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THE
HERMETIC
ALCHEMICAL WRITINGS AND
OF
'
•
AUREOLUS PHILIPPUS THEOPHRASTUS BOMBAST, OF HOHENHBIM, CALLED
PARACELSUS THE GREAT. NOW FOR THE
FIRST TIME FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH.
EDITED WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE, ELUCIDATORY NOTES, A COPIOUS HERMETIC
VOCABULARY, AND INDEX,
By
ARTHUR EDWARD WAITE.
IN
T\\
u
V
uj-uTfto.
VOL.
I.
HERMETIC CHEMISTRY.
iLonlion
:
JAMES ELLIOTT AND CO., TEMPLE CHAMBERS, FALCON COURT, FLEET STREET, 1894.
E.C.
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME
I
PAGE.
Preface to the English Translation
ix.
PART
I.
HERMETIC CHEMISTRY. The Ccelum Philosophorum,
or
Book
of Vexations, concerning- the
Science and Nature of .Alchem)', and what opinion
should be
Regulated by the Seven Rules or Fundamental
formed thereof.
Canons according
to the
Seven commonly known Metals
and
;
containing a Preface, with certain Treatises and Appendices The First
Preface of Theophrastus Paracelsus to
Canon
The Fourth Canon
:
The Third Canon
The Second Canon
The Seventh Canon
:
The
Sixth
Canon
3
con-
;
concerning Mars and his
concerning Venus and her properties.
concerning the nature and properties of Saturn. properties thereof.
;
...
The
Alchemists and readers of this book.
concerning the nature and properties of Mercur>'.
:
cerning the nature and properties of Jupiter. properties.
all
:
The
Canon Luna and the
Fifth
concerning
concerning the nature of Sol and
its
:
properties.
Certain treatises and appendices arising out of the Seven Canons. God and Nature do nothing in vain. Note on Mercurius Vivus. \Vhat is to be thought concerning the congela.
Concerning the Recipes of .\lchemy. How to conjure the cr>'stal so that Concerning the heat of Mercury. What materials and it. instruments are required in Alchemy. The method of seeking Minerals. What Alchemy is. tion of Mercury'. all
things
may
be seen in
The Book concerning the Tincture of the Philosophers, against those Sophists born since the Deluge,
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God The
Preface.
Chapter
I.
:
...
...
in
the
written
life
of our
...
...
concerning the Arcanum and Quintessence.
Chapter
... II.
ig
:
concerning the definition of the Subject and Matter of the Tincture of the Philosophers. concerning the Process of the Ancients for the Tincture of the Philosophers, Chapter III. and a more compendious method by Paracelsus. Chapter IV. concerning the Process for the ;
:
Tincture of the Philosophers, as it is shortened by Paracelsus. Chapter V. conclusion of the Process of the Ancients, made by P.iraccUus. Chapter VI.
Transmutation of Metals by the Perfection of Medicine.
Chapter VII.
:
:
:
concerning the concerning the
concerning the
Renovation of Men.
The Grad.\tions of Metals The Second Gradation. The Third Gradation. The Preface. Fourth Gradation. The Fifth Gradation. The Si.xth Gradation. The Seventh Gradation. The Eighth Gradation. The Ninth Gradation. The Tenth Gradation. The Eleventh Gradation. The Twelfth Gradation. The Thirteenth Gradation. The Fourteenth GraThe
dation.
First Gradation.
31
vi.
The Hermetic
a7id Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus, PAGE.
The Treasure of Treasures for Alchemists
36
Concerning the Red Lion.
Concerning the Sulphur of Cinnabar.
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. Conclusion-
The Aurora of the Philosophers, by Theophrastus he otherwise Chapter
calls his
Monarchia
...
Paracelsus, which ...
48
...
72
Genealogy of Minerals
89
...
...
,.
Chapter II. wherein is declared that the Greeks drew a large part of their learning from the Egyptians and how it what was taught in the Schools of the Eg>-ptians. came from them to us. Chapter IIIwhat Magi the Chaldaeans, Persians, and ^Eg^'ptians were. Chapter IV. Chapter V. I.
concerning the Origin of the Philosophers' Stone.
:
:
;
:
:
:
concerning the chief and supreme Essence of Things. errors as to its discovery
Chapter VI.
concerning the chief
:
and knowledge. Chapter VII. concerning the errors of those who Chapter VIII. concerning those who have sought the Stone :
seek the Stone in Vegetables.
:
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. concerning the true and perfect special Arcanum of Arsenic for the White Chapter XI. in
:
:
:
Chapter XII.
Tincture.
Red Tincture
:
General Instruction concerning the Arcanum of Vitriol and the
to be extracted from
Chapter XIII.
it.
of Antimony, for the
Special Instructions concerning the
:
:
cerning the Projection
XVI.
:
Red Tincture. Chapter XIV. concerning the Secrets and Arcana Red Tincture, with a view to Transmutation. Chapter XV. conto be made by the Mystery* and Arcanum of Antimony. Chapter
process of Vitriol for the
concerning the Universal Matter of the Philosophers' Stone.
:
cerning the Preparation of the
Matter
for
Philosophic Stone.
the
Chapter
XX.
:
:
Chapter XIX. concerning the Secret concerning the Ferment of the Philosophers, and
concerning Instruments and the Philosophic Vessel. Fire of the Philosophers.
Chapter XVII. : conChapter XVIII.
:
the Weight.
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets... Prologue.
The
...
...
...
- Chapter I.: concerning Simple Fire. Chapter II.: of Fire from whence spring the varieties of Metals. Chapter
First Treatise.
concerning the multiplicity
Chapter IV. concerning the Spirit or Chapter V. concerning the Spirit of Venus. Chapter VI. concerning Chapter VIII. Chapter VII.: concerning the Spirit of Jupiter. conthe Spirit of Mars. concerning the gross Spirit of Mercury. cerning the Spirit of Saturn. Chapter IX. The Second Treatise. Concernirj the Philosophers' Mercury-, and the Medium of Tinctures. III.
:
concerning the Spirit or Tincture of Sol-
Tincture of Luna.
:
:
:
:
:
—
Chapter II. concerning the from what Tinctures and Leavens are made. Conjunction of the Man with the Woman. Chapter III. concerning the Form of the Glass Chapter IV. concerning the Propenies of Fire. Chapter V. concerning the Instruments.
Chapter
I.
:
:
:
:
:
Signs which appear in the Union of Conjunction.
of the Perfect Tincture.
Chapter VII.
:
Chapter VI.
:
concerning the Knowledge
concerning the Augmentation or the Multiplying
The Third Treatise.— Chapter
concerning the Building of the Furnace I. Chapter II.: concerning the Conj.unction of the Man with the Woman. Chapter IV. conChapter III. concerning the Copulation of the Man with the Woman. Chapter V. concerning the cerning the Philosophic Coition of the Husband with his Wife. Black Colour. Chapter VI. concerning the Bud appearing in the Glass- Chapter VII. of Tinctures.
:
with the Fire.
:
:
:
:
concerning the
Red
Colour.
:
Chapter VIII.
:
concerning Increase
and Multiplication.
Conclusion.
The Economy of Minerals, elsewhere Preface to the Reader. II.
:
Chapter
I.
:
called the
concerning the Generations of Minerals.
concerning the Ultimate and Primal Matter of Minerals.
Chapter
III.
:
Chapter
concerning the
and the Trees of Minerals. Chapter IV. concerning the Fruits and the 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 di6ferent Species and Individuals thereof: also concerning the various colours, etc. Chapter VIII. concerning the Natural Dispenser of Minerals, and his Ministers. Chapter IX. concerning Field, the Roots,
:
Harvest of Minerals.
:
:
:
:
Table of Contents.
\ii.
PAGE. Alchemy and in Medicine. Chapter X. concerning concei-ning Salt Nitre. Chapter XII. Chapter XI. concerning Dry Salt. Mumia. concerning Chapter XIII. concerning the 111 Effects of Nutrimental Salt. Chapter XIV. Chapter XV. concerning the Species of Vitriol and the Tests of it. Chapter XVI. Vitriol. the Virtues and Properties of Salts in
:
:
:
:
:
:
concerning the Virtues of Vitriol, crude or calcined,
Chapter XIX. Bodies.
:
Medicine.
in
Chapter XVII.: concerning
concerning Arsenic used for Alchemy. Chapter XVIII. concerning Quicksilver. Chapter XX. concerning Cachimixand Imperfect
the Threefold Sulphur of Minerals.
:
:
Conclusion.
The Composition of Metals
...
114
concerning the Generation of Natural Things
120
,
Concerning the Nature of Things.
Book the First
:
Book the Second: concerning Book the Third: concerning
Growth
of Natural Things...
128
the Preservation of Natural Things
130
the
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 Objects
:
...
Book the Eighth
concerning the Transmutation of Natural ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
concerning the Separation of Natural Things
:
J
51
160
Concerning the Separation of Metals from their Minerals. Minerals.
^
Concerning the Separation of Vegetables.
Book the Ninth
Concerning the Separation of Concerning the Separation of Animals.
concerning the Signature of Natural Things
...
171
The Paracelsic Method of Extracting Mercury from all the Metals
195
The Sulphur of the Metals
197
:
Concerning Monstrous Signs in Men. Concerning the Astral Signs in the Physiognomy of Man. Concerning the Astral Signs of Chiromancy. Concerning Mineral Signs. Concerning certain particular Signs of Natural and Supernatural Things
...
The Crocus of the Metals, or the Tincture
199
The Philosophy of Theophrastus concerning the Generations of the Elements.
Book the First: concerning
the Element of Air...
Book the Second: poncerning Treatise the First
:
the Element of Fire
concerning the Separation of Air and Fire.
...
...
Treatise the Second
...
201
...
210
:
Darkness, and Night. Concerning Winds. Concerning the Temperate Stars. Concerning Nebuli. Concerning Metals, Minerals, and Stones from the Upper Regions. Concerning Metals. ConcerninE Stones from Above. Concerning Crystals and Beryls.
concerning the Sun. Light,
Book the Third
:
Book the Fourth Fruits...
concerning the Element of Earth :
concerning the Element of Water, with
226 its
231
viii.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus. PAGE.
APPEN DICES. Appendix
I.
Book about Minerals
a
:
...
...
...
...
...
237
Concerning Silver. Concerning Jove. Concerning Saturn. Concerning Iron and Steel. Concerning Venus. Note. -Of Mixed Metals. Concerning Spurious Metals. Concerning Concerning Granates. Concerning Cobalt. Note concerning Gems. Concerning Zinc.
Note concerning
Quicksilver.
Recapitulation concerning
Cachiiniae, that
Of
Generation.
the
is,
the
Three Imperfect Bodies. General Autograph
Generation of Marcasites.
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
...
278
...
283
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 Embr>'onated
Concerning Mineral Sulphur.
Sulphur.
Concerning the Use of Sulphur of the Metals in
Alchemy.
Appendix IV. A
the Mercuries of the Metals
:
...
..,
..
Book concerning the Mercuries of the Metals, by the Great Theophrastus Paracelsus, most e.\cellent Philosopher and Doctor of both Faculties. Mercury of the Sun. Mercury of the Moon. Mercurj' out of Venus. Mercur>' out of Mars. Mercury of Jupiter. Mercury of Saturn. Little
Appendix V.
De Transmutationibus Metallorum
:
...
...
Concerning the Visible and Local Instruments and first of all concerning the Spagj-ric The Phcenix of the Philosophers. A Very Brief Process for attaining the Stone. :
Uterus.
Appendix VI.
the
:
Appendix VII.
:
the
Secret.
of
Paracelsus.
...
...
...
A
Short
...
...
...
288
...
...
...
306
Luna and Sol. The Work of Sulphur. The Fi.xation of The Solution of Gold by Marcasites. A Great Part with Part. for
A Cement of Method of calcining
For Multiplication.
...
Manual of Paracelsus
The Work on Mercury Spirits.
Manuscript
Vatican
Catechism of Alchemy
Red
Oil of the Philosophers.
Mercurj'.
Digestion of the Moon.
Oil which fixes
Luna and
Corporal Mercury-.
Sol.
Mercury of
For the White and Red. of Luna. The the Metals. The Foundation
The Gradation all
Fixed Augment. Mercury- of Jupiter. Merciu^* 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. Factitious 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. of the Philosophers.
Mercurj* of Saturn.
Fixation of Arsenic.
Coagulation of Mercury.
Process of Sulphur.
Operation for Sol.
Glorious Oil of Sol.
To make
Precious Stones.
Lac Virginis. The Water which makes
Luna into Sol. Fixation of Sulphur. How e\'ery 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 Mercury. Oil of Mercury and the Sun. Fixation of Orpiment. Spirits of Water. Quintessence of Luna, etc 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
Even among professed mystics the knowledge concerning him, very meagre and very indefinite, is knowledge that has been obtained at second hand, in most cases from Eliphas Levi, who in his Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie, and again in his Histoire de la Magie^ has delivered an intuitive judgment upon the German ** Monarch to be
little
more than a name.
of Arcana," expressed epigramatically, after the best But, whencesoever derived, the is
knowledge
is
manner of a Frenchman.*
and phantasmal.
thin
Paracelsus
indeed cited as an authority in occult science, as a great alchemist, a great
magician, a great doctor
wisdom of a
'*
of the
;
he
is
somehow supposed
to be standing evidence
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
strong opinion concerning him, which occultists and mystics of
there all
a very
is
schools have
derived from a species of mystical tradition, and this represents one side of
modern thought concerning him. because
it
not obtained at
is
first
It
is
hand.
not altogether a satisfactory side, In this respect,
however,
it
may
compare, without suffering by comparison, with the alternative opinion which » The cure of Paracelsus were miraculou-i, and he desened that there should be added to his name of Philippus Theophrastus Bombast that of Aureolus Paracelsus, with the addition of the epithet of divine. Dog^tte de la Haute Magie^ c. x. Paracelsus, that reformer in magic, who has surpassed all oti.er initiates by his unassisted practical success.— /^/rf.. c. 5. Paracelsus, the most sublime of the Christian magi. Ibid.y c. 16. Paracelsus was a man of inspiration and of miracles, but he exhausted his life with his devouring activity, or, rather, he rapidly outwore and
they well know that they can no for men like Paracelsus can both use and abuse fearlessly its vestment more die than grow old here \i^Q\\.~Rxtuel de la Haute Magie^ c a. Paracelsus was naturally aggressive and combative ; his familiar, he said, was concealed in the pommel of his great sword, which he never put aside. His life was incessant warfare he travelled, he disputed, he wTote, he taught. He was more attentive to physical results than 10 moral conquests so he was the first of practical magicians and the last of wise adepts. His philosophy was wholly He has divined more than anyone without ever completely sagacity, and he himself called \\ Phihsophia Sagax. understanding anything. There is nothing to equal his intuitions unless it be the temerity of his commentaries. He was a man of bold experiences; he was drunk of his opinions and hb talk he even got drunk otherwise, if we are to believe his 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 diN-ine Paracelsus, if the term be understood in the sense of a diviner he is an oracle, but not invariably a true master. He is great as a physician above all, for he had discovered the Universal Medicine yet he could not preserve his own life, and he died while still young, worn out by his toil and excesses, leaving a name of fantastic and doubtful glorj-, based on discoveries by which his contemporaries did not profit. He died without having uttered his last message, and he is one of those mysterious personages of whom one may affirm, as of Enoch and S. John he is not dead, and he will re\isit the earth before the last doy. —Histoire d« ta Magie^ Liv. v., c. 5. His success was prodigious, and never Has any ph)-sician approached Paracelsus in the multitude of his marvellous cures. Dogme de la Haute Magie^ c. 16.
destroyed
:
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
:
2
A
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
X.
obtains
among
though
at the
non-mystics, namely, that Paracelsus was a great charlatan,
same time
true that he
is
it
other,
any
derived from
is
At the same time
writings.*
was a great physician,
This judgment as
the period in wliich he lived.
its
it is
How it
comes about that the and age by what seemed miracles of
a distracted theory both in medicine
inventor to astound his
the healing art would be a crux for such criticism
about
if
that Paracelsus
was a
veritable adept, that his
knew anything
the criticism
not a crux for the mystics, because by these
It is
it.
than the
knowledge concerning the man or his noticeable that even hearsay condemnations
what would be termed
physics enabled
at least for
less
solid
admit that Paracelsus performed notable cures. application of
perhaps
little,
it
would be
replied
Hermetic teachings require to
be interpreted, and that the key to their meaning would lay open for those
who
possess
significance
make
abundant
an
it
only a bizarre
is
choice here.
treasure of sapience
proposed to enable those
It is
either to judge this matter for themselves for the first time, celsus.
It
and
is
it
who
literal
unnecessary to
are
interested
in
by placing completely before them,
an English dress, the Hermetic writings of Para-
in
way
proposed, also, by
is
which the
to
Between these views
veil.
facts in connection with the
of a brief introduction, to notify a few-
of the author, which
life
may
be useful at the
beginning of an inquiry.
There
however,
are,
many
debateable points
in
connection with the
life
of
Paracelsus to which a reference in this place scarcely requires to be made.
What to
proportion of his long designation belonged to him by birth or baptism,
what countries he actually extended
which terminated only with his
life,
what was the precise manner of
his travels
during incessant wanderings
under what circumstances he died and
his death,
all
these are points about which
considerable uncertainty, and they are at this day not likely to be set-
there
is
tled.
Theophrastus and Bombast seem to have been assumed names,
one of
to
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 which an unfortunate, and
a doubtful right.
in
His alternative designation of
Eremite
monastic
state,
but the reference
or Notre
Dame
des Eremites, a short distance from Zurich.
is
have been christened Philippus Aureolus, and
•
M. Louis
Figuier, the French scientist,
may be cited in this connection. uncommon among alchemists, namely,
accuracy, not
Work, he goes on
who
suggests the
simply to his birthplace, Maria Einsiedeln,
in his
He
appears tc
writings he indifferently
otherwise might perhaps he regarded as exhibiting more than Gallic tliat Paracelsus has laid some stress upon an op'nion
Referring to the fact
that astrology and magic are collaterally a help to the seeker after the Great
to affirm that the writings of Paracelsus are filled with foolish invocations to the invisible
world,
Geneva folio, nor is there any other extant work known to the present editor, which contains any invocations at all. M. Louis Figuier apparently on the sole authority of his intuition as a Frenchman and a man of parts, that the
while, as a fact, there
is
not a single treatise comprised in the great
attributed to Paracelsus, and
subsequently states,
fuliginous Swiss physician enjoys only a contested authority that he was a theoretical writer
which, so
far as
it is
who
among
alchemists, which
is
only partially true
;
and adds
did not apply himself manually to the accomplishment of the Ma^ituin
possible to judge,
is
not true at
all.
0pm,
Preface
to
Translation.
the Etiglish
xi.
He was born in the year 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 describes himself as a Helvetian and a German. 1493, following the tradition which
Stuttgart, Wiirtemberg, but this
was a physician of
who
repute,
collection of curious books,
is
is
is
most probably romancing.
His father
said to have been in possession of a large
and has also been described as a grand master of meaning attaching to this high-sounding
the Teutonic order, but the precise
dignity
is
uncertain and the authority
His mother is variously is suspicious. matron of a hospital and "superintendent of the university
identified as the
of Einsiedeln.
Paracelsus
"
year after marriage, but
is
reputed to have been their only child, born one
has also been hinted that his parents were not
it
was a natural
married, and that the great master of Hermetic medicine
He
said also to have been emasculated in
is
his
childhood, but
son.
there
is
reason to suppose that this was merely a hypothetical explanation to account
aud somewhat feminine appearance, and for that hatred of
for his beardless
women
which seems to have been one of
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
medicme
till
received the
his death in first
Basle at the age of sixteen, surgery, and medicine.
some
From him
1534.
Paracelsus
supposed to have
is
rudiments of education, and he entered the university of
To
when he betook himself
to the study of alchemy,
first of these sciences he had previously had works of Isaac the Hollander, which are said
the
introduction through the
have inflamed him with the ambition of curing diseases by medicine
to
superior to the materia at that time in use.
he derived the cardinal principle which
It is
was from
the
same source
enunciated everywhere
that
in
his
writings, namely, that salt, sulphur, and mercury are the three elementary
constituents of
ated with the
substances.
all
first
Geber, Morien, and Arnold.! mysteries of alchemy
°
So
Haute t
free
This doctrine, however, by no means origin-
alchemist of Holland, and Isaac himself was a follower of
is,
The
actual initiation of Paracelsus into the
however, supposed to have been attained under the
was Paracelsus of all amourous weaknesses, that he made even
his sex
seem AovAitXvA.— Doffine dt
la.
.l/o^/V. c. 11.
Contemporary with
with success.
They were
Boyle, and Kunckel.
Basilitis
the
first
who
Valentinus were Isaac the Hollander and his son, are supposed to have worked alchemists of Holland, and their operations were highly esteemed by Paracelstis,
In practical chemistry- they followed the traditions of Geber, and their alchemical experiments
are the most plain and explicit in the whole range of Hermetic literature. describing minutely the particulars of ever^* process.
Their
lives are
They worked
almost unknown.
.
.
.
principally in
They
metals,
are placed in the
century by conjecture, from the fact that they do not cite any philosophers subsequent to that period. They speak of Geber, Dastin, Morien, and Arnold, but not of more modern authorities, while, on the other hand, their references to aquafortis and aqua regia, which were discovered in the fourteenth centurj', prevent us from assigning their labours to an anterior epoch. The two Isaacs were p.-lrticularly skilful in the manufacture of enamels and fifteenth
gem stones. They taught that the Grand Magisteriunt could convert a million times its own weight into gold, and declared that any person t-iking weekly a small portion of the philosophical stone will be ever preser%ed in perfect health, and his life will be prolonged to the ver>' last hour which God has assigned to him.— irr-M of AUkemyiticAl
artificial
Phiiasofiftirs.
The Hermetic and Alclmnical Writings of Paracelsus.
xii.
tuition of the
regarded as an adept of a high order,
is
more celebrated, though
been previously the instructor of the
and had
From
Henry Cornelius Agrippa.t
illustrious,
who
Abbot Trithemius." who
at the present day, in so far as he
remembered
is
less
this mysterious ecclesiastic,
at
all, is
best
known by
on cryptic writing, he is supposed to have acquired "the Kabbalah of the spiritual, astral, and material worlds." About 1516 he is
his
treatises
still
found at Basle pursuing
his researches in
mineralogy, medicine, surgery,
and chemistry, under the guidance of Sigismund Fugger, a wealthy physician Subsequently, having got into some trouble with the authoriof that city. ties,
he
fled,
and commenced
father tence,
his
nomadic
begun
tradition represents to have
life,
at the
which an apparently inaccurate
age of twenty years.
Though
was still alive he appears to have been without any means and supported himself, like many distressed students of that
period, by
psalm-singing, astrological predictions, chiromantic soothsaying, and,
by necromantic
even said,
Hungary,
In the last mentioned country,
if
it
is
it
He wandered through Germany,
practices.
Netherlands, Denmark,
France, the
Italy,
his
of subsis-
Sweden, and Russia.
be true that he ever reached
he
it,
is
made prisoner by the Tartars, to have been brought "the Great Cham," to have become a favourite at the court of that
reported to have been before
embassy from China
potentate, and to have accompanied his son on an
Constantinople.
something
In spite of the tuition of Trithemius,
and that was nothing
to learn,
he
than " the supreme secret of
less
alchemistry," the "universal dissolvent,'' the Azoth, alcahest, or sophic
This was imparted to him by a generous Arabian, about particulars are forthcoming.
nomadic legend
subsequent journey to India and account for obscure periods eastern travellings.
and so Egypt.
in the lives
However
Europe, and passed along the
fire.
no other
also, It
is
in
all
probability,
is
his
not an unusual device to
of Hermetic philosophers by extensive
may Danube
this
whom
easy to see that the greater part of this
It is
purely fabulous,
is
to
had apparently
be, Paracelsus ultimately returned to
into Italy,
where he appears as an
army surgeon, and where also his wonderful ctu-es 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 •
Trithemius was a
knowledge.
He
monk
was received
of the Benedictine order, into a convent at Treves,
who began
life as a mendicant child setting forth in search of where he made astounding progress in his studies. Having
exhausted the po^ihilitics of his teachers, he betook himself to Louvain. thence to Heidelberg, and subsequently to Mayence. He became familiar with oriental languages, pagan and Christian philosophy, astronomy, and alchemy.
He was
a theologian, a poet, an astronomer, and a necromancer. He took mon.aslic vows in 1482, and in the year became the abbot of a convent at Spanheim, which he transformed speedily into a sanctuary of art and the sciences. He subsenuently was made superior of an abbey at Wurzbourg, .ind there it would appear he remained till his death in the ycir 1516. His works are chiedy historical, but, as above indicated, there are some upon secret writing which are exceedingly curious, and one, Ckrvnologia Mystica, is of a magical character. following he
t Agrippa,
i486 and died
who seems
in 1535.
to
have divided with r.tracelsus the reputation of the Trismegi^tus of his time, was horn
in
Preface
to the
English Translation.
This was a position of some importance, and
as a youth.
Erasmus and Ecolampidus.
at the instance of
"There,
xiii.
it
was
offered
in his lectures,
him
he pro-
fessed internal medicine, denounced the antiquated systems of Galen and other
and began
authorities,
by burning the works of these masters
his instruction
a brass pan with sulphur and
in
He
nitre.
created innumerable enemies by
arrogance and his innovations, but the value of his mineral medicines was
his
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
He began by uncovering
medicine.
a dish which contained excrement.
The
doctors, indignant at the insult, departed precipitately, Paracelsus shouting If you will not hear the mysteries of putrefactive fermentation, them unworthy It will be easily understood of the name of physicians.' " you are that the Hermetic doctor did not long retain his professorship at Basle. He
after
'
:
came
into conflict with the municipal authorities,
forced to of
He
the place.
and a second time he was
betook himself once more to a wandering mode
In 1528 he proceeded to
life.
in
flee
Colmar
;
1530 he
in
found
is
embroilment, as usual, with the medical faculty, by
nounced as an impostor, but the tables were turned on
his
at
whom
Nuremburg, he was de-
opponents after his
successful treatment of several aggravated cases of elephantiasis.
ten years succeeding this date there are no certain records of his
commonly lodged
he
and other public places,
at inns
which were astonishing
is
very clear, though
The testimony
and
of Oporinus on this
has been indignantly repudiated by some of his
it
In 1541 Paracelsus
later defenders.
;
performing cures
for the period, and, according to the accusations of
enemies, also drinking to excess. t
his
point
still
For the
movements
was
invited by Archbishop Ernst to settle
one account, he died on September 24 of the same year, but the manner of his death, like that of his birth, has been at Salzburg,
there, according to
By an
the subject of contradictory recitals,!
on a bench
at the kitchen
in
fire
alternative statement
a Strasburg hostelry.
One
it
occurred
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 happ)
and there
is
* Paracelsus,
,
reputation during the brief period of his turbulent
also no doubt that this
who was
the
first
who made known
was immeasurably increased zinc, has obtainetl
an immense and deserved reputation by
introducing into medicine the use of chemical compounds furnished by metaU.
abounding
in
life,
after death.
To
the old therapeutics of the Galcnists,
complicated and often inoperative preparations, he substituted the simple medicaments furnished by
chemistry, and was the
first
to
open the audacious path to the application of
this science to
human
pathologj'.— Louis Figuier, L'Alckhnii: et ics AUhimistes, troisiime iditicn, pp. 99, 100. t Marvellous Paracelsus, always drunk and always lucid, like the heroes of RabelaLs. Dogrne
lie
ph^-",io1og>'
la
and
Haute Ma^ie,
Introduction. X
was
He
proceeded to Maehrcn, K.iernthen, Krain, and Hung.ir)', and
invited by the Prince Palatine,
Duke
Ernst of Bavaria,
who was
finally
landed
in
Salzburg, to which place he
a great lover of the secret arts.
In that place
But he was not destined to enjoy a long time the rest he so richly deserved. He died, after a short sickness (at the age of forty-eight years), in a small room of the ^\^litc Horse Inn. near the quay, and his body was buried in the graveyard of St. Sebastian, Hartmann's Paracclsjis. Paracelsus obtained at
last the fruits
of his long labours and of a widespre-ad fame. .
.
.
The Hervictic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
XIV. It is
no sense inexact to affirm that he founded a new school both in The commentaries on his medical sjstem became in alchemy.
in
medicine and
a literature which,
in extent, at least, is
formidable
;
out of the mystic physics
of his alchemical teachings the Rosicrucian doctrines developed
The
part of the following century. that he
was
monarch,
idolized by his disciples.
German
the
Hermes,
in the first
works of Benedictus Figulus are evidence the
He was termed
the noble and beloved
Philosopher Trismegistus, our dear
memory and immortal was made with devout care,
preceptor and King of Arts, Theophrastus of blessed
The
fame.
collection of his genuine writings
many
were
due
and as a consequence of
his celebrity
course ascribed to him.*
Students attracted by his doctrines travelled far
treatises
fictitious
in
search of like-minded persons to compare observations thereon, and to In the course of these inquiries
the mysterj' of his instruction.
seems
it
in
sift
to
have become evident, from the experience of his followers, that his prescriptions in
many
apparently the ordinary formulse and concerned with the medicine.
be necessary to add that in things alchemical the
will scarcely
It
letter of his
when the\' were known materia of
cases were not to be literally understood, even
teachings was found
still
more
in
The
need of interpretation.
very curious influence exercised by Paracelsus for something like two hundred years over certain sections of restless experiment and speculation unwritten, and
would be interesting
it
the limits of a preface. limits,
and
will
A
to trace here,
task so ambitious
were
it
possible within
however, outside those
perhaps be more wisely surrendered to other hands, for
the main, part of the history of medicine,
in
is,
still
is
and demands an expert
medical literature and medical knowledge of the past.
The
is,
it
in
the
translations
which follow arc concerned only with the Hermetic writings of Paracelsus, to the exclusion of manj' formidable treatises on surgical science, and on the
causes and cure of disease,
have comprised
"f hey
comprise what Paracelsus would himself
a collection of his alchemical writings, and this in itself
in
much more than is ordinarily understood to be within the significance term. With Paracelsus the province of alchemy was not limited transmutation of metals.
It
hidden possibilities or virtues
was, broadly speaking, in
the
is
of the to the
development of
any substance, whether by God, or man, or
* More especially, dear friends, have we to complain of the devilish cunning way in which the works of Theophrastus have hitherto hcen suppressed, only a few of which (and those to be reckoned the very worst) having appeared in print. For although they have been collected together from all countries in which Theophrastus has lived
and
—
travelled the books he has written in Astronomy, Philosophy, Chemistry, Cabala, and Theology, numbering some thousand volumes— yet the same has only been done from avarice to get riches. For, having been trafficked in and sold for great sums, they have become scattered among the courts of princes and nobles, while Christendom at large,
whose use and
Theophrastus wrote, has no part in them. Particularly his theological v.'orks (because they do not suit children of this world belly-servers, deceived by the devil) have hitherto been totally suppressed. But, at the Last Day, I, together with all true Sons of the Doctrine, shall demand an account of them for having shut Truth away in boxes, walls, and vaults, and behind locks and bolts. Now, these precious and revered writings were ordered by God in our latter times, through Theophrastus, for the use and weal of the whole of Christendom. As regards our dear, highly favoured .Monarch and Preceptor, we, for cur part, will not suppress bis Life, his well-merited praise, gi\en him by God, the Angels, and the whole Firmament, but will heartily defend his honour and te.iching to the very end of our life. — lienedictus Figulus. A Gplden for
benefit
—
annihilate the godless, and .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
a*ui nU'iScJ Cttski:l
t>/
Xaiiires Man'c's.
.
.
.
.
Pre/ace Nature.
Thus
the English
to
philosophy of creation, and dealt with the
included the
it
w.
Translation.
first
matter as developed into the universe by Divine Power.
also
the
evolution
natural
which takes place round
It
included
whether
us,
formation of metals within the earth, or the formation of animals matrix.
Finally,
included the development by man's
it
whatsoever was capable of improvement
in the
in
the
in
the
and
art of
products of Nature.
Thus
skill
the Hermetic and Alchemical writings of Paracelsus have a wider scope than
might
from the
at first be inferred
first
and
time, a complete
The purpose
title.
altogether of an unpretentious kind.
of this translation
is
aims at providing, and that for the
It
Paracelsus
faithful text of all that
known
is
or
supposed to have written on the subject of alchemy and Hermetic medicine. It
does not attempt to 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
Onomastikon are of an arbitrary and unpractical kind. \ 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
ment of scribes under him, who reduced possibly maltreated translation
is
the
Geneva
folio, in
mixture of Latin and old presents
many
difficulties
Latin collected edition
both the letter and the It
his biographers as to his
and have which has been adopted for
text
four volumes, 1658, in Latin.
German
in
with which
it
employ-
his dictations to writing
The
their master.
unnecessary to enter into the
is
it
some of
question which has been raised by
The
bizuT-re
which Paracelsus originally wrote is unnecessary to grapple, as the
appears to represent
a very satisfactory manner
in
spirit of the originals.
seems also desirable
comparison of the medical and
to state that a
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
which preceded him, and performed.
Should
it
is
modern knowledge, but as regards the science hoped that such a work will be ultimately
this translation be
regarded as
final by students, or at and complete comprehension of the sage of Hohenheim, and should the encouragement which is indispensable to
least as a satisfactory- foundation for a full
an undertaking so long and costly be adequately given, a reasonable interval, that these
followed by one other which
understanding Paracelsus, and the
two volumes of
will
contain
all
will further trace,
it is
proposed, after
uncriticised text should be
the materials requisite
for
methodically and historically,
development of alchemical symbolism, with the growth of chemical
knowledge from the Byzantine period
to the
dawn
of the Reformation.
It is
x\
The Hervtetic and Alchemical Wrilhigs of Paracelsus.
i.
anticipated
that this inquiry will
fix
for the
time the
first
objects of
true
Hermetic physics, and the place which must be assigned to Paracelsus
The
connection therewith. this inquiry
has been alone attempted here, and the simple provision of a text,
as intelligible
as
the
circumstances
undertaking, nor should
The
editor
lation,
and
is
will
has been
allow,
truly
no
light
be regarded as the exclusive work of one hand. his
task with
the
collaboration
of
other
responsible only for certain portions of the actual trans-
for its general revision
consists of {a) the large to
it
has accomplished
and
specialists,
in
ambitious but indispensable preliminary of
less
body of
and
The work,
collation.
literature, entire
as
it
stands,
and unabridged, attributed
and treating directly of alchemy, and the transcendental
Paracelsus,
Magnum Opus
The whole Paracelsian (c) So much of literature of the Great Elixir and the Universal Medicine the Hermetic philosophy and cosmogony of Paracelsus as has been judged (d) One important treatise necessary to illustrate his alchemical teachings doctrines
and
physics of the
(b)
;
;
;
illustrating the application
to the
by Paracelsus of metallic and mineral substances
treatment of diseases
;
(e)
An
exhaustive collection of
references scattered through the chirurgical
present edition
is
practically inclusive
medicine of Paracelsus, which,
modern student.
it
is
works of Paracelsus.
of everything
thought,
is
al<
hemical
Thus, the
except the exoteric
of inferior importance to the
PART
I.
Hermetic Chemistry.
THE CCELUM PH ILOSOPHORUM, OR BOOK OF VEXATION'S
PHILIPPUS THEOPHRASTUS
By
;
PARACELSUS.
The Science and Nature of Alchemy, and what Opinion should be FORMED thereof. Regulated by the Seven Rules or Fundamental Canons according to
the seven
commonly known Metals ; and
Preface with certain Treatises
coiitaining a
and Appendices.
TH E PREFACE OF Theophrastus
Paracelsus to all Alchemists and Readers OF THIS Book.
YOU who
are skilled
in
.Alchemy, and as
many others as promise yourmake gold and silver, which
selves great riches or chiefly desire to
.\lchemy
in
different
ways promises and teaches
;
equally, too,
you
who
willingly
until
you have attained your rewards, and the falfilment of the promises made
tc
you
undergo
toil
and vexations, and wish not
experience teaches this every day, that out of thousands of 3'ou not
;
even one accomplishes his desire.
no
say,
to be freed from them,
;
but
Is this
a failure of Nature or of
-Art ?
I,
rather the fault of fate, or of the unskilfulness of the
is
it
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
But herein
is
by no means without advantage.
will
be noticed another
way
of treating .Alchemy different from
the previous method, and deduced by Seven
of the metals.
This, indeed, will not give scope for a
words, but, nevertheless,
in
the consideration of those
which should be separated from Alchemy and, moreover, result
Canons from the sevenfold
many
will
series
pompous parade of Canons everj'thing
be treated at sufficient length,
secrets of other things are herein contained. Hence, too,
certain marvellous speculations
and new operations which frequently B2
Tlic
4
Hermetk and
from the
differ
AlcJuinical Wriiings 0/ Paracelsu!..
and opinions of ancient operators
writing-s
but have been discovered and confirmed by
philosophers,
and
natural
proof and
full
experimentation.
Moreover,
known and
this Art
in
nothing
gains small confidence.
Alchemy, whereby labour in vain,
ver\-
more
is
All the fault
many persons
and cause of
skill in
4)6 little
difficultj" in
the operator, and the defect
or excess of materials, whether in quantity or qualit>% in
it
are reduced to poverty-, and others
wholly and soleh" lack of
is
true than this, though
whence
it
ensues that,
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 easy, but
found
Sometimes eccentricit},-,
more and more towards
dail}'
it is
it
bj- verj-
perfection.
The
straight road
is
few.
may happen
that a speculative artist may,
think out for himself
some new method
He
sequence anj-thing or nothing.
need do nought
in in
by his
order to reduce some-
thing into nothing, and again bring back something out of nothing.
proverb of the incredulous
Yet
this
Destruction perfects that
not whollj- false.
is
own
Alchemy, be the con-
for the good cannot appear on account of that which conceals good it. The good is least good whilst it is thus concealed. The concealment must be removed that so the good ma}- be able freely to appear in its own For example, the mountain, the sand, the earth, or the stone in brightness. which a metal has grown is such a concealment. Each one of the visible
which
is
metals
is
a concealment of the other six metals. is
destroyed and taken away,
as, Q|r instance, the five metals, Mercurj', Jupiter,
Mars, Venus, and Saturn.*
By ^^i_
;
On
the element of
fire all
that
is
imperfect
the other hand, the perfect metals, Sol and Luna, are not
consumed
in that
and at the same
time, out of the other
imperfect ones which are destroyed, the}' assume their
own body and become
same
fire.
Thej- remain in the
fire
:
How, and by what method, Seven Canons. Hence it may be
visible to the eyes.
gathered from the
and property of each metal, what it effects are its powers in commixture with them. But
this
should be noted
comes about can be what are the nature with the other metals, and what
in the verj- first place
this
learnt
:
that these
cannot be perfectly understood by ever}- cursor}- reader at a
An
single reading.
inferior intelligence
Seven Canons glance or a
first
does not easily perceive occult and
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.
abstruse subjects.
by fire, which manifests them pure, oa]:ed, dean, and simple. In the no proWng of a substance possible. For fire tests e%-erything, and when the impnre matter is separated the three pure substances are displaj-ed.— /)* Origin* Me*bcrum.ex Tnhttt Pri^JS SMitfamiisParamitam, Lib, I., c I. Fire separates that iriiich is constant or fiied from that which Ls fugitive or volatile.— Fire is the father or actiw principle of separation.—" Third Fragment Dt Merits Mttallicii, Lib. IL, Tract 1. "
The
three prime substances are proved only
absence of all ordeal by
on Tartar,"
fixnn the
fire,
there
is
Fragmmta Medico,
THE CCELUM PH ILOSOPHORUM. PART
I.
THE SEVEN CANONS OF THE METALS. THE FIRST CANON. Concerning the Nature and Properties of Mercury.*
ALL
things are concealed in aU.
One
of them
all
is
the concealer of the
rest— their corporeal vessel, external, visible, and movable.
For the vessel
factions are manifested in that vessel.
corporeal
spirit,
and so
all
is
coagulations or congelations enclosed in
prevented from flowing and surrounded, are not therewith content.
can be found for this liquefaction, by which it
be found for
therewith,
it
its
origin.
And
since
it
may be
no heat
should be compared to the
fire
is
designated
;
All lique-
a living and
when
it,
No name
still
less
can
so strong as to be equalised
of Gehenna.
A
liquefaction of this
kind has no sort of connection with others
made by
congelated or coagulated by natural cold.
These congelations, through
the heat of natural
fire,
or
their
in Mercury, and therefore, on that account, he Hence one may gather that elementary 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 No one of them has four elements, whether they be dry, moist, hot, or cold.
weakness, are unable to obtain altogether contemns them.
the faculty of acting against a Quintessence itself its
own powers and means
;
but each one contains v>ithin
of action.!
By tlic mediation of Vulcan, or fire, any metal can b€ generated from Mercur>".^ -^t ihe same lime. Mercury is imperfect as a metal ; it is semi-generated and wanting in coagulation, which is the end of all metals. Up to the halfway point of their generation all metals are Mercury. Cold, for example, is Mercury; but it loses the Mercurial nature by coagulation, and although the properties of Mercury are present in it, they are dead, for their vitality is The essences and arcanas which arc destroyed by coagulation.— £>< Mtntis Meln/licis, Lib. III., Tract II., c 2. There are two genera of latent in all the six metals are to be found in the substance of Mercurj-.— W«W., c 3. Mercury, the fixed Mercury of earth and another kind which descends from the daily constellation.— /*/-st, etc., so is purple and black Sulphur of the Cachimia;, a Sulphur of Cinnabar, and, in like manner, of Mercurj- is not Quicksilver, for Mercury is there a special Mercurj- of Copper, Plumbago, Zinc, Arsenic, ac—IiiJ.
De Ifvdrofisi. dead, while Quicksilver is li^ng. the virtue. .\nd this is the principle of the t Nothing of true value b located in the body of a substance, but in entire lolbs. in potency. Quintessence, which reduces, say, sclbs. into a single ounce, and that ounce far exceeds the Invisiiilmm, Lib. IV. the less there is of body, the more in proportion is the virtue.— Z>^ Oritint iUriorum Hence
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
6
THE SECOND CANON. Concerning the Nature and Properties of Jupiter. In that which
manifest (that
is
to say, the
is
body of Jupiter) the other
six
corporeal metals are spiritually concealed, but one more deeply and more Jupiter has nothing of a Quintessence in his com-
tenaciously than another. position, but
liquefaction
is
manner, he
On
this
account his
brought about by the application of a moderate
fire,
and, in like
of the nature of the four elementaries.
is
liquefactions of
all
more
nature, the
easily he
is
has
lilce
he
united thereto by conjunction.
easier
is
He
cold.
For the more
the other metals.
of those nearly allied
affinity is
to
with the
some other
For the operation
and more natural than of those which are
The remote body does not press upon the other. At the same time, it may be very powerful. Hence it happens that men
remote. it is
by moderate
coagxilated
is
not feared, though
do not aspire to the superior orders of creation, because they are
from them, and do not see
their glory.
In like manner, they
far distant
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
For more remote objects
this
cause an infernal
are
on that account held more cheaply and occupy a lower place, since
spirit is
according to the propriety of transmuted.
accounted as nothing.
its
position each object turns out better, or
is
This can be proved by various examples.
The more remote, therefore, Jupiter is found to be from Mars and \'enus, 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 true
is
found than
of the less
is,
more amiable, more acceptable, more distinguished, and more Again, the more remote a thing in some remote body. account is it esteemed in all the respects aforesaid, since what is
tangible,
it
present
is
always preferred before what
is
absent.
In proportion as the nearer
is a point which yoUj more remote 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 For th^ransalso may really be present there corporeally before your eyes. is
clear the
is
occult.
This, therefore,
;
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
order by perfect alchemical labour. a
Note that Jupiter has much gold and not
Let Saturn and Luna be imposed on him, and of the rest Luna
little silver.
will be
in
augmented.*
• Tin, or Jupiter, of white Sulphur.
Mercury, and
its
is
It
pure Mercury coagulated with a small qu.ituity of Salt, but combined with a larger proportion Its sublimation is also by its colours, white, yellow, or red, from its Mercury.
derives
resolution
by
Salt,
and
it is
sublimed and resolved by these.
De Eiemcnto
Agutr, Tract III.,
c. 6.
The Coelutn Philosophorum.
7
THE THIRD CANON. Concerning Mars and His Properties.
The si.\ occult metals have expelled the seventh from them, 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
On
of coagulation and hardness, which they manifest in this other body.
they have
contrary,
retained
together with their nobility.
in It is
the
themselves their colour and liquefaction, very
difficult
and laborious
common man.
king to be produced out of an unfit and
for a prince or a
But Mars acquires
dominion with strong and pugnacious hand, and seizes on the position of
He
king.
should, however, be on his guard against snares, that he be not
metiiod Mars
may
must also be considered by what take the place of king, and Sol and Luna, with
and unexpectedly.
led captive suddenly
be able to
It
Saturn, hold the place of Mars.*
THE FOURTH CANON. Concerning Venus and Its Properties.
The other of
all
have rendered Venus an extrinsical body by means
six metals
their colour and method of liquefaction.
understand thing
may
that
this,
It
may
be necessary,
we should show, by some examples, how
in
order to
a manifest
be rendered occult, and an occult thing rendered materially manifest
by means of
fire.
Whatever
is
combustible can be naturally transinuted by
from one form into another, namely, into lime, soot, ashes, glass, colours, This last can again be reduced to many new metallic stones, and earth. fire
Ifa metal,
bodies.
too, be burnt, or rendered fragile
acquire malleability by applications of
by old
rust,
it
can again
fire.f
THE FIFTH CANON. Concerning the Nature and Properties of Satukn.
Of as
his
their
own
nature Saturn speaks thus
The other
:
me
six
have cast
me
out
from them and from a
They have They have also added a corruptible body as a place of abode, may be what they neither are nor desire to become. My six brothers thrust
examiner.
forth
spiritual place.
so that
I
are s|irilual, and thence
penetrate
my body
• In the generation of Iron there
copper proceeds Mercur>-.
is
it
ensues that so often as
I
am
and, together with me, perish in the
is
a
larger proportion of Salt
present in a smaller quantity.
Its coiibtituents are its
It
;
in the fire
they
Sol and
Luna
fire,
and Mercury, while the red Sulphur from which
contains also a cuprinc
own body, which preponderates
put
salt,
but not in equal proportion with
then comes Salt, afterw.-u-Js Mercur>', and,
lastly,
more Salt than the composition of Sulphur requires, the metal can in no wise be made, for it depends upon an equal weight of each. For fluxibility proceeds from Mercury- and coagulation from Salt. Accordingly, De Etttittnto Agucr, Lib. IV., Tract III., c. 4. if there be too much Salt it becomes too hard. t Venus is the first metal generated by the Archeus of Nature from the three prime principles after the marcasites and cachimia: have been separated from these. It is formed of the gross redness which is purged off from the primal Sulphur, of the light red expelled in like manner from the Mercury, and of the deep yellow separated in the Sulphur.
When
there
is
purification of the prime Salt
by
this
same ArcheiLs.— /^I't/.,
c. 3.
The Hervtetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
8
These are purified and ennobled in my water. My spirit is a water and congelated bodies of my brothers. Yet my body is
excepted.
softening' the rigid
Whatever
inclined to the earth.
and by means of us
thereto,
use to the world
what I
am
am
I
if it
is
able to effect.
converted into one body.
It
would be more Deserting
would then use only that which me.
is in
me becomes conformed
This
is
is
in
a water by
all
profitable
would be of
It
should learn, or at least believe, what
able to do with myself.
of cold
received into
is
it
lies
little
hid in me, and
should ascertain what
methods of the Alchemists,
the
me and can
means of which
make
I
six metals congeal into the essence of the seventh, and this
it
The stone
be done by me.
the spirits of the
promote Sol
to
is
with Luna.*
Two is
kinds of Antimony are found
when
purified
The other kind has great
is
:
common
one the
This has the closest
liquefied therein.
the white, which
is
black, by which Sol
with Saturn.
affinity
Magnesia and Bismuth.
also called
It
with Jupiter, and when mixed with the other Antimon}'
affinity
it
augments Luna.
THE SIXTH CANON. Concerning Luna and the Properties thereof.
The endeavour
make Saturn or Mars out of Luna involves no lighter make Luna, with great gain, out of Mercury, Jupiter,
to
or easier work than to
Mars, Venus, or Saturn.
what what
is
It
is
not useful to transmute what
imperfect, but the latter into the former.
the material of Luna, or vi'hence
is
it
Nevertheless,
proceeds.
What itself
Luna ?
is
among
It is
Whoever
make Luna.
consider or find this out will neither be able to
perfect into
is
it is
well to
is
know
not able to
It will
be asked.
the seven metals which are spiritually concealed,
the seventh, external, corporeal, and material.
contains the six metals spiritually hidden in
For
this
And
seventh always
the
six spiritual
metals do not exist without one external and material metal.
So also no
itself.
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
or
fire,
flies
from
it.
For example,
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 mix,
in
For though
Luna.
remains
in
its
passed on
be •
Lead
is
be
all
nature
whatever
corporeal
them
existing.
For
first
all
but, at the
;
same
This
is.
is
the
But concerning
principles, uliich, however,
is
Thus, as copper
is
nevertheless each
judgment which must spiritual
by no means a
metals are latent in Mercurj', and they are
be concluded concerning Salt and Sulphur. their blackness
it
mixture.
the blackness of the three
metallic nature in
liquefied into a single mass,
mixture and
superfluity, but a peculiar
only Mercur>'.
The same
is
to
the abundant redness of the three principles, so Lead
is
time, there are four colours concealed therein
-
all
the blackness, purged off from the
three principles redness, which contains a precipitate out of Mercury whiteness, from the calcination of Mercury and a certain yellowness, derived from Merctu^*. Thus the grossness and the colours are alike due to Mercury, and Lead is, in fact, a black Mercury. -- Ibiti., c. 5. ;
;
;
The Caelum Philosophorum. communion mortification
Though times
in
of is
metals,
the
spiritual, because such
namely,
into
perfect, that true,
then,
is
no
separation
or
mortified a hundred
Luna
from a lesser degree into one greater and
and from
;
a better
into Sol, the brilliant
is,
said
as frequently
may
the transposition of the metals from
.'\nd this is
to say,
generate a seventh, or produce
A
that
can never exist without bodies.
one hour, nevertheless, they would always acquire another much
more noble than the former.
most most
known
be
spirits
away from them and
the body should be taken
one death to another, that higher,
should
it
9
it
into
the best and
and altogether royal metal.
above, that
the
from themselves clear
six
most It is
metals always
in its esse.
Luna and every metal derives its what is then its property and its From Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and nature ? To this we reply The cause is metal than Luna could be made. Sol, nothing and no other that each metal has two good virtues of the other six, of which altogether These are the spirit of Luna, which thus in a few words there are twelve. may be made known. Luna is composed of the six spiritual metals and their
origin
question
and
is
arise
:
If
it
be true that
generated from the other
six,
:
virtues,
Altogether, therefore, twelve are thus
whereof each possesses two.
posited in one corporeal metal, which are compared to the seven planets and the
Luna has from
twelve celestial signs.
and from
the planet Mercury,
liquidity and bright white colour.
^"d K. its So Luna has from Jupiter, with -h. (Sagittarius) and Taurus, its white colour Luna has from Mars, with Cancer and its great firmness in fire. % "^^ tt and Aries, its hardness and its clear sound. $ szs, and 0''. Luna has from Venus, with Gemini and Libra, its measure of coagulation and its malleability. From Saturn, with Virgo and ?: (Scorpio), its homogene?, n, and Libra. From Sol, with Leo and Virgo, its ous body, with gravity, b. TIJ, and ?(, spotless purity and great constancy against the power of fire. ©, Q, and Tlj.
Aquarius and Pisces,
,
f?
.
"--.
•
,
,
.
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 briefiy summarised. Furthermore, it should be pointed out what kind of a body such metallic spirits acquire in their primitive
generation by means of celestial
the metal-digger, when he has crushed the stone, contemptible as
pearance, liquefies
it,
this metallic spirit, in
corrupts
it,
and altogether
mortifies
it
with
For
influx. it
is
fire.
in
ap-
Then
such a process of mortification, receives a better and more
Then comes the Alchemist, who again Thus once more that spirit of the metal assumes a more noble and more perfect body, Then putting itself forward clearly into the light, except it be Sol or Luna. noble body, not friable but malleable.
corrupts, mortifies, and artificially prepares such a metallic body.
at last the metallic spirit
corruption of elementary
and body are perfectly united, are safe from the
fire,
and also incorruptible.*
• When the three prime principles have been purged of their superfluities, and from the said superfluities the imperfect metals have been generated, there remains nothing gross or crude, either in coloiu' or substance, but only a This is the most pure quality of Mcrcurj', Salt, and Sulphur, most clear ver>- subtle nature of a white and purple hue.
lo
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Tlie
THE SEVENTH CANON. Concerning the Nature of Sol and
The
its Properties.
seventh after the six spiritual metals is corporeally Sol,
which
in itself
nothing but pure fire. What in outward appearance is more beautiful, more brilliant, more clear and perceptible, a heavier, colder, or more homogeneous body to see ? And it is easy to perceive the cause of this, namely, that it
is
contains in itself the congelations of the other six metals, out of which
made
externally into one most
elementary
or
fire,
is
compact body.
Mercury
when
for Sol,
to coagulate
easily
is
The most manifest proof
it.
mingled corporeally with the Sun as
of this
is
But
an embrace.
in
is withdrawn and the cold supervenes after liquefaction, become hard and solid, there is need of the other five metals,
the heat
and
whose nature
is
it
proceeds from
caused by the liquations of Mercury, with Pisces and
Aquarius, concealed spiritually within that
Its liquefaction
to
it
embraces
—Jupiter,
Saturn, Mars, Venus, Luna.
in itself
In
these five metals the cold abodes with their regimens are especially found.
Hence fire,
happens that Sol can with
it
be liquefied without the heat of
difficulty
For Mercury
on account of the cold whereof mention has been made.
cannot assist with his natural heat or liquefaction, or defend himself against
Mercury
the cold of the five metals, because the heat of
Sol
retain
in
a state of liquefaction.
Mercury
metals rather than Mercury alone.
Hence
always to flow. can
it
happens that
effect nothing, since its
To
liquid.
render fluid
is
nature
is
is
Wherefore Sol has in
has no
itself
not sufficient to to
obey the
office of itself
five
save
coagulations of the other metals
not to
make anything hard
the nature of heat and
but cold has the nature
life,
of hardness, consolidation, and immobility, which
compared
is
For
to death.
example, the six cold metals, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Luna, they are to be liquefied must be brought to that condition by the heat of
Snow
or
ice,
which are
As soon seizing upon
harden. cold,
But
it,
renders
it
fire is
cold
removed therefrom, the immovable of itself.
hard, congelated, and
may remain
fluid
and
alive continually, say,
you, whether this will be affected with heat or cold this is
if
fire.
not produce this effect, but rather will
as ever the metal liquefied by
order that Mercuiy
in
will
cold,
it
or solid, but
?
I
Whoever answers
brought about by a cold and damp nature, and that
it
has
its
life
pray that
from
— the promulgator of
away by
firmly on to his
Mercury,
this opinion, having no knowledge of Nature, is led For the vulgar man judges only falsely, and always holds error. So then let him who loves truth withdraw therefrom. lives not at all from cold but from a warm and fiery nature.
the vulgar.
in fact,
and excellent in form, substance, essence, and colour. These two essences, namely, the white and the purple, are scp.ir.ited by the Archeus, and out of the first, fixed and coagulated, is formed silver, while from the purple there is generated gold, which is the most noble Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, separated from all other colours, and consisting Its clayey or yellow appearance is accounted for by the subtlety and clearness of the metal, because of purple alone. all the dull colours are removed. In Silver the most prevalent colours are green and blue, which :u-e 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 Sulphur, and the yellow from Merciuy.
—Hid.,
c.
8.
The Calum Philosophomm. Whatever
of
is
itself pure,
colour of sulphur
The
five cold
in that
not indeed alive, but hard, and so far shews the
according to cold, the body
;
according to drj-ness, solidity
;
terrestrial fire,
to
fire fire
but cold the occasion of death. The
yellow and red are mixed therein
nor
is
;
even corrupted,
is
is
increased,
itself
;
not burned
is
effected
cannot burn another, or even consume it
due proportion.
in
according to
according to humidity, weiglit
But that gold
out of brightness, sound.
one
Is life,
metals are Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, and Luna, which assign
to Sol their virtues
colour
because heat
lives is fire,
of Sol
fire
1
in
but rather
;
and becomes more powerful
in
its
fire,
and
the element of
by the firmness of
it
;
if
Sol.
fire
For
be added
operations.
The
which flows to us on the earth from the Sun is not such a fire as heaven, neither is it like that which exists upon the earth, but that
celestial fire
there
is in
celestial fire
with us
is
cold and congealed, and
Wherefore the Sun can happens, that
it
is
Fire, therefore, has not
Gold
is in
fold
is
the body of the Sun. fire.
This only
snow or ice, by that same celestial Sun. power of burning fire, because the Sun is fire,
liquefied, like
the
which, dissolved in heaven,
f
its
Essence three-
it
no way be overcome by our
in
-
I
is
i
coagulated with us.
Celestial
2
Elementary
3
Metallic
f
\ -
•
I
I
The End of the Seven
C.\nons.
Dissolved
Fluid Cor/'oreal.
THE CCELUM PHILOSOPHORUM.
PART
II.
CERTAIN TREATISES AND APPENDICES ARISING OUT OF THE SEVEN CANONS.
God and Nature do Nothing
THE
eternal position of
all
things, independent of time, without beginning
or end, operates everj'where.
there
What
no hope.
is
Vain.
in
It
works
It
where otherwise deemed impossible.
essentially
accomplishes that which
is
appears beyond belief or hope emerges into truth after a wonderful
fashion.
Note on Mercurius Vivus. tinges with a white colour has the nature of
Whatever properties and
power of
light,
which causally produces
life.
life,
and the
Whatever, on
the other hand, tinges with blackness, or produces black, has a nature in
common
with death, the properties of darkness, and forces producti\'e of
The
death.
earth with
lives.
If
its
frigidity
For the house
of hardness.
you
is
is
a coagulation and fixation of this kind
always dead
;
who
but he
inhabits the house
you have conquered.
can discover the force of this illustration
Tested liquefactive powder.
Burn Recipe.
Mix and
To
nitre, four
is
it
it
it
with great labour,
is
There
and Luna and much more concise, whereby, with existing therein.
expenditure of
Any one can ;
tartar,
;
labour in vain, since
far different
easy
a moiety of sulphur
mortify or congeal Mercury, and afterwards seek to turn
to sublimate
less
;
one ounce.
to be thought concerning the Congelation or Mercury.
dissipation of Sol
and
ounces
liquefy.
What and
— Salt
verbena.*
fat
toil, it is
it,
*
in
in\
olves a
another method,
is
waste of Mercury
little
transmuted into Luna without congelation.
at pleasure learn this Art in
and by
into Luna,
Alchemy, since
a short time, he could
Verbenas adole pingues,
et
make any
inascula tura.— Virg
,
Eel.
it
is
so simple and
quantity of silver and viii.
65.
The C(plum Pliilosophonim. gold.
It
tedious to read long descriptions, and everybody wishes to be
is
Do
advised in straightforward words.
you
will
Wait
13
then
this,
have Sol and Luna, by help whereof you
awhile,
beg, while this process
I
proceed as follows, and
;
will turn
out a very rich man.
described to j-ou
is
in
few words,
and keep these words well digested, so that out of Saturn, Mercury, and
may make
Jupiter 3'ou
Sol and Luna.
There
so easy to find out and practise, and so
making Sol and Luna by Alchemy
is
nor ever will be, any art
is not,,
in
eflfective
books, or of elaborate instruction, than there would be
about
The method of
itself.
so prompt that there if
no more need of
is
one wished to write
snow.
last year's
Concerning the Receipts of Alchemy. What, then,
we say about
shall
diversity of its vessels
waters,
These are furnaces, glasses,
?
copper-greens, atraments, auri-pigments,
wax, lutum
pounded
sapiential,
ceruse, red earth, thucia,
fel vitri,
glass, verdigris, soot, testae
Mars, soap, crystal, chalk, arsenic, antimony, minium, leaf, salt-nitre, sal
many
other
digestions,
jars,
sulphurs, salts, saltpetres, alums, vitriols, chrysocollae,
limes,
oils,
the receipts of Alchemy, and about the
and instruments
ovorum, crocus of
elixir,
lazurium, gold-
ammoniac, calamine stone, magnesia, bolus armenus, and Moreover,
things.
probations,
solutions,
concerning
preparations,
cementings,
putrefactions,
reverberations,
filtrations,
calcinations, graduations, rectifications, amalgamations, purgations, etc., with
these alchemical books are
crammed. Then, again, concerning herbs, roots, worms, bone dust, snail shells, other shells,
seeds, woods, stones, animals,
and
These and the
pitch.
like,
whereof there are some very far-fetched
Alchemy, are mere incumbrances of work
made by them they is
not from these
effect
may
to say the truth all
Sol and
five metals,
What,
is
then,
in
Luna could be
— that the Art of making Sol and
But
Luna
is
it
to
these things should be passed by, because they have
with the
ask.
if
rather hinder and delay than further one's purpose.
So, then,
be learnt.
no
—
;
since even
Luna are concerned. Someone
so far as Sol and
this short
and easy way, which involves no
difficultj',
and yet wherebj- Sol and Luna can be made ? Our answer is, this has been It would be lost labour fully and openly explained in the Seven Canons. should one seek further to instruct one
would be impossible
easily understood, but in
The with
.\rt
its life
is
who does
not understand these.
this
:
an occult rather than After you have
in
an open sense.
made heaven, or the sphere
to run over the earth, place on
it all
more, as you wish, so that the portion of Luna
of Saturn,
the planets, or such, one or
may
be the smallest.
run, until heaven, or Saturn, has entirely disappeared. will
It
to convince such a person that these matters could be so
Then
all
Let
all
those planets
remain dead with their old corruptible bodies, having meanwhile obtained
another new, perfect, and incorruptible body.
That body body and
life,
is
and
the spirit of heaven. live
as before.
Take
From this
it
these planets again receive a
body from the
life
and the earth.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
14
Keep
you do not yet understand
If
entire.
well.
better that
It is
How
Here you have the Art altogether, clear and
Sol and Luna.
It is
it.
it
or are not practised therein,
it,
conjure
appears in the
air,
speculum or crystal as vision object
is.
it
The
crystal
is
in
a figure of the
air.
it.
know
Whatever
movable or immovable, the same appears also in the For the air, the water, and the crj-stal, so far as a wave.
concerned, are one, like a mirror
is
things may be seen
ali,
nothing else than to observe anything rightly, to
is
and to understand what
is
should be kept concealed, and not made public.
TO Conjure the Crystal so th.^t
To
it
which an inverted copy of an
in
seen.
is
Concerning the Heat of Mercury.
Those who think that Mercury because
error, is
it is
the cause of
its
by
nature
its
being
is
of a moist and cold nature are plainly in
in the
warm and
highest degree
a constant state of fluidity.
in
If
it
moist, which
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, But it does not require this, since it has as in the case of the other metals. liquidity and flux from its own heat naturally inborn in it, which keeps it in a and renders
state of perpetual fluidity
it
"quick," so that
And this is many of them
nor be coagulated, nor congealed. seven metals, or as
spirits of the
soon as they come into the
fire,
it
can neither
die,
well worth noticing, that the
as have been commingled, as
contend with one another, especially Mercun,',
may put forth its powers and virtues in the endeavour to get the One seizes on the virtue, the way of liquefying and transmuting.
so that each
mastery
in
and form of another, and assigns some other nature and form to this one. 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 life,
another, until perfection and purity are attained.
heat
But what must be done besides to Mercury in order that its moisture and may be tak^n away, and in their place such an extreme cold introduced as
Do what and altogether mortify the Mercury? shut up in a Mercury closely Take pure follows in the sentence subjoined of which place Fill a jar with fragments of lead, in the midst silver pixis. to congeal,
consolidate,
:
Let
the pixis.
takes
it
melt for twenty-four hours, that
away from Mercury
his occult heat,
is,
for a natural day.
This
adds an external heat, and con-
and Luna (which are both planets of whence and whereby the Mercury is compelled to congeal,
tributes the internal coldness of Saturn
a cold nature),
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
Just
is,
in
fluidity.
but rather, externally, there
the
same way
It is
is it
is
a certain
amount
with the heat of Mercury, which
not an external heat, perceptible
in the
of apparent heat. is
the cause of
same way
its
as one of our
The Coelum Fhilosopiiorum. Nay, externally a sort of coldness
qualities.
1
perceptible.
is
Whence
the
Sophists (a race which has more talk than true wisdom) falsely assert that
Mercury
cold and oi a moist nature, so that they
is
congeal
by means of heat
it
daily lind out to their
own
;
loss rather than gain.
True Alchemy which alone, by
Luna from
Sol and
its
unique Art, teaches how to fabricate
the five imperfect metals, allows no other receipt than
which well and truly says
this,
go on and advise us to it more fluid, as they
whereas heat only renders
Only from metals, in metals, by metals, and in some things is Luna and in other
:
with metals, are perfect metals made, for
metals
Sol.
is
What There
M.\terials and Instrume.\ts are required in Alchemy.
need of nothing else but a foundry, bellows, tongs, hammers,
is
cauldrons, jars, and cupels
made from beechen
Afterwards, lay on
ashes.
Let them operate
Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venu^, Mercury, and Luna.
up
finally
to Saturn.
The hope of
T ^l^Ji*^ The Method of Seeking Minerals. I
finding these in the earth and in stones
and the labour very great. them,
it is
more
to be
is
and other flowers
men — apart from
most uncertain,
mode
of getting
Such a desire or
done away with than the lawful inclination of
people, and those in the prime of
for roses
this
is
first
no way to be despised, but greatly commended.
in
appetite ought no
young
However, since
the
for the
life,
to
matrimony.
As the bees long
purpose of making honey and wax, so, too,
own aggrandisement — should seek to extract He who does not seek it is not likely to find it.
avarice or their
metal from the earth.
God dowers men not only with gold or silver, but also with poverty, squalor, He has given to some a singular knowledge of metals and and misery. 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 arts
this is the case not only with
(that
to
is
say,
all
viz.,
made
Venus with
metals generally
from Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus,
of which, and from each of
them
separately, Sol
made, but from one more easily than from another. can be
five
from metals excocted from minerals which are imperfect
and called metals), from
subterranean substances, but by certain
and knowledge they have extracted them from the
easily
and Luna can be
Note, that Sol and Luna
from Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter, but from Mars and It is possible to make them, however, but with the
difficulty.
addition of Sol and Luna.
Out of Magnesium and Saturn comes Luna, and The skilful artist, Sol takes its rise.
out of Jupiter and Cinnabar pure
however (how well
I
remember
!),
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
twelve signs and the seven planets.
more than do the courses of the
In such matters
it
is
quite superfluous to
1
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
6
their aspects,
watch these courses, as also
good or bad days or hours, the
prosperous or unlucky condition of this or thai planet, for these matters can
do no good, and much If
less
can they do harm
in
the art of natural Alchemy.
otherwise, and you have a feasible process,
operate
when you
please.
you or your mode of working, or stars of heaven will fail you in planets and the the understanding, your your work. If metals remain buried long enough in the earth, not only are they If,
however, there be anything wanting
consumed by
but by long continuance they are even transmuted into
rust,
natural stones, and there are a great
For there
found
is
in
in the earth old
their different figures.
many of these money of
but this
;
is
known
to few.
the heathens, printed with
stone
These coins were originally
metallic, but
through the
transmutation brought about by Nature, they were turned into stone.
What Alchemy Alchemy
is
endeavour
According to
up more
way and
Art,
purpose,
kinds of the
each person, by his
this,
himself a better a thing
nothing else but the set
to transmute the
is.
own mental
and therein
It is
subtle
one to another.*
grasp, can choose out for
find truth, for the
intently does find the truth.
and
intention,
metals from
man who
follows
highly necessary to have a
and of stones, because the star is the informing For the Sol and Luna of all the celestial stars are nothing spirit of all stones. but one stone in itself; and the terrestrial stone has come forth frem the celesthrough the same fire, coals, ashes, the same expulsions and retial stone 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
correct estimation of stars
;
concrete, mixed, corrupted, ground, and again coagulated, and gradually
off,
liquefied into
one mass, into a stony work, which has
its
seat and
its
rest in
the midst of the firmamental sphere.
Further with be set
it is
to be
remarked that those precious stones which
down have
the nearest place to the heavenly or sidereal ones in
point of perfection, purity, beauty, brightness, virtue, fire,
and
incorruptibility,
shall forth-
and they have been
power of withstanding
fixed with other stones in the
earth, t
They have,
therefore, the greatest affinity with heavenly stones
the stars, because their natures are derived from these.
and with
are found by
by which the sun is separated from the moon, day from night, Therefore learn Alchemy, which is otherwise what is refuse.— ZJ; Cotica. This teaches you to discern between the true and the false. Such a Light of Nature is it that it is called Sp.->gyri.t. From this light of Nature we ought to know and speak, not from -a mode of proof in all things, and w.ilks in light. mere phantasy, whence nothing b begotten save the four humours and their compounds, augmentation, stagnation, and decrease, with other trifles of this kind. These proceed, not from the clear intellect, that full treasure-house of a good •
Alchemy
is,
so to speak, a kind of lower heaven,
medicine from poison, wh.it
•
They
is
useful from
man, but rather are based on a fictitious and insecure foundation.— /'«rffw//r;
c. 10.
/q
The Ccelum Pliilosophorum. men
in
a rude environment, and the
common
17
herd (whose property
to
it is
take false views of things) believe that they were produced in the same place
where they are found, and that they were afterwards polished, carried around, and sold, and accounted to be great riches, on account of their colours,
A
beauty, and other virtues.
The Emerald. eyes and
him who
This
it,
it is
It
defends chastity
;
and
dissolved in the blood of a goat.
is
that of a hazel nut.t ^>^^^SL,'d-^
It
be violated by
this
black crystal called .Adamant or else Evax, on account
effectual in impressing
on those
who
obscure and transparent blackness, the colour of iron. but
does igood to the
It
if
:
the stone itself does not remain perfect.*
A
The Adamant. of the joy which
them follows
a green transparent stone.
is
memory.
the
carries
brief description of
carry
It is
It is
it.
of an
the hardest of
Its size at the largest
all
;
does not exceed
/:4A^£![yunA4^t<,'^'uL'-
The Magnet Is an iron stone, and so attracts iron to itself. | The Pearl The Pearl is not a stone, because it is produced in sea shells. 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.
same name which, according man.
There
to the fable of the poets,
is
a flower of the
said to have been a
is
II
The Sapphire Is a stone of a celestial colour and a heavenly nature. The Ruby Shines with an intensely red nature.**
The Carbuncle. A solar stone, shining by its own nature like the sun. ft The Coral Is a white or red stone, not transparent. It grows in the out of the nature of the water and the air, into the form of wood or a
sea,
shrub •
;
it
hardens
The body
coagulated with
of the Emerald spirit
and
in the air,
is
not capable of being destroyed in
is
derived from a kind of peirine Mercury.
of Salt. —Ibid.,
It receives
fire. J f
from the same
its
colour,
c. 12.
The white adamant of all stones combines for the generation of the adamant. body from Mercurj', and its coagulation from the spirit of Salt.— /^/', based on experience, I affirm X Fortified by experience, which is the mistress of that the Magnet is a stone which not only undeniably attracts steel and iron, but ^has also the same power over the matter of all diseases in the whole body of m.an. Dt Corallis. See Herbattus Tfue^krasti. — It generates milk abundantly in women if they are deficient therein. § The Pearl is a seed of moisture. Df Aridura. The most concentrated hardness
t
has
its
.-\1I
1;
The
Jacinth, or Hyacinth,
Dt EUmrnto
I
is
a
gem
Aiuct, Lib. IV., Tract IV.,
In the matter of
of the
same genus
as the Carbuncle, but
is
inferior thereto in its nature.
c. 11.
body and colour the Sapphire
is
It is formed generated from^Ierciuy (the prime principle). Hence white Sapphires frequently occur because a
over white Sulphur and white Salt from a pallid petrine Mercury.
white Mercury concurs in the formation.
hue.—
In like
manner a IuteK:oloured Mercury sometimes produces a
clay-like
Ibid,, c. 15.
••
The Ruby and
similar
gems possessing a ruddy hue are generated from the red
of Sulphur,
and
their
body
is
of
For Mercur>' is the body of every precious stone. Ibid., c. 13. Mercury is tt The Carbuncle is formed of the most transp.-urcnt m.itter which is conser^ed in the three principles. All the body and Sulphur the colouring thereof, with a modicum of the spirit of Salt, on account of the coagulation. light abounds therein, because Sulphur contains in itself a clear quality of light, as the art of its transmutation
petrine Mercury.
demonstrates.
Ibid., c. 11.
There are two species of red Corals-onc a dull red, which varies between sub-purnlc and semi-black the other a resplendent and brilliartt red. As the colours differ, so also do the virtues. There is also a whitish species which is almost destitute of efficac)'. In a word, as the Coral diminishes in redness, so it weakens in its qualities.— ^o-foniM tt
Thtophrasti;
;
De
Corallis.
c
1
The Henndic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
8
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 Topaz 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
a white stone, transparent, and very like
Is
It is
ice.
sub-
limated, extracted, and produced from other stones. firm foundation of this matter, note the following con-
As a pledge and
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 clusion.
anyone
If
intelligently
:
of
common
stones, that
is,
pitch, grease, fat,
pure, uncontaminated, and perfect, so long as
the stones.
It
oil,
should therefore be sought and found
nised in them, and extracted from them, that liquefied.
For then
it is
But
and stone.
this is least
remains hidden or mixed with
it
is,
in the stones,
be recog-
drawn out and
forcibly
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 are found in the depth of the mountains alone.
known metals which is
often found at the very surface of the earth such a metal as
good,
at all, or not equally
our view, be
it
the depths.
in
great or small,
flint
And
is
For there
not met with
so every stone which comes to
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 came forth for here the influence of the sky prevails. Everywhere
this stone
there
is
;
presented to us earth, or dust, or sand, which often contain
or silver, and
this
vou
will
much gold
mark.
Here ends the Ccelum Philosophorum.
•The gem Chalcedony
is
extracted
from
Salt.
— C/iiJUrfio
Magna; De Tmnoribus,
etc.,
Morhi
Gallici,
Lib. III., c. 6. t {
The Topaz is an extract from the minera of Mars, and is a transplanted Iron. Ibid. The Amethyst is an extract of Salt, while Marble .ind Chalcedony .ire extracted from
the
same principle through
the Amethyst. —Ibid.
They contain within them a spirit of coagulation whereby they § The origin of Crj'Stals is to be referred to w.tter. are co.igulated, as water by the freezing and glacial stars. —/./^. Metecrtim, c. 7.
THE BOOK CONCERNING THE TINCTURE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS WRITTEN AGAINST THOSE SOPHISTS BORN SINCE THE DELUGE, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD
By ph.
THEOPHRASTUS BOMBAST,
IN
THE AGE OF
;
of hohenheim,
Philosopher of the Monarchia^ Prince of Spagyrists, Chief Asfronotner,
Surpassing Pliysician, and Trismegistns of Meclianical Arcana.
PREFACE.
SINCE you, O Sophist, everywhere abuse me with such fatuous and mendacious words, on the ground that being sprung from rude Helvetia
understand and physician
I
know nothing
wander from one
still
:
I
can
and also because being a duly qualified
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
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 yours against
me
;
:
not be attested by those saints, yet the ancient
who
are falsely considered your authentic fathers and
Emerald Table shews more
osophy, Alchemy, Magic, and the
like,
art
and experience
in
Phil-
than could ever be taught by you and
your crowd of followers.
If you do not yet underst.ind, from the aforesaid 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,
facts,
—
O
Sophist, which shall one day be put upon the neck of yourself and your
colleagues.
From
the middle of this age the
length derived and conferred on
Philosophy and of Medicine.
For
Monarchy of
all
the Arts has been at
me, Theophrastus Paracelsus, Prince of this
purpose
I
have been chosen by God to C2
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
20
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
proceeding as
away or be changed
tency, pass
and a half
it
among
their followers.
My
theory,
its
consis-
does from the light of Nature, can never, through
it
will
its
millennium
the
same time
but in the fifty-eighth year after
:
The
then begin to flourish.
practice at
following upon the theory will be proved by wonderful and incredible signs, so
common how firm and immovable is that
as to be open to mechanics and
people, and they will thoroughly
understand
Paracelsic Art against the triflings
of the Sophists
:
though meanwhile that sophistical science has to have
ineptitude propped up and fortified by papal and imperial privileges. I
am
its
In that
esteemed by you a mendicant and vagabond sophist, the Danube and the
Rhine
answer that accusation, though
will
of yours falsely devised against
many
princes,
I
me have
hold
my
tongue.
often displeased
Those calumnies courts and
many
imperial cities, the knightly order, and the nobility.
treasure hidden in a certain city called Weinden, belonging to
I
Forum
have a
Julii, at
—
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
an
who
love the truth, and in order that
reduced to poverty. clearly
By
and compensated
this
all
who
arcanum the
for all its losses
despise the true arts
last
by the
age
gift
shall
may be
be illuminated
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
nor will the resources of those vicious persons,
any loss to the upright.
to
suppress
many though
the
good,
they be, cause
THE BOOK CONCERNING THE TINCTURE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS. CHAPTER
IPHILIPPUS
I.
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 J
same
the
process.
Hali,
the Arabian, remained
firm
own method long life, so much
these advanced in proportion to his
and the same end,
at one
and also
at a
;
Monarch of
Now
the Arcana,
at this time,
am endowed
all
arrived
desired by the philosophers, life in
this
Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast,
I,
by God with special
gifts for this end,
every searcher after this supreme philosophic work
that
Each one of
nevertheless, they
an honourable sustenance and means of preserving that
at
Valley of Misery.
But
his order.
in
Albertus Magnus, the German, followed also a lengthy process.
may
be forced to
imitate and to follow me, be he Italian, Pole, Gaul,
Come hither after me, all lofty a name ye may be, I and Doctors, who are exalted by me
whosoever he
be.
however
spagj-rists, of
Alchemists labours,
German, or whatsoever or you philosophers, astronomers, and
corporeal regeneration.
this
arcanum,* the quintessence, wherein
will
I
lie
will
show and open
to you,
with the most consummate teach you the tincture, the
hid the foundations of
all
mysteries
For everj- person may and ought to believe in another only in those matters which he has tried by fire. If any one shall have brought forward anything contrary to this method of experimentation in the Spagj-ric and of
Art or
all
in
works.
Medicine, there
through the agency of
Nature indeed of everything light
we
is
no reason for your belief in him,
fire,
the true
appear, but only to those
before me have approached and acute speculations have, to
•
The Arcanum
;
is
their
is
own
my
standpoint,
many
light _of__
the proof or trial
With
in this light.
loss, incurred the
all
own
fancies
danger of
rustics
this
those
their
have been
not the \irtue (vir/us) but the essence {vis) and the potency i^tenfia), and
nevertheless, an old error of the doctors conferred the
essences. —/'arrtw/Zruwi, Lib. IV.
scribed
means thereof
who walk
The
this so difficult province with their
which account, from
of a substance
stronger than the virtue
false.
by the very best methods of demonstration, that
who
On
since, experimentally,
separated from the
created in this way, that by
is
may
will teach,
foolishness.
is
Many
name
things are elsewhere set forth concerning the Quintcss^ce, but what
really a separation or e.xtraction of the pure from the impure, not
termed an Arcanuni.~EjrfiiutJti0 Totiui AstroHotH*a^
is
of virtues upon the potential
a true quintessence, and
it is
is
de-
more correctly
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
22
ennobled of these
on the other hand, through the speculative and opinionative art
but,
;
many
nobles have been changed into clowns, and since they carried
golden mountains First of
then, there
all,
head before they had put their hand to the
in their
must be
learnt
— digestions,
fire.
distillations, sublimations,
reverberations, extractions, solutions, coagulations, fermentations, fixations,
and every instrument which
work must be mastered by
requisite for this
is
experience, such as glass vessels, cucurbites, circulators, vessels of Hermes,
earthen vessels, baths, blast-furnaces, reverberatories, and instruments of like
Alchemy and
profit in
But so long
Thus
and tongs.
kind, also marble, coals,
at
length you will be able to
Medicine.
in
as, relying
on fancy and opinion, you cleave to your
fictitious
books, you are fitted and predestinated for no one of these things.
CHAPTER
H.
Concerning the Definition of the Subject and Matter of the Tincture of the Philosophers. Before to
I
come, then, to the process of the Tincture,
you the subject thereof
kept
in
a specially occult
:
up
for,
way by
needful that
to the present time, this has
the lovers of truth.
the Tincture (when you understand
it is
me
in
open
I
always been
So, then, the matter of
a Spagyrical sense)
is
a certain thing
which, by the art of Vulcan,* passes out of three essences into one essence, or But, that I may give it its proper name, according to the use it may remain. of the ancients, though
it is
by many the Red Lion,
called
still it is
known by
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 few.
;
beyond
this the brightness of
gold does not shine so
much
for the Spagyrist
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 as do these
Spagyric
art,
or chosen by Nature for the
your mouth concerning Alchemical Arts.
work of Vulcan, or created The matter of the Tincture,
to
open
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
• Tlie office of Vulcan is llic separation of the good from the bad. So the .Ajt of Vulcan, which is .Vlchemy, is like unto death, by whicli the eternal and the temporal arc divided one from another. So also this art might be called the Vulcan is an .tslral and not a corporal fabricator. death of things.— ZJir Morlns Mel.iUkis, Lib. I., Tr.ict III., c. i. The artist working in metals and other miner.lls tr.ansforms them into other colotirs, and DeCadutoMntricis^ P.tr. VI.
For .is the artist excocts by me.ins of Vulcan, or the igneous in so doing his operation is like that of the heaven itself. element, so heaven performs the work of coction through the Sun. The Sun, therefore, is the Vulcan of heaven acVulcan is the fabricator and architect of all things, nor is his habitacomplishing coction in the earth. Z?^ Icteritiis.
—
tion in heaven only, that
is,
in the firmament, but equally in all the other
the three prime principles are wanting, there
but Sulphur, Sal Nitrum. and Mercury.
Ibid.,
.tlso
the igneous essence
c. 5.
us
Where elements.— i.i4. Meteorum, c. 4. The Igneous Vulcan is nothing else
absent.
The Tincture of
the Philosophers.
initial
stage of the Tincture has been given to us
which
my
colleagues must imitate, has been
23
but the true foundation,
;
me, so that no one should
left for
mingle 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 whj-
able justly to blame and to change diverse things.
my own,
experiments of the ancients better than
up such great labours
good Alchemists,
I
exceeded
in fidelity
have
down
I
tions
;
laid
to
which
have undergone willingly.
between two brothers,
the experiences of the
Age
at last the
whichever of the patriarchs,
made
I
O
I
first
I
should be
had found out
I
should scarcely have taken
and the advantage of
as, for the sake, the utility,
Tincture has been sufficiently declared, so that
indeed,
If,
all
Since, then, the subject of the it
scarcely could or ought to be
approach age,
I
its
preparation, and after
wish to add
my own
of Grace will by-and-by give Sophist, you,
in
the meantime,
inven-
adhesion,
its
shall
have
leaders.
CHAPTER
III.
