Of the Nature of♀.
The other Six Metals have in♀framed all their colours, and themediumof their Flux (with inconstancy) into an External body. It would be therefore profitable to hint to the understanding by some examples, by what means the visible may by the benefit of Fire be made invisible, and this again made visible and material. All combustible things may naturally be changed in the Fire, out of one form into another, as into a Coal, Soot, Ashes, Glass, Colours, Stones, Earth, but the Earth is reduced into sundry metallick bodies; and if a metal combust or corrupted with old age, is thereby become unmalleable, sharp, and brittle, let it well flow, and ’twill again become malleable.
Glaub.] Although that ♀ being malleable more than all the metals, in and out of the Fire, is fit for all Operations, yet even this is not void of a combustible sulphur, but is radically polluted therewith, so that it will most easily, of it self, without addition of any other sulphur, be reduced intoScoria, and be corrupted, which corruption is occasioned by the muchness of its combustible sulphur; Gold and Silver being void of that Sulphur, are not subject to destruction. So that, although they undergo the Fire a most long season, yet go they not intoScorialike the other imperfect bodies; and for the reducing of them into ashes, combustible sulphur must be added; whereas the imperfect metals too much abounding with the same, are changed by a most light heat into Ashes, Powder, orScoria, whichScoria’sare melted into either transparent or darkish tincted Glass, according to the nature of the metal; which Glasses may be melted into malleable Metal, and again into Ashes and Glass, as you please, but alwaies with some loss, by reason of some combust parts irreducible into metal, the metal also remaining, as it was at first, without being any thing bettered.
He who knows how to melt Metals into pellucid Glass, by the addition not of metallick things, but of such things as have affinity with the metals, as Salts, Sand, or Stones, shall in reducing them, alwaies find his metal better than it was in the beginning: And that the Reader, for whose sake I have written these things, may the more throughly understand my mind, I will explain it somewhat more clearly.Paracelsushath above affirmed, That every visible metal is an hider of the other metals lying hid invisibly therein, and that the hider is to be removed, if you would that those visible metals become visible and corporeal, which being most truly spoken, I know not what light it may be illustrated withal. The words also are succinct and easie to be understood, yet no body believes them; There’s scarce one amongst an hundred that conceives what they tend unto.Metals cannot be changed without putting off their metalline form; for if you keep them a long time in Flux, by themselves, or joined with others, if they remain in their Corporality, they cannot help each the other, but being destroyed either by themselves, or joined with other Metals, and nourished in the fire their due time, it cannot otherwise be, but that they should be bettered, for so long as it retains its metalline form, it cannot be holpen. ’Tis necessary that a hard body be broken and annihilated, before there can be made a separation of the pure from the impure.
But this is to be done by a genuine Chymical manner, and they are to be dissolved and throughly opened, with things of affinity with them, whereby the purer parts may be united, and the more gross may be separated. If a metal be forced with a most vehement Fire, its parts do firmly hold together; for if it be fixt, then the parts abide in the Fire; but if volatile, then the parts thereof fly away together, their natural bond holds them together, defending them against the Fires power, but dissolve their bond, and then they are compelled to submit toVulcan’s Force and Empire, and will let you make of them what you please. It may well shame the Chymists to work so disagreeably with Nature, and may well learn by the Husbandman’s labours to send for Nature’s help. The Husbandman therefore, when he sows his seed, to have a good Crop therefrom, he casts not his grain upon any sort of earth, without consideration, but chuseth such earth for each proper seed, as being well dung’d, may suit best therewith, and in a convenient season sows his grain, that it, being putrefied and annihilated, may be multiplied, he leaves it to the warmth of the Sun, and to the vivifying Rain to concoct and maturate it; well knowing, that without precedent putrefaction and loss of its form, it cannot be multiplied. He likewise knows, that when it hath arrived to its maturity it must not be left in the Field, but must be reaped, and then the better and more heavy part is to be fanned and separated from the lighter and worser part,viz.the Chaff; the which operation is, by Experience and long Use, known to be good and needful. This Process must a Chymist observe, for one Metal may be made the field of another, wherein putrefying, it may get it self a new body, which being done, he must likewise know how to separate the new body from thefæces, from which ’tis gathered and made; and how to fanVulcanlike the best and most ponderous, from the lightest, for both of them will be made better by the foregoing preparation, and the annihilation of the bodies. When a Country-woman intends to separate the better part of the Milk from the more gross and cheesy part, she puts it in a quiet warm place, that the best part may rise up, and the worst part go down; the which being as yet not sufficiently purified, she adds her art, and puts it into a Churn, and doth so long stir or agitate it until another separation be made of the pure from the impure, which we callButter; which notwithstanding, had it lain never so longby it self, had never come to have been Butter, without the Hand and Art of the Country-woman. Who would believe that in Milk there lies Butter, if he did not daily see it? This separation of the Butter from the waterishness, proceeds from the quick shaking and agitation, whereby the Milk heats; and if it doth not fadge, then do they put thereto some warm moisture, which uniting it self with the moisture of the Milk promotes a separation, for heat alone is the meer cause of hastening the separation. This now may seem a gross Example to the Ignorant, but let none imagine that this separation of the Butter from the Milk is alledged in vain, but rather to show the way how out of imperfect Minerals the golden and silver milk or part, is to be separated by the access or addition of a warm Mineral water, and by the Fires agitation: Even as warm Water helps the moisture of the Milk, that so it doth the easier separate its own heterogeneous Butter (and yet the way of separating the Butter from the Milk, without agitation, by the affusion of a warm thing and coction, is not unknown;) so also the Metals are separated, if they are along time boiled with their own Water.
Now, because of themselves they are compact bodies, if you keep them in Flux a long season, they remain compact, and are not able by their own power to shew forth their Good or Evil, nor make it appear, whether or no they contain Gold or Silver: They are to be a long time boil’d with Water, that being dispersed, they may be translated out of their metalline nature, and the pure (by the agitation of the Fire) may be separated from the impure; which purer part of the metal doth not swim at the top, like Butter, but settles to the bottom like aRegulus, after the metallick manner, and all being cool, it must be separated from theScoria, and in a Cupel be washed to the utmost purity (abgetrieben).
