OFPHILOSOPHY

THETREASURY
by : MONACHUSEFFERARIUS
T HE A T R U C H E I'Il C U l tlv0L.
T 'I ; IIL pAGE 151 8,,( 2ttadeLLne UzLsht

T h e re i s o n e w h ocre a ted all things out of nothing, and to whoma'l l

t h i n g s b e l o n g --sky,e a rth , a n d sea. He boundtogether all har m onyand a' l'l di s -

s o n a n c e ,a n d o f h i s g re a t g o o d ness
willed to cur e diseasewith his m edici nes .

W i s em e ni n a n ci e n t ti me s fu l l y under stoodtwo methodsand wr ote themdowni n

t h e i r b o o ks. On eme th o di s tru e; the other is deceitfu' |. The tr ue m etho d

t h e y s e t f o rth i n o b scu rete rms , so that only their disciples could fully

u n d e r s t a n di t. T h e yco n ce a l e di t to keep im piousmenfr om seizing knowle i l fe

a n d u s i n g it fo r p ro fa n e e n d s. Theywou' ldhaveto pay the penalty for thpi r

si n s . So , d e a r re a d e r, d o n o t shar e any of this knowledge

with an unwor thy
p e r s o n . Ke e pi t se cre t, l i ke a tr ue ph' ilosopher . W henyou finally test it

o u t i n a r ea 'l e xp e ri me n t,yo u w ill' love and esteemit a' ll the mor e.

T h e fa 'l se me th o dth e y set for th in ver y c' lear ter ms. I am not going

t o r e p e a t t h e me th o do r th e e rror s and what causesthem . But' listen and under -

s t a n d , d e a r re a d e r, a n d ma yGo dil' lumineyour m ind. Knowthat our science i s

t h e s c i e n ce o f th e fo u r e 'l e me nts,the four tim es, the four qualities, and al l

o f t h e s e i n re ve rse . A 1 'l p h i l o sopher sagr ee about that. And knowthat the

f o u r e ' l e m en tse xi st i n e ve ryth i ng under heaven. Youwi' ll knowthis by thei r

e f f e c t s , n ot b y o b se rva ti o n . S o the philosopher shave handeddownthis sc i enc e

i n t h e g u i se o f a sci e n ceo f th e elem ents. And they have causedit to ope r ate

w i t h o u t u n de rsta n d i n gth e 'l i te ra' l accountof the oper ations. They have tr i ed
to d o o p e r ati o n sw i th th i n g s l i ke blood, hair , and eggs. I have tr ied too , and

h a v e b e e nr e d u ce dto a d a ze . I near ly despair edof science altogether and

d i s c a r d e dal l i ts te a ch i n g . I blam edother s for the feeblenessof m y own

inte'llect. A t l a st I ca meto my sensesand beganto ponderwhat Avicennahad

p o n d e r e d : " If so me th i n ge xi sts, howdoes it exist? And if it does not ex i s t,

- r 93-
 h o wd o e s i t n o t e xi st? " T h e re for eI discover edthat the matter and seed o f

e v e r y m e t a l i s Me rcu ryth a t h a s beenboiled and thickenedin the bowelsof the

earth. I t h a s b e e nb o i l e d a t sulphur ic temper atur es. Accor dingto the

d i f f e r e n t va ri e ti e s o f su l p h u r, differ ent metals ar e pr oducedin the ear th .

T h e i r f i r s t ma tte r i s o n e a n d the same. They differ only in their inesse nti al

a c t i v i t y a n d w h e th e rth e y h a ve beenboiled in.a gr eater or lesser fashion, at

m o d e r a t eo r e xce ssi vete mp e ra tur es. Somehas been bur ned,other s have not; and

a l l t h e p h i l o so p h e rsa re i n a g reement
about this. It is cer tain that every thi ng
co m e so u t of o r fro m w h a te ve ri t is dissolved into. For exam ple,ice bec om es
w a t e r w h e nh e a t i s a p p l i e d . C l ear ly, then, it beganas water . In the sam e

w a y , a l l me ta l s b e co me
Me rcu ry,since they wer e m adeof it in the fir st p1 ac e.
L a t e r I s h al l sh o wh o wto co n ver t theminto M er cur y. Oncethis is under s tood,

t h e s a y i n g o f A ri sto t'l e i i r B o o k IV of the M etaphysics

m akessense: "Aichem i s ts
m u s t u n d e rsta n dth a t sp e ci fi c ty pes of metals ar e im m utabie." That is tr ue, as

l o n g a s t h ey a re n o t re d u ce dto their fir st m atter . Sucha r eduction is pos s i bl e,

e v e n e a s y , si n ce e ve ryth i n gth a t lives and gr owscan be m ultiplied. All pl ants
a n d t r e e s a n d a n i ma l s d e mo n str ate
this. Out of one gr ain com ea thousandgr ai ns :
o u t o f o n e tre e co mea th o u sa n dlittle br anches,and out of one m ancomesthe
e n t i r e h u ma nra ce . rJu sta s e ve r ything is incr easedin its own kind, so a metal
ca n i n c r e a s e i ts su b sta n ceb y i ts ownagency. And it m akesno differ ence, as

A r i s t o t l e sa ys, w h e th e rth i s i s doneby natur al or ar tificial m eans. All metal s

l i v e a n d g ro w i n th e e a rth . T h er efor eit is possible to incr ease and m ulti pl y
t h e m t o i n f i n i ty. B u t i t ca n o n' ly be donethr ough a mor eper fect agency- - the
c o n s u m n a te
me d i ci n eo f th e p e rfect gener ationof meta' ls,which is cal' led the
elixir o f t he p h 'i i o so p h e rs. T h e oniy way to acquir e this e' lixir is thr ough i ts

-194-
o w nm e d i um. N o ti ce th a t i t i s the natur e of this m ediumto be stable and fr ee

o f e x t r e me s. T h e e xtre me sa re sulphur and mer cur y,and the finished elixir .

T h e b e t t e r a n d mo rep e rfe ct o n es- - also the mor eaccessible- - ar ethe ones that

h a v e b e e nmo re th o ro u g h l yp u ri fied, decocted,and digested. Dear r eader , do

not err: w h a tso e vear ma nso weth,that also shall he r eap. It is obviousw hat

t h e s t o n e b e co me s,
a n d w h a t ki nd of medicineit makes,if nothing extr aneousi s

a d d e da n d a n y e xce ssi s re mo ved. 0n1ywhat is by natur e close to a subst anc e

i s s u i t a b le to i t. N o w ,d e a r reader , I shall explain the sayfngsof the p hi l o-

s o p h e r s , t he o b scu rew o rd so f the wise that ar e hidden in par ables. Theny ou

w i ' l ' l k n o wth a t I u n d e rsta n dth eir wor dsand faithfu' l' ly r epr esentthem . Fi r s t
c o m e st h e pro ce ssw h i ch th e p h ilosopher scajled solution. It is the foundati on
o f t h e a r t , a s Ma ri a sa ys: " If you join gumwith nr or egumin a tr ue m atr i m oni al

u n i o n , y o u w i l l h a vea to rre n t of water ." The philosopherRosinussays:

"U n l e s sy o u ca n tu rn b o d i 'l y su bstanceinto incor por eality, you' labor in va i n."

