Compound of Compounds

Albertus Magnus
[ Translated from the French by Lynn Bacarella; Produced by R.A.M.S. (Restoration of Alchemical Manuscri ts Society!" #$%& '

Preface
( )ill not hide a science )hich )as re*ealed to me by the +race of ,od; ( )ill not -ealously +uard it for myself alone" for fear of dra)in+ .is curse. A science /e t secret" a hidden treasure" )hat is its use0 The science ( ha*e learned )ithout in*ention" ( transmit to you )ithout re+ret. 1n*y disru ts e*erythin+" an en*ious man cannot be -ust before ,od. All science" all /no)led+e comes from ,od; it is a sim le )ay of s ea/in+ to indicate that it comes from the .oly S irit. 2o one can say3 4ur Lord 5esus 6hrist )ithout also understandin+3 Son of ,od the Father" throu+h the o eration of the .oly S irit. (n the same )ay" this science of truth cannot be se arated from .im )ho communicated it to me. ( ha*e not been sent to all" but only to those )ho admire the Lord in his )or/s and )hom ,od -ud+es )orthy. 4nly )hoso*er has ears to hear .is di*ine communication recei*es the secrets )hich ha*e been transmitted to me by the +race of ,od" and these .e ne*er re*eals to those )ho are un)orthy. 2ature must ser*e as the foundation and the mode of science3 the Art also )or/s accordin+ to 2ature as far as it can. (t is necessary then" that the Artist obser*e 2ature and o erate as she o erates.

Chapter I Of the Formation of the Metals Generally from the Sulphur and the Mercury
(t is obser*ed that the essence of metals" insofar as )e /no)" is to be roduced in a +eneral manner from Sul hur and Mercury. The differences alone of coo/in+ and di+estion results in a di*ersification of the metallic nature. ( ersonally obser*ed that in a sin+le *essel" in the same *ein" so to s ea/" nature had roduced many metals" alon+ )ith some sil*er disseminated here and there. 7e ha*e clearly demonstrated in our treatise on minerals that the +eneration of metals is circular" that is" one asses easily from one to another follo)in+ a circle" the cousin metals ha*in+ similar ro erties; it is because of this that sil*er chan+es more readily into +old than any other metal. (ndeed" there is not much in chan+in+ the color and )ei+ht of sil*er" this is easy" because a com act substance increases its )ei+ht 8uite readily. And since it contains a yello)ish9)hite Sul hur" its color )ill also be easy to transform. (t is the same )ith other metals. The Sul hur is" so to s ea/" their father and the Mercury" their mother. A+ain" it is most true" if one says of it that in the union the Sul hur re resents the s erm of the father and that the Mercury acts as a coa+ulated Menstruum in order to form the embryonic substance. The sulfur alone cannot roduce" -ust as the father alone cannot roduce. (n the same )ay that the male be+ets his ro er substance" in mi:ture )ith the menstrual blood" li/e)ise" the Sul hur roduces )ith the mercury" but alone it roduces nothin+. By this com arison )e ma/e note that the Alchemist )ill ha*e to raise at the outset" the s ecificity of the metal )hich has +i*en him the 2ature" then that he roceeds as nature roceeded" )ith the mercury and the Sul hur re ared and urified al)ays follo)in+ the e:am le of 2ature. The Sulphur Contains Three Humid Principles The first of these rinci les is es ecially ele*ated and *olatile" one finds it in the e:terior arts of the Sul hur" for the same reason" that of the +reat *olatility of its elements" )hich i+nite easily and consume the bodies )ith )hich they come into contact. The second rinci le is hle+matic" other)ise called a8ueous; it is found in close association )ith the former. The third is radical" fi:ed" adherent to the internal arts. That one alone is +eneral" and one cannot se arate it from the others )ithout destroyin+ the )hole edifice. The first rinci le does not resist the fire; bein+ combustible" it consumes itself in the fire and calcines the substance of the metal )ith )hich one heats it. Therefore" it is not only useless" but detrimental besides" to the +oal )hich )e set oursel*es. The second rinci le does not ma/e the bodies moist" it does not roduce" it cannot ser*e us at all. The third is radical" it enetrates all the articles of the matter )hich are necessary to its essential ro erties. (t is necessary to rid the Sul hur of the first t)o rinci les in order that the subtility of the third force ser*e us in ma/in+ a erfect com ound.