But now ’tis worth the while to know what Water this is which is fit for this Work, and makes a separation of metals; for seeing that it must have power to dissolve metals, it’s expedient that it be a friend unto them, and of the same kin, or (that I may speak clearer) ’tis fit that it be their dissolver and examinator; and this oldSaturnhath power to do, out of which it may with small costs and labour be prepared; but the commonSaturn, although it be called the Water of Metals by all the Philosophers (but in the usual washing in the Cupels ’tis not found so to be) yet as long as it remains in a compact metalline form, ’tis unfit for this thing; let him first be made Water himself before he reduceth the metals into water; which work is easie, of small cost, and of a few hours labour, and it goes into Water, and the Metals are thereby washt. Of which more shall be said in the following Chapter of ♄, and elsewhere. This also is to be noted, That if Copper being dissolved with the Water of Lead, be digested its proper time, the moisture dries, and the metal is hardened, and returns into a metallick body; therefore the Solution is to be kept alwaies liquid by the affusion or pouring on of new water, lest the mutual action be hindered, which the Philosophers callIncineration: Which being neglected, all the Work doth not presently perish, but there remains most elegantAmausa, and tinged Glass, which shines among the Copper, giving out from it self a Blood-red Colour, wherewith not only wooden Vessels may be adorned, but also Glass-Painters may use it; of which red Glass there hath been some found in old Churches; but ’twas believed that the Art was throughly lost; but this came not by chance without doubt, but was purposely concealed by those whose practising hereabouts did perceive a better thing to lie under it; for the redAmausumor Glass, being burnt its proper time with a strong fire, gives aRegulusyielding in the Leaden washing (im abtreiben) good Silver. But if you seek for ☽ out of ♀, it’s better not to make the redAmausumor Glass at all, but to keep on with Inceration, that it may not come to be red, but may remain a pellucid and green Glass, even until ♀ be well washt.
Moreover this is to be noted, That ♀ and the other metals are not only reducible into soluble and insoluble Glass, by thisSaturnineWater, but the same is to be done by the addition of clean Flints and Salts, by which they are made much fairer than those done with ♄; but in the separation (Seigerungh) they are vilder, because the Dissolvent is not so metalline, and after purgation, they do not so easily give theirRegulusas those that are done with the Water of ♄. There’s also another way, by which the superfluous burning sulphur of ♀ may be washed, and she cleansed without the water of ♄ or of the Flints,viz.withSalt-Petre. If ♀ or any other imperfect metal be often mixt therewith and burnt, the purer parts come together, and the combustible parts come together, and the combustible sulphur separates in the form ofScoria. To conclude, This separation and washing may be done by the help of other fixed Salts, but none so good as the Water of ♄. Now let the Reader know, that those things spoken in a rude stile, concerning ♀, want not their weight, even as the following Chapters will openly declare.
Of the Nature and Virtue ofSaturn.
Thus speaksSaturnof himself: The other Six Planets have excluded and thrust me out, who am their Examinator, from the spiritual City, assigning me an habitation with a corruptible body; for what they neither are, nor will be, I am constrained to be: My six Brethren are Spiritual, wherefore as often as I am in the fire, they pass through my body, and both I and they perish together in the Fire, the two best excepted,☉and☽, who are most neatly and purely washt in my waters, and wax proud. My Spirit is Water, softning the hard bodies of my Brethren; but my body is addicted to the Earth, whatsoever I lay hold on, is also made like the Earth; and is converted into one body. It would not be good that the World should know what is in me, or what I could do; it would be better did they but know how to get that thing which is mine, and is in my faculty, they would lay aside all other Arts ofAlchymy, and handle this thing only, which I am able to perfect. The Stone of Coldness is in me; this is the Water by which I cause the Spirits of the six other Metals to congeal into the Corporeity of the Seventh, that is to promote☉with☽.Antimonyis twofold, the one sort is the common black♁, wherewith☉being mixt and melted, is purged; this is of nearest kin to Lead; the other is whiteMagnesia,Bismuth, and nearest to Tin; being mixt with the other♁, it encreaseth☽.
Glaub.] Here we have mention made ofSaturn, from whence the Bath (spoken of afore) for ♀ andthe other metals is prepared, and that twofold, the common and ♁, both which I have mentioned in my former Tracts, as profitable for this washing; but one is fitter for some metals than the other.Venuswillingly enters into ♄, and may most rightly be washed and separated (geseigert) with the common Saturnine water, ♂ and ♃ will not; but ♁ receives them most greedily, holds and washeth them, which is impossible for the common ♄ to do. Yet notwithstandingParacelsusseems to hint at some other thing here, speaking of the transmutation of ♄ with other metals, aiming (as I conjecture) as well at an universal as a particular transmutation of Metals by Saturn. Now Saturn also, as he is the water and washing of other metals, so may he himself be washed with Salts, which, as I shall anon declare, are his water.
But let no body wonder that I speak no larger of the nature and virtue of Saturn, whom I set so high an esteem upon; for it hath been most frequently mentioned, and after this will be; so ’tis not fit so often to repeat the same thing, one Chapter illustrates another. See such other small Tracts as I have written of Saturn, and compare them well together, and without doubt you will perceive my meaning. That whichParacelsusadds concerning the difference of ♁ is plain enough, and wants no illustration; for common Lead and ♁ (although much differing in the diversity of Sulphurs) was by the Philosophers called Black Lead. Bismuth, ashy Lead, and Tin, among the ancient Metallurgists, is white Lead; which appellations we shall leave to the ancients, and say no more thereof.
Of theMoon, and her Nature and Property.
If anyone goes about to reduce☽into♄or♂, it will be as difficult as to make☽(with great profit) out of☿,♃,♂,♀, or♄. But ’tis not expedient to make vile things out of good, but to make precious things out of base and abject things.
’Tis also fit to know of what matter the Moon is, and whence ’tis risen; he that is ignorant of this, will find it impossible to makeLuna.
Quest.What therefore isLuna?
Answ.It is the seventh external, corporeal, material, of the Six metals therein hidden; for alwaies (as it hath been very often said) the Seventh hath the other Six spiritually hidden within it self; neither also can these six be without an external, material metal; nor can any corporeal Metal be without the six spiritual ones and their Essence. If you melt the seven Corporeal Metals, it doth nothing as to making☉: after mixtion, each as its nature is, remains fixt in the fire, or volatile. For example, mix as well as you can☿,♃,♄,♂,♀,☉and☽, it will not therefore follow, that the☉and☽will transmute the other five, that they become☉and☽: Although they are blown together into one mass, yet each remains in its own state,viz.if you take of the corporeal mixtion; for transmutation consists in the spiritual mixtion and union of Metals, because Spirits admit of no separation and mortification.
Although you kill the Body an hundred times, yet will they alwaies have another Body more noble than the former. And this is the promotion of Metals from one mortification into another; that is, from a more ignoble degree to a higher, that isLuna, and from a better to the best, that isSol; a most illustrious and royal Metal; ’tis also true, and alwaies will be, which hath been often spoken of before, that alwaies the six metals generate the seventh, and deliver it from themselves into a palpable and visible substance.