CON'CERNIXG THE PROCESS OF THE AnXIENTS FOR THE TiNCTURE OF THE Philosophers, and a more compexdious Method by Paracelsus.
The distilled
elevated.
old Spagyrists putrefied Lili for a philosophical month, and afterwards
therefrom the
moist
They again imbued
spirits,
until at
length the dry spirits were
the capiU inoriuiun with moist spirits, and
drew
them off from it frequently by distillation until the dry spirits were Then afterwards 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 They would, howeverj have had a shorter way of their wish by this method. 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 all
•
elevated.
Hcrmn,
uiterpreted by Tbeophra^liu Paracekus, concerning the Supreiut: brought to light by Benediclus Figulus, and appealed as a piece de risistiiire in his *' Golden and Blessed Casket of Nature's Marvels," of whicli an English translation has been very By Benedictus Figulus. Now first recently published. (" A Golden and Blessed Casket of Nature's >LTr\els.
The Book of
the Kevclation of
Secret of the World, seems to have been
first
"
London James Elliott and done into English from the German original published at Frankfort in the ycir i(o3. Co. 8vo. 1893.) .\mong the many writings which have been fabulously attributwl to Uermes, there does not seem to be any record of an apMntypte^ and it b impossible to say what forged document may have been the subject of inter:
pretation
by Paracelsus.
As the
collection of Figulus is
produce the treatise here, but since
now
so readily accessible,
it
this translation claims to include everj'thing written
b somewhat
superfluous to re-
by the physician of Hohenheim
on the subject of Alchemy aiid the Universal Medicine, it is appended at this point. It should be premised that Benedictus Figulus complains bitterly of the mutilation and perversion to which the works of Paracelsus were subjected, and the Rcvtlatwn of Hermes seems in many parts to betray another hand, especially in its quotation of authorities
who
are not countenanced by its reputed author. Hermes, Plato, .\ristotle, and other philosophers, flourishing at different times, who have introduced the Arts, and more especially have explored the secrets of inferior Creation, all these have eagerly sought a means whereby man's body might be preserved from decay and become endued with immortality. 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 postpone decay, renew For death was laid .is a punishment upon our first parcnt>, youth, and prolong short human life (.is with the patriarchs). Adam and Eve, and will never depart from all their decsendants. Therefore, the above philosophers, and many others, have '
;
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of
24
has
faithful)
own
its
For
and
ditions,
I
all
;
last
those
but
this,
by the help of the Holy Spirit
age, be lightened and
who
its
made
clear
constantly persevere in their
have tested the properties of Nature,
know
I
this
will, in
theory and practice, for patience.
my
peculiar care, the labour for the Spagyrists before
times has been great and heavy
flowing into us,
Paracelsus.
my
by
work with
essences and con-
its
conjunction and resolution, which are the highest and
greatest gift for a philosopher, and never understood by the sophists up to this
When,
time.
therefore, the
wards,
Middle Age,
in the
this
diligent scrutiny afterwards
they
named
it
earliest
made two
Tincture, the Spagyrists
age gave the
the
namely,
Lili,
two names of as being the
At length the imitators of Nature putrefied
Tincture.
experience of the
But when
after-
invention had died out, their successors by
came upon
with one word,
first
things out of one simple.
this'
this simple,
and
subject of the
matter at
its
proper
period just like the seed in the earth, since before this corruption nothing could
be born from
fire,
it,
Afterwards they drew
it.
the dry were also equally sublimated, so that, in this way, just as the rustic
sought this
One Thing with
prolongs life, conducts the
nor any arcanum break forth from
moist spirits from the matter, until at length, by the violence of the
off the
Heavens
itself,
are a substance above the
held to be the
fifth
human body from corruption, and
great labour, and have found that that which preserves the
with respect to other elements, as
Four Elements.
it
were
And just
like the
Heavens
;
from which they understood that
as the Heavens, with respect to the other elements, are
substance (for they are indestructible, stable, and suffer no foreign admixture), so also this
One
Thing (compared to the forces of our body) is an indestructible essence, drying up all the superfluities of otu" 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 forces, 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 destroyed 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 Essence, or One Thing, was revealed from above to Adam, and was 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 Eai-th. What the mouth of man cannot utter is all found hi this spirit. As Morienus says: " He who has this has all things, and wants no otlier aid. For in it are all temporal liappiness, 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 Oulpourer of Rain, upholding the strenglli 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, destroying Poverty and miserj-, leading to all good things, preventing all evil words and thoughts, giving man his heart's ;
honour and long life, but to the wicked who misuse it, Eternal Punishment." This comprehend without the interposition of the Holy Ghost, or without the instfuciron oT 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 is named the Soul of the World. For, as the Soul moves all the limbs of the body, so also does jh i!?_Sfarit muvfe alJiiodifia^ And as the Soul is In all the limbs of the Body, so also is this Spirit in all elementary created things. It is sought by many and found by few. It is beheld from afar and found near for it exists in cverj' 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 .-ill things are therein, even in the highest perfection. 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 riclics. When the philosophers had disco\'ered it, wiih 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 cveiyone 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 desire, bringing to the pious earthly is
the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot
;
;
;
that the pious may reverently praise Him in His gifts (which gift of God shall and 1 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 a.s an impure e.arlhly body, full of imperfections. It then has an earthly nature, healing all sickness and wounds in the bouels of man, producing good and consuming proud flesh, expelling all stench, and healing generally, inwardly and outwardly. In its second nature, it
of this Spirit, to the afterwai-ds
come
Honour of God,
to them),
The Tincture of
the Philosophers,
25
does at the proper time of year, they might come to maturity as one after another is
wont
to ascend
and
Lastly, as after the spring
away.
to fall
the Tincture to such a point that
comes summer,
and brought the Magistery of came to the harvest, and laid itself out
they incorporated those fruits and dry it
spirits,
for ripening.
CHAPTER
IV.
THE PROCESS FOR THE TiNXTURE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS, AS IT IS SHORTENED BY PaRACELSUS.
CO.N'CERXING
The ancient Spag)-rists would not have required such lengthened labour and such wearisome repetition if they had learnt and practised their work in my school. They would have obtained their wish just as well, with far less expense and labour. But at this time, when Theophrastus Paracelsus has arrived as the Monarch of Arcana, the opportunity is at hand for finding out Wherelore I those things which were occult to all Spag\'rists before me. the rose-coloured blood from the Lion and the gluten from the
Take only
say,
When
Eagle.
you have mixed
these, coagulate
them according
to the old
appears as a watery body, somewhat more beautiful than before, because (although still having its corruptions) its Virtue is greater. It is much nearer the truth, and more effective in works. In this form it cures cold and hot fcvcr^, .-uid is a specific against poisons, which it drives from heart and lungs, healing the same when injured or wounded, puriBut in its third nature it appears as fying the blood, and, taken three limes a day, is of great comfort in all diseases.
an aerial body, of an oily nature, almost freed from all imperfections, in which form it does many wondrous works, producing 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 necessary-. It expands the blood vessels, cures withered Hmbs, restores strength to the sight, in growing persons removes what b superfluous and makes good defects in the Umbs. In its fourth nature it appears in a fiery form (not quite freed from all imperfections, still it has many virtues, making the old young and reviving those at the an one there be given, in wine, a barleycorn's weight of this fire, so that it reach the stomach, it goes to his heart, renewing him at once, dri\-ing away all prenous moisture and poison, and restoring the natural heat of the liver. Given in small doses to old people, it removes the diseases of age, giN-ing the old young hearts and bodies. Hence it is called the Elixir of Life. In its fifth and last nature, it appears in a glorified and illuminated form, without defects, shining like gold and silver, wherein it possesses all preWous powers and virtues in a higher and
waterj- and not dried enough), wherein
somewhat
point of death.
For
if
Here
more wondrous degree. rcvi\-e,
to such
its
bringing forth leaves and
natural works are taken for miracles.
fruit.
A
lamp, the
oil
of which
is
When
applied to the roots of dead trees they
mingled with this
spirit,
continues to
bum
for ever
converts cr^'stals into the most precious stones of all colours, equal to those from the mines, and does majTi other incredible wonders which may not be revealed to the unworthy. For it heals all dead and living bodicA u-ithout other medicine. -^ Here Christ is my witness that I lie not, for all heavenly influences are united and combined
without diminution.
It
This essence also reveals all treasures in earth and sea, converts all meullic bodies into gold, and there i.s This spirit is the secret, hidden from the beginning, yet granted by God to a few it under Heaven. holy men for the revealing of these riches to His Glory—dwelling in fier>- form in the air, and leading earth with itself to heaven, while from its body there flow whole river* of liiing water. This spirit flies through the midst of the therein.
nothing like unto
a morning mist, leads its buniing fire into the w.-itcr, and has its shining realm in the heavens. And may be regarded as false by the reader, yet to the initiated they are true and possible, when the hidden sense is properly understood. For Gdd is wonderful in His works, and His wisdom is without end. This spirit in its fiery form Ls called a Sandaraca, in the aerial a Kybrick, in the watery an .lUoth, in the earthly Alcohoph and Aliocosoph. Hence they are deceived by these names who, seeking without instruction, think to find this Spirit of Life
Heavens
like
although these writings
which we seek, on account of its qualities, is called by these For a refined spirit cannot appear except in a body let no one imagine there be different spirits, for, say suitable to its nature. what one will, there is but one spirit working ever>'whcre and in all things. That is the spirit which, when rising, illumines the Heavens, when setting incorporates 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 airy, pure, and hearty body, midway between the highest and This work lou-cst, without reason, but fruitful in works, and the most select and beautiful of all other heavenly things. It is the Spirit of of God is far too deep for understanding, for it is the last, greatest, and highest -iecret of Nature. 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 in things foreign to
our Art.
names, yet the same
its virtue,
is
•
For although
this spirit
not in these bodies and cannot be in them. And, by however many names it be called,
and which cannot be prized enough.
For
it
reaches to the planets, raises the clouds, drives
away
mists, gives
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings
26
of Paracelsus,
process, and you will have the Tincture of the Philosophers, which an infinite
number have sought
after
sophist, this Magistery
is
and very few have found. Nature
in
itself,
Whether you
far
it
from without
more noble than
and confess that
seems a paltry thing
it
was
it
before.
manner, have learnt anything from the the rules of Serapio, light.
despise
me
come
now
Preserve
and a doctor.
is
externally
But
who by
vile,
most noble and most precious essence.
excites another
something
But you must, nevertheless, allow
body which
his preparation corrupts a visible
you look
If
to transmute another into
a miracle produced by the Spagyrist,
it is
God above
a wonderful thing of
Nature, and a most precious treasure in'this Valley of Sorrows. at
will or not,
light of Aristotle, or
this,
the art of
from which he If
you,
from
us,
like
in
or from
and bring that knowledge experimentally
forth,
to
the right of the Schools, as becomes a lover of honour if
as though
I
you know nothing and can do nothing, why do you were an irrational 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 ils light to all ihini's,
turns everything into
Sun and Moon, bestows
leper, brightens the eyes, banishes sorrow, heals the sick, reveals all
all
health and abundance of treastue, cleanses the
hidden treasures, and, generally, cures
all
diseases.
Through this spirit have the philosophers invented the Seven Liberal Arts, and thereby gained their riches. Through the same Moses made the golden vessels in the Ark, and King Solomon did many beautiful works to the honour of God. Therewith Moses built the Tabernacle, Noah the Ark, Solomon the Temple. By this ^zra restored the Law, and Miriam, Moses' sister, was hospitable Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and other righteous men, have had lifelong abund;
ance and riches
and
it have therewith praised God. Therefore is its acquisition very hard, more than that of gold and silver. For it is the best of all things, because, of all things mortal that man can desire in this world, nothing can compare with it, and in it alone is truth. Hence it is called the Stone and Spirit of Truth in its works is no vanity, its praise cannot be sufficiently expressed. I am unable to speak enough of its virtues, because its good qualities and powers are beyond human thoughts, imutterable by the tongue of man, and ih it are found the properties ;
all
the saints possessing
;
of all things.
Yea, there
is
nothing deeper in Nature.
O
unfathomable abyss of God's Wisdom, which thus hath
O unspeakable For the destructible things of Nature are restored by virtue of the said spirit. O mysterj- of mysteries, most secret of all secret things, and healing and medicine of all things Thou last discovery- 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, fruitfulness of life, and art of all arts, a power which to its initiates grants all material joys O desirable knowledge, lovely above all things beneath the circle of the united and comprised in the virtue and power of this
honour and boundless joy granted
to mortal
man
One
Spirit the qualities of all existing bodies
!
!
!
I
1
Moon, by which Nature
strengthened, and heart and limbs are renewed, blooming youth
is preserved, old age driven away, weakness destroyed, beauty in its perfection preserved, and abundance ensured in all things pleasing to men O thou spiritual substance, lovely above all things O thou wondrous power, strengthening all the world! O thou invincible virtue, highest of all that is, although despised by the ignorant, yet held by the wise in great praise, honour, and glor>^, that -proceeding from humours — wakest the dead, expcllest diseases, restorest the voice of the dying O thou treasure of treasures, mystery of mysteries, called by Avicenna " an unspeakable substance," the purest and naost perfect soul of the world, than which there is nothing more costly under Heaven, unfathomable in nature and power, wonderful in virtue and works, having no equal among creatures, possessing the virtues of all bodies under Hea\en For from it flow the water of life, the oil and honey of eternal healing, and thus bath it nourisheil them with honey and water from the rock. Therefore, saith Morienus " He who hath it, the same also hath all things." Blessed art Thou," Lord God of our fathers, in that Thou hast given the prophets this knowledge and understanding, that they have hidden these things (lest they should be discovered by the blind, and those drowned in worldly godlessness) by which the wise and the pious have praised Thee For the discoverers of the mystery of this thing to the unworthy are bre.^kcrs of the seal of Heavenly Revelation, thereby offending God's Majesty, and bringing upon themselves many misfortunes and the punishments of God. Therefore, I beg all Christians, possessing this knowledge, to communicate the same to nobody, except it be to one living in Godliness, of well-proved virtue, and praising God, Who has given such a treasure to man. For many seek, but few find it. Hence the impure and those living in vice are unworthy of it. Therefore is I testify before God that 1 this Art to be shewn to all God-fearing persons, because it cannot be bought with a price. The Almighty lie not, although it appear impossible to fools, that no one has hitherto explored Nature so deeply. be praised for having created this Art and for revealing it to God-fearing men. Amen. And thus is fulfilled this precious and excellent work, called the revealing of the occult spirit, in which He hidden the secrets and mysteries o* the world. But this spirit is one genius, and divine, wonderful, and lordly power. For it embraces the whole world, and overcomes the Elements and the fifth Subst.ance. To our Trismegislus Spagj-rus, Jesus Christ, be praise and glory
is
!
I
!
!
:
!
immortal.
Amen.
•
The Tincture of
the Philosophers.
27
afterwards corrupts according to his need, and prepares thence another thing.
For thus very often out of many things one in Gastaynum it
Nature of herself can do, as is
produced from Saturn
Luna
Sol out of
Carinthia,
in
;
made, which
effects
is
perfectly well
known
Luna out of Venus
;
wonderfully than Ovid narrates
were well known to the Magi, and more
Metamorphoses do they come
his
in
That you may rightly understand me, seek your Lion
light.
your Eagle
to the
East, and
in the
You
South, for this our work which has been undertaken.
in the
Hungary and
not find better instruments than
you desire to lead from unity by duality
in trinity
Istria
But
produce.
if
with equal permutation of
each, then you should direct your journey to the South
gain
;
that
to pass over in silence for the time being the transmutations
of other natural objects, which
will
more than Venus and in Hungary,
is
so
;
Cyprus
in
shall
you
your desire, concerning which we must not dilate more profusely than
all
we have done
exhibit transmutations, though they are
many more of these arcana which known to few. And although these
may by
to anyone,
There are
at present.
the Lord
God
be
still
made manifest
the
still,
rumour of
this
Art does not on that account at once break forth, but the Almighty gives therewith the understanding
coming of
the that
how
You
of Sulphur
fire
is
may
and gems
is
no in
a great tincture for gems, which, indeed, exalts them to
shall be omitted
in
it
even to
be taken derisively by some) that
But
a loftier degree than Nature by herself could do.
about
like arts
also see with your eyes (though there
need to speak of these things, which the
and other
Elias the .Artist, at which time there shall be nothing so occult
shall not be revealed.
it
to conceal these
my
by
me
in this place, since
Secret of Secrets, in
As
and abundantly elsewhere.
my book
gradation of metals
this
have written
I
sufficiently
on the Vexations of -Alchemists,
have begun the process of our ancestors
I
with the Tincture of the Philosophers,
I
will
CHAPTER
now
perfectly conclude
it.
V.
Concerning the Conclusion of the Process of the Ancients, MADE BY PaR.VCELSL'S. Lastly, the ancient Spagyrists having placed Lili in a pelican fixed
it
by means of a regulated increase of the
from blackness, by permutation into
it
became red as blood,
and therewith assumed the condition of a salamander. they proceed with such labour, and that everyone should proceed
me
make
to
this clearer to
who
in
the
same way
seeks this pearl.
you unless you
shall
the Alchemists to obser\-e the degrees of the vessels.
F^or
then at length you
become heated
in the
blacker than the crow
swan
;
and
will see that
Philosophic Egg, ;
it
Rightly, indeed, did
it is
It will
right
and also
soon after
and becoming
be very
have learnt fire,
it,
continued so long until
fire,
the colours,
all
and dried
difficult for
in the
School of
change your your Lili shall have to
becomes, with wonderful appearances,
afterwards, in succession of time, whiter than the
at last, passing
through a yellow colour,
it
turns out more red than
ty
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
28
any blood.
and food
it
Seek, seek, says the
shall be
in
opened unto you.
mouth
the
Spagyrist, and you shall find
first
It
Let her rather
of a perfidious bird.
will lead
you
knowledge.
to its perfect
down more
fully or
more
pery foundation, which reaches not
its
to put
even as ;
I,
made manifest
I
will
end or
to
its
have before spoken.
When
aim.
at length
slip-
you
is
which cannot be
difficult
Nature, indeed, herself does not
this Art.
advanced
to its highest perfection,
as can be seen in this place from the unity, or the union, of our duality.
^
Let
from their unstable and
then at length be so
you by the aid of
bring forth anything into the light which
a
with
for this
have been taught as accurately as possible the Alchemistic Art, nothing
in the nature of things shall
•.
it,
not possible that anything should
It is
clearly than
your Pharisaical schools teach you what they shall
to
fly
But follow true Art
others before me, have been compelled to do.
here be set
knock,
;
would be impious and indecorous
man ought by Spagyric
by Nature.
preparations to lead
it
thither
where
it
But
was ordained
Let this have been sufficiently said by me, concerning the process
my
of the ancients and
correction of the Tincture of the Philosophers, so far as
relates to its preparation.
Moreover, since now we have that treasure of the Egj'ptians it
remains that we turn
Magistery
in
it
and
:
this is offered to
According to the former mode
two ways.
the renewing of the body
mutation of metals.
to our use
according to the latter
;
Since, then,
I,
it is
in
our hands,
us by the Spagyric can be applied for
it
to be used for the trans-
Theophrastus Paracelsus, have tried each
them in diff'erent 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 of
proof they appeared to
me
better
and more
CHAPTER
perfectly.
VI.
Concerning the Tr.vnsmutation of Met.\ls by the Perfection of Medicine. Tincture of the Philosophers
If the
of
it
will
is
to be used for transmutation, a
must be projected on a thousand pounds of melted
Sol.
Then,
pound
at length,
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 Spagyrist, a metal, which formerly existed, should perish,
same
and another be produced.
Aristotle, with his ill-founded philosophy,
This fact has rendered that
For
fatuous.
truly,
when
the rustics in Hungar}' cast iron at the proper season into a certain fountain,
commonly
called
Zifterhrunnen,
liquefied with a blast-fire,
returns to
iron.
it
it
is
consumed
Similarly, in
the mountain
they obtain a lixivium out of marcasites, into
Venus
Nature.
and when
this is
in
commonly which iron
called Kuttcnberg, is
forthwith turned
more malleable than the other produced by and more like them, are known to simple men rather
of a high grade, and
These things,
into rust,
soon exists as pure Venus, and never more
The
of the Philosophers.
Tiyicttire
29
than to sophists, namely, those which turn one appearance of a metal into
And
another.
these things,
moreover, through the remarkable contempt
of the ignorant, and partly, too, on account of the just envj' of the artificers,
But I myself, in Istria, have often brought Venus more than twenty-four (al. 38) degrees, so that the colour of Sol could not mount higher, consisting of Antimony or or Quartal, which V^cnus I used remain almost hidden.
to
in all
respects as other kinds.
But though the old it
artists
were very desirous of
arcanum, and sought
this
with the greatest diligence, nevertheless, very few could bring
of a perfect preparation to
its
For the transmutation of an
end.
into a superior one brings with
it
many
it
by means
inferior metal
and obstacles, as the
difficulties
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 their carelessness
work
feathers thereupon
fell off,
and, as
I
its effects, it
happened
that,
by
was eaten up by fowls, whose myself have seen, grew again. In this
and bad guardianship,
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
heard more at large
shall be
in the
CHAPTER
following chapter.
VII.
Concerning the Renovation of Men.
Some
and primitive philosophers of Eg)-pt 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 of the
first
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 condition that
it
lives
the body at length
were established
m
on
in safety
comes its
from
all
to old age, nevertheless,
all
diseases,
invisible fire.
The dose
means thereof
I
sickness, colic,
it still
is
it
a Universal Medicine, and
by whatsoever name they are is
very small, but
its
effect
is
called, just
like
most powerful.
an
By
have cured the leprosy, venereal disease, dropsy, the falling and similar afflictions also lupus, cancer, noli-me-
scab,
;
tangere, fistulas, and the whole race of internal diseases,
one could believe. etc., will afford
although, indeed,
appears as though
primal youth.
So, then, the Tincture of the Philosophers
consumes
And
infirmities.
Of
this
fact
Germany, France,
Italy,
more surely than Poland, Bohemia,
the most ample evidence.
Now, Sophist, look at Theophrastus Paracelsus. Machaon, and Hippocrates stand against me? This
How is
can your Apollo,
the Catholicum of the
30
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Philosophers, by
which
and
diseases,
resisting
effectually,
and
so,
these philosophers have
they
have
attained
For what can there be
greater than such purgation of the body, by radically
sound
removed from
all
else
sophists since
is it
attained
end
this
it
and transmuted
perfected.
What
?
in the
long
entirely
according to their judgment, they named
of the Philosophers.
w
all
it
most
The Tincture
whole range of medicine
means whereof all For when the seed
superfluity is
it
ought
?
This, therefore,
is
the most
excellent foundation of a true physician, the regeneration of the nature,
is
opposed to
it.
To
is
once made
avails the ill-founded purgation of the
removes nothing as
the restoration of youth.
for
life
and
After this, the
new essence
effect this regeneration, the
itself drives
out
all
and that
powers and virtues of the
Tincture of the Philosophers were miraculously discovered, and up to this lime have been used
in secret
and kept concealed by true Spagyrists.
Here ends the Book concerning the Tincture of the Philosophers.
THE GRADATIONS OF METALS. PREFACE.
WE
now purpose
speak concerning gradations,* and those of such a
to
kind that a metal dissolved or digested
transmute the lesser metals into with some difference,
gold,
silver,
in
them can be promoted persons endeavour
and others, of a mediocre nature,
however,
conjunction,
their
in
We
tests.
others
may
will set
down, then,
These we arrange with a others are clear
oils,
and the
triple
fourteen gradations.
and
Some
differentiation.
rest liquids.
oils,
be brought
Many
willingly forget,
are strong waters,
These we arrange
from our method of treating them.
strong waters, secondly
a
in
and have collected those by experience, and are worth writing about.
be found, but these
only which are established
that
to
into
— a perfection which answers any suitable
in this place,
we
so
may
cineritium, by transmutation of graduation, the lesser metals to the perfection of the greater ones
to
Many
the degree of Sol and transmuted.
That
is
a like order, as
in
to say,
we
put,
first
of
is
all,
lastly liquids.
The First Grad.\tion. Take of
Vitriol,
Alum, and Salt
Nitre,
two pounds each
pound and a half; of Antimony,! three-eighths of a pound
of Cinnabar, a
;
;
Flos Aeris,
of
;
Crocus of Mars, and Hsematitis, a quarter of a pound each
of Arsenic, one-
eighth of a pound.
Let
and
all
be distilled with a verj- strong
clarify after the
method
fire
Luna, or Part with Part, Luna and Venus
The tenn gradation
developed into another.
is used by Paracelsus Care must be taken to
there are said to be twenty-four grades
lead eighteen degrees of flu-vibility
CAirur^gia ^fincr, Lih. III. t
which purify
then put
;
it
in digestion
for a
Afterwards take out the residuum by fulmination, and thus you will
month. •
into strong water,
of such waters, and dissolve therein cemented
From
;
;
in
more than one sense here it is the process by which one substance is between this and the grades of metals, etc. Thus, in gold ;
distingtiish
in silver thirty-two
grades of softness
twelve of malleation in copper
;
in
;
in iron fortj'-six
Mercury eighty-three
grades of hardness
;
in
properties or branches.
—
Alchemy as
it
Preface.
the time of Basil Valentine,
Antimony played almost
as important a part in the operations of
Sometimes the term b made to include all marcasites, cachimiae, talcs, ogerta, ctc.—Dr Morih Mitatlich, Tract III., c. 3. .^gain. Antimony is a mucilage, or, that you It receives may understand me the better, firnisium.--/^/*/., c. 7. It transmutes Saturn into Venus.— Z)^ Aridura. its body from Merciu-y. and is the most gross nature of Mercury, after it has been piu-ged out (that is, expelled from the prime principle). It retains all the powers and virtues of Merciuy. Of all products coming forth out of the three first principles, there is none which retains the virtue of Mercur>* more patently than Antimony. It is nothing but Mercury coagulated through the Spirit of Salt and Sulphur. But, at the same time, understand that it is derived from performed
in
Medicine.
It is
variously described by Paracelsus.
the gross and rough, not from the subtle nature of the said Mercttry. — i?*
EUmento Aqua.
Tract V.,
c. 5.
The Hermetic Ufid Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
32 find
it
transmuted.
Let that which
is still
be precipitated
in the aquafortis
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, of
first
all,
in
because
purgation,
any impurity hinders
this
work
of
transmutation very seriously.
The Second Gr.\dation. worth while to note carefully another process, it being one which can be adopted with greater gain and subtlety, as Take of Saltpetre and of Cinnabar each one pound. Let them be follows In this second
gradation
it
is
:
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 \'itriol each one pound. Afterwards pour this on its Distil all again, after the manner of Aquafortis. Caf'ut Mottuuxi, which has been finely powdered. Again distil it to its ultimate ;
spirit,
and
clarify
it,
its
in
it,
and have remained
powers of operation are incredibly great.
a composition with these ingredients in
all
in
all
metals
digestion until perfect,
In very truth, there are latent in
the forces of those metals which have
For three of such
themselves a corporeal matter.
powerfully,
In the case of
any other aquafortis.
just as
which have been dissolved
distillations tinge so
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 is
to be
third gradation,
which
is
reckoned as
among
last
understood and compounded as follows
:
the strong waters,
—Take of Cinnabar, Arsenic,
and .Vntimony, each half a pound, of Saltpetre two pounds, and of Sulphur Let these be pounded together, mixed, and distilled to strong half a pound. water with a very powerful
fire.
Afterwards take two parts of this water, of
Common Alum and Alumcn Plumosum each a part, of Verdigris
part and a half, of Vitriol one
and Crocus of Mars each half a part.
together into a strong water with a very violent
whole of
this water, take
Let
two parts of the Caput Morfiiitm
Verdigris, Cinnabar, and Sulphur, half a part each.
dregs by strongly driving them into a receiver.
when
it
has been
these be distilled
;
for the
and of Antimony,
Distil these
from their
Afterwards, in this water,
dissolve half a part with ten parts of flowers of
clarified,
brass and crocus of Mars, and find
all
At length,
fire.
let it
be digested therein.
more of the residuum transmuted
to Sol than
You
will
afterwards
you would deem possible
to
the Art.
The Fourth Gradation. now speak about gradations made with oils, w-hich do not dissolve mode and form of strong waters, but in digestion, and thus accomplish their perfection. The first gradation of this kind is made with Oil Let us
after
the
of Antimony, in which
is
latent a wonderful tincture of redness.
Let the
The Gradations of Metals. following be the process adopted
:
fire
when
Antimony one pound, and of
by means of an alembic, and the redness
This tinges and graduates
as blood.
of
Let them both be distilled together over a
sublimated Mercury half a pound. powerful
—Take
^t,
Luna
all
ascend as thick
will
and brings the
into Sol,
latter
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 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 the
:
Colcothar.
—
a second time,
Distil
constant colour.
Put
remains, separate
it
Luna, and
in
in aquafortis,
and afterwards let it
remain
rectify
and a
purity
to
Reduce what
digestion.
in
means of Saturn.
and, lastly, fulminate by
The Sixth Gradation. The
gradation,
sixth
way
following
:
into an
and
To
oil.
let it
this let there
be treated just as
it
horse-dung for a month, or be added one-eighth of a
Alum, Flos Aeris, ascend. glass
Remove
let it
Distil
the
oils,
is
made
if
distilled
be added the same quantity of Live Sulphur,
was
for the
compound.
much
longer, so
Let
pound of each of the following and Cinnabar. keeping only the
the liquids,
it
be digested
After this
the better.
whatever
Distil
Put these apart
oils.
again as before.
Afterwards pour
it
Luna be digested
red,
and
will in
at the proper time,
and
a in
again from the dregs,
off
rectify
in
there
let
Salt Nitre, Vitriol,
:
Crocus of Mars,
gone or separated, keep the
plates of
the
in
and of Flax Oil (linseed
When
be putrefied a second time for a month, and further distilled.
colours are let
among
order
adding the species as above, and the Caput Mortuum
cucurbite,
powder.
in
Let these be formed into a compound, and this be
four pounds.
oil)
third
— Take of Live Sulphur* two pounds,
it
the
Lastly,
as required.
at length reduced
by a
process of fulminaticMi.
The Seventh
Grad.\tion.
Gradations w'hich are produced by liquids are found namely, the tenacious and the watery. tenacious.
water from these over a strong
fire,
two
different forms,
First let us speak concerning the
Take one pound of Honey, and Alum with an eighth
each of Vitriol and of
in
in
it
of a
decoct one-quarter of a pound
pound of lamen.
Distil the
and add thereto one-eighth of a pound each
Mortuum from a human cranium, and half a pound of Sulphur. Decoct into the form of a hepar and digest for a month then distil and rectify
of the Caput
;
with water until pure.
Afterwards add one-eighth of a pound each of Sal
.'Vmmoniac, Flos Aeris, Crocus of Mars, and N'itriol,
Alum; a quarter
of a
pound of
and two ounces each of fixed Antimony and fixed Red Arsenic.
• Live Sulphur
is
Dt Prrfarationiius,
that of which fragments or particles will cohere without
Lib.
1.,
Tract
it
being
in
a dissolved or
».
D
Pound fluid
state.—
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writiiigs of Paracelsus.
34
these together, put into water, ;uid
wards
them stand
lot
the Hquid be separated from the dregs.
let
mixture metallic plates
then
;
let
them remain
Purify and project
Afterinto the
moderate digestion
in
Lastly, let the matter be burnt, separated,
perfect.
heat for ten days.
in
until
and fulminated.
The Eighth Gradation. The gradation by the second liquid is as follows In one Take a sufficient quantity of aquafortis. :
Sol,
in
another part Venus,
part thereof dissolve
Mix these solutions
another part Mars.
in
Pour
together, and afterwards distil the water from them.
again on
this
its
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 Keep the be digested for a month, and afterwards separate the phlegma. Lastly, liquid, and in it let projected metallic plates be digested for a month. Let this be sublet it be coagulated into a mass, and into one distinct bodj\ Fulminate a second time, jected to a process of fulmination and quartation. and thus will be found an excellent transmutation by means of liquid. dregs, and once
The Ninth Gradation. By the third liquid the ninth gradation is made in the following manner Take aquafortis, in which dissolve Verdigris, and let both be kept together Now distil the water from the dregs, horse dung for the space of a month. :
in
pour
it
from
it.
on again,
and pour
distil
it
over several times, until an
is
Into that liquid put metallic filings, and in the course of
Although the
digested you will find a transmutation. nevertheless
quantity, largest
oil
may
its
being
be small
in
graduates most effectually, and affects the very
it
amount of metal
liquid
produced
in
proportion to
its
own
quantity.
The Tenth Gradation. In the following
Take
manner
the fourth liquid
the best Aquafortis,
and
in
it
is
to be
dissolve as
understood
much
:
Steel as possible.
Let these remain in digestion for a month, and from them will be formed a
compound in
of one colour.
which metallic
filings
Let this
compound
must remain
also be distilled into a liquid,
in digestion until the liquid is incorpor-
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. ated.
The Eleventh Gradation. The
eleventh gradation
the formula subjoined
is
made by
the
first
aqueous
liquid according to
:
Take four pounds of the most highly purified Saltpetre, and repurge this Add two pounds of Common Salt dulv from its phlegma by combustion. 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
Then take two pounds of
placed ready for the purpose.
this
Water
;
two
ounces each of Flowers of Antimony, Flos Aeris, Flos Martis, and Flower of Sulphur, with two ounces and a half respectively of Sal
Mix
Ammoniac and
of
Alum.
let them remain in digestion for four and twenty them be separated in the purest water. Afterwards let
these together, and
all
After this
days.
let
Luna and the metals be graduated by
digestion,
by
fulminated
Saturn,
separated by quartification, and fulminated a second time.
Twelfth Gradation. By means
of the second aqueous liquid the twelfth gradation
produced
is
manner Take three pounds of the most highly corrected Vinttm Ardetis ; 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 Let these be combined to form a mixture, and distil this six Alumen Aochi. Mortmim. In this water let metals be digested, when Caput times from the
in
the following
:
;
they
be
will
fixed
we have
and transmuted, as
concerning
above
said
the others.
The Thirteenth By
Grad.vtion.
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. the colour lated
as
and fulminated
well
Afterwards put
and substance may be consumed. in
Know
Saturn.
as that of metals,
is
in
Afterwards
Calx Lunae, so that
let
that in this liquid
coagulated according to
them be coagu-
common the
Mercurj',
conditions
of
made
for
Transmutation.
The Fourteenth Gradation. The
fourth liquid in this place
the fourteenth gradation as follows
is
the
below
Water
of Mercun,-, which
is
:
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 let them be resolved into a water. it,
This water requires no other labour whatever.
Metals projected into
digested for a short time, and afterwards fulminated, are graduated in a
wonderful manner.
Here ends the Book of Gradations.
D2
THE TREASURE OF TREASURES FOR ALCHEMISTS. By Philippus Theophrastus Bombast, Paracelsus the Great
NATURE
which are found
it,
There are two
bowels of the earth.
beg-ets a mineral in the
kinds of
in
many
districts of
The
Europe.
best
which has been offered to me, which also has been found genuine experimentation,
in
the
eastern part
Star,
now
is
in
is
externally in the figure of the greater world, and
of the
sphere of the Sun.
its
efflorescence.
first
forth through its surface. lie
hid
about
it
in
its
by the philosophers, for
it is
is in
Southern
in the
of the earth thrust this coagulation, and in
first
the flowers and colours of the minerals.
all
other,
The bowels
found red
It is
The
Much
it
has been written
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
philosophers before me, though they have aimed at
it
it,
all
the
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
But
plainly revealed,
is
if,
though
it
was unknown
to
Galen or to Avicenna.
we had
sake of our excellent physicians,
for the
to describe only the
name, the composition, the dissolution, and coagulation, as of the world Nature proceeds with
the beginning
in
growing things, a whole year would
all
scarcely suffice me, and, in order to explain these things, not even the skins of
numerous cows would be adequate.
Now, Mercury,
assert that in this mineral are found three principles, which are
I
Sulphur,
and the Mineral Water which has served to
Spagyric science
able to extract this last from
naturall)-
proper juice
coagulate
it.
when
not altogether matured, in the middle of the autumn, just like a
it is
pear from a
tree.
The
tree
is
potentially contains the pear.
Stars and Nature agree, the tree
March
;
then
and so on minerals.
in
it
due order,
I
will
until in
These are born,
the Alchemists
first
of
thrusts out buds, and
who
autumn
in like
all
If the Celestial
puts forth shoots in the month of
when
these open the flower appears,
the pear
manner,
its
in
grows
ripe.
So
is it
with the
the bowels of the earth.
Let
are seeking the Treasure of Treasures carefully note this.
shew them the way,
its
beginning,
its
middle, and
its
end.
In the
The Treasure of Treasures. following treatise the proper
Balm
I
37
will describe the
proper Water, the proper Sulphur, and
By means
of these three the resolution and com-
thereof.
position are coagulated into one.
Concerning the Sulphur of Cinnabar.
Take mineral Cinnabar and prepare with rain water
and dissolve nitre,
and
common
Aqua
in
it
Regis, which
ammoniac.
sal
it
in
the following manner.
Then
a stone vessel for three hours.
in
purify
it
Cook
composed of equal parts of
is
Another formula
is
vitriol,
saltpetre,
it
carefully, vitriol,
alum, and
salt.
Distil this in
pure from the impure thus. the elements
separate
Pour
an alembic.
Let
it
on again, and separate carefully the
putrefy for a
it
month
the following manner.
in
If
horse-dung
in
puts forth
it
;
then
sign,*
its
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 Afterwards join them again, and gradually treat with the at the bottom. ;
So the water and the air will again ascend first, and afterwards the 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
ashes.
element of
few
find.
This dead earth
When
nights.
the reverberator)' you will prepare according to the
in
and afterwards add
rules of Art,
of the
degree for
first
in itself the
Astrum of
fire
and earth. t
salt, like
a thin
Mix
with the two
this
elements that have been preserved, the water and the earth.
on the ashes for eight days and eight nights, and you
many
been neglected by
will
colour has been extracted.
the alkalised earth.
Digest
Again place
find that
will
it
which has
have a white earth,
Join the element of
a pelican to extract the essence.
in
alkali,
Separate this according to your experience,
Artists.
and according to the rules of the Spagyric Art, and you its
days and
and proceed according to Art with the
nights,
At length you will find a volatile
material enclosed.
from which
five
these have elapsed you must apply the second degree for the
same number of days and containing
fire
fire
and
salt to
Then a new
earth will be deposited, which put aside.
Concerning the Red Lion. Afterwards take the lion
you see
its tincture,
water, the •
The Sign
air,
is
of his handicraft, t
The
that
and the
is
in the pelican
to say, the element of fire
earth also has
his skill
its
and
.\strum,
Separate
earth.
nothing else than the mark
whereby
its
which also
it
from
its
is
found
[atj first,
when
which stands above the deposit by trituration.
The home constructed by the architect is the sign Thus the sign is the achievement \Ki^V.—De Colua. just as much as the Firmament, but peculiar to the element.
by an operation.
left
art are determined.
course,
its
order,
an Astrum in the water, even as in the earth, and in like manner with air and fire. Consequently, the upper Astrum has the .\stra of the elements for its medium, and operates through them, by an irresistible attraction.
So
also there
is
Through this operation of the superior and inferior .\stra, all things are fecundated, and led on to their end.— fx/Z/Vn/w Totius Astronomic. Without the .\stra the elements cannot flourish. ... In the Astrum of the earth all the The motion of the earth celestial operations thrive. The Astrum itself is hidden, the bodies are manifest. . is brought about by the Astrttm of the earth. There are four .-Vstra in man (corresponding to those of the foiu: .
.
elements), for he
is
the lesser world.
-De
.
.
CaJucts, Par.
11.
.
The Hermetic and Alcheviical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
38
Thus you
have the true aiirum potabile*
will
of wine poured over
and then
it,
Aqua
acidity to remain in the
vessel,
coagulated.
Place
Thus
Keep
you perceive no
Thus
it
Then put
degree.
in its
again for elevation and coagulation, and repeat this three
it
own
the
not be dissolved, but
will
be produced the Tincture of the Sun, perfect
will
this in its
with the alcohol
a retort hermetically sealed, you must place
in
be exalted and doubled
closely shut, in a cool place.
still
times.
may
it
this
until
Regia.
This Oil of the Sun, enclosed for elevation that
Sweeten
an alembic
in
distil
degree.
in its
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
When
which you have
air
Resolve, and set to putrefy for a month according to instructions.
reserved.
the putrefaction
you
finished,
is
will
behold the sign of the elements.
Separate, and you will soon see two colours, namely, white and red. is
The
above the white.
reddens
all
red tincture of the vitriol
white bodies, and whitens
Work upon operation until
it
by means of a
this tincture
blackness issue forth.
Treat
red ones, which
all
retort,
The red
so povv-erful that
is
is
it
wonderful.
and you
will perceive
a
again by means of the retort, repeating the
it
Go
comes out whitish.
on,
and do not despair of the work.
Rectify until you find the true, clear Green Lion, which you will recognise by
You
great weight.
its
see that
will
You
Tincture, transparent gold.
it
is
heavy and large.
This
how
to find
it
and use
it
Roman
for a tincture
the true and genuine Balsam,
is
is
the
marvellous signs of this Green Lion,
will see
such as could be bought by no treasures of the has learnt
This
J
Happy
Leo.
who
he
!
the Balsam of the Heavenly Stars,
suffering no bodies to decay, nor allowing 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
Where your
philosophers ? at
purge and relax
least
wandered out of ^
Aitrum PotabiUy
PotibiU
is
doctors Is
?
their course,
that
is,
?
is
Where
your treasure?
Where are your
your heaven reversed
and are they straying
your
are
who
decocters of woods, ?
in
Have your
stars
another orbit, away
Potable Gold, Oil of Gold, and Quintessence of Gold, are distinguished thus.
gold rendered potable by interniLvture with other substances, and with liquids.
Oil of
Gold
is
Auruvt an
oil
ex-
The Quintessence of Gold is the redness of gold extracted therefrom and separated from the body of the metal. De Membits Contrtictis^ Tract II., c. 2. I-'rom this may be prepared the quintt If copper be pounded and resolved without a corrosi\e, you have Vitriol. tracted from the precious metal without the addition of anything.
essence,
oil,
l^ermium,
and liquor \.h^reoi.—De Mordh Tiirtareh, Cuprine Vitriol is Vitriol cooked vj\l\i Coppur. — Dg Morbi* Chalcanthum is present in Venus, and Venus can by separation be reduced into Chalcanthum.
P.-ir. 6.
Chirurgm Magna.
Pars. III., Lib. IV.
all things a Balsam created by God, without which putrefaction would imwhich are anointed with Balsam we see that corruption is arrested, and thus in the physical 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 differs from what is more commonly called Balsam, in that the one is conservative of the living, and the other of the dead.— Chirurgia Magna, Pt. II., Tract II., c. 3. The confection of Balsam requires special knowledge of chemistry, and it t
There
is,
indeed, diffused through
mediately supervene.
was
first
Thus,
in corpses
discovered by the Alchemists. —/i/t/.
,
Pt.
I.,
Tract
II., c. 4.
The Treasure of Treasures. trom the
39
your eyes are smitten with blindness, as by
line of limitation, since
making a show of ornament, beauty, and pomp? artists only knew that their prince Galen —they call none like him vour was If stickini^ in hell, from whence he has sent letters to me, they would make the sign of the cross upon themselves with a fox's tail. In the same way your a carbuncle, and other thing's
—
Avicenna
the vestibule of the infernal portal
sits in
him about
and Philosophers' Stone, you hypocrites,
who
who
impostors
my
After
I
have disputed with
my
death,
and
his Mithridatic, his Theriac,
is
a son of
God
Come,
himself!
O,
the rest.
all
despise the truths taught you by a true physician,
himself instructed by Nature, and listen,
and
;
his aitntm f'vtahile, his Tincture of the Philosophers, his Quintessence,
who
is
and
then,
prevail onlj- by the authority of your hiyh positions
and drag you
disciples will burst forth
to the light,
!
and
expose your dirty drugs, wherewith up to this time you have compassed the
shall
death of princes, and the most invincible magnates of the Christian world.
Woe
for
your necks
in
Mine, too,
be mine.
Of her
I
know
which
is
proved the
But full
I
The same
light
adepts
am
must proceed with my I
born her
in
I
;
her
that the
Not that
do
them,
this for in astral
philosophy, which enables them to
if
it
in that universe.
my
disciples to the
only skilled in the
matters, they finally
know
will
praise myself:
in her; outside, too,
design in order to satisfy
willingly
monarchy
I
She knows me, and I I have
follow.
I
have beheld
Nature and thoroughly practised
in
know
of the microcosm, and found
in the figure
extent of their wish.
light of
I
!
be the honour and glory.
Nature praises me. her.
judgment
the day of
will
become
the nature of every kind of
water.
Take, then, of parts by weight
;
which
this liquid of the minerals
of the Earth of red Sol two parts
I
have described, four
of Sulphur of Sol one
;
Put these together into a pelican, congelate, and dissolve them three
part.
Thus you
times.
described
its
will
weight
:
have the Tincture of the Alchemists. but this
who has one to own body of Sol.
So, now, he also tinge his
is
given
in
the
We
have not here
book on Transmutations.*
a thousand ounces of the Asiriim Solis shall
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 understood as to the Astra of 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, because we have already dwelt at sufficient you have the Astrum of Mercury,
If
in
the
:
length upon them in the book on the Nature of Things and in the Archidoxies. So, too, the
first
entity of metals
sufficiently clear for .Alchemists to
• It
is
concerning
weight
is
didicutt to identify the treatise to
The Nature
and
terrestrial
which reference
is
made
of Things, nor the ensuing tract on Cemettts.
discussed in the
Aurora o/tfu
minerals have been
made
enable them to get the Alchemists' Tincture.
Philoiophtrs.
No detached
here.
The
It
does not seem to be the seventh book
general question of natural and artificial
work on Transmutations has come down
to us.
The Hermetic and Alche^nical Writings of Paracelsus.
40
This work,
months
;
the
Tincture of the Alchemists, need not be one of nine
but quickly, and without any delay, you
may go on by
of the Alchemists, and, in the space of forty days, you can
substance, exalt
it,
putrefy
the Alchemical Phoenix.*
it,
ferment
But
it
it,
coagulate
it
the Spaygric Art
fix
this alchemical
into a stone,
and produce
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 phoenix 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
also the Iliastic soul in
man.
is
the soul of the Iliaster (that
Liher Azoth^
S. V.,
is,
the
first
Practica Linea
chaos of the matter of aJl things),
Vitre.
Here ends the Tre.^sure of the Alchemists.
CONCERNING THE
TRANSMUTATIONS OF METALS AND OF CEMENTS. By
as
JUST
we have given
THEOPHRASTUS.
instructions concerning other transmutations, in
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 recipps 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 the
and remain together in one and quartation, just as the properties of true gold are
but they should always persist
separated,
cineration, coloration,
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.
least
teaches
is,
it
Sol.
:
how
may
metals
For cements with other recipes cannot perfectly
transmuting to other metals
work of transmutation
;
but
into Sol,
But
this at
be cemented into the chief metal, gold, that
in
these only there
which masters
fulfil
all
their operation for
a complete and rapid
is
the other metals,
not,
And notice should be own concordance as though
indeed, by quartation, but by colouring and tincture.*
taken what are the bodies which confer their
For there are some
belonging to the same species. receptive,
* From
how
all
and others which are not
thai has
indefatigable
was
come down
so.
Some have
to us concerning the labours
their search after the best
method
first
of
bodies which are all
to be reduced
and investigations of the old philosophers, we see and lengthening life. But Ijcing themselves
for preserving
devoid of a perfect instruction in the preparation of medicines, they did not hesitate to have recourse to the .\Ichemists, and thus, by the combined labours of both parties, there at length arose a genuine science of pharmacy, which then,
But by means of various chcmicil experiments devoted to medicine, was m.irvellously propagated and increased. that which they call the Tincture excelled all. Yet, at the same time, it had fallen into a certain discredit, owing to the gold-makers,
who thought
it
chiefly useful for the transmutation of metals.
The
philosophers of old having
compounded the Tincture, whereby they transmuted the coloinrs of metals and purged away their dross, as might have been expected, next began to think of making use of it for the purpose of Medicine ; and seeing that the flowers of the metals were endowed with greater \-irtues than the metals themselves, they attempted to utilize these in the interests of the ph>-sician. Accordingly, whether from the benignant disposition of Heaven or through the fertility of their minds, those Tinctiu-es were discovered and improved, the
efficaci'
of which
which mantiscripts have been suppressed by the crowd of pscudo-medici CAtrurg-ia
Magnn^ Tract
III., c. I.
;
is
borne witness to by ancient manuscripts, we do not hesitate to publish them.
but
The Hermetic atid Alchemical Wrilings of Paracelsus.
42
to their flowers
\ species some
with others this
;
In like manner,
not necessary.
is
some
colour according to the red Sol, others according to the clayey Sol
in flux,
some
should be paid to
half cement.
in
fire,
In like
as being that wherein
;
manner, too, diligent attention
cements
all
chiefly lie concealed,
and wherein they gain their power of operation. Fire contains within itself the whole of Alchemy by its native power to tinge, graduate, and fix, which as
is,
it
were, born with
it
and impressed upon
it.*
Every elaborator of
cements, too, must attend carefully to the method of the process
method
is
even of greater
So, then,
wliereby
all
Cement.
let
moment than
;
the
for
the prescription or recipe.
us proceed to the series of the six cements, as being those
.Among these the first is the Royal the method of the ancients, we will follow
cements are regulated.
Paying
little
heed to
experience as our guide, and those prescriptions which experience proves to be of no use
we
will omit.
Thus
:
—
Take Flower of Brass, Antimony, Brick Tiles, Common Salt, of each half a 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, Then at length take Regulus, plated and crude from the for four hours. former process, and cement it with the same materials and an equal degree of pound.
fire, it
repeating the operation four or
Afterwards, having fulminated
five times.
again with cinders or ashes, reduce
it
once more to Luna.
The instruments,
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
such as the melting vessels,
etc.,
kind of cement.
Note, too, that the flowers of brass should be extracted from copper by
means of
For herein
vitriol.
taken thus, and that for
many
contained some natural fixation
is
So, too, the tiles should be taken from a
power of fixing the vapours which away and escape. the
• Fire tries everything
Paramtritm, Lib. I., Whatsoever pertains
what
;
is
impure
it
good house
exist in Luna,
removes, and
it
is
it
to separation belongs to the science of
;
for the roof has
which otherwise
all
fly
brings about the manifestation of pure substances.
Fire separates the fixed from thefugitive.
c. i.
when
reasons.
— ZJtr Mofbu
Alchemy.
tciches
Metaiiicis, Lib. IL, Tract L,
how
to
c. i.
extract, coagulate,
and Whatsoever man does the planets do Accordingly, as the Alchemist seeks saltpetre in nitre, mercury ia diuig, also, but in an alchemistic sense and process. sulphur in fire, so he also seeks the firmament, which is invisible Vulcan. When be has collected these substances and h.is united them, detonation follows, of that kind which in heaven is called a thunderbolt, but the .\lchemist terms it —Bombard. For he has the power of pnxiucing thunder, as in magic, which is the philosophy of Alchemy. There are foolish people who confound it with (what is now understood as) Nigromancy, yet there is a sense in which it is separate every substance in
its
properly such, and in which
because s. V.
its initiates
Paralysis,
peculiar vessel.— /><"
Nigromancy
is its
true
.l/or/^/j
Ta>iarfis,
name from
It
c. 16.
being derived from the word blackness, Nigromantics who serve Vulcan. De Coiica^
its earliest origin,
walk about as black as charcoal burners. They are
all
The Transmutations of Metals and Cements. Salt corrects
These four metal
leprous Luna, cleansing-
fixes
and be put
details should exist
applied
is
and
;
after
is
it
from
it
its
into practice together
To
must be specially observed and noticed.
that
fire
and
fulminated
43
;
blackness.
but
the
it is
cement no other discloses and exhibits gold.
it
this
Therefore this cement should be considered sufficient for one.
CON'CERNING THE SeCOXD CeSIENT.
The cement which we wish Sol,
and with regard
The
first is
that Sol
to
we
to be
cemented
in
set
The second
down
in
order that
in colour,
and
aqua
in the
The
cement defective
in this
is
only for
it
may
be able to retain the cement, or
flies off in
its
in
in the fourth
degree without
its
our treatise on Gradations.
is
that a
good deal of Sol
necessary one should
of colouring without diminution of
remain
the second place
Wherefore
own
its
has
it
volatile body,
the process of inciner-
fortis.
object
it is
in
not fixed, or not brought to
it is
which otherwise sometimes ation, or else in
down
to put
there are four objects which have to be considered.
sometimes found
is
or middle part, because deficiencies, as
it
is
know how
its
found which
to bring
is
defective
to its perfection
it
and so that the colours may
bulk,
specimens.
third
is
ance of Luna,
that this white, imperfect colour of Sol, having the appear-
may
be cemented, so that
may
it
retain the
colour thence
acquired in everj' specimen.
The fourth concerns so that to
it,
it is
when
exists, for
may,
also,
the weight in which the Sol
esteemed as somewhat common. it
proves
its
higher quality by
many reasons. For for many reasons.
By means
its
colour,
Brass, of each half-a-pound
it,
nor any volatile or unfixed condition.
in
;
by
fire
:
— Antimony
Afterwards cement with
it
oil
is
for twenty-four hours, without the heat being allowed to decrease,
a fusing vessel closely fastened.
When
this
time has elapsed, take out the Let
it
be liquefied with the into a form.
So
have the very best and most abundant cement for rendering Sol
free
addition of copper-green or borax, and afterwards pour will
let
;
of antimony until the whole
gold in verj' thin plates or grains, lique-
Regulus not acted upon by the crude antimony.
you
and Flower of
of coagulated mercurj-, one-fourth of a pound
be mixed together and imbibed with red
fied
and a higher grade of Sol
of cement gold can be perfected in these four particulars so that
Let the preparation of this cement be as follows
reddened.
sometimes defective,
the weight deceives no true artist, as the probe
afterwards no defect shall be found in
all
is
This must be entirely restored
from defects and incinerations,
in
its
it
highest degree, fixed and permanent
in all
cements,
and quartations.
Concerning the Third Ce.ment.
Sol,
So far we have set down the two fixations or cementations for Luna and which ought to be adopted when these metals are to be multiplied. But
The Hermetic and Alcketnical Writi7igs of Paracelsus.
44
and afterwards placed
others, too, have to be cemented,
This third cement
them
themselves for the tincture of the other cements.
in
fit
colouring cement.
in a
adapted for perfecting the other metals and rendering
is
metal has not been prepared and smeared over for this tincture take
it,
For where a it is
not able to
or onl)' in a very slight degree, and by a dangerous process.
Quicksilver," which
cement
is
common
made
to be
comprised under
is
ber of the metals, but only
among metallic
thus
:
this
cement,
is
not
among the numThe
materials and malleable bodies.
Antimony, one pound
pound
Saltpetre, one
;
;
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 Salt
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 metals.
When
one.
time has elapsed,
this
that remains be extracted, that
let all
say, the loppa (refuse) along with the Regulus.
cementings of
ordinary method, and Saturn of the same kind burnt
w
ill
be found fixed upon
means of the
And
it.
jar, the cupella,
here
mark
of this kind, which remains on
the
which
is
When
With regard
given to this
cement in
The following
before.
enters into the jar.
Metal
you will cement a more fixed and remain
of the jar,
may
turn out it
is
fixed for receiving the
is
it
should be remarked that two or three metals
one mixture and one body, which
Take
the method.
Let therp stand in a
Jupiter, or Saturn.
The metal
remains on the
it
has been done,
this
to the
then the metal
by cementation.
it
can be blended together
it
;
the difference of the separation by
surface
second or a third time, as above, so that
tincture,
in the vessel
or the cineritium.
cineritium or the cupella, but in the other case
on the cineritium.
to all
do not exhibit the Regulus, but some of them only the
this kind
These should be afterwards treated with Saturn, according
loppas.
is
This must be noted, that
fire
filings of
will
be better than
Mars, Venus, and
of liquefaction for twelve hours.
The cement will be more useful, if besides the above there be taken Antimony and Salt each one pound filings of Mars, Venus, and Saturn, half a pound each. Treat them as before mentioned.
Addition. of
;
The Fourth Cement. The fourth cement is thai which them a perfect metal, and losing
is
within
it
composed of minerals containing Here it
by means of liquefaction.
should be noted that metals cannot be better fixed than
They vanish altogether kind takes place
may
in
we
• Quicksilver
.\lthough of
is
.\rcheus, through the
own
will here
nature, or
comprise
chiefly assimilated to Mcrcurj-,
weakness occasioned by
its
process of addition, become a ductile metal, as that
it is
may
hen they are crude. this
be transmuted into some other metal.
cements under one.
tv.'o
generated from the Mercuri-il prime principle.
all mct.ils it is
\\
Transmutation of
process of liquefaction.
minerals and metals before liquefaction, so that the metals
be fixed in their
Therefore
in the
capable of conversion into any metal.
it
is
and
is
opposed
is
to ductility.
has not received ductility from the and sulphur. It can, however, by the Spagyric
differs in this, that
small tiuanlity of salt
i)e
It is not ductile,
The former
it
demonstrated by the philosophy of transmutation, which shews EUmtnto A^tttr, Tract III., c. 7.
The Transnmiaiions of Metals
atid Cements.
for fixing a metal in a mineral without tr;;nsmiitation
muting the metal of \'enus
remembered
there
that
are
into Sol, or
more
far
excellent
metals themselves.
These are they which
fixations of minerals
when they
metal.
must be
It
minerals than
spirits in
contain in themselves the tincture and the
colours of the matter, which properties have not yet been destroyed by
we
fully point
a metal in
Take
its
out
own
The following
other books.
in
mineral
let
is
them be kindled
Then pour them out. Saturn. Thus you will
:
in
a
which add two
closely, lute
them,
twenty-four hours.
for
Diminish with some reduction and fulminate
same
vi-ith
good colour of its and demonstrated naturally. So with
find metal of the
in many waj's we make no mention
kind, with
For the
here.
crudely in metals take precedence according to their
The following
to
;
Cover them
of liquefaction
fire
own, which can be tested other minerals whereof
own
spirits existing
colours and essences.
the prescription for the transmutation of minerals
is
as
fire,
the prescription for fixing
of the mineral of Mars, well ground, one pound
pounds respectively of Antimony and Saltpetre.
and
in
gradations and the
the
assist
latter for trans-
tlie
;
some other
45
:
—
Crocus of the flowers of Mars and flowers of the Crocus of V^enus, each one pound.
\'itriol
one pound.
Of
and Alum, each half a pound.
and cemented
humidit)',
two pounds.
the mineral,
for twelve hours.
When
this is
a transmutation of the cineritium.
You
and fulminated
in
Saturn.
add a mixture of metals, taking
kind,
aptitude existing in
Let
all
Prepared
Afterwards
done there
common
salt,
be liquefied, deprived of
will
them be
let
be found
liquefied
in the vat
can even, for a transmutation of this account, however, the special
into
them by means of which one can be more
easily
transmuted
than another.
The Fifth Cement. This
fifth
cemervt concerns only volatile bodies, as of
and metals such as Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, that the corporal Mercuries from the metals in their tincture, since they
that
common one may
diff'er
So, too,
it
It
from the
demand more tincture from
common
Mercurj',
must be remarked
common Mercury
the proved metals than
should be understood that both Mercuries,
and the common, should be
the corporal
they
does.
etc.
first
of
all
coagulated
in
order that
be able to resist the cement, and to recover their corporal substance,
together with their tincture and colouring, as the best metals should.
The coagulation
of Mercury*
is
as follows
:
by a solution of Luna to such a degree that force nor sharpness for dissolving.
before spoken of:
a thick mass.
' Mercun' is
is
performed thus
When
it
let
Then
the water be the
Mercurv
Into this
warmed
will
a
— Take Aquafortis,
it
weakened
no longer has any corrosive
put either of the Mercuries
little
and afterwards
stirred to
coagulate and harden into the form oi
coagulated by Lead, for no metal has greater aflRnity for Mercury than lead possesses. Coagulation Take Jii. of fine lead. Melt it in a vessel of clay remove it from the fire, and let it cool somewhat. :
approaches congelation, pour into
;
it
the same quantity of living
Mercury.— ^n-Airftfjrw Magicir^
Lib.
VIL
and Alchemical Writings of
Tlic HerDietic
46
Paracelsus.
wash until clean, and then cement it with two drams and a half; Sal ammoniac, two ounces; the Crocus of the Flower of Brass, and Flower of the Crocus of Mars, each six ounces calcined \'itriol and calcined Alum, each two ounces Haematitis and
Take
metal.
out of the water
it
;
following: — Borax,
;
;
Let them be
Bolus Armeni, each two ounces.
pounded, mixed, and
well
them be placed, layer by layer, You will cement by of fire, gently for one hour, and then with a stronger observing the degrees Cement for four hours, and keep in a state of fluxion. heat for the next hour. Then put it in Saturn and fulminate. So you will have the transmutation of imbibed several times
in
Afterwards
in urine.
let
a fusing' vessel, with the junctions closed and luted.
Mercury as we said above. But when it has been cemented otherwise than it
can
method of Cinnabar, so
following
:
two ounces
of each
Common
Calcined
first six
now
— Cinnabar
described,
and Borax,
that
Salt,
it
shall
still
be one body.
Then add
in
a crucible
Let them be them be slowly heated for treated with a greater fire, and at last
;
afterwards
hours, and for the next six
for twelve hours subjected to the
let
most violent heat.
This having been done,
again sublimate as above by the aforesaid process, and on the fourth or
cement you
You
will
will find the
then have
the
Flowers of Brass, Crocus of Mars, Bolus,
of the above-mentioned body, one dram.
;
placed layer by layer the
:
Let these be liquefied into one body, which sublimate
of each half a dram. after the
the w,iy
in
be transmuted with the following cement
still
its
fifth
cinnabar fixed, which reduce and fulminate by Saturn.
transmutation as aforesaid.
In this
way you can proceed
to transmutation with other volatile bodies.
The Sixth Cement. now remains
what way Part with Part comes to be cethe tincture, and receives it sooner than by other like operations of the Artists, because Sol is fixed and graduated by the It should be understood, too, that these should be cemented and cement. raised to the highest degree, prepared, subtilised, and re-purified afterboth plates in equal weight, then wards liquefied at the same time, and made into Cinnabar, stratified in a crucible closely shut, with the following powder 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 It
mented so that
to be said in
receives
it
more of
;
:
;
exposed to a gentle it
fire,
and afterwards imbibed with
for the aforesaid stratification.
liquefy for
:
then renew and liquefy for another six hours.
twelve hours
;
urine,
and
Let them be placed at the
fire
at length use six
hours to
Do the same a third time
a fourth time for twenty-four hours.
Lastly, liquefy by a
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 fulmen of Saturn.
transmutation.
In this
The Transmutations of Metals and Cements.
47
Conclusion.
words we would conclude our book on cements, believing that Although many other prescriptions for similar cementations are in vogue, we exclude them from In these few
we have our
treated these matters with sufficcnt clearness.
own enumeration,
putting
by experiment proved more
down
in this
place only those which have been
useful.
Here ends the Transml'tations of Metals and Cements.
THE AURORA OF THE PHILOSOPHERS. THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS.
By
WHICH HE OTHERWISE CALLS HIS
CHAPTER
MONARCHIA.'^'
1.
Concerning the Origin of the Philosophers' Stone.
ADAM
was
the
the world's
natural
arts
in
two
hieroglyphical
characters,
made
the
in
in
came
it
on which they engraved
order that their posterity
prediction,
tliis
cause, too,
this
tables of stone,
acquainted with
heeded, and provision
From
by water.
destruction
might also become
Thence he predicted
the Fall as before, t
his successors erected
about that
knowledge of
inventor of arts, because he had
things as well after
all
all
first
so
that
time of danger.
might be
it
Noah
Subsequently,
found one of these tables under Mount Araroth, after the Deluge.
In this
were described the courses of the upper firmament and of the lower At length this universal knowledge was globe, and also of the planets. table
divided into several parts, and lessened
in
man became an
of this separation, one
its
another a cabalist, and a fourth an alchemist. cain, a
consummate astrologer and
By means
vigour and power.
astronomer, another a magician,
Abraham, that Vulcanic Tubal-
arithmetician, carried the Art out of the
land of Canaan into Egypt, whereupon the Egyptians rose to so great a height
and dignity that The work under
* folio
this
wisdom was derived from them by other
this title is cited occasionally in other writings of Paracelsus,
published at Geneva in i6SS.
in Latin
by the
celsus, but
is
editor,
it
Gerard Dome.
was
iirst
issued at Basle in is75, and
This personage wAs a
though no doubt
;
in
the
main
it
hut
is
not included in the gre.it
ver^' persevering collector of the literarj*
is
The
was accompanied with copious annotations
The
remains of Para-
by some regarded a genuine work of the Sage of Hohcnheim, yet in some
not altogether free from the suspicion of h.-iving elaborated his original.
as an inst.-\nce in point respects
It
nations.
.\urora
is
does seem to approximate somewhat closely to previous schools of Alchemy, which can scu-cely be regarded
as representing the actual standpoint of P.aracelsus.
What has man in any place without labour? When the t He who created man the same also created science. mandate went forth Thou shalt live by the sweat of thy brow, there was, as it were, a new creation. When God uttered His fiat the world was made. Art, however, was not then made, nor was the light of Nature. But when Adam was expelled from Paradise, God created for him the light of Nature when He bade him live by the work of his hands. In like manner. He created for E\e her special light when He said to her In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children. Thus, and there, were these beings made human and earthy that were before like angelicals. Thus, by the word were creatures made, and by this same word was also made the light which was necessar>' to man. Hence the :
;
.
.
.
.
interior
nition
man
followed from the second creation, after the expulsion from Paradise.
which was requisite to man had not begun
out of Paradise.
.
Cadiicis, Par. 111.
.
.
Man
w.xs
to
made complete
develop in
in
him.
He
received
.
it
.
.
.
.
Before the Fall, that cog-
from the angel when he was cast
the order of the body, but not in the order of the arts.—
Pe
The Aurora of patriarch Jacob painted, as
was done by magic
it
the Philosophers.
were, the sheep with various colours
;
and
this
Hebrews, Persians,
for in the theolog)- of the Chaldeans,
:
49
and Egpytians, 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
among
the priests and also the physicians were chosen from priests for the
cost
judgment of what
related to health, especially in
Moses, likewise, was instructed
of leprosy.
in
the Egyptian schools, at the
and care of Pharaoh's daughter, so that he excelled Thus, too, was
learning of that people.
it
—
Magi the the knowledge
the
in all the
with Daniel,
who
wisdom and
in his
youthful
days imbibed the learning of the Chaldeans, so that he became a cabalist. Witness his di\ine predictions and his exposition of those words, " Mene,
These words can be understood by the prophetic and
_Mene, Tecclphares." cabalistic Art.
This cabalistic Art was perfectly familiar
to,
and
in
constant
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 use by, Moses and the Prophets.
Samuel, that the Berelists did not follow the devil's part, but became, by Divine permission, partakers of visions and veritable apparitions, whereof
more
shall treat
at large in the
granted by the Lord
was
a
God
Book
of Supercelestial Things.*
to those priests
who walk
in the
This
we
gift is
Divine precepts.
It
custom among the Persians never to admit any one as king unless he
were a Wise Man, pre-eminent
reality as well as
in
from the customarj- name of their kings
Men and
;
for they
in
name.
This
is
clear
were called Wise Men.
Magi who came from the East to seek The Egj-ptians, also, having obtained this magic and philosophy from the Chaldeans and Persians, desired that their priests should learn the same wisdom and they became so
Such were those Wise
Persian
out the Lord Jesus, and are called natural priests.
;
fruitful
and successful therein that
them.
For
this
reason
all
the neighbouring countries admired
Hermes was so
named Trismegistus, because
truly
he was a king, a priest, a prophet, a magician, and a sophist of natural
Such another was Zoroaster.
things.
CHAPTER Wherein
is
Declared
th.\t
II.
the Greeks drew a large part and how
OF THEIR Learning from the Egyptians IT
When
a son of
came from them to
Noah possessed
;
us.
the third part of the world after the Flood,
broke into Chaldaea and Persia, and thence spread into Egypt. The Art having been found out by the superstitious and idolatrous Greeks, some this .Art
of
them who were wiser than the •
No work
reference
is
precbely corresponding to this
made
rest
title is
betook themselve^^tp the Chaldeans and
extant
are discussed in the Philoscpkia Sagtuc,
among the
writings of Paracelsus.
The subjecu
to
»l:Rh
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
50
Egyptians, so that they might draw the same wisdom from their schools.
them, they trusted to their
own
Moses did not satisfy genius, and fell away from the right
of the law of
Since, however, the theological study
peculiar
foundation of those natural secrets and
arts.
This
evident from their
is
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
skill
enigmatical
in
figures
and Pythagoras was also acquainted with
;
many
and abstruse
Homer
This was afterwards followed by
terms.
it,
with
histories
and
marvellous poetical
seeing that he comprised
Moses and the Old Testament, la 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 .^.strology. Geometry, Arithmetic, or Medicine, because their pride prevented 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 which descended from them to the Latins. These in their turn, being educated herewith, adorned it with their own doctrines, and by these the philosophy Many academies were founded for the propagation was spread over Europe. and this of their dogmas and rules, so that the young might be instructed system flourishes with the Germans, and other nations, right down to the writings
in his
things out of the law of
;
present day.
CHAPTER What was
•
The Chaldeans,
T.vught
in
HI.
the Schools of the Egvpti.vns.
Persians, and Egyptians had
all
of them the
ledge of the secrets of Nature, and also the same religion.
names that differed. The Chaldeans and and Magic* and the Egyptians, because priestcraft. The magic of the Persians, were both of them taught in the schools
Persians called their doctrine Sophia of the sacrifice, called their
;
schools and learned
men
in
same knowwas only the
It
wisdom
and the theology of the Egyptians, of old.
Though
there were
many
Arabia, Africa, and Greece, such as Albumazar,
among
Abenzagcl, Geber, Rhasis, and Avicenna
the Arabians
;
and among
the Greeks, Machaon, Podalirius, Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, Democritus, Plato,
and Rhodianus still there were different opinions amongst them as to wisdom of the Egyptian on points wherein they themselves differed, and whereupon they disagreed with it. For this reason Pythagoras could not be Aristotle,
;
the
• Before
from divine
There
.ill
things
virtue.
it is
There
are, then, different
Magus
;
there
is
the
nccessarj* to is
have a right understanding of the nature of Celestial Magic. It originates Moses practised, and there is the maleficent magic of the sorcerers.
that magic which
kinds of Magi.
Magus of
So
also there
F.iith, that is,
Perdition.— /'/»V(jio//(m Sagnjc, Lib.
II., c. 6.
is
what
one whose
is
faith
called the Magic of Nature there is the Celestial makes him whole. There is, lastly, the Magus of :
The Auro)'a oj the Philosophers. man, because the Egyptian
called a wise
51
priestcraft
and wisdom were not r^r-
many
mysteries and arcana; ijnd
pectly taught, although he received therefrom
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 would not be that
assumed the name more than a few gleams like shadows But Moses, Abraham,_ from the magic of the Persians and the Egyptians. Solomon, .Adam, and the wise men that came from the East to Christ, were Of this art and wisdom Kie Greeks true Magi, divine sophists and cabalists.
men
called wise
of philosophy
:
Magi
or
;
but, following Pythagoras, they
yet they gathered no
knew very little or nothing at all and therefore we shall leave this philosophical wisdom of the Greeks as being a mere speculation, utterly distinct ;
and separate from other true arts and sciences.
CHAPTER What Many
the Chaldeans, Persians, and Egyptians were.
M.\gi
persons have endeavoured to investigate and
magic of these wise men ot
own age
our
cabala*
IV.
;
but
it
exalt Trithemius, others
— two things apparently quite
Magic, indeed,
an art and
is
fruits, properties, virtues,
Bacon and
distinct
facultj-
— not
God from Him to
;
for
of the secret
Many even
magic and the
.Agrippa, for
knowing why they do
whereby the elementary- bodies,
and hidden operations are comprehended.
cabala, by a subtle understanding of the Scriptures,
way
make use
has not yet been accomplished.
so.
their
But the
seems to trace out the
men, to shew them how they may act with Him, and prophesy
for the cabala
natural secrets.
It
is full
of divine mysteries, even as
Magic
is
teaches of and foretells from the nature of things to
well as of things present, since its operation consists in
knowing
full
of
come as
the inner
what is what are their occult virtues for what they were originally designed, and with what properties they are endovi'ed. 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 Magi a Gamahea,t constitution of latent within
•
Lcam,
all
them
therefore,
creatures, of celestial as well as terrestrial bodies ;
;
Astronomic Magic, which olherwbe I call cabalistic. ~Di PestiliUtte^ Tract I. This was in the beginning named caballa, and afterwards caballia. It is a species of magic.
formerly called cal>alistic,
was
also,
but falsely, called Gabanala, by one whose knowledge of the subject was profound.
Ethnic origin, and
it
passed subsequently to the Chalda»ans and Hebrews, by both of
Phi'Oufihia ^itgax^ Lib.
The
:
I., s. v.
art, It
was of an unknown it was corrupted.
It
whom
Probatio in ScUntiam Nectromantricum.
and exhibited the sign thereof appears to have been termed Gamaheu, But the name was chiefly given to certain stones on which various and wonderful images and figures of men and animals h.ive been found naturally depicted, being no work of man, but the result of the providence and counsel of God. --/)*• /w^_^/«r^«j, c. 7 and c. 33. It is possible, magically, for a man to project his influence into these stones and some other substances.— /(^/tt/., c. 13. But they also have their own inherent \irtue, which is indicated by the shape and the special nature of the impression.- Jbid.^ c. 7. There was also an artiflcial Gamaheus invented and prepared by the Magi, and this seems to have been more powerful. De Carduo Angelico. t
Gamahe>-,
object which received the influence
etc.
E2
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Tlie
52
or tKe -rtiarriage of the celestial powers and properties with elementary bodies. .Herice ensued the excellent commixtures of
and
bodies, celestial
all
terrestrial,
namely, of the sun and planets, likewise vegetables, minerals, and animals.
The light
of
it,
attempted with his whole force and endeavour to darken
devil
nor was he wholly frustrated
;
in his
and, in place thereof, introduced
hopes, for he deprived
among
that people
and simple blasphemies against God and against His Son. had
origin in the Divine Ternary
its
God marked
all
His creatures with
on them with His own
speculations
Magic,
is
true,
and arose from the Trinity of God.
For
this
Nothing
finger.
human
this
Greece
all
Ternary and engraved in
its
it
hieroglyph
the nature of things can be assigned
or produced that lacks this magistery of the Divine Ternary, or that does
not even ocularly prove
Creator Himself, as
St.
it.
The
Paul
creature teaches us to understand and see the
testifies to
Romans.
the
This covenant of the
Divine Ternary, diffused throughout the whole substance of things,
By
soluble.
this, also,
we have
is
indis-
the secrets of all Nature from the four elements.
For the Ternary, with the magical Quaternary, produces a perfect Septenarj-, endowed with man}- arcana and demonstrated by things which are known.
When
the Quaternary rests in the Ternary, then arises the Light of the
and by the assistance of God gives us the whole and operations of all creatures, and to since they are stamped and marked with their arcana, signs, char-
on the horizon of
Here also
bond.
their use,
and
acters,
eternity,
it
refers to the virtues
figures, so that there is left in
made Ternary mount to
point which
the
is
not
reduction to unity.
God has made made more
them scarcely the smallest occult Then when the Quaternary and
clear on examination.
the
Herein
Denary is
accomplished their retrogression or
is
comprised
plainly manifest to
of His hands, so that they
be
World
all
the occult
wisdom of things which
men, both bv His word and by the creatures
may have
a true knowledge of them.
This shall
clear in another place.
CHAPTER
V.
Concerning the Chief and Supreme Essenxe 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
is
at length,
by many industrious and pro-
longed preparations, exalted and raised up above the range of vegetable substances into mincial, above mineral into metallic, and above perfect metallic
substances into a perpetual and divine Quintessence,* including
was regarded by Paracelsus as himself in a special manner the true Quintessence. After God had created and cverj- other created thing, and had disposed them according to His will, He proceeded, the forming of man. He extracted the essence out of the four elements into one mass He extracted also the
• M.in all
the elements, stars,
lastly, to
in itself the
;
The Aurora of essence of
and
all celestial
Philosophers.
tlie
53
The Arabs and Greeks, by
terrestrial creatures.
and the When these were and abstruse mysteries. understood they saw with their own eyes, in the course
the occult characters and hieroglyphic descriptions of the Persians Hg-yptians, attained
obtained and partially of experimenting',
secret
to
many wonderful and
strange
But since the super-
effects.
more deeply hidden than their capacity could penetrate, they did not call this a supercelestial arcanum according to the institution of the Magi, but the arcanum of the Philosophers' Stone according to the counsel Whoever obtained this Stone overshadowed it and judgment of Pythagoras.
celestial operations lay
with various enigmatical figures, deceptive resemblances, comparisons, and fictitious
titles,
knowledge of
it
so that
matter might remain occult.
its
CHAPTER
little
or no
VI.
Concerning the Different Errors as to
The philosophers have
prefixed
" Rosary" that the greatest
have called
Discovery and Knowledge. to this matter of the
Arnold, observing
difficulty is to find
this,
says
in
his
out the material of this Stone
;
vegetable, animal, and mineral, but not according to
it
known
the literal sense,
which
of divine secrets
and the miracles of
LuUy's "Lunaria"
its
most occult names
Stone, grounded on mere similitudes.
for they
\'ery
therefore can be had from them.
is
may
well
to such wise
this
men
as have had experience
For example, Raymond
same Stone.
This gives flowers of admirable virtues
be cited.
familiar to the philosophers themselves
but
;
was not the
it
intention of those
philosophers that you should think they meant thereby any projection upon
made
metals, or that any such preparations should be of the philosophers had another intention.
matter by the operation
;
name
afterwards to convert in this
manner, they called their
it
denotes nothing more than a
Moreover, no small error has arisen
vegetables, with which a
who
like
of Martagon, to which they applied an occult alchemical
when, notwithstanding that name,
hidden similitude.
that he
In
but the abstruse mind
;
it
good many have sought
with
fixatorj'
succeed in becoming the chief master.
it
Now, although
the liquids of
due merely to the
is
earthy sulphur with which they abound.
This attracts to
essence of wisdom, art, and reason out of the stars, and this twofold essence that
liquid
ot
and
without the aid of metals would
vegetables do effect this, yet the result
From
the
waters into Luna, since they supposed
way could coagulate
Scripture calls the slime of the earth.
in
to coagulate Mercury,*
mass two hodies were
some and
resin, fat,
itself the
moisture
He congested into one mass which mass made— the sidereal and the elementary. :
The m.iss was extracted, and therein the firma* ment and the elements were condensed. WTiat was extracted from the four after this manner constituted a fifth. The Quintessence is the nucleus and the place of the essences and properties of all things in the universal world. All .\11 nature came into the hand of God - all potency, all property, all essence of the superior and inferior glohe. these had God Joined in His hand, and from these He formed man according to His \m3%^.—PliiloS0phiaSagax,
These, according to the light of Nature, are called the guintutit tiu\
Lib.
I., c. 1.
•
AU
proceed
created things proceed from the coagulated, and after coagulation must go on 10 resolution. From resolution procreated things.—/),; Tartan (fragment). All bodies of minerals are coagulated by salt.— />f
all
Aatrtra/i6us Aquis, Lib. HI., Tract
2.
The Hertneiic and Alchemical
54
IVri/ifigs
of Paracelsus.
of the Mercur)- whicli rises with the substance in the process of coagulation,
but without any advantage resulting. external Sulphur in vegetables as
some have found out
lated
am
I
well assured that no thick and
adapted for a perfect projection
is
Certain persons have,
to their cost.
Mercury with the white and milky juice of
intense heat which exists therein Virginis "
;
yet this
is
;
a false basis.
the juice of celandine, although
it
Alchemy,
true,
coagu-
on account of the and they have called that liquid " Lac tittinal,
The same may be
colours just as though
Hence people conceived a vain
gold.
in
it is
asserted concerning it
were endowed with
At a certain fixed time they
idea.
rooted up this vegetable, from which they sought for a soul or quintessence,
wherefrom they might make a coagulating and transmuting
But
tincture.
hence arose nothing save a foolish error.
CHAPTER
VII.
Concerning the Errors of those who seek the Stone
Some
alchemists have pressed a juice
thickness, and put
it
in the sun,
so that
out
of celandine,
might coagulate
it
Vegetables.
in
boiled
into a
to
it
hard mass,
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 allowed an
which,
;
entrance of the tincture into the substance of the Mercury.
was accomplished.
There are some again
who,
Yet again nothing
instead
of the above-
mentioned substances, take the juices of persicaria, bufonaria, dracunculus, the leaves of willow, tithxnial,
them up
Thus
in
cataputia, flammula,
a glass vessel with Mercurv for
some
and the
days, keeping
like,
and shut
them
in ashes.
comes about that the Mercury is turned into ashes, but deceptively result. These people were 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 Mercury, or perfect projection, or tincture, can be made. But when the philosophers compare it
and without any
their matter to a certain
matter includes hidden.
On
this
all
golden tree of seven boughs, they mean that such
the seven metals in
its
sperm, and that in
it
these
the case of natural trees, they also in their time produce various flowers. too, the matter of the its
flowers.
Stone shews most beautiful colours
The comparison,
of the philosophical earth, as
also, is apt, if it
a sponge growing on the earth. tree tends
lie
account they called their matter vegetable, because, as
towards heaven.
in the
production cf
because a certain matter rises out
were a thicket of branches and sprouts,
They
say,
in
So,
therefore,
like
that the fruit of their
So, then, they put forth that the whole thing
The Aurora of the Philosophers. hinged upon natural vegetables, though not as to stone contains within
itself
a body, soul, and
CHAPTER
spirit,
55
matter, because their
its
as vegetables do.
VIII.
Concerning those who have sought the Stone
Animals.
in
They have 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 salt of urine, in rebis
with
shells,
Some have
all
in
it
hairs, in
others in hens' eggs, in milk, and in the calx of e.^^
;
would be able
of which they thought they
to fix
Mercury.
extracted salt out of foetid urine, supposing that to be the matter
Some
of the Stone.
persons, again, have considered the
stones found in
little
Others have macerated the membranes of eggs
rebis to be the matter.
in
a
sharp lixivium, with which they also mixed calcined q^^ shells as white as
snow.
To
these they have attributed the
the yolk to gold, have chosen
ammoniac, and burnt
purified in a
for their matter,
it
Balneum Maris in view.
most
common
salt,
common
salt,
utterly useless for the
offensive liquid,
This they burnt to a deep red
basilisk. it,
as they learnt from the treatise of
Many, again, have macerated the and
it
a glass vessel, and
Others have purified the white and yolk of eggs,
powder, and sought to tinge with with
in
white matter became as red as blood.
until the
from which has been generated a Cardinal Gilbert.
mixing with
These they shut up
tartar.
