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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
VOLUME I,
Preface to the English Translation
PART I.
HERMETIC CHEMISTRY.
The Ccelum Philosophorum, or Book of Vexations* concerningr the Science and Nature of Alchemy, and what opinion should b« formed thereof, Regpilated by the Seven Rules or Fundamental Canons according^ to the Seven commonly known Metals ; and containing a Preface, with certain Treatises and Appendices ..,
The Preface of Theophrastiu Paracelsus to all Alchemists and redden of thh boak. The FLrst Canoo : concerning the nature and properties of Mercury. The Second Canon : con- ceraing the nature and properties of Jupiter. The Third Canon : concerning Mar» and hU propertie*. The Fourth Canon : concerning Venui and her properties. Tlie Fifth Canon : cofvoeming the nature and properties of Saiunu The Sixth Canon : concerning Luna and the properties thereof The Seventh Canon : concerning the nature of Sol and its properties- Certun treatise and appendices art&ing out of the Seven Canons. God and Nature do nothl.jg in votn. Note on Mcrcurius Vi\Ti&, What is to be thought concerning the congela- tion of Mercur>'. Concerning the Recipes of Alchemy. How to conjure the crystal so that all things may be seen in it. Concerning the heat of Mercury. What materials and instruments are required in Alchemy. The method of seeking MineraU. What Alchemy is.
The Book concerning the Tincture op the Philosophers, written against those Sophists born since the Deluge» in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God
The Preface. Chapter 1. : concerning the ArcoDtua and QuiDtesMQoe. Chapter It. : conceruing the definiticvi of the Subject and Matter of the Tincture of the Philosophers. Chapter III. : concerning the Procen of the Ancients for the Tinctoj^ of the Philosophers, and a more compendious method by Paracelsus, Chapter IV. : concerning the Process for the Tincture of the Philosophers, as it is shortened by Paracebus. Chapter V. : concerning the conclusion of the Process of the Ancients^ mode by Paracelsus^ Chapter VL : concerning the Transtnutation of Metals by the Perfection of Medicine. Chapter VII. : concerning the Renovation of Men.
The Gradations of Metals
Preface. The First Gradation. The Second Gradatioin. The Third Gradation. The Fourth Gradation. The Fifth Gradation. The Sixth Gradation. The Seventh Gradation. The Eighth Gradation. The Ninth Gradation. The Tenth Gradation. The Eleventh GrodoCion. The Twelfth Gradation. The Thirteenth Gradation. The Fourteenth Gra-
3«
vi. The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
PAGE.
The Treasure of Treasures for Alchemists 36
Concerning the Sulphur of Cinnabar. Concerning the Red Lion. Concerning the Green Lion.
Concerning the Transmutations of Metals and of Cements ... 41
Concerning the First or Royal Cement. Concerning the Second Cement. Concerning the Third Cement. The Fourth Cement. The Fifth Cement. The Sixth Cement. Con- elusion.
The Aurora of the Philosophers, by Theophrastus Paracelsus, which
he otherwise calls his Monarchia ... 48
Chapter I. : concerning the Origin of the Philosophers' Stone. Chapter II. : wherein is declared that the Greeks drew a large part of their learning from the Egyptians ; and how it came from them to us. Chapter III. : what was taught in the Schools of the Egyptians. Chapter IV. : what Magi the Chaldaeans, Persians, and ^Egyptians were. Chapter V. : concerning the chief and supreme Essence of Things. Chapter VI. : conrrming thr chief errors as to its discoveij. ai)d JtBOyJcdge. Chapter VII. : concerning the errors of those who seek the Stone in Vegelable^t. ChapteTVlII. : concerning those who have sought the Stone in Animals. Chapter IX. : concerning those who have sought the Stone in Minerals. Chapter X. : concerning those who have sought the Stone, and also Particulars, in Minerals. Chapter XI. : concerning the true and perfect special Arcanum of Arsenic for the White Tincture. Chapter XII. : General Instruction concerning the Arcanum of Vitriol and the Red Tincture to be extracted from it. Chapter XIII. : Special Instructions concerning the process of Vitriol for the Red Tincture. Chapter XIV. : concerning the Secrets and Arcana of Antimony, for the Red Tincture, with a view to Transmutation. Chapter XV. : con- cemini( the Projection to be nuule by the Mystery and Arcaniun of Antimony. Chapter XVI. : concerning the Universal Matter of the Philosophers' Stone. Chapter XVII. : con- cerning the Preparation of the Matter for the Philosophic Stone. Chapter XVIII. : concerning Instruments and the Philosophic Vessel. Chapter XIX. : concerning the Secret Fire of the Philosophers. Chapter XX. : concerning the Ferment of the Philosophers, and the Weight.
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets 72
Prologue. The First Treatise. - Chapter I. : concerning Simple Fire. Chapter II.: concerning the multiplicity of Fire from whence spring the varieties of Metals. Chapter III. : concerning the Spirit or Tincture of Sol. Chapter IV. : concerning the Spirit or Tinctiu-e of Luna. Chapter V. : concerning the Spirit of Venus. Chapter VI. : concern] the Spirit of Mars. Chapter VII. : concerning the Spirit of Jupiter. Chapter VI ceming the Spirit of Saturn. Chapter IX. : concerning the gross Spirit of Mercur^ The Second Treatise.— Concerning the Philosophers' Mercury, and the Medium of Tinctures. Chapter I. : from what Tinctures and Leavens are made. Chapter II. : cor.cerning the Conjunction of the Man with the Woman. Chapter III. : concerning the ForPi of the Glass Instruments. Chapter IV. : concerning the Properties of Fire. Chapter V. : Concerning the Signs which appear in the Union of Conjunction. Chapter VI. : concerning tiie Knowledge of the Perfect Tincture. Chapter VII. : concerning the AugraenUtion or tie Multiplying of Tinctures. The Third Treatise.— Chapter I. : concerning the Buildjja^of the F'urnace with the Fire. Chapter II. : concerning the Conjunction of the Man with the Woman. Chapter III. : concerning the Copulation of the Man with the Woman. Chapter IV. : con- cerning the Philosophic Coition of the Husband with his Wife. Chapter V. : concerning the Black Coloiu-. Chapter VI. : concerning the Bud appearing in the Gla5s. Chapter VII. : concerning the Red Coloiu-. Chapter VIII. : concerning Increase and Multiplication. Conclusion.
The Economy of Minerals, elsewhere called the Genealogy of Minerals 89
Preface to the Reader. Chapter I. : concerning the Generations of Minerals. Chapter II. : concerning the Ultimate and Primal Matter of Minerals. Chapter III. : concerning the Field, the Roots, and the Trees of Minerals. Chapter IV. ; concerning the Fruits and the Harvest of Minerals. Chapter V. : concerning the Death of the Elements, especially of Water. Chapter VI. : concerning the Death of the Tree of Minerals. Chapter VII. : concerning the variation of the Primal Matter of Minerals, in proportion to the different Species and Individuals thereof : also concerning the various colours, etc. Chapter VIII. : concerning the Natural Dispenser of Minerals, and his Ministers. Chapter IX. : concerning
Table of Contents.
Vll.
PAGEt
the Virtues and Properties of Salt* in Alchemy «kJ in Medicine. Chapter X. : concerning Mumia. Chapter XL : conrertiing Dry Salt. Chapter XII. : concerning Salt Nitre. Chapter XIII. : concerning the III Effects of Nutrimental Salt. Chapter XIV. : concerning Vitriol. Chapter,XV. : concerning the Specie^t of Vitriol and the Tests of it. Chapter XVI.: concerning the Virtues of Vitriol, crude or calcined, in Medicine. Chapter XVI L: concerning the Threefold Sulphur of Minerals. Chapter XVI 11. : concerning Anenic used for Alchemy. Chapter XIX. i concerning Quicksilver. Chapter XX. : concerning Cachimie axid Imperfect Bodies. ConclusioHv
The Composition of Metals ... ... 114
Concerning the Naturb op Things.
Book the First : concerning" the Generation of Natural Things 120
Book the Second: concerning the Growth of Natural Things... 128
Book the Third: concerning the Preservation of Natural Things 130
Book the Fourth: concerning the Life of Natural Things ., 135
Book the Fifth: concerning the Death of Natural Things ,.. 138
Book the Sixth : concerning the Resuscitation of Natural Things 146
Book the Seventh ; concerning the Transmutation of Natural
Objects ... ... 151
Book the Eighth : concerning the Separation of Natural Things 160
Conceraini; the Separation of Metals from their Minerali. Concerning the Separitlion of Mioerals. Coocemins the Sepantion of Veg«tih1es. Concerning the Separatioa of AnimaU.
Book the Ninth : concerning the Signature of Natural Things ... 171
CoQCeming Monstrous Signs in Men« Concerning the A^ttral Sign» in Che Physiognomy of Man. Concerning the AslnU Signs of Chiromancy. Concerning Mineral Signs. Coo* ceming certain particular Signs of Natural and Supernatural Things
The Faracelsic Method of Extracting Mercury from all the
Metals ,., ,,. .., 195
Thb Sulphur of the Metals ... ,,. ... ... 197
The Crocus of the Metals, or the Tincture 199
The Philosophy of Theophrastus concerning thb Gekeratioks of the Elements.
Book the First; concerning the Element of Air,., , ... 201
Book the Second: concerning the Element of Fire ... 210
Treatise the Fir^t : concerning the Separation of Air and Fire. Treatise the Second ; concerning the Sun, Light, Ddrknesa, an4 Night. Coocenmig Wtndsv Concerning ibe Temperate Stars. Concerning Nebula. Conoerning Mcta^ Minerals, and Stones from the Upper Regions. Cooc«ming Metals CoooerninK Stones from Ahove Couceming Cryslala and Beryls.
Book the Third: concerning the Element of Earth
Book the Fourth : concerning the Element of Water, with its Fruits
226
231
J<
viii. The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
PAGE.
APPENDICES. Appendix I. : a Book about Minerals 237
Concerning Silver. Concerning Jove. Concerning Sntum. Concerning Iron and Steel. Concerning Venus. Note. - Of Mixed Metals. Concerning Spurious Meuls. Concerning Zinc. Concerning Cobalt. Concerning Granates. Note concerning Gems. Concerning Quicksilver. Note concerning Cachimis, that is, the Three Imperfect Bodies. General Recapitulation concerning Generation. Of the Generation of Marcasites. Autograph Schedule by Paracelsus.
Appendix II. : concerning Salt and Substances comprehended under
Salt 257
Correction and Addition on the Subject of a second time correcting and reducing Dry Salt.
Appendix III. : concerning Sulphur 265
Concerning the Kinds of Sulphur. Concerning Embryonated Sulphur. Concerning Mineral Sulphur. Concerning Metallic Sulphur, that is, Sulphurs prepared from the entire Metals. Concerning the Alchemical Virtues of Sulphur, and first concerning Embryonated Sulphur. Concerning Mineral Sulphur. Concerning the Use of Sulphur of the Metals in Alchemy.
Appendix IV. : the Mercuries of the Metals ... 278
A Little Book concerning the Mercuries of the Metals, by the Great Theophrastus Paracelsus, most excellent Philosopher and Doctor of both Faculties. Mercury of the Sun. Mercury of the Moon. Mercury out of Venus. Mercury out of Mars. Mercury of Jupiter. Mercury of Saturn.
Appendix V. : De Transmutationibus Metallorum 283
Concembg the Visible and Local Instruments : and first of all concerning the Spagyric Uterus. The Phcenix of the Philosophers. A Very Brief Process for attaining the Stone.
Appendix VI. : the Vatican Manuscript of Paracelsus. A Short
Catechism of Alchemy 288
Appendix VII. : the Manual of Paracelsus 306
The Work on Mercury for Luna and Sol. The Work of Sulphur. The Fixation of Spirits. A Cement of Part with Part. The Solution of Gold by Marcasites. A Great Secret. Method of calcining Mercury. Digestion of the Moon. For the White and Red. For Multiplication. Red Oil which fixes Luna and Sol. The Gradation of Luna. The Oil of the Philosophers. Corporal Mercury. Mercury of all the Metals. The Foundation of the Philosophers. MerciuTr of Saturn. Fixed Augment. Merctuy of Jupiter. Mercury of the Moon. To convert Metals into Mercury. Augment in Luna. Mercury of Sol or Luna. Oil of Arcanum. Water of Mercury. Elixir at the White. Concerning Luna and Venus. Notable Elixir. Rubification. Sal Ammoniac. Sal Borax. Cinabrium. Facti- tious Corals. Pearls from Chalk. Ruby. Aqua Ardens. Calcination of Sol and Luna. Sublimation and Fixation of Sulphur. Oil of Vitriol. Sal Borax of the Philosophers. Fixation of Arsenic. Coagulation of Mercury. Glorious Oil of Sol. Lac Virginis. The Process of Sulphiu-. Operation for Sol. To make Precious Stones. Water which makes Luna into Sol. Fixation of Sulphur. How every Stone can be transmuted into a clear one. The Adepts' Fire. Sol produced with Pars cum Parte. Concerning Cements. Method of making Luna. Water of Luna. True Albatio. Rubification of Merctiry. Oil of Mercury and the Sun. Quintessence of Luna, etc. Fixation of Orpiment. Spirits of Water. Augmentation for Sol. Fixed Luna. Secret Philosophical Water. The Hermetic Bird. Attinkar of Venus. Cement Regal. Philosophic Water.
PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION.
THERE are many respects in which Paracelsus at the present day seems to be little more than a name. Even among professed mystics the knowledge concerning him, very meagre and very indefinite, is know- ledge that has been obtained at second hand, in most cases from Rliphas Levi, who in his Dogme el Riiuel de la Haute Magie^ and again in his Histoire de la Magie^ has delivered an intuitive judgment upon the German ** Monarch of Arcana,** expressed epigramaticafly* after the best manner of a Frenchman,* But, whencesoever derived, the knowledge is thin and phaxitasmal. Paracelsus is indeed cited as an authority in occult science, as a great alchemist, a great magician, a great doctor ; he is somehow supposed to be standing evidence of the *' wisdom of a spoliated past/* and to offer a peculiar instance of malignity on the part of the enemies of Hermetic philosophy, because such persons have presumed to pronounce him an impostor. Thus there is a very strong opinion concerning him, which occultists and mystics of all schools have derived from a species of mystical tradition, and this represents one side of modern thought concerning him. It is not altogether a satisfactory side, because it is not obtained at first hand. In this respect, however, it may compare, without suffering by comparison, with the alternative opinion which
* The cure of Paracelsus were iiLtr«cuJou<tr and be deserved that there shotild be added to his tiame of Pliilippus Theophra&tus Bombast that ofAureoIus Paracebiui, wiih the addition of the epithet of divine.— -/'cr/mr df la Ifantt Mmgitt c. X. PoracektL^t that reformer in magic, who has surpaivid all other initiate!^ by his una&si^itcd practical iuccck&.-'/^iVm c. 5. Paracdsua, the most subLime of the Cbristuui msig\.—/Hd.^ c t6* Paraceltus was a man of inspiration and of miracles, but be exhausted ki« life mth bis devouring activtty, or» rather, he rapidly outwore arut destroyed its vestment : for men like ParaceUus can both use and abuse fearlessly \ they well know tliat they caJI tio more die than grow old here ht\ow*~Kituti tie As Hnntt Ma£ie^ c a. Paracelsus was naturally aggressive and combative ; his faniiliar, he said^ was concealed in the pommel of his great sword, which he never put ajside. His life was incessant warfare » be traveJled, be disputed^ he wroiei he taught. He was more attentive to physical results than to moral conquests ; so he was the ^r^t of practical magicians and the Last of wise adepts. His philosophy was wholly sagadiy I and be himself called it PhUosephm Sagmx. He has divined more than anyone without ever completely anderttanding anything. There is nothing to equal his intuitions unless it be the temerity of his commentaries. He was a man of bold experiences ; be was drunk of his opinions and bis talk ; he even got drunk otherwise, if we are to believe bis biographers. The writings which he has left behind him are precious for science, but they must be read with caution ; he may be called the divine Paracelsus, if the term be understood in the sense of a diviner ; he u aa Oracle, but not invariably a true master. He is great as a physician above all, for he had discovered the Unt venal Medicine ; v^t be could not preserve his own life, and be died while still young, worn out by bis toil and excesies* leaving a name of fantastic and doubtful gIor>', based out diicoi-eries by which his conteroporariei did not prolii. H« died without having uttered his last menage, and he is one of those mysterious per&onages of whom one may affirm, as of Enoch and S. John : be is iMt dead, and he will revisit the earth before the last dsiy\—//uUirt dt At Magitt Uv. V.« c S' His success was prodigious, and never hsts any physician apf^aiched Paracekus in the multitude of hL< marvellous cures.— />c)p«r de ia Hmnte Mm^^ c. i<.
Z A
X. The Hennetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
obtains among non-mystics, namely, that Paracelsus was a great charlatan, though at the same time it is true that he was a great physician, at least for the period In which he lived. This judgment as little, perhaps less than the other, is derived from any solid knowledge concerning the man or his writings.* At the same time it is noticeable that even hearsay condemnations admit that Paracelsus performed notable cures. How it comes about that the application of what would be termed a distracted theory both in medicine and physics enabled its inventor to astound his age by what seemed miracles of the healing art would be a crux for such criticism if the criticism knew anything about it. It is not a crux for the mystics, because by these it would be replied that Paracelsus was a veritable adept, that his Hermetic teachings require to be interpreted, and that the key to their meaning would lay open for those who possess it an abundant treasure of sapience to which the literal significance is only a btsarre veil. Between these views it is unnecessary to make choice here. It is proposed to enable those who are interested in either to judge this matter for themselves by placing completely before them, for the first time, and in an English dress, the Hermetic writings of Para- celsus. It is proposed, also, by way of a brief introduction, to notify a few facts In connection with the (ife of the author, which may be useful at the beginning of an inquiry.
There are, however, many debateable points in connection with the life of Paracelsus to which a reference in this place scarcely requires to be made. What proportion of his long designation belonged to him by birth or baptism, to what countries he actually extended his travels during incessant wanderings which terminated only with his life, under what circumstances he died and what was the precise manner of his death, all these are points about which there is considerable uncertainty, and they are at this day not likely to be set- tled. Theophrastus and Bombast seem to have been assumed names, to one of which an unfortunate, and in some respects an undeserved, significance has been since attracted. The surname of Paracelsus was conferred by his father in alchemy, and it signified that he was greater than Celsus, the physician of ancient fame. To the style of Hohenheim It is believed that he had only a doubtful right. His alternative designation of Eremite suggests the monastic state, but the reference is simply to his birthplace, Maria Einsiedeln, or Notre Dame des Eremites, a short distance from Zurich. He appears to have been christened Phillppus Aureolus, and in his writings he indlflferently
* M. Louis Figoier, the French sdestLst* who otherwise might perhaps be regarded as exhibiiing more than Gallic accuracy, may be cited in ihi* connection. Rererring to the fact that Paracelsus has Laid some stress upon an optnioo not uncommon among ald&etnistSt tuunely* that astrology and magic are ooUaterally a help to the seeker after the Great Work, be goes on to itfllnii that the writing;} of ParaceUus are fiUed with foolish invocations to the inmible worldt while, as a fact, there is not a single treatise comprised in the great Geneva foliot nor is there any other extant work attributed to Paracelsus, and known to the present editor, which contains any invocations at alL M. Louis FiEmo- subsequently tuies, apparently on the sole authority of bis intuition as a Frenchman and a man of parts, that tha fullgtnous Swiss physician enjoys otily a contested authority among alchemists, which if only pani^ly true ; and addt that he was a theoretical writer who did not apply himself manualty to the accomplishment of the Mmgmtm £>/««, whkbT io for jia tl is pocslble to jttdgCi as not true at alt
Preface to tlu English Translation.
XL
describes himself as a Helvetian and a German. He was born in the year 1493, following the tradition which is most generally accepted, but other dates have been indicated, the earliest being 1490. According to one account he was descended from the ancient and honourable family of Bombast, which had abode during many generations at the castle of Hohenheim, near Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, but this is most probably romancing. His father was a physician of repute, who is said to have been in possession of a large collection of curious books» and has also been described as a grand master of the Teutonic order, but the precise meaning attaching to this high-sounding dignity is uncertain and the authority is suspicious. His mother is variously identified as the matron of a hospital and ** superintendent of the university of Einsiedeln. " Paracelsus is reputed to have been their only child, born one year after marriage, but it has also been hinted that his parents were not married, and that the great master of Hermetic medicine was a natural son, He Is said also to have been emasculated in his childhood, but there is reason to suppose that this was merely a hypothetical explanation to account for his beardless and somewhat feminine appearance, and for that hatred of women which seems to have been one oi his social characteristics, and can be traced indirectly, but with sufficient distinctness, in his writings.* About 1502 the family removed to Carinthia, and there the father continued to practise medicine till his death in 1534. From him Paracelsus is supposed to have received the first rudiments of education, and he entered the university of Basle at the age of sixteen, when he betook himself to the study of alchemy, surgery, and medicine. To the first of these sciences he had previously had some introduction through the works of Isaac the Hollander, which are said to have inflamed him with the ambition of curing diseases by medicine superior to the fnateria at that time in use. It was from the same source that he derived the cardinal principle which is enunciated everywhere in his writings, namely, that salt, sulphur, and mercury are the three elementary constituents of all substances. This doctrine, however, by no means origin- ated with the first alchemist of Holland, and Isaac himself was a follower of Geber, Morien, and Arnold. t The actual initiation of Paracelsus into the mysteries of alchemy is, however, supposed to have been attained under the
* So free wafl Paracebus oTaU wnourous wealuiesses, that he made even hit «ex teem doubtful.— Z^^^pftv d* Im
t Contemporatry with Bo&Uiiu Valentinus were I&^inc ihe HolLnnder nnd bb sou, m'ho are supposed to have worked with success. They were the first akbenusts ofHoUand, and tbeir operations were bifEhty esteemed fay Paracelsus, Boylc, and RuockeL In praciicaJ chemistry they followed the traditioiu of GcbcTt and cheiir akliemiea] experimetits are the mo^t plain and i^plidt to the whole raxige of Hennetic literature. They woiiccd prindpalJy to metaUi describing minutely the particulars of ever)' proce$«^ Their lives are almoi^t unknown^ . . . They are placed to the fiA^eenth century by conjecture, from the fact that they do not cite any philofiophers subi<c}ucnt to that period. They «peak of Geber, Da^tin, Morien. and Arnold, but not of more modem authorities, while, on the other hand» their references to aquaforlb ant! aqua rcgia, which were discovered in the fourteenth century, prevent \a from ai&igmns their labt>ur« to an anterior epoch. The two Isioacs were particularly skilful In the manufacture of enameU and amfidal gem stont%. They taught that the Gnind MagUterium could convert a million tirue^ its own weight intogoJdf and declared that any perw^n taking weekly a smalt portion of the philosfiphical ttone wilt be t\'€t preserved \a perfeet health, and lua life will be prolonged to the very tasl boor vrhkh God has aisigticd to him.— Zfrcf ^ Akhtmyttkmt
xii. The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Parcuelsus.
tuition of the Abbot Trithemius,'^ who is regarded as an adept of a high order, and had been previously the instructor of the more celebrated, though less illustrious^ Henry Cornelius Agrippa*t From this mysterious ecclesiastic, who at the present day, in so far as he is remembered at all, is best known by his treatises on cryptic writing, he is supposed to have acquired **the Kabbalah of the spiritual^ astral, and material worlds." About 1516 he is still found at Basle pursuing his researches in mineralogy, medicine, surgery, and chemistry, under the guidance of Sigismund Fugger, a wealthy physician of that city. Subsequently, having got into some trouble with the authori- ties, he fled, and commenced his nomadic life, which an apparently inaccurate tradition represents to have begun at the age of twenty years. Though his father was still alive he appears to have been without any means of subsis- tence, and supported himself, like many distressed students of that period, by psalm-singing, astrological predictions, chiromantic soothsaying, and, it is even said, by necromantic practices. He wandered through Germany, Hungary, Italy, France, the Netherlands^ Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. In the last mentioned countr>% if it be true that he ever reached it, he is reported to have been made prisoner by the Tartars, to have been brought before **the Great Cham/' to have become a favourite at the court of that potentate, and to have accompanied his son on an embassy from China to Constantinople. In spite of the tuition of Trithemius, he had apparently something to learn, and that was nothing less than ** the supreme secret of alchemistry," the '* universal dissolvent," the Azoth, alcahest, or sophic fire. This was imparted to him by a generous Arabian, about whom no other particulars are forthcoming. It is easy to see that the greater part of this nomadic legend is purely fabulous, and so also, in all probability, is his subsequent journey to India and Egypt. It is not an unusual device to account for obscure periods in the lives of Hermetic philosophers by extensive eastern travellings. However this may be, Paracelsus ultimately returned to Europe, and passed along the Danube into Italy, where he appears as an army surgeon, and where also his wonderful cures began. He is said to have re-entered Germany in 1526, at the age of thirty-two, and if this be accepted the date 1516, when he is supposed to have been at work with Sigismund Fugger, will be found approximately correct. It is to the period immediately succeeding his return that most of his biographers assign his induction into a professorship of physics, medicine, and surgery, at the university he entered
* Tntlbetiuiu was a monk of the Benedictmc order, who began life us a mendicant child leuing forth ixk search of knowledge. He was received into a convent at Tr^'e». where he made astounding pHrogreu tn hb studtes. Having exhausted the possibilities of his teacben, he betook himself to Lou vain, thence to Heidelbergt and ^ubsequemly bo Mayence. He became familiar with oriental languages, pagan and Chrbtian phDosopby, astronomy, and alchemy. He was a theologian, a poet an astronomer, and a necfo«nanccr. He took monai^tic vows im 148a, and in the year following he became tbc abbot of a convent at Spanheijn^ which he transformed speedily into a saiictuar>' of art and the sciences He subnequently was made superior of an abbey at Wurtbcmrg, and there it would appear be remained dlJ his death in the ytM 1516^ His works are chiefly historical, but, as above indicated, there are some upon secret writing which are exceedingly curtotis, and one, Ckr<ffUfU^A Mystica, is of a magical character.
t Agrippa^ who seem* to h«ve divided with Parac«l*tt* the reputation of the TrisjnegKt\i« of hi« time, w.n* Horn in S4S& and died in i535«
Preface io the English Translation,
XllL
as a youth. This was a position of some importancei and It was offered him at the instance of Erasmus and Ecolampidus* ** There, in his lectures, he pro- fessed internal medicine, denounced the antiquated systems of Galen and other authorities, and began his instruction by burning the works of these masters in a brass pan with sulphur and nitre. He created innumerable enemies by his arrogance and his innovations, but the value of his mineral medicines was proved by the cures which he performed*"^ These cures only increased the hatred of his persecutors, and Paracelsus, with characteristic defiance, invited the faculty to a lecture, in which he promised to teach the greatest secret of medicine. He began by uncovering a dish which contained excrement. The doctors, indignant at the insult, departed precipitately, Paracelsus shouting after them : * If 3^ou will not hear the mysteries of putrefactive fermenlation, you are unworthy of the name of physicians/ " It will be easily understood that the Hermetic doctor did not long retain his professorship at Basle. He came into conflict with the municipal authorities, and a second time he was forced to flee the place. He betook himself once more to a wandering mode of life. In 1528 he proceeded to Colmar ; in 1530 he is found at Nuremburg, in embroilment, as usual, with the medical faculty, by whom he was de- nounced as an impostor, but the tables were turned on his opponents after his successful treatment of several aggravated cases of elephantiasis. For the ten years succeeding this date there are no certain records of his movements ; he commonly lodged at inns and other public places, still performing cures which were astonishing for the period, andi according to the accusations of his enemies, also drinking to excess*! The testimony of Oporinus on this point is ver)' clear, though it has been indignantly repudiated by some of his later defenders. In 1541 Paracelsus was invited by Archbishop Ernst to settle at Salzburg^ and there, according to one account, he died on September 24 of the same year, but the manner of his death, like that of his birth, has been the subject of contradictor)^ recitals,^ By an alternative statement it occurred on a bench at the kitchen fire in a Strasburg hostelry. One writer supposes the event to have been accelerated by a scuffle with assassins in the pay of the orthodox medical faculty.
There can be no doubt that Paracelsus obtained a wide, though not altogether a happy, reputation during the brief period of his turbulent life, and there is also no doubt that this was immeasurably increased after death.
* Paj^celtiK. who was lh« first who made kiKtim rinc^ has obuuned an immenise and de^rvcd reputation by introducing into medicine the um ofcbetnicaJ compounds furnished by melals. To the old tbci:?peutic> of the Galcnisti, abounding tn complicated and oPten Inoperative preparatian»t he sub^tituieil the simple medicaincDU furiiuhed by chemtstn't ftn<} ^'^''^^ ^'^ ^^t t<> op^ti the audacious path to the application of this science to human physiology and pAthology.— Louti Figuier, VAlckimit it Us Akkimistei^ trouii^me i^/ittan, pp. 99, too,
t Marvellous Paracehus, aW^y^ drunk and atwaj-s luddj like the heroes of Rabelais.— i7«^7Mr tit ia Hautt Magie* lotroduction.
t He proceeded to Maehren, Kaemthcn, ICrain, and Hungary, and finally landed in Salxburg, to which place be was invited by the Prince P.-datine. Duke Ernst of Bavamf who was a (prcat lover of the secret arts. In that place Paracelsus obtained at last the fruits of his long labours and of a widespread fame. But he was not destined to enjoy a long time the re&t he «o richly deserv«d. . . . He died, afier a short sickness (at the age of forty •eight years), in a fmall room of the White Hor*e Inn, near the quoyt and hU body wa* buried in the p^veyanl of St. SeViftstian.— |Janin."iinii's Pittitcfhitji.
xiv. The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
It is in no sense inexact to affirm that he founded a new school both in medicine and in alchemy. The commentaries on his medical system became a literature which, in extent, at least, is formidable ; out of the mystic physics of his alchemical teachings the Rosicrucian doctrines developed in the first • part of the following centurj-. The works of Benedictus Figulus arc evidence
that he was idolized by his disciples. He was termed the noble and beloved monarch, the German Hermes, the Philosopher Trismegistus, our dear preceptor and King of Arts, Theophrastus of blessed memory and immortal fame. The collection of his genuine writings was made with devout care, and as a consequence of his celebrity many fictitious treatises were in due course ascribed to him.* Students attracted by his doctrines travelled far in search of like-minded persons to compare obser\'ations thereon, and to sift the mystery of his instruction. In the course of these inquiries it seems to have become evident, from the experience of his followers, that his prescrip- tions in many cases were not to be literally understood, even when they were apparently the ordinary formulas and concerned with the known materia of medicine. It will scarcely be necessar}* to add that in things alchemical the letter of his teachings was found still more in need of interpretation. The very curious influence exercised by Paracelsus for something like two hundred years over certain sections of restless experiment and speculation is still unwritten, and it would be interesting to trace here, were it possible within the limits of a preface. A task so ambitious is, however, outside those limits, and will perhaps be more wisely surrendered to other hands, for it is, in the main, part of the history of medicine, and demands an expert in the medical literature and medical knowledge of the past The translations which follow are concerned only with the Hermetic writings of Paracelsus, to the exclusion of many formidable treatises on surgical science, and on the causes and cure of disease. They comprise what Paracelsus would himself have comprised in a collection of his alchemical writings, and this in itself is much more than is ordinarily understood to be within the significance of the term. With Paracelsus the province of alchemy was not limited to the transmutation of metals. It was, broadly speaking, the development of hidden possibilities or virtues in any substance, whether by God, or man, or
* More especially, dear friends, have we to complain of the devilish cunning w-ay in which the wtyks of Theophrastus have hitherto hecn supprea^cd. only a few of which (and those to be reckoned the ^-ery worst) having appeared in print. For although they have been collected together from all countries b which Tbeophnstus has lived and travelled— the books he has written in Aurooomy. PhiSoMpfay. Chemistry, Cabala, and Theology, numbering some thousand volumes— yet the same has only been done from avarice to get riches^ For, haWng been trafficked in and sold for great sums they have become kcattered amv«ig t^K ccmris of princes and nobles, while Christendom at large, for whose use and benefit Theophrastus wrvte. Lak ov part iu them. Particularly his theological works (because they annihilate the god!e». and do not »uit chilii/en of tbi» »«jfld— Urlly-vtrrers, deceived by the de\-il) have hitherto been totally suppressed. . . . But. at the La>t D«y. 1. t<;gethcr «ith al! true Sons of the Doctrine, shall demand an account of them for having . . . shut Trutb away v.i WjLe». wulU. and vaults and behind locks and b<^ts. Now, these precious and revered writings were ordered by 0<^ in our latter time%. through Theophrastus, for the use and weal of the whole of Christendom. A» rvgji/<!» vai dear, highly fa wu red Monarch and Preceptor, . . . we, for our port, will not supprcM his Life, bi> «e!]-u.«ritod pi;«i»c. . . . gi>en him by God, the Angels, and the whole Firmament, but will heartily defend bis h'.^^iour vA. uatLifij; t^ tl«« ^^wy ^A of our life.— Benedictus Figulus. A Gulden and BUsud Casktt 0/ yatmrg i MmrtnU
Preface io the English Translation.
XV,
Nature. Thus it Included the philosophy of creation, and dealt with the first matter as developed into the universe by Divine Power. It included also the natural evolution which takes place round us, whether in the formation of metals within the earth, or the formation of animals in the matrix. Finally, it included the development by man's skill and art of whatsoever was capable of improvement in the products of Nature* Thus the Hermetic and Alchemical writings of Paracelsus have a wider scope than might at first be inferred from the title. The purpose of this translation is altogether of an unpretentious kind. It aims at providing, and that for the first time, a complete and faithful text of all that Paracelsus is known or supposed to have written on the subject of alchemy and Hermetic medicine. It does not attempt Io distinguish between the works which have been falsely attributed to him \ concerning this question there are no satisfactory canons of criticism, for those which have been indicated by the old author of the OnomasHkon are of an arbitrary and unpractical kind. A careful reader will probably regard with suspicion the ** Aurora of the Philosophers," at least in its present state, and he will possibly reject altogether the treatise ** Con- cerning the Spirits of the Planets." There is nothing else in these volumes, except the uncertain ** Manual," which from internal evidence is unlikely to have been the work of Paracelsus, and it is unnecessary to enter into the question which has been raised by some of his biographers as to his employ- ment of scribes under him, who reduced his dictations to writing and have possibly maJtreated their master, The text which has been adopted for translation is the Geneva folio, In four volumes, 1658, in Latin. The bizarre mixture of Latin and old German in which Paracelsus originally wrote presents many difficulties with which it is unnecessary to grapple, as the Latin collected edition appears to represent in a very satisfactory manner both the letter and the spirit of the originals.
It seems also desirable to state that a comparison of the medical and chemical knowledge possessed by Paracelsus with the chemistry and medicine of to-day is outside the purpose of this edition, because it is outside possibility within the limits of two volumes. There is no doubt that it would be an interesting as well as an important task to establish the exact position of Paracelsus, not only as regards modern knowledge, but as regards the science which preceded hini^ and it is hoped that such a work will be ultimately performed. Should this translation be regarded as final by students, or at least as a satisfactory foundation for a full and complete comprehension of the sage of Hohenheim, and should the encouragement which is indispensable to an undertaking so long and costly be adequately given, it is proposed, after a reasonable interval, that these two volumes of uncriticised text should be followed by one other which will contain all the materials requisite for understanding Paracelsus, and will further trace, methodically and historically, the development of alchemical symbolism, with the growth of chemical knowledge from the Byzantine period to the dawn of the Reformation, It is
xvi. The Hernutic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
anticipated that this inquiry will fix for the first time the true objects of Hermetic physics, and the place which must be assigned to Paracelsus in connection therewith. The less ambitious but indispensable preliminary of this inquiry has been alone attempted here, and the simple provision of a text, as intelligible as the circumstances will allow, has been truly no light undertaking, nor should it be regarded as the exclusive work of one hand. The editor has accomplished his task with the collaboration of other specialists, and is responsible only for certain portions of the actual trans- lation, and for its general revision and collation. The work, as it stands, consists of (a) the large body of literature, entire and unabridged, attributed to Paracelsus, and treating directly of alchemy, and the transcendental doctrines and physics of the Magnum Opus ; (V) The whole Paracelsian literature of the Great Elixir and the Universal Medicine ; (c) So much of the Hermetic philosophy and cosmogony of Paracelsus as has been judged necessary to illustrate his alchemical teachings ; [d) One important treatise illustrating the application by Paracelsus of metallic and mineral substances to the treatment of diseases ; (e) An exhaustive collection of alchemical references scattered through the chirurgical works of Paracelsus. Thus, the present edition is practically inclusive of everything except the exoteric medicine of Paracelsus, which, it is thought, is of inferior importance to the modern student.
PART I.
Hermetic Chemistry.
THE CCELUM PHILOSOPHORI
OR BOOK OF VEXATIONS ;
By PHILIPPUS THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS.
The Science and Nature of Alchemy, and what Opinion should bb
formed thereof.
Regulated by the Seven Rules or Fundamefital Canons according
to the seven commmily known Metals; and cantatning a
Pre/ace with certain Treatises and Appendices,
THE PREFACE
OF Theophrastus Paracelsus to all Alchemists and Readers
OF THIS Book.
YOU who are skilled in Alchemy, and as many others as promise your- selves great riches or chiefly desire to make gold and silver, which Alchemy in difTerent ways promises and teaches ; equally, too, you who willingly undergo toil and vexations, and wish not to be freed from them, until you have attained your rewards, and the fulfilment of the promises made to you ; experience teaches this every day, that out of thousands of you not even one accomplishes his desire. Is this a failure of Nature or of Art ? I say, no ; but it is rather the fault of fate, or of the unskilfulness of the operator.
Since, therefore, the characters of the signs, of the stars and planets of heaven, together with the other names, inverted words, receipts, materials, and instruments are thoroughly well known to such as are acquainted with this art, it would be altogether superfluous to recur to these same subjects in the present book, although the use of such signs, names, and characters at the proper time is by no means without advantage.
But herein will be noticed another way of treating .'Vlchemy different from the previous method, and deduced by Seven Canons from the sevenfold series of the metals. This, indeed, will not give scope for a pompous parade of words, but, nevertheless, in the consideration of those Canons ever}lhing which should be separated from Alchemy will be treated at sufficient length, and, moreover, many secrets of other things are herein contained. Hence, too» result certain marvellous speculations and new^ operations which frequently
}i2
4 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
differ from the writings and opinions of ancient operators and natural philosophers, but have been discovered and confirmed by full proof and experimentation.
Moreover, in this Art nothing is more true than this, though it be little known and gains small confidence. All the fault and cause of difficulty in Alchemy, whereby very many persons are reduced to poverty, and others labour in vain, is wholly and solely lack of skill in the operator, and the defect or excess of materials, whether in quantity or quality, whence it ensues that, in the course of operation, things are wasted or reduced to nothing. If the true process shall have been found, the substance itself while transmuting approaches daily more and more towards perfection. The straight road is easy, but it is found by very few.
Sometimes it may happen that a speculative artist may, by his own eccentricity, think out for himself some new method in Alchemy, be the con- sequence anything or nothing. He need do nought in order to reduce some- thing into nothing, and again bring back something out of nothing. Yet this proverb of the incredulous is not wholly false. Destruction perfects that which is good ; for the good cannot appear on account of that which conceals it. The good is least good whilst it is thus concealed. The concealment must be removed that so the good may be able freely to appear in its own brightness. For example, the mountain, the sand, the earth, or the stone in which a metal has grown is such a concealment. Each one of the visible metals is a concealment of the other six metals.
By the element of fire all that is imperfect is destroyed and taken away, as, for instance, the five metals. Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Saturn.* On the other hand, the perfect metals, Sol and Luna, are not consumed in that same fire. They remain in the fire : and at the same time, out of the other imperfect ones which are destroyed, they assume their own body and become visible to the eyes. How, and by what method, this comes about can be gathered from the Seven Canons. Hence it may be learnt what are the nature and property of each metal, what it effects with the other metals, and what are its powers in commixture with them.
But this should be noted in the very first place : that these Seven Canons cannot be perfectly understood by every cursory reader at a first glance or a single reading. An inferior intelligence does not easily perceive occult and abstruse subjects. Each one of these Canons demands no slight discussion. Many persons, puffed up with pride, fancy they can easily comprehend all which this book comprises. Thus they set down its contents as useless and futile, thinking they have something far better of their own, and that therefore they can afford to despise what is here contained.
