and pleasure of
will
was
this
TEXT
invisibly proceeding
is
according to the
and
in
227
is
The seed
cultivator.
its
roots, of herbs,
here
is
that seed,
is
wood, a second
Each of
a third in fungus.
in the herb,
separately, this into cedar, that into anthos, this, again, into balsam,
into botin.*
thorns
Of
and so with
the rest.
understood according to
But
in
distribution,
its
it
was
of earth
For so
lily
third.
was
with
be rightly
may
and that
in the
to each land
is
given
own
its
herb,
and
its
own
We
tree.
should
pay attention to what has been the distribution made by the Aniadus.
TEXT
As
to
why
fell
IV.
among
trees so that in
one
may
soil to
fig
should
and
in
and the
soil
fig,
an appropriate climate.
If
now
the
two kinds of sulphur one passes away into coagulation, the other
the sulphur which is susceptible of coagulation, the wood of the
It is owing to this sulphur that wood burns, and it goes on burning so
trees is prepared, and the same abounds in salt.
long as there is sulphur in it. Whatsoever remains is salt, and this is in the form of ashes. And that truly is salt which
the sulphur in trees coagulates into wood, whence glass is made. For salt is fluid. And this glass is the ultimate matter
of any salt of wood whatsoever. But the other sulphur which is not susceptible of coagulation gives terebinth, resin of the
fir and pine, which inheres chiefly in the wood, and by reason of its subtlety penfetrates through the pores outside the
bark, either by liquefaction or by a natural resolution. The sulphur which is in botin is more subtle than the sulphurs of
the fir or pine, while that of the pine is more subtle than that of the fir. But all three are of one generation, proceeding
from the Aniadus, which is united through Mercury. The bark is nothing else but sulphur coagulated after the manner
of resin, and it is educed into this form by the Aniadus. For it is a hard congealed sulphur. And as there is no outside
in any body without hardness, so is the bark formed from the hardest parts of the sulphur which exists in a growing
The branches, the shoots, etc., as also the fruits, proceed, in like manner, from the Aniadus, and derive their
thing.
De Elemento Terra,
special form and character therefrom. This is to be understood also concerning other trees.
is
Tract
II.,
Tex
is
fir,
there exist
not coagulated.
From
I,
Q2
28
be unsuitable and the climate ill-adapted, the one fruit or the other cannot
soil
emerge, but
its
it
lie
in the earth,
nevertheless, dried
it is,
everywhere one
lilies,
ovi^n
its
either encourages or
genus of
or
it
is
the cause
why
it.
it
to
come
work
is
This material
to a condition of vigour
is
less
unless perchance
Thus
fertility.
in
soil,
TEXT
V.
means of
the
the
soil is
up by the
which is
soil,
For the
nature.
For though
soil,
soil in
seed.
In this
two ways
way
that
is
The
Here the
gifts of
fruits pro-
them
The
itself.
wheat, nor
is
lily,
whence come those seeds which do not issue from the earth
nor wheat be sown, none of these things will be proBut herbage and grass do grow. Herbage and grass, therefore, are
If neither spelt
itself.
duced.
itself,
So there
spelt,
TEXT
VI.
As to the method whereby the seed passes into its shoot, it must be
known that the seed takes from the earth nothing more than its increment
and formative power.
The other is from Paradise, and is taught in the
Paramirum.* But as to how much of an element is taken from the earth,
* Every seed is threefold ; that is, the seed is one, but three substances exist and grow therein.
But even as the
seed appears one, so are these three to be understood as one only. Every individual thing is united
in its seed and
not divided, but the same is a conjunction of unity. An illustration may be taken from trees, which
have
their
wood, and
Lib. II.,
c.
I.
their roots,
which are
distinct
in
their barlt
'
may
229
be understood from the fact that in the beginning the three primals
mix with the seed, so that it tends towards the end destined
and becomes that which it is before. For the seed is that which is of
itself, but not yet manifested.
Out of this proceeds first the root from this,
afterwards, the stalk.
From the root and stalk issue forth the branches.
of the earth
for
it,
From
fruits.
man.
It
its
has
It
is
for ornament, as in
its
which
skin,
is
is
has
head and
its
is
hair,
like
Its leaves
is
its
disease.
Philosophise as
we
fruit are
Gums
will
are
about
growth, this is nothing more than its Aniadic nature, which arranges
forms and directs them into their essence for which they were created.
its
decay
is
twenty years.
its
years.
all
Its
Thus a shoot or a
tree
in the earth dies according to the time appointed for its death.
Its
for ten or
growing
which
its
followed by death.
man
It
the element of
That
fire.
is,
it
fire
dies.
Whatever
Thus are growing things consumed and eaten away so that no relic
all are removed like dust.
The very remnants are so dispersed
remains, but
by a strong wind that not a fragment survives and remains at the expiration
of a year.
TEXT
VII.
earth, the
first
is
a species of drink.
preparation, and
another growth,
is
man
own
the
rhabarbarus,
or
230
and
as in the element of
everything by
fire
is
itself is
divided to
And
own growth.
Such
is
In
it
So
in
and yet one does not on that account destroy the other.
yet
In the
many
others,
power of the element of the earth either makes for health, as in the tare, in
persica and gamandria
or it is of a consolidating nature, as in the comfrey
and the red artemisia or in the odour, as in the lily of the valley and narcis:
sus
or in
its
These are
way
who
all
live
either
produced from
on the earth.
In this
the mighty gifts are learnt, just as the virtues of the elements which have
flowed
down from
* As out of the element of earth trees pass off into wood, so in the same element there is a certain sulphur which
can be separated and passes off into food. Of this kind are vegetables and cereals.
Dry and humid sulphurs are
united, being the three principles duplicated according to nature and essence. One of these is for use, the other is not.
Thus the avena is sulphur, but it is not edible. The seed, however, is edible. The non-esile sulphur is first of all
developed into stalk, etc., and subsequently the esile sulphur is collected into the grains of the cereal. De EUmento
Terra, Tract
III.,
Text
I.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF
THE GENERATION OF THE ELEMENTS.
BOOK THE FOURTH.
Concerning the Element of Water with
TEXT
is its
element
and
forth stalks
is
per
down
this
of this seed
whilst
is
produced the
stalk,
so, in
fruits of
as trees
stalk.
down from
its
All
element of water.
;
and
The element of
fruits,
so
its
In this
water and
It is
not on account of
called
its
way
be^_
Now,
may
it
one
tree,
with one
all
Abrissach,
the pores of
fire
fall
fall
down
by any, and
fruits
its tree,
its
a body, which
is
distillation.
All the
Out
the light,
soil into
of water
From
way.
falls
must be
it
soil.
fruits, in this
which
the
is
origin,
lies in
like
sustained.
air.
branches and
its
in the earth.
body of chaos,
There
and
stalk
of water.
is
its fruits,
latent in its
remains lying
it
fruit in the
sustains
it is
of water
water, and
it is
laid
that
first
divisions
The element
se.
of various kinds.
what
origin, into
Fruits.
I.
its
itself.
its
232
TEXT
But concerning
truth
is,
its
II.
exit
and end of
seats
its
itself, rises
and
falls, is
new, not
and
is
in the
middle of the
on
sides
born.
One branch
is
From
its circuit
root very
this
all
old,
towards
many branches
are
the seed,
distributed by this triple line over the universal globe, tending towards the
So the stalk and its branches grow out from the centre of the globe
two external elements where the line ends. It does not
go on to its own body, or Yliadum. For, unless the Yliadum were so placed
in that position, every tree would spring right up to the sky, extending itself
further outside the earth than from above, where it is fixed in the earth.
So,
neither do the fruits of the element of the earth grow farther than to the
light.
sustained
would extend
mid heaven.
fruits to the
as
it
is
not
Why
first
it
is salt, is
it,
on account of
its
as will hereafter be
shewn where we speak about the subject of salts. The cause of its ebb and
flow is that all the fruits (or the humours) flow down by night, but by day
they swell to a height, that is, clissus.
And this clissus in water is the same
as in other fruits, increasing and decreasing, going and returning.
TEXT
Now,
their
since
well to
know
all
sumption.
its
it is
III.
Yliadum,
It
is
Nothing
is
free
from
away of
is
consumed.
it
Putridity
it
is
this con-
comes
is
to
a kind
appertains
233
it is
nature.
it is
is
If it comes to its canopy, that is, to the sea, it grows putrid and
consumed of itself, no extraneous agency being accessory thereto, but
through its own nature and arrangement. As the fire consumes and extin-
ruption.
is
arise.
stood in
its
pass
away
that they
But
death,
it
in
order that
to their canopies.
all
all
may be
under-
fruits
it
should
fruits,
tje
said
it
TEXT
By way
IV.
There
Sweet water
Afterwards
we
consider that the following are the fruits of the element of water
its
nature
is
One matrix
is
Each of
:*
will
Salts,
growths out
is
the stalk.
of salt, one of
these, again,
is
The
fruits
things which
lie in
it
into its
Nedeon,
is
it
for the
its
place.
and of
all
Vliadum of the
earth,
separates the
other natures, and in like manner the germs of sweet water and things which are of an acid
When he has divided these things and educed them into Nedeon, the operation of Nedeon goes on into
quality.
Yliadum, together with its maturation to which it is ordained. Z>tf Etemento Aguee, s. v. De Generibus Salium^ c. i.
Metals, minerals, and stones, while they are all generated out of water, do yet owe their development and per-
all
There is a twofold corruption of these substances one which results from a too
fection to the element of earth.
prolonged connection with the foreign element, and the proper corruption which takes place in their own element, even
De Naturaiibus Aquis^ Lib. III.
as the fruit at last passes into putrefaction on its own tree.
For example, the origin of vitriol, as also of alum, is as follows. For as salt is extracted solely according to its
and alum. But the form which is manifested in salt, even as in vitriol and
alum, is known from this, that all the fruits of the element of water are minerals, and share the nature of metals.
But from all those things which arise out of salts, none is more akin to mineral virtue than vitriol, because the salts are
minerals, and all minerals lie hidden in one mass and Ares. But vitriol is the ultimate in the separation of minerals.
is the first.
Hence vitriol adheres
It is followed as closely as possible by the separation of metals, of which Venus
So in every vitriol there is copper, and by reason of this
It is partly salt and partly mineral.
to the nature of Venus.
%
own
234
I'f^^
So
cachimiEe.
in
manifold
is
and not
fixed,
and Venus
and ingathering
is
suffice
it
proceeding from the element of water are divided into their branches and
trees.
So
salt
has
its
own mode
its
of
Yliadum.
their division
The same
and separation,
is
is
all
such
fruits consist of
one
condition.
its
and
triple
proceeds
its
line,
in this
born one
is
and
tree,
in -this the
its
own
and
fruit is
produced after
kind, then different things are found proceeding from the element of water
on
one stalk
salt,
If,
stalk,
own
fruit,
else.
As,
it.
Now,
if
these are
brought to their Yliadum, and await their autumn-tide, then at length the
which
fruit is
in
vitriol is
come
a phlegma.
De Etemento
AqucE^
s.
v.
De
Getieridus Saliutn,
unifies
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX
[In the
Geneva
folio of 1658,
independent
in
and
many
subjects.
translation.
It
is
much
interpretation
same manner
after the
that the
included in
Economy
0/
it
SINCE
in
general,
all
all else,
would
When
many
first
matter ?
Whoever can
is
a theologian
is
full
is,
who
my
basis
ignorant of the
will they
possessing
my
how
be
much
may have
predecessors had,
on what
is
errors.
may
plainly
know
rightly understand
v^'t
238
what
is
the beginning.
It is
The
The entrance
lies
hid.
is
when he knows
be famiUar
first
this,
the
method
itself.
the
is
the issue
is
In this knowledge
evident.
its
commencement, so that
it
may
also
be more exactly understood for what purpose the matter has been framed.
Now,
if
man ought
use them,
it is
purpose
its
What good
it
is
rightly
otherwise
over to one
myself received
What
it.
said in
my
first
paragraph,
must be known before the first, and Trom the last the first should
I make this clear from the example of Christ, who was hot
be understood.
understood until He sent the Holy Spirit, who, at His coming, revealed all
things.
By Him we understand Christ, though He came after Christ. So,
from the same ultimate, that is, by the Holy Spirit, we now understand both
that the last
Now
-^
Salt,
is
is,
principle of
is frail
And
here
balsam, mercury,
etc.
still
If,
it
Everything produced
air,
no
less
than
in
more of
it is
is
by Nature
it
steel,
all
and Mercury.
When
all is
these are
dissolved.
what they
them, you can gather that those things are three, namely.
Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury. These three are the body, and everywhere there
Seeing, then, that the dissolution of substances reveals particularly
are,
and what
is in
one body and three substances. Concerning these three substances I will
now begin my teaching, by which you may know that in the ultimate matter
is
all
On
be stated.
pleased
it
how God
this basis
In the beginning
He
Furthermore,
239
God
to
water whereinto
Water,
say.
He
destined
it
three substances
And though
produced according to
its
And just
in the water.
own
God
parent, so
One
is
a bird of the
air,
another a
All these
fulfilled in
of
God,
who
it
should
is
is
not wood.
of
first
all
willed that
them.
all
mother of
fish
Now,
its
nature.
is
the
So also
is
wood
Water
Nevertheless,
comes from it. In the same way, stone, iron, etc., are from water.
becomes that which of itself it is not. It becomes earth, which it is not. So
is it necessary for man also to become that which he is not.
Whatever is
destined to pass into its ultimate matter must necessarily differ from its
The beginning
beginning.
Now,
in
water
is
Of no avail.
is
first
substances.
and Mercury.
Fire, Salt,
will
flints,
a stone, another a
So
flint.
One
this kind.
one
is
a metal, another
is
one
He
is
is
is
He
able to rival.
succession to explain
all
is in all things.
He is the primal matter of all
He is all things. Then, when we come in due
minerals, we will, in the ensuing discourse, speak before
alone
else
is,
meaning was
good; but
was incapable of
earth.
Their
proof.
In this point they were defective, as also in the materials for estab-
the
position
The
He
way
principle, then,
was
first
of
all
fruit,
primal matter.
which
So
is
in the
to
produce other
fruit,
is,
It is
has seed.
just in the
The seed
is
same
is in
the
reduced to
240
it
water.
is in
He
species.
Moreover,
fruits
He
God
if
created time
own
harvest for
special
autumn
water
The Archeus
an element,
is
is
autumn
autumn
is
for the
So,
minerals.
all
he
that everything
Nature man takes these things and reduces them to their ultimate matter.
That
the
is,
The
is
God has
is soft,
and potable.
Yet its offspring or fruit is hard, as metals or stones,
than which nothing is harder.
The very hardest, therefore, derives its origin
from the very softest the fire from the water in a way beyond the capacity
of man to grasp.
But when the element of water becomes the matrix of
gentle,
minerals, this
is
Every one has his own special feelings and properties, not according to his
bodily organization, but according to his nature.
Thus
all
metals according
body are water, but according to their special properties they are
metals, stones, or marcasites.
In no other way can reason grasp that these
to their
Thus, then, God created the element of water, that it might be the
all metals and stones
and He separated it from the other three
element of
it
it
And
the
He
lies.
air, in
it
founded
it
first
is
that
it
surrounds and encircles the globe and yet does not fall away from its
appointed station so that the part lying under us is turned upwards just as
we are, and in the same way hangs suspended downwards. Then our wonder
is increased, seeing that the bed or pit of this
genuine element, at its centre
;
of greatest depth,
is
it lies
Now,
in this
fall
but
it
no support
away from
all
itself like
is
a clear
241
and forms.
Moreover, as you
grow out of the earth into the air, and none of them remain in
the earth, but go out of it and separate themselves from it, so, growing out
of the water, there go forth metals, salts, gems, stones, talcs, marcasites,
see, all fruits
sulphurs, etc.
matrix, that
is,
all
is in
which
manner
In like
when
So, then,
is
the root
how many
grow out
is
clearly erroneous
Everything else
like.
grow
it
This idea
is
is
they
water acquires
in the
same
but this
we
is
clearly
which originates
Otherwise,
fallacious.
the
these minerals,
is in
who advance
all
worth nothing.
origin
in the water.
in the
is
the
is in
to perfection
is
operation, but
its
the water,
earth.
course,
air.
In the
its
proceed from the water, existing in the water as the primal matter of those
same minerals,
after the
own
is
in
When
them.
is
born,
also, the
In like
it first
is, its
manner,
and
first
is
fills
the
air.
that
When
fruit
so, also, in
is
is, it
this tree is
now
earth, the fruits are forthwith born, congenital with the tree, according to
and condition. Here the metal grows in its own special kind,
some sort of salt is produced, there again some genus of sulphur breaks
forth, and elsewhere some sort of gem is protruded.. And, just in the same
their nature
there
way
as
many
on one
many
fruits,
it
tree,
so, in this
is
similar
first
his
culture in the element of water will be taught and instructed, as the husband-
242
man who
how
his
plies
may
method of generation, so
hold good
in this way
There are
some trees which bear their fruit, not nakedly, but under mixed conditions.
The chestnut, the nut, and other similar growths, have a bark, thorny in
appearance, and inside another, while, lastly, a thin skin encloses the kernel.
So, in like manner, there are metals, also, and minerals lying hid in flesh and
skin, such as are the ore of iron, the ore of silver, and so on.
These have to
be removed in order that, after separation, the desired fruit may be extracted.
On
is
From
these nothing
is
its fruits
nakedly, as
all
is
and good.
element
for,
itself
there
and so
it
makes
in
a body and a
spirit in the
spirit,
body.
That
is
the
is
further, as
Now,
it is
same as saying
two bodies.
In the second
is
in the
first
to be
sought
although there
you see
gold
is
itself,
And yet
is
may
be
must be
not impure. There
it
So then the
developed
out of the element into a tree, afterwards into a body, and within the
first
shell that
in another.
its
is
own
Indeed, water is
consuming its own growth. We
have proof of this in the earth. That which grows from it returns to it and
perishes, so that no part of it any longer survives.
So yesterday perishes and
no man will ever see it again, and it is in like manner with the night past.
In like manner also pass away all things born of the earth, which return
to the
its
own
and are consumed by it, and yet it is not heavier by half an ounce then
was yesterday, nor is it heavier to-day than it was a thousand years ago.
earth,
It
Its
243
it
consumes and
mortifies
own
its
is its
That death
fruits.
the great centre and terminus of water, the open sea, into which
all
own
is
in
water flows.
Whatever passes hereinto dies and decays, passing away even as wood is consumed in the fire. And as, year by year, new fruits emerge from the earth,
while the old ones perish, so, every day new minerals are begotten, be they
metals, marcasites, gems, stones, salts, or springs. These all come forth girt
about with death, as an infant who brings along with it death bound up with
life.
By the same method of reasoning, metals, too, bring with their ov/n be-
own death too, and they die in the terminus of the water, that
sea.
The Rhine, the Danube, the Elbe, and other rivers are
ginning their
in the
is,
open
itself
they are
separately
how
copper
be
brackish,
it
warm
or cold
be
on the
its
That
be
When
this.
it
gold, silver,
a spring, sweet or
she
is
Know,
not water,
and yet
it
mark
branches.
is
be
marcasite
or
coral
it
tree
It
dies.
is
;
which
into
its fruits.
grow and
all
oil,
bitumen, or mucilage.
still
is
it
own
not
wood,
That liquid is the stock, and its branches are that same liquid, just as a tree
So, then, the mineral tree is
is wood, and its branches are like in kind.
formed into a body of this kind, and afterwards divided into its ramifications,
so that one branch very often extends from another into a second or third,
nor seed (or stock)
it is
One branch
itself to
turns to the
all
body.
German
and another
its
to Transylvania.
Such
is
its
of the earth.
sky
tion
which
is
Hence
it
fruits
its fruits
on the
244
and there
lated,
in
is
It
itself.
perishes like
according to
From
together
its
all
nature, a
while, lastly,
thence.
this
in
all
all
neither
is
more nor
than
less
and true
essence of. the element.
These three substances contain within them all
And when, at the predestined period, it is
metals, salts, gems, and the like.
about to beget those fruits which it cannot help producing, then each genus
and species gives birth to that which is like itself. Thus, if any person had
now made
different seeds, as
and
if
many
in
others.
the
its
bag
filled
species
is
is it
with seeds of
brought to
its
bringing
fruit,
kinds to be sown.
all
own
its
marvellous plan, has gifted the four elements with these miracles of creation.
man.
Every
God
learn
all
God
By such
investigations
is
worthy of
all
praise
which puts
man is bound to
and how much, his
Every
Such
and Avicenna, with their accomplices, who are
That enemy bursting in has devastated everything
destitute
is
Lacking
many
good
you have heard that the primal mattpr is conjoined in the matrix
a bag, being compounded of three parts. As many as are the fruits, so
far,
kind of Sulphur
tin,
the light
Its
all
So
as in
all
light
of Nature.
with
way
of
all
and so on.
another
another
in gold,
So, there
is
another
one kind
in
many
in
amethyst, magnet,
flint, salts,
Sulphurs, but so
gems, another
There is one
another in iron, another in lead,
the sapphire, another in the emerald,
in silver,
fountains,
many
in stones,
Salts.
another
etc.
and the
There
in salts,
Furthermore, there
rest.
is
And
one Salt
another
is
there are
in metals,
in vitriol,
another
A
in
alum.
Such, too,
is
One essence
still more
are
an apple,
is
Gold
specially divided.
is
is
Sulphurs of gold.
245
Salts
of gold,
Add
to this, that
all
these
There
as many
The same remark
there are, some more
Mercuries of gold.
valuable,
others
closed hand, from which she puts forth every separate kind, the best and
noblest that she has.
comprising metals.
all
way
many
In this
created species as
As a
figures
In
painter.
this
alone
they
differ;
is
substantial
Then
is
gives
colour,
all
gives
Mercury gives
and arcana.
virtues, power,
gives
to those
good
to
each
it
which
Mercury.
before
to
So these
God
three ought to be combined, nor can one exist without the other.
life
like that
Salt
so Nature
like another,
life,
On
grow
Salt,
So, then,
all else
know
make
is
suitable.
whoever wishes
him
foundation for
Again, he
He who
who
must
desires
wishes to learn
appropriate to
virtues let
is
little effort it is
virtues,
who
will,
and to
whom God
yet
gives
emerges a tree
it
mired
in
exists in flowers,
God
is
very
is
much
so sublime
to be ad-
His works, and from the contemplation of these one ought not to with-
in the
study of them.
246
Moreover,
as well,
will
be
in
consonance with
my
subject,
and of
practical use
if I
minerals.
it
This order
is
book about
others.
different to that which has been pursued by
these are not of one kind but distributed
and
minister to
human
health.
cornelian, etc.
employs for building houses or other receptacles necessary for human life.
Further still, another genus is composed of Salts, of more than one species,
which are neither metals, nor gems, nor stones, which also are useful for
purposes which are subserved neither by metals, gems, nor stones.
a special order has been assigned to springs,
internal organs of the body, others help
others cold,
some
it
some
Some
externally.
There are so
good
to the
warm and
many different
are
many
Moreover,
of which do
different
silver.
But
species in which
talc,
and by
itself.
It
it
is
genus given
and
for
many
my
succeeding paragraph.
From
and though
A
side, are
in the
It is,
should, therefore, be
fully
^47
But
still it is
true that
one
come
will
manifest
so occult that
is
it
me whose
after
made
F^r
it is
true
Some
manifest.
this.
You
should know, however, that there are three parts in this Art, to
These three
by which he
And
artifices in the
them
in the
man
can bring to perfection any thing or any work by himself, without some one
No
to help him.
how
to conjoin
user.
If
it is
who
to supply
will
God
ordained by
He
may
find accomplishment.
and that
One
is
thing,
and bring
it
which
it
appointed.
is
Hence
follows that three things must be taken which reduce every mineral to
appointed end.
all
things.
This
be begun.
is
is
This
is Salt.
Thus
its
is
there
is
is
doing
Then
Sulphur.
Lastly, there
Mercury.
This
is
it
its
is
brought about as
it
should be.
unification
many
But
it
its virtue,
blacksmiths, one
that the Archeus should set in order those things which are to be conjoined,
just as a baker, cooking bread, joins together
finds
out what
Everything
is
what has
is
necessary for
it
appointed to
its
what has
to be joined, or a vine-
own
its
own
special purpose.
be necessary to
form a
Now,
if
the Archeus
'
248
what
and com-
bines the three simples. Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, which are of this nature,
and do serve
his purpose.
They
way
that Sulphur
prepare
it
may add
its
that those
may
of Salt.
In this
is
coagulated
Now
autumn
is
When
ready and he
is
it is
hand who
at
that
is,
is
brought about by
the Salt
first unifies,
is
it
And
Let this
concerning minerals
next
are conjoined.
properties, so
its
conservation, which
lastly,
way all
ought to be or to
it
decocted for
is
They
become.
means
is
to be dealt with,
may
be more rightly
and plainly understood, and that you may not be led away by the deceits of
the old writers and their followers.
They are puffed up with vast self-esteem,
and are only approved by those
them,
like
who
may
but do not take their ease quite so much, hoping that they
search into
may
a great
metals which
are not reckoned as metals, either in the writings and philosophy of the
common
people,
To
these
belong zinc and cobalt (which are subdued and forged by force of fire), as
also certain granates (accustomed to be so called) of which there are many
kinds, themselves also metals.
known
to me, as are
many
this
bismuths, and other cachimiae, which produce metals, but of kinds not yet
known.
