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o f th e p a st, in d e e p m e d ita tisn o n th e The P h i l o s o p h e r s uniy e r s s l m i s e r g b r o u g h to n b g Ad a m ' sfsll a n d th e fo llo win g c ur s e , s e a r c h e dt h r o u g h o ll d ivin e cr e stio n h o p in g to fin d s om et h i n gt h a t w o u l d h e lf th e m a ve r t o r o lle via te th e wo r st af f lic ti o n s o f m i n d a n d b o d g . F o r n o o n e a t a ll ca n r e sist deat h w h e n i t c o m e s . A n d so th e g h o p e dto d ir e ct th e b r ie f s ps n o f t h e i r l i y e s , i n h e o lth o f b o tlga n d se r e n itgo f m in d , to o f a ll t he t r e a s u r e s a n d j o g s of Go d ,u sin g th e ir kn o wle d g e wh ich is a lso a g ift o f His m arv e l s t h a t o c c u r , E k no wle d g e ns t ur e . T h e gw e r e t r o i n edin vir tu e a n din te g r itg , so th 0 t th e g p r e se r ye life . hor me d n o o n eb u t i n s t e adh e lp e d m o r e n o b le th a n For t h i s p u r p o s et h e g fo u n d n o su b sta n ce gold, o n d n o a r t m o r e va lu a b le th a n He r m e tic p g r o te ch n ics" F or of a l l c r e a t e dt h i n g s th a t e xist b e lo w th e sp h e r eo f th e l'loont h e r e i s n o t h i n gm or e p e r fe ct o r m o r e la stin g th a n g o ld , o f th e ve r g str u ctu r e o f whic h n o e l e m e n tc a n d e str o gb e ca u se it s perfection. T h e P h ilo so p h e r sco n clu d e d th a t 0s g o ld w6 s e xtr e m e lg

ev er g t h i n gw a s c r e a t e d fo r m a n ' su se

ef f ect i v e n o t o n l g a g a i n st o n g lo ss o f b o d ilg h e o lth b u t a lso agoin s t a n g i m p e r f e c t i o no f its sp e cific m e ta llic n o tu r e . In f oc t , t h e b o n d st h s t m a k eu p g o ld a r e so tig h ilg kn it th a t th e g c anno tb e u n d o n e b Un a t u r a l fo r ce s a lo n e . Eve nth o u g hn a tu r e repea t e d l g s h a t t e r s a n dde str o g s wh a t it h a s b r o u g h tfo r th , o s
ca n be s een i n metal s tha t h a v e t r a v e lle d d o wn t o t h e d e p t h s o f th e eorth, nev erthel es sg o ld , wh e n f o u n d a p p a r e n ilg in ju s t su ch a s tate of des truc t io n , in d e e p m in e r a l d e p o s it s , h o s n o m e d i c i nal pow er at al l . F o r , s s h a s b e e n n o t e d , a s lo n g a s g o ld is b o u nd together i n i ts n a t u r a l s t a t e o f p e r f e c t io n , it is n o t e ffe cti v e for ei ther of th e a b o v e - m e n t io n e d p u r p o s e s d e f in e d b g th e P hi l os ophers . T h e P h ilo s o p h e r s a p p lie d a lt t h e ir d il i g e nc e and effort to b r e o k u p o r d is s o lv e t h e s t r u c t u r e o f g o ld , us i ng thei r ow n s k ill, t h e a id o f n a t u r e , a n d e s p e c ia llg th a t i ngeni ous art of pg r o t e c h n ic s o r o lc h e m g " wh ic h c a n b e co n sideredthe mother of o ll a r t s . ile x t t h e g p la n n e dt o r e n e w o r e nhanc e gol d, rai s i ng it to E state more perfecl than p e rfe cti on. Fi nal l g, w hen t h e g h a d c o m e t h r o u g h a ll t o ils a n d d o n g ers ,theg w oul d ac hi e v e t h e ir f e r v e n t h o p e a n d p u r p o s e b g th e g rac e of God. L a ter, theg mus t hav e r e r liz e d - t h is is e a s u t o s u r m is e th a t no door c s n be open e dwit h o u t a k e g . F u r t h e r m o r e , g o ld ca n n o t natural l g be c o m b in e d wit h 0 r im p r o v e d b g a n g

su b sta nc eex c ept i ts s pe c if ic a n d o r ig in a l - m o t h e r - s u b s t a n c e i n w hi c h i t w as formed a t t h e b e g in n in g . T h e g c a lle d t h is substsncebg its true name, first matter or Frima llateria. so,

when th e P h i l o s o p h e r s h o w g o ld a n d o th e r m e ta ls c on sid e r e d th e m were fo r m e d ,t h e g d i s c o v e r e d th a t th e m a tte r co m p o sin g c am e p a r t l g f r o m t h e h e aye n s a n d p a r tlg fr o m th e e a r th . So t heg c a l l e d t h e f o r m e r ' t he h ig h e r p o r t' o n d th e la tte r - th e lower p a r t , ' e y e n w h i l e th e g r ye r e o b se r vin gth e sim ila r t enden c i e s o f e a c h . T h e gn o te dth a t th e two kin d s n e ce ssa r ilg hod b e t w e e n t h e m E p u ll o f d e sir e o r r e cip r o ca l lo ve . t h e g s s i d t h at th e lo we r p o r t, wh ich th e g ca lle d A c c or d i n g l g f emini n e ,w a s b o u n db g n a tu r a l a ffe ctio n to th e h ig h e r p a r t, a n d th e g nam el gt h e f i r m a m e n t , w hich th e g ca lle d m sscu lin e ; s aid t h o t n e i t h e r c o u l d f un ctio n with o u t th e o th e r - lt is fo r t his r e a s o n t h a t r a g s o f in f lu e n ce co m in g d o r vn f r o m th e heav e n s a r e k n o w ns s s c t ive - th e r a g s th a t, fir st Iin kin g th e s t ors to g e t h e r ,p E s sf r o m th e h ig h e stfir m a m e n tto th e e a r th ' s to m e e t a t s urf ac ea n d t h e n d e s c e n d th r o u g hsp e cia lp o ssa g e s its verg centre. Afterward, once the terrestial Arthaeushas enf old e dt h e m a n d s t i r r e d th e m in to swift m o tio n , th e g Er e driv en b a c k u p t o c o m b i newith th e m o istn e sso f te r r e str ia l s ubs t a n c e , w h i c h i s c alle d p a ssive . T h e n , b e ca u se th e dif f ere n t p a r t s o f t h e e a r th wh e r e th e g sp p e srh a ved iffe r e n t qualit i e s - i n a c c o r d o n c with e va r isu so th e r in flu e n ce s - th e g f or m a n dp r o d u c e m e t a l s an dm in e r a lso f m a n gd if f e r e n t kin d s. in The tfgsle.rg: l{e must look for the hidden Sendivogius s our c eo f a ,l i g u i d w h i c h c sn b r e a ku p o r d isso lveg o ld with o u t ong v io l e n t o r l o u d a c t i v i tg - so m e th in gin , fr ct, a s g e n tlea n d nat urs l E s i c e m e l t i n g i n h o t wste r . lf g o u ca n d isco ye rit,

U o u w i l l hov e the mate r ia l f r o m wh ic h g o lt l is p r o d u c e d in n a tu re. A nd ev en though a ll m e t a ls t n d o ll m in e r a ls h a v e t h e ir 0 r i g in i n thi s purti c ul a r m s t e r ir l, n o t h in g is o s c lo s e lg

re l a ted to i t E s gol d. F o r a c e r t a in im p u r it g is in h e r e n t in e ye r u other s ubs tanc e,b u t n o t in g o ld , b e c a u s eit is a t o n c e i tse lf and i ts ow n mothe r s u b s t a n c e . Tr eati s e 3: The fi rs t m a t t e r o f m e t a ls h a s t wo p a r t s , b s t h o f whi c h mus t be pres en t t o c r e a t e m e t a l. T h e f ir s t a n d c h ie f o n e i s moi s ture mi x ed w it h wa r m a ir . T h e P h ilo s o p h e r sc a lle d i t m erc urg, w hi c h i s s te e r e d in t o t h e P h ilo s o p h ic s e a b g t h e ra g s of the s un and the m o o n . T h e s e c o n dis t h e d r g q u a lit g o f e a rth, w hi c h the P hi l os o p h e r su a lle d s u lp h u r . Tr etti s e 4: A fter the e le m e n t s h a v e s e n t t h e ir f o r c e a n d the

ve l o ci tg to the c entre o f t h e e a r t h , A r c h a e u s d is t ills

fo r ce s bg the heat of pe r p e t u a l m o t io n a n d d r a ws t h e m u p t o th e s urfac e i n the form o f s t e a m . T h e e a r t h is p o r o u s , f ille d w i th c hannel sor ps s s ag e s ,a n d t h e win d o r s t e a m is d is t ille d th r o u gh the earth's pore s a n d f o r m e d in t o wo t e r , f r o m wh ic h a l l materi s l s ari s e. S im ila r lg , wh e n t h e s t e a m p a s s e s o y e r p la ces w here oi l g mE s s e s o f s u lp h u r a r e f o u n d wh ich the P hi l os ophers c a lle d m e r c u r g the steam

it s s s im ila t e s a n d

co m bi nes w i th the oi l i ne s s , a n d f r o m t h a t m ix t u r e a c e r t a in viscous s ubs tanc e rema in s wh ic h c 6 n n o lo n g e r b e c a lle d ste o m . Tr eoti s e 6: Four el em e n t s d is t ill f r o m p e r p e t u a l m o t io n t o th e depths as heav g w a t e r v 6 p o u r , a n d t h is is t h e s e e d o f

met ols .

l t i s c a l l e d me r cu r u b e ca u seo f its flu id itg a n d

bec au s e o f i t s l i n k w i t h e ye r u sin g le su b sta n cen , o t b e ca u se of it s e s s e n c e .E e c a u s e of its in te r n a l h e a t it a ssim ila te sto s ulphu r - W h e ni t c o m b i n e swith th e o ilin e ss o f th e so il, it bec om e s a m o i s t a n d v i s c ou sr o d ica l o r b o se . Tre a t i s e E : T h e e l e m en tsp r o je ct th e ir se e d to th e ce n tr e of t he e a r t h e a g e r l g , 0 si f in to livin g lo in s. Bg its m o tio n ,th e c ent re s e n d st h e s e e do n to o m a tr ix o r wo m b . T h e sem a tr ice s are innumerable;there 6re 6s mang of them as there are plac es. E a c hi s p u r e r t h an th e o n e b e fo r e ,o n e a fte r a n o th e r alm os t t o i n f i n i t g . C l e a r lg , th e n , E p u r e m a tr ix will b r in g f ort h s p u r e o f f s p r i n g s i mila r to itse lf. Tre a t i s e 4 : l f s t e a m p ssse sth r o u g hh o t, p u r e p la ce s a n d c om bi n e sw i t h t h e m , i t b e co m e s g o ld ; if it p ssse s th r o u g h dar k , im p u r ep l a c e si t b e co m e s le a d ,a n dso o n with th e r e st.

ADDEiIDUTI Con c e r n i n g t h e f i r s t ma tte r a n d fo r m a tio no f m e to ls, th e r e ar e alm o s t s s m o n uo p i n i o n sEs th e r e a r e Ph ilo so p h e r s. In m g opinio i , T h e o p h r a s t u s P or a ce lsu sto o k clo se st a im a t th e t ar get . H e c a l l e d m i n e r a lsp r o d u cts o f th e e le m e n two te r , sn d plant s p r o d u c t so f t h e e l em e n te a r th . So m in e r a ls h a veth e ir origin i n s e a w o t e r , b u t t ake th e ir f o r m le ssm Ess{ ch a a ilfr o m t he s o i l w h e r e t h e g g r 0 rr . Plo n ts, 0 n th e o th e r h o n d , h a ve

t heir o r i g i n i n t h e s o i l , b u t lo o k fo r th e ir fo r m le ss m a ss in fu r th e r t he a i r w h e r e t h e g r i s e a n d e xp a n d - T h e o p h r a stu s s how s t h o t m i n e r a l s r ece ive th e ir m a scu lin ese e d 0 r fo r m f rom c e l e s t i a l i n f l u e n cea n d th e r r m stte r o r b o d g fr o m se fl to m o tu r itg in th e b e llg o f th e wat er . T h e g 6 r e n o u r i sh e d eor t h , a s i f i n a w o m b . An tl th e g a r e th r u st o u t b g th e a ctio n of f ir e i n s i d e t h e e a r t h , th o t is, b g vo lca n ic h e a t d r ive n u p it is f rom th e c e n t r eo f t h e e a r th ; it va r ie s so th a t so m e tim e s s t r on g a n d s o m e t i m e sr ath e r we a k. So th e o fo r e sa idp lo ce s rnd t h e m a t r i c e s 0 f t he e a r th a cq u ir e d iffe r e n t q u o litie s in flu e n ce swh ich cEn t hr ou g hv a r i o u s i n f l u e n ce sfr o m Eb o ye , pierc e s t r a i g h t t o t h e m id m o stp o in t o f th e e sr th with th e ir rs us . T h e s e q u a l i t i e s or e p r o d u ce d in d iffe r e n t kin d s a n d nat ur e sb g m e a n so f f o rm s th a t h a ve b e e n se t in b o d ie s o r ot her w i s e i m p r i n t e d . On e e xce p tio n is th e su b sta n ceo f I ler c u r g ,w h i c h i s b o t h m o ist like wa te r a n d d r u like e a r th . The e l e m e n tw a t e r - s a lt se a wa te r wh ich is fe cu n d a te d fo r s ev er a l d r g s a n d n i g h t s b g th e su n sn d th e l"lo o n tr a ve ls t h e e a r t h ' ss p h e r e , it. g Eu t it aroun d cir clin g a n de n co m p a ssin does n o t k e e p o n l g t o t h e o u tsid e o f th e p la n e t; to E m u ch greate re x t e n t i t s l s o p osse s th r o u g h th e in te r io r , p e n e tr a tin g abgs s e s a n d h i d d e nw a t er wa g sin sid eth e e o r th . YJithits sa lt qualit g i t m a k e s t h e e o r th , o n ce e m p tg a n d yo id , fe r tile . I will n o t t a k e t r o u b l e t o e xp la infu r th e r o r in g r e a te r d e ta il s ng s i g n o f t h i s a c t o f g e n e r a tio n ,o r wh e th e r ce le stia l inf lue n c e l e a v e s s n g s i gn b e h in d . As e vid e n cewe d o h a ve