The fire is nothin+ other than the *a or of the Sul hur; the *a or of the Sul hur" )ell urified and sublimed )hite and rendered *ery com act. Also the Alchemists are accustomed to s/illfully raisin+ the t)o su erfluous rinci les in the Sul hur by )ay of acid baths" such as *ine+ar of lemons" sour mil/" the mil/ of +oats" the urine of infants" etc. They urify it by li:i*iation" di+estion and sublimation. (t is necessary" finally" to rectify it by reduction in a manner so as not to ha*e more than one ure substance containin+ the acti*e" erfectible brother9force of the metal. Behold; 7e are oin ossession of one art of our )or/. Of the !ature of the Mercury The Mercury contains t)o su erfluous substances" the earth and the )ater. The earthy substance has somethin+ of the Sul hur. The fire reddens it. The a8ueous substance has su erfluous humidity. 4ne easily rids the mercury of its )atery and earthy im urities by sublimation and *ery acid baths. 2ature se arates it into the dry state of the Sul hur and robs it of its earth by the heat of the Sun and the Stars. (t obtains thus a ure Mercury" com letely free of its earthy substance" containin+ no more forei+n articles. (t unites it then )ith a ure Sul hur and roduces in the end the ure and erfect metals in the heart of the earth. (f the t)o rinci les are im ure" the metals are im erfect. This is )hy one finds different metals in the mines" )hich ossess of the urification and of the di+estion accordin+ to their rudiments. This is de endent on the coo/in+. Of the Arsenic" The Arsenic/ is of the same nature as the Sul hur; both tint to red and to )hite. But there is more humidity in the Arsenic/" and it sublimes less ra idly o*er the fire than the Sul hur. 4ne /no)s ho) )ell Sul hur sublimes 8uic/ly and ho) it consumes all the bodies" e:ce t ,od. The Arsenic/ can unite its dry rinci le )ith that of the Sul hur" they tem er each other" and once united" one se arates them only )ith difficulty" their tincture is toned do)n by this union. <The Arsenic/<" says ,eber" <contains much of the Mercury; it can also be re ared li/e it<. =no) that the S irit hidden in the Sul hur" the Arsenic/ and the animal oil" is named by the hiloso hers The 7hite 1li:ir. (t is uni8ue" miscible )ith the *olatile substance" from this one )e e:tract the red 1li:ir; it unites )ith the melted metals" thus as )e ha*e e: erimented )ith it" it urifies them. 2ot only because of the aforementioned ro erties" but also because there is one common ro ortion bet)een its elements. The metals differ bet)een themsel*es accordin+ to the urity or im urity of the first matter" so to s ea/" of the Sul hur and of the Mercury" and also accordin+ to the de+ree of the fire )hich roduced them. Accordin+ to hiloso hy" the 1li:ir also is called Medicine" because one assimilates the body of metals in the body of animals. Also )e say that there is a hidden S irit in the Sul hur" the Arsenic/ and the oil e:tract of the animal substances. (t is that s irit for )hich )e search" )ith )hose aid )e )ill tint all the im erfect bodies to erfection. This S irit is called 7ater and mercury by the Philoso hers. <The mercury<" says ,eber" <is a medicine com osed of the dry and the humid" the humid and the dry<. >ou understand the succession of o erations3 e:tract

the earth from the fire" the air from the earth" the )ater from the air" since the )ater can resist the fire. (t is necessary to mar/ )ell these teachin+s" they are ?ni*ersal Secrets. 2one of the rinci les )hich enter into the 7or/ ha*e stren+th by themsel*es; for they are lin/ed in the metals" they cannot be erfected" they are not *ery fi:ed. 1ach lac/s t)o substances" one miscible )ith the metals in fusion" the other fi:ed )hich enables it to coa+ulate and fi:. Also Rhases said3 <There are four substances )hich chan+e in season3 each one of these is com osed of the four elements and ta/es the name of the dominant element. Their mar*elous essence )as fi:ed in one body" and" )ith this last" one can nourish the other bodies. This essence is com osed of )ater and of air" combined in such a )ay that the heat li8uefies them. .ere it is3 a mar*elous secret. The minerals em loyed in Alchemy must" in order to ser*e us" ha*e an action u on the melted bodies. The stones )e use are four in number" t)o tint to )hite" the t)o others to red. Also3 the )hite" the red" the Sul hur" the Arsenic/ and Saturn ha*e only that one same body; But in this sin+le body" )hat obscurities; And at first it is )ithout action u on the erfect metals<. <(n the im erfect bodies" there is an acid )ater" bitter" harsh" necessary to our Art. As it dissol*es and mortifies the bodies" it them re*i*es them and recom oses them. Rhases says in his third letter3 Those )ho search our 1nteleche" as/ from )hence the bitter a8ueous fundamental comes. 7e ans)er them3 from the im urity of the metals. Because the )ater contained in ,old is s)eet" it does not dissol*e" on the contrary" it coa+ulates and fortifies" because it contains neither acidity nor im urity li/e the im erfect bodies<. This is )hy ,eber said3 <4ne calcines and dissol*es the +old and sil*er in *ain" because our *ine+ar ta/es from the four im erfect bodies; this is the mortifyin+ and dissol*in+ s irit )hich mi:es the tinctures of all the bodies that )e em loy in the 7or/. 7e need nothin+ but this )ater" of little im ortance to us are the other S irits<. ,eber is ri+ht; )e ha*e not to ma/e a tincture for the fire to adulterate. Actually" on the contrary" it is necessary that the fire +i*e it e:cellence and stren+th in order that it can ally itself )ith the melted metals. (t is necessary that it stren+then" that it fi:" that des ite the fusion" it rests intimately united )ith the metal. ( )ill add that from the four im erfect bodies" one can e:tract all. As for the manner of re arin+ the Sul hur" the Arsenic/" and the Mercury most hi+hly acclaimed" one can brin+ it forth here. (ndeed" )hen in this re aration )e heat the s irit of the Sul hur and of the Arsenic/" )ith the acid )aters or the oil" for in e:tractin+ this *olatile essence" the oil or unctuosity" )e raise them abo*e that )hich is su erfluous to them; it lea*es the *olatile force and the oil" these thin+s alone are those )hich are useful to us; but they are mi:ed in the acid )ater )hich ser*ed us in urifyin+" there is no means of se aratin+ these" but at least )e are rid of the useless. (t is necessary therefore" to find another means to e:tract from these bodies in order to obtain the )ater" the oil" and the *ery subtle s irit of the Sul hur )hich is the true *ery acti*e Tincture for )hich )e search. 7e )ill )or/ so )ith the bodies in se aratin+ by decom osition or yet by distillation of their natural com onent arts" and )e )ill arri*e thus at the sim le arts. Some" i+norin+ the com osition of the Ma+istery )ant to )or/ on the Mercury alone" assertin+ it has one body" one soul" one s irit" and that it is the first matter of +old and sil*er. (t is necessary to res ond to them on the truth )hich se*eral hiloso hers affirm" that the 7or/ is made u of three thin+s3 The S irit" the Body" and the Soul" e:tracted from one only. But for the other art" one cannot find in somethin+ that )hich is not there.