Only the principal ones are known, which are more ready and convenient for use, such as gold, silver, iron, copper,
pretty completely neglected, and
tin, lead.
The
their properties
to learn
save
in
in
it.
It
art.
The
its
one
is
own body
are
neither
Neverthe-
competent
No
rest
is
not being
It is a peculiar growth of
and provided with its pro-
A
The custom
perties.
seven planets.
is
From
249
this
it
full
knovv^ledge of metals,
is
Sol, silver is
But come, arrange these things. If you join Venus and copper you
will soon see how they square and agree with one another. Join and compare
lead with Saturn, and notice what happens.
Compare tin and Jupiter, and
Such philosophy is nothing but rubbish and consee what fruit will arise.
fusion.
Not the slightest vestige of any foundation or light appears in it.
Jupiter.
is
at
all.
Compare
Mercury.
is
Of
the
same
the complexion,
nature, working, quality, properties, and various virtues and essences, and see
how
One
They
It
is
stability or
but these
common
on metals teaches you that those metals are six in number, so far as they are
known to me, and I have given them above. To these are added a few others
some three or four - which are known to me, and the number and species
whereof
shall
think
it
For by provings of the metals, many proofs present themselves which are metallic, that is, they are reckoned according to the nature
of the six metals, though they do not altogether agree thereto so that I
Every
should augur from this that a great number of metals still remain.
number
still
remain.
known and
discriminated
if
subjected to a sufficient
examination.
With regard
is
that
it
is
Sulphur sublimated to the highest degree by Nature, and purged from all
filth whatever, so transparent and lustrous (if one may
say so) as no other of the metals can be, with a higher and more exalted
If
Sulphur, one of the three primals, is the first matter of gold.
body.
Alchemists could find and obtain this Sulphur, such as it is in the auriferous
tree at its roots in the mountains, it would certainly be the cause of effusive
joy on their part.
This
is
produced, not that other Sulphur from which come iron, copper, etc. This is
Moreover, Mercury, separated to the highest
a little bit of their universality.
is
all
"^
250
admixtures,
This
is
is
The
rose-seed,
is
purified
is
the
is
to
salt, crystallized to
from
character, that
but
clearness.
and
consummate
and
vitriolic
it
supreme
is
decocted in the
way
we have
of which
it,
and advanced
point,
con-
in
already
spoken.
is
Its
grade
not
is
one only, but Nature of herself gives thirty-two degrees to the finest gold.
In
The
our Art, twenty-four degrees are found for establishing the best gold.
cause of this
is
that gold in
tree
its
is
like
in the kitchen.
some being
worse.
better
and others
it
is
from twenty-six degrees as a maximum down to ten degrees as a minimum. The grades below this are too pale
and not recognisable. For it is the nature of gold to be either light or dense.
This happens from some impediment which occurs from the stars or other
elements which aid in the decoction. As one man is more dense or more
subtle than another, so neither does gold always attain its complete grade,
principally for this reason that too
much body,
membered,
too,
confers excessive
If this
removed
(as
it
But
if
is
done
it
is
called,
in this
may
be graduated.
that
it
is
Indeed,
it
is
is
not
is
too
by
quarta.
It
Nature
unequal.
its
colour and
its
weight.
This
251
manner already
in the
detailed.
other two, Mercury and Salt, are white, and of a golden nature.
tinge a sulphurous body that
But the
These so
loses
that the other tincture, the Alchemical to wit, should tinge the Mercury and
Salt
it
and
it
In this
man
is
So also
is
redness.
in
it
tincture.
is
whiteness
and that by a
gold
and that
white,
in
himself.
Yellowness inheres
it
man
cattle
indeed,
in his generation.
in
may
made of a
made black or
shall be
be
arts.
now
relegate to astronomy.
Attention also must be paid to the fact that at this juncture Nature takes
the lead in matters of the kind described.
a body,
Mercury.
In Sulphur there
is
nothing save
In
Thus,
this virtue is
if
it
in
Mercury.
medicine.
which contains all things. For this is the rationale of creation, that in all the
"outgrowth? from the four elements of Nature, not only are those things
present which are of themselves seen and understood, but these also contain
within them the magnet which, in decoction and preparation, attracts to
the essences of the three primals, that
term
it,
is,
call it
itself
the^uart-essence.
252
consists of three
much
When
Nature
is
its
The flower
flower
is
at the extremity,
is
kind.
any other
When
follows
tree,
is
the
its
weight.
This spreads
in the
of
in the
is
itself,
then the
This,
in its place.
not always burst forth where the flower had stood, but this
several hundred
ells
in
flourishes
sometimes
the
flower
as the
immature, so there
born
The
And
fruit.
at the extremity.
first
it
all
is
metals.
true,
does
the nature of
is
the distance of
at
itself,
open
Besides, with regard to gold, this fact also deserves to be well weighed,
namely, that
it is
If
earth,
here also
these
it
As
matters,
of Mercury.
If this
takes place,
it
The
gold, too,
Salts.
fruitful
fall
by Mercury or burnt by
chilled
The
a_g;g.ne.ra.t.i.Qn
corrosive salts
air
may
destroy
The
it.
is
this kind.
up by a blazing sun, so
The
There
with
its
is
tempests.
Concerning Silver.
generated from white Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, which, being
most subtly prepared and rendered transparent, have been restored to a
Silver
is
fire
ence
is,
Herein
Since gold
of silver
is
is
female and
is
Here
gold
is
the differ-
is
male ancf
possessed of feminine
is
lies
male
it
253
listinction
Concerning Jove.
Of the
gfeneration of Jove
should be
it
known
that
:his
stance of Mercury.
its
for
Afterwards
and
loses all
It
:eases to be a metal
is
produced from
it is
not fixed
is
nothing
it is
else but
it
by Art.
Concerning Saturn.
Saturn
is
On
account of
density
all
other
latures of
all
the metals.
secomes ceruse,
jf
its
If this
spirit of
VIercury.
It
gets
spirit
its
it
it
from
it
consists
It
Salt,
and from
together
all
vitreous
its
On
is
Iron
is
They
iogether.
;ex, the
male to
lis in like
Sulphur,
fluid
It is
Salt,
coagulated into a
itself.
silver, that is to
say,
in
This conjugation
grow
manner.
Concerning Venus.
Copper
these
[f
is
three
colours
be mixed
with
its
own female
element, that
is
Salt,
it
scorise.
They
mother
produced.
is
is, its
The
itself to
differ
be
from one
and malleability, as iron and steel differ. If that separaand each consigned to its own nature, two metals are produced,
altogether in essence, species, and properties.
in fluxibility
ion be made,
liflfering
Note.
namely,
gold,
in
silver,
number
tin,
lead,
iron,
steel,
female copper,
and male
2 54
Thus they
copper.
iron
and
steel,
as
But
if
venient.
ought to
last
gold,
be.
Of Mixed Metals.
You
perceive,
said,
silver, iron
and
its
steel,
own
still
Such, too,
one body
but
good
it is
separated one
is
result ensues
from them.
of
own accord
in
not
is
in the cases
its
own
into
body.
is
most
tree
and there
is
the
when
Only, therefore,
same
silver
subtle.
may
It
in
Nature.
Concerning Zinc.
Moreover, there
is
is
metal of
itself is fluid,
because
it is
Many
Such,
fully
say,
known.
is
commonly known,
called zinc.
Its
fluid primals.
it.
It
It
The
does
it
this
It
It
stands alone by
itself.
Concerning Cobalt.
Moreover, another metal
is
It
is
with a peculiar black colour, beyond that of lead and iron, possessing no
brightness or metallic sparkle.
It is capable of being wrought, and is
malleable, but not to such an extent as to fit it for practical use. The ultimate
matter of this substance has not as yet been discovered, nor its method of
preparation. There is little doubt that the male and female elements are
joined
in its constitution, as in the case of iron and steel.
They are not capable of
being wrought, but remain such as they are, until Art shall discover
the
process for separating them.
255
Concerning Granates.
Besides these, there
and marshes,
in the
is
form of a seed
like
found
is
in
streams
It is
founded
Alchemy
allows
many mixtures
copper or lead.
it is
not likely to be
made
clear at
penetrate
it
It is
of
Unless
It
all.
as they do
It is
Note.
Concerning
Gems.
in the
form of
crystal,
wherein are
Concerning Quicksilver.
There
founded
is,
and
stances, so
is
this
Alchemy reduces
it
it
to malleability
it is
it
The
has.
iron can be
made from
it.
is
clear, that
and,
it is
to other sub-
should be a metal as
Possibly also
it
is
from
it
tin, lead,
and
Its
toil
Mercury, and
it
silver, gold,
far
is
that
As water
So
hammered nor
neither
is
is
it
Salt,
It
is
it
has no
feet.
it is
It is
fluid,
the heaviest of
all
the metals.
Note.
So
they are
is,
is
not a metal.
all
which are
marchasites.
perfect
is,
indeed,
to
this
For
multifold,
There
and imperfect
are,
;
white
and
red,
than
To
256
many
auripigments, and
talcs,
which
differ
with the
first
first
Metals such
But because
they incorporate also a metallic foe, nothing can be extracted from them
without alchemy
These are
am
acquainted with
all
of these.
same
is
entitled
it is
relation to metals as
tumourous
flesh, as the
Of
these things
others are in
;
yet others
is
of
two
colours, citrine
It is
brilliant.
destined to become
is
At
conclusion
the
of the
is
man.
there follows in
the
It
entitled
is
an
are, then, in
bodies per
human
se,
and
Salt,
and are
else.
specially called
bears with
it
made up
The other
is
a species.
spirits
and
either
have species
a marcasite
is
a species, cachimige
in
gem
has
differs
from the former Yliadus, because the former has his substance and mineral
not a manifest body as planets have.
perfect. Minerals have such species
Wherefore the Yliadus is to be understood in a twofold sense, one referring
;
to the body,
spirits.
is
is partaker with
not partaker with the former,
APPENDIX
II,
explained in
is
.i
moment.
As
these
it
requisite
is
to
references
to
from
salt,
accentuate the
the principles
folio.]
UNDER
GOD
man
that he
is
unable
in
any way to
SALT.
to such a pitch of necessity
live
without
Man
The causes
This
of this compulsion
and want
salt,
is
I
Of these
consists
deprived thereof.
Now,
exists,
since
man
it
is
except in so far as
is
therefore
him with a congenital balsam which also itself consists of three ingredients.
where salt is deficient, there that
is salt, preserving man from decay
For as the flesh of cattle which is salted
part which is without salt decays.
is made free from decay, so also salt naturally infused into us by God
Let that theory stand, then, that man
preserves our body from putrefaction.
consists of three bodies, and that one of these is salt, as the conservative
element which prevents the body born with it from decaying. As, therefore,
This
all
created things,
all
it
is
necessary that
S
258
of Paracelsus.
Hence,
kind.
also,
necessary that
is
it
all
gather their nutriment from those three things of which they consist.
do
not,
it is
species.
In sulphur
So from
and die
this liquid,
own
its
which
is
rain, that
its
own
If
sulphur, in mercury
all
they
their three
Herein there
liquid.
is,
Nature contains
salt.
in
its
own
is
is
decocted.
Hence by
parity of reasoning
way
salt its
/^ and
is
salt,
it
its
is
clear that
man
is
man may
'Whatever burns
is
is
Man
two
is humid
Hereupon
salt.
is
be sustained
sulphur, whatever
must receive
congenital
the
and
nutrimental mercury,
that
salt.
order be
If this
is
neglected
and when one part perishes the rest perish with it. This order must be kept
The Academics know nothing of this philosophy, a fact not be
in due series.
wondered at, since in other matters they neither know nor can do anything.
Now,
all
the world over, there are ardent foods such as flesh-meat, fish,
bread, etc.
it
be water or wine,
is
Why
of his sulphur.
on account of
he needs
;
and the
is
little
men
with
salt,
their
own
nature and that of their cattle needs the salt water of the sea, and
cattle,
it is
its
our food.
nutriments meet
That
that
have said of
is,
other creatures,
fire,
is
if I
that
salt
By
may
is
the reason
is
it
way
three
third,
is
But
if
any cadaverousness,
Now,
that.
balsam
its
if
there accrue to
everything in creation
balsam
itself
my Theory
to be dissolved,
is
it
its
modes
in
which
this
If
may
is
this
eat salt in
the
is
so term
259
is
it
in one,
In this
against putridity.
or
and food
to say, salt
is
By these nature
namely, drink.
I
we
is
Salt.
in
which the
corruption,
salt
then
If
neither the
internal
evil
may be
much more
will
it
If salt
If
by
its
power and
efficacy
dead body from worms, much more the living body, and for
this reason, that it is not only an aliment, but a necessary food and a medicine
Salt must be supplied to all.
useful for old and young alike.
But there are three kinds of salt. There is sea salt, which is salt of itself,
As wine differs from water, so the sea in its nature
not salted by others.
this is salt.
Secondly,
Other waters are sweet
differs from other waters.
;
there are
same
time.
These have
a special nature, insomuch as they have that nature not in common with the
Thirdly, there are also
sea, but of themselves contain a different kind of salt.
mineral
salts,
The
metals or minerals.
minerals.
The harder
it is
best salt
divided into
many
ties distinct
is
kinds, so also
is it
As
how
it
is
the better.
from springs.
Then
is
to the
way
here, since
grows.
there
in
it is
which
salt.
And
as salt
is
clear enough.
Neither is this
to the
S3
Book on
26o
My
it is
which
the
is
much
intention
is
to enlarge
All salt,
common
is in liquid.
become
The
kind
it
corrected.
decoction
is
is
entire
is
known
should be
It
its
it is
One
twofold.
is
and
But
liquid.
is
salt
which
is
For example
languid, and
its
man which
the food
is
When
salt is defective
food
Where
From
assimilation imperfect.
If these
salt
is
it
Moreover, there
is
however,
is, it
salt,
salt
is
salt
is
in the urine.
is
may
salt.
not be
a solvent power in
takes
arise, salt
Urine
Natural
salt.
away or
is
salt is united
with
Now,
disit
wasted.
is
blood
its
proceeds an
salt is not
If
not
is
if
organised.
the
a corrective of foods.
salt.
definite.
Moreover,
decocted
wont
let
every physician
know
means of
salt,
that, since
the use of
should be so
called sal
It is
not to neglect the three species of salt and the operations of each, but
diligently to use them.
fore,
salt is twofold,
Concerning the
one as a liquid
liquid,
all salt
dries
salt.
Even if dry salt be reduced it
not of equal excellence, as you will learn in its addition and correction. It is
accordingly of great importance that the liquid of salt should be correctly
is
described.
If the liquid
it
will
bear up
naturally
it
touches,
tomary
in
that
is
it
consumes.
warm
like
the patient
can
body
is
fat,
in
adipose, and
it
in
it
be
so
as
is
re-
cus-
Whatever bodies
should all be washed in
But
if it
to
treat-
humid
he should wash
If
it,
way
effect in this
or hot springs.
sit in
like.
to swell
produces such
It
bath
one.
A dry and
muscular
that bath
happens that
after a bath of
such
progress of time the superfluous humours again invade the body after
life and dwell near
and the pleasures of this
A long life
salt springs.
is
rock
salt,
common
gemmae,
these,
it
should be known that any kind of salt put into water and used for washing
wounds, preserves them from putrefaction and from worms, and so efi^ectually removes any worms which may have been produced, that none are
they are
If wounds are kept pure and clean,
ever generated again.
healed
herself,
even
if
provided only they have not assumed a poisonous aspect, in which case,
So also in virulent
for the most part, not even a balsam does any good.
ulcers salt
is
a singular remedy.
Besides
this, if salt
freed from
for
it is
all
sorts of scab.
In this
itch.
And here, too, should be noticed the possibility of correction by which dry salt
may be to a certain extent reduced to this form.
Salt is useful in many other cases than we have so far reca,pitulated in
So many virtues be hid in the use of salt. In
external diseases of the body.
conclusion,
it
262
them be resolved
This
liquid.
in
cell in
much slower
method
salt.
in operation.
mentioned.
first
It
between
salt
salt,
and
that
is,
found
observe
will
ad-
is
no other substance.
in
salt,
but
be decocted
If alkalis
useless.
is
There
alkali.
is
But
was
The same
subject of calcination.
distilled into
into
is
alkali.
is
it
you
it
let
differs little
it
Afterwards
The
will
is
Thus you
an
But
oil.
spirit
is
on the
said
This
which
spirit resolves
gold
if it
it is
But
if
smiths in gilding, and a constant and priceless treasure to other artificers for
nevertheless, they
most of
all
salt of
silver
skilled in
fire is
if it
is,
is
afterward produced.
so as to form another
The
men
is
that these
in them
becomes very
easily as lead
is.
or animals
is
deposited,
Now,
formed
two are joined
man they expel from him what is superfluous by means of the urine, which
nothing else than natural, corporal, and nutrimental salt meeting with other
salt, is called salt nitre.
silver,
wrought almost as
It is this.
is
for the
be reduced to a cement.
Alchemy
can be cemented
and the
common mode.
after the
sal stiriatus,
must be
humours.
then the
Now,
if
spirit of salt
meeting together
from the
salt
may
its
conditions.
time,
out
This the Alchemists afterwards
extract from the nitre, clarify by alchemical art, and separate that
salt
some
one
That they
salt
which
clarify again,
is
not
and then
may
again be extracted from a certain part, and the rest mixed with the salt of the
nitre.
Now, the reason why the genuine salt can be again extracted by decoction
is,
is
not digested
in
man
is
passed out
digested
so that afterwards
nitre.
it
may
is
No
nitre,
reduced
from
it
it
Alchemy found
virtue
to the
form of a coagulated
salt,
and
to distil sulphur
it
salt
lying hid in
it,
263
Salt.
They
art.
tried
Having accomplished
this
this
like a thunder-bolt.
By means of
restrial lightning.
this salt
many
of the arcana in
We
or any
good end.
It is
best, therefore,
man
simply from
its
is
it
nature of
not to write on
Alchemy are
way
to the health of
demand a chapter
men, but
The
to themselves.
man
or brute,
is
contrived that
that
sufficiently
is
strong against
From
and
it is
in the
it.
had incorporated
have mentioned.
It
salt
have proceeded,
But these
Paramirum.
and
is
found also
cavities,
salt nitre.
It is called saltpetre,
salt,
it
adheres to rocks,
and
saltpetre,
how-
by a certain difference.
because
Salt nitre
and other matters. At the same time, I do not think it advisable that the salt
is formed from the salt nitre and saltpetre for food should be given
man to eat, unless you wish to make him lean and dried up. Otherwise, it is
It acquires another spirit, a different nature and
very useful for gunpowder.
which
condition.
if it
be not digested
it is
salt, for it is
well to
salt,
264
and
in its transit
it
can
this kind
Besides
this,
if it
remains
in
the stomach
it
all
must
take great care to observe whether that salt has proceeded from salted,
and
It also
is
this
Salt
is
whence
arise
its
of
them would be
What seemed
experience.
to
injurious, so that
me
useful
have done
my
my
APPENDIX
III
De Natural
and may be compared with The Economy of Minerals, c. 17. It
an addition of considerable importance to the Hermetic Chemistry of
ibus Rebus,
is
Paracelsus.]
CONCERNING SULPHUR.
GOD
with
many unspeakable
in sulphur,
which
It will
it
operations.
is
endowed
qualities,
its
its
Many
true power.
authors have
They piled
up heaps of matter, but deduced nothing from the source as a good writer
should do. They did not understand the subject themselves
and though
ambition led them to keep on compiling books, those books were without
undertaken to describe everything, but they understood nothing'.
spirit
or
I,
life,
in fact,
a mere dead
letter.
sulphur, and
what
other respects.
is
comprised
Unless
what
If
God Himself
admire them.
it
in
God does
man cannot
is
When
every simpleton
is
sufficiently
in the artificers,
its
trifler
who
innate virtue.
poses
as
an
alchemist, this fact accounts for science not being brought out into open light.
And
the foundation
is
that so
repeat, such excellent virtues are latent therein, they are deservedly
faculties, these
Aristotle
when he says
be transmuted.
266
One who
it
per
exists
from
its
se,
but rather as
impurity that
when
crude,
it is
separated into
it is
becomes
it
in
its
is,
Alchemy and
remarkable for
its
according to
Hence
many.
differing one
it
its
nature.
These
how
will
far
go on
it is
will differentiate
may be
clearly
due order
it
its
is its
When
So, then,
natures,
no physician
known what
in
many
it
and
Even
It is
is
external purposes.
all
This
anciently
kinds of sequestration.
in all
common
was
use
in
these points
when we
shall
be understood by everybody, so
is
without sulphur.
nevsr
se,
because no
simply per
You
removed.
is
shell,
adduce
not
how-
is
illustration to
this
explained in the
shew
that there
Hence
arise different
The sulphur
is
distinguished by the
name
it
all
its
name according
names of sulphur,
metal or stone.
Nor do
speak of
silver,
etc.
own
genera-
tion.
contains in
itself a
here be mentioned.
It
Concerning Sulphur.
bright,
is
And
like nature,
267
as
is,
it
were, a
spirit,
a corporality, but a subtle and ephemeral one, which cannot sustain any
arises, in
sometimes made
in lead
it is
produced
from
this
it
in the
weak
and a precious
character,
stone, latent in
But
fire.
lead.
art.
in
it,
all
we
and confirmed
in the
upon something
much be
said, then,
this there is
and
still
This
se.
And
se.
Besides
now
describe,
arts.
This
is
This sulphur
how
its
own
a mineral /e/'
is
true
itself,
a thing growing by
special genus.
Let so
else.
origin.
will
its
silver or iron
is
from
its ore,
its
zwitter.
is
And
For
this
this
reason medical
difference should be
which
is
sought may forthwith be found. From this, it is sufficiently clear what are the
different kinds and conditions of sulphur, and how they are to be recognised.
But beyond these, I should wish you to know of another kind which is a
special secret, as follows
its
corporality,
In
is
Of
nothing
like
it
is
dissolved from
sulphur withdraws,
of gold,
is
this
vitriol,
etc.
we have
which the
And
so excellent an
all
truth,
arcanum that
268
Of these
sulphur.
three,
maker
how
out
will point
respectively.
from which
it
it
should be
is
kernel.
in itself
known
derived, that
that
nut,
it
from
is,
per
has different
its
generators.
se, is
simply the
properties differ.
ated sulphur
is
in
The
is
its
from
its
differs
emerald, or jacinth
from
true
its
so neither is
it
silver, tin,
copper,
Many
This, also,
which now we are going to say should be noted before all else, namely, that
with all these sulphurs the spirit of arsenic blends, more subtly in one than in
another.
As
is
that which
is
generated, so also
is
ad-
in
Moreover, note
this
metals.
It
particular
member.
For
all
Nature.
all
how
it
firmly conserves
and restores
its
own
the seven
the heart, the sulphur of silver to the brain, the sulphur of copper to the
.kidneys, the sulphur of lead to the spleen, the sulphur of iron to the gall, the
sulphur of
tin to
But
be a flux of humours
in
suffocation.
if
all
there
Although
Concerning Sulphur.
among
269
the ancient and rival physicians no recipes are found against suffocstill they one and all decline learning how to prepare these
when
their patients
necessity
embryonated sulphurs
As
do.
able to do
is
what these
They
but
the metallic are stronger than the mineral sulphurs, and must be used with
greater caution.
Moreover, there are also the sulphurs of gems in which precious stones
its thorny bark.
The constitution of eagle-stones is
He as a chestnut within
known. In the same way, also, all gems are by Nature enclosed in some
thing which is their embryonate. In that embryonate, sulphur lies hid. When
this is extracted you have no less virtue than in the stone itself, not, indeed,
well
the sapphire
is
an eschara above
same nature
So
well
it is
known
that in
sulphur,
is its
used as a plaster.
if,
indeed,
Laid on thus,
it
the
it
to
it
Of
And
this is the
fire,
especially
effects.
case not only with anthrax, but also with cancer and Persian
at the beginning,
therefore, that
virtues
If
virtues
gems you will have them also in sulphur, with the same mode of operation.
They are not, it is true, equally strong in the sulphur, but still they are there.
The application, separation, and gradation cause it to accomplish the same
result. The correction and gradation alone tend thereto, otherwise none of these
results could be brought about.
As in the beginning, I took an illustration
in
But
stood here.
is
shell
formed from
it,
in
a nut, so
to be under-
is it
if
still
burst,
is
becomes an
it
its
shell.
and an
alkali
alkali too,
and both
tinge with a black colour those substances which were not previously black.
When,
therefore,
generated,
would be understood
to
talc, etc., it
thus,
if
is
of
all
the
rest.
embryonated sulphurs
should be
known
that
in cachimiae,
if
such as marchasites,
bodies and from the matters adhering to them, they produce a similar clear
operation, the operation itself and the virtue answer to that degree.
is
extracted, so are
all
is
more
As
this
to be said in
270
virtue
is this,
that
rivals those
it
the preparation.
all
phlegmatic cases,
its
condition.
world to-day,
was
ui the
among
its
princes, kings,
Then the
it
would
mere
trifling
mastery,
who by
their exactions
and
sit
at
their usuries
all rights by
mere nod, threw all things into a state of terrorism. What shall I
The arts have perished, and in their place a den of robbers has been
their
say
substituted.