* The three prime substances are proved only by fire, which manifests them pure, naked, clean, and simple. In the absence of all ordeal by fire, there is no proving of a substance possible. For fire tests everything, and when the impure matter b separated the three pure substances are displayed.— Z>r Origine Motborum ex Tnbus Primis SitbsfaHtiis' Paramtfum^ Lib. I., c. i. Fire separates that which is constant or fixed fi-om that which is fugitive or volatile.— De Morbis Metalltcis^ Lib. IL, Tract L Fire is the father or active principle of separation.—" Third Fragment on Tartar," from the Fragmenta Medica.
THE CCELUM PH ILOSOPHORUM.
PART I. THE SEVEN CANONS OF THE METALS.
THE FIRST CANON.
COMCBRNING THE NaTURE AND PROPERTIES OF MbRCURY.*
A LL things are concealed in a!L One of them all is the concealer of the ^~\ rest- their corporeal vessel, external, visible, and movable. All lique- factions are manifested In that vessel. For the vessel is a living and corporeal spirit, and so all coagulations or congelations enclosed in it, when prevented from flowing and surroundedi are not therewith content. No name can be found for this liquefaction, by which it may be designated ; still less can it be found for its origin. And since no heat Is so strong as to be equalised therewith, it should be compared to the fire of Gehenna, A liquefaction of this kind has no sort of connection with others made by the heat of natural fire, or congelated or coagulated by natural cold. These congelations, through their weakness, are unable to obtain In Mercury, and therefore, on that account, he altogether contemns them. Hence one may gather that elcmentur}" powers, in their process of destruction, can add nothing to, nor take away anything from, celestial powers (which are called Quintessence or its elements), nor have they any capacity for operating. Celestial and infernal powers do not obey the four elements, whether they be dry, moist, hot, or cold. No one of them has the faculty of acting against a Quintessence ; but each one contains within itself its own powers and means of action, t
* By the fnedUtion of Vulcan, or fire, aiiy mttai can be generated from Merctu^. At the same time. Mercury is ilTiperfect Ah a metal ; it Is iemi-generated and warkting in coogulntion, whidu is the end of jUI metolf. Up lo the h&lf> way point of their generation all metals are Mercury. Gold, for eJcninple, i» Mercury ; but it Iosm» the Mcruumi nature by coagulation, and althougb the propcrtie* of Mercur>' are present bi it» they are dead, for their vitality i* destroyed by ooag^ulation.— J7r Mfffhs J\feiafikit, Lib. Ul., Tract 11., c* a. The essences and arcaras which arc latent in all the vi» o petals are to be found in the substance of Mercury. ~/^jV., c y There lue two gctiera of Mereun% the /ii«ed Mercury of rarth and another kind which deaccndji from the daily constctlatjon,— /^i</,, Lib. I., Tract IL, c, 4. As there i* a red and white Sulphur of Marcaiites, a yellow, rcfJ* and black Sulphur of Talc, a purple mud black Sulphur of the Cachimue, a Sulphur of Cinnabar, and, in like manner, or ntarble, amethyst, etc., so U ihoe a special Mercury of Copper, Plumbago, Zinc, Arsenic, tXc—l^id. Mercury is not Quicksilver, for Mercury is dead, white Quicksilver ts living.— Z?^ Hfdrofixi.
t Nothing of true value is looited In the body of a subfitance^ but in the virtue. And this is tlie ptlndple of the Qttinteaaenoe, which reduces, say, aolbs. into a single ounce, and lltat ounce far exceeds the entire 3olb«. in potency. HcDca tlia lesft there 11 of body, the more in piroportion is the virtue— iJi- Ofigittt M^^^rum Imwni^iiiuM^ Lib. IV,
6 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
THE SECOND CANON. Concerning the Nature and Properties of Jupiter.
In that which is manifest (that is to say, the body of Jupiter) the other six corporeal metals are spiritually concealed, but one more deeply and more tenaciously than another. Jupiter has nothing of a Quintessence in his com- position, but is of the nature of the four elementaries. On this account his liquefaction is brought about by the application of a moderate fire, and, in like manner, he is coagulated by moderate cold. He has affinity with the liquefactions of all the other metals. For the more like he is to some other nature, the more easily he is united thereto by conjunction. For the operation of those nearly allied is easier and more natural than of those which are remote. The remote body does not press upon the other. At the same time, it is not feared, though it may be very powerful. Hence it happens that men do not aspire to the superior orders of creation, because they are far distant from them, and do not see their glory. In like manner, they do not much fear those of an inferior order, because they are remote, and none of the living knows their condition or has experienced the misery of their punishment. For this cause an infernal spirit is accounted as nothing. For more remote objects are on that account held more cheaply and occupy a lower place, since according to the propriety of its position each object turns out better, or is transmuted. This can be proved by various examples.
The more remote, therefore, Jupiter is found to be from Mars and Venus, and the nearer Sol and Luna, the more **goldness" or **silveriness," if I may so say, it contains in its body, and the greater, stronger, more visible, more tangible, more amiable, more acceptable, more distinguished, and more true it is found than in some remote body. Again, the more remote a thing is, of the less account is it esteemed in all the respects aforesaid, since what is present is always preferred before what is absent. In proportion as the nearer is clear the more remote is occult. This, therefore, is a point which you, as an Alchemist, must seriouly debate with yourself, how you can relegate Jupiter to a remote and abstruse place, which Sol and Luna occupy, and how, in turn, you can summon Sol and Luna from remote positions to a near place, where Jupiter is corporeally posited ; so that, in the same way, Sol and Luna also may really be present there corporeally before your eyes. For the trans- mutation of metals from imperfection to perfection there are several practical receipts. Mix the one with the other. Then again separate the one pure from the other. This is nothing else but the process of permutation, set in order by perfect alchemical labour. Note that Jupiter has much gold and not a little silver. Let Saturn and Luna be imposed on him, and of the rest Luna will be augmented.*
• Tin, or Jupiter, b pure Mercury coagulated with a small quantity of Salt, but combined with a larger proportion of white Sulphur. It derives its colours, white, yellow, or red, from its Mercur>'. Its sublimation is also bj- Mercury, and its resolution by Salt, and it b sublimed and resolved by these.— Z^« EUmento Aqua^ Tract III., c. 6.
The Ccelum Phihsophorum, f
THE THIRD CANON.
Concerning Mars and I Us Properties.
The six occult metals have expelled the seventh from thenit and have made it corporeal, leaving it little efficacy, and imposing on it great hardness and weight. This being the case, they have shaken off all their own strength of coagulation and hardness, which they manifest in this other body. On the contrary, they have retained in themselves their colour and liquefaction, together with their nobility- It is very difficult and laborious for a prince or a king to be produced out of an unfit and common man. But Mars acquires dominion with strong and pugnacious hand, and seizes on the position of king. He should, however, be on his guard against snares, that he be not led captive suddenly and unexpectedly. It must also be considered by what method Mars may be able to take the place of king, and Sol and Luna» with Saturn, hold the place of Mars.*
THE FOURTH CANON,
Concerning Venus and Its Properties.
The other six metals have rendered Venus an extrinsical body by means of all their colour and method of liquefaction. It may be necessary, in order to understand this, that we should show, by some examples, how a manifest thing may be rendered occult, and an occult thing rendered materially manifest by means of fire. Whatever is combustible can be naturally transmuted by fire from one form into another, namely, into lime, soot, ashes, glass, colours, stones, and earth. This last can again be reduced to many new metaUic bodies. If a metal, too, be burnt, or rendered fragile by old rust, it can again acquire malleability by applications of fire.f
THE FIFTH CANON.
Concerning the Nature and Properties of Saturn*
Of his own nature Saturn speaks thus : The other six have cast me out as their examiner. They have thrust me forth from them and from a spiritual place. They have also added a corruptible body as a place of abode, so that I may be what they neither are nor desire to become. My six brothers are spiritual, and thence it ensues that so often as I am put in the fire they penetrate my body and, together with me, perish in the fire, Sol and Luna
♦ In the geaicration of Iron there U a largex proportirwii of Salt and Mercury', while th« red Sulphur from which cxipper proceed:^ U present in a Kinsillcr quantity. It coniaim also a cuprine soltj. but tiot in equal profjiortian w\l\\ Mercury, [is constituents are \\% own body, which preponderates ; then cornea Salt* afterwards Mercury^ ttttd* U«tly, Sulphur, When there is mcirc Salt than the composition of Sulphur m|uixc», the met»] can in no wue be made^ for it depends upon an eqtial weight of each. For fIuxibiUr>' proceedi from Mercury and coa^uhition from Sail. AccordinKly, If there be loo much Salt it becomes too hard.— ^# El^mtnt^ AqutTf Lib. IV., Tract III., c. 4.
t Venus is the first metal getietaled by the Archeua of Nature from the three prime principles after the UUurouMte.* and cachimici have been separated firom thete. It 16 formed of the gross redness which \^ purged off from th« pdmal Sulphur, cif the Ught red eji^pelled in like aumDO- frooi the Mercury^ and of the deep ydlow sepanued in the porificfttion of the prime Salt by this same Archeua.— /^u^, c. j.
8 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
excepted. These are purified and ennobled in my water. My spirit is a water softening the rigid and congelated bodies of my brothers. Yet my body is inclined to the earth. Whatever is received into me becomes conformed thereto, and by means of us is converted into one body. It would be of little use to the world if it should learn, or at least believe, what lies hid In me, and what I am able to effect. It would be more profitable it should ascertain %vhat I am able to do with myself. Deserting all the methods of the Alchemists, it would then use only that which is in me and can be done by me. The stone of cold is in me. This Is a water by means of which I make the spirits of the six metals congeal into the essence of the seventh, and this is to promote Sol with Luna,*
Two kinds of Antimony are found ; one the common black, by which Sol is purified when liquefied therein. This has the closest affinity with Saturn. The other kind is the white, which is also called Magnesia and Bismuth. It has great affinity with Jupiter, and when mixed with the other Antimony it augments Luna.
THE SIXTH CANON. Concerning Luna and the Properties thereof.
The endeavour to make Saturn or Mars out of Luna involves no lighter or easier work than to make Luna, with great gain, out of Mercur}% Jupiter, Mars, Venus, or Saturn. It is not useful to transmute what is perfect into what is imperfect, but the latter into the former. Nevertheless, it is well to know what is the material of Luna, or whence it proceeds. Whoever is not able to consider or find this out will neither be able to make Luna It will be asked, What is Luna ? It is among the seven metals which are spiritually concealed, itself the seventh^ external^ corporeal, and material. For this seventh always contains the six metals spiritually hidden in itself. And the six spiritual metals do not exist without one external and material metaU So also no corporeal metal can have place or essence without those six spiritual ones. The seven corporeal metals mix easily by means of liquefaction > but this mixture is not useful for making Sol or Luna. For in that mixture each metal remains in its own nature, or fixed in the fire, or flies from it. For example, mix, in any way you can. Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Sol, and Luna, It will not thence result that Sol and Luna will so change the other five that, by the agency of Sol and Luna, these will become Sol and Luna. For though all be liquefied into a single mass, nevertheless each remains in its nature whatever it is. This is the judgment which must be passed on corporeal mixture. But concerning spiritual mixture and
* Lead Is tbeblAijkne^ of the three first principles, which, however^ is by tio means n superfluity, but a peculiar ineUlllc nature in them existing^. For all metak are latent in Mercury, and they arc all only Mercury. The »ame is to be concluded coxiccrurrig Salt anfJ Sulphur. Thus, as copper is the abundant rcdiioiA of the three principles, so Le.-id in their btackne^ ; but, at ibe *anie time, tbcr« are four colours concealed therein the blacknc**, purged off from the three principles ; redness, whicU contains a precipitate out of Mercury ; whitene&&, from the calcination of Mercury \ and a certain yellowness^ derived from Mcrciiry. Thus the gros&ness and the colours are alike due to Mercury, and Lead u, in fact, a black Mercury. -Uid.^ c 5.
The Ccelum Philosophonim. 9
communion of the metals, it should be known that no separation or mortification is spiritual, because such spirits can never exist without bodies. Though the body should be taken away from them and mortified a hundred times in one hour^ nevertheless, they would always acquire another much more noble than the former. And this is the transposition of the metals from one death to another, that is to say, from a lesser deg^ree into one greater and higher, namely, into Luna ; and from a better into the best and most most perfect, that is, into Sol, the brilliant and altogether royal metaL It is most true, then, as frequently said above, that the six metals always generate a seventh, or produce it from themselves clear in its esse,
A question may arise : If it be true that Luna and every metal derives its origin and is generated from the other six, w^hat is then its property and its nature ? To this we reply : From Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Sol, nothing and no other metal than Luna could be made. The cause is that each metal has t%vo good virtues of the other six, of which altogether there are twelve. These are the spirit of Luna, w^hich thus in a few w*ords may be made known. Luna is composed of the six spiritual metals and their virtues, whereof each possesses two. Altogether, therefore, twelve are thus posited in one corporeal metal, which are compared to the seven planets and the twelve celestial signs. Luna has from the planet Mercurj^ and from Aquarius and Pisces, its liquidity and bright white colour. 9t ^^» ^^^ K- So Luna has from Jupiter, with +^ (Sagittarius) and Taurus, its white colour and its great firmness in fire. V 1 ^-+ 1 b . Luna has from Mars, with Cancer and Aries, Its hardness and its clear sound* <? , cs, and T- Luna has from Venus, with Gemini and Libra, its measure of coagulation and its malleability. 9 , n, and Libra. From Saturn, with Virgo and ^ (Scorpio), its homogene- ous body, with gravity. I7 , ITf, and ;§. From Sol, with Leo and Virgo, its spotless purity and great constancy against the power of fire, 0, J2, and TTJ. Such is the knowledge of the natural exaltation and of the course of the spirit and body of Luna, with its composite nature and wisdom briefly summarised*
Furthermore, it should be pointed out what kind of a body such metallic spirits acquire In their primitive generation by means of celestial influx. For the metal-digger, when he has crushed the stone, contemptible as it is in ap- pearance, liquefies it, corrupts it, and altogether mortifies it with fire. Then this metallic spirit, in such a process ol mortification, receives a better and more noble body, not friable but malleable. Then comes the Alchemist, who again corrupts, mortifies, and artificially prepares such a metallic body. Thus once more that spirit of the metal assumes a more noble and more perfect body, putting itself forward clearly into the light, except it be Sol or Luna. Then at last the metallic spirit and body are perfectly united, are safe from the corruption of elementary fire, and also incorruptible^*
* When ihe three prime principles ha^'c been purged of their superfluities. And from the taid ftuperfluiiiei the imperfect metd^ have tieen generated, there remAins nothing gro«fi or crtide, either in colour or suhstJince, hut only a very subtle tuiturc of a white and purple hue. Thtt u Uie asost pure quality oC Mercury, Saltj aad Sulphur^ tooet clear
lo The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
THE SEVENTH CANON.
Concerning the Nature of Sol and its Properties.
The seventh after the six spiritual metals is corporeally Sol, which in itself is nothing but pure fire. What in outward appearance is more beautiful, more brilliant, more clear and perceptible, a heavier, colder, or more homo- geneous body to see ? And it is easy to perceive the cause of this, namely, that it contains in itself the congelations of the other six metals, out of which it is made externally into one most compact body. Its liquefaction proceeds from elementary fire, or is caused by the liquations of Mercury, with Pisces and Aquarius, concealed spiritually within it. The most manifest proof of this is that Mercury is easily mingled corporeally with the Sun as in an embrace. But for Sol, when the heat is withdrawn and the cold supervenes after liquefaction, to coagulate and to become hard and solid, there is need of the other five metals, whose nature it embraces in itself — ^Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Luna. In these five metals the cold abodes with their regimens are especially found. Hence it happens that Sol can with difficulty be liquefied without the heat of fire, on account of the cold whereof mention has been made. For Mercury cannot assist with his natural heat or liquefaction, or defend himself against the cold of the five metals, because the heat of Mercury is not sufficient to retain Sol in a state of liquefaction. Wherefore Sol has to obey the five metals rather than Mercury alone. Mercury itself has no office of itself save always to flow. Hence it happens that in coagulations of the other metals it can effect nothing, since its nature is not to make anything hard or solid, but liquid. To render fluid is the nature of heat and life, but cold has the nature of hardness, consolidation, and immobility, which is compared to death. For example, the six cold metals, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Luna, if they are to be liquefied must be brought to that condition by the heat of fire. Snow or ice, which are cold, will not produce this effect, but rather will harden. As soon as ever the metal liquefied by fire is removed therefrom, the cold, seizing upon it, renders it hard, congelated, and immovable of itself. But in order that Mercury may remain fluid and alive continually, say, I pray you, whether this will be affected with heat or cold ? Whoever answers that this is brought about by a cold and damp nature, and that it has its life from cold— the promulgator of this opinion, having no knowledge of Nature, is led away by the vulgar. For the vulgar man judges only falsely, and always holds firmly on to his error. So then let him who loves truth withdraw therefrom. Mercury, in fact, lives not at all from cold but from a warm and fiery nature.
and excellent in form, substance, essence, and colour. These two essences, namely, the white and the purple, are separated by the Archeus, and out of the first, fixed and coagulated, is formed silver, while from the purple there is generated gold, which b the most noble Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, separated from all other colours, and consisting of purple alone. Its clayey or yellow appearance b accounted for by the subtlety and clearness of the metal, because all the dull colours are removed. In Silver the most prevalent colours are green and blue, which are respectively derived from the Mercury and the Salt, the Sulphur contributing nothing in the matter of colouring. On the other hand, in gold the purple colour is derived from Salt, the pellucid redness from Sulphiu-, and the yellow from Merctiry. —Ibid., c. 8.
The Cctlum Philosophorum.
II
Whatever lives is fire, because heat Is life, but cold the occasion of death. The fire of Sol is of itself pure, not indeed alive, but hard, and so far shews the colour of sulphur in that yellow and red are mixed therein in due proportion. The five cold metals are Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, and Luna, which assign to Sol their virtues ; according to cold, the body itself ; according to fire, colour ; according to dryness, solidity ; according to humidity, weight ; and out of brightness, sound. But that gold is not burned in the clement of terrestrial fire, nor is even corrupted, is effected by the firmness of Sol. For one fire cannot burn another, or even consume it ; but rather if fire be added to fire it is increased, and becomes more powerful in its operations. The celestial fire which flows to us on the earth from the Sun is not such a fire as there is in heaven, neither is it like that which exists upon the earth, but that celestial fire with us is cold and congealed, and it is the body of the Sun. Wherefore the Sun can in no way be overcome by our fire. This only happens, that it is liquefied, like snow or ice, by that same celestial Sun. Fire, therefore, has not the power of burning fire, because the Sun is fire, which, dissolved in heaven, is coagulated with us.
Gold is in its
I Celestial
Dissolved
Essence three-
2 Elementary
and
Fluid
fold
3 Metallic
is
Corporeal,
The End of the Seven Canons.
THE CCELUM PHILOSOPHORUM.
PART II.
CERTAIN TREATISES AND APPENDICES ARISING OUT OF THE SEVEN CANONS.
God and Nature do Nothing in Vain.
THE eternal position of all things, independent of time, without beginning or end, operates everywhere. It works essentially where otherwise there is no hope. It accomplishes that which is deemed impossible. What appears beyond belief or hope emerges into truth after a wonderful fashion.
Note on Mercurius Vivus.
Whatever tinges with a white colour has the nature of life, and the properties and power of light, which causally produces life. Whatever, on the other hand, tinges with blackness, or produces black, has a nature in common with death, the properties of darkness, and forces productive of death. The earth with its frigidity is a coagulation and fixation of this kind of hardness. For the house is always dead ; but he who inhabits the house lives. If you can discover the force of this illustration you have conquered.
Tested liquefactive powder. Burn fat verbena.*
Recipe. — Salt nitre, four ounces ; a moiety of sulphur ; tartar, one ounce. Mix and liquefy.
What is to be thought concerning the Congelation of Mercury.
To mortify or congeal Mercury, and afterwards seek to turn it into Luna, and to sublimate it with great labour, is labour in vain, since it involves a dissipation of Sol and Luna existing therein. There is another method, far different and much more concise, whereby, with little waste of Mercury and less expenditure of toil, it is transmuted into Luna without congelation. Any one can at pleasure learn this Art in Alchemy, since it is so simple and easy ; and by it, in a short time, he could make any quantity of silver and
* Verbenas adole pingues, et mascula tura.— Virg., Eel. viii. 65.
The Cesium Philosophorum.
n
gfold. It is tedious to read long descriptions^ and every^body wishes to be advised in straightforward words. Do this, then ; proceed as follow^s, and you will have Sol and Liinai by help whereof you will turn out a verj' rich man. Wait awhile, I beg, while this process is described to you in few words, and keep these words well digested^ so that out of Saturn, Mercury, and Jupiter you may make Sol and Luna. There is not, nor ever will be^ any art so easy to find out and practise, and so effective in itself. The method of making Sol and Luna by Alchemy is so prompt that there is no more need of books, or of elaborate instruction, than there would be if one wished to write about last year*s snow.
CONCBRNING THE RECEIPTS OP AlCHEMY.
What, then, shall we say about the receipts of Alchemy, and about the diversity of its vessels and instruments ? These are furnaces, glasses, jars, waters, oils, limes, sulphurs, salts, saltpetres* alums, vitriols, chr>*socoll£e, copper-greens, atraments, auri-pigments, fel vitri, ceruse, red earth, thucia, wax, lutum sapientiEe, pounded glass, verdigris, soot, testge ovorum, crocus of Mars, soap, crystal, chdk, arsenic, antimony, minium, elixir, lazurium, gold- leaf, salt-nitre, sal ammoniac, calamine stone, magnesia, bolus armenus, and many other things. Moreover, concerning preparations, putrefactions, digestions, probations, solutions, cementings, titrations, reverberations, calcinations, graduations, rectifications, amalgamations, purgations, etc., with these alchemical books are crammed. Then, again, concerning herbs, roots, seeds, woods, stones, animals, %vorms, bone dust, snail shells, other shells, and pitch. These and the like, whereof there are some very far-fetched in Alchemy, are mere Incumbrances of work ; since even if Sol and Luna could be made by them they rather hinder and delay than further one*s purpose. But it is not from these— to say the truth— that the Art of making Sol and Luna is to be learnt. So, then, all these things should be passed by, because they have no effect with the five metals, so far as Sol and Luna are concerned. Someone may ask. What, then, is this short and easy way, which involves no difficulty, and yet whereby Sol and Luna can be made ? Our answer is, this has been fully and openly explained in the Seven Canons. It would be lost labour should one seek further to instruct one who does not understand these. It would be impossible to convince such a person that these matters could be so easily understood, but in an occult rather than in an open sense.
The Art is this : After you have made heaven, or the sphere of Saturn, with its life to run over the earth, place on it all the planets, or such, one or more, as you wish, so that the portion of Luna may be the smallest. Let all run, until heaven, or Saturn, has entirely disappeared. Then all those planets will remain dead with their old corruptible bodies, having meanwhile obtained another new, perfect, and incorruptible body.
That body is the spirit of heaven. From it these planets again receive a body and life, and live as before. Take this body from the life and the earth.
liJ
Q. Q. <
f
1 14 TAe Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
I Keep it. It is Sol and Luna. Here you have the Art altogether, clear and
S entire. If you do not yet understand it, or are not practised therein, it is
/ well. It is better that it should be kept concealed, and not made public.
» How TO Conjure the Crystal so that all things may be seen in it.
To conjure is nothing else than to observe anything rightly, to know and to understand what it is. The crystal is a figure of the air. Whatever appears in the air, movable or immovable, the same appears also in the speculum or crystal as a wave. For the air, the water, and the crystal, so far as vision is concerned, are one, like a mirror in which an inverted copy of an object is seen.
Concerning the Heat of Mercury.
Those who think that Mercury is of a moist and cold nature are plainly in error, because it is by its nature in the highest degree warm and moist, which is the cause of its being in a constant state of fluidity. If it were of a moist and cold nature it would have the appearance of frozen water, and be always ' hard and solid, so that it would be necessary to liquefy it by the heat of fire,
! as in the case of the other metals. But it does not require this, since it has
liquidity and flux from its own heat naturally inborn in it, which keeps it in a state of perpetual fluidity and renders it ** quick," so that it can neither die, nor be coagulated, nor congealed. And this is well worth noticing, that the \ spirits of the seven metals, or as many of them as have been commingled, as
I . soon as they come into the fire, contend with one another, especially Mercury,
' so that each may put forth its powers and virtues in the endeavour to get the
; mastery in the way of liquefying and transmuting. One seizes on the virtue,
I life, and form of another, and assigns some other nature and form to this one.
f So then the spirits or vapours of the metals are stirred up by the heat to
operate mutually one upon the other, and transmute from one virtue to another, until perfection and purity are attained.
But what must be done besides to Mercury in order that its moisture and heat may be taken away, and in their place such an extreme cold introduced as to congeal, consolidate, and altogether mortify the Mercury? Do what I follows in the sentence subjoined : Take pure Mercury closely shut up in a
f silver pixis. Fill a jar with fragments of lead, in the midst of which place
j the pixis. Let it melt for twenty-four hours, that is, for a natural day. This
I takes away from Mercury his occult heat, adds an external heat, and con-
tributes the internal coldness of Saturn and Luna (which are both planets of a cold nature), whence and whereby the Mercury is compelled to congeal, consolidate, and harden.
Note also that the coldness (which Mercury needs in its consolidation and mortification) is not perceptible by the external sense, as the cold of snow or of ice is, but rather, externally, there is a certain amount of apparent heat. Just in the same way is it with the heat of Mercury, which is the cause of its fluidity. It is not an external heat, perceptible in the same way as one of our
The Ccelum Pkilasopkorum.
J5
qualities. Nay, externally a sort of coldness is perceptible. Whence the Sophists (a race which has more talk than true wisdom) falsely assert that Mercury is cold and of a moist nature, so that they go on and advise us to congeal it by means of heat ; whereas heat only renders it more fluid, as they daily find out to their own loss rather than gain.
True Alchemy which alone, by its unique Art, teaches how to fabricate Sol and Luna from the five imperfect metals, allows no other receipt than this, which well and truly says : Only from metals, in metals, by metab, and with metals, are perfect metals made, for in some things is Luna and in other metals is Sol.
What Materials and Instruments are required in Alchemy. There is need of nothing else but a foundry, bellows, tongs, hammers, cauldrons^ jars, and cupels made from beechen ashes. Afterwards, lay on Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus, Mercury, and Luna. Let them operate finally up to Saturn.
The Method of Seeking Minerals.
The hope of finding these in the earth and in stones is most uncertain, and the labour very great* However, since this is the first mode of getting them, it is in no way to be despised, but greatly commended. Such a desire or appetite ought no more to be done away with than the lawful inclination of young people, and those in the prime of life, to matrimony. As the bees long for roses and other flowers for the purpose of making honey and wax, so, too, men — apart from avarice or their own aggrandisement — should seek to extract metal from the earth. He who does not seek it is not likely to find it. God dowers men not only with gold or silver, but also with poverty* squalor, and misery. He has given to some a singular knowledge of metals and minerals, whereby they have obtained an easier and shorter method of fabricating gold and silver, without digging and smelting them, than they were commonly accustomed to, by extracting them from their primitive bodies. And this is the case not only with subterranean substances, but by certain arts and knowledge they have extracted them from the five metals generally (that is to say, from metals excocted from minerals which are imperfect and called metals), viz., from Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus, from all of which, and from each of them separately, Sol and Luna can be made, but from one more easily than from another. Note, that Sol and Luna can be made easily from Mercur)% Saturn, and Jupiter, but from Mars and Venus with diflficulty. It is possible to make them, however, but with the addition of Sol and Luna. Out of Magnesium and Saturn comes Luna, and out of Jupiter and Cinnabar pure Sol takes its rise. The skilful artist, however (how well I remember I), will be able by diligent consideration to prepare metals so that, led by a true method of reasoning, he can promote the perfection of metallic transformation more than do the courses of the twelve signs and the seven planets. In such matters it is quite superfluous to
1 6 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
watch these courses, as also their aspects, good or bad days or hours, the prosperous or unlucky condition of this or that planeti for these matters can do no good> and much less can they do harm in the art of natural Alchemy. If otherwise, and you have a feasible process, operate when you please. If, however, there be anything wanting in you or your mode of working, or your understanding, the planets and the stars of heaven will fail you in your work.
If metals remain buried long enough in the earth, not only are they consumed by rust, but by long continuance they are even transmuted into natural stones, and there are a great many of these ; but this is known to few. For there is found in the earth old stone money of the heathens, printed with their different figures. These coins were originally metallic, but jthrough the transmutation brought about by Nature, they were turned into stone.
What Alchemy is.
Alchemy is nothing else but the set purpose, intention, and subtle endeavour to transmute the kinds of the metals from one to another.* According to this, each person, by his own mental grasp, can choose out for himself a better way and Art, and therein find truth, for the man who follows a thing up more intently does find the truth. It is highly necessary to have a correct estimation of stars and of stones, because the star is the informing spirit of all stones. For the Sol and Luna of al! the celestial stars are nothing but one stone in itself; and the terrestrial stone Ijas come forth from the celes- tial stone ; through the same fire, coals, ashes, the same expulsions and re- purgations as that celestial stone, it has been separated and brought, clear and pure in its brightness. The whole ball of the earth is only something thrown off, concrete, mixed, corrupted, ground, and again coagulated, and gradually liquefied into one mass, into a stony work, which has its seat and its rest in the mid«t of the firmamental sphere.
Further it is to be remarked that those precious stones which shall forth- with be set down have the nearest place to the heavenly or sidereal ones in point of perfection, purity, beauty, brightness, virtue, power of withstanding fire, and incorruptibility, and they have been fixed with other stones in the earth, t
They have, therefore, the greatest affinity with heavenly stones and with the stars, because their natures are derived from these. They are found by
* Alchemy b, &o to speak, a kind of lower he&ven, by which the sun is separated froin the moont day ffotti tilght, medicine from poifion, what b> useful from what u refuse*— i?^ Caitca* Therefore learn Alchemy, which k otherwise called Spag^iia. Thb teftches you to discern between the true and the false. Such a Light of Nature b tt that it Is a mode of proof iti all clungs, and walks in light. Frotn this Hgbt of Nature we oxxghl to know ami «pcak, not from mere phantasy^ whence nothing i& begotten save the four humours and their compounds, augmentation, stagnafion^ and decrease, with other trifte<i of thi$ kind* These proceed, not from the clear intellect, that full treasure-liouie of a good man, but rather are ba&ed on a fictilioua and in**curt foundation. -^AirAM/rwiw, Lib. L, c. 3-
f When the occtdt dispenser of Nature in the prime principle$» that is to say, the poteiircy called Ares, has produced the gross and rough genera of $tooe&, and no further grossoess remains^ a diaphanous and subtle substance remains, out of which the Archeus of Nature generates the predoufi stones or ^<e.ms.~Df EUmento AqtUTf Lib, IV., Tract IV., c 10.
The Coelum Pfnlosophorum.
17
men in a rude environment, and the common herd {whose property it is to take false views of things) believe that they were produced in the same place where they are foiindi and that they were afterwards polished^ carried aroimd» and sold, and accounted to be great riches, on account of their colours, beauty, and other virtues, A brief description of them follows : —
The Emerald, This is a green transparent stone. It does good to the eyes and the memory* It defends chastit>^ ; and if this be violated by him who carries it, the stone itself does not remain perfect.*
The AdamanL A black crystal called Adamant or else Evax, on account of the joy which It is effectual in impressing on those who carry it. It Is of an obscure and transparent blackness, the colour of iron. It is the hardest of all ; but is dissolved in the blood of a goat. Its size at tlie largest does not exceed that of a hazel nut.f
The Magnet Is an iron stone, and so attracts iron to itself. J
T^ie Pearl The Pearl is not a stone, because it is produced in sea shells. It is of a white colour. Seeing that it grows in animated beings, in men or in fishes, it is not properly of a stony nature, but properly a depraved (other- wise a transmuted) nature supervening upon a perfect work.§
The Jacinth Is a yellow, transparent stone. There is a flower of the same name which, according to the fable of the poets» is said to have been a man. II
The Sapphire Is a stone of a celestial colour and a heavenly nature.H
The Ruby Shines with an Interisely red nature. **
The Carbuncle, A solar stone, shining by its own nature like the sun. tt
The Coral Is a white or red stone, not transparent. It grows in the sea, out of the nature of the ivater and the air, into the form of wood or a shrub ; it hardens in the air, and is not capable of being destroyed in fire. J |
* The body of the Emerald U derived from a kind of petrine Mercury, 1 1 receives from the tame its colour* ooagnlatcd with spirit of Salt. —I bed., c, 12.
t The most concentrated hardness of all ^toocs combines for the generation of the adamants The white adamant has tU body from Mercury^ and its coagiilalion from the Siptrit of Salt. - Ihtf., c. 14,
X FortiBed by experience, which is the mistress of alt things, and b>' mature thcorj^ baAed ofi experience, I oMrm that the Magnet i* a stone which not only imdentaUy attracts §tee1 and iron, but 'ha* also the tame power over the mailer of all disease* in the whole body of tjuin*— /3f Coraliis. See Htrhnttux Tht9>^hra^t*.
f The Pearl is a seed of moUture, It generates milk abundantly in women if they are dcikient Ihereirt.^ Z?*" Aridmta.
1; The Jacinth, or Hyacinth, is a gem of the same genus as the Carbuncle, but is infenor thereto in its natufe. — Dt Eltm*HH* Aqu<r, Lib. IV., Tract IV., c n.
^ In the matter of body and colour the Sapphire i* generated from Mercur>' (the prime principle). It is formed over white Sulphur and white Salt from a pallid petrine Mercury. Hence white Sapphires frequently occiu- because a white Mercury concun in ihe fonnaiion. In Uke manner a tute-coloured Mercury soioctunea producer a day-like hue.— Ibid,,, CIS.
• • The Ruby and similar gems possessing a ruddy hue are generated from the red of Sulphur, and their body is of petrine Mercury. For Mercury is the body of ever>' precious stone.— M/i/., c* >j.
tt The Carbuncle is formed of the most transparent matter which is conserved in the three principle*. Mercury Is the body and Sulphur the colouring thereof, with a modicum of the spirit of Salt, on account of the coagulation. AIJ light abounds therein, because Sulphur contains in itself a clcnir quality of Ught, us the art of its IransmutalioQ demonstrates^— /iff/., c 11.
\X There are two species of red C<)rals -one a dull red» which varies between sub-purple and semx^btack ; the other a resplendent and brilliant red. As the colours differ, so also do the virtues. There is also a whitish species which is alfnost destitute of eflficacy. In a word, as the Coral dimintshs in redne», so it weakens in its qualities. ^-//r>^n«« Th*ofhrtui%; D§ C^rmittt,
c
1 8 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
The Chalcedony Is a stone made up of different colours, occupying a middle place between obscurity and transparency, mixed also with cloudiness, and liver coloured. It is the lowest of all the precious stones.*
The Topas Is a stone shining by night. It is found among rocks, t
The Amethyst Is a stone of a purple and blood colour. |
The Chrysoprasus Is a stone which appears like fire by night, and like gold by day.
The Crystal Is a white stone, transparent, and very like ice. It is sub- limated, extracted, and produced from other stones. §
As a pledge and firm foundation of this matter, note the following con- clusion. If anyone intelligently and reasonably takes care to exercise himself in learning about the metals, what they are, and whence they are produced : he may know that our metals are nothing else than the best part and the spirit of common stones, that is, pitch, grease, fat, oil, and stone. But this is least pure, uncontaminated, and perfect, so long as it remains hidden or mixtd with the stones. It should therefore be sought and found in the stones, be recog- nised in them, and extracted from them, that is, forcibly drawn out and liquefied. For then it is no longer a stone, but an elaborate and perfect metal, comparable to the stars of heaven, which are themselves, as it were, stones separated from those of earth.
Whoever, therefore, studies minerals and metals must be furnished with such reason and intelligence that he shall not regard only those common and known metals which are found in the depth of the mountains alone. For there is often found at the very surface of the earth such a metal as is not met with at all, or not equally good, in the depths. And so every stone which comes to our view, be it great or small, flint or simple rock, should be carefully investi- gated and weighed with a true balance, according to its nature and properties. Very often a common stone, thrown away and despised, is worth more than a cow. Regard must not always be had to the place of digging from which this stone came forth ; for here the influence of the sky prevails. Everywhere there is presented to us earth, or dust, or sand, which often contain much gold or silver, and this you will mark.
Herb ends the Ccelum Philosophorum.
* The gem Chalced(»iy is extracted from Salt. — CA/rwr/Ya Magna; D» Tumorilmt^ ttc^ Morhi Galliciy Ub. III., c. 6.
t The Topaz is an extract from the minera of Mars, and is a transplanted Iron.— /^V.
t The Amethyst Ls an extract of Salt, while Marble and Chalcedony are extracted from the same principle through the Amethyst.— /^iV/.
I The origin of Crystals is to be referred to water. They contain mthin them a spirit of coagulation wh^eby they are coagulated, as water by the freezing and glacial stars. —Lib, Meteorum^ c 7.
THE BOOK CONCERNING THE TINCTURE OF THE
PHILOSOPHERS
WRITTEN AGAINST THOSE SOPHISTS BORN SINCE THE DELUGE, IN THE AGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD ;
By ph. THEOPHRASTUS BOMBAST, of hohenheim»
Philosopher of the Monarchia^ Prince of Spagyrists^ Chief Astronomer^ Surpassing Physician^ and Trimiegistus of Mechanical Arcafta,
PREFACE.
SINCE you, O Sophist, ever)' where abuse me with such fatuous and menda- cious words, on the ground that being sprung from rude Helvetia I can understand and know nothing : and also because being a duly qualified physician I still wander from one district to another ; therefore I have pro- posed by means of this treatise to disclose to the ignorant and inexperienced : what good arts existed in the first age ; what my art avails against you and yours against me ; what should be thought of each, and how my posterity in this age of grace will imitate me. Look at Hermes, Archelaus, and others in the first age : see what Spagyrists and what Philosophers then existed. By this they testify that their enemies, who are your patrons, O Sophist, at the present time are but mere empty forms and idols. Although this would not be attested by those who are falsely considered your authentic fathers and saints, yet the ancient Emerald Table shews more art and experience in Phil- osophy, Alchemy, Magic, and the like, than could ever be taught by you and your crowd of followers. If you do not yet understand, from the aforesaid facts» what and how great treasures these are, tell me why no prince or king was ever able to subdue the Egyptians. Then tell me why the Emperor Diocletian ordered all the Spagyric books to be burnt (so far as he could lay his hands upon them). Unless the contents of those books had been known* they would have been obliged to bear still his intolerable yoke, — a yoke, O Sophist, which shall one day be put upon the neck of yourself and your colleagues.
From the middle of this age the Monarchy of all the Arts has been at length derived and conferred on me, Theophrastus Paracelsus, Prince of Philosophy and of Medicine. For this purpose I have been chosen by God to
C2
20 The Herfnetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
extinguish and blot out all the phantasies of elaborate and false works, of delusive and presumptuous words, be they the words of Aristotle, Galen, Avicenna, Mesva, or the dogmas of any among their followers. My theory, proceeding as it does from the light of Nature, can never, through its consis- tency, pass away or be changed : but in the fifty-eighth year after its millennium and a half it will then begin to flourish. The practice at the same time following upon the theory will be proved by wonderful and incredible signs, so as to be open to mechanics and common people, and they will thoroughly understand how firm and immovable is that Paracelsic Art against the triflings of the Sophists : though meanwhile that sophistical science has to have its ineptitude propped up and fortified by papal and imperial privileges. In that I am esteemed by you a mendicant and vagabond sophist, the Danube and the Rhine will answer that accusation, though I hold my tongue. Those calumnies of yours falsely devised against me have often displeased many courts and princes, many imperial cities, the knightly order, and the nobility. I have a treasure hidden in a certain city called Weinden, belonging to Forum Julii, at an inn, — a treasure which neither you, Leo of Rome, nor you, Charles the German, could purchase with all your substance. Although the signed star has been applied to the arcanum of your names, it is known to none but the sons of the divine Spagyric Art. So then, you wormy and lousy Sophist, since you deem the monarch of arcana a mere ignorant, fatuous, and prodigal quack, now, in this mid age, I determine in my present treatise to disclose the honourable course of procedure in these matters, the virtues and preparation of the celebrated Tincture of the Philosophers for the use and honour of all who love the truth, and in order that all who despise the true arts may be reduced to poverty. By this arcanum the last age shall be illuminated clearly and compensated for all its losses by the gift of grace and the reward of the spirit of truth, so that since the beginning of the world no similar germination of the intelligence and of wisdom shall ever have been heard of. In the meantime. Vice will not be able to suppress the good, nor will the resources of those vicious persons, many though they be, cause any loss to the upright.