mEnU k i n d s o f s w e e t w a t e r s th st h a ve flo we d fr o m th e a b g ss of t he s e a t o t h e d e p t h so f th e e a r th . Afte r th e wa te r s h sve depos i t e ds o m e o r a l l o f th e ir sa lt in th e e a r th wh ich d r a ws it , t he g r u s h f o r t h o n c e m o r e with n 0 sa lt 0 r o n lg a tin g omoun t . S i m i l a r l g , i t i s c le a r th a t in o r d in Er s ta b le sa lt, ju st as at t h e c e n t r e o f t h e e le m e n t wa te r , th e r e is E h u ll o r c dv eri n g , E n dt h i s s u r fo c e is p la in , ta ste le sswa te r . With th is s alt al l m i n e r a l s a n d m eta ls, Es lo n g Es th e ir in g r e d ie n ts rem ain sp u r e ,c a n a c h i e v er a d ica l d isso lu tio nwith o r with o u t ongt hi n ge l s e b e i n g a d d e d - T h e r e sr e m o n uwo g s to r lisso lve t hem, a l l c a l l i n g f o r s k i l l, n o t so p h istr g . Ab o vea ll, g o ld ca n j u s t a s i f i t we r e in its o wn m o th e rsu b sta n ce .lt be r ene w e d c t n s l s o b e g r e a t l g m u ltip lie d a n d tr a n sm u te d ,with its nat ura lw o r t h i n t a c t . llo o n e s h o u l d b e s u r pr ise dth a t with th e e xce p tio no f

m erc u r g- t h e f s r m a t i o n of sa lt, like th e fo r m a tio no f m e ta l, begins w i t h s u c h a p r o ce ss. F o r sin ce e ye r g se e d - b e a r in g m at eri a l i s a s a l t g l i q u i d, it f o llo ws th a t m e r cu r g , co m m o n lg held t o b e t h e p r o x i m o te so u r ce a n d se e d o f m e ta ls, r lso ar is es f r o m s a l t . A n di f th is ctn b e d o n eb g a r t, wh g n o t a lso bg natu r e ? T h e r e f o r e i t h a p p e n s th a t wh ile we ca n n o t se e deepin t o t h e e 6 r t h , y r e c an e n tr u st th a t fe a t to Ar ch a e u s, th e elder so s k i l l e d i n t h e w u g s o f n a tu r e a n d so tlilig e n t in h is work . I n t h i s w E U ,p l a c e s d e e pin sid e th e e a r th a r e wa te r e d a n d m ade fe r t i l e b g u n d e r g r o u n d ch a n n e ls co m in g fr o m d e e p

res er v e so f s o l t w a t e r . Also , th e su n a n d th e m o o ncsr r u se e d t o t he e s r t h ' s s u r f a c eb g r a in , d e w, a n dth e in flu e n ce s o f o th e r s t or s . F r o m t h i s s e e d ,h e r b s,tr e e s, le a ye s,a n d g r a ss sp r in g f ort h a n dg r o w . A n di n t his wEUd e n se a n dh e a vg ste a m ,d r ive n up f ro m t h e d e p t h s ,s u p p lie sth e fe m in in ekin d o f se e d - 0 n ce t he h i g h e ri n f l u e n c ef r o m th e f ir m o m e n t- th e m a scu lin e se e d a n d p r e sse d to it, m e ta ls a n d m in e r a lssta r t - has b e e na d d e d t o gr o w i n t h e d e p t h so f th e e a r th . lle xt, th e fin e r , lig h te r , and m o r e v o l a t i l e s t e a m th a t r ise s to th e e a r th ' s su r fo ce is t he li q u i d o f e s r t h , o r th e se e d sf wo m En . 0 n ce th e a str a l s eed - t h e s e e d o f m a n - h o s b e e na d tle da n d p r e sse dto it, t r ees a n d g r a s s s t a r t t o g r o w o n th e e o r th ' s su r fa ce - En o u g h has n o w b e e ns a i d o n t h i s to p ic.

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I s h a l l n o w t u r n f r o m th e fir st m a tte r a n d fo r m a tio n o f o f th e Ph ilo so p h e r 'Sto s n e " lt h a s met als t o t h e c o m p o s i t i on t wo s o u r c e s : E m e t a llic se e d p r o vid in g its fo r m a n d f i c p r im o r d a i l m o istu r e s ulphu r o u s e l e m e n t a n d 6 sp e ci pr ov id i n g i t s m a t t e r a n d m e r cu r ia l e le m e n t. L a te r it will is ts b e u n d e r sto o d . bec om e c l e a r h o w e a c h0 f th e seso u r ce s s ne T ho s ew h o t h i n k t h a t t he m a tte r o f th e Ph ilo so p h e r 'Sto is t he s 6 m e a s t h e f i r s t m a tte r o f m e tsls Er e wr o n g . Su r e lg dif f er e n t q u a l i t i e s p o i n t to th e a r tisa n ' sd iffe r e n t in te n tio n sHis pu r p o s ei s n o t t o p r o d u ce m e ta ls, sin ce h e h a s n o n e e do f eit her t h e m a t t e r o r t h e p r o ce ss, b o th o f wh ich o ccu r in not ur e . H e i s t r g i n g t o do so m e th in gm u ch m o r e a m b itio u s, s om et h i n g t h a t u n a i d e d n a tu r e d o e s n o t d o a n g wh e r e . Therefo r e h e n e e d s 0 s p e cia l m e th o da n d E sp e cia l kin d o f 'm at t er . E v e ns o , i n s o m e wsg s h e im ita te s n a tu r e ' sm e th o d s, es pec i a l l gt h e w o g h e d r a ws sn d b o r r o wsth e m a tte r h e n e e d s f rom t h e s a m e s o u r c e sa n d p r in cip le sa s n a tu r e . So in so m e ws us t h e m a t t e r o f o r t c an b e sim ila r to th e m o tte r o f n o tu r e , but t he g a r e n o t s i r n o l g o n e a n d th e sa m e . 0 n th e co n tr a r g , t her e a r e t w o - T h e a r t i s s n r e lie s o n n a tu r ewh e n h e h o n d le s m at t er s u p p l i e db g n a t u re , a n d a lso wh e n h e a ctu a llg fo r m s g olr l. T h r o u g h t he s t o n e t h a t p r o d u c e s th e a r tisa n ' sa r t, n a tu r e m ak es t h e s t o n e g r o w l o rg e r a n d m u ltip lg . Un d e r str n d it in

t his w a g . The a r t i s a n d o e s n o t co n ce r n h im se lf with ca p tu r in g m at t e r , f o r w h s t e v e r i s a lr e a d g cr e a te d n e e d s n 0 cr e a to r . t { hat i s c a l l e d u l t i m a t e m a tte r f inis h e d w i t h a n d c e a se d to sffe ct m a tte r th st n a tu r e h a s is a lwa g s th e fir st

m at t e r o f a r t , f r o m w h i c h a r t b e g in s. T h a t is th e co se with gold, s o t h a t w i l l b e mg sta r tin g - p o in t. Ju st Es in n a tu r e th st h a s a se e d not hi n gc a n g r o w w i t h o u t E se e d ,so e ve r u th in g c an b e m u l t i p l i e d b g a r t, with n a tu r e ' sa id - Ha tu r ep r o vid e s t he in c r e a s e ,o r t h e m atte r th a t will b e a d d e d . Ho o n e o f s ound m i n d c E n d e n g t h a t g o ltl h a s its o yr n se e d in sid e it. There f o r e f r o m t h a t se e d it ca n b e m u ltip lie d b g a r t. th a t is, its b ssic Conse q u e n t l gg , o l t l m u s t b e th e m a tte r o r su b str a te fr o m whic h t h e s e m i n a l f o r m o f th e sto n e princ i p l e- w i l l b e e l i c i te d . S in c e n o t u r e , l i k e E p a r e n t, b r in g s fo r th a ll th in g s e n d a n d f e m in in e ,o r mult i p l i e s t h e m i n t w o clo sse s- m a scu lin e s c t iv e a n d p a s s i v e- t h e sr tisa n ' s a r t m u st im ita te n a tu r e in t his r e s p e c t . S o t h e a c tive e le m e n to r fo r m o f th is o r t m u st a b o ye ,wh ich a ssim ila te s to be t h e s e e d o f g o l d m e n tio n e d it s elf t o i n c r e a s ei t s ma tte r . T h e sa m e m e r cu r gcla im e d b g t he Ph i l o s o p h e rw s i l l e f fe ct th e m u ltip lica tio no f th e p a ssive , m at er i a l e l e m e n t ,w h i c h in tu r n m u ltip lie s tin ctu r e a n dr o ise s it lik e g e a s t lt s ho u ld n o t tr o u b le a n u o n e th a t th e P hilo s o p h e r s o m e t i m e su se va r isu s n Em e sfo r th e se th in g s i nt er c h a n g e ag b.l

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I n a d d i t i o n , i t s o m e t i m e sh a p p e n s th a t so m e th in gth a t is ac t iy e i n t h e b e g i n n i n g i s p a ssivea t th e e n d , a n d vice ye r sa . A lt hou g h e v e r g t h i n g b e lo n g s to o n e se x o r th e o th e r , nev er t h e l e s sn a t u r e t e a ch e s u s th a t th e r e wEs E co m m o n or igin o f b o t h . B g t h i s we se e e ye r g sin g le th in g th a t e xists rejoici n g a n d d e l i g h t i n g in its o wn n a tu r e , Es we ll a s pres e r v i n gi t s l i f e o n d m u ltip lg in g - F o r l{ o tu r e o ye r co m e s ju st a s th e llat ure , t h e n a c c e p t si t a n d r e ta in s it. T h e r e fo r e , s eed o f g o l d , w h e n i t w as fir st fo r m e d ,to o k its o r ig in fr o m c eles t i a l i n f l u e n c e ,s o n atu r a l th e o r gd icta te s th a t if it is to be ren e w e d s n d m u l t i p lie d , it m u st lo o k fo r a n d b o r r o w

m erc u r gf r o m t h e r a g s o f th e su n , th e m o o n ,a n d o th e r sta r s" l'lerc u r g h a s d i s s o l v i n gp r 0 p e r tie s,wh ile g o ld is th e su b sta n ce t o be d i s s o l y e d ; m e r c u r gi s vo la tile , wh ile g o ld is f ixe d . l{ h e n t heg c o m b i n e , i t i s a s t h ou g ha r o g a l ch ild , th e n o b lech ild o f t he s un , h a s b e e nb o r n f o r u s. As t r a l i n f l u e n c e s ,l i k e th e o th e r , m a te r ia l p r in cip le o f th e St one ,a r e a l l u n i v e r s a la n d sp ir itu a l; sin ce th e g d o n o t h a ve bodies ,t h e g c a n n o tb e p e r ce ive do r to u ch e d . T h e r e fo r eth e g mus t ta k e o n s o m e s o r t o f r e ce p ta cleo r co n ta in e r th a t is c orpor e s l a n d E s c l o s e t o th e m Es p o ssib le " Eve nso , th e g c ont in u e t o e x i s t i n t h e ir n a tu r a l sta te , a s we ll Es in th e beaut ga n d s i m p l i c i t g p r op e r to e le m e n ts. T h is is th e co se wit h t h e e l e m e n to f e a r t h: th e r e is a co m m o n r e ce p ta clefo r all t he c e l e s t i a l i n f l u e n ce s, wh ich se r ye sEs 0 n u r sea n d e ye n as 0 wo m bf o r a l l g r o w i n gth in g s. t# eca ll wa te r th e m o th e ro f

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oll t hi n g s i n n s t u r e ,E n dth e skg th e ir fa th e r a n d b e g e tto r . So we c o n c l u d et h a t e s r t h is fir st in th e th e o r e tica l o r d e r in whic h t h e H e r m e t i cA r t pa r ticip a te s. lt is th e Su b str a tea n d a ttr a ctin g o n d in co r p o r a tin g t he llo g n e t o f t h e P h i l o s o p h e r s, t he c e l e s t i a l i n f l u e n c e s. Sin ce a ll th is is m o st a ssu r e d lg t rue, w e c o n c o n c l u d et ha t th e m o tte r o f th e sto n e , n o le ss t han th e f i r s t m o t t e r o f me ta ls,sh a r e sin th e n o tu r eo f h e a ve n and ea r t h s i m u l t a n e o u s lg .Also , it csn cla im th a t it is m a d e up of a n d a r i s e s f r o m b o th . Bu t, a s we h a ve sa id , in so m e wogs i t purpose. i s d i f f e r e n t f r o m th e f ir st m a tte r o f m e tsls, pr ec i s e l g b e c a u s ei t h as a d iffe r e n t r a n k a n d o d iffe r e n t

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svl{0Psts 0FTHE ET{TIRE BOOK

E s s e n ta il Parts

llotter w h ich is co lle d m e r cu r u - d o u b le o r d o u b le d .Se e C h .7 . lt p o r ticip o te sin o F o r m , w h ich is th e su lF hu ro f th e Ph ilo s o p h e r s, o r th e g o ld - p r o d u ci ng s e e dth o t is e xt r a cte d fr o m o u r u mviYu m , l i v in g g o ld - Se e ch. 6, 9, 10.

Esr th wh ich p r o vid e s lo we r p o r t o f th e m a tte r fo r th e sto n e . Se eCh . l, 2 , 3, ond4.

He a ve n o r th e Skg wh ich p r o vid e s th e h ig h e rp a r t o f th e m o tte r fo r th e sto n e . 0 n th is to p ic, se e Ch .5 a n tl6 .

It (the T h e d r g co m p o n e n t, Stone) w hich ca n n o tm o ke is prepored h an d s we t. Se eEh . in two rYsus | | and 12. or bg two methods T he m o ist, wh ich namelg, l e a ve sfin g e r s throughdrg- w e t. Se eAd d e n d a n e s so n d t o Ch .7 , 1 0 , I l, m o is t u r e . o nd | 2 .

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Dh a p t e r l.