Next in order, concerning the embryonated sulphur in vitriol and its cogwhich are species of vitriol. Know this, that they all produce a wonderful sulphur when animated bodies are separated from their embryonates, as
from salt, from the sal gemmae, from different species of alum, from vitriols,
nates,
etc.
Here
down
will lay
is
as an opiate, as
is
all
narcotic, anodyne,
sulphurs
and
sleep-
it is
free
from
all
etc.,
but safely,
Such a sleep-producing
stupefactive, therefore, decocted, prepared, and corrected by Nature herself,
is
kind produce
many wonderful
much poison
effects.
and the more confidence should be placed in this present soporific, since we
know that there are many diseases which are not curable without anodynes,
and of which the whole remedy has been placed by God in these anodynes.
This
is
is
the reason
why
concerning
of vitriol
this
it is
is
write the
same sulphur,
the best
more
known
it
may
be mentioned that of
extract, because
it is
all
How
it
Here, however
the productions
fixed of itself.
Then too
Concerning Sulphur.
it
them to
effects
sleep for
from
in
it,
It
it.
it.
pains, reduces
sends
first
ill
effect,
up by the quintessence as a
a higher position, beyond
it
lulls all
in all
passions, soothes
fevers,
all
And
some time, but they wake up by-and-bye without feeling any evil
271
What
tonic.
all
in all ailments,
being followed
because
all
to prolong
results
resist disease,
is
only
fire,
which
in
is
in wood.
This
wood, which also perishes
substances which are wooden, or
in all
It
in
is
have to be prepared by
fire.
this
is fire in its
proper
volatility,
tilised that
because
and
medicinal
it
it is
effect,
so that
it
then at
be reduced to
is, it
is
its
shall be so sub-
separated from
it,
not an element of
volatility,
it
fire.
body
is
is
any number of homicides of which they have been guilty by their rashness.
In the meantime, since they have no consciences, what can one do but let them
pose as sham physicians ? But whoever wishes to be a true physician must
hunt out the virtues of the elements in natural things. There he will find,
not only truth, but
how
fixed,
but
made
There
are,
then,
two kinds of
fire.
That is
272
one
to say,
living
is
fire,
fire.
wood,
The following
know something
scoria
its
"The
of in the book on
of
Of the mode
is
of separation from
Generation of Minerals."
virtues.
its
if it
It
It
a remarkable medicine,
This
it is
is
in
its
In this
fseces.
its
treated
is
however, to
well,
way
it is
described, |x.
of
oriental saffron,
it
Roman
gss.
myrrh,
Of purified sulphur
halt
in childhood.
If
in
it
who
It
drink
it.
it all
must
out.
If
wine
apoplexy,
calculus,
not,
In business and
however, be used
It is
is
a preservative
commerce it is a corrective
is wholesome for those
like
it,
it
of any kind,
or of equal
coughs, fevers,
etc.
when
pre-
efficacy with
I
it,
here sound
this
so
It is
fluxions,
a crude state.
in
it
treated herewith
abscesses
if
then takes
is
it
it
it
way
In this
vitriol.
i.
Moreover,
be taken daily
it
into a powder.
as above
It is also
standing.
and virtues of
and a curative
in all fevers,
and a
(half).
gi.
be prepared
if it
Rec.
its
it
is
praises.
If
suffice to establish
before swine
jot of their opinion, although they are not able to be of the slightest use to the
sick.
it
character,
turns out
at
and everything
length
in
it
it
that
The more
throws
is
carefully
off all
its
it is
it
must not
prepared, the
it
what remains
is
Crude sulphur has the property of bleaching red colours with its fumes.
If it be used medicinally in an elevated
state it produces whiteness, but only externally.
Moreover, it should be
It
which
is
There
red in a greater or
Concerning Sulphur.
less degree, purple, black, white,
ash-coloured
273
is
better
alchemy, these others are better on account of the ingress which they have
through such spirits of realgar.
Moreover,
it is
this sulphur
sulphurs are better than the yellow, on account of their subtle arsenical
spirits.
If these sulphurs are sublimated with vitriol, alum, sal gemmse, sal
plumosum,
etc.,
become so
This treasure
so precious because
is
magnet
attracts iron to
remain where
explained.
it
itself,
so that
it
moves from
its
As
origin.
the
position
Nature.
God has
The
blindness
the fact that no one attempts their preparation, so that the useless
They think
useful.
is
it
suffices
if,
that medicine
It is
is
mere
trifling,
Yet,
if
is
granulated
it
is
we have
said,
it
artists,
who have
the pre-
foot.
as
This has
eminence.
be
like apothecaries,
lies in
may
In this way,
some grains
that
is.
Entire Metals.
certain arts
out of their bodies, so that they are no longer metals but a certain destroyed
its
former condition.
is
made up
On
this subject
of three constituents,
it
should be
salt,
sulphur,
Since these three, then, are the primal material of the metals,
and mercury.
it follows from hence that these three can be destroyed and dissolved and so
subjected to art, that they can be reduced to another essence and transmuted.
salt,
art,
respectively.
We will
still
itself,
further
as does
274
Sulphur
is
is
sulphurs.
the virtues of sulphur are present in this kind of sulphur, graduated to their
virtues of silver,
Whatever
iron.
iron does,
ever the crocus of Mars does, whatever the topaz of iron does,
manner
In like
is it
whatsame
these
all
marked.
physician
who
is
such so long as he
and to have
It is
is
will
remain
difficult
who
are un-
Embryonated Sulphur.
The
too subtle,
it
if
is
will
Sometimes,
if it
be
we
will
it
may be
be of such a kind as not to take away or change the power of the sulphur.
For
if
they be extracted by
art,
way
is
it
all volatile
latent,
is
gold that
it cannot otherwise be reon account of its tenuity of subtle corporMany processes have, indeed, been tried for making a tincture out of
strained, nor
ality.
it is
is it
taken
in separation
Concerning Sulphur.
sulphur.
There
is
in
it
none of a
As
it.
It is,
antimony, red
Whoever wishes
in gold.
talc,
produced
in
far as concerns
etc.,
no tincture
is
275
gold, marcasite,
him
take care to separate the sulphur so subtly that nothing shall depart from the
And
gold.
unless
away
his
their
place, therefore
in order
will
am aware
that this discourse concerning the wonderful use of sulphur in alchemy will be
unacceptable to many.
It is
known
With
hidden.
and
it
may hunt
God has
in
I keep silence.
The devil, indeed,
make no remark on his deceits. For
alchemical art has made many attempts
the soul.
spirit
I
a miracle
is.
it
which
shall be
This, however,
how
art,
it.
is
done by
art.
as to
Now,
itself
since this
The woman by
this itself
art, the
made experiment
something which
to be
Now
If this
itself,
but, however,
begetting
is
to be accomplished
it
must be by means of two. Here art is the man and the father who brings all
But now that stage of the operation has been reached
things to perfection.
when the spirit of transmutation has given its prescription for making the
The distillation of this liver or
liver or lung from the oil of flax and sulphur.
lung
is
manifold.
But
it is
oil, like
this liver is
milk, but
is
given by
thick and
fat.
It
blood.
common
in
remained distinct and separate, the white subsiding to the bottom and the red
ascending to the top. Art, it is true, has urgently sought to form silver out
of the white or the milk and gold out of the red.
But
am
has never been able to be done, either by the ancients or by those of more
T2
2/6
recent times.
tained in
Paracelsus.
is
is
con-
it.
Any crystal
But concerning this red oil, which gives the liver-mark.
or beryl which has been previously well polished, if it be placed in this
If there
oil for some time, namely, for three years, becomes a jacinth.
it a ruby which is not highly graduated, in a space of nine
becomes so clear and bright that it shines in the darkness like
a burning coal, and can be seen everywhere. This has been proved experimentally. Alchemists, indeed, have tried to make a carbuncle of it by placing
be placed in
years
it
some time
And
in
the
gems
my
oil
same way
In the
it
experience
colouring does
this
exalts
But
oil.
has no power.
tinges
colours
it
But
it
so
Concerning other
all silver, if it be placed therein and left for a due time, by-and-bye grows black,
and deposits a calx of gold, which until the proper season is not fixed, but is
If, however, it reaches its proper limit,
a volatile and immature substance.
despatch
it
hastens
on
other
things, about which I must not say
by its own
more here. So, then, remark concerning sulphur, that if it be duly graduated,
the
more
him who
For
it.
is
and quick
In this
way
in operation
it is,
Let
about to make the attempt not think, but be sure, that he can do
this is the
all
in
It
its
This
is
But that
this
should
in
Alchemy.
I have several times in this chapter mentioned sulphur prepared from the
decomposed metals, and added something as to their use in medicine. So far
as relates to alchemy, I would have you know that many have tried to extract
from it a tincture with which they should change things from one tint to
This has not been successful, for a reason not to be mentioned here.
But whoever has the sulphur of gold can by means thereof graduate other gold
from 24 to 36 grains or more, so that gold cannot mount any higher, whilst
another.
it
its
whiteness, that
if
silver,
Concerning Sulphur.
277
seem
to be equally pure
and choice
silver.
same way,
In the
by the sulphur of copper, the metal copper can be brought to such a state that
it is
own
colour.
From
steel.
From
lead,
From
the sulphur of
made
is
fire
This
is
it
is
the
Mars
tin,
its
which
fixed Saturn,
spirit.
it
made
The sulphur
of quicksilver reduces
the
This
metals.
is
per
If the
se.
sulphur of gold
and
some other
this is
is
applied to silver
it
colours
it,
metal.
you have learnt how many kinds there are, and what are the
Whoever wanted to say all that
nature, properties, and essence of sulphur.
So
far, then,
demands a
shout or
careful
traflSc in trifles,
one.
it
who
to the test of
He who knows
skilled artist,
one
The
who
subject
does not
work
itself.
is
man
of no worth, unskilled
APPENDIX
IV.
the year
of
in
Among
these there
is
folio.
fills
embarrasses selection.
is
It is entirely
will
it
of alum, and
Si.
and
let
gii.
After
effect separation
the
dissolution
by drawing
off the
little
taken place
fortis
it
through V.
After
of crude sal
1.
well
lbs.
of sal ammoniac.
has
aqua-
For
this
purpose wash six or seven times with sweet water until no sharpness of the
aquafortis any longer remains.
Subsequently dry the calx over a slow fire,
weigh it, and you will find that a third part of the weight has been extracted.
Thereunto add an equal proportion of very finely pounded sulphur, a double
quantity of vitriol, and white calcined tartar to the weight of all the aforesaid
Pound all of them very finely, place in a glass vessel, and pour upon
things.
the top exceedingly strong vinegar, together with salt water, so that aqueous
matter
when
when
two
fingers,
more or
less.
placed therein.
it
in
washed
specified
silver,
The Mercuries of
is friable
Mercury, meanwhile,
is
compelled by pounding.
it is
279
not visible.
is
cury
the Metals.
Therefore
pestle, for
Mer-
live matter,
Next cleanse the remaining matter with fresh and clear water dry it perfectly
will have Mercury of the Sun, when the gold will be no longer fixed
but voluble, and can be sent through the corium, whereby any impurity which
;
and you
may chance
to remain
is
separated.
becomes completely
it
blue.
in
purified.
it
may
be easily
in
by the separation of solution, and after it subsides, and the aquafortis has
been afFused but not sweetened by washing, and dried gradually, pour vinegar
again upon the calx, and then separate until the whole becomes completely
blue.
Then take
Sii.
Si.
When
all
Furthermore, cover
the surface of the matter, or compound, at the top of the jar, with welding
sand, such as the workers in iron are accustomed to use.
this jar,
jar,
Afterwards place
which must be
filled
may
be separated from
the impure.
it
to thin plates
may
evaporate.
Place the said tigillum on the hottest part of a brick furnace for nine days.
Then take out the copper, when it will be of red colour approaching blackPound it with salt in a mortar as soon as it has been removed from
ness.
Macerate the powder in strong wine, and let there be added
the tigillum.
Leave
to each 5 v. of subtly ground arsenic, S'- and a half of copper.
each of these together for the space of
fifteen days.
28o
be
sufficient to
removed there
swim over
the
powder
to the height of
remain an excellent,
will
When
Wash this
two straws.
whitish calx.
brilliant,
Take
of the Calx,
|ii.
of Sulphur,
Sii.
of Gluten of Sulphur,
of Vitriol
of Arsenic
of
Mix each
of these,
when very
Let them
vinegar.
all
each Sss.
>-
Alum
finely
be distilled
Then add
can be extracted.
ii.
-V
fire,
Venus.
and
and
This
will
it
is
will collect
the
flow together.
be at a white heat.
on
Mercury of
of
It
is
Venus
subtle,
said water
is
only tepid.
water
Mars
in
Take thereof
ten pounds,
water becomes
red viscosity.
dry
it
may
bottom
remain.
salt
Afterwards wash
At length the
in the
form of a
Take of
this viscid
Place
it
in the tigillum.
may
a grey powder
will
be found.
Mercury of
Jupiter
is
it
cuticle.
Remove
this carefully*
apart.
enough of the white calx. This take, and subject to all the processes
which the Calx of Lead is subjected, but avoiding the addition of Succinum
there
to
Place in
hours.
filings
Jupiter.
is
vitriol.
accomplished.
in place thereof,
than
less
much Mercury
281
will
be
vi.
Mercury of Saturn.
Take Villarensian Lead, or any other in which there is no silver, otherwise
must be purged in the following manner If it has been calcined, let the calx
boil for two whole hours in a lixivium composed of willow ashes, in which have
been first dissolved one ounce of alumen and eight ounces of salt. In coction
it
purged of
it is
all
mix
it
well with
common
and
salt,
it
no saltness remains
till
When
Take
wooden
into a
receptacle,
will
Dry
it
in the lead.
it
five
Leave
it
it
it
will receive
whatever
make a
Place
it
in
small charcoal
Put
it
it
wooden
may
Calx of lead
Again take
this
in the
form of
it.
obliquely in a
so place a
protrudes above
it
When
be
it
flour at
it,
and
the said
Mercury.
otherwise
To
Note.
fire in
down
at the
same
time.
like
from
lead,
its
sides
a frying-pan.
water
Take of Alum,
l\.
of Salt Nitre,
5Ii.
and
of Mountain Verdigris,
of
Rock
Salt,
5ii-
ss.
ss.
to
it
the
following
282
and
To
this
bottom.
same
time,
it
fire
If the
it
APPENDIX
V.
DE TRANSMUTATIONIBUS METALLORUM.
the year 1581 a Congeries Paracehicce Chemice
IN Metallorum
appeared
octavo at Frankfort.
in
de Transmutaiionibus
In the notes to the
As
ical treatise
Paracelsus.
While
in
many
was passably
Theophrastus,
it
is
it
was included
in the
compass of a small volume, it is really very meagre. There is, however, one
point in which it may be of value to the student.
The Congeries is, in all
probability, an adaptation of autograph manuscripts, and where its readings,
which is by no means invariably the case, can be distinguished from editorial
interpolations and extensions, they
Geneva
Perhaps, after
all,
folio
may
be useful
in
it is,
of this point,
circle of readers
who
is
likely to
believe that in
ancient practical alchemy there are chemical secrets hidden which are
unknown
makes
is
it
it
differences,
and these
it
is
it is
conspicuous
desirable to cite.
There are a
as regards
its
direction contained in the third treatise, Concerning the Spirits of the Planets,
is
The
284
editorial
also
is
worth inclusion, as
concerned
is
it
with a matter which, in more than one instance, must have struck the reader
of the present translation, namely, that
to
it is
in
every case,
Before
we come
to the matter,
first
we must
describe in order
local,
actual instrument
is
the
The
fire.
first local
in
its
in the
the instru-
instrument
name
said
is
the
of athanor.
spagyric generation.
the inventor of this art, no less
He
all
We have
in this art.
its
restorer.
No
is
my
of
all
will
who
will
acknowledge that
is
kindled by the
fire,
fire
is
fire
itself
but
who have no
it
:
other
way
the
Who
ask you,
my
brethren
that
will
it
readers.
is
think
least
more
womb the
respect-
elements,
which the seeds of the sun and the moon, cast down by the
stars in their different influxes, are decayed, concocted, and finally digested for
the generation of all things ? These things are transparently clear, I will not
that
is
to say, in
we
upon them
further.
two or three
you
like,
holes, with
a single
oneshall
correspond
To
or, if
mouths should be
De
To
four fingers.
be
every furnace
its
work
all
fire at
285
and these are to
fitted,
as the
^^^
in the hen, so is
of the maglstery.
kindle the
a brazen vessel be
let
with water.
filled
the glass in
Transmutationibus Metallorum.
larger,
little
but
may
let
fill
up the
When
that shall destroy the whole work, and burn everything together.
heat shall
small brick or
tile
to the
mouth
proper,
is
if it
more
readily controlled
by registers (which
are
be too slack,
The
the
it
and
fire
let
can be
governors).
called
Experience teaches the uses of those things which are necessary in prepa-
rations before
at this stage.
The
fire,
all
cause a fermentation, and by-and-bye this will affect the matter lying hid in
the &%z.
and gives
life
illuminating
its
athanor, with
But
which hatches
now he
with coals
told us,
now he
like
he,
"how
warming
fire,
the sea-bath,
animated &%^.
a lion against the furnace, and seeking
"See," says
all
he contradicts himself!
way
as
"
You
you have
judged that the other writings of Paracelsus are contradictory. Open the
other eye, my one-eyed friend, or you will act the part of a blind man passing
coals ?
simple
Do
err,
my
when judged by
like you,
yourselves.
who adjudge me
Have
little
to
not often
all
appropriated, lest the same thing happens to you, giants, fighting with my
pigmy homunculus, as formerly happened to Goliath fighting with the boy
David ? Take care, I say, lest you collide with this stone of ours as the great
mystery, and sink down with it to the abyss whereto you would consign
me " Thus seems Paracelsus to thunder forth in his tomb. We must not,
my brothers, speak unfairly of the dead, even of those whose deserts were
Let them all remain at rest, and all await their deeds. It is easy to
small.
at the last it will be impossible.
carp, but to avoid judgment to-day is difficult
What are you which I am not, or what am I which you are not ? Again,
!
286
to confess
We
are
all
it,
Be
it
your duty, as
it is
mine, not enviously to disclose those things of your brothers which have not
been duly done, before that, with a certain amount of modesty, you have
name
But
of philosophy.
be so
is
!)
I, if
we
among
it
and renown.
come about
This
should
that
(alas,
otherwise
worthy of the
what
is
is
Hence
toil.
it
has
punishment
ill
at least if
still,
Many
else.
we
are
all
foolish together,
medium.
Let us look to
it,
then, lest
It
may be
entitled
name
of the phoenix to
its
whose feathers
nest, in which
fly
is
whiteness in
separated sphere.
its
the balsam of
its
intestines.
since
it
treated,
life
of
is
produced a
its
heart and
Very
and there
was being
affinity therewith.
What is
lately,
when electrym
What,
too, is electrum
De
Transmutationibus Metallorum.
The sulphur of
Luna, why
Whether each is made by
Sol,
why
philosophic
not cinnabar?
The
which
last citation
will
it
It
is
287
Mercury
of
differ.
make
be necessary to
is
the fifteenth
fifth
It is called
of the editor.
A Very
I
is
neither
taught
am
in different
me through
practice
same
it
is
process.
Afterwards
let it
be reverberated even to
Let it
whiteness, and sublimate this with sal ammoniac until it is resolved.
pelican
for one month,
be calcined and dissolved again, and digested in a
being afterwards coagulated into a body. This is no longer burnt, or in any
it
in the
nothing or be altered
but
it
takes away, as
we have
often said,
all
super-
Although
is
in the highest
it
requires
involved in
APPENDIX
VI,
IN
observes that
"amongst
the rare
manuscript work, unique and priceless, exists in the library of the Vatican.
transcription of
Baron Tschoudy
work
his
it
entitled
The Burning
Paracelsus, contains
satisfactory
and
as
cabalists,
instructed
reference
is
made
substitute
for
the
we
incomparable
in
point out to
of
treatise
all
explicit
Star.
this
is
in this
studied it."
interesting citation,
is
if
they
The manuscript
still
fail
to
to
which
an unedited treasure,
although, as will be seen in the next appendix, there has been at least one
Manual
who
desires
to
make
seem
shift
find
Though
alchemical theories.
may
it
will
He
his interpreter,
is
direct.
Whether
this merit
Arcanum,
it is,
in
belongs to Paracelsus or
in the
absence of
the original text, which few persons have had the opportunity or disposition to
The work
to consult.
Hamburg,
regard to
in 1785,
its
and
period,
of Baron
later
it is
Masonry
constitutes a valuable
A
which
is
289
the
Star,
teems with
analogies of this kind, which, of course, are the creation of the editor, and
are suppressed jn_the_translatjon which follows, in part because they exceed
the intention of the present work, and in part for other reasons.
(y^-uyJA^
in
the
Vatican Library.
iQ.
A.
-v
is
Q.
What
A.
God,
Q.
Q.
A.
A.
What
It is
iQ.
'A.
is
Who
is
warm, and
the
all
separated
How
A.
Q.
A.
Nature differentiated
Q.
A.
It is
cold,
things originate.
,Q.
is
the
it
it is
simply a volatile
fire,
which
vivifies all
the
things that
exist.
""nQ.
''A.
What
They should be
like
unto Nature
That
herself.
is
What
shall be
A.
For example,
its
must
inate
between
its
if it
it.
this is invariably
be desired to develop
differentiations.
'^
fU
290
Q.
Where does
A.
Before the philosopher has extracted the seed, or germ, Nature, in his behalf,
will
What
A.
It is
the
stance
itself;
or,
is
Q.
A.
After
Q.
What
A.
which
is
assumed.
Q.
Where,
A.
which, after
it
and deposit
their seeds ?
fire,
Q.
A.
Take any
level
table,
by an example.
and
with water;
them
salt,
taking
all.
will pass
over the
salt,
and
will contract
a saline flavour
it
for
it is
teristics
which
is
a variety of modifications
existing substance
on
its
is
in the places
produced
certain that
In the
through which
it
subject to
Q.
After
A.
this seed ?
it
must be observed
that there are two gross and heavy elements and two that are volatile in
character.
Two, in like manner, are dry and two humid, one out of the four
291
its
own
species
is
in
the centre, even the centre of the Archeus, that servant of Nature, where
coming
to
mix
and
them
finally expel
to the
exterior.
Q.
What
A.
The
itself
is
first
first
matter of
of a twofold nature
The
warm
first
air, in
its
Q.
A.
Mercury.
Q.
By what is it governed ?
By the rays of the Sun and Moon.
Q.
What
The warmth
is
is
in
of the earth
an aerial
is
How
A.
essence, or
A.
metals
dual in
all
is
otherwise,
is
termed
Can
A.
Its
in question,
that,
and may,
namely, which
secreted in
is
of wheat.
Q.
Of what use
A.
It is
is
its
seed?
against which
it
acts as an
envelope.
Would
Q.
body
those artists
possible to perform
None
A.
it
who
it
were
on the contrary,
is
their labour
methods.
Q.
A.
there
is
though
how pure
soever, which
is
entirely free
its
impurities, for
from imperfections,
and
scoriae
must be
peeled off and purged out from the matter in order to discover its seed.
Q. What should receive the most careful attention of the Philosopher
A.
of the fashioner,
it is
is
by no means to be looked
no longer to be found
therein.
U2
292
Q.
A.
chiefly gold,
while ours, on the contrary, are absolutely living, and possess a soul.
Q.
What
A.
It is
the
is
of metals
life
fire,
when they
are as yet
imbedded
in
the mines.
live,
Q.
What
is
A.
Their
life
by
fire,
their death ?
Q.
After what
A.
When
womb
in the
of the earth
power or
virtue in the
centre of the earth, and have deposited their seed, the Archeus of Nature, in
A.
it
It
them
itself
when
is distilled
it
through
whence
things spring
all
is
by the warmth
superficially
principiated principle of
in
all
this state
is
first
matter
of the Philosophers.
What
Q.
first
then
is
which
is
made use
of as the
It is this identical
moment it
is
conceived, receives
Are
Q.
Saturn,
Jupiter,
Sun,
the
Moon,
etc.,
separately
A.
by the
locality
and so of the
in that of gold,
Q.
How
A.
When
O^ther metals,
in the
each
in its
own
is
this vapour,
of which
when
it
fact that
Nature
in the
places,
where a certain sulphureous grease adheres to the channels, then this vapour,
which the Philosophers have denominated their Mercury, becomes adapted and
joined to this grease, which it sublimes with itself from such amalgamation
;
is
been cleansed by
this
Q.
How is
A.
It
which are
occurs
totally
when
it
fills
the pores of
result.
impure and
cold.
A
Q.
How
A.
She
Venus brought
is
produced
is
293
forth ?
in localities
but
itself is pure,
is
What power
Q.
By
A.
whatsoever
that
is
continual progress
its
Q.
What
A.
The
is
recently mentioned,
it
is
-pure around
principles
we have
is
first
matter of
first
itself all
it.
is
all
things
other words. Nature receives the matter from the elements, whence
in
sub-
it
Q.
A.
warm
vapour, which
is
useless except
Q.
How
is
A.
By
Nature,
is
it
be dissolved by a
vapour.
first
kingdom
distil
but because of
its fluidity,
it is
and the
facility
on account of
with which
it
will
generation of
its
this
essence,
adhere to each
are
Q.
Why
A.
Because of
Q.