THE BOOK CONCERNING THE TINCTURE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS.
CHAPTER h
IPHILIPPUS Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast, say that, by Divine grace, ^ many ways have been sought to the Tincture of the Philosophers, which finally all came to the same scope and end. Hermes Trismegistus, the Egyptian, approached this task in his own method. Orus, the Greek, observed the same process. Hali, the Arabian* remained firm in his order. But Albertus Mag"nus, the German, followed also a lengthy process* Each one of these advanced in proportion to his own method ; nevertheless, ihey all arrived at one and the same end, at a long fife, so much desired by the philosophers, and also at an honourable sustenance and means of preserving that life in this Valley of Miser>% Now at this time, 1, Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast, Monarch of the Arcana, am endowed by God with special gifts for this end/) that every searcher after this supreme philosophic work may be forced to imitate and to follow me, be he Italian, Pole, Gaul, German, or whatsoever or whosoever he be. Come hither after me, all you philosophers, astronomers, and spagyrists, of however lofty a name ye may be, I will show and open to you, Alchemists and Doctors, who are exalted by me with the most consummate labours, this corporeal regeneration. I will teach you the tincture, the arcanum,* the quintessence, wherein lie hid the foundations of all mysteries and of all works. For every person may and ought to believe in another only in those matters which he has tried by hre* If any one shall have brought forward anything contrary to this method of experimentation in the Spagyric Art or in Medicine, there is no reason for your belief in him, since, experimentally, through the agency of fire, the true is separated from the false. The light of Nature indeed is created in this way, that by means thereof the proof or trial of everything may appear, but only to those who walk in this light. With this light we will teach, by the very best methods of demonstration, that all those who before me have approached this so difiicult province with their own fancies and acute speculations have, to their own loss, incurred the danger of their foolishness. On which account, fromtny standpoint, many rustics have been
* The Afcaniun of a substAnce b not the vktue {virttu} but the ct&ence (mi) ami the potency ij^tinfia% ood is stronger than the virtue ; neveribeless, an old error of the doctors conferred ibe name of virtues upon the potentud tatencev— /*tfrA4Mi'>MM, Lib« IV, Atony things ore elsewhere set forth concerning Lhe Quinlc^i>cnce, l»ut what i» de« •Cfibed b really a separation or extraction of the pure frozn the impure^ not a true quiutcsi^nce, aikt it ii more corrtctly termed an Arcanum.— £'x//ifoiM Tstimt AMirwwimm,
22 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
ennobled ; but, on the other hand, through the speculative and opinionative art of these many nobles have been changed into clowns, and since they carried golden mountains in their head before they had put their hand to the fire. First of all, then, there must be learnt — digestions, distillations, sublimations, reverberations, extractions, solutions, coagulations, fermentations, fixations, and every instrument which is requisite for this work must be mastered by experience, such as glass vessels, cucurbites, circulators, vessels of Hermes, earthen vessels, baths, blast-furnaces, reverberatories, and instruments of like kind, also marble, coals, and tongs. Thus at length you will be able to profit in Alchemy and in Medicine.
But so long as, relying on fancy and opinion, you cleave to your fictitious books, you are fitted and predestinated for no one of these things.
CHAPTER II.
Concerning the Definition of the Subject antj Matter of the Tincture of the Philosophers.
Before I come, then, to the process of the Tincture, it is needful that I open to you the subject thereof : for, up to the present time, this has always been kept in a specially occult way by the lovers of truth. So, then, the matter of the Tincture (when you understand me in a Spag}'rical sense) is a certain thing which, by the art of Vulcan,* passes out of three essences into one essence, or it may remain. But, that I may give it its proper name, according to the use of the ancients, though it is called by many the Red Lion, still it is known by few. This, by the aid of Nature and the skill of the Artist himself, can be transmuted into a White Eagle, so that out of one two are produced ; and beyond this the brightness of gold does not shine so much for the Spagyrist as do these two when kept in one. Now, if you do not understand the use of the Cabalists and the old astronomers, you are not born by God for the Spagyric art, or chosen by Nature for the work of Vulcan, or created to open your mouth concerning Alchemical Arts. The matter of the Tincture, then, is a very great pearl and a most precious treasure, and the noblest thing next to the manifestation of the Most High and the consideration of men which can exist upon earth: This is the Lili of Alchemy and of Medicine, which the philo- sophers have so diligently sought after, but, through the failure of entire knowledge and complete preparation, they have not progressed to the perfect end thereof. By means of their investigations and experiments, only the
• The office of Vulcan U the separation of the good from the bad. So the Art of Vulcan, which is Alchemy, is like unto death, by which the eternal and the temporal are divided one from another. So also this art might be called the death of things.— Z?* Morbts Aletaiiicis^ Lib. I., Tract III., c. i. Vulcan is an astral and not a corporal fabricator. - Dt CaHuco Atntricis, Par. VI. The artist working in metals and other minerals transforms them into other colours, and in »o doing h» operation Is like that of the heaven itself. For as the artist excocts by means of Vulcan, or the igneous element, so heaven performs the work of coction through the Sun. The Sun, therefore, is the Vulcan of heaven ac- complishing coction in the earth. — Z>^ Icttritiis. Vulcan is the fabricator and architect of all things, nor is his habita- lion in heaven only, that is, in the firmament, but equally in all the other elements.— Z.i^. Meteorum^ c 4. Where the three prime principles are wanting, there also the igneous essence is absent. The Igneous Vulcan is nothing else but Sulpbiu-, Sal Nitrum. and Mercury.— y^/<^., c. 5.
The Tincture of the Philosophers.
23
initial sta^e of the Tincture has been given to us ; but the true foundation, which my collea^es must imitate, Krs been left for me, so that no one should ming-le their shadows with our good intentions, I, by right after my long experiences, correct the Spagyrists, and separate the false or the erroneous from the true, since, by long investigations, I have found reasons why I should be able justly to blame and to change diverse things. If, indeed, I had found out experiments of the ancients better than my own, 1 should scarcely have taken up such great labours as, for the sake, the utility, and the advantage of all good Alchemists, I have undergone willingly. Since, then, the subject of the Tincture has been sufficiently declared, so that it scarcely could or ought to be exceeded in fidelity between two brothers, I approach its preparation, and after I have laid down the experiences of the first age, I wish to add my own inven- tions ; to which at last the Age of Grace will by-and-by give its adhesion, whichever of the patriarchs, O Sophist, you, in the meantime, shall have made leaders.
CHAPTER ML
Concerning the Process of the Ancients for the Tincture of THE Philosophers, and a more compendious Method by Paracelsus.
The old Spagyrists putrefied Lili for a philosophical month, and afterwards distilled therefrom the moist spirits, until at length the dry spirits were elevated. They again imbued the capui motiuum with moist spirits, and drew them off from it frequently by distillation until the dry spirits were all elevated. Then afterguards they united the moisture that had been drawn off and the dry spirits by means of a pelican, three or four times, until the whole Lili remained dry at the bottom. Although early experience gave this process before fixation, none the less our ancestors often attained a perfect realisation of their wish by this method. They would, however, have had a shorter way of arriving at the treasure of the Red Lion if they had learnt the agreement of Astronomy with Alchemy, as I have demonstrated it in the Apocalypse of Hermes,* But since every day (as Christ says for the consolation of the
* The Book of the Revelation of Hcniie&, intcrpretixt Ly Tlieuphrjuius PjuraceLu^, concerning the Supreme Secret of the World, Mems to have been first brought to light by Beticdktus Figulu*, and appeared as a ^i*t§ d* vitiiUHfg \i% liU *' Golden and Blessed Ci*kcE of Nature's Marvtls," of which an English transtation hoi been very recently publUhed. C** A Golden and Blisscd Casket of Nature's Manreb," By liened ictus FiguUi^ Now first dome into English from the German original published at Frankfort in tbe year i(o8> London : James Elliott and Cck 8vo. 1893.) Among the many writings which have been fabulously attributed to Henjio» there does not seem to be any reconl of an A^tdypsty and it U impossible to say what forged document may have been the subject of inter ^ prctation by Paracelsus. As the collection of Figulus is now so readily accessible, it isiomcwhat superfluous to re* produce the Lreattse here, but since this tran»lAiion clatacs to include c^-crj^thing written by the ph>'wcian of Hohenlicim on the subject of Alchemy aiid the Universal Medicine, it is appended at tbis point. It shouJd be premised that Benediclus* Ftgului complains bitterly of the mutilation and pervcruon (o which the works of Puracelsus were subjected, and the Rrvilatxan cf Htrmn seems in many parts to betray anoclier hatid| especially in its quotation of autboritic* who are not countenanced by its reputed auibor.
Hermes, Plato, Anstotlc, and other philo»opHer«, flourishing at different times, who have Lotroduoed the Arts^ and Bkore especially hav<« explored the secrtfts of inferior Creation^ ail theskC bavc eagerly sought a roeajis whertby man's body might be prescrk'ed from decay and become endued with immortaJity. To them it was answered that there is nothing which might deliver the mortal body from death ; but that there is One Thing which may post|)onc decay, renew youth, and prolong short human life (as with the patriarcbsX For death was Udd as a punishment upon our first parents, Adam and Eve^ and wLU never deport fi-om all Iheir decseodants. Therefore, the above philosophers, and many otheiSi lia\-e
24 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
faithful) has its own peculiar care, the labour for the Spagyrists before my times has been great and heavy ; but this, by the help of the Holy Spirit flowing into us, will, in this, last age, be lightened and made clear by my theory and practice, for all those who constantly persevere in their work with patience. For I have tested the properties of Nature, its essences and con- ditions, and I know its conjunction and resolution, which are the highest and greatest gift for a philosopher, and never understood by the sophists up to this time. When, therefore, the earliest age gave the first experience of the Tincture, the Spagyrists made two things out of one simple. But when after- wards, in the Middle Age, this invention had died out, their successors by diligent scrutiny afterwards came upon the two names of this simple, and they named it with one word, namely, Lili, as being the subject of the Tincture. At length the imitators of Nature putrefied this matter at its proper period just like the seed in the earth, since before this corruption nothing could be born from it, nor any arcanum break forth from it. Afterwards they drew off the moist spirits from the matter, until at length, by the violence of the fire, the dry were also equally sublimated, so that, in this way, just as the rustic
sought this One Thing with great labour, and have found that that which preserves the human body from corruption, and prolongs life, conducts itself, with respect to other elements, as it were like the Heavens ; from which they understood that the Heavens are a substance above the Four Elements. And just as the Heavens, with respect to the other elements, are held to be the iifth substance (for they are indestructible, stable, and suffer no foreign admixture), so also this One Thing (compared to the forces of our body) i§ jaj}_ijidestructible essence, drying up all the superfluities of our bodies, and has been philosophically called by the above-mentioned name. It is neither hot and dry like fire, nor cold and moist like water, nor warm and moist like air, nor dry and cold like earth. But it is a skilful, perfect equation of all the Elements, a right commingling of natural forc^, a most particular union of spiritual virtues, an indissoluble uniting of body and souL It is the purest and noblest substance of an indestructible body, which cannot be destro>'ed nor harmed by the Elements, and is produced by Art. With this, Aristotle prepared an apple, prolonging life by its ^scent, when he, fifteen days before his death, could neither eat nor drink on account of old age. This spiritual ence, or One Thing, was revealed from above to Adam, and w^as greatly desired by the Holy Fathers ; this also Hermes and Aristotle call the Truth without Lies, the most sure of all things certain, the Secret of all Secrets. It is the Last and the Highest Thing to be sought under the Heavens, a wondrous closing and finish of philosophical work, by which are discovered the dews of Heaven and the fastnesses of Earth. What the mouth of man cannot utter is all found in this spirit. As Morienus says : " He who has this has all things, and wants no other aid. For in it are all temporal happiness, bodily health, and earthly fortune. It is the spirit of the fifth substance, a Fount of all Joys (beneath the rays of the moon), the Supporter of Heaven and Earth, the Mover of Sea and Wind, the Outpourer of Rain, upholding the strength of all things, an excellent spirit above Heavenly and other spirits, giving Health, Joy, Peace, Love ; driving away Hatred and Sorrow, bringing in Joy, expelling all Evil, quickly healing all Diseases, des- troying Poverty and misery, leading to all good things, preventing all evil words and thoughts, giving man his heart's desire, bringing to the pious earthly honour and long life, but to the wicked who misuse it, Eternal Punishment." This is the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot comprehend without the interposition of the Holy Ghost, or without the instruction of those who know it. The same is of a mysterious nature, wondrous strength, boundless power. The Saints, from the beginning of the world, have desired to behold its face. By Avicenna this Spirit Ls named the Soul of the World. For, as the Soul moves all the limbs of the body, so also does this Spirit move all bodies. And as the Soul is in all the limbs of the Body, so also is this Spirit in all elementary created things. It b sought by many and found by fewT It is beheld from afar and found near ; for it exists in every thing, in every place, and at all times. It has the powers of all creatures ; its action is found in all elements, and the qualities of all things are therein, even in the highest per- fection. By virtue of this essence did Adam and the Patriarchs preserve their health and live to an extreme age, some of them also flourishing in great riches. WTien the philosophers had discovered it, with great diligence and labour, they straightway concealed it under a strange tongue, and in parables, lest the same should become known to the unworthy, and the pearls be cast before swine. For if everyone knew it, all work and industry would cease ; man would desire nothing but this one thing, people would live wickedly, and the world be ruined, seeing that they would provoke God by reason of their avarice and superfluity. For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath the heart of man understood what Heaven hath naturally incorporated with this Spirit. Therefore have I briefly enumerated some of the qualities of this Spirit, to the Honour of God, that the pious may reverently praise Him in His gifts (which gift of God shall afterwards come to them), and I will herewith shew what powers and virtues it possesses in each thing, also its outward appearance, that it may be more readily recognised. In its first state, it appears as an impure earthly body, full of im- perfections. It then has an earthly nature, healing all sickness and wounds in the bowels of man, producing good and consuming proud flesh, expelling all stench, and healing generally, inwardly and outwardly. In its second nature, it
The Tincture of the Phiiosopfiers,
25
does at the proper time of year, they might come to maturity as one after another is wont to ascend and to fall away. Lastly, as after the spring comes summer, they incorporated those fruits and dry spirits, and brought the Magistery of the Tincture to such a point that it came to the harvest, and laid itself out for ripening*
CHAPTER IV. Concerning the Process for the Tincture of the Philosophers^
AS IT IS SHORTENED BY PARACELSUS.
The ancient Spagyrists would not have required such lengthened labour and such wearisome repetition if they had learnt and practised their %vork in my school- They would have obtained their wish just as well, with far less expense and labour. But at this time, when Theophraslus Paracelsus has arrived as the Monarch of Arcana, the opportunity is at hand for finding out those things which were occuit to all Spagyrists before me. Wherefore 1 say, Take only the rose-coloured blood from the Lion and the gluten from the Eagle* When you have mixed these, coagulate them according to the old
appeaurs as a watery body, somewhat mare beautiful than berore, because (olihough si ill having its cctrnipMoti^) it^ Virttw » greater. Il U much nearer the truth, and mare effective in works. In this fortn it cures cold and hot fevets, and i> a specific agauut poisons, which it drives from heart and lung^^ healing the same when injured or wounded^ puri- r^-ing the blcxxl, axidt taken three times a day, is of great comfort in all diseases. But in its third nature it appears as an aerial body, of an ojly nature, almost freed from all tmperfcciions, in which form it docs nuiny wondrous works, pro* dudng beauty and strength of body, and (a small quantity being taken In the food) preventing melancholy and heating of the gall, increasing the quantity of the blood and seed, so that frequent bleeding becomes necesaar>'. It expands tlie blood ves^sels, cures withered limbs, restores strength to the sight, in growing persons removes what is superDuous and makes good defects in the limbs. In its fourth nature it appears in a (tcry form (not quite freed from all imperfection^,, still somewhat watery and not dried enough), wherein it haA m;iny virtues, making the old young and reviving thoce at the point of death. For if to such an one there be gi%'en, in wine, a barleycorn's weight of thh fire, 50 that it reach the stotnach^ it goes to hiN heart, renewing him at once, driving away all previous moisture and poiion, and restoring the natural heat of the liver. Given in small dc^es to old people, it removes the diseases of age, giving the old young hearts and bodies. Hence it is colled the Elixir of Life. In its fifth and last nature, it appears in a glorified and il]uminat«l form, without defects, shining like gold and .silver, wherein it possesses all previous powers and virtues in a higher and more wondrotis degree* Here its natural work* are taken for miracles. When applied to the roots of dead trees they revive, bringing forth leaves and fruit. A lamp, the oU of whii^h Ls mingl«J with this spirit, continues to burn for ever without diminution. It converts crystals into the most precious »to>nes of all colours, equal to those from the mines, and does mayn other incredible wonders which may not be revealed to the uTiworthy, For il healsalldcad and living bodiest without other medicine. Here Christ is my wilne» that I lie not, for alt heavenly influences are united and combined therein, 'thiii essence also reveals all treasure in earth and sea, converts all metidlic bodies into gold, and there is nothing like unto tt under Heaven. This spirit b the secret, hiddiett from the beginnitig, yet granted by God to a few holy men for the revealing of these riches 10 His Glory— dwelling in fier>' form in the air, and leading earth with iis«lf to heaven, while from its body there flow whole rivers of living water. This spirit flies through the mid^t of the Heavens like a morning mist, leadbt its burning fire into the water, and has its shining realm in the heaveas. And although these writings may be regarded as Gsdse by the reader, yet to the initialed ihey are true and possible, when the hidden sense is properly understood. For God is wonderful in Hi* works, and His wisdom U without end. This spirit in its Aery form is called a Sandaraca, in the aerial a K.)'brick, in the watery an Afoth, in the earthly Alcohoph and Aliocosoph. Hence they are deceived by these names who, seeking without instruction, think to find thb Spirit of Life in things foreign to our An. For although this spirit which we seek, on accoutit of its qualities, is called by these name*, yet the same is not in these bodies and cannot be in them. For a refioed spirit cannot appear except in a body suiuble to its nature. And, by however many name* it be c;tUed, let no one itttagine there be dUTcrcnt spirits, for, say what one wilU there is hut one spirit working everywhere and in all things. That is the spirit which, when rising, illumines the Heavens, when setting iflCoq>orates the purity of Earth, and when brooding has embraced the Waters, This spirit is named Raphael, the Angel of God, the subtlest and purest, whom the others all obey as their King. This spiritual substance is neither heavenly nor hellish, but an nir>% pure, and henriy body, midway between the highest and lowest, without reason, but fruitful tn works, and the most select and beautiful of all other heavenly things. This ts-ork of God is far too deep for understanditig, for it is the last, greatest, and highest secret of Nature. It is the Spirit of God, which in the Beginning filled the earth and brooded over the waters, which the world cannot grasp without the gracious interposition of the Holy Spirit and instruction from those who know it, which also the whole world desires for ila virtue, and which caiuiot be pmed enough. For 11 reaches to th« planets, raises the clouds, drives away mists, gives
26 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
process, and you will have the Tincture of the Philosophers, which an infinite number have sought after and very few have found. Whether you will or not» sophist^ this Magfister>^ is in Nature itself, a wonderful thing of God above Nature, and a most precious treasure In this Valley of Sorrows. If you look at it from without it seems a paltry thing to transmute another into something far more noble than it was before. But you must, nevertheless, allow thisi and confess that it is a miracle produced by the Spagyrist, who by the art of his preparation corrupts a visible body which is externally vile, from which he excites another most noble and most precious essence. If you, in like manner^ have learnt anything from the light of Aristotle, or from us, or from the rules of Serapio, come forth, and bring that knowledge experimentaily to light. Preserve now the right of the Schools, as becomes a lover of honour and a doctor. But if you know nothing and can do nothing, why do you despise me as though I were an irTational Helvetian cow^ and inveigh against me as a wandering vagabond ? Art is a second Nature and a universe of its own, as experience witnesses, and demonstrates against you and your idols* Sometimes, therefore, the Alchemist compounds certain simples, which he
it* lij^hl lo all thij:i|^!^, lurns everything inta Sun and Moon, besiowis. all health liinJ xibtindance of treasure, cleatii» the leper, brightens the eyes, banishes sorrow^ heals the sickt reveaU all hidden treasures, and, generally, cures all diseases. Througli this spirit have the phifosophers invented tlie Seven Liberal Arts, and thereby gained llieir riches. Through the same Mo5» niade the golden vessels in the Ark, and Kiag Solomon did many beautiful works to the honour of God. Therewith ^^oscJ^ built the Tabernacle, Noah the Ark^ Solomon the Temple, By this Eatm restored the Law, and Mii-iain» Moses' ^ister^ was hospitable ; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobs and other righteous men, have had lifelong abund- ance and riches ; and all the saints possessing it have therewith praised God. Therefore is its acquisition very hard, more than that of gold and silver. For it h, the best of atl thing^s, because, of all things mortal that man can desire in this world, nothing can compare with ii, and in it alone is truth. Hence it ia called the Stone and Spirit of Truth ; in its works is no vanity, its praise cannot be sufficiently eirpressed. I am unable to speak enough of its virtues, because its good qoaJities and powers are beyond human thoughts, unutterable by the tongue of man, and in il are found the properties ofaltChiDgK. Yea, there is iK^thing deeper in Nature. O unfathomable »hyss of God's Wisdom, which thus hath united and cocnprt^ed in the virtue and power of thh One Spirit the qualities of all existing bodies 1 O umpeakable honour and boundle&s joy granted to mortal man E For the destructible thing;^ of Natiu-e are restored by virtue of the said Spirit. O m>'^ter>' of m^'steries, roost secret of all secret things, and healing and medicine of all thieigs t Thou last discover)" in earthly natures, last best gift to Patriarchs and Sages, greatly desired by the whole world ! Oh^ what a wondrous and laudable spirit is purity, in which stand all joy, riches, ft-uitfulne«ii; of life^ and art of all arts, a power which to ltd initiates grants all material joysl O desirable knowledge, to>'ely above all things beneath the circle of the Moon, by which Nature U strengthened^ and heart and limbs are renewed, blooming youth is preserved, old age driven away, weakness destroyed, beauty in its perfection preserved, and abuDdatlce enstired in all things pleasing to men 1 O thou 5ipirituai substance, lovely above all things I O thou wondrous power, strengthening all the world ! O thou tnviticible virtue, highest of all that i*, although despised by the ignorant, j-et held by the wise in great praiw:, honour, and glory, that -proceeding from hiunours — wakest the dead, expellest diseases, restorest the voice of the dying] O thou treasure of treasures, mystery of mysteries, called by Aviccnna "an unspeakable substance," the purest and most perfect soul of the worlds (ban which therie b nothing mofe costly under Heaven^ utifathoinable in itature and power, wonderful in virtue and works, having no eqtial ftmong creatures, po.s>iessing the virtues of all bodies under Heaven 1 For from it flow the w.ater of life, the oil and honey of eternal heating, and thus hath it nouriiihed them with honey and water from the rock. Therefore, saith Morienus : '* l^le who hath it, the same also hath all tbitigs." Blessed artThoii, Ix>rd God of our fathers, in that Thou ha:»t given the prophets this knowledge and underslajiding, that they have hidden these things (lest ihcy should b« discovered by the blind, and those drowned in worldly godlessness) by which the wise and the pious have praised Thee 1 For the discoverers of the raysierv of this thing to the unworthy are breakers of the seal of Heavenly Revelation, thereby offending Gods Majesty, and bringing upon (liemsclvt^ many misrortunes and the punishmei^ts of God. Therefore, t beg all Ou-istians, possessing this knowledge, to communicate the satiM to nobody, except it be lo one living in Godliness, of wen-proved virtue, and praising Cod, VtTho has given »uch a treasure to man. For many seek, but few find it. Hence the impute and those living in vice are unworthy of it. Therefore is this Art to be shewn to all Gnd-fearing persons, because it cannot be bought with a price* 1 testify before Cod that I lie dot, although ti appear impossible to fools, that no one has hitherto explored Nature so deeply. The Almighty be praised for having created this Art and for revealing it to Cod-fearing men. Amen. And thus is fulfilled this precious and excellent work, called the revealing of the occult spirit, in which lie hidden the secrets and mysteries o^ the world. But this spirit is one getiius, and divine, wonderful, and lordly power. For it embraces the whole world| and overcomes the Elements and the fifth Substance. To our Trismegistus Spogyms, Jesus Christ, be pimse and glory immortaL Amen.
The Tincture of tfie Philosophers,
27
afterwards corrupts according to his need^ and prepares thence another thing. For thus very often out of many things one is made, which effects more than Nature of herself can do» as in Gastaynum it is perfectly well known that Venus IS produced from Saturn ; in Carinthia, Luna out of Venus ; and in Hungary, So! out of Luna ; to pass over in silence for the time being the transmutations of other natural objects, which were well known to the Magi, and more wonderfully than Ovid narrates in his Metamorphoses do they come to the light. That you may rightly uodcrsland me, seek your Lion in the East, and your Eagle in the South, for this our work which has been undertaken. You will not find better instruments than Hungary and I stria produce. But if you desire to lead from unity by duality in trinity with equal permutation of each, then you should direct your journey to the South ; so in Cyprus shall you gain all your desire, concerning which we must not dilate more profusely than we have done at present. There are still many more of these arcana which exhibit transmutations, though they are known to few. And although these may by the Lord God be made manifest to anyone, still, the rumour of this Art does not on that account at once break forth, but the Almighty gives therewith the understanding how to conceal these and other like arts even to the coming of Elias the Artist, at which time there shall be nothing so occult that it shall not be revealed. You also see with your eyes (though there is no need to speak of these things, which may be taken derisively by some) that in the fire of Sulphur is a great tincture for gems, which, indeed, exalts them to a loftier degree than Nature by herself could do. But this gradation of metals and gems shall be omitted by me in this place, since I have written sufllciently about it in my Secret of Secrets, in my book on the Vexations of Alchemists, and abundantly elsewhere. As I have begun the process of our ancestors with the Tincture of the Philosophers, I will now perfectly conclude it»
CHAPTER V.
Concerning the Conclusion of the Process of the Ancients, MADE BY Paracelsus.
Lastly^ the ancient Spagyrists having placed Lili in a pelican and dried it,
fixed it by means of a regulated increase of the fire, continued so long until from blackness, by permutation into all the colours, it became red as blood, and therewith assumed the condition of a salamander. Rightly, indeed, did they proceed with such labour, and in the same way it is right and becoming that everyone should proceed who seeks this pearl. It will be very difficult for me to make this clearer to you unless you shall have learnt in the School of the Alchemists to observe the degrees of the fire, and also to change your vessels. For then at length you will see that soon after your Lili shall have become healed in the Philosophic Egg, it becomes, with wonderful appearances, blacker than the crow ; afterw^ards, in succession of time, whiter than the swan ; and at last, passing through a yellow colour^ it turns out more red than
28 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
any blood. Seek, seek, says the first Spagyrist, and you shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. It would be impious and indecorous to put food in the mouth of a perfidious bird. Let her rather fly to it, even as I, with others before me, have been compelled to do. But follow true Art ; for this will lead you to its perfect knowledge. It is not possible that anything should here be set down more fully or more clearly than I have before spoken. Let your Pharisaical schools teach you what they will from their unstable and slip- pery foundation, which reaches not its end or its aim. When at length you shall have been taught as accurately as possible the Alchemistic Art, nothing in the nature of things shall then at length be so difficult which cannot be made manifest to you by the aid of this Art. Nature, indeed, herself does not bring forth anything into the light which is advanced to its highest perfection, as can be seen in this place from the unity, or the union, of our duality. But a man ought by Spagyric preparations to lead it thither where it was ordained by Nature. Let this have been sufficiently said by me, concerning the process of the ancients and my correction of the Tincture of the Philosophers, so far as relates to its preparation.
Moreover, since now we have that treasure of the Egyptians in our hands, it remains that we turn it to our use : and this is offered to us by the Spagyric Magistery in two ways. According to the former mode it can be applied for the renewing of the body ; according to the latter it is to be used for the trans- mutation of metals. Since, then, I, Theophrastus Paracelsus, have tried each of them in different ways, I am willing to put them forward and to describe them according to the signs indeed of the work, and as in experience and proof they appeared to me better and more perfectly.
CHAPTER VI.
Concerning the Transmutation of Metals by the Perfection of Medicine.
If the Tincture of the Philosophers is to be used for transmutation, a pound of it must be projected on a thousand pounds of melted Sol. Then, at length, will a Medicine have been prepared for transmuting the leprous moisture of the metals. This work is a wonderful one in the light of Nature, namely, that by the Magistery, or the operation of the Spag^rist, a metal, which formerly existed, should perish, and another be produced. This fact has rendered that same Aristotle, with his ill-founded philosophy, fatuous. For truly, when the rustics in Hungary cast iron at the proper season into a certain fountain, commonly called Zifferbrunnen, it is consumed into rust, and when this is liquefied with a blast-fire, it soon exists as pure Venus, and never more returns to iron. Similarly, in the mountain commonly called Kuttenberg, they obtain a lixivium out of marcasites, in which iron is forthwith turned into Venus of a high grade, and more malleable than the other produced by Nature. These things, and more like them, are known to simple men rather
Tfie Tincture of the Philosophers,
29
than to sophists, namely, those which turn one appearance of a metal into another. And these thing's, moreover, throug-h the remarkable contempt of the ignorant, and partly, too» on account of the just envy of the artificers, remain almost hidden. But I myself, in Istria, have often broug-ht Venus to more than twenty-four (al. 38) degfrees, so that the colour of Sol could not mount higher, consisting- of Antimony or -er Quartal, which Venus I used in ail respects as other kinds.
But though the old artists were very desirous of this arcanum, and sought it with the greatest diligence, nevertheless, very few could bring it by means of a perfect preparation to its end. For the transmutation of an inferior metal into a superior on^ brings with it many difficulties and obstacles, as the change of Jove into Luna, or Venus into Sol. Perhaps on account of their sins God willed that the Magnalia of Nature should be hidden from many men. For sometimes* when this Tincture has been prepared by artists, and they were not able to reduce their projection to work its effects, it happened that, by their carelessness and bad guardianship, this was eaten up by fowls, whose feathers thereupon fell off, and, as I myself have seen, grew again. In this way transmutation, through its abuse from the carelessness of the artists, came into Medicine and Alchemy. For when they were unable to use the Tincture according to their desire, they converted the same to the renovation of men, as shall be heard more at large in the following chapter.
CHAPTER VIL Concerning the Renovation of Men.
Some of the first and primitive philosophers of Egypt have lived by means of this Tincture for a hundred and fifty years. The life of many, too, has been extended and prolonged to several centuries, as is most clearly shewn in different histories, though it seems scarcely credible to any one. For its power is so remarkable that it extends the life of the body beyond what is possible to its congenital nature, and keeps it so firmly in that con- dition that it lives on in safety from all infirmities. And although, indeed, the body at length comes to old age, nevertheless, it still appears as though it were established m its primal youth.
So, then, the Tincture of the Philosophers is a Universal Medicine, and consumes all diseases, by whatsoever name they are called, just like an invisible fire. The dose is ver>^ small, but its effect is most powerful. By means thereof I have cured the leprosy, venereal disease, dropsy, the falling sickness, colic, scab, and similar afflictions ; also lupus, cancer, noli-me- tangere, fistulas, and the whole race of internal diseases, more surely than one could believe. Of this fact Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Bohemia, etc*, will afford the most ample evidence.
Now, Sophist, look at Theophrastus Paracelsus. How can your Apollo, Machaon, and Hippocrates stand against me ? This is the Catholicum of the
30 Ttie Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Philosophers, by which all these philosophers have attained long life for resisting diseases, and they have attained this end entirely and most effectually, and so, according to their judgment, they named it The Tincture of the Philosophers. For what can there be in the whole range of medicine greater than such purgation of the body, by means whereof all superfluity is radically removed from it and transmuted ? For when the seed is once made sound all else is perfected. What avails the ill-founded purgation of the sophists since it removes nothing as it ought ? This, therefore, is the most excellent foundation of a true physician, the regeneration of the nature, and the restoration of youth. After this, the new essence itself drives out all that is opposed to it. To effect this regeneration, the powers and virtues of the Tincture of the Philosophers were miraculously discovered, and up to this time have been used in secret and kept concealed by true Spagyrists.
Here ends the Book concerning the Tincture of the Philosophers.
THE GRADATIONS OF METALa
PREFACE.
WE now purpose to speak concerning gradations,* and those of such a kind that a metal dissolved or digested in them can be promoted to the degree of Sol and transmuted. Many persons endeavour to transmute the lesser metals into silver, and others, of a mediocre nature. Into gold, with some difference, however, in their conjunction, so that in a cineritlum, by transmutation of graduation » the lesser metals may be brought to the perfection of the greater ones — a perfection which answers any suitable tests. We will sel down, then, in this place, fourteen gradations. Many others may be found, but these we willingly forget, and have collected those only w^hich arc established by experience, and are worth writing about. These we arrange with a triple differentiation. Some are strong waters, others are oils, and the rest liquids. These we arrange in a like order, as is clear from our method of treating them. That is to say, we put, first of all, strong waters, secondly oils, and lastly liquids.
The First Gradation,
Take of Vitriol, Alum, and Salt Nitre, two pounds each ; of Flos Aeris^ Crocus of Mars, and H^ematitis, a quarter of a pound each ; of Cinnabar, a pound and a half; of Antimony,! three-eighths of a pound ; of Arsenic, one- eighth of a pound.
Let all be distilled with a very strong lire into strong water, which purify and clarify after the method of such waters, and dissolve therein cemented Luna^ or Part with Part, Luna and Venus ; then put it in digestion for a monthp Afterwards take out the residuum by fulmination, and thus you will
• The term gmdatioti is uoed by ParaccJ-vus in more than one sense ; here it b ihe proccs* by i^rKich one «tit>stanc< h developed into another* Care must be taken lo distln^imh between iMs ami the grades of metak, etc. Thui, in gold there are said to be twenty-fotir grades ; in silver thirty-two grades of sofincss ; in iron farty-«x grades of bardneaa * in lead eighteen degrees of fluxibility ; tweh-e ofmalleation iti copper ; in Mercury eighty^three pfoperttca or branches. • CAirttr^ia A finery Lik III. Preface.
t Frotn the time of Ba&il Valentine, Antimony played alnuvt as important a part in the operatiofis of Alchemy as it performed in Medtdne, It is variouiUy described by Paracelsus. Sometimes the term h made to include all marcaAttes, cacbiroigj taka, ogerta, eic—Df MmHs Mttalikis, Tract ItL, c. > Again, Antim^wy ta a mucibge, or, that you may ondentand me the better, fimLiium. --/^i/, c f* It tran&mtite!* Saturn into Venu««— i>r Aridum. It receives its body from Mercur>', and is the mcxt gross nature of Mercury* after it bas been purged out (tltat i*, expelled from the prime prlncipleX it retains all the powen and virtues of Mercury. Of all products coming fonh out of the three firtt principles, there b none which retains the virtue of Mfcrcury more patently than Antimony. It t» nothinig but Mercury coagulated through the Spirit of Sail and Sulphiu-. Uut, at the same lime, understand thai it is derived horn thft pDtt and rough, not from the subtle nature of the said Mercury, —i?^ EitmuitU A flue. Tract V., c $.
32 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
find it transmuted. Let that which is still in the aquafortis be precipitated and fulminated as above, and thus the remainder of the silver can be obtained. Care should be taken that the aforesaid simples be prepared and separated, first of all, in purgation, because any impurity hinders this work of transmutation verj' seriously.
The Second Gradation.
In this second gradation it is worth while to note carefully another process, it being one which can be adopted with greater gain and subtlety, as follows : Take of Saltpetre and of Cinnabar each one pound. Let them be pounded together, and the water distilled from them ; which water preserve. Do the same with an equal weight of Antimony and Arsenic. Mix together the three waters, and add of Salt Nitre, Alum, and Vitriol each one pound. Distil all again, after the manner of Aquafortis. Afterwards pour this on its Caput Moiiuuw^ which has been finely powdered. Again distil it to its ultimate spirit, and clarify it, just as any other aquafortis. In the case of all metals which have been dissolved in it, and have remained in digestion until perfect, its powers of operation are incredibly great. In very truth, there are latent in a composition with these ingredients all the forces of those metals which have in themselves a corporeal matter. For three of such distillations tinge so powerfully, by the force of the water, that scarcely any greater or more powerful means of working with strong waters could be found.
The Third Gradation.
The third gradation, which is reckoned as last among the strong waters, is to be understood and compounded as follows : — ^Take of Cinnabar, Arsenic, and Antimony, each half a pound, of Saltpetre two pounds, and of Sulphur half a pound. Let these be pounded together, mixed, and distilled to strong water with a very powerful fire. Afterwards take two parts of this water, of Common Alum and Alumen Plumosum each a part and a half, of Vitriol one part, of Verdigris and Crocus of Mars each half a part. Let all these be distilled together into a strong water with a very violent fire. At length, for the whole of this water, take two parts of the Caput Mortuum ; and of Antimony, Verdigris, Cinnabar, and Sulphur, half a part each. Distil these from their dregs by strongly driving them into a receiver. Afterwards, in this water, when it has been clarified, dissolve half a part with ten parts of flowers of brass and crocus of Mars, and let it be digested therein. You will afterwards find more of the residuum transmuted to Sol than you would deem possible to the Art.
The Fourth Gradation.
Let us now speak about gradations made with oils, which do not dissolve after the mode and form of strong waters, but in digestion, and thus accomplish their perfection. The first gradation of this kind is made with Oil of Antimony, in which is latent a wonderful tincture of redness. Let the
The Gradatwns of Metals,
33
following be the process adopted : —Take of Antimony one pound, and of sublimated Mercury half a pound. Let them both be distilled tog^ether over a powerful fire by means of an alembic, and the redness will ascend as thick as blood. This tinges and graduates all Luna into Sol^ and brings the latter when pale to the highest degree of permanent colour.
The Fifth Gradation,
The fifth gradation, whereof the oil Is reckoned second in order, is made in
the manner which follows : — Take of the Oil of the Philosophers one pound, with which mix half a pound respectively of Calcined Alum and of Citrine Colcothan Distil a second time, and afterwards rectify to purity and a constant colour. Put in Luna, and let it remain in digestion. Reduce what remains, separate it in aquafortis, and, lastly, fulminate by means of Saturn.
The Sixth Gradation.
The sixth gradation, third in order among the oils, is made In the following way ; — Take of Live Sulphur* two pounds, and of Flax Oil (linseed oil) four pounds. Let these be formed into a compound, and this be distilled into an oil. To this let there he added the same quantity of Live Sulphur, and let it be treated just as it was for the compound. Let it be digested in horse-dung for a month» or if longer, so much the better* After this let there be added one-eighth of a pound of each of the follow^ing : Salt Nitre, Vitriol, Alum, Flos Aeris, Crocus of Mars, and Cinnabar. Distil whatever will ascend. Remove the liquids, keeping only the oils. Put these apart in a glass cucurbite, adding the species as above, and the Caput Mortuum in powder. Distil again as before. Afterwards pour it off again from the dregs, let it be putrefied a second time for a month, and further distilled. When the colours are gone or separated^ keep the red, and rectify it as required. Lastly, let plates of Luna be digested at the proper time, and at length reduced by a process of fulmination.
The SE\TiNTH Gradation.