P a r m e n i d eas l so d e a l t w i th so 'l ution in the Tur ba: "Som epeopie have heardof

s o ' l u t i o n a n d b e l i e ve i t ca n b e donewithout the body it is joined to. Bu t they

a r e p e r m a n e n tl yo n e . T h i s i s not the philosopher s' solution o* a water y c 1oud,

b u t s o ' l u t i o n o r co n ve rsi o ni n to the water fr om which it was madein the fir s t

p l a c e - - t h a t i s, i n to Me rcu ry. In the sam eway, ice tur ns into the liquid w ater

i t o n c e w as. B y th e g ra ce o f God, see nowthis one elementcal' led water , and

t h e r e d u c ti o n o f a b o d y to l i q u id water . The next step is that ear th is made

o u t o f w a te r i n a sl o w d e co cti on, r epeateduntil it is pr edom ' inantly
b' lac k ."
Av i c e n n as ays i n h i s tre a ti se o n Humor s: "Heat wor king in a m oist body fir s t
p r o d u c e sb ' l a ckn e ss,a s yo u ca n see in lime m adeby the com m on
people."
M e n a b d essays: " I b i d p o ste ri ty to m akebodies incor por ea' lby d' isso' lution,

a n d t u r n i n co rp o re a l su b sta n ceinto bodies by gentle decoction. But you mus t

-1 9 5 -
b e v e r y c a re fu l n o t to l e t th e spir it tur n into smokeand vanish becausethe

f i r e i s t o o h o t." Ma ri a sa ys; "W atchover it, and be car eful not to let
a n y t h i n g e sca p ei n smo ke . D o n ot let the fir e get any hotter than a July s un.

T h e nt h e w a te r w i l l th i cke n i n a gentle and slow decoction, and the ear th

w i l l t u r n b l a ck. N o wyo u h a ve anotherelem ent,ear th. And the thir d step i s

t o p u r i f y th i s e a rth ." Mo ri e n ussays: "This ear th putr ifies with its water
a n d i s t h e n p u ri fi e d . Wh e ni t is pur ified, the entir e teachingwill be
d i r e c t e d w i th Go d 's h e l p ." H e r m esa' lso says: "Azoth and fir e cleansethe l ato

a n d t a k e a w a yi ts b l a ckn e ss." The philosophersays: "W hitenthe' lato and r es tor e

i t s o f f s p r i n g i e st yo u r h e a rts should br eak." This compositionbelongsto al l

t h e w i s e , an d i s a l so o n e th i rd of the entir e wor k. Then, as it says in the

T u r b a , j o i n th e d ry to th e mo i s t' - that is, the b' lackear th to its water - - a nd

b o i l i t u n ti l i t tu rn s w h i te . The four th step is to causethe water , now

t h i c k e n e dan d co a g u l a te dw i th e ar th, to r ise by sublim ation. Thenyou wii 'l hav e

e a r t h , w a t e r, a n d a i r. A n d th i s is what the philosophersays: "W hitenit, and

s u b l i m a t ei:t q u i ckl y o ve r th e fi re until a spir it comesout of it. This s pi r i t
th a t y o u w i'l l fi n d i n i t i s ca l 'led the bir d or the ash of Her mes." l' ' lor ie nus
sa y s : "D o n o t h o l d th e a sh ch eap, for it is the ver y diademof your hear t ,

th e a s h o f th e th i n g s th a t l a st." The book called Tur ba r eads: "Speedup the

p r o c e d u r eo f b u rn i n g ,.a n da fte r the whitening stage will comeciner ation or

f o r m a t i o n of a sh . T h i s i s kn o wnas calcined ear th, and it has a fier y natur e.

Y o u n o w h a ve th e fo u r e l e me n tsi n the pr opor tions pr edicted: dissolved wa ter ,

w h i t e n e de arth , su b 'l i ma te d
a i r, and calcined fir e." Ar istot' le speaksof thes e
f o u r e ' l e m e n tsi n h i s l e tte r to A' lexander
on the r ule of pr inces: "W henyou hav e
f o r m e dw a t e r fro rn a i r, a i r fro m fir e, and fir e fr om ear th, you wjll posse s sthe

-1 9 6 -
a r t o f p h i l oso p h yi n a 'l l i ts fu 'l lness." And this is the end of the fir st c om po-
si t i o n , a s M o ri e n u ssa ys. N o wl et us moveon to the secondcomposition,whi c h

h a s t o t h i c ke n , ti n ct, a n d b ri n g the fir st compositionto life. Calindus the

p h i l o s o p h e rsa ys: " N o o n e h a s e ver beenor wi' ll ever be ab' le to tinct fo]ia ted

e a r t h w i t h a n yth i n g o th e r th a n g old." Her m eshas the sam epr ecept: "Sowy our

g o l d i n w h i te , fo l i a te d e a rth th at has becom e

fier y, fine, and air y thr oug h c a1-
cination. l .Jeso w i t w i th g o l d w heneverwe put the tinctur e of go' ld in it. But
g o l d c a n n e ve r ti n ct a n yth i n g b u t itse' lf to per fection. In actua' l fact, it c an

o n l y b e d o n e b y me a n so f a rt." Raym undus

says: "This stone of our s alr eady c on-
t a i n s a t i n c tu re i n i tse l f, n a tur a' lly. It has beenper fectly r emadeinto the
b o d y o f m a g n e si a . B u t i t ca n b e m adeper fect on' ly by ar t and oper ation."

G e b e rs a y s in h i s Op e ra ti o ng f roots: "The pur poseof the oper ation is to m ak e

t h e t i n c t u r e o f g o l d th a t i s i n gold even better than it is in natur e. A' lso to

m a k ea n e l i x i r a s i n th e a l l e g o rical fable of the wise, a clear condim entm ade

o f d i f f e r e n t sp e ci e s. It i s th e antidote and medicineto cur e, pur ge, and

t r a n s f o r m a l l b o d i e s i n to tru e si' lver - andgold- pr oducingsubstances." Listen

t o w h a t H e rme ssa ys a b o u t w h e th erwe needgold a' loneand no other body: "The

f a t h e r i s h o t a n d d ry i n o rd e r to pr oducetinctur e. The motheris cold and

m o i s t i n o r de r to n u rtu re o ffsp ri ng. So both gold and s' i' lver in them se' lv es
ar e
very difficult to u n i te . E ve nw henthey join in a way that causessolidificati on
in t o g o l d , t h e y p o u r o ff ve ry q u ickly." M ar ia says: "Take a pr ojecting bo dy
o r a c l e a r l y-d e fi n e d mo u n dw h i ch has not putr ified and poundjt wjth a ston e

u n t i l i t t a ke s o n th e ti n ctu re o f spir its. Thenset it near the fir e. It wi l l

a l l m e ' l t q u i ckl y i f yo u h a ve ca st over it its wife, silver . If ther e wer e a ny -
t h i n g e l s e i n o u r sto n e , th e me d' icinecou' ldnot flow out so fr ee' ly, nor cou l d i t
g i v e a t i n c tu re . A n d e ve n i f j t could, it could on' ly tinct accor dingto what