2o)" the Mercury does not ha*e the red tincture" therefore" it alone cannot suffice to form the body of the Sun; it )ill be im ossible for us )ith only the Mercury to direct the 7or/ to a +ood end. The Moon alone cannot suffice" mean)hile this body is" so to s ea/" the foundation of the 7or/. (n )hate*er manner that one )or/s and transforms the Mercury" ne*er )ill it be able to establish a body. They say also3 <4ne finds in the Mercury a red Sul hur" therefore it contains the red tincture<. 1rror; The Sul hur is the father of the metals" one ne*er finds it in the Mercury )hich is female; A assi*e matter cannot fertili@e itself. The Mercury contains indeed a Sul hur" but" as )e ha*e already said" it is an earthy Sul hur. 7e remar/ finally" that the Sul hur cannot su ort the fusion; therefore" the 1li:ir cannot be e:tracted from one thin+ only.

Chapter II Of the Putrefaction

Fire roduces death and life. A li+ht fire dries the body. .ere is the reason3 Fire" comin+ into contact )ith a body" sets into motion the element similar to itself )hich e:ists in this body. This element is the 2atural heat. The former one e:cites the fiery art of the body in the first lace; there is a con-unction and the radical humidity of the body rises to the surface )hile the fire )or/s on the e:terior. Those di*erse ortions of the body are +one )hich the radical humidity united" the dead body is dissol*ed" is resol*ed" all its arts se arated one from the other. The fire )or/s here li/e a cuttin+ instrument. That )hich it dries and contracts of itself" it can do only so lon+ as there is a certain redis osition in the body" es ecially if the body is com act li/e one element. The last one needs a fi:ed a++lutinate" )hich )ill ha*e se arated from the body before corru tion. All this can be done by the Sun" because it is in one nature hot and humid" throu+h affinity )ith the other bodies.

Chapter III Of the #egimen of the Stone

There are four sta+es of the Stone3 (#! to decom ose; (A! to )ash; (B! to contract; (C! to fi:. (n the first sta+e" one se arates the natures because )ithout di*ision" )ithout urification" there cannot be a con-unction. Durin+ the second sta+e" the se arate elements are )ashed" urified" and restored to the sim le state. (n the third" one chan+es our Sul hur to the mineral of the Sun" of the moon and of the other metals. (n the fourth" all the bodies formerly e:tracted from our Stone are united" recom osed and fi:ed so as to rest con-ointly henceforth.

There are some )ho count fi*e sta+es in the Ma+istery3 (#! to resol*e the substance to the first matter; (A! to introduce our earth" the blac/ ma+nesium" so to s ea/" as bein+ related to the nature of the Sul hur and the mercury; (B! also to render the Sul hur as close as ossible to the mineral matter of the Sun and of the moon; (C! to com ose of the se*eral thin+s a )hite 1li:ir; (E! to coo/ erfectly the )hite 1li:ir to +i*e it the color of cinnabar" startin+ there in order to ma/e the red 1li:ir. Finally" there are some )ho count four sta+es in the )or/" others three" others only t)o. These last count thus3 (#! settin+ u the )or/ and urification of the elements; and (A! con-unction. Mar/ )ell that )hich follo)s3 The substance of the Stone of the Philoso hers is common3 one finds it e*ery)here" it is a *iscous )ater li/e the Mercury that one e:tracts from the earth. 4ur *iscous )ater is found e*ery)here" e*en in the Latrines" certain hiloso hers ha*e said. And" se*eral imbeciles ta/e their )ords literally" searchin+ for it in the e:crements; 2ature o erates on this matter in raisin+ somethin+ from it" its earthy rinci le" and in unitin+ somethin+ )ith it" the Sul hur of the Philoso hers" )hich is not the *ul+ar sul hur" but a trans arent Sul hur of red tint. For to s ea/ the truth" it is the S irit of Roman Fitriol. Pre are it thus3 ta/e of Salt eter and of Roman Fitriol" t)o ounds of each; ul*eri@e finely. .ence" Aristotle is ri+ht )hen he says that one cannot in any )ay chan+e the form of the metals" if one does not first reduce them to their first matter. This is easy as one )ill shortly see. Philoso hy says that one cannot +o from one e:treme to the other )ithout an intermediary. At one e:tremity of our Philoso hical Stone" are t)o luminaries" +old and sil*er; at the other e:tremity" the erfect eli:ir or tincture" and in the middle" the Philoso hical 7ater of Life" naturally urified" coo/ed and di+ested. All these thin+s are near to erfection and referable to the more rimiti*e bodies of nature. Li/e)ise" by means of a*era+e heat" the ice dissol*es into )ater" for )e ha*e formerly had )ater. Thus" the metals are resol*ed to their first matter )hich is our 7ater of Life. The re aration is indicated in the cha ters that follo). By itself alone" it can reduce all the metallic bodies to their first matter.