Gradations which are produced by liquids are found in two different forms, namely, the tenacious and the watei^\ First let us speak concerning the tenacious. Take one pound of Honey, and in it decoct one-quarter of a pound each of Vitriol and of Alum with an eighth of a pound of lamen. Distil the water from these over a strong fire, and add thereto one-eighth of a pound each of the Caput Morhmm from a human cranium, and half a pound of Sulphur. Decoct into the form of a hepar and digest for a month ; thendisti! and rectify with water until pure. Afterwards add one-eighth of a pound each of Sal Ammoniac, Flos Aens, Crocus of Mars, and Alum; a quarter of a pound of Vitriol, and two ounces each of fixed Antimony and fixed Red Arsenic. Pound
• Live Sulphur t» that of which I Dg PrtrpAP^ihtiihtu^ lib. 1., Tract 9.
nu or pMiiclai wUt cohere without il being iji 4 ili«$Qlv«d or fluid state.-
D
34 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
these together, put into water, and let them stand in heat for ten days. After- wards let the liquid be separated from the dregs. Purify and project into the mixture metallic plates ; then let them remain in moderate digestion until perfect. Lastly, let the matter be burnt* separated, and fulminated.
The Eighth Gradation,
The gradation by the second liquid is as follows :
Take a sufficient quantity of aquafortis. In one part thereof dissolve Sol, in another part Venus, in another part Mars. Mix these solutions together, and afterwards distil the water from them. Pour this again on its dregs, ancl once more distil and pour as before, until a thick liquid is produced therefrom. To this add five parts of distilled and prepared Honey. Let all be digested for a month, and afterwards separate the phlcgma. Keep the liquid, and in it let projected metallic plates be digested for a month. Lastly, let it be coagulated into a mass» and into one distinct body. Let this be sub- jected to a process of fulmination and quartation. Fulminate a second time, and thus will be found an excellent transmutation by means of liquid,
Thb Ninth Gradation,
By the third liquid the ninth gradation is made in the following manner i Take aquafortis, in which dissolve Verdigris, and let both be kept together in horse dung for the space of a month. Now distil the water from the dregs, pour it on again, distil and pour it over several times, until an oil is produced from it. Into that liquid put metallic filings, and in the course of its being digested you will find a transmutation. Although the liquid may be small in quantity, nevertheless it graduates most effectually, and affects the very largest amount of metal in proportion to its own quantity.
The Tenth Gradation;
In the following manner the fourth liquid is to be understood : Take the best Aquafortis » and in it dissolve as much Steel as possible. Let these remain in digestion for a month, and from them will be formed a compound ot one colour. Let this compound also be distilled into a liquid, in which metallic filings must remain in digestion until the liquid is incorpor^ ated. Then let both be fulminated together— that Is to say, the liquid and the metal — by means of Saturn. Then will be found this transmutation, which must be separated and prepared in the usual way.
The Eleventh Gradation.
The eleventh gradation is made by the first aqueous liquid according to the formula subjoined :
Take four pounds of the most highly purified Saltpetre, and repurge this from its phlegma by combustion. Add two pounds of Common Salt duly prepared. Mix these together, and distil with an alembic six or nine times, until the Salts altogether pass over through the alembic into the receiver
\
The Gradations of Metals,
35
placed ready for the purpose. Then take two pounds of this Water ; two ounces each of Flowers of Antimony, Flos Aens» Flos Martis, and Flower of
Sulphur, with two ounces and a half respectively of Sal Ammoniac and of Alum. Mix all these together, and let them remain In digestion for four and twenty days. After this let them be separated in the purest water. Afterwards let Luna and the metals be graduated by digestion, fulminated by Saturn, separated by quartification, and fulminated a second time.
Twelfth Gradation.
By means of the second aqueous liquid the twelfth gradation is produced in the following manner :
Take three pounds of the most highly corrected Vinum Ardens; one pound of the Water of Saltpetre ; half a pound of the Water of Common Salt ; and three quarters of a pound respectively of Vitriol ^ Alumen Plumosum, and A!umen Aochi. Let these be combined to form a mixture, and distil this six times from the Caput Mortimm. \\\ this water let metals be digested, when they will be fixed and transmuted* as we have said above concerning the others.
The Thirteenth Gradation.
By the third aqueous liquid the thirteenth gradation is produced in the following manner :
Take one pound of Isteris of Blood. Distil it thirteen times from its dregs, and place in it two ounces each of Flos Aeris and of Sulphur. Let them be dissolved in horse-dung for a month. Afterwards put in Calx Lunae, so that the colour and substance may be consumed. Afterwards !et them be coagu* lated and fulminated in Saturn. Know^ that in this liquid common Mercur}\ as w^ell as that of metals, is coagulated according to the conditions of Transmutation.
The Fourteenth Gradation.
The fourth liquid in this place is the Water of Mercury, which is made for the fourteenth gradation as follows below :
Take one pound of Mercury sublimated twenty times with Sal Ammoniac, and one ounce respectively of the Flowers of Venus, Mars, Sulphur, and Antimony. Grind and mix all together, and then iet them be resolved into a water. This water requires no other labour whatever, Metals projected into it, digested for a short time, and afterwards fulminated, are graduated in a wonderful manner.
Here ends the Book of Gradations.
THE TREASURE OF TREASURES FOR ALCHEMISTS. By Philippus Theophrastus Bombast, Paracelsus the Great
NATURE begets a mineral in the bowels of the earth. There are two kinds of it, which are found in many districts of Europe. The best which has been offered to me, which also has "been found genuine in experimentation, is externally in the figure of the greater world, and is in the eastern part of the sphere of the Sun. The other, in the Southern Star, is now in its first efflorescence. The bowels of the earth thrust this forth through its surface. It is found red in its first coagulation, and in it lie hid all the flowers and colours of the minerals. Much has been written about it by the philosophers, for it is of a cold and moist nature, and agrees with the element of water.
So far as relates to the knowledge of it and experiment with it, all the philosophers before me, though they have aimed at it with their missiles, have gone very wide of the mark. They believed that Mercury and Sulphur were the mother of all metals, never even dreaming of making mention meanwhile of a third ; and yet when the water is separated from it by Spagyric Art the truth is plainly revealed, though it was unknown to Galen or to Avicenna. But if, for the sake of our excellent physicians, we had to describe only the name, the composition, the dissolution, and coagulation, as in the beginning of the world Nature proceeds with all growing things, a whole year would scarcely suffice me, and, in order to explain these things, not even the skins of numerous cows would be adequate.
Now, I assert that in this mineral are found three principles, which are Mercury, Sulphur, and the Mineral Water which has served to naturally coagulate it. Spagyric science is able to extract this last from its proper juice when it is not altogether matured, in the middle of the autumn, just like a pear from a tree. The tree potentially contains the pear. If the Celestial Stars and Nature agree, the tree first of all puts forth shoots in the month of March ; then it thrusts out buds, and when these open the flower appears, and so on in due order, until in autumn the pear grows ripe. So is it with the minerals. These are born, in like manner, in the bowels of the earth. Let the Alchemists who are seeking the Treasure of Treasures carefully note this. I will shew them the way, its beginning, its middle, and its end. In the
The Treasure of Treasures.
37
following treatise I will describe the proper Water, the proper Sulphur, and the proper Balm thereof. By means of these three the resolution and com- position are coag-ulated Into one.
Concerning the Sulphur of Cinnabar.
Take mineral Cinnabar and prepare It in the following manner* Cook it with rain water in a stone vessel for three hours. Then purify it carefully, and dissolve it in Aqua Regis» which is composed of equal parts of vitriol, nitre, and sal ammoniac. Another formula is vitriol, saltpetre^ alum, and common salt.
Distil this in an alembic. Pour it on again » and separate carefully the pure from the impure thus» Let it putrefy for a month in horse-dung ; then separate the elements in the following manner. If It puts forth its sign,^ commence the distillation by means of an alembic with a fire of the first degree. The water and the air will ascend ; the fire and the earth will remain at the bottom. Afterwards join them again, and gradually treat with the ashes. So the water and the air will again ascend first, and afterwards the element of fire, which expert artists recognise. The earth will remain in the bottom of the vessel. This collect there. It is what many seek after and few find.
This dead earth in the reverberator)^ you will prepare according to the rules of Art, and afterwards add fire of the first degree for fiv^e days and nights. When these have elapsed you must apply the second degree for the same number of days and nights, and proceed according to Art with the material enclosed. At length you will find a volatile salt, like a thin alkali, containing in itself the Astrum of fire and earth, t Mix this with the two elements that have been preserved, the water and the earth. Again place it on the ashes for eight days and eight nights, and you will find that which has been neglected by miuiy Artists, Separate this according to your expenence, and according to the rules of the Spagyric Art, and you will have a white earth, from which its colour has been extracted, join the element of fire and salt to the alkalised earth. Digest in a pelican to extract the essence. Then a new earth will be deposited, which put aside.
Concerning the Red Lion,
Afterwards take the lion in the pelican which also is found [at J first, w^hen you see its tincture, that is to say, the element of fire which stands above the water, the air, and the earth. Separate it from its deposit by trituration.
• The Sign b nothing else Uutn tlie mark left by an operation. The house consirucled by the architect Ia tbe «ign of hts hatulicrart, nrherehy hb skill and art arc tleterminecL Thus the dgn is th« achievement ituclf.— iV C^iua.
t The earth alw ha» it* Astrum, It* courier tt» order^ ju^t aA muclj as the Firtnament, but peculiar to the element, So ako there \s> an Aiitrum in the water, even as in the earth, and in like nuinncr w^irh air and fire. Consequently, llwt itpper Aitrtim has the As.tra of the elements for it^ medium, and operates through them, by an irresiittble attraction. Throug;h this operation of the i^uperioir and Inferior Astra, all things are fecundated, and led on to their txA.^ Exf^iicAti^ Tfitim Ai/wvM^mjW. Without the Astra the elements cannot Aouriah. ... In tlje Astrum of the earth all the celestial operations thrive- The Astrum itself is hidden, the bodies are manifest. , . , The motion of the earth ia brought about by the Astrum of the earth. . . . There arc fotir Astra in man (oorrespotulijiK to those ci the four elcmentsX ^°^ ^^ ts the lesser world. -Dt Caducts, Par. II.
38 The Hermetic and Akhemkal Writings of Paracehus.
Thus you will have the true aurum poiabile.^ Sweeten this with the alcohot of wine poured over it, and then distil in an alembic until you perceive no acidity to remain in the Aqua Regfia,
This Oil of the Sun, enclosed in a retort hermetically sealed, you must place for elevation that it may be exalted and doubled in its degree. Then put the vessel, still closely shut, in a cool place. Thus it will not be dissolved, but coag'ulated. Place it again for elevation and coagulation, and repeat this three times. Thus will be produced the Tincture of the Sun, perfect in its degree. Keep this in its own place.
Concerning the Green Lion.
Take the vitriol of Venus, t carefully prepared according to the rules of Spagyric Art, and add thereto the elements of water and air which you have reserved. Resolve^ and set to putrefy for a month according to instructions. When the putrefaction is finished, you will behold the sign of the elements. Separate, and you w\\\ soon see two colours, namely, white and red. The red is above the white. The red tincture of the vitriol is so powerful that it reddens all white bodies, and whitens all red ones, which is wonderful.
Work upon this tincture by means of a retort, and you will perceive a blackness issue forth. Treat it again by means of the retort, repeating the operation until it comes out whitish. Go on, and do not despair of the w^ork. Rectify until you find the true, clear Green Lion, which you will recognise by its great weight. You will see that it is heavy and large. This is the Tincture, transparent gold. You w^ill see marvellous signs of this Green Lion, such as could be bought by no treasures of the Roman Leo. Happy he who has learnt how to find it and use it for a tincture I
This is the true and genuine Balsam, J the Balsam of the Heavenly Stars, sufFering no bodies to decay, nor allow^ing leprosy, gout, or dropsy to take root. It is given in a dose of one grain, if it has been fermented with Sulphur of Gold.
Ah, Charles the German, where is your treasure? Where are your philosophers ? Where your doctors ? Where are your decocters of woods, w^ho at least purge and relax ? Is your heaven reversed ? Have your stars wandered out of their course, and are they straying in another orbit, away
* Aurum Fa/tiSt/r, that h, PotiibEe Gold, Oil of Gold^ and QuLntei»sence of Gold, are dktmguUhcd that. Aurum Poi ^ih \^ goXd rendered potable by intermixture wiih other sulbtanccs, and wtth liquids. Oil of Gold is an oil ex> Lrjurted from the preciotisi metal without the addition of anylhing. The Qdniea^cnce of Gold is the r^ness of gold extracted therefrom and separated from the body of the metal.—/)/ Mt-mi^m Ccntntciis^ Tract IL, c a.
t If copper be pounded and resolved without a corrosive, you have VitrioU From this may be prepared the quiiit* CMcncie, otlt and liquor ihtiTtoL^Dt Afot^tJi TA*tatfu^ Cuprine Vitriol is Vitriol cooked with Copper. —JP* j1/<«)M^/# Vtrmium^ Par. 6* Chalcanthum is present in Venus, and Venus can by separatton be reduced into Cbalcanthuin.— Ckhufgrn Mttgmi. Pars. 11I.» Lib. IV.
J There U^ indt'ed» diffused through all thlnifs a Bah^in created by God, without which putrefaction would im- mediately supervene. Thus, in corpses which arc anointed with Baliam wc see that corruption is arrested, and ihm in the phyRicaJ body we infer that there is a certain natural and congenital Balsam^ in the absence of which the living and complete man would not be safe from putrefaction. Nothing removes this Balsam but death. But this kind dilTer^ from what is more commonly called Balsam, in that the one Is conservative of the living, and the other of the dead.— CAiruriria Magna^ Pt* I L^ Tract IL, c. j. The confection of Balsam requires special knowledge of cbeinbiry, and it was first discovered by the Alchemists. --/^«/., Ft. L, Tract IL, c, 4.
The Treasure of Treasuresy
trom the line of limitation, since your eyes are smitten with blindness, as by a carbuncki and other things makings a show of ornament, beauty, and pomp? If your artists only knew that their prince Galen —they call none like him— was sticking in hell, from whence he has sent letters to me, they would make the sig-n of the cross upon themselves with a fox's tail. In the same way your Avicenna sits in the vestibule of the infernal portal ; and I have disputed with him about his aurum pi^iabUe^ his Tincture of the Philosophers, his Quintessence, and Philosophers' Stone, his Mithridatic, his Theriac, and all the rest, O, you hypocrites, who despise the truths taught you by a true physician, who is himself instructed by Nature, and is a son of God himself! Come, then, and listen, impostors who prevail only by the authority of your high positions ! After my death, my disciples will burst forth and drag you lo the light, and shall expose your dirty drugs, wherewith up to this time you have compassed the death of princes, and the most invincible magnates of the Christian world. Woe for your necks in the day of judgment ! I know that the monarchy will be mine. Mine, too, will be the honour and glory. Not that i praise myself: Nature praises me. Of her I am born ; her I follow* She knows me, and I know her. The light which is in her 1 have beheld in her; outside, too, I have proved the same in the figure of the microcosm, and found it in that universe.
But I must proceed with my design in order to satisfy my disciples to the full extent of their wish. I willingly do this for them, if only skilled in the light of Nature and thoroughly practised in astral matters, they finally become adepts in philosophy, which enables them to know the nature of every kind of water^
Take, then, ol this liquid of the minerals which I have described, four parts by weight ; of the Earth of red Sol two parts ; of Sulphur of Sol one part. Put the^e together into a pelican, congelate, and dissolve them three times. Thus you will have the Tincture of the Alchemists. We have not here described its weight : but this is given in the book on Transmutations.*
So, now, he who has one to a thousand ounces of the Asirum Soils shall also tinge his own body of SoL
If you have the Astrum of Mercur)% in the same manner, you will tinge the whole body of common Mercury. If you have the Astrum of Venus you will, in like manner, tinge the whole body of Venus, and change it into the best metal. These facts have all been proved. The same must also be under- stood as to the Astra ot the other planets, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Luna, and the rest. For tinctures are also prepared from these : concerning which we now make no mention in this place* becattse we have already dwelt at sufficient length upon them in the book on the Nature of Things and in the Archidoxies. So, too, the first entity of metals and terrestrial minerals have been made sufficiently clear tor Alchemists to enable them to get the Alchemists* Tincture,
• ll i* difficull to tdeiitiry U»e lreau*e t© which refercnc* U laade here. It doe* uot »cc«i to be the twvcniJi hook concerning The Nature* of Things^ nor the enduing tract on C*M€**ts, The general qutsktion of lutursJ ikud arlificiA] wcl](hl U dUcu»*ed m the A uritfvt ef tht Fktl*n<>/k*rt.. Ko detached wrork on TraounuUlUin* b«* come down lo uft.
40 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
This work, the Tincture of the Alchemists, need not be one of nine months ; but quickly, and without any delay, you may go on by the Spaygric Art of the Alchemists, and, in the space of forty days, you can fix this alchemical substance, exalt it, putrefy it, ferment it, coagulate it into a stone, and produce the Alchemical Phcenix.* But it should be noted well that the Sulphur of Cinnabar becomes the Flying Eagle, whose wings fly away without wind, and carry the body of the phcenix to the nest of the parent, where it is nourished by the element of fire, and the young ones dig out its eyes : from whence there emerges a whiteness, divided in its sphere, into a sphere and life out of its own heart, by the balsam of its inward parts, according to the property of the cabalists.
* Know that the Phoenix is the soul of the Iliaster (that is, the first chaos of the matter of all things). . . . It is also the Iliastic soul in vazxi.— Liber Azoth^ S. V., Praciica Linett Vitte.
Here ends the Treasure of the Alchemists.
CONCERNING THE TRANSMUTATIONS OF METALS AND OF CEMENTS,
By THEOPHRASTUS.
JUST as we have given instructions concerning- other transmutations, in the same way also we will fulfil our task with reference to cements. We
will make mention of six cements, under which, indeed, all the kinds of cements will be comprised, with which we shall deal singly in serial order according- to the recipes and modes of operation. The consideration has to be made general in all respects, so that all the cements may be reduced to one mode of fixation and colouring. These two conditions should not be separated, but they should always persist and remain together in one cineration, coloration, and quartation, just as the properties of true gold are conditioned.
This book on cements does not state how inferior metals are to be trans- muted into others, as lead into copper, or iron into copper, etc. But this at least it teaches : how metals may be cemented into the chief metal, gold, that is, Sol. For cements with other recipes cannot perfectly fulfil their operation for transmuting to other metals ; but in these only there is a complete and rapid work of transmutation into Sol, which masters all the other metals, not, indeed, by quartation, but by colouring and tincture.* And notice should be taken what are the bodies which confer their own concordance as though belonging to the same species. For there are some bodies which are receptive, and others which are not so. Some have first of all to be reduced
* From all that has coiiw down to us oonoerziing tlve laboitrt and investigations of the old philosopbers, we see how indefatigalhle was ihcit scaindi after the bc^t method for prcierving and lengthening Ufc But Itelng thcinHelv«s devoid of a perfect instmction in the preparation of medicine*, they did not hesitate lo have recourse to the Alehernists, and thus, by the combined labours of both parties, there at. length aroie a genuine science of pliarmaq^, which then, by means of various chemicaJ e}tiperLiTvents devoted to medicine, was tnarveUoiti^iy propogatct! And iturreased* But that which ihey call the Tincture esccelled all. Vcl, at the same time, ii hati fallen into n certain di^crollt, owing to tbe gold-makers, who thought it chiefly useful fcKr the transmutation of metaU. The philo»oplieri of old having compounded the Tincture, whereby they transmuted the colours of metals and purged skway their dms^^, a^ might have biKn expected, next began to ihinic of making ute of it for the pur|x»c of Medicitic ; and acring thai the floHcr* of the metals were endowed with greater virtue^ than the metals themscK'cs, they attempted to uliH;e the»e in the interests of the physician. Accoirdtngly, whether from the benignant disposttion of H cavcn or through the rerttlity or their minds, those Tinctures were discovered and improved, the eSicacy of which h lx>rnc witness to by ancient tniuiuscript», which manuscripts have been suppressed by the crowd of pseudo-medici ; but we do not hesitate to publish them.^ — CAimrjIpia Mn^mn, Tract 111,, c. t-
42 The HimuHc and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
to tbdr flowers; with others this is not necessar)'. In Hke manner, some species colour according^ to the red Sol, others according to the clayey Sol ; some in flux, some in half cement. In like manner, toO| diligent attention should be paid to fire, as being that wherein all cements chiefly lie concealed* and wherein they gain their power of operation. Fire contains within itself the whole of Alchemy by its natj%*e power to tinge, graduate, and fix, which \&^ as it were, born with it and impressed upon it.^ Every elaborator of cements, too, must attend carefully to the method of the process ; for the method is even of greater moment than the prescription or recipe.
So, then, let us proceed to the series of the six cements, as being those wbereby all cements are regulated. Among these the first is the Royal Cement. Paying little heed to the method of the ancients, we will follow experience as our guide, and those prescriptions which experience proves to be of DO use we will omit. Thus : —
Take Flower of Brass, Antimony, Brick Tiles, Common Salt, of each half a pound. Having pounded all these very small and mixed them together, let them be imbibed with wine and dried. Repeat this process twenty-four times. With this powder let plates of Luna be cemented, in a moderate degree of fire, for four hours. Then at length take Regulus, plated and crude from the former process, and cement it with the same materials and an equal degree of fire, repeating the operation four or five times. .Vftenvards, having fulminated it again with cinders or ashes, reduce it once more to Luna. The instruments, such as the melting vessels, etc., must be thoroughly luted and stopped up. And although what we here set down is a somewhat lengthy process, yet you must know we make it so for the reason that experience teaches us there is no good in short processes by fire. Indeed, seeing that the continuance and force of the fire supply the chief fixation for the Royal Cement, it would really be far better If the substances spoken of were left for four days in the same kind of cement.
Note, too, that the flowers of brass should be extracted from copper by means of vitriol. For herein is contained some natural fixation when it is taken thus, and that for many reasons.
So, too, the tiles should be taken from a good house ; for the roof has the power of fixing the vapours w^hich exist in Luna, which otherwise all fly- away and escape.
• Tire lne» everything ; wkat ia Impure it rexiioy«( and tt brings about the nuuiifeslfttion of pure substAnces.— P^ramtrum^ Lib, L, c i. Fire Mparale the fixed rrom the rugttivc — ^/ Motbi* MetalliciSt Lib. IL, Tract I., c. i. What»ocver pertaint to separaiion bclotiEr^ to I be ^ictice of Akhcmy. It teairheai how to extract, coagulate, and separate ever>' Hubatance in ittt peculiar ve»6cL — Z># Morbh Ta^tartis^ c. \t, WhaUfoever man does the planets do also, but in an akhemiuic lensc and process. Accordingly, a,^ the AlcheniUt »ccks &aJtpetre lo iiitre^ mercury in dung, aulphur in ftre» m he alkO »eeki th« ftrnuuncntt which is tnvi»ibie Vulcan. Unticn he ha^ collected Lhcse substances and has united ihem^ detonation follows, of that kind which in heaven is called a ihuiHlerlKjli, but ihc Akhemkt terma it B^mh^fti. For he has the power of producing thunder, asi in magic, which l^ the philosophy of Alchemy. There are fooliih people who confound it with (what is now understood as) Kigromancy, yet there is u sense in which it is properly such, and in which "Kigromancj* is its true name from its earliest origin, being derived from the word blackness, becauwc lis intilat^ walk about as black ascharcoal burners. They are all N igromontica who serve Vulcan. ^Dt Cfi/ica^ i. V, Pnraipns.
The Transmuiaiions of Metals and Cements.
43
Salt corrects and fixes leprous Luna, cleansing- it from its blackness. These four details should exist and be put into practice together ; but it is the fire that must be specially observed and noticed. To this cement no other metal is applied ; and after it is fulminated it discloses and exhibits gold. Therefore this cement should be considered sufficient for one.
Concerning the Second Cement.
The cement which vvc wish to put down in the second place is only for Sol, and with regard to it there are four objects which have to be considered. The first is that Sol is sometimes found in this cement defective in the fourth or middle part, because it is not fixed, or not broug-ht to its degree without its deficiencies^ as we set down in our treatise on Gradations. Wherefore it has to be cemented in order that it may be able to retain its own volatile body, which other%vise sometimes flies off in the cement, or in the process of inciner- ation, or else in aqua fortis,
The second object is that a good deal of Sol is found which is defective in colour, and it is necessary one should know how to bring it to its perfection of colouring without diminution of its bulk, and so that the colours may remain in the specimens.
The third is that this white, imperfect colour of So!, having the appear- ance of Luna^ may be cementedj so that it may retain the colour thence acquired in every specimen.
The fourth concerns the weight in which the Sol is sometimes defective, so that it is esteemed as somewhat common. This must be entirely restored to it, when it proves its higher quality by its colour, and a higher grade of Sol exists, for many reasons. For the weight deceives no true artist, as the probe may, also, for many reasons.
By means of cement gold can be perfected in these four particulars so that afterwards no defect shall be found in it, nor any volatile or unfixed condition. Let the preparation of this cement be as follows : — Antimony and Flower of Brass, of each half-a-pound ; of coagulated mercury* one-fourth of a pound ; let all be mixed together and imbibed with red oil of antimony until the whole is reddened. Afterwards cement with it gold in ver\^ thin plates or grains, lique- fied by fire for twenty-four hours, without the beat being allowed to decrease, in a fusing vessel closely fastened. When this time has elapsed, take out the Regulus not acted upon by the crude antimony. Let it be liquefied with the addition of copper-green or borax, and afterwards pour It into a form. So you will have the ver}^ best and most abundant cement for rendering Sol free from defects and in its highest degree, fixed and permanent in all cements, incinerations, and quartations.
Concerning the Thtrd Cement.
So far we have set down the two fixations or cementations for Luna and Sol, which ought to be adopted when these metals are to be multiplied. But
44 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
others, too, have to be cemented, and afterwards placed in a colouring cement. This third cement is adapted for perfecting the other metals and rendering them fit in themselves for the tincture of the other cements. For where a metal has not been prepared and smeared over for this tincture it is not able to take it, or only in a very slight degree, and by a dangerous process.
Quicksilver,* which is comprised under this cement, is not among the num- ber of the metals, but only among metallic materials and malleable bodies. The cement is to be made thus : Antimony, one pound ; Saltpetre, one pound ; common Salt and Salt of Tartar, half a pound each. Having mixed all these together, put them in a dish, placed layer by layer with plates or filings of the metals. Let them be closely shut up and cemented for twelve hours with a most powerful fire, which had been originally for the first two hours only a gentle one. When this time has elapsed, let all that remains be extracted, that is to say, the loppa (refuse) along with the Regulus. This must be noted, that all cementings of this kind do not exhibit the Regulus, but some of them only the loppas. These should be afterwards treated with Saturn, according to the ordinary method, and Saturn of the same kind burnt in the vessel ; then the metal will be found fixed upon it. And here mark the difference of the separation by means of the jar, the cupella, or the cineritium. The metal enters into the cineritium or the cupella, but in the other case it remains on the jar. Metal of this kind, which remains on the surface of the jar, you will cement a second or a third time, as above, so that it may turn out more fixed and remain on the cineritium. When this has been done, it is fixed for receiving the tincture, which is given it by cementation.
With regard to this cement it should be remarked that two or three metals can be blended together in one mixture and one body, which will be better than before. The following is the method. Take filings of Mars, Venus, and Jupiter, or Saturn. Let them stand in a fire of liquefaction for twelve hours. Addition. The cement will be more useful, if besides the above there be taken of Antimony and Salt each one pound ; filings of Mars, Venus, and Saturn, half a pound each. Treat them as before mentioned.
The Fourth Cement.
The fourth cement is that which is composed of minerals containing within them a perfect metal, and losing it by means of liquefaction. Here it should be noted that metals cannot be better fixed than when they are crude. They vanish altogether in the process of liquefaction. Transmutation of this kind takes place in minerals and metals before liquefaction, so that the metals may be fixed in their own nature, or may be transmuted into some other metal. Therefore we will here comprise two cements under one. The former is
* Quicksilver is generated from the Mercurial prime principle. It is not ductile, and is opposed to ductility. Although of all metals it is chiefly assimilated to Mercury, it diflfers in this, that it has not received ductility from the Archeus, through the weakness occasioned by its small quantity of salt and sulphur. It can, however, by the Spagyric process of addition, become a ductile metal, as is demonstrated by the philosophy of transmutation, which shews that it is capable of conversion into any metal. — Dt Elemmto Aqiuty Tract III., c. 7.
The Transmutations of Metals and Cements.
45
for fixing a metal in a mineral without transmutation ; the latter for trans- muting the metal of Venus into Sol, or some other metal. It must be remembered that there are far more excellent spirits in minerals than in metals themselves. These are they which assist the g-radations and the fixations of minerals when they contain in themselves the tincture and the colours of the matter, which properties have not yet been destroyed by fire, as we fully point out in other books. The following is the prescription for fixing a metal in its own mineral *—
Take of the mineral of Mars, well ground, one pound ; to which add two pounds respectively of Antimony and Saltpetre. Cover them closely, lute them, and let them be kindled in a fire of liquefaction for twenty-four hours. Then pour them out. Diminish with some reduction and fulminate with Saturn. Thus you will find metal of the same kind, with good colour of its own, which can be tested in many ways and demonstrated naturally. So with other minerals whereof we make no mention here. For ihe spirits existing crudely in metals take precedence according to their ow^n colours and essences*
The following is the prescription for the transmutation of minerals : — Crocus of the flowers of Mars and flow^ers of the Crocus of Venus» each one pound. Vitriol and Alum, each half a pound. Prepared common salt, one pound. Of the mineral, two pounds. Let all be liquefied, deprived of humidity, and cemented for twelve hours. Afterwards let them be liquefied and fulminated in Saturn. When this is done there will be found in the vat a transmutation of the cineritium* You can even, for a transmutation of this kind, add a mixture of metals, taking into account, however, the special aptitude existing in them by means of which o\\^ can be more easily transmuted than another.
The Fifth Cement.
This fifth cement concerns only volatile bodies, as of common Mercury, and metals such as Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, etc. It must be remarked that the corporal Mercuries from the metals differ from the common Mercury in their tincture, since they demand more tincture from the proved metals than that common one does. So, too, it should be understood that both Mercuries, the corporal and the common, should be first of all coagulated in order that they may be able to resist the cement, and to recover their corpor;il substance, together w^ith their tincture and colouring, as the best metals should.
The coagulation of Mercury* is as follows :— Take Aquafortis, weakened by a solution of Luna to such a degree that it no longer has any corrosive force nor sharpness for dissolving. Into this put either of the Mercuries before spoken of; let the water be warmed a little and afterwards stirred to a thick mass. Then the Mercury will coagulate and harden into the form of
*' Mercury \% coagulated by Lead, for no Ttielol tuu greater affinity for Mercuiy than leari {My^esMS. Coagulatiofl U performed thus : Take 3ii. of fine lead. MeJt it in a vessel of clay ; remove it from the fire, and let U cool tomeixrhat. When it approftchct congdiitioD, pour into it the ^aoie quantity of living VLvKxarf^—ArchtdojfU Magkw^ Lib. V[ L
46 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
metal. Take it out of the water ; wash until clean, and then cement it with the following ; — Borax, two drams and a half; Sal ammoniac, two ounces; Crocus of the Flower of Brass, and Flower of the Crocus of Mars, each six ounces ; calcined Vitriol and calcined Alum, each two ounces; H^ematitis and Botus Armeni, each two ounces. Let them he well pounded, mixed, and imbibed several times in urine. Afterwards let them be placed, layer by layer, in a fusing vessel, with the junctions closed and luted, Y^ou will cement by observing" the degrees of fire, gently for one hour, and then with a stronger heat for the next hour. Cement for four hours, and keep in a state of fluxion. Then put it in Saturn and fulminate. So you will have the transmutation of Mercur\^ as we said above.
But when it has been cemented otherwise than in the way now described, it can still be transmuted with the following cement : — Cinnabar and Borax, of each half a dram. Let these be liquefied into one body, which sublimate after the method of Cinnabar, so that it shall still be one body. Then add the following : Calcined Common Salt, Flowers of Brass, Crocus of Mars, Bolus, of each two ounces; of the above-mentioned body, one dram. Let them be placed layer by layer in a crucible ; afterwards let them be slowly heated for the first six hours, and for the next six treated with a greater fire, and at last for twxlve hours subjected to the most violent heat. This having been done, again sublimate as above by the aforesaid process, and on the fourth or fifth cement you will find the cinnabar fixed, which reduce and fulminate by Saturn. You will then have its transmutation as aforesaid. In this way you can proceed to transmutation with other volatile bodies.
The Sixth Cement.
It now remains to be said in what way Part with Part comes to be ce- mented so that it receives more of the tincture, and receives it sooner than by other like operations of the Artists, because Sol is fixed and graduated by the cement. It should be understood, too, that these should be cemented and both raised to the highest degree, prepared, subtilised, and re-purified ; after- wards liquefied at the same time, and made into plates in equal weight, then stratified in a crucible closely shut, with the following powder : Cinnabar, Flower of Brass, Bloodstone, half a dram each ; Sal Ammoniac, Calamine, Sulphur, Common Salt, Vitriol, Alum, and Crocus of Mars, two ounces each.
After having been well ground and mixed into one body, let them be exposed to a gentle fire, and afterwards imbibed with urine, and at length use it for the aforesaid strat^cation. Let them be placed at the fire six hours to liquefy : then renew and liquefy for another six hours. Do the same a third time for twelve hours ; a fourth time for twenty-four hours. Lastly, liquefy by a fulmen of Saturn. In this way you have transmutation, If, however, you have selected other metals, such as Venus or Mars, add more of the powder and more heat, that they may be able to mix and be brought to a state of transmutation*
The Transmutations of Metals and Cements. 47
Conclusion.
In these few words we would conclude our book on cements, believing that we have treated these matters with sufficent clearness. Although many other prescriptions for similar cementations are in vogue, we exclude them from our own enumeration, putting down in this place only those which have been by experiment proved more useful.
Here ends the Transmutations of Metals and Cements.
A
The Aurora of the Philosophers.
49
patriarch Jacob painted, as it were, the sheep with various colours ; and this was done by magic : for in the theolog>^ of the Chaldeans, Hebrews, Persians, and Egfpytians, they held these arts to be the highest philosophy, to be learnt by their chief nobles and priests. So it was in the time of Moses, when both the priests and also the physicians were chosen from among £he Magi — the priests for the judgment of what related to health, especially in the knowledge of leprosy. Moses, likewise, was instructed in the Eg}*ptian schools, at the cost and care of Pharaoh^s daughter, so that he excelled in all the wisdom and learning of that people. Thus, too, was it with Daniel, who in his youthful days imbibed the learning of the Chaldeans, so that he became a cabalist. Witness his divine predictions and his exposition of those words, ** Mene, Mene, Tecelphares/' These words can be understood by the prophetic and cabalistic Art. This cabalistic Art was perfectly familiar to, and in constant use by, Moses and the Prophets, The Prophet Elias foretold many things by his cabalistic numbers. So did the Wise Men of old, by this natural and mystical Art, learn to know God rightly. They abode in His laws, and walked in His statutes with great firmness. It is also evident in the Book of Samuel, that the Be relists did not follow the devil's part, but became, by Divine permission, partakers of visions and veritable apparitions, whereof we shall treat more at large in the Book of Supercelestial Things.* This gift is granted by the Lord God to those priests who walk in the Divine precepts. Ft was a custom among the Persians never to admit any one as king unless he were a Wise Man, pre-eminent in reality as well as in name. This is clear from the customarj' name of their kings ; for they were called Wise Men. Such were those Wise Men and Persian Magi who came from the East to seek out the Lord Jesus, and are called natural priests. The Egyptians, also, hav- ing obtained this magic and philosophy from the Chaldeans and Persians, desired that their priests should learn the same wisdom ; and they became so fruitful and successful therein that all the neighbouring countries admired them. For this reason Hermes was so truly named Trismegistus, because he was a king, a priest, a prophet, a magician, and a sophist of natural things. Such another was Zoroaster.
CHAPTER H.
Wherein is Declared that the Greeks drew a large part OF THEIR Learning from the Egvptians ; and how
IT CAME FROM THEM TO US.
When a son of Noah possessed the third part of the world after the Flood, this Art broke into Chaldsea and Persia, and thence spread into Egypt. The Art having been found out by the superstitious and idolatrous Greeks, some of them who were wiser than the rest betook themselves to the Chaldeans and
• Koworiepn reference is iiiad€ i
r oorretpondmg to this title is ex^taai i •Cil9»ed in tbe Pkiia$tfkia Sii^tuf,
the wrUSngs c/ Paracelsus. Tbe subjects to whtdi
E
50 The Herfnetic and Alchemical Wriitngs of Paracelsus,
Egyptians, so that they might draw the same wisdom from their schools. Since, however, the theological study of the law of Moses did not satisfy them^ they trusted to their own peculiar genius, and fell away from the right foundation of those natural secrets and arts. This is evident from their fabulous conceptions, and from their errors respecting the doctrine of Moses. It was the custom of the Egyptians to put forward the traditions of that surpassing wisdom only in enigmatical figures and abstruse histories and terms* This was afterwards followed by Homer with marvellous poetical skill ; and Pythagoras was also acquainted with it, seeing that he comprised in his writings many things out ot the law of Moses and the Old Testament* In like manner, Hippocrates, Thales of Miletus, Anaxagoras, Democritus, and others, did not scruple to fix their minds on the same subject. And yet none of them were practised in the true Astrology, Geometry, Arithmetic, or Medicine, because their pride pre\xnted this, since they would not admit disciples belonging to other nations than their own. Even when they had got some insight from the Chaldeans and Egyptians, they became more arrogant still than they were before by Nature, and without any diffidence propounded the subject substantially indeed, but mixed with subtle fictions or falsehoods ; and then they attempted to elaborate a certain kind of philosophy \\hich descended from them to the Latins. These in their turn, being educated herewith, adorned it with their own doctrines, and by these the philosophy was spread over Europe. Many academies were founded for the propagation of their dogmas and rules, so that the young might be instructed ; and this system flourishes with the Germans, and other nations, right down to the present day.
CHAPTER III.
What was Taught tn the Schools of the Egyptians.
The Chaldeans, Persians, and Eg>'ptians had all of them the same know- ledge of the secrets of Nature^ and also the same religion* It was only the names that differed. The Chaldeans and Persians called their doctrine Sophia and Magic* ; and the Egyptians, because of the sacrifice, called their wisdom priestcraft. The magic of the Persians, and the theology of the Egy^ptians, were both of them taught in the schools of old. Though there were many schools and learned men in Arabia, Africa, and Greece, such as Albumazar, Abenxagel, Geber, Rhasis, and Avicenna among the Arabians ; and among the Greeks, Machaon, Podalirius, Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, and Rhodianus ; still there were diff"e rent opinions amongst them as to the wisdom of the Egy^ptian on points wherein they themselves differed, and whereupon they disagreed with it. For this reason Pythagoras could not be
• Before all things it is necessary lo have a right under»tanding of the nature of Celesiial Magk. It originates from divifie virtue. There h that magic which Moses ptractisedi and ihere is the tnaleficenl magic of the sorcerers. There are, then, different kirid& of Magi So al-^ there is what k called the Magic of Nature ; there is the Celestial Ma£\ii ; there b the Afaguai of Fatth» ihal vs^ one whose faith make^ him whole. There i&, hAxlft the Magtis of Perdition.— /*A»Vwtf/*i*i J«/n,r, lib. IL, c. 6.
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called a wise man, because the Egyptian priestcraft and wisdom were not per- pectly taught, although he received therefrom many mysteries and arcana; and that Anaxagoras had received a great many as well, Is clear from his discussions on the subject of Sol and its Stone, which he left behind him after his death. Yet he differed in many respects from the Egyptians, Even they w*ould not be called wise men or Magi ; but, following Pythagoras, they assumed the name of philosophy : yet they gathered no more than a few gleams like shadows from the magic of the Persians and the Egyptians. But Moses, Abraham, Solomon, Adam, and the wise men that came from the East to Chnst. were true Magi, divine sophists and cabalists. Of this art and wisdom the Greeks knew very little or nothing at all ; and therefore we shall leave this philo- sophical w^isdom of the Greeks as being a mere speculation, utterly distinct and separate from other true arts and sciences.
CHAPTER IV.
What Magi the Chaldeans, Persians, and Egyptians were.