Concerning t h e su b str a te o f Esr th , o r th e l o w e r p a r t o f th e m a tte r o f th e P h i l o s o p h e r '5 st o n e .

lf the earth, i n formin g m e t a ls , is o m o t h e r in t h e s e n s e th a t the s k g i s o father, it f o llo ws t h o t we s h o u ld b o r r o w p a r t o f th e matter f rom the e o r t h . S in c e t h e r e E r e s o m a n g

d iffe r ent k i nds of s oi l , it is n e c e s a r u t o c h o o s e wh ic h o n e sh o u l d mak e up the terrest r io l p a r t o f t h e m o t t e r . 0 n e k in d o f e a r th i s boundto be bette r t h a n o t h e r s f o r t h is p u r p o s e . T h e r e is o natural l g red c l ag th n t h a s a lwa g s b e e n c o n s id e r e db e t t e r th a n the bl ac k , w hi te. an d g e llo w v a r ie t ie s . B e c a u s eo f it s

co fo ur s ome peopl e hav e c a lle d it A d a m ic { A d d m F a d m a n HrlIVo r S pani s hs oi l . A n d e v e n t h o u g h t h is t g p e o f c la g c a n b e fo u n d ey ergw here, i t ten d s t o b e f in e r , m o r e b e o u t if u l, o f h ig h er quol i tg or l ow er q u a lit g , o f a s p e c ia l k in d o r u n iv e r s a l in some pl oc es rather thon othersA c c o r d in g lU t h e

Ph i l o sophersthought that t h e v e r u f in e s t o n d b e s t q u a lit g c la g wo s mi ned i n the eas t, i n s it e s n e x t t o v e in s o f m e t a f . lt h a s th r e e k i nds of s al t s tored in it . T h e f ir s t is v o la t ile , lik e s a l a m m o ni ac ; the s ec ond i s s o m e wh e r e b e t we e n v o la t ile o n d fixe d , and c ontai ns natron ; t h e t h ir d is c o m p le t e lg f ix e d , lik e o l ka l i . I mi ght add that t h e s e t h r e e s o lt s , in a b o d g o r in p a r t o n c e c ombi ned w er e g iv e n t h e n o m e m e r c u r g b g t h e

Ph i l o s ophers , w hi c h i s to s o u wa t e r t h a t is b o t h liq u id o n d drgl4

s en d i v o g i u sw r o t e h i s fa m o u s b o o k a b o u t th e m fn wh o dev is e dt h e f i r s t r e a l pr in cip le s o f th is e xe m p la r g scie n ce , and, o s h e a t t e s t e d i n t h e Ep ilo g u e :- l h o vesta te d e ve r g th in g c lear l g . ' I h a v en o t r e v e a le d a s cle o r lg h o w sa l a m m o n i6 c, 0r 'our m e r c u r u ' - s o p h i c , Ph ilo so p h ic m e r cu r g is e xtr a cte d from 'our pontic water' tbqua nastra pantica), because the Lor d o f n a t u r e h o s n o t giye n m e fu r th e r p e r m issio n to sp e a k, andon l g G o r m l a g r e v e a l th is, o n dso 0 n - F o r th is r e a so nt h sve ent ire l g l e f t o u t h o w to p r e p a r e th e b a se a n d th e m a in c om p 0 n e no t f t h e t r u e p h ilo so p h ic e le m e n tm e r cu r uin its n e w lus t re . l l e v e r t h e l e s s i t se e m e d to m e th o t, sin ce se n d ivo g iu s had y e r u l i t t l e t o s o g ob o u t th is in h is b o o k, I sh o u ld o d d somethinghere. In his passage 0n The llgsterg in which the pres e n t t o p i c i s d i s c u s se d th , e a u th o r - wh o d e se r ye s p r a ise f or hi s t r e a t m e n t o f i t - m o d eE co m p o r iso n to a lo ve lg o n d f r uit f u l i s l a n d . E g t h i s h e m e a n t th e sp h e r e o f th e e o r th , whic h i s c o m p o s s e d o l l ar o u n db g th e e le m e n twa te r . Eith e r 0n t he e a r t h o r o u t o f it a ll th in g s g r o w. F u r th e r m o r e , ev erg t h i n g m o n n e e d st o s u sto in life is p r o vid e d . He r e fe r r e d t o t his i n t h e s e c o n d t r e a tise : ' Dig a d itch , sta n d in it u p to uour kn e e s , a n d f u l l g r e ce ive th is e a r th o f o u r s, wh ich h a s wit hin i t s t r e a m sa n dl i v i n g wo te r s" ' A F ulle r a n d C l e a r e rE x p la n a tio n : I n th e p r e c e d i n gt e x t, th e su b je ct o f e a r th is cle a r lg des c ri b e d . F r o m i t o n e co m p o n e no t r in g r e d ie n tis se le cte d

t5

out for duplex philosophic mercuru {'mercurii philasophict duplimti)sr for the mstter in the composition of the stone. I s hall p r o v i d e e n o u g hi n fo r m stio n a b o u t th e d istin ctio n o n e m us t o b s e r v ew h e n o n e m o ke so se le ctio n . I sh a ll sa g m o r e 0b0u t t h i s t o p i c t o m a k e it e o sie r to u n d e r sta n d . F o r th is purpo s e , l s h a l l t i e i n a fa ir lg u se fu l co m p a r iso n wh ich I r e a d in an a n c i e n t m a n u s c t " ip otn th is to p ic. lt sh o u ldco n fir m th e f irs t c h a p t e r o f t h e t e xt, a n d g o e s o s fo llo ws: l' r a n kin d is c r eat e d f r o m e s r t h , U e t d o e s n o t r e p r o d u ce fr o m e o r th b u t f r om i t s e l f . H o w e v e rmo , n kin d r e ce iye sn o u r ish m e nfr t o m th e eart h , t a k i n g i n c r e a s e fr o m it th a t m a ke s r e p r o d u ctio n pos s i b l e . s i m i l a r l g , g o ld a n d si lve r p r o d u ceg o ld a n d si lve r . F ir s t t h e g m u s t b e n o u r ish e d with a sin g le , p u r e , p r im o r d io l s ubs ta n c e .A c c o r d i n g t o He r m e s, th e n u r tu r in go g e n t o f th a t s ubs ta n c e i s e a r t h , w h i ch I p r o ce e d to ca ll b g its r e a l n a m e : sulsh sunemrasuehur lf uou reyerse the letters, theg read Ealus-armenus ruheus,a clod of red soil, E genersl term for all k i n d s o f g e l l o w o rch r e a n d vo lca n ic so ils u se d fo r im por t a n tp u r p o s e s a n ds till u n fir e d . Let u s u n d e r s t o n d t h e su b je ct o f e a r th o r so il in two s ens e s ,r e m e m b e r i n g t h a t th e Ph ilo so p h e r s wr o te a b o u t r 8 yf s oil a n d p r e p a r e d s o i l . S e n d ivo g ium s e n tio n e d r0rr - or rough and s i m p l e - r e d e a r t h . Bg th is te r m h e u n d e r sto o d a n g so il t hs t i s r e d i n i t s n o t u r al sta te a n d th a t is m in e d . In so m e v eins o f m e t a l , w i t h o u t an g in te r ve n tio nb g m e n ,th is r e d so il or m u d i n t h i s c E s e is wa sh e db g u n d e r g r o u n d wa te r s

t6

c omin g t h r o u g hm o u n t a inp a ssa g e wa u s. T h e clo d s o f so il o r mud w h i c h r e m a i nh i d d enin d a r kn e ss a n d n e ye rse e th e lig h t of rls g a r e c o n s i d e r e d s u p e r io r . In a d d itio n to th is tg p e o r c lod o f r e d s o i l , t h e r e is a n o th e r tu p e th a t m u st e m e r g e t hr oug ha p p r o x i m a t e l g n i ne m in e r a l ve in s. T o e xtr a ct it, g o u m us t b e c a r e f u l n o t t o distu r b it, fo r it m ig h t lo se its o wn c hs r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d t a k e 0 n th o se o f a n o th e r ,m o r e sp e cific miner s l . s i m i l a r c l o d s o f r e d so il m a g h sve ta ke n o n so m eo f t hes es p e c i a lc h a r a c t e r i stics. Yo uwill kn o wth a t th e g h a veif t heg a c q u i r ea v i t r i o l i c or ca u stic g u a r itg wh e n g o u p r e p o r e t hem o r a t t e m p t t o b r ea k th e m d o wn . Ho we ve r ,th e g cEn quic k l g b e r e s t o r e d t o t he ir o r ig in o l in te g r itg . In th e so m e wau, in t h e c s s e o f v i t r i o lic so il, th e vitr io l h a s o cca sio n a llg beenp u t b a c ki n t o i t b g a r t, so th a t it wiil n o t d isso lve ' a ta ll in wat e r . u s u a l l g t h i s c a n b e d o n e with sim p le r a in wa te r . t rJ hen t h e v i t r i o l i s h e o t ed ,e ye n g e llo w so il th a t co n ta in sit adher e st o f e a d , a n d b g th is m e th o d sf fir in g 6 b r ig h t r e d s ubs t a n c e i s p r o d u c e d . T h e se two su b sta n ce s Er e g e n e r a llg t ak en E s o n e , a n d l o g i c a llg so , sin ce th e g co n e a silg sh e da n g par t ic u l a r f o r m a n d r e t u rn to th e ir e o r lie r sta te o f in te g r itg . T hen t h e g s r e s u p e r i o r i n g u o r itg a n d wo r th to a lm o st e ve r u ot her t u p r o f s o i l , b o th r a w a n d p r e p a r e d . T h a t is 6 n im porta n t p o i n t . H o w I s h o u r dsa g so m e th in g aboutprepored s oil, w h i c h i s v s s i l g s u p e r io rto th e r sw o r cr u d eva r ie tg . lt is als o c a l l e d ' m o n u r e d ,' b e ca u se wh e n d u n g is o d d e dto its s ulphu r i c p r o F e r t i e si t i s in cr e a se d a n d in vig o r a te d . T h is is

l7

not E g u i c k p r o c e s s - l t d o e s n o t tske p la ce u n til th e d u n g m ix e d i n w i t h t h e l E g e rs o f so il h o s co m p le te lgd e co m p o se d and c o n v e r t e dt o s o i l . Th is to p ic m sg se e m lo w, vu lg a r , a n d dis gu s t i n g t o s o m e o f th e m o r e d e lica te p e o p le 0 m 0 n g u s. Hev e r t h e l e sis t r e s t s o n th e so lid fo u n d a tio n a n dfir m b a sis o f t r ue P h i l o s o p h g . Farmers kn o w m o r esb o u t it th a n th e sep e ttg pr ot e s t o r s , a n d i n f a c t it is co n fir m e din th e sta n d a r dr ysu m E nU n a t u r a lm a t e r i a l s ar e fo r m e d . Acco r d in g lg e a chsp e cific c har a c t e rp r o p e rt o l i v i n g th in g s o n e a r th is fr e e d fr o m its par t ic u l a r q u a l i t g o r i n d ivid u o l fo r m wh e n , in th e b e llie s o f peop l ea n d a n i m a l s ,b g m e o n so f n a tu r a l h e a t, n o u r ish m e n is t k ept s e p a r a t ef r o m e x c r e m e n t. Y/h a tr e m o in sin th e fo r m o f ex c r e m e n ti s d e s t r o g e do n ce it is b u r ie d in e a r th , a n d so nat ur e i s s i mpl i c it g . Ho w c a n s o m e o n e w h o h o s n o co n ce p t o f th i s u l ti m a te m at t e r u n d e r s t o n d t h e f ir st m a tte r ? An d so m e o n e wh o d o e s not u n d e r s t a n df i r s t ma tte r will n o t e ve n h a ve h e a r d o f ult im a t e m a t t e r . S u c h p e o p le Er e a lto g e th e r ig n o r a n t o f heov e n a n d e o r t h , a n d w h ile it a ll r e m a in ss m g ste r gto th e m , no one s h o u l dp l a c et h e s l ig h te st co n f id e n cein th e m . He r ei s t h e m e t h o d a n dp r e p a r a tio n o f E n e w a n dh ig h e rtUp e of ge n e r a t i o n ,w h i c h s ho u ld b e u se d in ste sd o f th e fir st, f or me r t g p e - t i n c t u r e o r d g e in g . Ho w,a lth o u g h h u m a nF e h is is s up e r i o r t o o t h e r d u n g ,we h o ve le a r n e dso m e th in ga b o u t s heepd u n gf r o m e x p e r i me n ta tio n lt is d e a lt with u n d e r th e c o m p l e t e l g d e n u d e d a n d r e d u ce d to e xtr e m e

l8

f ol I owin g h e a dn i g:

' C o n ce r n ni g th e Be lI i e s o f

Ra m s.-

S endivo g i u s s t e p p e da r o un dth is q u e stio na n d ke p t h is fe e t drg, t h o u g hi t i s h i g h l Ua p p r o p r ia te o n d u se fu l to th e cu r r e n t dis c us s i o n . S h e e p d u n gi s clo se r th a n th e r e st ts th e q u a litg of nat r o n , a n d s i n c e n a tr o n is n e ith e r e sp e cia llg fixe d n o r es pec i a l l gv o l a t i l e , i t i s cle a r lg b e st fo r th is e xp e r im e n t. In a n d h o r se c ont rss t , t h e F e h i so f d o ve sm im ics sa l a m m o n ia c, dung is a l k a l i n e . T h e f o llo win g is th e wa g to fe r m e n t a n d prepar ei t . l { e o r e n o t r e q u ir e dto d o th is a t a n g sp e cific i n t h e m on th o f Se p te m b e-r wh e n it is m sst t im e. H o w e v e r , of t en d o n e- d i g a d i t c h as d e e pa s a m a n is ta ll in o r d in sr g s oil. T h e n p u t i n t o i t r o w so il m ixe d with a n g kin d sf d u n g h g le s in it" 0 n Cov erth e m i x t u r e w i t h a be a mwh ich h o s m En U t op of t h e b e a mp i l e o r d in a r g so il, fillin g it to th e su r fa e e , ond lea y e i t u n t o u c h e d u n til th e m o n tho f l' la r ch -T h e n ,o n ceit has 0ll t u r n e d t o l i q u i d , it ca n b e d u g u p a n d u se d fo r th e purpos e d e s c r i b e di n c h s pte r s2 a n d 4 o f th is b o o k. I sm n o t unawa r et h a t h u m a nF e h i s,if it is n o t m ixe din with so il a n d is lef t f o r a n e n t i r e S e sr to d e co m p o se a n d d isso lve , is reduced to its formless mass tbhaos) and first matter, ur it hou t a n g t r a c e o f i m p e r fe ctio no r im p u r itg . I sh sll le sve t o t he j u t l g m e n to f o P h ilo so p h e r th e m e o n sb g wh ich th is proc ess c a n b e g r e a t l g a cce le r a te do n d fo r tifie d with th e addit io n o f q u i c k l i m e . Bu t sin ce th is p r a cticr l m e th o d elimins t e s t h e h i g h e rm e th o d , sn d th e to p ic o f th is ch a p te ris not min o r o b j e c t s i n t h e micr o co smb , u t th e kin d s o f so il th a t

t9

are d u g u p t h r o u g h o u t he wo r ld - th e m o cr o co sm I sh a ll r es er y ea s p e c i a l p l a c e fo r th e p r a ctica l d iscu ssio n Es , fo r a r ema r k o b l em g s t e r g . E v e nth e tim e wh e n th e so il is in a n eor lg o r s i m p l e s t a t e , r e o d g to b e a cq u ir e d0 r d u g o u t, h a s been i n d i c a t e d : i t i s t h e b e g in n in g o f sp r in g , wh e n th e su n ent er st h e c o n s t e l l a t i o n Ar ie s. leo r n e s t l g w a n t t o wa r n g o u n o t to lso k fo r a n g m a te r ia l f or p h i l o s o p h i ca p p l i c a tio n in h e r b s, tr e e s, m e ta ls, sa lt, v it riol , o r o l u m , a l l o f wh ich Er e u se le ssfo r th is p u r p o se . E v eng o l r l a n d s i l v e r a r e o f n 0 u se with o u t th e fir st Be in g , popuf arlg called Prima lfateria He who knowsthis is wise. 0n t h i s t o p ic , I r e c o m m e n d th e tr e a ti se o f Ar n o ld o f v illan o v s , w h i c h b e g i n s : ' A sto n e ca sca d in g d o wn fr o m e a r th grows l a r g e r w h e n i t i s su b m e r g e in d cle a r wa te r fo r se ve r a l hours , ' e t c .