Quest.Now, then if it be so, that theLuna, or any other metal, is alwaies caused and produced from the other six, What therefore is its Property and Nature?I answer, Out of☿, ♃, ♂, ♀, ♄,and☉,no other metal can be made, but☽;the reason is, because as to the other six metals, each are indued with two good virtues, which in all make Twelve: these virtues are the Silverish or Lunar Spirit, which in brief understand thus; Silver is compounded into a corporeal Metal, out of the six Spiritual Metals, and their Properties, in number twelve, and is likened to the seven Planets, and the twelve Cœlestial Signs; for the☽hath from☿the Planet, and♒,and♓,a bright white flux and splendor,☿, ♒, ♓;also☽hath from♃, ♂,and♉a white colour, a great constancy against the fire and fixation,♃, ♂, ♉;from♂, ♋,and♈,it hath hardness, a good clangour or sound,♂, ♋, ♈;from♀, ♊, ♎,it hath the means of Coagulation and Malleability,♀, ♊, ♎;from♄, ♑, ♏,it hath a fixt body with heaviness and gravity,♄, ♑, ♏;from☉, ♌, ♍,it hath a sincere purity, and a great constancy, against the violency of the fire,☉, ♌, ♍.
Thus is briefly explained what is the exaltation and cause of the spirit and body of Silver, with its own compound Nature and Essence.
It must also be known what matter the metallick spirits do take in their first Nativity, when they are carried down into the Earth from the Cœlestial Influences,viz.a vile Dirt or Stone, which the Mine-digger by breaking the body of the metal, destroys and burns in the fire, in which mortification the metalline spirit assumes another body, not fryable, but pure and malleable. Then the Alchymist coming, destroys this metalline body, kills and prepares it by Art, but that metallick corporeal Spirit makes apparently conspicuous, another more noble and much more perfect body, whether it be the Sun or Moon; then both the metallick Spirit and Body being perfectly united, are free and safe from Corruption by the Element of Fire.
Glaub.]Paracelsusin this Sixth Chapter repeats the words which have been oftentimes afore mentioned,viz.That every visible metal is an hider of the other metals which lie spiritually hid within it; withal teaching, that it is impossible for corporeal metals, although melted together never so long, to be meliorated, unless they are first made spiritual; which I have oftentimes demonstrated and shewed to be the very Truth, and the right way to Transmutation.
But he doth not in express words teach the way by which they may be made and rendered Spiritual; nor is it convenient to chew a Morsel, and thrust it into the mouths of the Ignorant.
Now I say, that as touching the spiritualizing of Metals,Paracelsusdoth not advise that Metals be dissolved in corrosive Spirits, & digested & destilled over the Helm with it, by often Cohobations. The Spiritualization which he mentions here, is not to be done with Corrosives, for they are rather corrupted by them than perfected, neither in Glasses, but in Crucibles, and that in a few hours, without Corrosives, whereby they are so depurated, and as it were poudered, that they are transparent in and out of the fire, and dissolvable in any water. This is a truespiritualization of metals, and gainful if it hath the said Properties: ’Tis otherwise called by the Philosophers, the first matter of Metals, and at this time known but to few.
Our Laborators now adays know not any metallick spirits, but such, as by the help of peregrine and noxious things, they drive over by an Alembick or Retort; but Experience testifies, that these are wholly useless and unprofitable for Melioration. And although the ancient Philosophers write, Make the fixt volatile, and the volatile fixt, yet they mean not that the metals should be destilled. Which sublimation or destillation they did not meddle with, but all their metallick labours, asSolution,Putrefaction,DestillationSublimation,Calcination,Inceration,Cohobation, andFixation, were done in one earthen vessel, without Corrosives; nor did they weary themselves with those ridiculous labours that are done by the means of Glasses. But of this more in another place.
Now read diligently over and over again whatParacelsuswrites at the end of the Chapter, and it will appear, that he speaks of fusion, and not destillation in Glasses; where he shews, that a metallick spirit at its first descending from the stars into the earth, hath a most vile form, like a stone, or dirt, which the digger of it melts with a strong fire, whereby it gets a better form, and becomes a malleable metal. And here he is at a stand, and cannot proceed any farther. Now, saithParacelsus, the Alchymist comes and takes this metal, and by his Art destroies the metallick body, killing and preparing it; and by his labour it assumes a more noble and fixt body, called (because of its maturity) Gold or Silver. The ☽, although it be more pure and excellent than ♀, ♂, ♃, and ♄ yet having not arrived to maturity, it is (in comparison of the ☉) like a flower, which is more excellent than the herb, but inferiour to the seed, which is the most perfect part of the same. And, as in Vegetables the flowers are indued with a more elegant colour than either the seed or fruit: So also is the ☽ more abounding with Tincture than the ☉; which I have very often tried, and could demonstrate by many Examples; contrariwise, altho’ the flower be, as to the form, colour and odour, above the seed, yet in goodness and durability it is much inferiour; for the flower at an approaching cold falls away;, but the seed endures, and if it be helped, it produceth a new herb, flowers, and seed, by which its species are conserved and propagated. And as in Vegetables the herb is the greatest part, the flowers less, and the seeds least, so in Minerals is the like order most fitly observed: for should Nature produce only Flowers and Seeds with the Herb, whence would there be Grass for Beasts, whereby they might fill their Bellies, and so yield dung for the Country-man to dung his ground withal, that it might produce a new Crop of Herbs. Without doubt there’s more Tincture hidden in ☽ than in ☉, the inmost part of which is a meer redness; but the centre of ☉ is a most fixt and splendid Sky-colour, which is to be well observed. As for the other Properties of ☽, which are most frequently known, ’tis needless to mention them; as to purity and fixation, ’tis nearest to ☉, and therefore in metallick things ’tis to be likened to a Flower: ’Tis plainly void of combustible and preying Sulphur; but being not as yet arrived and concocted to perfection, it is a most suitable Vehicle to extract ☉ out of volatile and unripe Marcasites, and other auriferous Minerals, and to make it corporeal. Concerning which I have formerly written, and will write more hereafter.
Of theSun, its Nature and Property.
Corporeal☉is the seventh Metal of the six spiritual ones; in it self it is a meer Fire; but the Reason of its being outwardly of an elegant, yellow, visible, sensible, ponderous, cold and malleable body, is, because it hath in it the coagulation of the other six metals, whereby ’tis compell’d into a visible body. And as to its being melted with Elemental fire, ’tis from hence, because it hath a fluidity of Mercury,♓,and♒,spiritually hidden in it self; the which is also outwardly evident, because it is most easily mixt with the☉,and detained by him.
And whereas after melting, it grows hard by the Cold,viz.is coagulated, and grows stiff, that comes from the other five metals,♃, ♄, ♂, ♀,and☽;in these five metals the Cold dwells and bears sway, and therefore☉cannot be fluid out of the fire, because of Cold. Nor can☿with his heat, nature, and fluidity help him against the five cold metals, for its heat sufficeth not to keep the☉in perpetual flux, so that it is enforced to obey the other metals rather than one only,☿,who (as to coagulation of metals) hath nothing to do, its Property being to make liquid, and not hard: It is the work of heat and life to make liquid, but cold is the cause of hardness, stiffness, and unmovable, being therefore likened to Death.