-I97-
 i t w a s i t s el f, a n d th e re st, i n c luding l' ler cur y,would fly off in sm oke. Ther e

w o u ' l db e n o re ce p ta cl e i n i t to r eceive a tinctur e. But our final secr et i s how

to h a v b a m e d i ci n eth a t fl o w s b efor e the M er cur yescapes. The conjunction of

t h e s e t w o i s a b so 'l u te l yn e ce ssar yin our wor k.r ' Gebersays: "In a per fec t

t e a c h i n g , t he su p re me l yp e rfe ct meta' lis gold. l.lith its tinctur e of r ednes si t

t r a n s f o r m se ve ry o th e r b o d y. It is a yeast that conver ts the entir e lump o f

d o u g hi n t o i ts o w nn a tu re . F u rther , it is the sou' l that unites body and spi r i t.

Ju s t a s t h e h u ma nb o d y i s d e a dand im m obilewithout the sou' l, so any other

b o d y i s u n cl e a n , e a rth b o u n d ,a n d ' life]ess without the yeast that is its soul.

F o r t h e y e ast o f th e p re p a re db ody conver ts the entir e lum p of doughinto its

o w n n a t u r e . A n d th e re i s n o ye ast other than gold and silver that has bee n

ta k e n f r o m th e p l a n e ts. Ju st a s the Sunand the l' loonr eign over all the ot her
p l a n e t s , s o th e se tw o b o d i e s re i gn over al' l other m jner al bodies. Theseot her

b o d i e s a r e fi tti n g 'l y co n ve rte di nto the natur e of the fir st two. It is pr o per

t o c a l l i t ye a st, si n ce w i th o u t it the gr ains cannotunder gochange." Ray m undus

s a y s : "Y o uw i 'l l n o t b e a b l e to wor k these changesunless you r efine it by ar t

a n d o p e r a t i o n b e fo re h a n d ." H e rmessays: "Son, extr act the shadowfr om the r ay

of'light." S o w e mu st co mp l e tethe pr epar ationand r efining of the yeast. It

is l i k e a f o u n ta i n , fo r i t a ri se s per fectly with r espect to cr eation, but not

to o p e r a t i on . It mu st fi rst b e fed a little milk, then m or e, and fina' lly a

la r g e a m o u n t. T h i s i s j u st w h a t happens
with our stone. Thentake a four th
p a r t o f i t - - th a t i s, o n e p a rt o f the yeast, and thr ee par ts of the im per fe c ted
b o d y . D i s so l ve th e ye a st i n a n equal amountof mer cur ial water . Cookit a 'l l

t o g e t h e r o v e r a ve ry sl o w fi re . Thencoagu' latethe yeast until it becomes 'l i k e

t h e i m p e r f e cte db o d y. L e t i t si t in the or ifice of a closed vessel, by the
m e t h o da n d ste p s d e scri b e da b o ve. Her m eshas the sam epr ecept: "Dear r ead er ,

m i x t h e e q u a 'lp a rts to g e th e r a t the beginningof a fr esh oper ation. Poundi t

-1 98-
 u n t i l i t j o i n s a s i n a b e tro th al. Feedit until conceptiontakes place at the

b o t t o mo f th e ve sse l a n d g e n e rationtakes place in the air ." A1so, M or ienus

s a y s : "F i rst ca u sere d smo keto captur e white smokein a str ong vesse' I. T hi s

s h o u l d h a p p e nb y a fi rm co n j u n ction without any exhalation of spir its. Th i s i s

the fifth ste p . T h e si xth ste p is to join a four th par t of r efined yeast w i th

t h r e e p a r t s o f w h i te n e de a rth . Absor bits water into it unti' l the two bo di es

b e c o m eosn e , a n d th e re i s n o d i ffer ence in color ." M or ienussays: "Oncethe
w h i t e b o t ' ,' i s ca 'l ci n e d ,p u t i n a four th par t of the yeast of its go' ld. F or gol d
i s l i k e y e ast i n b re a d , w h i ch conver ts the entir e' lump of doughinto its o w n

n a t u r e . l C o o t i t i n i ts w a te r u ntil it becom es
one substanceand one dr y body ."
M a r i a s a y s: " L e t th e a i r stri ke and congealit and it will be one body. T hat

i s t h e s d cre t o f S ca l i a . T h e n the yeast can be intr oducedinto the body, s 'i nc e

i t i s i t s so u l ." T h i s i s w h a t Mor ienussays: "Unlessyou cleanse the unc 'l ean

b o d y , m a k ei t w h i te a g a i n , a n d send its sou' l back into it, you have not car r i ed

o u t a n y o f th i s te a ch i n g . T h i s is howyeast mixeswith a changedbody, not w i th

a n u n c l e a nb o d y." Ga si u s, i n h is per fect teaching, says: "stones cannot r ec ei v e
e a c h o t h e r u n l e ss th e y h a ve fi rst beenc' leansed. A body cannot r eceive a s pi r i t,
n o r a s p i r it re ce i ve a b o d y--sothat the spir itual becomes
cor por eal and the
c o r p o r e a i sp i ri tu a l --u n 'l e ss th e y have fir st pur ified of all fi l th.
beencomp) ete' ly
O n c et h e y a re c'l e a n se d b
, o d y a n d spir it soon em br aceeach other . Thena s i ngi e
p e r f e c t o p e ra ti o n a ri se s fro m them, becausenatur e has r em adethem , and whatev er

w a s t h i c k a n d g ro ss i s n o wre fi ned." Astanussays in the Tur ba: "spir its

c a n n o t u n i te w i th b o d i e s u n ti l they have beencomplete' lystr ipped of al1 impur i -

ti e s . I n t h e h o u r o f th e i r co n junction the gr eatest of mir ac' lesappear s: the

i m p e r f e c t e db o d y ta ke s o n a sta ble co' lor by m eansof the yeast, since the y eas t

is its soul. A n d th 'e sp i ri t, b y meansof the soul, unites with the body, tak es
o n t h e c o l or o f th e ye a st i n th at instant, and becom es
one with them." Thi s i s

-1 9 9 -
the elixir, a s'A vi ce n n ae xp l a l nedto the philosopherAssis. It is tincted w i th

i n its ownoil, and fixed in its ownlim e.