Chapter I$ Of the Sublimation of the Mercury

(n the name of ,od" rocure yourself a ound of ure mercury issuin+ from the mine. 4f the other ortion" ta/e of Roman Fitriol and of common calcined salt" ul*eri@e and mi: )ell. Put these t)o latest matters into a lar+e +la@ed earthen)are flas/ and set o*er a mild fire until the matter be+ins to melt and flo). Then ta/e your mineral mercury" ut it in a flas/ )ith a lon+ nec/ and dro 9by9dro " our it o*er the *itriol and salt in fusion. Stir )ith a )ooden s atula until the mercury is com letely consumed and it lea*es no trace. 7hen it has com letely disa eared" dry the matter o*er a +entle fire durin+ the ni+ht. The ne:t mornin+" you )ill ta/e the )ell9dried matter and ul*eri@e it finely on a stone. Place the ul*eri@ed matter in a sublimatin+ flas/ called an Aludel" to sublime accordin+ to the Art. Place on it the head of the

*essel" and close the -oints )ith a hiloso hical lutin+" so that the mercury cannot esca e. Place the Aludel in a furnace and seal it in so it cannot tilt o*er but stands strai+ht. Then ma/e a little fire for about four hours to dri*e a)ay the humidity of the mercury and of the *itriol. After the e*a oration of the humidity" increase the fire so that the ure )hite matter of the mercury se arates itself from the im urities; do this fir four hours; you )ill see if it suffices by introducin+ a )ooden rod to the sublimatin+ flas/ by )ay of the rinci le o enin+" you )ill lo)er it -ust to the matter and determine )hether or not the )hite matter of the mercury is u ermost in the mi:ture. (f it is" raise the baton" close the a erture of the head )ith a lutin+ so that the mercury cannot esca e" and increase the fire in such a )ay that the )hite matter of the mercury rises abo*e the faeces in the Aludel. Do this for four hours. Finally" heat )ith )ood in a manner to obtain a bla@e3 it is necessary that the bottom of the flas/ and the residue becomes red. 6ontinue thusly until there remains a little of the )hite substance of the Mercury adherent to the faeces. The force and the *iolence of the fire )ill be s ent durin+ the se aration. Sto the fire" allo) the furnace and the matter to cool o*erni+ht. The ne:t mornin+" return the flas/ to the furnace" lift the lutin+ )ith caution in order not to sully the mercury" o en the a aratus. (f you find a )hite matter" sublimed" ure" com act" hea*y" then you ha*e succeeded. But if the sublimate )as s on+y" li+ht" orous" collect it and recommence the sublimation on the residue addin+ no) ul*eri@ed common salt. 4 erate in the same flas/ o*er the furnace" in the same manner" )ith the same *ery hi+h de+ree of fire. Then o en the flas/" see if the sublimate is )hite" com act" dense. Then collect it and ut it carefully aside so that it may ser*e you )hen you ha*e need to finish the 7or/. But if a+ain it has not occurred as it should" you )ill ha*e to sublime it a third time until you obtain it ure" com act" )hite and hea*y. 2otice that by this o eration you ha*e raised t)o im urities from the Mercury. At first you remo*ed from it all its su erfluous humidity; in the second" you ha*e rid it of its im ure earthy arts )hich remained in the faeces. Thus" you ha*e no) sublimed it to a clear semi9 fi:ed substance. Put this aside as one has recommended to you.

Chapter $ Of the Preparation of the %aters from %hich &ou %ill 'eri(e the %ater of )ife
Ta/e t)o ounds of Roman Fitriol" t)o ounds of Salt eter" one ound calcined Alum. 6rush )ell" mi: erfectly" ut it in a +lass Alembic. Distill the )ater accordin+ to ordinary rocedures" closin+ the -oints )ell" lest the s irits esca e. Be+in )ith a +entle fire" the heat more forcibly; after)ards heat )ith )ood until the a aratus becomes )hite" so that all the s irits distill. Them" sto the fire. Let the furnace cool. Put this carefully aside" for this is the Sol*ent of the Moon. 6onser*e it for the 7or/; it dissol*es the sil*er and se arates it from the +old. (t calcines the Mercury and the crocus of Mars; it +i*es to the s/in of a man" a bro)n