20

Ch a p te r 2. C o n c e r n i n g t h e Distillstio n o f A d a m i cs o i l i n t o a liq u id . T he t e x t c o n t i n u e s i n th is ve in : T h e Ph ilo so p h e rto s o k th a t par t ic u l a r c l n g a n d f o r m edit in to little b a lls sm a ll e n o u g h to be plo c e di n a r e t o r t w h i ch th e g th e n p u t in En o ye n . T h e nth e g s et up a h u g er e c e i v e r a n d o p p lie dh e st, fir st lo w h e a t, th e n high e n o u g h t o i g n i t e th e r e to r t. f{ e xt va r io u s co lo u r s appeo r e do s e i g h t t o t e n m e o su r e so f wa te r d istille d o u t. T hent h e g a d d e ds a l t t o t h e liq u itl in th e n e cko f th e r e tsr t. In The l{gstergof Sendivogius, this substrateof errth is called t he m i n e r a l o f ' o u r s t e e l .' ln th a t sEm ese ctio nkn o wna s T h e ffgsterg,the author intendsto show, bg meansof En spparition g o d o f w a t e r, th st wa te r m u st d istill fr o m th is of l{ ep t u n e , miner a l .

Re d o r

ADDEl{DUH I t sh o u l dh e r e b e n o t e dth a t so m ePh ilo so p h e rd sid n o t fo r m ang s u c h l i t t l e b a l l s o r p a ttie s. In ste o d , to fo r ce th e tliffu se miner a l p o , w e ri n t o E n a r r o r v sp sce a n d a ch ie ve m o r e in E s ingle d i s t i l l a t i o n t h a n co u ld o r d in a r ilg b e d o n e in fo u r o r f iy e, th e g f o r m e dl g e f r o m th e ssil. Bg fir st filte r in g it a n d

2l

let t in g i t e y a p o r a t e ,t h e g fin o llg co lle cte d e n o u g ho f th e liquid o n d d i s t i l l e t l i t , in m o d e r a teh e a t. T h e g o b tsin e d E o f th e s p i r i t t h o t to sse do b o u tlike th e vr f,ve s s oeo g eu , ntomed s eo un t i l a t l a s t i t c a m eto r e st o n th e wa te r .

22

3. Ch a p te r Concerning t h e do u b leRe ctifica tio n o f th e d i s t i l l e d L i q u i d , wh ich is d e fin ite lg a m e d i a t e { m e d i a } sp ir itu a l su b sta n ce ,a n d h o w i t i s s e p s r ate d fr o m its tws e fflu via EgaE phle.gmaticq phlegmotic yroter, ond terrestrial filthT he t e x t c 0 n t i n u e s :F r o mth is liq u id th e g d r e w o ff p h le g m int o 0 b a t h a n d p r e s e r v ed e a chse p a r a te lg -F u r th e r m o r eth , eg r epea t e d l g d i s t i l l e d t h e re m a in in g sp ir its o u t o f th e ssn d ,a n d t hes et h e g a l s o p r e s e r y ed se p a r a te lg . Sin c e t h i s t e x t i s c l e ar 6 s d a g , I d o n o t th in k it n e e d sa n g f urt he r e x p l a n o t i o n o r a d d itio no f m in e .

23

4. Ch a p te r

C o n c e r n i n gt h e Extr a ctio n o f fixe d sa lt from the residue or taput lfartuum and its r e s o l u t i o ni n t o i ts r e ctifie d Sp ir its.

T he t e x t c 0 n t in u e s : l{ e xt th e g b e a t th e m a te r isl h e o te d f rom t h e f i r s t d i s t i l l a t i o n in to p e b b le s in a m o r ta r , th e n p o u r the reservedaguaphlegmaticaorperhaps ordinorgwater oyer it , on d o n c et h e g h a v ef i lte r e d it th e g e xtr a ct th e fixe d sa lt. Theg mix it with EguEspiritualis.. and when theg have done t hat , t h e r e m a i n i n g t e rr e str ia l p a r t 0 r b o d g , m e r cu r U,is c om p l e t e -

ADDEI{DUH

Th e l i qui d prepared f r o m t h e m in e r a l s t e e l is c a lle d o m a g net, w hi c h attrac ts t h e c e le s t ia l in f lu e n c e o f s u n a n d m o o n, as w i l l be s how n i n t h e f o llo win g c h a p t e r s . F r o m t h e s e in fl u e nc es i t thi c k ens i n t o 6 d r g , c r g s t a llin e s u b s t a n c e , a n d

t his is w h a t S e n d i v o g i uin s T h etlg stp .r ? m e a n t sg m b o lize to bg

th e o ld man S aturn, god of e s r t h . At the end of the te x t o f t h e f ir s t c h a p t e r , t h e r e is E

d i scus s i on of the three s a lt s t h o t lie q u ie s c e n t a n d h id d e n in th e m i neral s teel as w el l a s in e y e r g s p e c if ic m a t e r is l. A n S

24

of t he m c s n b e e x t r a c t e d,sin g lg o r a ll th r e e ; th e Ph ilo so p h e r s s et u p m o d e so f o p e r o tio nin e ith e r ca se a n d a cco m p lish e d gr eat a d v a n c e s . I s h a l l a tld a little in fo r m a tio na b o u t th e se s alt s . t lan g p e o p l e a n x i o u s lga n d p a in sta kin g lg se a r ch e dfo r sa l am mo n i o c w , h i c h t h e g n ot u n su ita b lgca lle d th e su lp h u r a n d s alt o f n a t u r e ,0 l s o t h e me r cu r g o f th e Ph ilo so p h e r s, b e lie vin g e y e nkin g lg , sa lt. T h e go b ta in e dit e ith e r it t o b e a v a l u a b l e , f rom f r e s h s o i l 0 r s n g s ub str a te ,with th e a id o f d istilla tio n 0nd t h e e v e n t u a lp u t r e f s ctio nin to its o wn p r o p e rliq u id , o r o t leas t a n o t h e r ,r e l a t e d , u sa b leo n e . T h e g o b ta in e dit a fte r it had be e nr o i s e d o r e x a l t edto its so il b g im b ib itio n , fixa tio n , and f i n a l l g s u b l i m a t i o n . He xt th e g ce r a te d it a n d se t it in s t onew i t h t h e o i l o f s o p h icsu lp h u r B ut n a t r o n s a l t , w he n it is co r r e ctlg , skilfu llg , a n d t hor ou g h l gr e f i n e d i s h a r d lg in fe r io r 0 r se co n d a r gto sa l amm o n i a cp , a r t l g b e c a u se it is so e Esgto p r e p a r e .ilo su b tle tg is r eq u i r e d ;i t c a n e a s i l u b e d o n ee ye nb g a wo m a n . lt is o lso s uper i o r b e c o u s e o f i t s po we r a n d e ffe ctiye n e ss, wh ich h a ve broug h ti t t o c o m p l e t i o nin h a r m o n g with th e r u le s o f o r t. lt is ac g u i r e dn o t b g d i s t i l lo tio n b u t b g sim p le e xu b e r a tio n 0r ex c es s a n d s i m p l e h a n dlin g o f th e lUe , a cco r d in gto u su a l pr ac t i c e a t n a t r o n d e p o sits. An d so it is g o o dto b e a b le to r ec og n i z e t h e t g p e s o f a uth e n ticso il a n dkn o w wh ich is b e tte r t han a n o t h e r . l t i s e y e nb e tte r to kn o w h o w to r e fin e n a tr o n f rom th e l g e o c c o m p E n g in it. g An d it is b e st o f a ll to kn o w

?5

t h e q ua litie s o f n o tr o n in th e clo r ifica tio n how t o s t r e n g t h e n proc e s s ,w h e t h e rU o uu s e h e a ve n lU o r e a r th lUp o we r s. Eith e r g o u h a v er e a s o nt o th a n kGo dth o t th e to sk is so e o sgo n d wEU, s o lig h t . Y o u w i l l b e sp a r e d I g r e a t m sn u d ifficu lt a n d dange r o u s t o s k s , a n d g o u wilf n o t h o ve to wo r r g a b o u t o th e r s alt s , f i x e d 0 r v o l a t i le , o r a b o u t a n u im p r e g n a tio n o r im pre s s i o nf r o m a s t r a l in flu e n ce s. F o r th is tUp e o f sa lt c ont a i n s w i t h i n i t s e l f e ve r g th in git n e e d s,e xce p t fo r th e f erm e n t i n gs g e n c g o f g o ld , b Uwh ich it is b r o u g h tto life a n d f ullg r i p e n e d . As f o r t h e f i x e d s a l t , ca lle d slka li, wh ich is e xtr a cte dfr o m ey eruc a l c i n e ds o i l a n d occa sio n o llg o lso fr o m b a se rca lcin e d f r uit s o f t h e e a r t h s u c h Es th e str a w o f wh e a t it ca n b e ploc e d i n t h e h i g h e s t r an k in th e o p in io n o f m sn u p e o p le , inc lud i n gP r i s c i a n - l t m ag r e m o inr a w, o r it m a g b e co m e red ar t if ic i o l l g , b U t h e m a n ife sta tio n o f so m e th in g h id d e n . tYith t he ai d o f E s u i t a b l e m ea n so f tr a n sp o r t it d istills in to E v olat i l e s t a t e i n t h e f o r m o f cle o r wa te r 0 r r e d , swe e t o il, a n d it has t h e p o w e r t o d i still g o ld in En a le m b ic. So o il is pr odu c e do ; l s o t w o k i n d s o f sa lt a n d th e o il o f g o ld co m b in e d , and it m o k e sa g r e a t p r o je ctio nin to o co a g u la te d sto n e . T h is des c r i b e s t h e f i x e d s r l t o f th e m in e r a lfo r m in gth e su b je ct o f t his c h a p t e r . W h o e v e irs n o t e q u ip p e d with o g o ld e nja ve lin f or f ish i n g - E s t h e s a g in gg o e s - to ke s u p co m m o n m e r cu r u olone i n s t e o d o f g o l d , f or it is fixe d o n d h o s p r e cip ito te d not hin gb u t i t s e l f . A n ds o th is ch a p te rco m e sto a n e n d .

26

Ch a p te r 5. Concerningthe Attraction of Aqua aerea.. fr o m Eir , o r co n ce r n in th g e w a t e r c o n d e n s ed l e g i t i m a t e w s U th o t co r p o r e slo n d e o r th lg l i q u i d i s a n i m a te d a n d im p r e g n a te db g astral rous.

Th e tex t bri efl g break s o f f t h e d is c u s s io n o n d f iv e o r s ix m e Esuresof ai r E re tok en .

From Sendiyogius, The lfgsterg.' This water is found ev erg w h e r ea , n d n o o n e co n live with o u t it. lt ca n h e d r o wn

out bg u n u s u a lm e s n s ;t h e b e st kin d is e xtr o cte db g fo r ce o f t he s t e e l f o u n di n r o m s ' b e llie s. F e w p e o p lekn o w th a t th e r e is o nu c l e u so r h i d d e ns uste n a n ce o f life in a ir , g e t e ve r g o n e hos s e e n , c o n t i n u e st o s ee , a n d lo ve s th e sh e ll o l' sh a d o wo f t he ob j e c t . I n t h e E p i f o gu eh e a lso ssu s: lfa tu r eh o s its o wn s pec ifi c l i g h t , w h i c h i s n o t p e r ce p tib le to o u r e g e s. l{ o tu r e ' s s hado ws p p e s r st o o u r e u e s o s E b o d g . An d if th e lig h t o f nat ur es h i n e su p o ns o m e on ea , t o n ceth e sh a d o w is lifte d fr o m his eg e s a n d h e c a n s e e w ith o u t im p e d im e n th t e p o in t o f th e m agne tc o r r e s p o n d i ntg o th e ce n tr eo f e o chr o g in th e skg o n d on ear t h . F o r t h e l i g h t of n o tu r e p e n e tr a te s r s fa r a s th o t, rev eol i n gw h a t i s w i t h i n . He a l s o s s g s : E v e r gc r e o tu r em a ke s u se o f it, b u t in visib lg A nd ev e r g t h i n gi n t h e w or ld is m a d efr o m it a n d live s in it.

27

But t h e r e i s n o s p e c i f i c q u r litg in it; r tth e r it m ixe s in with es c hs p e c i f i c q u a l i t g .