i t s o w n t i nctu re , su h n e rg e d l,l edi s -

c o v e r i t s w a te r a s l i vi n g si l ve r in miner als, its oil as sulphur or ar sen i c i n

m i n e r a l s , a n d i ts l i me a s l i me in miner als. The wor k itself is noble, ab undant,

a n d s u b ' l i me . l ,l h i te n e ssi s th e mar kof the thr ee in which ther e is no fir e; and

t h e c o l o r ye l l o w sp i n s o n fo u r wheels. Mar ia speaksof these wheels: "In that

s c h o o l t h e re i s n o th i n g b u t ma rvels. Four stones enter , and their pr ocedur ei s

g e n u i n e . Th e re fo rea n yo n ew h o has a subtle mind or intuition knowsthat phi 'l o-

s o p h e r st e l l th e tru th i n o b scur ewor ds. For they say: ' Our stone is madeof
t h e f o u r e l e me n ts,'a n d th e y h avecom par ed
it to the elements. it has fir s t
b e e ns h o w nh o wth e fo u r e l e me ntsar e pr esent." As Rasis says: "Ever ythi ng that

t h e g r e a t cre a to r h a s p l a ce d b e neaththe moon' sspher e has a shar e in the four

e l e m e n t s . T h i s ca n b e se e n b y the effects, not by obser vation. For the s tone

i s o n e s i n g 'l e th i n g --o n 1 yo n e substance,one r oot, and one natur e." Her mess ay s :

"I n t h e L o rd 's n a me ,b e g i n to u nder standthe natur e of the stone. It comesfr om

t h e r o o t o f i ts ma tte r, si n ce i t is both in it and of it. Nothing can enter i nto
i t t h a t d i d n o t a ri se fro m i t. In r ea' lity, it is not fitting to a thing u nl es s

i t i s n a t u ra l l y q u i te cl o se to it. For ever y single thing' loves what is s i m 'i l ar

to it." T h e re fo reP l a to sa ys: "It fs one substanceand one essence: in i t a1one
h o t , c o l d , mo i st, a n d d ry a re p r esent. And it has beencal' led a m inor uni v er s e,

s i n c e f r o m i t, th ro u g h i t , i n i t, and with it exist a' ll m etals. Fur ther , i t i s

l i k e a t r e e w h o seb ra n ch e s,b l o ssom,and fr uit ar e both fr om it and in it, and j t

i s a l i k e t h ro u g h o u t. E ve ry si n gle thing can only pr oducewhat is sim jlar to

i t s e l f a n d o f i ts o w nki n d . A n d so this thing is one and the sam e,and wh atev er

co m e sf r o m i t i s o n e a n d th e sa me,in no way differ ent. The philosopher sc al l

th i s s t o n e b y th e n a meo f th e b odyof each thing and each species." Pythagor as

-2 0 0 -
 s a y s : "I t i s ca l l e d b y e ve ry n anr e,thoughonly one nameis pr oper to it."

H e n c et h e ve rse : " T h i s o n e si n gle lvloon

is knownby ever y nam e."

An d P h i e ra ssa ys: " H a v enothing to do with the pr olifer ation of gl oom y

n a m e s . N a tu re i s o n e , a n d i s a boveall things. All the differ ent natur es

t o g e t h e r c a n n o tch a n g eth a t si n gle thing. 0n the contr ar y, ther e is only o ne

n a t u r e , a n d i t ca u se si tse 'l f to ger minate." Ther efor e, as Diomedes
says: " T he
n a t u r e w e ma keu se o f i s ve n e rableindeed, since natur e can be changedonly by

i t s o w nn a tu re . D o n o t th i n k j .ru cdll br ing in so muchas dust or any othe r thi ng

th a t i s a ' l i e n to i t. A l l th e d i v er se things together cannotchangeit, for i t

c a u s e si t s e 'l f to g e rmi n a te ."

M a ri a sa ys: " T h e w h i te nessand moist lime which comeout ar e one si ngl e

t h i n g f r o m on e si n g 'l e th i n g , a n d ar e the ver y r oots of this ar t." The phi' l os opher s

g a v e a l l p o ssi b l e n a me sto i t, V €t it is only one thing, as Mor ienussays. In

a l ' l t r u t h I te l l yo u th a t th e multitude of nam esis the on' ly thing that ha s l ed

m o d e r nm e ni n to e rro r. B u t l e t ever y wise m anknowthat these namesar e no thi ng

b u t c o l o r s ap p e a ri n gi n co n j u n ction. Consequently,
you will not wanderalo ng

th e r o a d o f th e w o rk, e ve n th o u ghphilosopher shavecom eup with so manysa y i ngs

a n d s o m a n yn a me s. S ti l l , th e y refer to one thing only, one m eansof oper ati on,

a n d o n e c h a n g eo f te mp e ra tu re(or of coior ) . And note that no such var iety of
c o l o r s a p p ea rsi n o u r sto n e o r i n the conjunctionof soul and body, as Mori enus

has it. J u st o n e ch a n g eo f te mper atur er estor es a' l' l the var ious color s. The
p h i l o s o p h ersh a ve sa i d th a t th e s tone is com posed
of body, sou1, and spir it, and
th e y a r e r i g h t. F o r th e y ca l l e d an imper fectedbody a body, yeast a soul, and
w a t e r s p i r i t; a n d th e y h a ved o n ewell. For an imper fectedbody in and of i ts el f
is h e a v y ,w e a k, a n d a ctu a 'l l y d e ad. W ateris the spir it that pur ges, r efine s , and

- 20I-
w h i t e n s a b o d y. Y e a st i s th e soul that gives life to an im per fectedbody . It

h a d n o l i f e b e fo re ; n o w i t i s br oughtto a super ior for m. The body is Ve nus ,a

w o m a nt;h e sp i ri t i s Me rcu ry,a m an; and the soul is both Sun and Moon. T he body

m u s t b e m e'l te di n to i ts fi rst matter , which is M er cur y,as Mor ienussays. M er c ur y

c a n o n l y b e p ro cu re dfro m th e l iquefaction of iiquified bodies. It is no t c om m on

l i q u e f a c t i o n , b u t th e ki n d th a t lasts until you join themin tr ue matr imoni al

u n i o n , w h enth e y a re u n i te d a n d attain to whiteness. Note that the body i s

c o m p l e t e l yl i q u i fi e d w h e nb 'l a cknessappe.' s in decoction. Bone' l' lus

says: " W hen
y o u s e e t h a t b 'l a ckn e s.s i s a b o u t to over take that water , knowthat the bod y i s now
' l i q u i f i e d . T h e nco o k i t i n w a ter over s' lowfir e unti' l it dr ies up with i ts
a
a t t e n d a n t va p o r. It th e n b e co mes
a thing which can be intr oducedinto its ow n
b o d y . T h e sp i ri t co n ve rts th e refined body into itself and penetr ates it.