coloration )hich is hard to +et rid of. This is the rime )ater of the hiloso hers" it is erfecto the first de+ree. >ou )ill re are three ounds of the )ater. Second %ater Prepared by %ay of Sal Ammoniac (n the name of ,od" +et one ound of the first )ater and therein dissol*e four arts of ure and uncolored Sal Ammoniac. The dissolution done" the )ater )ill chan+e color. (t has ac8uired other ro erties. The rime )ater )as +reenish" it dissol*ed the Moon" it )as )ithout action on the Sun; but as soon as one adds to it from the sal ammoniac" it ta/es on a yello) color. (t dissol*es +old" mercury and sul hur sublimate" and +i*es a stron+ yello) coloration to the s/in of a man. 6onser*e this )ater reciously" because it )ill ser*e us in the )or/. Third %ater Prepared by Means of Mercury Sublimate Ta/e of the third mercuric )ater" erfected to the third de+ree" ellucid; ut it to utrefy in the belly of a horse" in a flas/ )ith a lon+ nec/" clean" )ell9sealed" for #C days. Lea*e it to ferment" the im urities dro to the bottom and the )ater asses from yello) to red. At this time" you )ill retrie*e the flas/ and you )ill ut it o*er the cinders of a *ery mild fire. Ada t to it the head of the alembic )ith a reci ient. Be+in the distillation slo)ly. That )hich asses" bit by bit" is our 7ater of Life. A *ery clear" ure" hea*y" *ir+inal mil/" a *ery sour Fine+ar. 6ontinue the fire +ently until all the )ater of life has distilled +radually o*er. Then" sto the fire" let the furnace cool and conser*e )ith care your distilled )ater. This is it3 4ur 7ater of Life" Fine+ar of the Philoso hers" Fir+inGs Mil/ )hich reduces the bodies to their first matter" (t )as +i*en an infinity of names. .ere are the ro erties of this )ater3 a little bit de osited on a thin late of hot co er" enetrates it immediately and lea*es there a )hite stain. Thro)n o*er the coals" it emits a smo/e. (n air it con+eals and resembles ice. 7hen one distills this )ater" all the dro s donGt ass follo)in+ the same ath" rather" some ass here" others there. (t does not )or/ on the metals li/e stron+ corrosi*e )ater" )hich dissol*es them" but it reduces to Mercury all the bodies that it bathes" -ust as you )ill see much later. After the utrefaction" the distillation" the clarification" it is ure and *ery erfect. Free from e*ery *olatile" su erfluous and corrosi*e rinci le. (t is not a )ater )hich consumes" it does not dissol*e the bodies but reduces them to Mercury. (t o)es this ro erty to the ori+inal Mercury dissol*es and utrefied to the third sta+e of erfection. (t neither contains any faeces nor earthy im urities. The last distillation se arated them" the blac/ im urities are restin+ at the bottom of the alembic. The color of this )ater is reddish9clue" clear; ut it aside. This" it reduces all the calcined and utrefied bodies to their rime matter. 7hen you )ant to reduce the calcined bodies )ith this )ater" re are the bodies thusly3 Ta/e some of the body that you )ill )ant" Sun or Moon" and file it *ery fine. Pul*eri@e this )ell usin+ a stone re ared )ith common salt. Se arate the salt by dissol*in+ it in hot )ater. The ul*eri@ed lime )ill resettle at the bottom of the li8uid. Decant. Dry the lime" soa/ it three times in oil of Tartar" allo)in+ the lime to absorb all the oil each time. Finally" ut the lime in a little flas/; our it o*er the oil of Tartar" so that the li8uid has a de th of t)o fin+ers" then close the flas/. Put it to utrefy in the belly of a horse for & days. Then ta/e the flas/" decant the oil and dry the lime. This done" ut the lime into an e8ual amount of our 7ater of

Life. 6lose the flas/ and let it di+est o*er a *ery mild fire until all the lime be con*erted into Mercury. Decant" then" the )ater )ith caution. Reco*er the cor oreal Mercury; ut it in a +lass *essel" utrefy it )ith )ater and common salt. Dry accordin+ to the la)s" ut it in a fine linen and s8uee@e out in dro s. (f it asses in its entirety" it is +ood. (f some ortion of the amal+amate body remains" indicatin+ that the dissolution has not been com lete" ut the residue )ith a ne) 8uantity of the consecrated )ater. =no) that the distillation of the )ater must be done in a )ater9bath; for the air and the fire" one )ill distill o*er hot cinders. The )ater must be deri*ed from the humid substance and not other)ise; the air and the fire must be an e:tract of the dry substance and none other.

Chapter $I Properties of This Mercury

(t is less mobile" it flo)s less 8uic/ly than the other Mercury; it lea*es traces of its fi:ed body in the fire3 one dro laced on a thin late heated to red lea*es a residue. Multiplication of the Philosophical Mercury 7hen you ha*e your hiloso hical Mercury" ta/e t)o ortions of it and one ortion of the filin+s mentioned much earlier. Ma/e an amal+amate of these by coo/in+ them to+ether in a flas/ that has been )ell sealed and laced o*er cinders of a tem erate fire. The entire )ill resol*e into mercury. >ou )ill therefore )ant to increase this to infinity" because the amount of the *olatile al)ays e:ceeds the amount of the fi:ed. (t increases indefinitely +i*in+ to it its ro er nature and there is al)ays enou+h. 2o) you /no) ho) to re are the 7ater of Life" you understand some of the sta+es and the ro erties" you understand the utrefaction of the metallic bodies" their reduction to the rime matter" the multi lication of the matter to infinity. ( clearly e: lained to you all that )hich the Philoso hers hid )ith care. (t is not the *ul+ar Mercury" it is the first matter of the Philoso hers. (t is a8ueous cold" a humid element; it is a ermanent )ater" it is the s irit of the body" an oily *a or" consecrated 7ater" stron+ )ater" 7ater of the Sa+es" Fine+ar of the Philoso hers" mineral )ater" Rose of the 6elestial ,race; it has many other names besides these and indeed" many they be that are different; .o)e*er" they all desi+nate one and the same thin+ )hich is the Mercury of the Philoso hers. (t is the focus of Alchemy; alone it can ser*e to ma/e the tincture" the )hite and the red" etc. Ta/e then" in the name of 5esus 6hrist" our *enerable 7ater of the Philoso hers" ori+inal .yle of the Sa+es; it is the stone that one re*ealed for you in this treatise. (t is the first matter of the erfect body" as you ha*e determined. Put your matter in a furnace" into a clean *essel" clear trans arent and round" )hose o enin+ you )ill hermetically seal" so that nothin+ can esca e. >our matter is to be laced on a le*el bed or surface" sli+htly hot. >ou )ill lea*e it there for one Philoso hical month. Maintain the heat e*enly" so that the ers iration of the matter )ill sublime" until it s)eats no lon+er" that nothin+ rises or descends" That it be+ins to utrefy" to