Many persons have endeavoured to investigate and make use of the secret magic of these wise men ; but it has not yet been accomplished. Many even ot our own age exalt Trithemius, others Bacon and Agrippa, for magic and the cabala* — tw^o things apparently quite distinct — not knowing why they do so. Magic, indeed, is an art and faculty whereby the elementary bodies, their fruits^ properties, virtues, and hidden operations are comprehended. But the cabala, by a subtle understanding of the Scriptures, seems to trace out the way to God for men» to shew them how they may act with Him, and prophesy from Him ; for the cabala is full of divine mysteries ^ even as Magic is full of natural secrets. It teaches of and foretells from the nature of things to come as ivell as of things present, since its operation consists in knowing the inner constitution of all creatures, of celestial as well as terrestrial bodies : what is latent within them ; what are their occult virtues ; for what they \xQ.r^ origin- ally designed, and w^ith what properties they are endowed. These and the like subjects are the bonds wherewith things celestial are bound up with things of the earth, as may sometimes be seen in their operation even with the bodily eyes. Such a conjunction of celestial influences, whereby the heavenly virtues acted upon inferior bodies, was formerly called by the M;igi a Gamahea^t
• Learn, ihtrefore, Astronomic Magic, which otherwise I caJl cabal Utic. -D* Pt$tilit*tU^ Tract I. This art, formerly ca^llcd cabalistic, ivas in the bcginnifig named caballa, and afterwards caballio. It li a »pecica, of nuijg;k. It wu also, but fatsely, oil led Gahanala, by one whome knowledgie of the subject was profound* It was of an unknown Ethnic origin, and it pavW suUsequetitiy to the ChaldKaat and Hebrews, by both of whom it was corrupted.—
t The object which received the influence and exhibited the sign thereof appears to have been termed Gamftheu^ Gamahey, etc. Dut the name was chiefly given to certain »toncs on which various and wonderful images and figures of meii and animak have been found oaturally depicted, being no work of man, but the result of the providence and counsel of God*--/?r tmnginihks, c. 7 and c. 13, It i* possible, magically, for a man to project his influence into theste stoineK and Ktme other substances.— /<**rf., c. 13. But they aI*o have their own inherent virtue^ which is indi- cated by the shape and the special nature of the imprc$sjoci«- /^iV/., c* 7. Tbedre was also an artificial Gamaheus invented and prepared by the Magi, and this teems to have been more powerfiii^/V Cartim^ Angtlice.
£2
52 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
or the marriag'e of the celestial powers and properties with elementary bodieSi Hence ensued the excellent commixtures of all bodies, celestial and terrestrial, namely, of the sun and planets, likewise vegetables» minerals^ and animals.
The devil attempted with his %vhole force and endeavour to darken this light ; nor was he wholly frustrated in his hopes, for he deprived all Greece of it, and, in place thereof, introduced among that people human speculations and simple blasphemies against God and against His Son. Magic, it is true, had its origin in the Divine Ternary and arose from the Trinity of God. For God marked all His creatures with this Ternary and engraved its hieroglyph on them with His own finger. Nothing in the nature of things can be assigned or produced that lacks this magister\^ of the Divine Ternary, or that does not even ocularly prove it. The creature teaches us to understand and see the Creator Himself, as St, Paul testifies to the Romans. This covenant of the Divine Ternary, diffused throughout the whole substance of things, is indis- soluble. By this, also, we have the secrets of all Nature from the four elements. For the Ternary, with the magical Quaternary, produces a perfect Septenary', endowed with many arcana and demonstrated by things which are known. When the Quaternary rests in the Ternarj% then arises the Light of the World on the horizon of eternity, and by the assistance of God gives us the whole bond. Here also it refers to the virtues and operations of all creatures, and to their use, since they are stamped and marked with their arcana, signs, char- acters, and figures, so that there is left in them scarcely the smallest occult point which is not made clear on examination. Then when the Quaternary and the Ternar}' mount to the Denary is accomplished their retrogression or reduction to unity. Herein is comprised all the occult wisdom of things which God has made plainly manifest to men, both by His word and by the creatures of His hands, so that they may have a true knowledge of them, This shall be made more clear in another place.
CHAPTER V.
Concerning the Chief and Supreme Essence of Things.
The Magi In their wisdom asserted that all creatures might be brought to one unified substance, which substance they affirm may, by purifications and purgations, attain to so high a degree of subtlety, such divine nature and occult property^ as to work wonderful results. For they considered that by returning to the earth, and by a supreme magical separation, a certain perfect substance would come forth, which js at length, by many industrious and pro- longed preparations, exalted and raised up above the range of vegetable substances into mineral, above mineral into metallic, and above perfect metallic substances into a perpetual and divine Quintessence,* including in itself the
• Man was regarded by Paracelstu as btauelf in a speciAl manner the true Quintessence After G«l had created all the elenienu^ stat^, and every other created thingf and had disposed tbciu according to His will, He proceeded^ lastly, to the forming of pian» He extracted the essence out of the four elements into ooie moss ; He extincted also the
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essence of all celestial and terrestrial creatures. The Arabs and Greeks, by the occult characters and hieroglyphic descriptions of the Persians and the Egyptians, attained to secret and abstruse mysteries. When these were obtained and partially understood they saw with their own eyes, in the course of experimenting, many wonderful and strange effects. But since the super- celestial operations lay more deeply hidden than their capacity could penetrate, they did not call this a supercelestial arcanum according to the institution of the Magi I but the arcanum of the Philosophers* Stone according to the counsel and judgment of Pythagoras* Whoever obtained this Stone overshadowed it with various enigmatical figures, deceptive resemblances, comparisons, and fictitious titles, so that its matter might remain occult. Ver>* little or no knowledge of it therefore can be had from them.
CHAPTER VI.
Concerning the Different Errors as to its Discovery and Knowledge.
The philosophers have prefixed most occult names to this matter of the Stone, grounded on mere similitudes. Arnold » observing this, says in his " Rosary " that the greatest difficulty is to find out the material of this Stone ; for they have called it vegetable, animal, and mineral* but not according to the literal sense, which is well known to such wise men as have had experience of divine secrets and the miracles of this same Stone, For example, Raymond Lully's **Lunaria" may be cited. This gives flowers of admirable virtues familiar to the philosophers themselves ; but it was not the intention of those philosophers that you should think they meant thereby any projection upon metals, or that any such preparations should be made ; but the abstruse mind of the philosophers had another intention. In like manner, they called their matter by the name of Martagon, to which they applied an occult alchemical 'operation ; when, notwithstanding that name, it denotes nothing more than a hidden similitude. Moreover, no small error has arisen in the liquid of vegetables, w^ith which a good many have sought to coagulate Mercury,* and afterwards to convert it with fixatory waters into Luna, since they supposed that he who in this way could coagulate it without the aid of metals would succeed in becoming the chief master. Now, although the liquids of some vegetables do effect this^ yet the result is due merely to the resin, fat, and earthy sulphur with which they abound. This attracts to itself the moisture
esAcnce of wiidom, art^ and reason out of ihc »ta», Atul tbu twofold essence He congested into one ma&s : which cnaikA Scripture csdU the sUme of the earth. From that mas* two bodies were made— the sidereal and the elementary. These, accckrding lo iht; light of Kaiure, are called the ^mntnm tsw. The ina&» wa« exlractvd, and tliiaeii> the ftmia- ment aiid the elements were condciucd. What was extracted from the four After this maimer con&tituletl a fiflli. The Quintessence is the nucleus and the place of the es^encet and properties of atl things in the universal world. Ail nature came into the hand of God -all potency, all property, all esietice of the superior and inferior globe. All these had God joined in His hand, and G?om tliese He focroed num acconiing to His ima^e. — /'^V^^^/Am S«£ttx, Lib. L, c. 9,
* All created things proceed from the coagulated, and aAcr coagulation intiat go oo to resoluttoa* From resolution proceed all procreated i\x\ns^—Dt Tariurv (fragiDenl). Alt bodies of minerals are coagulated by iolu—Di j^ttSmrafiittj Aquis^ Lib. 111., Tract j.
54 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
of the Mcrcui*y which rises with the substance in th*2 process of coagulation, but without any advantage resulting. 1 am w^ell assured that no thick and external Sulphur in vegetables Is adapted for a perfect projection in Alchemyi as some have found out to their cost. Certain persons have, it is true, coagu- lated Mercur>^ with the while and milky juice of tittinal, on account of the intense heat which exists therein j and they have called that liquid ** Lac Virginis ** j yet this Is a false basis. The same may be asserted concerning the juice of celandine, although it coli^-urs just as though it were endowed with gold. Hence people conceived a vain idea. At a certain fixed time they rooted up this vegetable, from which they sought for a soul or quintessence, wherefrom they might make a coagulating and transmuting tincture. But hence arose nothing save a foolish error.
CHAPTER Vn.
CONCERXmc THE ERRORS OF THOSE WHO SEEK THE StONE IN VEGETABLES*
Some alchemists have pressed a juice out of celandine, boiled it to thickness, and put it in the sun, so that it might coagulate into a hard mass, which, being afterwards pounded into a fine black powder, should turn Mercury by projection into SoL This they also found to be in vain. Others mixed Sal Ammoniac with this powder ; others the Colcothar of Vitriol, supposing that they would thus arrive at their desired result. They brought it by their solutions into a yellow water, so that the Sal Ammoniac allow^ed an entrance of Ihe tincture into the substance of the Mercury. Yet again nothing was accomplished. There are some again who, instead of the above- mentioned substances, take the juices of persicaria, bufonaria, dracunculus, the leaves of willow, tithymal, cataputia, flammula, and the like, and shut them up in a glass vessel with Mercury for some days, keeping them In ashes. Thus It comes about that the Mercury is turned into ashes» but deceptively and without any result. These people wxre misled by the vain rumours of the vulgar, who give it out that he who is able to coagulate Mercury without metals has the entire Magistery, as we have said before. Many, too, have extracted salts, oils, and sulphurs artificially out of vegetables, but quite In vain. Out of such salts, oils* and sulphurs no coagulation of Mercur\', or per- fect projectlonj or tincture, can be made. But when the philosophers compare their matter to a certain golden tree of seven boughs, they mean that such matter includes all the seven metals in its sperm, and that in it these lie hidden. On this account they called their matter vegetable » because, as In the case of natural trees, they also in their time produce various flowers. So, too, the matter of the Stone shews most beautiful colours in the production of its flowers. The comparison, also, is apt, because a certain matter rises out of the philosophical earth, as if it w^ere a thicket of branches and sprouts, like a sponge growing on the earth. They say, therefore, that the fruit of their tree tends towards heaven. So, then, they put forth that the whole thing
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hinged upon natural v^egfetables, though not as to its matter, because their stone contains within itself a body, soul, and spirit, as vegetables do.
CHAPTER VIIL
Concerning those who have sought the Stone in Animals,
They ha%'e also, by a name based only on resemblances, called this matter Lac Virginis^ and the Blessed Blood of Rosy Colour, which, nevertheless, suits only the prophets and sons of God. Hence the sophists* gathered that this philosophical matter was in the blood of animals or of man. Sometimes, too, because they are nourished by vegetables, others have sought it in hairs, in salt of urine, in rebis ; others in hens* ^%^s^ in milk, and in the calx of ^^^ shells, with all of which they thought they would be able to fix Mercury. Some have extracted salt out oi foetid urine, supposing that to be the matter of the Stone. Some persons, again, have considered the little stones found in rebis to be the matter. Others have macerated the membranes of eggs in a sharp lixivium, with which they also mixed calcined ^^^ shells as white as snow. To these they have attributed the arcanum of fixation for the trans- mutation of Mercurj'. Others, comparing the white of the ^^^ to silver and the yolk to gold, have chosen it for their matter, mixing with it common salt, sal ammoniac, and burnt tartar* These they shut up in a glass vessel, and purified in a Balneum Maris until the white matter became as red as blood. This, again, they distilled into a most ofTenstve liquid, utterly useless for the purpose they had in view. Others have purified the white and yolk of eggs, from which has been generated a basilisk. This they burnt to a deep red powder, and sought to tinge with it, as they learnt from the treatise of Cardinal Gilbert. Many, again, have macerated the galls of oxen, mixed with common salt, and distilled this into a liquid^ with which they moistened the cementary powders, supposing that, by means of this Magistery, they would tinge their metals. This they called by the name of **a part with a part,'' and thence came— just nothing. Others have attempted to transmute tiitia by the addition of dragon's blood and other substances, and also to change copper and electrum into gold. Others, according to the Venetian Art, as they call it, take twenty lizard-like animals, more or less, shut them up in a vessel, and make them mad with hunger, so that ihey may devour on^ another until only one of them survives. This one is then fed with filings of copper or of electrum. They suppose that this animal, simply by the digestion of his stomach, will bring about the desired transmutation. Finally, they burn this animal into a red pow^der, which they thought must be gold ; but they were deceived. Others, again, having burned the fishes called truitas (? trouts), have sometimes, upon melting them, found some gold in them ; but there is no other reason for it than this : Those fish sometimes in rivers
* So acute is the potency of calcined blood, tbjLt if il be poured slowly on Iron h produces in the ^nt pkoe * white* oess thcTCoat and then generates nut.—^r4<r/rVt in Libr&s eU Turtaro. In Lib, tl.. Tract U.
56 The Hef-^nelic and Alchemical Wriiings of Paracelsus.
and streams meet with certain small scales and sparks of gold, which they eat. It is seldom, however, that such deceivers are found, and then chiefly in the courts of princes* The matter of the philosophers is not to be sought in animals : this I announce to all. Stilly it is evident that the philosophers called their Stone animal, because in their final operations the virtue of this most excellent fier^' myster}' caused an obscure liquid to exude drop by drop from the matter in their vessels. Hence they predicted that, in the last times, there should come a most pure man upon the earth, by whom the redemption of the world should be brought about ; and that this man should send forth bloody drops of a red colour, by means of which he should redeem the world from sin In the same way, after its own kind^ the blood of their Stone freed the leprous metals from their infirmities and contagion. On these grounds, therefore, they supposed they were justified in saying that their Stone was animal. Concerning this mysterj^ Mercurius speaks as follows to King Caltd :—
**This mystery it is permitted only to the prophets of God to know. Hence it comes to pass that this Stone is called animal, because in its blood a soul lies hid. It is likewise composed of body» spirit^ and souL For the same reason they called it their microcosm, because it has the likeness of all things in the world, and thence they termed it animal, as Plato named the great world an anima!/*
CHAPTER IX.
Concerning those who have sought the Stoke in Minerals.
Hereto are added the many ignorant men who suppose the stone to be three- fold, and to be hidden in a triple genus, namely, vegetable, animal, and mineral* Hence it is that they have sought for it in minerals. Now, this is far from the opinion of the philosophers. They afhrm that their stone is uniformly vegetable, animal, and mineral. Now, here note that Nature has distributed its mineral sperm into various kinds, as, for instance, into sulphurs, salts, boraxes, nitres, ammoniacs, alums, arsenics, atrament^, vltriois, tutias, haematites, orpiments, realgars, magnesias, cinnabar, antimony, talc, cachymia, marcasites, etc. In all these Nature has not yet attained to our matter j although in some of the species named it displays itself in a wonderful aspect for the transmutation of imperfect metals that are to be brought to perfection. Truly, long experience and practice with fire shew many and various permutations in the matter of minerals, not only from one colour to another, but from one essence to another, and from imperfection to perfection. And, although Nature has, by means of prepared minerals, reached some perfection, yet philosophers will not have it that the matter of the philosophic stone proceeds out of any of the minerals, although they say that their stone is universal. Hence, then, the sophists take occasion to persecute Mercury himself with various torments, as with sublimations, coagulations, mercurial waters, aquafortis, and the like. All these erroneous ways should be avoided,
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together with other sophistical preparations of minerals, and the purgations and fixations of spirits and metals. Wherefore all the preparations of the stone, as of Geber, Albertus Magnus, and the rest, are sophisticaL Their purga- tions, cementations, sublimations dislillationsj rectificaiion-s, circulations, putrefactions, conjunctions, solutions, ascensions, coagulations, calcinations, and incinerations are utterly profitless, both in the tripod, in the athanor, in the reverberatory furnace, in the melting furnace, the accidioneum, in dung, ashes, sand, or what not; and also in the cucurbtte^ the pelican, retort, phial, fixatory, and the rest* The same opinion must be passed on the sublimation of Mercury by mineral spirits, for the white and the redt as by vitriol, saltpetre, alum, crocuses, etc., concerning all which subjects that sophist, John de Rupescissa, romances in his treatise on the White and Red Philosophic Stone, Taken altogether, these are merely deceitful dreams* Avoid also the particular sophistry of Geber ; for example, his sevenfold sublimations or mortifications, and also the revivifications of Mercury, with his preparations of salts of urine, or salts made by a sepulchre, all which things are untrustworthy. Some others have endeavoured to fix Mercury with the sulphurs of minerals and metals, but have been greatly deceived* It is true 1 have seen Mercury by this Art, and by such fixations, brought into a metallic body resembling and counterfeiting good silver in all respects ; but when brought to the test it has shewn itself to be false.
CHAPTER X*
Concerning those who have sought the Stone and also Particulars
IN Minerals*
Some sophists have tried to squeeze out a fixed oil from Mercury seven times sublimed and as often dissolved by means of aquafortis. In this way they attempt to bring imperfect metals to perfection : but they have been obliged to relinquish their vain endeavour* Some have purged vitriol seven times by calcination, solution, and coagulation, with the addition of two parts of sal ammoniac, and by sublimation, so that it might be resolved into a white water, to which they have added a third part of quicksilver, that it might be coagulated by water. Then afterwards they have sublimated the Mercury several times from the vitriol and sal ammoniac, so that it became a stone. This stone they affirmed, being conceived of the vitriol, to be the Red Sulphur of the philosophers, with w^hich they have, by means of solutions and coagulations, made some progress in attaining the stone ; but in projec- tion it has <dl come to nothing. Others have coagulated Mercury by water of alum into a hard mass like alum itself ; and this they have fruitlessly fixed with fixatory^ waters. The sophists propose to thtjmselves very man}^ ways of fixing Mercury, but to no purpose, for therein nothing perfect or constant can be had. It is therefore in vain to add minerals thereto by sophistical pro- cesses, since by all of them he is stirred up to greater malice, is rendered
58 The Hermetic and Akhemkal Writings of Paracelsus,
more lively, and rather brought to greater impurity than to any kind of perfection. So, then, the philosophers' matter is not to be sought from thence. Mercuiy is somewhat imperfect ; and to bring it to perfection will be very difficult, nay, impossible for any sophist. There is nothing therein that can be stirred up or compelled to perfection. Some have taken arsenic several limes sublimated, and frequently dissolved with oil of tartar and coagidatcd. This they have pretended to fix, and by it to turn copper into silver. This, however, is merely a sophistical w^hitening, for arsenic cannot be fixed* unless the operator be an Artist, and knows well its tlngeing spirit. Truly in this respect all the philosophers have slept, vainly attempting to accomplish anything thereby. Whoever, therefore^ is ignorant as to this spirit, cannot have any hopes of fixing it, or of giving it that power which would make it capable of the virtue of transmutation. So, then, I give notice to all that the whitening of which I have just now spoken is grounded on a false basis, and that by it the copper is deceitfully whitened, but not changed.
Now the sophists have mixed this counterfeit Venus with twice its weight of Luna, and sold it to the goldsmiths and mint-masters, until at last they have transmuted themselves into false coiners — not only those who sold, but those who bought it* Some sophists instead of white arsenic take red, and this has turned out false art ; because, how^ever it is prepared, it proves to be nothing but whiteness.
Some, again, have gone further and dealt with common sulphur, which, being so yellow, they have boiled in vinegar, lixivium, or sharpest wines, for a day and a night, until it became white. Then afterw-ards they sublimated it from common salt and the calx of eggs, repeating the process several times ; yet, still, though white, it has been always combustible. Nevertheless, with this they have endeavoured to fix Mercury and to turn It into gold ; but in vain. From this^ however, comes the most excellent and beautiful cinnabar that I have ever seen. This they propose to fix with the oil of sulphur by cementation and fixation. It does, indeed, give something of an appearance, but still falls short of the desired object. Others have reduced common sulphur to the form of a hepar^ boiling it in vinegar with the addition of linseed oili or laterine oil, or olive oil. They then pour it into a marble mortar, and make it into the form of a hepar, which they have first distilled into a citrine oil with a gentle fire. But they have found to their loss that they could not do anything in the way of transmuting Luna to Sol as they supposed they would be able. As there is an infinite number of metals, so also there is much variety in the preparation of them. I shall not make further mention of these in this place, because each
* One recipe rcrr the ftxAtion arar&cnic h, as follows r-Take equal parts orar&cnic aiiid nitre. Place these in a tig- ilium, set upcm coals, »o that tbey may begin to boil and to evaporate* Continue till ebullition and e\'%poration cease, and the smbstAflcci shall have settled to the bottom of the vctsel like fat melting in a fr>^ing-pan ; then, for the space of an hour and a half (the longer the better), set it npart to settle. Subsequently pour the compound upon marble^ and it will aoquire a gold colour, tn a damp place it will ai^unic the con&Lsitency of a fatty iuid. — ZV Na/mfaliims Js'e&ut, C 9. A^ain : The lixation of onienk Ia performed by &a]t of urine, after which it is converted by itself into an oiL — Ckirmrgia A/i»^ Lib. IL
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would require a special treatise. Beware also iy{ sophisticated oils of vitriol and antimony. Likewise be on your guard against the oils of tlie metals, perfect or imperfect, as Sol or Luna ; because although the operation of these is most potent in the nature of things, yet the true process is known, even at this day^ to very few persons. Abstain also from the sophistical preparations of common mercur\\ arsenic, sulphur, and the like, by sublimation, descension, fixation by vinegar, saltpetre, tartar, vitriol, sal ammoniac, according to the formuUis prescribed in the books of the sophists. Likewise avoid the sophisticated tinctures taken from marcasltes and crocus of Mars, and also of that sophistication called by the name oi ** a part with a part/' and of fixed Luna and similar trifles. Although they have some superficial appearance of truth, as the fixation of Luna by httle labour and industrj, still the progress of the preparation is worthless and weak. Being therefore moved with compassion towards the well meaning operators in this art, I have determined to lay open the wliole foundation of philosophy in three separate arcana, namely, in one explained by arsenic, in a second by vitriol, and in a third by antimony ; by means of which I will teach the true projection upon Mercury and upon the imperfect metals.
CHAPTER XL Concerning the trlte and perfect special ARCANLm of Arsenic
FOR THE WHITE TINCTURE,
Some persons have wTitten that arsenic is compounded of Mercury and Sulphur, others of earth and water ; but most writers say that it is of the nature oi Sulphur. But, however that may be, its nature is such that it trans- mutes red copper into white. It may also be brought to such a perfect state of preparation as to be able to tinge. But this is not done in the way pointed out by such evil sophists as Gcber in **The Sum of Perfection,^' Albertus Magnus, Aristotle the chemist in ** The Book of the Perfect Magistery/' Rhasis and Polydorus ; for those writers, however many they be, are either themselves in error, or else they write falsely out of sheer envy, and put forth receipts whilst not ignorant of the truth. Arsenic contains within itself three natural spirits. The first is volatile^ combustible, corrosive, and penetrating all metals. This spirit whitens Venus and alter some days renders it spongy. But this artifice relates only to those who practise the caustic art. The second spirit is crystalline and sweet. The third is a tingeing spirit separated from the others before mentioned. True philosophers seek for these three natural properties in arsenic with a view to the perfect projection of the wise men.* But those barbers who practise surgery seek after that sweet and crystalline nature separated from the tingeing spirit for use in the cure of wounds, buboes,
* Concerning the kinds of arsenii:, it )& to be noted that there are thosrc which flow forth from their proper mineral Of meul, AtuI :u-e called native smenlcs Next there tat. OLrsenics out of metals after their kind. Then there are thotte made by Art through traniMnutation. White or crystallLne arsenic i* the best for medicine. Yellow and rctl ar»enic are utUiMMl by chemisits for investigating the transmutation of metaJ^^ iti which anicmc has a special efBcacy.— /?/ Nnimra' libus Rettu^ c. 9.
6o The Hermetic and Alcfumical Writings of Paracelsus.
carbuncles, anthrax, and other similar ulcers which are not curable save by gentle means. As for that tingeing spirit, however, unless the pure be separated from the impure in it, the fixed from the volatile, and the secret tincture from the combustible, it will not in any way succeed according to your wish for projection on Mercury, Venus, or any other imperfect metal. All philosophers have hidden this arcanum as a most excellent mystery. This tingeing spirit, separated from the other two as above, you must join to the spirit of Luna, and digest them together for the space of thirty-two days, or until they have assumed a new body. After it has, on the fortieth natural day, been kindled into flame by the heat of the sun, the spirit appears in a bright whiteness, and is endued with a perfect tingeing arcanum. Then it is at length fit for projection, namely, one part of it upon sixteen parts of an im- perfect body, according to the sharpness of the preparation. From thence appears shining and most excellent Luna, as though it had been dug from the bowels of the earth.
CHAPTER XIL
General Instruction concerning the Arcanum of Vitriol and THE Red Tincture to be extracted from it.*
Vitriol is a very noble mineral among the rest, and was held always in highest estimation by philosophers, because the Most High God has adorned it with wonderful gifts. They have veiled its arcanum in enigmatical figures like the following : ** Thou shalt go to the inner parts of the earth, and by rectification thou shalt find the occult stone, a true medicine." By the earth they understood the Vitriol itself; and by the inner parts of the earth its sweetness and redness, because in the occult part of the Vitriol lies hid a subtle, noble, and most fragrant juice, and a pure oil. The method of its production is not to be approached by calcination or by distillation. For it must not be deprived on any account of its green colour. If it were, it would at the same time lose its arcanum and its power. Indeed, it should be observed at this point that minerals, and also vegetables and other like things which shew greenness without, contain within themselves an oil red like blood, which is their arcanum. Hence it is clear that the distillations of the druggists are useless, vain, foolish, and of no value, because these people do not know how to extract the bloodlike redness from vegetables. Nature herself is wise, and turns all the waters of vegetables to a lemon colour, and after that into an oil which is very red like blood. The reason why this is so slowly accomplished arises from the too great haste of the ignorant operators who distil it, which causes the greenness to be consumed. They have not learnt to strengthen Nature with their own powers, which is the mode whereby that noble green
• The arcanum of vitriol is the oil of vitriol. Thus : after the aquosity has been removed in coction from vitriol, the spirit is elicited by the application of greater heat. The vitriol then comes over pure in the form of water. This water is combined with the ca^t mortuum left by the process, and on again separating in a haiiuu$H maris^ the phleg> matic part passes oif, and the oil, or the arcanum of vitriol, remains at the bottom of the vessel.— /(m£
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colour ought to be rectified into redness of itself. An example of this is white wine digestingf itself into a lemon colour ; and in process o{ time the green colour of the grape is of itself turned into the red which underlies the ccerulean. The greenness therefore of the vegetables and minerals being lost by the in- capacity of the operators, the essence also and spirit of the oil and of the balsam, which is noblest among arcana, will also perish.
CHAPTER XIIL
Special Instruction concerning the Process of Vitriol FOR the Red Tincture.
Vitriol contains within itself many muddy and viscous imperfections. Therefore its greenness* must be often extracted with water, and rectified until it puts off all the impurities of earth. When all these rectifications are finished, take care above all that the matter shall not be exposed to the sun, for this turns its greenness pale, and at the same time absorbs the arcanum. Let it be kept covered up in a warm stove so that no dust may defile it. Afterwards let it be digested in a closed glass vessel for the space of several months, or until different colours and deep redness shew themselves. Still you must not suppose that by this process the redness is sufficiently fixed. It must, in addition, be cleansed from the interior and accidental defilements of the earth, in the following manner : — It must be rectified with acetum until the earthy defilement is altogether removed, and the dregs are taken away» This is now the true and best rectification of its tincture, from which the blessed oil is to be extracted. From this tincture, which is carefully enclosed in a glass vessel, an alembic afterwards placed on it and luted so that no spirit may escape^ the spirit of this oil must be extracted by distillation over a mild and slow fire- This oil is much pleasanter and sweeter than any aromatic balsam of the drug- sellers, being entirely free from all acridity, t There will subside in the bottom of the cucurbite some very white earthy shining and glittering like snow. This keep, and protect from all dust. This same earth is altogether separated from its redness.
Thereupon follows the greatest arcanum, that is Xo say, the Supercelestial Marriage of the Soul, consummately prepared and washed by the blood of the
• So long as the xiridhy or greenness or vitriol siilnists ther^mt it is of a soft quality and substance. But if h be exoocted so thai it i& deprived of its moisture, it is thereby changed into n hard stone from which ev«o lire can be struck* When the moisture is evaporated from vitriol, the stdphur which it coatains predoounate^ over the saltj and the vitriol turns Tss^.—De Ffstilitate, Tract I.
\ The diAgnmis of vitriol is concerned with it both in Medicine and Alchemy^ In Medicine it is a panunount remedy. In Akhemy it hss many additional purpoft»« The Art of Medicine and Alchemy consists in the preparmtion of vitriol, for it is worthless \n its crude state. It is like unto wood, out of which it is possible to carve anything. Three kinds of oil are extracted from vitriol— a red oil, by distillation in a retort after an alchemistic method, and this is the most acid of all substances, and has also a corrosive quality— also a green and a white oil, distilled from crude vitriol by descension,— /?/ Vttrioh* Nor let it be regarded a& absurd that we assign such great virtues to v-itriol, for therein recides, secret and hidden, a certain peculiar golden forces not corporeal but spiritual, which excellent and admirable virtue exists in greater potency and certainty therein than it docs in gold. When this golden spirit of vitriol is vota* tilized and separated from iu impurities, so that the es'ience alone remains^ it is hka unto potable gold.— /># MotHm Amgmtiumt Mttkodut II,, c i,
62 The Hermetic and Aldumical Writings of Paracelsus.
Iamb, with its own splendid, shining, and purified body. This is the true supercelestial marnage by which life is prolonged to the last and predestined day. In this way, then^ the soul and spirit of the Vitriol » which are its blood, are joined with its purified body, that they may be for eternity inseparable. Take, therefore^ this our foliated earth in a glass phiah Into it pour gradually its own oil. The body will receive and embrace Its soul ; since the body is affected with extreme desire for the soul, and the soul is most perfectly delighted with the embrace of the body. Place this conjunction in a furnace of arcana, and keep it there for forty days. When these have expired you will have a most absolute oil of wondrous perfection, in which Mercury and any other of the imperfect metals are turned into gold.
Now let us turn our attention to its multiplication. Take the corporal Mercur)^, in the proportion of two parts ; pour it over three parts, equal in weight, of the aforesaid oil, and let them remain together for forty days. By this proportion of weight and this order the multiplication becomes infinite.
CHAPTER XIV.
Concerning jhe Secrets and Arcana of Antimonv, for the Red Tincture, with a view to Transmutation.
Antimony is the true bath of gold. Philosophers call it the examiner and the stilanx. Poets say that in this bath Vulcan washed Phcebus* and purified him from all dirt and imperfection. It is produced from the purest and noblest Mercury and Sulphur, under the genus of vitriol, in metallic form and bright- ness. Some philosophers call it the White Lead of the Wise Men, or simply the Lead. Take, therefore, of Antimony, the very best of its kind, as much as you will. Dissolve this in its own aquafortis, and throw it into cold water, adding a little of the crocus of Mars, so that it may sink to the bottom of the vessel as a sediment, for otherwise it does not throw off its dregs. After it has been dissolved in this way it will have acquired supreme beauty. Let It be placed in a glass vessel, closely fastened on all sides with a verj' thick lute, or else in a stone bocia, and mix w^ith it some calcined tutia, sublimated to the perfect degree of fire. It must be carefully guarded from liquefying, because with too great heat it breaks the glass. From one pound of this Antimony a sublimation is made, perfected tor a space of two days. Place this sublimated substance in a phial that it may touch the water with its third part, in a luted vessel, so that the spirit may not escape. Let it be suspended over the tripod of arcana, and let the work be urged on at first with a slow fire equal to the sun's heat at midsummer. Then at length on the tenth day let it be gradually increased. For with too great heat the glass vessels are broken, and sometimes even the furnace goes to pieces. While the vapour is ascending different colours appear. Let the fire be moderated until a red matter is seen. Afterwards dissolve in very sharp Acetum, and throw away the dregs. Let the Acetum be abstracted and let it be again dissolved in common distilled water*
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This again must be abstracted, and the sediment distilled with a very strong fire in a glass vessel closely shut. The whole body of the Antimony will ascend as a very red oil, like the colour of a ruby, and will flow into the receiver, drop by drop, with a most fragrant smell and a ver>^ sweet taste** This is the supreme arcanum of the philosophers in Antimony, which they account most highly among the arcana of oils. Then, lastly, let the oil of Sol be made in the following way : — Take of the purest Sol as much as you will, and dissolve it in rectified spirit of wine. Let the spirit be abstracted several times, and an equal number of times let it be dissolved again. Let the last solution be kept with the spirit of wine, and circulated for a month. Afterwards let the volatile gold and the spirit of wine be distilled three or four times by means of an alembic, so that it may flow down into the receiver and be brought to its supreme essence. To half an ounce of this dissolved gold let one ounce of the Oil of Antimony be added. This oil embraces it in the heat of the bath, so that it docs not easily let it go, even if the spirit of wine be extracted. In this way you will have the supreme mystery and arcanum of Nature, to which scarcely any equal can be assigned in the nature of things. Let these two oils in combination be shut up together in a phial after the manner described, hung on a tripod for a philosophical month, and warmed with a very gentle fire ; although, if the fire be regulated in due proportion this operation is concluded in thirty-one days, and brought to perfection. By this, Mercury and any other imperfect metals acquire the perfection of gold,
CHAPTER XV.
Concerning the Projection to be made by the Mystery AND Arcanum of Antimony.
No precise weight can be assigned in this work of projection, though the tincture itself may be extracted from a certain subject, in a defined proportion, and with fitting appliances* For instance, that Medicine tinges sometimes thirty* forty, occasionally even sixty, eighty, or a hundred parts of the im- perfect metal. So, then, the whole business hinges chiu% on the purification of the Medicine and the industrj^ of the operator, and, next, on the greater or lesser cleanliness and purity of the imperfect body taken in hand. For instance, one Venus is more pure than another ; and hence it happens that no one fixed weight can be specified in projection. This alone is worth noting, that if the operator happens to have taken too much of the tincture, he can correct this mistake by adding more of the imperfect metal. But if there be too much of the subject, so that the powers of the tincture are weakened, this error is easily remedied by a cinentlum, or by cementations, or by ablutions
* Antlniony can be mnde into a pap with the urater of vitriol, and then purified by ul ftmnioaiac, and tn this nym* ner there may be obtained fri^m it a ihick purple or reddish liquor. Thii» h, oil of antimony, ajid it h»A nuiny virtues, — CkirmrgtA Majpta, Lib, V. Take three pound* of antimony arwi ai mudi of sal gcmm«^ Distil them together in a retort for three natural days, ftnd so you will ha\"e a red oil, which has incredible healinf power in cases of oiberwifie incarabk wounds.— Cit/mnpjpM Mirn^r, Tract 11.^ c< 11.
64 The Hennetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
in crude Antimony. There is nothing at this stage which need delay the operator ; only let him put before himself a fact which has been passed over by the philosophers, and by some studiously veiled, namely, that in projections there must be a revivification^ that is to say, an animation of imperfect bodies — nay, so to speak, a spiritualisation ; concerning which some have said that their metals are no common ones, since they live and have a souL
Animation is Produced in the Following Way.
Take of Venus, wrought into small plates, as much as you will, ten, twenty, or forty pounds. Let these be incrusted with a pulse made of arsenic and calcined tartar, and calcined in their own vessel for twenty-four hours. Then at length let the Venus be pulverised, washed, and thoroughly purified. Let the calcination with ablution be repeated three or four times. In this way it is purged and purified from its thick greenness and from its own impure sulphur. You will have to be on your guard against calcinations made with common sulphur. For whatever is good in the metal is spoilt thereby, and what is bad becomes worse. To ten marks of this purged Venus add one of pure Luna. But in order that the work of the Medicine may be accelerated by projection! and may more easily penetrate the imperfect body, and drive out all portions which are opposed to the nature of Luna, this is accomplished by means o( a perfect ferment. For the work is defiled by means of an impure Sulphur, so that a cloud is stretched out over the surface of the transmuted substance, or the metal is mixed with the loppings of the Sulphur and may be cast away therewith. But if a projection of a red stone is to be made, with a view to a red transmutation, it must first fall on gold, afterwards on silver, or on some other metal thoroughly purified, as we have directed above. From thence arises the most perfect gold.
CHAPTER XVL
Concerning the Universal Matter of the Philosophers* Stone.
After the mortification of %'egetables, they are transmuted, by the concur- rence of two minerals, such as Sulphur and Salt, into a mineral nature, so that at length they themselves become perfect minerals. So it is that in the mineral burrows and caves of the earth, vegetables are found which, in the long succession of time, and by the continuous heat of sulphur, put off the vegetable nature and assume that of the mineral. This happens, for the most part, where the appropriate nutriment is taken away from vegetables of this kind, so that they are afterwards compelled to derive their nourishment from the sulphur and salts of the earth, until what was before vegetable passes over into a perfect mineral. From this mineral state, too, sometimes a perfect metal he essence arises, and this happens by the progress of one degree into another.
But let us return to the Philosophers* Stone. The matter of this, as certain writers have mentioned, is above all else difficult to discover and
1
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abstruse to understand. The method and most certain rule for finding- out this, as well as other subjects — what they embrace or are able to effect— is a careful examination of the root and seed by which they come to our knowledg^e. For this, before all things else, a consideration of principles is absolutely necessary; and also of the manner in which Nature proceeds from imper- fection to the end of perfection. Now, for this consideration it is well to have it thoroug"hly understood from the first that all thing's created by Nature consist of three primal elements, namely, natural Mercur)% Sulphur, and Salt in combination, so that in some substances they are volatile, in others fixed. Wherever corporal Salt is mixed with spiritual Mercur>' and animated Sulphur into one body, then Nature bcg-ins to work, in those subterranean places which serve for her vessels, by means of a separating fire. By this the thick and impure Sulphur is separated from the pure, the earth is segregated from the Salt, and the clouds from the Mercur\', while those purer parts are preserved, which Nature again welds together into a pure geogamic body. This operation is esteemed by the Magi as a mixture and conjunction by the uniting of three constituents, body, soul, and spirit. When this union is completed there results from it a pure Mercury. Now if this, when flowing down through its subterranean passages and veins, meets with a chaotic Sulphur, the Mercury is coagulated by it according to the condition of the Sulphur, It is, however, still volatile, so that scarcely in a hundred years is it transformed into a metal. Hence arose the vulgar idea that Mercurv' and Sulphur are the matter of the metals, as is certainly reported by miners. It is not, however, common Mercury and common Sulphur which are the matter of the metals, but the Mercury and the Sulphur of the philosophers are incor- porated and inborn in perfect metals, and in the forms of them, so that they never fly from the fire, nor are they depraved by the force of the corruption caused by the elements. It is true that by the dissolution of this natural mixture our Mercury is subdued, as all the philosophers say. Under this form of words our Mercury comes to be drawn from perfect bodies and from the forces of the earthly planets. This is what Hermes asserts in the following terms: **The Sun and the Moon are the roots of this Art." The Son of Hamuel says that the Stone of the philosophers is water coagulated, namely, in Sol and Luna. From this it is clearer than the sun that the material of the Stone is nothing else but Sol and Luna. This is confirmed by the fact that like produces like. We know that there are only two Stones, the white and the red. There are also two matters of the Stone, Sol and Luna, formed together in a proper marriage, both natural and artificial. Now, as we see that the man or the woman, without the seed of both, cannot generate, in the same way our man, Sol, and his wife, Luna, cannot conceive, or do anything in the way of generation, without the seed and sperm of both. Hence the philosophers gathered that a third thing was necessar)^ namely, the animated seed of both, the man and the woman, without which they judged that the whole of their work was fruitless and in vain. Such a sperm is Mercur)',
F
66 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
which, by the natural conjunction of both bodies, Sol and Luna, receives their nature into itself in union. Then at length, and not before, the work is fit for congress, ingress, and generation, by the masculine and feminine power and virtue. Hence the philosophers have said that this same Mercury is composed of body, spirit, and soul, and that it has assumed the nature and property of all elements. Therefore, with their most powerful genius and intellect, they asserted their Stone to be animal. They even called it their Adam, who car- ries his own invisible Eve hidden in his body, from that moment in which they were united by the power of the Supreme God, the Maker of all creatures. For this reason it may be said that the Mercury of the Philosophers is none other than their most abstruse, compounded Mercury, and not the common Mercury. So then they have wisely said to the sages that there is in Mercury whatever wise men seek. Almadir, the philosopher, says • "We extract our Mercury from one perfect body and two perfect natural conditions incorporated together, which indeed puts forth externally its perfection, whereby it is able to resist the fire, so that its internal imperfection may be protected by the external perfections." By this passage of the sagacious philosopher is under- stood the Adamic matter, the limbus of the microcosm,* and the homogeneous, unique matter of the philosophers. The sayings of these men, which we have before mentioned, are simply golden, and ever to be held in the highest esteem, because they contain nothing superfluous or without force. Sum- marily, then, the matter of the Philosophers' Stone is none other than a fiery and perfect Mercury extracted by Nature and Art ; that is, the artificially pre- pared and true hermaphrodite Adam, and the microcosm. That wisest of the philosophers, Mercurius, making the same statement, called the Stone an orphan. Our Mercur>', therefore, is the same which contains in itself all the perfections, force, and virtues of the Sun, which also runs through all the streets and houses of all the planets, and in its own rebirth has acquired the force of things above and things below ; to the marriage of which it is to be compared, as is clear from the whiteness and the redness combined in it.