This, again, they distilled into a
purpose they had
fixation for the trans-
Others, comparing the white of the e.%% to silver and
mutation of Mercurj-.
sal
arcanum of
distilled this into
mixed
galls of oxen,
a liquid, with which they moistened
the cementary powders, supposing that, bj- means of this Magisterj', 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
by the addition of dragon's blood and other substances, and also to change copper and electrum into gold. Others, according to the Venetian tutia
Art, as they call
up
in
it,
a vessel, and
shut them
take twenty lizard-like animals, more or
less,
make them mad with hunger,
may devour one
another until only one of them survives.
copper or of electrum. of his stomach, will
They suppose
so that they
This one
is
then fed with filings of
that this animal, simply by the digestion
bring about the desired transmutation.
Finally, they
burn this animal into a red powder, which they thought must be gold they were deceived. (? trouts),
but there • So acute
have sometimes, upon melting them, found some gold is
is
no other reason for
it
the potency- of calcined blood, that
ness thereon, and then generates
;
but
Others, again, having burned the fishes called truitas
than this if it
:
Those
be poured slowly on iron
msl.—Schclia in Libros dt T.irtarn.
In Lib.
fish
it
sometimes
produces in the
II.,
Tract
II.
first
in
them
;
in rivers
place a white-
The Hermetic and
56
Alche?>iical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
and streams meet with certain small scales and sparks of gold, which they eat.
seldom, however, that such deceivers are found, and then chiefly
It is
The matter
the courts of princes.
animals
this
:
announce
I
to
of the philosophers Still,
all.
in in
evident that the philosophers
is
it
not to be sought
is
called their Stone animal, because in their final operations the virtue of this
most excellent
fiery
there
mystery caused an obscure liquid to exude drop by drop
Hence they predicted that, in the last times, should come a most pure man upon the earth, by whom the redemption
from the matter
in their vessels.
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
In the
sin.
same way,
after its ovv-n kind, the blood of their
On
the leprous metals from their infirmities and contagion.
supposed they were
therefore, they
Concerning
animal.
this
"This mystery it Hence it comes to pass soul
saying that their Stone was
speaks as follows to
King
:—
Calid
1/
justified in
mystery Mercurius
Stone freed
these grounds,
lies
hid.
It
same reason they
is
permitted only to the prophets of
that this Stone
likewise
is
called
it
is
composed of body, microcosm, because
their
God
things in the world, and thence they termed
it
spirit, it
and
know.
to
called animal, because in
blood a
its
soul.
For the
has the likeness of
animal, as Plato
named
all
the
great world an animal."
CHAPTER
IX.
Concerning those who have sought the Stone Hereto are added the many ignorant men three-fold,
and
mineral.
Hence
far
it is
that they have sought for
\
salts,
its
the stone to be
it
in minerals.
Now,
and
this
is
They affirm that their stone is Now, here note that Nature has
from the opinion of the philosophers.
distributed
Minerals.
to be hidden in a triple genus, namely, vegetable, animal,
uniformly \egetable, animal, and mineral.
j
in
who suppose
mineral sperm into various kinds, as, for instance, into sulphurs,
boraxes, nitres, ammoniacs, alums, arsenics, atraments, vitriols, tutias,
hajmatites, orpiments, realgars, magnesias, cinnabar, antimony, talc, cachymia,
marcasites, etc.
although
in
In
some of
all
these Nature has not yet attained to our matter
the species
named
it
for the transmutation of imperfect metals that are to be
Truly,
long
experience
permutations
in the
;
displays itself in a wonderful aspect
and practice with
fire
shew
brought to perfection.
many and
various
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 universal.
is
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.
Tlie
Aurora of
the Philosophers.
57
together witli other sophistical preparations of minerals, and the purgations and fixations of spirits
and metals.
Wherefore all the preparations of the stone, Magnus, and the rest, arc sophistical. Their purga-
as of Geber, Albertus tions,
cementations,
sublimations
rectifications,
distillations,
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,
sand, or what
ashes, phial,
fixatory,
sublimation
and also
nol;
and the
Mercury by mineral
of
in
the
cucurbite, the pelican, retort,
The same opinion must be passed on
rest.
as by vitriol, saltpetre, alum, crocuses, etc.,
and
white
the
for
spirits,
concerning
the
the red,
which subjects
all
John de Rupescissa, romances in his treatise on the White and Red Philosophic Stone. Taken altogether, these are merely deceitful dreams.
that sophist,
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 are
Some
untrustworthy.
others
made by a
sepulchre,
have endeavoured to
all
which things
Mercury with
fix
the sulphurs of minerals and metals, but have been greatly deceived. I
have seen Mercury by
this -Art,
and by such
body resembling and counterfeiting good brought to the
test
it
has shewn
itself to
fixations,
CHAPTER
Some
imperfect
;
when
but
X.
sophists have tried to squeeze out a fixed
they attempt to bring
true
false.
Concerning those who h.we sought the Stone IN Minerals.
times sublimed and as often dissolved by
respects
silver in all
be
It is
brought into a metallic
means of
.\nd
Particulars
from Mercurj' seven
oil
aquafortis.
metals to perfection
obliged to relinquish their vain endeavour.
.a.lso
:
In this
way
but they have been
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
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 which they have, by means of solutions and coagulations, made some progress in attaining the stone but in projection it has all 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 themselves very many ways of be coagulated by water.
;
;
fixing Mercury, but to
be had.
It
cesses, since
is
no purpose, for therein nothing perfect or constant can
therefore in vain to add minerals thereto by sophistical pro-
by
all
of them
he
is
stirred
up
to greater malice, is rendered
The Hermetic aiid Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
58 more
and rather brought
lively,
Mercury
thence.
be very
the
then,
So,
perfection.
somewhat imperfect
is
up or compelled
that can be stirred
This, however,
respect
this
in
it
Now
it,
therefore,
and that by
which
have just
I
the copper
it
transmuted themselves into
who bought
Some
it.
turned out false art
spirit.
it
power which
that
So, then,
now spoken
give notice
I
grounded on a
is
deceitfully whitened, but not changed.
is
Venus with twice
false coiners
— not only those
its
weight
at last they
who
have
sold, but those
sophists instead of white arsenic take red, and this has
because, however
;
tingeing
ignorant as to this
goldsmiths and mint-masters, until
to the
it
its
vainly attempting to
or of giving
the sophists have mixed this counterfeit
of Luna, and sold
arsenic
of tartar and
to turn copper into
it
is
capable of the virtue of transmutation.
to all that the whitening of false basis,
nothing therein
is
oil
and knows well
Whoever,
cannot have any hopes of fixing
would make
There
the philosophers have slept,
all
accomplish anything thereby. spirit,
to perfection will
Some have taken
and by
fix,
be sought from
to it
merely a sophistical whitening, for arsenic cannot be
is
fixed* unless the operator be an Artist,
Truly
and to bring
to perfection.
This they have pretended to
coagulated.
not
is
sublimated, and frequently dissolved with
several times
silver.
;
than to any kind of
impurity
impossible for any sophist.
na)',
difficult,
to g-reater
philosophers' matter
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
day and a night, from
common
yet, still,
this they
From
it
has been always combustible.
it
have endeavoured to
fixation.
fix
Mercury and
It
This they propose to
to turn
it
fix
with the
oil
it
in
Others have reduced
vinegar
They then pour it
into gold
hepar, which they have
common
transmuting Luna to
number
infinite
•
One
ilium, set
first distilled
and make
it
in vain.
I
of metals, so also there
shall not
make
coals, so that they
may
is
much
1
still falls
or laterine into the
into a citrine oil with a gentle
Sol as they supposed they would be
recipe for the fixation of arsenic
upon
but
sulphur to the form
they have found to their loss that they could not do anything
an
;
of sulphur by cementation
w'ith the addition of linseed oil,
into a marble mortar,
;
Nevertheless, with
does, indeed, give something of an appearance, but
of a hepar, boiling
of them.
it
however, comes the most excellent and beautiful cinnabar that
this,
oil.
Then afterwards they sublimated
became white.
short of the desired object.
olive
or sharpest wines, for a
and the calx of eggs, repeating the process several times
though white,
have ever seen.
and
until
salt
in vinegar, lixivium,
in
able.
oil,
fire.
the
As
or
form of a
But
way
of
there
is
variety in the preparation
further mention of these in this place, because each
is
as follows
:
—Take
Place these in a
equal parts of arsenic and nitre.
begin to boil and to evaporate.
Continue
till
ebullition
and evaporation
tig-
cea:;e,
then, for the space and the substances shall h.^ve settled to the bottom of the vessel like fat melting in a fr>-ing-pan of an hour and a half (the longer the better), set it apart to settle. Subsequently pour the compound upon marble, and De Natiiraiibus Kebus, it will acquire a gold colour. In a damp place it will a:^:>umc the consistency of a fatty fluid. c. 9. Again The fixation of arsenic is performed by salt of urine, after which it is converted by itself into an oil. — Clururgia Minor, Lib. H. ;
:
The Aurora of the Philosophers.
59
Beware also of sophisticated oils of vitriol Likewise be on your guard against the oils of the metals, and antimony. because although the operation of these perfect or imperfect, as Sol or Luna is most potent in the nature of things, yet the true process is known, even at would require a
special treatise.
;
common
fixation
.\bstain also from the sophistical preparations
few persons,
this day, to very
of
mercury, arsenic, sulphur, and the
by vinegar, saltpetre, tartar,
formulas
prescribed
the
in
books
like,
of
the
by sublimation, descension,
ammoniac, according
vitriol, sal
to the
Likewise avoid the
sophists.
and crocus of Mars, and also of b}- the name of " a part with a part," and of fixed Although they have some superficial appearance of
sophisticated tinctures taken from marcasites that sophistication called
Luna and
similar
trifles.
Luna by
truth, as the fixation of tlie
preparation
is
labour and industry,
little
towards the well meaning operators
still
the progress of
Being therefore moved with compassion
worthless and weak.
in this art,
have determined to lay open
I
the whole foundation of philosophy in three separate arcana, namely, in one
explained by arsenic,
means
of which
I
a second by
in
will
and
vitriol,
in
a third by antimony
;
by
teach the true projection upon Mercury and upon the
imperfect metals.
CHAPTER XL Concerning the true
.\nd perfect special arc.\num of
Arsenic
FOR the W'HITE tincture.
Some persons have
written that arsenic
Sulphur, others of earth and water
nature of Sulphur.
;
may
But, however that
mutes red copper into white.
It
may
is
compounded of Mercury and
but most writers say that be, its nature
is
it
of the
is
such that
it
trans-
also be brought to such a perfect state
of preparation as to be able to tinge.
out by such evil sophists as Geber in
But
this is
not done in the
"The Sum
way
pointed
Albertus
of Perfection,"
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, spirits.
This
The
whitens Venus and after some days renders
spirit
artifice relates is
.\rsenic contains within itself three natural
combustible, corrosive, and penetrating
first is volatile,
crystalline
who practise The third is a
only to those
and sweet.
others before mentioned.
it
the caustic art.
all
metals.
But
spongy.
The second
this
spirit
tingeing spirit separated from the
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
crj-stalline
nature separated from the tingeing spirit for use in the cure of wounds, buboes, • Concerning the kinds of arsenic,
it is
to be noted that there are those which flow forth from their proper mineral
or metal, and are called native arsenics
there are those
made by Art through transmutation.
red arsenic are
utilised
by chemists
iibus Rebiis,
c.
9.
Next there are arsenics out of metals after their kind. Then White or crj-stalline arsenic is the best for medicine. Yellow and
for investigating the
transmutation of metals, in which arsenic has a special efficacy.— Z>tf Ntitura-
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
6o
carbuncles, anthrax, and other similar ulcers which are not curable save by
As
gentle means.
for
that
separated from the impure
in
tincture from the combustible,
tingeing it, it
will
however, unless the pure be
spirit,
from the
the fixed
not
in
volatile,
and the secret
any way succeed according
to
your
wish for projection on Mercury, \'enus, or any other imperfect metal. philosophers have hidden this arcanum as a most excellent mystery.
\\\
This
separated from the other two as above, you must join to the
tingeing
spirit,
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 whiteness, and
length
fit
is
spirit
appears
for projection, namely,
one part of
it
in a
Then
endued with a perfect tingeing arcanum.
bright is
it
at
upon sixteen parts of an im-
From
perfect body, according to the sharpness of the preparation.
appears shining and most excellent Luna, as though
it
thence
had been dug trom the
bowels of the earth.
CHAPTER XIL Gener.\l Instruction concerning the .Arcanum of Vitriol .\nd
THE Red Tinxture to be extr.\cted from Vitriol
is
a very noble mineral
among
the rest,
it.*
and was held always in God has adorned
highest estimation by philosophers, because the Most High
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 The method of its subtle, noble, and most fragrant juice, and a pure oil. it
with wonderful
gifts. :
production
is
"
For
not to be approached by calcination or by distillation.
green colour.
were,
it
would
must not be deprived on any account of its 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 If
it
it
at the
greenness without, contain within themselves an their
arcanum. Hence it
is
oil
red like blood, v.hich
is
clear that the distillations of the druggists are useless,
and of no value, because these people do not know how to Nature herself is wise, and extract the bloodlike redness from vegetables. turns all the waters of vegetables to a lemon colour, and after that into an oil vain, foolish,
The reason why
this is so slowly
which
is
arises
from the too great haste of the ignorant operators
very red like blood.
causes the greenness to be consumed.
Nature with their own powers, which
is
who
accomplished
distil
it,
which
They have not learnt to strengthen the mode whereby that noble green
Thus after the aquosity has been removed in coction from vitriol, of vitriol is the oil of vitriol. The vitriol then comes over pure in the form of water. This by the application of greater heat. water is combined with the cafut mortuum left by the process, and on again sep.irating in a balneum maris, the phlegmatic p.irt passes off, and the oil, or the arcanum of vitriol, remains at the bottom of the vessel. - Ibid. •
The arc-vnum
the spirit
is
elicited
:
The Aurora of the Philosophers. colour ought to be rectified into redness of
wine digesting
a lemon colour
itself into
colour of the grape
The greenness
is
An example
itself.
and
;
6i
in
of this
process of time the green
of itself turned into the red which underlies the ccerulean.
and minerals being
therefore of the vegetables
capacity of the operators, the essence also and spirit of the
balsam, which
among
noblest
is
white
is
in-
and of the
arcana, will also perish.
CHAPTER Speci.\l Instruction
by the
lost
oil
XIII.
concerning the Process of Vitriol
FOR the Red Tincture. contains within
Vitriol
itself
many muddy and
viscous
imperfections.
Therefore
its
greenness* must be often extracted with water, and
puts off
all
the impurities of earth.
it
take care above turns
its
greenness pale, and at the same time absorbs the arcanum.
be digested
in
in
a
warm
stove so that no dust
Let
it
.Afterwards
it.
is
you must not
Still
sufficiently fixed.
It
must,
in
be cleansed from the interior and accidental defilements of the earth,
manner
the following
defilement
From
extracted.
:
— It
must be
rectified
with acetum until the earthy
altogether removed, and the dregs are taken away.
is
and best
the true
defile
and deep redness shew themselves.
suppose that by this process the redness
in
may
a closed glass vessel for the space of several months, or
until different colours
.addition,
these rectifications are finished,
that the matter shall not be exposed to the sun, for this
all
be kept covered up let it
When all
rectified until
rectification of its tincture, this tincture,
which
an alembic afterwards placed on
it
is
This
from w hich the blessed
is
oil is
now to be
carefully enclosed in a glass vessel,
and luted so that no
spirit
may
escape, the
must be extracted by distillation over a mild and slow fire. This oil is much pleasanter and sweeter than any aromatic balsam of the drugsellers, being entirely free from all acridity.! There will subside in the bottom of the cucurbite some very white earth, shining and glittering like snow. This keep, and protect from all dust. This same earth is altogether separated from spirit
its
of this
oil
redness.
Thereupon follows the greatest arcanum, that
is
to sa\', the Supercelestial
Marriage of the Soul, consummately prepared and washed by the blood of the So long as the
•
excocled so that
When
the moisture
turns red. t
it is
The
remedy.
Dt
viridity or greenness of vitriol subsists therein,
deprived of its moisture, is
evaporated from
Ptstilitaie^ Tract
diagnosis of
In .\lchemy
\-itriol is it
has
it is
vitriol,
of a soft quality and substance.
the sulphur which
it
fire
But
if it
be
can be struck.
contains predominates over the salt, and the vitriol
I.
concerned with
many
it is
thereby changed into a hard stone from which even
it
In Medicine
both in Medicine and .\lchemy.
additional purposes.
The Art of Medicine and Alchemy
it
is
a paramount
consists in the preparation
its crude state. It is like unto wood, out of which it is possible to car\'e 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 qu-iliiy- also a green and a white oil, distilled from crude vitriol^ by descension.— />,• Vilrioh. Nor let it be regarded as absurd that we assign such great virtues to vitriol, for therein resides, secret and hidden, a certain peculiar golden force, not corporeal but spiritual, which excellent and admirable
of
\'itriol,
for
it is
worthless in
—
N-irtue exists in
When
tilized
it is
greater potency and certainty therein than it does in gold. and separated from its impurities, so that the essence alone rem.iins,
Amnttium, Methodus
J
II., c.
I.
this
like
golden
spirit
of vitriol
unto potable gold.—
is
vola-
Dr Morbit
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
62
lamb, with
own
its
supercelestial marriage by which
day.
are joined with
Take, therefore, its
own
this
our foliated earth
The body
oil.
will receive
in
may
which are
a glass phial.
and embrace
delighted with the embrace of the body.
Into
soul
its
it
have a most absolute
of
oil
wondrous
pour gradually
since the body
;
is
is
most perfectly
Place this conjunction in a furnace of
When
there for forty days.
it
blood,
its
be for eternity inseparable.
affected with extreme desire for the soul, and the soul
arcana, and keep
the true
is
and predestined
to the last
spirit of the Vitriol,
purified body, that they
its
This
purified body.
prolonged
life is
way, then, the soul and
In this
and
splendid, shining,
these have expired you will
perfection,
which Mercury and any
in
other of the imperfect metals are turned into gold.
Now Mercury,
let
in
us turn our attention to
the proportion of two parts
weight, of the aforesaid this proportion of
oil,
and
weight and
let
this
Take
multiplication.
its
pour
;
the corporal
over three parts, equal
it
them remain together
By
for forty days.
order the multiplication becomes
CHAPTER
in
infinite.
XIV.
Concerning the Secrets and Arcana of Antimony, for the Red Tincture, with a view to Transmutation. Antimony
is
Philosophers
the true bath of gold.
call
the examiner and
it
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 brightness. Some philosophers call it the White Lead of the Wise Men, or simply
the stilanx.
Take, therefore, of Antimony, the very best of
the Lead.
as you
Dissolve this in
will.
adding a
little
own
its
vessel as a sediment, for otherwise
has been dissolved be placed
in
way
in this
it
will
it
fire.
because with too great heat
Antimony a sublimation sublimated substance
it
in
a phial that
different colours appear.
the
for a
it
Let
it
tutia,
sublimated to
From one pound
of this
space of two days.
Place
may touch the water with its third may not escape. Let it be suspended it
work be urged on at midsummer. Then at length on the
and sometimes even the furnace goes in
After
first
with a slow
the tenth day
fire
let
it
For with too great heat the glass vessels are broken,
be gradually increased.
Afterwards dissolve
off its dregs.
guarded from liquefying,
breaks the glass.
lot
into cold water,
sides with a very thick lute,
carefully
made, perfected
part, in a luted vessel, so that the spirit
equal to the sun's heat at
all
much
sink to the bottom of the
some calcined
it
is
over the tripod of arcana, and
it
kind, as
have acquired supreme beauty.
must be
It
may
does not throw
or else in a stone bocia, and mix with
this
it
a glass vessel, closely fastened on
the perfect degree of
and throw
aquafortis,
of the crocus of Mars, so that
its
Let the
fire
to pieces.
While the vapour is ascending
be moderated until a red matter
very sharp Acetum, and throw
Acetum be abstracted and
let it
be again dissolved
in
away
is
seen.
the dregs.
Let
common distilled water.
The Aurora of the Philosophers.
63
This again must be abstracted, and the sediment distilled with a very strong in a
The whole body
glass vessel closely shut.
a very red
like the
oil,
Antimony
of the
How
colour of a ruby, and will
w'lll
fire
ascend as
by supreme
into the receiver, drop
drop, with a most fragrant smell and a very sweet taste.* This
is
the
arcanum of the philosophers in Antimony, which they account most highly among Then, lastly, let the oil of Sol be made in the following the arcana of oils.
way
:
—Take
spirit of
wine.
of times
let it
of the purest Sol as
much
be dissolved again.
flow
it
in
rectified
Let the last solution be kept with the spirit
of wine, and circulated for a month. spirit
as you will, and dissolve
Let the spirit be abstracted several times, and an equal number
Afterwards
the volatile gold and the
let
means of an alembic, so that it may and be brought to its supreme essence. To half an
of wine be distilled three or four times by
down
ounce of This
oil
even
if
into the receiver
this dissolved
embraces
in
it
gold
one ounce of the Oil of .Antimony be added.
let
the heat of the bath, so that
the spirit of wine be extracted.
it
does not easily
way you
In this
will
let it
go,
have the supreme
mystery and arcanum of Nature, to which scarcely any equal can be assigned in in
Let these two oils in combination be shut up together
the nature of things.
a phial after the
manner
in
due proportion
this operation is
By
to perfection.
hung on a
described,
month, and warmed with a very gentle
fire
;
concluded
tripod for a philosophical fire
be regulated
in thirty-one days,
and brought
although,
if
the
Mercury and any other imperfect metals acquire the
this,
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
tincture itself
and with
may
of projection, though the
be extracted from a certain subject,
fitting appliances.
thirty, forty, occasionally
perfect metal.
work
in
a defined proportion,
For instance, that Medicine tinges sometimes
even sixty, eighty, or a hundred parts of the im-
So, then, the whole business hinges chiefly on the purification
and the industry of the operator, and, next, on the greater or For lesser cleanliness and purity of the imperfect body taken in hand. instance, one Venus is more pure than another and hence it happens that no of the Medicine
;
one fixed weight can be specified that
if
in projection.
the operator happens to have taken too
This alone
much
is
worth noting,
of the tincture, he can
more of the imperfect metal. But if there be so that the powers of the tincture are weakened, this
correct this mistake by adding
too
much
error •
is
of the subject,
easily
remedied by a cineritium, or by cementations, or by ablutions
Antimony can be made
into a
pap with the water of
vitriol,
and then purified by
sal
ammoniac, and
in this
man*
may be obtained from it a thick purple or reddish liquor. This is oil of antimony, and it has many virtues,— Ckirurj^ia Magnn, Lib. V, Take three pounds of antimony and as much of sal gemma:. Distil them together in a
ner there
retort for three natural days,
and so you will have a red Minor, Tract II., c. ii.
incurable vio-anii.—Chirurgia
oil,
whii:h
lt.-Ls
incredible healing
power
in cases of
otherwise
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
64
There is nothing at this stage which need delay the 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 sa)% an animation of imperfect bodies nay, so to speak, a spiritualisation concerning which some have said that in
crude Antimony.
operator; only
let
;
their metals are
no
common
Animation
is
ones, since they live and have a soul.
Produced
Take of Venus, wrought
Then
into small plates,
and calcined
tartar,
at length let the
as
much
as you will, ten,
made
Let these he incrusted with a pulse
twenty, or forty pounds.
and calcined
the Following Way.
in
Venus be
in
their
own
vessel for twentj'-four hours.
pulverised, washed, and thoroughly purified.
Let the calcination with ablution be repeated three or four times.
purged and purified from
it is
You
sulphur.
common
will
of arsenic
thick greenness
its
and from
In this
way
own impure
its
have to be on 3-our guard against calcinations made with
good in the metal is spoilt thereb}', 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
sulphur.
For whatever
portions which are opposed to the nature of Luna, this
For the work
by means of a perfect ferment. Sulphur, so that a cloud substance, or the metal cast
is
away
therewith.
is
is
defiled
is
accomplished
by means of an impure
stretched out over the surface of the transmuted
mixed with the loppings of the Sulphur and may be But if a projection of a red stone is to be made, with a is
view to a red transmutation,
must
it
on some other metal thoroughly
first
fall
purified, as
on gold, afterwards on
we have
silver, or
directed above.
From
thence arises the most perfect gold.
CHAPTER
XVI.
Concerning the Universal Matter of the Philosophers' Stone. After the mortification of vegetables, 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
that
is
mineral burrows and caves of the earth, vegetables arc found which,
long succession of time, and by the continuous heat of sulphur, put vegetable nature and assume that of the mineral. part,
where the appropriate nutriment
is
in
the
in
the
off
the
This happens, for the most
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 into
a perfect mineral.
metallic
From
essence arises, and
this
this
what was before vegetable passes over
mineral state, too, sometimes a perfect
happens by the progress of one degree
into another.
But certain
let
us return to the Philosophers' Stone.
writers
have mentioned,
is
above
all
The matter
else difficult to
of this, as
discover and
The Aurora of
the Philosophers.
65
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 knowledge. For this, before all things else, a consideration of principles is absolutely necessary and also of the manner in which Nature proceeds from imperfection to the end of perfection. Now, for this consideration it is well to abstruse to understand.
—
—
;
have
thoroug'hly understood from the
it
that
first
all
things created by Nature
consist of three primal elements, namely, natural Mercury, Sulphur, in
combination, so that
Wherever corporal
Salt
is
then Nature begins to work, in those subterranean places
into one body,
which serve for her vessels, by means of a separating
and impure Sulphur the
Salt,
and Salt
some substances they are volatile, in others fixed. mixed with spiritual Mercurj' and animated Sulphur
in
is
By
fire.
separated from the pure, the earth
is
this the thick
segregated from
and the clouds from the Mercury, while those purer parts are
preserved, which Nature again welds together into a pure geogamic body.
This operation
esteemed by the Magi as a mixture and conjiinction by the
is
uniting of three constituents, body, soul, and
completed there results from
down through Sulphur.
It is,
coagulated by
is
however,
fly
from the
is
is certain!)'
that
is it
Mercury and
reported by miners.
It is
are the matter of
Mercury and the Sulphur of the philosophers are incor-
tlie
porated and inborn
never
union
hundred years
common Mercury and common Sulphur which
the metals, but
this
when fiowing
according to the condition of the
it
Hence arose the vulgar idea
Sulphur are the matter of the metals, as however,
When if this,
volatile, so that scarcely in a
still
transformed into a metal.
not,
Now
passages and veins, meets with a chaotic
subterranean
its
Sulphur, the Mercurj'
spirit.
a pure Mercur)\
it
in
fire,
the forms of them, so that they
in
nor are they depraved by the force of the corruption
caused by the elements. mixture our Mercury
and
perfect metals,
is
true that by the dissolution of this natural
is
It
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.
"The Sun and
terms:
Hamuel says
This
Moon
the
is
what Hermes asserts
that the Stone of the philosophers
in Sol
and Luna.
Stone
is
From
this
it is
know
is
following
The Son of
water coagulated, namelyr^
clearer than the sun that the material of the
nothing else but Sol and Luna.
We
in the
are the roots of this Art."
This
is
confirmed by the fact that
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 like
produces
that the
man
like.
or the
same way our man, in the
way
that there are only
woman, without Sol,
and
the seed of both, cannot generate, in the
his wife,
Luna, cannot conceive, or do anything
Hence the
of generation, without the seed and sperm of both.
philosophers gathered that a third thing
seed of both, the
man and
whole of their work was
the
was
necessarj-, namely, the
woman, without which they judged
fruitless
and
in
vain.
Such a sperm
is
F
animated that the
Mercury,
—
The Hermetic and Alcketnical Writings of Paracelsus.
66
which, bv the natural conjunction of both bodies, Sol and Luna, receives their
nature into
itself in
Then
union.
at length,
and not before, the work
is fit
for
congress, ingress, and generation, by the masculine and feminine power and
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 Therefore, with their most powerful genius and intellect, they all elements. They even called it their Adam, who carasserted their Stone to be animal. virtue.
ries his
own
invisible
Eve hidden
his body,
in
from that moment
in
which they
were united bv 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
So then they have wisely said wise
men
seek.
two
and
body
fire,
so that
external perfections."
By
is in Mercury whatever " VVe extract our Mercury
•
its
perfection,
internal imperfection
its
incorporated
conditions
natural
perfect
together, which indeed puts forth externally to resist the
Mercury.
to the sages that there
Almadir, the philosopher, says
from one perfect
common
may
whereby
passage of the sagacious philosopher
this
able
is
it
be protected by the is
under-
stood the Adamic matter, the limbus of the microcosm,* and the homogeneous,
The sayings
unique matter of the philosophers. before
of these men, which
mentioned, are simply golden, and ever to be held
in
esteem, because they contain nothing superfluous or without force. marily, then, the matter of the Philosophers' Stone
and perfect Mercury extracted by Nature and Art
;
is
orphan.
that
is,
therefore,
is
the
fiery
the artificially pre-
That wisest of the
Mercurius, making the same statement, called
Our Mercury,
Sum-
none other than a
pared and true hermaphrodite Adam, and the microcosm. philosophers,
we have
the highest
same which contains
in
the Stone an itself all
the
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 to the marriage of which it is to be force of things above and things below compared, as is clear from the whiteness and the redness combined in it. perfections, force,
;
CHAPTER
X\II.
Concerning the Prep.\ration of the M.^tter for the Philosophic Stone.
What
Nature principally requires
is
that
its
be brought into a mercurial substance, so that •
Man
creatures.
it
own philosophic man should may be born into the philo-
himself was created from that which is termed limbus. This limbus contained the potency and nature of all Hence, man himself is c.-illcd the microcosmus, or world in miniature. i>e Ccntriiiio'U Stu/li^rum.
limbus is the universal world.— /'(irK»t Aliiid, Lib. II., c. 2. Whatsoever Whosoever knows the limbus knows also what man is. There is a dual limbus, man, the lesser limbus, and the limbus is, that also is man. - Paramiriim Aliuii, Lib. IV. The limbus is the seed out of which that Great Limbus from which he w.-ts produced— /> PoAtgra, s. v. dt Limbo. The limbus has its ground in all creatures are produced and grow, .-is the tree comes forth from its own special seed. The limbus of Adam w.ts heaven and e.-irth, water and air. Therefore, man also remains the word of God.— /
Man
was' fashioned out of the limbus, and the first matter of man.
The limbus was
Allitum. Tract
.
II.
.
this .
The Aurora of Moreover,
sophic Stone.
the Philosophers.
dorus, and such men, are nothing
Thomas Aquinas,
which needs only the most secret
fire
Azoth therefore
From
suffice for you.
to
Let the
of the philosophers.
you should understand that
in their
make
distillation, sublimation,
universal substance. Nature herself
the operations in the matter spoken
a philosophical vessel, and with a similar
of,
fire,
and not the operator, only
common
but not
and black by
crocus-coloured It
copulates by
itself, it
itself,
grows white, grows
marries
itself,
therefore to be decocted, to be baked, to be fused
is
alone.
some philosophers,
nevertheless, have, by a highly
essence of wine, dissolved the body of Sol, and rendered
should ascend through an alembic, thinking that this of the philosophers, though
arcanum
it is
not so.
to reduce this perfect metallic
yet they are
wrong
monks, such as
By
erroneous.
in their
graduated it
it
be no contemptible
volatile, spiritual substance,
This process of the
separation of the elements.
this process they
it
fire
volatile, so that
it
Richard of England, Rupescissa, and the
Lully,
made
the true volatile matter
is
And although
body into a
is
is
in itself.
ascends, and
it
;
It
and produced by the
All these operations are a single operation
Still,
red,
and conceives
itself
in
The
fire.
white and the red spring from one root without any intermediary. dissolved by
descends.
and
fire
the fact that the philosophers
coagulation, dealbation, rubification, ceration, fixation, and the
calcination,
fulfils all
solutions, sub-
our universal substance,
mention of certain preparations, such as putrefaction,
like,
pre-
Rupescissa, Poly-
more than some particular
and calcinations, having no reference
limations,
common
should be remarked that those
it
Albertus Magnus,
parations of Geber,
67
rest,
is
thought that they were going to separate
gold after this fashion into a subtle, spiritual, and elementary power, each by itself,
in
one
and afterwards by circulation and
— but in vain.
rectification to
For although one element may,
combine them again
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 ;
thejis
themselves
call
The reason why they could not compass their intention way dragged asunder and separated by by earthly glasses and instruments. She alone knows her
it.
that Nature refuses to be in this
man's disjunctions, as
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 its
provided only the matter be contained
artifice,
man.
has
within
is
falsely
herself
place,
that
of
ever)-
but
it
fire
and
therefore, is
in is
not true,
famous English golden Nature her-
supposed to have accomplished.
the
proper separator,
who again
what he has put asunder, without the aid of man. proportion
the secret
elements,
of the
may appear to take by Raymond Lully, and of It
whatever may be said -work which he self
The separation
proper occult vessel.
impossible by
in
element,
joins
together
She knows best the
which man does not know,
however misF2
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
68
leading
romance
writers
in
tineir
frivolous
and
about
recipes
false
this
volatile gold.
This
is
the opinion of the philosophers, that
matter into the more secret
fire,
and when
when they have
cherished on every side, beginning to pass into corruption,
it is
put their
with a moderated philosophical heat it
grows
black.
name The ascent and descent thereof they term distillation, and descension. The exsiccation they call coagulation and the
This operation they term putrefaction, and they
blackness by the
call the
of the Crow's Head. ascension,
;
dealbation the)' call calcination
make mention
the heat they
mains liquid In this
at the
while because
;
of ceration.
When
bottom, they say fixation
manner
is
it
the
it
is
it
becomes
fluid
and
soft in
ceases to ascend and re-
present.
terms of philosophical operations are to be
understood, and not otherwise.
CHAPTER XVni. Concerning Instruments and the Philosophic Vessel.
Sham
philosophers have misunderstood the occult and secret philosophic
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 which is said by another, vessel,
namely, that the matter metallic
vessel
;
in
earth a glass vessel
its ;
in
its
first
separation and
first
degree requires a
second degree of coagulation and dealbation of
its
and in the third degree, for fixation, an earthen vessel.
Nevertheless, hereby the philosophers understand one vessel alone in
operations up to the perfection of the red stone.
all
the
Since, then, our matter
is
our root for the white and the red, necessarily our vessel must be so fashioned For invisible that the matter in it may be governed by the heavenly bodies. celestial influences
and the impressions of the stars are
in
the very
first
degree
would be impossible for the Oriental, Otherwise necessary for the work. Chaldean, and Egyptian stone to be realised. By this Anaxagoras knew the powers of the whole firmament, and foretold that a great stone would descend it
from heaven
to
earth,
Cabalists our vessel
which actually happened after
is
perfectly well
his
known, because
it
death.
To
the
must be made
according to a truly geometrical 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,
may
be able to raise this vessel with themselves in proportion
to the altitude of heaven.
than
is fitting,
If
the vessel be wider, narrower, higher, or lower
and than the dominating operating
heat of our secret philosophic excite the matter
and urge
it
fire
(which
is,
spirit
and soul
desire, the
indeed, very severe), will violently
on to excessive operation, so that the vessel
is
shivered into a thousand pieces, with imminent danger to the body and even the is
life
of the operator.
required
in
On
the other hand,
if it
be of greater capacity than
due proportion for the heat to have
effect
on the matter, the
The Aurora of the Philosophers. work
be wasted and thrown away.
will
So, then, our philosophic vessel
What
be made with the greatest care.
understood only by those who,
in
the
matter have brought that matter to
6g
first
is
and perfected
solution of our fixed
own
its
must
the material of the vessel should be
Enough has
primal quintessence.
been said on this point.
The operator must
also very accurately note what, in
the matter sends forth and rejects from
The method of describing
the form of the vessel
such as Nature requires, and
it
every possible source, so that,
earthly body.
It
it
may
when
the
fire
able to be accomplished, and that each to
which
adheres
it
their operations is
in
its
order that the separation and
drives one from the other,
may have power
to
may be
occupy the place
and also that the sun and the other planets may exercise
;
around the elemental earth, while
their course in their circuit
neither hindered nor agitated with too swift a motion.
lars
should be
It
be able to operate on the fruit of
should have this form, too,
purification of the elements,
is difficult.
must be sought out and investigated from from the height of the philosophic heaven,
elevated above the philosophic earth,
own
solution,
first
its
itself.
which have been mentioned
it
In
all
these particu-
must have a proper proportion of rotundity
and of height.
The instruments
for the first purification of mineral
vessels, bellows, tongs, capels, cupels, tests,
and also the appliances the climax of the work.
bocias for aquafortis and aqua regia
cucurbites,
which are required for projection at
bodies are fusing-
cementatory vessels, cineritiums,
CHAPTER
;
XIX.
CONXERXIXG THE SECRET FiRE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS. This
is
and Azoc
a well-known sententious saying- of the philosophers, " Let
Moreover, they In vain
error.
the coal
Fire alone
suffice thee."
fire,
who
build their
is
and keep
fire
some have attempted
work and
the whole
it
fire
the entire art.
their vessel in that heat are in
with the heat of horse dung.
By
without a medium, they have sublimated their matter, but they
have not dissolved
Others have got their heat from lamps, asserting that making their Stone. Some have
it.
this is the secret fire of the philosophers for
placed
it
in
a bath,
first
Some have sought
the
again, have sought this fire, it
daily.
saying that
it
of
all in
fire
in
heaps of ants' eggs
in quicklime, in tartar,
Thomas
boiling water.
God and
What blasphemy
is
;
others in juniper ashes.
,\quinas speaks
the angels cannot do without this this
!
Is
it
Others,
vitriol, nitre, etc.
not a manifest
able to do without the elemental heat of boiling water
?
lie
falsely of
fiie.
that
but use
God
is
not
All the heats excited
by those means which have been mentioned are utterly useless for our work
Take care not
to be misled
subject of the coal
fire,
by Arnold de Villa Nova, who has written on the
for in this
matter he will deceive you.
Almadir savs that the invisible ravs of our
fire
of themselves suffice.
The HerDietic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
70
Another
by
as an illustration, that the heavenly heat
cites,
motion "
Make
a
vaporous,
fire,
as
digesting,
have mentioned every mode of
and penetrating.
Now,
you are a true philosopher you
in truth,
what he says. Salmanazar remarks:
"Ours
dew
we
its
is
has
fire
If
a mistake has been
warmed our sun
moisture, by the excrement of the mountain, with a moderate ascent,
shall not
be partakers either of the Red or the White Stone.
shew
these matters
.•Ml
this fire are hidden.
fail,
Again, Almadir says, that unless the
This
which brings over our
fire,
of chaos and this moisture of the cloud
committed." with
a corrosive
is
and of
fire
understand."
will
which cloud the rays of
vessel an air like a cloud, in this
I
not
not burning, but altering
air,
exciting heat.
If
continual
continuous, but
cooking,
for
from the
volatile or boiling, enclosed, shut off
its
Again, says this same authority.
tends to the generation of metals.
it
reflections
its
tends to the coagulation and perfection of Mercury, just as by
quite openly to us the occult
Finally, this is the matter of our spirit of sensible fire,
namely, that
fire,
which drives upwards, as
it
it
must urge
vessel,
This heat, glowing
motion of a perfect generation, temper-
to the
it
of the wise men.
were, the heated chaos from
the opposite quarter, and above our philosophic matter.
above our
fire
be kindled by the quiet
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-
which seems important above
ations,
all
With
others.
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
flux of the tincture, consoles bodies, this
and more
and amplifies unions.
nothing but paste, as that of the sun nothing but moon.
is
etc.,
Art seek the Art but in vain
which
it
He
says, also, that
nothing but sun, and that of the
Others affirm that the ferment
not rightly prepared from the magistery, this
at length he says that the
key and the end of the work, concluding that the ferment
the
is
;
hinders combustion, altogether retards the
ferment whitens the confection,
;
in
common
it
is
the soul, and
effects nothing.
Some
if
is
moon
this be
zealots of
sulphur, arsenic, tutia, auripigment, vitriol,
since the substance which
has to be drawn forth.
It
is
sought
is
the
same
as that from
should be remarked, therefore, that
fer-
mentations of this kind do not succeed according to the wishes of the zealots in the waj' in
the
way
they desire, but, as
is
clear
from what has been said above, simply
of natural successes.
But, to
come
at length to the
weight
;
this
must be noted
in
two ways.
The Aurora of The
the Philosophers.
The natural
natural, the second artificial.
first is
Of
and concordance.
earth by Nature
is
perceived, nor any fixation. it
will
the
It is
is
same with
matter unduly moist, and a deficiency makes
it
there be over
much
air present,
th^re be too
little,
the body will turn out pallid.
fire
be too strong, the matter
more or
and no
the water.
If
less
result
more or
less
superfluity renders the
too dry and too hard.
If
too strongly impressed on the tincture
is
burnt up
is
If
:
;
if
it
i
result in the
its
suffocated,
A
bring a corresponding loss.
it
attains
Arnold says
this,
earth than Nature requires be added, the soul
of this be taken
7
same way,
In the
be too slack,
it
if
;
if
the
has not the
power of drying, nor of dissolving or heating the other elements.
In these
things elemental heat consists.
weight
Artificial
is
quite occult.
Between the
ponderations.
It
spirit,
comprised
is
weight consists of Sulphur as the director of the work desires Sulphur,
and necessarily observes
Vou can understand to
thus
it
:
in
the magical art of
and body, say the philosophers,
soul,
it
;
by reason of
Our matter
is
for the soul strongly its
weight.
united to a red fixed Sulphur,
which a third part of the regimen has been entrusted, even to the ultimate
degree, so that
may
it
perfect to infinity the operation of the Stone,
remain therewith together with to the matter
itself,
in
its
fire,
and through
and may
without variation of any degree.
all,
Therefore, after the matter has been adapted and mixed in
weight, phers,
it
should be
expecting
In these
which
shut up with
and committed to the secret
and surge up, and light,
closelj'
is
thanks.
in
it
will
illuminate
fire.
all
its
its
proportionate
seal in the vessel of the philoso-
In this the Philosophic
Sun
will rise
things that have been looking for his
with highest hope.
few words we
will
conclude the arcanum of the Stone, an arcanum
no way maimed or defective,
Now
may
consist of a weight equal
have
we opened
to
for
which we give God undying
you our treasure, which
is
not to be paid for
by the riches of the whole world.
Here ends the Auror.\ of the Philosophers.
CONCERNING THE SPIRITS OF THE PLANETS.*
PROLOGUE.
HAVING
of
first
Saviour,
we
how
teach
all
invoked the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our
will enter
upon
change any
work
this
in
;
inferior metal
which we
shall not only
better,
as
copper, copper into siher, and silver into gold, but also to heal
all
to
into
iron
into
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
When,
from them.
any man desires
therefore,
thoroughly and perfectly to become acquainted with this Art from foundation,
it
thereof, that
will
is,
be necessary that he should learn the
from God, who created
nature and properties
He has
one certainly and perfectly
to teach every
means when he Heaven or on earth
absolutely what he
For nothing
in
things does not see through will therefore
most
take
veritable Art.
Him Him
things
all
;
who
placed in every creature.
its
ye shall learn
knows what able
is
He who
imitate,
things."
all
created
and know and perceive
to be our Master, Operator,
we
veritable
the Master
He, therefore,
found so occult that
properties,
alone will
also alone
its
and from Him we can be taught
"Of Me
says, is
;
same from
and Leader
all
We
all.
into this
and through Him learn and
knowledge of that Nature which He Himself has, with His own Hence it will that the Most High Lord God will bless all His creatures pass in us,
attain to the finger,
come and
engendered and written on the bodies of these metals.
to
will sanctify all
beginning
our ways, so that
to its desired end,
and
in this
work we may be
to attain the deepest joy
able to bring our
and charity
in
our
hearts.
But
if
any one
own mere private opinion, he will not onl)who shall cast in their lot with him, trouble. For man is assuredly born in ignorance,
shall follow his
greatly deceive himself, but also
and
will
bring them to great
so that he cannot
know
all
others
or understand anything of himself, but only that
which he receives from God, and understands from Nature. •
This treatise
is
closely to the Au^or.^.
not included in the Geneva
The
edition
made use of
folio,
He who
and, both in style and in the method of treatment,
for this translation
of the work enters into the Paracelsican congeries, entitled
is
the Basle 8vo. of 1570.
it
learns
corresponds
A considerable
De Traminutaiionibus Metaiiorum,
portion
Frankfort, if 81.
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets. nothing from these
is
like the
heathen teachers and philosophers,
the subtleties and crafts of their
own
inventions and opinions.
and the
are Aristotle, Hippocrates, Avicenna, Galen, arts
simply upon
their
own
Even
opinions.
anything from Nature, they destroyed
if,
and
their followers,
rest,
who
follow
Such teachers
who based
their
all
any time, they learnt
at
again with their
it
dreams, and inventions, before they came to the these, then,
73
final
issue.
own fantasies, By means of
nothing perfect can be discovered.
which has moved and incited us to write a special book concerning Alchemy, basing it not on men, but on Nature herself, and upon those This
it is
and powers which God, with His own finger, has impressed upon metals. The initiator of this impression was Mercurius Trismegistus. He is
virtues
not w-ithout due cause called
the father of
all
God
the only author, cause,
is
and origin of
all
does not attribute the power and virtue of things, as did the heathen
wise men, and of
He
followed this Art with love and earnest desire.
But he
creatures in this Art.*
God
who
all
teaches and proves that
to creatures or to visible
mentioned above, and others
like
them.
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 w-ill also divide this our alchemical work into three short treatises. In the first of these we will lay down what it is which the .-Vrt 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. Seeing, then, that
all
art
;
* All arts which flourish on this earth are divine,
The Holy
Spirit
is
are from
all
the enlargcr of the light of Nature.
.
.
.
God
Man
;
from no other principle do they originate. \Vhat
of himself can discover nothing.
things soever are found by the enlargement of this light of adulterate,
and convert into falsehood.
Thus
are
all
arts
.
.
.
Nature within us, the same does the devil seek to corrupt, and operations corrupted at this day. Even so is Alchemy
debased and given over to lying tongues and depraved professors.
— Paragy.iitutn,
Tr.-ict
IV.
CHAPTER
I.
Concerning Simple Fire. the
IN what
first
place,
and
First
is
it
necessary to state clearly what this Art comprises,
and what
subject,
is its
its
peculiarities.
chiefly, the principal subject of this
Art
is fire,
which always
one and the same property and mode of operation, nor can it receive from anything else.* It possesses, therefore, a state and power, common
exists in its life
to
which
all fires
God, and heats
lie
hid in secret, of vivifying, just as the sun
appointed by
is
things in the world, both occult, apparent, and manifest, as
all
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
When, however,
dead.
according to their special properties. other source than is
God
Himself, Wiio Just so
burning and shining.
be compared to the sun.
It
No
fire.
Art,
God Himself The fire in the furnace may
with this Art.t
heats the furnace and the vessels, just as the sun
operation can be completed without
prehended
all
in the
world without
It is
it.
else.
It
abides by
first
of
all,
we have undertaken
CHAPTER
it
and have
that this shall be
simple
life
made
be com-
it
and needs nothing
itself,
others which stand in need of this can get fruition of
wherefore,
this
Arcanum of
the Great
things which are comprised therein, neither can
anything
in
from no
light
so that in the sun
it,
so also in this Art nothing can be produced without
embracing
I
is it
But the sun receives
rules
For as nothing can be produced
heats the vast universe. the sun,
themselves
they are lighted up, as said above, they live and work
;
but
from
all it,
clear.
II.
Concerning the Multiplicity of Fire from whence spring the VARIETIES OF MeT.\LS.
Having per
se, it
first
written concerning the simple
now remains
which
fire
to speak of a manifold spirit or
fire
lives
which
and subsists is
the cause
of variety or diversity of creatures, so that not one can be found exactly like be regarded as an element, and so there is a distinction between fire and the firm.iment, which Fire is a matter which cooks and disintegrates, reducing into the ultimate matter, and, in this an element. For fire, like death, consumes and devours ever>'thing. Therefore, fire cannot be an sense, fire and death are alike. element, but it can be, and is, a visible and sensible death. The other death is invisible, and is seen by no man.— « Fire is not to
latter is
Lib.
Mt'tt^i}ritiHt c. t
The
i.
congeries «<•
Trnnsmutatimibus Melallnrum,
to
which
refiirence
has already been m,ade, gives the following
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. But that fire /='rof»«-«/,2 .\foJui Ph.irm.icandi, Lib. II., Tract i. All arcana derive from the firmament. variation in the reading at this point
:
—
t
which
is
an element
is
the firmament,
.-uid
the stars are the fruits thereof.— Z./*.
Meuorum,
c. i.
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets. another and identical
This
every part.
in
where no one has another exactly
like itself.
may be seen in the case The Sun produces gold
;
that
all
Jupiter, tin
;
of metals the
;
another and widely different metal, namely, silver iron
75
Moon
Mars, another, namely,
;
Venus, copper; and Saturn yet another, namely, lead; so
same way does
In the
these are unlike.
men and
hold good with
it
other creatures, and the cause of this diversity
the manifoldness of
is
fire.
For example, the Venter Equiuus produces one kind of creature through the moderate heat generated by another
ashes another
;
corruption
its
Balneum Maris produces
the
;
sand, in like manner, another
;
the flame of fire another
;
and so on. This variety of creatures is not produced by the first but from the regimen of the elements, which is various, not from
coals another,
simple
fire,
And
the sun, but from the courses of the seven planets. the universe contains no likeness
changed
ever}'
amongst
hour and minute, so
tation takes place in the elements,
Where
fire.
a
it is
little
there
is
more dense, Luna
in its
this variety of spirits of if
where
;
is
still
more
so,
it is
Venus
introduced
many and such
why
;
is
this
is
transmu-
impressed by
produced
;
this
where
and thus according
produced different metals, so that no metal It
should be known, therefore, that
occasioned by the mixture of the elements, because that the they would be so
fire
among
much
But the manifold
be distinguished from another. is
For
these elements are found to be diverse and without likeness
they were born of simple
form
on the bodies whereof
reason
For as the heat
other things vary.
mineral exactly like another.
metal
this is the
individuals.
no great mixture of the elements, Sol
to the diversity of mixtures are
appears
all
its
creatures.
Hence
it
fire
may
alike that
:
whereas,
one could not
intervening, variety of
be easily gathered
varied forms of metals are found, and
why
why no one
is
so
like
another.*
CH.\PTER
III.
CON'CERNING THE SPIRIT OR TlXCTURE OF SOL. Let us
now come
spirit or tincture of
to the spirits of the planets, or of the metals.
Sol took
beginning from a pure, subtle, and perfect
its
The fire,
• That fire, then, is manifold which is varied according to the diversity of the subject whereinto it flows, and by means whereof it is afterwards kindled in other subjects, as the fire of ashes, sand, the bath, filings, etc., has a mediated heat flowing from an immediate source into the subject-matter of the instrument, and from hence into the matter underlying the
.\rt.
In that manifold
fire
there
is
a
diff'erence of position.
This
is
for the reason that
nothing in the'
any other thing, though both come under the same species, nay, though both may be members in the same individual. One metal produces gold from that which generates silver another brings forth the metal of Saturn, of Venus, or of Mars. Each one of these is varied according to the diflTcrcncc of the place whence it proceeded and was created. No two men, no two members of the same body, no two leaves of the same tree, are foimd exactly alike and so of the rest. Dissimilarity proceeds not from the first fire of created things, but from the differing rule over the elements by means of the planets, and not by the sun. Evcrjmoment, by this disposition of things, the heat in the elements varies, and at the same time the form of decomposed things from their compounds, though not from the simples. Where the mixture of the elements is not so great, there isjgenerated Sol where it is a little greater, and less pure, b generated Luna from that which is still more imperfect, Vcous and so of the rest, according to the mixture of the elements, 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 alone, wilhbut the intervention of the manifold, no distinction of forms could occur either in metals or in any other created things. Why there are in use no more than seven metals, of which six are solid and the seventh fluid and thin, is explained in adept philosophy but not in .'Mchemy. De Transmutationibus Metiiitontm, c. 2But this statement concerning the seventh fluidic metal seems to be at variance with other teaching of Paraccbus, to which a congeries that has been subject to editing must naturally defer. nature of things can be seen which
is
in alt respects like tq
;
:
;
^
;
;
\
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
76
which reason
for
metals.
It
far surpasses
it
the other spirits and tinctures of the
all
remains constantly and fixed
in
the
fire,
nor does
therefrom,
fly
it
consumed by it, but rather by its agency it becomes clearer, purer, and Nothing either hot or cold can injure it, or any other accident, as they can injure the other spirits or tinctures of metals, and for this reason that the body which it once assumes it defends from all accidents and diseases, This body has not such and enables it to sustain the fire without injury. nor
is
more
beautiful.
:
power and up within
virtue in itself; but derives
For we know with regard
it.
sustain or endure the hre, but
flies
from
from the
it
;
alone which
body of Mercury that
to the it
spirit
but
when
in Sol
spirit or tincture of Sol.*
be in Mercury, any one can infer that bodies of
men when
who
from weaknesses one
uses
it,
it
will
off
the
effect in
Magna we have
In our Chirurgia
received therein.
it is
said concerning the tincture of Sol that
fly
receives
it
therefore, this spirit can
If,
would have some similar
it
shut
cannot
does not
it
but remains fixed and constant, this affords a most certain proof that
such a constancy from the
it
is
not only restore and preserve
but also conserve him for a long and healthy
In like manner, the strength and virtue of other metals may be known from true experience, not from the wisdom of men and of the world, which is and all who build and rest their hope foolishness with God, and with His truth
life.t
;
on that wisdom are miserably deceived.
CHAPTER
IV.
CON'CERNING 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, though
it
purity and subtlety
This, indeed,
• It
is
manner,
is
produced from the perfect
spirit of Sol
;
but, nevertherless,
the other tinctures of the metals which follow
all
well
known
well understood that the
is
in like
be less perfect than the
Transmulat:ortihus Metailoruin,
to
all
body of Sol c.
is
who
handle Luna, even rustics.
Mercury, which cannot at
stand the
all
fire,
it
spirit,
excels in
order
it
in
It
does not
but flees from
M.—Dc
lo.
is here made, there is the following process for the manufacture deprived of its metallic .ind malleable nature; th.it is to say, let it be corrupted then let the residue be cleansed with sweet water, and the colour extracted by means of spirit of wine, when Take ver>' while salt, but not that the desired tincture will remain at the bottom. To compose the Water of Salt which h.as been whitened artificially ; melt it several times reduce it to an exceedingly subtle powder mix it with
In the collection of treatises to which reference
of a tincture of gold :- Let the body be
first
;
:
;
;
the sap of raphanum.
Shake
Distil, after resolution,
it.
with an equal portion of the sap of blood.
Then again
distil
Thin plates of gold which have been purged by antimony are easily reduced to powder in this water. The powder thus prepared must be washed with sweet distilled water until it no longer savours of salt. As the salt does-not Take one sextarius penetrate into its substance it is easily removed by ablution. To compose the Spirit of Wine (about a pint) of generous wine let it be poured into a circulatorj' vessel of appropriate size, that is, of such capacity Place it in a Balneum M.aris to the depth which the wine occupies, and decoct that the wine can be shaken therein. five times.
:
;
for ten days.
Seal all apertures of the
vessels, so that
nothing can escape.
Then
place in a cucurbile, and abstract the
has passed aw.ay (which you will know by the usual signs), cease to urge the fire, for the residue is a simple sublimate. Pour the spirit of wine upon the abovtf-mentioned powder (which should be like alcohol) to the height of a palm, enclose it in a glass, keep it for a month in a warm bath to digest, when the colour
spirit
will
by a slow
fire.
As soon
as
it
be separated and commingled with the
these things, melt the powder, and
it
will
spirit.
A
white powder
will
remain at the bottom.
be separated into a metallic water.
Evaporate the
Having separated
spirits
according to
Perform its gradation in a retort of the proper size. This spirit will remain at the bottom. most conveniently by elevation, which is highly attenuating. -CV»>«r£;(i Magna^ Part II., Tract III., c. 2.
and the desired
is
all
art,
done
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets. acquire rust, nor
is
it
consumed
may
it
be gathered that this tincture
below, for
preserves in the
it
Hence
or loss.
another body.
Will
do the same
will
but causes long
beyond
its
a medicine
own is,
it
will
in the
much
in
beat the
corruptible body by
when extracted from
more
the better and
perfectly
who waste
which arc firm and
fixed,
subtle, it
learnt better in their universities.
and more perfect
Wherefore
cures.
on vegetables,
their skill only
With these they endeavour
but they do this vainly as those
But why speak at length about these
air.
into
it
even those which are
infirmities,
For the higher, more
as herbs and the like, which are easily corrupted.
who
own
its
the
those are mere ignorant physicians
to accomplish results
down
has assumed without any accident
it
this
and cures diseases and
life,
excellent than those set
be able to effect
in
special grade.
so
if
more
of which
all
but not this one.* Hence
fire,
same way protect and defend from Surely if it produces this Mercury in its own body, bodies of men.f -Vnd it not only preserves health,
not that
accidents and infirmities? it
the body
fire
Mercury, what
itself produces
far
is
quite clear that
is
it
other metals,
in the fire lilce the
Saturn draws with himself when flying from the
jj
They have not
?
they were compelled to go back to the
If
beginning, learn and study, they would think
it
Therefore
a great disgrace.
they remain in their former ignorance.
CHAPTER
V.
Concerning the Spirit of Venus.
We
have before made mention of a White
Now we
proceed to speak of a red
spirit,
elemental mixture of the former, to w-hich also less,
On is
more
it is
this
The
Mars, just as
it
remains
air also it
and tinctures of the succeeding metals. more constantly than the rest, so that it so soon pass away as the other spirits which
it
and the moisture of water are not so injurious
remains more fixedly and for a longer time
which has been infused into
own body,
that
subject, though, neverthe-
in the fire
has this force and property, that spirit
produced from a thick
is
it is
perfect than the spirits
account
not so soon burnt, nor does
follow.
Spirit, or colourless Tincture.
which
is,
in
Nature conceded to
Venus, It
it.
it
to say,
is it.
wounds
in
it
produces
much
such diseases as are under
its
degree.
way
such a
This
spirit
bodies qf metals so that they lose their malleability. • Molten lead destroys ParacfUica^ c. lo. t
is
On
by means of the
fire,
is
by
also drives
away
further breaks up the
In the bodies of
|
as
men,
except Sol and Luna.
too,
Congeries
Luna
to say, Mercury*,
the case of an inst.ible
own body and
itself,
It
man
that no accident
is able to protect from all injury by fire or other accidents the body into which it and to render it consistent, it is easy to gather from this, if it produces such an effect in and \'olatiIe body like Mercury, how much more powerfully it will act when disengaged from its
Since, then, the spirit of
enters, that
t
the metals, including
all
as to
Venus
this eflfect in its
also in
can affect them, nor can the air or the water injure them. all
it
body has, on account of the
its
Since, then,
accomplishes as
preserves
to
in the fire.
projected into the
the other hand,
if it
human
\ioAy.
— lbid.
be mixed with certain metals, even
among
those which arc perfect,
bodies, so that they are no longer malleable, or capable of being treated in Ibid.
any way
it
tears asunder their
until they are set free
from
it.
—
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
78
when
it is
taken for a disease to which
venient results.*
It
it
is
not suitable,
it
produces incon-
necessary, therefore, that the physician
is
use these should be experienced, and have a far better, then, to use the
more
who
desires to
good knowledge of metals.
may
perfect spirits, which
It is
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 one
is
not of such wealth that he can prepare these medicines, so each
do what he
pelled to
Every one
can.
will easily
is
com-
be able to gather from what
has been said that metallic medicines far exceed vegetable and animal products in their
So
strength and power of healing.
than enough, concerning the
far
we have
said enough, and
more
spirit of V^enus.J
CHAPTER
VI.
Concerning the Spirit of Mars. Speaking
of the Spirit of
Mars,
this
was the case with the others which
bustible mixture of the elements than
But Mars
precede.
so that
it is
is
comes from a more dense and com-
furnished with greater hardness than the other metals,
not melted in the
fire
True,
as they are.
it
is
hurt by the water
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, But in hardness and its spirit is less perfect than that of any of the above. For not only does it render dryness it exceeds all the metals above or below. the perfect metals, Sol and Luna, proof against the hammer, but even those and the
air
which rank below duces
this effect
itself,
bodies of men, that a disease to which
But when is
it is
as Jupiter, Saturn, and the like.g
on metals, is, it it
is
this is
Since, then,
a sign that k has the same
produces a struggling not adapted,
;
especially
when
it is
pro-
taken for
contorts the limbs with great pain.
it
used and applied for wounds which do not exceed
of powerful cleansing qualities.
it
on the
eff"ect
So, then, this spirit
power and potency than are of those above, so which it was appointed by God and by Nature.
CHAPTER
is
its
degree,
endowed with no
it
less
far as regards those things for
VII.
Concerning the Spirit of Jupiter. Concerning
the spirit of Jupiter this
from the white and pale substance of '
t
III
It
should be known, that
fire,
it
is
derived
together with a nature of peculiar
these cases it produces contraction of the limbs. Ibid. would, however, be safer to use only the spirits of the perfect metals, unless gold and
silver are too
expensive
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 h,as learnt to do, that is, to treat such cases with vegetable and animal for
preparations. \
Ihid.
Under favourable
astrological circumstances,
Origine Litis Gaitictr, Lib. § Nevertheless,
it
tinctures can be extracted
from Venus. —ZJ^ Causis et
surpasses any other met.tls in h.ardnc5s and dryness, destroying and decomposing them by this in the case of the perfect no less than of the imperfect metals.— 0«^^nVj Parti-
admixture with them, and eelsica, c. lo.
many
I., c. Ii.
Concerning the Spirits of
Planets.
tite
79
and fragfility, not malleable like Mars. It, therefore, heats other and renders them capable of being broken with hamrrfers. An
crepitation
metals,
example of
this
be brought to
same If
it
effect
may be
its
produces
it
produces
it is
joined with Luna, for
it
can scarcely
The
other metals, with the single exception of Saturn.
in all
this effect in the bodies of metals,
In these
bodies.
when
seen
former malleability, except with the greatest labour.*
it
do the same
will
in
human
corrodes the limbs with severe burnings and decay, so
it
that they are completely cut off from their perfect workings, that they are unable to
it
the virtue of
removing cancer,
similar ulcers, especially those which are of
exceed the degree which
lose them, so
the necessary requirements of Nature.
fulfil
theless this spirit has in
and
its
God and Nature have given
CHAPTER
Never-
and other own nature, and which do not to
fistulas,
it.
VIII.
Concerning the Spirit of Saturn.
The
spirit
of Saturn
concrete and formed from a dry,
is
dark, cold
Hence it results that, amongst all others, it has the When, however, Sol and least power of remaining and living in the fire. Luna have to be proved and purified, Saturn is added to them, and this has the admixture of elements.
thoroughly purging them.
effect of
away
takes
their malleability.!
pains, as Jupiter
It
Nevertheless,
it
has the same
effect
Being mixed with cold,
and Mars.
has the very greatest powers and virtues, whereby
and similar
ulcers,
which come under
is
it it
of that nature that
cannot act mildly. |
It
cures fistulas, cancer,
own degree and
its
it
on men, with great
nature.
It
drives
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. Conseqviently, whoever would use it must know what diseases it cures, against what it should be taken, and what effects Nature has assigned the
to
If this
it.
be well considered
can do no harm.
it
CHAPTER
IX.
Concerning the Gross Spirit of Mercury.
The
spirit of
Mercury, which
determinate or certain form
wax elementary spirit may metal,
it
just
receives
all
Luna
;
and
in like
only subjected to the spirits above, has no
Hence
seals,
it
happens that
of whatever form.
it
admits every
So
this
be compared to the other spirits of the metals.
receive into itself the spirit of Sol,
and takes
it
as
is
in itself.
manner
it
does with the other metals.
their properties to itself.
* By mixture with other metals be separated therefrom. Ibid.
it
Sol will be produced from
For
this reason,
It
it
;
t It
if
if
Luna,
agrees with them
so far as relates to
its
corrupts and decomposes them, especially Luna, and only with great labour'can
them broken and decomposed after washing. Ibid. the limbs . « with more severe pains than even tin and iron ; but seeing that coagulated with a much more intense cold than others, it does not act so violently. Ibid. \ It
dense
For
leaves
distorts
.
this spirit
is
I I
I
!
80
T/ie
body,
For Sol
becomes is
is
all
is
the abovementioned
aforesaid metallic spirits
and
tinctures, at their
beforenamed tinctures arrive it is
inconstant and volatile ;
;
nevertheless
and generates again not only the but the metal
working.
But
by which the
itself if
moderation be not
impossible to perfect a tincture of this kind.
If
the
fire
ouijht to vivifv this tincture be too fierce, the operation will be fruitless
so
if it
be too weak.
mean means it is
in this Art,
the
Therefore
it is
necessary at this point to
and what powers and properties
to be ruled,
and how
it
« It is
has
may germinate and become we would conclude this first tract.*
prepared, then, so far as the body
is
concerned, from the aforesaid
husband, not by corporeal admixture, but when the preparation, into Mercury, then at length it exhibits
The End
;
to tinge the tinctures, or bring
perfect operation, so that they
these few words
to a
the body of Mercury, save only that Sol fixes Mercury and
The common Mercury
fixed.
subject to
observed
woman
appropriated to the spirits spoken of above, just as a
it is
man.
it
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
spirit its
its
transmutation. -Ibid.
of the First Treatise.
;
and
know what also by
them
wife
is
own metal and
is
what
to their
apparent.
spirits, just as his
has been educed from
which
Witii
prepared for a
projected, after
THE SECOND TREATISE.
Concerning the Philosopher's Mercury, and the Medium of Tinctures. the
we have written making clear
treatise
first
IN their tinctures,
etc.,
concerning- the spirits of the metals, their properties
medium
of tinctures, that
is,
we
will treat of the
made
the Philosophers' Mercury, whereby are
and fermentations of the metals
tinctures
and natures, and what
In this second
each separate metal generates.
seven chapters, as follows
in
;
CHAPTER
:
I.
From what Tinctures and Leavens are Made. Whoever wishes
to
Mercury, and project
whence
it
it
have a tincture of the metals, must take Philosophers' to its
own end
that
;
is,
into the quick
mercury from
proceeded.* Hence will ensue that the Philosophers' Mercury will be
and
dissolved in the quick mercurj-,
Philosophers' .Mercury shall
For there
fire like itself.
as between a
man and
spirits of metals,
is
receive
shall
its
strength, so that the
the quick mercurj' and render
kill
fixed in the
it
between these two mercuries as much agreement
They
his wife.
are both produced from the gross
except that the body of Sol remains fixed in the
the quick mercury
is
The
not fixed.
one, however,
we
other as grain or seed to the earth, which
fire,
but
appropriated to the
is
will illustrate
by an example,
if corn, corn, etc. If anyone has sown barley he will gather barley 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
thus
:
;
produces the seed which
it
had
•
Notwithstanding, the tincture of mercury
t
The dead
is
before conceived.!
soil, if it
plough (the wife remaining fixed and incorrupt during the process), grades of
fire,
into
its
own
therefore,
it
united to the aforesaid corporal spirit by the
.\nd although the mercury or quicksilver of Sol exists and
mercury*, not as yet fixed, never attains to resurrection.
regeneration, and the
it is
Cur,ttiont^ c. lo.
be macerated or revivified by the philosophic
nature and substance, and this with the dead body of the metal
with the crass spirit of mercury.
common
De Vlcerum
a supreme secret.
wife of the metal, like an uncultivated field or
medium whereby
Now, is
this
cannot be done
fixed, nevertheless the
For the resurrection of the metals
tinctures of this kind are .advanced to their generation.
cannot be united to dead bodies so as to bring about their fixation, but only to extracted
is
On
an immortal this account,
spirits, as lo
those
corporeal ones above-mentioned, which are subject to the metals just as common mercury is to all metallic spirits. The crass spirit of mercury can no more generate this tincture in its substance than a concubine can bring forth legitimate
fect
In the same way must it be judged concerning the crass spirit of mercury, until the metallic and corporal produced by means of the natural matter. Without this medium it will be impossible for anything good or perto be accomplished in tinctures of this kind. Moreover, if the fire be too intense it cannot generate if too slack,
the
same
offspring spirit is
;
result ensues.
De Transmutationibus MetaUimwt^
c.
lo.
G
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
82
CHAPTER
II.
Man with the Woman.
Concerning the Conjunction of the
Mercury and the quick mercury may be
In order that the Philosophers'
it must of necessity be known how must be taken, since more or less than the proper quantity may For by superfluity the seed is hinder or altogether destroy the whole business.
joined, and this latter united with the fixed,
much
of
it
suffocated, so that
But by
defect,
so that
it
is
it
cannot
able
to
by the Philosophers' Mercury.
fixed
it is
produce no
ascertained
how much
the artificer
would bring
as follows, namely err,
live until
since the body cannot be altogether dissolved,
:
Wherefore
fruit.
it is
also destroyed
should
it
of the one and the other ought to be taken, this
work
Take one
to
its
be clearly if,
indeed,
Let the receipt be
legitimate end.
part to two, or three to four, and you will not
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 If they are too large, the woman, that is, the phlegm, is dispersed, right.
whence
germ
is
under a
No
it
ensues that the seed cannot be born
suffocated so that tree, or
among
slight error, therefore,
has occurred
it
it
cannot come to
thorns,
it
may
will
when seed
is
sown fruit.
arise
as
fruit, just
through the vessels
;
and when once
this
same operation, nor can it Wherefore note what follows, namely, that you in the
take three ounces and a half and four pounds
you
where they are too small the
cannot germinate, but perishes without
cannot again be remedied
arrive at a satisfactory issue.
;
thus, having proceeded rightly,
;
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
with natural heat, so that the outside shall not exceed the inside.
For
if
it
the
heat be excessive, no conjunction will take place, because by the intense heat the
matter
On
this
is
dispersed and burnt, so that
account the mid region of the
air
no advantage arises from
it.
has been arranged by Nature
otherwise the sun and the stars would burn up between heaven and earth 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. easily be able in
For
if
any way to do
injury,
In this
way
nor to disperse, and
the heat will not still
less to burn.
the heat be insufficient neither will the spirit rest acting in no
way upon
Concerning the
own humidity
its
so
;
None
and can
rest,
%'^
metals are of
spirits of
nothing unless they are vitalised.
effect
otherwise. in the great world the seed cast into the earth
cannot grow of
unless
itself
place, therefore, is
first
For the
be dried or fixed.
will
it
themselves dead, and
the Playlets.
of
Spii-its
it
be vitalised by the heat of the sun.
it
necessary to build the
proportion, neither too large nor too small
be carried on to
Concerning the Signs which appe.ar
When
work
in just
otherwise this work will never
;
desired and perfect end.
its
CHAPTER
moved
dead, and
In the very
for this
fire
is
the regimen of the
fire
Afterwards,
to blackness.
is
V.
the Union of Conjunction.
in
moderated, the matter
when
is
by degrees
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,
Sometimes, too, the glass looks as though
before.
When
gold. is
this is perceived,
it is
it
were entirely covered with
a certain indication that the seed of the
woman,
operating upon the seed of the
fixed
and such as no one has ever seen
is
man
and fixing it. That is, the embrace it. Afterwards, when
ruling
Mercury acts on the quick, and begins to
it
the humidity has died out before the process of drj-ing, those colours disappear,
and the matter attains the
grow
at length begins to
supreme grade of whiteness.
white, and continues to do so until In the very
first
place, care should be
taken not to hasten the matter unduly, according to the opinion of those think that such a process
respects like
is in all
of corn, or in the production of a
human
womb
the
be
of the earth.
in its nature,
the longer time
is
known that everything which and men afford a proof of this. be
born
is
their
life
short.
perfect nature than
men and
who
perceived in the growth
is
being, the latter process occupying
Luna do not ripen so soon, the child from its mother's womb, or the grain from The higher and more perfect anything is and should
nine months, the former ten or twelve. or are born so soon, as
what
it
It is
men
;
necessary for
is
production.
its
For
born quickly perishes quickly.
it
should
Both herbs
In proportion as they are quickly produced or
not so with Sol and
whence
preserve them from
Sol and
many
it
Luna
;
but they have a more
ensues that they exhibit a long
life
for
accidental diseases.
CHAPTER
VI.
Concerning the Knowledge of the Perfect Tincture.
we have said how the matter itself is graduated. we 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 whiteIn the preceding chapter
In this
will
:
ness, separate a morsel fire
fore
on a plate of copper. it
Stone.
must be But if
left it
from If
it
with the forceps, and place
the Stone emits
smoke
longer in decoction, until
emits no smoke, you
may
same way proceed with the Red Stone of Sol
it
it is
comes
believe in its
it
to the
it
glowing over the
not yet perfect, where-
grade of a perfect
to be perfect.
due gradation.
In the
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
84
CHAPTER
VII.
Concerning the Augmentation or the Multiplying of Tinctures.
When you found, join before,
and
it it
wish to augment or to multiply the tincture which you have
again with the will tinge a
common
mercury.
hundredfold more than
repeat this as often as you wish, so as to have as
The longer
Proceed it
in
all
did previously.
much
respects as
You can
of the matter as you
more highly graduated it beinfinite number of parts of quick mercury into the best Luna and the most perfect Sol. Thus you have With these few words we the whole process from the beginning to the end. will conclude this second treatise, and will now begin the third. desire.
it
remains
comes, so that one part of
it
in
will
the
fire,
the
transmute an
The End of the Second
Tre.\tise.
THE THIRD TREATISE. we have
the second treatise
IN or
described the method by wiiich the tinctures
fermentations should be produced.
In
Luna are made. what manner Sol, with
sufficient length,
and
in
produced, namely, with the furnace and -
third
this
the tinctures of Sol and
we
This
we
shall
how
say
will
make
clear at
the other planets, should be
fire.
CHAPTER
I.
Concerning the Building of the Furn.\ce, with the Fire. Mercurius Hermes Trismegistus says that he a
new
For
world.
the furnace with the following
in the
its
fire
manner
First, let a furnace
:
with the fingers and thumb extended, but within and plain, so that the coals
mound
little
who
perfects this Art creates
same way as God created the heaven and the must be constructed and regulated, that is to
be raised, sloping on
open underneath, four fingers
may all
breadth only one palm
in
these
fill
coals,
to each hole let its
and break them into lumps the
the long furnace, which
must then be
that they will
may meet
it
if
:
too
the air and the heat
be able to regulate the
nature, so that
it
in
fire,
This
this place,
is
and
may
compared
be increased.
to the firmament.
we have
fire
With
too great,
is
In this
way you
to all the instruments
life,
its
adapted to the move.And there
another
is
in the glass.
The furnace then
is
.After
to be placed
and heat to the whole
and other things which
it
encloses.
II.
Concerning the Conjunction of the Since
If the
namely, the matter contained
CHAPTER
pared, and of the
a walnut.
according to the true requirements of
as the sun in the great world, which affords light, itself,
furnace the best
the coals be stirred with an iron rod,
these things follows the form of the world.
furnace
size of
shall not be excessive or defective, but
ment of the matter. firmament
little, let
own
Then take
a
left
closed, so as not to burn out.
Afterwards, add coals below, right up to the holes. put a stove before
let
Let holes be
sides to the border.
and
round
;
the bottom
.At
it.
be applied with a copper cauldron, which contains water.
and most lasting
say, in
be built at a height of six palms,
not adhere to
in breadth,
earth,
Man with the Woman.
treated of the furnace in which the tinctures are to be prefire,
we now propose
to describe
more
at length
how
the
86
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
TJie
man and
woman meet and are joined
the
Philosophers'
Mercury,
solve this with
its
its
Take Dis-
is
wife, that is to say, with quick mercury, so that the worrian
man, and the man may
jTiay dissolve the
husband loves
the manner.
supreme degree.
This
together.
prepared and purified to
his
the
fix
woman.
Then, just as the
and she her husband, the Philosophers' Mercury
wife
pursues the quick mercury with the most supreme love, and their nature
moved with
greatest affection towards
the
blended with the other,
is
so
her,
have no
man is woman is
body
united to the
the
as
woman
concerned,
is
save as
fixed, but the
fixes her
regards
woman man in
in
is
So then each Mercury the man, and he with
such
an
extent
they
that
powers and properties, seeing
volatile in the
For
fire.
this
reason, the
such a way that she dissolves the man, every consideration as a conse-
in
a glass vessel, thoroughly fastened, so that the
not escape or evaporate
maj'
with to
their
and renders her constant
Conceal both
quence.
woman
the
diflf'erence,
the
and he
as
far
us.
otherwise the whole work will be
;
reduced to nothing.
CHAPTER
III.
CONCERXIXG THE COPULATION OF THE MaN WITH THE WOMAN, ETC.
When
in
you have placed the husband and the wife in the matrimonial bed, order that he may operate upon her and impregnate her, and that the seed
of the
woman may
be coagulated into a mass
which she can bring forth no
fruit,
it is
b)'
the seed of the man, without
necessary that the
man
should perform
on the woman.
his operation
CHAPTER
IV.
Concerning the Philosophic Coition of the Husband with His Wife.
As soon
as you see the
that she has conceived and
woman
become pregnant
embraces the seed of the woman,
work and will
Art.
take a black colour,
know
for a certainty
and when the seed of the man
:
this is the first sign
and the key of
this
whole
Therefore preserve a continuous natural heat, and this blackness
appear and disappear through being consumed, as one
and goes on consuming
until not
one
worm eats another,
is still left.
CHAPTER
V.
Concerning the Black Colour.
As soon the
woman
appear, that is
as the blackness appears and
has become impregnated. is,
when many and various
a sign that the Philosophers' Mercury
and extending
its
wings
until
it
shall
is
manifest,
it
may
be
But when the peacock's
known
tail
that
begins to
colours shall be seep in the glass, is
have conquered.
dry acts on the moist these colours appear.
it
common mercury, When, therefore, the
acting on the
Concerning the Spirits of the Planets.
CHAPTER
VI.
Concerning the Bud appearing
When in the
you have seen the
difTerent colours,
work, by constantly continuing the
in
the Glass.
necessary that you persevere
it is
the peacock's
fire, until
consumed, while the matter of Luna becomes white and the vessel attains
and
fixed there,
Then
degree of perfection.
its
morsel of the regulus, and place
and tinges
it,
it
tail
glittering' as
is
quite
snow, and
you may break
at length
on a heated copper
then
87
plate.
If
off
a
remains firm
it
a fermentation brought to the highest
it is
That King has strength and power, not only for transmuting all infirmities. He is a King worthy to be praised,
perfection of Luna.
metals, but also for healing
and adorned with many
virtues,
and so great power, that he transmutes Venus,
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury into Luna, which
men from an
also frees the bodies of
infinite
will
number
stand
many
the falling sickness, leprosy, the gallic disease, and
mineral ailments
Whoever
which no herbs or roots, or anything of that kind, can remove. uses
constantly
healthy
medicament, prepares for himself a
this
He
all tests.
of diseases, as fevers,
fixed,
long,
and
life.
CHAPTER VH. Concerning the Red Colour. After the
King has assumed
colour which succeeds the white
and
drj'
;
until
at last the fermentation sitting in his seat,
it
is
this
tint,
beings the
for so long as any heat acts on the white
matter, the longer such action lasts, the
and saffron colour,
must be con-
his perfect whiteness, the fire
tinued perseveringly, until the whiteness takes a yellow
more
is it
tinted with yellow
arrives at redness, like the colour of a rubj-.
Then
prepared for gold, and the oriental King
born,
and powerful above
all
is
the princes of this world.
CHAPTER VHL Concerning Increase and Multiplication.
The multiplying in the
of this fermentation should be noted, which
following manner.
Let
it
be dissolved
wards subjected to the regimen of humidity more quickly than substance, just as a
little
large quantity of flour.
it
fire
in its
own
as before.
It
is
performed
moisture, and afterwill
act on
previously did, and will transmute into
its its
own own
leaven seems to transmute into leaven the whole of a
Wherefore
it is
an unspeakable treasure on the earth,
of which the universe has not the equal, as Augurellus witnesses.
Conclusion. it as among who by its aid own wickedness and crimes. We,
This secret was accounted by the old Fathers the most occult, lest
it
would be able more abundantly therefore, ask you,
who
possessed
should get into the hands of wicked men, to
fulfil
their
w hoever have attained
to this gift of
God,
that, imitating
The Hennciic and Alchemical
88
IVriiiiigs
of
Pai'acelsiis.
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 this Art
vices,
others.
will be
more constantly and more fully revealed than to any this kind more wisdom is found than with a thou-
For with a man of
sand sons of the world, by
Whoever
shall
whom
have found
this
Art
this secret
is in
and
no way discovered. gift
most high God, the Father and Son, with the Holy
him praise the
of God,
let
Spirit.
And from
him implore grace, by which he may be able to use that glory and to the good of his fellow-man. The merciful God grant be so for the sake of Jesus Christ His Son, and our Saviour alone
all
let
this
gift to
that this
!
Here ends the Book concerning the
Spirits of the Planets.
God
God's
may
THE ECONOMY OF MINERALS.* Elsewhere called the Genealogy of Minerals.
PREFACE TO THE READER.
ALTHOUGH
demand
order seems to
we should have
that
treated of the
generation of minerals and metals before speaking' of their transmutations practice,
still,
:
who
best for those
it
For, above
very beginning.
more
since theory cannot be
have thought
I
all else,
Alchemy
which
practice than by any tions
For these
it
and certainly no one
;
making mistakes before he gets
is
not com-
the case with the
It
is
some way advanced
are
first
rather tl\an
they should have a
will
the easiest art without
making such
be able to follow up Alcherny without
at the truth.
No
one, again, will ever enter
the true path so long as he holds back from the goal through fear of
own
a false step, or
fails
Nature.
not be so easy to learn
It will
natural methods.
to correct
So, then,
precede the natural, so that this art
to the
it
in
true that these demonstra-
and gradually learn from the very mistakes
is),
Nobody ever acquired even
they make.
just as
best that from the very
is
finger in the pie (as the saying
blunders
who
;
is
gained rather by putting them
mere demonstrations.
do a very great deal for those
for initiates.
is
which
a subject
is
prised in mere words, but only in elaborate facts rest of those arts, familiarity with
lucidly taught than by its
study this art to begin from the
his
errors by imitating the
we
if
was thought
we may
fail
if
compare alchemical with let artificial Alchemy
well to
recall those
genealogy of minerals, as
to
making
course of
who
are venturing forth in
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
had most carefully read through the writings of the ancients
I
concerning the generation of minerals, " This treatise in the recension here chosen for tr.inslation
I
is
found that they had not under-
not found in the
Geneva
folio,
and
is
translated from
another collection of the works of Paracelsus, namely, the Frankfort 8vo. of 158^. A corresponding treatise, entitled />*Minerniibits, which is included in the Geneva edition, goes over much the same ground, and is, indeed, in parts identical
same
with that given in the text.
Uut
should he provided
accordingly,
about Minerals,
.