T h e r e f o r e i t i s ca l 'l e d a q u ap e r manens
and aquavitae' l Mundussays in the T ur ba:

a n d without jt nothing can be m ade. Its str ength i s

"M e r c u r yi s a q u ap e rma n e n s,
o f t h e s p i r i t a n d i ts b l o o d i s gr ounddown. W henit tur ns into spir it a' lo ngw i th

t h e b o d y a n d b o th a re mi xe dto g ether , they ar e r educedto oneness. This oc c ur s

i n t h e m e asu reo f stre n g th i n which the body incor por atessp' ir it. The spi r i t
t u r n s t h e b o d y i n to ti n cte d sp i r it, as if it wer e b' lood. For whateverhas a
spirit has bloodas well. B l o od is the matur al humorthat str engthensnatur e.
An d k n o wt h a t th e l o n g e r i t i s boi' ledand pur ified in its hum or ,the c' lear er and
b e t t e r i t lo o ks." B u t, a s Mo rienussays: "Nothingbut azoth can r emovethe

sh a d o wf r o m 'l a to . It sh o u 'l db e boiled in azoth unti' l it tur ns it sever al c ol or s

a n d t h e n a s w h i te a s fi sh e ye s. Thenthe goodpar t comesfor th and joins w i th

th e y e a s t . N o te th a t th e ye a st is the fixed sou' l of the stone, and that it

ti n c t s , b r i n g s to 'l i fe , a n d e n folds." Mar ia says: "The fixed body is m adeof

m a t e r i a l o f S a tu rn . i t e n co mpasses
the digestion of tinctur es and fj' lls it w i th
w i s d o m . W i th o u t i t th i s te a ch i ngwi1' l never cometo fu' l' l effect until the Sun

-2 0 2 -
 a n d M o o na re u n i te d i n o n e b o d y. For the entir e ar tifice of this ar t, as Euc l i des

s a y s , i s i n th e S u n a n d Me rcu ry ." W henthese ar e joined as one, they pos s es san

i n f i n i t e t in ctu re . In a w o rk i t waits for a color that is r edder than blood.

W h e na l i t t l e b i t o f th i s co l o r is pour edinto white, it tur ns even a lar ge ex -
p a n s eo f wh i te i n to ye l l o w . Y ou can test this by tossing blood into milk or w ater .

T h e r e f o r e , a s Jo se p h u ssa ys: " M ix fir e and water , and ther e will be four : then
m a k et h e ma'l l o n e , a n d yo u h a ve r eachedwhat you wer e looking for . The bo dy
w i ] l n o l o n g e r b e a b o d y, w e a kover a fir e that is tt weak; and peacewi' l 'l r es t
u p o ni t . " F ro msta rt.to fi n i sh the pr epar ationof these things consists o f fi x ed
w a t e r . I t i s h o n o ra b 'l eb e ca u seit showstinctur e in pr ojection. It is al s o the
i n t e r m e d i a ryb e tw e e no p p o si te s, and is itse' lf beginning,m iddle, and end. W hoev er

u n d e r s t a n d si t g ra sp s w i sd o m. Som eof the phi' losopher shave said: "Unles sy ou

tu r n b o d i e s i n to w h a t i s i n co rpor eal, and incor por qal substanceinto bodies , J ou

h a v e n o t y e t fo u n d th e ru l e o f tr uth." And they ar l r ight. For the body fi r s t

b e c o m ew
s a te r, a n d so co rp o re a l substancebecomes
incor por eal- - that is, sp i r i t.
T h e r e f o r eH e rme ssa ys: " C o n ve rtnatur es, and you will find what you have been

l o o k i n g f o r ." A n d th a t i s tru e . For in our teachingwe fir st br ing a del i c ate

s u b s t a n c eou t o f a th i ck o n e --waterfr om a body. After war dwe br ing dr y from

m o i s t - - e a r th fro m w a te r. A n d so we r eally do conver t natur es, becausewe br i ng

s p i r i t u a l f r o m co rp o rd a l a n d co r por eal fr om spir itua' |." This is what Senio r

s a y s : "T h ere i s a co n ve rsi o no f bodies fr om one state to another , fr om on e s ub-

s t a n c e t o a n o th e r, fro m i n fi n i ty to potency, fr om thickness to slender nes s ,fr om

b o d y t o s p iri t. In th e sa mew a y, a man' s seed is conver tedin a woman' sw om b
fr o m o n e s ub sta n ceto a n o th e r b y a natur a' l pr ocessof conver sion. At' last a
p e r f e c t h u ma nb e i n g i s fo rme d . Fr omthis pr ocesscom ethe r oot and pr incip'i um

o f a p e r s o n, a n d n o ch a n g eca n be br oughtout of the r oot by any pr ocesso f

division." A s A ri sto t'l e sa ys: "All gener ationcom esfr om appr opr iate sour c es

-2 0 3 -
 in n a t u r e . " T h a t i s tru e , e sp e cially in the case of gener ationof m eta' ls. T he
p h i l o s o p h e rssa y: " L e t n o fo re i gn substanceenter into it, whetherdust,
water ,
o r a n y t h i n g e l se . If so me th i n gfor eign does enter , it will cor r upt and des tr oy
it. " A k i n g n a me dA ra b s h a s sa i d: "W atercan only adher eto somethingsim i l ar
t o i t s o w nsu l p h u r, b e ca u sei t com esfr om it. So we makeit into somethinghi gher ,
a s w e d o w i th w h a t i s l o w e r. N amely,the spir it becomes
bodyand the body s pi r i t.
T h i s h a p p e nsi n su b 'l i ma ti o nj u st as it does at the beginningof our oper ati on.

W h a ti s l o w e r i s'l i ke w h a t i s h i gher : it all tur ns into ear th

" Ther efore
H e r m e ss a y s: " Wh a te n d s u p h i g h er after sub' limationbecom es lower after des c en-
s i o n , a n d w ha t i s l o w e r a fte r co nstipation is' like what is higher after asc ens j on.

T h e y a ' l l w o rk mi ra c'l e si n th i s o ne r espect: water and ear th have a lower p i ac e."

A i r a n d f i r e ri se h i g h e r. Wa te rand ear th conceiveand nur tur e. Air and fi r e

ar e a c t i v e a n d co n j o i n i n g . A n d a ll four com etogether in our stone, as Seni or

s a y s : "T h e fo u r e l e me n tsa re fo und pur ified in our stone. In it, water is

f ix e d , a i r i s sta b l e , e a rth i s a t Fe:St, and fir e sur r oundsever ything." T hey

c o m et o g e t h e r i n th e sto n e i n sp i te of all r esistance. And their four natur es

a r e g e n e r a t edi n th e sto n e , fro m it, and thr ough it. This is c' lear fr om the
ab o v ep r e m i se s,si n ce o u r sto n e i s madeof a' l' l four elements. So the philos opher s

havesaid: " 0 u r sto n e co n ta i n s b ody, spir it, and soul. All thr ee com efr om one
n a t u r e ' o n e su b sta n ce r'o n e
w a te r, and one r oot." They ar e definitely r ight.
Fo r o u r e n t i re te a ch i n g i s p e rfo rmedwith our water . Fr omit and out of it c om e

a ll n e c e s s a ryth i n g s. It d i sso l ves bodies, not by the cor ffnon

pr ocessof sol uti on
t h a t t h e i g n ora n t u se to tu rn cl o uds to water . It is done by tr ue philosophi c

s o l u t i o n , w h i ch co n ve rts c'l o u d sto the water they camefr om i.n the beginning.