For Example.If you would reduce the six cold metals to fluidity, whether it be♃, ♀, ♄, ♂, ☽, ☉,it is to be done by the heat of the fire, for metals are not melted with cold Snow or Ice, but are hardened thereby. Now, as soon as they are melted by the fire, and that the heat ceaseth, the cold rusheth in, whereby the metal stands still, grows stiff, dies, and remains immovable. And because that☿is alwaies fluid and living, tell me, I pray, whether or no such a thing proceeds from heat or cold? Some or other may say, it is because of its cold and moist nature, and that it is living because of Cold; but whoever saith thus, and believes thus, is ignorant of Nature, and deceived and seduced with the vulgar, whose belief of any thing is out of the right way, & amiss, & are therefore to be avoided and shun’d by him that would truly know; for☿is not living, by reason of cold, but because of its heat and fiery nature, as all things else live because of heat, for heat is the cause of life, and cold the cause of death.
But that☉is in it self a meer Fire, not alive indeed, but hard, shewing its fiery heat only outwardly, as yellow mixt with red, and the other five metals, are cold,viz.♃, ♂, ♄, ♀,and☽,giving their virtues to the☉,viz.according to their frigidity a body, by their fire colours, by their siccity hardness, by their moisture weight or heaviness, by their resplendancy sound; and that it is not combustible, and to be destroyed by the Element of Terrestrial Fire, that is by reason of its fixedness. Fire doth not burn Fire, nor destroy it, but Fire joined to Fire becomes the greater and more powerful in strength. The Cœlestial fire descending from the☉upon Terrestrials, is not such a fire as is in Heaven, nor such as our fire is on Earth; but with us the Cœlestial fire is cold, a rigid and congealed fire; and this is the body of Gold, and therefore we cannot tame or master☉with our fire, we can only divide it and melt it, as the sun dissolves and melts snow, congealed ice and water. Wherefore it is not permitted for one fire to destroy another, because☉it self is fire, and in Heaven it is resolved, but with us it is coagulated.
Gold is in a threefold state with its Essence.
The End of the Seven Rules.
Glaub.
We are now come to ☉, a kingly and most excellent Metal, the whichParacelsuscompares to a meer absolute Fire, and so ’tis found to be, if it be separated into parts; ’tis likewise endued with a seed-like nature, more hot than the Herb it self or the Flower. But to what end should we write of bettering it, when as it needs it not, being already constituted in the highest degree of perfection, and Nature not being able to promote it to an higher degree: Now then if it be to be made better, ’tis behoveful to make it Medicine, for never was a more excellent metal than it seen. An Herb planted in a fruitful soil, and brought to its perfection by the heat of the Sun, the seed being ripe, it remains not in the same form, but withers, and the seed falls away; but if it be seasonably gathered, it lasts a long while, and may, at your pleasure, be put into the Earth, for the production of new Herbs of its kind; or else it may be used for the health of Mankind, having no other notable Use besides. In like manner, Gold having arrived to its perfection, if it be to be farther advanced, it must be made Medicine, or be put upon the Metallick Earth, as Seed is on the Common Earth; where putrefying or augmenting, or growing, it may exhibit and produce a metalline Off-spring. Every body knows that a good Medicine may be thence made, and that various waies, but few know the manner how; but that ’tis able (like the Vegetable seed) to make Encrease out of the imperfect metals (being its own Earth)Paracelsusteacheth in this place, and many Philosophers witness the same, which is not only true in a particular melioration, where by attracting its like out of the imperfect metals, it is encreased; but ’tis also to be believed as true, that from it may be separated, by the industry of a skilful metallick Philosopher, its inmost Vegetative power and purest portion (all its husks, or outside, wherewith ’tis cloathed, being laid aside) and may thereby be exalted to a more than perfect estate, although ’tis incredible to many, yet ’tis not in the least to be doubted of, except we would make all the Philosophers to be Lyers.
As for my self, although I never set my hand to so hard a Task, yet I believe and affirm it to be in the nature of things, as having evidently observed by my other metallick Labours, that this Medicine is in the possibility of Art; the which I will also in due time set upon, if God give Life and Leisure. What the other properties of ☉ are, and by what means good Medicines may be prepared therefrom, I have spoken thereof in many places of my writings, and in its proper place more also shall be spoken. And here we rest and conclude this little Book of the Rules of the Seven Metals.
The Eternal City of all things (there’s an Eternal place in all things) without time, without beginning, and without end, is every where essentially. It operates in that wherein is no hopes, and that which is accounted impossible, unexpected, incredible, and plainly deplorable, will be true even to admiration.
Glaub.]Paracelsushaving finished his Seven Rules of the Properties of Metals, begins after a sort, to repeat and illustrate his sentiment or opinion, comforting the Operator, lest happily he should be discouraged, if his affairs do not presently meet with good success; but let him ingeniously proceed, becauseNature makes nothing in vain; that which is least of all believed, comes most of all to pass; his words are clear enough of themselves.
Whatsoever whitens is of the Nature of Life, and of the Property and Virtue of Light, which causeth and makes Life. The Fire with its heat gives birth to this motion. And whatsoever blackens, is of the Nature of Death, of the Property and Virtue of Darkness, (having the efficacy and force thereof) which causeth Death; to the which hardening or induration the Earth with its Cold is the coagulation and fixation. The House is alwaies dead, but the Inhabitant is a living Fire: If thou hast found out the true Use of Examples, thou hast overcome.
Glaub.] Paracelsus speaking here of Mercury, mentions Fire, which by its heat is the cause of Light and Life, but that which blackens, is the cause of Death; where making as it were a pause or stand, he adds these pregnant words.
Sacrifice the fat Vervein (or Sulphur). ℞ eight lots of Salt Nitre, four lots of Sulphur, two lots of Tartar, mix them, and let them flow.
Glaub.] Here begin the Complaints of the Alchymists, becauseParacelsuswriting of so good a matter, doth so suddenly break off, adding such a Receipt, as in their judgment hath no affinity with Mercury, but is to him as a thorn in a man’s eye. This powder indeed is a good fusile powder, for the reduction of such metals as are otherwise hard to melt; but in this place ’tis meerly vain and needless, because ☿ by his innate fiery power and heat, doth alwaies flow; wherefore we want not this Flux for him. Had he written in this place, how he (viz.☿) is to be coagulated and fixed, we would most willingly have heard him, and as willingly have been content that he had kept his fluxing powder to himself.