It will,
at the
lie
time,
it
found
In
has differences sufficiently marked to require that both vcniions an appendix at the end of this volume, under the title of A Uook
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
go
matter
stood the ultimate
and,
thereof,
they understand the primal matter. to
be described,
determined
from
first
you
this
end should
its
of
to lay before
all
We
may
observes
it
and not from
was
But the end
virtually blind.
is
is
therefore
you the ultimate matter of minerals, and
issue
its
no knowledge, because
is
it
I
bring forward an example from Medicine, where a
disease has to be studied from latter there
be noted down.
all
understand the primal matter whence they derive
will easily
their origin.
of
did
less
beginning of any matter
the
If
first
much
consequence,
in
origin.
its
secretly introduced, is
visible
Of
this
and he who
from the issue towards
which we see that disease tending, as though towards a mark set up for it to Now a thing cannot be better judged than by getting to know for aim at.
what end
it
was created by God
God
use of this creation of takes any
turns to
otherwise its
will often
it
on account of
may accomplish
his
thmgs may turn out
happen that the true
Whosoever,
abuse.
work with anything ought thoroughly
he works, so that he lest
;
to
therefore, under-
understand that with which
his task in the order prescribed
by God,
imperfect knowledge or utter ignorance of the matter, ill,
and the
devil's
work
rather than God's
the case of an axe or club in the hand of a
be done,
For a rough example, take
through abuse of the matter and of appliances.
man who
does not
know how
to
They become mere instruments of destruction. He alone should handle such tools who knows how to use them, and how,
use the one or the other.
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 On this account God wills that everything He has created should created it. be possessed by one
who knows how
to use
it
;
himself to that pursuit whereto he feels in his
and every man ought
own
to apply
conscience called, and not
some other fanciful thing suggested by the devil. Know, then, that the ultimate and also the primal matter'-^'
to learn
This
fire.
is,
as
it
manifest whatever
were, the key that locks the chest. is
hidden
in
anything.
of everything
It is this
In this place, then,
is
which makes
we understand
by the ultimate matter of everything that into which it is dissolved by fire so that among the three universal things which I have discussed elsewhere in ;
different places, this should he regarded as the first
and predominating one. Vou
in the fire. It at once makes Sulphur, since its Water, not was Mercurial it clear that its first beginning with resins. resolution is not accompanied with flame, as would be the case
have an
illustration in the
case of a metal dissolved
It is also proved not to be Salt, because the first sign of its resolution is not a crumbling besides liquefaction and flame, as would be the case with earth and stones. Every metal, it is true, contains within itself Sulphur and Salt,
•
I
call the
and perfection, in its
II. ter.
ultimate matter of anything that state in which the suhstancehas reached its highest grade of exaltation example, gold, when it h.as Ueen separated from all superfluities, foreign matter, etc., and remains
as, for
pure virtue, without any admixture, h.as been educed into its ultimate mM^a.—Chirurgiii Mugnn, Pt. II., Tract into the ultimate matI'"or example, every body m.lde from the first matter is compelled to metamorphose Thus the gre.at ultimate matter h.as it* beginning in the end of the increase of the first matter. - Ilfui., IV.rt III.,
c, II.
Lib. 111.
The Economy of Minerals. Now,
but Mcrcurj' holds the principal place therein.
God
to create
water an element, and that from
Thus
minerals for the use of men.
which are developed Fire,
and Mercury
Salt,
as
in her,
it
for
one purpose, which
everj'thing as
it is,
water
is
not like
and
its
is
different
is
Everything
her matrix; that
is
to be
wills that
own
the earth itself
is,
that
same source.
In the
as
it
wood and
way
the
the birds of the air
:
And
fishes in the sea. will.
shall be eternal. like the
Who
so
makes
As, therefore,
mother,
not wood, because
same way, stone and
mineral
all
In this
committed to His divine
what He makes
were,
nature
from that of the
metallic offspring, nor the son
way
to say, Mineral
is
quite unlike the mother.
things with their
all
of the rest.
in
formed into metals, stones, and
are
substance, albeit the offspring
Most High has created
has seemed good to
it
should be every day produced
becomes the mother of those things
it
were
it
91
same
in the
it
comes from
iron are produced
from water,
which, however, becomes such water as never before existed
and the
:
earth,
becomes something which in itself it is not. So also man must become that which he is not.* In a word, whatever is to pass into its ultimate matter must become something different from what its origin was— varied and diverse, though from too,
Thus God
one mother.
and ultimate matter of
you have now
is
be the one primal
in all, that is, to
such, and so wonderful, an original
is
heard so far concerning the mother of the minerals,
sequel teach you
will in the
that this
One
He
things.
things as never has existed, nor will another ever exist.
artificer of all
then,
willed to be
all
the earth
more
The
fully.
CHAPTER
we
ancients have falsely written
but they have never been able to prove
;
As,
it.
II.
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
;
seed ranks as primal matter.
this
Likewise, out of the ultimate
matter of minerals the primal element was made, that seed,
which seed
water.
It
is
the element of water.
has been entrusted to
produce the ultimate matter, and
under
its
own power and
it
This resolves
is, it
was made
so that
it,
it
by Nature, or so arranged that
this is in
water.
into
becomes it
should
Nature, therefore, takes
separation whatever there
is
in
water
;
and what-
it puts on one side by itself for each particular metal. gems, stones, the magnet, and other things of that kind, each
ever relates to a metal
So
also for
separately and according to
wheat
its
things like these in •
It is
needful for
man
spirit vivifies that flesh
.and
its
own
kind.
For as God has appointed to the fruits, and to other
proper time for harvest, and the autumntide for
to
b<:
their elements,
bom
wherein there
so for the element of water
He
has
a second time from a virgin, not from a wife, by water and by the spirit. For the The flesh wherein death abides profits nothing, no death possible for ever.
is
nothing towards eternal salvation can
it
confer upon man.
Fhilinofhia Sagax, Lib.
II.,
c
2.
The Hennetic and Alchemical Writitigs 0/ Paracelsus.
92
willed that there shall be a proper season of harvest and autumntide all
other things, each according to
collection of their fruits.
and root of
minerals
all
;
its
He
kind,
So, then, the element of water
is
and the Archa;us therein
who
he
is
thing according to a definite order, so that each comes to
which
at length
man
and
;
for
has foreordained times for the the mother, seed,
its
disposes every-
ultimate matter,
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
most
fruit the
solid metal, stones, etc.
and so that from the water intelligence, but not
fire
weak
it
as a
should issue forth, beyond the grasp of man's
God has
beyond the power of Nature.
men
offspring from that mother, as appears also in in their
a substance, yet from
— the very hardest from the very softest:
mother, each will be found peculiar
;
own
created wonderful
they be looked at even
in his intellect
not according to his body, but according to his
CHAPTER
if
and
his properties,
state of constitution.
HI.
Concerning the Field, the Roots, and the Trees of Minerals.
The Most High
created the element of water to be, as
which the roots of mineral
nor
exist
it
were, a
field
in
springing forth from their seeds, should be
and thence the trunk and the branches should be thrust forth over the He separated it, therefore, from the other three, so that neither in the
fixed,
earth. air,
trees,
the earth, nor in heaven, but placed on the lower globe,
in
by
itself
as a free body, to be on the earth and to have
was founded, created bear man upon it like the earth where
after such
it
the water and get possession
surrounds our globe
though
it
from
own
its
its
it
should
centre there
an admirable order that
it
should
man borne in a ship should speed over of it. What is more marvellous still is that in every direction, the water does not fall down ;
so that
though the part at our antipodes seems to hang downwards, seems to them, and yet each remains spread out a plane own sphere, wherever you look at it, as if some pit should be
limits,
just as our part
surface on
its
imagined which, descending perpendicularly to the abyss, should nor be sustained by the earth. shell,
provided with
all
that
It is it
find
no bottom
even more wonderful than the eg^
requires.
The generations
in
its
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
the root remains in the earth.
Exactly so,
all
air,
so that nothing but
metals, salt, gems, stones, talc,
marcasites, sulphurs, and every similar substance, pass from their mother, the
water, to another mother, namely, the earth, trees
is
in
which the operation of
perfected, while their roots are fixed in the water.
which grow from roots
in the
earth are finished in the
their
For as those things
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. ancients, led astray by this opinion, because they in the earth,
were so
little
saw
93
that metals were found
advanced that they did not see
their error
wood,
No
from water. all
and herbs, and that everything
leaves, flowers, fruits, less
else
man who
mythical was the saying of that
asserted that
things which were produced on the earth had their origin from the
they are
and are perfected
in the air
though he saw
there,
Because he did not see the roots of minerals with
earth.
would even feign that they are
of the Greeks, deduced only from what
mental experiment.
It
is
air,
because
their roots in the
his bodily eyes
he
the physical science
seen, recognising nothing occult by
is
men who presume
just a fiction of lazy
is
Such
fixed in the earth.
when, on
grew nothing but was produced
the subject of minerals, they wrote that out of the earth
to chatter
and who do not experiment so as to observe those occult things which underlie the things which are manifest, about natural science from eyesight alone
;
the one over against the other.
CHAPTER Concerning the Fruits Just as
the H.\rvest of Minerals.
autumn on
the fruits of the earth have their harvest and
all
earth and in the
according to the predestined time
air,
the fruits of the water, that
time of maturity.
own
.\xd
IV.
When
to say, minerals, are gathered at their
is
the mineral root
germinates they
first
the
generation, so
in their
own
rise to their
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 trunk and
that
tree,
into the
is,
;
In like manner,
generated.
aqueous body, far as
it fills
From
air.
property of trees all,
in the
Nature puts forth a mineral
the pores thereof, just in the this are eventually
its
species,
for the
aqueous
tree,
and by-and-by
bark, walnuts under one that
in
in
is,
an
earth so
as the earth itself
fills
the
according to the nature and
fruits
We
up
is
must seek, then, by a method not
for its fruits,
the following manner. ;
Some
for instance, chestnuts
green and
covering, and under this again a bitter
happens
in the
at the extremities of its branches, just as occurs in
trees produce their fruits covered
it
that
tree,
produced
is
same way
produced
which we see on the surface of the earth.
borrowed from agriculture, and
So
This tree
element of water.
membrane, and then
of the visible
under a prickly
is
at last the kernel.
to say, the metals, are
Other trees produce
separated just like those others by barks.
their fruits
naked, such as plums, cherries, pears, apples, grapes, etc., where there
such separation as that just described.
So
also
of
inaptly
under that a wooden
bitter,
minerals, the kernels of which, that
first
some aqueous
trees
is
no
produce
according to the condition and nature of the water.
free and naked, \s we know by the rind
what
known by
their
gold,
silver,
fruit lies
corals,
and other metals of that kind,
concealed within
it,
and as the
so, in the case of minerals, the spirit of the
spirit is
metal
is
its
body, just
recognised, though hidden.
The Hermetic afid Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
94
beneath
produces the body, of one kind
Although, then, gold
no moment
There
in the
mineral, of a different kind in the
nevertheless that body
a mineral body,
in
body of gold,
So the
incorporated.
be
tree, as the spirit into
two
are, therefore, in a mineral
pure
the
fruit,
may
of the aqueous element
spirit
are
fruits
first
wherewith
spirit
introduced from the element into the
The same thing
eternally united with him, since differs
from
all
it is
is
inseparably
is
is
seen
last into the earth, as
man,
in
whom
to
been given two bodies, one corrupt, but the other incorrupt, which
man
of
is
bodies, of which one
its
an impure body, and with that at
something noble and pure.
especially
fruit.
has to be separated from the g'old as impure, while the gold
it
;
itself is pure.
the
The
corporeal or mineral bark.
its
image of God, and by
the
its
have be
will
possession
other creatures.*
CHAPTER
V.
Concerning the Death of the Elements, especially of Water. Elements
die, as
at its death, as
own and
fruits.
it
men
Whatever
lost, just as
die,
on account of the corruption
were, consumes and devours is
born from
the time past
is
the light or darkness of which
its
own
returns to
it
fruit, it
in
As water
them.
so does the earth
again,
is
its
swallowed up
swallowed up by yesterday's days and nights,
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 it
still.
As
same degree,
gives forth, so, in the
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
sea
and
;
from
this thej' derive their origin,
and
in this
is
the
they receive both their
life
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 matrix, whether to produce a metal, a stone, a gem,
salt,
alum,
vitriol,
or sweet, cold or hot spring, a coral, or a marcasite, and after
it
its
a saline
has thrust
forth the trunk to the earth, this trunk spreads abroad in different branches,
* The
flesh
and blood which man received from
Adam
can
in
no wise enter into the kingdom of God.
For nothing
can ascend into heaven which did not come forth out, of heaven. Now the Adamic flesh is earth. Thus it cannot enter heaven, but is again converted into earth. It is mortal, subject to death, and nothing mortal can enter heaven. There It admits not of purging or gloriis no fire which can purge it from its stains in such wise as to make it fit for heaven.
At the same time, man cannot enter heaven unless he be true man, clothed upon with flesh and blood. For it is 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 born into the world for him He died upon the cross, that so man might be redeemed and m.ade eligible for the kingdom of heaven. fying.
only by flesh and blood that
;
But when God had thus shewn His love for man, his flesh still excluded him from heaven, whence He gave him another flesh and blood which was built up of the Son, and then this creature, not of the Father, but the Son, enters heaven. For the Adamic flesh is 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
The Economy of Minerals. the liquid of
whose substance
a water, nor an as
oil,
wood growing
— both of branches and stalk —
nor a lute, nor a mucilage out of the earth, which
They
sprung therefrom.
95
;
is,
in fact,
it
is
formally neither
can only be conceived
nevertheless, not earth, though
are spread in such a
manner
that one branch
is
separated from another by an interval of two or three climates and as regions
many Hungary, and even beyond. The
sometimes from Germany to
:
branches of the different trees of the same kind are extended over the whole sphere of the earth, just as the veins
human body
in the
various limbs far apart from each other.
But the
are extended into
put forth by the
fruits
extremities of the twigs, by the nature of the ultimate matter, soon
*There
the earth.
when
all
fruit is
its
offspring being
its
nature, a
water
new
and
;
is
left in
Afterwards, according to
the earth.
tree appears.
it
to
fall
momentary coagulation of them, and then at length, shed, this tree dies and is utterly consumed by dryness, a
So, then, the
comprises only Sulphur,
and
are that element's spirit
soul,
first
Salt,
its
state of
matter of minerals consists of
and Mercur}'.
These minerals
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 every seed and
final fruit,
These and
incessantly disposing
like
them according
to its peculiar
and genera.
to their species
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
To
Creator and of His virtues.
the minds and mental sight of true philoso-
phers, no less than to their carnal eyes, the clear light appears. occult field
But that Greek Satan has sown
becomes manifest.
of true wisdom, tares and his
own
To them
in the philosophic
false seed, to wit, Aristoteles, Albertus,
Avicenna, Rhasis, and that kind of men, enemies of the light of Nature,
who have
the
God and
of
perverted the whole of physical science, since the time
when they transmuted
the
name
of Sophia into Philosophy.*
CHAPTER VH. Concerning the \'ari.\tion of the Pri.mal M.atter of Minerals, proportion to the different species and indivipuals thereof also concerning the various colours, etc.
in
:
We as
if
in
have before said that the primal matter exists a bag, and that
it is
in
its
mother, just
composed of three ingredients meeting
in one.
wherein is no death but life. This is the flesh whereof man has need, that he may and in that blood, at the last day, shall he arise, and shall possess the kingdom of heaven with Christ. Now, this flesh which has its life from the spirit w.-is first born, without the generation of m.alc seed, from a daughter of .\braham. by promise, and became man by the Holy Ghost, So, also, we who aspire to the Thus man must to eternity be kingdoai mtist be bom again out of a virgin and faith, incarnated by the Holy Spirit. flesh and blood; thus is there adual flesh—that which is Adamic and is nothing, and that of the Holy Spirit which i£ yvnXiC—Pkiloiopkia Sttgax. Lib. IL, c. 2. * So high and so lofty is human wisdom that it hath in its power all the stars, the firmament itself, and universal heaven. And as the power thereof pervades all the earth, so also it extends over heaven. The Sun and Moon are its subjects. Even as the hand changes and compels the soil, so also the inner microcosmus compels the zenith to obedience.— />< Pestr, Lib. II., c. a. life cometh forth a living become a new man/ and in [his
gives
flesh,
flesh
The Hermetic and Alchemical
96
But there are as many gold
in sapphire, and other
;
a different Salt exists in
in
For a
gems
Sulphur
different
found
is
in lead, iron,
and salts likewise with Mercury one kind
in stones, marcasites,
;
So, too,
metals, salts, etc.
gems, another
oj Paracelsus.
Mercury, Salt, and Sulphur as there are
varieties of
different fruits in minerals.
]]')'itings
is it
;
:
Besides, in respect of the composition of
in metals.
same
these, different individuals are found under the
Gold
species.
some-
is
times found, one specimen heavier or more deeply coloured than another
:
and
Moreover, there are as many Sulphurs of gold. Salts, and
so of the rest.
Mercury of gold, and of the others, as there are greater and Nevertheless, all which among them receives particularity degrees.
diversities of
lesser
from the subject always is comprised under the universality of one and the same Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, mysteriously comprehended in universal Nature. In this respect Nature may be compared parabolically to a painter, who from some
few colours paints an
The only
difference
He
imitates these.
Now,
things.
is,
all
infinite
number
of pictures, no one exactly like another.
that Nature produces living pictures, but the artist only
represents the
same things
to the eye;
but they are dead
natural colours proceed from the Salt of Nature^ in which they
Sulphur exhibits the exist together with the balsam of things and coagulation. -substance of bodies and their building up; Mercurj', their virtues and arcana. God alone assigns life to all, so that from every one should be produced that which
from
He,
eternity,
all
had predestinated
determined and willed that
all
to
be thence produced,
Whoever,
should be.
as
He
therefore, wishes to
understand the bodies of natural things, let him learn from natural Sulphur that which he may first of all have well understood, if he seeks natural colours as the
But if he wishes to know the virtues of things, he must belonging to the Mercury of that thing whose virtues scrutinise the arcana All these matters does that one and the same he wishes to learn.
foundation from Salt.
at the same time distributing, at once embrace in one, and separate Consider, I removing, or completely blotting out the colours from such. beseech you, this tiny grain of seed, black or brown in colour, out of which
Nature
;
grows a vast
tree,
producing such wonderful greenness
variegated colours in its flowers, see this repeated by Nature in
and flavours
in its fruits
in
its
leaves, such
of such infinite variety
marvellous, so rich, in her mysteries that you will have enough to last you
vour
book of Nature w ithout
life in this
;
her products, and you will find her so
all
referring to paper books.
If
all
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
This has been
many which
my Academia,
deceitful I
learnt
there are
is in
us, or as
it
should and can be
not Athens, Paris, or Toulouse.
After
I
in us.
had read
books of wise men I betook myself to this one alone, from Still, I confess, that I write, wbich also I know to be tn-e.
all
many more
things which
I
do not know, but which
will
surge up to
Economy of Minerals.
Tlie
own
the surface in God's
revealed
when
There
time.
the Almighty wills
This, however,
know, that
I
one who does not yet
live,
nothing so occult which shall not be
is
so to be.
it
me
after
who
but
97
will
come a many
disciple of this school,
things.
will disclose
CHAPTER
VIII.
Concerning the Natural Dispenser of Minerals, and His Ministers.
men for preparing them and adapting man alone, but many in succession, are required, and own special gift and duty. Who is benefitted by a metal
In the manufacture of minerals by
them
one
for use, not
each of these has his
being dug from the bowels of the earth, unless
What
or liquefactor?
who knows how these
all
of
first
still
separator, preparer,
its
buyer unless
nor the
metals
those
she needs
her
mineral Sulphur,
is
and nature
;
of
not
these
is,
has ministers under
matter into which the operation
this or that condition
does
Among
himself, the minister of Nature, has the following
exhibits the corporeal
is
someone
be
Nature
people.
who
He, too,
there
use.
for
own
Archeus, the dispenser of minerals,
all,
He
him.*
;
adapt
to
but
be
it
again, without the smith?
he,
without some buyer,
no avail need
is
the
:
falls,
a second,
first,
who
namely, the
who
fabricates
the properties and virtues, and operates on the previously existing matter, say, for instance,
a third, who, by compaction and coagulation, unites
;
the single portions together into one body, that
all is
Mercury
When
the confirmer of the work.
and enclosed earth
;
in
Sll
is
to say, the Salt,
an athanor, Archeus decocts them, exactly as the seed
and not only
so, but they are
which
these are brought together into one, in the
decocted mutually together, one with the
manner The Sulphur submits its body to the other it what they will, and lead to that end whereto is two, that they Mercury is added with the properties of destined that which has to be done. When all the decoctions of its virtues, and this is decocted by the other two.
other, in the following
:
may do with
kind are
this
fulfilled, then, at
matters associated with
it,
length, the salt begins to operate on the other
and on
congealing, and, lastly, coagulating,
and harvest, so that nothing Briefly, then, it
is
in
it
we have gone through
Alchemy and
in
By
first
condensing, afterwards
strengthens the work for
its
autumn
wanting except a harvester and a smith.
remains that we specially, but
each
itself.
still
the
whole genealogy of minerals,
concisely, hear the force and virtue of
Medicine respectively, so
these for the aforesaid faculties.
I
far as
would admonish
it is
my
necessarj- to learn
readers to put aside
mere dreams and opinions of others who romance about these on paper, not in Nature, who have been taught by men like themselves, and with the same amount of
for awhile the
things, until they see that they are only philosophers
The anatomy of the is Nature and the dispenser of things. AtinotatioHts try Ljitvs dttos de Tnrtnro. Archeus is the separator of the elements and of .all those anatomy of life. - Fragmenta Anatomitf. things which exist in them, dividing each thing from the rest, and gathering it into its own pl.-\cc.— /?< EUmento Aqutr^ •
Archeus
Art:heus
is
the
Tr.act II.. c.
1.
11
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
98
by rote and not by experience, while they shew themselves
to think
learning',
Though they may not care to see, I will may perceive the light and nature and
to others such as they really are. still
place
them so that
life
more
easily,
at least they
without being disturbed through the darkness of death.
Beginning, then, from the run through each, that
which are
principles of minerals,
first
up
to say, right
is
to the very
CHAPTER
Alchemy and
in
Medicine.
IN
man
His goodness and greatness, willed that
in
will
IX.
Concerning the Virtues and Properties of Salts
God,
we
Salts,
end of the metals.
Nature to such a state of necessity as
should be led by
to be unable to live naturally without
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, natural Salt.
man
out of which two ingredients
Now,
by Nature compacted.
is
since
is
it
necessar)' that these prime constituents should be nourished with
something
man must
use ardent
like themselves,
follows as a matter of course that
it
foods for the sustenance of his internal Sulphur
moist foods for nourishing
;
the Mercury, and salted foods for keeping the Salt in a facultj' for building up the body.
dead
power
Its
will still
for conservation
is
chieflysel'ii
a very long time from decay
flesh for
more preserve
hence
;
Coming,
living flesh.
li]
it is
Ihe
Marine
is
Spring Salt
Salt, the
and, lastly. Marine Salt.
only by Nature.
second
is
Spring
conducive to health
chiefly
is
This
;
and the
last
Salt, in the first
Ireeps it
The
life.
first
and the third Mineral second place,
of
Salt.
iSIineral Salt
;
are decocted by Art, the other
This and the Marine Salt are not comprised under the nature
of muria (brine), but that which
is
decocted
is first
separated from the water into coagulated
it is
il
at length, to its kinds, there
are three which are considered specially useful for man's
these
that
liiLl
easy to guess that
of
salt.
all
turned thereinto, before
There
are, therefore,
two
descriptions of Salt to be put forward by us, one from muria, the other from
wholly refined
which is
and
;
There
them.
first,
if
is
Salt has not been used with foods there
stomach receives those foods
tlie
in
consideration should be given to that condition
Where
to every Salt.
no correction
digest
But,
salt.
common
is
an expulsive
Salt
force,
excrement or through the urine, and unless these are kept course and motion, *
White
usnetum,
sal
vitriol,
all
rock
salt,
mountain
salt,
or, so to speak, essence,
sea
salt,
spring salt
— all
in like
wholly
.are
Now,
if all
These, one essence they
these things subsist in
they are called by one universal name, liquor of Nature, or liquor of
manner, are subject
is,
they suHsist unseparated
sulphur.
Ffagwenta
in
salt,
orpiment), antimony,
to calcination, reverberation, distillation, etc.,
and
if
they subsist
called the balsam of Nature, the liquor of Mercury, or the balsam of Mercury.
there are the various species of sulphur, petroleum, cajabe. pitch, etc., which are also subject to the if
the
their regular
in
these species originate from the salt of the
Besides these, there are arsenic, realgar, ogertum, black auripigmcnt (that
mercury, asphalt. in
unable to
the vital faculties are prostrated in their endeavours
three prime principles, and arc subject to calcination, reverberation, or sublimation.
or balsam of salt.
is
red vitriol, cuprine vitriol, rock alum, alumen plumosum, alumen scissum, alumen entali, alumen
gemm^,
a proper proportion
it
acting through
same
Finally,
processes, and
a single essence they are called the tincture of Nature, liquor of ifulphur, or balsam of
Meiiica, No.
3,
The Economy 0/ Minerals.
99
\
and
powers of expulsion.
in their
The blood
does not receive unsalted nutriment.
If
in
is
own
its
nature
salt,
and
does, throug-h extreme hunger,
it
it passes away to decay. In order that such a fault might be avoided, Salt has been appointed as an addition to alimentary foods,
sometimes receive such,
may
so that the natural outlets of their due nutriment.
hid in Salt a solvent faculty for
lies
opening the obstructions which accidentally occur
in the
driving them out by resolving them into urine.
The
the blood, that
is,
the salt
the microcosmic salt, and
Now,
excrements.
the
from the natural
salt
which
natural
this
the
power there
purge the natural
is in
and expelling
all
when he wishes
this, especially the
to
kind
others, has the faculty of attacking
The operations
this natural Salt.
made when
Every physician ought
Salt as a medicine, especially
comes from gems, which, above
that
associated with
otherwise through the
salt,
Let him more freely prescribe
Salt.
only the salt of
is
is
conjunction can only be
stoppage they easily remain and adhere somewhere.
know
pores of the skin, and
urine
so they both act powerfully for the expulsion of
tempered with a proper quantity of alimentarj-
to
members be deprived
not be obstructed, or the
Moreover, there
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 Muri.\. I
just
now mentioned two
kinds of Salt, Muria and dry Salt.
Muria has the greatest power of drying up
more
in
one hour than dry Salt could
been reduced to Muria,
it
all
into
it.
people.
much. for
It
tibia,
unnatural leprous liquids. sit in it
If after
in
who
this
Its
does has
curing
in
and other tumours as
well, in
heat should be so
The proof when thrown
as in a bath without injury.
that an Qg,^ shall
swim on
should be noticed that a bath of this kind
People
a time
is
It
Although
month.
has not the same power as the natural
tempered that a patient could of perfection in Muria
First of all,
superfluous moisture.
effect in a
moist gout, dropsy, moist tumours of the
a word, for consuming
all
its
only adapted for stout
is
are of a spare habit should not use
one or two baths the tumours return,
surface
it,
as
it
up too
dries
would be best
it
to live
those places where the decoctions of Murise and Salt are made.
CHAPTER Concerning Dry There are various species of dry
Salts,
XI. S.\lt.
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.
of them be mixed with Sulphur and applied to as a lotion,
it
been produced,
wounds
keeps them from worms, and even it
drives
if
If
any one
as a plaster, and then
the
worms have
already
them away and prevents any more from coming. 112
By
loo
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracehtis.
TJie
and without the use of any medicament, Nature heals wounds, unless any complication prove an obstacle to the free action of the In Salts of this kind is a great remedy for ulcers, scabies, natural balsam. cleansing alone,
and the
like, if
they are resolved
in
The power
baths.
stronger, and this can be increased by dissolving Salt for curing baldness,
in
of Muria
is
much
is
useful
The same
it.
and other ailments of that kind, especially
if
these Salts
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; They will exhibit or let them be put by themselves in a cold, damp place. are corrected by addition, or increased in
:
Muria very little less strong than the natural in external surgical The aforesaid Salts will never be cases, but much weaker in internal cures. found in any other things, even though the alcali be decocted from them. artificial
This Salt
not like those before named, but
is
things or Corporeal Salt, because
human
made from
is
a spirit in a vessel where gold it
the
knew how
same kind of Salts calcined into oil and separated from it so
— Drinkable
we have heard from
excellent artifice for gilding silver or iron,
they only
For
dissolved into an
is
remains excellent and potable
this final condition, as
if
called the alcali of natural
is
fed by the salts of nutriment in the
body, or by the preceding, even the dry and specially nutritive ones.
Alchemy, the Water of Salt that
is
it
to prepare
it
Gold.
Before
it
arrives at
jewellers and ironmasters,
it is
an
and would be a constant treasure
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
particularly adapted for the ordinary cementations
is
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 Concerning There
XII.
S.\lt
also another kind of salt which
is
Nitre. is
called nitre. t
It is
composed
naturally of the natural salt of animals' bodies, and the salt of nutriment in
those bodies combined. superfluity in
The two
due course.
that from tion
One
salt
having thus been formed from two, the
decocted into urine, and, falling on the earth,
is
them
results
brought about by
constituents are
more and more
one single and perfect artificial
salt
decoction from
again decocted
through the chemical separa-
its
form of cones or of clods, provided
clearly in the
is
closely united, so
earth. it
It
shews
itself
very
be thoroughly separated
from the superfluous nutrimental Salt not yet digested by the animal decoction • Every urine I.,
Tract III.,
is
c. r,
a resolved salt.— Z>c
^K(//(-/(J
Urhitiruiti, Lib. II.
Salt passes into urine.
— /^^
Ttir/urer, Lib.
exprsiiio,
For the earth whereon they make water is aftert Nitre fornis in the pens and stables where cattle make water. wards cooked and the salt nitre obtained from it. For all urine is salt. Df Tar.firt}, Lib. I., Tract III., a/ino!ationes tH c 2. Nitre is excrement and the dead body of esile and nutrimental matter. And this dead body is that out of which putrefaction grows. Fragmenta Medka, De Tararo Kitreo, It is an essential spirit and excrement of all salts,
possessing a hermaphroditic nature.— /?r Ptstiliinte, Tract
I.
The Economy of Minerals. when
In Alchemj-
driven off into the urine.
it is
would be
recount
idle to
how
when
result,
sulphur and formed into blasting powder, whence
which
In the
same way, from the
an universal natural balsam, by which
is
from
special combinations, returning at length
again
— there
is
use
its
percolating through the pores of the earth
is
was compounded with
it
salt of the liquor of the earth, all
things arc built up in their
this
by resolution into the earth salt,
coagulated
of ice adhering to the rocks, from which circumstance
Neither the one nor the other
internal medicine, except in the ver)- safe
way
I'
experiment
first
has been deservedly called
it
produced, as was stated above, a single
Nitre into Saltpetre.
very frequent.
is
great was the violence which a
demonstrated therein with disastrous
terrestrial lightning.
iO[
it
which afterwards the form of cones
in
changed
its
name
of
particularly useful as an
is
of reducing too obese bodies
nor
;
is it
a
remedy, unless the two are mixed with Salt of Copper, or else the
three are subjected to a process of extraction,
employment
and formed
into one
CHAPTER
for
XIII.
Concerning the III Effects of Nutrimental All salt
body
way.
in this special
S.\lt.
used with food which has not been digested by the stomach,
which also on being expelled has passed down into the intestine, unless
makes a thorough
transit, generates colic
forate the intestines, as
nature causes
Its corrosive
are verj- difficult to cure. is
and suffering
shewn by anatomy.
If,
it
bowels which
in the
sometimes to per-
it
however,
it
remains un-
expelled in the stomach, eructations and heartburns arise, with
many
other
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
affections of the stomach.
It
only in this particular part of the body but in others also, especially the urinary
Enough has been
organs.
and
We
their faults.
character,
and
.\lchemy and
is
in
now
named
said on the different species of salts, their virtues
pass on to that salt which
Vitriol.
It
excels
all
is
more mineral
others by
its utility,
in its
both
in
Medicine.
CHAPTER
XIV.
Concerning Vitriol.* Nature produces from the bowels of the earth a certain kind of X'itriol, full
salt,
named
possessed of such virtues and powers as can scarcely be described to the
by any.
In
it
are contained perfect cures for the jaundice, gravel, calculus,
* An important \-ariation of this and the following chapters on Wtriol occurs in the Geneva folio. Concerning the LSE OF VITRIOLATED OIL IN Alchemv; and in like manner concerning its crude form. Byway of saying something about the hidden alchemical powers in Vitriol, 1 would first of all submit to you, concerning cru de vitriol, that ea ch separate kind of crude vi ir ol m n k-ps copper out of iron. It is not the .\lchemist who does this, but Nature or Vitriol by the operation i
of the .\lchemist.
In the light of Nature
puts off itself and becomes something else.
man.
it is
how any metal, as it were, woman should be produced from a
the subject of no small wonder to observe
It is really
In these matters, however, Nature has her
own
very
much
the
same
as
if
a
peculiar privileges conferred upon her bj*
God,
for the benefit of
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
102'
worms, the falling sickness, and many other diseases which are very difficult 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 produces marvellous effects, varying according to the method of its preparation. fevers,
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 In a word, whatever other for surgical cases, such as ringworm and leprosy. remedies are not able to effect against diseases, on account of their own weakness, this it does from the very foundation by removing the cause of the disease. Some of its powers it puts forth in a crude state, others when it is reduced to water, others
when
is
it
a white
oil.
which
receives.
it
It
when
calcined, others
others in the form of a red
oil
;
others, again,
reduced to a green
is
it
it
possesses
when
in
oil,
the form of
assumes new powers with every fresh form of preparation It
drugs ever thought
can serve for a fourth part of
There
of.
is
no need
all
the diseases and
the
all
for the true physician to turn his
Like a modest maid, he can keep them fixed on the
eyes hither and thither.
ground, for there, beneath his
he
feet,
will find
more power and wealth
in this
treasure of Nature than India, Egypt, Barbary, and Greece could bring him.
CHAPTER XV. Concerning the Species of Vitriol and the Tests of
The
The tests
extracted.
is
First,
if it
it is
of
it is
But
considered.
taken internally
in a
this
is
crude form
the highest of it
it
man.
how
I
say this concerning transmutation
in
philosophy, has no sure foundation, but
that in tion
all
we
parts of the
order to m.ike you understand
simply fatuous.
I will
it
does
Secondly,
kinds.
worms
better
does this the better
is
it
that envious philosopher, Aristotle, in
lay before you, in due course, the recipe
itself,
so
German n.ation you may know how to make copper out of iron. From this power of transmuta. many other transmutations are possible, though they are at present unknown to us. It many arts are still occult, and that these are not revealed by God because we are not worthy of
can easily gather that
cannot be denied that
knowing them.
God
is
more deeply
all
drives out intestinal
than any other medicine, and the more elTectually
llis
it
greater or less excellence vary in equal proportion.
its
tinges an iron plate to the colour of copper, the
so, the better
when
it.
species of Vitriol are as varied as the mines or sources from which
Of course
the change of iron into copper
manifests the lesser, but the greater
these arts are not without their Elias.
without any other metal, sucli
pan or pot
;
armoniac.
.is
is
The
copper,
is
not of the
same importance as the change of
kept occult until the time of knowledge and of Elias following
tin, etc.,
is
the recipe for transmutation
one pound
;
add
:
Take raspings
quicksilver, half a pound.
pour over them one measure of acctum and a quarter of a pound of
vitriol,
who
is
iron into goRIr to
come.
For
or filings of iron,
Put both into an iron
with one ounce and a half of sal
If the acetum be expended, pour Let these be boiled together and constantly well stirred with wood. By tliis decoction the iron is transmuted into copper. If the copper is made it fresh vitriol.
some more and add
in all
Having continued the decoction for ten or twelve hours, then separate as much of the and wash it carefully so that it may be quite clean. Receive the quicksilver in a bag made of soft leather or cotton and squeeze it out. Then you will see an amalgam left. Let that amalgam expend Of this copper take half an ounce and the same quantity of silver. Let itself, and you will find pure and good copper. them pass into .a state of flux or liquefaction, and the silver will forthwith ascend to the sixteenth degree. And this is the method of proving that such copper is made from iron. It is not, however, true that the grades .are fixed. Put whoever can work well with regale will be abundantly rcw.arded. Everything in this operation depends on skill in working. This By the above-mentioned process you can always m.ake copper out of iron. I mention is where most operators fail. The nature of vitriol is such that if its colcothar be calthis to confirm the transmutation of one body into another. cined it is at once, even with slight liiiuefaction, turned into copper. A remarkable cuprine nature is in it, and there is also an equally remarkable vitriolic nature in copper. If the copper be dissolved in aqua fortis and granulated, all the copper becomes vitriol. There is no more copper left. So, also, copper is made out of vitriol, and no more vitriol passes
away
to
quicksilver as
tlie
quicksilver.
is left
from the
iron,
The Economy of Minerals.
A
considered to be as a medicine.
The more
copper.
should
water quicksilver
and the more rapidly
perfectly
is
made
Hungary, its
or
reduced
the
to
and
is
to
is
the
this,
the greatest
and any iron thrown
itself.
permanent
when This
its
is
We
altogether coerulean
while
rust,
most is
great excellence in Alchemy.
That which
does
it
comparatively weak
colour
is
oil.
That which
best for preparing the red
gall nuts
is
at
fire
to
in
Medicine, but of
speak of
its
colours.
not so strong in medicine as that which
of a pale sky blue colour should be selected before
of the green and the white
it
immediately
means of
by
copper,
into is
red colcothar, subjected to a strong
must not omit
is
rust
this
under the same colour has red and j^low spots mixed together. is
better affinity
and besides these there is a fountain in which derives its origin from Vitriol,
Vitriol,
is
fourth test
exhibits copper of
;
torrent,
turned
best
A
transmutes iron into
Nor is this remarkable when by means of borax manner from lead. There are other kinds of
whole substance
consumed and
and bellows. fire,
a
rather
it
in like
cachimiae which convert metals
nay,
when
be esteemed in both faculties, for there
it
between these two metals.
once
third test is
103
oil
from
all
That which
others for the prepar-
dark yellow
inclines to a red or
The
it.
last test is
when with
makes a very black and dark ink. This should be selected in to all the others. The species, therefore, are reckoned according
it
preference
to the tests.
CHAPTER
XVI.
Concerning the Virtues of Vitriol, Crude or C.\lcined, For the most severe pains
in Medicine.
the stomach and discomforts arising from
in
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
administered in wine or in water, to stronger ones in distilled wine.
should be It
purges
vitriol by a sufficient quantity of aquafortis. Tliis kind of kinship between \-itriol Whatever is of the nature of copper gives good vitriol. Thus verdigris gives good and _Jlighly graduated blue vitriol. Although for us to discuss these matters at any length would perhaps be ridiculous, still none cin deny that there is latent in vitriol a tincture, which is of much higher excellence than most people imafHne. Happy he who understands this matter Note other facts about the oil of vitriol. If the oil of quicksilver and this oil of vitriol be joined and thus coagulated according to their own special process, a sapphire of marvellous nature and condition is producedIt is not. indeed, the sapphire stone, but like it, with a wonderful tinge, concerning which I have much more to say. Hence it is e\'ident that stupendous secrets lie hidden in Nature and in the different creations of Nature or of God and it would be much more to our credit if we looked into these and investigated them, instead of indulging in revelry and debauchcrj-. At present the palm is given to debauchery-, until one-third pan of mankind or of the population of the world shall be killed, another shall be finished off by disease, and the remaining third only shall be saved and sur\ive. It In the present condition of depravity the world cannot last or the arts flourish. must needs be that the present condition and order of things go to destruction and be altogether eliminated, otherwise no good thing can be compassed. Then at last will flourish the Golden Age that is, then at last man will use his intelligence and live as a man, not as a brute nor will he act the swine, or live in caves and dens of the earth. Since, then, I have so far communicated to you these facts about vitriol, with every good disposition. I now pray you all. that when >-ou see those unlucky and unhappy creatures suffering from critical disease, for the sake of your own conscience, for God's glory, and the love of your neighbour, you will seriously reflect and not despise or lightly esteem the gifts implanted by God in \-itriol. Let love constrain you. so that by night and by day you may be occupied herein, and none be found taking his ease, but all ready to do anything for his neighbour's good. Will this not move you lawyers Listen to what Christ says ' Woe unto you, lawj-ers " Nor do you theologians place a This saying is not effete. stumbling block in the way, you who think so much more of your returns and your salaries than about your sick folk. These are they who pass by on the Jericho road. Be you like the Good Samaritan, and follow the example of his virtue. Then God will so enlarge your gifts that in helping the sick you shall suffer no lack. All that you need shall be given
remains, unless
and copper
is
it
be reconverted into
remarkable.
\
;
:
;
'i
;
you.
You
only
sell th'is
treasure
!
I
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
I04
out every failing from the roots, driving Vitriol
called
up and down.
it
Neither
or Grilla.
Grillus,
its
account call
it,
much
a
it is
its
is
of
worms.
all
nobler medicine than others.
its oil
may
colcothar, or, as they
Its
an
internally, unless as
Caput Morttmm, should not be taken
red
adjunct to surgical treatment for putrid ulcers of the
but
nor
For curing the falling sickness, too, the methods the best. These properties accrue to it On this twofold nature, that is to say, its acetosity and its saltness.
faculty for driving out
purgation by Vitriol
from
it is
nor have they the
digridion purge so strongly or cure so perfectly as this,
same
In arcana
nor colocynth,
hellebore,
first
grade of malignity
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
De
entitled
and
Here
Naturalibus Rebus.
one focus what
to bring to
mutation.
Sometimes medical
purpose.
Let us see,
Although, then,
into gold,
God
in the
only
way
to
treat
of trans-
Alchemy
in
beyond the
described above, giving the formula
not so
it is
does
Vitriol
we
transmutation of iron into copper, as at the outset.
intended
tempt one to stray from one's set
topics
what
then,
we had
does for Alchemy
it
difficult
a
work
to transmute iron
wills that the lesser operations shall be performed^firsty-aiid
that the greater ones should remain occult until the Elias of the Art ar rives. All arts
have some one person specially their own, as
Now, take one pound
arts.
of iron
filing,
is
Throw
strongest Acetum, with a quarter of a pound of Vitriol. all
together,
As the Acetum wastes pour on
wooden spoon. twelve hours
Boil
in
other
Over these pour one measure of the
metal, and half-a-pound of Mercury.
and a half of Sal Armoniac.
understood
without the admixture of any other
and
fresh,
stir
in
an ounce
constantly with a
and also
Vitriol.
After
the chief part of the Iron which has been transmuted be
let
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 Half an ounce of this is at once mixed with an exhibits the purest copper. equal part of silver, six degrees being held back, though not fixed but ready
entirely separated with ;
to
be
fixed in regale, so that
moderate gain dissolved by to copper.
for food
and clothing.
Vitriol
is
also
means of aquafortis and granulated. This does not return again So also from the colcothar of vitriol \'enus is made (as we have
mentioned above among the itself
may have made from \'enus,
therefrom the industrious Artist
tests),
except by a special water.
Vitriol of highest degree.
which
is
not brought back to
vitriol
of
Verdigris, in like manner, exhibits a Spagyric
In Vitriol so great
and powerful a tincture lurks as
an inexperienced person could scarcely believe, though he can who understands its arcana. As often as Oil of Vitriol is mixed with Oil of Mercury,
and both are coagulated together, they change and condition, very
Having
like
to a stone of
wonderful
a sapphire.
dealt with the Salts, let us
now
pass on to Sulphur.
tint
The Econoviy of Minerals.
CHAPTER
105
XVII.
Concerning the Threei-old Sulphlk of Minerals. Sulphur should properly be called the resin of the earth, and
though
latent numberless virtues available in both faculties,
useful in neither.
arcanum
Its
alone,
when cleansed from
snow, by means of the Isopic variety of sources
we
art.
It
has as
many
said above, under the similitude of chestnuts
were likewise enclosed
in their rinds,
which
in their nucleus,
are is
seen in
is
different virtues as
Sulphur
for every metal or mineral contains
:
it
impurities, operates
a wonderful way, having beeij washed to that whiteness which
in
in
crude form
its
it
in itself.
has
As
and other nuts, that minerals
and that the chief excellence
lay concealed
sustained and nourished by the external integuments,
is
so with regard to Sulphurs,
it
must be understood that
which excels the others, and
is
Spagyrically termed embryonated, on account
of
being the Sulphur of gold, stone,
specific origin, as
its
Sulphur,
in
it is
which the embryonated
concealed,
lies
is
the interior one
The
etc.
external
There
our mineral.
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 " Spagyric." It is
In order to better comprehension,
of universal application in both faculties.
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. kind
is
where
assumes a metallic
it
the third, which
bryonated
;
pure from
all superfluities, is
the fixed stage,
is
repurged from these and exists Spagyrically
made
is
volatile
the other
;
destroys with equal facility a log of
embryonated Sulphur it is
it
nay,
fixes the
it
or volatile.
The
or a disease.
which
fire
extraction of the
great subtlety to stand the heat of the
its
has to be extracted from
concordance, contains within be sought before
One, passing from
a pure and living
brought about either by sublimation or by descent.
is
and afterwards coagulated.
fortis,
wood
is
not found mixed naturally with other ingredients, so that
being unable through tions of this kind,
There are two conditions of
Animated Sulphur.
Sulphur which are worthy of notice.
-this embrj'onated
But sometimes
The second or mineral appearance, but it is now em-
all
gold
But gold
This,
itself a
its
when
is
cements, and
prepara-
set aside
according to
its
golden nature, on which account
others in Alchemy, because in
fire in
minerals by means of aqua-
in
it
true
it is
to
easily admits of fixation,
other metals where
vainly sought therefrom unless
it
it is
shall
not yet mature
have previously
existed there by Nature.
It
more than another, as
the embryonate of Venus, of red talc, of gold or
in
contains no silver, but only gold, one containing
iron marcasite, these rarely lack gold.
hand
to
these things,
let
him
first
of
Now, whoever wishes all
remember and
to turn his
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. this,
God,
but it
I
must be
silent.
If
it
I
could say more than
were not diametrically to oppose the
would be the easiest thing possible
to
make
all
rich alike
will of
by a very
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
io6
few words, and to
But since riches altogether
the wishes of everybody.
fulfil
away
lead aside the poor from the right path, taking
humility and piety, and
putting pride and self-sufficiency in their place, together with petulance and
would rather hold one's tongue, leaving poverty as a bridle who are at once poor and greedy of wealth. To
incontinence, one
against these faults in those
come
The
lo mineral Sulphur.
leader of our Art has directed his disciples to a
recognition of this fact, that nothing can be generated from the
They ha\e
out her husband.
arranges
all
He
things.
the mineral Sulphur
is
seen, therefore, that this Art
summoned
has
joined to linseed
a certain form results
is
woman
and thence, by means of decoction
the shape of a liver or a lung, and from thence
in
afterwards a twofold liquid, one as white as milk, thick and oily
and as thick as blood
like oil, very red
will not
mix with the other.
floating
on the surface.
;
The white
liquid sinks
the bottom, the red
to
has been done or can be done
in this
and make a know that nothing matter is weak and use-
but to no purpose.
;
way, because the
But any crystal or beryl placed therein
remaining there for three years at
the other
;
but both of such a nature that one
Attempts have been made to go
white tincture from the white liquid
less for this Art.
whereby
the spirit of transmutation
oil,
with-
the father which
least, is
farther,
I
at the proper time,
transmuted into a stone very
Likewise a ruby, which has not been sufficiently tinted by Nature,
jacinth.
course of time, rendered so clear and bright that carbuncle, and wherever
The same colour
is
placed
it
it
;
and
a in
shines by night like a natural
can be found at night without a
result follows with a jacinth
is,
in
light.
the sapphire the ccerulean
increased beyond the natural hue, with a translucent green tint
is
inserted.
Luna.
it
and
like
It
If
is
also a
most excellent tincture
this be placed
of Sol, though
it
therein,
be not fixed until
it it
grows
for other
gems, as well as for
black, and lays aside the calx
has arrived at
its
complete stage of per-
Enough on this topic. Whoever wishes to work with this tincture, must first learn by means of Alchemy carefully to accomplish its preparation.
fection.
It is
well nigh the
tion
is
concerned.
so
much
it,
not of virtue.
most
of
all
cause of their failure.
In the greater virtues
because there
Some perspns have failed
alchemical operations so far as prepera-
excels only in tints.
oil
to be trusted for acting,
They have
metals.
difficult
This
;
but
This,
it
is
is
from the
down
here the
however,
is
to set
very certain, whoever has the
intensely that
its
own body
Luna, that
With
is
it
it
cannot ascend higher, though
antimony and
fixed in
from twenty-four to the
to say,
to such
in
every quartation.
will
it
still
with
[it
is
Sulphur of Jupiter, into excellent
The Sulphur of \'enus it
transmuted into] the best iron.
natural
too, exalts
an equal weight of
stand the test of lightning, but,- nevertheless,
the Sulphur of Saturn
its
and beyond, so remains constant and
thirty-six,
The Sulphur of Luna,
a degree that Venus,
taken for the Lydian stone.
not
onlj- in
tried also to extract tinctures
would not be well
Tincture of Sol, will be able to bring the body of gold beyond degree, that
it is
a tincture of colour
So, too, tin
is
this
fixes copper, so
does not tinge. steel
;
fixed with
with the its
own
The Eco7iomy of Mhicrals, Sulphur, so that its
own
stands lightning, and Saturn
it
[sulphur], so that
The Sulphur ignition of
does not
it
Venus, but not
own body
its
ashes.
its
There occur also
things put in them into
strengthened and fixed by
no longer affords any ceruse, or minium, or
of Mercur}- renders
fix it.
is
107
malleable, so that
The Sulphur
w*ith the other
some other bodies than
it
spirit.
bears the
of Sol tinges Luna, but
sulphurs transmutations of
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.
Concerning Arsenic used for Alchemy.* It
seems right to connect Arsenic generically with Sulphurs rather than
with Mercuries, and to treat
it
Some old
immediately after Sulphurs.
chemists,
or rather sophists, labouring at chemistry, swelling with jaundice,
with desire of gold, and a sort of yellow dropsy,
when they saw
in
that
is,
arsenic the
white Tincture of Venus, and the red tincture in the calamine stone, believing,
arcanum of the stone was contained in these, thought the silver and gold until they found out the contrary by tests, and learnt that they had been engaged in a vain w^ork. 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 too, that the true
white and
electrum were
red
!
ancients passed into oblivion, there has forthwith followed the ruin of those In this case, also, the
Geneva
THE Alchemical Virtues
in
folio offers
Arsenic— A
considerable variations from the text as certain
name was invented and put
it
stands above.
forth
by our
Concerning
ancestors, namely,
electrum. Electrum is a metal proceeding from another metat, and unlike the metal from which it descends. For ^example; Copper turns tOJKhitcjnetaL hen it s redne&s is removed it Is called electrum. In like manner, from copper, by means of cadmia, is made orichalcum, and this is called red electrum. These different kinds of electrum
W
and
silver, and sometimes took in place of gold nor did they understand and so that silver could be produced fiom copper. Omitting the name of electrum, they took it for silver or for gold, and did not leave off their Investigations so long as a house or a court remained. I point out this in order that error may be avoided, and that due consideration may be given to the qucs* tions, What is electrum ? what is gold ? and what U silver ? and that in tliis way no rash measures may be taken. Now, I will lay before you a certain medicament. Take the metal arsenic, prepared in a metallic way cement the same with Venus in the usual manner, and you will find a l.irge quantity of electrum in the copper. No one need incur great expense for thb substance, because it costs a good deal to make electrum. So, then, it is better to leave copper as copper in its own form. In no respect is its electrum better, but rather commoner. So by dissolving it in graduated water it leaves a cal.\. It is not that silver is produced, but electrum .ind it is rendered so subtle that nothing whatever remains, but it vanishes, and because it is not fixed it is consumed. Thus not only in copper, but also in iron, tin, steel, etc., a residuum is left but nothing of a fixed character is present, and in this way many arc deceived. Eventually matters came to this crisis, that electrum lost its name and was called silver, whereupon there began for the alchemists dcstruciion, exile, miser>', and disappointed hopes. There are many recipes of this kind which it is not necessary- to recount. They are well known to artists who follow me in this chapter, who also have well weighed their own error in seeking it in vain elsewhere. There is a good deal of seduct'on for juniors to desert the method of their ciders, and when the pupil wishes to be more learned than the master, and no longer remains in the right path, but judges things for him elf, and is prepared to abide by his own opinion. All that comes 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 moderns call it silver— its improper name. Our forefathers avoided all loss because they knew what they were about the rising generation do not know, and so incur loss. It has been a constant custom in alchemy that
certain alchemical sciolists
artists
or believe anything else save that this
reckoned as
was
:
silver,
;
;
;
;
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
io8
That has been the name into fictitious gold and silver. 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 preparation, cemented with Venus in the accustomed manner, converts the whole What need copper into white electrum more worthless than its own copper.
who changed
that
destruction ot
:
:
is
there to deprave metals at great expense
the copper in
its
own
Would
?
it
not be better to leave
natural essence, to keep one's money, and devote time
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 Now, since in of Electrum, throw away their faculties, labour, and time. Alchemy all mistakes are constantly propped up with some new hope, it was tried to fix Arsenic by means of reverberations for some weeks, and by 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 effected nothing more than by their calcinations. Thus it happens that in Alchemy obstinate men are deceived because thej' do
and labour
to a
not learn thoroughly from the foundation that Arsenic does, in
its
own
the terms of the Art.
all
natural condition, contain gold
;
is
true
and that
this
It
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
does not therefore follow that this tinctures.
means only
It
is
produced by
it
generally
is,
from
always found golden, and very seldom lacks gold, as
made with
but
it
his
is
its
ore.
It is
the case with
nearly
many
Hence operators have
tried to fix arsenic, and to transmute it and prove of greater efficacy. Hereupon followed the reverberation of arsenic, and its circulation in a rcvcrberatory of reeds for some weeks, or by some smiiK-uArsenic has been rendered like crj^stal, red and beautiful, like red glass for its hardness, light weight, and process. There is no pKice for the virtues of this arsenic in medicine. It regards only electra, as has already been fragility. Moreover, it has been attempted to deal witli this, too, by another method of preparation, namely, by descent. said. By this method it is rendered red and yellow, and in potency is equivalent to the species already mentioned. Some have precipitated it, and it has 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 ihey contemplated, but only at the electric stage of it, Wherefore it is necessary that everywhich, on account of their ignonince and inexperience, led many artists .istray. He who has not full knowledge and comprehension of all names one in these things should be farsighted. does nothing, and the heads, however full of brains, do not get at the foundation of the matter. One thing is wanting
investigations shall be
good hope.
;
and
was there before has been
that the gold which
derived by a process of separation, as
his operations
persistent
into another essence, on the chance that
it
may
be, or
may
be rendere
I,
better,
;
foundation— to know electrum and other substances when they see them. Then they understand of them* Nevertheless it often happens that arsenic is auriferous in its Now, if an operator is skilled in separating gold from arsenic, whether by a cement or nature, and contains gold in it. by some method of projection, or by another process, so that he can reduce that gold to some metal, such as silver, copper, or lead, without doubt he will find it to be gold, and of e.\cellent quality too. To follow this up so that .t but the gold is in the arsenic, and the tincture shall be produced, or it shall issue forth from a tincture, is nothing to
them
for a
selves whether they can progress with electrum or not.
;
whole matter
depurgation, separation, and kindred processes, according as anyone has experience therein.
lies in
The only point of is rarely without gold. know nothing more of arsenic .ind its species beyond what and expedient to make known, whether with reference to
Arsenic, especially, which comes from auriferous districts, or from gold,
importance I
is
that the sep.iration
h.ive put forw.ard
;
sh.ill
at least, nothing
medicine or to alchemical operations.
has
it
not, let
him altogether
abstain.
be properly made.
which
it
is
lawful
1
Whoever has prudence ought
No
If he due order and a genuine You should follow the guidance of your own judgment. The man who
faculty can subdue itself
mode of procedure have
not been preserved.
follows no other guide
not in a state of subservience to any.
is
;
to be sufficiently skilful for this purpose.
but failure must ensue
if
The Eco7ioviy of Minerals. So
other substances. or what its
in
it is
then, have
far,
given concerning Arsenic what
I
Let everybody
advisable to write.
name, so that he may understand. both faculties, which
109
first
of
all
Otherwise error
is
diligently
I
know
examine
apt to arise easily
only at length discovered by the result.
is
CHAPTER
XIX.
CoxcERNiNG Quicksilver.
Having
dealt with salts
and sulphurs, we come
means
a metal for this reason, because, by
and
solid substance
into a metallic colour,
times not fixed.
It
who
it
are able from
So, too, perhaps
test.
known
can only be
make
to
of .\lchemy,
all
metals.
matter
last
It
brought to a
as the chief material of Alchemists,
and even
tin, lead,
a water which wets nothing
heaviest of
is
sometimes being fixed and some-
iron.
In a
word,
It is
of a wonderful nature,
shews
it
material of Alchemists in metallic degrees, and the chief
and
it
called
it is
gold, silver, copper, etc., which will stand the
inscrutable save after great labour.
It is
This
to Quicksilver.
cannot be properly termed a metal, but rather a metallic water; but
it
itself to
arcanum
be the
first
medicine.
in
touches, an animal without feet, and the
consists of Sulphur, Salt,
The
and Mercury.
first
discloses in liquefactions of the metals, especially those
it
which liquefy by heat without
fire,
and
in
others by flux.
CHAPTER XX. Concerning Cachimi.b and Imperfect Bodies. There
is
another kind of mineral bodies which
metal, but metallic
imperfect
;
antimoniacs,
arsenicals,
granata, gem-like bodies, etc. chiefly the first metallic
metallic bodies, to
is
not saline, nor
I
is
it
a
auripigmenls,
various talcics,
matter, and derive their origin from the
which they
fly,
cobleta,
say these are metallic bodies since they have
as
it
first
three
were, and are incorporated with them
as metals, for instance, gold, silver, copper, iron, etc.
with them there
is
such are marcasites,'' chiseta red and white, perfect and
But since together
incorporated a metallic enemy, they can only be separated
• Marcasites are to be found in
all genera, whether you have regard to colour, brilliancy, form, or any other For they are nothing else than the superfluity of metals, that is, matter abundant in metals, being something which metals are unable to bear or contain within them, or convert into their own form. First of all, when
property.
the salts are separated from Ares (the occult dispenser of
Nature^ a sep.-iration of metals
follows.
Out of these,
firstly,
produced which is unfit to become a metal, and yet in that matter it so resides that at first out of Ares there grows that matter of the metals. And it is the first matter, consisting of three things, the spirit of salt, the spirit of mercur>*, and the spirit of sulphur, but in such a manner that these three are one. Of these all metals and minerals consist. These things being so ordered, .\rcheus (the occult virtue of Nature) institutes the first operation of metals, so as to produce them and distinguish them into their forms and natures. But before he deals with the metals marcasite
is
themselves, he ejects the superfluity which abounds in salt,
mercurj', and sulphur, .and purges the three, after which the superfluity emerges along a simple line into its own yliadum (chaos), and is at first divided into two genera, marcasites and cachimia: Here it is coagulated into a mineral, consisting of salt, sulphtir, and mercur>-. Yellow martiasite obtains its colour from the predominance of sulphur the white from the predominance of mercurj*. For sulphur and cachimix acquire their colour from s.ilt, for this Is derived from the spirit of salt, just as gravitj- is derived from mercurj* in all three. But if the separation be properly eff'ected, each of the minerals, that is to say ;
mercury,
sulphur,
Tract III.,
c.
i.
salt,
settles
in
its
own
place.
Of
these three
all
minerals consist.— /J^ Elrviettto Aqua"
1
1
The Hervietic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
o
by means of Alchemy when enemies of
different if
set free
from the tjranny of
anyone seeking refuge with a companion should be robbed
killed chiefl)'
by the very man whose help he asked.
Some
of Sulphur, as marcasites, chiseta, cobleta
;
house and
in his
of those spoken of consist
others in the body of Mer-
Others
cury, as arsenicals, auripigmentals, antimoniacs, etc.
belonging to
There are
this foe.
kind which practise robbery against the metals, just as
this
as
Salt,
in
all
There are two colours of marcasites, the white and the
talc.
yellow, according to the imperfect metallic Sulphur arranged in them, which
many
also the_v need for
An
purposes.
imperfect metal
is
This admits of liquefaction, and passes into a state of
made from flux,
is
cobleta.
of a blacker
colour than lead and iron, but of no brightness or metallic glitter;
ultimate matter has not yet been discovered, nor the process of
There
no doubt
is
the case in iron and steel, but these cannot be perfectly welded
method of separation zinchinum
;
Its
it.
separation.
a promiscuous race from the male and female, as
is
it
its
barely
it
admits of malleation, so that scarcely anything can be made from
There
discovered.
is
not that which
another similar body called
is
commonly so known, but a
is
is
some
until
peculiar kind in
which \arious metals are found
to
be adulterated, of a liquefiable nature and
much
in
colour from the others, of which the last has
not malleable.
It differs
not yet been found.
to be admired
and are
The
among
is
it
almost as wonderful as Mercury
hammer
;
but
on account of
properties of these bodies cannot be
Many
Alchemy.
They are liquefied and made into any implement.
their outer form.
are not capable of being
still
known
unless they are revealed by
contain adulterated metals, such as silver and gold, which
They con-
flow to them, as they are accustomed to do to copper and to lead.
Some granates
of a certain dense kind of Sulphur.
sist
clear as crystal,
much
Metallic grains are found also in torrents,
minerals.
called granates,
bear the
preparation
its
avoids mixture with anything else, and remains a special glass
It
itself.
In
and there
is
gold and silver
CHAPTER
in
of another kind are
them.*
XXI.
Concerning Met.\ls free by Nature, Perfect .\nd Imperfect FIRST concerning SaTURN, OR LeAD. Saturn has obtained
body the blackest and
a
densest of
and
;
(though
all
white, yellow, and rod inhere therem). Mercury a similar one, and Salt one •
As
in the
The
generation of marcrwites, so in c.ichimias.
times mercury-, sometimes sulphur, sometimes
salt,
will
superfluity
is
ejected from the prime principles.
Sotne^
predominate, and that which predominates forms a mineral^
first fly away, then coagulate, and become more salt and less of the other principles, though they are not altogether absent. Thus originate cachimiae, 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 liut cachimia is more fixed .ind solid than niarc.lsite, by reason of its fixed mercur>- .as one or the other predominates.
In marcasites sulphur and mercurj' prevail, as two very light things which
very hcav>-.
salt.
After the superfluity more completely departs,
Colours, also, are fixed in
abounding
in the first
it,
so that
it
may
is
c. 2.
fire.
Tluis marcasite
is
the
superfluity
separated by Archcus into Vliadinn. whence afterwards are all
of which are, nevertheless, comprehended under two names.
multiplicity of these genera, which are all derived from one matter,
three prime principles are combined. —Ibid.,
is
receive no injury from the
matter of mel.als in Ares, which
generated almut thirty forms of marcasite and cachimiiE.
The
there
is
owing
to the unequal
manner
in
which the
The Economy of Minerals. above
all
By corruption
others fusible.
easily reduced to
is
it
white or yellow cerussa, to minium, and
1 1
spirit, to
its
lastly, to glass, like the rest.
Tin
made up of white fixed Sulphur and fixed Salt but of Mercurj- 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 is
;
Iron and steel are not of the lique-
longer a metal but an evanescent body. fiable
Sulphur, Salt, and Mercurj-, contrary- to
into the hardest metal of
found
in one, steel the
and
all,
and
tin
marries
it
itself
male, and the female iron.
one from the other, each for
Gold
special use.
its
Iron
lead.
that
:
coagulated
is
two metals are
is,
These can be separated is
generated from the verv
purest Sulphur, perfectly sublimated by Nature, purged from
dregs and
all its
spurious admixtures, and exalted to such a transparency that no metal can
This Sulphur
corporeally ascend higher.
and
and
if
one part of the primal clement,
is
.\lchemists could have this as something easily discoverable in
they would be able with due cause to rejoice
root,
Sulphur of the philosophers out of which gold out of which
is
made
This
iron, copper, etc.
too, is
by Nature perfectly separated from
fluity,
transmuted
separately
into
matter of gold, from which gold the primal essence of gold,
^jAs
roses from rose-seeds
"y/^ brightness,
and that
vitriolic it
purified
from
which
Its
Mercury,
and accidental superand
part,
into
Lastly, Salt
is
the third part of
from which gold
is
to be produced,
its
supreme
crystalline
these three meet together in one, the gold
and these
the highest grade of perfection. in its tree
as a
it,
now
and transparency. is
decocted into a mass,
however, always of one and the same condition or degree.
nourished
extreme
the second part of the primal
brought to
is
tree
the acridity, acerbity, bitterness, darkness,
all
exhibits thirty-two grains of gold, in
tree
its
the true
is
nature of Salt, so that nothing of this kind appertains to
rejoices in its lucidity
When not,
and
— gold
is
generated.
is
and of the
universal test.
is its
mercurial
its
it
made, not that other gold
all terrestrial
which Mercury of the Philosphers
perspicuity,
is
for
;
cow
in its
in
Nature
Art become twenty-four grains
The cause of
this is
that the gold
is
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 occasionallj- inferior, the gold are deteriorated or diminished too
twenty-six
is
reduced
in .\rt to ten.
The
;
it
happens that the degrees of
so that Nature's
sum
total of
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
equality in the weights of the three primals which has effect.
\
portion of Salt renders
it
too pale.
With too much Mercurj'
and with a too plentiful supply of Sulphur as
much
is
rendered red.
Too great
a
grows yellow, -^ In Nature, just
work of man, errors occur by means of these hindrances can be removed by means of antimony, cements, and quartations.
as in the
but these
it
it
especialh- in-
;
In Sulphur nothing should be looked for but a body, in Salt confirmation, but
1 1
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
2
Mercury
in
anywhere spirit
all
and medicine, which do not
virtue, property, essence,
else as
it
does therein
has departed,
in
exist
but rather as in a dead body from which the
;
we
which, however,
keep some of the elementary
try to
powers, as, for instance, the remains of the
fire
of wine in Acetum, though
Natural objects
these are corrosive rather than nutritive or strengthening.
compounded of the four elements but beyond that clearly They are made up onl)- of the three we have spoken the matter is occult. This, in the decoction about, which possess a magnet common to them all. The old philosoot the preparation, attracts to itself the trinity of essence. shew
that they are
phers called this state
;
because the
esse,
which the natural motion reposes and
trinity acquires a condition of unity
virtue should deservedly be called a fourth esse (not element) since
medicine to the Mercury
in
which
however, the Mercury loses most of
its
we
(as
its
attracts the
found.
In the ultimate separation, All these matters being thus
arranged bv Nature, the gold grows up to a the root by the trunk to
it
weight.
is
it
in.,
But that magnetic
settles the degree.
tree,
spreading forth
first
from
branches and twigs, on which flowers are produced
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 verj' midst, or
earth.
by
its
It will
some degrees towards
sometimes happen that nothing but Mercury
superfluity
has suppressed the other ingredients.
it
Salts preponderate, their corrosive nature, like so
By the preponderance
flowers of the tree.
brown Sulphur, red
Salt,
contains within itself
its
masculine element, that
again reduced to a metal after separation, malleation and fusion they
can be separated duced.
Silver
in
is
;
difl"er
it
when
however, the
many worms, consumes Copper
and yellow Mercury decocted
which can no longer be corrupted
produced, If,
of Sulphur everything
just as on earth by the too great heat of the sun.
On
the surface of the is
is,
is
is
the
burnt up,
produced by the This
into a metal.
the scoria
;
and
if
be
it
returns to masculine copper,
and the female
will afford
from each other only as
no
steel
scoriffi at all.
and
iron,
and
the same way, so that two different metals are thence pro-
composed of white Sulphur,
Salt,
and Mercury, naturally
prepared and fixed to the highest degree of purity and transparency, next after gold, in ashes, not in antlTiiony, or in royal cement, or in quartation.
The
dif-
ference of fixation between gold and silver can easily be learnt by considering that gold
is
masculine, and has the male virtues very strongly fixed, while
silver, as the female,
has them weaker.
matter, and differ as to colour and fixing the female.
The
They are of one and the same primal in no other way than as the male and
metals, then, are seven in number, exclusive of Mercurj-,
namely gold, silver, tin, lead, iron, steel, and copper. The last contains within itself the male and female, when both are welded for use, and are not separated by Nature, as steel and iron are so that they are held as one, and since they ;
possess the same malleability and power of being wrought, they are not com-
monly separated, except when It
this is
done chemically
for purposes of the .Art.
should be remarked, too, that metals are not always found with their mascu-
The Economy of Minerals. line
and feminine portions separated by Nature, as
iron,
and
silver in
steel,
each by
1
the case with gold, silver,
Often the two are found together, as gold and
itself.
one metal, also
is
1
steel
and iron together, or
-hindering the other, or being separated one
tin
and
lead, the
one not
Sometimes two
from the other.
adulterated metals are found, as gold and silver naturally mixed with others,
on account of their subtlety, especially when several of diverse primal nature
meet
in
one body, just as we see on the earth different
trunk of one
fruits
engrafted on the
tree.
Conclusion.
A
fitting treatise
necessary
in
on the natural generation of metals was absolutely
order that
it
might
be
understood what
is
regeneration of metals brought about through Alchemical Art. of
all
ought
those in all
who
philosophise on this Art
is
meant by the
The opinion
that the Artist in this profession
things exactly to imitate Nature.
So, then,
it
was necessary
to
how Nature works in the innermost parts of the earth, and what instruments she employs. Whoever has not understood in this way will be little likely to get at the knowledge by his own unaided endeavours. Let him who investigates this difficult and abstruse matter be not so much say and to understand
the disciple of Art as of Nature.
Here ends the Ecoxomv of
Miner.'.ls.
THE COMPOSITION OF METALS*
any one denies that there
IF so
is
great efficacy
far as relates to supernatural affairs,
many
forward so
in
we
proofs as shall support our
For
to subscribe thereto.
if
the Composition of Metals
answer him, and bring
will
own
opinion and force him
the seven metals were, in just and due order,
compounded, mixed together, and united in the fire, you must certainly hold body were conjoined and linked together all the virtues of the
that in one
seven metals.
It
has been seen good to
call this
body electrum.
Its efficacy,
power, and operations, moreover, shew themselves to be much greater, even supernaturally so, than exist in a. latent form grafted by Nature on metals their rude condition.
In those solid
wherewith God and Nature herself have endowed them. noblest of
the
all,
most precious and primary metal,
and we are not prepared
to
in
and rude metals are only those powers
deny that leprosy,
Gold, indeed,
we
if
in all its
is
the
rightly consider it;
forms, can be thereby
removed from the human frame. Nor are we unaware that exterior ulcers and The other metals, too, have each are cured by copper and mercury. their own excellences, and these not by any means to be despised but we will pass over these for the moment, since you will hear of them when we come to But metals cannot be used in treat concerning the Life of the Metals. t medicine without injury, unless they be first comminuted, altered, and, after
wounds
;
being deprived of their metallic nature, transmuted into another essence. You
can hope for
little
result
from them unless the preparation which Alchemy
teaches shall have preceded their administration viously reduced
them
calces, salts, crocuses or the like,
Moreover, the supernatural force or
in
• it is
in
which we
proportion as
A considerable portion
will
instruct you.
it
is
it
first
you have not preto the patient.
even though
it
be pre-
prepare them according to
But we greatly desire that our
can afford great and marvellous
revealed by practice.
If
we consented
to pass
of this tract belongs more properly to the section concerned with Hermetic Medicine, but
somewhat shortly discussed
in
printed in separate form in the Basle 8vo, but
it
inserted at this point for the further illustration of the subject of electrum,
the foregoing treatise.
is, if
effect of the metals,
electrum should bo compounded, since results
that
and then administered them
sent in them, will be of no avail unless you
our method
;
to their arcana, oils, balsams, quintessences, tinctures,
The work
D^- Compositione
Metatlorum
is
which
is
book of the Archidoxis Mn^icir^ as they are found in the Geneva folio. \ %o^Ax as\\i^ Archidoxis Magkcp are concerned, this promise is net fulfilled. Possibly Paracelsus intended to carry his subject further than the seventh book, which is devoted to the sigils of the planets, and has nothing of a chemical nature. But possibly, also, a reference is intended to the first book Concerning the Nature of Things.
really constitutes the sixth
The Composition of Metals. over
to
we should
praises in silence,
its
but since
1
we were doing it an injury we deem it necessary :
operation and mighty power surpass belief,
its
pronounce an eulogium on
moment any
virtues
its
and
We
efficacy.
will defer for the
nienlion of the rude and solid metals, since they admit of no
comparison with our electrum.
made
consider that
1
^^If
any appliance used
of this material and diligently watched,
poison or drug to be placed
in
it,
because
it
will
for food or drink be
be impossible for any
our electrum there
in
so
is
much
sympathy towards man through the force, efficacy, and influence of the planets and the stars of Olympus, that for very pity, and as though in difficulty, directly
it is
taken
in
hand
it
For
and projecting spots.
betrays the poison by breaking out into a sweat this
reason our ancestors used to have their
drinking-cups, dishes, and other utensils
remain
in
our age
many
made
of the said material.
There
still
necklaces and ornaments, such as rings, bracelets,
made out of this, which of old dug up nobody, or very few, understood them, and in their ignorance they gilded them over or tinged them with silver. It is just a mark of the ignorance of our age that it cares nothing remarkable coins,
were hidden
for
seals, figures, bells, shekels,
When
in the earth.
they were
But God would not have
such objects as these.
it
that such a mystery of
Nature and such a great treasure of His own should be hid any longer, but
what had been hidden by the more than Cimmerian darkness of the We do not sophists should now, after a long season, come to light again. that
assume receive
would be hurt
crowd of
the
;
what we said with it
this
ribald genius
of the
would be ofiended, and would
Over and over again we have impious crowd
;
will be safest to pass over these matters in silence.
we can
that
fools
idiotic laughter.
been on our guard against scandalising a result
The
to exhaust the virtues of our electrum.
sophists
so to avoid such
Not, however,
unnoticed certain stupendous effects of our
altogether pass
since they came under our own eyes we shall be able to speak the more freely concerning them, without any suspicion that we are romancing or making up a story. We have seen rings, for instance, which removed all fear These of paralysis or spasm from those who wore them on their fingers.
electrum
;
people, too, never suffered from apoplexy or epilepsy,
if
an epileptic patient
put such a ring on the third finger, even though he be so overcome by the violence of the self
and gets
paroxysm as
to be prostrated
on the ground, he comes to him-
up.
we do not give from the same we have seen with our own eyes and know by
Here, too, should be added something which report of others, for the
experience.
man
in
If the
whom
abovementioned ring be, worn on the third finger by a
any ailment
is
latent
and growing, so that
it
would presently
break forth
in
an eruption, the ring would forthwith give an indication by
bursting out
in
a sweat, and as
forth spots in
and become
if
seized viith a sudden
depraved in appearance, as
we
sympathy would put shall shew more fully
our book entitled "Sympathy." I
3
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
ii6
Lastly,
electrum,
since
would not pass over or omit any word
I
a preservation and an antidote against
it is
in
favour of
There
evil spirits.
is
it an operation and a conjunction of planetary influence which make more easily believe that the old Magi in Persia and Chaldeea attempted and accomplished much by its aid. If we sought to enumerate all the cases specifically, we should indeed enter upon a marvellous chronicle.
latent in
us the
make a The proclaim me
Not, however, to give any occasion of offence or allow persons to
handle of
this,
who
Sophists,
will suffice to
it
my
are
Spain when
was
I
I
at the
few words.
in
would not hesitate
deadliest enemies,
But
Arch-Necromancer. in
have touched the subject
to
cannot refrain from telling a miracle which
weighing, perhaps, two pounds, and by a stroke of this
summon, and
many
to bring, too, visions of
Moreover, the stroke of
desired. in the
midst
many
this bell
and
In
spirits.
spirits
was so powerful
visions of spirits, of men,
bell
words and characters, and as appeared in any form he
the interior of the bell he had engraved certain
soon as the sound and tinkle were heard,
a
he used to
bell
different spectres
saw
1
He had
house of a certain necromancer.
and even of
that he produced
cattle,
whatever he
away again. I saw many instances of this, but was that when he was going to do anything new,
wished, and then drove them
what I particualarly noticed he renewed and changed the characters and the names. get so far as to induce this
names and this
over
was
and of
;
this
began
I
and there came
;
me
to speculate
in
electrum of ours.
You
mote thoroughly about whicli we will pass
that bell than one can
this be very sure, that the material of
that Virgil's bell (Nola)
did not, however,
I
the secret and mystery of the
my mind — ideas
into
There was more
in silence here.
words
to impart to
At length
characters.
circumstance
man
will therefore
was of such a kind
which
have no
as this.
it
put into
was composed
difficulty in believing
At
its
stroke
the
all
adulterers and adulteresses in the king's palace were so excited and alarmed that suddenly, as
if
Think not
river.
struck with lightning, they rushed over the bridge into the
this story a
mere
fable
:
you know
to be the case, a visible
man
can
a word, and force him to do what he wants aid of arms, can
can do
eff"ect
this, since
he
call
another visible
— when
so much, much more can
commands both
it
will easily
invisible in
come round
man
is
man
For to
if,
as
him by
a mere word, without the
be that an invisible
man
the visible and the invisible man, not by
The
the aid of a word, but by the direction of his thought.
obeys the superior, and stands to him
Nor
the thing really happened.
be so dense as to hesitate as to whether such properties can exist.
in the light
to our opinion
if
3-ou
of a subject.
settle
a kind of constellation or firmament.
it
inferior
always
So, then, you
that the interior or
For he remains latent
the senses and thoughts of the exterior, visible man, and discloses or reveals
Vou will concede, therefore, that there are stars man and that their constellation is so arranged by the Olympian spirit that say that the man can be led and changed into quite another man. So, then, himself only by imagination. in
I
The Composition of Metals. the
same thing occurs with
by
celestial
make
I
itself,
will subjoin, if
as
shewn
is
in
1
so constellated
the operation and virtue which Nature
originally determined, really arise from the
and thus unfold
may be
metals, namely, that things
impression as to
1
good aspect of
the higher stars,
Magica* amalgam
other books of the Archidoxis
Let any one reduce to an
you wish, an illustration.
gold and mercun,-, making a conjunction of Sol and Mercury, but with a pre-
ponderance of
Let him mix and blend them, and soon, with little labour, become fixed. With these, if you will, you can make a
Sol.
two metals
the
will
That, again, can afterwards be increased and aug-
on Merciiriusvivus.
\\nzX.\>.x
mented with other Mercurius
viviis
a great arcanum of Nature.
under the same constellation. This
There
will
is.
indeed,
be a similar composition and union of
For
gold or silver with mercury without this conjunction.
if
gold be placed
above mercur\', so that the white fume of the mercury touch and penetrate the body of the gold, the gold will be rendered fragile, and will melt with the greatest ease like wax.
The process
is
the
same with
silver.
Magnesia of the Philosophers, in the finding of which Thomas of -Aquinum and Rupescissa and their disciples, though they worked hard, were And let nobody think it an easy matter so to blend Mercurius unsuccessful. vtvits in the fire with harder metals and those of tardier solution— as silver, This
is
• Moreover,
the
altogether certain, and experimentally proved, that the mutations of time have singular force and
it is
when certain metals are melted and elaborated together. Further, no one can prove that the metals are devoid of life. Their oils, sulphurs, salts, and quintessences, which are the best reserv atives, have enormous power in nourishing and sustaining human life, and herein altogether surpass in strength all other How, if they were devoid of life, could they awaken in simples, as, indeed, is entirely the case \s-ith all our remedies. this is especially the case
and
operation,
and half-dead members and bodies of men a fresh and vital strength, and at the verj- outset restore I therefore boldly assert that metals and stones, equally with roots, herbs, and fruits, have a life of The their own, with this distinction, however, inasmuch as metals are prepared and elaborated according to time. gr.-isped by the efficac>' of time is well-known, but we will speak only of those things which are difTicult, and not to be Further, even signs, characters", and letters have their virtues senses, but, indeed, are almost contrary to their evidence. and efficacies. Now, if the nature and property of the metal, as also the influence and operation of the heaven and of the diseased
them
?
.
.
.
and formation of the characters,
the sphere of the planets, the signification
—"^observation of the times, days, and hours, manner have
iLs
own
force
and operation
?
benefit the head, another the vision, or a third the veins ?
remedies into the body.
Vet none of these
one and true Physician.
Christ, the
signs,
and
letters,
together with the
harmonise and agree, why should not a sign or seal composed after this And why, then, should not such and such a medicine, seasonably applied,
And
especially in the case of those
who
dislike to take other
Father of Medicine Himself, Jesus say that words or char.ictcrs have no force, since they are mere
results are possible without the air of the
Objectors
may
compare in efficac>' with the cross. But how is it that the serpent in Hcl«tia, .Mgovia, or Suavia, understands the Greek phrase Osy, Osyn, Os; although in none of these countries is Greek so common that venomous reptiles can acquire it ? How Ls it that, the moment they hear the words, they draw in their By this . tails, stop up their ears, and, contrary' to their nature, lie motionless, without doing harm to any man ?
siijns
or figures, and that none at least can
.
.
.
and signs have a recondite and latent force, not in the least opposed to Nature, nor anything to do with superstition. It is found that these words have the same effect when they are written on paper, and does not uttered. So, also, let it not be considered incredible that a man should be cured by medicine, even when he not take it internally, but carries it suspended like a seal from his neck. That even in dead things there Ls a certain (.Tce, I prove by the example of the kingfisher, for if. when it is dead, you remove its skin, and hang it up. you will sec it is
shewn
I'lat.
that characters, words,
although
Magutr,
Lib.
it
I.
is drj-. it will
For
it is
annually cast
iLs
old feathers
and produce
same colour.— ^nrA;^.tM they are harmonised and carried
fresh ones of the
certain that in the very signs themselves of the planets,
if
manner, according to a favourable hour and time, as regards their course, there reside great force transient and c-in deny that the superior stars and influences of heaven have verj- great weight in mortal affairs If the superior stars and planets are able to control, rule, and sway according to their will the animal man. although he be made according to the image of God, and be endowed with life and reason, how much more ought they to rule an inferior thing, that is to say, metals, stones, ,and im-iges. upon which they impress themselves, or which they so occupy, with all their \-irtue and efficacy, after the manner of an influence, .as though they were substantially present, even .as they are in the firmament ? It is possible to man himself to bring these into a certain medium, wherein
.ifwut in the required .-.nd
virtue.
For none
medium be a metal, a stone, or an im.agc. But this is most important of all that the seven planets have greater force in nothing than they possess in their proper meuk.— /*/rf.,
they m.ay effectually operate, whether this
know Lib. VII
to
•
:
\
The Hermetic and Alche^nical Writings of Paracelsus,
ii8
copper, gold, iron, and steel
and Elyxeria
— that
they
may
Many
quickly liquefy.
tinctures
of metals are prepared thus for transmuting metals, as will
[s-c)
be more copiously described in other books on Metallic Transmutations."'''
The same all
is
the case with
other metals, and, as
poses them to
own
its
it
common mercury, which
with
its
fume penetrates
were, breaks through them, calcines them, and dis-
Metals
nature.
will
We
coagulate this by their fume.
most extreme heat resides in Mercury, and that it cannot be coagulated except by extreme cold, which is seen to exhale copiously trom metals
assert that the
Nothing
in the fire.
and unable
to bear the
affects metals in the fire save
vehemence of the
being liquefied ascends as a
spirit
Moreover, do not lose sight
and that every
spirit is
it is
not
difficult for
How many metals
!
We
Such a metal
is
arsenic,
in
a state o{
fire.
of the fact that
Just as
Mercury
of extreme cold
is
from metals while they are
Mercury
more powerful than a body.
reference to the other metals.
so
what
it is
So
easy for a
is
which flux.
is
a metallic
it
with Mercury
spirit to
spirit,
in
penetrate walls,
to penetrate metals.
are the wonderful operations and effects of Mercury
cannot detail them
all.