ADDEHDU|'1

w a t e r c a p t u re dfr o m a ir , m e lte d sn o w a n d tir th a t Besides r g o o d fo r th is f reeze s o n t r e e s i n t h e m o n th o f De ce m b eis us e. I n s u m m e r ,m e l t e d h a il is b e tte r th a n a n g th in ge lse , 0 r im p r in t o n th e fir m a m e n t i t h a s l e f t a n i mp r e ssio n bec a u s e and h a s b e e nm i x e dw i t h lig h tn in g . De w sh o u lda lso b e g ive n prope rc r e d i t h e r e . A m o n go t h e r m e t h o d so f ca p tu r in ga ir in th e su b sttn ceo f wit er i s t h e f o l l o w i n g : a io p - p e r in str u m e n t,o n e o r ' se ye r a l, co n sistin go f two o r on t he m o d e l o f a s m a l l m e a su r in g - cu p t hree p a r t s i s p r e p a r e da n d fir m lg so ld e r e d . Pu t a ' lo r g e i n t h e l o we r p a r t, wh ich is th e n we ig h te dd swn bat hi n gs p o n g e under t w o p o u n d s0 f m ar b le th a t h o s b e e n cr lcin e d fo r five dags a n d n i g h t s i n a g l a ss- b lo win g fu r n a ce ,a n d o n e p o u n do f r ed m a r b l eb r o k e ni n t o c hip s th e size o f filb e r ts. Air is th e n dr awn o u t bg E l o\y , n a r r o w t u b e in t o a v e s s e l p la c e d unde r n e a t h The h o t t e r t h e f u r n a cein wh ich th is in str u m e n tis p la ce d , t he m o r e i n t e n s ew i l l b e th e co ld o u tsid eth e ch a n n e th l rough whic h t h e h i g h e r p a r t of th e in str u m e n t g r a d u a llge xte n d s s v r s gf r o m t h e l o w e r p a rt to wa r d a n e xtr e m e lgn sr r o w,m in u te

28

hole, b a r e l g a b l e t o a c c om o d a te th e h e a do f a p in . Also , m o r e wat er w i l l m o r e q u i c k lg b e co lle cte d in to th e o ttr a ctin g ins t r u m e n t ;a t t h e e n d , i t will p o u r in in cr e d ib le q u a n titie s int o t h e v e s s e l u n d e rn e a th ,p a ssin g th r 0 u g h th e sp o n g e weigh t e d d o w n w i t h m a r b le . a n di n c r e d i b l ee ff e cts. mar v e l l o u s An d th is wa te r p r o d u ce s

29

6Ch a p te r h e h ig h e rp a r t o f th e lla tte r o f Concernint g the P h i l o s o p h e r ' s Sto n e , th a t is, th e

I n f l u e n c eo f s u n , m o o n ,a n d sta r s, b Uwh ich t h e c o r p o r e g l L iq u id is m a d e in to sta r s when mixed with aqaa aerea water

c o n d e n s e df r o m Eir . in clu d in g a cle a r E x p o s i t i o n i n th e lig h t o f d a g , b g th e s g m p a t h e t i c i n flu e n ce o f th e h ig h e r a n d lower spheres. 0n this topic, the text reads: Then this Eguaspiritualis emer g e s ,E n d b o t h k i n d s o f wo te r 6 r e se e n jo in e d in o n e v es s e l ,u n d e ra c l e a r s k g with b r ig h t sta r s; a n dce le stia l r a g s c onv e r g e u p o ni t . B u t i f r a in fa lls, co ye rit. Se n d i y o g i u s , t h e E pilo g u e :T h in k ca r e fu llg h o w th e fo u r in elem e n t sd i s t i l l , i n t h e ce n tr e o f th e e a r th , a m o ist r a d ica l, and h o w t h e t e r r e s t r i a l su n a t th e ce n tr e d r a ws it o u t b g its own m o t i o n a n d r a i s e s it to th e su r fa ce . Ho w co n sid e rh o w t he ce l e s t i a l s u n c o r r e sp a n d s to th e ce n tr o l su n - F o r th e c eles t i s l s u n a n d m o o n h o ve E sp e cific fo r ce 0 r p o lye r o f dis t il l a t i o n i n t h e r o u s th e g se n d to e a r th . lt is e ssu to c om b i n e h e a t w i t h h e a t a n dsa lt with sa lt. Ju st n s th e ce n tr a l s un h a s i t s s e E , w i t h h e 0 vg , r o u g h , ta n g ib le wEte r , th e c eles t i a l s u n h a s i t s s e o, with f in e a n d in ta n g ib lewa te r . 0 n

30

t he ea r t h ' s s u r f a c e ,r o g s lin k u p with o th e r r su s a n d p r o d u ce f lower s a n d a l l t h i n g s . I n a d d itio n ,wh e nr a in fa lls, it ta ke s a lif e f o r c e f r o m t h e a i r a n d co m b in e s with n a tr o n sa lt in th e s oil, a s t h a t s a l t a p p e a r s in th e fo r m o f ca lcin e dta r ta r . Bg it s dr g n e s s ,i t a t t r s c t s e ir , wh ich th e n d isso lve sin to wa te r ins ide i t . l t d e r i v e s i t s p o we r o f sttr a ctio n fr o m th e n str o n in t he s o i l , n o t r o n w h i ch h a s a lso b e e n a ir co m b in e dwith oilines s i n t h e s o i l . l { h e n th e su n ' sr sg s in cr e a se so , d o e sth e quont i t g o f n a t r o ns a l t . A s a r e su lt, th e r e is m o r e o f it e ye r u

dau-

ADDETIDUIl | ) L i q u i d s a l t w ote r a n d ca p tu r e d o q u a o e r g a , w a t e r c o n de n se d fr o m Eir , o lwa g s h a v et h e s a m ew e i g h t. 2 ) T n e g l a s s s h o u l db e r e a d itg a va ila b lea n d inexpensive. 3 ) Y o us h o u l dp u t a m a r k o n it, so th a t g o u c a n o b s e r v e h o w m u ch o f th e wa te r c0 n d e n s e r l o m a i r will d r g u p in th e su n ' s fr h e a t a n d s o t h a t U o u co n r e p le n ish it b g p o u r i n gi n m o r e . 4 ) l f t h e s u n ' sh e a t is to o in te n se ,th e g la ss s h o u l db e c o v e r e d w ith a b o u o h .

3l

5 ) l t s h o u l do l s o b e se t o u t a t th e tim e o f the full moon. 6 ) T h e l o n g e r i t is se t o u t in th e o p e nr ir , the better it wiil be. ? ) A f t e r t h r e e d o g s it will b e o b vio u s th o t t h e w o t e r i s t h icke n in g a n d b e g in n in g to congeol.

32

Ch u p te r 7. Concerning t h e Un io n0 f h ig h e r a n d lo we r , t h a t i s , c o n c e r nin gth e fo r m a tio n o f th e c e n t r a l s a l t i n m ixe d wa te r ; a n d th e ir d e r i v a t i v e s ,w h i c h o r e kn o wno s co n g e a le d w a t e r t h a t h a s n o p o we rto m o iste nh a n d s. T he t e x t a d d s t h e f o l l o win g : Cr g sta lswill b e fo r m e d ,a n d it is im p o r t a n t t o c o l l e c t th e m . T h is is th e d o u b le d m e r cu r g of t he P h i l o s o p h e r s w , h i c h is th e m o th e ro f a ll m e tsls, a n dth e f ir s t m a t t e r . S en d i v o g i u st,r e a t i s e l 0 : Ce le stia lwo te r h a s n o p o we r to m ois t e n h a n d s ;i t i s n o t co m m o n p lo ce h,u t it is clo se to r a in wat er. l t i s a l s o c a l l e d lu n a n o slr a - ' o u r llo o n ' o r so p h ic m erc ur g- 0 r t h e w o m bt h at r e ce ive sth e se e do f g o ld . Sen d i v o g i u w s a n t e dt o ske tch in a fe w wo r d s th e p r in cip le s bg whic h t h i s w a t e r i s p r e p a r e d . F r o m tr e a tise 2 : Co n sid e r s im ple w a t e r f r o m c l o u d s: h a s a n g o n e e ye r b e lie ve dth a t it c ont ain s e v e r g t h i n gt h e w o r ld co n tsin s h a r d sto n e s, sa lt, air, ear t h , f i r e - w h e n w o te r lo o ks so sim p le b g itse lf? lJh a t c an ls a g s b o u t e o r t h , r v h ichh 0 ld s in sid e it wo te r , fir e , sa lt, oir, an d s o o f , , g e t b g i tse lf lo o ks b a r e ? Ho w m a r ve llo u s nat ur e i s ; o u t o f w o t e r i t p r o d u ce s m a r ve llo u sfr u its in th e ear t h, a n d o u t o f a i r i t p r ovid e s th e m with th e m e o n s o f life . F rom t h e E p i l o g u e : Air is th e m a tte r o f th e a n cie n t

33

P hilo s o p h e r s . l t i s t h e wste r o f d e w, fr o m wh ich th e s alt p e t r e o f t h e P h i l o s o p h e r s is e xtr a cte d ;a n d b g th e a ctio n of t h i s s a l t p e t r e a l l t h i n g s g r o w a n d a r e n o u r ish e d .lt is a tso 0 magnetw , h i c h l h a v e ca lle d ste e l in th e p r e ce d in g te xt. Air generatesthis magnet;the mognetgeneratesour air {'aeren nas tr u m )a n d m a k e si t ap p e a r . I h a ve so le m n lgr e ve a le dth is t r ut h t o g o u ; p r E U6 o d t o fo vo u r g o u r u n d e r ta kin g s.T h e r e is als o i n a i r a h i d d e ns u bsta n ce o f life wh ich we ca ll d e w b g night a n d r a r i f i e d w o t er b g d u g ; its in visib le sp ir it, o n ce c ong e a l e di,s b e t t e r t h a n a n g so il wh a te ve r . Also o u r p o n tic water {aqaanastra panlica) coagulotesto sophic sulphur and sophicmercurgtifal andrunal also wonttrouslg to sophic steel nostro)bgmeansof artifice anda prudentartisan. tbhalghe From Thetfgsterg: This water is aqaa rilae-"which has the por y e rt o i m p r o v e t h e f ru it o f E so la r tr e e s0 g r e a ilg th a t af t erw a r d s t h e t r e e n e e d s n o p la n tin g 0 r g r r ftin g ; b g its f r agra n c e a l o n ei t p r o d u ce s six m o r e id e n tica l tr e e s. I{ o o th e r water, whether agaE pantis or aqaafartis or woter drawn out of v ar i o u s s u b s t a n c e c s an d o th is; b u t it is a lwa g sp o iso n o u s unless i t i s d r o w n o u t of th e r a u s o f su n sn d m o o n with E magnetor sophic steel. lts proper nEmeis agaamaris naslri. 0ur s e 8 w a t e r , o r a q a av i ta r th a t d o e sn o t le a veh a n d swe t.

34

F I RST ADDEHDUH The t e x t c l a i m s t h a t cr g sta ls g r o w b g th e m se lye s d u r in ga s t orm , b u t w e m u s t l e t th is p r o ce ssh a p p e n in its o wn tim e , bec au s e i f w e r u s h i t w e co u ld d istu r b it. So m ep e o p leu se mix ed w a t e r t h a t h o s b e e ne xp o se d to a ir fo r s wh ile . t{ h e n t heg t h i n k t h a t i t h a s b ee nsu fficie n tlg im p r e g n a te d b g lu n a r and s o l E r r E g s ,t h e g l e t i t e va p o r ste o ve r ssn dto th e h o lfwa g point ; t h e n t h e g s e t i t o ut in a co o l p la ce 0 r E co o l r o o m to f orm c r g s t o l s , T h e s et h eg e xtr a ct with wo o d e n to n g s,p o u r in s om e a i r f r o m t h e n e w w a te r in to th e le fto ve r wo te r , a n d ogain s e t i t i n t h e o p e na ir a s b e fo r e ;a n dth e g r e p e a tth is fo r as long a s c r g s t a l s k e e pf o r m in g . Her e I d o n o t w a n t t o le a ve a n g th in go u t, so I sh o u ldsa g t hat s o m e o f t h e P h i l o s op h e r m s ixe d cr g sta ls with r a w fir st m rt t er a n d f o r m e d l i t t l e b a lls o f it, th e n tlistille d it in th e manne rd e s c r i b e di n c h a pte r 2 . Afte r th is, d a r k te r r e str ia l s pir it s a n d c e l e s t i a l o n e s r e d a s b lo o d se ttte d d o wn in to th e r ec eiv i n gv e s s e l . T h e gc a lle d th is wa te r th e d o u b le{ d u p lice m , mer c u r g o f t h e P h i l o s o p h e r s.In its m o ist a n d liq u id fo r m , t heg al s o c a l l e d i t v i r g i n ' s m ilk a n de xtr e m e lg so u r vin e g a r . t f it h t h i s m e n s t r u u m t he g r r e r e o b le to d isso lveo ll m e ta ls on o t a b l e a n d e x t r a c t s u lp h u ra n d so u ls o r e sse n ce s { a n im u st p a r t fa lls to th e b o tto m . Bu t n o f r om t h e m , f o r t h e c o r p o r e a l s olut io n o f g o l d c a n b e ma d e fr o m th e se d im e n tu n le ss th e f ix ed s a l t f r o m i t s d i s t i l l a tio n h o s fir st b e e nd isso lve din th e

35

s 6m el i q u i d . T h e nt h e g p o u r th r e e p tr ts o f wa te r o ve r o n e p a r t of re f i n e d g o l d a n d c o mp le teth e e xtr a ctio n in h a lf a n h su r . d i d n ot tr o u b le with le sse r m e ta ls; th e g The P h i l o s o p h e r s pr iz e d g o l d a n ds i l v e r f or m e d ica lu se s a n d fo r th e p u r p o se of th is p u r p o se in va r io u s wa g s b g m ak i n gg o l d . T h e g a c h ie ve d o f a s u b s t r a t e ,a s th e f o llo win gte xt will sh o w. m ean s

ADDEilDUM SECOIID

I n t h i s s e c t i o n I f e e l th a t lm u st m e n tio nd r g , cr g sta llin e wat e r , w h i c h g r o v r s i n a n d o u t o f th e o il 0 f co m m o nsa lt. A rt if i c e r s c a l l t h e c r g sta ls swe e t sa lt, a s th e g h a ve e a r n e d to t he t i t l e ' p h i l o s o p h i cme r cu r u .' T h e g a r e a lso co n sid e r e d sslt is be ps r t o f t h e g r e o t P h i lo so p h e r 'Sto s n e ,sin ce co m m o n deem e d a n dd e c r e e d t h e ce n tr eo f th e e le m e n twa te r , a ctin g a s r adic a l a n d p r i n c i F l eo f me ta l fo r m a tio n . Bu t th e r e Er e o th e r c r gs t a l s f s r s u p e r i o r t o th e se : th e o n e s th a t co m e fr o m c om m o n s a l t , a r e m o i ste n e d se ve r a l tim e s with e sse n ce { bnim a } o f l e a d a n d d r i e d , a n dfin a llg tlistille d b g th e r u le s o f art . T h e g a r e s u p e r i o r b e ca u seth e co o ln e sso f th e h ig h e st a n dth e cr g sta lliza tio no f n a tr o n met a l i s l e n t t o t h e p r o ce ss, is r ei n f o r c e d - Y o u s h o u ldse e to it th a t th e cr g sta lliza tio n t ak es p l a c e n a t u r a l l g in th e o p e n a ir a n d th a t it is im pre g n a t e tb l g a s t r a l i n flu e n cewith th e a id o f ca p tu r e da ir , in ch a p te r s5 , 6 , a n d 7 . lf ac c o r d i n g t o t h e p r o c e ssd e scr ib e d