CHAPTER XVH.
Concerning the Preparation of the Matter for the Philosophic
Stone.
What Nature principally requires is that its own philosophic man should be brought into a mercurial substance, so that it may be born into the philo-
• Man himself was created from that which is termed limbus. This limbus contained the potenc>' and nature of all creatures. Hence, man himself is called the microcosmus, or world in miniature.— //ir Grntratione Siultprum. Man was fashioned out of the limbus. and this limbus is the universal world. — Paramimm Aliud^ Lib. II., c a. The limbus was the first matter of man. . . . Whosoever knows the limbus knows also what man is. Whatsoever the limbus is, that also is man. - Paramirum Aliud^ Lib. IV. There Is a dual limbus, man, the lesser limbus. and
that Great Limbus from which he was produced— /^r PotUigra^ s. v. dr Liinbo. The limbus is the seed out of which all creatures are produced and grow, as the tree comes forth from its own special seed. The limbus has its ground in the word of God.— /^/V/. The limbus of Adam was heaven and earth, water and air. Therefore, man also remains in the limbus, and contains in himself heaven and earth, air and water, and tliese things he also himself is. — Paragmnum Alteruffiy Tract II,
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sophic Stone. Moreover, it should be remarked that those common pre- parations of Geber, Albertus Mag^nus, Thomas Aquinas, Rupescissa, Poiy- dorus, and such men, are nothing more than some particular solulions, sub- limations, and calcinations, having no reference to our universal substance, which needs only the most secret fire of the philosophers. Let the fire and Azoth therefore suffice for you. From the fact that the philosophers make mention of certain preparations, such as putrefaction, distillation, sublimation, calcination, coagulation, dealbation, rubification, ceration^ fixation, and the like, you should understand that in their universal substance, Nature herself fulfils all ihe operations in the matter spoken of, and not the onerator, only in a philosophical vessel, and with a similar fire, but not common fire. The white and the red spring from one root without any intermediary. It is dissolved by itself, it copulates by itself, grows white, grows red, is made crocus-coloured and black by itself, marries itself and conceives in itself. It is therefore to be decocted, to be baked, to be fused ; it ascends, and it descends. All these operations are a single operation and produced by the fire alone. Still, some philosophers, nevertheless, have, by a highly graduated essence of wine, dissolved the body oi Sol, and rendered it volatile, so that it should ascend through an alembic, thinking that this is the true volatile matter of the philosophers, though it is not so. And although it be no contemptible arcanum to reduce this perfect metallic body into a volatile, spirilual substance, yet they are wrong in their separation of the elements. This process of the monks, such as Lully, Richard of England, Rupescissa, and the rest, is erroneous. By this process they thought that they were going to separate gold after this fashion into a subtle, spiritual, and elementarj^ power, each by itself, and afterwards by circulation and rectification to combine them again in one— but in vain. For although one element may, in a certain sense, be separated from another, yet, nevertheless, every element separated in this way can again be separated into another element, but these elements cannot after- wards by circulation in a pelican, or by distillation, be again brought back into one ; but they always remain a certain volatile matter, and aurum potabile, as they themselves call it. The reason why they could not compass their intention is that Nature refuses to be in this way drag^ged asunder and separated by man's disjunctions, as by earthly glasses and instruments. She alone knows her own operations and the weights of the elements, the separations, rectifications, and copulations of which she brings about without the aid of any operator or manual artifice, provided only the matter be contained in the secret fire and in its proper occult vessel. The separation of the elements, therefore, is impossible by man. It may appear to take place, but it is not true, whatever may be said by Raymond Lully, and of that famous English golden work which he is falsely supposed to have accomplished. Nature her- self has within herself the proper separator, who again joins together what he has put asunder, without the aid of man. She knows best the proportion of everj' element, which man does not know, however mis- Fa
68 The Hermetic mid Aldiemkal Writings of Paracelsus,
leading- writers romance in their frivolous and false recipes about this volatile gold.
This is the opinion of the philosophers, that when they have put their matter into the more secret fire, and when with a moderated philosophical heat it is cherished on every side, beginning to pass into corruption, it grows black. This operation they term putrefaction* and they call the blackness by the name of the Crow's Head. The ascent and descent thereof they term distillation, ascensioHt and descension. The exsiccation they call coagulation ; and the dealbation they call calcination ; while because it becomes fluid and soft in the heat they make mention of ce ration. When it ceases to ascend and re- \ mains liquid at the bottom, they say fixation is present.
In this manner it is the terms o^ philosophical operations are to be understood, and not otherwise.
CHAPTER XVIII,
Concerning Instruments and the Philosophic Vessel,
Sham philosophers have misunderstood the occult and secret philosophic vessel, and worse is that which is said by Aristoteles the Alchemist (not the famous Greek Academic Philosopher), giving it out that the matter is to be decocted in a triple vessel. Worst of all is that wiiich is said by another, namely, that the matter in its first separation and first degree requires a metallic vessel; in Its second degree of coagulation and dealbation of its earth a glass vessel ; and in the third degree, for fixation, an earthen vessel. Nevertheless* hereby the philosophers understand one vessel alone in all the operations up to the perfection of the red stone* Since, then, our matter is our root for the white and the red, necessarily our vessel must be so fashioned that the matter in it may be governed by the heavenly bodies. For invisible celestial influences and the impressions of the stars are in the very^ first degree necessary for the work. Otherwise it would be impossible for the Oriental, Chaldean, and Egyptian stone to be realised. By this Anaxag^oras knew the powers o^ the whole firmament » and foretold that a great stone would descend from heaven to earth, which actually happened after his death* To the Cabalists our vessel is perfectly well known, because it must be made according to a truly g^eometrical proportion and measure, and from a definite quadrature of the circle, so that the spirit and the soul of our matter, separated from their body, maybe able to raise this vessel with themselves in proportion to the altitude of heaven. If the vessel be wider, narrower, higher, or lower than is fitting, and than the dominating operating spirit and soul desire, the heat of our secret philosophic fire (which is, indeed, very severe), will violently excite the matter and urge it on to excessive operation, so that the vessel is shivered into a thousand pieces, with imminent danger to the body and even the life of the operator. On the other hand, if it be of greater capacity than is required in due proportion for the heat to have eff"ect on the matter, the
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work will be wasted and thrown away* So, then, our philosophic vessel must be made with the greatest care. What the material of the vessel should be is understood only by those who» in the first solution of our fixed and perfected matter have brought that matter to its own primal quintessence. Enough has been said on this point.
The operator must also v^ery accurately note wiiat, In its first solution, the matter sends forth and rejects from itself.
The method of describing the form of the vessel is difficult. It should be such as Nature requires^ and it must be sought out and investigated from ever)' possible source, so that, from the height of the philosophic heaven, elevated above the philosophic earth, it may be able to operate on the fruit of its own earthly body. It should have this form, too, in order that the separation and purification of the elements^ when the fire drives one from the other, may be able to be accomplished, and that each may have power to occupy the place to which it adheres ; and also that the sun and the other planets may exercise their operations around the elemental earth, while their course in their circuit is neither hindered nor agitated with too swift a motion, in all these particu- lars which have been mentioned it must have a proper proportion of rotundity and of height.
The instruments for the first purification of mineral bodies are fusing- vessels, bellows, tongs, cape!s, cupels, tests, cementator}^ vessels, cineritiums, cucurbites, bocias for aquafortis and aqua regia ; and also the appliances which are required for projection at the climax of the work.
CHAPTER XIX.
Concerning the Secret Fire of the Philosophers.
This is a well-known sententious saying of the philosophers, ** Let fire and Azoc suffice thee." Fire alone is the whole work and the entire art. Moreover, they who build their fire and keep their vessel in that heat are in error. In vain some have attempted it w'ith the heat of horse dung. By the coal fire, without a medium, they have sublimated their matter, but they have not dissolved it. Others have got their heat from lamps, asserting that this is the secret fire of the philosophers for making their Slone. Some have placed it in a bath, first of all in heaps of ants' eggs; others in juniper ashes. Some have sought the ^x^ in quicklime, in tartar, vitriol, nitre, etc. Others, again, have sought it in boiling water. Thomas Aquinas speaks falsely of this fire, saying that God and the angels cannot do without this fiie, but use it daily. What blasphemy is this ! Is it not a manifest lie that God is not able to do without the elemental heat of boiling water? All the heats excited by those means which have been mentioned are utterly useless for our work Take care not to be misled by Arnold de Villa Xova, who has written on the. subject of the coal fire, for in this matter he will deceive you.
Almadir says that the invisible rays of our lire of themselves suffice.
70 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Another cites, as an illustration, that the heavenly heat by its reflections tends to the coagulation and perfection of Mercury', just as by its continual motion it tends to the generation of metals. Again, says this same authority, **Make a fire, vaporous, digesting, as for cooking, continuous, but not volatile or boiling, enclosed, shut off from the air, not burning, but altering and penetrating. Now, in truth, I have mentioned every mode of fire and of exciting heat. If you are a true philosopher you will understand. '^ This is what he says.
Salmanazar remarks: **Ours is a corrosive fire, which brings over our vessel an air like a cloud, in which cloud the rays of this fire are hidden. If this dew of chaos and this moisture of the cloud fail, a mistake has been committed." Again, Alniadir says, that unless the fire has warmed our sun with its moisture, by the excrement of the mountain, with a moderate ascent, we shall not be partakers either of the Red or the White Stone.
All these matters shew quite openly to us the occult fire of the wise men. Finally, this is the matter of our fire, namely, that it be kindled by the quiet spirit of sensible fire, which drives upwards, as it were, the heated chaos from the opposite quarter, and above our philosophic matter. This heat, glowing above our vessel, must urge it to the motion of a perfect generation, temper- ately but continuously, without intermission.
CHAPTER XX. Concerning the Ferment of the Philosophers, and the Weight.
Philosophers have laboured greatly in the art of ferments and of ferment- ations, which seems important above all others. With reference thereto some have made a vow to God and to the philosophers that they would never divulge its arcanum by similitudes or by parables.
Nevertheless, Hermes, the father of all philosophers, in the ** Book of the Seven Treatises," most clearly discloses the secret of ferments, saying that they consist only of their own paste ; and more at length he says that the ferment whitens the confection, hinders combustion, altogether retards the flux of the tincture, consoles bodies, and amplifies unions. He says, also, that this is the key and the end of t^e work, concluding that the ferment is nothing but paste, as that of the sun is nothing but sun, and that of the moon nothing but moon. Others affirm that the ferment is the soul, and if this be not rightly prepared from the magistery, it effects nothing. Some zealots of this Art seek the Art in common sulphur, arsenic, tutia, auripigment, vitriol, etc., but in vain ; since the substance which is sought is the same as that from which it has to be drawn forth. It should be remarked, therefore, that fer- mentations of this kind do not succeed according to the wishes of the zealots in the way they desire, but, as is clear from what has been said above, simply in the way of natural successes.
But, to come at length to the weight ; this must be noted in two ways.
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The first is natural, the second artificial. The natural attains its result in the earth by Nature and concordance. Of this, Arnold says : If more or less earth than Nature requires be added» the soul is suffocated, and no result is perceived, nor any fixation. It is the same with the water. If more or less of this be taken it will bring a corresponding loss. A superfluity renders the matter unduly moist, and a deficiency makes it too dry and too hard. If there be over much air present, it is too strongly impressed on the tincture ; it there be too little, the body will turn out pallid. In the same way, if the fire be too strong, the matter is burnt up ; if it be too slack, it has not the power of drjing, nor of dissolving or heating the other elements. In these things elemental heat consists.
Artificial weight is quite occult. It is comprised in the magical art of ponderations. Between the spirit, soul, and body, say the philosophers, weight consists of Sulphur as the director of the work ; for the soul strongly desires Sulphur, and necessarily observes it by reason of its weight.
You can understand it thus : Our matter is united to a red fixed Sulphur, to which a third part of the regimen has been entrusted, even to the ultimate degree, so that it may perfect to infinity the operation of the Stone, may remain therewith together with its fire, and may consist of a weight equal to the matter itself, in and through all, without variation of any degree. Therefore, after the matter has been adapted and mixed in its proportionate weight, it should be closely shut up with its seal in the vessel of the philoso- phers, and committed to the secret fire. In this the Philosophic Sun will rise and surge up^ and wi!l illuminate all things that have been looking for his light I expecting it with highest hope.
In these few words we will conclude the arcanum of the Stone, an arcanum which is in no way maimed or defective, for which we give God undying thanks. Now have we opened to you our treasure, which is not to be paid for by the riches of the whole world.
Here ends the Aurora of the Philosophers,
CONCERNING THE SPIRITS OF THE PLANETS.*
PROLOGUE.
HAVING first of all invoked the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, we will enter upon this work ; in which we shall not only teach how to change any inferior metal into better, as iron into copper, copper into silver, and silver into gold, but also to heal all infirmities which to the pretentious and presumptuous physicians seems impossible ; and — what is more still — to preserve men to a long, healthy, and perfect age. This Art was bestowed by the Lord our God, the supreme Creator, graven, as if in a book, in the body of the metals from the beginning of Creation to this end, that we might diligently learn from them. When, therefore, any man desires thoroughly and perfectly to become acquainted with this Art from its veritable foundation, it will be necessary that he should learn the same from the Master thereof, that is, from God, who created all things ; who also alone knows what nature and properties He has placed in every creature. He, therefore, is able to teach every one certainly and perfectly ; and from Him we can be taught absolutely what he means when he says, **Of Me ye shall learn all things." For nothing in Heaven or on earth is found so occult that He who created all things does not see through its properties, and know and perceive all. We will therefore take Him to be our Master, Operator, and Leader into this most veritable Art. Him alone will we imitate, and through Him learn and attain to the knowledge of that Nature which He Himself has, with His own finger, engendered and written on the bodies of these metals. Hence it will come to pass that the Most High Lord God will bless all His creatures in us, and will sanctify all our ways, so that in this work we may be able to bring our beginning to its desired end, and to attain the deepest joy and charity in our hearts.
But if any one shall follow his own mere private opinion, he will not only greatly deceive himself, but also all others who shall cast in their lot with him, and will bring them to great trouble. For man is assuredly born in ignorance, so that he cannot know or understand anything of himself, but only that which he receives from God, and understands from Nature. He who learns
* This treatise is not included in the Geneva folio, and, both in style and in the method of treatment, it corresponds closely to the Aurora. The edition made use of for this translation is the Basle 8vo. of 1570. A considerable portion of the work enters into the Paracelsican congeries, entitled De TroHsmutatioMibus Mttaltorumy Frankfort, 1C81.
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets.
73
nothing^ from these is like the heathen teachers and philosophers, who follow the subtleties and crafts of their own inventions and opinions. Such teachers are Aristotle, Hippocrates, Avicenna, Galen, and the rest, who based all their arts simply upon their own opinions. Even if, at any time, they learnt anything" from Nature, they destroyed it again with their own fantasies, dreams, and inventions, before they came to the final issue. By means of these, then, and their followers, nothing" perfect can be discovered.
This it is which has moved and incited us to write a special book concern- ing Alchemy, basing it not on men, but on Nature herself, and upon those virtues and powers which God, with His own finger, has impressed upon metals. The initiator of this impression was Mercurius Trismegistus. He is not without due cause called the father of all wise men, and of all who followed this Art with love and earnest desire. He teaches and proves that God is the only author, cause, and origin of all creatures in this Art.* But he does not attribute the power and virtue of God to creatures or to visible things, as did the heathen mentioned above, and others like them.
Seeing, then, that ali art must be learned from the Trinity, that is, from God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Ghost, three distinct persons, but one God, we will aJso divide this our alchemical work into three short treatises. In the first of these we will lay down what it is which the Art itself embraces, and what is the property and nature of every metal. Secondly, by what method a man may work and bring similar powers and forces of metals to a successful issue ; and, thirdly, what tinctures are to be produced from the Sun and from the Moon.
* AJl arts which flourUh on this earth are divine, all are from God ; from no other principle do they originate. The Holy Spirit is the entjirger of the light of Nature, . . « Man of himself can discover nothing, , . , \Vh^\ things soever are found by the enlargement of this light of Nature within us, the &anke does the devil »cck to corrupt, adulterate, and convert into Ealscliood. Thu^ are all artA and operations corrupted at thii day. Even ko is Alchemy debased and given over to tying tongues and depraved ^ruf ts%on,— Pamgnuivm^ Tract IV.
CHAPTER I. Concerning Simple Fire.
IN the first place, it is necessary to state clearly what this Art comprises, what is its subject, and what its peculiarities. First and chiefly, the principal subject of this Art is fire, which always exists in one and the same property and mode of operation, nor can it receive its life from anything else.* It possesses, therefore, a state and power, common to all fires which lie hid in secret, of vivifying, just as the sun is appointed by God, and heats all things in the world, both occult, apparent, and manifest, as the spheres of Mars, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and the Moon, which can shine only as they borrow their light from the Sun, and are in themselves dead. When, however, they are lighted up, as said above, they live and work according to their special properties. But the sun receives light from no other source than God Himself, Who rules it, so that in the sun God Himself is burning and shining. Just so is it with this Art.f The fire in the furnace may be compared to the sun. It heats the furnace and the vessels, just as the sun heats the vast universe. For as nothing can be produced in the world without the sun, so also in this Art nothing can be produced without this simple fire. No operation can be completed without it. It is the Great Arcanum of Art,t embracing all things which are comprised therein, neither can it be com- prehended in anything else. It abides by itself, and needs nothing ; but all others which stand in need of this can get fruition of it and have life from it, wherefore, first of all, we have undertaken that this shall be made clear.
CHAPTER II.
Concerning the Multiplicity of Fire from whence spring the varieties of Metals.
Having first written concerning the simple fire which lives and subsists per scy it now remains to speak of a manifold spirit or fire which is the cause of variety or diversity of creatures, so that not one can be found exactly like
* Fire is not to be regarded as an element, and so there is a distinction between fire and the firmament, which latter is an element. Fire is a matter which cooks and disintegrates, reducing into the ultimate matter, and, in this sense, fire and death are alike. For fire, like death, consumes and devours everything. Therefore, fire cannot be an element, but it can be, and is, a visible and sensible death. The other death is invbible, and is seen by no man. — Lib. Met tor urn y c. i.
t The congeries Dt TranstHutationibus yteteUlcmm^ to which reference has already been made, gives the following variation in the reading at this point : Just so in the Spagyric art is this fire of athanor and the secret fire of the philosophers, which heats the furnace, the sphere of the vessel, and the fire of the matter, just as the sun is seen to operate in the whole world.
X All arcana derive from the firmament. — Fragmenta Modus Phtirmacandi^ Lib. II., Tract i. But that fire
which is an element b the firmament, and the stars are the fruits thereof.— Z.ti^. Mtttorum^ c i.
Concerning Ote Spirits of the Planets.
75
another and identical in every part. This may be seen in the case of metals where no one has another exactly like itself. The Sun produces gold ; the Moon another and widely different metal, namely, silver ; Mars, another, namely, iron ; Jupiter, tin ; Venus, copper; and Saturn yet another, namely, lead; so that all these are unlike. In the same way does it hold good with men and other creatures, and the cause of this diversity is the manifoldness i:il fire. For example, the Venter Equinus produces one kind of creature through the moderate heat generated by its corruption ; the Balneum Mtiris produces another ; ashes another; sand, in like manner, another; the flame of fire another; coals another, and so on. This variety of creatures is not produced by the first simple fire, but from the regimen of the elements, which is various » not from the son, but from the courses of the seven planets. And this is the reason why the universe contains no likeness amongst its individuals. For as the heat is changed every hour and minute, so all other things var>% For this transmu- tation takes place in the elements^ on the bodies whereof it is impressed by this fire. Where there is no great mixture of the elements, Sol is produced ; where it is a little more dense, Luna ; where still more so, Venus ; and thus according to the diversity of mixtures are produced different metals, so that no metal appears in its mineral exactly like another. It should be known, therefore, that this variety of metal is occasioned by the mixture of the elements, because that the spirits of these elements are found to be diverse and without likeness : whereas* if they were born of simple fire they would be so much alike that one could not be distinguished from another. But the manifold fire intervening, variety' of form is introduced among creatures. Hence it may be easily gathered why so many and such varied forms of metals are found, and why no one is like another.*
CHAPTER III. Concerning the Spirit or Tincture of Sol. Let us now come to the spirits of the planets, or of the metals. The spirit or tincture of Sol took its beginning from a pure, subtle, and perfect fire,
* That fire, tbeOf b mamifoicl which b varied according to the divenlty of the subject wlit»^to it Dow«, and by means whereof it is aftcrwaunds kindled in other &ubjeci:s, oa th« fire of Ashe^, sand, th« bath, filings, etc., lias a medi- ated heat flowing from an immediate source into the subject-matter of the instrument, oiul from hence tnto the matter iitulcrlying the Art> In that manifold fire there is a dtfTcrence of position* This h, for the reason that nothing in the riatarc of things can be: seen which is In all respects like to any other thing, though boih come under the same species, nay« though both may be members in ihe same imlividuaU One metal produces gold from that which generates silver ; another brings forth the metal of Saturn, of Venu^ or of Man. Each OfW Of these is varied according to the diffetence of the place whence it proceeded and was created. No two men, no two members of the same body, no two leavcft of the satne tree, are found exactly alike : and so of the rtsx. B'u>imilarity proceeds not from the jfimt fire of created things, but from the di£fcrijig rule over the elements by means of the planets, and not by ijie sun. Ever)' moment, by iixl* dispoaitton of things, the heat in the elemcntiti ^ivHca, and at the same time the form of decompoAed things from their compounds^ though not from the dimples. Where the ifiiAturc of the dements is not *u grtat» there is generated Sol ; where it is a little greater, and, Ics* pure, is generated Luna ; from that which U still more imperfect, Venus ; and &o of the rest, according to the mixture of the dements, the mineral of each metal is not like another, nor do the spirits of them in all respects agree one with the other. If they were generated from the simple fire aloue, with* but the interventioo of the manifold, no distinction of forms could occur either in metals or in any other created thitig»« Why there are in use no more than se^-en metals, of whicli six are solid and the seventh fluid and thin, is explained in adept pbilc»iophy but not in Alchemy.— />* Tratummtttiiffhi^HS MtitUifirum^ c, 3, But this statement concerning the seventh Huidic metal seems to be at variance with other teaching of Paracelsus, to which a congeries that has been subrtect to editing must naturally defer.
76 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
for which reason it far surpasses all the other spirits and tinctures of the metals* It remains constantly and fixed in the fire, nor does it fly therefrom, nor is consumed by it, but rather by its ag^ency it becomes clearer, purer, and more beautiful. Nothing either hot or cold can injure it, or any other accident, as they can injure the other spirits or tinctures oi metals, and for this reason : that the body which it once assumes it defends from all accidents and diseases, and enables it to sustain the fire without injur}^ This body has not such power and virtue in itself; but derives it from the spirit afone which is shut up within it. For we know with reg'ard to the body of Mercun' that it cannot sustain or endure the hre, but flies from it ; but when in Sol it does not fly ofl' but remains hxed and constant, this affords a most certain proof that it receives such a constancy from the spirit or tincture of SoL* If, therefore, this spirit can be in Mercury, any one can infer that it would have some similar effect in the bodies of men when it is received thereiii. \n our Chirurgia Magna we have said concerning the tincture oi So! that it will not only restore and preserve from weaknesses one who uses it, but also conserve him for a long and healthy life.t In like manner^ the strength and virtue of other metals may be known from true experience, not from the w^isdom of men and of the world, which is foolishness with God, and with His trutli ; and all who build and rest their hope on that wisdom are miserably deceived,
CHAPTER IV.
Concerning the Spirit and Tincture of Luna.
After having spoken with sufficient clearness concerning the tincture of Sol, it remains to put forward something about the tincture of Luna, and of the White Tincture which, in like manner, is produced from the perfect spirit, though it be less perfect than the spirit of Sol \ but, nevertherless, it excels in purity and subtlety all the other tinctures of the metals which follow it in order This, indeed, is well known to all who handle Luna, even rustics. It does not
• II is well imdentood ihat the body of Sol Is Merctuy^ wKkh cannot at all stand iHe fire, but Jlces from it*—/?/ TranxmuiatioHtbui MetnUeirum^ c. lo.
t IiJ Lhe cotleciion of treatises to which reference b here niade, there is ihc follDmng process for the manufactim: of ii tincture of gold :• Let the body be first deprived of iLs metaltic nnd malleable iiaturc ; that is to say, let it be corrupted ; then let the residue be cleansed with sweet water, and I he colour extracted by mean> of spirit of wine^ when the desired tincture will remain at the bottom. To compose the Water of Salt : Take very white sail, but not tbat which ha* been whitened ariificially ; melt it several limes ; reduce it to on exceedingly subtle powder ; mix it with the sap of raphanumH. Shake it. Dl>c|l^ after rc^u^Kluiiont with an equal portion of the sap of blood. Theri again d'tstil five timei». Thin plates of gold which ha%'e been purged by antimony arc easily reduced to pov^-der in this water. The powder thus prepared must be washed wiih sweet distilled water until it no longer &avours of salt. As the sail does not penetrate inlo its lubtiitancc it is cosily removed by ablution. To compose the Spirit of Wine : Take one sextariu^ (about a pint) of generous wine ; let ic be poured into a circulnior>' vessel of appropriate sijret that Is, of «uch capacity that the wine can be shaken therein. Place it in a Balneum Maris to the depth which the wine occupie^^ and decoct for ten da>'s. Seal all apertarcs of the vessels^ io that nothing can escape. Then place in a cucurbiie, and abstract the spirit by a alow fire. A* soon tu it hu piused away (which you will ktiow by the usual signs), cea.se to urge the fire, for the residue is a simple suhUmale. Pour the spirit of wine upon the above vmeutioncd powder (which ^iboutd be hke alcohol) to the height of a palm, enclose it In a glass, keep it for a month in a warm bath to dcgesi^ when the colour will be separated and commingled with the spirit. A white powder will remain aL the bottom. Having separated all these things, melt the powder, and it will be separated into a metallic water. Evaporate the spirits accoTding to art, and the desired sjMrit will remain at the bottom. Perform its gradation in a retort of the proper sitt. Thiii is done most com^enieotly by elevation, which U highly attenuAling. - Ckirtirgia Magna ^ Part !L, Tract HI., c. a.
Concerning ike Spirits of Ike Planets.
77
acquire rust, nor is it consumed in the fire like the other metals, all of %vhich Saturn draws with himself when flying from the fire, but not this one.* Hence it may be g-athercd that this tincture is far more excellent than those set down below, for it preserves in the fire the body it has assumed without any accident or loss. Hence it is quite clear that if this in its own corruptible body by itself produces Mercury, what it will be able to effect when extracted from it into another body. Will not that in the same way protect and defend from accidents and infirmities? Surely if it produces this Mercury in its own body, it will do the same in the bodies of men.t And it not only preserves health, but causes (ong^ life, and cures diseases and infirmities, even those which are beyond its own special grade. For the higher, more subtly and more perfect a medicine is, so much the better and more perfectly it cures. Wherefore those are mere ignorant physicians who waste their skill only on vegetables, as herbs and the Jike, which are easily cormpted. With these they endeavour to accomplish results which are firm and fixed, but they do this vainly as those who beat the air. But why speak at length about these? They have not learnt better in their universities. If they were compelled to go back to the beginnings learn and study, they would think it a great disgrace. Therefore they remain in their former ignorance.
CHAPTER V. Concerning the Spirit of Venus. We have before made mention of a White Spirit, or colourless Tincture, Now w^e proceed to speak of a red spirit, which is produced from a thick elemental mixture of the former, to which also it is subject* though, neverthe- less, it is more perfect than the spirits and tinctures of the succeeding metals. On this account it remains in the fire more constantly than the rest, so that it is not so soon burnt, nor does it so soon pass away as the other spirits which follow. The air also and the moisture of \Vater are not so injurious to it as to Mars» just as it remains more fixedly and for a longer time in the fire. Venus has this force and property, that is to say, its body has^ on account of the spirit which has been infused into it. Since, then, it produces this effect in its own body, that is, in Venus, it accomplishes as much also in man as is by Nature conceded to it. It preserves wounds in such a way that no accident can affect them, nor can the air or the water injure them. It also drives away all such diseases as are under its degree. This spirit further breaks up the bodies of metals so that they lose their malleability. \ In the bodies of men, too,
• Molten lead destroys ail the metaU, includtng itself, by tneaiis of the ftre, ejrcept Sol and Luna.— Ciw;frw# Paraucfiiicnt c* to.
t Since, then, the spirit of Ltioa, b able to protect from aJl injury by iire or other ocdd^its the body into wbich it enters, that is to say^ Mercury, and lo render it coMt&tent* it U easy to gather from this, if it produces such an effect in Ihecase of an inttable and voUtile body Ukc Mercury, how much more powerfully it will act when diM:ngaged from its own body and projected Into the human hody— /h'd.
i On the other hand, if ii be mixed with certain metals, even among tho4t which are perfect, it tears asunder iheir bodtes, so that they are no longer malleable, or capable of being treated in any way until they are set frc« from it. —
78 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
when it is taken for a disease to which it is not suitable, it produces incon- venient results.* It is necessary, therefore, that the physician who desires to use these should be experienced, and have a good knowledge of metals. It is far better, then, to use the more perfect spirits, which may be taken without any such fear of danger. Still, since the spirits of Sol and Luna are costly, so that it is not every one who can use them for curative purposes, every one ^ must take according to his means whatever he can get and pay for.f Every
1 one is not of such wealth that he can prepare these medicines, so each is com-
I pelled to do what he can. Every one will easily be able to gather from what
has been said that metallic medicines far exceed vegetable and animal products in their strength and power of healing. So far we have said enough, and more than enough, concerning the spirit of Venus. \
CHAPTER VI. Concerning the Spirit of Mars. Speaking of the Spirit of Mars, this comes from a more dense and com- bustible mixture of the elements than was the case with the others which precede. But Mars is furnished with greater hardness than the other metals, \ so that it is not melted in the fire as they are. True, it is hurt by the water
' and the air more than they are, insomuch that it is altogether destroyed by
: these influences, and it is also burnt in the fire, as experience proves. So, then,
» its spirit is less perfect than that of any of the above. But in hardness and
j dryness it exceeds all the metals above or below. For not only does it render
I the perfect metals, Sol and Luna, proof against the hammer, but even those
I which rank below itself, as Jupiter, Saturn, and the like.§ Since, then, it pro-
duces this effect on metals, this is a sign that it has the same effect on the bodies of men, that i^, it produces a struggling ; especially when it is taken for a disease to which it is not adapted, it contorts the limbs with great pain. But when it is used and applied for wounds which do not exceed its degree, it is of powerful cleansing qualities. So, then, this spirit is endowed with no less power and potency than are of those above, so far as regards those things for which it was appointed by God and by Nature.
CHAPTER VII. Concerning the Spirit of Jupiter. Concerning the spirit of Jupiter this should be known, that it is derived from the white and pale substance of fire, together with a nature of peculiar
* In these cases it produces contraction of the limbs. — IhU.
t It would, however, be safer to use only the spirits of the perfect metals, unless gold and silver are too expensive for a patient's resources, or too difficult in their preparation for the talent and skill of any particular physician. In that case he may be compelled to do what he has learnt to do, that is, to treat such cases with vegetable and animal preparations. — Ibid.
\ Under favourable astrological circumstances, many tinctures can be extracted from Venus.— Z?r Causis et Origiug Luis Galiictt^ Lib. I., c. ii.
I Nevertheless, it surpasses any other metals in hardness and dryness, destroying and decomposing them by admixtiure with them, and this in the case of the perfect no less than of the imperfect metals,— C^n^/rirW /'arn- celsica^ c. lo.
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79
crepitation and fragility, not malleable like Mars. It» therefore, heats other metals, and renders them capable of being^ broken with hammers. An example of this may be seen when it is joined with Luna^ for it can scarcely be brought to its former malleability, except with the greatest labour.* The same effect it produces in all other metals» with the single exception of Saturn. If it produces this effect in the bodies of metals, it will do the same in human bodies* In these it corrodes the limbs with severe burnings and decay, so that they are completely cut off from their perfect workings^ and lose them» so that they are unable to fulfil the necessary requirements of Nature. Never- theless this spirit has in it the virtue of removing cancer, fistulas, and other similar ulcers, especially those which are of its own nature, and which do not exceed the degree which God and Nature have given to it.
CHAPTER VIIL
Concerning the Spirit of Saturn,
The spirit of Saturn is concrete and formed from a dr)% dark, cold admixture of elements. Hence it results that, amongst all others, it has the least power of remaining and living in the fire. When, however, Sol and Luna have to be pro%^ed and purified, Saturn is added to them, and this has the effect of thoroughly purging them. Nevertheless, it is o^ that nature that it takes away their malleability'. t It has the same effect on men, w^ith great pains, as Jupiter and Mars. Being mixed with cold, it cannot act mildly4 It has the very greatest powers and virtues, whereby it cures fistulas, cancer, and similar ulcers, which come under its own degree and nature. It drives the same kind of diseases from man as it expels impurities from Luna. But if it does not go out altogether at the same time, it brings more harm than it does good. Consequently, whoever would use it must know what diseases it cures, against what it should be taken, and what effects Nature has assigned to it. If this be well considered it can do no harm.
CHAPTER IX.
Concerning the Gross Spirit of Mercury.
The spirit of Mercury » which is only subjected to the spirits above, has no determinate or certain form in itself. Hence it happens that it admits every metaU j'Jst as wax receives all seals, of whatever form. So this dense elementarj' spirit may be compared to the other spirits of the metals. For if it receive into itself the spirit of Sol, Sol will be produced from it ; if Luna, Luna ; and in like manner it does with the other metals. It agrees with them and takes their properties to itself. For this reason, so far as relates to its
• By mlxturt wlilb other metaU it comjpu and decomposes them, espectally Lurui, and; only with great labour can It lie separated therefrom.— /^iV/,
t It leaves thetn broken and decompo*ied after washing.—/^/*/.
I It dUiort* the limb* - . . with more severe pains than even tin and Iron ; but seeing that lhi< spirit \% coagulated with a much more intense cold than others, it does not act ao violently. — Ihid^
8o The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Parcuelsus.
body, it is appropriated to the spirits spoken of above, just as a woman to a man. For Sol is the body of Mercury, save only that Sol fixes Mercury and becomes fixed. The common Mercury is inconstant and volatile ; nevertheless it is subject to all the abovementioned ; and generates again not only the aforesaid metallic spirits and tinctures, but the metal itself by which the beforenamed tinctures arrive at their working. But if moderation be not observed it is impossible to perfect a tincture of this kind. If the fire which ought to vivify this tincture be too fierce, the operation will be fruitless ; and so if it be too weak. Therefore it is necessary at this point to know what is the mean in this Art, and what powers and properties it has ; also by what means it is to be ruled, and how to tinge the tinctures, or bring them to their perfect operation, so that they may germinate and become apparent. With these few words we would conclude this first tract.*
* It is prepared, then, so far as the body b concerned, from the aforesaid spirits, just as his wife is prepared for a husband, not by corporeal admixture, but when the spirit has been educed from its own metal and projected, after preparation, into Mercury, then at length it exhibits its transmutation. - Ibid.
The End of the First Treatise.
THE SECOND TREATISE,
*CONCERNIKG THE PhILOSOPHER*S MERCURYt AND THE MEDIUM OF TINCTURES.
IN the first treatise we have written concerning" the spirits of the nnetals, their tinctures, etc., making- clear their properties and natures, and what each separate metal generates* In this second we will treat of the medium of tinctures, tliat is, the Philosophers* Mercury, whereby are made tinctures and fermentations of the metals; in seven chapters, as follows ; —
CHAPTER I.
From what Tinxtures and Leavens are Made*
Whoever wishes to have a tincture of the metals, must take Philosophers' Mercury, and project it to its own end ; that is, into the quick mercury from w^hence it proceeded.* Hence will ensue that the Philosophers* Mercurj^ will be dissolved in the quick mercury, and shall receive its strength, so that the Philosophers' Mercury shall kill the quick mercury and render it fixed in the fire like itself. For there is between these two mercuries as much agreement as between a man and his wife. They are both produced from the gross spirits of metals, except that the body of Sol remains fixed in the fire^ but the quick mercury is not fixed. The one, however, is appropriated to the other as grain or seed to the earth, which we will illustrate by an example, thus: If anyone has sown barley he will gather barley; if corn, corn, etc. None otherwise is it in this Art. If anyone sows Sol he will gather gold, while from Luna he will collect silver, and so with regard to the other metals. In this way we say here tinctures are produced from the metals, that is, from the Philosophers' Mercury and not from quick mercury. But this produces the seed which it had before conceived.!
• NQtwitbstanding, the tincture <af mercury is a supreme secret.— i?< VUtrum CvriHon*^ c, to.
t The dead wife of the metal, like an uncultivated field or soi^ if it be maceraEed or revivified by the philo&Qphic plough (ike mfe remaining fixed and incorrupt during the proccsn), it is united io the aforesaid corporal spirit by the griidca of fire, into its own nature and substance, and this with the dead body of the metal Now, \\\vs cannot be done with the crafss spirit of mCTcury, Ajld although the inercurj- or qutck-^ilver of Sol exists and t» fijted, nc\^rlhcleiS the common mercur>', not as yet fixed, never attains to resurrection. For the resurrection of the metal* i* an immortd regeneraiioti, and the medium wbereby tinctures of tliis kind iwe advanced lo their generation. On this aiicount, therefore, it cannot be united lo dead bodies so as to bring about their fixation^ but only to cjclracted spirits, as to those ca«poreal ones above-mentioned, which are subject lo the metals just as common mercur>' is to all metallic spirits. The crass spirit of mercury can no more generate ihL* tincture in its ^iib^tance than a concubine oin bring forth legitimate olfsprtng In the same way must it be judged concerning the crass spirit of tnercur)% until tbe metallic and corponU spirit is produced by means of the natural matter. Without this medium it will he impossible for aiiyihing good or per- fect lo be accomplished in tinctures of this kind< Moreover, if the fire be too intense it cannot generate ; if too slack^ the same re»tdt en!ities.-^£>/ TraHsmHtathnibui Mttaihrnm^ c, ]Oi
G
82 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
CHAPTER II.
Concerning the Conjunction of the Man with the Woman.
In order that the Philosophers' Mercury and the quick mercury may be joined, and this latter united with the fixed, it must of necessity be known how much of it must be taken, since more or less than the proper quantity may hinder or altogether destroy the whole business. For by superfluity the seed is suffocated, so that it cannot live until it is fixed by the Philosophers' Mercury. But by defect, since the body cannot be altogether dissolved, it is also destroyed so that it is able to produce no fruit. Wherefore it should be clearly ascertained how much of the one and the other ought to be taken, if, indeed, the artificer would bring this work to its legitimate end. Let the receipt be as follows, namely : Take one part to two, or three to four, and you will not err, but will arrive at the desired end.
CHAPTER III.
Concerning the form of the Glass Instruments.
When the matter has been rightly joined, it is necessary that you should have properly-proportioned glass vessels, neither larger nor smaller than is right. If they are too large, the woman, that is, the phlegm, is dispersed, whence it ensues that the seed cannot be born ; where they are too small the germ is suffocated so that it cannot come to fruit, just as when seed is sown under a tree, or among thorns, it cannot germinate, but perishes without fruit. No slight error, therefore, may arise through the vessels ; and when once this has occurred it cannot again be remedied in the same operation, nor can it arrive at a satisfactory issue. Wherefore note what follows, namely, that you take three ounces and a half and four pounds ; thus, having proceeded rightly, you will save the matter from being dispersed, and prevent the phlegm, or the germination, from being impeded.