But
shall
o\\
the
we send you away empty
to
some other source? We know from experiment that if Mercurius vivus be sublimated from some one of the metals which'has been several times calcined, and if then the calcinated metal which remains at the bottom be again reduced to Its metal,
it is
melted
in the fire as easiU'as lead,
copper, iron, or steel, even
much wax
;
or as
for a certain time *
Timf.
The
if it
snow and it
ice
melt before the sun.
can be changed into Mercury.
fourth book of the Archidoxis Mag-tceF
It is literally
as follows
;— If you seek
regard to the following tabulation.
Nor
purpose more quickly and thoroughly.
though
it
were gold,
silver,
be only applied to the flame of a candle like so
to
h
entitled,
Afterwards by digestion
We
have mentioned
this
Concernitig the Transmutation of Metah aud their silver, or any given metal into any other metal, have
change gold into
of small moment so that you may be able to arrive at the end of your Scheme of the Transmutation of Metals.— To transmute Sol into
is it
Luna. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, or Mercur>-, begin with Luna occupying the sixth grade of Cancer, Taurus, Aries, Pisces, Aquarius, or Virgo, as the case may be, and always in the hour of that planet into which you wish to convert gold or any of the other metals, namely, Luna, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. To transmute Saturn into Sol, Luna, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, or Mercury, begin with Luna occupying the twentieth grade of Leo, Scorpio. Cancer, Taurus. Pisces, or Virgo, as the case may be, in the hour of Sol, Luna, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, or Mercurj*. according lo To transmute Mercurj- into Sol, Luna, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or the metal into which you would convert Saturn. S.-xturn, begin with the Moon in the first grade of Leo, Virgo, Cancer, Taurus, Pisces, or Aquarius, as the case may be, in the hour of Sol, Luna, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn, according to the metal into which you would convert Mercurj*. To transmute Luna into Sol. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, or Mercur>-, begin with the Moon in the twelfth grade of Leo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius. Aries, or Gemini, as the case may be, and in the hour of Sol, Venus, JLirs, To transmute Venus into Jupiter, Saturn, or Mercury, .^ccording to the metal into which you would convert Luna. Sol, Luna, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, or Mercury, begin with the Moon in the ninth grade of Leo, Cancer, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, or Sagittarius, as thfi case may be, and in the hour of Sol, Luna, ^L^rs, Jiipitfr,»Saturn, or Mercury, according to the metal into which you would convert Venus. To convert Mars into Sol, Luna, Venus, Jupiter. Saturn, or Mercurj', begin with the Moon in the eighty-first grade of Leo, Cancer, Taurus, Sagittarius, Scorpio, or Virgo, as the case may be, and in the hour of Sol. Luna, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, or Mcrcuiy, according to the metal into which To transmute Jupiter into Sol, Luna, Venus, l\Lirs, S-aturn, or Mercur>', begin with the you would convert Mars. Moon in the third grade of Leo, Cancer, Libra, Virgo, Aquarius, or Pisces, as the case may be, and in the hour of So!, Luna, Venus, Mars, Saturn, or Mercury, according to the metal into which you would convert Jupiter. For example If you w'ish to change gold into silver, make a beginning in the hour of the Moon, when the Moon occupies the sixth And so, likewise, understand the rest of this scheme for the conversion of metals. For all terrestrial grade of Cancer. affairs, occupations, and matters of business, are most conveniently and happily executed in harmony with the motions of the heavens and the planets. iFor all men. by the dis pensations of Almighty God, are ruled and led by the power and operation of the firmament, both as to health and disease. So is it TTecessaiy before all things to have regard to this operation in 'tne healing art. Simples verj* frequently push forth their virtues according to a certain rule of :
time.
The Composition of Petals. our book on the Resuscitation of Natural Thing's.
fact in
of the Philosophers.
way you
In this
.-Vristotle,
or seen by them.
yet
this,
now
It will
I
know
get to
may
it.
fitly
know
is
But
value.
God
it
does not
fall
We
'
would
It
no
It is
infinitely prefer
a turnip.
injustice to conceal secret
sternly forbids us so to do.
us proceed to the practical
the outset.
books
well assured
Let us not seem to cast pearls before swine or give that
holy to dogs, since let
and
its price
say the same of the sophists.
mysteries from them.
which
in their
am
;
the goose does not
We
Mercury
my adversaries since it would be an indignity for them to \A pearl or a precious stone will not please a goose, because
hands of
into the
the
is
be for you to keep
great secret and mystery of Nature, and to take care that
this
at
Although
and other philosophers boast about
was never prepared
it
This
1
prepare the Mercury of Gold, of
will
Luna, of Venus, of Mars, of Jupiter, and of Saturn. Arnold, that
1
would have
it
work
of our electrum, as
we promised
prepared, compounded, and conjoined
according to the revolution of the heaven and the conjunctions of the planets.
'X
We will proceed
way.
in this
of Saturn and Mercury
These
require.
Mercurius vints.
Take
the conjunction
in
diligently observe the conjunction
and, before this occurs, have ready the appliances you
escape, or,
if
up into minute pieces, and
care that nothing be wanting which the
work
in
which the action may be hindered or retarded.
is
going to take
just
and be not quite hot when
fire,
pour
you must
are, fire, a cauldron, lead cut
requires, or for lack of
when
;
First,
it
shall
hand
Then
place, let the lead be melted in the
have fused,
Mercury which you
lest the
the heat be too great, pass off in smoke.
Let this be
done at the very moment of conjunction. with the liquid lead
pour
;
in
the
Take out suddenly the cauldron Mercury, and afterwards let them both be
coagulated.
Then
when
there will be need of attention
Mercurj- or Saturn
is
the conjunction of Jupiter with
about to take place, so that you
may
not be ignorant of
want be ready
to hand as I be<"ore admonished you. You must take care, before the actual moment of conjunction, to melt in one vessel fine English tin, and in the other lead with Mercury. At
the time or pass
the
a
moment
little,
Let everything 3-ou
by.
of conjunction
and pour
body you
When
it
will
all
move
will
the metals from the
When
into one crucible.
fire,
have three metals softer and more easily melting over the
they are united
let it
not escape your notice that in the very
Then
these are to be dissolved and conjoined.
junction of any of the other four planets
— Sol,
notice
when
and materials ready.
Let them be dissolved
pour them into one at the
singlj' first
verj- point of conjunction,
way proceed with other metals which
concerning which enougfh has
So
will
now been
is
Have ;
all
fire.
place
a con-
— with
instruments
then when liquefied
and keep them.
In a
are to be joined and copulated with
the former, until you have reduced and united
due conjunctions of the planets.
there
first
Luna, Venus, or Mars
one of the three former, Saturn, Mercury, or Jupiter.
like
slackening the heat
they have coagulated into one
all
the seven according to the
you have prepared our electrum,
said.
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS. '
BOOK THE
FIRST.
CONCERMNCJ THE GENERATION OF NATURAL THINGS.
THE
generation of
natural things
all
is
twofold*
by Nature without Art, the other which
is
by Alchemy, though, generally,
to say,
is
it
:
one which takes place
brought about by Art, that
might be said that
are generated from the earth by the help of putrefaction. is
the highest grade, and the
originates from a moist heat.
and transmutes and
their force
all
initiative to generation. But putrefaction For a constant moist heat produces putrefaction
first
natural things from their
efficacy, into
transmutes and reduces
something
all
things
all
For putrefaction
first
form and essence, as well as
For as putrefaction
else.
foods into dung, so,
putrefaction in glass transmutes
all
also,
in the
without
bowels
the
belly,
things from one form to another, from one
essence to another, from one colour to another, from one odour to another,
one virtue to another, from
from
one force to another, from one
properties to another, and, in a word, from one quality to another.
known and proved by
daily
many good
experience that
So, on the other hand,
many
For
it is
unwholesome,
things are bad, unwholesome,
poisonous, and hurtful, which after their putrefaction become good, lose
and make notable medicines.
their evil effect,
of
things which are
healthful and a medicine, become, after their putrefaction, bad,
and mere poison.
set
For putrefaction brings
all
forth
great effects, as we have a good example in the sacred gospel, where Christ says, " Unless a grain of wheat be cast forth into a field and putrefy, it cannot
bear
fruit
a hundred fold."
by
multiplied
putrefaction first
is
all
regeneration and a
generation, *
There
then, it
so
may
be
they
produce
it
that
known
that
many
excellent
things are
fruit.
the change
essence of
Since,
Hence
For and death of all things, and the destruction of the natural objects, from whence there issues forth for us
putrefaction
is
new
birth ten
putrefaction
in the
thousand times better than before. is
the
first
step
commencement of we should thoroughlj-
and
highest degree necessary that
is also twofold, as, for example, that of wood and other things talce-s But the worms which destroy wood are the product of a monstrous spefm. Hence there arc two generations - nattiral and monstrous. Every sperm in living things has within it another sperm which is monstrous, ,-ind can promote its likeness. There is also a monstrous sperm in all minerals. Parngraf>hortitit Lib. II..
is
another aspect in which generation
place naturally out of seed.
Par. IV.
Concerning the Nature of Things. understand
the
Bui there are many kinds of putrefaction, and generation better than another, one more quickly than
its
We
another.
have also said that what
grade and
first
the beginning
of
moist and
is
putrefaction,
ever)thing becomes mucilaginous phlegm and out
eventually turns
to
Vou
be.
warm
in
into the living chicken, not only
whatever
it
wherein
is
eggs,
mucilaginous moisture, which by continuous heat putrefies and
all
putrefaction
in
matter,
living
an example
see
constitutes
which procreates
Wherefore by and
as a hen procreates her eggs.
things
2
process.
this
one produces
\
quickened
is
by the heat which comes from the hen, but by
For by such a degree of heat eggs can be brought to and by the heat of ashes, so that they become living birds.
any similar heat. maturity in glass,
can bring the &%% to maturity under his own arm and procreate the chicken as w-ell as the hen. And here something more is to be If the living bird be burned to dust and ashes in a sealed cucurbite noticed.
Any man,
too,
with the third degree of
and then,
fire,
still
shut up, be putrefied with the
highest degree of putrefaction in a venter equinus so as to become a mucilaginous
phlegm, then that phlegm can again be brought to maturity, and so, renovated and restored, can become a living bird, provided the phlegm be once more enclosed in
and
By
its
jar or receptacle.
which
clarification,
this process all birds
This
to revive the
is
dead by regeneration
indeed a great and profound miracle of Nature.
is
can be killed and again made to
live, to
be renovated
and highest miracle and mystery of mortal man. For you must know that in disclosed to God, which God has that is to this way men can be generated without natural father and mother and restored.
This
is
the very greatest
;
way from the woman, but by the art and industry of a Spagyrist a man can be born and grow, as will hereafter be described. is also possible to Nature that men should be born from animals, and
say, not in the natural skilled It
this result
has natural causes, but
and impiety. a
woman,
shuts
it
up
If
man have
a
cannot be produced without heresy
it
connection with an animal, and that animal, like
receives the seed of the
man
with appetite and lust into
there, then the seed necessarily putrefies, and,
heat of the body, a man,
whatever seed
is
is,
such
and not an animal,
sown, such a
would be against the the seed
still
light of
fruit is
womb, and
born from it.
For always,
it.
If this
were not so
Nature and contrary to philosophy.
the herb which springs from
is
is
produced from
its
through the continuous
it.
an onion springs up, not a rose, a nut, or a lettuce.
From
it
Whatever
the seed of an onion
So, too, from corn
comes
from barley, barley from oats, oats. Thus it is, too, with all other fruits which have seeds and are sown. In like manner, if is possible, and not contrary- to Nature, that from corn
;
;
a W'Oman and a
man an
irrational
Neither on this
animal should be born.
account should the same judgment be passed on a w-oman as on a man, that is,
she should not on this account be deemed heretical, as
contrary to Nature ation
is
;
if
she had acted
but the result must be assigned to imagination.
very frequently the cause of this
:
Imagin-
and the imagination of a pregnant
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
122
woman
is
so active that in conceiving seed into her body she can transmute
ways
the foetus in different
since her interior stars are so strongly directed to
:
the fcetus that they produce impression and influence.
womb
much
Wherefore an infant
in
hand and under the will of the mother as clay in the hand of the potter, who from it forms and makes what he likes and whatever pleases him. So the pregnant mother forms the fruit in her own body according to her imagination, and as her stars the mother's
Thus
are.
it
during
is,
its
formation, as
often happens that from the seed of a
in the
man
are begotten cattle or
other horrible monsters, as the imagination of the mother was strongly directed
towards the embryo.*
But as you have already heard that many and various things are generated and quickened out of putrefaction, so you should know that from different
who have
herbs, by a process of putrefaction, animals are produced, as those
Here, too, you should learn that such
experience of such matters are aware.
animals as are produced
in
poison and are venomous
than another, and one
;
and by putrefaction do all of them contain some but one contains far more and more potent virus one form, another
in
is
in
another, as you see in the
many worms,
case of serpents, toads, frogs, basilisks, spiders, bees, ants, and
and other creatures, all of which are proFor many monsters are produced amongst animals. There are those monsters, too, which are not produced by putrefaction, but are made by art in the glass, as has been said, since they often appear in very wonder-
such as canker-worms,
in locusts,
duced out of putrefaction.
ful
form and horrible aspect
feet,
or
many
tails,
;
many heads, many sometimes worms with fishes' tails
frequently, for instance, with
and of diverse colours
;
or birds' wings, and other unwonted shapes, the like of which one had never before seen.
It is
not, therefore, only animals
which have no parents, or are
born from parents unlike themselves, that are called monsters, but those which Thus you see with regard to the basilisk, which arc produced in other ways. is
a monster above
since a
man can
sesses a poison
all
and than which none
others,
to be
is
be killed by the very sight and appearance of
more
virulent than
This poison, by spnae unknown means,
world can be compared.
for
it,
which nothing
others, with
all
more dreaded, it
pos-
else in the
carries in
it
• Here, as elsewhere throughout his writings, Paracelsus lays special stress on the power exercised by the imaginIt is the principle of is necessary that you should know what can be accomplished by a strong imagination. The imagination of man is an expulsive virtue.— A'c Pate. s. v. AddUatiienta magical action.— /.^^ Hesie, Lib. I.
ation.— It all
m Lib.
I.
The imagination
De Pyromanticn
Pesie.
dwelling in the brain
is
moon
the
of the microcosm.
De
PtstititaU^'Yx^^K II.,
our vices are nothing else than imagination. penetrates and ascends into the superior heaven, and passes from star to All our sufferings,
all
.
.
.
And
c.
2,
this im-
star. This same is such that it Whatsoever there is in us of immoderate and inhuman, all that is an overcomes and moderates. im.tginativc nature, which can impress itself on heaven, and, this done, hea\en has, on the other hand, the power of So, also, a strong imagination is the source cf refunding that impression.—/?^ Festt, Additameitta in Lib. I., Prol.
agination
heaven
.
it
both good and
evil
.
.
fortune.— Z>r Pesie. Lib.
II., c. s.
Any
strong appetite, desire, or inclination nourished by the
It is also possible for such a woman, an illustrious soldier, such as Julius by persistently thinking upon a wise and great man, such as Plato or Aristotle Cxsar or Barbarossa a great musician, like Hoff hammer or a painter, like Durer; so to work upon the plastic tenBut there must be something also in the mother which dencies of her offspring, that it will exhibit similar qualities. shall correspond to the .special talents which she h,-is imagined.— ^tf Origine Attirhoruiii Iiivisibilium, Lib. III. Im.'^gin.^tion can distort and deform the foetus, and in this manner many wonders are produced, when there are no
imagination of a pregnant
woman can
be and
is
often impressed
upon the fatus.
;
;
;
physical peculiarities in the parent.
Ibid.
Concerning the Nature of Things. eyes,
its
and
it is
123
a poison that acts on the imagination, not altogether unlike
who
a menstruous woman,
also carries poison in her eyes, in such a
from her very glance the mirror becomes spotted and stained.
wound
looks at a
or a sore, she affects
it
in
way
So, too,
that
she
if
a similar way, and prevents
its
By her breath, too, as well as by her look, she affects many objects, rendering them corrupted and weak, and also by her touch. You see that if she
cure.
handles wine during her monthly courses
it
soon turns and becomes thick.
Vinegar which she handles perishes and becomes useless.
Generous wine musk, and other strongly smelling substances being carried and handled by such a woman lose their odour. manner, amber,
loses its potency.
In like
Gold, corals, and
many gems But
are affected in this way.
civet,
are deprived of their colour, just as the mirrors
— to return to my proposal of writing
about the
—
how it carries its poison in its eye. You must know that it gets power and that poison from unclean women, as has been said above. For the basilisk is produced and grows from the chief impurity of a woman,
basilisk
that
namely, from the menstrual blood.
So, too, from the blood of the
semen
;
if it
be placed in a glass receptacle and allowed to putrefy in horse dung, from that putrefaction a basilisk
as to wish to produce
is
it,
produced.
even to take
But who would be so bold and daring it
and
at
once
unless he had
kill it,
first
would persuade no one to do so, and wish to advise every one to be cautious. But, to go on with our treatise about monsters, know that monstous growths amongst animals, which are proclothed and protected himself with mirrors
?
I
duced by other methods than propagation from those live long, especially
nature,
themselves, rarely
like
near or amongst other animals, since
and by the divine arrangement,
all
bj'
their engrafted
monsters are hateful to animals
own likeness. So, too, monstrous human growths The more wonderful and worthy of regard they are, the sooner death comes upon them so much so that scarcely any one of them exceeds the third day in the presence of human beings, unless it be at once duly begotten from their
seldom
live long.
;
carried into a secret place
and segregated from
God abhors monsters
all
men.
It
They
should be known,
Him, and none of them can be saved when.4.bey do not bear the likeness of God. One can only conjecture that they are shapen by the Devil, and born for the service forsooth, that
of the Devil rather than of
God
;
of this kind.
since from
no monster was any good work
ever derived, but, on the contrary, evil and sin, and
For as the executioner marks their eyes, too,
his
his
own
any member, or
and thoughts
who have more or have any member duplicated.
therefore, should be avoided
•
less
in
conception.
All
men,
than the usual numbers of
For that
and a certain sign of hidden wickedness and
A special
kinds of diabolical craft.
sons, through the imagination of the mother, which they
derive from her evil desires, lusts^
follows.
all
sons when he cuts off their ears, gouges out
brands their cheeks, cuts off their fwgers, hands, or head, so the Devil,
marks
Devil,
displease
is
a presage of the
craft.*
treatise on this subject and cggnalc matters is found cliiewhere in the Geneva folio. It is, briefly, as There are man>- monsters in the s*a which are not products of the original creation, but ar« bom from the
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
124
But neither must we by any means forget the generation of homunculi. is some truth in this thing, although for a long time it was held in a most occult manner and wath secrecy, while there was no little doubt and question among some of the old Philosophers, whether it was possible to
For there
man should
Nature and Art, that a natural
womb.
I
be begotten without the female body and the
answer hereto, that
Art and to Nature, nay, that
it is
perfectly possible.
Let the semen of a
you must proceed thus.
no way opposed to Spagyric
this is in
man
In order to accomplish
it,
putrefy by itself in a sealed
cucurbite with the highest putrefaction of the venter eqidmts for forty days, or until
it
begins at last to
After this time
it
move, and be agitated, which can
live,
some degree
will be in
transparent and without body.
If
now,
human
like a
after this,
it
easily be seen.
being, but, nevertheless,
be every day nourished
and fed cautiously and prudently with the arcanum of human blood, and kept for forty
weeks
in the
perpetual and equal heat of a venter equiniis^
it
becomes,
members of a child that is This we call a homunculus and it born from a woman, but much smaller. should be afterwards educated with the greatest care and zeal, until it grows up and begins to display intelligence. Now, this is one of the greatest secrets which thenceforth a true and living infant, having
the
all
;
God has
revealed to mortal and fallible man.
an arcanum above
all
It is
a miracle and marvel of God,
arcana, and deserves to be kept secret until the last
sperm of fishes of unlike species coming together contrary to the genuine, order of Nature. Thus monsters are sometimes found in the sea exhibiting the form of man, which yet have not been generated tx sodomia from men, but arise by the conjunction of diverse fishes. Even among men monsters are sometimes found that remind us partly of a luiman being, and partly of an animal. This is a repellent subject, but requires to be fully expl:iined, that the fir-^t birth may be correctly understood. The same also takes place in the^eaJ There is, for example, the syren, of which the upper parts are those of a woman and the lower those of a fish. This does not form part of the original creation, hut is a hybrid offspring from the union of two fishes of the same kind, but of different forms. Other marine animals are also found, which, without corresponding ex.ictly to man. yet resemble him more than any other animnl. However, like the rest of the brutes, they lack mind or soul. They have the same relations to man as the ape. and are nothing but the apes of the sea. As often as they unite, marine monsters of this kind are produced. Another such monstrous generation is themonacluisor monk-like fish. Uut there are mnny genera of fishes, and many modes of generation, which do not always result from the sperm fauiilinr or customarj- to them, but happen in various other ways. For example, certain monsters are drowned in the sea, and are devoured by the fishes. Now, if a sperm, constituted in exaltation, were to perish by immersion, and, having been consumed by a fish, were again exalted within it. a certain operation would undoubtedly follow from the nature of the fish and the sperm, whence it may he gathered that the majority of marine animals which recall the human form are in this manner produced. Yet, having the nature of a fish, they live in the waters and rejoice therein. The maiinc dog, the marine spider, and the marine man are of this class. If they are generated in any other way, it must he set down to sodomia. liut there may be a third cause, namely, when spermatica of this kind acquire digestion, and by reason of this conjunction a birth takes place. Monsters are likewise generated in the .-lir, from the droppings of the stars from above. For a sperm falls from the stars. The winds also in their courses bring many strange things from other rei;ions to which they are indigenous. The sperm of spiders, toads, and other creatures floalinjiin the air are resolved, and hence other living things are produced. In this way grasshoppers and other monsters are begotten, their generation being of one only and not of two. Such births are more venomous and impure than are other worms. Therefore, houses ought to be scrupulously cleaned, or else so constructed as not to favour the accumulation of much filth. For the air is efficacious against seeds dispersed in this manner. The earth is, however, the most fniitfu matrix of monstrous growths. There the animals both of land and sea congregate. The basilisk is generated from the sperm of a to.id and a cock. The sperm of the cock uniting with that of the hen produces an egg. But if the cock emit his sperm without the hen doing likewise, the egg will be imperfect, and something will be generated unnaturallyThere is another kind of basilisk, produced by the union, soa.otuiilcc. of a cock and a toad. After the same manner, lizards unite with geckoes, and the copulation produces a peculiar worm, partaking of the nature of each, and known as .
.
.
.
a dr.igon.
The
asp
whoever while moving alive
learn that
generated.
is
.
.
another instance of this unnatural generation.
body alone
.
.
.
From
all that
has been set
down wc may
a basilisk, a dragon, and an asp, not, indeed, generated as yet, but meanuntil he dies. Vou can now understand the abominable manner wherein unnatural monsters are For if a man lives in sperm, his very sperms turn into worms, .md remain worms, and in the day of the lives for his
is
resurrection shall they be buried in the deepest parts of the earth, over which shall walk those
AnimalibHi nutis ex Sodomut.
who have
risen.
De
Concerning the N^attire of Things.
125
when there shall be nothing hidden, but all things shall be made manifest. And although up to this time it has not been known to men, it was, nevertheless, known to the wood-sprites and nymphs and giants long ago, because they themselves were sprung from this source since from such homunculi when they come to manhood are produced giants, pigmies, and other marvellous people, who are the instruments of great things, who get great victories over their enemies, and know all secret and hidden matters.* As by Art they times,
;
acquire their
by
life,
.\rt
born by Art, therefore there
is
acquire their body, flesh, bones and blood, and are
-Art
incorporated
is
in
them and born with them, and
no need for them to learn, but others are compelled to learn from them,
since they are
sprung from Art and
live
by
it,
as a rose or a flower in a garden,
and are called the children of the wood-sprites and the nymphs, because virtue they are not like
Here, too,
men, but
would he necessary
it
we have of Metals, we will point out what we
,_-
like spirits.
to
speak about the generation of metals,
written sufficiently of these in our book on
but since
treat the
matter very
briefly here,
Know,
there omitted.
then, that
and only all
and peculiar colourings.
In this way,
made and compounded
seven metals were
Hermes
The Generation in
a short space
the seven metals are
born from a threefold matter, namely, Mercurj-, Sulphur, and distinct
in their
..
Salt,
but with
truly said that
of three substances, and
all
the
in like
manner also tinctures and the Philosophers' Stone. These three substances he names Spirit, Soul, and Body. But he did not point out how this was to be understood, or what he meant by it. though possibl)- he might also have known the three principles, but he makes no mention of them. I do not therefore say that he was in error, but that he was silent. Now, in order that these three distinct substances
should be
may
be rightly understood, namely,
soul,
and body,
known that they signify nothing else than the three principles,
Sulphur, and Salt, from which Mercur}'
spirit,
the spirit. Sulphur
is
between the
spirit
which indeed
all
is
Mercurj',
the seven metals are generated.
the soul, and Salt
is
the body.
and the body, concerning which Hermes speaks,
it
For
The metal is
the soul,
two contraries, the body and the spirit, and changes them into one essence. But it must not be understood that from any Mercurj-, and any Sulphur, and any Salt, these seven metals can is
Sulphur.
It
unites those
in like manner, the Tincture or the Philosophers' Stone by and the industry of the Alchemist in the fire but all these seven metals must be generated in the mountains by the Archeus of the earth, t The
be generated, or, the Art
;
bom
and dwarfs from pigmies. Of these monsters are they have appeared with suflicient frequency*, and in such a marvellous manner, that there can be no doubt of their existence. — jP*- Nywphis. PygmiiSy SttlamandriSy etcWith regard to the generation of homunculi there is also the following passage :— Porro hoc ctiam sciendum est.sodom. itas hujusomodi sperma quandoque etiam in os ejacul.-ui. Quod si in stomachum tanqU'im in mairiccm rccipiator, ex ipso ibi monstrum, aut homunculus, aut simile aliud generalur, ac inde morbi multi. iique diOiciles surgunt. tamdiv sxvientes, donee generatum excematur.— 23* Homujuulis */ Mcnstrist As a sure and fundamental conclusion to those things which have been advanced. let it be notified to those who •
Elsewhere
produced,
as, for
P.-iraceIsus state<; that giants are
example, nj-mphs and s>Tens.
desire to be acquainted with the true essence
and best part of common stones— the
spirit,
from
Albeit these
sj-Iphs,
.ire rare,
and origin of metals, that our metals are nothing else than the most potent oil, and fatness of stones, which, while still combined
gluten, grease, butter,
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
126
make them.
alchemist will more easily transmute metals than generate or Nevertheless, live Mercury
contains in itself also, in
an occult manner,
metals takes place thus is,
is
it
it
the seven metals, and deserves
all
an open metal and, as
renders up from
contains in itself
it
itself in
it
were,
the
fire
;
metals which without
all
But the regeneration and renovation of
itself.
As man can return
:
from which the
to the earth
For
the colours which
all
does not yield up from
fire it
the mother of
Mother of Metals.
to be called the
and so
Is
man
first
womb
to the
of his mother, that
sprang, and thus can be born again
anew at the last day, so also all metals can return to quick mercury, can become Mercury, and be regenerated and clarified by fire, if they remain for forty weeks in perpetual heat, like a child in its mother's womb. Now, they are however,
born, if,
Luna
is
metals,
regenerated,
So gold tinges other metals
Luna.
\
common
not as
as has been said,
it
which
but as metals
afterwards tinge
will
to Sol,
and
in like
tinge
manner
for
:
metals to
all
must be
it
all other metals. Now, when Hermes said that the soul was medium which joins the spirit to the body, he had no inadequate conAnd since Sulphur is that soul, and, like fire, it hastens of the truth.
understood of the only
ception
on and prepares
things,
all
it
can also link together the
spirit
and the
bodj-,
incorporate and unite them, so that a most noble body shall be produced. it
common
not
is
metals
but that soul
;
spirit
it is
is
is
fire,
since
it
itself
is
itself.
This
is
is
entirely
Hold
commendation as a treasure
this in
is
It
should be contented with this secret alone
we
ruby coloured and clear as
in the
for
into fixed
making you
and approved rich
and you
;
transmutation of metals.
Con-
known
stated at the beginning concerning the metals, namely, that they are
produced, Salt,
in
extracted by the
cerning the generation of minerals and semi-metals, no more need be
than
cannot, and,
fire,
indeed a mighty and excellent arcanum for transmuting
white metals, and for coagulating quick mercury gold.
Yet
esteemed the soul of
nothing but the Quintessence of Sulphur, which
of wine from Reverberated Sulphur, and
the ruby
to be
another combustible and corruptible body.
burnt with any
therefore, be truth,
combustible sulphur which
in like
though
manner, from those three principles. Mercury, Sulphur, and
not, like the metals,
from these principles
in their perfection, but
from the more imperfect and weaker Mercury, Sulphur, and
Salt, yet
still
with
their distinct colours.
The generation
of
gems takes
place by, and flows out from, the subtlety
of the earth, from the clear and crystalline Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, also
and are altogether wanting in perfection. For this reason they are to and thence, also, must be separated and extr.icted by pounding and liquefaction. When this h.is been effected they are no longer stones, but prepared and complete metals, agreeing with the celestial stars which stones, indeed, are secreted from the terrestrial stars. Furthermore, if anyone desire to investigate and to know minerals and metals, he should clearly realise that they are not always to be sought in the common and familiar minerae, nor in the depths of mountains, because they are vei-y often found more easily, and in greater abundance, upon For this reason, any stone that may offer itself to the eye, whether the surface of the earth than in its bowels. great or small, rock or flint, should be diligently examined as to its property and nature, for verj' often a small and d^pised pebble is of greater value than a cow. So, also, there is common dust and sand which are abounding fin Sol in the stone, are not good, not pure, not clean,
be sought, found, and
known
in stones,
;
.tild
Lunn.
Chirttrgia Minor,
De
Cortrijciurii, Tract
\\.~ rttuclraii'.
Concerning the Nature of Things. according to their
own
distinct colours.*
127
The generation of common stones
from the subtlety of water, by the mucilaginous Mercury, Sulphur, and
For
all
same source
for every stone placed in
into stones, t
This
cucurbite, a stone will be produced of the
produced and coagulated
is
patent to the eyes
water soon draws the mucilage to
that mucilaginous matter be taken from such stones
The
Salt.
stones are produced by the mucilage of water, as also pebbles and sand
are coagulated from the
*
is
in the
same kind
itself.
If,
and coagulated as
would of
:
now, in
itself
a be
water, but after a long period of time.
generation of gems in Ares occurs after
tliis
manner
:
\\Tien the gross genera of stones have been all
extracted out of .\res, a certain subtlety remains, more diaphanous in
iLs nature than are other stones, and out of this the such a manner that hardness and very great transparenc>' are first prepared. Hence the gems are afterwards developed, each according to its own form and essence. \'erj' great subtlety and artifice are employed over this generation. De EUmento Aqucr. Tract IV.. c. lo.
.•\rcheus subsequently procreates
t
gems
The body of every kind of stone
density from mercury. —/^irf.
.
c. 5.
after
is sulphtir,
as that of metals
is
mercury'.
The hardness
is
from
s.-ilt.
and the
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS.
BOOK
II.
Concerning the Growth of Natlral Things.
T
enough, and well known to everybody, that
clear
is
I
the rain
irendered fruitful by the rain, and
Nature,
who
must confess that every kind of
all
deny or refuse to believe that man possesses
will
by a prudent and
skilful pursuit of the
Scripture says that
over to him as
God
they were his
if
his necessity, that he
fowls of the
man ought
own
make
in
it
all
increase and
grow ?
The
them
property, so that he might use
might have dominion over the
fishes of the sea,
for
the
and everything on the earth without exception.
to rejoice because
nil
possible to
same power
this
created things to man, and handed them
all
God has
the earth,
and upon
Wherefore endowed him, so be subiect to Him,
illuminated him and
God's creatures are compelled to obey
all
especially
move
air,
subjected
is
fruit is
Alchemical Art, so that he shall render
the fruitless fruitful, the unripe ripe, and
that
natural things
Since, then, by the Divine institution, this
ripened by the sun.
-h
all
warmth and moisture, as is plainly demonstrated by followed up with sunshine. None can deny that the earth is
gro\y and mature by
Him and
to
together with
all
things which are born,
Since, then,
we
see with our eyes, and are taught
it.
live,
and
by daily experience, that the oftener and the more plentifully the rain moistens the earth, and the sun dries fruits of the earth
come
it
forth
again with
and
whatever be the time of year,
ripen,
its
heat and glow, the sooner the
while
all
fruits increase
manifold imbibitions and distillations, can produce the same is
rain but the imbibition of the earth
sun
other than
humidity
?
the sun's process
W'herefore
I
say that
What
?
it is
earth and water, from seed and root.
in all
it
will
take place in
many
minerals, the imperfect
effect.
are the heat and
of distillation,
For what
glow
of the
which again extracts the
possible by such co-optation in the
middle of winter to produce green herbs, flowers, and
flowers,
and grow,
none wonder that the alchemist, too, by
let
Now,
if
fruits,
this takes place
by means of
with herbs and
other similar things too, as, for instance,
metals whereof can be ripened with mineral
water by the industry and art of the skilled alchemist.
So,
too,
can
all
marchasites, granites, zincs, arsenics, talcs, cachimiae, bismuths, antimonies, etc., all of
which carry with them immature Sol and Luna, be so ripened as to
Concerning the Nature of Things. be made equal to the richest veins of gold and
1
29
only by such co-oplation.
silver,
and Tinctures of metals are matured and perfected. Since, therefore, humidity and warmth mature all things and make them grow, let none wonder that, after a long time, in the case of a criminal on the nor let this be taken for a sign of gibbet, the beard, hair, and nails grow It is only natural, and proceeds from innocence, as the ignorant read it. So, also, the Elixir
;
natural causes.
and hair grow
long as there
.As
and, what
;
moisture
is
more,
is
in the
beard, and hair grow up
itself, nails,
to the
body, the nails, beard,
in the
man
case of a
buried
the earth
in
second year, or up to the time of
the man's decay.
many substances grow and
should be known, too, that
It
virtue, both in
and
ually in size, weight,
water and on land,
increase perpet-
each of which
in
they remain good and effective, such, for example, as metals, marchasites,
cachymiae,
talcs,
stones and clays.
antimony,
granites,
So also
it
increase in weight and in body,
if
be constantly fertilised with fresh
only
it
human
will
it
grow
branches and leaves, which experiment
The process
marvels.
regis so that
good and
is
as follows
aqua
fresh
more ascends.
Again pour over
Do
distillation as before.
in
is very-
it
pleasant to behold, and
which place
this until
distilled
may have in
Know cucurbite,
This
will
you see the Sol
it
fire
Thus
is
there
call the
be dry.
glass.
If
Golden
If
you are practised
right in these details.
may be taken out of its own running water
Let the cucurbfte be again
Repeat
river water, placed in a until the cucurbite is full.
filled
this until the cucurbite
way, by means of Alchemy,
years.
grow
produced
The process is the same with the other may be different, and some other aqua fortis
in
with this water, and
is filled
with this stone.
a few days you will see that a very large
stone can be made, such as the .Archeus of the waters could scarcely
flint in
nothing
be extracted by distillation, as long as a single drop ascends,
once more extracted.
many
of
exceeds four until
glass and
flint
and sprinkled with
until the stone
is
full
means of aqua
rise in the
leave to your experience.
I
do what
also that any
may again
In this
This
to be used.
Alchemy you
of
water, and once more extract by
form of a tree with many branches and leaves.
metals, save that the calcination
art
a cucurbite, pouring in
in
from Sol a wonderful and beautiful shrub which alchemists Herb, or the Philosophers' Tree.
>
many wonderful
Let gold be calcined by ;
all
grow and
upon by the industry and
a cucurbite with
again with the third degree of
Extract
it
corals,
urine and pigeons' dung.
and water of gradation so that
regis
fingers across.
in the
:
becomes a chalky lime
it
pearls,
be buried in land looking east, and
also possible for gold to be so acted
It is
the skilled alchemist that
gems,
bismuths,
can be brought about that Sol shall
make
in
you afterwards break the cucurbite on a stone you will have a it had been poured into the
the shape of the cucurbite, just as though
Though
this
may be
of no profit to you,
still
it
is
a very wonderful
thing.
K
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS. BOOK
III.
Concerning the Preservation of Natur.\l Things.
may
order that a thing
IN sary that
first
of
all its
therefrom, and that virtue, force, or in
then, that the
it
be preserved and defended from injury,
enemy should be known, so
may not
any other way
enemy
of
all
be hurt or corrupted by
A good
suffer loss.
it,
and adverse chance
he
loss
Surely, no one.
therefore necessary that such
if
is
it is
neces-
may be shielded
it
substance,
in its
deal depends
natural things should be recognised
guard himself against It is
that
;
for
upon
this,
who can
ignorant of his enemy
?
enemy should be known.
know the bad as the Who, in fact, can know the good without a knowledge of the evil ? No one. No one who has never been sick knows how great a treasure health is. Who knows what joy is, that was never sad or sorrowful ? And who knows rightly about what God is, who knows nothing about the devil ? ^\'herefore since God has made known to us the enemy of our soul, that is, the devil. He There are many enemies
;
and
it is
just as necessary to
good.
enemy of our life, that is, death, which is the enemy enemy of medicine, and of all natural things. He has made known this enemy to us and also how and by what means we must escape him. For as there is no disease against which there has not been
also points out to us the
of our body, of our health, the
created and discovered a medicine which cures and drives
always one thing placed over against another
it
away, so there
is
— one water over against another,
one stone over against another, one mineral over against another, one poison over against another, one metal over against another and the same in many
—
other matters,
of which
all
not necessary to recount here.
it is
known how, and by what means, each several thing is that many things, for instance, have to be preserved and guarded from loss But
it
ought
to be
:
kept for a long time while
in
the
flowers and
earth
all fruits
in
the earth.
fruitful
All roots,
and uncorrupted.
keep undecayed and green
especially,
In in
like
water.
fruits, and especially apples, can be preserved in water,
every decay, until
new
remain for a long
manner, herbs and
So
also
many
other
and protected from
apples are produced.
and blood, which very soon putrefy and become rancid, can and not only so, but by the co-optation of be kept in cold spring water renewed and fresh spring water they can be transmuted into a quintessence. So
also flesh
;
Concerning the Nutnre of Things. and conserved
for ever
and blood, but
(so to say)
preserves
it
kinds of flesh and blood, and especially the body of man, from
all oilier
many
decay and from
common mumia decay and
diseases which
But
does.*
separated from
you must use
aforesaid,
as its
phlegm, which moves of
all
from decay, better than the
arise
may be
order that blood
in
odour, and not as a quintessence
ill
blood,
other
And
from decay and bad odour without any balsam.
this process preserve flesh
not only does
131
and
;
this itself,
preserved of
in order,
process
and
:
also,
itself
from
to protect
Let the blood be
driven to the surface.
is
water by a dexterous inclination of the vessel, and add to the blood a sufficient quantity of the water of salt, which we teach you in our Chirurgia Magna how to make.t This water at once mingles with the blood,
Draw
this
off"
and so conserves the blood that fresh and exceedingly red
which, indeed,
is
never putrefies or grows rancid, but remains
it
many
after
years, just as well as
But
a great marvel.
if
first
day
;
this
best and
sufficient quantity of the
pour on a
water, or have none at hand,
on the
you do not know how to prepare
most excellent balsam, which produces the same effect. Now this blood is the Balsam of Balsams, and is called the Arcanum of Blood. It is of such great and wonderful virtue as would be incredible were we to mention it. Therefore you
will
keep
great secret in medicine.
this occult, as a
In the conservation of metals the first thing to learn
enemies, so that they
may be
enemies of metals, then, are
and
salts,
metals,
shew
what are
is
The
thereby the better kept from loss.
all
strong waters
their hostility
in
all
;
aqua; regia,
this circumstance,
that
all
their
principal
corrosives
they mortify
all
Crude and reduce them to nothing. smoke for by its smoke it takes away the
calcine them, corrupt them,
sulphur shews
its hostility
by
its
;
colour and redness from Venus, and renders
Luna, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars,
it
takes
it
white.
a't\^Sy
From white
their whiteness
metals, as
and reddens
them a reddish colour. From gold it takes away the agreeable yellowness and golden tint, renders it black, and makes it as uncomely as possible. that it spoils all metals with which Antimony shews its hostility in this it deprives and robs them it is liquefied in the fire, and with which it is mixed moreover, like the sulphur, it robs metals of their genuine colour and
them, or induces
in
:
;
;
substitutes another.
Quicksilver, on the other hand, exercises a hostile force upon the metals
with which
it
is
conjoined, in that
it
invades and dissolves them so that
it
makes an amalgam from them. Moreover, its smoke, which we it calcines them and makes all metals immalleable and fragile It is the chief enemy of iron and whitens all red and gold coloured metals. call the
of Mercury,
;
• According to
one explanation
De Origint MorboniHi, Wh. Invmbilium, also
.ill
Lib. IV.
t
:
Mumia
II., c. 2.
is
The
man
himself.
Mumia
is
balsam, which heals wounds.
virtues of all herbs are found in this
Whoever seeks opoponax — /^jV. Now,
other creatures whatsoever.
forth in potencies
soot
it in Mumia (that is, in Mumia If a man be deprived
will find
this is
:
of
life,
will be
found
in the
second footnote on
p.
-
then his flower bursts
and natural arcana. - Ibtd.
This process
Paramirum
Mumia. — ZJf Online Mertorui'i the Mumia which is man), and so
76 of the present volume.
K2
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
132
for
steel,
common mercury
if
mercurial
with
anointed
and cut
This
off.
oil,
indeed
is
touches
can
it
a
or
rod,
steel
rod
the
if
broken
be
afterwards
a great secret and must be
kept
be
glass
like
strictly
In the same way, too, the magnet should be guarded and kept
occult.
from Mercury, for
it
exerts hostility on
common mercury
which
it
touches, or which
For every magnet
as on Mars. is
anointed with mercurial
oil,
or
only placed in Mercury, never afterwards attracts iron.* Let no one be surprised at this
of iron
there
;
a natural cause for
is
seeing that Mercury extracts the
it,
which the magnet holds latent
Wherefore also the
in itself.
spirit
spirit of iron in
magnet attracts the body of Mars to itself and this happens not only in the magnet but in all other natural things, so that the foreign spirit which is in an alien body, which is not of its own nature, always attracts a body the
;
agreeing with but of
own
its
This should be
nature.
known
not only of the magnet,
natural bodies, such as minerals, stones, herbs, roots, men, and
all
animals. After this
known
should be
it
the case of Saturn, which nature.
breaks up
It
destroys and corrupts It
and
also hates tin,
erate, unmalleable,
is
the
all
the principal
members
their inborn nature
enemy
of gold, renders
an enemy of
hard and
unfit, if
it
congenital
its
deformed, weak, and
it
the metals, for
all
as you see in
;
of Sol, from
even to the death, more than
it
is
amongst each
that metals exercise hostility
and mutually hate one another from
other,
does any other metal. it
renders them degen-
be mixed with either of them
it
in fire
or
'flux.
Since, therefore,
you have now heard about the enemies of the metals,
moreover, about their preservation and conservation, which
learn,
the metals from
all
guard
and corruption, and, in addition, strengthen them in while they graduate them more highly in colour. First,
loss
and virtue, ought to be known concerning gold that it cannot be better and more beautifully preserved than in boys' urine, in which has been dissolved sal amtheir nature
then,
it
moniac, or
in the
water of
sal
ammoniac
In these, with time,
alone.
preserved and conserved than
which have been dissolved tartar and blackened and stained, best
and most
is
renewed,
if
salt. it is
In this
This protects
all
anointed therewith once every month.
boiled thus.
iron
and
fixed that, like silver,
• So,
it is
botin.
till
D(
flux,
it
iron
the
gem
and
though
steel the
from rust if
if tliey
are
iron be liquefied
can be so renewed and
Copper can be conserved and preserved oil
of salt, so
X)e if the m.ignet be steeped in garlic it will be deprived of its attractive virtue. Should anyone make use of a magnet while he is wearing a sapphire, it will effect be removed. The same quality seems to reside in carabe, coagulate of gum, resin, and there-
affirmed that
Morbis Amentium, nothing
never rusts.
steel
Of
or acetum in
silver,
fresh, not salted, lard
be mixed with sublimated Mercury, or anointed with
it
also,
it
is
In like manner,
with fixed arsenic, and occasionally reduced to a
only
way any old
useful conservative and preservative
from a gelded sow.
if
common water
be boiled in
if it
acquires
it
Silver cannot be better
such a high grade of colour as cannot be surpassed.
c.
5.
Feste, Lib. II..
c. 2.
Concerning the Nature of that for the future
is its
\
gives forth no vitriol or verdigris, nor does
it
green colour. Lead cannot be conserved better than such
77iings.
in
it
cold water, and in a
become of a
damp
But for the conservation of the magnet nothing
nature.
33
is
place,
better
magnet be placed in these, not only docs not its force decrease, but it grows more and more every day. As to the conservation of salts, and all those substances which are of k salt nature, and are comprised under the name of salt, of which there are more than a hundred, it is well to know that they must be kept in a warm and dry place, and guarded well from the air in wooden chests. They must not be placed on glass, stone, or metal. By these they are dissolved and turn into water and amalgam but this does not occur in wood. Moreover, you should learn the method of conserving certain waters and liquids by fneans ot pressed herbs, roots, and other fruits and growing things, which easily absorb all mustiness and mould just as if a skin were wrapped than
filings
of iron or steel.
If
the
;
around them.
row
at the top
drops of olive oil will float
Let these waters, or other liquids, be placed in a glass vessel, nar-
and wider below. oil
Let the vessel be
added, so that
all
filled to
the water or liquid
way,
at the top, and, in this
and then some
water or
liquid,
The
be covered.
will protect the liquid or the
No
long time from mustiness or mould.
the top
may if
it
water a
be covered w
ith
In this way also two waters, two oil, can ever become mouldy or smell badly. liquids, two wines, can be kept separately in one vessel, so that they shall not mix and not only two, but three, four, five, or still more, if only oil be between them, for they are separated by the oil as by a wall, which does not suffer them For oil and water are two contraries, and neither to be conjoined and united. As the oil does not allow the waters to mix, so, with other. the can mingle ;
on the other hand, the water prevents the
oils
from blending.
For the conservation and preservation of cloth and garments from moth, so that they may not eat them or settle in them, nothing is better than mastix, camphor, ambergris, or musk but the best is civet, which not only preserves :
from moth, but drives away and puts to fleas, lice,
flight
moths,
with other worms,
and bugs.
All timbers
can be conserved, as
in
buildings or bridges, so that they shall
never decay, whether they be in water, under water, or out of the water,
in the
ground, under the ground, or out of the ground, whether exposed to rain or wind, air, snow, or ice, in summer or winter, and moreover, preventing them from
decaying or worms breeding in this case is that
them when
in
felled.
grand arcanum against
a secret that no other can compare with sulphur, the process for
making which
sulphur be pulverised and placed fortis as will
in
remains at the bottom, and
is
it
is
The method
putrefactions,
it.
It is
of conservation
and so remarkable
none other than the
as follows
a cucurbite.
cover four fingers across.
four times, the last time until
is
all
Over
:
— Let it
common
oil
of
yellow
pour as much aqua-
Abstract this by distillation three or
completely
drj-.
Let the sulphur which
of a dark reddish colour, he
nl.-iccd in
marble or
and Alchemical Writings of
T^^^ Hertnetic
134
glass and easily dissolved into an of timber so that
it
may
This
oil.
never decay and
a great secret in the conservation
is
may be
protected from worms.
sulphur be prepared as aforesaid, and turned into an
if
tinges the timber which has been anointed with -^
Paracelsus.
Many
obliterated.
decay
so that
it
For
afterwards
it
can never be
other things, also, can be conserved and preserved from
of sulphur, especially ropes and cables in ships and on the
in this oil
masts of ships,
it
oil,
in chariots, fishing-nets, birdcatchers'
other like things which are being frequently used
otherwise be liable to decay and break
;
in
and hunters' snares, and
water and
rain,
and would
so also with linen cloths and other
similar things.
The conservation
of potable things, too, should be noticed, under which
we comprise wine, beer, hydromel, vinegar, and milk. these five unharmed and in their virtue, it is necessary enemy.
This
if
none other than unclean
They corrupt these things
courses.
them,
is
women
becomes
thick, beer
The wine is changed and is weakened and loses
turn sour, vinegar
milk also becomes sour and clotted.
known
This, therefore, should be well
before anything
about the conservation of one of these things chief preservative of wine
sulphur and
is
in
of sulphur, by
oil
is
particular.
wine can be preserved for a very long time, so that
it
said specially
Moreover, the
means
of which
all
neither thickens nor
is
any way changed.
in
The means it
monthly
they handle or have anything to do with
if
and hydromel
to
we wish to keep know their chief
at the time of their
they look at them, or breathe on them.
its acidity,
If
are put
oil
of conserving beer
by
is
oil
of garyophyllon,
so that one measure has two or three drops.
in,
if
a few drops of
Better
of benedicta garyophyllata, which preserves beer from acidity.
servative for hydromel
as the
oil
The
oil
of sugar, which must be used in the
preservative of vinegar
the
all it,
of ginger, and of milk the expressed
is oil
oil
These two must be used as described above.
The preservative touches
the
is
The presame way
of garyophyllon or the benedicta.
of almonds.
protects
is
still
of cheese
the herb hypericon
is
cheeses from worms.
no
worm
is
produced
in
If it,
it
and
or perforata,
which
be placed against the cheese and if
some have been already produced,
they die and drop out of the cheese.
Honey has no special Its chief enemy is
enemy.
from flour be put or perishes entirely.
fall
preservative, only
bread.
into
it,
If
it
must be protected from
ever so small a quantity of bread
the whole
honey
is
its
made
turned into ants, and
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS.
BOOK
IV.
Concerning the Life of Natural Things.
NONE
can deny that the
gives
air
and substantial
to all corporeal
life
But as to what
things which are born and generated from the earth.
and of what kind the
known
that the
invisible
there
now
said,
spirit
acts, as
we
should
know
an occult manner within
So
Absolutely nothing.
and the body looked
for.
is
It
under
corporeal and substantial things.
For
own
spirit, is
which
For
body
is
death,
must be
is
bound up with
for
:
its
it
always remains a living
own body
is
alive,
to say, into chaos,
Hence
it is
but
in the
spirit,
removal of the body from
metallic,
veil or
and
into the air
the
spirits
of potables,
There are
of salts,
Dc-
EnU
it,
place
and
celestial
infernal spirits,
gems, and marcasites,
arsenical
of roots, of liquids, of flesh, blood, bones, etc.
that. the spirit is in very truth the life
covering which enclose?; three principles— sulphur,
is lire.
own
whence it and lower of the higher its
evident that there are different kinds of spirits, just
Wherefore you may know
body
the
in
and
spirits, spirits
of the
?
various ways,
as there are different kinds of bodies.
life
the spirit
that the spirit holds concealed within itself the
in
had come, that
The
contains after
it
the body without
leaves the body separate and dead, and returns to
human and
spirit
things,
all
subject to death, and in the body nothing but death
also keeps
firmament.
which,
life,
For the body can be destroyed and corrupted
but not the spirit
it
it is
its
account
this
in the earth, birds
and power of the thing, and not the body.
virtue
On
But not only that
spiritual thing.*
For what
itself.
an
essence,
spiritual
a spirit and
itself
should be
it
that God, at the beginning of the creation of
created no body whatever without
life.
all
is,
spiritual thing.
men, animals, worms
the sky, fishes in the sea, but also
here
and a
none other than a
is
which moves and
lives
none other than a
is
and impalpable thing, a
nothing corporeal but has latent within
is
as just
life
of things
life
of each particular thing
Aitrorum,
c. 6.
There
is
salt,
a twofold
life
and balsam
and mcrcurj'. -/'rtr.iw/VK///, Lib. in
man
:
there
is
the
life
I
of the soul,
which proceeds from the nature of God but I speak here as a physician, and not as a theologian. There is also a life of the anim.-il kind, which is of air and fire, and the same is domiciled in the IxKly, which is c-irth and water. So is man dowered with an animal and a sidereal life.—/?* Festilitate^ Tract I. In another sense the life of man is said I be triplex— necroconiic. c.tg.lstric, .ind salnitric. But this has reference to the animal life only ~Lib,r Azoth, Tluil which sustains the body is the life, but the life iLself is from God. and not from man. This life consists in four things - humours, complexions. nattH-al species, and gifts or %'irtues. - De C^riterationc Hoinhtis. ;
136
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
of
corporeal things.
all
Now we
go on
will
to its species,
describe to you in detail, but as briefly as possible, the
and here
will
of each natural
life
thing.
The
then, of
life,
men
all
none other than a certain astral balsam,* a
is
balsamic impression, a celestial and invisible of salt which tinges.
am
I
be put forward under
many
imable to name
more
we
clearly,
air,
and a
although
Since, however,
distinctive titles.
the best are here pointed out,
an included
fire,
it
spirit
could
it
the chief and
be silent as to the rest and the inferior
will
names.
The
of metals
life
This
sulphur.
Is
a latent
is
shewn from
on account of
into flux in the fire does so
so no metal could be reduced to a steel,
The
life
of mercury
to say, within
aptly to be
it
is
we
all
causes cold
it
protects him from the cold it
but
;
worn both
is it
The
of
life is
in this
is it
in
;
it is
even the custom
still,
summer and in winter, as much summer the hairless part is turned
in the
cold
vi-inter
As
it
is
season the hairy part with the garment of
with mercury.
of sulphur
and sends forth the water
That respect
frigidity.
in
turned within and the hairless part outside.
life
and
he wears the hairless part
if
that in very ancient times, and
and the hairy part outside, but
The
;
causes cold, and defends him from excessive heat.
against the heat as against the xold
skins, so
wherefore
the metals,
all
the rest of them.
to a garment of skins, which, like mercury, causes For if a garment of this kind be worn by a man, it
naked body,
came about
within,
Unless this were
see in the case of iron and
nothing but inner heat and outer
that these coats of skin are
is
hidden fatness.
compared
warms him and against- his \\.
its
fluid state, as
gives heat, but without
both heat and cold.
So
because everything which passes
which have the least Sulphur and fatness of
they are of a drier nature than
is
which they have received from
fatness
their fluxion,
its evil
is
all salts is
Whilst
a combustible, ill-smelling fatness.
odour
it
ma_\-
be said to
nothing else but a
it
flames
li\e.
spirit
of atjua fortis
:
abstracted from them, that which remains at the bottom
for
when
is
called
dead earth.
The
gems and corjits is mere colour, which can be taken from them The life of pearls is their brightness, which they lose in their calcination. The life of the magnet is the spirit of iron, which can be extracted and taken away by rectified viiium ardens Itself, or by spirit of winel? The life of flints is a mucilaginous matter. The life of marcasites, cachyby
life
of
spirits of wine.
inia;, talc,
cobalt, zinc, granites, zwitter, vismat (ruile tin),
oi antimony, which has
the
power
to
tinge.
orpiment, realgar, and similar matters, the
• s;ih.
The
I.
all
his
is
a metallic spirit
arsenicals, auripigment,
a mineral coagulated poison.
and bU>od uf mall nre preserved and susLiincd by .1 cert.'iin Iwlsam. Now. this haliiam i:. the hody of is man preserved as by a balsam. Dc Morbis Ta^tartts. c. at. The balsam of man exists memliers, and is specialised therein-in the blood, in the marrow, in the bones, the arteries, etc.—
tlesh
So, therefore, hysalt
alike in
life is
Of
/liriirxi'i '"^^^ff'ttf,
Lib. V.
Concerning the Nature of Things. The animals,
The
life is
of wavelike substances, that
their strong-
and
to say, of the
is
When
foetid smell.
of aromatic substances, to wit, musk, ambergris, civet, and what-
life
The taken
If
itself.
like, is
dung of men and
this is lost they are dead.
ever emits a strong, sweet, and pleasant odour,
odour
137
life
of sweet things, as sugar, honey, manna, fistula cassias, and the
a subtle sweetness, with the power to tinge
away
nothing but that grateful
is
they lose this the}- arc dead and useless.
for if that sweetness be
;
or sublimation, the things are dead, fatuous, and
bj- distillation,
no longer of any value.
The
They
glittering fatness.
and
furnish this,
The else
gum, is a mucilaginous, varnish when they no longer
of resins, as caraba, turpentine, and
life
all
give excellent
;
lose their glitter, they are dead.
of herbs, roots, apples, and other fruits of this kind,
life
than the liquid of the earth, which they spontaneously lose
is if
nothing they are
deprived of water and earth.
The is
of
life
wood
a certain
is
that
deprived of resin
is
unable longer to flourish.
The
of bones
life
none other than the
is
the liquid of
But concerning the life
of water
is
life
firmament and congealed into taken from
it,
So, too, the
When ice,
since no one can life
of
b
life
fire is air,
then
of flesh and blood
them from
ill
is
odour and
separated from them.
of the elements there
flowing.
its
The
mumia.
of salt, which preserves
spirit
decay, and spontaneously, as the water
is
Any wood
resin.
it
is
it is
this to
is
coagulated by the cold of the
dead, and
all
any longer be drowned for the air
The
be known.
makes the
power of doing harm in
fire
it.
blaze
more strongly
and with greater impetuosity-. Some air proceeds from all fire, sufficient to extinguish a candle or to lift a light feather, as is evident to the ej-es. .All live fire, therefore, if it be shut op or deprived of the power to send forth its air, must be suffocated.
The however,
air lives of is
itself,
of itself dead
;
and gives
but
its
life
to
own element
all
other things.
is its
invisible
The
earth,
and occult
life.
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS.
BOOK
V.
Concerning the Death of Natural Things.
T ^
HE
death of
natural things
all
good, an overwhelming and blotting out of their former
for evil or for
nature, and the generation of a
known retain
many
that
little
but
see that
I
efficacy,
and
is
and do much good.
it
well that
is
my mere I
silence the sophists
is
We
who
this
while they are
still
living,
how
skilled alchemist, they are corrupted into
prepared (that
is,
;
and turned
and what rapid
speak or write of
small
For look
is
their virtue,
But
if,
of this
at
Mercury,
how
lightly
evil
than
by the industry of a
their first substance
and, in like manner,
;
oil),
and prudently
precipitated, sublimated,
Venus be sublimated,
c:ilcined.
you see what usefulness, what power and
efficiency they afford
For
it.
and display, so that none can
fully
their manifold virtues are not to be investigated, nor
can any one search them out.
Every alchemist, therefore, and every
ihc mother of tinctures, for tinctures proceed from the mortification of the body, in
faithful
which the colours
even as in a seed there are green, yellow, black, blue, and purple colours, which are, neverthethe seed has perished in the earth, and till the sun has prepared and produced them, so that what
less, invisible until first
The cause
into oil; the sulphur be sublimated, calcined, reverberoil
reverberated, and turned into
wa-i
them.
Indeed, they bring more
Mercury be coagulated,
the
if
ated and turned into
i§
in
as they are brought from the
good, and are rather a poison than a medicine.
Death
many examples of may
Yet, in order that you
kind are discovered.
do they exercise their influence.
•
are
that they value at nothing the preparations of the alchemists, by
and
nrc contained,
life
say that nothing can be gained from dead
is,
virtue,
virtues,
however plausible, but from my should adduce one example with which I will
mines, that
resolved,
should be
opinion,
and crude sulphur, and crude antimony tardily
could recount
ought to be sought or found
which many great secrets of live
it
own
are dead, but appear altogether
thej'
altogether foreign to our purpose.
things, nor anything
assertion
For their
So, on the other hand, man)- things in their
do not write from
experience, quiet
different nature.*
were good, and had
death, or after they have been mortified, they display a manifold
but that
this,
life
when
or none of that virtue
in
power and
new and
things which in
fatuous and powerless. evil,
nothing else but an alteration and
is
removal of their powers and virtues, an overthrow of their potencies
hidden from the senses
is
now
revealed to ibein.— /?(• Icteriliis.
Concerning the Naiuri of Things.
139
physician, ought to seek into these three things during his whole
should play with them and find his pastime
his death
up to
assuredly
they
nobly compensate him
will
for
and even
life,
them.
labour, study,
his
all
in
Most and
expense.
But
come
us
let
of each
fication
First of
mortified.
and what
to particulars,
natural thing, all,
work, the taking away his natural light,
and
his air, the
and the
and the return
spirit,
man comes from
born
its
and
is,
evanescence of his balsam, the extinction of
entire separation of the three substances, body, soul,
to his mother's
womb.
For since the natural earth-
the earth, the earth, too, will be his mother, into which he
must return, and therein lose his earthborn natural day he may be regenerated in a new, a heavenly, and said to Nicodemus when he came to Him by night. words apply
in
nothing else but the end of his day's
is
it
what way it is the death of man, it should be
death
then, with regard to
understood that, beyond a doubt,
and morti-
specially describe the death
so that at the last
flesh,
purified flesh, as Christ
For, as
we
said, these
to regeneration.
But the death or mortification of the metals
is
the removal of their bodily
and of the sulphurous fatness which can be removed from them
structure,
in
many
ways, as by calcination, reverberation, resolution, cementation, and sublimation.
But the calcination of metals by
salt,
quick mercur}-. plates,
and
Calcination by salt
stratified
the metal
and precipitated
about thus
:
when
when
is
salt.
\.\\q
produced
fiiligo 7nercurii
is
and reverberated with sulphur.
the metal
is
Calcination by
therein.
is
and formed into very thin Calcination by sulphur is when
the metal
plates, stratified
Calcination by strong waters fortis,
is
and cemented with
formed into
is
For one
not of a single kind only.
is
one by mercury, one by strong waters, one by
granulated, resolved in aqua \.\\&
Let the metal be formed into plates
;
fiiligo meicttrii is
let
brought
the mercury be put into
an earthen vessel, narrow at the top but broad below, and afterwards set on a moderate coal fire, w-hich should be blown a little until the mercury begins to
smoke, and a white cloud issues from the mouth of the
the plated metal be placed on the orifice of the vessel.
mercury penetrates the metal and renders Calcination by quick mercury
made
when
it
as friable
the metal
is
let
remain within the skin in the form of lime or sand.
mortifications of the metals, destructions
know
small particles,
cleft into
and formed into amalgam with mercury. the mercury be pressed out through a skin, and the metal
into plates, or granulated,
Afterwards will
is
vessel. Then let Thus the common as a lump of coal.
that there are
many
fact that all rusting of iron
cinnabar
is
is
and
;
all
mortified copper
lazurius
is
life, you must For beyond the
steel is a death, there are others
For instance,
mortified mercury;
mortified lead
But beyond these their
other mortifications of the metals.
esteemed as more important. or even burnt brass,
and whitenings of
all
;
it
all
should be
known
which are to be that
all vitriol,
precipitated, sublimated, calcined
white lead, red lead, or j-ellow lead arc
mortified silver.
tincture, quintessence, resin, crocus, or sulphur
So, also,
all
Sol,
from which
has been withdrawn,
is
its
dead,
C
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
140
because
no longer has the form of gold, but
it
a white metal like fixed
is
silver.
But now the metals
that
it
is
let
us go on to lay before you by what
brought about.
First of
all, it
can be mortified and reduced to a crocus
very thin plates of
vinegar
made from
:
beat them red hot, and then extinguish them in Keep on doing this until you see the vinegar has \ou have enough of this red vinegar, pour it all out,
steel,
wine.
This
the mortification of
known concerning iron the following way Form
in
become very red. When and distil therefrom the moisture of the vinegar. a dry powder.
means
should be
is
Coagulate the residuum into
the most excellent Crocus of Mars.
There
however,
is,
another way of making the Crocus of Mars which partly surpasses the former,
and
is
plates
carried out with
of steel
less
same way you should be informed
be smeared over with aqua
fortis,
oil
salt nitre,
and reduce
it
to a crocus
;
it
;
be well to
make a The
say nothing about the others.
water of
vitriol is
salt or of saltpetre,
it
to vitriol, verdigris,
dry the plates with a rag
;
note of the best and most useful, and to
:
and most
reliable
off this
in
the air until the plates
again smear the plates with water of salt or
vitriol.
For Alchemy, there
noble, or better vitriol than that which
of
greenness with clear spring water,
becomes quite green, or sends forth much vitriol remove the water by tilting the vessel, or by drawing
or water of sal armoniac.
method
Let plates of copper be smeared with
and again proceed as before, repeating the process
an excellent medicinal
or burnt
;
and hung or exposed
Wash
rest.
better
best, easiest,
as follows
begin to become green.
petre,
is
compared with Alchemy and not in
ways and there are various proand more useful than another.
brass, can also be accomplished in various
reducing copper to
is
to be
is
two methods, and avoid the
first
cesses with this metal, too, but one will
steel
Such
of which mortify iron,
all
for the}- can only be vised in
so use in preference the
it
any plate of iron or
if
sublimated mercury,
mortification of copper, to reduce
Wherefore
that
renders also a beautiful crocus.
but none of these methods
;
two mentioned above
The
Afterwards
of vitriol, water of salt, water of alum, water of sal
the result, too, with
ammoniac, water of
medicine
Stratify very thin
:
plates.
In the
the
expense and labour, thus
This produces the most beautiful crocus, which should be taken
reverberate.
from the
much
with equal quantities of sulphur and tartar.
is
Proceed thus
to it
is
made by aqua :
the
off,
until
surface.
and you
salt-
the water
will
Then have
no more beautiful, fortis,
or aqua regis,
Let plates of copper be smeared
with one of the aforesaid waters, and as soon as the greenness has been ex-
and the plates have been dried, let the greenness be taken off with a hare's foot, or by some other means at pleasure, as white lead is scraped off Let them be again smeared as before, until the plates are leaden plates. enlirel)' consumed, and thence is produced a very beautiful vitriol, such as tracted,
you cannot
Water
fail
to admire.
of saltpetre
is
made thus
:
Purify saltpetre, liquefy and pulverise
it.
tX
Concerning by
Afterwards dissolve
it
water of saltpetre.
Water
ammoniac and
resolve
In order to
make
of sal
ammoniac
141
Thus you have
This
is
as follows
water of
:
Calcine sal
ammoniac.
sal
copper there are several ways not
verdigris from
We
made
is
a case on marble.
necessary to recount here.
Thijigs.
a vessel with boiling water.
itself in
in
it
Nature of
tlie
will therefore describe
two
with'a two-
only,
The Take plates of copper, and smear them with the following compound Take equal quantities of honey and vinegar, with a sufficient quantity of salt to make the three together the consistence of thick paste. Mix thoroughly, and afterwards put in a reverberatorj-, or in a potter's furnace, for the same time as the fold
method of preparation, one
for
Medicine and the other for .Alchemy.
verdigris used in medicine admits of the ensuing process
:
:
potter bakes his vessels, and you will see a black substance adhering to the
Do
not let this circumstance cause you any anxiety or detain you at you suspend or expose those plates in the open air, in a few days the substance will turn green, and will become excellent verdigris, which maj' be plates.
all
;
for
if
balsam of copper, and
called the this air,
is
highly esteemed by
need not cause surprise, because the verdigris
and because the
air
all
physicians.
becomes green
it
known
should be
that, as daily experience in
alchemy proves, every dead earth or caput mortutnn, as soon as ever out of the
own
fire
and
into the air, immediately acquires another colour,
colour which
it
had assumed
are very diversified.
And in the
has the power of transmuting a black colour into such
For here
a beautiful green.
first
The changes
in the fire.
it
comes
loses
its
of these colours
According to the material such are the colours pro-
duced, though, for the most part, they flow from the blackness of dead earth.
You who
are skilled in .Alchemy see that everj- dead earth, flux of powder, or
of aqua fortis, comes black from the
fire,
and the more ingredients there are
more varied are the colours displayed in the air. Sometimes they makes them sometimes only yellow, white, green, cerulean sometimes mingled, as in the rainbow or the peacock's tail. All these colours display' themselves after death, and as a consequence of death. For in the death of all natural things new colours appear, and they are changed from their first colour into another, each according to its own nature and properties. Moreover, we will sa)' about verdigris that which we
in
it
the
only appear red, as vitriol
;
;
dedicate to Alchemy.
The process
of
preparation
its
very thin plates of copper, which stratify on a large
sulphur and tartar, pounded and mixed. with a strong
them out
;
fire,
tile
is
as follows
tile
;
Form
Reverberate for twenty-four hours
taking care that the copper plates do not melt.
break the
:
with equal portions of
expose the plates to the
air,
Then take
with the matter which
adheres to them, for a few days, and the matter on the plates will be converted into most beautiful verdigris, which in
all
strong waters,
in
waters of
gradations, in cements and colourings of gold, tinges gold and silver with a
deep colour. But in order that copper
may become
a:s
ustum, which
crocus of copper, the following process must be adopted
:
let
is
also called the
copper be formed
The Hermetic and Alcheviical Writings of Paracelsus.
142
smeared with
into plates,
put on a large
with a strong
fire,
salt
placed
tile,
in
reduced into a paste with the best vinegar, then
a blast furnace, and for a quarter of an hour burnt
but so that the plates
may not
Let these plates, while
melt.
glowing, be extinguished in vinegar wherein sal ammoniac has been dissolved half an ounce in a pound of vinegar. Let the plates be again heated, still
—
and extinguished as before which adhere
them
but continually scrape off into vinegar the scales
;
to the plates after they
by beating the plates, or
off
have been extinguished, or
any way you can.
in
Then
the plates of copper are nearly consumed.
by
distillation, or let
evaporate
it
let
knock
this until
the vinegar be extracted
an open vessel, and
in
else
Keep doing
coagulate into a
let it
Thus you will have the crocus of copper used in .\lchemy. Many persons commonly make cbs tisium, or the crocus of Venus, from Venus by the extraction of alcohol (others of vimim accfi), like the crocus of Mars but I much prefer this method. The mortification of Mercury, in order that it may be sublimated, is very hard stone.
;
brought about by sublimated
it
and
vitriol
When
salt.
becomes as hard as
crystal
it is
mixed with these two and
and as white as snow.
tlien
In order that
Mercury may be reduced to a precipitate,* nothing more need be done than it in the best aqua fortis then let the graduated aqua fortis be
calcine
;
extracted from
it
five times,
Sweeten
red colour.
the
in
fire
ot less, until the precipitate acquires a beautiful
this precipitate as
the rectified wine from
burns
more
it
much
as possible
and
;
finally distil
seven or nine times, or as often as necessary,
and does not escape.
Then you have
until
it
the diaphoretic precipi-
tate of Mercury.
Moreover, here should be noted a great secret concerning precipitated Mercury.
by
If,
distilling
after its colouration,
it
until the
it
be sweetened with water of salt of tartar,
water no longer ascends acid, but
altogether sweet,
is
then you will have the precipitate as sweet as sugar or honey. principal
arcanum
for all
wounds and
no physician need wish for better
that
despondent alchemists.
For
composition of Sol, and by then,
much labour and
toil
and returns
to
for these sufficient
gain from
You
any kind. •
ulcers
it
it
it is
gold
may
;
and the
and
it,
moreover,
an augmentation of is
This
Gallic disease,
Sol,
it
you what you have spent.
the
brightens up
enters into the
rendered constant and good.
be required for this precipitate,
is
insomuch
it
Although,
compensates
Moreover, you get
— more than you could compass by the highest artifice of
ought, therefore, to rejoice over
it,
and
to
thank God and me
there is nothing in medicine to compare with precipitated mercury for the cure of icteritia.— Annotationes in Lib. de Icteritiis, The medical preparation of the precipitate of mercurj-as a healing unguent has been boastfully claimed to their own credit by many persons, though they are all filched from the writings of the ancient artists and Spag>Tists. Vigo was not free from the disgrace of this falsehood. PrecipiIt is also st-ited that
Fragnunta Medicals,
tated mercury
is
v.
certainly an ancient remedy, but has Iain hidden for a long time by the perfidy of physici.ans.
cavernous ulcers (except those of the eating and spreading kind) are completely cured by
its
use.
But
All
e.xperience
oil of argent vive, when outwardly applied, has much greater efficacy.— Z>r Tu»iorilyus,etc., Morbi The bloodlike redness of the precipitate of mercury h.is caused it to be ignorantly confused with the X. ruddy powder into which the sweet balsam of mercury is reduced when it is prepared without sublimation or calcination by Precipitated mercury of the metals is the reduction of the metals into their first means ofthe water of eggs.— /W-ur^t\i .\JiigKii, Dt- hii/Oitnmis in XorX^ Gallico, Lib. IL
teaches us that the Gitllici, Lib.
Concerning the Nature of Things. for
But
it.
in
order that Mercury
may
be calcined,
143
have already said that
I
must be abstracted by must be done in sharp aqua and the precipitation is made. But in order that Mercury may be reduced to cinnabar,'" you must first of all mortify it, and liquefy it, with salt and yellow sulphur. Reduce it to a white powder, then put it in a cucurbite place an aludel above, and sublimate with great fluxion, as is customary. Thus fortis,
this
which
distillation,
;
the cinnabar ascends into the aludel and adheres to
The is
mortification of lead, in order that
it,
as hard as haematite.
maj' be reduced to white lead,
it
The preparation
two-fold, one for Medicine, the other for Alchemy.
of
Suspend plates of lead in an unglazed vessel over strong vinegar made from wine, the vessel being well closed so cerussa for Medicine
may
that no spirits
behind the
fire.
is
as follows
:
Then, after ten or fourteen days, you Scrape
cerussa adhering to the plates.
preparation of cerussa for Alchemy
ashes, or, in winter, will find the very best
this off with a hare's foot,
the plate over the vinegar until you
have
is like
ammoniac must be dissolved
the best sal
warm
Place the vessel in
escape.
sufficient
lead.
must
It
jar, stirring is
at
first it
But
vinegar.
in the
if
we wish
to
tin
make
or lead, or for
laterallj' in
grows
it
well as use.
Alchemy.
It
The
made up only
is
other,
which dealers
sell in
will
red lead out of the
be calcined to ashes, and afterwards burnt
continually with an iron wire until
way you
In this
a glazed
This minium
red.
once the best and the most valuable, and should be used in
The other
the former, save that a quantity of
have a very beautiful cerussa, most subtle for purging
removing whiteness from copper.
and replace
cerussa.
Medicine as
in
the shops,
is
of no
of the ashes which remain in the liquefaction of
lead ore, and the potters buy
for encrusting vessels.
it
Such minium
is
useful
only for pictures, but neither for Medicine nor for .Alchemy. In order to reduce lead to a yellow colour a process
calcined with salt, and reduced to ashes.
continually with iron in one of the
minerals, over a moderate coal
fire,
Afterwards
The
careful
into plates,
in
it
sal
in
it, is
way you
will
stirred
Otherwise
some
brought about as follows
mixed with Mercury, and suspended calcined tartar.
In
it
lest
test
the heat
would melt and
have excellent yellow lead.
which auratse have been previously
ammoniac and
must be
it
watch being kept
mortification of silver so that lazurium. or
may be produced from vinegar
In this
required not
wide dishes used by those who
should be too great or the stirring neglected.
produce yellow glass.
is
Here, too, the lead must be
altogether unlike the preparation of minium.
all
in
:
similar substance,
Let Luna be made
a glazed jar over the best
boiled.
Afterwards dissolve
other particulars proceed as
Then, after fourteen days, you will have the most precious and beautiful lazurium adhering to the silver plates, which you
directed in the case of cerussa.
will "
wipe
off
with a hare's foot.
The physicians of Montepessulano and Salerno committed the when it is clear that they are the same.— Z?^ 7 untoribus^
mercurj',
^xtracted from Saturn and >rars by mcins of mercury-.
— /^;rf..
error of supposing that cinnabar ttc.^
Morbi
Lib. IIL. c. 7.
Galtici^ Lib.
was
I., c. 8.
from Cinnabar i
different
1
44
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Till
We
do not deem
gold so that quintessence,
it
necessary here to repeat the method of mortifying
may be reduced
it
crocus,
resin,
to its arcana,
vitriol,
as,
for instance, to tincture,
and sulphur.
These preparations are
we have
manifold, and for the most part
already given such secrets
other
in
books, as the extraction of the Tincture of Sol, the Quintessence of Sol, the Mercury of Sol, Sol Potabilis,
These have been given
we
omitted there
impart
will
proceed thus
:
Crocus of
the
Sol,
These concern the
here.
and, indeed, ought to delight Sol,
of
resin
which are by no means the
the sulphur of Sol,
from
the
Archidoxa and elsewhere.
in the
Take two or
of Sol* and
vitriol
among
least
every physician.
Sol.
But the secrets
In order to
such secrets, extract vitriol
marks of pure gold, which
three
form into plates and suspend above boys' urine, mixed with grape-berries, in
Bury
a wide glass cucurbite closely sealed at the top.
heap
of grape-berries, as they are taken from
most subtle colour, which
Remove metals
is
— the crocus of Mars from
it,
and you
let
it
will find a
adhering to the plates of Sol.
of Sol,
vitriol
this with a hare's foot, as
and
wine-press,
the
Then open
stand there for a fortnight or three weeks.
a glowing
this in
you have been
told in the case of the other
Venus and
the plates of iron, the vitriol of
verdigris from the plates of copper, the cerussa from the plates of Saturn,
—
Luna all these being comprised under one same preparation. When, therefore, you have
the lazurium from the plates of process, but not with the
enough of
this vitriol of Sol, boil
some
continually with
to the surface like grease,
with other
it
After the sulphur
vitriol.
is
to say, the vitriol of gold
However, we
latent.
have
will
in
a
So
rises
it
up
also proceed
evaporate
that
rain
of Sol will remain at the bottom.
damp
two arcana,
In these
place.
and the sulphur of gold, a diaphoretic virtue not describe those virtues here, because
them
indicated
sufficiently
the sulphur of gold
taken away,
is
vitriol
This you can easily resolve on marble is
Then
which remove with a spoon.
water to perfect dryness, and the
that
well in distilled rain water, stirring
sort of spatula.
the
in
book on
Metallic
we
Diseases and
elsewhere.
The
following
and reducing
way
abstract from
:
it
to a fixed substance.
colour, with
it
the very acrid aqua fortis
bj'
Reverberate this sulphur
Then
antimony.
it
will
become, at
in
its
combustible and
accomplished
to a fine
bottom, and
sweet water, repeating the process of it
is
is
is
distillation continually
and there
is
no more smell of
a closed reverberator}', as in the case of
first
white, afterwards, yellow
;
thirdly, red
and cognate substances. But note here that what is usually called For copper is vitriol. If, therefore, the acidity be extracted It is the same with all the other vitriolates of metals. ... In all
really vitriolated copper of Venus.
from copper, then he
who
metals there are vitriolated
uses
it
.-icids.
digests copper.
After-
of a black
• Artificial acids are from the ininerals of metals vitriolated acid
in the
powder, and
a threefold distillation.
at the
nothing but sweet water proceeds from
sulphur.
This
Take common yellow sulphur, reduced
wards sweeten the sulphur which remains until
away
mortification of sulphur consists in taking
foetid fatness,
except in gold, which does not
know
vitriol.
D^
Mi^rhis Tarta*-eh.
c. i6.
Concerning the N^ature of Things.
When
as cinnabar.
you have
silver very deeply so as to turn
body
it
tinges into
The
and
the spirit of salt
The
all
salts,
distillation of their
earth, or caput
for
;
it
is
most precious gold, and the human
into
Of so great
health.
virtue
and whatever
of a salt nature,
is
is
the
watery and oleaginous part, and besides of
these are taken away, they are called afterwards dead
if
mortuum.
gems and
mortification of
corals
that they shall be calcined, subli-
is
The
mated, and dissolved into a liquid, as the crystal. is
for
;
fixed sulphur.
mortification of
removal and
it
rejoice
This reverberated sulphur tinges any
most perfect condition of
its
this reverberated
is
form you ought to
in that
it
beginning of wealth for you.
the
145
mortification of pearls
that they be calcined and resolved in sharp vinegar in the form of milk.
The The The
common
mortification
with salt and
Then
vitriol.
is
it
attracts
is
life,
oil
of mercury
iron.
calcination. talc, cobalt,
sublimation, that
their
no
which
granites,
zinc,
their being sublimated
is,
the metallic spirit, ascends
is
Let whatever remains at the bottom of the sublimatory
salt.
be washed, that the salt is
and stones
be smeared with
it
of marcasites, cachymiae,
and antimony,
with the spirit of
that
is
Afterwards
mercury.
mortification of flints
zwitter, vismut,
wherein
magnet
mortification of the
or touched by
may
be removed from
it,
and you
will
have dead earth
no virtue.
The mortification of arsenicals, auripigment, orpiment, realgar, etc., is when they are made fluid with salt nitre, are turned to oil or liquid on marble, and
fixed.
The The
mortification of undulous things
is
a coagulation of the
mortification of aromatic substances
air.
the removal of their
is
good
odour.
The
mortification of sweet things
is
that they shall be sublimated with
corrosives and distilled.
The
mortification of carabfe, resins,
reduced to
The shall
oil
turpentine, and
gum
is
their
being
or varnish.
mortification of herbs, roots, and the like
is
be distilled from them, the liquid squeezed out
that their oil
in
and water
a press, and afterwards
the alkali extracted.
The mortification of woods is their being turned into charcoal or ashes. The mortification of bones is their calcination. The mortification of flesh and blood is the removal of the spirit of salt. The mortification of water is produced by fire for the heat of fire dries up and consumes all water. So the mortification of fire is by water for the :
;
water extinguishes the
Thus you all
we
will set
and takes away from
it
its
are sufficiently informed, in few words,
natural things
nature, as also
fire
:
how
what
down
in
force
and
eff'ectiveness.
how death
is
latent in
they are mortified and reduced to another form and
virtues flow from them.
Whatever else
is
necessary to say
our book concerning the Resuscitation of Natural Things.
L
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS.
BOOK THE SIXTH. Concerning the Resuscitation or Natural Things.
T on
HE
resuscitation
important
in
and reduction of natural things
human and
natural.
I
my
to
out and experience proves representations of
judged), as
if I
my
;
fixed opinion, as
so that
I
may
no other
in
Nature daily and clearly points
not be exposed to the
enemies the quack doctors (by
whom
I
and mis-
lies
am
constantly
myself pretended to usurp some divine power, or to attribute
same to Nature which she never claims. Therefore, at this most careful observation is necessary, since death is twofold, that
that
From
violent or spontaneous.
from the other.
least
would, however,
be understood with the greatest discrimination, and
this point
the
the nature of things, but a profound and great secret,
rather divine and angelic than
way than according
ill
not
is
Do
point, the to say,
is
the one, a thing can be resuscitated but not
not, then, believe the sophists
when they tell you that a when they make
thing once dead or mortified cannot be resuscitated, and light of resuscitation
and restoration
true that whatever perishes by
Nature according to
its
own
its
;
own
for their mistake
is
great.
It is
indeed
natural death, or whatever mortifies by
predestination,
God
alone can resuscitate, or that
must be done by His divine command. So whatever Nature consumes man But whatever man destroys man can restore, and break Beyond this man by his condition has no power, and if again when restored. any one strove to do more he would be arrogating to himself the power of God, and yet would labour in vain and be confounded, unless God were with him, or he had such faith that he could remove mountains. To such a man this,
it
cannot restore.
and still greater things, would be possible, since Scripture says, for Christ Himself has said " If ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, and say to Depart and place yourself yonder, it would do so and place this mountain and all things shall be possible, and nothing impossible, itself there
—
:
;
to you."