S o c r a t e ss a ys: " T h e se cre t a n d the life for ce of ever y sing' le thing.is wate r .
I t d i s s o l v e s b o d y i n to sp i ri t a n d r estor es the dead to' life. It is the extrem el y
s o u r v i n e g a r th a t o ve rh a n g sa n d o v er power all
s things. So poundour stone w.i th
t hi s s o u r v i n e g a r, a n d b o i 'l i t i n the samevinegar unti' l it thickens. Boi' l i t

-2 0 4 -
 v e r y q u i c kl y so th a t th e vi n e g ar will not tur n to fumesand disappear . Then

t h i s s a m ewa te r ca l ci n e s th e b odies and r educesthemto ear th. It then tur ns

t h e s e b o d i e s b l a ck, w h i te , a n d r ed in tur n. It then tr ansfonns them into as hes ,
p u l v e r i z e s th e m, a n d e n te rs th em." On this subject, M ar chosthe king say s :

"0 u r w a t e r d i sso l ve s b o d i e s, th en congealsthemand tur ns them black. It a'l s o

c l e a n s e seve ry b o d y, ta ke s a w a yall b' lackness,and tincts whateveris blac k .

I t m a k e st he mw h i te , a n d th e n ti ncts themto m akethem r ed. And it r eanim ates

a n d b r i n g s to e te rn a l l i fe w h a teverhas dies. Ther efor ethis water is pr a i s ed,

e x a l t e d , a n d p ro cl a i me dmi stre ss of all things. Nothing else can per for m i ts

o p e r a t i o n s ." l 4 o ri e n u sa l so sa ys: "Azoth and fir e c' leanseand pur ify ' lato. T hey
c o m p l e t e ' l yre mo vea n y tra ce o f dar knessfr om it. Lato is an im pur e bod y , but
a z o t h i s m e rcu ry. A n d th i s w a ter unites diver se bodies that have beenpr epar ed
f o r t h e c o n j u n cti o na cco rd i n gto the methoddescr ibed. For fir e cannot separ ate

t h e m . T h e w a te r e ffe cts a ma rr iagebetweenbodyand yeast. It then tur ns thei r

o n e n e s si n to so me th i n ge 1 sg , a nd keepsthemfr om being bur nedby fir e. For the
ca l c i n e d a nd w h i te n e de a rth se eksa higher place. It has becom e
air y and
spiritual. A n d w h a te ve ri s a i ry and spir itual is incor r uptible and able to
p e n e t r a t e ." H e rme ssa ys: " A q uaaer is exists betweenear th and sky, and is the

l i f e o f e v e ry si n g l e th i n g . It is the inter mediar ybetweenfir e and water

t h r o u g h i t s h e a t a n d mo i stu re . Fr omthose the water takes in air , for air i ts el f

t a k e s i n f i re . It i s'l i ke fi re becauseof its heat, and close to water be c aus e

o f i t s m o i stu re . T h e re fo rei t c ausesa m atr imonialunion of manand wom an. In

f a c t , e v e r y sp i ri t co n si sts o f the fineness of smokyair . For ever y liv' ing,

v e g e t a b l esu b sta n ced ra w ssp i ri t and life fr om air . Ther efor efir e br ings dead
a q u a a e r i s to l i fe , ca u se sa ma tr im onia'union,
l and keepsthe compositefr o m
b e i n g b u r n e db y fi re ." A n d so the philosopher shave said: "Conver twater to ai r

-2 0 5 -
s o t h a t l i f e ca n e xi st. L i fe e xists with life, becauseit is itself' life and
t h e s p i r i t th a t i t e n te rs i n to ." Ther efor eour water sub' limatesbodies, th ough
n o t b y a c o mmopnro ce sso f su b l i m ation- - whichit what idiots intend to do w hen

t h e y c o n s i d e r su b l i ma ti o nb e tte r than ascension. So they take ca' lcinedbodi es

a n d m i x t h e mw i th su b l i ma te dsp i rits, such as sulphur and mer cur ywith sal

a r r n o n i a c . 0 ve r a stro n g fi re th ey br ing about sublim ation. The bodies r ise

a l o n g w i t h t h e sp i ri ts, a n d th e n they say that both spir its and bodies ar e s ub-

lim a t e d a n d co mp l e te l yp u ri fi e d of any excess. But they ar e de' luded. After w ar d

t h e y f i n d t h e me ve nmo re i mp u rethan they wer e befor e. For ar t is weakerthan

n a t u r e , a s Al b e rtu s sa ys i n h i s bookabout m iner als: "The two extr aneous

h u m o r sh a v e b e e np u rg e do f th e substanceof su' lphurboth by ar t' ifice and the

ge n i u s o f n atu re . A rt ca n n o t p u r ge or cleansethenras well. For the ar tifjc e
o f n a t u r e i s mo re su re a n d mo re s ublim ethan any kind of ar t." So our subl i m a-

t io n i s n o t su p e ri o r to a sce n si on. The sublimationof the philosopher scomes

f r o m a s i m p l e , l o w l y, a n d co rru p t sour ce. But it can becom gr

e eat, exalted , and
p u r e . S o w e sa y: " T h i s h a s b e e nsub' limated
to Episcopus( bishop) , in fact
pr o m o t e dt o E p i sco p u s."T h a t i s to say, pr omotedto a r ank of dignity. So we

s a y t h a t b o di e s h a ve b e e nsu b l i matedor r efined, as well as tr ansfer r ed to

a n o t h e r n a t ure . S o su b l i ma ti o n i s the sameas.r efining, and our water achiev es

al l o f t h i s . Mo ri e n u ssa ys: " l ,l atertaken fr om a dead bodywhich the soul h as

le f t r e m o v e sa n y ste n ch . A n d o n ce it has whitenedand sublimatedthe sou' l and

gu a r d e dt h e b o d y, i t re mo ve sa n y dar knessor bad odor fr om it." Albides als o
s a y s : "T a k e th i n g s fro m th e i r miner a' ls,sub' limatethemto a higher place, send

t h e md o w nf r o m th e i r mo u n ta i np e aks, and r educethemto their r oots." Therefor e,

t o s u b ' l i m a tei s to re fi n e so me thinggr oss. Her messays: "Sub' limatethe f ine

f r o m t h e t h i ck ve ry g e n tl y a n d sk i1fu11y. Ear th r ises to the sky and then fal l s

-2 0 6 -
 b a c k t o e a r th a g a i n . It re ce i ve s powerto penetr atewhat is high and fine as

w e l l a s t o r e ma i ni n th e h e a vi n essof what is lower . This is howyou shou 'l d

u n d e r s t a n dsu b l i ma ti o no f th e p h i' losopher s. Ther e ar e manywho have beenw r ong

about it. So o u r w a te r b ri n g s b odies to life and then depr ives themof life .