CHAPTER IV.
Concerning the Properties of Fire.
After you have placed the matter in the proper vessels, you will cherish it with natural heat, so that the outside shall not exceed the inside. For if the heat be excessive, no conjunction will take place, because by the intense heat the matter is dispersed and burnt, so that no advantage arises from it. On this account the mid region of the air has been arranged by Nature between heaven and earth ; otherwise the sun and the stars would burn up all the creatures on the earth, so that nothing could be produced from it. Take care, therefore, that between the matter and the fire you interpose an airy part of this kind, or a certain distance. In this way the heat will not easily be able in any way to do injury, nor to disperse, and still less to burn. For if the heat be insufficient neither will the spirit rest acting in no way upon
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets,
83
lis. own humidity j so it will be dried or fixed. For the spirits of metals are of themselves dead» and resti and can effect nothing unless they are vitalised* None otherwise in the great world the seed cast into the earth is dead, and cannot grow of itself unless it be vitalised by the heat of the sun. In the very first place, therefore, is it necessary to buiJd the fire for this work In just proportion, neither too large nor too small ; otherwise this work will never be carried on to its desired and perfect end.
CHAPTER V.
Concerning the Signs which appear in the Union of Cokjunxtion.
When the regimen of the fire is moderated, the matter is by degrees moved to blackness. Afterwards, when the drj-ness begins to act upon the humidity, various flowers of different colours simultaneously rise in the glass, just as they appear in the tail of the peacock, and such as no one has ever seen before. Sometimes, too» the glass looks as though it wxre entirely covered with gold. When this is perceived, it is a certain indication that the seed of the man is operating upon the seed of the woman, is ruling it and fixing it That is, the fixed Mercury acts on the quick, and begins to embrace it. Afterwards, when the humidity has died out before the process of drying, those colours disappear, and the matter at length begins to grow white, and continues to do so until it attains the supreme grade of whiteness. In the very first place, care should be taken not to hasten the matter unduly, according to the opinion of those who think that such a process is in all respects like what is perceived in the growth of corn, or in the production of a human being, the latter process occupying nine months, the former ten or twelve, Sol and Luna do not ripen so soon, or are born so soon, as the child from its mother's womb, or the grain from the womb of the earth. The higher and more perfect anything is and should be in its nature, the longer time is necessary for its production. For it should be known that everything which is born quickly perishes quickly. Both herbs and men afford a proof of this. In proportion as they arc quickly produced or born is their life short. It is not so with Sol and Luna ; but they have a more perfect nature than men ; whence it ensues that they exhibit a long life for men and preserve them from many accidental diseases.
CHAPTER VL
Concerning the Knowledge of the Perfect Tincture.
In the preceding chapter we have said how the matter itself is graduated. In this WQ will make clear by what means it may be recognised when it is perfect. Do this ; When the White Stone of Luna stands forth in its white- ness, separate a morsel from it with the forceps, and place it glowing over the fire on a plate of copper. If the Stone emits smoke it is not yet perfect, where- fore it must be left longer in decoction, until it comes to the grade of a perfect Stone, But if it emits no smoke, you may believe it to be perfect. In the
same way proceed with the Red Stone of Sol in its due gradation.
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84 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
CHAPTER VII.
Concerning the Augmentation or the Multiplying of Tinctures.
When you wish to augment or to multiply the tincture which you have found, join it again with the common mercury. Proceed in all respects as before, and it will tinge a hundredfold more than it did previously. You can repeat this as often as you wish, so as to have as much of the matter as you desire. The longer it remains in the fire, the more highly graduated it be- comes, so that one part of it will transmute an infinite number of parts of quick mercury into the best Luna and the most perfect Sol. Thus you have the whole process from the beginning to the end. With these few words we will conclude this second treatise, and will now begin the third.
The End of the Second Treatise.
THE THIRD TREATISE.
IN the second treatise we have described the method by which the tinctures or fermentations should be produced. In this third we will say how the tinctures of Sol and Luna are made. This we shall make clear at sufficient lengthy and in what manner Sol, with the other planets^ should be produced, namely, with the furnace and fire*
CHAPTER I.
Concerning the Building of the Furnace, with the Fire.
Mercurius Hermes Trismegistus says that he who perfects this Art creates a new world. For in the same way as God created the heaven and the earthy the furnace with its fire must be constructed and reg"uhitedj that is to say, in the folio whig: manner : First, let a furnace be built at a heig^ht of six palms, with the fingers and thumb extended, but in breadth only one palm ; round within and plain, so that the coals may not adhere to it. At the bottom let a little mound be raised, sloping on all sides to the border* Let holes be left open underneath, four fingers in breadth, and to each hole let its own furnace be applied with a copper cauldron, which contains water. Then take the best and most lasting coals, and break them into lumps the size of a walnut. With these fill the long furnace, which must tlien be closed, so as not to burn out. Afterwards, add coals below, right up to the holes. If the fire is too great, put a stove before it : if too little, let the coals be stirred with an iron rod, that they may meet the air and the heat may be increased. In this way you will be able to regulate the fire, according to the true requirements of its nature, so that it shall not be excessive or defective, but adapted to the move- ment of the matter. This is compared to the firmament. And there is another firmament in this place, namely, the matter contained in the glass, .'\fter these things follows the form of the world. The furnace then is to be placed as the sun in the great world, which affords light, life» and heat to the whole furnace itself, and to all the instruments and other things which it encloses.
CHAPTER II.
Concerning the Conjunction of the Man with the Woman.
Since we have treated of the furnace in which the tinctures are to be pre- pared, and of the fire, we now propose to describe more at length how the
86 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
man and the woman meet and are joined together. This is the manner. Take Philosophers' Mercury, prepared and purified to its supreme degree. Dis- solve this with its wife, that is to say, with quick mercury, so that the woman may dissolve the man, and the man may fix the woman. Then, just as the husband loves his wife and she her husband, the Philosophers' Mercury pursues the quick mercury with the most supreme love, and their nature is moved with the greatest affection towards us. So then each Mercury is blended with the other, as the woman with the man, and he with her, so far as the body is concerned, to such an extent that they have no difference, save as regards their powers and properties, seeing the man is fixed, but the woman volatile in the fire. For this reason, the woman is united to the man in such a way that she dissolves the man, and he fixes her and renders her constant in every consideration as a conse- quence. Conceal both in a glass vessel, thoroughly fastened, so that the woman may not escape or evaporate ; otherwise the whole work will be reduced to npthing.
' CHAPTER III.
Concerning the Copulation of the Man with the Woman, etc.
When you have placed the husband and the wife in the matrimonial bed, in order that he may operate upon her and impregnate her, and that the seed of the woman may be coagulated into a mass by the seed of the man, without which she can bring forth no fruit, it is necessary that the man should perform his operation on the woman.
CHAPTER IV.
Concerning the Philosophic Coition of the Husband with His Wife.
As soon as you see the woman take a black colour, know for a certainty that she has conceived and become pregnant : and when the seed of the man embraces the seed of the woman, this is the first sign and the key of this whole work and Art. Therefore preserve a continuous natural heat, and this blackness will appear and disappear through being consumed, as one worm eats another, and goes on consuming until not one is still left.
CHAPTER V.
Concerning the Black Colour.
As soon as the blackness appears and is manifest, it may be known that the woman has become impregnated. But when the peacock's tail begins to appear, that is, when many and various colours shall be seen in the glass, it is a sign that the Philosophers' Mercury is acting on the common mercury, and extending its wings until it shall have conquered. When, therefore, the dry acts on the moist these colours appear.
Concerning tht Spirits of the Planets.
87
CHAPTER VI. Concerning the Bud appe^uiinc in the Glass.
When you have seen the different colours* it is necessary that you persevere
in the work, by constantly continuing the fire, until the peacock's tail is quite consumed, while the matter of Luna becomes white and glittering" as snow, and the vessel attains its degree of perfection. Then at length you may break off a morsel of the reguluSi and place it on a heated copper plate. If it remains firm and fixed there, and tinges it, then it is a fermentation brought to the highest perfection o^ Luna* That King has strength and power, not only for transmuting metals, but also for healing all infirmities. He is a King worthy to be praised, and adorned with many virtues, and so great power, that he transmutes Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury into Luna, which will stand all tests. He also frees the bodies of men from an infinite number of diseases, as fevers, the falling sickness, leprosy, the gallic disease, and many mineral ailments which no herbs or roots, or anything of that kind, can remove. Whoever uses constantly this medicament, prepares for himself a fixed, long, and healthy life.
CHAPTER VIL
Concerning the Red Colour.
After the King has assumed his perfect whiteness, the fire must be con- tinued perseveringly, until the whiteness takes a yellow tint, this being the colour which succeeds the white ; for so long as any heat acts on the white and dry matter, the longer such action lasts, the more is it tinted with yellow and saffron colour, until it arrives at redness, like the colour of a ruby. Then at last the fermentation is prepared for gold, and the oriental King is born, sitting in his seat, and powerful above all the princes of this world.
CHAPTER VHL
Concerning Increase and Multiplication.
The niultiplying of this fermentation should be noted, which is performed in the following manner. Let it be dissolved in its own moisture, and after- wards subjected to the regimen of fire as before. It will act on its own humidity more quickly than it previously did, and will transmute into its own substance, just as a little leaven seems to transmute into leaven the whole of a large quantity of flour. Wherefore it is an unspeakable treasure on the earth, of which the universe has not the equal, as Augurellus witnesses.
Conclusion.
This secret was accounted by the old Fathers who possessed it as among the most occult, lest it should get into the hands of wicked men, who by its aid would be able more abundantly to fulfil their own wickedness and crimes. We, therefore, ask you, whoever have attained to this gift of God, that, imitating
88 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
these Fathers, you will treat and preserve this divine mystery in the most secret manner possible, for if you tread it under foot, or scatter your pearls before swine, be sure that you will hear pronounced against you the severe sentence of God, the supreme avenger.
But to those who, by the special grace of God, abstain most from all vices, this* Art will be more constantly and more fully revealed than to any others. For with a man of this kind more wisdom is found than with a thou- sand sons of the world, by whom this Art is in no way discovered.
Whoever shall have found this secret and gift of God, let him praise the most high God, the Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit. And from this God alone let him implore grace, by which he may He able to use that gift to God's glory and to the good of his fellow-man. The merciful God grant that this may be so for the sake of Jesus Christ His Son, and our Saviour !
Here ends the Book concerning the Spirits of the Planets.
THE ECONOMY OF MINERALS/ Elsewhere called the Genealogy of Minerals.
PREFACE TO THE READER.
ALTHOUGH order seems to demand that we should have treated of the generation of minerals and metals before speaking" of their transmu- tations : still, since theor}^ cannot be more lucidly taught than by its practice, I have thought it best for those who study this art to begin from the very beginning. For, above all else, Alchemy is a subject which is not com- prised in mere words, but only in elaborate facts ; just as is the case with the rest of those arts, familiarity' with which is gained rather by putting them in practice than by any mere demonstrations. It is true that these demonstra- tions do a very great deal for those who are some way advanced rather than for initiates. For these it is best that from the very first they should have a finger in the pie (as the saying is), and gradually learn from the very mistakes they make. Nobody ever acquired even the easiest art without making such blunders ; and certainly no one wilJ be able to follow up Alchemy without making mistakes before he gets at the truth* No one, again, will ever enter the true path so long as he holds back from the goal through fear of making a false step, or fails to correct his own errors by imitating the course of Nature. It will not be so easy to learn if we fail to compare alchemical with natural methods. So, then, it was thought well to let artificial Alchemy precede the natural, so that we may recall those who are venturing forth in this art to the genealogy of minerals, as if to a safe anchorage. It seemed opportune, nay» even necessary, to provide some such anchorage for this pur- pose in the case of those who are studying Alchemy*
CHAPTER I.
Concerning the Generation of Minerals.
When I had most carefully read through the writings of the ancients concerning the generation of minerals, I found that they had not under-
* Thb treat L»c in the rec«niiOQ here chckhcn for tramlation is not found in the Geneva fulio, and U trausUted from anulber collection of Hxc works of FamocUus. namely, the Frankfort 8vo. of is8|. A corresponding tr^atiie, enlitkxt />/ MmemlihHs, which U indiuied in the Geneva edition, goes over much the %a«ne ground, and is^ inde«d, in port^idetnicaJ with that siven in the text. Dul at the vune lime, it has diflTerences sulficiently marked to require that both vertion* fihould be pro%-iiied li will, aocordingly, be fmuid in an appendix at the end of thi^ wlume, under ihe title of A Book Iktxnit MtnemtK
go The Hermetu and Akkemical Writingi of Paracelsus,
stood the ultimate matter thereof » and, in consequence, much less did they understand the primal matter. If the beginning of any matter is to be described, its end should first of all be noted down, I therefore determined first of all to lay before you the ultimate matter of minerals, and from this you will easily understand the primal matter whence they derive their orig-tn. We may bring forward an example from Medicine, where a disease has to be studied from its issue and not from its origin. Of this latter there is no knowledge, because it was secretly introduced, and he who observes it is virtually blind. But the end is visible from the issue towards which w^e see that disease tending, as though towards a mark set up for it to aim at* Now a thing cannot be better judged than by getting to know for what end it was created by God ; otherwise it will often happen that the true use of this creation of God turns to its abuse. Whosoever, therefore, under- takes any work with anything ought thoroughly to understand that with which he works, so that he may accomplish his task in the order prescribed by God, lest on account of his imperfect knowledge or utter ignorance of the matter, things may turn out ill, and the devifs work rather than God's be done, through abuse of the matter and of appliances. For a rough example, take the case of an axe or club in the hand of a man who does not know how to use the ovk^ or the other. They become mere instruments of destruction. He alone should handle such tools who knows how to use them, and how, out of the material he has, to construct something that shall be to his neighbour's benefit, and preserve that material for the purpose for which God created it. On this account God wills that everything He has created ^ould be possessed by one who knows how to use it ; and every man ought to apply himself to that pursuit whereto he feels in his own conscience called, and not to learn some other fanciful thing suggested by the devil.
Know, then, that the ultimate and also the primal matter"*^ of everything is fire. This is, as it were, the key that locks the chest. It is this which makes manifest whatever is hidden in anything. In this place, then, we understand by the ultimate matter of ever^lhing that into which it is dissolved by fire ; so that among the three universal things which I have discussed elsew^here in different places, this should be regarded as the first and predominating ont* Vou have an illustration in the case of a metal dissolved in the fire. It at once makes it clear that its first beginning ^vas Mercurial Water, not Sulphur, since its resolution is not accompanied with flame, as would be the case with resins» It is also proved not to be Salt, because the first sign of its resolution is not a crumbling besides liquefaction and flame, as w^ould be the case with earth and stones. Every metal, it is true, contains within itself Sulphur and Salt,
* 1 call the ultimate ni»tter of jinything: thfli ttale in which the substance has rcAched tl5 highest grade oTcxnltAtijoci and |>crrcction^ a^, for exiunple, gold, when it has been separated frotii jill superfliutles foreign itiattefi etc., and remains in its pure virtue, v»'iihout any admixture, has been educed into iu ultimMe mattcT.— CA/rvr^/ii Sfttgnn^ Pt. 1 1.^ Tract II., c. II* For exajnpte, every body mode from the 6r*t tnntier \^ compelled to metamorphose into the ultnnaie m-ftt" ter» Thtti the great ultimate mutter bat iL* beginning in the end of the increase of the firet matter, -y^;V/,, Fart IIL, Ub. IIL
Tfu Economy of Minerals.
91
but Mercur>^ holds the principal place therein. Now, it has seemed good to God to create water an element, and that from it should be every day produced minerals for the use of men. Thus it becomes the mother of those things which are developed in her, as it were in her matrix j that is to say, Mineral Fire, Salt, and Mercury are formed into metals* stones, and all mineral substance, albeit the oifspring is quite unlike the mother. In this way the Most High has created all things with their own nature : the birds of the air for one purpose, which is different from that of the fishes in the sea. And so of the rest. Everything is to be committed to His divine will, Who makes ever)''thing as it is, and wills that what He makes shall be eternal. As, therefore, water is not like its metallic offspring, nor the son like the mother, in the same way the earth itself is, as it were, wood and not wood, because it comes from that same source. In the same way, stone and iron are produced from w^ater, which, however, becomes such w^ater as never before existed : and the earth, too, becomes something which in itself it is not. So also man must become that which he is not,*
In a \vord» w^hatever is to pass into its ultimate matter must become something different from what its origin was — varied and diverse, though from one mother. Thus God willed to be One in all, that is, to be the one primal and ultimate matter of all things. He is such, and so wonderful, an original artificer of all things as never has existed, nor will another ever exist. As, then, you have now heard so far concerning the mother of the minerals, we will in the sequel teach you more fully* The ancients have falsely written that this is the earth j but they have never been able to prove it.
CHAPTER 11,
Concerning the Ultimate and Primal Matter of Minerals.
The first principle with God was the ultimate matter which He Himself made to be the primal, just as a fruit which produces another fruit. It has seed ; and this seed ranks as primal matter. Likewise, out of the ultimate matter of minerals the primal element was made, that is, it was made into seed, w^hich seed is the element of water. This resolves it, so that it becomes water. It has been entrusted to it by Nature, or so arranged that it should produce the ultimate matter, and this is in water. Nature, therefore, takes under its own power and separation whatever there is in water ; and what- ever relates to a metal it puts on one side by itself for each particular metal. So also for gems, stones, the magnet, and other things of that kind^ each separately and according to its own kind. For as God has appointed to the wheat its proper time for harvest, and the autumntide for fruits, and to other things like these in their elements, so for the element of water He has
* It U needful far nuvn to be bom a <»ccoi>d time from a virgin, not frDm a wife, by water and by the spirit. For the spiifit vivifies that flcsJj whereii) iberc is m) death pv»»ible for evcx^ The 6«>h wherein death abides profiu nothing, and nothing towards ftteriud talvalioD can it confer upon man*— *AVbVtfA^M Sag^Jt^ Lib, IL, c. x.
92 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
willed that there shall be a proper season of har\^est and autumntide ; and for all other things, each according to its kind, He has foreordained times for the collection of their fruits. So, then, the element of water Is the mother, seed, and root of all minerals ; and the Archseus therein is he who disposes every- thing according to a definite order, so that each comes to its ultimate matter, which at length man receives as a sort of artificial primal matter : that is, where Nature ends, there the Art of man begins, for Nature's ultimate matter is man's primal matter. After such a wonderful method has God created water as the first matter of Nature, so soft and weak a substance, yet from it as a fruit the most solid metal, stones, etc— the v^ry hardest from the ver>^ softest : — and so that from the water fire should issue forth, beyond the grasp of man's intelligence, but not beyond the power of Nature- God has created wonderful offspring from that mother, as appears also in men ; if they be looked at even in their mother, each will be found peculiar in his intellect and his properties, not according to his body, but according to his own state of constitution.
CHAPTER IIL
Concerning the Field, the Roots* and the Tkees of Minerals.
The Most High created the element of water to be, as it w^ere, a field in which the roots of mineral trees, springing forth from their seeds, should be fixed, and thence the trunk and the branches should be thrust forth over the earth. He separated it, therefore, from the other three, so that neither in the air, nor in the earth, nor in heaven, but placed on the lower globe, it should exist by itself as a free body» to be on the earth and to have its centre there where it was founded, created after such an admirable order that it should bear man upon it like the earth ; so that man borne in a ship should speed over the water and get possession o( it. What is more marvellous still is that though it surrounds our globe in every direction, the water does not fall down from its own limits, though the part at our antipodes seems to hang downwards, just as our part seems to them, and yet each remains spread out a plane surface on its own sphere, wherever you look at it, as if some pit should be imagined which, descending perpendicularly to the abyss, should find no bottom nor be sustained by the earth. It is even more wonderful than the ^gg in its shell, provided with all that it requires. The generations of minerals, then, from the element of water are protruded into the earth, just as from the element of earth all fruits are pushed forward into the air, so that nothing but the root remains in the earth. Exactly so, all metals, salt^ gems, stones, talc, marcasites, sulphurs, and every similar substance, pass from their mother, the water, to another mother, namely, the earth, in which the operation of their trees is perfected, while their roots are fixed in the water. For as those things which grow from roots in the earth are finished in the air, in like manner, those which derive their origin from the water are altogether completed by Nature in the earth, so that they reach, as the others did, their ultimate matter. The
The Economy of Minerals,
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ancients, led astray by this opinion, because they saw that metals were found in the earth, were so little advanced that they did not see their error wheat on the subject of minerals, they wrote that out of the earth grew nothingf but wood, leaves, flowers, fruits, and herbs, and that everything else was produced from water. No less mythical was the saying of that man who asserted that a!l things which were produced ow the earth had their origin from the air, because they are in the air and are perfected there, though he saw their roots in the earth. Because he did not see the roots of minerals with his bodily eyes he would even feign that they are fixed In the earth. Such is the physical science of the Greeks, deduced only from what is seen, recognising nothing occult by mental experiment. It is just a fiction of lazy men who presume to chatter about natural science from eyesight alone ; and who do not experiment so as to observe those occult things u^hich underlie the things which are manifest* the one over against the other.
CHAPTER IV.
Concerning the Fruits and the Harvest of Minerals.
Just as all the fruits of the earth have their harvest and autumn on the earth and in the air, according to the predestined time in their generation^ so the fruits of the water, that is to say, minerals, are gathered at their own time of maturity* When the mineral root first germinates they rise to their own trunk and tree, that is, into the body from which minerals or metals are subsequently produced ; just as a nut or a cherry is not immediately produced from the earth, but first of all a tree, from which at length the fruit is generated. In like manner, Nature puts forth a mineral tree, that is, an aqueous body, in the clement of water. This tree is produced in the earth so far as it fills the pores thereof, just In the same way as the earth itself fills the air. From this are eventually produced fruits according to the nature and property of its species, at the extremities of its branches, just as occurs in trees which we see on the surface of the earth. We must seek, then, first of all, for the aqueous tree, and by-and-by for its fruits, by a method not inaptly borrowed from agriculture, and in the following manner. Some of the visible trees produce their fruits covered up ; for instance, chestnuts under a prickly bark, walnuts under one that is green and bitter, under that a wooden covering, and under this again a bitter membrane, and then at last the kernel. So it happens in minerals, the kernels of which, that is to say, the metals, are separated just like those others by barks. Other trees produce their fruits naked, such as plums, cherries, pears, apples, grapes, etc., where there is no such separation as that just described. So also some aqueous trees produce their gold, silver, corals, and other metals of that kind, free and naked, according to the condition and nature of the water. As we know by the rind what fruit lies concealed within it, and as the spirit is known by its body, just so» in the case of minerals, the spirit oi the metal is recognised, though hidden,
f :
i;
i .
/ ; I !
1 .
I * 94 TAe Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
I \ beneath its corporeal or mineral bark. The spirit of the aqueous element
i « produces the body, of one kind in the mineral, of a different kind in the fruit.
\ Although, then, gold may be in a mineral body, nevertheless that body is of
•. no moment ; it has to be separated from the gold as impure, while the gold
* itself is pure. There are, therefore, in a mineral two bodies, of which one is
- the fruit, the pure body of gold, wherewith its spirit is inseparably
J incorporated. So the fruits are first introduced from the element into the
tree, as the spirit into an impure body, and with that at last into the earth, as
something noble and pure. The same thing is seen in man, to whom have
I been given two bodies, one corrupt, but the other incorrupt, which will be
{ eternally united with him, since it is the image of God, and by its possession
\ especially man differs from all other creatures.*
\
CHAPTER V.
Concerning the Death of the Elements, especially of Water.
Elements die, as men die, on account of the corruption in them. As water at its death, as it were, consumes and devours its own fruit, so does the earth its own fruits. Whatever is born from it returns to it again, is swallowed up and lost, just as the time past is swallowed up by yesterday's days and nights, the light or darkness of which we shall never see again. It is no weightier to-day than yesterday, not even by a single grain, and will after a thousand years be of the same weight still. As it gives forth, so, in the same degree, it consumes. The death of the water, however, is in its own proper element, in that great terminus and centre of water, the sea, wherein the rivers, and what- ever else flows into it, die and are consumed as wood in the fire. Rivers, indeed, are not the element of water, but the fruit of that element, which is the sea ; trom this they derive their origin, and in this they receive both their life and their death.
CHAPTER VI.
Concerning the Death of the Tree of Minerals.
After Nature has planted the mineral root of a tree in the centre of its matrix, whether to produce a metal, a stone, a gem, salt, alum, vitriol, a saline or sweet, cold or hot spring, a coral, or a marcasite, and after it has thrust forth the trunk to the earth, this trunk spreads abroad in different branches, t
! * The flesh and blood which man received from Adam can in no wise enter into the kingdom of God. For nothing
I • can ascend into heaven which did not come forth out of heaven. Now the Adamic flesh is earth. Thus it cannot enter
I ; heaven, but is again converted into earth. It is mortal, subject to death, and nothing mortal can enter heaven. There
; is no Are which can purge it from its stains in such wise as to make it fit for heaven. It admits not of purging or glori-
' fying. At the same time, man cannot enter heaven unless he be true man, clothed upon with flesh and blood. For it b
\ only by flesh and blood that man is distinguished from the angels, for, otherwise, both are of the same essence. Herein
/ man hath more than the angels, in that he is endowed with flesh and blood, and for man was the Son of God bom into
> I the world ; for him He died upon the cross, that so man might be redeemed and made eligible for the kingdom of heaven.
' But when God had thus shewn His love for man, hb flesh still excluded him from heaven, whence He gave him another
flesh and blood which was built up of the Son, and then thb creature, not of the Father, but the Son, enters heaven. For the Adamic flesh b of the Father, and returns whence it came, though had Adam not sinned his body would have remained immortal in Paradise. But Christ, compassionating our calamity, gave us a new body. Of the spirit who
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the liquid of whose substance -both of branches and stalk — is formalJy neither a water, nor an oil, nor alute^ nor a mucilage ; in fact, it can only be conceived as wood growing out of the earth, which is, nevertheless, not earth, though sprung therefrom. They are spread in such a manner that one branch is separated from another by an interval of two or three climates and as many regions : sometimes from Germany to Hungary, and even beyond. The branches of the different trees of the same kind are extended over the whole sphere of the earth, just as the veins in the human body are extended into various limbs far apart from each other. But the fruits put forth by the extremities of the twigs, by the nature ot the ultimate matter, soon fall to the earth. There is a momentary coagulation of them, and then at length, when all its fruit is shed, this tree dies and is utterly consumed by dr}^ness, its offspring being left in the earth, Afterw^ards, according to its state of nature, a new tree appears. So, then, the first matter of minerals consists of water ; and it comprises only Sulphur, Salt, and Mercurj-. These minerals are that element*s spirit and soul, containing in themselves all minerals, metals, gems, salts, and other things of that kind, like different seeds in a bag. These being poured into water, Nature then directs everj' seed to its peculiar and final fruit, incessantly disposing them according to their species and genera. These and like things proceed from that true physical science, and those fountains of sound philosophy from which, through meditative contemplation of the works of God, arises the most intimate knowledge of the Supreme Creator and of His virtues. To the minds and mental sight of true philoso- phers, no less than to their carnal eyes, the clear light appears. To them the occult becomes manifest. But that Greek Satan has sown in the philosophic field of true wisdom, tares and his own false seed, to wit, Aristoteles, Albertus, Avicenna, Rhasis, and that kind of men, enemies of the light of God and of Nature, who have perverted the whole of physical science, since the time when they transmuted the name of Sophia into Philosophy,*
CHAPTER Vil. Concerning the Variation of the Primal Matter of Minerals, in
PROPORTION to the DIFFERENT SPECIES AND INDIVIDUALS THEREOF : ALSO CONCERNING THE VARIOUS COLOURS, ETC,
We have before said that the primal matter exists in its mother, just as if in a bag, and that it is composed of three ingredients meeting in on^.
giv«s life Cometh forth a living 1Ie«h, "vthcrcin 15 no death but life. This 1% the flesh whereof maxi has ne«d, that he may become a new man, and in this f]c$h ^ud in that blood, at %i\t last day, ^hull he arise, and «haJl possess the kingdom of heaveii with Christ. Now, thi* fle>ih which ho* iu life from the »piril WTii first bom, without the generation of male tecdf firofn a daughter of Abraliam. by promi^* and became man by the Holy Ghost. So, alio, we who aspire to the kingtioni most be bom again out of a virgin and faith^ incarnateti by the Holy Spirit. Thus man mu-tt to eternity be flesh and blood ; thu* is there a dual fl«h-tbat which is Adamic and i» nothiitg, and that of the Holy Spirit which is HWx^c.—Phihs^Jfhiii Sagax, Lib. 11., c a.
* So high axui so lofty is human wisdom that it hath in its power all the stars, the firmament itself, and universal bettven. And a& the power thereof pervades all the earth, so also it extendi over heavea. The Sun and Moon arc in subjects. Even as the liand changes and compels the ^il, su also the inner microcosmus compeb the lenith to obedi* ^XiXK*—I>i Fiitt^ Lib. 1 [., c. 9.
96 The Hermetic and A/chemical IVriiings 0/ Paracelsus.
But there are as many varieties of Mercury, Salt, and Sulphur as there are diflferent fruits in minerals. For a different Sulphur is found in lead, iron, gold ; in sapphire^ and other gems ; in stones, marcasites, and salts ; likewise a different Salt in metals, salts, etc. So, too» is it with Mercury : one kind exists in gems, another in metals. Besides, in respect of the composition of these, different individuals are found under the same species. Gold is some- times found, on^ specimen heavier or more deeply coloured than another : and so of the rest. Moreover, there are as many Sulphurs of gold» Salts, and diversities of Mercury of gold^ and of the others, as there are greater and lesser degrees. Nevertheless, ali which among them receives particularity from the subject always is comprised under the universality of one and the same Sulphur, Salt, and Mercur)', mysteriously comprehended in universal Nature. In this respect Nature may be compared parabolical ly to a painter, who from some few^ colours paints an infinite number of pictures, no one exactly like another. The only difference is, that Nature produces living pictures, but the artist only imitates these. He represents the same things to the eye; but they are dead things. Now, all natural colours proceed from the Salt of Nature, in which they exist together with the balsam of things and coagulation. Sulphur exhibits the substance of bodies and their building up; Mercury, their virtues and arcana. God alone assigns life to all, so that from ever\' one should be produced that which He, from all eternity, had predestinated to be thence produced, as He determined and willed that all should be. Whoever, therefore, wishes to understand the bodies of natural things, let him learn from natural Sulphur that which he may first of all ha%'e well understood, if he seeks natural colours as the foundation from Salt. But if he wishes to know the virtues of things, he must scrutinise the arcana belonging to the Mercury of that thing whose virtues he wishes to learn. AH these matters does that one and the same Nature at once embrace in one, and separate ; at the same time distributing, removing, or completely blotting out the colours from such. Consider, I beseech you, this tiny grain of seed, black or brown in colour, out of w'hich grows a vast tree, producing such wonderful greenness in its leaves, such variegated colours in its flowers, and flavours in its fniits of such infinite variety ; see this repeated by Nature in all her products, and you will find her so marvellous, so rich, in her mysteries that you will have enough to last you all your life in this book of Nature without referring to paper books. If God, then, shews Himself to our discernment in Nature so powerful and so wise, how much more glorious will He reveal Himself by His Holy Spirit to our mind if we only seek Him ? This is the way of safety which leads from below to above. This is to walk in the ways of the Lord, to be occupied in admiring His works, and to carry out His will, so far as is in us, or as it should and can be in us. This has been my Acadcmia, not Athens, Paris, or Toulouse. After I had read many deceitful books of wise men I betook myself to this one alone, from which I learnt all that I WTite, which also I know to be true. Still, I confess, there are many more things which I do not know> but which will surge up to
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the surface in God's own time. There is nothing so occult which shall not be revealed when the Almighty wills it so to be.
This, however, I know, that after me will come a disciple of this school, one who does not yet live, but w^ho will disclose many things.
CHAPTER VHL Concerning the Natural Dispenser of Minerals, and His MmtsxERS.
In the manufacture of minerals by men for preparing them and adapting them for use» not one man alone, but many in succession^ are required, and each of these has his own special gift and duty. Who is benefitted by a metal being dug from the bowels of the earth, unless it be its separator, preparer, or liquefactor? What is he, again, without the smith? He, too, is of no avail without some buyer, nor the buyer unless there be someone who knows how to adapt those metals for use* Nature does not need all these ; but still she needs her own people. Among these is, first of all, Archcus, the dispenser ol minerals, who has ministers under him** He himself, the minister of Nature, has the following: the first, who exhibits the corporeal matter into which the operation falls, namely, the mineral Sulphur, is this or that condition and nature ; a second, who fabricates the properties and virtues, and operates o\\ the previously existing matter, say, for instance, Mercury ; a thirds who, by compaction and coagulation, unites all the single portions together into one body, that is to say, the Salt, which is the confirmer of the w^ork. When all these are brought together into one, and enclosed in an athanor, Archeus decocts them, exactly as the seed in the earth ; and not only so, but they are decocted mutually together, one with the other, in the following manner : The Sulphur submits its body to the other two, that they may do with it what they will, and lead to that end whereto is destined that which has to be done. Mercury is added with the properties of its virtues, and this is decocted by the other two. When all the decoctions of this kind are fulfilled^ then, at length, the salt begins to operate on the other matters associated with it, and on itself. By first condensing, afterwards congealing, and, lastly, coagulating, it strengthens the work for its autumn and harvest, so that nothing is wanting except a harvester and a smith.
Briefly, then, we have gone through the whole genealog}^ of minerals, It remains that we specially, but still concisely, hear the force and virtue of each in Alchemy and in Medicine respectively, so far as it is necessar)' to learn these for the aforesaid faculties. I would admonish my readers to put aside for awhile the mere dreams and opinions of others who romance about these things, until they see that they are only philosophers on paper, not in Nature, who have been taught by men like themselves, and with the same amount of
♦ Archeus %% Nature antl the dUpcii^er of ihtngs.— ^ ««i>/<t/i><w» r« L ihrfit timai tU Tttrt/trfi. The Atiatomy of the Arch«tjs u the anatomy of life. - Frag-mtnta Auaiomitr. Archeiu U the tepamior of the etement* and of all tliOM
thing^s whicli exist in them, dividing each thing from the i^»t, and gathering it into itn own placc^— i?/ EUmttkto Aiftm^ Tract II., c. ».
a
gS The Hermetic and Alchemical Wriiings of Paracelsus.
learnings to think by rote and not by experience, while they shew themselves to others such as they really are. Though they may not care to see, I will still pJace them so that at least they may perceive the light and nature and life more easily, without being disturbed through the darkness of death. Beginning, then, from the first principles of minerals, which are Salts, we will run through each, that is to say, right up to the ver>' end of the metals.
CHAPTER IX,
Concerning the Virtues and Properties of Salts in Alchemy and
IN Medicine*
God, in His goodness and greatness^ willed that man should be led by Nature to such a state of necessity as to be unable to live naturally without natural Salt, Hence its necessity in all foods. Salt is the balsam of Nature,* which drives away the corruption of the warm Sulphur with the moist Mercury, out of which two ingredients man is by Nature compacted. Now, since it is necessar)' that these prime constituents should be nourished with something like themselves, it follows as a matter of course that man must use ardent foods for the sustenance of his internal Sulphur ; moist foods for nourishing the Mercor}^ and salted foods for keeping the Salt in a faculty for building up the body* Its power for conservation is chiefly seen in the fact that it keeps dead flesh for a ver>' long time from decay ; hence it is easy to guess that it will still more preserve living flesh. Coming, at length, to its ktnds^ there are three which are considered specially useful for man*s life. The first of these is Marine Salt, the second is Spring Salt, and the third Mineral Salt. Spring Salt is chiefly conducive to health ; in the second place, Mineral Salt ; and, lastly, Marine Salt. This last and the first are decocted by Art, the other only by Nature, This and the Marine Salt are not comprised under the nature of muria (brine), but that which is decocted is first of all turned thereinto, before it is separated from the water into cojigulated salt. There are, therefore, two descriptions of Salt to be put foripvard by us, one from muria, the other from wholly refined salt. But, first, consideration should be given to that condition which is common to every Salt, Where Salt has not been used with foods there is no correction ; and if the stomach receives those foods it is unable to digest them. There is in Salt an expulsive force, acting through the excrement or through the urine, and unless these are kept in their regular course and motion, all the vital faculties are prostrated in their endeavours
• VirTiiic vitriol^ red vilriot^ cupmc vkriolj rock aluitif alumen plumo&um, Alumen sci:$&um, atumen entaJii olumen itsnetum, sal gemnwE:, rock sail, mountain salt, sea salt, spring *alt— all these specie* Ofiginatc from the lialt of the three prime principles, and are sultject to catcination, reverberation^ or sublimation^ Now^ if all these thtngi. sub&ist in a proper proportion or, ^o to !^f>cak, c»encc, ihey are called by one universal name, liquor of Nature, or liquor of 5ah, or bftlsam of salt. Besides thejie, there arc arr^cnic, rciilgur* ogertum, black auripigment (thai is, orpimeni), antimony^ mercury, asphalt, These, in like manner, arc aubject to calcinationt reverberation, dl»tiUalion, etc., and if ihey subsist wholty In one essence they are called the balsam of Nature, tbe liquor of Mercury, or the balsam of Mercury. Firudly, ibere are the various species of sulphur, petroleum, carabe. pitch, etc., which arc also <;i]bjeci to the vame prucesies, aikI if they subsist unbepa^at«^d in a single CAWtuce they are called the tincture of Nature, tiquor of sulphur, or bal&am of sulphur. — /'f^afmemia Mfdica^ No. 3,
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and in their powers of expulsion. The blood Is in its own nature salt, and does not receive unsalted nutriment. If it does, through extreme hunger, sometimes receive such, it passes away to decay. In order that such a fault might be avoided, Salt has been appointed as an addition to alimentary foods, so that the natural outlets may not be obstructed, or the members be deprived of their due nutriment. Moreover, there lies hid in Salt a solvent faculty for opening the obstructions which accidentally occur in the pores of the skin, and driving them out by resolving them into urine* The urine is only the salt of the blood, that is^ the salt from the natural salt which is associated with the microcosmic salt, and so they both act powerfully for the expulsion of the excrements. Now, this natural conjunction can only be made when tempered with a proper quantity of alimentary salt, otherwise through the stoppage they easily remain and adhere somewhere. Every physician ought to know the power there is in Salt as a medicine, especially when he wishes to purge the natural Salt* Let him more freely prescribe this, especially the kind that comes from gems, which, above all others, has the faculty of attacking and expelling this natural Salt. The operations of these three different kinds of Salt should be carefully watched in practice, a method which opens the eyes far better than any letter or description.
CHAPTER X.
Concerning Muria*
I just now mentioned two kinds of Salt, Muria and dry Salt. First of all, Muria has the greatest power of drying up all superfluous moisture. It does more in on^ hour than dry Salt could effect in a month. Although this has been reduced to Muria, It has not the same power as the natural in curing moist gout, dropsy, moist tumours of the tibia, and other tumours as well, in a word, for consuming all unnatural leprous liquids. Its heat should be so tempered that a patient could sit in it ;is in a bath without injury. The proof of perfection in Muria is that an ^%^ shall swim on its surface when thrown into it. It should be noticed that a bath of this kind is only adapted for stout people. People who are of a spare habit should not use it, as it dries up too much. If after one or two baths the tumours return, it would be best to live for a time in those places where the decoctions of Mtiriae and Salt are made.
CHAPTER XI.