suffocate" to coa+ulate and to fi: by maintainin+ the constancy of the fire. (t )ill not raise more of the e:alted" smo/y substance" and our Mercury )ill remain on the bottom" dry" robbed of its humidity" utrefied" coa+ulated" chan+ed to a blac/ earth" that one calls .ead of the Ra*en" a dry and earthy element. 7hen you ha*e done this" you )ill ha*e accom lished the +enuine sublimation of the Philoso hers" durin+ this you )ill ha*e e:amined all the aforementioned sta+es" to )it3 sublimation of the Mercury" distillation" coa+ulation" fi:ation" in one only *essel and )ith one only furnace as )as stated. (ndeed )hen our stone is in its *essel" and it is increase" one says that there is sublimation or ascension. 7hen after)ards it a+ain settles to the bottom" one says that there is distillation or reci itation. 2e:t" )hen after the distillation and sublimation" our stone be+ins to utrefy and to coa+ulate" it is the utrefaction and the coa+ulation; finally )hen it calcines and fi:es throu+h the loss of its radical" a8ueous humidity. (t is the calcinations and fi:ation; all this is done throu+h the sin+le act of heatin+" in a sin+le furnace" in a sin+le *essel" as )as said. This sublimation constitutes a +enuine se aration of the elements" accordin+ to the Philoso hers3 <The 7or/ of 4ur Stone consists only of the Se aration and 6on-unction of the elements; because in our sublimation" the a8ueous" cold and humid element chan+es to a dry" earthy and hot element<. (t follo)s that the se aration of the elements of our stone is not *ul+ar" but hiloso hical3 our sin+le" *ery erfect sublimation indeed suffices to se arate the elements. (n our stone there is the form of only t)o elements" the )ater and the earth" )hich otentially contain the other t)o. The 1arth otentially (or *irtually! contains the Fire" because of its dryness; the 7ater otentially contains the Air because of its humidity. (t is thus 8uite e*ident that althou+h our stone has only the form of t)o elements" it otentially contains all four. Also a Philoso her said of it3 <There is not a se aration of the four elements in our stone li/e the imbeciles thin/. 4ur nature contains a *ery hidden secret; thus one sees the o)er and the stren+th" the earth and the )ater. (t contains t)o other elements" the air and the fire. .o)e*er" these are neither *isible nor tan+ible" one cannot re resent them" one i+nores their influence" they disclose nothin+ )hich does not manifest in the t)o other elements" earth and )ater" )hen the fire chan+es the colors durin+ the di+estion<. Behold that by the +race of ,od" you ha*e the second com onent of the Philoso hical stone; )hich is the Blac/ 1arth" the .ead of a 6ro)" mother" heart" ori+in of the other colors. From this earth" as the one body" all the rest ta/e their birth. This dry earthy element recei*ed in the boo/s of the Philoso hers" 2ummus" blac/ sulfur" male" husband" etc. Des ite this endless *ariety of names" it is the sin+le and the same thin+ al)ays" deri*ed from a sin+le matter. Because the Philoso hical sublimation resulted in a de ri*ation of humidity" the *olatile became fi:ed" the soft became hard and the a8ueous became earthy" accordin+ to ,eber. This is the metamor hosis of the nature" the chan+in+ of the )ater to fire" accordin+ to The Turba. (t is also the chan+in+ of the cold and humid constitutions to bilious" dry constitutions" accordin+ to the doctors. Aristotle says that the s irit too/ a body" and Al hidius says that the li8uid became *iscous. The hidden became manifest" says Rudianus in the Boo/ of the Three 7ords. 4ne no) understands the Philoso hers )hen they say3 <4ur +reat 7or/ is not other than a ermutation of nature" an e*olution of the elements<. (t is 8uite e*ident that by this de ri*ation of humidity" )e render the stone dry" the *olatile becomes fi:ed" the s irit