Such as these ought to blame themselves and notParacelsus, that wish’d well unto them. The words which went just before, may excuse him; for he said, thatGODand Nature made nothing in vain; whereby he intimates, that this powder is not so strangely to be look’d on, as if it did not pertain to ☿, who is more than enough fusile already, and wants it not. Nor was this mentioned to vex the Alchymist; no,Paracelsusknew this nimble fusile powder, and its operations upon the metals, better than he that complains thereof, (’tis of incredible benefit in the metals, did any one know how to use it) and he placed it here, that we might perfectly learn its highest force and efficacy upon the metals;the which thing his foregoing words do also admonish us of: It operates beyond hope, that which is judged impossible is unexpected, incredible, and desperate, will prove true to admiration. Wherefore, think you, would he have added this fire had it not been needful in this place? doubtless he knew how to burn the wings of ☿, and thereby to stay his flight. And although I know not how to fix ☿ herewith, yet have I experienced wonderous things as well in the metals as ☿, for if the metals, especially ☿, be Philosophically joined herewith, sublimed and destilled, they afford wonderfulMenstruums.
It’s also here said,Sacrifice the fat Vervein(or Sulphur). ’Tis full well known, that the superfluous Sulphur in metals that are imperfect, is the cause of their baseness, and this fire is able to burn it up, but ’tis impossible that all should know it; there’s need of use and diligence, if you desireIcarus, flying with his FatherDædalus, and approaching too nigh the Sun (whereby his wings being burnt, he tumbled down into the Sea) should be drowned in the waters. The which let suffice, for there’s enough spoken unto a wise man; let us therefore proceed.
’Tis not at all expedient to kill☿,to coagulate him, and then reduce him into☽,and to weary him with many sublimations and other things, for this is but the destruction of the Sun and Moon that is in him. There’s another more compendious way, whereby☿is made☽,of small cost and charge, without any labour of coagulation: Every man reads in the Writings of the Alchymists, such Arts as are mean and vile, and easily preparable, whereby in a short time he might make abundance of☉and☽,and are tired and vexed with the Writings of such as do not teach them clearly and plainly, and would willingly hear this,viz.Do so and so, and thou shalt have good☽and☉to inrich thee.
But good Sir stay a while, and wait till the Secret be plainly opened to thee in positive words without any labour; so as to enable thee (in as ’twere a moment of time) to take ♄, ☿, and ♃, and makeSolandLunathereof. The Art will never be so easily known, how short and facile soever it be in it self.
Glaub.]Paracelsusgoes on, and saith, That ’tis not needful to coagulate ☿, that ☉ and ☽ may be thence made, and that it is to be done with a most easie labour, and therefore few words are best. And hereParacelsusis to be compared to that Rich man, who having heard that many perished with famine, ’tis said that he should answer, That before he would be tormented with hunger, he would rather feed on rusty Bacon and Pease, believing that all abounded with this fare; the which they despising by reason of their daintiness, deservedly perished. In like manner the goodParacelsusbelieved, that all Chymists were his equals, as to the knowledge of Metals, not dreaming of the many poor Colliers that torment ☿ by their solutions, precipitations, sublimations, resuscitations, fixations, and other labours; when as they are ignorant of what it is, what abounds or is wanting therein, and so for want of knowledge, toil and labour to no purpose: ☿ is a subject of wonder, and is frequently wont to deceive the Alchymists, whom (viz.☿) if you would on the other side deceive, when you pursue him, give him a little breathing (because by force he’s not to be compell’d) that he may a little wander about, but trust him not too much, lest flying away, he leaves behind him an empty Nest. For which Work the first Furnace, with its many Glasses, very well fitted and united, will serve excellently well. But in few words, ’Tis a subject of an inexhaustible wonder, the which I alwaies found the most stubborn of all the metals, that I have bestowed grievous pains about; but yet do believe, that he that knows rightly to deal with him, will reap a benefit from him not to be contemned. But who is there that discovers the Way? Wonders must alwaies remain unknown unto us, and albeit we know not all things, yet let us acknowledge the great Mercy ofGOD, and give Thanks to Him for that which we do know.
What shall we say of the many Receipts and the various Vessels, such as are the Furnaces, Glasses, Tests, Waters, Oils, Salts, Sulphurs, Antimonia, Magnesia, Salt Nitre, Alume, Vitriol, Tartar, Borax, Atramentum or Copperas, Orpiment, Spume of Glass, Arsenick,Calaminaris,Bole-Armoniack, Vermilion, Calx, Pitch, Wax, Lute of Wisdom, Powder’d Glass, Verdigrease,Salt Armoniack, Soot, Rosin of the Pitch-tree, Chalk, Mans-fat, Hairs, Egg-shells,Lac Virginis,Ceruse,Minium,Cinnabar,Vinegar,Aqua-fortis,Crocus Martis,Elixir,Lazure,(ultro-Marine)Soap, Tutia,Havergold, Crystals. What likewise shall we say to their preparations, putrefactions, digestions, probations, sublimations, calcinations, solutions, cementations, fixations, reverberations, coagulations, graduations, rectifications, amalgamations, and purgations. Most Books are fully stufft with these Alchymical things, as also what things are to be done by the benefit of Herbs, Roots, Seeds, Woods, Stones, Animals, Worms, Bone-Ashes, Cockle-shells, Muscles,&c.
All these things are the Labyrinths ofAlchymy, and are great and but vain Labours. Moreover, although☉and☽might be made by the means of these things, yet by reason of the multitudes of them, the Work is rather hindred than advanced; and therefore it cannot be truly learned from the aforesaid things, how to make☉and☽.But all such things are to be omitted, as operate not with the five imperfect Metals, for the production of☉and☽.
What therefore is the true Way, and the short Path void of all difficulties, that leads to the speedy making of goodSolandLuna? How long will it be ere thou revealest it? I believe that thou understandest nothing of this matter, may somebody say, but dost only mock us with these Riddles.For answer: It hath been already spoken of, and is evidently enough discovered in the Seven Rules; He that understands not, let him blame himself. Besides, let no body be so mad, as to perswade himself, that the Art is most easie to be understood, and to be perfectly known by the vulgar; that is neither so, nor must it so be; but it will be better understood in an occult and hidden Sence.
This is the Art,viz.If you make the Heaven or Sphere of♄to flow with life in the Earth, put in all the Planets, or which you please of them, but let there be ofLunaleast of all; let it flow so long, until the Heaven of♄doth wholly disappear, and the Planets remain alone dead with their own corruptible Bodies, and have assumed a new, perfect, uncorruptible body, thatbody is the Spirit of Heaven, by which the Planets become again corporeal and alive; as afore, Take out that new Body from the Life, and out of the Earth, and keep it, for it isSolandLuna. And thus hast thou the Art plainly uncovered and intire; if thou dost not yet understand and apprehend it, ’tis well, for so it must be; nor must it be publickly divulged.