From what
composed
The
A.
in
is this
its
internal heat.
species of
Mercury are we
reference
is
matter
already contains
its
own
seed.
The seed
A.
which
it
Q.
is
and
into Mercury,
or
living female.
Q.
What
A.
which they
will
after
which is conformed to
their
fruit
nature.
Q.
What
A.
The
that which
Q.
A.
is
is
artist
is
subtle from
gross.
To what,
and nothing
therefore, is the
further.
294
Q.
A.
The seed
of minerals
is
and
life
it is
Q.
How
A.
its
it
How
Q.
warmth of
A.
By
What is therefore
He finishes what
the
crudity of the
useless, unless
receives
its life
by Nature or Art
is
Q.
A.
is
air,
its
body.
performed by the
artist in the
mineral kingdom
all
bodies by
its
violence,
Q.
What
A.
It
among themselves
is
the highest of
is
all,
and then
lastly,
is
by the Moon.
It
must be observed
that the influential virtues of the planets do not ascend but descend, and ex-
which
into Mars,
muted
is
Mars can be
of a lower sphere.
second after the firmament, the other second above the earth, and Saturn
highest of
all,
while the
never ameliorated by
its
Moon
is
inferiors.
It
Q.
all
enters into
is
The Sun
lowest.
in the
is
all,
but
it
is
is
a large corres-
middle of which
is
the
Sun
When
we
and
silver?
A.
By no means
Philosophers are
full
of
Q.
What
A.
is
among
the Philosophers
left
imperfect in the
mineral kingdom, and the attainment of the treasure of the Philosophical Stone.
Q.
What
A.
The Stone
is this
Stone
humid
is
radical.
In
A.
It
radical humidity.
A
What are
Q.
failure in the
295
to
guard against
A.
and
work
kernel,
which contains
the virtue of
all
the compound.
it
Q.
Why
A.
It is
powerfully
How
Q.
fortifies the
its qualities,
it
it
me
the tincture ?
A.
faculty of combining with these in fusion, one nature easily embracing another
which
is
powder, which
easily
is like itself.
owing
is
a ripe
communicate
to
and
them
its
own
itself
a pure
fire,
them
can
into its
nature, after
it
which
is
the sole substance that transmutes them, the rest being nothing
silver,
What
is
in projection.
may
attain to the
in
the
how
the chaos
was
evolved.
Q.
What was
A.
It
enters into
all
all finish in
Q.
A.
all
forms.
is
whence
issues,
whereupon the
Spirit of
God
Q.
What
profit
may
in the
In the
first
was made he will see that out of this confused mass, the Sovereign Artist
began by extracting light, that this light in the same moment dissolved the
;
296
of Paracelsus.
He
generation of
served as the
it
will
all
and a separation of
The Philosopher
will equally
things below
for the
moon
is
how
to the earth.
them
Q.
How many
A.
Properly there
is
is
and
is
is
upon the fixed stars, and it is also in this space that the
planets and wandering stars perform their revolutions.
The second heaven is
the firmament of the fixed stars, while the third is the abode of the superrarefied,
fall
celestial waters.
Q.
Why
A.
Because
is
because God,
in
it
is
in the nature
first
heaven
its
thing.
Q.
Why
A.
It is
virtue of the
will
it
received,
and by
if
the
its
motion
be always equal.
Q.
Why
A.
more
profit
It is for this
reason that a
What
A.
It is
is
properly
air,
which
is
more
medium
of
light.
Q. After the separation of the waters from the dry earth, what was
performed by the Creator to originate generation ?
He
A.
placed
and moderated
was destined
He
it
What
is
this fire
fire ?
A
A.
into
It
continually operates
vapour
now
this
vapour
297
is
Q.
How is
A.
By
Q.
How
A.
By the
is
What
same
action of the
is
He
A.
actually
his
may
should, as far as
in the
all
was
fire
Creator.
fire
which
aerial humidity,
Q.
make
his
he should form
firmament for the separation of the waters which are above from the waters
which are below, and should successively accomplish, point by point, the entire
sequence of the creative
Q.
A.
act.
filth,
is
is
in search of
nothing
What
work ?
A. Of a mercury which,
tracted from
as such,
is
make use
Q.
Why
A.
of in performing
it
is
ex-
work ?
must take notice that vulgar mercury has an
insufficient quantity of sulphur, and he should consequently operate upon a
body created by Nature, in which Nature herself has united the sulphur and
mercury that it is the work of the artist to separate.
Q. What must he subsequently do ?
A.
He must purify them and join them anew together.
Q. How do you denominate the body of which we have been speaking ?
The Rude Stone, or Chaos, or Iliaste, or Hyle that confused mass
A.
which
is
is
known but
artist
universally despised.
As you have told me that Mercury is the one thing which the
Philosopher must absolutely understand, will you give me a circumstantial
Q.
description ot
A.
it,
so as to avoid misconception
In respect of
regard to
its
motion,
it
is
drooping
fire
its
is
it
is
dual
fixed
and
volatile
in
is
its
first office
it
stimu-
previous
to
2g8
By
congelation.
and as
this
ascensional movement,
its
after congelation,
is
it
seeking to be purified,
rises,
it is
its first
origin.
How many
Q.
composite thing
A.
other elements
in
species
of
in
each
the
Elementary, which
is
is
its
the
or balm,
oil,
dissolvent,
is
drooping
internal
fire,
the subject.
Q.
How many
A.
The Mercury
aspects
the
species of
of the Philosophers
be
under
regarded
entitled the
first is
may
is
four
actually their
the Bath or
Vase of the Philosophers, otherwise the humid radical to the third has been
applied the designation. Mercury of the Philosophers, because it is found in
their laboratory and in their minera.
It is the sphere of Saturn
it is the
Diana of the Wise
it is the true salt of metals,
after the acquisition of
which the true philosophic work may be truly said to have begun. In its
concealed seed
the second
is
is
fourth aspect,
it
is
is
Common
called
because
it is
is
common
it is
called also
fire,
common
Q.
How many
A.
There
is
What
Q.
sophers
A.
fire,
work?
may
is
with adherence to
its
own
vase.
all,
what
they say upon the subject should be interpreted literally and in accordance with
the mere sound of the words For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
:
Q.
What books
our science
A.
should be read
in
Among
the ancients,
all
the
into the
all
in the
A
good fortune
to take a copy of
Mecum above
it,
Secondly,
299
codicil.
the two
last,
all,
they abound in false recipes and futile fictions, which seem to have been
inserted with the object of
much
more
which
also
is
much
certain
that
Among
valueless.
from the
ignorant.
is
a collection
is
is
is
entitled
The
Among moderns
some
who wrote
false precepts
into his
treatise.
Q.
A.
a digested
Explain
A.
It
may
spirit,
spirit
vital oil.
me
this
great experiment
in the actual
process
is
the
medium
of
qualified to dissolve
a third essential menstruum, with which menstruums united he must wash the
earth, and then exalt it into a celestial quintessence, to compose the sulphureous
thunderbolt, which instantaneously penetrates substances and destroys their
excrements.
to
should be sown
it
Assuredly not, because neither the one nor the other possesses the
A.
external agent
gold,
mercury because
In
Q.
it
because
it
it
by decoction, and
it.
itself,
is
It is
and that
in
found
in
in
gold
make use
is
is
found
in
it
in the first
is
but
equally
congelation of mercury,
is
all
metals having
300
What
Q.
It
is
their humidity.
Q.
Give
A.
Nature.
fruit
and though
its tree,
it
consumed
hand,
its
multiplication,
development of
in the
much
time, trouble,
it
it
ground,
in the
On
vegetative capabilities.
its
if
much
set
and attention
will
be
the other
and similarly
up and produce
tree,
will spring
fruit.
Q.
Is
it
if
work?
So indispensable
A.
all
is
its
fail,
before
what
is
worthless.
How, then, does Nature deposit metals in the bowels of the earth,
and of what does she compose them ?
A.
Nature manufactures them all out of sulphur and mercury, and forms
them by their double vapour.
Q.
Q.
What
formed thereby
do you mean by
this
how can
A.
metals be
?
it
must
first
formed,
firstly,
elements, there
which
and
is
this,
secondly, by the
Thus is
commotion of the
is allied
new vapour,
cavernous places.
By
is
this vapour,
is
it
is
produced,
fills
these
contains,
are produced the perfect metals, provided that the vapour and the locality are
If the locality and the vapour are impure, imperfect metals result.
pure.
The terms
concoction.
Q.
A.
What is
A spirit
fire,
Q.
What
A.
fairly
spirit,
Q.
301
And one
the process
was
cannot, notwithstanding,
make
A.
that
all
is,
plain,
devoid of
is
external agent.
Whence comes
Q.
agent
common mercury
that
it
is
without
external
its
Because
A.
spirit,
The
is
deprived of
its
result is that
How many
A.
Three sorts
Q.
What
Astral Gold,
all
astral gold ?
A.
rays to
is
its
inferior beings.
it
by
its
is
all
things sentient,
Q.
What
A.
This
that
is
is
composed of them.
kingdoms contain
in their
all
All
this
elementary
gold.
Q.
Give
A.
It
me some
is
It is
gold.
purification,
perfect equilibrium
when
it is
all
the
Physical Stone, and four things are indispensable for the accomplishment of
the work, namely, composition, allocation, mixture, and union, which, once
What
A.
It is
is
art, will
own
ashes.
exclusively the
fire
which
it
termed mercury.
fixity
and
it
to
be alterna-
302
What
Q.
other
name
is
gold?
A.
They
recognize
without
all
and there
they
is
Where must we
look for our living gold, our living sulphur, and our
fire ?
Q.
Q.
A.
is
inherent to
it
this
exhalation,
a humid vapour.
united to
it
acts
it
Q.
Mercury
which
What
is like
unto
its
it
He
A.
No
is
What do
nature,
first
activity.
Q.
Whence
A.
their
know how
in great
When
this operation
the practice
A.
own
attracted by a
A.
Q.
is
matter which
their
it
own.
Q.
into its
Q.
A.
By
better
exaltation,
is
bodies,
A.
A.
is
and
it
it.
Q.
true
also term
existence in
its
To
with great care, but can only be accomplished after the preparation and sublimation of the Mercury.
When
A.
substance
the process
tincture at the
same time
Q.
What
A.
It
Q.
What must
is
is
is
augmented.
be done to apply
it
to the
is
Great
Work ?
303
A.
It must be drawn out of its bonds with consummate skill, and by the
method of putrefaction.
Q. Does Nature, in her work in the mines, possess a menstruum which
is
No; because
A.
there
no
is
is
Q.
A.
which,
Now,
good
is
when
dissolve, putrefy,
what
this sulphur ?
movement.
local
seed, extracts
who
the Philosopher,
from
it
its
fruit,
solution,
in
is
centre, consigns
its
of a
in virtue.
a position to discern
it
it
manner
that
its prolific
virtue
is
or a seed,
and afterwards
it
such a
Q.
A.
In
Q.
A.
in the
In the true
humid
silver,
Q.
How
A.
By
do you
Q.
What
It is their
Q.
What
is
its
its
own
bonds
seed.
He must
By what
indication
must be
may
When
injected.
in the right
is
converted into one form and one matter at the period of dissolution.
Q. How many solutions do you count in the Philosophic Work
A.
There are
three.
into
its
The
first
solution
How
is
By
Q.
How
By
is this
which
operation performed
How
its
is
the second
first
is
?
first
place, the
mercury or
it
to liberate the
is
the indication.
fire,
sulphur from
A.
is
is
Q.
enclosed
from
is
proper menstruum.
Q.
is
which
putrefaction.
A.
A.
words,
specific spirit,
which he requires
is
in
304
A.
body is resolved
into the
Q.
What
A.
name
the
is
It is called their
Matter, a
vi^hich is
it
is,
which
is silver.
refer?
It is
in fact,
it is
closely
bound up
with multiplication.
Q.
What
A.
That
fire
Q.
What
A.
It
is
fire ?
is
in the
Q.
Why is
A.
Because
also termed
it
it is
A.
It is
Q.
Who
A.
It is
Q.
What
A.
It is
it is
Mercury
is
is it
that
known
is
concealed
this fire
concealed
it
in
is
familiar with,
to the wise,
this fire ?
it
and purify
continually in motion
is
How may
A.
By
this fire
What must
A.
On
Q.
How many
account of
its
which
it
is
fire
so as to accentuate
extreme dryness
in all three
Q.
Explain to
me
A.
The
its
capacity for
?
it
requires to be moistened.
There are
A.
that, in
clothed.
be added to this
it is
it.
it is
in
Q.
it.
fire ?
seeks only to
it
saline
the principle
in its
Where
world, because
and corruption.
of all dissolution
Q.
which
fire
the
natural.
is
natural
fire is
is
fire,
fires.
the unnatural
the masculine
This smoke
is
smoke
much
it is almost incombustible, though by philosophical subbecomes corporeal and resplendent. The contra-natural fire is that
which disintegrates compounds, and has the power to unbind what has been
bound very closely by Nature.
limation
it
A
Q.
is
305
A.
allic
Where
It is to
nature, where
it is
fore
may
is,
Q.
Is
A.
Yes
but Nature, at the same time, must be assisted, so that the work
be perfected and hastened, and this by the means which are familiar to
Q.
Is this subject
A.
It is vile,
say that
it is
is
saleable,
it is
exceedingly precious
and originally
Q.
What
A.
It
Q.
What
The
Q.
How
By
it is
useful in our
operation
is it
is
sole
that done
What
Q.
What
A.
the
is in
in the
follows
first
place extracted ?
Q.
What
Q.
to be able to perform ?
A.
A.
Mercury
Q.
alone.
Q.
A.
work
most important
A.
is
should anyone
A.
which
A.
fixed,
it is
is
then
salt, in
the
first
earth,
relaxed.
perfection.
Q.
A.
Begin
Q.
A.
My
A.
Q.
What
is
From
the
I reserve my
speech.
friends,
A.
its fullest
moment
APPENDIX
is
VII
is
attributed to
of Manual.
title
chemistry and the other to medicine, which are respectively described as the
first,
The
its
latter is
proper section
The
genuine character.
The
contents
it
will
it
if
there were
name
might be regarded as
between the
of Paracelsus.
in
favour of
its
Primum Manuale
known
it
in
its
"demonstrative physics" would appear to belong rather to the most suspicious section of alchemical literature than to serious experimental records.
an individual opinion,
While
this, of course, is
question.
But whatever
its
exclude
because
it
it
is
is
actual value,
it
it
to
is
not in
which few
A Thesaurus
IS,
Paracelsus.
TAKE
quicklime
of
have done
Mix
ilb.
Let
lixivium.
lib.
it
by a
distil
may become a
again
may
be
stand until the calx in the bottom shall become tartar turned
Then
into water.
it
it
together.
it
ilb.
Put
stone.
in the lixivium
filter
this to
and place on
of quicklime.
Make
all boil
together, so that
it
it
by the
filter.
Treat
again
it
with &%% shell and quicklime, as above, and repeat this three or four times
lastly, take the lixivium distilled by the filter, and make it boil until it
;
is
congealed.
or 16 hours
itself for 15
then
and thus you will have oil of tartar. Then take the
dissolve it
Mercury, sublimate it with quicklime and ^^^ shell and calcined sulphur three
Imbibe it nine times with the aforesaid oil, and sublimate it.
or four times.
into an
oil,
What
ascends,
Imbibe
What
in
a glass vessel.
mercury, pound
an
oil in
Place
it
it
well,
a cold cellar.
in
and imbibe
When
horse-dung, that
dissolved, coagulate
it
into
all is
it
it
may
dissolve
the
it
into
oz.'of silver
foil.
and,
when
Luna.
Into
In the place of
Then
Then take
Sol.
Mercury add
V2
3o8
Wood
Egg
of each a sufficient quantity
and
ashes
shell
you know to be
thickness
the
boil to
sufficient.
Sulphur
lib.
Crocus of Mars
ilb.
Colcothar ^Ib.
Place in a glazed vessel, and boil with the aforesaid lixivium until
Then
reddened.
distil,
till
one part of
white.
distilled
oil
be well
it
by
it fix
it
itself
so long as
the mercury.
it
congeal
It will
it if it
and
let it
Hamelius
result follows.
pounds there
is
Sol.
first
of that
oil,
place
it
on
similar
of ten
be very acid.
it
Concerning Mercury.
Take mercury, and pound it with egg-shells. Boil it with oil of tartar, and,
Repeat this fifty times. Then take that mercury,
afterwards sublimate it.
and imbibe it with oil of Luna. Having done this, add a little of the oil of
tartar
on a gentle
for 24 hours,
fire
Dissolve in
it
as
much Luna
coagulate.
quartal
borax, tartar,
quartal each
that
it
should
fix
it
oil,
of which
it is
said
into Sol.
Another.
We believe that
Luna
into Sol,
if
Another.
If
Mercurius
vivus,
mercury, which
put
is
their
it
Luna.
Take
Manual of
309
Concerning Lizards.
As we have prescribed
common
cerning
in the
The
lizards.
we
case of stelliones, so do
virtue of these
noted.
in
Iron.
leek,
water from
Distil the
of Spirits.
We
calcined tartar and the ashes of eggs from three to six times.
Then imbibe
the mercury from the colcothar and calcined tartar with the aforesaid
it
it
in water.
Luna.
When
it
it
is
oil until
But
it is
if
it
is
Coagulate
it
with
this
it
Luna and
fixed arsenic.
tuthia and
pound
Mix
it.
it
with
in
Repeat
this process
it
lb.
an hour.
shaken
Then
let it
Constantly shake
five
and place
it
on a
it,
salt,
place
in fresh
in
spirit
Then
acetum upon
that water,
it
it
lb.
5 lb.
each, of
or 6
and afterwards
it,
set
this,
it
by means of a
is
filter,
and
let
to boil for
distil it
common
each, with
lb.
it
being
and keep
it.
thoroughly extracted.
it,
and
it
will
be
congealed.
Take
ammoniac,
in
of
The Fixation of
prepared common salt, sweet
oil
a glass vessel
in
them
let
white stone.
into Luna.
lb.
Spirits.
spirits
and
it
is
Then you
lb.
Place these
Afterwards take
will find a clear
With
thus mercury
is
this
converted
3IO
The Fixation of
Imbibe the
with
spirit
Spirits.
oil
oil
is
distilled or
it.
Keep doing this until it will stand a somewhat strohg fire.
Take the sublimated spirit, etc., and pound it on marble with oil of tartar.
extracted from
Place
until
it
in
Afterwards put
consumed
until
Do
perfectly dried.
it is
it
nothing
this until
in
Afterwards put
into water.
it
it
in
in
is
the
distil
oil
from
it
dung
it
is
fire
congealed.
it is
fix
oil
vitriol.
must be
it
How
warm
poured on the
salt of alcali,
it.
and
it
Dissolve salt in
and
and they
arsenic,
will
melt together.
Concerning Lixivia.
Make a
two days.
done
if
Shake
this, try
not, put
it
it
frequently,
whether
will
it
on again
until
and
it
will
stand the
fire.
it
If
it
it
oil
on
it,
and
let it
stand for
Having
good but
over a slow
it
fire.
be fixed.
It will
Do
this for
lead.
it
dried,
take the
Let
and repeat
spirit,
it is
it,
body quantu-m
this as
pound
and
Spirits.
boil,
joints
it
and place
it
Distil until
in the fire.
suff.
it is
Afterwards
thus
it
will be fixed.
To Dissolve Tartar
Take marble and
be dissolved.
place upon
in
it
Manual of
/I
Note concerning
If
it
alcali,
be fixed.
will
Bruised Glass,
Good
Make a
lute
your
quartal.
lb.
and
lb.
oil,
quant,
Dry
fist.
Having done
stiff.
and burn
it
this,
it
it,
with litharge and anatron in Saturn, with glass or sand strewn over
Afterwards
it
must be fulminated
but note
imbibe
it,
for
this, that it
should be imbibed with the sand until no smoke ascends, and then fulminated.
it is
placed in
the ashes.
which
purged by
is
But
if
lead, as
a lixivium
is
is
converted
into an oil.*
and
left in
Then
fire.
the
money
in
a state of flux
in
Money.
put
is
is
in,
piece by piece,
Pour
in
a regulus,
then place
will
have
it
it
an open vessel.
in
Pour on
and put
lead,
it
to cool.
lute,
Thus you
coagulated.
To Redden Sulphur.
Let
it
lower vessel.
The sulphur
and
will adhere,
My own
will
let
water be placed
Recipe.
lb.
Calcined Tartar,
When
tlie
lb.
i.
ij.
lb.
iij.
dissolved put in
it
in the
be coloured red.
oz. of calx of
and partly
in
Luna.
Let
it
may
be
this dissolve,
in the
312
so,
coagulate.
time.
In Alchemy.
Take
Oil of
Antimony,
Auripigment,
parts
part
i.
Crocus of Mars,
Salt of Nitre,
iiij.
part
i.
part
i.
oil is
^O white
Take
or yellow arsenic,
of this
burnt salt
oil
^o
d.
You
a state of fusion.
in
of
^^ by the side of
....
and
sal
ammoniac 5
i.,
lily.
and of
3ij.
A Cement
Red
Si.
Common
Salt
Vitriol.
each of
Sal
Ammoniac
Flos Aeris.
i.
each of
Burnt Brass
Red Calamine Stone.
Luna be cemented
Then
cum
let it
will
\ part each.
J-
Sal
Ammoniac
Ematite
Boil in a glass vessel
it
i.
may
viii.
ii.
oz.
be dissolved to water.
part of gold,
i.
or
iii.
Coagulate
of silver.
Place in
salt.
The more
it is
in
it
Then take
12 or 6 or 8,
it
will be.
in Sol.
or a cellarium, that
dung
water to a powder.
this
and
it
will then
be graduated to
"
Manual of
313
Fixed Oil.
Take equal
of tartar.
and
filter it,
Take equal
Burn
Do
will be coagulated.
it
Dissolve in
parts of both.
dung
it
same with
the
or in a bath.
Take Antimony
Common
x. parts.
Sulphur
...
iij(
Crude Tartar
Common
Salt fused
Pour
parts each.
ij.
and purify
in the regulus,
in
a cinder
fire.
From
the fusorium
much
parts.
Pour them
extinguished in strong
it is
i.
lb.
Saltpetre \\h.
Put them to melt together in a tigillum, and the mixture will become fixed.
It no longer consumes gold or silver, nor is evaporated by fire, and is of a
red colour.
Water
[Also
if
giving
you wish
to give
weight to a
A Great
silver or
gold cup.]
Secret.
may
be dissolved.
Distil
by a
filter.
Then
in
damp
place that
it
and they
A Good Mode
Ammoniac
^iv.
,
each
...
^ij.
Sviij.
Sublimate three or four times, and afterwards add the clear part of eggs,
cooked quant, suff. Pound the whole together until it be dissolved Attervvards distil in an alembic and congeal.
will
let
If
it
it
314
Common
Salt
Flour
Let them be pounded together and moistened, so as to be-
equal parts.
in
come a
Let
thick mass.
it
be dried by the
fire,
and fulminated.
Take
Salt of Nitre
Alum
Calcined
Take
each.
lb.
Pour upon
dry
with
it,
it
Take the
move and
wash it well,
Mix all,
From
less in quantity.
in
it
the aquafortis aforesaid, and let the phial be closed with sealing-
it
When
wax.
more nor
aquafortis, neither
is
made
Sol,
fire.
silver,
Luna.
strong.
and
it
in lead previously
divisible
when
struck,
it
washed.
is
If the lead
good.
above.
Note.
Take
of Cinnabar
i.
lb.
of Arsenical Sulphur
of Calcinated Tartar
equal quantities,
i.
viz.,
quartal.
of Alcohol of Soot
of Twice-prepared Salt
^
(
all.
Let them be mixed, pounded, and imbibed several times with water of eggs
or albumen of tartar.
Let them stand in flux for three hours. Then kindle.
After this liquefy the mixture for four hours in a very strong
to
cineritium,
and you
will
fire.
Proceed
have the Treasure of the
World.
Of
Take
zinc
aquafortis in which
Zinc.
Luna
is
dissolved
in the glass.
alcali
dissolved.
Manual of
315
smoke
the
fire till
Then
ceases.
it
in
will be sublimated.
Another Method.
Take equal
quantities of slime
Let
it
Make
and of minera.
fulminated.
nights.
After this
it
Note.
i.
part
fz.
of Sulphur
of light.
lb.
Let
said filings.
it
lb.,
Take of Alum
v.
lb.
of Saltpetre
of Vitriol
of Verdigris
,,
Make
ij.
'"J-
''
oz.
iij.
of Cinnabar
,,
^^^^
oz.
aquafortis.
xv.
lb.
each
Let the aquafortis above-mentioned be poured over these recipes. Distil and
Also take iij. lb. of this water. Let there be dissolved
at length purge.
therein
days.
You
will
then find
iii.
Afterwards
oz.
of
good
let
gold.
it
3i6
Water
Mercury A True
Fixing
Take of
Ammoniac
Sal
Alcali
Saltpetre
Recipe.
equal quantities.
distil.
Digestion of Luna.
Dissolve four ounces of lead, and as
Pulverise, imbibe
quicksilver.
Then put
again.
viij.
You
melts a
inject four
little,
amalgam
ounces of
Pulverise
Place above
in the tigillum.
it
oil
pulverise.
with
Then take
Dissolve as before.
of tartar.
oil
it
Take of white
calcined Tartar
Ammoniac ij.
cellarium.