But
let
us return to our proposition.
What
is
the difference
dying and being mortified, and from which of these conditions possible
nature
?
has
The matter its
is
to be understood thus.
Whatever
is
between
resuscitation
dies by
its
own
end according to predestination, and as the pleasure and
Nature of
Co}iter?iiug the dispensation of
and
God
But
arranges.
accidents, and herefrom there
this, too,
T/thigs.
happens from
no resuscitation, nor
is
147
is
different diseases
there any preservative
which can be used against predestination and the cognate end of life. But what is mortified can be resuscitated and revivified, as may be proved by many
arguments which we
down
will set
at the
end of
book.
this
So, then, there
the greatest difference between dying and mortifying, nor should
names Examine
that these are only two
widely as possible.
for
What
and predestined death.
one thing.
the case of a
In very
good or use
further
deed these
man who has
differ as
died by a natural
there in him
is
is
be thought
it
None.
?
same with a man who has been slain with a sword or has died some violent death. The whole of his body is useful and good, and can be fashioned into the most valuable mumia. For though the spirit of life has gone forth from such a body, still Let him be cast to the worms.
But the case
the balsam remains, in which
human
conserves other
when
a metal has a tendency to die
is
itself
in
a balsam
also, indeed, as
begins to be affected with rust, and
is
tliat
and when the whole of the metal is dead, and such rust can never be brought ;
dead, and
is
is
but
life,
has
itself.
The lime and difference
:
which
mere ashes and no metal. It nor has it any longer the balsam of
back to be a metal, but perished in
it
dead
is
rust the whole
consumed with
latent,
is
not the
So, too, in the instance of metals you see that
bodies.
which has been so affected
death
life
is
the ashes of metals also are two-fold,
and there
is
For the one can be revived and
between these two.
the greatest
br.QugJit
back
a metal, but not so the other. One is" volatile, the other is fixed. One is dead, the other is mortified. The ash is volatile and cannot be brought back to to be
But the lime of metals
be a metal, but only to glass or scori:e. be brought back again into difference
and
dryness than fatter
its
in
cause,
its
know
the lime, and
own
metal.
If
is
this
and more moist than the ash, and
is
and can
and more
less fatness
which gives the still
fixed
you would understand the
that in the ash there it
is
The
fluxion.
retains its resin
and
lime
is
its fluxion,
and more especially does it retain the salt which of its own special nature is capable of flux, and also makes all metals pass into flux, thereby reducing them. Hence it follows with the ashes of metals that they cannot be brought back
little
metals.
into
volatile.
This
is
The
salt
must be extracted
;
then they are perfectly
the chief point, and must be very carefully noted, since no
depends upon
it.
Among sham
physicians a vast error
is
prevalent.
In place of Sol Potabilis, the Quintessence of gold, the Tincture of gold, and so on, they have palmed off on men a leprous Calx of Sol, not considering the
difference or the evils resulting therefrom.
For two notable and necessary
must here be observed, namely, that either calcined or pulverised Sol, when given to men, is congregated into one mass in the bowels, or passes out per nnum with the dung, and so is vainly and uselessly taken; or else by the great internal heat of the body it is reduced, so that it incrusts and clogs facts
the bowels,
whence ensue manv and various
diseases,
and
at
last
e\en death. 1,2
1
4^
Hermetic and Alchemical Wrilinos of Paracelsus.
llic
And
Sol, so also in the case of other metals,
as with
arcanum or medicament
metallic
rendered volatile, so that
Wherefore the
it
body unless
into the
cannot be brought back to
step and beginning of preparing
first
becoming
Aurum by
this;
is
wine, so
Just as you
Mars,
Luna, \'enus.
potable
been
first
Potabile
spirit of
and inseparable.
volatile
way you prepare
prepare gold, in the same
have
metallic condition.
its
afterwards such a volatile substance can be dissolved that both ascend together,
you should take no shall
it
Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury.
But continue
our proposition, and to pro\e by illustrations and by
to return to
adequate
reasons that
mortified things
by man, according to natural guidance and
who
of lions,
are
born
all
and are
dead,
for
up
lions are stirred
life
understood that they acquire their
same thing
see the
putrefaction, like
in
flies,
could be discerned
in
the
and
warm
which,
if
left,
whole serpent
If
,
produced from
if
these
life
would continue dead, and never
little
former
life,
were not done they would remain
this
will revive in the glass
Now,
You
vitalised by that noise.
see in the case of the serpent.
fishes.
horrible
is
sun, or behind a heated furnace, they recover their
So you
of
the
they are sprinkled with salt and placed
these pieces be put in a cucurbite, and
spawn
by
they are drowned in water so that no
if
But
this is their resuscitation.
dead.
person
and are
life
them, and were so
would revive of themselves. in
see this in the case
vitalised
animals, except those which are
all
to
vitalised
they were stirred up with this noise they would never be found in them. Hence it is
Unless
would remain dead, and
and
not that they are sleeping in the
;
one who sleeps a natural sleep
the case with lions.
You
rule. first
compelled
resuscitated
awakened by a shout. same way would necessarily wake — but this is not
noise of their parents, just as a sleeping
So the
and
not dead
are
death, but can be brought back and
in
If
putrefied in
the
worms
pieces,
and
venter equimis,
the
be cut
it
in
a
in
form of small worms or the are
— as
they ought
be
to
brought out by putrefaction and nourished, more than a hundred serpents will
one.
be produced from the one, any single serpent being as big as the original
This can be accomplished by putrefaction alone.
And
just as with the
serpent, so manj- animals can be resuscitated, recalled, and restored. process,
with
the
aid
of nigromancy,
Hermes and
By
this
Virgil endeavoured to
renovate and resuscitate themselves after death, and to be born again as infants, but the experiment did not turn out according to their intention and
was
it
unsuccessful.
Let us, however, pass by these examples, and come to the practical method of resuscitation and restoration. It is advisable to begin with metals, because metallic bodies more frequently resemble human bodies. Know, then, one brings back that the resuscitation and renovation of metals are twofold calcined metals by a process of reduction to their original metallic body the :
;
other reduces metals to
their
argeiUtim vivum, and sucli, too,
first is
matter.
The former
the latter process.
is
a reduction to
Calcine a metal by
means
Concerning
and
silver into a sublimatory,
calx.
before.
or
Mctcuriits
elevated,
Repeat
that
vh'its,
some
two are
time, until the
may
is
it
again with the metallic calx, over a
Let this metal be placed
then done.
be required, and the whole will be changed into
is,
pound
this until the metallic calx liquefies
and the thing
such time as
in digestion for
into
ice,
for
Then, by means of sublimation, elevate the
When
Mercury from the
and sublimate as
them stand
let
coagulated into one amalgam.
wax
149
Put this calx and a sufficient quantity of the quick-
of the fiiligo Mcrcurii.
candle, like
Nature of Things.
the
its
This
matter.
first
the
called
is
Many alchemists have sought it. but few now prepared Mercurius viviis from all metals, namely,
Philosophers' Mercurius of Metals.
have found
So
it.
is
Mercurius of Gold, Luna, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.
The
or
resuscitation
Mercury
of calcined
restoration
produced by
is
For only Mercurius vivus ascends into the cold water,
distillation in retorts.
But the resuscitation and the ashes of Saturn, \'enus, or sulphur are left. It is and restoration of sublimed Mercury is brought about in hot water. necessary, however, that
may
the boiling water
up with
raises
should
it
first
resolve from
itself in
it
of
sublimated anew with fresh salt and
and
water,
if
way
all
it
more
or
nine
times,
The
resuscitation, restoration, ;
exceedingly
it
;
for in this
away from
and renovation of Mercury cannot be
for unless after calcination
Sublimate
never be revivified.
in
be
will
it
Preserve this as a great
efFectuall)'.
the impurity and blackness and poisonous nature are taken
accomplished without sublimation will
and again be resuscitated
Alchemy and Medicine, and rejoice over
Mercurv.
it
now, such Mercurius vivus be
If,
vitriol,
be repeated seven
this
impossible to purify and renovate secret in
it
the process of sublimation, and the Mercurius vivus
runs together at the bottom of the water.
boiling
be very minutelj- pounded, so that
all
the spirit of salt and of vitriol, which
it,
therefore,
it
be sublimated
and afterwards reduce
it
as you would any other sublimated substance. The resuscitation of cinnabar, lazurium, aurum musicum, or precipitated
may be
gold, in order that they
revived into Mercurius vivus,
is
effected as
Take any one of these substances, pound it very fine in a marble Then mortar, and make it into a paste with white of eggs and smegma. make pills, the size of a nut, which place in a strong earthenware cucurbite.
follows
At
:
its orifice
arrange an iron plate which has several
fastened with lute.
Distil
little
by descent over a strong
fire,
holes,
and
so that
it
let
be
it
may
fall
and again you will have Mercurius vivus. The resuscitation and restoration of wood is difficult and arduous possible, indeed, but not to be accomplished without exceptional skill and
into cold water,
;
industry.
The following
been
of
first
liquid,
and
liquefied
all
oil
is
the
method of
its
carbon, then ash, and place
of
its tree,
over a gentle
the
fire.
revival it
in
:
Take wood which has
a cucurbite with the resin,
same weight of each. Let them be mixed and Then there will be produced a mucilaginous
matter, and so you will have the three principles together from which are born and generated, namely, phlegma,
fat,
and ash.
all
things
The phlegma
is
The Hermetu and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
150
Mercuriiis, the fat
is
Sulphur, and
and evaporates over the and
ash
all
it,
will see
For that which smokes
Salt.
is
burnt
is
Sulphur;
these three principles together,
afterwards that matter be buried, or poured into a rich
If it
begin to revive, and a tree or a
which, indeed,
This
is
a venter equinus, and putrefy for the time required by each
in
respectively.
you
ash
tlie
Mercury; what flames and
Now, when you you have
is Salt.
them
place
fire is
is in its
much higher than
nature
wood, and
little
soil,
log will be produced from the original one.
and restored was from the beginning wood, but mortified, destroyed, and reduced to coals, to ashes to nothingness and yet from that nothingness it is made something, and is reborn. Truly in the light of Nature this is a great mystery, that a thing which had altogether lost its form, and had been reduced to nothingness, recovers that form and becomes something from nothing something which afterwards is much nobler in its virtue and its wood.
is
really
called resuscitated, renewed,
is
It
—
;
—
efficacy than
it
had been at
But, in order that
first.
we may speak
and restoration of natural things, foundation
— that
taken from
it
specifically here
make
to each thing
and separated ;
so
these things
things.
we
in
generally concerning the
this
may
be again conceded that which had bjen
mortification.
will .conclude this
more
resuscitation
should be understood as the principal
It
is
book, and
difficult to in
explain this
the following
book
clear with regard to the transmutations of natural
THE XATL'RE OF THINGS.
COxN'CERXIXG
BOOK
VII.
Concerning the Tr.wsmltation of N.\tur.\l Objects.
11" wc
are to write concerning the transmutation of
and
just
nece.s.sary that, in the first place
point out what transmutation
successive steps thereto
brought about.
it is
own
form, and
is
;
is
and, thirdly,
;
b\'
in
natural objects,
all
and before
else,
all
the second place,
what means, and
in
it
what are the what manner,
Transmutation, then, takes place when an object loses
so changed that
it
bears no resemblance to
its
is
we should
its
anterior shape,
but assumes another guise, another essence, another colour, another virtue,
another nature or set of properties
:
as
if
a metal becomes glass or stone
;
if
wood becomes coal if clay becomes stone and slate hide, glue All these are transmutations of natural and many such things. objects. After this it is most necessary to know the steps to transmutation, For although some how many there are. There are not more than seven. stone or
;
rag, paper
;
;
;
persons reckon a greater number, there are, of a truth, only seven principal steps
the rest which
;
They
seven.
may
be included
arc the following
among
the steps are comprised in these
:
Calcination, Slulimation, Solution, Putrefaction, Distillation, CoAGUL.\Tio.\, Tincture.
anyone ascends that ladder, he
If
many
he will see and experience
The
first
step, then,
is
wonderful a place that
will arrive at so
secrets in the transmutation of natural objects.
Calcination,* under which are comprised Rever-
beration and Cementation.
Among
as relates to Calcination.
Here, therefore. Calcination
these three there
is
difference so far
the principal step,
by Reverberation and Cementation many corporeal objects are calcined and
for
reduced to ashes, especially metals. reverberated glasses, in
is little
a ^
and
naked
One
of the
all
fi^e,
strong, and
is
calcined
Fraementa Mettica contained
exposed to the
is
not on that account
AWhemy
to
air.
B)-
minerals, ;
and
stones,
this is
means of
done
this
all
volume of the Genev.i folio, when explaining the proce^ of ob^n'es that it is eminently necessary* for the physician who con* uijderstnnd calcination and the virtue which resides therein. in the fintt
CAlcination from the stnndpoint o^ Heiinetic Medicine,
cerns himself «'ith
What
By Calcination all metals, corporeal objects, become carbon and ashes
or cemented.
T
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
The.
5 2
\
y tenacious, soft, and fat earth
we
to lime, as
many
and
;
Under
body, so,
is
is
in
process of Sublimation,
For
found
in
P"or,
distillation, in
and
and
as from
all
phleg-
separated from
is
dry substances such as minerals,
many excellent and many things are
Sublimation
minerals,
in
manent, so that they remain
which
stones are reduced
raised from the corporeal, subtilised, and the pure separated
from the impure. qualities are
all
'M^
not altogether unlike Distillation.
it is
in the
the spiritual
but
this are included Exaltation, Elevation,
matic and waterv objects, water ascends its
;
the second step, also very important for the transmutation
is
natural objects.
Fixation!
hardened into stone
see in the kiln of the lime burner and the potter respectively.
Sublimation* of
is
in the fire in the
let
fixed
following
sublimated be ground again and mixed with
be again sublimated as before, and
and wonderful
virtues
its
and become
way own
this be repeated until
:
Let
dregs. it
per-
Let the body it
sublimates no
all remains in the bottom and is fixed. Thus it will afterwards become a stone and an oil when and as often as you wish. For if, having refrigerated it, you put it in the air, or in a glass vessel, it is there immediately resolved into an oil. If you once more put it in the fire it is again coagulated
longer, but
into a stone,
which
is
of great and wonderful powers.
great secret and mystery of Nature, and do not disclose
But
this consider a
Morebecome sweet by the conjunction of the two natures, so, on the other hand, many sweet substances become sour or bitter whilst many bitter things are made sweet as sugar. Here over, as in Sublimation
many
it
to sophists.
corrosives
;
should be remarked, too, that every metal which
it
is
brought to a state of
may afterwards be dissolved into contrariwise, may be coagulated to a
Sublimation by means of sal ammoniac
an
oil
in
the air, and,
the cold, or in
stone in the
This
fire.
is
one of the greatest and most complete transmuta-
tions in all natural objects, namely, to transmute a metal into a stone.
The
third step
is
Solution, under which term are comprised Dissolution
and Resolution. This step frequently follows as, for instance,
when you
Solution, however, fire,
the other in the
corrosives,
be
it
is
twofold fire.
:
oil,
one by cold, another by heat
The
and calcined bodies.
resolves into an
it
a liquid, or water
is
in
Distillation,
and assumes
in
;
one out of the
salt ;
all
and
this takes place in a
contains the sharp spirit of
Sublimation or Distillation.
dissolved in the cold or in the air
is
salts,
and corrosive quality there
the air only, in marble or glass.
that is dissolved in the cold
often acquires
which
and
cold process of Solution dissolves
Whatever
and cold chamber, or otherwise everything
after Sublimation
dissolve the matter which remains at the bottom.
salt,
niaj-
damp For which
And everything
again by the heat of
fire
changed
• IJy sublimation the lower minerals are separated from those elements uhigh are the source of their poverty and many other virtues. For example, the sublimation of quicksilver has
baseness, but in addition to this, the process has
For in the air penneated by mercury- all the virhas a recreative effect. In like m.-uincr, the sublimation of arseni(j^ rele.Tses a fervid spirit into the attnospherc which cures quart.-m fever .ind other .icutc disexses. — iJ^ Mortis .'Hctalitcis. Tract III., c. 5. materially performed, but after a mode which t Exaltation, conjunction, opposition, and kindred processes are not Paramiriim. Tract III., c. 6. is altogether spiritual. this operation, that
even the
tues of mercurj' are present.
air in its vicinity
Concerning the Nature of Things. But the Solution of heat dissolves
into dust or stone.
bodies
and whatever the heat of
;
and sulphurous
all fat
dissolves this the cold coagulates into a
fire
mass, and whatever the heat coatjulatcs, this the
This also should be known, that whatever the is
153
and the cold again dissolve.
air
chamber
air or the cold
of great dryness, and holds concealed within itself a corrosive
ever
is
not
fire.
dissolved in
Thus, and
Putrefaction*
stand
first,
which
lies
heat, has in itself sweetness
its
no other way,
in
So what-
and
cold, but
Solution to be understood.
is
the fourth step, under which are comprised Digestion!
is
Now
Circulation.
and by
fire,
dissolves,
fire.
Putrefaction
and
a very important step which might deservedly
is
only that would be contrary to the just order and to the mystery
concealed here, and
known
is
For these steps should
to very few.
follow one another
in turn,
as has been said, like the links in a chain, or the
rounds of a ladder.
Vox
one of the links of the chain were taken away, the
if
chain would be broken and the captive would escape.
.A.nd so, too, if
one of
removed from the middle and put in the highest or the lowest place, the ladder too would be broken, and many would fall headlong from it and endanger their lives. So understand here that these steps
the rounds of the ladder should be
follow one another in a just order
would be perverted, and Putrefaction
is
otherwise the whole work of our mystery
and pains frustrated and rendered
new
nature,
it
and bears another new
away
all
the acridity from
all
void.
and transmutes
blots out the old nature
dead things decay, and then
all
it,
Putrefaction takes
life.
;
toil
of so great efiicacy that
everything into another things die in
our
all
All living
fruit.
these dead things regain corrosive spirits of
salt,
renders them soft and sweet, transmutes their colours, separates the pure from
and places the pure higher, the impure lower, each by
the impure,
Distillation
Under
the
is
are understood
it
By
Fixation.
step to the transmutation of
fifth
Ascension, Lavation, Imbibition, Cohobation, and
Distillation all waters, liquids,
extracted from
substances the
all fat
and
substances, the water from
oils
are subtilised, the
all liquids,
and
in all
in Distillation are fixed
by Cohobation, especiallv
the substances to be fixed contain water within them, as vitriol does.
this is fixed
•
Putrefaction
generation.
it is
is
Alum,
called colcotar.
it«s fixed with
Modus Pharmacandt^
the handmaid of separation.
Df Modo Pharmacandi,
if
Tract
The firmament produces
Tract III.
I.
at
.\nd putrefaction produces a succession of colours rapidly. and excessively cold. De Tartaro, I.il>. 11., Tract 11., c. 7. Putrefaction the same time is almost a conservation. De Saturatibus AqitU^ Lib. IV., Tract 2.
in
a substance
is
is
putrefaction.
vitiated, digestion causes II., c. 2.
— Z>^ Pestiiitaic,
Tract
it
to
purge
itself,
Between digestion performed
Ibid. is
the process of digestion,
was
is
a
When
water,
new
is
qualitative
and digestions of
All putrefaction
is
the separation of virtue, and
what
is
bad and unprofitable
it has become essence.— />* Tartaro. Lib. 11., Tract the earth and the digestion which t.ikes place in the body of man, there is
so that in
By
I.
separated so that the substance remains in
own
Putrefaction
nutriment, of nature, etc.
Digestion
its
colours, co'rruptions.
essentially
t
is
oil
phlegmatic
and the water are separated.
oil
Moreover, many things if
itself.
natural objects.
all
it
its
essence, as
labours to return into
this difference, that the earth separates nothing, in the sense that
it
created.
In so far as
its
it docs not cast out anything excremcntitiously it and augments by the power and ministry of the stars. There is no excremcntal separation, but there is a separation of seed into salt, sulphiir, and niercurj'. Vet this is not precisely a deprivation of the earth, Ijecause the earth contains in itself salt, sulphur, and mercury. The earth, moreover, requires no nutrimcntal support after the manner of human beings, but the seed is sown in it just as the male seed is sown in the female womb. The earth generates, augments, and multiplies by me.ans of its own indwelling Archeus. Dc PistilitaU. Tract II.
digests, putrefies, generates,
;
Hivnutic and Alchemual Writings of Paracelsus.
TJie
154
called Zuccari.
month
This, too,
and an excellent arcanum
men
resolved into a liquid, and
is
if it
be putrefied for a
produces a water as sweet as sugar, which, indeed,
it
is
of great power
medicine for extinguishing the microcosmic
in
we
of a metallic temperament, as
more
write
at length in
fire in
our books on
And just as you have heard of vitriol and alum, so also and other watery minerals can be fixed by cohobation. The process of Cohobation is that a caput mortuiim is frequently imbibed
Metallic Diseases.* salt nitre
with
own
its
Moreover,
water, and this Distillation
in
sweet, like honey, sugar, or
again drawn otT by means of Distillution.
is
many bitter, sharp, and acrid things become very manna and, on the other hand, many sweet things, ;
such as honey, sugar, or manna, become sharp, as bitter,-
of vitriol or vinegar, or
oil
Many
as gall or gentian, or sharp, as corrosive.
lose their excessive stench in distillation, since
it
Many aromatic
things lose their pleasant odour.
And
things
quality and nature, so does Distillation.
in their
Coagulation
is
There
the sixth step.
Coagulation, one by cold, another by heat the
Each of
fire.
these, again,
is, ;
by
air,
or without
Another
fire.
of winter stars, which coagulate lation by fire
and
is
fixed
is
produced by the
becomes permanent. mineral
fire
that
is,
fire
and
it
work of Nature
can be coagulated, unless
One, indeed,
is
and graduated
is
of the alchemist,
fire
coagulates, that
produced by the /Etnean and
as the alchemist
;
it
coagulated by the
is
into metals, stones, flints, fire
and whate\er
^
natural
all
was
.Archeus of
For
things.
originally
a
this
corporeal
Medicines are therefore
clioseii wliich
Its
the
and other bodies. reason no phlegm matter,
whereto,
lentor can, by the heat of
are free from coagulation, sncli
.is
alum,
in
fire,
be
which humidity and coagulation
If these two be separated one from another, the quality withdraws into one place, and the element,
manner, into another. Now, the element of alum is most akin to the element of water. For the element of water iti its Hylc, as alum after its e.vcoction, and when it has been separated from its coagulates, it passes into pure and proper clement, despoiled, however, of its medicinal arcana. But alum docs not suffer this privation. For
in like
also consists
Whence
water alone prevails .against the microcosmic
fire.
from the alum, and must he
till it is
must he separated symptoms of There are many such the elementary disease again present themselves, they must be ag.ain extinguished as before. arcana, which I leave to the experience of the school of Vulcan, as it is impossible to enumerate them in this place. — /'^ ilorbU MelallkU. Lib. II.. Tract IV., c. 6. rectified therein
the matter stands thus, that the atjuosity
almost like sugar.
The dose
is
-
is
coagulates no water or moisture, but
So every mucilaginous matter or spermatic
its
*'
The Coagu-.
ice.
fire
coagulated into a body and corporal material, but cannot again be resDl\ed
•
\
.
produced only
can be again restored by the industry of an experienced alchemist.
.siinullaneously exist.
^
produced by the upper firmament
For whatever such a
shoidd also be known that
it
another of
also fixed and constant, though originally
is
only Ihc liquids and juices of
indeed,
air,
The Coagulations by
fire.
waters into snows and
same way
the
mucilaginous,
earth and by the it
is
Another Coagulation
much
in
coagulated by such a
But
one of the
mountains, which, indeed, the Archeus of the earth rules
in
and graduates matter was
all
artificial
and permanent.
'-
twofold, so that there are really four pro-
is
are fixed, the others by cold are not fixed.
common
just as Sublimation alters
however, a twofold process of
cesses of Coagulation, two by cold, and two by fire
excrementitious things
passes out into the water.
one scruple.
If the
.
^^
f\^ -"^ ,S
Concerning the Nature of Things.
And
into water.
155
know
as you have heard concerninjj Coagulation, so
also
concerning' Solution, namely, that no corporeal matter can be resolved into
water unless
was water, and such
the case with
it
originally
is
the seventh and last step, which concludes the
is
mineral
all
substances.*
Tincture
mystery, with reference to transmutation, makes
work
of our
imperfect things perfect,
all
transmutes them into their noblest essence and highest state of health, and
changes them
to
another colour.
Tincture, thcrcjorc,
the noblest viatter -with
is
and human, arc tinged, translated into a better and far and into their suprem e health and puritii. For a Tincture colours all things according to its own nature and its o\vn colour. But there are many and various Tinctures, and not only for metallic and human bodies,
which
bodies, metallic
more noble
essence,
since everything which penetrates another matter, or tinges
it
with another
it is no longer like what it was before, may be called So then there are manifold tinctures, that is to say, of metals,
colour or essence, so that a Tincture.
human
minerals,
word, of
all
bodies, waters, liquids, oils,
things which, with or without
For
a state of fluxion. or material which
is
if
the tincture
is
salts-,
all
substances—
fat
in a.
can be brought or reduced
lire,
to tinge,
it is
to be tinged should be open,
ta
necessary that the boov
and
imless this were so, the tincture could not operate.
in
a state of flux
For
;
for
would be just as though one were to cast saffron, or some other colour, into coagulated water or ice it would not tint the ice so quickly with its colour as if one were to put it into other water. And, although it might tinge the ice, it would at the it
;
same time reduce it into water. Wherefore, metals also, which we wish to tinge, must be liquefied by fire, and freed from their coagulation. And here it should be known that the more hotly they are liquefied the more rapidljthe tincture rinis through them, just as fermentation penetrates the whole mass and imparts acidity to it, and the better it is covered up. and the warmer the mass is kept, the more perfectly it ferments, and the better bread it gives: for fermentation is a Tincture of the farinaceous
mass and of the bread.f
* .Ml created things proceed from a coagulate, aiid afteru-ards this coagulate must pass into a liquid.
From a liquid, a defined shape. Ftirther, the For example salt, when it is dissolved >olid can never be so perfectly liquefied as not to strive to return to its solidity. It is the same with all other substances. Moreover, no solid is so comin water, seeks to revert into its original state. pletely dis.solved but that it will actually return into its original shape, by means of the nature it retains. tJnderstand that any solid proceeds from one of the three principles— sulphur, mercury, and salt - whichsoever it may be. Sulphur This is also the case with salt and is never liquefied so completely as not to leave some solidity adhering to it. mercury. Grc.it attention must be paid to this solidification and dissolution. The one frequently prevails over the then, all procreated things proceed, whether these be liquids or
solids possessing
:
other.
.
.
.
Understand, therefore, of
which they proceed
is
a
solid, as. for
tilings in general, that
example, seed, earth,
all
they proceed from three principles
fruits,
;
l,nt
that from
growing things. Nothing exists which made here, but is above it and was before it.
and
all
of which mention is and were again solidified. The result is that here a certain kind of generation ^v takes place, and if it be not followed again by a second digestion, as in the digestion which ensued after the first dissolution into fruits, th.tt which finally remains becomes the principle of t.lrtar. ~At'ud F ragnirtttuni tii' Tartaiv, The brutes themselves have an innate knowledge, good and l>ad. None the less has man. also, his tinctured knowledge, which is bad and good, being tinctured from the stoTN as regards his earthy nature and condition. In consequence of this n.lture a most supreme and exhaustive investigation of philosophy is permissible. The right and projter understanding of the animal condition of human nature is cont.iineU in an understanding of the tincture of the anim.1l man. Man has two tinctures, one. as regards his inferior being, frof^ the stsr^.. and ihe other, supernatural, is
not a solid.
For
fruits
from
Uut
this is not the solidification
were prodncetl from
GaA.—De
th.-tt
res:Uil,ile, Tract
liquid,
I.
/
1
The Hermetic .and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
56
some dregs
also to be remarked that
It is
are of a
more
fixed substance
than their liquid, of a sharper also and more penetrating nature, as you see in
vimnn
the case of
which
ardens,
the case ol cerevisia ardens. which just as viittim aniens burns,
made from
is
is distilled
and as sulphur
is
the dregs of wine, and in
from the dregs of cerevisia kindled, so,
if
acetuni another acetiiin should be distilled, as viniim ardens tilled,
that
there will be produced thence an acetum of so
would consume
it
all
if
a
of
penetrates paper, or water a sponge, and tinge
that
is,
fluxible,
in
the case of
metals, which
must
Luna and
first
of
it
all
tillation
Tincture
the
is
metal asy
metals to white and red,
These are now the Tinctures of the
Sol.*
be turned to alcohol by the step of Calcina-
all
gentle flux must be produced
will presently
will penetrate the
Afterwards, by the second step of Sublimation, their
tion.
dis-
and incombustible,
be thrown on an ignited plate of metal
it
wax, and that without any smoke, and
float like oil
little
commonly
is
and acrid a nature,
metals, stones, and other substances, like aquafortis.
Moreover, tincture must be of a fixed nature, so that
fier^'
and
;
from the dregs of
lastly,
;
evolved,
own easy and
by the step of Putrefaction and Dis-
fixed,
incombustible, and of changeless
colour.
But the Tinctures of human bodies into their lost
supreme
state of health,
and
— whereby those bodies may be tinged all
diseases
may
be expelled, that their
powers and colours may be restored, and they themselves invigorated and
renewed — are these
:
Gold, pearls, antimony, sulphur,
the preparations whereof
we
give
in
many
xitriol,
other books, so
it
and the
like,
does not seem
necessary for us to repeat them here.
But concerning Tinctures nothing more need be written, seeing that every extracted colour
may
be called a Tincture, which, indeed, tinges with a per-
manent colour things which do not enter the fire, or keep their colours fixed in the fire. All these things are in the hand and power of the dyer or the painter, who prepares them according to his own pleasure.! It is especially necessary, too, in this book to know the degrees of fire, which can be graduated and intensified in many ways, and each degree has its own peculiar operation, while no one gives the same result as another, as every skilful alchemist finds from his daily experience and the practice of his art.
One
is
the live flaming
fire
which reverberates and calcines
all
bodies.
tlie body itself, which. ifsepar.ited from the body, so th.lt a white Lotly For colour and body are two different things, and for this reason admit of separation. hat is to say, the pure (the colour) is sep-tr-ited from the impure (the body). Unless this be done, all the labour will itai iVrn out useless. When, accordingly, this separation is accomplished, we must injnicdiately h.xsten to the clarification f the colour, and to the highest grade of e.\alt.ation. But the grade to which the tincture can be exalted is five limes double, that is. five times into five times twenty-four, for it cannot become more sublimated.— C/i/r«;y/Vi il/agttn.
* 1 call
the tincture of gold the colour of
remains, will be a perfect work.
Part if., Tract III.,
c. j.
Just as you sec fire completely consume firewood and similar bodies, have no figure of man, so we must believe that tinctures operate. Thus, as antimony purges away all the dross of gold, perfects it, and raises it to the highest grade by cement.ation, in like manner it becomes manifest that the tinctures themselves have obtained a nature similar to cement, inasmuch .as they perform operations completely similar to those of the latter and of fire. The ancient artists marvellously wearied themselves at conjoining t
Tinctures operate approximately as follows
which, as gold,
etc.,
tinctures with
fire,
for they .'inticipated a
:
medicine
in their
almost saci-ed conjunction, but
all in vain.
— /^rV/..
c. 8.
Concerning the Nature of Things. Another Another
the
is is
fire
the coal
of the candle and lamp, which fixes fire,
157 volatile bodies.
all
which cements, colours, and purges metals from
their
graduates more highly Sol and Luna, takes the whiteness from Venus,
scoriae,
all the metals. Another is the fire of an ignited which the tinctures of metals are probed, which also is useful
and, in a word, renovates iron plate, on
In another way, scobs
for other purposes. in
another way, sand
which many yet another
another, ashes
in
;
operates the balneum
shewn by a
is
and
effect,
fire,
fire
Of so wonderful a
are liquefied, and
and
all fat
I
another
way
operation
its
By
the ancients wrote scarcel)- anything.
virtue
any corporeal substance can be separated is
this
fluxible things
—
that by
fire,
all
means of
it
metals
combustible things, indeed
can be reduced to carbon and ashes on a table, and without Since, then,
in
mirror, or steel plate, or crystal, and displays
concerning which
table.
and
place,
which
in
by which we understand the rays of the sun, which
this fire, indeed, the three principles in
on a
In
which take place many solu-
roris, in
and digestions take
the principal putrefactions
also
produces heat,
another, the balneum maris, by
Otherwise, again, acts the venter eqitinus,
tions of corporeal things.
operates the invisible
in
sublimations, and coagulations are produced.
distillations,
way
alkali) of iron
{i.e.,
;
fire.
have placed before you and disclosed the steps of Alchemical
Art, and the degrees of alchemical
fire, I will,
moreover, point out to you, and
describe generically, the various transmutations of natural objects.
Before
one should speak of the metals
of various
secondly, of stones
;
The transmutation of
objects after their kind. secret in Nature,
and can only be produced with
hindrances and
difficulties.
God, as many
Vet But
falsely say.
it
in
metals, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, metals, Sol and Luna, you
have already,
in the
of the Tinctures,
thirdly,
metals, then,
difficulty,
is
all,
the great
on account of the many
not not contrary to Nature or the will of
is
order to transmute the
lower and baser
five
Mars, and Mercury, into the two perfect
must have the Philosophers' Stone.
But since we
seven steps, sufficiently unveiled and described the secrets
it is
rest satisfied with
;
not necessary to labour further about this, but rather
what we have written
in
other books on the Transmutations
of Metals.
But there are further transmutations of imperfect and impure metals, for instance, of Firstly,
if
Mars
into
Venus.
This may be effected
iron filings are heated in water of vitriol
are cemented
with calcined
vitriol
;
thirdly,
if
;
in
diflFerent
as,
ways
:
or, secondly, if iron plates
glowing iron plates are ex-
oil of vitriol. In these three ways iron is transmuted into the and heavy copper, which, indeed, flows very well, and has its own weight as well as any native copper. Iron filing can also be reduced and transmuted as if into lead, so that it becomes entirely soft, like native lead, Therefore proceed thus Take some iron filing, but it does not flow easily.
tinguished with best, natural,
:
and the same quantity of the best liquefying powder. on a tigillum iron, but let
in it
a blast furnace,
stand as
if
in
make a strong
fire,
a cement a whole hour.
Mix them much as ;
not so
place
them
to melt the
.Afterwards increase the
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
158 fire
may glow and
vigorously, so that the iron
cool of
and you
itself,
Lastly, let the tigillum
melt.
a regulus of lead on the tigillum, as soft and
will find
ductile as native lead can be.
But
order to transmute Venus into Saturn proceed thus
in
sublimate copper, and reduce
Of
Then granulate.
as Luna.
same quantity
this,
all,
and of good reduced powder, take the
cement, and, lastly pour into the regulus. when you
first
;
First of
:
by fixed arsenic to a white substance, as white
it
will
have the true leaden regulus.
On
the other hand,
This
skill required.
is
it is
:
Calcine plates of lead
with the crocus of Venus, cement, and,
much
is
any great
in vitriol,
or stratify
very easy to turn lead into copper, nor
the process
Then you
lastly, liquefy.
will see as
native lead as you please transmuted into good, heavy, and
ductile
copper. If,
now, such copper, or any other copper, be made into plates and
with tutia and calamine, cemented, and a splendid
amber or red
you wish
If
to
lastly,
if,
be cast,
whiteness like the best English
As you have now heard metals, so, moreover,
lastly,
cast, as above.
transmuted
in»it,
brief a
summary
know concerning means
in
of
but
in the coals to
it
still
not red hot.
Mars, which
much
as
you can
it
is
made
can take.
Moreover, is
of
For you see how great a trans-
alike.
Any
crystal can be tinged
and
such a degree that
may
it
Extinguish this immediately
It :
be at a high temperature, in
the
oil
of the best Carinlhian steel, so that
Thus you
will
make
a
from a wall, and
can be transmuted
Take a magnet, and
it
of the crocus of
may imbibe
magnet so powerful
i^\>
that with
as it
other wonderful things which a
could never accomplish.
in the
situated in the
in
course of time graduated with distinct colours so as to
pull out the nails
common magnet
its
some transmutations
become like a grained jacinth or ruby. Understand in like manner concerning the magnet. into ten times its power and virtue in the following way heat
So all becomes
the transmutations of gems, which,
of sulphur.
lies hid in oil
and
it
tin.
in
indeed, are various and by no
gems
into
change Saturn into Jupiter, take plates of Saturn, and
blackness and darkness are taken away from the lead, and
mutation of
changed
it is
colour, like gold.
with sal ammoniac, cement, and,
stratify
it
stratified
transmutations of gems,
two grades of
tincture
it
must be known that the world
and coagulation.
For as the white of
an ^^^ can be tinged with saffron, and afterwards coagulated into a beautiful yellow amber, with the dye of a pine into black amber, with verdigris into green amber,
like the
cyanean or Turkish stone, with green juice into the
like-
ness of an emerald, with lazuleum into a cerulean amber like sapphire, with Brazilian
wood
into a red
amber
like the
colour like amethyst, or with ceruse
grained jacinth or ruby, with a purple
made
to resemble alabaster
and especially metals and minerals, can be tinged with afterwards coagulated, and transmuted into gems.
liquids,
— so
all
other
fixed colours,
Concerning Similarly pearls, too, can be
means of
that by
Nature of Thhigs.
the
their brightness
made
159
entirely like true ones in
appearance so
and beauty they can scarcely be distinguished
from genuine ones.
Proceed thus
eggs with a sponge.
Into this put and mix
Purify as
:
much
some
fair
as possible the white of
white
or pearl shell,
talc,
or Mercury coagulated with Jupiter and reduced to alcohol.
pound
it
in
marble very
fine,
so that
it
At the same time becomes a thick amalgam, which must
warm
furnace until it becomes like cheese or mass make as many pearls as you wish, and fix Having thus bored them, dry them as you did the them on hog bristles. amber, and you have prepared them. If they do not shine sufficiently anoint them externally with the white of an ^%^, and again dry them. Thus they will become most beautiful pearls, like true ones in form though not in virtue. Almost in the same way corals are made by those who wish to deceive
he dried hepar.
sun or behind a
in the
from
Lastly,
this
people as with the pearls just spoken
white of eggs
in
a marble mortar for an hour.
Then form from thence
earth.
Proceed thus
of.
:
Pound cinnabar with
Afterwards dry
pilules or small branches, as
it
you
like potter's will
;
lastly,
dry them thoroughly, and anoint them externally, as you did the pearls, with
Dry them
white of ^%%-
appearance, but not It
become
again, and thus they will
like native coral in
in virtue.
should also be
known
into a very fine varnish, into
that the white of eggs by itself can'be coagulated
which coagulation Luna or Sol may be put.
There are many other and various transmutations, whereof briefly,
and by the way, those which
wood,
learn that any
gem,
is
if
I
at a particular time
converted into stone
in
a
I
will tell
know and have experimented it
on.
vou
First,
be put in the water of the salt of a
manner calculated
stones are transmuted into coals by .(^tnean
fire,
to cause woiltler.
and these are
So, too,
called stone
coal.
In the is
same way glue
is
made from
hides, paper
from linen rag, and
silk
produced out of linen with a very sharp lixivium made from lime and the
ashes of woad. this lixivium,
If
the
downy
parts are taken from feathers and dressed with
they can be spun and
woven
mucilage can be coagulated into varnish transmutations of natural objects therefore write our
finis.
:
;
like cotton.
.\ny
oil
any liquid into gum.
or spermatic All these are
whereof we have now said enough, and
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS.
BOOK THE EIGHTH. Concerning the Separations of Natural Things. the creation of the world,
the
IN elements,
first
separation began with the
four
when the first matter of the world was one chaos. From that chaos God built the Greater World, separated into four distinct elements, Fire, Air, Water, Earth. Fire was the warm part, Air only the cold, Water the moist, and, lastly, Earth was but the dry part of the Greater World.
Now,
you may learn our method
that
in
the Separation of the Elements in
all
Eighth Book as
this
you must know that we do not propose
possible,
briefly as
to treat herein concerning
we have
natural things, since
and
fully
perfectly taught concerning these arcana in our Archidoxa on the Separations
But here we touch only on the separation of natural
of the Elements. things,*
where some one thing
been mingled
And here
is
singly,
in
and by
when two,
separated and segregated,
stantially
materially and sub-
itself,
three,
one body, and yet only a single matter
four, is
or more have
touched and seen.
frequently happens that corporeal matter of this kind can be
it
known
by nobody, nor be designated by an express name, until the process of separation is
Then sometimes from a
instituted.
more, proceed, as by daily experience of example for you, there
conceals
Alchemy
proceed from
it,
all
namely, gold,
is
If this,
evident.
not a metal, but
by alchemical
or
five,
By way still
art,
be
the seven metals, and these pure and unmixed, silver,
copper,
tin, lead, iron, quicksilver, etc.
order to understand what separation
in
made
is
electrum, which by itself
the metals in one metal and body.
all
anatomised and separated,
But
is
single matter two, three, four,
in
is,
you should know that
it is
nothing else but the segregation of one thing from another, whether two, I mean the segregation of three more have been mixed and the extraction of the pure from the impure, or of the pure and noble spirit and quintessence from the dense and
three,
four,
or
:
principles, as mercury, sulphur, salt,
• Sep.iration
is
grounded
in heat, as in
a faculty of digestion, whence, sometimes in one way, and sometimes
in
The office of the Archeus is the sequestra{oTXnd.—Modus Phannacattiil, Tract III. For unless there be separation in the greater world. impure.— Da Morhis Tartareis. c. 5.
.^nother, the ultim.-^te matter is
tion of the pure from the
there can be no metal, and unless there he separation in the smaller world, that
is,
in
the microcosmos, which
there can be neither health nor disease, but an equable and perpetual disposition of all things. —Chiritrgia
Part III.. Lib.
2.
is
man.
Magna^
Concerning ike Nature of Thmgs, elemental body
and the preparation of two,
;
i6i
three, four, or
more from one
:
or the dissolution and liberation of things linked and bound together, which are by nature adverse, and perpetually act contrariwise one to the other, and
go on doing so
until they
mutually destroy each other.
There are many and various modes of separation,
known
to us
but those
;
among
oi which are not
all
the soluble natural elements which have been
down and
investigated by us shall here be set
described according to their
species.
The is
Separation of which
first
we speak should begin from man, and
the Microcosm, the lesser world,
for his sake the
since he
Macrocosm, the
was founded, that he might be its Separator. But the separation of the Microcosm begins from death.* For in death the two bodies of man separate from each other, that is to say, the Celestial and the Terrestial, the Sacramental and the Elemental. One of these soars on high, ^^ greater world,
like
an eagle
down
the other sinks
;
to the earth, like lead.f
The elemental body decays and which, being buried
in the earth,
the Sacramental body, that is
From
Hence we have
more
It
becomes
a putrid corpse,
never again comes forth or appears.
This body appears to men, and
spectres, visions,
But
at length in the
is
seen even
and supernatural apparitions.
was elaborated by
these the Cabalistic Art
treated of
consumed.
the sidereal and celestial body, does not decay,
is,
not buried, occupies no place.
after death.
is
the ancient Magi, which
is
books on the Cabala.J
After this separation has been made, then, by the death of the man, the three substances separate one from the other, that soul,
and the
spirit,
each wending
its
way
to its
own
is
• There are two kinds of death-one from the Vliadus, and one from the Ens. Vliadus medicine
may
7ar/aro. comment,
;
with that which comes from the Ens
With it is
that
which comes from the
useless to attempt to cope.
— /?«'
in Lib. II.
t It has, therefore,
seemed good to
may become more
me
that
man
should
first
of
all
be described according to his nature and con-
mere mere mortality. Afterwards we must become acquainted with the soul, which is by no means mortal, but is the eternal man. Vou must further know that the soul is flesh and blood, and that it consists of flesh and blood, but that there is a twpfold flesh, namely, mortal and etcrn^. The mortal takes its essence from mortal ttSh the eternal is perfect flesh and blood unto life eternal. Therefore if man considers within himself who and what he is. .ind what will be his future condition, he will thence readily understand that in this body, incarnate from the Holy Spirit, he shall sec God, his Redeemer, and that whatsoever God our Redeemer operates in us. He doesTliroiigli ilie man of new generation, because that is not of a mortal but an dition, so that
it
and what also
mortality,
f
attempt to do battle
to say, the body, the
place, as to the ark from
Is
clearly intelligible
what
is
to be sought in the mortal body, that is to say,
to be sought in the sidereal body, forsooth
;
The second is from Adam, .ind is like a seed in water. The works Di\-inc. for a mortal body can accomplish nothing of those things which are celestial. It care*; only for things earthly and things of the firmament, and it produces men skilled only in natural light. Hence God ordains man to gain a wider experience from that which is naturally formed, to pass from one to the other, and to emulate Nature. For in a new body and a celestial philosophy is life eternal. Death is inherent in natural strength, but life, on the contrary, consists in eternal strength. The instruction of Nature is from Nor yet does man recognise Gtxi the earth, and she knows not God. except that she admires the Creator in man. according to Nature or in Nature. But he who is bom from on high is acquainted with supernal things. The first of these is Christ. All who are reborn in flesh and blood, conceived and incarnate from the Holy Ghost, do follow Him. and these s.ame have the knowledge of things above. For they are from Him who cometh from on high- Hence there are two instructions, one of the earth earthy, thft other from on high, which He imparts who also is from on high, from Only
eternal body.
other Ixxly
is
this
body
is
secure from the deWI.
suitable for the performance of
whose flesh and blood we are. etc. —Philoiophia Sagax, Lib. IL, c 2. work on the cabala which has been preserved in the name of P.aracelsus, is a short treatise, which forms a detached portion of the book entitled De Peitiiitate. It is not cabalistical in the sense which properly attaches to that term, nor does it exhibit any special acquaintance with that section of Jewish traditional literature to which it L. referred in name. In its general outline it seems to l)e fairly in harmony with the great body of cabalUiical cosmogony.
whom we t
derive,
The
sole
M
1
The Hermetic and Alchcvikal Writings of Paracelsus.
62
which
it first
the elements
of
all
;
forth
now been
has
body
the
:
to the earth, as the first matter of
matter of the sacraments
first
;
and, lastly, the
matter of the aerial chaos.
spirit to the first
What
came
the soul to the
said concerning" the separation of the
Microcosm
should also be understood of the greater world, which the mighty ocean has separated into three parts, so that the universal world three portions, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
is
This separation
thus divided into a sort of pre-
is
figuration of the three principles, because they, too, can be separated from
every terrestrial and elemental thing.
and
Salt.
Of
From
this
these three the world
mountains, that
up and composed.
the separation of the
instituted
is
see that from minerals
these,
in
come
from their
metals
By
and minerals.
to say, the separation of metals
is
separation which
You
known
should be
These principles are Mercury, Sulphur,
is built
many come
forth
the
from one matter.
forth metal, scorise, glass, sand, pyrites,
mar-
chasite, granite, cobalt, talc, cachlmla, zinctum, bismuth, antimony, litharge,
sulphur, vitriol, verdigris, chrysocolla, cceruleum or arsenic, realgar, cinnabar, fireclay, spathus, gyphus,
other like things
;
lazulum, auriplgment, tripolis,
red earth, and
and then of each one of these the water, the
oils,
the
resiris, the calx or ash, the Mercury, Sulphur, Salt, etc.
Vegetables
their separation give waters,
in
Mercury, Sulphur,
electuaries, powders, ashes.
Animals
In
their separation
give water,
body, hair, Mercury, Sulphur, Salt,
Whoever,
and
resins,
gums,
blood,
flesh,
fat,
bones,
skin,
therefore, boasts to be a separator of such natural things, needs
must be a it is
juices,
etc.
long experience, and perfect knowledge of he
oils,
Salt, etc.
skilled
briefly as follows.
Earth, water,
be regarded as of prior creation,
for
all
air.
and
fire
have
they are and have been
their origin fire, air,
Besides
natural objects.
and practised alchemist,
to
know what
is
or
is
this,
not
from three things, which, however, are not to The three have all proceeded from
water, earth.
This mother was water. When the whole world was formed the Spirit of God was home over the waters, by the word Fiat water was first created, and thence all other creatures, animate and inanimate. These three are called, These, therefore, are the true principle, these the true matter, out of which all animals and truly, sulphur, mercurj-, salt.
one mother. for
man
himself are formed.
autumn.
This
Thus
for perfect generation in all things there are three things required
especially the case in
man
NoWj
and
— spring, summer, and
recognize two rulers.
S alt ha s Moon, and is thereby governed. It is also a subject of water, in which it isdi^solved and liquefied. It is of autumn and winter. But t he Sun is king a nd lo rd of sulphur which ft fervid, igneous, and dissolved in fire. Now, the^Sun is lint all tilings are nothing else save sulphur, mercury, and salt, which, further, are the ilie ruler of spring and autumn. most certain mark of ever>- true physician. S.ilt is the body of autumn and winter, and sulphur of spring and summer. sulphur gives body, increase, and digestion. These two are father and Salt gives form and colour to all creatures mother, from which mediating stars all creatures are produced. But mercury' ncedsdaily nourishment, and also continu.tl augmentation from sulphur and salt. Know also that God has put much sulphur and salt into earth and water, and everj* creature, animate and inanimate, in water and earth, have their proper sulphur and salt, whence they receive nourishment and savour. Salt gives savour and form, sulphur odour and the power of putrefaction. The Sun and Moon assiduously labour to generate these three things copiously, and alS) to mature the same. The Sun and Moon are the parents of ail The seed is brought by the parents, and the fcctus, which is mercurj-, creatures, while sulphur and salt are the seed. is born. The manner of the nativity of cver^'thing has its analogies in the great world. When the death of winter ha< p.xssed, all things that are capable of receiving life are set in motion by the amenity of May, and all creatures are transNow, every individual being has ported with singular delight, even as a pregnant woman who desires to bring forth. So are there assigned to it its own May for its conception and birth, its respective autumn, and its peculiar harvest. various springs, summers, and autumns, according to the infinite varieties of creatures. The doctrine of the three prime principles recurs continually in the writings of Paracelsus, and is elsewhere treated at considerable length in the text of this translation. At the same time, the obscurity which involves the subject seems to warrant the citation of passages such as the above, not exactly to cast light upon the question, but to exhibit the primeval mystery of Paracelsican is
himself.
the
,
;
philosophy with
all its
available variations.
sulpliur, mercurj-,
salt
Concerning the Nature of Things. combustible, what flux, in
fixed
is
and what thing
every object
its
ness, sweetness,
Moreover,
its
it
is
and what
163
what does or does not pass
volatile,
He must
heavier than another.
into
also have investigated
natural colour, odour, acidity, austerity, acridity, bitter-
grade, complexion, and quality.
necessary to
is
know
the grades of separation, that they
consist of distillation, resolution, putrefaction, extraction, calcination, rever-
sublimation,
beration,
water and
distillation,
coagulation,
reduction,
are separated from
oil
resolution, metals are separated from salt
and fatness from others, and the light is separated from the
By
lean, the pure
extraction, the pure
colour, odour,
and whatever
a word, there
is in
By sublimation
and so on.
volatile, the spiritual
is
otherwise combustible.
inflammability,
colour, odour, in
the substance which
and the pearl from
By
reverberation are
wateriness,
fat,
fluxible or inconstant,
is
and the corporeal, the pure from the impure, the Sulphur
Mercury from the Salt
and the
Salt, the
separated from the solid, the metal from
from another, metal from ash, the
fat
;
from that which
By
rest.
is
reduction, the
mineral ore, one metal
its
not
fat.
separated moisture from mere humidity, water from earth.
tion
its
are separated from each other the fixed and the
fluxible
is
separated from the
is
moisture and
all
from the is
from the impure, the
By calcination are separated watery moisture, fatness, natural
dense body.
whatever,
By
separated from the heavier.
is
impure, the spirit and the quintessence from their body,
separated
By By
lavation.
corporeal substances.
minerals, and one metal from another,
putrefaction, the fat
decayed from the undecayed.
pulverisation, all
By coagulation By pulverisa-
are separated one from the other dust and sand, ashes and lime, the
mineral from the animal and vegetable substance.
All
powders which are of
unequal weight are separated by the process of jaculation, just as the chaff
By washing
from the corn. mineral from
its
or ablution, ashes and sand are separated, the
metal, the heavy from the lighter substance, the vegetable
and animal portion from the mineral, Sulphur from Mercury and
Salt, Salt
from
Mercury.
But now, discarding mere theory, separation, and
come down
separation of metals will treat of that
is
let
to special details.
rightly the
first
of
work of
us approach the pr.actical
all.
It
must be remarked that the
For
this reason, therefore,
we
first.
Concerning the Separation of Metals from their Minerals.
The separation of metals from
their mineral ores can be effected in
many
ways, for instance, by ebullition or excoction, or by liquefaction with certain liquefying powders, as salt of alkali, litharge, sal fliixinn, fel vitri, ash, sal
gemmze,
saltpetre, etc.
a furnace.
Then
Put them into a vessel or dish, and
vessel, but the matter of the mineral will float
ash.
let
them
liquefy in
the metal as a regulus will subside to the bottom of the
You must then work
reverberatorv, until
all
on the surface and
this metallic regulus in a furnace
the pure metal
is
will
become
by means of a
liberated without any dirt or ash.
M2
In
164
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Tlie
way, the metal
this
from
all
contain more than
copper and be found
apparent
silver,
thoroughly digested and (so to say) refined or purged
is
and
dirt
its
one
metal, as
is
ores
very
copper and gold, lead and
one mineral
in
Mineral
scoria.
ore
;
kind
of this often the
and
silver, tin
and the sign of
metals
it
example,
may
silver, etc.,
will
are separated, such as copper, iron,
smoke together with
tin,
W\
the imperfect
and so they pass away
lead,
much
the lead (of which there should be added twice as
as of the regulus), and then only fine silver and gold remain in the vat. attained, too,
similar result
is
the lumps.
By
That which lighter
be
the metallic regulus, after being dealt with in the reverberatory, be
if
in
sometimes
for
:
circumstance
this
resolved in a small vat after the proper fashion and mode.
in
will
case
that
if
the metallic rex
A
and poured upon
method of fusion the intermixed metals are separated.
best and weightiest always sinks
is
liquefied
is
bottom, while the
the
to
mounts above.
Two
or three metals in admixture can also be separated in acrid and strong
water, and one can be extracted from the other, and extended and resolved.
But
if
both metals are resolved together, one of them
sand or
that resolution, as
in
can be diverberated and depressed with
calx,
salt
according to the
usual inethod, and so separated.
Besides
this,
metals can also be separated by fluxion according to the
Reduce the metals
following process.
to a state of flux.
When this
has been
done, throw in for every pound of the metal one ounce of the most perfectly sublimated and refined sulphur. It will there be burnt, and in the course of that operation it
will
it
will
attract to itself,
on the surface, one metal, the
leave the heavier at the bottom.
Let them stand
in this
lightest, whilst
way
until cool.
two metals will be found, not, as before, mixed together, So but opposed to each other, and separated by the sulphur as if by a wall, even as oil cuts oflf two bodies of water, so that that they cannot join and be comin the one regulus
mingled. fore, is
In the
same way sulphur
acts with these metals.
.Sulphur, there-
an arcanum, worthy of the highest esteem.
Volatile and fugitive metals, such as gold
and
silver,
if
they are to be
separated from their minerals, since they can neither be treated in the
fire
with strong waters, should be amalgamated, separated, and extracted by of
Menurius
vivns.
nor
means
Afterwards the Mcrciirius virus must be abstracted and
separated from the calx of the gold or silver by the grade of distillation. In this way, other metals, too, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, and
substances prepared from these, as red electrum, white magnesia, aurichalcum. lead ashes, laton, casting brass, part with part, etc., and whatever trans-
must be abstracted and separated from For this is the nature and quality of Merciirius viviis, that it is amalgamated with metals and wholly united with them, but more quickly or more slowly with one than with
muted metals
of this kind
their extraneous
there are,
substances by means of Afcr-curius rtvus.
another, according as the metal
is
more or
less akin to its nature.
In this scale the principal is fine gold, then fine silver, the third lead, the
Concertiing fourth the
the
tin,
first is
fifth
Nature of Things.
tlie
165
So among transmuted metals
copper, and the last iron.
part with part, then lead ashes, next laton, afterwards casting brass.
then red metal, and lastly white.
Mercury, for
part,
its
does not take more than
amalgamated. Afterwards, that amalgam must always be vigorously pressed out by means of goat's skin or a cotton rag, of which a
one metal with which
strip
it is
which means nothing but Mercurius vivus alone will The metal which was attracted will remain on the skin or the rag
to be inserted, by
is
pass over.
and you can afterwards reduce
like lime,
it
to a metallic body, by liquefying
it
some other substance. By this device Mercurius vivus is separated from all the metals more quickly and conveniently than by the method of distillation. By this process with Mercurius vivus, in the hands of
with salt of alkali, or
a skilled and active alchemist,
from another
metals can be extracted and separated one
all
calcination and pulverisation.
in turn, after their
manner, with very small outlay of labour,
from copper, or from copper vessels, from iron and this
without any
we have
said.
fire
or water, solely by the
Again, gold and silver
leaf,
same
In the
and lead can be separated
tin, too,
steel
amalgam
covered with
tin,
and
of Mercurius vivus, as
as also every metal after being
ground or pounded, and written with pen or pencil on cloth, parchment, paper, leather, wood, stone, or other material, can be resolved with Mercurius vivus, but so that afterwards the
Mercurius virus can again be separated and
segregated from these metals.
The separation corrosives,
is
of metals in aqua
effected in the following
aqua
fortis,
manner
:
regis,
and similar strong
Let the metal which
and joined to another be taken and reduced into very thin
mmute
common
quantity of
be macerated until silver,
Let
portions.
it
the metal
and contains gold
in
it,
all
But
if
By
this
you wish
down
bottom
to the
and
to bring
it
state of resolution, then put into that resolution
The separation
will sink in the water, it
will
in the
following
;
put
necessary. in the
it
way
way
:
silver, will
form of black be separated.
and
to drive
back to calcination from a small copper plate,
its
and
means of common aquafortis
Reduce the copper which contains itself,
is
silver,
into very thin plates, or into
and add as much common aquafortis as
the silver will be calcined, and will
form of white lime, while the copper
into transparent water.
be
begin gradually to consume the copper plate.
into a glass vessel,
In this
it
and occupy the bottom of the glass
of silver and copper by
or the silver which contains copper within
grains
in the
to separate the silver alone without distillation,
vessel like snow, while
If
the silver will be resolved into water, while
that to the bottom like black sand,
accomplished
Let these stand, and both
it.
method the two metals, gold and
thereupon the silver
most
sufficient
resolved into a transparent water.
is
the gold will be calcined and sink
sand.
plates, or
be put into a separating vessel, and a
aquafortis be poured upon
all
mixed
is
If this
will
go to the bottom be resolved and converted
water, together with the resolved copper, be
abstracted through a glass funnel from the silver calx into a separate glass vessel,
then the resolved copper can be reverberated with
common
rain or
1
The Hermetic and Alchemical Wriiitigs of Paracelsus.
66
river water, or with
hot salt water, so that
occupy the bottom of the
will
it
glass vessel like sand.
The separation
of hidden gold from any metal
of extraction through aqua regis
for
;
purpose of resolving any metal but
fine
is
effected by the degree
water does not approach for the
this
gold alone.
This same aqua regis also separates
fine
gold from gilded clenodia.
it wipes away and sunders the gold. two metals mixed together can be separated
If
it
be smeared over these,
Moreover,
also,
other with a cement by the degree of reverberation, especially in
A
a similar degree of fixation, as iron and copper.
little
and
tin
lead,
consumed by
affected or
metals, and can be
these mixtures,
I
metal which has very
altogether consumed in the cement by
any metal
fixed
the less
is
is
it
fine
gold
most
the
is
fixed
and perfect of
consumed by no cement. Next to this is fine silver. be mixed together in one body, which is generally
gold and silver " called part with part," or if
from the
they are not
the cement.
should be known, too, that
It
But
is
The more
degree of reverberation.
the
all
such as
fixation,
om
if
say, be
if
or gold silver, in itself
silver contains gold,
—
if
cemented and reverberated together, then the gold silver is consumed by the
always remains entire and inviolate, while the cement, and
is
extracted from the fine gold
from copper and
iron, or tin
iron,
and so
;
or lead from tin
is
copper from silver or
and so on
;
in
order with
the others.
Concerning the Separ.\tion" of Minerals. So
the separation of metals from their earth and
we have explained
far
matter, and of one metal from another
;
and have shewn how
it
was
to be
done, using the greatest brevity consistent with accuracy, and following the
Now, next
alchemical art and practical experience.
we
necessary also that
treat of those things out of
order,
in
it
will
be
which metals grow and
are generated, such as are the three principles. Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt,
and other minerals, among which the spirit of metals, as
and the
lazurium,
is
found the
first
is
In
like.
these the
essence of gold
first
arsenic, litharge, etc., the first essence of silver
the tin.
the first
first
essence of iron.
essence of copper.
found the
first
essence of
Concerning mother.
Whoever,
this
first
It
is
to separate
it,
is
is
found by the
etc., the
first
In cobalt, zinctum,
found.
atramentum, verdigris,
In zinctum, bismuth,
etc.,
the
first
etc.,
essence of
In cinnabar
essence of lead.
is
silver.
essence,
it
should be
sometimes assimilated
therefore,
is
In zinctum, vitriol,
existing in a volatile state, as a child
spirit, still its
minium,
In antimony,
is,
So, too, in white marcasite, white talc, auripigmcnt,
degree of sublimation.
etc.,
essence of metals, that
evident in marchasites, granites, cachimite, red talc,
to
known lies
that
hidden
it
in
is
a fugitive
the w
omb
of
a liquid, sometimes to alcohol.
anxious to have the prime essence of any body, and
needs great experience and knowledge of the Spagyric Art.
,
CoHcernino the Nature of Things. he has not diligently laboured
If
and all
in
the
alchemy
first
and need not be repeated here.
should be remarked that
many
will avail
it
essence
mineral bodies has been sufficiently explained
doxis, it
How
his labour will be in vain.
167
is
him nothing, from
to be separated
the books of the Archi-
in
But as to the separation of minerals,
things of this kind are separated by means
of sublimation, as the fixed from the non-fixed, spiritual and volatile bodies
from the
fixed,
and so throughout
With
of metals.
all
all
the divisions, as
minerals the process
is
is
detailed in the case
one and the same, through
all
the degrees, as the Spag^-ric Art teaches.
Concerning the Separation of Vegetables.
The separation combustible, such as is
also arranged in
grow
things which
those
of
fruits, herbs, flowers, leaves,
many ways.
By
distillation
is
the phlegma, afterwards the Mercury, after this the
When
lastly their salt. .Art,
first
fourthly their sulphur,
oil,
made according result,
to Spag^ric
both for internal
use.
But when laziness has grown to such an work and every pursuit are turned only to
extent
among
insolence,
ph3^sicians,
and
do not wonder,
I
that preparations of this kind are everywhere neglected, and that
indeed,
coals stand at so low a price.
If
smiths could do without coals for forging
and fashioning metals as easily as these physicians do without them paring their medicines, there
have been before
now
no doubt that
is
These do not give themselves up haughty
gait,
dressed
fingers, or silvered
all
the coal merchants
reduced to extreme beggar)-.
and adorn, with the eulogium rightly due in
to ease
meantime,
In the
in pre-
would I
extol
to
them, the Spagyric physicians.
and
idleness, strutting about with a
with rings ostentatiously displayed on their
silk,
poignards fixed on their
loins,
and sleek gloves on
their
But they devote themselves diligently to their labours, sweating
hands.
whole nights and days over
empty
etc.,
separated from them
remarkable and excellent medicaments are the
and external
all
these separations are
all
out of the earth and are
grasses, roots, woods,
talk,
but
find
fierj-
These do not
furnaces.
leathern garments, and wear a girdle to wipe their their fingers
among
kill
the time with
They are clad in hands upon. They put
delight in their laboratory.
their
the coals,
the lute,
and the dung, not
into gold rings.
Like blacksmiths and coal merchants, they are sooty and dirty, and do not look proudly with sleek countenance. chatter and vaunt their
own
glorify the
workman, not
very
way towards curing
little
therefore,
the
sick folks.
Passing by
they rejoice to be occupied at the
alchemical knowledge.
Of
this class are
tion, Extraction, Calcination, tion,
In presence of the sick they
:
fire
how
all
these
Reverberation,
separations
are
and
Distillation,
all
these vanities,
to learn the steps of
Resolution, Putrefac-
Sublimation, Fixation, Separa-
Reduction, Coagulation, Tincture, and the
But
do not
They perceive that the work should workman the work, and that fine words go a
medicines.
like.
made according
to
Spagyric and
1
The Hervietic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
68
Alchemical Art by the help of distinct degrees has before been said generally,
same thing here anew
and
to repeat the
and
briefly explain the practical
method,
separated by one and the same
according to the grade of
Herbs require
is
made
The
made
the second.
like,
in
require the
fire
is
degrees of
Balneum Maria.
of
fire is distillation
in free fire,
as also distillation
and other violent waters. degree of
first
Leaves,
fire.
leaves
fruits another,
the
The second degree
Herbs, flowers, fruits, etc.,
need
require the third.
etc.,
Each of these substances must be
require the fourth.
like
another,
distillation the four
degree of
sand, the fourth
fortis
seeds
Roots, branches, and trunks of trees,
Timber and the
woods,
trees, fruits,
stems another,
grade of first
water.
in
The third is made by aqua
and the
cannot be
all
to say, the water, spirit,
is
another,
and
stalks, this
in
in ashes.
seeds,
flowers
process, trees,
And
etc.
the distillation
generally
that
;
to specialities
distillation.
have to be considered.
This
is
one
roots another,
woods another, fire
be
it
from herbs, flowers, seeds, leaves, roots,
liquid, oil, etc.,
another,
process
To go on known that
vain.
is
let
minutely cut up or pounded before being brought into the
So much has
still.
As regards same process must be followed as we
been said as to the distillation of waters and vegetable substances. the separation and distillation of oils the
have spoken of
in
the separation
of waters, except that, for the most part,
they have to be distilled by descent. the
still
Thej' cannot, like waters, ascend in
therefore, in this case the process has to be changed.
;
however, are not separated
like
waters and
oils,
by
known
some
that
manner, just as
oils, in like
this reason, that
here
Of
almonds, nuts, hard eggs, and the
this
This also
like.
is
the press for
kind are the to
it
squeezed
they can bear scarcely any combustion or heat of the
but acquire therefrom an unpleasant odour.
oils, if
And
liquids, are
means of
out from their corporeal substances and separated by
but are
distillation,
squeezed out from their corporeal substances under a press. should be
Liquids,
fire,
oils
of
be noted, that
all
they are prepared or coagulated according to Spagyric and Alchemical
Art, pour forth varnish, electuary,
he called a sulphur
and
;
if
gum,
or a kind of resin, which might also
the species
left
in
the
still
were calcined and
reduced to ashes, alkali could be extracted and separated from them with simple
warm water
anj-thing
alone.
The ash which
is left is
more be produced or separated from
called
dead earth, nor can
it.
CONXERNM.NC. THE Si;PAK.\TION OF AxiM.XLS. It
is
necessary to preface the
shewing how the blood, and then how each are principally
is
l\nn-.
flesh,
separation or anatomy
separated by Spagyric
The
phlegmatic moisture.
first
For when
draws
animals by
forth
itself,
In this part the separations
.Art.
from the blood a watery and
the blood has been separated in this manner,
according to the process handed • Tli.it is. ihtf Pi-rset'i'Htiitii.i 11/
<\i
bones, skin, intestines, etc., stand each by
down
in
Xitturni Thhigi.~De Xttturn
the
book on Conservations,* an
iiefiiiit.
Hook
III.
Concerning the Nattcre of Thinos.
Mumia* comes
excellent
and a
forth,
can be healed and consolidated
The second separation separated from
human
specific so potent that
any fresh wound
twenty-four hours by a single ligature.
in
of fat from flesh.
tliat
is
flesh,
169
a most excellent balsam
This fatness being is
produced, allaying
the pains of gout, of contraction, and others of a like nature, affected be anointed
with
tendons of the hands or cures the itch, and
all
The
is
.Art,
the
if
members
also useful for convulsed
is
It
it.
further
the chief surgical
accidents and wounds.
that of the watery and phlegmatic moisture with
For
fatness extracted from the bones.
bones by Spagyric
is
This, therefore,
first efficacy in all
third separation
It
they are daily anointed with
feet, if
kinds of leprosy.
and of the very
specific,
while warm.
it
if
and according
human
these two are separated from
to
the degree of distillation, and
if,
moreover, by the method of calcination they are reduced or burnt to a white ash,
and
if,
lastly, these three
be again united
which you setting
arcanum and
specific,
with
be able, without pain, to entirely cure any fracture of the bones
will
after binding
proper way, so that they
in the
are like to butyrus, there will be formed a wonderful
them up only
provided only that you treat the fracture by
thrice,
according to the rules of surgical science, and then put on the
it
specific in the
The same
form of a piaster.
also thoroughly cures
wounds
of
the skull, or any contusion of the bones, in the shortest possible time.
The
fourth and last separation
and tendons.
intestines,
that of resins and
is
For the
resin is extracted
gums from
the skin,
and separated from these
by the degree of extraction according to Spagyric Art, and wh°n coagulated sun
in the rays of the
it
comes out as a
and transparent
clear
has been prepared, extracted, and separated from the
this paste
When
paste.
human body
according to the prescribed method, a most excellent styptic arcanum and
wound
issues forth, with which a
specific
or ulcer can be quickly healed and
the lips brought together, just as two sheets of paper are stuck together with paste,
if
This arcanum, too,
roughness of the
off or
wound two
only you apply to the
substance.
is
nails, if
or three drops of that resolved
of singular efficacy for burns, and falling
be spread over them with a feather.
it
In
way the bare flesh will be covered over with a cuticle. Many other separations also of one thing or another might be recounted here but since we have made mention of them in other places, it would be in
this
;
vain idly to repeat them now.
•
Mumia is that which cures all wounds, that is, sweet mercury'. For mcrcurj* is extracted hoth in a sweet and The former is adapted to wounds and the latter to ulcers. Mumia is the liquor diffused through the whole
bitter form.
body, the limbs, the flesh
;
etc.,
with the strength that
is
so also in the marrow, the veins, and the skin.
the its
required.
in bone, according to the nature of the
bone
Hence
It is ;
it
divided
mumia, which
is
:
in flesh, -i-cording to the
nature of
to their nature
follows that the mnntia of the flesh cures
wounds of the
the
;
and flesh.
body which has sustained an injurj' carries and strength. The corruption of the
in virtue
. The by the mistakes of ignorant physicians, impedes the cure of wounds. . by so much is the mumia of the organism enhanced in power ant' cflicacy. The mediwotinds perform this operation by attracting the mumia to the place where its office is required.
often occasioned
nobler the animal organism
caments which benefit
follows
and ligaments, according
mumia of the ligaments cures wounds of the ligaments, etc. Thus own cure with it the mumia of the aged, however, is deficient ;
.-is
in the arteries
Chirur^iil Miitor, Lib.
I.,
is,
c. I.
.
1
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
70
Here
only necessary to write
it is
down
we have
that which
not mentioned
elsewhere.
But
all
earthly things, will be brought about the
separation, in the third generation, on that great day
final
of
the end of
last, at
at
God
come
shall
whereon the Son
His majesty and glory, and before
in
Him
shall
be
borne, not swords, chains, diadems, sceptres, and treasures, or other royal jewels, with which princes, kings,
and Csesars bear themselves pompously,
His Cross, and crown of thorns, and nails piercing His hands and
but
and the spear with which His side was wounded, and the reed and sponge on which they stretched out that which they gave Him to drink, and the rods with which He was scourged and beaten. No crowd of horsemen
feet,
Him
with far sounding drums shall accompany
but the four trumpets shall
;
be blown by the angels towards the four parts of the earth, and at their
tremendous sound
all
who
are
among
the living shall be slain, and these
together with the buried dead shall immediately
For a voice
rise again.
shall be heard, "Jlise, ye dead,
and come
judgment!
to
"
Hereupon the Twelve Apostles shall sit down on thrones prepared from the and shall judge the twelve families of Israel. In that place the Holy Angels shall separate the bad from the good, the cursed from the blessed, the goats from the sheep. Then the cursed shall be thrown down like stones and Then from the tribunal of but the blessed shall fly like eagles. like lead
clouds,
;
God
on the
shall issue forth a voice to those standing
ye cursed, into everlasting
left
hand, "
Go away,
prepared from eternity for Satan and the
fire,
I was thirsty and 30U was hungry and you did not feed Me I was sick, and a prisoner, and naked, but you did not gave Me no drink In a word, you were not visit Me, did not set Me free, did not clothe Me.
devils.
For
I
;
;
Therefore, here you shall meet with no pity " Come, ye Contrariwise to those standing on the right side it shall say thus
touched with pity for Me.
!
:
blessed and elect, into the
Kingdom
My
of
Father,
which has from the
was hungry I was a I was thirsty and you gave me to drink and you gave Me food I was sick I was naked and you clothed iSIe stranger ancf }ou received Me So will 1 receive I was in prison and you came to Me. and you visited Me beginning been prepared for you and for
all
the angels.
For
I
;
;
:
;
;
you also saints.
My
into
You
When
pitied
all
shall
Me
;
and so
I
will pity
you
first
yet never
all
the elementary subjects
matter of the elements, and shall be turned about for
consumed.
On
the
contrary,
all
sacramental creatures
return to the primal matter of the sacraments, that
glorified,
and
in
of the
" !
these things are finished and done,
shall return to the
eternity,
many mansions
Father's house, in which are the
eternal joy
they shall
is,
they shall be
worship God their Creator, from
uni\erse to universe, from eternity to eternity.
.Amen.
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THINGS.
BOOK THE NINTH.* CONXERXIXG THE SIGNATURE OF NATURAL ThINGS. this
book, our
IN signature of
what signator of
first
business, as being about to philosophise,
first
exists,
the second Archeus signs
;
Be
things signed
first
with the
it
known,
man
the third the Stars of the Supernaturals.
way, then, only three signators it
The
is
they are signed,
and how many signs are reckoned.
then, that signs are threefold.
all,
how
things, as, for instance, to set forth
exist,
Man, Archeus, and the
man
should be remarked that the signs signed by
Stars.
signs
Moreover,
carry with them perfect
knowledge and judgment of occult things, as well as acquaintance with
Ni
powers and hidden
The
;
In tfns
their
faculties.
They point out the judgments and disclosures in
signs of the stars give prophecies and presages.
and put
force of supernatural things,
fortli
true
geomancy, chiromancy, hydromancy, pyromancy, necromanc}-, astronomy, the Berillistic art,t and other astral sciences.
Now,
man
is
it is
-
above
all
explain
all
the signs as correctly
else necessary that
When
the signator.
to the others,
tbi»
we may
order that
in
as possible,
we
these are understood you will
* Note with reference to the books
headings but the Geneva
folio,
/V datura Rermu.
adopted by the Geneva
with the rest of the t
known
that
In most editions, seven books only are included under
method and design these
In the other cases
There can be no doubt that the treatises arc inlegralty connected
Nature oj Things.
Among the branches of astronomy there is one
ercised
those
folio is correct, for in
briefly
rightly attain
it is
from which the translation has been made, gives nine as above.
the treatises on Separations and Signatures are regarded as independent works. classification
more
For instance,
whether natural or supernatural.
and as
put forward those whereof
by night rather than by day.
This science
who areignurant of it. For this science
is
its
influence
is
called
Xigromancy.
cvcrj-whcrc and by
a natural one,
In these arc beheld the past, present, and future.
the image and similitude of
which
is
all
L'oru of the stars.
Let no one be surprised at
upon the
crj'slal in
This must take place by a compulsion of the constellation, as
is
It
has gained this name because it
is
ex-
and cursed as diabolical, yet only by above all notice the property of beryls.
rejected IJut
this,
because
tlic
constellation impresses
the likeness of that concerning which inquir>'
recorded in m.igic.
As
is
made.
the splendour of the sun flows in
Moreover, all things which exist in Nature man, he can bring them to such obedience that they favour his will. It is universally boasted concerning faith that it can accompli.sh many things. This is, indeed, not far from tlic truth, for Christ Himself hears witness to it. .\nd since faith is an operative principle it is evidently nothing. In a similiar fashion, For \irtue works in a word, and words make the dead alive. cl>c but a virtue and an efficacy. what else is there in thn stars than that by faith in Nature they are conquered ? And as by the word of faith the mountain is cast into the sea, know that it is owing to natural faith that by a word the stars arc brought down, so that
upon the
are
cr>-stal,
known
so the constellation pours
to the constellations,
it
and when the
from alwve upon the object. stars are subject to
may perform their operation according to our imagination,.Xor be is wise who rules the stars — he is wise, I say, who can bring their virtues under his rule, for in this manner arc constituted visions in glasses, mirrors, waters, and the Explicatio Totius AstroHoniitr. rest, according to the quality of the power, and of the union made in conception. they
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writiitgs of Paracelsus.
1/2
Jews wear a yellow sign on their cloak or on their coat. What is this but a sign by whicli anybody who meets him may understand that he is a Jew ? So, too, the lictor
is
known by
his parti-coloured tunic or armlet.
So, too, every
magistracy decks its ministers with its own proper colours and adornments. The mechanic marks his work with its peculiar sign, so that everyone may
who has produced
understand
For what purpose does the courier carry
it.
the insignia of his master or his city on his garment, except that clear he
it
may
be
a messenger, that he serves one or another, that he comes from one
is
place or another, and so thus procures for himself a safe passage
?
So, too, the soldier carries a sign or symbol, black, white, green, bkie, or red, that
one
is
he
may be
Hence
distinguished from the enemy.
on the side of Caesar, or of the kings
that one
;
is
an
it
is
known
Italian,
that
another a
These are signs which relate to rank and office and many more them might be enumerated. But, nevertheless, since we have proposed to ourselves to describe other signs of natural and supernatural things, we^will not overload our book with those signs that are foreign to our purpose. It is necessary more clearly to explain those signs which man affixes, and which lead to a knowledge, not only of rank, office, or name, but also of discrimination, intelligence, age, dignity, degree. Next in order, with regard should be remembered that it every coin carries its proof and sign money, to Gaul, etc.
;
of
by which
it
may
be
belongs, where
it
known how much and
" Nowhere is The same is to be understood
proverb
that
coin
is
worth, to what power
Here comes money more acceptable than where it
circulates
:
passed.
is
the
in is
it
German
struck."
of the customary signs which are affixed
b)-
jurors and those appointed for the purpose, after due inspection has been
previously made.
An
instance of this
distinguishing signs by which
it
may
Why
been found good and genuine.
may
that there is
be
is
found
known
be a certain force which none will dare to violate?
the confirmation of the letter which gives
trials.
A
receipt without a seal
In the
on examination they have appended to letters except
that
a seal
is
marked with
in the cloths
is
it
authority
The
seal
among men and
in
dead, useless, empty.
same manner, by a few
letters,
names, or words, many things are
designated, just as books which, though lettered outside with only one word, in
that
way
signify their contents.
Such, too, are
all
is
the condition of the vessels and boxes in drug-shops, wliicli
distinguished by peculiar names or labels affixed to them.
were not done,
who
could distinguish one from the other
different waters, liquors, syrups, oils,
In the
same way,
too, the
proper names and labels,
alchemist all
the
crocuses, alkalis, powders, and then
so that he can select from
among
If tiiat
so man)'
powders, seeds, ointments, and the like? in his
laboratory marks with their
waters, liquors, spirits, all
oils,
own
phlegmata,
the different kinds of these, one by one,
among them whatever
he wants.
\\'itlunit
tliis
safeguard
it is
impossible to remember each separately.
Thus
also
rooms and buildings constructed by men can be signed with a
Nature of Things.
Concerni7io the
number, so that the age of any of them can be
173
known by
at
once
in
order that
the
first
glance at the number affixed. I
determined to lay these signs before you
mastered these,
when you had
might be more readily understood by you
I
the
in
rest,
and that the meaning of each might be plainer and more evident.
Concerning Monstrous Signs
Many men come
to the light
Men.
in
and the same may be the
;
womb
Another brings with him from the
case with the toes.
arm, back, or other
member
a distorted foot,
another has a weak or a hunched back.
;
there are born hermaphrodites, androgyni, men, that
is
I
have noted many, both
to be regarded as
in
males and females,
monstrous signs of secret sins
grown up the old proverb: "The more "lame limbs, lame works." These
signs
Of monstrous of which are
all
Hence has more wicked"; and again
in the parents.
distorted, the
are
So also
to say, possessing both
pudenda, male as well as female, and sometimes lacking both. signs like this
One man
deformed with monstrous signs.
has a finger too many, another a finger too few
:
of
and
vices,
rarely denote
anything good.
hangman brands his sons with degrading signs, so also bad mark their offspring with mischievous supernatural signs that people may be more cautious when they see the example of wicked men who carry Just as the
parents
tho stigmata in their forehead or cheeks, or
in defective ears, fingers,
hands,
eyes, or tongues.
Each of these signs of infamy designates some particular is
a stigma burnt into the face of a
ears,
it,
for the
most
The
gamblers.
sharp and subtle crimes.
if
If there
vice.
there be a lopping off of the
Loss of fingers
part, indicates theft.
loss of a
fingers points out perjury.
and calumniators.
woman, or
of cheating
tells
hand indicates violators of peace.
That of two of an eye indicates that people engage in
The loss The cutting
off of the tongue designates blasphemers So you can recognise those who are called mamelukes,
or deniers of the Christian religion, by a cross burnt into the heel of their feet,
because they denied Christ their Redeemer.
But
let
us
dismiss
these
matters and return to the monstrous signs
brought about by wicked parents.
It
should be
known
that
all
monstrous
signs are not produced only by the progenitor, but frequently also from the stars of the
human mind, which
Estimation, or
Imagination,
perpetually at
rise
and
set
all
moments, with the Phantasy, firmament above.
just as in the
Hence, through fear or fright on the part of those
who
are pregnant,
monsters are born, or children signed with marks of monstrosity of their mother. appetite,
The
primarj'
cause of these things
by which the imagination
aroused.
If
bosom is borne round in firmament, each movement rising or setting.
begins to imagine, then her superior
is
the greater firmament, the stars of the
is
in the
alarm,
terror, or
the pregnant its
many
womb
woman
motion just as the
For, as in the case of
microcosm also move by imagination.
The Hervtetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
174
until there
comes a
sort of bounding, in which the stars of the imagination
produce an influence and an impression on the pregnant woman, just as
though one should impress a
stamp a piece of money.
seal or
Whence
those
signs and birthmarks derived from the lower stars are called "impressions."
About these matters many men have philosophised and
tried to
form from
them a solid judgment, without being able to do so. For these things adhere to, and are impressed on, the foetus in proportion as the stars of the mother press frequently or with violence on the foetus, or the desire of the mother is and
unable to get
is
the stars are, as
it,
it
were, suffocated in themselves, and
That desire abides with the unborn
perish.
that
mother, for instance, longs for this or that kind of food,
If the
not satisfied.
impossible ever to satisfy
is
it
we must
matters, too, which
it.
child
throughout
The same reason
all its life,
so
explains other
not discuss here at too great length.