Glaub.] In this ChapterParacelsusteacheth, That there’s no need of so many ridiculous species, for the transmutation of Metals, but that there’s virtue enough in the metals to operate upon, and to better one another, if they are rightly conjoined amongst themselves; yet in some Labours we cannot be without Salts and Minerals, because they are useful to mollifie hard Metals, and to dispose them to assume a melioration. But ’tis to be observed, that Corrosives are to be omitted, and such Salts only to be used as are friendly to Metals. Likewise other Minerals and Fossiles may be fruitfully used in fusion, (Seigerungh) separation, and other metalline Operations, as additaments (als Susans). The which thingParacelsusdenies not, but only rejects, and that deservedly, those ridiculous Compositions of the unskilful Alchymists, which they making in their use Sol. He dehorts the studious Artist, and endeavours to bring him into the right way.
Furthermore, he teacheth but in an occult sence, how goodSolandLuna, such as will endure all trials, is to be extracted out of imperfect Metals; but ’tis so obscurely done, that no body can thereby understand the thing; and such only as aforehand know somewhat, and have had the like Labours under their hands, are able to understand his meaning.
Doubtless this Process hath found many an one work enough, who have at last attained to nothing; but yet some have by chance lighted thereon, and so perceived the Truth of his Words, most of which Inventions do casually happen; and whilst that one thing is sought after, and by accident lost, something is oftentimes found more excellent than that which was intended.
In like manner, most things unsought after have happened to me; and also my Labours have manifested to me the greatest part ofParacelsus’s Arts, and not his Writings. And who will certainly and plainly teach what lies under that Covering? Many Archers there are, but few hit the mark. Neither seems it so necessary to take nothing else but the aforesaid Metals; the which thingParacelsusalso in his forementioned Process doth hint at, saying, When thou makest the Heaven, or Sphere of ♄, to flow with Life in the Earth, sow in all the Planets, or such as you please of them; but let not the Moons part be biggest, but let it be the least of all. By which words ’tis easily conjectured, that the greatest part must be of Saturn, whereby the other metals are to be washed and purified, and the least part of the Moon. But some body may ask, What reason is there for the Moon being here, she being already pure, for the washing of whom there’s no need? Why this hath been already elsewhere answered thus,viz.That she may attract, defend, and make corporeal, the washed, purified, and tender Sun, which would otherwise remain in theScoria: Notwithstanding this separation may be made without theLuna, but then ’tis not so gainful. Neither also is it necessary to conjoin the Metals, and so make but one work in washing them with Saturn; each of them may be taken apart, and so cleansed, unless a man knew how to contrive the composition, then indeed the Work would be facilitated, and more Sol gotten; the which is to be well observed, if either none, or very little Luna be taken. But if you take not ☽, then ♀ is to be added, as being of nearest affinity to ☉ and ☽, in its malleability, and so that will attract the volatile and immature ☉ out of the imperfect Metals, and defend it in the fire, but much weaker than ☽. Tin and Iron being most impure and sharp metals, may be washed with Lead, but with much difficulty, and may be deprived of their spiritual and occult ☉, but with far greater charges and cost, than if you took in ☽, or at least wise ♀. Now knowing this, Why do we not give to every one its proper additament, for the expedition and enriching of the Operation? ’Tis worth the while to be able to make a good mixtion of Metals, and with profit to wash them with ♄, in which mixture none believes how much there’s placed, nor my self neither, had I not with Loss learned the same. For, when in former years I sought after somewhat in this kind of operation, as washing and separation, and had sometimes found out a goodProba; I have gone to repeat the same labour again, and have egregiously erred. And although I have for many years wrought hard in this kind of labour, and spent much (which I repent not of) yet I dare not boast of catching the best prey, but am content with a piece of Bread, but yet I do not dispair,Good things come slowly on, and the thorny prickly Budds spring forth before the Roses come. Now, if thou learnest the weights the Work will be safe, and thou needest not to doubt of doing the same in a great quantity.Paracelsusgoes on, and bids you to let the Planets which you have put in, to flow so long with the Heaven of ♄, until the Heaven of ♄ vanish, the Planets will remain, having received a new body, which is to be taken out of the Life and the Earth, which will be ☉ and ☽. And these words are variously interpreted by sundry men, especially what the Heaven of ♄ is, and are perswaded, that if that were known, the residue of the Process they could state well enough. Many understand hereby the common separation made by a peculiar ♄, taking theRegulusStellate of ♁, which is stampt with a Cœlestial Star, the which they blow on and melt with the Life, (which they interpret to be the fire) in the Earth (a Cupel or Testtreibscherben) the bodies being left upon the Test, like mortified Metals, the which reducing by a fusing addition, and melting with Lead, (angesotten) and promising themselves Gold and Silver, they find themselves to be in an errour, and accuseParacelsusof Sophistry and Deceit, because they can’t make good quantities of ☉ and ☽, by means of his Writings.
And now, what this Sphere of Saturn is, may be variously explained: It may not unfitly be taken for common ♄, because being fused, it shines, and is turned round: or it may be taken for its Glass, which being melted in the fire, shines like the Sun: or it may be the StellarRegulusof ♁, because itsStriarepresents Stars when ’tis broken. But what benefit is it to know the Heaven of ♄ and to be ignorant of the true requisite Life, and the reduction of the dead and reducible bodies. Common Fire is not the Life thatParacelsusmentions, but it may be stirred up thereby; and so he saith; The fire with its heat, is the Nativity to this motion: If by the Elemental Fire he should mean the Life, and by the separation of ♄, or blowing of theRegulusof ♁, (theflowing whichParacelsusmentions) then it must necessarily follow, that the destroyed bodies which remain, should be made more perfect, and the Spirit of Heaven should yet remain with them; for thus he writes,viz.The Planets by it do become corporeal and living, as they were before; but in these kind of separation, scorification, or blowing off, it is not found so to be; but in these Operations their Bodies remain likeScoria, in which is neither spirit or life, much less ☉ and ☽ to be found, though never so diligently sought after.Paracelsussaith expressly,viz.That Body (viz., of the slain or kill’d bodies) is the Spirit of Heaven, by which the Planets do again become corporeal and alive as before; from whence ’tis to be understood, that those bodies are spiritual, & not only corporeal and resuscitated, but such as may give life even to slain or destroyed bodies, the which can’t be said of them, for a spirit must be penetrative and vivifying, and they are not such. For if (according toParacelsus’s mind) the dead bodies ought to be reduced to Corporality and Life, ’tis necessary that they have some hidden power; (which every one knows not) whereby they may demonstrate most speedily their embodying and vivification in a spiritual manner, without the addition of any peregrine Flux, or else they are deservedly to be rejected. But if any one should now imagine, that metals being by the red fire deprived of life, made spiritual and again corporeal and living, should forthwith be all ☉ and ☽; he promiseth more to himself than is right, and is deceived (forParacelsussaith, that That new body is to be taken out of the Life and Earth and kept, for ’tis ☉ and ☽) for ’tis impossible even for the Philosophers Stone, to convert the whole bodies of Metals into ☉ and ☽, for out of nothing, nothing can be made, as the Philosophers say; and Experience testifies, none but God only made any thing out of nothing; but that thing which is, may by Art be reduced into nothing, and that again reduced into something. Seeing therefore that the greatest part of metal is an unprofitable, combustible noxious Sulphur, which never was a metal, but adhering only outwardly unto them, and being combust, reduceth theirhumidium RadicaleintoScoria; whichHumidum Radicaleonly (after its destruction) and not the whole mass of Metal or superfluous Sulphur, is reduced by the spirit of the Saturnine Heaven, out of nothing unto something,viz.a Body and Life; the Sulphur which before the corruption was nothing, remains still a Nothing; and if thou throughly observe the thing, the Case stands clearly thus;viz.If in this operation there must be a separation of the imperfect metals, and a gathering together of the more pure, and a dispersing of the more impure parts; these separated parts must therefore necessarily be much unlike one another; and by how much ☉ and ☽ is more pure, if compared with imperfect metals, from which ’tis separated: And these separated parts are not of the same Goodness and Nature; as if ten duckets were divided into two parts, each part would have 5 of the same goodness and weight. Now, if from one of these halfs you take two or three parts, and put them to the other half, it only makes the one bigger, and the other less: And if there be nine parts on the one side, and but one left on the other side, yet cannot the major part boast of its excelling the other in quality, but only in quantity: As to Goodness, they are both equal. But now, if you take a Mineral or Metal commixt with stones, and by measure divide it into two equal parts, and then pound them, and by pouring water thereon, separate the lighter parts after the accustomed manner, and the heavy Metal will settle to the bottom: Now the dross and metal will fill the former measure, but will very much differ in their goodness.