Concerning Dry Salt, There are various species of dry Salts, such as the common sort used with food, that from gems, stones, and earths, and that which comes through the cones of congelated bodies. Note the common virtue of each. If any one of them be mixed with Sulphur and applied to w^ounds as a plaster, and then as a lotion, it keeps them from worms, and even if the worms have already been produced, it drives them awav and prevents any more from coming. By
H2
icx) The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Parcuelsus.
cleansing alone, and without the use of any medicament, Nature heals wounds, unless any complication prove an obstacle to the free action of the natural balsam. In Salts of this kind is a great remedy for ulcers, scabies, and the like, if they are resolved in baths. The power of Muria is much stronger, and this can be increased by dissolving Salt in it. The same is useful for curing baldness, and other ailments of that kind, especially if these Salts are corrected by addition, or increased in power by the following method : Take equal quantities of dry Salt and Salt of Urine,* as much as you will, let them be calcined together for two hours, and let Muria afterwards be dissolved ; or let them be put by themselves in a cold, damp place. They will exhibit artificial Muria very little less strong than the natural in external surgical cases, but much weaker in internal cures. The aforesaid Salts will never be found in any other things, even though the alcali be decocted from them. This Salt is not like those before named, but is called the alcali of natural things or Corporeal Salt, because it is fed by the salts of nutriment in the human body, or by the preceding, even the dry and specially nutritive ones. For Alchemy, the Water of Salt is made from the same kind of Salts calcined into a spirit in a vessel where gold is dissolved into an oil and separated from it so that it remains excellent and potable— Drinkable Gold. Before it arrives at this final condition, as we have heard from jewellers and ironmasters, it is an excellent artifice for gilding silver or iron, and would be a constant treasure if they only knew how to prepare it chemically. It should be remarked, too, concerning pure Salt, congelated by Nature alone either into cones or into the salt of a gem, that this is particularly adapted for the ordinary cementations of silver, and renders the metal malleable without the customary burnings. It does the same with copper by means of a cement reduced to a regulus.
CHAPTER XII.
Concerning Salt Nitre.
There is also another kind of salt which is called nitre, t It is composed naturally of the natural salt of animals' bodies, and the salt of nutriment in those bodies combined. One salt having thus been formed from two, the superfluity is decocted into urine, and, falling on the earth, is again decocted in due course. The two constituents are more and more closely united, so that from them results one single and perfect salt through the chemical separa- tion brought about by artificial decoction from its earth. It shews itself very clearly in the form of cones or of clods, provided it be thoroughly separated from the superfluous nutri mental Salt not yet digested by the animal decoction
• Every urine is a resolved salt.— Z?^ Judicio Urinarum ^ Lib. IL Salt passes into urine. — /?r Tartttro^ Lib.
I., Tract III., c. i, ex^sitio.
t Nitre forms in the pens and stables where cattle make water. For the earth whereon they make water is after- wards cooked and the salt nitre obtained from it. For all urine is salt. — De Tar.rtrv, Lib. L, Tract III., annotationes in c. 2. Nitre is excrement and the dead body of csile and nutrimental matter. And this dead body is thai out of
which putrefaction grows. — Fragmenta Medico^ Ue Tarato Nitreo. It is an essential spirit and excrement of all
salts, possessing a hermaphroditic nature. — De Pestiiiinte, Tract I.
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Vhea It is driven off into the urine* In Alchemy its use is ver}' frequent. It would be idle to recount how g-reat was the \Ho!ence which a first experiment demonstrated therein with disastrous result, when it was compounded with sulphur and formed into blastingf powder, whence it has been deservedly called terrestrial lightning. In the same way, from the salt of the liquor of the earth, which is an universal natural balsam, by which all things are built up in their special combinations, returning at length from this by resolution into the earth again— there is produced, as was stated above, a single salt, which afterwards percolating through the pores of the earth is coagulated in the form of cones of ice adhering to the rocks, from which circumstance it changed its name of Nitre into Saltpetre. Neither the one nor the other is particularly useful as an internal medicine, except in the way of reducing too obese bodies ; nor is it a \ety safe remedy, unless the two are mixed with Salt of Copper, or else the three are subjected to a process of extraction, and formed into one body for employment in this special way.
CHAPTER XIII.
Concerning the III Effects of Nutrimental Salt.
All salt used with food which has not been digested by the stomach, which also on being expelled has passed dcnvn into the intestine, unless it makes a thorough transit, generates colic and suffering in the bowels which are very difficult to cure. Its corrosive nature causes it sometimes to per- forate the intestines, as is shewn by anat€>my. If, however, it remains un- expeiled in the stomach, eructations and heartburns arise, with many other affections of the stomach. It sometimes happens, too, that the undigested Salt is coagulated in the mesaraic veins, forming a granular deposit, from which proceed many severe diseases which are little understood, and that not only in this particular part of the body but in others also, especially the urinary organs. Enough has been said on the different species of salts, their virtues and their faults. We now pass on to that salt which is more mineral in its character, and iis named Vitriol It excels all others by its utility, both in Alchemy and in Medicine.
CHAPTER XIV.
CONXERNING VlTRIOL.*
Nature produces from the bowels of the earth a certain kind of salt, named Vitriol, possessed of such virtues and powers as can scarcely be described to the full by any. In it are contained peifect cures for the jaundice, gravel, calculus.
* An important variation of this and th« folio wing chaptcn on vitriol occurt in the Geneva folio. Concerning the USE OF- VITR10LATEP OIL IN AtcWEMV ; and in like manner concerning iu crude form. By way of saying sometbing about the bidden alchemicaf powers in Vitriol, I would f\n\. of att Srubmit to you, concerning crude vitriol, that each separate kind of cnide vitriol makc^ copper out of Iroti. It i* not the AJchemist wKo do** ibL*, but Nature or Vitriol b>' the operaiion of the Alchemist. In the light of Nature it is the .subject of no small wonder to observe bow any metal, as it were, puts olT it&elf and becomes .something else. It ts reallv very much the &am« as if a woman should be produced from a man. In these mattcr^^ however, Nature has her own peculiar privileges conferred upon ber by God, for the benefit of
102 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
fevers^ worms, the falling sickness, and many other diseases which are v-ery ctiffi- cult to treat, and arising from obstructions, as we shall describe at greater length below. In both faculties, that is to say, in Medicine and in Alchemy, it pro- duces marvellous effects, varying according to the method of its preparation. As from one log of wood different images are carved, so from this body various most excellent medicines are prepared, not only for internal disorders but also for surgical cases, such as ringworm and leprosy. In a word, whatever other remedies are not able to effect against diseases, on account of their own weak- ness, this it does from the very foundation by remo\'ing the cause of the ctisease. Some of its powers it puts forth in a crude state, others when it is reduced to water, others when it is calcined, others when it is reduced to a green oil, others in the form of a red oil ; others, again, it possesses when in the form of a white oil. It assumes new powers with every fresh form of preparation which it receives. It can serve for a fourth part of all the diseases and all the drugs ever thought of. There is no need for the true physician to turn his eyes hither and thither. Like a modest maid, he can keep them fixed on the ground, for there, beneath his feet, he will find more power and wealth in this treasure of Nature than India, Eg^-pt, Barbary, and Greece could bring him.
CHAPTER XV.
CONXERKING THE SpECIES OP VlTIUOL AND THE TeSTS OF FT.
The species of Vitriol are as varied as the mines or sources from which it is extracted. The tests of its greater or less excellence vary in equal proportion. First, if it tinges an iron plate to the colour of copper, the more deeply it does so, the better it is considered. But this is the highest of all kinds. Secondly, when it is taken internally in a crude form it drives out intestinal worms better than any other medicine, and the more effectually it does this the better it is
man. I taj this c oo c t ra ing aransomtauoD in order to make yon ondcrstand hov that cnvioos phikMophcr, Anstode, in his philoBOphr* 1>3S no sure foondaiioo^ but b simply farcons. I viU lay befare yon, in doe coarse, the recipe itself^ so chat in an parts of the German nation yon may know how to make copper oat of iron. From thi^ power of craiBmnta- cion we can easily gather that many other transmutatioas are posstbte, thoagh they are at present anknown to a&. It cannot be denied that many arts are still occult, and that these are not rereakd by God bfcacse we are not worthy of knowing then. Of coarse the change of iron into copper b not of the same importance as the change of iron into gold. God twanifr<»% the lesser^ bat the greater is kept occult until the tine of knowledge and of Ellas who is to cook. For these arts are not without their EUasi. The following is the recipe for transmntatKO : Take raspings or filings of inm, withoot any other metal, soch as copper^ tin, etc, one pound : add quk^sihrer. half a poond. Put both into an iron pan or pot; poor over them one measure of acetxun and a qiuuter of a pound of vitriol, with one oonce and a half of sad annooiahc. Let these be botkd together and constantly well stirred with wocd. If the acerom be ^^p'-^'H, poor in sooke more and add fresh vitrioL Bv this dccoctioa the iron is traxkUBUtcd into ccpper. If the copper is made it all passes away to the quicksilver. Ha\-ing continued the decoction for ten or twelve hours* then separate as much of the qukksihrer as is left from the iron, and wash it carefully so that it may be quite deaik Receive the quicaathrer in a b^ made of soft leather or cotton and squeexe it out. Then you wilt see an amalgam left. Let that ««»»«Ty. expend ics^, and you will find pure and good copper. Of this copper take half an ounce and the same quantity of silver. Let them pass into a state <^ flux or liquefaction, and the silver will forthwith ascend to the sixteenth degree. .\nd thb is the mgth od of pro\-iRg that such copper is made from iron. It is not, however, true that the grades are fixed. But whoever can work well with regale will be abundantly rewarded. £\-«rything in thb operation depends on skill in working. This b where most operators £ul. By the abo>i-e>mention<d process you can always make copper out of iron. I mentian thb to confirm the transmutation of one body into another. The nature of \itrioI b such that if its colcothar be cal- cined it b at once, even with slight liquefaction, txumed into copper. .\ remarkable cuprine nature b in ic and there b also an equally remarkable Wtriolic nature in copper. If the copper be dissolved in aqua fortb and granulated, all the copper becomes vitrioL There b no more copper left. So, also, copper b made oat of vitriol, and no oMre vitriol
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considered to be as a medicine. A third test is when it transmutes iron into copper. The more perfectly and the more rapidly it does this, the better
should it be esteemed in both faculties, for there is the greatest affinity between these two metals. Nor is this remarkable when by means of borax water quicksilver is made in like manner from lead. There are other kinds of cachimiaB which convert metals ; and besides these there is a fountain in Hungary, or rather a torrent, which derives its origin from Vitriol, nay, its whole substance is Vitrioli and any iron thrown into it is at once consumed and turned to rust, while this rust is immediately reduced to the best and most permanent copper, by means of fire and bellows. A fourth test is when its red colcothar, subjected to a strong fire, exhibits copper of itself. This is comparatively weak in Medicine, but of great excellence in Alchemy. We must not omit to speak of its colours. That which is altogether ccerulean is not so strong in medicine as that which under the same colour has red and yellow spots mixed together. That which is of a pale sky blue colour should be selected before all others for the prepar- of the green and the white oil. That which inclines to a red or dark yellow colour is best for preparing the red oil from it. The last test is when with gall nuts it makes a very black and dark ink. This should be selected in preference to all the others. The species, therefore^ are reckoned according to the tests.
CHAPTER XVI,
CONCERNIP^G THE VIRTUES OF VlTRIOL, CrUDE OR CaLCINED, IN MeUICINE.
For the most severe pains in the stomach and discomforts arising from the inordinate use of food or drink* exhibit crude Vitriol to the extent of six cometz or three drops, say, three grains. To weak patients it should be administered in wine or in water, to stronger ones in distilled wine. It purges
remains, unless it be reconverted into vitriol by » suffidcnt quantiry of aquafo'tts, Thl^ kind of kinship between vitriol and copper is remarkable. Whatever is of the iiAture of copper gives gocxl vitrioL Thus verdigris gives good Mid highly Ki'^duaied blue vitriol. Although for us to discu«>s these nuiltcrs at any length would perhaps be ridicti- Itjus, still nouecAn deny that ibcrc \h btent i« vitriol a lincture, which ]« of mutrh higher esfcelltncc than inoii people iraaj^ne, Happy he who understands, this matter [ Note other f^cts about the oil of vitnol. If the oil uf quicksilver and this oil of vitriol be joined and ihus coagulated according to their own special process^ a sapphire of marvellous nature and condition is produced. It ij» not, indeed, the sapphire »tone, but like it, with a wonderful tinge, concerning which I have much more to 6ay. Hence it is evident that stupendous «ecrtts lie hidden m Nature and in the different creau'ofls of Nature or of God ; and it would be much more to our credit if we looked into these and investigated ibeni, instead of indulging in revelry and debauchery. At present the palm b given to debauchery, until one-third part of mankind or of the populaiiun of the world shall be killed, anotlier shall l>c finished olTby diseasctand the remaining third only iball be saved ajid stur>'ive. In the present condition of depravity the world cannot last or the arts Bourish. It must needs be that the present condition and order of things go to destruction and be aliogctbcr eliminated, otherwise no good ihiug can be compassed. Then .11 lost will flouri*h the Golden Age : that is. then at last man will use his Intdlt* gence and live as a man, not a« a brute ; nor will he act the swine, of live in caves and dens of the earth.. Since, then* I have so far communicated to you these facts about vitriol, with every good dispo!<iition. I now pray you all, that when you sec those unlucky and unhapi>y creatures suffering from critical di:^a!»c, for the sake of your own conscience, for God's glory, and the love of your neighbour, you will seriously milect and not despise or lightly e&teetn the gifts im- planted! by God in vitriol. Let love constrain you^ so that by night and by day you may be occupied hereini, and none be found takmg his ease, but all ready to do anything for his neighbour's good. Will this not move you lawyers? Lbten to what Christ says : '* Woe unto you, lawyer* 1 " This saying is not effete. Nor do y^u theologians place a stumbling block in the way, you who think so ntuch more of your returns and your salaries than about your iiick fulk^ These are they who pass by on the Jericho road. Be you like the Good Somaritant and follow the example of hU virtue. Then God will so enlarge your gifts that in helping the skk you ^all suffer no lack' All that you need shall be given you. You only sell this treasure !
I04 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
out every failing from the roots, driving it up and down. In arcana it is called Vitriol Grillus, or Grilla. Neither hellebore, nor colocynth, nor digridion purge so strongly or cure so perfectly as this, nor have they the same faculty for driving out worms. For curing the falling sickness, too, the purgation by Vitriol is of all methods the best. These properties accrue to it from its twofold nature, that is to say, its acetosity and its saltness. On this account it is a much nobler medicine than others. Its colcothar, or, as they call it, its red Caput Mortuum^ should not be taken internally, unless as an adjunct to surgical treatment for putrid ulcers of the first grade of malignity ; but its oil may be taken for those of the second or third grade. Its medicinal virtues are contained in other medical books, as, for instance, in the treatise entitled De Naturalibus Rebus, Here we had intended only to treat and to bring to one focus what it does for Alchemy in the way of trans- mutation. Sometimes medical topics tempt one to stray from one's set purpose. Let us see, then, what Vitriol does in Alchemy beyond the transmutation of iron into copper, as we described above, giving the formula at the outset. Although, then, it is not so difficult a work to transmute iron into gold, God wills that the lesser operations shall be performed first, and that the greater ones should remain occult until the Elias of the Art arrives. All arts have some one person specially their own, as is understood in other arts. Now, take one pound of iron filing, without the admixture of any other metal, and half-a-pound of Mercury. Over these pour one measure of the strongest Acetum, with a quarter of a pound of Vitriol. Throw in an ounce and a half of Sal Armoniac. Boil all together, and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. As the Acetum wastes pour on fresh, and also Vitriol. After twelve hours let the chief part of the Iron which has been transmuted be entirely separated with Mercury from the other part of the Iron which has not been transmuted ; and when the Mercury has been pressed out by a leather, there will remain a paste of amalgam, and when this is reduced by fire it exhibits the purest copper. Half an ounce of this is at once mixed with an equal part of silver, six degrees being held back, though not fixed but ready to be fixed in regale^ so that therefrom the industrious Artist may have moderate gain for food and clothing. Vitriol is also made from Venus, dissolved by means of aquafortis and granulated. This does not return again to copper. So also from the colcothar of vitriol Venus is made (as we have mentioned above among the tests), which is not brought back to vitriol of itself except by a special water. Verdigris, in like manner, exhibits a Spagyric Vitriol of highest degree. In Vitriol so great and powerful a. tincture lurks as an inexperienced person could scarcely believe, though he can who under- stands its arcana. As often as Oil of Vitriol is mixed with Oil of Mercury, and both are coagulated together, they change to a stone of wonderful tint and condition, very like a sapphire.
Having dealt with the Salts, let us now pass on to Sulphur.
The Economy of Minerals. 105
CHAPTER XVJl.
Concerning the Threefold Sulphur of Minerals,
Sulphur should properly be called the resin of the earth, and in it are latent numberless virtues available in both faculties, thoug-h its crude form is useful in neither. Its arcanum alone, when cleansed from impurities, operates in a wonderful way, having" been washed to that whiteness which is seen in snow, by means of the Isopic art. It has as many diiferent virtues as it has variety of sources : for every metal or mineral contains Sulphur in itself. As we said above, under the similitude of chestnuts and other nuts, that minerals were likewise enclosed in their rinds^ and that the chief excellence lay concealed in their nucleus, which is sustained and nourished by the external integuments, so w^ith regard to Sulphurs, it must be understood that it is the interior one which excels the others, and is Spagyrically termed enibrj^onated, on account of its specific origin, as being the Sulphur of gold, stone, etc. The external Sulphur, in which the embryonated lies concealed, is our mineral. There is also a third kind, extracted from the nuclei of minerals or of metals, which cannot have a better name in the art than ** animated *' and ** Spagj-ric." It is of universal application in both faculties. In order to better comprehensioni the first Sulphur, which we have said to be a resin of the earth, as it were, the mother and the father of other sulphurs, we name universal. The second kind is where it assumes a metallic or mineral appearance, but it is now em- brj'onated ; the third, which is rcpurged from these and exists SpagjTically pure from all superfluities, is Animated Sulphur, There are two conditions of this embryonated Sulphur which are worthy of notice. One, passing from the fixed stage, is made volatile ; the other is a pure and living fire which destroys with equal facility a log of w^ood or a disease. The extraction of the embryonated Sulphur is brought about either by sublimation or by descent. But sometimes it is not found mixed naturally with other ingredients, so that being unable through its great subtlety to stand the heat of the fire in prepara- tions of this kind, it has to be extracted from its minerals by means of aqua- fortis, and afterwards coagulated. This, when set aside according to its true concordance^ contains within itself a golden nature, on which account it is to be sought before all others in Alchemy » because it easily admits of fixation, nay, it fixes the gold in cements, and in other metals where it is not yet mature or volatile. But gold is vainly sought therefrom unless it shall have previously existed there by Nature, it contains no silver, but only gold, one containing more than another, as in the embryonate of Venus, of red talc, o{ gold or iron marcasite, these rarely lack gold. Now, whoever wishes to turn his hand to these things, let him first of all remember and carefully note to separate Sulphur of this kind from gold with the greatest activity, and cleverly withal, so that nothing shall perish with the gold. I could say more than this, but I must be silent. If it were not diametrically to oppose the will of God, it would be the easiest thing possible to make all rich alike by a very
io6 Tlu Hermetic and Alckemical Wriiings of Paracelsus.
few words, and to fulfil the wishes of everj^body. But since riches altogether lead aside the poor frora the right path, taking away humility and piety, and
putting pride and self-sufficiency in their piace» together with petulance and incontinence, one would rather hold one's tongue, leaving poverty as a bridle against these faults in those who are at once poor and greedy of wealth. To come to mineral Sulphur. The leader of our Art has directed his disciples to a recognition of this fact, that nothing can be generated from the woman with- out her husband. They have seen, therefore, that this Art is the father which arranges all things. He has summoned the spirit of transmutation whereby the mineral Sulphur is joined to linseed oil, and thence, by means of decoction a certain form results in the shape of a liver or a lung, and from thence afterwards a twofold liquid, one as white as milk, thick and oily; the other like oil, \cry red and as thick as blood ; but both oi such a nature that one will not mix with the othen The white liquid sinks to the bottom, the red floating on the surface. Attempts have been made to go farther, and make a white tincture from the white liquid ; but to no purpose. I know that nothing has been done or can be done in this way, because the matter is weak and use- less for this Art. But any crystal or beryl placed therein at the proper time, and remaining there for three years at least, is transmuted into a stone very like a jacinth. Likewise a ruby, which has not been sufliciently tinted by Nature, is, in course of time, rendered so clear and bright that it shines by night like a natural carbuncle, and wherever it is placed it can be found at night without a light. The same result follows with a jacinth ; and in the sapphire the coerulean colour is increased beyond the natural hue, with a translucent green tint inserted, It is also a most excellent tincture for dlher gems, as well as for Luna. If this be placed therein» it grows black, and lays aside the calx of Sol, though it be not fixed until it has arrived at its complete stage of per- fection. Enough on this topic. Whoever wishes to work with this tincture, must first learn by means of Alchemy carefully to accomplish its preparation. It is well nigh the most difficult of all alchemical operations so far as prepera- tion is concerned. This oil excels only in tints. In the greater virtues it is not so much to be trusted for acting, because there is a tincture of colour only in it, not of virtue. Some persons have tried also to extract tinctures from the metals. They have failed ; but it would not be well to set down here the cause of their failure. This, however, is very certain, whoever has the Tincture of Sol, will be able to bring the body of gold beyond Its natural degree, that is to say, from twenty-four to the thirty-six, and beyond, so intensely that it cannot ascend higher, though it still remains constant and fixed in antimony and in every quartation. The Sulphur of Luna, too, exalts its own body to such a degree that Venus, with an equal weight of this Luna, is taken for the Lydian stone. The Sulphur of Venus fixes copper, so that it will stand the test of lightning, but, nevertheless, it does not tinge. With the Sulphur of Saturn [it is transmuted into] the best steel ; with the Sulphur of Jupiter, into excellent iron. So, too, tin is fixed with its own
Tlie Ecofwniy of Minerals.
107
Sulphur, so that it stands lightning, and Saturn is strengfthened and fixed by its own [sulphur], so that it no longer affords any ceruse . or minium, or spirit. The Sulphur of Mercury renders its own body malleable, so that it bears the ignition of Venus, but not its ashes. The Sulphur of Sol tinges Luna, but does not fix it. There occur also with the other sulphurs transmutations oi things put in them into some other bodies than their own. But this experi- ment does not turn out as desired. It should be remarked, meanwhile, that Sulphur demands a ver)^ expert operator, not a mere boaster or charlatan.
CHAPTER XVIII.
COKCERNIKG ArSENIC USED FOR AlCHEMY.*
It seems right to connect Arsenic generically with Sulphurs rather than with Mercuries, and to treat it immediately after Sulphurs. Some old chemists, or rather sophists, labouring at chemistry, swelling with jaundice, that is, with desire of gold, and a sort of yellow dropsy, when they saw in arsenic the white Tincture of Venus, and the red tincture in the calamine stone, believing, too, that the true arcanum of the stone was contained in these, thought the white and red elect rum were silver and gold until they found out the contrary by tests, and learnt that they had been engaged in a vain work. And not content with that they went on perversely in order to arrive at fixation, and persevered until they had neither house nor possession left. They had wrought a transmutation in themselves rather than in the metals ! And what wonder? They approached this work without judgment, and possessing no knowledge of minerals and metals, as so many of those who embark in the Art at the present day do. Since the time when the name of electrum given by the ancients passed into oblivion, there has forthwith followed the ruin of those
* In thk c&i«, Also, tb« Geneva fdio offers considerable VAmtiom from the text as it stands abo\'«. Cokcekming THE AjLCHfiMICAL ViKTU£5 IK Aasenic.— A Certain name was invented and put forth by our anceston, namely, electrum. Electrum is a metal proceedings from another metal, and unlike the metal Trom which it descends For example : Copper turns to white metal. When its redness is removed it i* called electrum. In like manner, from copper, by means of cadtnia, b made orichakum, and this b called red electrum. These difTerent kind^ of electrum certain aldsemicat Kiolssta and artist a reckoned as silver, and jtomeltmca took in place of gold ; nor did they understand or believe: anything ctte save that thk wa& silver ,^ and ^o that tilver cotild be produced from copper. Omitting the name of electrum, they took it for silver or for ||old, and did nol leave off Ihcir investigations so long as a house or a court remained. 1 point otit this tn order (bat error may be Avoided, and that doe consiideration may be given to the ques- tion*, What lA electrum 1 what is gold ? juid what i* silver T and thAt in this way no rash measure* may be taken. Now, t will lay before you a certain mulicament. Take the metal arsenic, prepared in a metallic way ; cement the same with Venus in the usuaJ manner, and you will fim! a targe quantity of electrum to the copper. No one need Incur great expend for this substance, because it costs a good deal to make electrum. So, then, it is better to leave copper as copper ip its own form* In no respect \% its electrum better, but rather commoner^ So by dissolving it in graduated water it leaves a calx. It is not that silver is produced, but electrum ; and it is rendered so subtle tliat nothing what- ever remains, but it vanLshev, and because it is nol fixed it is consomed. Thus not only in copper, but also in iron, tin, steel, etc, a residuum is Irfi ; but nothing of a fijted character is present, and in this way many are deceived. Eventually matters came to this crisU, that electrum lost its name and was called silver, whereupon there began for die aJcbemists destruction^ exile, misery, and disappointed hopes. There are nuiny recipes of this kind which it is not neceasary to recount. They are well known to artistic who follow me in this chapter, who aUo have well weighed their own error in seeking it in vain etsewbere. There is a good deal of seduction for juniors to desert the method of their elders, and when the pupil wishes to be more learned than the master, and no longer remains in the right path, but judges lUiiig^ for himielf, and Is prepared to abide by his own opinion. All that conies of it is, he labours in vain^ thus atoning for his fault and incurring grievous loss. The ancients called this substance electrum, and such is its proper name. The modems call it silver — its improper name. Our forefatlier& avoided all loss because they knew what they were about ; the rij>iug getieration do not know, and ki incur loss. It has been a constant custom in alchemy that
io8 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
who changed that name into fictitious g^old and silver. That has been the destruction ot modern chemists. To define Electrum : it is a metal made from some other by Art, and no longer resembling that from which it was made. For example : arsenical metal» prepared according to the form of metallic pre- paration, cemented with Venus in the accustomed manner, converts the whole copper into white electrum more worthless than its own copper. What need is there to deprave metals at great expense? Would it not be better to leave the copper in its own natural essence, to keep one*s money, and devote time and labour to a more useful work? The ancients called Electrum by its proper name; the moderns falsely call it silver* The ancients were not losers, because they knew the Electrum itself; the moderns, because they have no knowledge of Electrum^ throw away their faculties, labour, and time* Now, since in Alchemy all mistakes are constantly propped up with some new hope, \t was tried to fix Arsenic by means of reverberations for some weeks, and bj"" other devices. Thence it ensued that the Arsenic became red and brittle like coral, but of no use in Alchemy except for Electrum, as was just now said. Then by descent and precipitation they elTected nothing more than by their calcinations. Thus it happens that in Alchemy obstinate men are deceived because they do not learn thoroughly from the foundation all the terms of the^Art. It is true that Arsenic does» in its own natural condition, contain gold ; and that this gold, by the industry of the artist, can sometimes be separated in a cement, or a projection, or otherwise, into silver, copper, or lead by attraction ; but it does not therefore follow that this is produced by his operations and his tinctures. It means only that the gold which was there before has been derived by a process of separation, as it generally is, from its ore. It is nearly always found golden, and ver>^ seldom lacks gold, as is the case with many
investigations shall be made with persistent good hope, liejice ofjemlors have tried to fix arsenic, and to transmute it into another essence, oo. the chance that it may be, or may be remlcreH, better, and prove of greater efficacy. Hereupon followed the reverbcraliwn of arsenic, a«d lU circulation in a reverbcratory of reeds for some weck»» or b>' some similar process. Arsenic haA been rendered like crystal, red and beauiiful', like r«l glas^ for its hardness, light weight, and fragility. There i» no place for ihe virtues of this arsenic in medicine, li regjirds only electra, as has already been ftttid.^ Moreover, it has been attempted lo deal with this, too, by another method of preparation, namely, by deitceat. By this method it is rendered red and yellow, aiid in potency i» equivalent to tbe ipecie^s already mentioned^ Some have precipiuicd it, and it ha*, approached, or even reached, a red colour ; and yet not all the operators in this way have reaped the fruit of their labours or arrived at the result they contemplated, but only at the electric Mtageofit, which, on account of their ignorance and inexperietice, led many artists astray. Wherefore it is neccsj;>ar>i' that e%-ery* ot3e it) the^ things should be farsighled. He who has not full knowledge and comprehension) of at! iiainct doc* nothing, and the heads, however full of braln», do not get at the foundMion of the matter. One thiiig is wantiDf to them for a foundation— to know electrum and other substances when they see them. Then they understand of them- selves whether they can progress with electrum or not. Nevertheless it often happens that arsenic ib auriferous in itA nature, and contains gold in it^ Now, if an operator is skilled in separating gold from arsenic, whether by a cement or by Aome method of projection, or by another process, so that be can reduce that gold to some metal, such as silver, copper, or lead, without doubt he will find it to be gold, atui of excellent quality too. To follow \\{\& up so that a tincture shall be produced, or it shall is«ue forth from a tincture, is nothing ; but the gold is in the arsenic, and the whole matter lies in depurgation, separation, and kindred proce&ses, according as anyone has experience therein. Arsenic, especially, which comes from auriferous districts, or from gold, is rarely without gold. The only point of importance is that the separation shall be properly made. I know nothing mtirc of arsenic and it* species l>eyond what t hfive put forward ; at least, nothing which it U lawful and expedieTil to make known, whether with refcreuce to medicine or to alchemical operations. Whoever has prudence ought to be sufhcienily skilful for this purpo^^ If lie has it not, let him altogether abstain^ No faculty can subdue itself ; but failure must ensue if due order and a genuine mode of procedure have not been preserved. Vou should follow the guidance of your own ]udgtu«nt. The num who follows no other guide is not in a «taie of sulucrviencc to any.
The Economy of Minerals. log
other substances. So far, then, have I g-iven concerning Arsenic what I know, or what it is advisable to write. Let everybody first of all diligently examine its name, so that he may understand. Otherwise error is apt to arise easily in both faculties, which is only at lengfth discovered by the result,
CHAPTER XIX.
Concerning Quicksilver.
Having dealt with salts and sulphurs, we come to Quicksilver. This cannot be properly termed a metal, but rather a metallic water; but it is called a metaj for this reason, because, by means of Alchemy » it is brought to a solid substance and into a metallic colour, sometimes being fixed and some- times not fixed. It can only be known as the chief material of Alchemists, who are able from it to make gold, silver, copper, etc., which will stand the test. So, too, perhaps tin, lead, and even iron. It is of a wonderful naturet inscrutable save after great labour. In a word, it shews itself to be the first material of Alchemists in metallic degrees, and the chief arcanum in medicine. It is a water which wets nothing it touches, an animal without feet, and the heaviest of all metals. It consists of Sulphur, Salt, and Mercur>% The first and last matter it discloses in liquefactions of the metals, especially those which liquefy by heat without fire, and in others by flux.
CHAPTER XX.
Concerning CACHiMii© and Imperfect Bodies.
There is another kind of mineral bodies which is not saline, nor is it a metal, but metallic ; such are marcasites,'"' chiseta red and white, perfect and imperfect antimoniacs, arsenicals, auripigments, various talcics, cobleta, granata, gem-like bodies, etc, 1 say these are metallic bodies since they have chiefly the first metallic matter, and derive their origin from the first three metallic bodies, to which they fly, as it were, and arc incorporated with them as metals, for instance, gold, silver, copper, iron, etc. But since together with them there is incorporated a metallic enemy, they can only be separated
• Marcasites arc to be found in all genera, whether you have regard to colaijjr, brilluncy, form, or any other property. For they are DOlhing else than the superfluity of mctaU, that U^ tnalier abundant in tnetals^ being something which metab are unable to bear or conUiin vrithin them, or convert into their own form. First of alt^ when the salt^ xi^ separated from Are;> (tbc occult dispenser of Nature), a separation of uietals follows. Out of ihe^, firstly, tDarcaJiiie b produced which h* unfit to become % metaU and yet in thai marter it so rc!iide» that at first out of Arc« there grows that matter of the metals^ And it \% the first matter, cmisi^ting of three things, the $pirit of Milt, the spirit of mercury, and the «pirk of sulphur, but in such a maJiner that these three arc one. Of these all mctaU and minerak consiiit. These things being so ordered, Archeus (the occult nirtue of Kature) in^titut(» the iirM operation of inctal% so as to produce them and distini;i)lsh them into their forms and n.-itures. But before he deals with the metals themtelvc*. he ej«:ts the superfluity which abounds in tall, mercury* and rulphur, and purges the three, after whi(^ the superfluity emerg4^ along a simple line into its own ylLadum (chaos), and Xh at lirst divided into two genera, nurcftsite* aiKi cachlmias Here it is coagulated into a mineral, consL4iing of s^Jt^ sulphur* and mercur>'. Yellow inarcasite obtains its colour from the predominiuice of sulphur ; the white from the predominance of mercury. For Hulphur and cachimlee acquire their colour from salt, for this is derived from the spirit of salt* \\x*A a» gravity ih derived from mercury in all three. But if the separation be properly effected, each of the minerals^ that ijt to say mercury* sulphur. »aJt, settles in its o^m place. Of thejie three all minerals consists— Z'<' Eiematfo A^tto- Tract Iff,, c, t.
I lo TJu Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
by means of Alchemy when set free from the tjTanny of this foe. There arc different enemies of this kind which practise robber)' against the metals, just as if anyone seeking refuge with a companion should be robbed in his house and killed b}' the very man whose help he asked. Some of those spoken of consist chiefly of Sulphur, as marcasites, chiseta, cobleta ; others in the body of Mer- cury, as arsenicals, auripigmentals, antimoniacs, etc. Others in Salt, as all belonging to talc. There are two colours of marcasites, the white and the yellow, according to the imperfect metallic Sulphur arranged in them, which also they need for many purposes. An imperfect metal is made from cobleta. This admits of liquefaction, and passes into a state of flux, is of a blacker colour than lead and iron, but of no brightness or metallic glitter ; it barely admits of malleation, so that scarcely anything can be made from it. Its ultimate matter has not yet been discovered, nor the process of its separation. There is no doubt it is a promiscuous race from the male and female, as is the case in iron and steel, but these cannot be perfectly welded until some method of separation is discovered. There is another similar body called zinchinum ; not that which is commonly so known, but a peculiar kind in which various metals are found to be adulterated, of a liquefiable nature and not malleable. It differs much in colour from the others, of which the last has not yet been found. In its preparation it is almost as wonderful as Mercury itself. It avoids mixture with anything else, and remains a special glass much to be admired among minerals. Metallic grains are found also in torrents, and are called granates, on account of their outer form. They are liquefied and bear the hammer ; but still are not capable of being made into any implement. The properties of these bodies cannot be known unless they are revealed by Alchemy. Many contain adulterated metals, such as silver and gold, which flow to them, as they are accustomed to do to copper and to lead. They con- sist of a certain dense kind of Sulphur. Some granates of another kind are clear as crystal, and there is gold and silver in them."*"
CHAPTER XXI. Concerning Metals free by Nature, Perfect and Imperfect ; and
FIRST concerning SaTURN, OR LeAD.
Saturn has obtained a body the blackest and densest of all (though white, yellow, and red inhere therein), Mercury a similar one, and Salt one
* A^ in the generation of marcasites, so in cachimiae. The superfluity Is ejected from the prime principles. Some times mercury, sometimes sulphur, sometimes salt, will predominate, and that which predominates forms a mineral^ In marcasites sulphur and mercury prevail, as two very light things which first fly away, then coagulate, and become very heavy. After the superfluity more completely departs", there is more salt and less of the other principles, though they are not altogether absent. Thus originate cachimis, tabulated and fissile, out of the nature of salt, which in sulphur and such mercury is of this property. It has all colours, white and red, receiving them from sulphur and mercury as one or the other predominates. But cachimia is more fixed and solid than marcasite, by reason of its fixed salt. Colours, also, are fixed in it, so that it may receive no injury from the fi)-e. Thus marcasite is the superfluity abounding in the first matter of metals in Arcs, which is separated by Archeus into Yliadum, whence afterwards are generated about thirty forms of marcasite and cachimis, all of which are, nevertheless, comprehended under two names. The multiplicity of these genera, which are all derived from one matter, is owing to the imequal manner in which the three prime principles are combined. —Ibid.^ c. a.
The Economy of Minerals,
III
above all others fusible. By corruption It is easily reduced to its spirit, to white or yellow cerussa, to minium, and lastly, to g^Iass, like the rest. Tin is made up of white fixed Sulphur and fixed Salt but of Mercury not fixed. And because it is fixed in body, not in Mercury, it easily loses its metallic fusion, the spirit passing" away by the fire ; and when this is absent it is no longer a metal but an evanescent body* Iron and steel are not of the Hque* fiable Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury', contrary to tin and lead. Iron is coagulated into the hardest metal of all, and it marries itself : that is, two metals are found in one, steel the male, and the female iron. These can be separated one from the other, each for its special use. Gold is generated from the very ' purest Sulphur^ perfectly sublimated by Nature, purged from all its dregs and spurious admixtures » and exalted to such a transparency that no metal can corporeally ascend higher. This Sulphur is one part of the primal element, and if Alchemists could have this as something easily discoverable in its tree and root, they wou!d be able with due cause to rejoice ; for it is the true Sulphur of the philosophers out of which gold is made, not that other gold out of which is made iron, copper, etc. This is its universal test. Its Mercur>\ too, is by Nature perfectly separated from all terrestrial and accidental super- fluity, transmuted separately into its mercurial part, and into extreme perspicuity, which Mercury of the Philosphers is the second part of the primal matter of gold, from which gold is generated. Lastly, Salt is the third part of| the primal essence of gold, and of the tree from which gold is to be produced, as roses from rose-seeds — gold which is brought to its supreme crj^stalline brightness, and purified from all the acridity, acerbity, bitterness, darkness, and vitriolic nature of Salt, so that nothing of this kind appertains to it, now that it rejoices in its lucidity and transparency. [
When these three meet together in one, the gold is decocted into a mass, not, however, always of one and the same condition or degree. Nature exhibits thirty-two grains of gold, and these in Art become twenty-four grains in the highest grade of perfection. The cause of this is that the gold is nourished in its tree as a cow in its pastures, or an epicurean in his cook-shop and eating-house. Directly one of these leaves his feeding-place he grows lean, and so is it with gold ; it is diminished by eight degrees. And as some of these feeding-places are occasionally inferior, it happens that the degrees of the gold are deteriorated or diminished too ; so that Nature's sum total of twenty-six is reduced in Art to ten. The accidents, or rather the incidents, of the stars or of the elements sometimes hinder the generation of gold, so that it becomes ruder and less tractable in its nature. But it is especially in- equality in the weights of the three primals which has effect. Too great a portion of Salt renders it too pale. With too much Mercury it grows yellow, and with a too plentiful supply of Sulphur it is rendered red. In Nature, just as much as in the work of man, errors occur by means of these hindrances ; but these can be removed by means of antimony, cements, and quartations. In Sulphur nothing should be looked for but a body, in Salt confirmation, but
1 1 2 The Hernutic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
in Merciii*)' all virtue, property, essence, and nnedicine, which do not exist anywhere else as it does therein ; but rather as in a dead body from which the spirit has departed, in which, however, we try to keep some of the elementary powers, as, for instance, the remains of the fire of wine in Acetum, though these are corrosive rather than nutritive or strengthening. Natural objects clearly shew that they are compounded of the four elements ; but beyond that the matter is occult. They are made up only of the three we have spoken about I which possess a magnet common to them all* This, in the decoction oi the preparation, attracts to itself the Irinitj^ of essence- The old philoso- phers called this state esse, because the trinity acquires a condition of unity in which the natural motion reposes and settles the degree. But that magnetic virtue should deservedly be called a fourth esse{nQl element) since it attracts the medicine to the Mercur>' in which It is found. In the ultimate separation, however, the Mercurj' loses most of its weight. All these matters being thus arranged by Nature, the gold grows up to a tree, spreading forth first from the root by the trunk to its branches and twigs, on which flowers are produced (as we see on the earth), and when these fade the fruit is not always found at the extremities of the twigs, but sometimes a hundred paces farther off in the tree, occasionally in its very midst, or some degrees towards the surface of the earth* It will sometimes happen that nothing but Mercury is produced, when by its superfluity it has suppressed the other ingredients. If, however, the Salts preponderate, their corrosive nature, like so many worms, consumes the flowers of the tree. By the preponderance of Sulphur everything is burnt up, just as on earth by the too great heat of the su