becomes cor oreal" the li8uid becomes solid" the fire chan+es to )ater" the air to earth. 7e ha*e thus chan+ed the true natures follo)in+ a certain order; )e ha*e ermuted their natures. That ,od be eternally blessed; Amen. Let us no) ass" )ith the ermission of ,od" to the second o eration )hich is the )hitenin+ of our ure earth. Ta/e then" t)o arts of the fi:ed earth or .ead of a Ra*en3 di+est it subtly )ith recaution in an e:cessi*ely clean mortar. Add to it one art of the Philoso hical )ater that you /no) of (That )hich you ha*e ut aside!. ?nite these by imbibin+ the dry earth little by little into the )ater until its thirst is 8uenched. Di+est and mid )ell enou+h that the union of the body" of the soul and of the )ater be erfect and intimate. This done" you )ill ut all of it in a hermetically sealed flas/ so that nothin+ )ill esca e. Place the flas/ o*er a little )arm bed" al)ays hot and /e t le*el" so that in s)eatin+" its entrails are rid of the li8uid )hich it dran/. >ou )ill lea*e it there ei+ht days until the earth )hitens some)hat. >ou )ill then ta/e the Stone" you )ill ul*eri@e it" soa/ it a+ain in the *ir+inal mil/" stirrin+" until its thirst is 8uenched. Put it a+ain in the flas/ o*er its )arm little bed so that it dries li/e that abo*e. >ou )ill re eat this o eration four times follo)in+ the same order3 The soa/in+ of the earth by )ater until erfect union3 The soa/in+ of the earth by )ater until erfect union" dessication and calcinations. >ou )ill then ha*e sufficiently urified the .ead of the Ra*en" the blac/ and foetid earth" you ha*e brou+ht it to )hiteness by the stren+th of the fire" of the heat" and the )hitened )ater. ,ather your )hite earth and ut it carefully aside. This is *ery recious because it is the foliated )hite earth" )hite Sul hur" )hite Ma+nesia" etc. Morien s ea/s of it )hen he says3 <Put this earth )ith its )ater to utrefy so that it urifies" and )ith the aid of ,od you )ill finish the Ma+istery<. .ermes says the same as A@oth" )ash the Laton and raise it from all its im urities. (n this latest o eration" )e roduced a +enuine con-unction of the elements" because the )ater united )ith the earth" the air )ith the fire. (t is this union of the man )ith the )oman" of the male )ith the female" of the +old )ith the sil*er" of the dry and the im ure celestial )ater. There )as also a resurrection of dead bodies. This is )hy the Philoso hers said3 <Those )ho do not /no) ho) to /ill and ho) to re*i*e" abandon the Art<. And else)here3 <Those )ho /no) ho) to /ill and ho) to re*i*e" )ill rofit from our science. This one )ill be the Prince of the Art )ho )ill do these t)o thin+s<. Another Philoso her said3 <4ur dry 1arth does not bear any fruit if it is not rofoundly soa/ed in its Rain 7ater. 4ur dry 1arth has a +reat thirst" )hen it be+ins to drin/" it drin/s do)n to the dre+s<. Another said3 <4ur 1arth drin/s the fertile )ater that it a)aited" it 8uenches its thirst" then it roduces hundreds of fruits<. 4ne finds many similar assa+es in the boo/s of the Philoso hers" but they are in the form of arables" so that the e*il cannot understand them. By the ,race of ,od" you no) ossess our )hite foliated 1arth" all ready to under+o the fermentation" )hich )ill +i*e it breath. Also the Philoso hers said3 <7hiten the blac/ 1arth before unitin+ it )ith the ferment<. Another said3 <So) your +old in the )hite foliated 1arth" and it )ill +i*e you fruit an hundredfold<. ,lory to ,od. Amen. 7e ass to the third o eration )hich is the fermentation of the )hite 1arth. (t is necessary to animate and re*i*e the dead body" in order to multi ly its stren+th to infinity" and to cause it to ass to the state of the erfect )hite eli:ir )hich chan+es the Mercury to the +enuine and erfect Moon. 2ote that the ferment cannot enetrate the dead body" that by the intermediary of the )ater the marria+e is made and the bond set bet)een the )hite earth and the ferment. This is )hy in all fermentation" it is necessary to note the )ei+ht of each thin+. (f then you