CON'CERNING THE .^STRAL SiGNS IN THE PHYSIOGNOMY OF Man.
The
physiognomy derive their origin from the higher stars. This physiognomy was held in the highest esteem by our ancestors, and among the first by the heathens, Tartars, Turks, and the rest, whose custom nor was it altogether lost among Christians. it is to sell men and slaves; Many errors, however, which had not yet been perceived by anjone, crept in with it when every fool and every clown took upon himself to judge offhand signs of
science of
about everything.
from the
evil
Now
It
anyone
if
is
inarvellous that these mistakes were not found out
deeds and limited powers of the
physiognomy are from the
stars,
men
themselves.
argues against us, saying,
at this point
"The
signs of
but no one has the power of compelling or
urging on the stars," he does not speak amiss.
Vet, this difference must be
noted at the outset, that the stars compel one and do not compel anothe
who
This ought to be known,
Vs
\
who
is
governed
that can rule and coerce the stars,
The wise man can dominate
and
the srars, and
also""
is
not
Nay, the stars are subject to the wise man, and are forced
subject to them. to
is
it
the stars.
b}-
obey him, not he the
The
stars.
stars
compel and coerce the animal man,
so that where they lead he must follow, just as a thief does the gallows, a
robber the wheel, a fisher the beasts.
What
other reason
estimate himself or his
fishes,
is
own powers,
has the whole firmament with is
called animal
theless, he
dominating created right
all
God
in
man
is
does not
or
Thus man
powers hidden within himself? all
know
a lesser universe, and
earthly things, when, never-
Paradise the privilege of ruling over and
other creatures, and not of obeying them.
last,
when
was afterwards
servile,
its
or reflect that he
and unwise and the slave of
received from
man
a fowler the birds, and a hunter the wild
there for this, save that
lost
all
by the
Fall.
nor did he lose his freedom.
Vet, the
It is right,
follow him and obey him, not he the stars.
Saturn, and Saturn
is
So it was that God made before him. This wisdom of man was not made
other things had been
his parent,
still
then, that the stars should
And although he
is
the son of
he can withdraw himself from him, and
Concernmg
Nature of Things.
the
so conquer him that he becomes
tlie
i
75
offspring of the Sun, ;uid can thus subject
make himself its son. It happens much in the who for a long time has hired out his labour and managed his department righteously at peril
himself to another planet, and
same way
to
him as
to the miner,
master of the mines,
to the
" Are you going this discourse with himself underground and endanger your body, nay, your very I will seek release from mv master, and existence, by continuous labours ? follow another where my life shall flow pleasantly on, where shall have
of his
spend
to
At length he holds
life.
your
all
:
life
I
plenty of food and drink, where
much reward
shall be
my garments may
given to me, and where
mountain overhanging me." otherwise he would remain
his
all
where no work and
shall not be
1
way he can
In this
shine,
oppressed by the
constitute himself lord
a slave and mercenary, wasting
life
where
away
with hard labour and scanty food.
now
Moreover, as you have
man
perceived that
and can from a malignant planet and subject himself to another better one, from slavery pass by virtue to freedom, and rescue himself from the prison of rules the stars,
free himself
an
evil planet,
so also the animal
man who
is
the son of Sol, Jupiter, Venus,
or Mercury, can withdraw himself from that benignant planet and subject
himself to Saturn or to Mars. college of religions,
and being
other respects a
man
pain and care.
Such, too,
all
goods
his
when
all is
is
who must
of no esteem, is
man
This
like
tired of their soft
one who, fleeing from a
life,
becomes a
soldier, or in
afterwards spend
his life in
all
the rich man, who, out of mere levity, wastes
unjustly, gambling, feasting, keeping evil
gone, he comes to want, and
in
company,
until at last,
miserable conflict with discreditable
poverty he deservedly rouses laughter and contempt in all, so that you hear " Look at yonder worthless man, who, even from the boys in the streets :
when he could have been master, scorned dominion and slave, a beggar, a servant of servants, so
that he cannot
preferred to be a'
now even
aspire to
bad star or a bad parent has led him. foolish and wicked, been he would not have left to the stars so he not Had unquestioned a dominion over himself, but he would ha\e struggled against
his
dominion."
It
is
to this that a
And, although of himself he had not knov.n how to
them.
yet he could have turned his
stars,
fight against his
mind to the examples of other men,
"See how rich this man was; but bv foolish and shameful enterprises he involved himself in mere poverty " .Again, "This or that man lived splendidly, and without any great bodily labour but, though having got good food and ample pay, he was not able to bear his thinking thus within himself
:
!
;
fair fortune.
Now
to drink water,
he has to
and whilst
live frugally
sordidly.
In place of
income
is
wine he has
diminished."
must such a man thus address himself ' What have I done ? How thrown myself headlong down by wasting prodigally the substance I
How
often
have
I
:
had collected and acquired? recover what I
and
his daily labour increases his
I
have
Who
lost, quite
would learn wisdom from
will
another
my own
restore
mode
loss,
of
it
life
to
me?
If
I
could onlv
should be begun, and so
and compensate
for
my
evil
deeds
/ I
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
76
But
by wiser counsel for the future."
own
wise from his loss, it
He who He who
loss.
not from his own.
He who
again.
gallows
has wasted his substance once will waste
The man who has once
and a fourth time?
God has once
If
a second and a third time.
it
why should
my
shall not be in
deserted,
I
man who
is
restored
second or
my
third."
the servant and slave of the stars
forwards by the stars
has to spend
;
who
misery and so to die
in
misery All this
is
will
have not been
I
does the animal
swayed backwards and
This
a reed in the waters.
like
his life in
first
My
"
:
not succeed a third
it
what had perished, Ho
my
If in
the
thieved and cheated the
So he thus thinks within himself
a second time.
tries to steal
undertaking has succeeded once and again,
restore
He who once throws
perishes once, perishes again.
throw them again.
dice will
is
know that nobody grows wise has learnt wisdom from another's well to
is
it
why
the reason
is
Who,
dishonour.
he
would
then,
bear so disgraceful a slavery and not extricate himself from so squalid a
For by bringing
prison? star,
his
anyone can
to
own prudence, and by
bear his
Look
free himself.
own wisdom, and
at the matter thus
with the help of his
A
:
fowler, relying on
the assistance of his star conquering another star,
has no need to pursue birds, for the birds will follow him, and though their nature rebel they will
together to unaccustomed places.
fly
the fisherman at his ease and relying on
own
their
his
wisdom, the
accord, so that he can catch them witii his hands.
exerting his
wisdom by means of
has no need to pursue them
And
impulse of Nature.
his star so collects
manner, to
In like
swim of The hunter
fishes will
the wild beasts that he
they pursue him, contrary to the guidance and
;
so also with other living creatures.
In order to grasp these things it must be remembered that stars are of two kinds, terrestrial and celestial. The former belong to folly, the latter to wisdom. And as there are two worlds, the lesser and the larger, and the lesser rules the larger, so also the Star of the Microcosm governs and subdues
God
the celestial star.
did not create the planets
that they should dominate
man, but that they,
and stars with the intention like other creatures,
should
And although the higher stars do give the insign man and other earthly bodies for the manner of
obey him and serve him. clination, and, as
their birth,
it
were,
yet that
power and that dominion are nothing, save only
predestined mandate and
office, in
which there
remaining, but the inner force and power
is
is
a
nothing occult or abstruse
put forth through the external
signs.
But
know
to return to our
proposition concerning the phvsical signs of
that these are twofold, like indeed
power and
effect.
Some
in
outward form, but dissimilar
are from the upper stars oi heaven
lower stars of the microcosm.
up to mid-age.
That signature
peculiar force.
It is
;
predestined, and
is
not without
attested by a man's nature and condition of
whatever the lower star of the microcosm signs from birth has
:
in
others from the
Every superior star signs according to is
men
its
its
life.
birth
own But
origin from
the father and the mother, as often as the mother affects by her imagination or
Concerning
means of
their
We
or uterine marks.
own
close contact.
177
body with supernatural
These are called mothers' marks,
have spoken of these before, so spare ourselves the
labour of repetition, since
it is
our purpose to treat of physiognomical signs
among which we understand
alone,
Nature of Things.
the unborn child in her
appetite, her fear or dread,
signs by
i/ie
those signs of
men the like whereof neither Of this class are black or
the father nor the mother have borne in their body.
grey eyes, too small or too large hollows
;
a long, crooked, or sharp-pointed nose
jaws, high cheekbones, a
flat
abundant or scanty, black, yellow, or
fine,
;
or broad nose, small or large
long neck, an oblong face, a mouth large and drawn
ears, a
or
in the
Of
red, etc.
down
;
hair thick
these signs,
if
one
or more appear in a man, be sure that he will not lack the qualities signified
Only you must judge them according
thereb)'.
and have had experience judge a
man by outward
in
to the rules of
physiognomy,
the art of signature, according to which you can
signs.
Descending, then, to the practical portion of our subject,
let
us repeat a
few of these signs and their signification. Black eyes not only denote a healthy constitution, but also, for the most part, a constant
and loving
mind
free
from doubt and
fear,
healthy and hearty, truthful
virtue.
Grey eyes are the sign of a crafty man, ambiguous and inconsistent.
Weak
eyes denote good counsels, clever and profound deliberations, and so
Bright eyes, which turn up, down, and to both sides, denote a false,
on.
man, who cannot be deceived,
clever
faithless,
shirking work, desirous of
ease, seeking to gain his livelihood in laziness, by gambling, usury, impurity, theft,
and the
Small
like.
eyes,
somewhat deeply sunk, indicate weak sight, and often in old age. .\t the same time, they denote bra\e men,
impending blindness
and whose departure from bellicose, crafty,
adroit, life is,
factious, for the
capable of enduring misfortune, and
most
part, of a tragic character.
Large eyes denote a greedy, voracious man, especially
if
they project far
out of the head.
Eyes which are constantly winking indicate weak ful
man.
Eyes which move quickly hither and
sight, a timid
thither,
and care-
under the glance of
men, indicate an amorous heart, provident, and of quick invention.
Eyes continually cast down show a reverential and modest man.
Red eyes show
a bold, brave man.
Glittering eyes, which do not
move
minded, brave, quick man, formidable to
readily, point
out a hero, a high-
his foes.
Large ears indicate good hearing, retentive memory, attention, diligence, a healthy brain and head.
Depressed ears are a bad sign.
who
is
For the most part they point out a man They indicate bad hearing, treacher-
malicious, fraudulent, and unjust.
ous memory, and a
man who
readily exposes himself to danger.
The Hermetic and Alcheviical Writings of Paracelsus.
178
A
long nose curved downwards
is
provident man, occult and cruel, but
A
a good sign.
still
nose indicates a malignant man,
flat
It
denotes a strenuous,
just. lustful,
false,
untruthful, in-
constant.
A
pointed nose indicates a changeable person, given to mockery.
long nose shews a man slow in business, yet of good odour. Hollow cheeks denote a talkative, contemptuous, contentious person.
•A.
An oblong
chin, with a long face,
shews an
irritable
man, one who
is
slow at his work. .\.
speech
chin shews a faithful man, officious, of abstruse and diversified
cleft
a
;
man who
says one thing and means another
repenting of his passion
A and
large,
wide mouth shews a gluttonous man,
A
;
quick at anger, yet
ingenious and inventive.
;
insipid, fatuous,
shameless,
mouth indicates the contrary. Lips drawn together, when the upper is larger than the lower, shew an irritable man, pugnacious, courageous yet for the most part of heavy, unfearless.
small
;
chaste character, like a pig. Lips larger below shew a dense, stupid, slow person.
Concerning the hair of the head or beard, the signs are not very
plain,
since experience teaches us that- this can be marvellously varied according
as is
it
black, yellow,
is
red, or
white, and hoary, or curled.
rendered soft or hard according to people's wish.
who
persons,
Hence
it
So, too, hair
many
that
is
are in other respects well-skilled in physiognomical science, are
when they rashly pass judgment from the hair, imputing to what should rather be ascribed to men. Still it cannot be denied that hair firmly fixed on the head shews good health, both of the head and of the whole body. This is why people who buy horses pluck their tails so as to
woefully deceived the stars
judge of their soundness. fins
and
scales, a bird
If the
neck
is
by
So swine are judged by its
feathers,
their bristles, fish
from their
and so on.
unusually long, transcending the limits of Nature,
it
denotes
a careful man, prudent and attentive.
Broad shoulders and back shew a man who is strong for carrying and moving things. Muscular arms also shew a man who is strong and robust in
beating, thrusting, throwing, and the like.
Hard hands bespeak
a
laborious,
man
mercenary
;
soft
hands,
the
contrary.
A
good runner, one who is easil)* satisfied with food and drink, but generally a man of somewhat short life. Large and conspicuous veins in a man below mid age signify that he is full of blood and bodily juices but above middle age they denote a sickly short body and long legs denote a
;
man who is still, however, vivacious. With reference to manners and gesture, or judged from these.
moment, so as
a
man cannot
be so easily
known
Experience teaches us that these can be changed every
to deceive the signator,
and lead him
to
an erroneous judgment,
Concerning the Nahire of Things.
i
79
what astronomers hitherto have not observed with sufficient accuracy. is not always to look at the manners and actions, but rather at other bodily signs which are fixed, and cannot by any artifice be counterfeited or changed. For if red hair, motion of the forehead and eye-
This
is
The
signator's business
brows, frequent agitation of the mouth, strong and deliberate step, and light spirits, indicate of
necessity a generous,
put to the proof, and
command
active
own
one could easily shew himself by his
higher pay, so,
passed on other manners which betoken wisdom, victor)-,
and the
man, or
such as any
soldier,
and so stand better when likewise, must judgment be
activity,
folly, truth,
falsehood, fortune,
rest.
COXCERXIXG THE ASTR.\L SiGNS OF ChIROM.\NCY.* Concerning the signs of chiromancy
should be held that they arise
it
from the higher stars of the seven planets, and
all
of them ought to be learnt
Now, Chiromancy
and judged from the seven planets.
is
a science which not
only inspects the hands of men, and from their lines and wrinkles
judgment, but, moreover,
and is
it
also considers
all
herbs, woods,
makes
its
earths,
flints,
—in a word, whatever has lines, veins, and wrinkles. But neither science free from its errors, which astronomers have alleged against it.
rivers
this
For they have assigned the fingers of both hands
to the planets
and the
when, notwithstanding, there are on one hand only five fingers but on both hands ten, while the planets are only seven in number. How principal stars,
can these things be made to agree each hand, then It
it
? Now, if there were seven fingers on might be possible to assign a finger to each of the planets.
happens, indeed, very often that a
man
some
hands, the others being lost by
only has seven fingers on his two
But
accident.
still
the stumps exist,
and, moreover, the persons were not born in this way, so this matter has no relevance here. fingers either
Besides,
if it
did so happen that a
man was born
with seven
on one hand or on both, that would be a monstrous
according to Nature, and therefore not to be assigned to the stars. again, no comparison can be instituted.
It
would have been
that the planets should cast lots and see which
two ought
birth, not
So
This,
to retire.
however, could not be done, because the planets had neither dice nor
firmament
in the
;
so one wonders
who took
it
upon him
here,
better, then,
lots
up
to allot the planets
by name, giving the thumb to Venus, the index finger to Jupiter, the middle
•
It is
a great error to suppose that chiromancy
upon the entire body. Nor tracery- upon the leaves of trees. lines
Xo man
is it
is
concerned only with the hands, for
confined to the body of man, for
E\-cr>- peculiarity
deserves to be called a doctor
who
is
it
deals also
of line, whether in leaves or in
wth
it
includes the significance of the
the trunks of trees, and with the
human hands, has
its speci.al
of those lines which are called tinea archilectce. indicate that the person will be likely to die of the colic
there are certain leaves which possess corresponding lines,
and these leaves are the cure of
ancorn
in the
is
meaning.
ignorant of chiromancy, because, for example, the presence upon the hand
the line of apoplexy, and this line
is
found
acorus
{i.f.,
colic.
the sweet flag), which
;
but then
So
also the linta
is
a medicine of
and its remedy. But the phj-sician who is ignorant of the sign is ignorant of ever>'thing. But as physiognomy is both outward and inward, so there is an internal and external chiromancy, and that which is without is an evidence of that which is within. — ^i/i> I have frequently indicated that chiromancy is the invenlress of arts, if it Alii Libri de Fod^i^ricis Morhii, Lib. I.
apoplexy.
.
.
.
Thus by the same
be cabalistic.illy tre.itcd.— /)/ f aU. Lib.
sign Nature indicates the existence of the disease
II.. I'rr/.
X2
The Hermetic arid Alchemical Writitigs 0/ Paracelsus.
i8o
and the
finger to Saturn, the ring finger or medicus to the Sun,
Mercury.
one be surprised, then,
Moon weakened
if
we
with him
strife
say has been committed
The second mistake
is
this.
who would wonder ? And this
if
the
is
the
chiromancy.
in
often happens that the original natural
It
or smaller, or appear in other places.
Men would make
It is
just as
mountain
obstacle, or covered by a
inundation.
if
a road were blocked with
on
falling
another road near
or destroyed by an
it,
So with the old
it.
lines
Sometimes when wounds or ulcers have healed, along with the
of the hand.
new
or
hands are changed by injuries or chance accidents, or become larger
lines of the
some
:
Would kill th.^t
took his wits awaj' altogether
his brain, or
error which
finger to
little
were, so to say, banished.
in righteous indignation Mars bade his sons
keep up continual
allotter, or
first
Moon
Meanwhile, Mars and the
new
come into existence, and the old ones are altogether blotted out. In the same way, by hard work lines are obliterated, or those which were there originally enlarged. Then the same thing happens as with If the growing tree puts forth many leaves, a number of them are cut trees. off
flesh
and the
lines
tree
And now mancy, and
is
enlarged
few words disclose our opinion.
in a
that, so far as
in size.
us pass on to the practical part of this science of chiro-
let
relates to hands,
I
make no change
with the observations and descriptions of the ancients.
chiromancy
I
I
would have you know
therein, but
But
in
I
acquiesce
this practical
have undertaken to write only of those matters which the
ancients have not mentioned, as concerning the chiromancy of herbs, woods,
And
stones, and the like.
first
should be remarked that
it
herbs, of what-
all
same chiromancy. some than in others,
ever kind they are, belong to one and the are unlike, and appear greater or less in
advantage beyond enabling us to know the age of any herb or
Someone its
reckoning from the root, which is
may urge and more than four or
arguing
in
root can be
May
drops away from
herb
through
VVe expressly avow that the chiromancy of herbs confers no other
their age.
adheres to
If their lines
this is
is
autumn,
to
root.
its
the
first
To
And
virtue goes back again into the root,
every year that herb
is
is
the
spirit of the herb,
predestined time, and so
its
to the production of the seed.
as that spirit, which
this
is
happens that the
it
Then
into the root, or
be discussed in this place.
It is
exists in
exalted right up
the sign or indication that the
But as long
spirit is
for that herb there
The root is dead, and no longer has life in it. away with the herb from the root, or with the back either
is
and thus the herb withers.
renewed, unless
it
is,
from which the
supreme force of the herb, remains
and withers along with the herb.
virtue goes
no herb as long as months old, that
five
answer that a unique virtue
I
essence and
born and sustained to
most
which time every herb perishes and
after
this
assert that at the
root.
is
But how that
in the root,
taken away,
no renovation. spirit is
taken
root from the earth, so that
its
from the root into the earth, must not
Nature's sublime mystery, not to be put forth
for the benefit of sophistical physicians, for
whom
such secrets are not only a
Concerning the Nature of Things.
What we
mockery but a cause of contempt.
i8i
we
here omit
will give in
the Herbar)'.*
The youngfer and
For just as man
and
fails in his
natural powers, so also
But
in
their faculties.
know
order to
more do they excel
less full of years herbs are the
their force
is
with herbs.
is it
the chiromancy, and
vv'hat is
and similar bodies, long experience
what the age, of herbs number of years is
required, since the
is
not written upon them but has to be divined solely by chiromancy, as
Now
said.
chiromancy supplies, not numbers, not
we have
not characters,
letters,
The
only lines and veins and wrinkles, as a means of reckoning the age. older anything virtue
is
the larger and
more
in
enervated by old age, and
visible are the lines exhibited,
and operation of the thing are
less active.
and the
For as a disease of one
month or one year is more easily cured than one of two, three, four, five months or 3-ears, so a herb of one year more quickly cures its disease than one of two or three years. And on this account for old ills young herbs and those which have fewer years should be given, but for recent ailments old herbs and For
medicines should be administered. the blind and both
old be joined to old, the blind leads is
the reason
why many
medicines
They are in the body and they fill the limbs, but only the shoes. Hence the diseases are often doubled. —
are inoperative. sticks to
if
This
into the ditch.
fall
Now
here
"
is
The very
than they cured.
the)'
have
lost
thing you physicians ought to
first
more patients
know
the medicine must always be younger than the disease, in order that it,
and be stronger
expelling
in
it.
If
guished by water.
If
more
severe.
cannot
weaker
is
Thus, be
if
that
it
may
fire will
more
he extin-
more powerful than the medicine, that
the disease be
Tiedicine turns into a poison,
is
the medicine be
powerful than the disease, the disease will be expelled, as
Steel
mud
a matter which, up to this time, has never been thought out
by unskilled sophists, while by their ignorance
get the better of
as
and afterwards diseases are redoubled and made iron.
must be steel. The more powerful conquers, the
part of
my
the disease be of iron, the medicine
conquered by
subdued.
Although, therefore,
it
anything about medicine, could not pass
bj-
was no still,
for the
original plan to write in this place
sake of true and genuine physicians,
I
these matters in silence.
CON'CERNING MINERAL SiGNS. Minerals and metals, apart from tions
and dry material, show
their indica-
at once from the Archeus and from genus by differences of colour and of
and signs which they have received
the higher stars, each one telling earth.
fire
The mineralof gold
differs
its
from the mineral of
of silver differs from the mineral of copper.
silver.
So the mineral
The mineral of copper
differs
• The Hfrharius Theofifirasti, concerning ihe virtues of her>>s, roots, and seeds, etc., will be found in the second volume of the Geneva folio. It is an incomplete treatise which discusses the virtues of black hellebore, persicaria, The portions of this treatise to which reference is made common salt, carduus angelictis, corals, and the magnet. .ibove. and asain upon p. i2o, arc .ipparcntly in the missing fragment*.
1
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings oj Paracelsus.
82
from the mineral of
And
So
iron.
also that of iron from that of tin and of lead.
None can deny,
so with the rest.
then, that
minerals and metallic bodies of mines, which
may be known from
earth,
b_v
means of chiromancy
all
hid in secret places of the
lie
That
their external signs.
is
the chiromancy of
mines, veins, and lodes, by which not only those things which are hidden within are brought forth, but also the exact depth and richness of the mine
and yield of metal are made
manifest.'
Now,
chiromancy three things
this
in
known, the age, depth, and breadth of the veins, as was said just now in the case of herbs. For the older its veins, the richer and more abundant in metals is the mine. On this subject one would reason that all afe necessary to be
metals, so long as they remain in their matrix, so long do they continually
Whence
increase.
placed outside
its
multiplied,
its
predestined time.
of
all
grow in
that any
but
less,
growing thing, even when is
thereupon increased, that
substance, measure, and weight up to
This predestined time
is
a third part of the destined
minerals, vegetables, and animals, which are the three chief genera
That which is still in its matrix grows until the For there is a predestined period of living and dying, even
terrestrial things.
all
matrix
itself dies.
for the matrix, provided only
which
clear,
is
and goes on growing
is,
age of
too,
this,
matrix, cannot
is
it
be subjected to the external elements.
That
not so subjected has no period, no terminus, other than the elements
themselves have, together with which, at the last day, which those elements,
will
it
below the earth are For they
which they
may
Hence
it
follows that
all
is
the eod of
things which are
the least possible degree subjected to the elements.
in
feel neither
perish.
heat nor cold, moisture nor drought, wind nor
be destroyed.
air,
by
Bodies so situated, therefore, cannot decay,
nor do they gather rust and corruption, nor perish, so long as they remain
below the earth but
it
in their
own chaos. This relates so far to metals and stones, many of whom have supported themselves for a
applies also to men,
hundred years
in
mountain-caves, as did the giants
cerning each of which
I
and the pigmies, con-
have written a book.*
• Men of abnormal height, who, however, are nalur-ally begotten, are distinguished by Paracelsus from another genus of giants who belong to a wholly different order of existence. Concerning the generation of giants and dwarfs, it is to be understood that giants are born of sylphs and dwarfs of pigmies. These beget various monsters, and it should be noted that both gi.ints and dwarfs are possessed of remarkable strength. They are not a tusus notHrtt, but arc the product of a singular counsel
achievements they accomplish.
and admonition of God.
They deserve
consideration on account of the gieat
manner by God, they finish without body and blood. Their parents have not the same kind of soul as themselves. They are the offspring of .animal men, and hence it follows that they have derived no souls from their parents, although they have performed many great deeds, have studied the truth, and h.ave accomplished many other things, from which the possession of a soul might be argued. God, had he so willed, could have endowed these creatures with souls, as is shewn by the union of man with God, and of the nymphs with man. Whatsoever good deeds they may perform they are not on that account partakers of salvation. While it is impossible to give a clear account of the way in which such monsters originate, it may be compared to the generation of erratic stars and comets in the firmament, and it is .actually the result of a bizat-re conjunction in the firmament of the Microcosm Pygmies, like other creatures of this kind, that is, like nymphs, sylphs, and salamanders, are not of the generation of Adam, though they bear the likeness of men, but .are equally diverse from humanity and from all animals Pygmies and ^tnxi are regarded as spirits, and not such creatures .as they appear. But it should be understood that they .are what they seem to be, namely, beings of flesh and blood. At the same time, they are as agile and swift as a spirit. They know all future, present, and past things, which are not present to the eyes themselves, but are hidden. Herein they serve man by revelations, premonitions, etc. They have reason in common with man, save only the soul. They have the knowledge and the reason of spirits, if we except those things which pertain to the nature of God. Endowed with such great offspring as to
Moreover, being monsters, produced
in a singular
Concerning the A\ituye of Tliinas. pursuit
In
of our
purpose,
present
then,
pass on to
I
practical exposition concerning the
chiromancy of mines.
broader the veins are, the older they
may
very brief
a
The deeper and
When
to be.
the tracts
veins are stretched to a very long distance, and then gape,
of the
bad
known
be
183
a
is
it
For as the courses of the veins gape, so the mines themselves
sign.
gape, which fact they indicate by their depth.
.Although sometimes good
mines are found with a very deep descent, they for the most part vanish
more and more, so that they cannot be worked without great expenditure of toil. But where those veins are increased by other accessory ones, or in any other
way
are frequently cut
that
off,
a fortunate sign, indicating that the
is
mines are good not only on the surface, but that they increase
in
depth and
are multiplied, so that they are rendered rich mines, and yield most ample treasure. It
is
not altogether beside
whose course
those mines
is
metallurgists
praise
straight down, and which verge from east to
But then reasoning and experience
west.
many
the subject that
in the
mines themselves also teach
us that very often veins which stretch from west to east, or from south to north, or, contrariwise, from north to south,
No
others.
one vein, then,
need of further discussion on
Then with regard
is
good
soil,
is
is
sign, indicating that the metal of
manner,
if
there any
which concern the colours of minerals
When
briefly.
miners come upon
from which issues a vein of pure and fresh metal, that
In like fat,
metal no less than
in
this point.
to those signs
and inner earth, one may dispose of them clayey
abound
to be preferred before another, nor
which
the earth which
is
this is
dug out
a vein
is
now
is
a very
not far
off.
lacks metal, indeed, but
is
and of a white, black, clayey, red, green, or blue colour, then that, too,
a favourable sign of
good metal lying hid
Then
there.
the
been begun should be briskly carried on, and no pause be made
work which has in the
digging.
Metallurgists especially regard brilliant, glittering, and primarj- colours, as are
green earth or chrysocolla, copper green, lazurium, cinnabar, sandarach, aurito believe about Hint. Wherefore God halli produce'l them what great things God works in those creatures. Gnomes They are about half the size of man, or a little t.illcr. (i.r., pigmies) are like unto men, but of stunted stature. If the gnomes have once bound themselvc> The devil at times enters into gnomes and ministers unto them to our service, ihcy abide by their bargain, but they require to be served in turn, and those things ought to be given to them which they request. If the pacts into which we enter with them are fullillcd on our part, they remain sure, constant, and faithful in their office, especially in obtaining money. For the gnomes abound in money, which they coin
powers, they lead and attract
them
that
man may
man
to
make experiments and
learn from his acquaintance with
.
You must understand
themselves.
sum
of money, he obtains
it
and
this as follows
h.as it.
:
The
spirit
has whatsoever
In this manner they give
money
it
to
wishes, for
many men
if
.
.
a gnome desires a certain
inhabiting the mountains to
The lot of man is very hard. To hope or to wish will profit him nothing, and he but the gnomes have wh.ilever they seek without .any labour in getting or preparing it Concerning their d.iy and night, their sleeping and waking hours, the case is ex.actly the same with them as with men. Moreover, they have a sun and a firmament no less than we have, that is, the gnomes have the earth persuade them to go away again.
must work
for all
he wants
;
which is their chaos. This is to them only as our atmosphere ; it is not as earth to them in our sense. Hence it follows that they see through the earth just as do we through the air, and the sun shines for them through the earth as it doc> for us through the air. For they have the sun. the moon, and the whole firmament before their eyes. c\cn as have wc men. The gnomes dwell in the mountain chaos in which they construct their dwellings. Hence it is that very often arches, caves, and other simitar constructions .-ire found in the earth, about a cubit in height, the work of these .
.
.
men, and their habitation The gnomes pass through solid rocks or walls like spirits, fcr all these things arc The more cr.xss the chaos, the more subtle is the creature, and vice Vfry>f. them chaos, that is. nothing The gnomes have a crass chaos and arc therefore subtle. /V ryt^mtrU et Saiiitiiamtris.
to
184
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
Till'
pigment, litharge of gold and out
Nearly every one of these points
silver, etc.
some special metal and mineral.
Copper green, chrysocolla, and green earth
indicate generally copper.
So, too, lazurium, or white arsenic, or litharge of
mark copper
So cinnabar and sandaracha point out sometimes
silver,
metal.
gold, sometimes silver, or the
two together
in
combination.
same way,
In the
auripigment, red sulphur, or litharge of gold, for the most part portend gold. So,
too,
when chrysocolla with lazurium,
or lazurium with chrysocolla and
auripigment, are found mixed and combined, excellent and rich minerals are
When
generally indicated.
stones and earths of a ferruginous colour are seen
they certainly designate iron mineral. It
should be remarked that
it
occasionally thrusts forth, and, as
sometimes happens the Archeus of the earth it
That
a good sign
is
Diggers, therefore, should not relax their labours
remarkable hope of hidden metal. talc,
If,
adheres to the stones or rocks,
it is
it
appears.
of such a sure and
come
carefully
and closely watched.
particuliar metal exist, also of
Here, too,
it
should be remarked,
to perfect maturity, but are
In whichever direction the coruscation extends,
essence.
like
a sure and a good sign.
and of that special kind of metal.
that metals of this kind have not yet their first
in face
when
moreover, slight metallic foliage,
Then as to coruscations. These should be They are most certain signs that lodes of some their extent,
some
were, eructates from the lower earth
metal or other through a hidden burrow.
still in
in that
direction also extends the metallic lode.
must be known that the coruscation is threefold in colour, as. and red, for example, like white Luna. In this way A white coruscation the metals which they indicate to us are recognised. Then,
too,
it
for instance, white, yellow, all
points out white metals, such as
red metals, like copper and iron.
Add
to this that a slight
A
sign.
It is
where there are fewer flowers you get small and subtle coruscations indicate subtle and
you see
in the case of trees
better
fruit.
So, too,
and
red coruscation denotes
yellow coruscation reveals golden metals.
and subtle coruscation constitutes the best
just as
excellent metals,
A
tin, lead, silver.
vice versa.
;
In addition to this,
it
known
should be
that
so long as these eff"ulgences appear, be they great or small, of this colour or of that, the metal first
is
not yet perfect and matured in
its
essence, like the man's sperm in the matrix of the
Now
let
us explain what this coruscation
the night in mines like scintillating
fire,
It
is.
just as
ore, but
still
this coruscation, or scintillation,
times from east to west,
or, contrariwise,
And
is
woman.
gunpowder, scattered
borne along
from
its
appears sometimes during
long train and when lighted at one end, exhibits a protracted
same way,
exists in
vilest
its
fire.
own
to east,
track,
in
a
In the
some-
from south to
drawn from any hour or part of the mountain map towards the nearest hour opposite, divides into two parts llie map which is marked off into twenty-four hours or parts. ;\11 these coruscations, whenever they appear, afford most reliable indications of metallic lodes, so that from them may he recognised the metals too north, or rice versa.
so, a straight line
Concerning the Nature of Things.
185
God coming out of the earth. For whatever God has men that He has put in man's hands as a property, so remain hidden. And although He has created it hidden, yet
as certain gifts of
created for the use of that
He
should not
it
has added these particular outward signs leading to investigation.
Here
same way, men themselves, if they bury treasure, mark the place by the addition of some sure signs. They bury them at landmarks, or statues, or fountains, or some other object, so that, if need be, they themselves can find them again and dig them up. The old Chaldeans and Greeks, if in time of- war they feared siege and exile, buried their treasures, and only marked the place by proposing to themselves a certain fixed day, hour, and minute of the year. They waited until the sun or the moon cast a shadow there, and in that spot they hid or His marvellous predestination ought to be recognised.
This art they called Sciomancy or the Art of Shadows.
buried their treasures.
From were
Just in the
many
these studies of shadows
revealed, as, for example, the
and manj- occult matters methods by which all spirits and sidereal arts arose,
These are the
bodies might be distinguished.
infallible
cabalistical signs
;
and should be carefully watched.
You must
take particular care, however, not to
ing
and among the
;
many
miners.*
times.
In like
of the devil,
first
yourselves be beguiled
let
These are vain and misleadof them are the divining rods, which have deceived
by di%'inations obtained through uncertain
arts.
If they once point out rightly, they deceive ten or twenty manner, no confidence should be placed in other deceitful signs which appear by night or at unseasonable times, out of the way
of Nature, such as are spectres, visions, and the like.
Be sure that the
No
gives these signs merely from fraud, and with intent to trick you. is
ever built where the devil does not have his chapel
has not his
Good seed
altar.
devil
temple
no chapel where he
;
never sown, but he sows tares along with
is
it.
meaning of visions and supernatural apparitions, the same in all, be it in crystals, mirrors, waters, or the like. The ceremonial necromancers have foully abused the commandment of God and the light of Nature itself in That
this
is
the
way.
Visions, however, are not altogether to be rejected.
their place, but only
longer living in
when produced by a
in the first
but
in the
different
method.
By us
second generation.
We
They have are
now no
Christians then,
our regenerate state, ceremonies and conjurations are no longer to be used,
as the ancients used them in the Old Testament, for these people were living in the first generation. live
under the
New
Old Testament, or the and conjurations,
These men were foreshadowings for us who were to Whatever, therefore, the ancients, under the
Testament.
all
first
generation, accomplished by
these things,
generation, and live under the that
is,
we should
seek
it
we
New
in faith
Christians,
means of ceremonies
who belong
to the second
Testament, ought to obtain by prayer,
by praying, knocking, and asking.
In these
three primary points consists the whole foundation of magical and cabalistical • Elsewhcr».'Panicelsus says that Mrriorriirt hn'ssihifium. Lib.
I.
it
is
faith
which turns and direcLs the
divin.-uory* rod in the
hand.--/?^ Origins
1
The Hermetic and Alchemical
86
science, by
which we can gain
we desire, so that to us as Christians nothing Having written, however, much about this in the book
shall be impossible.
all
on Visions,* and other cabalistical institutions,
how
0/ Paracelsus,
Writi7igs
I
forbear to repeat
it
See
here.
wonderfully, in His love for us, Christ, the Son of God, works in us,
by means of His angels, and how fraternally
faithful Christians,
We
with us.
are very angels, and
members
He associates He is our head, handed down in the
of Christ, since
He
lives in us, that so we may live in Him, as is books on The Lord's Supper, f But to return to our subject of mineral signs, and especially to the coruscations from metallic veins. Know that as all metals which are still
that
in
is,
their first essence exhibit their coruscations, that
the Tincture of the Philosophers, which transmutes
good
silver or
gold (white metals into
silver,
particular signs, such as coruscations,
For as soon as ever a the two meet in the
or silver
is
free
and
in
purified
Philosophic Tincture
is
it is
from
all
* Natural sleep ;
Is
thrown
all
these
into the fused metal, so that
it
lies
a sign that this gold
is
But how our
admixture of other metals. is
hid in
Gold has the stars of the sun
night to spirits
red into gold), removes
be astrally perfected and prepared.
the vat or vessel, which
rendered astral
Every metal, so long as stars.
their signs, so also
imperfect metals into
a natural coruscation or brightness arises, just as
fire,
gold or silver flashes
fine
morsel of
little
if it
is,
all
;
its first
essence, has
own moon
The
its
Now
wasted energies.
sleep of the
body
peculiar
its
silver the stars of the
the rest of the hody, which recuperates
bodies work in the day, spirits at night.
a thing that ought to be learnt.
copper
;
day pertains
the
to bodies,
the waking time of the spirit, for the
is
two cannot operate together, being contraries, and mutually incompatible tilings. Whatsoever is done by the body during sleep is really performed by the spirit. For some speak and give answers in their sleep some arise and walk therein, but all tliis is done by the spirit governing the body. Hence it happens that if such a man be called by his name, he wakes up because the spirit in him is terrified by being called by the name of the man, for spirits are no less terrified by The voice of a man than are men by the voice of a spirit. The man in baptism receives a name, but not so the spirit. ;
Therefore the
rooms, and
spirit
is
terrified
when
the
man
is
Hence
called.
this is especially the case witli those
who
sleep-walkers should by no
are afllictcd by the Sagee,
great importance that such persons should be addressed by name, for thus
formidable spectres, and promiscuously,
who
all
waking
visions, are driven
talk in their sleep, are not thus to
away and
dispelled.
be invoked or shouted
/.*•.,
all
left
spirits,
nocturnal divining
But at.
means be
divinatory
it
alone in their
because
it is
of
and all should be noted, that all men.
because they
may
spirits,
be in
comnnmion
whose voice is not heard, for, although the spirit voice may be much clearer than that of humanity, it is not audible commonly by humanity, for the material ear can be, and is, closed by the power of such an inielligence. as is well known to those who divine by nigromancy by means of the spirits of the air, who are intermediate spirits, neither precisely good nor e\il. No man holding such a conversation should be disturbed, so long as his accents are cheerful, but if he answers with trembling, fear, and consternation, tins is a sign of a bad apparition, and such a person ought to be awakened by shouting. Such conversations are not, however, always conducted with the bodily organs of voice on the part of the sleeper, but also with those of the spirit, in which case there is no audible sound, and this last kind of speech is not only more fre<]ucnt but of greater importance. It was profoundly investigated by the ancient Magi, who by this means could exti-act from tlie spirits of the departed a knowledge of those secrets which they had concealed from the whole world while they yet lived in the body. In this way they became acquainted with the mysteries of Alchemy, .^Ironomy, Astrology, Medicine, Theology', etc., namely, by direct conniiunication of their spirits with the spirits of^efoSc who had professed these sciences on earth. In order to acquire the arcane meihcd of communication with sui^lniclligences, the first requisite is lo implore by faith the mercy of God in the matter tlien we must, also with faith, ijiake an image of that man with whom we desire to comnuinicate. On the body of such image the name of the man must be written, and also the question to be asked. Put this image at night under your head and sleep upon it. That man himself will then appear to you spiritually, and will answer your questions, teaching you whatever he can. There is, however, a more certain and better manner. This dispenses with the image, and has recourse only to faith and imagination. No danger attaches to this experiment, but it requires great confidence in the validity of the operation. I have several times had practical evidence of its truth. Ol Phihsophia, Tract V. with a
spirit
;
-
A
work of Paracelsus, entitled De Ca'Uti Doiiiini^ exists in the Harleian collection among the MSS. of the British Museum. It is numbered 508, and is a large volume, very legiljly written. No printed copy is known to the present t
editor.
Concerning the Nature of Things. stars of
the
Venus
come
they have
Mars
iron the stars of
;
the stars of Saturn
;
the stars of Jupiter
tin
quicksilver the stars of Mercury.
;
to their perfection,
187 lead
;
As soon, however,
and are coagulated into a
as
fixed metallic
body, their stars withdraw from every one of these, and leave their body
Hence it follows that all the bodies alike are dead and inefficacious, and that the unconquered star of the metals subdues all of them, converts them into its own nature, and so makes them all astral. For this reason, our gold and silver, which are tinged and prepared with our tincture, are much dead.
more noble and more excellent
composition of medicinal arcana, than
for the
that gold itself which Nature generates in mines, and afterwards segregates
So also corporal Mercurius, made astrally from another much nobler and more fixed than common mercury. In the same
from other metals. metal,
is
way you may judge of other metals. I assert, therefore, that every alchemist who has the star of gold, turns all red metals into gold by tingeing them. So by the star of silver,
white metals are turned into silver
all
copper, into copper
How all
so with the others.
;
by the star of
by the star of quicksilver, into corporal Mercurj'
;
these stars are prepared by Spagyric art,
The explanation belongs
part of our present purpose to declare.
and
;
it is
no
book
to the
on the Transmutation of Metals.
So
far as relates to the true signs of these,
our red tincture, which contains within stance fixed above redness,
powder
its
of the ruby.
all
I
would have you know that
the stars of gold,
itself
is
of a sub-
most rapid penetration, and deepest the colour of the saffron, and its entire body that
consistency, of
recalling
Its tincture is fusible as resin, clear as crystal, brittle as glass,
but very heavy in weight.
The white
tincture,
which contains the stars of Luna,
is, in the same way, consummate whiteness, fluid weight like the adamant. The
of fixed substance, of changeless increment, of as resin, clear as crystal, brittle as glass, in star of copper
of supreme citrine colour, like emerald, fusible as resin, and
is
much heavier than The star of tin
own
its
The
a claylike colour.
granatum, fusible as heavier than
its
own
metal.
whiteflowing as
is
star
resin,
metal.
of
re'sin,
iron
is
somewhat dark, and
of remarkable redness, clear as
of fixed substance, and
brittle as glass,
The
suff"used with
star of lead
is like
much
cobalt, black, but trans-
parent, fluid as resin, brittle as glass, equal to gold in weight, heavier than
other lead. in
a deep
The frost,
star of quicksilver
like cr}-stal, easily
within the
will
this
snow
of a white, glittering colour, like
melted as resin, very cold to the touch, but extremely
fire, volatile,
From
is
very subtle, penetrating, and of corrosive sharpness, clear,
moreover, and of a substance which easily
description you will
know
flies
warm
before
fire.
the stars of the metals, and you
understand that for the preparation of either tincture, the red or the
white, you
must take
at first, not the
essence of gold or of Luna.
sequent work and labour
will
If
body of gold or of Luna, but the
a mistake
is
made
be thrown awav.
first
at the outset, all the sub-
1
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
88
Moreover,
some
forth
this fact applies to metals, that
peculiar sigri by which
it
sparks, flames, brightness, colours of the in the
each of them
When
this appears,
it
the
puts
a brightness above
is
certain that the lead,
is
fire
these are,
For instance,
smell, taste, etc.
fire,
reverberation of gold or silver, the genuine sign
the vessel or vat.
in
Among
can be recognised.
and other
accessory metals, have disappeared in the fumes, and so the gold and silver are thoroughly purified.
which is completely fused in the furnace, sends which rise to a height. As soon as these appear,
Iron,
forth limpid, clear sparks,
unless the iron be at once removed from the In the
same way, every earthly body
signs in the
whether
fire,
these three principles
it
it
fire, it
will be
burnt up like straw.
own
peculiar and distinct
exhibits its
has any Mercury, sulphur, or
has most.
If
it
smokes before
contains more Mercury than sulphur.
salt,
a sign that
burns with a flame and blazes forth without any smoke,
good deal of sulphur, and no Mercury, or very
If,
and the it is
But
like.
a sign that
if
it
is
a sign that a
hidden within
little, lies
This you see take place with fatty substances, as with
it
on the other hand,
is it
it
and of which of
bursts into flame
it
it.
fat itself, oil, resin,
without any flame nothing goes forth through the fumes,
much Mercury and very
little
This you
sulphur exists therein.
see take place with herbs, flowers, and the like
;
and also with other vegetable
substances and volatile bodies, such as minerals and metals, as yet essence, and not yet mixed with corporeal sulphur.
in their first
These send
forth only
smoke, and no flame. Minerals and metals which neither
smoke nor
blaze
in the fire
emit neither fume nor flame
— that
is,
— shew an equal mixture of Mercury and sulphur, and
a fixity and perfection beyond
all
consistency.
Concerning Certain Particul.vr Signs of Natural and Supernatural Things.
We
must
novi', in
which nothing up to
due course, speak of some peculiar signs, concerning this
time has been handed down.
In
this
treatise
be very necessary that you who boast your who also wish to be yourselves called signators, should rightly understand what we say. In this place we are not going to speak theoretically, but practically, and we will put forth our opinion comprised in the fewest pos^ it
skill in
will
the science of signa-
tures,
words
for your comprehension.
First of
all,
know
genuine names to
all
entirely understood.
that the signatory art teaches things.
So
it
All of these
was
that after
Adam the
how
to give true ai
the Protoplast truly an
Creation
he gave
its
ow^
proper name to everything, to animals, trees, roots, stones, minerals, metals, waters, and the like, as well as to other fruits of the earth, of the water, of the
air,
and of the
fire.
Whatever names he imposed upon these were
Now these names
ratified
were based upon a true and intimate opinion, and were derived from a predestinated knowfoundation, not on mere
and confirmed by God. ledge, that
is
to say, the signatorial art.
Adam
is
the
first
signator.
Concerning the Nature of Things. Indeed,
it
189
cannot be denied that genuine names flow forth from the Hebrew
language, too, and are bestowed upon each thing according to
The names which
condition.
mere bestowal the
virtue,
So when we
belong.
a sheep, etc.," the
a pig, a horse, a cow, a bear, a dog, a fox,
is
;
a dog, one faithless
Hence
hurting no one.
;
in its
remarkable beyond
is
nature
life
else
all
is
a dog, beeause he
knows no moderation
In the
is of more use same way many herbs and
the euphrasia or herba ocularis
sanguinary herb bleeding.
The
the piles better I
thus
is
all
it
is
versatile
is
And
and
anybody
;
own mouth, and shews
else
than to himself.
it
So
The
cures ailing eyes.
better than all others to stop
so called because
is
cures
it
so with m.any other herbs, of which
of which were
all
a bear, because
roots have obtained their names.
named because
could cite a vast number,
;
or a sheep, because he hurts
;
anyone
to
scrofulary (chelidoniuin minus)
than any other herb.
on
never tired of
is
easily offending
thus called because
is
called a pig
is
a fox, because he
;
and not
all,
himself unaccommodating and faithless to
nobody but himself, and
placid and useful,
is
a cow, because he
;
not faithful to anything beyond his
is
;
a fox, a crafty and cunning
a sheep, one that
;
bigger and stronger than other people
cunning, accommodating himself to
horse
a horse, on account of his endurance, for
;
eating and drinking, and his stomach
he
;
happens that sometimes a man
it
account of his sordid and piggish
which he
A
a cow, a voracious and insatiable one
a bear, a strong, victorious, and untamed animal
animal
nature and
of a pig indicates a foul and impure animal.
and patient animal
indicates a strong
its
indicate by their
power, and property of the very thing to which they
say, " This
name
Hebrew tongue
arc given in the
named on account
of their
and faculty, as I have shewn more at length in my Herbary. Then, again, many herbs and roots got their names, not from any one
virtue
inborn virtue and faculty, but also from their figure, form, and appearance, as the
Morsus
Diaboli, Pentaphyllum,
Hepatica, Buglosum,
Cynoglossum, Ophioglossum, Hippuris,
Calcatrippa
Dentaria,
Satyrion or Orchis, Victorialis,
Syderica,
(consolida
regalis),
Prunella,
Petfoliata,
Perforata,
Heliotrope,
and many others which need not be recounted here, but separately
in
the
Herbary.
The same
is
true as to the signs of animal matters, because, in like
manner, from the blood and thereof, all diseases
slaughtered animal
For
if
which
lie
its
circulation,
hid in
all its flesh
from the urine and the circulation
are recognised.
can be judged whether
From
it is fit
the liver of a
for food or not.
the liver be not clear and of a red colour, but livid and yellow, rough
and perforated, account,
it
its flesh is
by natural signs.
is
inferred that the
unwholesome.
The
this reason,
It is
animal was sick and that, on this
no marvel that the
origin of the blood
forth through the veins over the
For
men
from a sickly and
is
ill-affected liver
is
and hence
it
flows
coagulated into
flesh.
in the liver,
whole body, and
liver indicates this
no healthy and fresh blood
can be produced, just as from morbid blood no wholesome coagulated.
But, nevertheless, even without the
liver,
flesh
can be
the flesh, as well as
I
The Hermetic and Alcheviical Writings of Paracelsus.
go
the blood, can be distinguished.
natural colour, which
yellow or
livid.
is
If
both are sound, they have their true and
purple and bright, with no extraneous colour, such as
These extraneous colours always indicate sickness and
disease.
But, moreover, there are other signs which are worthy of our wonder,
when,
for
example, the Archeus
is
the signator and signifies on the umbilical
cord of the foetus by means of knots, from which children the mother has
had or
it
can be told
how many
will have.
The same signator signs the horns of the stag with branches by which its known. As many branches as the horns have, so many years old is the' Since there is an addition of a new branch to the horn every year, the stag. age of the stag can be set down as twenty or thirty years. So, too, the signator marks the horns of the cow with circles from -which it is knov.'n how many calves she has borne. Everj- circle indicates one calf. The same signator thrusts out the first teeth of the horse so that for the first seven years its age can be certainly known from its teeth. When the horse is first born it has fourteen teeth, of which it sheds two every year, so in seven years all of them fall out. For this reason a horse more than seven
age
is
years, old
can only be judged by one v.ho
The same signator marks
is
very skilled and practised.
the beak and talons of a bird with particular
signs, so that ever)- practised fowler can judge its
The same signator marks impurity can be known.
age from these.
the tongues of pigs with blisters, hy which their
If the
The same signator marks
tongue
is foul,
so
is
the whole body.
the clouds with different colour^, whereby the
tempests of the sky can be prognosticated.
So also he signs the which has
wind
own
its
circle of the
greenness or blackness,
;
this is a sign
moon
with distinct colours, each one of Redness generally indicates coming The two mixed, wind with rain. At sea
special interpretation. rain.
which generally portends tempests and storms.
clear whiteness are a
good
sign, especially
Brightness and
For the most part
on the ocean.
they presage quiet and serene weather.
So
far
we have
is
Magical .\stronomy and the
Now many
here
arts,
it is
With regard
confined our remarks to natural signs.
supernatural signs this
to
a matter of special science and experience, as like.*
most necessary
such as geomancy,
to
have certain knowledge.
Hence proceed
pyromancy, hydromancy, chaomancy, and
• Whatsoever Nature generates
is formed according to the essence of the virtues, which is to be understood as According to the soul, the properly, and the nature of any man, the body is constituted. For this proverb is often quoted— the more distorted the more wicked. Adam was originally created in such a manner that he was without inherent vice of body or soul but when he distinguished between good and evil, Nature then commenced to mark each person according to his constitution. Adam was well pleasing to God before he knew good and evil but .tfterwards, God repented having made man. Man was therefore made subject to the rule of N.^ture, so that N.atiure
follows
;
;
;
him even as a
flower of the
which she marks, and so makes recognisable to
Man
marked like a and all growing things are distinguished each from each. And since there is nothing hidden in man but must be revealed, this must be made known by three dificrent methods— cither by the signs of Nature, or the proper mark, or by the judgment of God. Omitting the two latter, I will spe.tk of the first, that is to say, the signs which are exhibited by Nature. It is treats
flower of the
field,
field,
so that one person can be discerned from another, after the same
all.
way
also
that flowers
is
Concerning the Nature of Things. necromancy, each of which has in
a supernatural manner.*
on the
bring forth
own
and these stars sign
particular stars,
stars of
geomancy
sign or impress their
marks
many and various ways. They earth, produce earthquakes and landslips, make hills and valleys, many new growths, produce gamahei on nude figures and images
terrestrial bodies of the
change the
its
The
191
whole world
in
having remarkable powers and potencies, which they receive from the seven planets, just as the shield or target receives the pellet or the dart
from a But to know how these signs and images of the gamahei may be distinguished one from the other, and what they signify in magic, requires
slinger.
great experience and knowledge of Nature, nor can
it be in any way perfectly must be noticed, that every stone or gamaheus possesses only the power and properties of one planet, and so can be endowed only by that one planet. And though, indeed, two or more planets may be conjoined
dealt with here.
But
this
higher firmament, nevertheless, one is oppressed For as one house cannot have two masters, but the one thrusts
in earthly bodies, as In the
by the other.
is it here also. One remains master the other becomes a when one is keeping a house another comes upon him, thrusts him out by force, and makes himself master, arranging all things by his will
out the other, so
Or
slave.
;
as
and- pleasure, while the other
is
reduced to slavery, so also one star expels the
other, one planet the other, one ascendant the other, one Influence another, known
to all
tli.-it
lime, manifests
it
if .1 seed be cast into the earth and concealed therein, the latent nature of that seed, at the proper above the earth, and anyone may see clearly what manner of seed has Iain in that place. It is the
and seed of man out of that seed Nature produces a body so that anyone can see what kind And, although there be a great difference between herbs or trees and men, yet art in man We men in this world explore all things which He hidden in the sufficiently demonstrates and proves those things. mountains by means of traces and external signs. For we investigate the properties of all herbs and stones by their signed sign {jsignum xignatitin). Similarly, nothing can He hidden in man which is not outwardly marked on him,
same with the heart
((-tfr)
:
of heart has been there.
own knowledge, so, also, the astronomer explores from the signed Ux sigimio). So now by which the nature of man and of ever>*ihing that grows is revealed Chiromancy, which concerns the extremities, as, for example, the hands, the feet, the veins, the lines, and the wrinkles; Physiognomy, which regards the constitution of the face and the parts belonging to the head Proportion, which considers the condition of the whole body. These three should be combined according to these three every created tiling can be recognised by the physician, that is to s,iy, the remedy by the astronomer, that is, the man and by the metallurgist, Such is the condition of the mother which manifests that which is latent in anything. He who is that is, the myal. incapable of understanding these three things can be in no sense a natural philosopher, astronomer, or doctor, or kno\v anything of the arcana and mysteries of Nature. The foundation is in this, that all things have seed, and in seed all things are contained, for Nature first fabricates the form, and afterwards she produces and manifests the essence of the for,
as the physician has his
there are three things
:
;
:
;
:
thing. •
;
Explicntio Toft'us Asironoviia.
The Lib.r fhi.osopkiiP,
in
a treatise
The
De Arte Pr^sn^a. regards
the varieties of sortilege discus<;cd in this book from
Geomancy, Hydroniancy, Pyromancy, and Necromancy are thus noticed Spirits which are (normally) unable to communicate visibly with men, have by lying .-irts invaded their imagination, and have raised up therein Geomancy. PjTomancj-, Hydromancy, and Necromancy, arts not invented from the light of Nature or of men, but instilled by spirits, who, by iheir frauds, after they had descried some one or other discoverer suitable for their purposes, then added fitting disciples to these, namely, cultivators and admirers of ihc said arts. The first discoverers were oLsessed*by the devil, and sought out through his power and instigation arts of lhi< kind. There are some, indeed, wlio, hiding the matter, affirm that they have been revealed from God but they are deceived, for God is not the author and teacher of inquiries into the future by means of such devices. He in no wise created us that we might devote ourselves to the investigation of what is to come, but ordered rather that, directing His attention to His commandments, wc should seek out the knowledge of Himself and His manifest will. It is, therefore, a false pretence It is, indeed, true that the spirits extracted that these arts proceed from God when they emanate from spirits alone. them from God, not from the devil. But weonthce.irth derive them from spirits, not from God. Now, communication with such spirits is forbidden, though they themselves neglect the mandate. It is equally forbidden to the spirits to leach these arts, but here, also, they pay no attention to the command. And this is the reason why they are silent and tell lies when Thus, in order that man may act disobediently towards God, and plunge into superstitions, it is least becoming to do so. they have devised the four above-mentioned methods for inquiring into the future. Geomancy is the art of points, h.iving sixteen signs and figures, which they liave arranged according to their property. To these they added translations, creia (x/r), form, points, and simiL-u- things, and have taught the erection of the whole figure, fixing certain rules by which each figure could be understood, each recognised in its own house, with a sufficient and necessary- inicrj-retation. a totally different standpoint.
four arts of
:
;
The Her7neiic and Alchemical
192
0/ Paracelsus,
lVriti7igs
As water extinguishes
one impression another, and one element another.
so one planet strikes out the property of the other and brings in
And
so
some that
is it
all
map
those which are found in the entire
everything which
To make myself more
is
cognate with those
pla-rfets
easily understood, let
and majesty,
the domination,
all
paraphernalia of
this,
me add
the planet
the riches,
all
of the planets,
or subject to them.
an example.
To
the
the royal power treasures, ornaments, and
planet Sol there belong the crown, the sceptre, the throne,
To
own.
with their signs, which are manifold, and not only characters, as
think, but
is,
its
fire,
all
world.
Luna
are subject
all
agriculture, navigation, travelling,
and
and everything concerned with matters of this kind. To the planet Mars are subject munitions (as they call them), all breastplates, cuirasses, spears, and all arms, with everything relating to war. travellers,
To
the planet Mercury are subjected
struments, and every requirement of
To
all
literary
men,
all
mechanical
in-
art.
the planet Jupiter are subject
all
judgments and laws, the whole
Levitical order, all ministers of. the church, the decorations of temples, orna-
ments, and whatever else belongs to this class.
To
the planet
Venus are
subject
all
things relating to m.usic, musical
instruments, amator)'^ exercises, loves, debaucheries, The method matter.
is
as follows
But the
spirits
They guide the hand and mark tlie know exactly how many points are
:
points until a
required to
etc.
judgment
make
is
made concerning
the proposed
a figure which will explain the matter.
and valid. For example, suppose I ask who is standing at the what kind of tunic dqes he wear? Take the seven colours, to each of which attribute a geomantic sign, and consult that figure. Then, whatever sign falb indicates tl:e colour. J^ow, if I knew what colour it were, but you did not know, I -might so direct your hand, forming certain points in one line that, by obliterating or wiping off, there would remain the colour red, and supposing the tunic itself was red, then you would reply rightly It is a red tunic. But I knew that before,' and directed your hand to those points. The spirits do likewise with all the figures and, since they know Every rhombus is described by guiding all things, it is easy for them to describe the figures and to guide your hand. the hand. lathis manner Geomancy is constituted. Moreover, many superstitions are added thereto by men to augment it, as, for example, that it should be performed when the sky is clear and serene, or in the quiet and silence of night. Again, that you should say such and such a prayer at the Also, that you should not isperale for your own purposes. beginning, and commence undergood auspices, etc. All these are human superstitions for, not knowing the foundation Geomantia, as it «'as called at on which the art depend-i, they increase it, but it is as much an art as a superstition. For the natural has its art, namely, first, is so constituted that the ascendant is twofold— natural and of spirits. Astronomy. The spirit has its Pyromancy. Accordingly, if a nativity be constituted out of thesta/sit is astrc^aomically But Pyromancy consists in the spirit being connected erected. If it be made according to spirits it is Pyromancy. And as the art comes forward with the ascendant, and it leads the infant for example, into whoredom, thefts, lies. If their direction be right, the figure also is correct
door, and
:
;
:
and succeeds, the
spirits
suggest to astronomers that
if
a conjunction of this or that star takes place, say, this or that I myself will see to it, and, being
event will take place, not because Nature herself will ^accgmplish such things, but
my actions, they will be imputed to the pay more attention to the stars than to God. This is an astute feat of tl:e devil. It is the spirits who cause the astronomical and other predictions to be fulfilled that the credit of tlie art may be sustained, so that m.en may be involved in errors and loss, while, intent on vain fantasies, they forget Their devices are favoured by their dupes, for in the case of twenty prophecies, if only one be fulfilled, the true God. Meanwhile, they arc so ihey will never cease from inquiring until the ether nineteen lies have been fulfilled also. deluded by the spirits themselves that they cannot arrive at the uwG/uniiafneniHi/:. F^r it is the property of spirits to lie. We have finished, then, with the foundation so far as they arc concerned. Now one thing is wanting, now another now the fault lies with the house, now with the exaltation, etc. In this discipline men have laboured for many thousands of years, nor have yet discovered the truth, which, indeed, is impossible to find, as the whole foundation is on falsehood. We now see for what reason astronomy is called P>Tomancy when the operation proceeds pyromantically. The same For Geomancy has been named from the earth, as if it spirits make their way into the third element, that is, water. Nor without reason, for the earth also has its own heaven or stars but the'splrits arose from the nature of the eai-th. everywhere,
will
bring about such and such effects
stars or the elements.
Hence
it
comes
;
but as no one can trace
to pass that people
;
;
who
are pyromantically recognised have devised them.
Similarly, in the element of water there
a star wherein the the times of the Greeks, who, being easily led into
spirits dwell who have instituted Pyromancy, chiefly in manner of delusions, promptly subjected themselves to the spints.
pyromantic all
figures harmonising with the universal figure of the heaven. set
The
down, and notice the direction of the wavy movements as
tlie
process
Pyromancy is
as follows
water quiets down.
is :
is
an art consisting of signs and
Take a basin
full
of water, which
Notice, also, the tremor, the rest.
Concerning the N^aiure of Tlnngs,
To
the planet Saturn are subjected
those
all
193
who work
earth, as metallurgists, miners, sextons, well-diggers, with
in
and under the
all
the tools used
by them.
Pyromancy puts firmament by
among in
forth
its
signs by the stars of
stars,
fire
;
in
common
fire
by
in mines by coruscations in the and so forth comets, thunder and lightning, nostoch, and the like
flames, crackling,
sparks,
;
;
;
spectres by salamanders, ethnic, and other similar spirits which appear
the form of
fire.
Hydromancy gives
its
signs by the stars of water, by waves, inundations,
droughts, discolorations, lorindi,
new
magic and necromancy by nymphs,
floods,
washing away of
territory-.
and supernatural monsters
visions,
In
in the
waters and the sea.
Chaomancy
exhibits its signs by the stars of the air
coloration, the loss
the wind stalks.
upper
is
If air,
and destruction of
all
dis-
opposed, by shaking off and stripping flowers, leaves, fronds,
the stars of
chaomancy are excited the Necromicae
and frequently voices and answers are heard.
up from the earth by
their roots,
fall
down from
the
Trees are plucked
and houses are thrown down.
Penates, Undines, and Sylvans are seen.
Manna
and the wind, by
tender and subtle things, to which
Lemurs, So also Tereniobin, Tronosia, and
upon the trees. Necromancy puts forth its signs by the stars of death, which we also call Evestra, marking the bojdy of the sick and those about to die with red, livid, and purple spots, which are certain signs of death on the third day from their appearance. They also sign the hands and fingers of rnen U'ith clay-coIoured spots, which are sure signs of something, good or bad, about fall
and the bubbles. are found.
Now,
These four
gi\-e
four figures, and the figures give twelve.
Near the
figxu-es, rules
and such things
the spirit moves the bubbles, originates the shaking, the rest, the calm, according to the necessity of
may result a figure which indicates what is desired. Those, therefore, who have well-disposed few things are forbidden, make good- sorcerers in the art. On the other hand, a^bad sorcerer has a mute and mendacious spirit. .A.mong spirits one may be more mute and lying than another. WTien, therefore, one sorcerer i^ said to be more certain than another, it does not follow that he has greater skill, for he may possess a more reliable Now, the spirits delight by means of vexing and deluding men to cause them to hate one another, and this, spirit. the sign, so that there spirits, to
whom
Were the foundation of this art more closely investigated by men, it would be seen that is their first object. Vet, t%'cn if men arrived at perfection in this art, what solid advantage would it was a hoax of the spirits. confer on them but'a futile prediction and a pretext for wasting lime. Suppose I desire to marry, and consul t'an 'omen as But i it is just as likely to speak falsely as truly. to the result, even if I get an answer I shall be uncertain of its truth the prediction be fulfilled, it may be by the devil's arrangement. In any case, how will it help me? If I escape this evil, it Consequently, no faith can be placed in these arts. In addition to the methods v/ill take shape in another way. which have been already mentioned there Is Necromancy, which is the art of the air. And although others define differently what is meant by Xecra. this is genuine iliat it is the art of shades, for shades only arc in the air, and these things . Some people, at night, see figures in the air, as in heaven sometimes figures appear are known by the shades. . which have acertain signification. This is Necromancy. Men appear walking in the air, the clash of arms is heard, etc. Wondrous shades .ire likewise occasionally visible in water. The cause of all these things is, that the spirits display what they wish according to their own pleasure. A part of their deception is to make men f:mc>- that the spirits must be propitiated by prayers, or compelled by force and conjuration to produce prodigies. New, all these things are sheer superstition. It is also thought that men can compel spirits, through God, to do this or that ; but it is highly displeasing to God that we should be occupied with such triflings, and the spirits are rejoicing meanwhile th.T,t, in opposition to God, we have become their accomplices. The prayers, conjurations, fasts, and other ceremonies arc nothing huta cloak to superstition. The pronunciation of various words is committed to mcmor>', but these are not the real names of the spirits, and they are altogether unimportant. For although each spirit h.is his own peculiar name, yet they salute one another by difi'crent indeed, it
;
—
.
'
names
at different times,
or image
is to
and so make game of men.
be considered such.
He who
is
Now,
concerning the natiu-c of shades, whatever
favoured by spirits sees
many
is
seen in a figure
things, but otl^nkise, little or nothing.
Did God permit it, these beings would be always in our midst, enticing us to desert God, and oKoic our mind to them. But if we CTrcfully regard what they have performed during a given year w:e shall see that it has been mere trifling, devoid of use and profit, destructive to body and soul, health and prop<;rty, praise and honour, in a word, disgraceful allurements, frauds, and devices, sprung from the root of
lies itself
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
194
When
immediately to happen.
the stars of
necromancy are moved, then the
dead give forth miracles and signs, the deceased bleed, dead things are seen, voices are heard from graves, tumults and tremblings arise in the charnel-house, and the dead appear
in the
form and dress of the
mirrors, beryls, stones, and waters under
and Tarames give signs by knocking,
striking,
are seen in visions,
pounding,
and so on, where only a disturbance or sound
is
these are sure signs of death, presaging
him
it
living,
Evestrum
different appearances.
for
falling,
throwing,
heard, but nothing seen. in
All
whose dress the spectres
some one in the place where they are heard. Concernmg these signs much more could be set down than has so far been said. But since these bring with them bad, hurtful, and dangerous appear, or for
phantasies, imaginations, and superstitions, which
we
of misfortune, but even of death,
may be
the cause not only
pass them over in silence.
We
are for-
bidden to reveal them, since they belong only to the ancient school and to the Divine power.
So now we bring
our book to an end.*
this
Here end the Nine Books concerning the Nature of Things. * In certain editions the following dedication is prefixed to the Nine Books containing the Nature 0/ Things.— Theophrastus Paracelsus gives greeting to the honourable and prudent gentleman. John Winckelstein of Friburg, his initimate friend and dearest brother :— It is right, O intimate friend and dearest brother, that 1 should satisfy your friendly and assiduous prayers and petitions which you have addressed to me in your several letters, and since, in your
you have earnestly and courteously requested that I should at length come to you, if it were it is not meet for me to conceal from you, that this course is. by reason of various hindrances, impossible. But with regard lo the second request you have made 10 me, that I should furnish you with an excellent and clear instruction concerning certain matters, I neither can nor will refuse you, but am compelled to moreover, I know that you hear and behold with for I am well acquainted with your disposition gratify you therein I know, also, that you have devoted a great portion of your delight anything that is fresh or marvellous in this art. life to the arts, which have formed the chief element of your curriculum. Since, therefore, you have displayed, not only latest letters of all,
consistent with
my
convenience,
;
;
benevolence, but fraternal fidelity towards me,
I
am
rightly powerless to forget either your fidelity or your benefits, but
I must leave a brotherly farewell you and yours, as a memorial of myself. For herein I shall not only answer and clearly explain those points oncerning which you have consulted me and asked me in brotherly fashion, but will dedicate to you a special treatise on those points, which treatise I shall name Concerning the Nature of Things, and shall divide it into nine books. This work satisfies all your requests, and, indeed, more than you have requested of me, although you will greatly wonder at its matter, and will doubt whether things are just as I have described them. But do not so act, nor think And, in spite that they are mere theories and speculations, whereas they are of practice and proceed from experience. of the fact that I have not personally verified them all, notwithstanding, I both possess, have proved, and know these But if in certain places you tilings by experience from and by means of other persons, as also from the light of Nature. do not rightly understand what I say, and in one or more processes require of me a further explication, write to me secretly, and I will put the matter more clearly before you, and give you a sufficient instruction and understanding, although I do not believe that there will be any need for this, but that you will easily comprehend without it, since I know how richly you have been endowed by God with the arts and with good sense. Moreover, you know myself and my feelings, wherefore you will easily and quickly take my meaning. But, above all, I hope and am confident that you will look upon the present work, and will fittingly regard it as a treasure, will by no means publish it, but exclusively keep it in great secrecy for you and for yours, exactly as a v.ist hidden treasure, noble gem, and precious thing, which
am
indeed of necessity grateful, and,
in case
I
should not see you in person again,
to
IS
not to be cast before swine, that
are not worthy to read,
much
is,
before sophists, contemners of natural blessings, arts, and secrets, which persons
less to
containing few and scanty words, yet
have, know, and understand them.
it is
full
of
many
And, although
great mysteries, for herein
I shall
this
book be
ver>' small,
not write from speculation
and theory, but practically from the light of Nature and experience itself, nor will I burden you and render it tedious by much speech. Wherefore, dearest friend and most intimate brother, >ince 1 have addressed this book out of love to you alone, and to no one else, I request you to keep the book as a precious and secret thing, and not lo part with it After death, in similar fashion, command your children and heirs to preserve it also in secrecy, until your dying day. furthermore, it is my special request that it should remain only in your family, and at no time become so public as to fall into the liands of sophists and mockers, who despise all things which do not agree with them, and co\er them with c.Mumny who also are pleased only with that which is their own, as is the c.ise with all fools who are pleased only and do hate all wisdom, regarding that as of small account with their own trumpets, but not with th.-xt of another and even as folly, which is greater than theirs, that is to say, what is in their own head, because it does them no good, nor do they know the use of it. One workman cannot use the tools of another, and so in the same way a fool can use ;
;
;
no better instrument than his own key, nor is any sound sweeter to his ear than the tinkling of his own bells. Wherefore, dearest friend, be faithfully admonished, as I have entreated you do that which I expect of you, so sh.-UI you do well and rightly. Farewell, under the care of God. —Given at VilliUns, in the year 1537. ;
THE PARACELSIC METHOD OF EXTRACTING MERCURY FROM ALL THE METALS.
TO
extract Mercury from metallic bodies
them, or to reduce them
Mercury, such,
in fact,
as
into their first matter it
was
generation of the metals, namely, a invisibly within itself natural
Such Mercury
is
nothing else but to resolve
is
in the centre
damp and
:
that
is,
viscous vapour, containing
Mercury and sulphur, the principles of
of unspeakable
running
of the earth before the
power and possesses divine
all
metals.
secrets.
The reduction spoken of is made by mercurial water, which was not known to John of Rupescissa, or to others, however they may boast. It must, therefore, be carefully studied and treated with unwearied assiduity. Let the aforesaid mercurial water be thus prepared
:
Take three pounds of Mercury sublimated seven times by Vitriol, SaltNitre, and Alum one pound and a half of Sal ammoniac, clear and white, ;
three times sublimated from salt.
and sublimate
in
a sublimatory by
Grind these well together, alcoholise them,
means of sand
When the mass
for nine hours.
has cooled, remove the sublimate with a feather, and sublimate with the rest
Repeat
as before.
this operation four times, until
it
will
no longer sublimate,
mass of fluid like wax. Having grind it again, and imbibe it in a glass dish several cooled this, take it out times with the prepared water of Sal ammoniac. When it is spontaneously coagulated, imbibe it again and dry it, repeating this process nine or ten and
in
the bottom there remains a black ;
will scarcely
coagulate any further.
times, until
it
marble
a
damp
place,
from
all its
dregs and residuum by distillation
rectify
in
serve this water, for it,
and put
and a half
in in
it
it is
and dissolve
it
Grind
into a beautiful
by far the chief of
all
it
oil,
in ashes.
waters.
Take
very small on
which
j-ou
must
Carefully pre-
eight ounces of
plates of the purest gold or silver carefully cleansed, an ounce
weight.
Place this
during a period of eight hours.
in
a closed vessel for digestion over hot ashes
Then you
will see
your body at the bottom of
the vessel transmuted into a subtle vapour or Mercury.
Having made a
solu-
whole mercurial water, separate it, by sublimation in an alembic over a slow fire, from its first matter, and keep it carefully in a glass vessel. You will thus have the true Mercury of the body, the use whereof in desperate
tion of the
O
2
The Herinetic
196
cases, provided only
it
a7id Alche?Jiual Writings 0/ Paracelsus, be carefully employed,
and on that account, therefore, not
* For example, the red that
is, if it
constitutes a
good medicament
be reduced to a precipitate to prevent vomiting.
laxative part.
no necessity
Mercury of Gold
For
in
every preparation of gold the chief point
for purging.
Gold, however,
is
is
marvellous and celestial*;
to be revealed to
for the cure of
wounds and of the plague,
accomplished by the upward separation of its In the plague there is to remove superfluity from it.
This Is
unworthy persons.
is
a laxative, a ionic, and an astringent.
Take
it
away
;
preserve the rest.
and those adapted for its cure. Understand concerning the cure that the spirits of gold and of gems are the best medicines whereby all plagues, wheresoever located The principal is gold the second are gems, for gems are tonics and in tlie body,' are most successfully healed.
The medicaments for
the plague are divided into those used for the accidentia
;
preventives.
For
this
wound
It
should at the same time be remembered that
reason there
is
is
all
sores are, a^ far as possible, to be cured from within.
no more excellent medicine — speaking of vulnerary- potions
properly healed from without.
Internal
inc.irnative than gold '\x?,^t^ Frtign'.enium
dt.
Mumia
Psite.
is
the perfect curative.
tban
is
internal
Otherwise, there
is
Mumia
No
no more sublime
THE SULPHUR OF THE METALS.
THE
Sulphur of the metals
is
an
from the metals them-
oiliness extracted
endowed with verj- many virtues for the health of man.'" Another is drawn from metals before they have undergone the fire, as from the golden and silver marchasites and others, which take rank and excellence according to the nobility of the mineral. So also is it drawn from the mineral of marchasite and cobalt, according to the nature and property of selves,
sulphur
each.
The more common mode tilled,
which has stood
of extraction
for twenty-four hours
Acetum
to take
is
carefully dis-
on a Caput Mortiium made out of
and Alum, which also has itself been distilled by means of an alembic. This, I say, you must pour on the pulverised metallic body in a glass vessel so that it shall stand above it by the height of seven fingers. Then place it to digest in horse-dung for nine days. The coloured Acetum distil in the ashes until it comes to a superfluous oil, which )ou will
distilled Vitriol, Salt, Nitre,
Vou
rectify in a bath, or in the sun.
the metallic body, which
The
you
extraction can also be
separated lixivium.
will then
will rightly
have the
verj- truest
Sulphur of
use at your discretion.
made by means
But other sulphurs are
of a sharp and thoroughly
less suitable for the internal bodily
use on account of the alkali of the ashes, out of which
we make a
clavcllated
corrosive substance, and also on account of the lime of which such lixivia are
The Sulphur thus extracted can be washed with sweet water and The subsequent digestion requires a double space of time. The lixivium also ought to be rectified from all earthy deposit by means of sublim.ation, so that such sulphurs may not be incorporated with it and become
composed.
precipitated.
corrosive so as to cause injury to sick persons. the
separation spoken of should be m.ade.
So
It is
far
to prevent this that
concerning the crude
materials.
But
nov»-,
these having been fused and depurated, you
their sulphur.
There
water of
by
*
salt or
The Sulphur of Metals,
utility in dropsy, for
and causes
it
it is
is
no more
its oil,
prepared
and, indeed,
th.tt
— />^
in the
way
I
have clearly described
in
my
Sulphur which can al&o be extracted from minerals, is said lo be of special is, as it were, a sun, or solar heat, which disperses this rain of the body,
of a dr>-ing nature, and
lo pass off in vapour.
certain, noble, or better
may draw forth way than b}' the
Itydrop'-iu
198
The Hermetic atid
treatise
on Alchemy.
A /chemical
Such a water extracts from the very foundations and
roots their natural liquid out of
most excellent
Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
all
metallic bodies, or a sulphur
and a crocus
for all medicinal as well as alchemical purposes.
and breaks every metal changing
it
from
its
metallic nature into
according to the different intention and industry of the operator.
It
resolves
some
other,
THE CROCUS OF THE METALS, OR THE TINCTURE.
THE
Crocus of the Metals
The
and of Chalybs.
of four kinds
is
best
is
of the Sun, of Venus, of Mars,
:
that of Chalybs.
It is
extracted by rever-
beration or by calcination, reducing the aforesaid bodies to dust. like
manner,
made by the
filed
iron
consumed by
is
The consumption
rust.
In
of the rust
is
imbibition of those things which produce rust, and by a decoction
extracting the colour of rust.
Take
old Urine poured
ground
dissolve three handfuls of
and skim
it
away from
its
Salt.
deposit, several cups of
When
in
it,
you have strained
which boil
it,
it
In this again dissolve a handful of bruised Vitriol,
carefully.
with two or three ounces of bruised Sal Ammoniac, and then carefully skim
With this liquid imbibe some The dust thus produced
again.
pulverised.
continually stirring
filings,
with an iron rod, until
it
and
reverberate it
boil
changes from
another, and at last into the hues of most brilliant violet. easily,
when
until
can be
it
over a powerful
own
its
From
this
fire,
colour to
you can
with spirits of wine or distilled acetum, draw off the Tincture, and it
extracted by separation of the elements you will collect what
is
remains at the bottom of the glass, by means whereof you
produce wondrous
will
be able to
both within and without the body.
effects,
For making the crocus of \'enus, take one or two pounds of copper-rust carefully alcoholised, pour on
sublimate
it
in
ashes until
nine times with
plenty of distilled Acetum,
it
and
stir
it
well
Gently pour off the coloured .\cetuni, and thoroughly
three times ever}- day.
it
is dr}-.
warm water from
Let this powder be afterwards washed
all acridity,
and then
dried.
You
will
then
have the prepared Crocus of Venus, or Flower of Brass, from which,
if
you
according to the instructions given
in
the
wish, you can easily extract an
oil
work on Surgerj-, where also its use is explained. The Crocus of the Sun should be extracted by the water of
great
the metallic nature,
been washed with
wine
;
This
is
or malleability,
warm
is
destroyed.
When
salt,
whereby
the residuum has
water, the Crocus can be extracted with spirits of
and, this being again separated, the Crocus will remain at the bottom.
changed
elevation,
into the liquid, or truest quintessence of the Sun,
and sublimating with
five
different
grades of
fire.
by means of
With
this
vou
200
The Hermetic and Alchemical Wfiiings of Paracelsus.
can produce marvellous
effects.
But there
is
need not of a merely imaginary,
but of an active and skilled, operator.*
•The
wounds can be stopped by means of the most skilfully reverberaied Crocus of Mars.— Moreover, the Crocus and Flower of Mercury may be successfully made use of The Crocus of Iron, if it be reduced by the for the cure of yAc^xi,. — Chirurgia Magna, Pars. III., Lib. V. reverberatorj'intoalcool, is supposed to cure the same ulcers that are successfully treated by the Oil of Iron, provided they flow of blood from
CKirurgia Magtin^ Tract
II., c. lo.
By to flow, and have readied their proper maturity.— Z>tf Tutnoi-ibus ei Pitsiulis MorbiGallici^ Lib. X. and mechanics certain arcana are discovered in the things which they daily use. Thus workers in brass have stopped the flow of blood with burnt brass, and have dried flowing wounds. Workers in iron have used their burnt Potters also have made some discoveries with what they call silver iron, which is called Crocus of Iron, for wounds. Many are the inventions of the vulgar which have been called experiments many more, which or golden litharge. need not be described here, such as minium, ceruse, and the like, have resulted from the various attempts of the Chhntrgia Vulnrum, c. g. The Crocus or Flower of Copper, which is usefully alchemists upon various substances. applied to the cure of corrosive ulcers, is usually prepared in two ways, one oJ which is that the greenness is abstracted by means of distilled Botin, and the said Botin is then again extracted. Notwithstanding, the strength of Venus is But I regard that as vitriol which is extracted from the body of Venus. De feeble unless vitriol be added to it. have ceased
artificers
;
—
,
Turner, et Clcer.
Morhi
G.iHici, Lib.
X.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THEOPHRASTUS CONCERNLXG THE GExNERATIONS OF THE ELEMENTS.*
BOOK THE CON'CERXIXG THE
FIRST.
ELEMENT OF AlR.
TEXT N
which
the beginning, Iliaster,
arranging the four elements.!
I
What
the stem. into itself again.
Thus, that
is
But
is
It
I.
nothing,
was eren
the seed gives forth this liiaster
dissolved and becomes
it
was
as the seed from which springs
does not receive
again attracts to
what
was
it
divided, thus giving and
are the
growth produced from the
And
liiaster. is
found surviving after death
whatever after,
this
but
its
same
end
the
is
The
it
which
is
the daughter of this one in name,
The philosophy
like.
For
year of the world
Of
its
origin
;
but
nothing
this family
same as
in
or the
four elements
and so
;
Although another world follows
time.
is
in essence,
*
;
perishes at the
elements.
the seed does not give those
produced after
the four elements are both mothers and daughters. is
same form
before the four elements were
produced, provided only one year of the world has elapsed.
very things from which the infant
in the
itself the four
this will not pass
still,
away, but
it
not so in form,
is
will
remain
like the
of Paracelsus concerning the generation of the four elements and concerning the three prime
pnnciples, Sulphur, Mercurj-, and Salt, appears to have been regarded by himself and part of his doctrine and practice of alchemy.
To
include
it
by
his editors as
in the first section of this translation is
an essential
by no means
outside the issues of Hermetic Chemistry. Paracelsus was not the first adept who regarded the process in the accomplishment of the Magnum Opus as offering a rigorous analogy* with the creation of the greater world. .-Ml
alchemy
insists
on
it.