36

Uou do t h i s , g o u w i l l n o t h a ve to yr 0 r r g a h o u t th e ta sks des c ri b e di n c h a p t e r s2 , 3, o n d 4 ; th e g will b e scco m p lish e d y erg s i m p l Uw i t h l u m p so f so il a n dn o th in ge lse a d d e d . In th is wag Uo uw i l l o b t a i nt h e n ob lem a g n e sio o f fir e , wh ich h a s b e e n nur t ur e da n d i n c r e a s e di n fir e a n d th r o u g hfir e ; it fo r m s a n d produc e s t h e o u t h e n t i cs o n o f fir e . lf so m e th in g is a d d e dto anim a t e ds a l t f r o m s u b s tr a teo f th e e o r th . a n d a d istilla tio n of bot h i s m o d e a c c o r d in g to th e m e th o d a n d p r o ce d u r e des c ri b e db g A n d r e ao f ( P la we n ) , it will p r o ve su p e r io r . As f or ho w t o a c c o m p l i s h t h is - h o w to p r e p o r eswe e t cr g sto ls f rom th e o i l 0 f s a l t s i m p lg , b g E co m m o np r o ce ss th e prac t ic e r v a s l u c i d l g d e scr ib e d b g th e g r e a t Ph ilo so p h e r J ohan n e s Augurellus i n a l o n g p o e ma n d in E su m m a r g th a t wa s lat er m a d eo f i t . l r e f e r th e kin d r e a d e r to h im . He h im se lf s ags t h a t t h i s w o r k c a n n o t b e co m p le te din le ss th a n th r e e Ueor s ,a n d t o r l i s t i n g u i shth e wo r k fr o m o th e r s it h a s b e e n c olled t h e w o r k o f t h r e e g e sr s. Actu a l p r a ctice va r ie s; th e r e Er e m o n gp a t h s t o t h e s a m eg o a l. So m ewo r ks fo llo w a sh o r t pot h, o t h e r s o l o n g o n e . f{ e ce ssitg co m p e lsu s, if we a r e to ac hiev e E true u n d e rsta n d in g o f s0 m sn g d iffe r e n t

P hilos o p h i c a l w r i t e r s , t o m a ke u se fu l d istin ctio n s sm o n g t hes e d i v e r s e P h i l , r s o F hica wo l r ks sn tl n o t to b e n da n d twist ey er u s i n g l e t h i n g s o fo r cib lg in to o n lg o n e sto n e , o n e m edic i n e ,o n e y e s s e l , o n e fir e , a n d ss o n . All th in g s p r o ce e d f r om a s i n g l e r a d i c a l o r b Ese ,a n da r e th e r e fo r efu n d a m e n ta llg th e m o n e m u st u se two in g r e d ie n tsone, s o t h a t i n p r e p a r i n g

37

mat t e r a n d f o r m , a c t i ve o n d p a ssive . Still, th e o ctu a l prac ti c e o f a r r i v i n g a t th e so m eco m p o sitio nca n d iffe r , a n d t hat i s w h g t h e w o r k s a re so d ive r se . t h e r e i s no w, b e sid e sth e wo r k o f th r e e Ue o r s, Accordinglg E wo r k o f t h r e e m o n th s, th r e e we e ks, th r e e d a g s, En d , a l l o f t h e s e ,th r e e h o u r s. Ila r g th e p r o p h e te ss wa s s urpa s s i n g r f ke e nin te lle ct, o r a t r ain e di n t h i s l a s t w o r k; a Ph ilo so p h eo well- t r a i n e d a r t i s a n , will b e o b le to in ve stig a te wh a t sh e with th e Ph ilo so p h e Ar r o s. In les r n e d f r o m h e r d i s c u ssio n s additi o n ,t h e r e s r e o t h e r wo r ks,ca lle d th e wo r k o f o n en a tu r a l wh o d o e s dag, o n e m o n t h ,o n e U e sr ,En dn in e m o n th s. An g o n e not k n o w t h e d i s t i n c t i o n s sm o n gth e se a n d o th e r su ch th in g s lags c l a i m t o t h i s s a g i n g : ' He sh o u ldta ke h is h a n do ff th e
r e in s.' A nd though al l t h e s e a f o r e s a id wo r k s E r e t o b e

unde r s t o o d o n l g b g t h e tim e o f o p e r a tio nfr o m fir st to la st, nev e r t h e l e s s it canhappen th a t o th e r wo r ks sr e m ixe d in with t hem , a n d t h e n b o t h o p e r a tio n s,a n te ce d e n t a n d co n se q u e n t, E re in c l u d e di n t h e t i me sp o n liste d a b o ve . Bu t sin ce th e purpo s eh e r e h a s b e e n me r e lg to g ive Uo ua ca su a l wa r n in g s bou t t h e s e m a t t e r s , t h e r e is n o n e e d to d we ll o n th e m further.

38

Ch a p t e r E .

Concerning t h e s ub str a teo f th e fo r m o f th e stone, that is, concerningEarutnvivum or l i v i n g g o l d ,a n d t h e p r e p a r a tio n fo r r e fin in g it. The t e x t o n t h i s t o p ic b e g in s: ' Go ld a n d sil,r e r Er e , , e a d ,b u t th e so lid s th st a r e to ke n fr o m f s m ilia r l g s p e a k i n g d v eins o f g o l d d e p o s i t s , 0 r fr o m r ive r s o f wa te r to b e wa sh e d , and wh i c h h a v e n e y e r b ee nsu b je cte dto fir e , Er e livin g a n d s houldb e r e f i n e d w i t h p r e cisio n .'

ADDEHDUT{ There are variousjudgmentsabout Earur? ritum, as well as opinio n s o f P h i l o s o p h e r s a n d Ar tifice r s 0 n su ch su b je cts Es g o l d t h a t h a s n e ye rb e e nsu b je cte d who c a n p o s s e s s to fir e 0 r work e d ;w h a t s o r t o c c u r sin co m p sctf o r m , sp a r klin gin little point s a n d g r a i n s ; a l s o wh a t so r t 0 ccu r s in r ive r s 0 r in minera l s o f t h e m o u n t a i n s. Su r e lgth is p e r so nis p r o ce e tlin g c orr ec t l g a c c o r d i n gt s t he lite r a l se n se ; still, in tim e o f nec es s i t g ,t h e s u l p h u ro f g o ld in m in e r a ls- so p h icsu lp h u rg o ld . c an oc c s s i o n a l l gt a k e t h e p la ce sf n o tu r a l co m p a cte d t rlhenth e c o a r s e s a n d o f g o ld is ta ke n o u t o f wa sh in gb o th s,

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t he o t h e r m i n e r a l s f r e im b u e d with th e r a d io n ce o f g o ld . O t he r t h a n g o l d t h e r e is n o m e tsl wh ich ca n fa ith fu llg b e identi f i e d b g s n a s s s gof o n lg 0 m in u te p ie ce . In th in g s th a t o f g o ld , is ve r g n e a r , ar e s i m i l a r t o i t , a u r e i la s,th e e sse n ce appe a r i n gd i r e c t l g i n o th e r m e ta l su b str a te s. So m e o f th e P hilo s o f h e r sg s v e t h e se th in g s th e n a m e o f g r e e n g o ld o r with in co m p o r iso n ef th e ir im p e r fe ctio n aara mv i v u m b e c a u so t he h i g h e s t p e r f e c t i o n of so la r g o ld . T h e n a tu r e o f th e g o ld des c r i b e d o b o v e i n c l u de s E ce r ta in r e m o te , in d e e d ye r g and w h i c h p a r tlU b g th e p o th o f p r o g r e ssio n rem o t e ,p o t e n c g , par t l g b g t h e p s t h o f r e g r e ssio n ca n b e le d b a ck with e f f o r t t o th e h e ig h t c ons i d e r a b l e th a t is, to th e p e r fe ct s t s t u s a n d r a n k o f g o l d . Pa r a ce lsu s r ig h tlg d e n ie dth a t th is pot en c gw a s r e m o t e w h e n , in th e fir st tr e a tise , h e sa id th e f ollow i n g a b o u t m i n e r a ls: lf th e a lch e m istsco u ld fin d th is s ulph u r ,s i n c e i t c a n b e fo u n din th e tr e e o f so p h icsu lp h u ra n d als o i n i t s r o o t , t h e g w ou ld h a ver e a so nto r e jo ice . F o r it is t he s u l p h u ro f g o l d , w h i ch is n o t th e sEm ea s th a t d r a wn o u t of iro n a n d c o p p e r . T h is is wh a t th e g ta ke p a in s with in a ll t heir w o r k . E v e n t h o u g h o u r t e x t is a b u n d a n tlgco n fir m e d b g th is c it s t i o n o f a u t h o r i t g ,f o r En e ye ng r e a te rco n fir m a tio nI sh a ll bring i n a c o m p a r i s o n f r om Pa r a ce lsu o s n th is su b je ct- In th e s ec on dt r e a t i s e o n t h e m e th o do f p r e p o r in gd r u g s, h e sa g s: 0bs e r v et h e d i s t i n c t i o n be twe e n sto n e s- n tm e lg th e o n e sth st are in w a t e r o n d t h e o ne s th st a r e o u t o f wa te r - A sto n e in

40

r y at er i s c o m p o s e d o f i t s own vig o r o u sliq u id s; a sto n e o u t o f wat er h a s l o s t t h e m . H e re ,sa g s Pa r a ce lsu s, lie s th e e r r o r o f t he alc h e m i s t s ; a l s o t h e e r r o r o f th o se wh o se a r ch fo r th e quint e s s e n c e o r f i f t h e s s e n ceEn , dwh o wa n t to p r e p a r eg r e a t Elix irs, g r e a t m a g i s t e ria , a n d 6 r cEn E. T h e g Er e a ll f undam e n t a l l g w r o n g a s l on g a s th e g ca n n o tte ll livin g f r sm dead- s s m e t h i n g t h a t m u st b e u n d e r sto o d co n ce r n in g fu se d o r ignit ed s n d r a w , s t i l l u nfu se dm e ta ls. Se n d ivo g iu s sg r e e s wit h t h a t w h e n h e s a g s i n th e se ve n thtr e a tise : T h e r e is n o point in l o o k i n g f o r s e ed 0 n tr e e s th a t h a ve b e e n ch o p p e d down;i t c a n b e f o u n do n l g 0 n g r e e ntr e e s. In th e sa m ep la ce he s ag s : l { o s e e d i s f o u n d in d e sd th in g s; a s lo n g a s th e r e is s eedin a b o d g ,t h e b o d gi s o live . lJh e na ll o f it is co n su m e d , t he bod gd i e s . Y / ec a n s e e th st a fte r th e e m issio no f se e da ll bodiesb e c o m ew e a k . F r o m tr e o tise 3 : Do n o t lo o k fo r th a t point in m e t o l s i n w h i c h i t d o e s n o t e xist, fo r th e se m e ta ls, and go l d i n p a r t i c u l a r , a r e d e a d ;b u t o u r so p h icm e tsls h a ve s pir it s a n d a r e l i v i n g . T h e se o r e e m p h a tica llg th e o n e s Uo u mus t c h o o s e .U n d e r s t a n t d h a t th e life o f m e ta fsis fir e , fo r a s long E s i t r e m s i n s i n i t s m in e r a ls; th e d e a th o f m e ta ls is pr ec is e l gt h e f i r e o f f u s i on . He a lso sa g s,in T h eftg ste .r 3 r .' T h e deat h o f t h i n g s i s n o t h in g b u t r h e se p a r a tio no f o n e fr o m anot he r . P o r a c e l s u s s o g s: lt is cle a r th a t m in e r sls o r e o f great e r p o w e r t h s n t h e i r m e ta l, fo r ' th e se m e ta ls, a n dg o fd in part ic u l a r , a r e d e a d ,b u t ou r so p h ic m e ta ls h a ve sp ir its a n d are liv i n g . U n d e r s t a n d t h at th e life o f m e ta ls is fir e , fo r a s

4l

long a s i t r e m a i n si n i t s m in e r sls' a n ds0 o n . F o r in fu sio n its liguid s o f l i f e d e p a r t f ro m it - n a m e lg ,th e sp ir its o f sa lt, d e a dm e ta l. - a n dle a veb e h in d s ulph u r ,o n dm e r c u r u i n th is cg se , if we co n sid e rit so m e wh a t Y l h o t e v eh r sppens is b g n o , Ph ilo so p h e r mor e p r o f o u n d l ga n d f un d a m e n ta llg o meon sc o m p e l l e dt o d e a l with th e se m a te r ia ls th a t a r e so , ce a n d th a t d o n o t o ccu r e ve r g wh e r esin dif f ic u l t t o c o m p s r e andnew ang d e o dm a t e r i a l a t a l l ca n e a silg a tta in g e n e r Etio n lif e i n a n d t h r o u g hi t s m o th e r su b sta n ce - An d so g o ld a n d s ilv e r fused t o g e t h er , u su a llg co n sid e r e d d e a d a n d unpr o d u c t i y ec , E n b e r esu scita te da n d r e vive d so th a t th e g p o w e r f u la n d e f fico cio u sin m e d icin ea n d o th e r th in g s bec o m e ritae. which as well. I will sag nothingaboutmercurial Eqaae 6re u s e f u l i n b o t h t h e d r g a n d th e m o ist m e th o d s. lt is poin t l e s st o r e s u s c i t a te th e d e a db o tlgo f o r d in a r gg o ld with t hem s o t h a t i t c a n c o m efo r wa r d fo r livin g o p e r a tio n s.At th e end sf t h e E p i l o g u eS , e n d ivo g iu wr s ite s: Eve r g o n e wh o wo r ks wit h h e r b s , a n l m a l s , s to n e s, a n d m in e r a ls o th e r th a n so p h ic s ulph u r a n d s o p h i c m e rcu r g ,wh ich a r e d r a wn d o wn fr o m th e s phe r eo f S a t u r n ,l o b o u rsin vo in . An d in tr e a tise 9 : T h e r e is one m e t o l w h i c h h a s t h e p o we r to e o n su m e o th e r s. lt o cts alm o s t E s i f i t r l e r e t h e ir vr o te r , sn d a cts a u th e n tica llgEs t heir m o t h e r s u b s t s n c e . lf g o ld u n ite s with itse lf e le ve n t im es , i t e m i t s i t s s e e da n d b e co m e s we a ka lm o st to th e p o in t of de a t h . l n t r e a t i s e 2 , Se n d ivo g iu s b r ie flg sh o ws h o w th is c alc i n a t i o ns h o u l db e d o n e : ' lf g o u g ive a n o ld m a n g o ld a n d

42

s ilv er t o s w a l l o w , s o t h a t h e co n su m e s th e m a n d u n d e r g o e s c ombu s t i o n e v e n a s h e i s a b o u t to d ie , th e n sca tte r h is a sh e s ov er s o m e e x t r a c t i n g w o te r a n d co o k th e m su fficie n tlg , g o u will h o v e a m e d i c i n et h a t cu r e s le p r o sg .' He r e I sh o u ldo r ld t hs t t h e c l o s e r t h e d i s s olvin ga n d e xtr a ctin g m e n str u sco m e t o eit h e r t h e r o d i c a l p r i n cip le s o f m e ta ls o r to th e e xce lle n t s im pli c i t g o f t h e e l e m e ntsa n d a r e r e la te d to th e m , th e m o r e ex c ell e n ta n d m o r e v a l u a b leth e so lu tio n swill b e , Es we ll a s mor ee f f e c t i v e a n du s e fu l.