Or if any one take two measures of Wine, and by the heat of Fire, separate the more excellent Spirit by destilling in a Glass Alembick, and leave the other measure in the Cucurbit: These two parts, though equal in quantity, yet they do much differ in goodness; the one part will be more noble than Wine, and the other worser; and as the other residence is no more Wine, being deprived of Spirit, Life, Soul, and Strength, and is thereby unable to defend it self from death, but tends to putrefaction; so on the other hand, the Spirit is not subject to putrefaction, but preserves other things therefrom.
The like is to be understood of this metalline separation, for the remainder, from which ☉ is separated, can no more be made Tin, Copper, or Iron, but is a gross earthy Sulphur, by the reason of the ☉ taken thence; whereas before it was ♃, ♀, ♂, or ♄. And by how much the Spirit of Wine is more excellent than common Wine, and ☉ than an imperfect Metal, by so much also will the Spirit of Wine and ☉ excel, if they are again separated, and new fæces segregated therefrom. But this is not so necessary in this place; ’tis sufficient to have declared the way and reason of this metalline separation, about which we have even now treated,viz.That the whole metal, nor the ½ or ¼ part thereof, will becomeSol, and the rest remain a metal; but the separation of the pure is very small in quantity, in comparison of the much impurity whence ’tis separated. Nor let any one think he hath not attained the Art, and so will not rest here, if all things become not ☉; ’tis sufficient if there be some gotten, and that all the Labour is not bestowed in vain.
To Conjure is no other thing, than well to observe a thing, to know and understand what it is: Crystal is a Figure of the Air, in which is to be seen whatsoever is moveable in the air or unmoveable. The like appears in a Looking-glass, in Crystal, and in the Waters, for the Air, Water, and Crystals, are all one to Sight; like a Glass wherein an Object is to be seen, as it were, reverted.
Glaub.] I do not fully know whatParacelsusintends by this Conjuration of Crystals, because it appertains not to the metalline Arts; but yet it seems not to be here added without good reason, somewhat he would intimate hereby. We read of the AncientPaganPhilosophers, that they conjured Crystals, and beheld in them many wonderful things; the which, whether it be true or no, I leave as I find it, because in my Judgment, such an Art seems not natural, but belongs to Diabolical Magick, which I have nothing to do with.
Paracelsusalso hath elsewhere written of wondrous Looking-glasses of the same, and hath taught how to compose them of Metals, melted together in a certain Time and Constellation; the which many have attempted to do, but not one (as far as Iknow) hath attained the Mystery. It seems very probable, that he intends by this Conjuration of Crystals, that the Metals are to be made like to pellucid Crystals, Air, or Water, wherein the soul of the Metal may shine, if you would spiritualize them, and make them yield their ☉ and ☽. And in this Sence it agrees with the aforesaid Chapters.
It likewise seems, that the mentioning of this thing is necessary for the sake of those, who practising on a separation with ♄, have experienced, the Metals are to be first reduced into Transparent Crystals, before they part with their occultSol: Which I have elsewhere spoken more largely of, aboutAmausa, and therefore will here end.
They that believe thatMercuryis of a moist and cold nature, must lay down the Bucklers, for ’tis not so, but it abounds with a great heat and moisture, which being naturally planted therein, keeps it alwaies fluid: For, were it of a cold and moist Nature, it would alwaies remain rigid and hard, like to congealed Water, and were to be melted like other metals, by the heat of the fire, which it (viz. ☿) hath no need of, because it hath already a fluidity from heat, whereby it flows, and is alwaies constrained to live, and not to die, grow stiff, congeal, or be fixed. But this is singularly to be noted, that the Spirits of the seven Metals, or of as many of them as are conjoyned in the Fire, are wonderfully provoked and stirred up, andMercurychiefly, and they emit, and send out their forces amongst each other, for a mutual Victory and Transmutation; the one takes away the Virtue, Life, and Form from the other, communicating a new Nature and Form; so the Spirits or Vapours of Metals are stirred up by heat and mutual action and passion, and are transmuted from one Virtue to another, and at last to Perfection and Purity. But what else is to be done with☿, that so his heat and moisture being taken away, he may catch a great Cold, and be congealed, stand still, and die; do as you hear in the following Figment.
℞a most pure Silver Vessel, in which shut upMercury, then fill a Pot with molten Lead, in the midst of which put in the Vessel with theMercury; let it flow a whole day, and the hidden heat will be taken away fromMercury, and the external heat will communicate to it the internal cold of the Lead and☽, being both of a cold nature, by whichMercurywill grow stiff, rigid, and become hard.
Note, The Cold whichMercuryhath need of for its hardening and death, is not outwardly perceptible, like Snow or Ice, but is rather hot. Nor is the heat by whichMercuryflows, felt by the hands, but ’tis rather cold. Hence Sophisters (that is men speaking without knowledge) pronounce him cold and moist, and study how to coagulate him with hot things, and thereby rather liquifie than harden him. Which thing Experience it self testifieth. TrueAlchymy, which by one only Art teacheth to make☉and☽out of the Five Imperfect Metals, useth no other Receipts, than only from Metals, out of Metals, by Metals, and with Metals, are Perfect Metals made; for with other things it isLuna; for in Metals it isSol.