Then
Sal
Let an
be produced
oil
in the
Take of
oil
i.
oz.
oz.
three parts
two parts
Also take again three parts of cinders, with one part of melted salt boiled
with one part 27 oz. of small nails.
It produces the equivalent of one talent.
maw
worms.
it.
cantharides, putrefy
it
in
dung, and
Fire.
distil
sufficient light to
Put
it.
this
water into a
read by.
Cinnabar
But
Distil as aquafortis.
divide
it
mercury,
carefully.
into
two
in the
parts,
other part
Having done
collect the
and
i.
oz.
the
in
lb. vj.
oz.
iij.
of silver
filings.
it
distil
it
remains.
it
into a
Then
good
Let
it
vessel of glass,
is
i.
saffron-coloured
oz.
fire
and place
of sublimated
this, let
Afterwards put
part dissolve
it
by means of an
this in cold,
damp
A
and
small, clear,
Manual of
Next, by means of a
crystalline stone.
may
vessel,
317
filter
extract the
five
them be dissolved
let
into
water.
Take
put
this water,
in
it
Make
a very slow
Take
some
underneath, scarcely
fire
In
more
dung
for 30 days.
Let it be again dissolved into water and hardened once more by
Then once more dissolve it under dung as
fire in the manner aforesaid.
before, and keep on dissolving and congealing it until it is dissolved in one
day. Then you will be better able to congeal and dissolve it. And it will be
a water which congeals mercury into true Luna at every trial. One part of
Luna is deposited for every thousand parts of mercury.
will be
and pulverise
it
on cleansed marble.
And
Take
Then
place
it
a glass vessel
in
in
if
the aforesaid aqua fortis in such quantity that you can dissolve in
it
40 oz. of Luna in plates. Put it in a vessel by itself, and the same quantity
Leave it until it is
of sublimated mercury by itself in another vessel.
Into the water
elixir
Put
being made.
all
damp
in the
form of a
means of an alembic
then
all will
descend to the
in the
that this
one on a thousand.
is
viij.
For Sol
it is
Take
much
as you will.
falls will
be
Vitriol
Rom.
lb.
Saltpetre
lb.
\.
Cinnabar
lb.
mercury, as
crystalline stone.
Distil,
before put
warm -dung
Then know
named
i.
water.
Then draw
off the
Burn
you
know how, and it will be like blood. It may be dissolved perhaps in aqua
Having done this, take viij. oz. of the red water
fortis and make this red.
itself
will
and
i.
water by means of a
off the
bottom.
vessel,
under
in the
filter,
What you
Then draw
and
it
them
will
in
a well-closed glass
This medicine gives one part for every one thousand parts of quick mercury.
3i8
Make an amalgam
parts,
iii.
and of
Then wash very carefully with salt and acetum, until all
Pound the amalgam on a stone, and dry it. Steep it
blackness disappears.
in urine after wrapping in linen rag.
Take an alembic placed on ashes in a
furnace, and make a moderate fire of coals, so that you can touch the top of
the urine with the hand.
Keep on thus decocting and pounding until it is
this
is
thoroughly black, for
a good sign. Then wash it in the water of common salt, thoroughly pure, until no blackness appears. Then once more
good Luna
i.
part.
Put
it
Luna with
Leave
it.
it
all
when
Then
in succession.
it
to cool,
place
it
in
Pound
all
together
a vesica with
it
amalgam, and let the sal ammoniac be dissolved in warm water, or, better
still, in aqua vitas.
Afterwards let the vesica be luted and dissolve in warm
dung, changing the dung every week so that the matter shall be thoroughly
dissolved, and it then becomes an elixir.
Afterwards put it in urine to evaporate, and when the water is evaporated increase the fire, so that all the sal
ammoniac may ascend, and the medicine may remain fixed in the bottom.
Then remove the sal ammoniac, and congeal the medicine with a slow fire, as
if it
were
If
you wish
is
and
it
becomes
quick mercury
it
done.
to multiply this elixir, place one part with loo parts of quick
friable
will
Luna.
become purest
Melt
it
If
Sol.
Sol,
MADE.
IS
Red Calcined
Tin,
oz.
iij.
each
Quick Sulphur
Citrine Arsenic
Red Animal
Oil,
and
lb.
ij.
each
rectified
j.
with distilled
each.
treated twice, put the mixture to dissolve, until a pure red water
Then
let it
be
distilled in
silver aforesaid.
Then
an alembic
Leave
it
is produced.
water imbibe the quickas before, and waxen with it the
and with
it
to dissolve
this
and to
distil until it
be clear and
A
red,
Manual of Paracelsus
and coagulates of
own
its
accord
in the vessel of
Reduce
as above.
it
pour out
If there
Jupiter.
Great.
the
it
When
coagulation.
over a slow
wax.
like
319
fire
it
with the
it
it, and it will be coagulated, producing gold better than that of Nature.
Hereby also carbuncles can be made out of crystals.
tinge
Ammoniac, oz. i.
Alumen Jameni, oz. i.
Sal
Rom.,
ij.
oz. ^
Saltpetre, oz. i
Tuchia, oz.
Make an aqua
part of Sol and
i.
Then
fortis.
i.
Dissolve
dram thereupon.
i.
Afterwards
granulate per sturbam in the aforesaid strong water, and thus, beyond any
doubt, you will have gold that will answer any test up to
xxiiij.
degrees.
Perpetual Water.
Take
weeks.
perpetual whiteness.
Another Mode.
Dissolve the calx of eggs with alumen jamenum, sugar, and
once
Distil
in
an alembic, and
it
common
salt.
Precious Water.
Take
Salt of Nitre
Sal
vj.
Ammoniac
ozs.
each
v. oz.
place
them
and
it
in
Then congeal
for
It
will
Luna.
For
Sol.
it
is
perfectly fixed
dissolutions.
ammoniac.
in
Put
this
and becomes
for
red,
which
sublimation with
until
it
vitriol,
it
be as
fluid as
it
salt of nitre
the
be poured forth.
until
and
in the bath.
Continue
320
Paracelstis.
Corporal Mercuries.
Then take Luna, and dissolve
it in aqua fortis.
Sublimate the
that.
Join them together, and strain them as you know hovr.
arsenic from the body, and it will become a sort of mass.
Put it into a damp
Take
and
place,
and dissolve
arsenic
it
will
Corporal Mercury.
will
Place in
it
will
Pulverise,
arsenic.
come
and then
forth as mercury.
Take
Make
of any metal one part and of purified white arsenic another part.
be regulated
of
first
all in
a slow
to smoke.
fire,
and
layers,
in
successively
and you
will find
let
it
them
begins
mercury.
fire,
is
in
a sublimatory.
quickened.
Then wash
it
with
it
until
turns to a powder.
it
Afterwards put
it.
it
in
a glass vessel
it
in
Shake
it.
dry
it
out,
and you
will
require.
The Mercury
Take
Bury
vessel.
of
it
by layer with
will be
common salt in a
common water,
Dilute with
found at once.
the rest.
dung
for
from
with
it,
it.
Corporal Mercury.
it
sal
dissolve
ammoniac, and
it
stir it
in
a tigillum.
When
in boiling
it is
it
dissolved, scatter
becomes a powder.
A Manual
Then
in the water.
and you
321
mercury
in
it
with
bottom.
Another Method.
Take a sufficient quantity of sulphur and linseed oil.
Boil the mixture
it comes to the form of a vapour.
Put in it plates of Saturn, and it is
converted into Mercury in three days.
until
Take
plates of fulminated
aquafortis
with it sal ammoniac, alcali, and oil of tartar. Blend all together on marble and
pound thoroughly for three or four hours.
Then the body gains a soul.
Collect this soul carefully, and the four elements.
This
for
is
it
in
dung
Strengthen the
disappeared.
carefully,
body
is
and
any remains
if
fire,
remove
oil
set
it
in
it
put
it
in
it,
and
When
it
Afterwards
dung
If the
a glass vessel
for eight days.
this is
done
let it
dissolved, stir
be again dissolved.
Then take
itself.
set
it
let it
Take
in
be extracted.
Collect this
with a feather.
of tartar, put
and
well,
it
it
water over
moisture has
in the alembic,
Afterwards set
all
it
in horse
it is
Pour warm
calx of marble,
dung,
let it
stand for
into Aloth.
oil
equal parts.
with
oil
of vitriol.
Corporal Mercury.
Take
vitriol, saltpetre,
and alum.
mortuum a second
its
time,
Make
salt
with
common
water.
salt.
Then
Reverberate
Repeat
this
32 2
Pour over
it
Leave
aquafortis.
it
Then
to
in that aquafortis.
force
it
Abstract the
phlegm through the alembic in the bath. Afterwards take good sal alcali,
reverberate it, and dissolve in oil. Then take good oil of tartar, and afterwards
Take equal
dissolved sal ammoniac, which has been six times sublimated.
quantities of these three oils.
Pound away the calx therewith, put in a cupel.
Pour the oils over to the height of a finger. Place in horse dung fifteen days.
Then set over cinders. Drive at first gently, afterwards violently. Then
there ascends a white powder, which proves from a marc to two ounces of
Luna. This makes living with brandy or sunst.
Receipt of the Bishop of Strasburg.
Take
of filings of
Then
Dissolve in aquafortis.
abstract thence into the third part of the water through the alembic.
take so
much
it
in
much
whereupon you
will
by means of fustian
(?)
cloth.
will
become mercury.
Dry
If it
in
Then
them
and putrefy
Put
it,
Take of
alumen.
In
two parts of
salt of tartar
two
parts,
common
salt
one part,
vitriol,
Then take of
the burnt
one
part each.
Pound these
of the salts of the
salts together
moon be
as
much as of
Then sublimate
(?).
it.
all
the salts.
brandy.
little
Dissolve
Let
is
it
let
the quantity
it all
in
water
become dry as
produced.
Note.
Take
leaves of
takes place
it
this
the leaves
become
Luna
yields
no more sulphur.
This
sulphur with quintessence of wine, and there will be quickit with wood of oak or birch.
Reverberate
The Original
moon.
(?)
black.
Then
thin,
mortar
when
Impaste
silver.
it
it
dissolve
it
Stir
in
of the body.
it
let
has.
it
Manual of
323
of sal
them melt gently. Put in the Luna, speedily take it out again (and place)
on a dish with water, and stir it. Then dry it with a towel or leather. You
will then have Mercury of the Moon, true and good.
let
Another Method.
Take
into a cucurbit.
Set
it
among warm
purified.
ashes,
Corporal Mercury.
Vitriol also,
if it
filings
be
Another Method.
With Mercury sublimate seven times, pound
metal; add flour and water.
Reduce
Mercury.
or cinder of every
calx
descend, for
Take
It will
it
living
it
spirits of aquafortis.
Luna.
Then take
make
pound
it
working as above.
it
will
be live
Mercury.
Note.
Dissolve filings of
it
in
Luna
in aquafortis,
draw
Take
it
and weigh
sal
ammoniac,
etc.,
Another.
Take
Let
it
be placed in
it
in vinegar,
wherein
sal
cinders,
and Mercury
there be distilled
will ascend.
let
all
With
bodies.
let it
be
this there is
an
Take of
subli-
mated Mercury, which see, pound it with steel filings, out of sal ammoniac, put
it into a wet place, and let it be dissolved into oil without water.
W2
324
Praxis.
Take
a phial and
seal.
Give
from the
it,
first,
bodies.
Take
It
it
into
increasing
fires,
of Mercury of
Luna two
parts,
Put
same manner.
Note.
Take an equal quantity of salt and sulphur, and of water of arsenic. Take
Put it in a cupel, pour
as much as you like of calx of Luna, well sweetened.
Let it stay three weeks in dung or
water over to the height of three fingers.
in the bath.
First distil the water
Let it be well luted. Then place in sand.
slowly, then drive away the spirits.
Afterwards strengthen, whereupon the
Mercury ascends; let it become cold and you have it potent.
Another Method.
Make
Of
this
in
Leave
it
sublimated mercury.
which dissolve 4
in
of sal
ammoniac and
Distil slowly
12 of
through
c.
it
may
it
will
let it
Mercury of Saturn.
Take of soap one part, of living calx one part.
Pound them together,
distil like an aqua fortis.
Then take of ceruse two parts, and of oil of soap
one part. Impaste well, let it stand one month in the bath, afterwards pour
warm water over it, move with the finger, and you will have the mercury of
the bodies.
light,
There
lights.
lid
and around,
purified with
in the
to the thickness of
one finger
let it
be
black matter.
finally,
with four
bag.
Note.
tincture
fire.
When
cloth.
let it
them
remain
in
A
the cloth
Manual of
On
Afterwards
water.
and you
Its
325
will
it
in the
is
warmth.
a powder results.
Perform
this twice
Again.
Take
vitriol,
and pound
it
thoroughly.
slow
fire
Set
in
in the mortar.
it
Place
in
it
will find
it
all
Then
then leave to dissolve for two or three days, whereupon there will
will discover
Mercury.
Make
aquafortis out
Of Vitriol i. lb.
Of Salt Nitre lb.
Of Calcinated Alumen ^
i.
And
if
lb.
in
dissolve
it
Of
the body of the sun and moon, so far as they are capable of dissolution.
quintessence
with
the same take one part, and four parts of extracted tartar,
Or, put the hot tartar into the quintessence to the
of wine as aforesaid.
it.
Of
the
same quintessence,
Then pour
together with the extracted tartar, take, as said above, four parts.
the aquafortis, with
drops, and
set
in the
it
fire,
until
it is all
it
first
clear, that
time by
no dross
oil.
its
will arise.
Place in the
or boiling wine.
boil
it.
becomes a transparent
previously stirred, and extract
until
Then
brought over
then
Cleanse
it
same Mercury
it
and make
it
living in vinegar
the aforesaid
oil
separately
will tinge.
Take
Another Method.
Luna pounded with the same quantity of sal ammoniac.
Then wash the sal ammoniac from it. Drive
or four times.
of calx of
Sublimate three
parts,
fire,
and you
will
have mercury.
326
Augment.
Take of corporal mercury four parts, and of fine Sol or Luna one part.
Make an amalgam in a copper vessel, with an ordinary bath. Then leave it to
digest eight days. When it is fixed, augment it with common mercury again,
about three times. Afterwards augment it with crude mercury (but perhaps
mercury sublimated and rectified is the best). Do this continually, and in
eight days
it
it
be fixed.
will also
it
let
Luna
in aquafortis,
them
Imbibe
produced.
cinders with
powerful
fire
it
in
a glass cup
and pulverise
will
oil
if
be
little
and an
cellar,
Afterwards subject
to a
it
well.
Reduction.
Take
of
Minium one
part.
Then
part.
away
the regulus.
quantities of tartar
oil
of vitriol.
Next
and of vinegar.
Place on
Put them
any metal.
Inject calx of
and
sal
dung
Stir,
ammoniac
thirty days,
in
phial,
and leave
same
in the
and you
will
Take
Pound
it
well
ammoniac an equal
in carellen,
in
warm
sand.
in
a glass.
Kindle a mild
quantity.
Let
fire
it
be well luted.
beneath.
Thus
it
Put
will
become one (solid) mass. Remove this pound it small and put in a damp
compartment to dissolve. Afterwards take of filings of Luna one marc. Put
it in water.
This also becomes water. Coagulate on soft ashes, and reduce
to powder, of which inject one part upon ten of Mercury, of purged Jupiter, or
;
of crude Mercury.
Mercury of
Liquefy Jupiter.
make an amalgam.
Jupiter.
porated with water of sal ammoniac, tartar, salt of urine, and the same
quantity of common salt.
Place in a flask, well sealed up, and set in dung for
it
will be
Manual of
327
of Saturn
i.
of Sol 8.
The amalgam, if kept at a moderate temperature for eight days, changes into
a brown powder, which becomes the finest gold. Add to it half-an-ounce of
common Mercury. Again let it stand for eight days, when again it becomes
a brown or a red powder, and so on with common Mercury. The case is the
same for Luna, and for Mercury of Jupiter with Luna. The whole process
must occupy eight days.
Note.
Dissolve
cined tartar.
Luna in any quantity of aquafortis, and in vinegar dissolve calThen pour the two solutions properly together, in such a manner
may
that none
Afterwards pour
run over.
Set
it
it
into a phial,
in
After-
whereupon
all
collect.
Corporal Mercury.
of
of Sal
Mix.
of two fingers.
Extract
ascends
will
the
Put into a glass well luted, and leave to putrefy four weeks.
humidity
to be put in
is
from
warm
Sublimate
it.
the
water, vinegar, or
remainder.
oil
Whatsoever
have Mercury.
Oil of Tartar
Take of
calcined tartar.
to the height
Produced as Follows.
is
Pour upon
it
the quintessence.
until at last
no more
Allow
oil
it
to
remains
the faeces.
sal alkali,
dissolved therein.
it
through the
filter,
and coagulate.
it
may be
Afterwards take
some sal ammoniac and twice that quantity of Mercury sublimate. Pound
them together, and place them over a glass slab to dissolve. Afterwards take
the water thus dissolved, and pour
it
it
may
into a glass.
You must
Afterwards place
therein leaves of Sol, Luna, Venus, Jupiter, or Saturn, for the space of an
ordinary day.
It will
328
Mercury of Saturn.
ammoniac half-an-ounce.
two ounces.
of Sal manipulum
one ounce
>
. _,
of Calcmed alumen
Take
of Sal
of Calcined Saturn
each,
Mix
together.
all
on the
top.
Then
will
it
Set in horse
dung
for four
weeks.
become Mercury.
Another Method.
Take
until
of calcined Saturn,
Then
resembles a paste.
it
departs.
slow
set over a
and Quicksilver
fire,
it,
will
and smear
it
the humidity
until
fire
come
forth.
Take of
man who
the urine of a
urine.
Then you
faeces.
of the water of
will
have the
it
salt of
In
life,
Pound
more the
Pound with a
calx.
it
Afterwards
better.
and
it
the water of
distil
will
water of
Let
life.
life
it
from the
become Quicksilver.
down
Pour
to the bottom.
sal
ammoniac.
in sal
ammoniac.
of this calx.
Moon.
little
pure water.
moisture
may
fire,
that the
will
descend.
And
that
all
of Salt of Tartar
Sal
gii.
Ammoniac
Calcined Saturn
Mix
all
these
However,
let
.^i.
i.
Luna or Sol i.
together and pour over them good vinegar, and let it be distilled.
it swim on the top (the height of) one palm or
thereabouts. Seal
Manual of Paracelsus
the Great.
2i^g
Dissolve
in aquafortis.
Do
it.
this thrice.
Then
spirits.
Put
let it dry.
with
it
same weight of four salts in a cellar to dissolve until it will not melt any
more. Then put in a glass.
Leave it to putrefy for four weeks. Then strain
it oif, like an aquafortis.
Whatever remains behind dissolve again on the
stone, putrefy, and strain as before
reduce the residue, and then take the
the
following salts
Oil of Salt Alkali
>
Oil of Tartar
Common
Oil of
all
Then
together.
Ammoniac
Oil of Sal
Pour
Salt
it is
prepared as above.
by
sal
one day.
Another Method.
Take Luna or
and dissolve
in aquafortis
out of one part of Mercury, one part of saltpetre, and half a part of $
made
Then
cause the water in the bath to evaporate, whereupon Luna or Sol will remain
bottom
at the
one part of
tartar
and
sal
distilled
dried at the
it
may
like
float
same
oil.
water of
The
fire, let
living
it,
and
let
dung or
over the
When
life.
time, dilute
in
it
the water of
Then
a bath.
will
of
S,
of
and of
so that
it
(the sand)
may
whereupon there
its
Thus out
so that
in
them.
and although a
distilled,
melt.
will settle
silver
of every metal
sal
in Sager.
of Luna.
ammoniac.
Add a
Stir to
and
Cleanse the
impurity with
little
it
fire.
same from
be
Afterwards leave to
Augment
fro,
life
of three fingers.
330
Pour upon
a glass.
Put
bath of
in the
it
it
Mary
for six
is
Pound
made.
Then
in oil
it
fire,
as
of tartar, accord-
do not burn.
the water.
aquafortis upon
Let
it.
it
Then excoct
and place
glow
in
to powder.
and verdigris
equal quantities.
in
of calcination, that
fire
in alternate layers
is,
Perlute well.
Take
Take
Set
it
it
to
may
and
find a great
To pour on
Take of
r
of
of
Make
"j
.,
\
o
A
>
Alumen
andJ Sal
Ammoniac
Alumen Plumosum, half a pound.
its
moisture.
Take of
or of
Saltpetre
oil
oil
of tartar
explained above.
it
dissolve in aquafortis.
water as to look
night
like
Inject
giiij.
boiling wine.
salt.
will
this
two of
sal
Take
ammoniac.
viij.
of
Distil
through the alembic, and the crystals will pass over into the wine dissolve
about eight parts of sal alcali pour this solution over the h- ), which must go
over.
Leave for eight days to putrefy. Take it out and extract the moisture.
;
Luna
and put
will
it
ascend
in the
in oil of tartar.
Thus
it
in
in ashes.
fail,
there will be
produced Quicksilver.
the aquosity
may
fifth
be perfectly removed.
Let
it
Then cause
Manual
Then
Sun or Moon.
calx of the
331
will
be
Otherwise.
Make an
and one pound of alum. Take one pound of this aquafortis. Dissolve
When this has been effected, next take
therein two ounces of sal ammoniac.
twelve parts of sublimated mercury.
put the aquafortis into a cucurbite,
Sun or Moon
in the
Leave
water.
it
water.
-1-)
will
it
in the said
be Quicsllver.
Dissolve
calx,
in aquafortis,
ammoniac
in sal
(fixed),
and
may
float
day.
it
the black
oil
Let
it
Do
becomes
as
Pour out
Pour over it
before,
the
oil,
clear.
wash
it
until the
Place
it.
it
tigillum be
it
Next
filled.
as explained below.
tartar,
and cover
imbibe
Also,
Distil the
box on a
set the
jar wherein
is
silver,
water,
salt,
common Mercury.
And
Make an amalgam
you
until
will see
it is
Let
it
Mercury ascending.
fixed
Notice.
stand by a slow
Make
it
fire
Fix
at the bottom.
it,
Then
Also.
Invariably place a
and
revivified
Mercury.
little
dissolved
Luna between
332
of Vitriol and
Make aqua
a
little
If there
be
Dissolve in
fortis.
and Luna
salt,
as aqua fortis.
of the Moon.
much
as
Place
Then vinegar
Collect
it
will
Inject
like.
Place in a cucurbite.
the calx.
it
in
it
Let
ascend
first,
Afterwards
Close perfectly.
fire until
Dry
five
Take
filings of
it
precipitated.
is
half a pound.
tartar.
distil
alum
it
wood
Subject
of the ash.
it
to a slow
fire until
a white
powder follows. Add to it half the quantity you require of the corporal Mercury,
and the third part of reverberated calx of the Sun. Digest it until it becomes
a red powder. Then you will obtain what you desire.
Extraction of Mercury of the Moon.
Take of calx of Luna one mark of oil of Tartar and sal ammoniac two
drams each (or six drams). Mix in a well-closed glass. Put the glass into cold
water. Then the calx of Luna becomes solid like a cheese. Next let it stand a
day and a night. Then leave it in horse-dung for three weeks. Afterwards take
it out, and place it in the bath of Mary for fourteen days.
Next set it for three
;
over
it.
may
and there
will
Pour
fiercely boiling
water
reduce again.
Otherwise.
Take Luna dissolved in aqua fortis. Then dissolve tartar into vinegar in
the same quantity as Luna.
Pour the two solutions together by drops, lest it
should crackle. Gently extract the moisture. Then extract from it a strong
Mercury of the Moon. Thereupon, a greyish powder attaches itself thereto.
Take it, and rub with oil of tartar in your fingers, and it becomes living
Mercury.
Otherwise.
and there
is
adhesive tincture.
dry,
warm
stove-bath.
and sublimate.
Mercury.
Take Mercury seven times sublimated and
place in a
Let
Unite these solutions
revivified, as
A
When
Manual of
3.
? to
digest well in
it
if
oil.
is
is
the medicine
collocated the
it
hot bath.
its
may
in
333
the said
it
Thus,
this
with incombustible
oil,
and
its
virtue will be
augmented.
infinitely
of congealing
it
see Marvels.
in filling
vessel to the top therewith, the head of the vessel being closed with
Let
it
examine
a strong
salt, lime,
let
fire
be
night. Afterwards
differ
dissolved
salt, until it
Dissolve
Luna
Dissolve in this
it
in
is
will
Let
it
Jij.
Mercury crude,
Jupiter
Pound together
Take
Make an augment,
of
as you
The crude
of
part.
Common Mercury
Body of
Jupiter
Mercury
subl.
Afterwards increase
will
Luna j.
know
3J.
ij.
iiij.
parts each.
Apply at
first
it.
Oil of Arcanum.
Take some honey with juniper and celandine.
flax
etc.,
sal
Mercury of
fire.
into
sal
Take of Mercury
slow
it
and
it
silver.
aquafortis.
This
Melt
melts quickly.
it,
334
Let
let
lb.
each of them
j.
^^'^^^''J1
Nitre
Colcotar
Alum
1-
each.
Ib.s.
Crude Tartar
Antimony
Distil
thrice.
Afterwards take of this oil Ib.j.,
and antimony, with boiling wine extracted and precipitated to
of oil of tartar
the bottom,
of
Ib.ij.;
oil
good
lb
Let
j.