43

Ch a p te r 9. Concerning t h e so lu tio n 0 r o p e n in go f th e pores 0f the bodgor of Eurutnyiyumin the p h i l o s o p h i c m e r cu r u d u p le x, fo r emission of sperm. T h e t e x t c o n t i n u e s :T a kete n p a r ts o f m e r cu r u d u p le xo f th e Philo s o p h e r sa n d o n e po r t o f th e a fo r e m e n tio n e d g o ltl o r s ily e r , p u t i t i n a p h i a l , le a yin gtwo p o r ts e m p tg ,sn d se a l it her m e tc i a lI g . I n t r e a t i s e 7 , S e n d i vo g iu so s u s: T h e p o r e s o f b o d ie sm u st be op e n e d s o t h a t t h e u c a n e m it sp e r m ,in th e ce n tr eo f wh ich lies t h e s e e dw h i c h i s a i r . tr { h e n th is co m e sin to its d e stin e d m at ri x , i t b e c o m e s c o n ge a le do , n da lso co n g e a ls wh a t it f in d s in a p u r e s t o t e o r a m i x t u r e o f im p u r ea n dp u r e . th e

ADDEHDUH

Se n d i v o g i u st,r e a t i s e 7 :

T h e g o ld - p r o d u cin g se e d cEn b e

ex t r a c t e d i n t w o w o g s : g e n ilg a n d fo r cib lg . lf g o u wa n t to per f o r mt h e o c t i o n g e n i l g,fo llo w th e te xt o f th is ch a p te r ,a n d s et t h e p r o c e s si n m o t i on g e n tlg a n d slo wlg with a g u a sicr a .. dr g w a t e r , w h i c h h s s g ro vr nb g n a tu r a l sg e n cgwith o n lg th e s lighte s t h e l p f r o m a r t. Se n d ivo g iu sca lle d th is drU

44

c rgs t o l l i n e w a t e r t h e o t h e r kin d o f ste e l, wh ich is sim ila r to p o we ro f a ttr a ctio n . t his m e t a l l i c o n e ,o r l e a { , in its m a g n e tic I t is cr e a t e db g n a t u r e , E n dfr o m th e su n ' s r sg s it ca n e licit what s o m a n gp e o p l eh a ye lo o ke dfo r , b g a wo n d r o u s e a r th lg f orc e a n d p o w e r . l t i s t h e p r in cip le o r b e g in n in g o f o u r wo r k, p r i n c ip le o r in g r e d ie n t. lt ta ke s th e p la ce t hat is , t h e s e c o n d of formlh e a n im t t o b e o c er ta in d istin ctio nb e twe e n T he r eo p p e f r r s ca lle d , or es se n c e o f s o p h i cs u l p hu r{ sa lis} ,a s it is co m m o n lg s lle d and t he s e e d o f g o l d , s i n ce in h is p r e fo ceSe n d ivo g iu ca ; e kin d r e a d e r m e r ep e r su a sio nth t he ex tr a c t i o no f t h e e s s e n ce sid n o t co m p u te th e two s houldt a k e n o t e o f t h i s . S e n d ivo g iud p r o d u ce s o sim ila r e f f e ct, mat er i a l sa s o n e ;s t i l l , t he e sse n ce lik e t h e s e e d o f g o l t l w h e n a wo r k is skilfu llg m a n a g e d .In t his m a t t e r t h e r e i s o n l Uon ewo g to a im a t th e ta r g e t to ke e p s omeo n e f r o m f a l l i n g i n t o e r r o r a b o u tth e m e th 0 d - r e a llg two met ho d s o f e x t r a c t i n g En e sse n ce . 0 f th e se m e th o d so n e alc hem i c a l m e t h o d i s s o p h istica l a n d su ite d to im p o sto r s; s inc e i n f a c t t h e s u l p h u r0 r e sse n ce o f g o ld e xtr a cte din th is wag pr o d u c e s a n i m p e r m a n e ntin t ctu r e , wh ich Pa r a ce lsu s ca lls a t inc t u r e o f m e r ec o l o u rr a th e r th a n p o r ve r .T h e o th e r m e th o d depen d so , n t h e P h i l 0 s op h icl{ a g , b g wh ich sn u m e ta l is aut hen t i c a l l ga n d p e r m a n e n tlg tin ctu r e d in to so p h ic su lp h u r o f a ssa g . o a l l t h e r e q u ir e m e n ts { s alem } a c c o r d i ntg

45

Ch sp te r| 0 .

Concerning the

Extr a ctio n

of

th e

gold-producing se e d- e ffe ctive lg th e fo r m o f t h e s t o n e - w h ich is th e se co n dp a r t o f its Composition.

The t e x t f u r t h e r s s g s: L e a ve it fo r th r e e m o n th s in E f i r e , a n d n o t o nlg will g o ld in su fficie n t q u a n titg b e v apor o u s o f a r u b g . lt is b unc oy e r e d , u t i t w i l l g i ve fo r th th e r e d n e ss , ce it is nec es s s r u t o t a k e c a r e w ith th is r e d su b sto n ce sin philos o p h i c part of g o l d ,t h e t r u e se e do f g o ld , a n d th e se co n d our s to n e . F f h a t e v ee r l s e is le ft o ye r ca n b e p o u r e do u t; it h a s no Y al u e . Sen d i v o g i u s t, r e a t i s e 7: Sin cen a tu r ed o e sn o th in gwith o u t t he s p e r mo f m a t e r i a l s ,t h e r e fo r ewe m u st se e ko u t th e sp e r m g n e ; n o th in gcsn b e d o n e of gol d t o m a k e a g o l d - p r o d u cin sto wit hou t i t . s ulph u r . Fro m t r e a t i s e 2 ; T h e n p u t it in o u r fir e , a n d a d r g liq u id will f o r m . F i r s t d i s s o l veth e so il - th a t is. th e d r g wa te r int o t h e w a t e r c a l l e d t he m e r cu r uo f th e Ph ilo so p h e r s, and t his w o t e r w i l l d i s s o l v e th o se b o d ie s o f so p h ic su lp h u r a n d sophic mercuru {salis et lunae) and consumethem. 0nlg E t ent h p a r t o f i t w i l l b e l e ft o ve r , a n dth is will b e th e se e do r T h e s p e r m o r se e d o f g o ld : its fifth Esse n ce , E lix ir , m o s t p e r f e c t d e c o ctio na n d d ig e stio n , th e ke r n e l o f

46

t he m o i s t m e t a l l i c r a d i c a l.

ADDEHDUTI The following is th e p r o ce ss o f e xtr a ctin g th e

gold- p r o d u c i ns ge e d . T a ke te n p o r ts o f th e m e n str u u m a n do n e part oI aurum tirun, not common gold. llelt it over low heat, pour it o f f a l o n gs n i n c l i n e , a n dle t it e vo p o r a te g e n tlgto h a lf a f ing e r ' s d e p t h ;t h e n p u t it in a co o l p la ce ,o n d cle o r cr g sta ls t inc t e d o r d g e d t h e b r i gh te st sh a d eo f g e llo w will Ep p e sr . Tak e t h e m o u t w i t h w o od e nto n g s, p u t th e m in o p h ia l, th e n s er l th e p h i a l h e r m e t i c a llga n d p u t it in En Ath a n o r in th e f irs t s t o g e , w h e r e t h e f i r e is, fo r fo u r d a g s a n d n ig h ts, a fte r whic h t i m e i t w i l l a p p e a rb la ck. In th e se co n dsta te it will burn t o a s h a n dl o o k l i k e a p e a co ck' s ta il. In th e th ir d sta g eit will t u r n w h i t e . l { o r k w i th th is wh ite su b sto n ce u n til it tu r n s red. A n d a t t h e e n d , w h e n fla m e str ike s th e ve sse l in th e f ourt h s t a g e , g o u w i l l se e o b e a u tifu l, cle sr r e d su b sta n ce appea r i n g s e p a r o t e l gi n th e g la ss. T h e n b e ca r e fu l to b r e a k t he gla s s s k i l f u l l g a n dt s ke th e r e d su b sta n ce o u t a n dp r e se r ye it " T h i s r e d s u b s t a n ceis tr u e p h ilo so p h icg o ltl 0 r r d th e

m e ta ll i c s eed of gol d. On eg r a in o f it is e n o u g h to la st g o u r w h o l e l i feti me.

47

Ch a p te rI l.

Concerning

t he

p la n tin g

of

th e

g o l d - p r o d u c i n gse e d in its

so il, 0 r in

P h i l o s o p h i ct l e rcu r g . T h a t is, co n ce r n in g o f th e m a tte r a n d fo r m o f the Conjunction the Stone sulphur o f sa lt a n d ce n tr a l so p h ic ce n tr a lis) fo r th e (solis

o f th e ch ild o f th e s u p e r - n s t u r ag l e n e r a tio n sun. : e xt ta ke o n e p a r t o f th e se e da n d te n The t e x t c o n t i n u e s H par t s o f P h i l o s o p h i c Es l ' 1 e r cu r u , d ir e cte da b o ve . r o ws kn At t h e e n d o f t r e a t i s e 5 , Se n d ivo g iuso s g s: tr d h o e ve how to c o n g e s lw s t e r w i th h e st o n d jo in to it a sp ir it - th e s pirit u a l s e e d o f g o l d will su r e lg d isco ve r so m e th in gE t hous a n d t i m e s m o r ep r e cio u sth a n g o ld a n de ye r uo th e r th in g . fr o m th e 5o s e e t o i t t h a t t h e p r o lific sp ir it o f g o ld se p a r a te s wat er t h a t i s m i x e di n w ith it in a kin d o f p a r tn e r sh ip .lt will t lec a ga n d a g r a i n o r s e e d will Ep p e a r . T h e n , o n ce g o u h a ve t hrow n o w E g t h e d r e g s, it will d r a w b a ck th e sp ir it fr sm abov e- t h e s e e d o f g o l d th a t h a s b e e nr a ise d a n d su b lim a te d int o w a t e r s e p a r a t e l g in E p h ia l. T h e g will a t o n ce b e c onjo i n e d . T h a t c o n j u n ctio n will g e n e r a te En o ffsp r in g dif f er e n t i n f o r m f r o m i t s p a r e n tsu b stEn ce s. F ro m t r e a t i s e 8 : E v e r gse e dis o f n o im p o r ta n ce in itse lf

48

unless i t i s p l o c e di n i t s d e stin e dm a tr ix e ith e r b g a r t o r b g nat ure . A n d e y e n t h o u ghth is se e d in itse lf is n o b le r th a n ey erg o t h e r c r e a t e d t h i ng , it is th e m a tr ix th a t m a ke s th e grain d e c a ga n d c a u s e st h e co n g e a lin g o f th e p u r e p o in t. In addit i o n ,i t n o u r i s h e s t h e g r a in with th e h e a t o f its b o d ga n d mak esi t g r o w . F ro m t r e a t i s e 9 : | J h e nth e se e dis p la ce din its m a tr ix, it purge s i t a n d m a k e si t E th o u ssn dtim e s b e tte r e q u ip p e d to bring f o r t h t h e b e s t p r o d u cts.

ADDET{DUH T he P h i l o s o p h e r a s l s o o b se r ve d o sim ilo r p r o p o r tio nin th e humid m e t h o d ,a s f o l l o w s: T a ke o n e g r a in o f th is se e d , a n d add t o i t t e n g r a i n s o f t h e wo te r o f th e m e n str u u m d e scr ib e d abov e ; o s s o o na s t h e g a r e co n jo in e dm , a _ ke a h e r m e ticse o l sn d pr oc ee dt h r o u g ht h e s t a g e so f th e Ath o n o rfo r five , se ye n ,o r t en m o n t h su n t i l t h e w o r k is co m pe f te .