Glaub.] HereParacelsusdemonstrates their Judgment to be false, who say that Mercury (in it self a meer Fire) is by nature Cold, and returns to speaking of Spiritual Metals, the which being stirred up by great heat of Fire, do operate upon one another, meliorate, change, and advance to perfection, as hath been taught in the foregoing Chapters. Then he adds a Fable or Story, how to coagulate or fix Mercury; but it must not be taken in the literal sence, but of the spiritual ☽, whereby Mercury is to be promoted to Coagulation, in a moist way, and not in a dry, as the other Metals are, which Process I never yet attempted. Then he finisheth with an universal Rule of Transmutation, saying, Perfect metals are made from metals, out of metals by metals, and with metals, and that out of some ☽, out of others ☉ is made. He adviseth to take no strange thing, and only metalline subjects are to be taken for this Work out of someLunaonly; out of othersSolonly, or ☉ and ☽, both are to be extracted, which I have often tried; as in ♄, which of it self gives only ☽, Tin, ♀, and ♂, by themselves give onlyLuna, and pureSol; but commixt with other Metals in a due proportion, they give only ☉, and very little or no ☽: Which maturation is to be ascribed only to the labour and mixtion, which is deservedly to be admired.
There is no special need of any thing, excepting a Fire-place, Coals, Bellows, Tongs, Hammer, Crucibles, Test,(treib scherben)and Cupels made of good Beech-ashes. Then put in♄, ♃, ♂, ☉,Copper,☿, andLuna. Proceed to the end of♄. ’Tis very difficult and uncertain to find out Metals and Minerals in the Earth and Stones; yet because all Metals are to be first sought after and digged out of the Earth, this Labour is not to be contemned, but is Praise-worthy. Nor will this lust and desire in digging in Mines sooner cease, than the love of young Men to Maids will fail; and as the Bees are greedy of extracting Honey and Wax out of the Rose, so prone and forward should a Man be, to find out the Minerals in the bowels of the Earth, but without Covetousness; he that is overmuch greedy, receives least, for God doth not fill all men with gold and silver, but with want, dung, dirt, misery, and scarcity. Some men also God bestows a peculiar Intellect upon, and a piercing knowledge of Minerals and Metals; so that they know a far more compendious way of makingSolandLunawithout digging in the Mine-pits, and without the Examen or Trying, and Fusion of Minerals. So that ’tis not so altogether necessary to dig in the Earth for nativeSolandLuna, but by a certain knowledge it might be made of five Species, (but of Minerals become Metals, which are Imperfect Metals, and are so called)viz. ☿, ♃, ♄, Mars, andCopper: Of some more easily, of othersome more difficultly isSolandLunato be had.
Note also, That out ofArgent Vive, Lead,♃, Gold and Silver is easily made; out of♂and☿difficultly. Nevertheless ’tis possible, but in the beginning and access ofSolandLuna.
Out ofMagnesiaand Lead comesLuna.
Out of☿andCinnabarariseth pureSol.
Likewise an Ingenious man (as I well remember) isable by due attention and preparation so to handle a Metal, as to be able by his ingenuity to do more in the Transmutation of Metals to perfection, and to guide the same better than all the Signs and Planets of Heaven can do. ’Tis also needless to observe the Twelve Signs, and to calculate the motions and Regiment of the Planets, and to observe a time, a day, the hour of this or that luckey or unluckey Planet; such things neither promote nor hinder any thing; they neither hurt nor profit ought in the natural Art ofAlchymy: But if thou rightly understandest the art and possibility thereof, then go to work and labour when thou seest it most convenient; but if thou want’st the knowledge and practice thereof, then all the Planets, Stars, and Signs will wholly fail thee. It also comes to pass, that metals lying long in the Earth, are not only changed into Rust, but by a longer staying in the Earth, they return into their Native Stone, of which sort are many found, albeit they are not observed, for there are found stony pieces of Money, of theGentiles, which were Metal heretofore, and by Corruption were transformed into Stone.
Glaub.] Here we are, in the first place, taught, that for the making of ☉ and ☽ there needs not many Instruments nor Species, but the metals are only to be conjoined, but not by the common separation or washing: For if you should wash all the metals with Lead, yet would there remain no more ☉ and ☽ than was taken at the beginning; the rest will descend with the Lead into the Cupel, and will lie at the top thereof likeScoria; therefore he doth again direct to a spiritual Commixtion and Philosophical Separation. Also he adds, That ’tis an honest, good, and necessary thing to dig up Metals, but that the other is the more excellent, and that deservedly, for it separates Gold and Silver by Art from the more vile metals; for all such as apply their minds to metals, do well know with what dangers, costs, labours, and Cares, they are to be gotten out; but yet ’tis not therefore to be abstained from, especially since we labour by this Rule, of having a fore-known and certain end of our pains and work; the which cannot indeed be done in metallick Mineings, for we are frequently drawn by vain hopes to bestow all our Estates on the Mines; and having spent all in vain labour, we are at last compelled to desist from the Work; but yet if it succeeds well, they yield the more plentiful Returns; and many Chronicles of Metals do testifie, That many Poor men have, by the Benefit of a rich Mine-pit, grown most Rich and Wealthy in a few years space. The finding out of Mines therefore doth wholly consist in Chance and Casualty, where Profit and Loss are equally and alike to be expected: The Work is likewise very chargeable, and can’t be set upon by every body, and therefore ’tis not for ordinary People, who have but little to lose, but for rich Men, who, though they lose much, are notwithstanding able to live, unless happily a Poor man lights upon some Earth or Sand that is very rich in ☉ and ☽, and other Metals, by the washing whereof he may get a livelihood; or else finding a rich Mine, and so betakes himself to a Rich man for his Copartner, such a one as is able to bear the Charges of digging it forth; and this is often done. But yet be it as it will, the thing is full of uncertainty. Whereas this Metallurgy, or Work on Metals, whichParacelsusmakes mention of, is to be preferred far before the other, if any one (by the Grace ofGOD) attaineth the Art, whereby he may with profit extract the ☉ or ☽ out of the already-digged-up Imperfect metals, which are every where to be sold.
But to return to the business in hand,viz.To illustrate the Writings ofParacelsus, who deserved much of his Country. He names some metals, out of which Gold and Silver may easily be extracted, and others, out of which ’tis difficult to get it, but in bothSolandLuna, is to be added; for ’tis profitable, yea, necessary (the which I have frequently exhorted to) in the extraction of Gold and Silver out of imperfect metals, and is volatile, and may the more commodiously make it corporeal and fixt. Then he adds, That Metals, by a longer stay in the Earth, do die, and return into stones and earth, from whence they had their original. The like happens to Man, and all Creatures; nor is there any thing in the World, how glorious soever it be, but is vain, empty, and perishing, but the Knowledge, Love, and Fear ofGODalone.