)ant to set the )hite 1arth aside to ferment in order to chan+e it to the )hite 1li:ir containin+ an e:cess of the tincture" it is necessary to ta/e three arts of the )hite 1arth or dead foliated Body" t)o arts of the 7ater of Life" that you ut in reser*e and one9half of the ferment. Pre are the ferment in such a )ay that it is reduced to a )hite lime" bound and fi:ed" if you )ant to ma/e the )hite eli:ir. (f you )ant to ma/e the red 1li:ir" condense the lime of the *ery yello) +old" re ared accordin+ to the art. There are no other ferments li/e these here. The ferment of sil*er is sil*er" the ferment of +old is +old" therefore donGt loo/ else)here; The reason for this is that the t)o bodies are luminous" they contain the brilliant li+hts )hich communicate to the other bodies true redness and )hiteness. They are of one nature" similar to that of sul hur" the urest of the matter of this ty e of stone. 1:tract then" each /ind from its o)n /ind" each family from its o)n family. The )or/ of the )hite has as a +oal" to )hiten; the )or/ of the red" to redden. Abo*e all" do not mi: the t)o 7or/s" other)ise nothin+ )ill )or/ )ell. All the Philoso hers say that our stone is com osed of three thin+s3 The Body" the S irit and the Soul. 2o) the )hite 1arth is the Body" the ferment is the Soul" )hich +i*es it its life" the intermediary )ater is the S irit. Reunite these three thin+s in one by marria+e" di+estin+ them )ell o*er an a ro riate stone" so as to unite them in their smallest articles" to form from it a confused chaos. 7hen you ha*e made a sin+le body of all" ut it carefully in a s ecial flas/ )hich you )ill lace o*er its hot bed" so that the mi:ture coa+ulates" fi:es and becomes )hite. >ou )ill ta/e the blessed )hite stone" you )ill ul*eri@e it finely o*er a *ery clean stone" soa/ it )ith a third of its )ei+ht of )ater to sla/e its thirst. Then return it to the clear and clean flas/ laced o*er its soft and hot bed so that it commences to s)eat and to yield its )ater" and finally you )ill lea*e its entrails to dry. Re eat often until you ha*e re ared by this rocedure our *ery e:cellent fi:ed )hite Stone" )hich enetrates the tiniest art of the bodies *ery ra idly" flo)in+ li/e the fi:ed )ater )hen one uts it o*er the fire" chan+in+ the im erfect bodies to +enuine sil*er" 8uite com arable to natural sil*er. 2ote that if you often re eat all the o erations in the same order3 to dissol*e" to coa+ulate" to ul*eri@e" to di+est" your medicine )ill be so much the better" its e:cellence increasin+ more and more. Furthermore" you )ill )or/ your Stone in order to increase the *irtue" and more" you )ill ha*e the yield )hen you ma/e the ro-ection u on im erfect bodies in a )ay so that after one o eration" one art of the 1li:ir transmutes one hundred arts of )hate*er body to the Moon" after t)o o erations one thousand" after three" ten thousand" after four" one hundred thousand" and so on" ad infinitum. Also the ade ts raise all the +reat ma:ims of the Philoso hers about the erse*erance to re eat this o eration. (f one imbibition )as sufficient" they )ould not ha*e had so much to say u on the sub-ect. ,race be +i*en unto ,od. Amen. (f you desire to chan+e the +lorious stone" this )hite =in+ )hich transmutes and tints the Mercury and all the im erfect bodies into the true Moon" if you desire" ( say" to chan+e it to the red stone )hich tints and transmutes the Mercury" the Moon and the other metals to the true Sun" o erate thusly3 Ta/e the 7hite Stone and di*ide it into t)o arts; you )ill raise one art to the state of the )hite 1li:ir" as has been said much earlier (of the /ind of )hich you )ill ha*e an indefinite amount!. Put the other art in a ne) bed of the Philoso hers" clean" tidy" trans arent" s herical and lace it in the furnace for di+estion. (ncrease the fire until by its force and stren+th the matter is chan+ed to a *ery red stone" that the Philoso hers call Blood" ur le" red coral or red sul hur. 7hen you see this color so that there is as bri+ht as that of the dry calcined crocus" then ta/e the =in+ -oyously" ut it aside *ery carefully. (f you )ant to chan+e it to the red 1li:ir" a tincture of +reat stren+th" transmutin+ and tin+ein+ the Mercury" the Moon and all other im erfect metal bodies" to the *ery +enuine Sun" brin+ the

ferment three arts )ith one and a half arts of *ery ure +old" to the state of erfection and *ery yello)" and t)o arts of solidified )ater. Ma/e of it a erfect mi:ture accordin+ to the rules of Art" until into lon+er is ossible to distin+uish the com onents. Put it a+ain in a flas/ o*er a matured fire in order to erfect it. As soon as the true Stone a ears blood red" you )ill +radually add the sold 7ater. Slo)ly increase the fire of di+estion. By re eatin+ this o eration" you )ill increase its erfection. (t is necessary to add" each time" the solid 7ater (that you reser*ed!" )hich dra)s to its nature; it multi lies its stren+th to infinity" )ithout chan+in+ anythin+ of its essence. 4ne art of the erfect 1li:ir of the first de+ree" ro-ected o*er one hundred arts of the Mercury ()ashed )ith some *ine+ar and some salt as you should /no)!" laced in a crucible o*er a small fire" until smo/e a ears" immediately transmutes them to the +enuine Sun" better than the natural. The same in re lacin+ Mercury by the Moon. For each de+ree of erfection" from most of the 1li:ir" it is the same thin+ as that for the )hite 1li:ir" until it tints it finally to the Sun of the infinite 8uantities of the Mercury and the Moon. >ou no) ossess a recious secret" an infinite treasure. This is )hy the Philoso hers say3 <4ur stone has three colors; it is blac/ at the outset" )hite in the middle" the end<. A Philoso her said3 <The heat )or/s first on the humidity to roduce the blac/ness" its action on the dry roduces the )hite and on the )hite roduces the red. Thus the )hiteness is nothin+ other than the com lete absence of blac/ness. The )hite s/illfully condensed by the force of the fire roduces the red<. 999 <All you see/ers )ho )or/ the Art<" said another sa+e" <7hen you see the )hite a ear in the *essel" /no) that the red is hidden in the )hite. (t is necessary that you e:tract it from it and for this to heat forcefully until the a earance of the red<. Finis.

Albertus Magnus

,lossary
%eight Measures Scruple 9 ancient )ei+ht measure" e8ui*alent to #"A$H+ Grain 9 )ei+ht measure" e8ui*alent to I"IHC&+ Gros 9 ancient )ei+ht measure" e8ui*alent to B"EE+ Pound 9 Mass unity e8ui*alent to CEB"E$ (1n+land! )ots 9 ancient +erman )ei+ht measure e8ui*alent to #C"#%+ Mar" 9 ancient )ei+ht measure for +old and sil*er" corres ondin+ to #H"H+ Ounce 9 )ei+ht measure e8ui*alent to A&"BC$+