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t h e ma tu r in g o f th e Y/o r k in to Concerning i t s p e r fe c t i o n a n dco m p le tio n .

with th e se wo r d s: Pu t th is in a n Fin a l l gt h e t e x t c o n c l u d e s f u r n a cea n d le a veit th e r e o n lo w h e a t A t han o ro r p h i l o s o p h i c g r 0 ce ,g o uwill fin tl wh o t g o u f or s e v e nm o n t h s .T h e n ,b g Go d ' s hav eb e e nl o o k i n gf o r . t, r e a t i s e l0 : Afte r wa r d it is ke p t in 0 ste a d g Se n d i v o g i u s f ir e f o r s e y e n m o n t h s ,so m e tim e sfo r te n , u n til o u r wo te r t h r e e p a r t s o n d le a ye so n e , a n d th is is d o n e twice . c ons u m e s w i t h th e m ilk o f th e e o r th - o r with its T heni t i s n o u r i s h e d and oiline s s - w h i c h s p r i n g sfo r th fr o m th e e a r th ' s a b u n d a n ce is k e p t f r e e f r o m d e c a gb g n a tu r a l sa lt. An d so th e in fa n t o f generation i s b e g o tte n . t he se c o n d T a kete n g r a in so f we ll- co n d e n sea dir in F r o mt h e E p i l o g u e : t he f o r m o f n a t r o ns a l t - th o t is wh g h e ca lls it' o u r s0 il' in treatise | | - and one grain of Euramvivamw luna yiva. Put all t h e s e i n t o g o u r v e s se l a n d co o k th e a ir fir st, so th a t it bec o m e s w a t e r , a n d o f t er wa r d is n o t wa te r . A little fo r th e r on, he s E U s : D i s s o l v et h e co n g e a te a d ir , th e n d isso lves te n th of t he g o l d i n i t . S e a l t h is a n d wo r k with it in o u r fir e u n til r o m th e sa lt t he a i r t u r n s t s d u s t a n d vsr io u sco lo u r sEp p e a fr of t hi s w o r l d . F r o mt r e a t i s e l l : T ake wste r o f n a tr o nsa lt fr o m o u r so il

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ond pu t w i t h i t t h e m o i s t m e ta llic r a d ica l; th e n p u t it o n th e f ir e of d e c a ga n d r e g e n e r a tio nth , o u g hn o t th e sa m e kin d g o u m adein t h e f i r s t o p e r a t i o n to e xtr a ct th e se e do f g o ld . Ha n d le all t he s e w i t h g r e a t s k i l l u n til co lo u r sEp p e a r like th o se in a peoc o c k ' s tril. H a n d l et he m b g se p a r a tin gth e m , a n d d o n 0 t a n d so o n with th e r e st. s t op w o r k i n g u n t i l t h e cslo u r s a r e p r e se n t a n d o n e co lo u r predo m i n a t e s t h e c o l o u r g r e e n A nd w h e ng o u s e e b r o w n a sh e so f th e b o tto m ,a n dth e wa te r is olm os t r e d , o p e nt h e v e s s e l,d ip in a fe a th e r ,sm e o rsn g p ie ce of ir on t o s e e w h t h e r i t is tin cte d ; h o ve 0 n h a n d E sp e cia l wat er a b o u t w h i c h m o r e will b e so id la te r , a n d p o u r in th e s ame a m o u n to f i t a s t h e a m o u n to f cr u d e a ir a lr e o d gin sid e . Cookit o n c em o r e i n t h e fsr m e r fir e u n til it is a g a intin cte d . T his is E s f o r E s m U o yr n e xp e r im e n th a s g o n e . T h e wa te r s houldb e t h e m e n s t r u u m o f th e wo r ld fr o m th e sp h e r eo f th e l'loon, r e c t i f i e d s o m a n gt i m e s th a t it h a s th e p o we r to ca lcin e still r e m a in s to b e sa id s ophic s u l p h u r t k a l e m ) . So m e th in g aboutfi r e . T h e r ea r e t w o kin d s o f f ir e : T h e f ir st is co n tin u a l and en c o m p s s s e m s a t t e r ; it is e xte r n a l fir e a ssistin g th e int er n s l . T h e s e c o n d k i n d is n a tu r o l fir e , wh ich se p a r a te s and f ix es . T h i s f i r e o f n a t ur e is th e o n lg o n e u se d in b o th th e f ir s t a n d s e c o n do p e r o t i o n s;d ista n ceb e twe e np la ce s m a ke s ve sse lsh o u ldb e e n o u g hb , u t to angt h i n g w o r k d i f f e r e n t l g- [Jn e w e u se two . T h e ve sse lfo r th e fir st wo r k s hor t e nt h e p r o c e s s m us t b e r o u n d . B u t f o r t he se co n da slig h tlg sm o lle r o n e csn be us e d - f o r e x a m p l e , a p h ia l o r a n e g g . T h e r eis a lso o n lg

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one one m o t t e r , t h o u g h i t is u n ite d fr o m tws su b sta n ce s, c heap s n d o n e e x t r e m elg p r e cio u s. I h a ve n o w r e ve a le d a b o u tt h e f i r s t o n dse co n d ev er g t h i n g wo r ks. From Theltgsterg' Eur water has fire inside it, rnd if it is pr om p t e db g s t e a d g h e a t it b u r n s o ff th r e e p a r ts o f itse lf. 0nlg t h e m i n u t e s t p a r t will r e m a in , so sm a ll th a t it ca n , e t p o sse ssin g its f u ll e xce lle n ce .lt is s c ar c e l gb e i m a g i n e dg b g t h e w i s e s kill o f a m a ste r fo r se ye nm o n th sa t t hen co o k e d f irs t , a f t e r w a r d f o r t e n . In th e m e a n tim e va r io u ssu b stsn ce s will a p p e a r a , l w o g se i t h er m o r eo r fe we r o n th e fiftie th d a g . I n t h e s o m ep l a c e ,h e sa g s: lt ca n b e im p r o ve d e ve nfu r th e r , as ph i l o s o p h i c w r i t i n g s be a r witn e ss; fir st it ca n b e e xa lte d t o t en , a f t e r t h a t t o a h un d r e d n , e xt to o th o u sa n d a n d to te n t hous a n d .

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t {h a t f o l l o w s i s h o w t he Ph ilo so p h e rm s u ltip lie d th e ir wo r k in t he m o i s t p a t h , a n d p e r h a p s a lso b g th e sa m e to ke n in th e drg pa t h . l ' f u l t i p l i c a t i o nta ke s p la ce in q u a n titga s we ll a s in q, rali t g ,a l w E U s w i . h t e n p a r ts o f its wo te r o r o f p h ilo so p h ic m erc u r gd u p l e xa n d s o o n to in fin itg . T h e fir st tim e it d o e s not t i n c t , b u t i f i t i s p u t in fir e th e se co n d tim e it is perf e c t e d i n t w o m o n t h s' tim e , a n d o n e p o r t tin cts o n lg te n port s. l f g o up u t i t i n f i r e o th ir d tim e , it is fin ish e din th r e e

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p a r ts. lf g o u p u t it in week s s n d o n e p a r t t i n c t s a h u n d r e d f ir e a f o u r t h t i m e , i t i s pe r fe cte din th r e e d a g s,a n d o n e p a r t p a r t s . Afte r th a t a wsr k o f m u ltip lica tio n t inc t s a t h o u s a n d is c om p l e t e di n t h r e e d a gsa t a tim e ,a n d th is is th e wo r k o f t hree d a g s . T h e p r o p o r tio nb g wh ich th e sto n e is e xa lte d in m ult ip l i c o t i o n i s t h e s a m ep r o p o r tio no f tin ctin g it will h a ve in it s q u a n t i t g . l f o n ep a rt 0 f it is p r o je cte do ye r te n p a r ts 0 f E m e d icin eis p r o d u ce d th a t t he pu r e s t g o l d f o r f e r m e n ta tio n , is lik e b r i t t l e g l a s s , a l o n g with a tin ctu r e 0 n th e im p e r fe ct bodies e s p e c i a l l g0 n l l e r cu r g , wh ich is En o p e n m e ta l. A dos e o f t h e s t o n e , b e f o r e it is jo in e d with g o ld , is o n e g r a in i n a n gl i g u i d a t a ll, fo r th e u se o f th e h u m a n dis pen s e d bodg. 6 o d b e p r a ise d . Am e n .

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s n eb g 6 o d ' sg r 0 ce lf gouw a n t t o a c q u i r et h e Ph ilo so p h e r 'Sto llok e s u r e g o u d o n o t l o o k fo r it in h e r b s,a n im a ls, o r m in e r a ls. s ul p h u r ,m e r c u r u , V it r io l , a l u m , s a l t h a v en o va lu efo r th is wo r k, n o r a r e o r i r o n wo r th se e kin g . Lead,t i n , c o p p e r , E v ens - i l v e ro n dg o l d h a v en o p o we r . Eut H g I e - m o t t e r - a n dch a o s- fo r m le ssm a ss- Ecco m p lish ng. evergthi o t f th is ch a o s; i s o n eco m p o n e n T he f l o w e r o f h o n e g T he o t h e r i s r e d e o r t h , o u r fir st m a tte r , At on c ew a t e r a n ds o i l . T he se e do f m e t a l s i n a su b sta n ce ls m a d eo f v o l a t i l e w a t e r ; fixe d wo te r is fr o m th e e a r th . with o u t th e o th e r ; t { eit h e ro f t h e s ec a n d o a n g th in g t h e s tr e n g tho f a ll m e ta lsThes et w o p o s s e s s But t h e g c a n n o tb e m i n e din ve in so f m e ta l with l e g i o n so f w o r k e r sa n dwith e q u ip m e n t. I n t he p l a e e sw h e r eo u r ma tte r is fo u n d ilo me t a l a t a l l c a n b e d i sco ve r e d : I t is fo u n do n l g i n t h e s t r e n g tha n dp o te n cg Whic hw o s c r e a t e di n H g leo r ch a o s. l{ hat f o l l o w s i s h o w t o be g inth e so lu tio n A ndh o w g o us h o u l du s e ea cho f th e sea s a ke g . in th is u n d e r sta n d T he k e g i s p u t r e fa c t i o n ,w h ich Uo um EU

wou:
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A nd c o l l e c t i t s c l o t t e d b lo o d , s ple n d o uo r f th e su n T he no b l ea n dp r e c i o u s e a r th . f r o m t h e c e n t r eo f th e b r e e d in g S epar a t e d a n dit wif l swe o t with a n xie tg . Let it k i n d l e s p o n t a n e o u slU; Wit h g r e a t c o r e s l o w f i r e ca n b e co m p a cte d . lf gou c s r r g t h i s o u t c o r r ectlg Youwi l l s e e o b l o c k c l o u dlo w in th e g la ss, And in a b r i e f s p a no f t i m e it will su b sid e i t s s p i r i t t o w a te r . And c o n Y e r t t h e p u r e fr o m th e im p u r e Dilige n t l gs e p a r a t e w i ll a p p e a r . And at l a s t i t s p o t e n c g d r g fr o m m o ist: Thend i s s o l v ei t t o s e p a ra te fr o m This is t h e w a t e r f r o m t h e e a r th , y0 la tile su b sta n ce fi xed. an end, Thent h e s o l u t i o nh a s r e a ch e d T he s o l u t i o n c o n s u m m a teb dg Pu tr e fa ctio n . This o p e r o t i o n w s s d o n ei n sa n d ,wh e r eg o usa w th e s ub li m a t io n A nd s e p a r o t i o n o f t h e e l e m e n ts: T he ext r a c t i o no f s p i r i t s fr o m th e b o tlg A nd t h e a n i m a t e d s p i r i t o f th e e n d . The t w o v i s i b l e E l e m e n t s, \{ o te r o n dEa r th , Hav eh i d d e ni n t h e m s e l v e s ke e nfir e p u r elg And ar e i m p r e g n a t e d W it h t h e f i f t h i n v i s i b l e n atu r e . l{ow if t h e w o r k i s t o a c hie ve its e n d ,

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llak e a u n i o no f w o m s na ndm o n , O uro w n A d a ms n d f a i r E ve Howl i e t o g e t h e r ,b o t h n ake d . i s e l e g a n to n dp u r e Sinc eF l a t u r e Thusn a t u r er e j o i c e s i n i ts o wn r e a lm with p a ssio n a te a blending n a tu r e , A nda c h i e v e s And so o n e n o t u r ei s k e pt a p a r t fr o m th e o th e r . a bodg; spirit loosens An an i m a t e d a n dc on str icts th e sp ir it. T he b o d gc o n g e a l s T hot s p i r i t h a s c o m ef o r th fr o m th e e a r th A nd in t o e a r t h a g a i nn o w ca st it; f T his w i l l b e d o n ef o r g o ur b e n eit. And f r o m t w o , o n ew i l l r em a info r g o u A nd o n ew i l l r e m a i nw i t ho u t se p a r a tio n . Plac eU o u rm i x t u r e i n a E a tha n dg o uwill se e it lim p , f ati g u e d ,a n di n f i r m . Let it f l g h e r e o n dt h e r e Unt il u n d e r n e a t a h c r o w r e m a in s, And t h e n f r o m i t a w h i t e swo nr ise s, A nd n o t h i n gl o v e l i e r h a s e ye r b e e nse e no n e a r th ; f t s ow n b l o o dw i l l b r i n g it g o u th . t t hen i t h a s e a g e r l gt a k e na n in th d r a u g h t I t hab i t u o l l gt a k e s f l i g h t a fte r e a ch A nd in t h e e n ds t a n df o r th wh ite r th a n sn o w. Y et it a l s o t u r n s b l a c k o fte n , th e n r e d a n dta wn g A nd r i c h w i t h m a n go t h e r co lo u r s

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Unt il it s h i n e sb r i g h t , p u rea n dwh ite , Far c le a r e r t h s n c r g s t a l , Shinin gw h i t e a n dw e l l - m o d e ,b u t n o t h a r d e n e d , n dg e t a di s ti n c t , l" lade in s u c ha v r s ub g a c tio n o f its o wn so u l And m e d i a t i n gs p i r i t , g e t n o t q u icklgm a d eco m p le te . ln t he s p a no f s e v e r a lm o n th sit is b r o u g h t to p e r fe ctio n . o f fe r m e n ta tio n ; This is t h e t r u e s g e n c g G uar dt h i s g i f t w i t h t h e gr e a te stca r e . Trulg a n d w i t h o u t t h e l e a st in sin ce r itg I t is m a d ep e r f e c t f o r t h e g o o do f wa te r sn d e a r th . F or in t h e e a r t h f i r e i s h i d d e n . ln wate r n o b l ea n dp r e c i o u s a ir su r g e s: Thes et w o f o r m o n es i n g l e m e r cu r u . I n it t h e t h r e e s t o n e so f t h e wise a r e fo u n d e d : The s t o n e st h a t s p o n t a n eo u slg tu r n b la ck,g r e e n ,wh ite , a n d red A nd f re e g o u f r o m d a n g e r in g r e o te stn e e d ; This is w e l l k n o w nt o t h e wise , For it b r i n g s m a n gm a r v e lsa n dm ir a cle s, Driv eso l l s i c k n e s s e s f r o m m a n kin d And ba n i s h e s d e f e c t sf r o m th e m e ta ls. T his s e c u l a rP h o e n i xt,h e h ig h e stg o o d , Tinc t s c o m m o n g o l d o n ds i lve r llak ing t h e s em e t o l s f e r t i le And s o p r o d u c e s f o r i t s e l f s like fr u it.

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