Afterwards take
glass.
all
and
j.
Of red
is.
become
Ib.j.;
In order to strengthen
oil,
gilding
it,
dry into
it
all
by the
things,
much
as there
But
it
distillation of the
this thrice
will remain,
alembic these
Salpetre
Alum
it
of Mercury
lb. j.
ammoniac,
Ib.j.
arcanum of
as there
is
oil
Christ.
of each.
of alcali of tartar.
Of Mercury and
each.
much
quart.
which
Water
Take
j.
Colcothar
Calcined
as
arsenic subli-
Take of Antimony,
Do
as
and
alcali of
all
spirits
oil
filter,
Of
ammoniac
Then take
as before.
exceedingly gentle
Correct and
fix
fire,
very
Ib.j.
into
many
a stone.
times.
stone of tincture.
Also
let it
Imbibe
this
when you
will
Imbibe
have the miraculous
oil
of the
A
arcanum, so that
all,
because
Manual of
may become
it
coagulates and
it
red
fixes
for this
Mercury
is
335
Notable Elixir.
Take
solve
Ib.s.
seven times
it
With
of atrament.
Afterwards congeal
Ib.j.
water of pomegranates.
in
this
in
Dis-
Afterwards dissolve
sal
ammoniac
in
water
One
ashes to the
elixir.
will
Take
Pound
as
j.
part,
half a part.
many
five
times.
Take
of the
of Venus,
it
will
or iron burnt
become
silver,
Another
Take
Elixir.
Fixed arsenic
e
Sal ammoniac
-I}
Imbibe
all
Ib.s.
Ib.j.
each.
top as
much
wax.
Place
in
warm
horse-dung for
fifteen days.
Afterwards take
it
out,
and you will find the whole dissolved into water. Take this water and distil
Next put the water thus purified in a small vessel.
through the alembic,
Then devitreate and place over cool ashes leave it there till it is converted
;
which plate does not fear the force of fire. It is upright and
deep, tinging and permanent j. part changes 100 parts of every body into
the purest Luna.
Note.
into a plate,
the
Water of eggs distilled seven times, and sulphur imbibed therewith over
thereby Mercury will be congealed.
stone make it fixed and fluxible
;
Take some calx of eggs, calcined tartar, and alumen lamenum. Dissolve
them in boys' urine. Then take that powder and dissolve at the bottom of a
Over that powder set Mercury sublimate, so as to completely close
crucible.
it.
This having been effected, perfectly close the glass crucible with another
crucible by luting
fire
for
it
so that the
it
becomes
beautiful
escape.
Then
place by the
undergoes increment.
Also lute the tigillum thoroughly, and place on the furnace for three hours.
336
The.
by descent
distil
half of Luna,
any
test.
may
here
is
whitened.
sufficiently
particularibus, in
that
is,
let
Repeat the
Notable Elixir.
Take
of Mercury
ij.
ounces.
Jewish stone
Sal
ammoniac
,.
Common
salt
)
Antimony
Pound each separately and mix. Set in layers, first the powders, and the
Mercury on the top. Let the tigillum be in such a manner luted and placed
perfect Luna.
Removal of Copper.
Take of Oil of tartar
)
^'
Arsenic
Place over
fire in
Pound
one mass.
a slow
fire,
j.
it,
and dissolve
it
of which elixir
part whitens
j.
Congeal
vj.
may become
If there
be
Ib.j.
of
in
of copper, and
as
much
of
will rejoice.
and
it
cause
will
it
Add
be a thin pottage.
to boil for
Leave
it
it
Distil
as
through a
much sulphur
Mix
it
Place
as you like,
two days.
Afterwards
become blood. Distil through the
to stand for
will
alembic, and you will find at the bottom the sacred divinity.
into Sol.
filter.
It
converts Venus
N.B.
Malleable Mercury.
Cause sulphur to
and you
out,
the
fire,
part
boil in oil
will find a
and you
will
then pour
in
be able to mingle
it
Mercury.
Immediately take
will flatten.
it
[lacuna].
Fixation of Mercury.
Take equal
compound
fixes
Mercury.
Note concerning a
Construct a pyxis of iron.
will then audibly
groan.
When
it
Pyxis.
Inject
A
the tigillum,
Manual of
of pure
j. lb.
tin,
dissolved together.
i>n
;
let
them be
all tests.
Take
of
Biij.
of pure Sol.
.j.
morning
Place
till
iij. lbs. of living sulphur, and you will see the same.
Out of
two parts of aqua fortis, and you will have the matter from gold
This is the medicine, and is called the elixir
of the usual colour and frangible.
Place j. part over x. of Luna, and it will be 0.
for the sun.
Should you
place the first part over two of Luna, there will be aurum florenorum tran-
have expended
this project
scending
credibility.
Water
Place
iij.
of Mercury.
Let
glass vessel.
it
also
add
Then take
together in water.
parts of sal
iiij.
dissolve
j.
which
and put
with
lb.
ij.
in Ib.s.
Ib.s.
in
a luted
Take
that
will
test.
True
Take
oil.
One
standing every
ammoniac
this in
Elixir.
Ib.j.
of sal ammoniac.
Keep
strongest vinegar.
that which
is distilled.
fire
into
in
due fashion,
part changes xxx. parts of Venus, which passes through every test.
For Luna.
Take of Arsenic
'
Tartar
ih
Living calx
Prepared salt
fire.
After-
Also project
gs. of this
Take of
Mercury
Calcined Luna
I'^-J-
with a slow
in
fire,
a glass vessel.
Afterwards place
in
cucurbit and
distil at
338
Then
shall
if it
it
distilled,
add
it its
imbibed or
you
distilled, or
stable
One
and permanent.
part of
may be
thrice
Afterwards
crystal plate
tinges 1,000 of
it
it
ammoniac be consumed.
of sal
till iij.lb.
Venus
into
is
Luna.
To REMOVE Venus.
Take iiij. parts of oil of tartar, and j. part of white arsenic. Imbibe
them repeatedly until the oil has been consumed. Afterwards dissolve vj. parts
of purged Venus with glass and of elixir part j.
Make Luna. Let there be
added afterwards
parts of Luna.
iij.
of Living Mercury
Salt fixed
by calx and
part
j.
each.
Alcali of soot
Crude tartar
Luna.
For Luna.
Take a
Mercury
set
in a
on the
and
fire for
one day, or
Venus, when
it
this
will
let it
be everywhere luted.
Also suspend
Afterwards
The smoke of
process and make ij. (sic).
until
Afterwards take of
at the
next
overlb.j. of
purged
be natural Luna.
Take
Vitriol
Crocus of Mars
>
Flower of Copper
Prepared
sal
j.
part each.
ammoniac.
Prepared heematite.
Let them be pulverised and mixed together.
aquosity
is
consumed, and
vessel on horse
duced.
iij.
dung
Congeal
of Luna.
it
it
becomes a powder.
with a slow
fire.
it
is
cellar.
Afterwards take
Afterwards set
damp
Luna
It will
ij.
or
Cement.
Salpetre,
a glass
gold.
Take of Antimony,
j.
in
Ib.j.
Ib.ij.
Calcined tartar,
Ib.j.
A
Melt together, and
inject
part over
pounded
of
Ib.j.
>|<
tin),
be melted.
let it
Manual of
339
and immediately
very red, one
it is
Venus perhaps).
in flux (of
Oil of Antimony.
Antimony converted
into oil in
Take equal
Make
lixivium.
Make a strong
quantities
Waxen
rubified.
it is
boil,
it
and when
has dried
it
it
it
life.
it
it
if it
all
Afterwards
let it
in
weight, and
is
it
be redder
will
red water.
petre
and sulphur.
become aquafortis.
bodies with Mercury will remain in the
salt-
If further
Luna permanently.
Projection of Luna.
Take
of
Cadmia
Salpetre
Melt
in luted tigillum
j.
>
Calcined alum
each.
>
Note.
Oil of iron colours citrine, the
oil
Best Borax.
Take Alum
Calcined tartar
Then
tightened bag.
them
all
metals.
afterwards
let
boil
equal quantities.
Sublimated salmiax
let
You
in alcali.
Perpetual Augment.
Take j.lb.
a cupel on a slow
lute
it
it
is
dried up.
well,
matter,
in
salt,
and
and
until
it
be fixed.
will find
it
of
may
eggs
suff'er it
when you
iiij.lb.
evaporate.
until
Make
salt.
fire
means of
an amalgam, place
Pound
is
of fixed
fire
;"
cook
Afterwards
Take out
this well
the
add
as above, and
X2
340
and
to evaporate, as before,
on
set
it
for ever.
by descent
distilled
is
Another.
To
paste.
reduce
Cause
it
this to
let it
become a hard
Water
of Nitre.
equal quantities.
in
Salt
become a powder.
of
it,
Let
glass.
let it
cineritium.
Sublimated Mercury
-^oz.
each.
Mix
lute
to dissolve.
so that
ammoniac
evaporation
fire,
again pour on
The
it is
kindled,
warm
water, and
it
warm
will
water.
Next, cause
calx will then arise from the Mercury, and the Mercury will
like
snow.
Perform
and
let
the sal
itself in aquafortis,
and so again,
etc.
Do
it
will be
it
a hard stone.
Do
Let
it
in
this three
Also, over
be projected
then
Mars
in flux.
Also that powder fixes Mercury which has been coagulated without metal.
Manual of
341
Note.
Take
Saltpetre
Alum
Ammoniac
equal quantities.
in
I
Sal
'
silver,
and
will be
it
a gold colour.
Projection of Luna.
-i
Ammoniac
Sal
of
Cause them
Red
eight ounces.
Vitriol
Jaspis,
giiij.
to melt together
much gold
Take
in eight
gs.
of this over
ounces of Luna.
Fixation of Cinnabar.
Take Cinnabar
Litharge
Antimony
each.
jj.
Place
but
by a slow
it
finally
make
fire
Arrange
for
fire in
in layers
with Luna.
a wind furnace.
Production.
-\
Granulated Venus
j-
sumed
of
Mars
j.
part each.
of Venus.
Do
and
Note.
I
have written as
many
praises of this
powder as
could.
Also.
Take equal
Make
Take Haematite
Sal
Ammoniac
Evaporated
plates of them.
">
Vitriol
r
Saltpetre
Bolus Armenus
Alum
3iij-each.
'
"1
it
will
342
Make
Luna
and you
Afterwards take
will
Luna
of
Make
this
it.
Perlute the
cement
thrice,
well weighed.
Distil
vitriol.
your operations
in all
j.
Thus arrange
three parts of
lb.
a thrice-devitreated jar.
and
tigillum
in
it
will be con-
When
Take
Vitriol
Saltpetre
Alum
Ib.s.
r
)
j.
It
afterwards converts
Luna
into
Sol.
Albatio Bambergensis.
Take any quantity of Jupiter, and the same of living Mercury. Make an
amalgam. Then take sulphur if for the red stage, or arsenic if for the white,
and sal ammoniac, all in equal quantities. Pound thoroughly. Place in a
Sublime for half a day with a slow
well-luted vessel.
fiercer fire for
fire,
afterwards with a
a whole day, next with an exceedingly strong one for two days.
is
filings of
and
Venus
into best
it
luted.
Arrange
Luna.
Burn with a
in layers in
fierce fire,
salt well
of these
a glass vessel,
so that they
may
be
melted together.
times,
it
will
Luna.
it
it
becomes just
like silver.
Note.
Sublime Mercury sublimated from Saturn
it
makes lead
like
Luna.
Fixation of Luna.
Imbibe cinnabar with
borax, and immediately in
oil
coloritio.
it
with
Sublimation of Mercury.
Take aquafortis, in which dissolve as much Mercury as you please. Then
add the same quantity of common salt. Abstract aquafortis through the
alembic. Then increase the fire, so that the Mercury may be sublimed
an
exceedingly fierce fire must then be employed, arrange in layers with that
Mercury and plates of Jupiter on a humid place, when the Mercury will
become water
;
Manual of
343
Fixed Luna.
Let Luna be cemented for six days
further affected by aquafortis, and
it
crocus of Mars.
in
Let
not be
it
Take Mercury
Borax
Impaste properly together
takes place
this
which
Mercury
the
until
completely invisible.
is
then cool.
You
is
par. vj.
?iiij.
Luna you
will
will
Fulminate that
Sol.
Repeat
this until
afterwards take
Pound
in
it
iiij.
equal quantities.
tincture
it
Put
pound
Then take
it
filter, etc.
this.
One
Also
in
it
produced from
is
fire,
part of
it
Then a
projected over 30 of
is
Mercury, and the same becomes Luna, commencing to flow immediately with
the tincture.
Blow strongly so
may make
its
way through.
Notice carefully.
Fixation of Luna.
Put
it
itself.
Over this
Next
Saturn and Mercury project fixed borax with saltpetre into the tigillum.
Water of Mercury.
Take equal parts of tartar and mercury, sublimate thrice, and pound on
marble. Then dissolve. The metal is dissolved in that water in one hour, but
the matter
is
Luna equal
to be distilled in water.
parts.
it.
this
drops.
it
will
Repeat
liquid remains.
become
Replace
milk.
Coagiilate this
this,
distil
Place
it
on a slow
and make
in
part each
it
fire for
in the
seven
344
project
every
it
become
is
it
powder, project
test.
it
red.
Secret Note.
Take filings of Venus and put them in wax for three days and nights.
Take one pound thereof, four of vitriol, and five of sulphur.
Mix lute
between two bricks in a carefully watched furnace, and note the result.
;
and
oil,
it
will
become
fixed.
oil.
It
RUBIFICATION.
Take
and pound
vitriol
consistence of a paste.
the other.
dung and
thing
small on marble.
it
Put
gravel.
it
and
vitriol,
Imbibe
dishes,
it
composed of
in
done.
is
The Purification of
Project three or four times over
Tin.
of tartar.
oil
Note.
Oil of tartar
is
that which
made
is
it, it
For Broken
Take
coal
sal
ammoniac, place
it
for
common
use
but
if
a plate of
becomes white.
in the
Coins.
fire.
let it
olive
oil
and quicklime
together.
Mix these
so that the
Distil over
a slow
process
is
fire
in
oil
shall float
and
let it cool.
not complete.
Repeat
until
it is
made
Fixation of Mercury.
Sublimate with quicklime until complete.
For Gilding.
Distil the
and
yolk of eggs.
It is
oil
Manual of
345
Sal Ammoniac.
Take one pound of sal ammoniac, pour on it acetum and wine, distil by
means of a filter, and add ten pounds of sublimated dung. Set it to boil,
when it will be desiccated. Pour urine on it again until a twentieth part of it
is consumed.
Then add pure water and dissolve. Take the clear water and
lay aside the dregs.
and
Boil
Sal Borax.
Take
Pour on
calcined tartar.
warm
it
upper part
water.
clarified.
is
salt
dissolved in water, add one part of this, and afterwards boil in an iron dish
until
it
is
Then
thickened.
Thus you
friable.
will
it
becomes
in glass.
Another Method.
Take
common
of prepared
and
Set to cool,
by means
distil
Sift
salt.
of a
filter,
it
is
afterwards
let
it
boil until
Of
it
in
this
mixture take
a glass vessel to
Sal Borax.
Take
Calcined Tartar,
Quick Lime,
Wood
Ashes,
distil in
filter,
\.
ij.
lb. j.
Crude Tartar,
Prepared
lb.
lb.
lb.
i\.
Common
and coagulate.
Thus
is
obtained excellent
borax.
Lazurium.
part of sal ammoniac,
Take one
mercury.
smoke ascends
Take
then leave
lapis lazuli.
sal
Then gradually
you
oil
of laurel.
ammoniac and
Finally,
off.
Take
it
in
increase
Another Method.
Amalgamate
it.
pulverize
will discover
to the
half parts
smoke
of citron
this
wood
afterwards diminish.
Another.
Amalgamate
346
Flos Aeris.
Take
desiccate,
Mix them
filings
together,
Take
Then
one.
Cool
First of
all
a purple
cease.
To MAKE Marble.
Take quicklime and extract the lixivium with wine. With this
Forthwith it is susceptible of colour.
calcined and pounded flint.
Corals are made thus
Take of minium one part and of cinnabar half a
is
imbibed
lime of
and
flint five
Add
much
as
salt as
finally
oil.
Factitious Corals.
parts,
Form and
suff.
dry.
fine
friable.
it is
powder, either
in the
fire,
as
you please.
of
Take mother
crystal, pound
Afterwards
boil
Afterwards dry
Another Mode.
wash it well. Then take
thoroughly
in the sun, or
in
linseed
over a
and
oil,
in a closed vessel.
dry.
fire.
and keep
same quantity
Shape and
the
wax and
"place
and sublimate
Imbibe with water
each,
on the
Afterwards desiccate
Thus Luna
will
fire.
Sublimate
it,
be produced.
Ruby.
Take
4lb.
atramentum.
manner of
and
in
it
put one
of
A
very strong
it
Stir
may
fire,
Mars.
Manual of
Take
ascend.
in
it
347
it
filing of
fire.
Set
apart to stand and you will see a pellicle form and float on the surface.
matter, which
this
on one
it
surface
before.
Then take
it
it
in fresh
again dissolve and calcine as above, and repeat this process three
in aquafortis,
One
Sol.
and put
Afterwards dissolve
times.
Do
stir
is
acetum as
Then
side.
part
tinges
Luna
to
Take
half a
Take
Water
of Sulphur.
Sol.
AURUM MUSICUM.
Take of
and
tin
of sulphur each
one-third
part,
amalgamate, and
Afterwards wash,
pulverise.
until
no
dirt
see a golden
smoke ascend.
Wonders
Take antimony and
fortis.
Dissolve
it
itself
Then
will
proportion
it
purify
in the
of Antimony.
Afterwards make aqua-
be an
of one part
it
oil
incapable of mixture
oil
and
or
stone in the
it
will
be silver
test.
and put
in
is
Mix together
done.
afterwards
348
The Virtues of
Whoever
a rag placed in
burns
it
like
it
is
Water.
this
burnt as by a
a candle, and
is
In like manner,
light.
Augmentation.
Make an amalgam
Take equal
lime.
and
let it
Then
and of
fill
litharge.
Afterwards
let it dissolve.
On Red Venus.
Take equal
Pour
acetum.
You
it
let it
shape wherever
it
can be poured.
Make
Cement by
lime,
if first
It will
imbibed with
oil
tartar.
Pour
of tartar.
Take
Dissolve,
fix,
alkali,
sal
Purification of Sulphur.
Take pounded sulphur, pour on it acetum and wine, let it boil for a day,
and skim it. Then pour in urine and boil for two hours. Do this until it
ceases to froth.
Whatever body there is does not float in the urine, but the
urine
is
clear
and
it
Heat
it
draw
it
becomes White.
Pour acetum upon
it
aside.
Secondly heat
Next, pound
it with
a sublimatory and sublimate for three hours. Then
the white sulphur ascends like snow, and flows down upon the coals just as
a
snow storm.
it
in
Manual of
349
Oil of Vitriol.
much
Take as
bright green
it is
oil,
vitriol
and
is
distil it
But
by descent.
it
It
renders a
fire
Another Method.
an alembic over a very strong
nights.
Let
Afterwards
it
distil five
fire
and
its
produced.
is
it
as aforesaid.
distil
vitriol
and
distil it
Make
filtre,
well, distil
by a
and coagulate.
Another.
Take
them in a
and
urine, quicklime,
salt
do as before, and
it is
Then put
boil.
and coagulate.
suffice or not.
it
Fusion of a Marchasite.
Take
iiij.n
of Scoria of Iron.
it is
of Venus, and
iij.3
poured upon
of Luna,
iiij.
Alkali
Take wood
is
made thus
and coagulate.
salt itself
parts,
and sublimate.
Crocus of Mars.
for
let it
stand
Another Method.
Take Antimony,
together,
of Mars, and
filings
is
Dissolve them
crude tartar.
produced.
or glass,
is
fused therein.
350
Saltpetre.
of
Take quicklime and warm water. Stir for six days and distil by means
a filter.
Place it in
until it is consumed and you will have saltpetre.
and
is
acetum over a
fire
Put
parts.
in
good
it
find
over a
fire
and
gold or Luna.
let it
in
it,
and sprinkle on
Then pour
melt.
it
into a fusibulum
and you
will
Item.
Take one
copper as above.
Water
Take two
of Gradation.
Distil.
Fixation of Mercury.
which put quicklime quant, suff., and in the middle of
lime place coagulated mercury.
Heat for five hours, and it will be fixed.
Take a
this
vessel, in
mercury, pour
it
and
over,
it
Heat
will be coagulated.
oiF.
Stamped money is
remains for some time.
entirely
Imbibe with
When
the
Gilding.
gilded in
and
Cement.
Take
Vitriol,
Sal
j.
part.
Ammoniac,
Verdigris,
Alum,
'\
ij.
parts each.
Saltpetre, J part.
Pound
in
an iron mortar.
gives a great
smoke
It is
Manual of
351
Fixation of Saltpetre.
Take
Distil
Take one
parts of quicklime.
is
two
done.
Take of
in
Mercury, put
into
it
a linen rag,
continually
stir
let it
Boil
like.
it
will
be
place
it
coagulated as Venus.
crucible,
it,
and
and
fill it
Lute
with Mercury.
Then take
let it cool.
it
it,
and you
out,
Take two parts of antimony, and two parts each of vitriol and saltpetre.
Pound well a moderate weight of filings from the metal, and cement over a
slow fire for about an hour. Then let it be heated for 15 hours, and afterwards fulminated.
It will
From
this pro-
or more,
one
finger.
fire
and
it
let it cool.
venes.
etc.,
Let
will
it
stand until
become red
Place
What
it
it
may float on
Afterwards take
like blood.
This
is
is
it
distil it until
a tincture, and
is
fire
and
whiteness super-
a most wonderful
352
Take
of Luna.
common
Pound them
salt.
cement
for i8 hours
Take
together.
of this
Afterwards place in
Luna
colour
Its
fire
is
fortis,
them
in
it
in
it
on the
fire,
making
it
boil until
it
grows
is
a fixed
oil
it
in
water into
its
until
Sol.
Water
it
became
fixed.
In this water
primal matter.
Next
remains
Thomas Aquinas.
dissolved
red.
What
the bottom
distil
in
afterwards
placed calx of
of Mercury.
of
fixed
Mercury
Pulverise
it
It will
sal
ammoniac.
Lac Virginis.
Take pulverised litharge, together with a sufficient quantity of acetum.
Let them boil well. Afterwards distil with a white filter. Pour it on again,
and distil until the water grows clear. Then take some sal ammoniac and
anatron. Treat these in the same way, and afterwards mix them together.
Then is produced lac virginis.
Purgation of Venus after the Greek Method.
it some purified sulphur or
arsenic, until
Take
IIj.
of
Aqua
Take equal
and
in
.
Antimony.
Fortis.
fire.
If
it
stronger, substitute
A
alum
calcined
will
Manual of
and
If
aquafortis
Aquafortis also
sal
little
it
all
alone has
vitriol
all
metals
let
ammoniac, or common
converts
Then you
vitriol.
made from
it
353
salt.
After this
dissolve.
water
in
water
is
distil
a glass vessel.
entirely
Set
it
in the
For
Take Calx
part to a
Sol.
Solis
Take one
will remain.
for Luna.
in place
of the water
of
sal
ammoniac.
Take 5
vivus,
Rapacis.
blood
Thereupon
7.
it
will be
hardened.
it
will
little
blood,
euphorbium.
with an equal
Let
it
stand for
to a calx,
and when
it
Peregrinorum.
Papua Tincture.
vinum ardens quantum suff., and of pounded antimony as much
Wash in the usual way. Take the more subtle portion, and
as you will.
It becomes in some part Sol, as I myself have
project on dissolved Luna.
Take
of
seen.
We
was placed
it
in the
remain
that
in
however,
placed
in aquafortis,
or
parte.
Nevertheless
But
it
did
this
all,
cum
regulus
in aquafortis.
Luna
fortis.
it
it
We believe
is
least thing
remained for us
its
realgar
is
is
in that
aqua-
either nothing at
354
Set
fire
to
it
be necessary, wash
like of
thus
each gem.
it
it
it,
Pulverise
If
be white.
will
stiff.
To Gild Metals.
Smear the metal with
varnish,
it
a plate of Sol.
To Whiten Venus.
Take
Luna
in
it.
heat
it,
Take
it
in water,
it.
Another.
Take some
and camphor.
made out
lixivium
Put
it
in a glass
Mercury and
set a mirror
above.
Water
of
Take some of
this
and
tile
If
distil
Luna
is
This water
it.
melted
in
it
is
said to have a
and common
salt, it
can
White.
it
becomes Luna.
Method of Quartation.
Take one part
plates
of Sol, and
let
This
test of gold.
Colouring.
Take a
acetum.
It is
and
ammoniac.
Make them
How
sal
salt water.
Let
it
Afterwards desiccate
dry of
it,
itself.
and the
Prepare
effect is
it
care-
produced.
Manual of
When
Take a
Glass
is
355
Destroyed by Fire.
eggs.
and
and place
it,
it
flour.
on the
of
fire.
Lute.