I t l e a d s t h em to th e i r fa 'l l a n d then back to their r ising. In the pr ocessof

m o r t i f i c a t i o n i t ca u se sb l a ck co lor s to appear . They ar e then tur ned into ear th

b y p u t r e f a c ti o n . A fte rw a rd , n a n y differ ent color s appearbefor e whitening, but

t h e y a l l c e asew h e na sta b l e w h i tenesstakes over . It is like a gr ain of w heat

f a l ' l i n g t o e a rth , w h i ch u n l e ss i t dies, it r em ainsa' lone. So the seedsof ev er y -

t h i n g t h a t t h e e a rth p ro d u ce sch angeand putr ify, unti' l at last cor r uption ov er -

t a k e s t h e m . T h e nth e y g e rmi n a teand incr ease like the ver y ear th they take r oot

in . S o o u r w a te r i s n o u ri sh e d ,putr ified, and cor r upted. Thenit ger minates ,

ri s e s a g a i n , a n d b e sto w sn e wl i fe on itself." Ther efor eCalidus says: "W henI

s a w ' ' t h e w a t e r co n g e a li tse l f, I was cer tain that this thing is tr ue as claimed.

C o o ki t a l o n g w i th i ts b o d y u n ti l its moistur e dr ys up fr om the fir e and it i s

en t i r e l y d r y . T h e ni t co l l e cts i ts spir its and m akesits dwelling in the r o ot

o f i t s e ' l e me n t. T h i s w i l l h a p p enonceyou havem or tified it and boiled the

wh i t e b o d y . It w j 'l 'l th e n b e co me
aqua spir itua' lis, abie to conver t natur es i nto
o t h e r n a t u r es. It w i l l a l so g i ve life to dead bodies and m akethem ger m in ate."

O u r w a t e r i s th e mo th e ro f ma n ymar ve' llouscolor s, since thr ough it diver si ty

o f c o l o r a p pe a rs. T h i s w i 'l 'l ta ke place especiaily in the spr inkling of wat er
f r o m a p r e p are da n d fe rme n te db o dy. An infinite num berof color s wi' ll appear '-
a s m a n ya s ca n b e i ma g i n e d . F o r the spir it is united with bodyand soul. The

s p i r i t i s t h e d w e l l i n g p l a ce o f the sou' |, and the soul is taken out of bodi es

by t h e t i n c t ure o f w a te r. S e n i o r says: "This water is a tinctur e dissolved

o n a b o d y , j ust a s th e ti n ctu re of tinctur es is car r ied on a piece of cloth.

-207 -
T h e nt h e w ate r re ce d e si n d e ssi cation, and the tinctur e r em ainsin im pr essi on.

I t i s t h e sa mew a y w i th w a te r o f the soul that car r ies the tinctur e. Onecan

b r i n g i t b ack to i ts p a rch e d ,w hite ear th in foliated pieces. Her m esca1ls

t h i s w a t e r th e g o l d o f th o rn s, flower s, and saffr on, since it tincts their

ca l c i n e d e a rth ." H e a l so sa i d : "Sowgold in foliated ear th. Thenthe aq ua

s p i r i t u a ' l i s re ce d e s,a n d th e so ul, which is the tinctur e of the sun, r emains

i n t h e b o d y. It i s l i ke a fi n e snnke, imper ceptible, appear ingonly in its

effects. Bu t i ts a cti o n i s th e manifestationof color s, and fir e gener atedfr om

fi r e a n d n o u ri sh e db y i t. In fa ct, the sou' l is the daughterof fir e and m us t

b e l e d b a c k to fi re w i th o u t fe a ring it, just as a chi' ld is led back to its

m o t h e r ' s b r e a st."
S o m eo f th e p h i l o so p h e r shaveca]' led this stone of our s whjte copp er .
know
L u c a sa n d Exi mi u ssa y i n th e T u rba: "Let ever yonewho seeks knowledge

th a t a t i n c tu re ca n o n l y b e ma dewith our white copper . Our copper is not

ever ything it touches. The co pper

co r m o n ,c o mu p ti b l e co p p e rth a t contaminates
o f t h e p h i l oso p h e rsp e rfe cts a n d whitenswhateverit com esinto contact wit h."
An d s o Pl a t o sa ys: " A l l g o l d i s copper , but not al' l copperis gold. For in na-

tu r e g o i d i s si mi 'l a r to co p p e r i n weight and textur e. But in the natur e of

co p p e rt h e r e i s n o th i n g th a t i s not in the natur e of go1d, as seen fr om its c or -

r u p t i o n i n th e e a rth ,. a n d i ts re nqining patient' ly in fir e and the sea. And s o

o u r c o p p e r ha s b o d y, so u l , a n d spir it, and the thr ee ar e one. For spir it, body ,

a n d s o u l a r e o n e , b e ca u seth e y a ' ll comeout of and fr om one thing, and ar e w i th

o n e t h i n g - - th e i r ro o t. T h e co p perof the philosopher sis their elixir mad e

p e r f e c t a n d co mp l e teo u t o f sp i rjt, body, and sou1. Ther efor ethe philosopher s

h a v eg i v e n va ri o u s n a me sto th e s tone, to makeit evident to the wise and

h j d d e nf r o m fo o '|s." B u t w h a te verit is called it is a' lwaysone and the sam e,

a n d c o m e sf ro m th e sa meth i n g , a s Mer cu' linussays in this poem:

-2 0 8 -
T h e s t o n e i s h i d d e n , a n d b u ri e d at the depth of a fountain.

I t i s h e l d c h e a pa n d ca st o u t a s if it wer e cover edwith sm okeor dung.

B u t t h i s o n e l i vi n g , sa cre dsto n e bear s all names,

a s l v l o r i e n u s,a w i se ma nfi l 'l e d w ith God' sgr ace, has said.

T h i s s t o n e i s n o t a sto n e ,.n o r somethingany anim al cou' ldpr oduce.

N o r i s i t a b i rd , n e i th e r sto n e nor bir d.

T h i s s t o n e is th e stru ctu re , th e offshoot, and the offspr ing of Satur n.

I t i s J u p i t er, Ma rs, th e S u n , a n d Venus;it is

l,l i n g e dM e r cu ry,a n d i t i s th e l 4 oon,a' lonebr ighter than all other s.

N o wi t i s s il ve r, n o wg o l d , n o wan element,

N o ww a t e r , no ww i n e , n o wb l o o d , nowchr ysoline,

N o wv i r g i h ' s mi l k, n o wse a fo a m, nowvinegar ,

N o wi t d i s t i 'l l s u ri n e i n fe ti d b i lge,

N o wt o o t h e g e mo f sa 'lt, a l miza dir , gener al sa1t,

Th e p i g m e n to f g o l d co n sti tu ti n g the fir st element,

N o wt h e p u r g e dse a p u ri fi e d w i th sulphur ,

T r a n s p o s e din a w a y th a t th e y w i 'l' l not r eveal to fools.

An d s o l e t t h e w i se ma ne n vi si o n this and never be deceived,

A n d l e t w h at h e h a n d l e sn e ve r b e dea' lt out to fools.