Take
ten parts of well-prepared lute, three parts of cows' hair, five parts
of horse-dung, three parts of goat's blood, three parts each of quicklime and
common
salt, six
Thus
sufficient quantity.
made a
is
lute.
and a better
oil,
A
This
is
structible in
Let
harden
it
then smear
and smear
is
inde-
fire.
sufficient quantities of
Make
tartar.
therein,
in
it
and white of
salt,
a pulp
Venetian glass,
and place
Glass.
pounded, and
finely
it
before the
fire
to ashes
and
of
oil
to melt.
To Make Minium.
Take
and
it
as
Afterwards pound
citron-coloured.
fire,
much
of Saturn as
it,
place
it
in
it
it
becomes
be coloured red.
will
powder
of this
Pour over
5. j.
it
linseed
place
oil,
in
it
Pour
an iron pan,
out and it
becomes a red substance as thick as hepar. Put the particles into which it is
divided into an iron pan with laterine oil and boil it thoroughly for two hours.
and
let
it
boil.
It
Afterwards place
sulphur
is
it
converted into an
over a slow
oil.
Take
fire,
water.
Then
changed
the
to white,
aforesaid
oil
it
Then
is
seven hours.
which
distil
will
it
Do
this
distil
itself
first
put
of
first
oil
it
all
Thoroughly
by
it,
sufficient.
distil for
Then the
in
is
in
it
is
complete.
Then take a
into Luna, well
plate of
and good.
If not, distil
it
If
it is
transmuted
vs^ith
the
Or:
Imbibe the faces frequently with the said
plate
and
it
becomes white.
oil.
Let
it
faeces,
Y2
and
five
356
parts of Mercury.
the
Then
fire.
cool,
and you
will find
it
in
Take the
and repeat the process with the aforesaid fseces. Proceed as above,
will find an elixir of which one part is projected on looo of purified
Mercury, and there is produced perfect Luna.
Of this take one part and
fuse it with ten parts of calcined and white Venus.
Then will be attained
a perfection with which none can find fault.
Of this elixir take j. 3. and of
Mercury 4. j. Let them boil, and good Luna is produced.
crucible
and you
If,
Then take
the sun.
on a
the element of
fire,
place
it
in
silver plate,
and
will
it
imbibe
If not,
it
powder
this
again, until
it
Next take one part with two parts of live Mercury. Lute them
together, place them for half-a-day over a fire, and do as I before directed.
Then take and add of the fire spoken of above the same quantity as the
Mercury, and proceed as above. Once more it becomes citron-coloured and
suffices.
as hard as Sol.
has been
it
Luna which
becomes gold better than
5.
ij.
Then
said Luna
it
of
all
is
with
j.
the most
Alchemy.
may
which
will
is live
Mercury.
Place over
Lute
it
when
it
closely, put
If this
it
on a
fire
when
five of purified
it
it
with
Venus,
Mercury,
iij.
5.
Crude Atramentum,
j.
5.
Jamen Alum,
ij.
j.
5.
5.
Mix
these ingredients together, and place in the sun until the mercury dies
and is converted into water.
Put in a box thoroughly luted with lead,
arsenic, and sulphur, and let it stand in a steady heat for one day.
Open the
box and you will find the Mercury coagulated. Pound this together with
the above-mentioned water made of atramentum and alum.
After this
desiccate, place it once more in the box, and proceed as before for three
hours.
Once again for the fourth time imbibe with the aforesaid water, and
place
in dung for putrefaction during five days.
Then desiccate in ashes, and
take
The
translation
is liLeral,
is
not intelligible.
the
Manual of
you
will
357
desiccate,
Take some of this elixir, &^g shell, and peahen's eggs calcined. Once
more imbibe with orpiment water for ten hours. Desiccate, pound with
water of prepared
salt,
Venus
to Sol.
Take
Live Mercury,
parts.
viij.
White Arsenic,
Mercury),
iiij.
parts.
parts
ij.
j.
(?
part.
Saturn for
five
days
in
one solution.
For
Then redden
more
Sol.
it
in the
box.
and putrefied
the
White.
Take Luna, 3
Jove,
3.
ij.g.
Saturn,
iij.g.
358
Fuse these
project
or
gs.,
white.
Fixation of Mercury.
Take a
it
into
sound
it
silver phial of
hot
will
be
Continue to do
water.
like the
this for
Then
hissing of a goose.
like,
is
it
an hour, when
it
Take
sufficient.
will give
it
out,
and
silver.
Augmentation of Luna.
mix it with pounded salt, and
wash it until no blackness appears.
Take this amalgam, put it in a
sublimatory, and sublimate the Mercury from the Jove. Then take of the
Mercury thus sublimated four loth. Dissolve in aquafortis 2 1 (sic) crocus of
Luna, 216 {sic) loth, of Venus, and dissolve each separately by itself. When
all are dissolved mix the whole in one glass vessel, distil the water from the
Make an amalgam
it
wash with
Then
distil it
and you
common
salt.
Gilding.
aquafortis out of one part of vitriol, one part of saltpetre, and four
parts of alum.
In the
Re-distil.
Water for
Make
let it
or fifteen days.
you wish
re-distil
fresh water.
Then
let it dry,
it
its
volume.
briskly,
When
as the gold-
smiths do.
Jamen Alum,
Distil a strong
At
-^Ib.
is white
and this you must
you wish to erase any writing, moisten a cloth with
water, touch the letters, and they are obliterated.
collect
this
by
itself.
first
it
When
Cement.
Take Reddened
Vitriol
Verdigris
Burnt Brass
Sal
Each one
part.
Ammoniac
Alum, to make
ilb.
weight of
all.
A Manual
Make
359
layer on layer for eight hours in a closed vessel, and afterwards dip
it
in urine.
To Make Precious
Take very white
silex, calcined
of minium.
and you
Venus.
will
Stones.
a brisk
It is
part,
Then
fire.
let it
cool of
itself,
,,
>
of Vitriol, a quarter,
Then take
2.
j.
of Luna,
Melt.
ject
Afterwards sprinkle
upon
it j.
passed and
quartal.
it is
Let
Ib.ij.
it
Out
made.
of salt
Ib.s.
ammoniac and
Ib.ij.
of pure
salt.
it
may remain
it
will
Pro-
as a thick pottage.
desire.
then
Dissolve this
Abstract
2 oz.
Wash
it
well.
Afterwards dissolve
over the
fire
oil.
This
oil
of Sal
Mix.
Burn
like cinnabar,
Take Camphor,
Salt of Glass,
Vitriol,
Boiling Wine,
Distil,
well.
360
For Luna.
in human
blood, and
Afterwards boil
it
in the
when
it
it
will
will
be hardened.
become good
Luna.
Take
Ib.j.
Firm Tincture.
same quantity of calx of eggs, two parts of
Decoct all these to
four parts of the dew of heaven.
Afterwards thrice
and you
will
distil
Perform
this
all
Take of
of Foliated Luna,
Place in cinders for three days, and the
Luna
Ib.j.
Jj.
will
among
the
Pour over some of the said water made from Luna, and it will be
congealed.
Continue this process, imbibing and desiccating until half part of
ashes.
the water
fixatory.
is
exceedingly
falls
consumed
fierce,
Ib.s.
Digest slowly.
and you
On
augment the
fire,
making
it
will find
when
will
it
Make
a hepar.
Boil
it
Ib.ij.
Take
may
be abstracted
distilled
Prepared
Common
Salt,
through the
afterretort,
j.
'\
s. each.
Plumose Alum,
]
Let these ingredients be well mixed twice or thrice and imbibed in oil of
tartar, whence will be formed a powder, which place layer by layer with Luna
and, when this has been done, let it be
in a cementing fire for six hours
sublimated. Then take one ounce of this and half an ounce of pure Sol.
Let these be pounded together and formed into plates and then make layer
on layer with the following powder
;
Manual of
Take
Sal
361
Ammoniac,
Saltpetre,
Prepared
Common
j-S each.
Salt,
Verdigris,
Alum,
't
Hfematite,
Vitriol,
Pound
or more,
twelve hours.
in the
Take
Vitriol,
Saltpetre,
>
each.
j.lb.
Alum,
)
Plumose Alum,
Calcined Alum,
iiij.3
each.
Cinnabar,
ilb. each.
Sulphur,
Verdigris,
Antimony,
Distil twice, that
which
is,
yj.g
Fulminate
is
j.lb.
and you
will
Fixation of Mercury.
boil
Take
oil
till it
Take
and place
distil
in
through
filter.
Next
a good glass.
Water
dung
all
for
may
cease.
Inject
will
Ib.j.
upon the
oil Jiij-
be converted into
oil.
Projection.
Mercury.
Of
Common
Prepared Salt,
Saltpetre,
Sj.
Sal Alkali,
Albumen,
Vitriol,
Verdigris,
3iij-
Crocus of Mars,
Cinnabar,
gj.
s.
Prepared Antimony,
gij.
gs.
Luna
of
This
is
in
oil
for
horse
tinges
the water of
362
Make
a powder which
is
urine) of
Project
Afterwards
antimony and
over them
let it
Luna and
of
gij.
(and
'i.2Xt2LX
giij.
fortis,
Preparation of Salts.
Make
it
oil
Let
it
of tartar.
oil
Concerning Talc.
Let
talc
it
Afterwards
salt.
bag-.
Let
Then
it
falls
Afterwards
well.
it
Let
it
dissolved.
is
bottom.
It
common
let
be put
it
the
in
be poured
let it
be dissolved into
oil.
Digestion of Luna.
Take
Saltpetre,
Ib.j.
Vitriol,
Make
a strong water.
Luna,
in the
each.
Cinnabar,
iiij.
In one part
let
there be
other cinnabar.
ammoniac and then joined together. Let them be digested for fourteen days
and the matter distilled. Then let it be reduced, and you will have a double
Each loto of the salt will have a loto and a half.
quantity of Luna.
Concerning Talc.
Let
it
wards the
it
be cemented with
talc
must be
common
collected,
talc is dissolved.
It
then
lye,
falls in
oil.
It
salt
let
After-
in a bag.
Let
Dry
previously well,
likewise.
Take Antimony,
gviij.
Crude Tartar,
Common
giiij.
Pound
all
stance,
until
it
Then
Take equal
giiij.
is,
Afterwards
Take
scorias and
Manual of
of beechen ashes
which dissolve of
one day.
in
viij.
salt of vitriol,
salt nitre,
363
j.
Make
part.
a lixivium,
On
Imbibe the mineral
When
itself.
becomes
it
Then
part;
boil the
Antimony.
in Saturn.
j.
scoria,
it
will
it.
Then
remove it
no longer
fulminate.
it.
Fixation of Antimony.
Take
Salt of Alkali,
Salt of Nitre,
let
ij.
oz.
oz.
j.
Antimony, lb. j.
them stand to cool, and the antimony
will be fixed.
Take Mercury,
iv. lbs.
Antimony,
Dissolve as
This
oil
j.
lb.
dissolves metals.
Oil of Borax.
Put borax into a glass vessel and dissolve
Let
it.
it
be pulverised,
converted into an
oil
which
It
is
Oil of Gold.
Take Sulphur,
part.
j.
Quick Lime,
viij.
parts.
Let these be decocted in water and the decoction becomes red. Distil by an
This is
alembic, and there remains at the bottom the redness of sulphur.
called the oil of gold.
Another.
Take Antimony,
)
,
Sal
Ammoniac,
'
,
Crocus of Sulphur,
iiij.
parts.
364
at last dry
Abstract, and
ammoniac.
it,
Paracelsus.
distil.
Fixation of Sulphur.
Grind
and
it
salt of nitre in
Put
congeal.
it
equal parts.
and
in a vessel, lute,
third time,
common salt
common salt and
set
distil
it
in
the
with a
Let
fire.
filter
will
get red-hot,
it
like
wax.
Roman
Vitriol
Verdigris
common
equal parts.
salt.
Sublimate
thrice.
This
Water
Grind
Place
it
in
it
one part of
parts, with
iij.
sal
it
would be
it
will
become
like blood.
If
it
ammoniac.
Then pound
perhaps
it,
were boiled
a lixivium
in
better.
Fixation of Sulphur.
a strong lixivium.
Renew
clear.
like crystal.
of sal
this process
Then
let it
sulphur.
fire.
ammoniac and
Repeat
Wash
and congeal.
and
j.
common
salt
by means of a
parts of
filter,
Then
and
cool.
warmed mercury
into
permanent Luna.
fire.
Take it, let it boil in alkali for one day, and be sublimated over a slow
Having done this, moisten it with acetum four times, abstract by means
of a
One
many
of the
properties of gold.
Take
it,
together with
fixed.
Manual of
365
Fixation of Spirits.
Take quicklime,
imbibe the
spirits
salt of alkali,
and
oil
mixed therewith.
it
Distil,
and
melts on the
plate.
Water
of
Spirits.
Rub
the
two together into a glass vessel over a slow fire, and it will become
Pound this and it will become a powder, which dissolve in
Then take j. marc, of pure Luna or Sol carefully made into plates.
in the aforesaid water
and this water fixes all spirits.
a hard mass.
water.
Put
this
To Fuse
Bones.
Take any quantity of bones and burn them into lime. Having done this,
pound it.
Take of this Ib.iiij., of quicklime -^Ib.
Mix them
together in the powder. Afterwards dissolve some bitumen in a moderate
Then place the bones
quantity of wine, until the whole of it is melted away.
Afterwards pour into a mould
therein, and stir briskly into a thick pulp.
made of paper. First, however, let it be smeared with oil set it to cool,
carefully
it
and
it
will
To Colour
Glass.
Take tartar, wood ashes, and quicklime. Make an alkali from them.
Take thereof j. part, dissolve in iij. parts of colour in water (kV). Coagulate,
and again dissolve with the colour.
stone shall be
stone.
It will
A Method
Take
ij.
parts.
thoroughly coloured.
Do
this three
alkali
made from
tartar,
j.
part
oil
of tartar.
The
Then
it
it
with a
red colour
the citron-colour
366
How
Take
in
it
may be
Then
alkalised.
Let
parts.
ij.
wood
it
be
it
boil fiercely
sprinkle over
parts each of
it iij.
sublimated sal ammoniac and also crude sal ammoniac. Dry overa veryslow
damp
fire.
into
sal
oil.
Then put it
ammoniac which
longer
for
in
in the oil,
six or eight
water
in
cellar,
not
is
When
fixed.
you see
hours
oil
it
it still
the
itself
is
no
sal
ammoniac, both sublimated and crude, then by the sublimation of the lixivium
and the solution of the sal ammoniac it is changed into a thick oil. Then
those spirits which are not fixed are separated from it, as the sal ammoniac
by sublimation,
separated
will
in
way
the
before
Thus
it
better,
The
specified.
lixivium will
will be separated,
and you
be
not
then the
oil
but to
alkali,
oil
will
have the
will
filter
let it
remain
It is
in the oil.
Take
Vitriol,
Alum,
Saltpetre,
'
j.
Calcined Alum,
j
Calcmed
Distil in aquafortis for
strong water
^^^^^^^^
Vitriol,
)
Afterwards take
30 hours.
each.
lb.
Calcined Alum,
Calcined Vitriol,
J-
'b-
Ib.ij.
of the following
each.
Saltpetre, i\ lb.
Distil as
strong water
thrice.
Having done
this, dissolve in
the following
Sal
Ammoniac,
Salmiax,
j.
quarts.
ij.
quart.
Sublimated Mercury,
j.
its
Sublimated Arsenic,
j.
quart.
Afterwards
let it
it
be hardened a
iij.
it
little
and dissolve
parts of Luna, or as
is
let
this
alkalised.
boil in
in
much
a very
Dissolve and
Manual of
367
For Luna.
Take
Sal
Ammoniac,
Vitriol,
Rock Alum,
Salt of Alkali or Tartar,
Sublimate
in
One
a glass vessel.
effected thus
is
Oil of Sulphur.
Take
three pounds of
afterwards add
Hepar Sulphur.
Rubified Vitriol,
Calcined Alum,
Glass,
for three
days
a lixivium of soap
Distil
j.
quart.
j.
quart.
energetically expelled.
in
Ib.j.
Crocus of Mars,
well into one mass.
it
Ib.j^.
Verdigris,
Mix
Boil
Ib.ij.
fire,
may be
is
red
Re-distil
and keep doing this until no
upon the caput mortuum again.
Then thoroughly reverberate the caput mortuum.
whiteness comes forth.
Distil it
and repeat this process until it no longer burns in the fire. Putrefy
;
Mode
oil.
in
These tinge
in
a wonderful manner.
Common
Vitriol,
Take
ij.
iij.
j-
P^*"'-
parts.
Alum,
Grind to a powder.
Salt,
fire
j.
for
Mix
it
in
fire
for another
Common
Salt, fused,
Salt of Nitre,
Alum,
lb.
of each.
Vitriol,
Ematite,
Flos Aeris,
Calaminaris,
Tutia,
Ginnabrium,
Minium,
Burnt Brass,
\ oz. of each.
368
Dry by the
Make
fire.
into a powder.
day
last
it
(sic)
that
Luna
(sic)
iij.
until it is
it,
fire
it
by a cineritium.
Then take
part, of copper
j.
ij.
parts.
of
Dissolve
iiij.
Then you
will
parts,
The Aqua
Take
On the
Wash
Fortis.
Vitriol,
Saltpetre,
each.
j.lb.
>
Alum,
)
Antimony, 4 ss.
Cinabrium,
Verdigris, 5
vij.
ss.
and Dragaganth.
Oil of Tartar
Then remove
it.
ot gradation,
let it
twice or thrice.
will
have gold
if it
remains
is
Dissolve in water
its
made
it
as above.
Note.
Place verdigris in ashes so that
vinegar,
when
desiccate
it
again
will
become
Tutty
is
it
may grow
Next
of vitriol as above.
Then extinguish
white.
in
let
Also take
s.
of cinnabar and
manner of a pottage.
more
5ij.
of crocus of Mars.
subtle portion.
Wash
in the
manner of
Take the
Thus dry twice
ceruse.
of Tutia,
of Verdigris,
of Vitriol, prepared as above,
Mix
j-
J
gj.
5j.
each.
Manual of
369
Fixed Venus.
Take of
Filings of Iron,
of Antimony,
of Venus.
Let
it
will
nor
is
j.lb.
It
further destroyed by R.
it
it
Afterwards
in flux.
You
scoria,
red or white.
Arsenic.
oil
be made.
Crocus of Mars.
Take any quantity of Mars, and the same
and become red. Let it also become sulphur,
ammoniac.
makes no more
Pound.
Also take
5ij.
Make
of saltpetre.
etc.
Also take
it
j.s.
burn
of sal
it,
so that
Next
day.
it
may
distil.
be inebriated.
Pour over
it
Place
To Soften
Take Lybisticum.
it
in
fire.
Glass.
boil in this.
twice.
Fulminate
this
Mercury
in
Make
for
two hours.
and
lime.
Burn
well.
oil
Then
filter
of tartar.
Note.
Take equal parts of sulphur and Mercury. Form a paste like amalgam.
Then mix with salt. Let them remain in gentle fluxion for half an hour or
thereabouts.
Then burn afterwards wash. The Mercury which you find
there grind with a salve of Aza, wax, vimtm ardens, etc., until it is burnt.
Finally reduce in a cineritium with borax, and you will have Luna without
;
any doubt.
370
Water
of Fixation.
own
Take of this
them well with
ammoniac j, .
by means of an alembic.
Imbibe
therewith sulphur and arsenic, sublimate until fixed, and you will
have an
Ib.j.,
urine.
j.
and
sal
Boil
distil
elixir.
Note.
Take Cinnabar,
Ib.j.
Sulphur,
j
Arsenic,
Calcined Tartar,
Alkali of Soot,
Salt, nine
Ib.iiij.
lb. \.
times prepared,
Vo.\.
same weight as
all
Mix, pound, and moisten several times with the water of eggs or albumen
Afterwards
of tartar.
warm, when it readily dissolves the saltnitre one part of sublimated Mercury and two parts of sulphur must be stirred continually with a
kindle and
stick.
It
its
smell.
fire.
The
salts are
prepaped by frequently
and you
Reduction.
j.
Assafoetidaj
Sarcocolla,
Oxicroceus,
parts
ij.
Wax,
Galbanum,
vinum ardens, mix with the borax, as above, and it
the same time.
If it does not melt, add more borax until it melts.
Dissolve the
burnt at
gums
in
is
Take Linseed
Oil,
.,
Honey,
oz.vuj.
Yolk of Eggs,
oz.vj.
Calcined Alum,
warm
distil.
and antimony
Wood,
this drive
water or
oil
Add
iiij.
^^'^^
"J"
l"^-"*^-
Ib.^.
more reddened.
quart.
4.
Having done
until the
j.
oil
thick.
oil
Then
may thus be
may thereby be
A
more
fixed.
It
Manual of Paracelsus
would be
the
well, too,
own
its
this oil
if
the Great.
were previously
j.lb.
371
distilling six
Let
fixed salt.
from
rectified
and
be
it
At
nitre.
of tartar.
If the
species.
It
manner
In like
same manner.
is
prepared for
it.
into
and you
fire,
an
is,
all
and equally
elixir.
This
oil
can be
will
It fixes also
it,
It fixes
by this method.
all
Venus, and
fixed
all
metals
Arsenic,
Sulphur,
Crude Tartar,
jib. each.
and prepared,
Salt, fused
Ib.ij.
Then
completed.
mortuum
fire
kindle,
with
and
them melt
let
all.
Ib.j.
No
oil.
for an hour.
it
steep frequently in
warm
oil,
and
it
will
be hardened.
Arsenicus Matellinus.
Take Quicklime,
)
Common
Salt,
Calcined Tartar,
Mix with
Make
White
Take equal
J'
ij.
into pills,
P"
p.
and
distil
by descent.
Cinabrium.
parts of Alum,
Calcined Tartar,
Common
Salt,
Cinabrium.
all
these.
It will
Z2
372
For making
Note.
IS
Oil which
loth.
loth.
iij.
Aquafortis, quant,
and
distil
Having done
know how.
Dissolve, as you
and
and
ij.
all
which
this take
loth,
iiij.
measure.
The
as possible.
projected,
By
and
oil.
In this
oil will
if it
loth.,
with purest
it is
ammoniac.
Of
oil.
loth.
much gold
gold
suff.
this, let it
it
oil
all
tinges
metals on
it
Mercury
method you can proceed to silver.
and in the same manner sal ammoniac.
this
fortis,
dissolve as
beyond
be
will
A Wonderful Cement
loth.
loth.
ij.
Verdigris, v. loth.
Pulverise well and boil in a very strong lixivium for ten hours, so that
be
alkalised.
Having done
so,
watery
until the
oil.
Pour the
whole matter
into a stone,
is
oil
it
may
ammoniac
iiij.
loth.
which sublimate
of sal
into a
^Ib.,
it
until
oil, and
and do this over
the matter of the species flows from them on the marble.
oil,
This stone
is
effectual in cements,
and
it
it,
When
it is
ij.
Sal
loth.
Ammoniac,
Nitre,
ij.
loth.
in
j.
quartal
Crocus of Mars,
it
dissolved coagulate
iiij.
iij.
loth.
loth.
It
A
and
Boil
desiccate.
Manual of
373
of antimony
oil
then
done
of successive applications of
Take Antimony,
Ib.vj.
Verdigris,
Ib.j.
Calcined Vitriol,
Calcined Alum,
Saltpetre,
Ib.ij.
Ib.j.
Ib.iij.
Sublimated Mercury,
Ib.^.
and there issues forth a strong red water which tinges everything
Distil,
into Sol.
Make
thin
plates
Afterwards put
fire.
Take
it
Saltpetre,
^
Alum,
Calcined Alum,
Cinnabar,
Sulphur,
j.
quart.
'^'
White
Mix, and
make
j.
quart.
Distil
again
Ib.ij.
Ib.iij.
After a
gradation of twenty-four hours reduce with borax, and there will result the
etc.,
sugar and camphor, imbibe with quintessence, and burn. Then the camphor
Place it
is burnt out and consumed, while the alum is transmuted into oil.
in
aqua
vitse.
Make
it
vitriol
up to redness.
can be dissolved.
is
in
common
acetum, as far as
it.
That
which
is
not dissolved dissolve again with fresh acetum, as above, until the
whole
is
dissolved.
moisture from
it
Then
anew.
let
Then
place
it
for distillation
and you
Calcine the
will
have an
374
Over
oil.
pour the
this
rectified
putrefying.
and you
will
Pour
of the alembic.
The
of &
oil,
Salt of Tartar.
Dissolve in cooked
and you
will
have
salt
urine.
Take it soon
white vinegar and coagulate
of tartar.
Take
let
becomes white.
becomes white
Then
to a
refine
on the
in
Coagulate
a glass.
much
sal
it.
it
it
again.
test.
Dissolve in aquafortis.
as
oil.
Antimony.
Antimony ij. p.
of Fused Salt, j. p.
Jupiter.
dissolve in
of
c.p-pot, extract
it
into a salt.
long
Filter, coagulate,
ammoniac
Crocus of Mars.
Then distil the aquafortis from
thence.
Take
two
days.
to evaporate.
by a
filter,
fire.
The
sal
ammoniac
and
retires,
Water of Mercury.
Take crude Mercury j.lb. Put it in a cucurbit to distil. Give it a slow
Pour this back distil again, and two
fire, and a single drop will come forth.
drops will come forth. Pour these back again, and continue this process until
the whole is converted into water.
This water penetrates and dissolves
;
bodies.
Note.
Take crude
Pour
its
collects
Take
tartar
and pound
it
Then
well.
feeces,
and
distil
same quantity
as red
oil.
bottom.
Next put
Afterwards again
and
five
Mercury
distil
is fixed,
Pound
no more
half as
distil.
parts of Mercury.
in
through an alembic.
in
Afterward
it
rectify
thoroughly.
faeces
oil
it.
Then
remain at the
six times.
Luna
Then
it.
Note.
The
calx of the
body
is
It falls
on the bodies.
fire.
Dis-
Manual of
Water
Make an
of Luna.
375
Pour
into
it
aquafortis
ounce of sugar-candy.
and dry
it,
Pour upon
it.
it
Add
ounce one
Afterwards put
If
it
a sand cupel
in
it
until
shall
all
have
passed through.
The Fixation of
Arsenic.
Take two parts of alum and one part of saltpetre. Make a water by
means of an alembic, and put into the water a part of sublimated arsenic.
Distil to
a fixed water.
Fixation of Mercury.
Melt them
it
together.
the test.
You may
You
lose nothing,
and you
will
Warm
of Mercury.
Then
Wait an hour.
refine
it.
it
in
Next put
Saturn on
is
Saturn.
True Albatio.
Take
iij.
parts.
Imbibe frequently with water of sal ammoniac, and dry until they are white
and roasted. Again imbibe and roast. At length take water of the eagle,
Put it to dissolve
that is, sal ammoniac, double the amount of the powders.
under moderately
warm dung
Then take
it
and congelate it into white powders. Of these project one part on 100 parts
of purged Venus, and the whole will become silver. These are the truest
experiments of many philosophers who have worked by Zaibach, Kybrick,
spirits.
tinge.
To Fix Sulphur.
Take as much aquafortis as you wish. Inject 3J. of live sulphur and the
same quantity of pulverised alum. Dissolve in water, when the sulphur will
become red as blood and fixed. This water dissolves all bodies.
Note.
Mercury
Mercury
is
is
called
called water.
Thus
Plato.
the
assistance.
Water
of
376
Fixing Salt.
Wood
Ashes, \ part.
may become a
they
you
have fixing
will
salt,
Reduce
all
Strain through a
strong lixivium.
filter
coagulate, and
Fixing Oil.
Take
one
of olive
Mix
part.
oil
all
together and
distil
the
from them.
oil
and of
Do
sal
ammoniac
Soft Soap.
which place one scutella of wood ashes.
Boil until dissolved.
Then add half a scutella and boil until the water is
reduced one-third. Remove from the fire and distil by a filter. Then to two
parts of the water thus strained off' add a third part of oil 9.
Do this by
Take twelve
scutellse of water, in
evaporating over a
fire.
Coagulation of Mercury.
part of Luna and five parts of purified
Mercury. Place it in a glass vessel with a narrow neck which is well smeared
below with the lute of wisdom. Place under the amalgam in the glass one
layer of salt previously prepared, and also above. Afterwards pour over it
the oil previously prepared to the height of three fingers, and let it boil over
a slow
fire
Note.
we
find
easily fulfilled.
sulphur
inspire
is
and
to coagulate Mercury.
vivify the stone,
oil
if it
be prepared
by
sal
oil
oil
of arsenic in
its place.
Solution of Bodies.
Dissolve honey over a
fire,
Then
distil
Then
common
Manual of
377
NoTA Bene.
That you may know the Recipe for Solution.
Take a clean cloth, like ticken or fustian, as much as an ell
in length
a pint of good wine, and with the wine mix about a half pint of
good brandy. Tear the fustian or the cloth at first into fragments. Let it
remain thus three days.
Afterwards take it out and dry it on a board.
;
pour on
it
When
has dried take one tatter after another on a small stick. Burn it as
tinder.
Put the burnt tatters one by one into a brazen basin.
it
make
to
if
when
Place in a cellar,
the whole will speedily become an oil. Then amalgamate Luna or Sol with three parts of Mercury. Let the Mercury evaporate
again
Place a calx upon the slab. Pound it with brandy. Then take twice
the quantity of the above oil, and twice the quantity of the body of Mercury.
Temper it thoroughly on a table made of Saturn. Set it subsequently in a
moist place, when you will soon find oil of the body, which use as you know
how.
saltpetre, antimony,
and
arsenic,
may be thoroughly
a tigillum,
first
one.
loth.
in
mixed.
Sol
is
the
first
which
is
not altered by
fire,
nay,
But
Saturn.
Saturn
it is
it
and lightener of
all
it is
elixir,
bodies, and
is
improved by
which
it
fire,
and
of eternal
joined as
is
but with
filed,
is."''
A Noble Work.
Take Saturn and melt it. Before it hardens project an equal amount of
Mercury. Wash this amalgam thoroughly with water and salt, afterwards
Grind on a stone, and afterwards add as much sal
with pure water.
ammoniacum as there is mercury. Place it in a damp, warm place. When
is
it
Imbibe
it
it is
it
there to lighten
by pounding
it
to dissolve, but
it.
Let
it
stand
projected
Saturn.
the spirit
sal
quite cold.
Set
it
and sublimate
*The
it.
The mercury
and
in
will
it
red.
378
Note.
Calcine the cinnabar well with vitriol and
salt,
when
it
all
metal.
Note.
With regard
to
what
and
vitriol,
it
enters
strong
in
apply a gentle
with a coal.
as you like
of Mercury.
Put together
Increase the
in
fire until it
giiij.
Break each
Set in a sand
each.
retort.
it
When
Pound
a well-luted
Should
Refine over.
fire.
much
thereto as
pieces separately.
in
Add
alkali.
in.
Water
Take
it
Should Mercury
small.
cold
it is
still
it
remain,
remove
it.
all
a retort.
into
Fixation.
Take
Sulphur, part
Put
Break up together.
out, at first
stir
in
a cucurbit.
with a piece of
wood
it
will
j.
ij.
Set
it
in sand.
then lose
its
smell,
smell soon.
its
Proof.
Set
upon a
it
Should
plate.
quantities of sulphur
not smell
it
Pound
and mercury.
it is
fixed
if it
together, as at
first,
until
it
is
fixed.
Reduce as Follows.
Take one
sulphur.
first
a small
Wash
fire,
the Luna.
it
melts.
Then separate
Refine in Saturn.
Apply
lute.
Afterwards
let
it
at
cool.
in aquafortis.
White.
cloth.
same quantity of
dry sufficently.
added twice.
Afterwards take
Ib.j.
Then
distil
the
finger or two.
arsenic.
Set in horse
dung
in
out on the sixteenth day, and you will find an aqueous mass.
Of
Take
Coagulate
this
it
will
become
perfect.
this
j.
perfect Luna.
If
will
be
still
more
Manual of
379
Take
of Sal
Ammoniac, \
oz.
Mercury Sublimate, j.
be well pounded together.
Put
which are to
quint,
a hard
into
boiled e.g^.
a barrel of a pen.
Do
same with
the
with Mercury.
smell.
sal
yolk,
Put therein
ammoniac as
calx.
moisten
oil,
it
in
Set
as
it
with brandy.
it
Afterwards
let
it
stand in putrefaction
warm dung
Let
Paint
Oil of Vitriol.
Pour aquafortis on carefully-calcined vitriol.
and the
of the Sun.
Afterwards
a well-closed glass
in
vessel.
first,
Take of
Salt,
of Hungarian
...
White
Vitriol,
Pound
...
M-'
of Alum,
of Arsenic,
Make
therein as
much
as you like
lb-
each,
will
have
aquafortis.
Dissolve
of one-half.
Elixir.
Take equal
plates of them,
make
will
way.
Note
this well.
Another.
Rubify
vitriol,
pound
it,
fire,
and dissolve
and add what
it
is
in
acetum.
Then sublimate
sal
380
water
Give
equal weight.
in
become
a deeper red.
Fix
my
Luna
If
until
it
into Sol
powder
this
will
as above
will
it
much
then be
Take
good
powder.
Pour
so that
fire,
into
it
melt.
upon
Thus
had been
in
it
it
it
red.
it.
Take
it
Make
out.
may become
it
believe that
into a
Let the
fire.
red as scarlet.
it
Pulverise.
a crucible.
Take
it.
each,
its
in Sol.
may become
it
better.
Distil a
together.
j.lb.
>
of Vitriol,
Mix thoroughly
it
will
it
it is
will be
Add antimony
opinion.
and
fire
it
on a plate of copper.
in
a slow
it
will be
it,
silver,
if
or
and
a ducat
first
it
powders.
Water
Mercury
thrice sublimated
of Mercury.
from tartar
is
Particular.
Take red
Add
crocus of Mars
grind
and
vitriol,
it
very
kill
fine,
put
it
and leave
itself
and
Grind
ingredients.
sal
much
warm
in
it
Then take
verdigris,
all
it
and imbibe
still
Mercury just as
cinabrium
and
while
will
become
Sol.
Add
that
powder
will
perhaps be so
the better.
warm
them from
ashes
all
it is
soon melted.
It
fixes
superfluity.
A Marvellous Fact
about Mercury.
equal parts, and sublimate both
together. They will then ascend together into the glass. Take some of that
sulphur and sublimated salt, ground small, and place them in a sublimatory on
Take
salt
of tartar
and sulphur
in
Manual of
crude Mercury.
381
Sublimate them together then you will find the sulphur and
the salt of tartar above in the glass sublimatory, while the Mercury remains at
the bottom, and nobody can ever more revivify it. Take two parts of white
sulphur, and also dissolve it. At length mix them together, and congelate.
;
Take also j. g of
warm, and caused
these powders to
200
Then you
to melt.
will find
Mercury made
of
Luna.
Cement.
Take one
Make
part of
Water
oz.
as
it
two parts of
in itself,
is
tile
M.
dust,
regal cement.
Take alum,
ij.
common
each
verdigris,
Make
cinnabar \ oz.
vitriol
a strong water.
If
you put heated Mercury therein it will become coagulated and hard.
it, place it in a glass, and close securely.
Set it over a slow fire for
Then take
How
it
(I
sal ammoniac.)
Cover well with the lid of Venus.
minutely.
over whatever
spirit
Take
Sun melting
you
which flows
as
much
in the crucible.
then dissolves
in
The
water.
You have
all
Water
Take
will
Do
is
stone.
of this water.
It is
Pour
then converted
Then
of this water.
fire
Pound most
Pour
it
the
over the
It is
of Vitriol
[sic)
the crucible.
Subject to a
is
the
as there
case
also.
in
into a powder.
bodies.
of coals.
distil
work of one
and
is
marvellous for
day.
Elixir.
When
Luna
then
formed an
elixir for
it
tinges 100.
This
it,
is
382
The Work
Take
v. parts
of
part of sulphur.
j.
Afterwards
it
Of
this
If
you
be very good.
will
Crude Mercury,
Prepared
First of
fire
it
may be
part.
ij.
resolved.
from the
fire
increase the
it
and grind
Then
Vitriol,
j.
parts.
all
so that
this
ij.
fire
good
it
to an impalpable powder.
it
in
it
closed with
oil
it
hermetic
its
Give
seal.
remains in the
Mercury.
Then
another great and strong vessel, well luted in the midst, and
Place in a glass
Give
seal.
fire.
a very strong
it
wax
like
If
it
vitas,
or
Then
fire
for one
refrigerate
oil
as
is
week,
as you
viij.lbs.
of
know how, by
until
here described,
Then melt
Make an amalgam,
oil.
Saturn and
until the
viij.lbs.
of
part,
Pound thoroughly
and dissolve
it
will
Manual of
Or
383
Better.
Ferment the water thus produced with filings of Luna, or with Httle
lumps of Luna or Sol, with an equal quantity of Mercury dissolved and then
re-converted to Stone, in the way you understand. Then dissolve the Luna
in the aforesaid
water
gence, until,
you
Stone
is
if
produced.
congeal
the perfect
rightly,
intelli-
Philosophers'
Also take care that the volatile part does not exceed that
This
it
have operated
shall
is
Water
Way.
of Mercury.
Take of Mercury,
,-.
Pound them
together.
equal quantities,
of Sugar Candy,
Distil
it
Sublimated Arsenic.
Take
of Crude Arsenic,
o
off Soap,
Pound the
arsenic well.
Mix
jib-
1
)
is
good
to
fix.
Item.
mastich.
or,
Take equal parts of sulphur and white sugar. Distil, and there will
come a water or an oil. Take thrice distilled aqua vitae, and place in it two
parts of saltpetre.
Mercury fixed
in
Distil to a water.
It dissolves all
one hour.
Dissolving Water.
Dissolve glass gall
spirits,
in
an aquafortis.
dissolves
all
etc.
Note.
Calcine
sublimate.
Note.
Take equal parts of orpiment and vitriol. Melt together so that a red
powder is produced, of which project some on Luna in a state of flux, and
you
all
metals and
is
in
it.
It
a secret.
Take laudanum
into leaves,
and burn
well
it.
ground
Then
{sic),
the Sol
stratify
is
it
Let
it
be
distilled
is
to be
by ashes
384
will
it
itself alone,
purposes.
all
Take
rectified
from
water of
Let
life.
it
it,
before,
and extract
it.
Do
vitae continually.
this until
it
Let
it
oil
This recipe
etc.
oil.
Then take
Inject
is
it
Pour over
Augment.
Take of
place over a
fire,
Take
out.
hardened.
more
oil
as before.
fire for
will be fixed.
fire
until the
matter be
in the vessel.
Add
Rule the
before.
Oil of Tartar
is
made as follows.
Dissolve calcined tartar in good wine vinegar. Distil through the filter.
Cause the vinegar to evaporate. Dissolve again, doing so ten times. At
length permit the salt to melt by itself into an oil, which use for the above
digestion.
Oil of Luna.
Take
Pound,
place in
of Verdigris,
of Sulphur,
Make
a glass cucurbit.
fortis,
with a gentle
Luna
dissolved in
at
first, latterly
Sy-"^'^'^-
with a stronger.
common
aquafortis.
(?)
A
Set in sand,
unifies itself
at
Manual of
with a gentle
first
fire,
eight days
for
it
becomes
and half
fixed,
the matter
until
pari of
a.
385
remains.
it
on
in
purging
in
it is
Then make
them
it.
filings
in
parts of purified
Venus
Oil of Sulphur.
Take Sulphur,
Tartar,
>
Glassgall,
Pound
Melt.
together.
and put
Immediately
Thus
it
it
Ib.j.
each.
liquefies extract
dissolves,
and the
it
lye
becomes
red.
To Fix Saltpetre.
Take
flux
Ib.j.
Melt slowly.
Sprinkle into
fixed,
pounded
oil.
Thus
it
is
previously be
small.
Coagulation of Mercury.
May. Pound it with a wooden hammer. Then distil a
water from it. Pour it thereupon, even to the fourth time. Pound the faeces
continually, and let the water be consumed. Then make zeltele die druchne (?).
Put Mercury in a crucible. When the bubbling commences, throw the powder
Take arum
thereupon.
in
itself into
Luna.
Oil of Mercury.
Dissolve Mercury in aquafortis.
and
fire
Dry.
out.
an
stir
oil
for
three hours
Pound upon a
In
stone.
Allow
it
Protect
to boil.
it
from the
an open glass.
Put
it
into
or water.
King.
it
and
distil into
water.
This
water
Note.
Make
white
Cement.
is,
antimony made
therewith
Sol
pounded
glass
and
salt
for
Cement
twenty-four
hours, etc.
AA
386
Take
Saltpetre,
Antimony,
Sublimated Arsenic.
wards melt
oil
a crucible,
in
with a slow
first
Take
Dry
slightly.
After-
Grind
j.
fire,
quint over
or more,
5j.,
you
if
like,
result.
Note.
Take equal
common
rendered
salt
fluid like
wax by a
sulphur.
below
parts of
Then
it.
it
will
be incorporated.
One
and
candle,
above and
fire
parts of Mercury.
Or,
If it be incorporated with sublimated Mercury, or several times with
sublimated arsenic, and then be itself sublimated, it works wonders.
Take
sal
aquafortis,
ammoniac.
If
you evaporate
this
it
oil
of antimony, with
test anything.
Note.
you wish to Dissolve Mercury Sublimate and White
Marcasite (perhaps Bismuth).
Put the sal ammoniac into aquafortis, and they will dissolve otherwise
they will not. Aquafortis is made of vitriol, saltpetre, alumen, cinnabar, and
When
verdigris.
Note.
Take
oil
of tartar and
Mercury
quantities.
oil
will then
2d over
amalgam
of
in
equal
Make
away
viij.
the
first
water.
Take
Ib.j.
of the other.
days.
Afterwards
distil
coagulates Mercury.
through a
It is
Add
viij.
Take
parts of verdigris
and
Place
all
{?
bodies and
upon) plates
the Moon.
itself.
j.
Manual of
387
Note.
Take Ib.j. of sugar candy. Put it in a tin can. Pour therein four parts
of good white wine. Put this all in a kettle with water.
Close the cans (dc)
well with the upper cowl.
it
and reserve
bottom of
it
let it boil
;
as before.
extract the
oil
Sun or Moon.
calx of the
salt
will
Note.
Take a common
aquafortis.
Dissolve
If
you add
oil
Luna
Extract
of soap thereto,
it
it
therein.
Place impasted
will then
be made.
Oil of Soap.
(sic).
Add
to
it
beaten
Distil
tile.
through
retort.
Salpetra Lupi.
Take equal
dissolve in
it
as
much Mercury
as possible.
aquafortis and
may go
Having cooled the vessel, let what was sublimated and
the bottom be again dissolved in the same water, which
Then
Make
fire. of
what remained at
extract once more by an alembic. Do this five times, always giving at the end
a fire of sublimation, and at the fifth time it does not ascend. It remains at
the bottom as red as blood. Keep this.
Next take sal ammoniac sublimated once by iron filings, j.lb.; and of the
above-mentioned Mercury an equal weight. Sublimate five times. Then put
it on marble to be dissolved, and let it become a red oil, which also preserve.
Take Sol which has been calcined and five times sublimated, with an
equal weight of the above-mentioned sal ammoniac. Put this to dissolve and
you will have a red liquid, which you must retain. Then take oil of Mercury
;
j.g,
project
it
Mix and
coagulate.
Take one
388
Note.
Take
of Calx of Luna,
of Saltpetre,
>
of Salt Alkali,
Next, pound
of Mercury.
revivified
One
temperature to coagulate.
j.
to a small pwder.
it
When it
cellar.
well
melts.
each part
in
damp
one glass.
in
Leave in a moderate
powder tinges xij. parts of
part of the
Mercury.
Fixation of Venus.
Make
Take
of Arsenic,
Ib.j.
of Saltpetre,
(alias qq).
Ib.j.
of Calcined Tartar,
Make powders.
upon.
of Orpiment,
^^'
Let
lye therein.
Melt Venus.
powder.
iiij.
of Mercury Sublimate,
it
boil as dry as
It will
Antimony.
Take some
Distil
it
until
Take
is right,
it
Next, pound
it
it
Pour upon
Place
when
it
it
it is
of Mercury.
it
small
it
it
Mercury
it
and
Continue to pound
of vitriol.
beautiful
it
Water
or six, with
If
therefrom an ordinary
it
glass vessel
Distil
aquafortis, until
weight of
a distilling stove.
and strongest
distils
Put
oil
Distil
it
five
in
of vitriol,
it
as an
Then the
last of all.
Manual of
389
of Alum,
each.
of Saltpetre,
of Caluerey,
Pound
Moon
over them.
coals for
gj.
all
Then
it is
among
ignited
right.
Ib.j.
with one measure of acetum distilled by the filter, and extract the salt with the
said acid, with which imbibe the amalgam, until the acetum with the salt shall
After every imbibition
harden.
will
be
Also,
fixed.
if
you
will,
let
amalgam
oil
Lastly, melt
all,
of
will
and
at length purify.
The Hermetic
ammoniac, with
and you add
on a slow
Distil
iij.oz.
of sulphur.
salt of alkali,
it
will
constantly stirring
fire,
Bird.
lixivium,
and
be an
oil
iiij.oz.
coagulating Mercury.)
until all is
it
put therein
of sal
fixed,
Set to boil
by 3 and
in the glass.
Remove
you
will
Convert into an
oil,
It will
this carefully
vitse,
with a spoon.
and
distil
Then you
will
have water of
will be able to
Thus
dissolve gold.
A Good
Aquafortis.
Dissolve sublimated
Take vinegar and cinnabar in sufficient quantities.
Mercury. Coagulate, and you will find alutnen chatinum, which is made out
Take the same quantity of arsenic out of iron to sublime.
of glass.
Attinkar of Venus.
Take one
powders
means of
salt into
subtle
3 go
them together
the neck shall
it
sublimate
Do
in
it
fire.
emerge
{sic)
away
let it
Then thoroughly
first.
and
pound
In order to
stir
the
&%%
it if
about.
Thus
it all
becomes
Treat
fixed.
it
Ultimately
it
it
enamel, of which one part out of ten parts of purged Venus will be perfect
Luna.
it
fire until
it is
in this
manner
When
amount
When
thrice
upon
it
it
then
fair.
For Saturn.
Take
it
in filings dissolved
What
with acetum.
remains
in
Distil
it
at the
in
the
same way.
Flowers of Bodies.
Take the dregs
fingers.
circulus place a
of wine.
Let there be
wooden
in
seven days.
it
On
in water.
Then operate
Manual of
391
Note.
Make an
water
If
is
is
Put gold
filings
therein.
it
keeps
Amalgamation.
and vitriol. Smelt together so as to
produce a powder. Take one part and throw it upon Luna when it melts,
and you will find Luna.
Another.
Take bismuth in any quantity as calcined tartar and pitch (?). Melt and
Take equal
quantities of orpiment
Then add
bismuth
to the
this wilderness.
Take
will
have Luna.
flower of
Note.
Liquefy the body Zidar in a large crucible and take
spoon, projecting
upon a
it
There
stone.
flat
To Extract the
Take Luna and
let it
melt.
Whilst
The Luna
it
select according to
tum.
will
will
be fixed
is
if it
Then
Soul.
it
some
talc,
Then take
extracted.
talc.
it
the
oil.
drunk up as much as
it
can.
distilled
Afterwards
distil
Take
filings
them
in
away
a glass vessel.
let it
Pour
days to putrefy.
with
common
this
many
substance
salt so that
it
may be
the acetum
pure.
after
some
difficulty
When the
coagulated on the stone in the sun, after it
392
Now
it
cellar,
and
it
suffices.
resolved entirely
it is
putrefy.
remove thus
will
saline remaining
all
oil is
until
sweet.
Precipitation.
Take
of Calcined Alum,
Melt them.
does not
in
Two
ounces thereof
P^*"*
of Saltpetre,
"
fall
The Luna
Tincture.
Take
boil in
become calx of
Put
in
place
it
Do
like,
it,
them
let it
and
burn, and
in oil
will
gold.
place
in
in
it
dung
and
will
it
Take
Make
Take
Take again
in that
water dissolve
ij.
Ib.ij.
of that 4 oz.
gij.
Add
In this dissolve
thereto a
little
sal
gij. of Luna.
ammoniac, and
Ao-ain
take two ounces, with the addition of sal ammoniac, and dissolve ij. ounces
of sublimated Mercury.
Preserve these waters specially, each by itself.
Then dissolve in the said aquafortis Ib.j. of purged Venus, which solution
takes place, say, in twenty-four lotones.
the waters in a grand cucurbit.
an alembic, the
Afterwards
Crush and
Pour
refine
the
it
powder
in
Then take
a crucible.
Set
upon the
test
you
will
saltpetre
it
in
and melted
a wind furnace.
salt.
Melt
Manual of
393
Cement Regal.
Take of Brick Dust, two parts,
of Salt, one part.
grade therein.
Physical Water.
ammoniac, which has been thrice sublimated, distilled, and
coagulated, and then once more let it be resolved and distilled. Let the
Take
sal
If
it
it
dissolves
also
all
crucible
of
in
aqua
vitse, distilled,
all
on the
God and by
fire,
Him.
virtue of
Item.
Take
virtue.
drams.
when
On
all is
absorbed, put
it
in
it
drams, and of
by
the fourth day project this on three pounds of the aqua vitas already
On
you
vj.
Change the
is
the philosophic
oil,
is
restrained
from
escaping, such
as
Mercury,
Sulphur,
and
Arsenic.
The White.
Take equal
for
nine days.
That
people.
it
is
old,
makes a
If
it
will not
oil
let
perfectly cures
spirits.
all his
Taking
in
a glass globe
man
or a
epilepsy of 40 years'
40 days
standing.
So,
other kinds.
too, asthma.
limbs,
stand
be able to be out of
on an empty stomach
be placed
and he
Mix and
woman.
oil
of the
as precious.
One drop
of this
and rhabarbarum in
Grind together. This is the best medicine for leprosy, which it
equal parts.
It produces
entirely cures if it be taken each morning on an empty stomach.
Take white
(?
cadmia), gold
leaf,
oriental pearls,
BB
394
little
man
will
is
Otherwise
Take equal
extract the
oil
parts of Mercurialis
according to
it
oil.
glass
it
would shine
Burns.
amount
and press
it
through.
Mix
of Mercury.
Afterwards
If
it
distil
as an
were put
in
like a light.
Fixation of Mercury.
Take alum and dregs of wine. Dissolve in urine, and distil by a filter.
Then resolve sulphur in it by boiling. Place Mercury in it and let it boil with
a gentle
fire,
continually stirring
it,
so that
it
may
escape the
fire.
and
it is difficult to identify
their
meaning.