A s M o ri e n u ssa ys: " 0 u r stone and the car r ying out of this teaching i s

lik e t h e c r ea ti o n o f ma n . F o r fi rst com escoitus, then conception,then pr eg-

n a n c y , t h e n b i rth , a n d n o u ri sh mentcomesfifth." Dear r eader , under standthes e

w o r d so f M o ri e n u s,a n d tru l y yo u wi' I1 nover go astr ay. 0penyour eyes and you
w i l l s e e t h a t th e se e do f th e p h i' losopher sis aquaviva, while ear th is an

imp e r f e c t e db o d y. It i s ri g h t to call ear th mother , for it is the m otherof

a l l t h e e l e me n ts. Wh e nth e se e d of mer cur yunites with the ear th of an

-2 0 9 -
im p e r f e c t e db o d y, th e p ro ce ssi s called coitus. The ear th of the body then
d i s s o l v e s i nto w a te r o f th e se e d, and it becomes
water with no division. Hal i
s a y s : "T h e so l u ti o n a n d co a g u 'lationof a bodyar e two pr ocesses,but they hav e

o n ' l y o n e o p e ra ti o n . S p i ri t ca n not coagulatewithout the solution of the body ,

a n d w h e nb o d y a n d so u l u n i te , e ach doeswhat is like itself. For example,w hen

w a t e r u n i t e s w i th e a rth , i t tri e s to dissolve it with its moistur e and its pow er .

F o r i t m a k ese a rth fi n e r th a n i t was befor e, and makesit mor e' like itse' lf.

W a t e r i s f i n e r th a n e a rth . T h e soul in the bodywor ks sim ilar ly. In the s am e

w a y , ' w a t e r th i cke n s a .1 o n g a' lnr ostas dense, since ear th

w i th e ar th and becomes
is t h i c k e r th a n w a te r. T h e re i s no time differ ence betweensolution of the body

a n d c o a g u l ati o no f th e sp i ri t. Nor is ther e any differ ent wor king, and nothi ng
t h a t o n e c a n d o w i th o u t th e o th e r . That is becausether e is no diver gent s pan

o f t i m e i n th e co n j u n cti o no f w ater and ear th. It is easy to r ealize this' if

t h e y a r e u n i te d o r i f o n e i s se par ated' fr omthe other dur ing their oper atio ns .

I n t h e s a m ew a y, a ma n 's se e d i s not separ atedfr om a woman' sseed at the ti m e

of coition. T h e re i s o n e g o a l , one pr oject, and one identjca' l oper ation oc c ur -

ri n g t o t h e m b o th . S o Me rcu 'l i n uscalls coition the m ixing and pr oducingof al l

things. "

S e ed smi x to g e th e r'l i ke m i' lk and then appearm ixed. Next com esconc ep-

t i o n , w h e nt h e e a rth d i sso l ve s i nto black dust and begins to r etain a little

o f i t s m e r cu ry. T h e ma scu l i n ee l em entis then acting on the feminine, or

a z o t h o n t h e e a rth . A ri sl e u s sa y s: "Malescannotbear youngw' ith each other ,
n o r c a n w o me n
co n ce i ve . Ge n e ra tionr equir es both m ale and female. W henmenm ar r y
w o m e nn, a t u re re j o i ce s, a n d tru e gener ationoccur s. But if natur e is joined

t o a n a l i e n , u n su i te d n a tu re , i t cannotpr oducer eai seed. Ther efor eunite y our

s o n G a b r i c u s,mo st b e 'l o ve do f a l 1 your childr en, with his sister Beya, a' lov ei y ,
g e n t l e , a n d d e l i ca te g 'i r'l. Ga b ricusis male and Beyafemale. She gives hi m al l

-2IO-
t h a t s h e h a s, a n d e ve n th o u g hGabr icusis wor th mor ethan Beya, stil' l ther e c an

b e n o g e n e ra ti o nw i th o u t h e r. A s soon as Gabr icus' lies with Beya, he dies, for

B e y ac l i m b s o n to p o f h i m a n d e n c' loseshim in her womb. Nothingm or e is seen

h i m so lovingly that she conceiveshim entir e i n

o f h i m . B u t sh e h a s e mb ra ce d

h i s o w nn a t u re a n d d i vi d e s h i m i nto var ious par ts." This is what M er cu' linu ss ay s :

W h a tw as o n ce w h i te a s mi 'l k now is changedby blood in conception.

P a l e t h i n g s g l l o wb 'l a ck; re d and am plethings gr ow black.

N e xt co me sp re g n a n cy. T he ear th whitens as water takes over , then gr ow s

a n d m u 1 t i p l i e s. F ro m'i t co me sa n abundance
of newoffspr ing. Thenyou m us t

w a s ht h e b ' l a cke a rth a n d w h i te n i t over a hot fir e. Hali says: "Takewhat has

f a l l e n t o t h e b o tto mo f th e ve sse' land washit with hot fir e until its black nes s
d i s a p p c . r s an d i ts th i ckn e ss l e ssens. Makethe addedmoistur e blow awayun ti l

s e xtre me l yw h i te a n d spotless lime. Thenthe ear th is pur e en ough

it b e c o m ean

t o r e c e i v e a so u l ." Me rcu l i n u ssays:

P r e g n a n cy p ro mi se sa sp a cei n which changecan take place.

W h a tp urg a ti o n ca n re 1 e a sei s tied by bondsof peace.

N e xt co me sb i rth , w h e nyeast unites with whjtenedear th, and they bec om e

o n e i n s u b sta n cea n d co 'l o r. T h enour stone is.bor n to eter nal ' life, for th en

t h e s p i r i t un i te s w i th th e b o d y as the soul medjatesbetweenthem . This is c om -

p o s i t i o n , w h i ch , a s H a 'l i sa ys, h appenswhenputr efaction and matr imonialun i on

o c c u r . M a tri mo n i a lu n i o n i s th e m ixtur e of fine matter with gr oss, thick

m a t t e r . I t i s a l so th e mi xtu re of soul and body. Putr efaction js the pr oc es s

o f r o a s t i n g , p o u n d i n g ,a n d w a te r ing until they ar e al' l mixed together and b ec om e

o n e . T h e nt h e re i s n o d i ve rsi ty, no separ ationfr om the water that has been

mi x e d w i t h w a te r. A n d th e th j ck m atter tr ies to hold on to the fjne m atter ,

w h i ' l e t h e s o u l tri e s to co n te n dwjth fir e and sur vive it. A1so, the spir it,

-2r1-
e n ti re te a c hi ng.tt0deares tandm o s tb e lo v e df r ie n d , y o u c a n n o ber a s ily u nd e r -
standobscurewordsbecause
of whatyou havelearned,andyou will knowthat
everyone
agreeswith them,since there is no teachingother than what I have
told you. Nowyou hold in your powerthe solution of bodiesand the reduction
of themto first matter. Thenyou also havein your powertheir conversion
in to e a rth , al ongw i th the w hi te n in go f b la c k e a r t h a n d le v it a t io n in t o a ir.
By d i sti l 1 ing the moi s turefoundin it , it b e c o m easir y a s it a s c e n d swh
, il e
the earth remainsca'lcineda"C of a fiery nature. Andyou hold in your power
of all. thesefromone state to another. Andyou are able to
the conversion
increasethemin a waythat wi'|l be so useful to you that you w'ill never
entirely graspit with your reason. A,men.

-2r 3-