He who
succeeded in accomplishing the Grand Magisterium, the confection of tlie Philosophers'
Stone, became initiated thereby into the secret of the i^tysUrium
comprehension of the true principles which obtained
Magnum;
and, on the other baud, an exact
was enough
to possess anyone with a full and practical illumination concerning the arcanum of philosophy. The cosmological philosophy of Paracelsus is the necessary complement of his alchemy, and whether or not their combined study is likely to throw light upon either, an opportunity must be offered to the student for the comparison of the two. The treatises which have been selected for the purpose are translated from the second volume of the Geneva folio, and the copious notes which have been added are derived from analagous writings which Paracelsus left unfinished, or which, for some other reason, have come down to us in an imperfect state. t When God determined to fonn the world and deliberated with His Divine Prudence concerning its nature and the manner of iu creation, He divided it into four parts or bodies, which he de:>igned to be the mother of all things, but subject to him whom God intended to create after His own image, even the man Ad.im. When, therefore, the matter had been deliberated on and decreed by God, the four said bodies were created— that is, heaven, earth, water, air. For. as the Scripture saith, heaven was created first, then earth, and subsequently the two others. Hence you must know that these four bodies, mothers, or matrices, exist that they may produce fruit, and furnish the nece^^itics for man's nourishment. Thus, for example, the earth brings forth its peculiar products, but it is man and not tlie earth who makes use of them. Similarly, heaven is a body, free by itself, whence fruits proceed simply for the use of man. Liber MeUcrutH, Prcf.
—
in the universal genesis,
The Hermetic and Alchemical Wrili?igs of Paracelsus.
202 soul,
which
made and created but
indeed
is
Such
not mortal.
also the lot
is
of this world.
TEXT Now,
own Son, but
also of
manent and heaven and
transitory, blessed
own
will.
Divine
the Eternal Father,
quite certain that
is
it
father of His
duced
who
not only the
is
mortal and immortal, per-
things,
all
and damned together, created Domor, that is, and the water, to which He also gave His
earth, the firmament
We
From another
but the same
will not further discuss this subject here,
He formed
things can be read in the Paramira.* natural.
II.
which
that
had
and
nature,
the natural from the non-
never perceived
following
any
willed
Yet these primal natures
possesses.
from the sand the
pear-tree,
chaos, and from the
fire
to
make
of water
is
which man now moderates and
rule,
so that from the earth springs the
differ,
from the water cachiniitc, from the sky
But seeing how wonderful these things
snow.
and how unlike they seem ought
thistle,
to the
is
vain which gives
it
out that the earth
in all
;
that the element of earth
The earth duces,
all
produced therefrom.
From
And
produced.
element
is
compound ^'-
element
an
.-^nd
water, earth.
who
say that the four
III.
is
is
produced from
So then that
is
So
it.
an element
\\
a mother, and there are four of them,
the
is
iiich
pro-
air, fire,
these four matrices everything in the whole world
the speech
is
inconsiderate of those
who
is
assert that an
simply endowed with a complexion, warm, dry, cold, moist, or a of these.
understand
an element, indeed, but not a nut,
So, too, those
an element, and whatever
is
is
For that philosophy
rest.
and everything, advance mere nonsense.
TEXT water and
is
an element, but not snow.
elements exist
we
a matter of knowledge and of philosophy, that the element
it
not water only, but a mineral as well
fire is
are,
source from which they sprang,
first
not earth only, but a grape as well, and so with the
or that
pro-
that yet
wherein His
another nature should be produced, whilst a year revolves, majesty Himself carries on the Divine
He
nature,
He
nature
that
it
thus
:
All these things are in
the earth
is
all
You can warm and dry,
these four elements.
cold and dry, cold and moist,
This is how matters stand. ^^'hatever thing which is warm and moist. warm and dry grows out of the earth, grows out of that which in the earth is warm and dry. Whatever is or is produced cold and moist, is produced from that in the earth
plexions
which
is
for
example, from
cold and drj'; and lightning from that in the the
same with the other two elements.
before •
all
I
fire
that
which
in
is
fire
the
fire
warm and
would have you then,
four
com-
which drj'.
is
It is
at this point,
to be advised not to determine the elements according to their com-
But more completely
been rendered.
So also from
of a similar nature.
Snow,
proceed.
aiitl
copiously in the treatise* and fragments of
trealisc^^
from whieli the enM'.ing notes lia\e
Concerning the Generations of the Elements.
203
is, what are the four matrices The earth is material, clayey, conglutinous. be warm, dry, cold, or moist. The water is humid,
plexions, but according to their forms, that
which they have within them. Such
is
it
sensible,
whether
clement, whether
element of
fire,
it
but
tangible,
be cold or
it
though
And such
not corporeally, not materially.
be
it
a heaven which comprises
all
in
The
warm.
fire is
one place warm,
and
things,
is
in
the
is
the
a firmament, and
The
another cold.
warm,
moist,
is
air
is
cold, or dry, as shall
hereafter be set forth.
TEXT Now,
in
order to advance towards the established principle
to the elements,
four parts .
IV.
— the
understand air,
which
this.
is
The
was
Iliaster
a heaven embracing
witli
regard
originally distributed into all
things
;
fire,
which
firmament producing day and night, cold and heat; earth, which affords of
all
kinds and a solid foundation for our feet
given forth
all
The two former nourish us as
two
latter materially
two
classes.
The
a
and water from whence are
;
minerals and half the means of nutriment for living things.
These nutriments are twofold, one found and water.
is
fruits
One
is
and corporeally. constituted of air
and
fire,
spiritually
if
the other in earth
and
invisibly
;
the
These four elements are divided into and fire the other of earth and water.
air sustains fire, the earth water.
while these two hold air and
in air
;
Air and
fire
hold water and earth;
So then all things were created in due Thus the order, that the one might support, seek for, and nourish the other. Iliaster was divided into one domor, of which there are two globules, an outer ftre.
and an inner, each enclosed with two elements.
Beyond is nothing, so far as we know. Within is what we see, and He who created these what the light of nature suggests to us. But He who was begotten things is not among us, but dwells without us.
touch, and
of
Him
is
amongst
us.
Still
we must not
philosophise further concerning the
four elements than Nature teaches and points the
TEXT
way
for us.
V.
was founded with that and it was made surrounds it.' There was the throne
In the beginning the body of the four elements
form and amplitude
in
which the heaven
corruptible or perishable so far as the air * But
now we must understand
wh.at is
tlie
lies
extended
nature of the body of hcivcn.
their peculiar bodies, but, indeed, all the four bodies
of the four elements are
;
Earth, water, air have each
made of
nothing, that
is,
they are
made only by the Word of God. This nothing, whence is produced something, turns into substance and body, which body of all the four elements is distinguished into three species, so that the creative Jiat resulted in a triple At the same lime, there is such a distinction body. Thus the earth and the other elements are all threefold. The air is one body, the earth is another, the between the elements that the four things are not one body. water a third. So also would be heaven if these four had a like body. But the earth has three bodies, and so also have water, heaven, and air. and yet a piece of wood is one body, a metal another, a stone another, a sponge another. So also the four elements of bodies .ire distinct and sep.irate.as though someone were to take lead and make of it minium, So then, these three species are distributed into four elements, a peculiar body ceruse, gl.-iss, and spirit of Satdrn. being assigned to each. To pay more exact attention to these numbers, God Himself chose three, and constituted For the origin of this number is unmedialely from God, the principle all things"out of three, and separ.ited all three.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
2o'4
God and
of
created, but so that
To
God.
Kingdom, from which centre
the centre of His it
should be something mortal and perishable created by
you must know that from that centre the
rightly understand this
On this
world arose and was made material.
on
seat sat the prophets
this
was
the world
is
it
;
seat Christ
hung from
the footstool of God.
made God, and His work,
material and corporeal things are
the cross
;
Here, therefore, the centre of
His Kingdom, and His throne. should be known, then, at the outset, and before the philosophy
It is
God has made
unfolded, that
itself
the centre of His heaven, and even Himself,
For as corporeally He is called the Son, so the world is His But although it be thus made and created, still we must believe that
perishable.
house. it
will not perish as
world
it
Of man
was produced.
TEXT As
manner
to the
He
account.
:
of the
VI.
which God created the world, take the following
in
reduced
originally
one body, while the elements were
to
it
He made up
This body
developing.
the heart will endure
be permanent.
the flower will
of three ingredients, Mercury, Sulpluir,
Of these three are Salt, so that these three should constitute one body. composed all the things which are, or are produced, in the four elements. These three have in themselves the force and the power of all perishable In them lie hidden the mineral, day, night, heat, cold, the stone, the things. It is even as with wood fruit, and everything else, even while not yet formed. which is thrown away and is only wood, yet in it are hidden all forms of animals, of plants, of instruments, which any one who can carve what else would be useless, invents and produces. So the body of Iliaster was a mere trunk, but in it lay hidden all herbs, waters, gems, minerals, stones, and chaos itself, which things the supreme Creator alone carved and fashioned most
and
Now,
innhe Deity being three. of
all creature^.
.ind is
the
reduced again into that three.
three, c-ich in
its
word
also
was
place
On
the one hand, then,
but, on the other hand,
;
and the word is the beginning of heaven and earth and and there is nothing on earth which consists not of and in three,
threefold,
All things are synthesized in three,
it is
evident that e-tch creature can be distributed into
what they dogmatize concerning the four things or elements,
each thing consists of four elements— that
each thing, however, contains
to the
one comple,\ion and not more, nor can it have any other element than that which it receives from its mother. For instance, every herb has only one element-^that is, of the earth ; every stone has one element— that is, of the water. But in addition to this it receives a complexion, frigid and humid, frigid and dry. warm and humid, warm and drj-. Yet that is not a effect that
whole element, but the element earth
but the element
;
is
is
is
false;
the matrix, as water or earth.
not slime,
it
is
quintessence.
Vet
it
these three arc the prime matter of the elements. is
diverse, for the
number
these s.ame are found by art in first
matter
is
as
God
;
and
.as
all
is
taken from the slime of the
again becomes an element, that
element with the distinction which subsists between an element and
heaven
For instance, man flesh.
Hence
bodies of Nature.
is, it
returns to the
the elements only recur into three, and
However, the fashion of the prime matter of water, earth,
three ccAistitutes only three species in reality, which three
in the
in itself
These three are the
first
make
air,
matter and have only one name.
Deity there are three persons, so here each species
is
and
a perfect body, and
The
separate by itself as to
its
comprehended under the one name of the first matter. This first matter has been Whatsoever resides in the first matter of the earth is being distributed by God among four parts or elements. So, everj-thing has been syjaratcd or has been separated into earth. The case is the same with the other elements. ordained into its predestinated form, earth having been ordained to be earth, with its ofttce, and so of the rest. So .all things consist of one body, and yet there are four bodies, and the four elements are all distributed into four bodies, and are formed from one matter which is in itself triple, having been originally formed out of the word. The three first All bodies consist of these three- all elements and all fruits things are three parts, namely, fire, salt, and balsam. Earth is threefold in its body fire, salt and bals.ani— while that which grows from it is similafly distributed thereof. into three species. The body of a tree b fire, salt, and balsam, and the things which are generated from b.alsam are office,
but the three
offices are
—
Concerning the Generations of the Elements. subtly,
having removed and cast away
He produced and
separated the
air.
all
away
the
fire,
was extraneous.
First of
all
This being formed, from the remainder
issued forth the other three elements,
afterwards took
that
205
From
water, earth.
fire,
He
these
while the other two remained, and so on
in
due
succession.
TEXT VH. The
four
fields, therefore,
having been
in this
way
and separated,
set apart
there remained also four storehouses for keeping the four elements, namely,
Each of these was
the hot, the cold, the moist, the dry.
important.
was arranged
First the air
;
afterwards the
from being un-
far
fire
then the earth
;
;
way From the air proceeded chaos, From the fire, night and day, the sun the throne, the chain, the foundation. and the moon. From the earth, trees and herbs, grasses and fruits. From Of these the succession was so arranged the water, minerals and stones. and, lastly, the water,
in
the following
:
For was continually produced something else. instance, from the Iliaster of the earth beech wood was extracted and the wood nothing being of apples removed. Each was disposed in its own place corrupted or intermixed. In water gold was separated from the rest of the In the fire, the metals, and afterwards the others also were removed in turn. that from the superfluity
;
cold withdrew from the heat, the light from the darkness.
was
set in order for preserving all things,
heaven.
These four
elements, that
is,
Iliastri
and
In the air, chaos
for separating earth from
having been created and arranged according to
according to the matrices of their
fruits,
the air
was prepared
These two were linked together in union. Afterwards the earth, too, and the water, being separated from the two former, were joined in one. These are now conjoined Iliastri. The air is by itself, and the fire. In like manner, also, the earth and the water.
before
all else
;
then afterwards the
fire.
and balsam. It is the same with those fruits which have water for their matrix. It is the same with heaven, of which the fruits are the sun, etc. It is in like manner with snow and rain. The art, therefore, of Nature docs not, then, teach us how to extract anything out of fruits except fire, s.alt, and balsam, which also are so separated from one salt, another by the force of fire that the fire, salt, and balsam become separate. Now, fire is also called sulphur balm and liquor, mercury. It is necessary, however, that we should have a clear idea what an clement is. Now, man has a large body, containing many substances. But that which is the man himself, namely, soul and spirit, is a small, thing. The reason why the body is called man b because the man remains hidden in the body. So also the eye is a considerable part in man, but the force which sees is very small in respect of the eye. In like manner, the earth is called an element, whereas it is a rude body, and its true elem.ent is hidden therein, invisibly, like the spirit in man. It is the same with the other elements, which are, indeed, corporal, but are yet spirits according to their nature and fire, salt,
;
;
you hear that this or that proceeds from an clement, understand that it proceeds from and not from its body. In man the tongue speaks and does not speak, for the spirit speaks in it, whose intimate permixture and union with the body causes it to be thought that the body docs cvcr>-lhing The odour of the box tree is the spirit of the box tree ; what there is else is its body. The soul of musk is in its odour. In corals the colour is the spirit. Thus, all fruits, like their element, have spirit as well as body, and the true fruit is not seen by the eyes. Vet there is a certain difference between the natural and the supernatural spirit, for the first is corporeal and material, subsisting in a corporeal body, but the second is altof;ethcr destitute of a body. The body of the But concerning heaven it is to be noted that natural spirit is clothed by Nature with another body of its own element. God has given it the name of firmament. The firmament is the heaven and its whole substance. The three other elements .ire included in the firmament, as the egg in its shell. By the demonstration of the name which He has given
So
substance.
the element
to
it
God
often, then, as
itself,
teaches that
He
has endowed the firmament with power that
it
may
be as a sure
creatures of Nature are firmly contained. And, just as the yolk remains immovable in
up
or down, so
is it
with heaven.
on high or dwellers below.
For a
its
Wherever we dwell, we live at a high level or a low, and can has neither summit nor base. — Z.i5rr Mftearitjn^ c. 2.
circle
shell,
wherein
place, whether the
all
the
egg be put
call ourselves
dwellers
The Hermetic and Alchemical Wiitiiigs of Paracelsus.
2o6
Thus
it
was
everything that
Without these
born.
is
name
of
Iliastri
the material centre of His throne, and after-
three primal elements, from which constantly emerges
in
it
But while they grow
grow. their
God made
that
wards sundered
three, nothing in the four Iliastri can
they are elements, and so, moreover, they lose
and are called elements.
TEXT These
foitr
VIII.
own
elements were sundered into their
places and seats, so
All these were removed, just as a none of them should be mixed. throws what does not suit the intended when making a statue away sculptor
that
So there are four elements, but only three primary ones three in fire, three in the earth, and three in the water. Every-
image. the
;
three in the
air,
where there
is
only a single triad of the primaries, that
one Sulphur
all,
in
one Salt
all,
in
Yet they
all.
day, night, betook itself to the
And
over chaos. a stone
is
Whate\-er
fire.
in
the like,
these three are one, each in
all
one Mercury
was relegated to the the watej". Whatever is warm,
Whatever is growing, herb, leaf, grass, or Whatever is mineral withdrew into earth. cold,
is,
differ in their properties.
is
divided into four parts, and out of one
is
spread
air
It is
itself.
made a
itself
just as
out
when
statue, out of
another a pitcher, out of a third some other kind of a vessel, and out of the fourth a milestone
yet
;
are stones, nay,
all
all
one stone, though divided
into four portions.
Of these
God
Iliastri there are four,
disposed the world
in
and no more
though He could have made eight conferred on the air, a second on the
Nowhere was there any And now it is further necessary
the water.
we should go on will
fire,
with this number,
He
of nutriment
on the earth, a fourth on
a third
deficiency.
under the name of elements, to
and performances, and
begin with the
So
these being sufficient.
that in the course of our philosophising
to treat of these four
their possibilities
;
He was satisfied parts. One portion
a quaternary.
to state
in
what they
excel.
tell
of
We
and conclude our philosophy with the water, adding
air,
such explanations as the nature of insensible things requires.
TEXT The element
of the air
IX.
was appointed
for
no other purpose than to be
the abode of the other three, each to be conserved, as close in the following *
The
way.*
air
it
were, within
its
encloses in itself every mortal thing,
upon the element of air, even as a house upon its foundations. We air. This power is situated in the exterior part of which the Triune God dwells, so ruling and sustaining the air that it does not yield, nor is broken. For it is
The
elements and
all
that exists are built
should philosophise, however, concerning that which sustains the the air in
fall
into the sphere of the imperishable.
things tend upwards, nothing downwards, nor firmed in
when shall
it
its
will
Moreover,
it cannot fall, because all For the air Is so compacted and concircle that it can no more be broken or dissolved than the external kingdom can perish till its time arrives, collapse inward towards the centre, the air and stars rushing towards the globe of earth, and then tlie globe
impossible that perishable things should
by them be so
utterly
is
there any bottom or profundity.
For the manner of this destruction shall be inwardly to the centre. And this is the highest secret rushes to the centre because there is no profundity outside. Alius Libtr Primus
consumed
that not a single a.sh shall remain.
such that nothing shall collapse outwardly from the of philosophy
— that
the circle
Meteorum^ De EUmtnto Aeris,
circle,
but
all
Concerning the Generations of from what
and shuts
it
fields.
strengthens the world and keeps
It
off
And just
marsh.
as there
without, or outside the shell
what
is
outside
dam does
together, as a
it
who
an egg to one
in
which agrees with what
looks at
again,
air,
like a skin
is
which
in
body, the whole world, to wit, and wherein the earth
a
from
it
sky
inside, so the
is
earth, just as the egg-shell separates the
The
it.
nothing
dividing heaven and
207
immortal, as a wall divides a city from the
is
is
the Elements.
is
a
^^^ from
stored up a
is
contained and pre-
is
The air, then, is this sky, a skin, or egg-shell, or wall, or mound, beyond which nothing can burst through, and within which nothing can break in. Moreover the air is breath, from which all draw their life. This is served.
and puts forth the air which nourishes tKe four elements, and same time sustains the life of man. Without it none could live. Without this no element could advance, no wind could blow, no rain or snow
truly air itself,
the
at
could
no sun could shine, no summer could
fall,
no water could
flourish,
from the
All this force proceeds
no earth could sustain.
air,
by the four elements.
For as the lungs every moment inhale
earth, while the water
and the
palpable error which lays burst air,
in
but
upon us
fire
like poison, not as a
this
same element,
to the air, so that
may
it
without materiality or
is
of
so does the
means of
The
life.
first
attracted
That
that winds are caused by the
TEXT
means
is
air,
air.
is
a
They
element brings
gives the winds.
fire
From
and
each do the very same thing.
down
it
flow,
its
it
power by which fire is joined Thus it is like a chain which,
too, flows forth a
not
fall
down.
holds together and binds.
visibility,
chaos, which
X.
inserts
between the
This
does by
it
and the earth.
pellicle
There
also a middle space extending from heaven to earth, in which are balanced
the
fire,
^Si&
by
the earth, and the water. its
as the chicken
albumen without touching the
and prevents
it
from tottering.
slight green tint.
It is
This chaos
is
sustained in the
so chaos sustains the globe
shell,
though
is invisible,
it
appears of a
an intangible albumen, having the power and property
of sustaining, so that the earth chick in its
And
shall
not
fall
from
albumen, so this globe of earth and water
its is
As
the
in the
air.
position.
balanced
As a ship is borne up by the ocean, so is this globe by the air. It is one vast and marvellous albumen which invisiblj- supports the globe of earth and water. It bears up even the firmament itself, which is placed in it as the seed And as everj- morsel of flesh lies in of the cucumber is placed in its mucilage. its
own
generating seed
liquid, or the
albumen, and move therein borne up than is
in
what
is
clear
at least only this difference
sperm,
in that
it is
the sperm, so the stars
:
In no other
it
lie
way
that the chaos
is
in this
are they
from the illustrations which are named.
There
unlike the albumen or the
impalpable and extremely subtle.
powers and energies enumerated.
in
like a bird in its flight.
Otherwise,
in all its
corresponds exactly to those things which have been
The Hermetic and Alchemical WHtings of Paracelsus.
2o8
TEXT While discussing the powers of pointed out that the air and is
No
inherent in them.
what
is
its
XI.
this element,
in
a round form which
one can point out or distinguish what
Let us give an example.
below.
moreover, be
should,
it
chaos and the sky exist
If
is
above or
could be brought about that
it
one should be shutjjp within an ^%%, it would be impossible to know which part looked towards the sky and which towards the earth.* The rotundity
"up"
prevents there being any
and do not know which
shell,
is
"down."
or
up and which
So we are prisoned within a is down. Walking over the
whole world, we look up to the sky, and everywhere there at the
same time everywhere there
of the globe and of the sky, and thus all
grow
things
veins of metal,
a threefold
in
it
is
height, whilst
lies in
the rotundity
natural to every mortal body that
is
and not only man walks, but also trees, course. As God created the circle of
line,
and springs take
The cause
depth.
is
this
the globe and the sky, so he founded also the semicircle, the diameter and the
meridian in fire
— a threefold
line
—and other similar ones.
and water, are found
all lines
and
For
circles.
all
in
heaven and earth,
Here, too, are the true
By the elementary geography of is, the sun and moon, all
Geography, Cosmography, and Geometry.
the air are conserved the structures of the air, that
and other things, as the minerals of the
the stars, the trees of the earth,
water and the
Here, too, beyond a doubt,
rest.
is
found the true basis of
all
man stands like the straight line looking up to heaven. Of From geometry God alone is the artificer, the mason, the geometrician.
geometry, where this this
line
beast.
nothing
falls
away or emerges, be
it v.-ater, fire,
earth, tree,
things tend towards this aerial geometry, which
All
man,
God made and
graved as a mason does the statues on a tower.
TEXT
XII.
must be seen how these flourish in the element of air. Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt are so prepared as the element of air that they constitute the air, and make up that
Now,
element.
as to the philosophy of the three prime elements,
Originally the sky
spirit of Salt
this pellicle
and
primal parts in
and
it is
nothing but white Sulphur coagulated with the
formed from
shell thus
changed
the following way.
is
by Mercury, and the hardness of
clarified
into
two
and
is
— one
The Sulphur
liquor of Mercury, which of itself
subtle,
is
it.
element
is in
part being air and the other chaos
resolves itself by the spirit of Salt in the
andthe mid
density, dryness,
.'Ml
this
Then, secondly, from the three
a liquid distributed from heaven to earth,
the albumen of the heaven,
and diaphanous.
it
may
space.
and
all
It is clear, its
a chaos,
subtle nature, are
persist in their course and centre. Land and Earth and water constitute one glohe, resting on nothing, but free on all sides, being encompassed by the element of air, which is like a vast chaos, which conceals that which is called heaven by the ignorant. Within this chaos all creatures are included and involved. Between the circle of the air and the globe of earth and water which is at the centre, a sustaining operation intervenes, which may be compared to the albumen interposed between the shell and yolk of an tg%.—lifid.
• Air preserves the elements and
all
creatures, so that they
sea are the centre of a circle of which the air
is
the circumference.
Concerniiig the Generations of the Elements. resolved, nor
The
third
burnt
it
end of
is
it
any longer the same as
it
was
before.
remnant of the three primals has passed into
Siicli is
thus
air,
209
:
If
the
its
consumed and turned
into air, just as the
wood which becomes
nothing but the smoke of the three primal elements of
smoke.
It is, in fact,
the
So, then, nothing further arises from the element of air beyond
has been mentioned.
now
living, ascribe
the sky. itself,
is
So this passes into air, remains in its air to the elements, and becomes Sulpluir, Mercury, and Salt, which are
passes into smoke.
substantially
air.
air.
wood
That
coming
is
Many
wind all
more
its
It
making out
its
fire,
it,
and what
where more
is
its
set
what some
cause to be the mobility of
never reaches the sky
;
element as smoke from wood.
clearly about
about the properties of comprised.
to the air,
nothing.
forth from
to understand
of the ancients and later writers, nay, even
motion
and the
air is
by
Whoever wishes is,
let
him read
down than can be
here
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE GENERATION OF THE ELEMENTS.
BOOK THE SECOND. CON'CERNIXG THE
Kl.KMENT OF
TREATISE
WE
have spoken thus
TEXT
I.
far concernH)
FiRE. I.
element of
according to
air,
The
position in which the elements have been arranged. in position
next to
;
We
round the entire globe.* element of
the
is
it
These two constitute and
fire.
shall next philosophise as to
tlie
air is first
sur-
what concerns the
fire.
Afterall, from the Iliaster were separated the air and the fire. wards these two were sundered the one from the other, so that the air First of
occupied the
first
to this the fire occupied.
were divided.
and
fire,
fire
came
we pointed out in the former book. The next place By a process of separation, these two elements, air From the air were produced the heavens from the
place, as
;
As in the air there is only chaos and nothing fire we find nothing but heat and cold, light and
forth the firmament.
besides, so, in the element of
But, whatever withdraws from the globe and from the
darkness. sustained
because of
fire
it
in
the element of
can only burn, as
not,
many have
seek the element of
its
fire
foolishly said.
constitution
They
is
warm and
It is
are quite beside the mark, then,
fire,
fire.
complexion,
but rather because
in
Though warmth
is
not, therefore, called
the whole firmament
an element from which should proceed day, night, brightness,
air constitute the
their impressions
that
still
it
all
impressions.
and portion of the four parts of creatures. Therefore it For as the earth gives heat and cold together, though 'Fire and
congelation.
the cold and the
the clement of earth or of water.
white or red, rain, tempests, winds, and
down
;
fire.
This clement
subsists.
it, is
in
does not constitute the element of is
dry
fire
not the element
is
of
warm
it
It
contrary to
these probably produce something of a
an clement because
air, is
however, called the element of
which burns, but that which burns and
The element of fire is not by moist come from the element
who
It is
fire.
chaos which encircles the globe of earth and water.
upon the two
inferior.
Fire
is
disposed and digested hy
God
It is is it
also the place
called
an element.
be the element of
The two
superior elements send
into the stars. -Ibid.^ c,
7.
Concerning the Generations of the Elements. to be understood also of
earth, so
is it
material
fire is
called an
even produced by the element of
when
^'et there is a difference,
fire,
element when
it
not really an clement.
is
but
fire,
2
is
it
elementary
like
i
1
because It is
not
in that
fire
So also the water is like the element Material fire, which we use, is in the four of fire in a place where it rains. elements; it is called Tristo, and exists in them thus The element of water position
it
looks towards the sun.
:
requires the element of
fire
That
for its operation.
remains
fire
of water, and shews itself in steel and in those stones where it
with the
within
itsel/,
air,
as
Each has
and so with the other elements. demonstrated
is
the element
So
exists.
its
own
is
Tristo
So, too, the sun
the Nature of Things.
in
in
it
can shew
,
its element in wood, can kindle and burn it, because it is of the same nature as that by which the element of fire moistens the earth with rain. As the element of fire moistens the earth, and it is its nature and property to do so, it kindles wood also by a mirror in the sun. The material fire is brought to the globe just as rain to the earth. Both come from one element divided as to their nature. But the fire which is extracted from stones and metals has penetrated thither from the sun by means of its own .'\res. As the earth is nourished by the sun, so is the one element by another. Of the three So primaries. Salt could not coagulate unless the element of fire were in it. Mercury could not give a body unless it contained in itself the element of water. So neither is Sulphur without its terrestrial quality. The air is
without material or body, impalpable. elements,
it
cannot give a body
;
but
Therefore, of
TEXT Having thus water,
it
itself, like
works together with
it
it,
the other
as the rest do.
II.
two elements,
far explained the separation of the
remains to speak of their order, which
as follows
is
fire
and
:— Originally
them was made into the sun, the moon, and the other Beyond these there is no element of fire. Whatever virtue they are endowed with beyond this is only trifling. This is more fully shewn in the Here it is sufficient to know that this element, the treatise De Natura.
the distribution of stars.
firmament, to wit,
is
What
nothing but stars.
earth, as snow, rain, wind, hail, cold, heat,
the like
;
all
these things
mother, or an apple from
This element of
fire
come from
night, day,
the element of
placed
is
in
in
the element of
one globe, so the
one, neither injuring the body of the other.
not leaning or propped up on any foundation.
sun moves
in the sky,
that
is,
in
the
man walks on the earth, the bird flies and the gnome lives within the earth, elements, that one not
lies still,
moving from one
fire,
summer, winter, and as an infant from
its
its tree.
and the earth are comprised in
these produce and send on the
another
seat or place.
air.
fire
For just as
flies,
one
it
air are
mingled
They move freely in the air, As birds fly in the air, so the
in the air, the fish
so has
For as the water
air.
and the
it is
appointed that
swims
in the
water,
been arranged concerning the
is in
this
Every star has
its
mode, another
own
in that,
special orbit, nor
V2
2
I
2
The Hennetic and Akhaiiical Wriihigs of
does one collide with another. another, and yet there
And
as
manifold phise
is
men by Nature is
their nature
more deeply than
stituted bv fate.
For as no one man walks exactly
one mode of progress for are not precisely alike,
and condition. to
Pai'acelsus.
say that
all
On
this
these
all,
so
is it
like
with the stars.
neither are the
stars
;
so
topic one need not philoso-
things are arranged and con-
TREATISE THE SECOND. CO.NXERNIXG THE SUX, LlGHT, DaKKNESS, AND NlCHT.* the
treatise
first
IN with
was stated
it
that the primal
Iliaster
the colours, and with brightness and splendour
all
From
gether.
thence the four elements were secreted.
what was added or subjected
stated in due succession
was furnished
all
mingled
to-
Herein shall be
to the
element of
fire.
was extracted from the Iliaster, and afterwards the element of fire. From this a separation was made. First of all the white brightness was drawn out, and therefrom was made a material body, the sun. Therein is all the white brightness of the In the beginning the
element of
element, that
and besides
fire,
The
element.
first
this
is
red transparency
to say, the air,
is
no white brightness at
was
also extracted
the
whole
and transferred
to the
all in
is, to the moon and the other stars, which were distributed into many While the white brightness was conglob.ited into one form, the red
stars, that
parts.
was divided
brightness
day wherever that globe brightness, but
many
into
is
it
Where
is.
in
two natures
fire
exist,
none
in the
in
sun.
Hence
cold
means of his the ground a over the ® All the
it
stars.
— thus rays.
:
is
red.
sun
not,
there
is
Heat
a cold one.
.Ml fire
which is
is
just as the
summer comes from an expulsive heat,
wind blows from
is
warm
in the stars
The sun emits from himself heat For
is
be
no white
must also be known that
All coldness
clear that
In the
it
warm and
any element besides.
and cold from the expulsive
a
tlie
is
night.
will
it
no
for the red brightness transfers
;
Moreover,
the white brightness, cokl in
sun, and not
that globe
night and'darkness
light to the white brightness.
element of
Hence now follow day and
parts.
white brightness was coagulated into one globe,
P'or since all the
its
in the
universal is ;
in
the
there
is
the sun, winter in the stars
an
to the earth
by
cave, or as from
stalk rises above the earth, so heat goes forth from the sun
trlobe.
is fierj- and twofold— white and red. The whttt'is from These two colours inhere in the three principles by re.xson of the predominant fire in the substance. The same are divided, the red into one part, the white into ihc other. The first is distributed among nil the stars, the second into one only. But if the red, like the white, were compacted and digested into a single star, instead of into so many, the red splendour would be c«iually great with reference to redness as is the white with reference to whiteness. On the other hand, were the white star distributed after the manner of the red, there would be a faint and perpetual daylight. Such a perfect and condensed splendour would not illuminate the earth, but one weaker and more divided. The universal splendour of the mercury' lias, however, been concentrated from the three prime principles into one orb or star, which receives its motion according to the will of the Creator. The motion of this star takes pl.ace round the globe. When it radiates upon the earth there is day, but elsewhere night reigns, for all the brilliance of day is in it, and without its radiation there is no brilliance upon cartb. The red brilliance of the other stars is the light of the fire in red, only in sulphur, where there is no mercury or s.ilt.— Pr
clarity
which
in the
element produces night
nercuryand'Salt. the red from pure sulphur.
Mi^fon's-
c.
32
2 14
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
'^f^^
Heat
Hence
it
is
the
sun on the globe, and
of the
fruit
has no other
it
fruit.
follows that the sun has two operations, a greater and a lesser heat,
Hence it is granted The matter stands thus For us Germans to the stars to lose their coldness. Then the autumn and if the sun is supreme his heat is greatest with us. In winter the cold comes on, not because the sun is harvest are at hand. low and depressed (for it is the same sun which can by his rays shed heat All ever^'where), but because his harvest is not then imminent as in June. below But fruits are then in a state of repose, and have been harvested. in this
way.
The sun
two modes.
divides his heat in
:
us, in Ethiopia
the sun
is
and other places which verge towards the antarctic
warm
while with us he
with
but
his harvest-time,
us
cold,
is
the
for
reason
this
it
is
This fallow season he
season.
fallow
pole,
because
:
makes more or less. Ever)'thing which has to produce fruit needs rest and sleep and unless the sun were lying fallow, its heat would be equally intense with us in winter as it is in summer. In the meantime, while the sun is lying fallow, the harvest and autumn ;
of the cold stars are substituted, so that during the whole year there shall be
Now the snow falls, and Then follow the east and the south winds, which are Thus are produced winter and summer, night and the attendants of the sun. In this w-ay is there transition from one autumn to day, and the whole year. no
sterility,
but fruits shall be constantly produced.
the north wind blows.
and the year of the
.another through the year of the sun
Moreover, on
subject
this
humidity occur thus
Dryness
:
must
it
other dryness in the whole element of
Moisture
himself.
bri|fhtness.
This
in
is
is
all
Thus
the element of
the sun
;
is
cold
and
times seems to be dry, the dryness
true, indeed, that a
is
dissolved
this
So
quite foreign.
is
is
If
when one sweats
in the
that coldness foreign too.
must
coagulate so
By
of the sun for rendering. moist. as does tallow.
a thing
tliat
be understood as frozen water.
their nature
But what has
heat
its
this to
things are only given as illustrations.
it
In
what respect
of the sun.
is
But what
is
is
his
Such, too,
do with the matter?
There
is
is
is
the it
Thus method
liquefies,
Nothing.
These
dryness, too, in the stars, for
and the
like,
as metals and
the dryness of snow, which does not last?
a metal dry which returns to
Where
It
nature,
seems dried up.
melts wax, so that
instance, snow, hoar-frost, sleet, hail, lightning
stones coming thence.
sun,
the earth can be dried by the stars, though
humid body on to
is in
coldness some-
not on account of their dry nature, but on account of their cold
whereby they are able
in
itself.
dryness, and this
the cold.
is in
only as
is
no
Coldness never
heat coagulates
if
In one
divided into two.
fire is
in the other is -humidity,
where that moisture
is
is
Humidity cannot coexist with
moisture and brings back dryness.
What
coexists with dryness.
There
the cold stars, which are of red
in
is,
dryness and
that
in the sun.
is,
save that which the sun has
fire
the true state of the case.
Heat consumes
heat.
cold, that
remarked
he
heal, that
in
is
stars.
humiditv?
It
does not
its
original matter?
last.
What
Is it if,
And
so
indeed.
y'^ '
Concerning the Generations of I he lllements. he moistens fat
wards
so that
it
Xo
?
sooner
always remains moist, and it
breaks forth,
dry remains
damp
again, that
The
heat
in
;
moisture never grows dry.
Wherever
always moist, always wet.
is
it
what
wet, in cold
is
it is
wood ashes.
never again returns
stars moisten the
never again dried.
is
it
1
After-
dries
It
fire.
so long as
is,
wets Salpalla so that
It
dry again.
it is
the same, too, with
always remains moist.
to drj'ness, but
wherever
It is
never afterwards grows
But what does the star do?
he withdrawn than
lias
no longer moistened.
it is
2
rain,
which
poured out,
it is
So, that which
is
dryness never grows wet, and
;
In like manner, lime remains lime
glass, glass
;
;
wine, wine, etc.
But
we All
order that the element of
in
will, in
heat
the
first
may
lire
be more thoroughly understood,
place, describe the sun, the account of
drawn together and rounded out
is
into
which
as follows
is
:
The whole
Magdalion.
Thus, then, white light and heat make up Magdalion, is therein. composed of ignited white Sulphur, congested into one body of noblest Mercury, pre-eminent over all the other elements, and coagulated by the
white light
most subtle
warm this
spirit of salt.
that there
is
Out of these three the sun exists, so dry and so In it would all be consumed.
place for no humidity, but
way, both the daily rain and whatever water
other elements
is
consumed by
So, then, the sun
of water should cause inundation. nature, both of the sea
and of the Rhine, Danube,
consumed by the heat of Death exists in all things too
much but may keep
which
is
invisible.
poured out by the three
is
the force of the sun, lest a too copious supply
the sun so that
is
Nile,
the death of aqueous
they do not increase in volume.
may not increase own form of death,
for this very purpose, that they
So man has
within bounds.
So dryness has fire and
waters have their death,
;
consumes reappears elsewhere.
It
death, namely, water.
its it
his
is
So, too, the
not true to say, that what the
perishes entirely in
its
spirit remains, and this the sun consumes. It consuming and taking away the other three elements
the veritable
is
— alike with
on the earth and with the bear in the cave. But now to philosophise more about the sun. Divine providence, which decides it is
when and how
It
all
regulates
its
autumn and harvest
of the sun.
man
course by
things should exist.
arranged that the sun going round the globe rounds out
the sake of this
In this course
day and night, summer and winter, light and darkness
fire
ov.n forn>.
But the death,
this
They are
and Tiber.
;
is
its circle
By for
nothing but
and the darkness
upon some lands is intercepted from others in due succession. From this impetus and motion no v%ind is aroused but the sun moves and proceeds just as a ball is driven along the surface of the earth, without any which
falls
;
wind
arising, or as a ship in the sea,
which does not of
wind.
So neither does the sun produce wind.
motion
;
not of
for,
itself
although the globe should
grow warm.
the sun going
upon
its
If
it
course
itself
generate any
does not grow
warm by
on for a hundred years,
it
its
would
must have been warm before. So a globe, and may be compared to birds in its
be is
roll
It
warm,
it
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
2i6 mode its
of motion.
It
even diminishes heat, that
brightness remains always and under
and
is fixed,
remain from the
will
-first
onlj-
one year of their
one year, the year of the sun. is
as
the year of to
if
its
In like
For Magdalion
Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury.
which
world
manner
endure from the
will
renewed.
will be
I
first
say there
the stars have fixity.
all
is
That
daughter.
But, now, in due course,
we must speak
of the oilier stars
coldness and red brightness, as, for instance, In this red brightness
rest.
But
be fallow.
or the stellar year, yielding place to the time of the year,
fire,
own
light, of
fixation,
Iliaster to the last Iliaster, .wh£rein the
if it
point of time to the latest in one shape
and appearance and one proportion of These have
to say,
is
circumstances.
all
is
the
in
moon,
in
which exist
and the
planets,
a different kind of rest from that in the sun.
For the moon has no fallow season, but simply dies and departs. The seed is left there, from which the new moon is born. And the generation is
only
of such a nature that it gains its power of increase from the sun. Whatever grows does so by force of the sun's heat, and without that heat nothing grows at all. When, therefore, the Creator made the moon after such a manner as that she should wane and wax, He did it for tiiis purpose, that the moon, like seed, should be united with the sun, and should thence acquire her power of increase. Thus it is that she increases and comes to fulness, and then afterwards wanes. For whatever increases, the same also decreases. As man by disease wastes away and dies, so the decrease of the moon is her sickness even to death, wherein she passes away, leaving onlv her seed behind.
The moon is, in fact, the phoenix of the firmament, from which, when it dies, a new one constantly Issues forth. So, in like manner, there are other stars, and they are made up of the redness of Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt. And there
is
a cold of Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, too, which has
\irtue from
which the sun, too, received
its
Thus
own.
its
it is
origin in that
that the
moon
has such strong influence over the earth on account of her coldness and her
She
humidity. of
but,
still
fire is
is
superior to
The other
fire.
all
the other stars in this element of the coldness
composed of these three primal elements
stars, too, are
For the cold
they are divided into nian\- parts.
divided into a thousand essences and natiu'cs.
produced winds circling over the entire globe like,
ha\
c tlieir origin.
if
Now,
ones.
A
stars are
others, snow, rain,
;
and
this
the stars there are
Since, therefore, cold has a nature which
should exist by forth
some
and the
could not otherwise
itself
warm
many
cold natures.
many more forms of effluence tlian heat. A warm man cold man is exposed to more misfortunes than twenty-
to the sun, the element of fire
come
to the earth
Therefore, in
cold produces
a healthy man.
warm
in
;
^:t'i
there were but one Magdalion, like the sun, possessing only a
single nature, heat.
is
the element
In truth, so manifold arc they, tiiat manifold natures
and virtues flow down from them be the case
in
;
Thus,
in
is
divided into
many
is
contrary and opposed
stars, so that eacii \irtue
without the impediment of another nature.
winds,
warm
showers,
warm
tempests,
From
these
and the
rest,
Concerning the Generations of the Elements, coruscations, dragons, lancese, and the like.
On
without ardour.
the other hand,
from accident, as the special chapters
on the properties of the
what
is
Vet,
these
all
217
are cold
fire,
warm and burns has its origin demonstrate. An entire section follows what
is
stars, as to the necessities they produce,
and giving
necessar)' for a description of their natures.
Concerning Winds.*
Through continually
the course of the globe, there are scattered
hx\\\v^
a circle and at the
firmament goes round the globe
fore, the
so the stars consist
lies therein,
Zedoch
in the
tlie
windy stars whicli
They surround Zedoch in same time embrace the globe above and below. As, there-
round their autumn and harvest.
Two
midst.
in its rotundity,
and the round globe
and the globes touch
the circle of Zedoch,
in
winds, therefore, proceed to the two sides, and
separate above and below, that
one part to the arctic and the other to the
is,
These stars are actual stars of the winds, because they blow upon us annually, and have their own year, which is the year of the winds. The other stars of the winds blow above and below us, not according to the antarctic pole.
year, but
sometimes they blow and sometimes
may
one region only, wherever that according to
its
and are without
be.
The
tlicy
do not, and infringe upon
true stars ot the winds
blow each
year continually, above and below, acroiss the whole globe,
without lightning, without
hail,
* Since ihc meteorological principles have
now been
frost,
^vithout coruscation.
abundatitly explained and recognised, the next thing
impart some information conccniing meteoric things generated, or
tlicir
generations.
But we
is
to
will first write of the rise
or generation of the winds, proceeding from their predestined circles.
There are four parts of the orb and circle of the The manner of the circles is as follows. As in the middle of the firmament there are placed two elemenL*;, earth and water, and the clement of air stands between the element of heaven and the lower globe -as, I say, the earth is placed in the middle, and the heaven surrounds it completely, so there proceeds or advances a circle transversely on a level in the middle of heaven, earth, and water, similarly surrounding. In the same way you will further note that heaven goes winds
one looks
;
to the east,
another to the west, a third lo the south, a fourth to the north.
.
round the world with a certain
If these are about to
predestinated winds. air.
may
IJut
.
.
In this circle stand the mother of the winds, and the places whence arise the
circle.
emerge from that
circle,
they blow upon the globe through the clement of
while they arc arriving at the rotundity of the terrestrial globe and dash upon
be either stirred up below the globe and impelled
globe to the dwellers on higher
;
or again
may
towards those
who
live
below
it, it is
us, or
possible that the winds
may
be driven above the
be divided and driven in either direction through the heights and
Thus the winds are impelled through the air beyond land and sea, and persist until they worn out by reason of the distance, the way, or the violent motion, etc. Each of these four parts has a nature peculiar and proper to itself, for the oriental part is warm and drj-, not being so on account of the sun, or because it the depths of the globe. arc
occupies the east, but because such a nature
is derived from the three prime principles. Therefore, also, in the true no other nature and operation are perceived than warm and dr^-. On the other hand, the west wind, by the setting of the sun. is cold and humid, not because it rL^cs from the west (for the complexion of the east and the west is one and the same), but because the matter of the winds has l>een created cold and humid in the west. From the north blow winds of a cold and dr>' nature, which they also impart to those regions, not that the winds
soutli-east
wind and
its satellites
The south wind is warm and accumulated there, or that moist and Iiumid places abound there, but because such is the peculiar nature of this wind, and it is imparted to the region that it occupies. For this Is to be observed, that the winds acquire no property from without, hut are tempered from themselves, and .ire not affected by their regions. The generations, therefore, of the winds are circular, from their proper nature. They are produced from their arc so affected by the regions, but the regions receive that nature from the winds.
humid, not because much water
is
stars, and the stars are their mothers. Stars of this kind are innumerable in the four quarters From these all the winds proceed. For although winds are also stirred up by the stars of rain or hail, yet they are not enumerated with the circle or the four cardinals. And since we have already spoken of the place .ind dispersion of the winds, because they flow from the farthest heaven across sea and land, it must now Le added that those stars have the power of generating winds, and disposing of them according lo their nature and quality. As a tree puts forth its fruit out of its internal nature, which consists in wood and marrow, so also the same is to be understood of the stars. But the seed of the winds is the first matter of the three principles, salt, sulphur, and liquor. These three arc the mothers from which are born those foetuses which we call winds. In the northern quarters they are of a cold and dr>*
nature
;
n.iti'.rc
of the thiee
in the south,
w.irm and humid
pri::>:iplc>, -^i
;
in the east,
arc their fruits.
warm and
dr>*
;
in the west, cold
Moreover, you must k'low
th.nt
and humid.
For as
is
the wind-; arise from ihtir stars
the
by
The Hermetic and Alchemical
2i8
lVriit7igs
of Paracelsus.
There are very many wliich surround the w hole Zedoch, like the Galaxy, and Concerning the elementary n;iture of is Deneas. Antiquity has gi\en to these stars it may be said that they are all humid. over against the Galaxy
these four
names which we
though not with the ancient interpretation. Zedoch
retain,
All those stars which are situated at the north throughout the entire
Censeturis
are called Boreas.
cold and congelated, that
dry and cold, yet not altogetlier dry.
is
humidity
is, its
coagulated, whence
is
it
It
is
appears dry.
Zephyrus comprises the western stars, all being humid and cold, but not congelated. So it is that by comparison with these Boreas is accounted dry, on account of its congelation. The other stars in Zedoch, Eurus and Auster,
As soon, however, as the winds issue forth from their stars, they become warm by the sun whose beams they pass through, and thus they are held to be warm, which they are not by their own nature. Eurus is The sun consumes the humidity which it accounted di*y, but is not so. are altogether cold.
possesses until
it
Auster
'cannot take away. not take av/ay so
to that moisture contained within
comes
much
of
called humid,
is
humidity as
its
vented by the sea, which supplies
So Auster with
consumption.
its
to
and
is
That
case of Eurus.
in the
the
which the sun
it,
so because the sun does
sun
is
moisture for
sufficient
preits
humidity bursts forth on us throughout the
lower and the upper part of the globe. rule of time
and season.
For they retain the
proportion to the distance they have travelled
and
if it
be impregnated with sulphur
TIic south wind at
its
it
Tlie variaiions of their strength are in
nattirc of the three principles. .
.
.
Borcis
is
produces sulphureous maladies
proper season, namely, in spring,
is
by the summer but not by the winter stars, if wiih s;dt, it dries up and cracks the skin. These risings of the winds we arc able to so do all boiling substances, whether drj^ or
affected ;
most healthful.
Water boiling in a jar emits a wind ; Moist coction, as of water, produces a moist wind the dry coction which is known to the alchemists occasions a dry wind. There is no other generation of the winds than when the three principles are set in motion and driven to This action produces wind, and imposes its oVn nature thereon, whether warm, cold, their work by Vulcan. humid, or dr>-. We must understand that God lias cunstiluted a generation of llic finname.it of such a nature that the three principle*; should generate and produce all things in their places to which they were ordained by God. and prove by a terrestrial example.
humid.
;
Above
should by their operations tend lowardj> the centre of the ear:h.
all
things,
therefore,
it
is
necessarj' that the
These three princiijles are all of an igneous nature till they arrive at Sulphur is a fiic which burns salt nitre burns also and it is in like thfir operation, that is, at their ultimate matter. manner with mercur>'. Now, fire cocks wind, and in the generation of v.-inds the stars are vials and cucurbttes, containing in themselves meteoric sulphur, mercury, and salt, which operate in these phials by means of our ethereal From earthly Vulcan. From these ethereal operations ethereal works are produced, such as the winds. . examples we understand the operations of the firmament, not, indeed, according to one grade, for as the heaven is three principles should be rightly recognised.
;
;
•
.
and as the heaven has more of clarity than has earth of grossncss, operation. That \\ hich is unseen by the eye is judged analogically by But you must know that the hour and time of the generation of those winds must be things which the eye beholds. fundamentally understood by .astronomy and all its branches. If the winds blow, they advance to places suited for them. Much concordance produces strong wind. To frequently concord and generate is frequently to excite winds. Many species and a strong Vulcan generate mighty and violent winds, which root up trees and demolish houses. For the wind is, according to its own nature, as corporeal, and substantial as stone or any matter hurled down from a higher than the earth, so also so
great height.
And
stronger
is it
much more sublimely graded and
intense
although a stone
is
;
is its
one body and wind
is
another, yet the latter
destruction, for therein are invisible as well as visible corporeities created
by God, diverse
is
in
capable of great bodily
appearance but equal in
Concerning the origin of winds it is then to be concluded that they are generated in windy stars above, and by the operation of Vulcan they are matured at their proper time, w hen they dash forth into the centre of the globe, transforming all obstacles into their own nature and property. As Boreas coagulalcs, so the south wind dissolves, the But if they east preserves, the west putrefies. They perform their operation according to their implanted nature.
virtue.
blow
at those times
Among
when
removed from them and modified, they effect nothing of importance. upon the waters of the sea, stirring up tempests, and so enters through the depths of the sea into the earth itself, whence it again issues
their innate malice is
other things, the wind exercises great force
penetrating through everything that
through mountains, caverns, cause of such occurrences.
Liher MeU-yrntn,
c. 5.
etc.
Wind
it
In this
way
tremblings of the earth are generated, although this is not the sole all stones, all metals, and all things without exception.—
has the power of penetrating
Conceridug the Gejterations of the Elanents. As
how wind
to
proceeds from the stars, this must be held to be the
As the sun pours
method.
219
its
heat on the world, so
in
these stars there
is
no
other nature and property except to produce winds, which are decocted from
Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, and issue forth accordinj^^ to Adech. daily, hourly,
is
the respective
Their wind
blowing gently and peacefully over the whole world.
winds must he learnt
in
So
the course of our exposition as to the
other windy stars.
CONXERXING THE TEMPERATE StARS. Zedoch.
The
following-
Every star has Cold
a certain amount of
it
parent of
the
is
in
theory concerning the stars
the
is
all
produces winds with
cold
The
like.
truth
that
is
all
The mode
in
which
all
• is
The philosophy concerning
the firmament.*
winds,
and
intermittent all
hail
and the
temporary,
proceed
quarters' out of particular stars.
winds are generated beget their
some
that
is
some with snow, some with
not from Zedoch, but are collected from
frigidity the stars periodically
in
This causes winds.
But the nature of cold
winds. rain,
frigidity.
is
as follows
:
— By
own vacuum, which
is
means of
manifold
in
the stars in the firmament and, generally, concerning the constitution of heaven,
discussed elsewhere at greater length by Paracelsus, and in connection with the four elements, as follows
:
Of
the
Man has need of these. But they are divided into four complexions, has been said that they are four. which arc by no means as the ancients have imagined them, as, for example, that the earth is cold and dr>*. This is w ithout foundation certainly in some places it is cold and dr>*, but in others it is cold and wet, while in yet others it is dements
it
;
warm and
Nevertheless,
dry.
it is
an element, that
is,
the mother of fruits
the mother of these things, not on account of the complexion.
be cold and humid.
The
case
It ought certainly to be humid, but not equally cold.
an element, inasmuch as it is same with water. This is specified to At the same time, that humidity is often dry is
It is called
the
and warm, by reason of the virtue. The body itself, in its corporal nature, is humid. The earth is dry, so that its fruit can be con-jcivcd in it ajid come forth from it. So. also, the heaven is not of one complexion, but of many complexions. It is
not
fire,
now
fire,
but
cold,
is
understood as
now warm,
to one complexion.
etc.
beciusc it proceeds therefrom. The fire thereof is at times a water, at others a mast consider, therefore, that the elements are only matrices, nor .ire they restricted
fire,
Wc
For, as the offspring
is,
so
from a flammula, and solatrum from solatrum.
and sustain man and
is
that which generated and produced
it.
Thus, a flammula proceeds
Accordingly, hearken concerning these things.
It pcrt.iins to the earth
growing things. Hence it is clear that the earth is necessarily compact anct not water, perspicuous and impalpable as air, He.iven is without complexion and yet not air. Such a body is the sun, such i> the moon, and such are the other stars. For as fire has a certain corporality, so the element of fire, and the matrix out of which fire is generated and grows. have heaven and the stars, which take their nature and substance from he.iyen. Consider, therefore, that such corporality is derived from heaven, the peculiar quality thereof, and the very element of fire ; and whatsoever fire is about to do. the s.ime is performed liy heaven, whence fire proceed-^. But wc must make inquiry cjnccrning the colour of he.iven. to bear
his dwelling-place, as also rocks, stones, sands,
and
all
2
20
Hermetic and Alchciiiical Writings of Paracelsus.
Tilt
Hut as to the winds, the following
character.
have
stars
the received theory.
is
The
emunctories, by means of which they excrete those
own
their
The duration of the purpose of emptying. The stars
things produced in them to wliich the emunctories refer.
wind is as long as that required for the Zedoch perform this process of emptying every day, and raise up winds in the world for moderating the heat of the sun and dispersing the cold in the They mitigate both heat and cold, and are the frigid portions of the eartli.
most perfect moderators of summer and of winter alike. A\'hen these winds do not obviate such a result chaos is frozen just Hke water. The reason why water is frozen is that the winds of Zedoch do not penetrate it. They penetrate There is wo other use of chaos, and therefore do not allow it to be frozen. winds except to mitigate each season of the year, and
to
moderate
their
damage.
excesses, which might otherwise do
The common i-jature of all the stars comprised in the sky and ment is that, every day, nay, every hour and moment, they exude.
the firnia-
For the
stars attract to themselves the heat of the sun, just as the fruits of the earth
absorb the same.
That
of
e.-irth
and yet
solar heat causes the stars to be resolved from their
Whatsoever
tends towards black.
colour alike through gree;i,
The
all
things.
can be called
it
corresponds with both.
The
all
case
Its colour,
these. is
the
is
of another colour therein belongs to muiera.
however, has no name,
Earth, too,
same with
is
for
it
is
really neither black nor purple,
air. wliich is
So water has
its
ow n
neither white, nor grey, nor blue, nor
pure and pellucid
and yet up to a certain point it and yet is neither white,
in chaos,
So also heaven has its special colour- like blue, etc., while it is still p^tially assimilated to these. For elementary bodies and yet none of the^^e colours is present therein otlierwise than apparently. are so formed as to have no perfect coloijr by which they may be named. But the things which are produced from them have their distinct, determinate colours, and to these names can be given. Thus, many colours are produced from the From elements, and they are therefore composed of many, even of tliat number winch they prodnce from themselves. the earth proceed blue, red, black, etc., while from water all colours come forth, and so also from air and heaven. Accordingly, colours are collected from many into one, lieaped together and mixed, and such mixture produces no express, determinate, and dennite colour. Give heed to an example taken from heaven and its fruits. For ye sec that everything which grows from the earth has its palpable foot and root, as are trees and herbs, etc. lint the stars are the fruits of heaven, yet they do not put forth their roots in heaven, for they stand innnovable below the heaven, without any support or attachment. Larth and heaven are opposite in this respect - one yields its fruits with roots, the other without; one tends nor blue, nor citrine, like red, like green,
upwards, the other downwards, and as fishes rest upon nothing, and. without feet, swim about in the water, so in like manner, stars swim about in the heaven, that is, in the body of heaven, preserving that order which God has prescribed them, some moving at a liigcr.soine at alower,level,at different distances apart, and with a quicker or slower motion. The details of this question must be referred to astronomers, but this, at least, should be remembered, that he.avcn is a body which, like water, is
also dry.
It is
is
capable of sustaining a swimming
tiling, yet
it
not strictly swimming, but has analogy therewith
is ;
not water, but dry, while that which floats in it is
not going or running, since
it is
it
not effected
by hands or feet it is the miraculous work of God, and an element which contains and includes all the rest, and drives them in a round or a circle. The stars were born from heaven, and stand therein as if they flew like a bird through the Having been once formed, air, according to the order and circle, even as God has destined and formed them to motion. they henceforth remain for ever the same. The trees and fruits of the earth fall and are re-born. The stars can Whatever else is formed in the elements is eaten away by mould, perish once only, namely, at the end of the world. moth, and death. It is only the st.ars of the celestial heaven which remain in immunity, and yet their fruits rise and fall, But they have a unique and special colour, which is fiery. Thus, earth chiefly displays greenness, as rain, snow, etc. though it has .also other colours. The sun is peculiar in colour, .and if the same be igneous, it is not after the manner Wc must repeat concerning fire that it has been enumerated as one of the of wood, but of an element ;
The earth, indeed, exhibits itself as an element, water in like manner, and But consider the fourth element. This cannot be fire, for it confers nothing elemental and no fruits upon man, nor does it possess any affinity with man, or vice vcrsny but it has an altogether fatal power, whereby the soul is It is, therefore, necessary- that heaven should be regarded as the fourth element, for this is separated from the body. akin to man, nor can man dispense therewith, where.is he can dispense with fire and can live without it. The possibility of his dispensing with fire shews that it is not an element, but such rather is th.at heaven which brings forth day and night, summer and winter, increasing all fruits, and helping the other elements. The Scripture states that God created In heaven are the other elements, and even as the jar is m.ide ready before the wine is tJic heaven and the earth first. pressed out, so the clement of he.ivcn is in reality the first element, which we ha%e here named for the fourth. — / ihcr elements, but with manifest absurdity. so also
air.
AU'tcoriiHiy c.
I.
,
Concerning the Generations of This resolution
frigfidit}'.
221
one and the same with that of a cold stone,
is
which exudes on account of the vapour which
and
Elements.
th(^
That vapour
has acquired from Mercury,
it
elementatcd bodies.
For as man, by natural exercise and the process of excretion, purges the phlejjm from his nostrils, so do the stars also and all the elements undergo these Sulpluir,
Salt.
excretions. This vapour flows
During the day
earth.
down
to the earth
down
all
every day from the stars, and
frozen,
is
it
nothing else than the exudation of the stars
thus
falls
its
it
on the glides
Through
and becomes hoar-frost. in
the
This
the whole firmament, which
For as boiling water evaporates upwards towards
drop by drop.
the skv, or sends
called dew.
is
falls
But by night
the sun.
the sun rises, and
before
winter, or during a cold autumn, is
in
consumed by
is
it
exists
dew on
high, so the stars send their exudation
down-
wards.
CoxcrRNiNG Nebula
is
former only water, and
dew.
A
Nebula the
to
is
nothing else but a vapour of
is
it
falls to
like
this
kind,
while not yet quite matured,
in this, that
When
stars.
Nnnui-.E.
the earth like hoar-frost,
smoke.
It
it
it is
rests
differing
from the
excreted by certain
on the earth and the
cannot be completely resolved into hoar-frost or
certain part of the vapour passes into dew, the rest into nebula.
imperfect
earth
dew which has
and vanishes.
not yet fully matured.
But
descends to a higher region of
its
if
it
is
If
it is
thin
it
falls
dense, but not yet prepared,
own, where
it
is
it
consumed by the sun.
it be mixed with rain-clouds, then rain' is produced from it, but more subtle kind than other rain. \'ery often nebulae of this nature descend and produce a spell of rainy weather. F"or if the stars are rainy
If,
however,
of a
they cannot be resolved into dew, but only into nebula. they bring clear weather, the cause in its preparation,
•
and
Earth
is
eye can penetrate
fectly puri^ed that nothing foreign is
the clearest of all the elements,
snow,
But
that the nebula, being
sometimes more subtle
if
disappears on the surface of the globe.*
LLick, gross rough, clayey, impure, dirty,
clear, so that the
is
can be seen in it. yet a body, which
it is
hail, the thundcrlwlt, etc., for
Water is more subtle, pure, The air is completely pellucid and intangible, so perHeaven is, however, by far superior to the air, but, though it and nothing could be cruder.
far into its depths.
is
proved by the fact that
a body can only be generated from a body.
its fruits
arc bodies, such as rain,
But inasmuch as the heaven is more subtle than the earth, so .are its fruits in comp.arison. and not only in subtlety but in operation. We have said enough of the he.aven, but there remains something to be imparted concerning the st.ars and their risings. The stars bear the same relation to the sky as do trees to earth. But whereas trees have their roots in the earth, the stars are without foundation in heaven. The reason is this trees do not need to be removed from the place where they are planted, but the stars must describe their orbit, for which reason they are separated from the heaven, while at the same time they are in the heaven. .-Vt the same lime, they do not remove from their own mansions any more than the tree from its garden. Now. so often as there is a new genus among trees, there is likewise a new genus among stars. The s.ime must be understood of herbs and all things that grow on the earth. Growing things correspond exactly to the number of influences and stars. Every genus corresponds to its like. But as some trees produce pears and others apples, so some stars yield rain, others snow, hail, etc., and in this fashion is generated whatsoever falls from heaven. The qualities which are specialised on earth exist more strongly in the heaven, liecause that element is superior to earthly things. And .as the magnet attracts towards itself, so also the stars attract in the heaven. Accordingly, as certain natures on earth are dr>' and others humid, so throughout the whole firm.ament some stars are drier than others. Concerning the operations of the stars, they are produced out of congenital properties, and they arise from the three prime principles. That meteorology is false which makes absurd statements about the heat of the sun, of its motion, or other modes of generation, m.ade by attr.action from the earth. There is no star which attfacts rain, and then again pours it down. The operation of rain proceeds from a nature congenital thereto. Even summer and winter are produced from the stars, the sun l)cing supreme among thost- dfthe rnlorific kind, which arise at the l>eg!nninc of summer, and :
CONCERXIXG METALS, MINERALS AND STONES FROM THE UPPER REGIONS.
TEXT
I.
Concerning Metals.*
^y^HE
metals which come from the upper regions derive their origin from
J^
suns,
They metal
There are many
But these planets are manifold.
the seven planets.
many moons, many Marses,
Mercuries, Jupiters, and Saturns.
are only called seven because they produce seven metals, and one kind of is
ascribed to each planet.
point out are they
;
and they are
in error
Those are not planets which
when they assign
unanimous among themselves
in v/hat
the astronomers
these to the metals
From
they do say.
kinds of planets proceed the seven metals, and they are the same three, just as in the element of water.
The only
difference
three they are volatile, not fixed, in their species.
which are found do not stand the
test of the
lower metals.
the lower metals stand the test of the superior ones.
are strengthened
by
their
own
heat
till
they reach the supreme grade,
winter stars rise in their turn, display their
The varying
The moon
is
chief
among
way
summer
is
is
not one and
when again they gradually
are occasioned
the stars of winter, and
first
the metals
Neither, again, do
There
nature, afterwards die out, and are succeeded
cold of winter and the varj'ing heat of
respective stars.
summer
own
nor
In the first
that in the
is
In this
:
these seven
by mutations
fail.
Then
the
by another summer. in
the potency of the
furnished with no small escort.
Were
the
would be no summer, for the sun, whether high or low, dispenses an even heal. Unless, therefore, the summer stars were to arrive, perpetual winter would prevail. The summer stars, however, derive their increment from the sun. So, also, we must not assign a diverse origin to day and night. The day arises from the light of the sun, but the night from the light of the moon. The dep.^rture of the sun by no means causes night. It Is the peculiar nature of certain stars to produce darkness, which is so gross tliat unless the moon interfered with her presence, nothing whatever would be \isiblc. Such a course, therefore, has God imposed upon the stars, that, going round the whole firmament, they retain their order and continual progress. For lest they should cease, or have a general holiday, God ha,> ordained that when some are absent, others arc present to fulfil their operations. So the nocturnal stars t.ike the place of the receding sun. The bodies of the three prime principles arc the cause of those bodies whence day and night proceed. Tlic sun is a perspicuous and diaphanous salt, clarified and extracted from these principles, being purified from all obscurity. Its brilliancy has been extracted from the mass of the first matter of heaven. And whereas that is a white brilliancy which has been digested into the sun, so has a red into the moon and stars. The transparency and perspicuity of the white were extracted in sulphur, salt, and liquor, to make the sun thereof. Afterwards the brilliance of the red was put into a body of sulphur. Thus salt is the body of the sun, sulphur that of the moon, while liquor is the body of darkness. -Jpid., c. 3. ' Metallic natures also subsist in the element of fire, for as in hctvcn there arc stones, so also there arc metals, but differentiated beyond all recognition from those of earth. Fiery tlnniderbolts, with their corruscalions. are only stars to fail, there
all iron or steel, fluxiblc as copper, mixed with colours, and formed like a thunderbolt. Their fall some miraculous conjunction of elements, which produces them in bodily form. Many marvellous matters are carried up into the heaven and fall down to us. If it were possible for the stars of mercurj-, salt, and
metals, harder than is
solely
owing
to
sulphur to be joined in a like copulation, several impressions of this kind would fall hourly. things is not favourable herein. e.\rept in the c.^'^e of ih? thunderbolt.— ZJri' Mi-tccn's, I,ib. II.
I'ut ilie disposition
of
Concerning the Generations of the Elements. the
same
ductility,
or
again, there
still
and nature of
same
to the earth at the
such metals
lie
there
;
found amongst
stars,
some
And
not from the element of water.
and are rounded
fire,
a few
in
have come down from the seven
is
kidneys.
For
there, in the element of
purges
itself
entirely.
the stars, and
is in
according to
fire, is
its
These metals, just
own
among
the seven
the stars, and
lie
all
;
come
forth just like
have come down from thence.
and coagulates of
like those in the
are,
above them or not But where they are
no rudeness or density to mix stars,
and fewer
whatever kind they
whether they
neither their source nor their root, but they
Their origin
Many
effluxes.
come down from
and the earth strikes against them just as rivers do. found
the
down from
earth, so that these meials are not
like pulse, of
stars,
So,
is
the metals which are coagulaled-
all
shape
other.
which
in .Africa,
those grains, however, which are
.All
fire,
and similar
in .Asia,
These stars do not reach our us.
the
in
the seven stars, which also falls
all
metals, and are rough in external appearance,
without
one as
a distinct difference in them.
is
time, just like rain
under their own
Europe.
in
colour
in
a volatile nature of this kind in the element of
is
metallic operation
them
or hardness in the
fliixibility,
Neither are they uniform
22-^
itself up.
itself
It
purely and
element of water, exist
in
com-
mixture with Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, save that the igneous metals have not a watery fixation, just as the aqueous metals have not a firmamental fixation.
TEXT When, star
li.
then, the three primals have completed their effect in the metallic
— as when,
in the star
of the sun, a composition has been formed of the
Mercury of the sun with the solar Sulphur and
Salt, then they are digested
who shapes therefrom the form of his own gift. throws off its efflux, warm and liquefied, as if from
into a perfect metal, by .Adech,
Then some
at length the star
This
shaken
in falling, is coagulated in the cold, and lights same way, also, the star of the moon makes a composition of Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt. When these are brought to their effect (just as in the case of the sun) it casts them forth. The same thing takes place It must be remarked, howwith Saturn, Mars, \'enus, Mercury, and Jupiter.
furnace.
upon the globe.
is
In the
ever, that out of the seven kinds of the seven stars, each
three primals of one metal the seven are latent.
The names of
the seven metals, therefore, bear reference
to the seven metals not of the earth but of the stars
many
liquids fall
one embraces the
not as in the element of water, where in one Ares
;
down from
the stars, being not yet
same way,
In the
m
too,
a state of coagulation.
If the
earth be moistened with these, a brightness rises thence like cachimiae,
talcs,
and sometimes marcasites, though
it
does not
from any of these, nor perfectly bears reference inferred that the superior
to the
fully
perfectly arise
Hence
it
metals excel those of the lower earth by
degrees, in goodness, in purity, and in nature, and so in
greater praise.
and
same.
all
will
be
many
respects deserve
3
Tlic Hervietic
24
and Alchonical
TEXT
IV)
of Parace/sits.
ifiiis^s
III.
Concerning Stones from Above.*
same way
In the
there are also other stars which cast forth from them-
selves gems, granates,
and other forms of stones.
For Sulphur,
Salt,
and
Mercury in the element of fire possess a powerful force for generating gems. There are many stars which consist of ruby Sulphur, many of sapphire Salt, and many which are powerful in emerald Mercury. There are also stars which contain the primals of copper, appear rainy.
this kind
From
If
Hence, many of
alum.
vitriol, salt, or
these are prepared they
manifest themselves;
these stars are generated sapphires of lazurium.
There, Salt
body, solidly coagulated with pure Sulphur and with the
Mercury
In the emerald
copper.
It
colours of
has
its
is
spirit
is
the
of Mercury.
the body, having the nature but not the body of
colour but not
body from copper.
its
gems which proceed from
fire
In this way, all the
are found in proportion to the nature
and condition of the three primals which are found united in the ratio of For instance, in copper there is redness. But these colours in the metals. three primals, silver, if
body In
they have not a metallic bod}-, become green.
produced
;
from
So, from iron, a red
lead, the
;
;
;
like
colours,
manner,
also,
if
only the
such as are conspicuous
lightly or
deeply impressed.
Mercury
marked by many
is
Sulphur has for
its
;
is
of Jupiter; the jacinth in
it
produces various either
which comes only from
that
That which
colours, saffron, red, etc.
ver)'
their
rare,
is
is
and those which are of a
Thus, the emerald
a golden stone
the sapphire lazurius
are generated
predominates,
certain stones, purple or blue,
from
is
prevailing colours, white, red, saflVon, black, ccerulean,
nature are exceedingly precious.
carbuncle or jasper
Salt in
Equally, too,
These stones are
and so on.
stones
is
from Jupiter, a clay-coloured one mixed with same from gold, a purple body from mercury, one that is saffron-coloured.
from
;
wliite
if
the metallic body be wanting, lazurium
;
stars,
;
;
the
chalcedony are iron
the white sapphire
is
a stone
After this manner, then, stones
a mercurial stone.
own
a copper stone
is
the ruby and
a silver stone
metalliir
which closely adjoin the planets, and then
are ejected, just as metals are ejected, and so are found in the
ftiest
parts of
the earth, according to the ratio of their generation.
• In the heigtit of ihe firm.-inicnt stand
tlie tliree
principles from
colour.
generated thoy
fall.
Although
this be considered wonderful, rare,
arise. These are so high and however, the green which is their
which impressions
we cannot behold their form, and yet they have a form. Hence it is gathered that in the element of fire generations of
so lofty that
We
see.
But where stones are more frequently happens in the
stone also take place.
and unheard
of,
it
The generations of these stones take place .is follows. If the piinciples of thunderhohs arc present, any number of thunderbolts may be generated, for with every pe.al there is a stone. The matter of such stones exists first of all in an .tcrial condition, and is afterwards coagulated into an earthy one, so that the air can retain them no Furthermore, the matter of these stones may collect into one place in the longer, and they ultimately fall to the earth. absence of any tempest, but it will remain aerial until it comes in cont.act with a contrary nature, when it will at once Ivcgin to coagulate and to fall, even as a clot^d is precipitated downward in the form of ra\n.—IHd,
sea than with us.
"'•Z
Concerning the Generations of the Elements.
TEXT
225
IV.
Concerning Crystals and Beryls.
Of crystals and beryls it should be known that they are generated from snowy stars, which produce snow, in the following manner In the snowy stars, the power of congelation is so strong that sometimes they are of a that is, one and the same star contains within it both snow double nature and congelation, and so becomes twofold. Now, a star of this nature, which has gained at the same time the power of congealing and also of producing snow, easily generates the crj-stal, the citrine, and the beryl. For, if snow falls, and frost accompanies it, and, moreover, a place be given to him on the the
:
;
globe where Boreas predominates, while the sun or the solar nature does not prevail strongly, then the water
Now,
coagulated into a stone.
midway, while the snow on the globe. frost
is
which
falling,
is
in
combination with the snow
water
this
if
is
stones are formed from
Thus, large or small granules are found
has caught the snow
in falling.
But,
if
sudden, the frost collects and drives together
snow, which, however, of the earth, and
is
when
not it
itself
however, does not again liquefy
and that because
it
is
has not been so
the water contained in the
there, coagulates
it
like other frozen bodies,
derived from snow-water.
into
nor
is
This,
ice.
is it
Other waters,
dissolved, it
is
true,
dissolved with them.
extracted from the snow.
is
snow remains, happens only through
that the
fall
this seizing all
Here, this should not take place, but the water fact
before they
proportion as the
which are frozen, are partly snowy, but the snow
The
it
in
snow, into one centre towards the bottom
massed
is
is
caught by an intense frost
the
snowy
star,
wherein, also, the power of congelation subsists, so, that, wherever they meet in
one place on the earth, the snow
the intention or operation.
In
is
not liquefied, but goes on to the end of
snows of
this
kind
arje
produced stones, such
as crystals and the like, pure and dark together, for this reason, because S.S. of Mercury and Salt have clarified and purified themselves. crystals, beryls,
snowy.
and
citrines of this
The reason of
regions and have fallen
snow-water.
But
their
this
is,
down
sort, are
found
Very
in places
often, too,
which are not
that they have been coagulated in the higher
in that
form.
They
are nothing but coagulated
shape and species and angularity are bestowed upon
that in proportion as the Salt in
them
exists in a subtle or a dense state.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE GENERATION OF THE ELEMENTS.
BOOK THE THIRD. Concerning the Element of Earth.
TEXT
I.
Concerning the Earth, Per
TO
Se.
philosophise concerning the element of earth,
made on if
the following principle
matter was
its
first
primals were separated, as
Its three
:
out of the great Iliaster, from the two primal elements into another
form and nature, so that but the element of water
the beginning not only the element of earth,
in
was segregated, and these were
together into one globe, which these two elements,
first
concerning the earth,
it
is
From
the centre of the exterior elements.
the earth
should be
after\vards joined
was completed, afterwards
known
that
all
the water.
But
the force and nature which
lay hid in the Great Iliaster for nourishing not only
man, but
cattle,
by means
of food and other necessaries, were collected into the element of earth, and
consisted of
all
trees,
herbs, and other growths.
But they were so divided element of earth
from the other three elements that
this virtue exists in the
any other element.
Therefore this Iliaster
alone,
and not
in
For
element of earth so as to afford aliment.
and
is,
an element, because therein consist
all
this
is
peculiar to the
cause the earth
the force and
is
called,
power of nourish-
ing things which are due to living beings.
TEXT
— Sulphur,
II.
—
and Mercury are the earth, taken out of For the great Iliaster, out of that nature which is the element of earth. there the element and the three others were one Iliaster, in which the four These three
elements existed. Iliaster
was
Salt,
They were, however, divided one from
divided.
the other, and the
Nevermore, then, can the four elements from hence-
forth be joined or stand together, but each subsists separately by itself in
own
place.
Those, therefore, labour
in
four elements, or to seek besides these a
vain
who endeavour
fifth
essence.
its
to separate the
Concerning the Gerierations of the Elements.
From
was made heaven, the
did separation bring
end
it
such form as
in
fire,
trees, herbs, fungi, so that
genera which had been
from
silently
In this element of earth
in
invisibly
is
and
it
should be included
it
should be procreated
sown and had
the
And
seen.
is
as
will
was hidden
all
world
in the
lain hid within
the virtues of
the seed of wood, of roots, of herbs,
and pleasure of
rises,
and
formed and planted
is
The seed
cultivator.
its
proceeding from the nature of the element, which alone
as the abode and seat of the same, in which
But originally that force
is
those
all
it.
III.
whereby the stem
of fungi, and also the force the
now
the firmament, the water, the sea, etc., so
TEXT
according to
it
about that this element should pass into matter and
a globular form, and that
in
was
these three primals, disjoined from the other elements,
matter of the earth produced, the air
227
separated into
its
it is
own
is
here
that seed,
is
elaborated and prepared.
genus, so that the two do
not remain joined in one, but each genus exists solely and separately, one in
wood, a second
Each of
a third in fungus.
in the herb,
these, again, passes
separately, this into cedar, that into anthos, this, again, into balsam, into botin.*
thorns
Of
herbs, too, one passes into mcligia, another into a
— and so with
the rest.
understood according to
But
in
order that this seed
distribution,
its
it
may
and that lily
should be remarked that
separation of the great Aniadus the nature of trees
was
with
be rightly in
the
collected into one
place, botin into
a second, and ebony into a
Equally, too, the
great Aniadus so disposed of herbs that into one portion
of earth
was
third.
cast grass, into a second trefoil, and
For so to each land
is
given
its
own
herb,
and
its
So, too, with others.
into a
own
third lavendula.
We
tree.
should
pay attention to what has been the distribution made by the Aniadus.
TEXT .As to
why
the .Aniadus thus
fell
IV.
among
trees so that in one soil should
be produced the orange, in a second the plum, in a third the fourth acorns, the cause
orange require their
may
soil to
fig,
be supposed to have been that the
fig
and
in
a
and the
be of a peculiar kind which should be favourable
to their increase, just as they also require
an appropriate climate.
If
—
now
the
and the fir, there exist two kinds of sulphur one passes away into coagulation, the other and is not coagulated. From the sulphur which is su^eptible of coagulation, the wood of the trees is prepared, and the some abounds in salt. It is owing to this sulphur that wood bums, and it goes on burning so long as there is sulphur in it. Whatsoever remains is s,ilt, and this is in the form of ashes. .\nd that truly is salt which the sulphur in trees coagulates into wood, whence glass is made. For salt is fluid. And this glass is the ultimate matter of any salt of wood whatsoever. But the other sulphur which is not susceptible of coagulation gives terebinth, resin of the fir and pine, which inheres chiefly in the wood, and by reason of its subtlety penetrates through the pores outside the bark, either by liquefaction or by a natural resolution. The sulphur which is in botin is more subtle than the sulphurs of the fir or pine, while that of the pine is more subtle than that of the fir. But all three are of one generation, proceeding from the ^Vniadus. which is united through Mercurj-. The bark is nothing else but sulphur coagulated after the manner of resin, and it is educed into this form by the .\niadus. For it is a hard congealed sulphur. And as there is no outside in any body without hardness, so is the bark formed from the hardest parts of the sulphur which exists in a growing thing. The branches, the shoots, etc., as also the fruits, proceed, in like manner, from the .Aniadus, and derive their special form and character therefrom. This is to be understood also concerning other trees. De Ettmtnto Terra, * In the botin, the pine,
is
sep.iratcd therefrom,
Tract
11..
Tex
I.
Q2
The Hermetic and Alchemical Wi-itings of Paracelsus.
2 28
be unsuitable and the climate ill-adapted, the one
soil
emerge, but it
its
fruit
or the other cannot
be present there and
in the earth,
lie
nevertheless, dried
is,
it
climate and oppressed by the unfavourable constitution of the varied by the variety of the climate, not by
everywhere one; but either encourages or
genus of
lilies,
or
own
its
and change accrue
varietj'
to
it
;
the cause
is
why
it
to
come
The sun burns up
work
less
is
than suffices for
:
unless perchance
Thus
fertility.
in
V.
But we must proceed with our philosophy of the earth. ceeding from the element of earth are twofold. of itself or by
means of
element out of the
In this
seed.
two wa3's
soil in
;
way
that
is
The
all
earth puts forth a herb which springs from
Here the
and not proper. wheat, nor
lily,
gifts of
itself.
The
fruits pro-
earth either produces
them
growths are produced by the from the proper seed
to say, either
or from seed entrusted to the earth.
soil,
The proper seed is when the Seed that is sown is foreign
herbs are twofold.
Neither spelt, nor
nor pear-tree, nor anything of this kind, grows spontaneously
out of the earth, but
all
If neitTier spelt
Here the philosophy of
have to be sown.
deep, to find out whence
itself.
is
This material
would not otherwise be forthcoming.
soil,
TEXT
is
is
of planting, herbs and trees are produced which, on account of the
aforesaid defect in the
of the
is
the
but this rarely happens, for the seed
to a condition of vigour
happens that the force of the sun
the
soil
the sun cannot burn up the whole genus of this or that
flower or tree, but allows it
which
from the climate, which
impedes the growths themselves.
some other genus
up by the
soil,
For the
nature.
ready to hand, which Nature produces from the tree or flower. seed
For though
seed of necessity perishes and never bursts forth.
come those seeds which do not
this treatise
issue from the earth
nor wheat be sown, none of these things will be pro-
Herbage and grass, therefore, are and cherry trees. So there remains another philosophy by which we learn whence are produced spelt, whence apple trees and pear trees. You must know that the seeds of all these growths are propagated from Paradise, sown outside it, then planted and cultivated far and wide. These fruits of Paradise come to be understood in the But herbage and grass do grow. growths of the earth itself, not like apple
duced.
same way
as
we understand
that Christ
TEXT As
known
to the
trees
was God and
yet a mortal man.
VI.
method whereby the seed passes
its shoot, it must be more than its increment from Paradise, and is taught in the
into
that the seed takes from the earth nothing
The other is and formative power. Paramirum.* But as to how much of an element
is
taken from the earth,
is
threefold
;
th.at is,
the seed
is
one, but three substances exist and
grow
But even as the its seed, and not divided, but the same is a conjunction of unity. An illustration may be t.tken from trees, which have their bark, their wood, and their roots, which are distinct in themselves, and yet co-exist in a single sttd.— Paramirufn • Everj' seed
seed appears one, so are these three to be understood as one only. ,
Lib. II.,
c.
I.
Ever>' individu.il thing
therein.
is
united in
Concerning the Generations of the Elements. that
may
be understood from the fact that
for
it,
itself,
and becomes that which
afterwards,
From
has
It
its
which
skin,
its
has
It
whereof
the lesion
its
From
stalk.
This shoot or growth
are the root.
for
Out of
ornament, as
is
its
For the seed
growth,
is
that which
this,
has
It
its
hair,
like
disease.
which
sense in the stalk,
its
and flowers and fruit are power of speech. Gums are
Philosophise as
we
will
about
Aniadic nature, which arranges
its
death and passing away are the period of
growing
twenty years.
decay
the element of
is
Whatever
its
After that time
it
A
years.
all
the
is left in
That
fire.
field
is,
fire
Thus a shoot or a
dies.
destroys wood,
it
had never grown
there, as
it is
tree
death.
its
Its
leaves, grass.
decaying and passing into rottenness
by the sun and the movement of the galaxy, so that earth than as though
Its
pear-tree will stand
earth dies according to the time appointed for
in the
a
Its leaves
hearing, vision, and the is
head and
its
mind,
its
is
forms and directs them into their essence for which they were created.
for ten or
of
is
from
;
After this appear the flowers and
the bark.
is
nothing more than
this is
is
the root
formed by the great Aniadus, and
figure, its signs,
excrement, and the parasite
first
the root and stalk issue forth the branches.
followed by death.
man
in
the end destined
tends towards
proceeds
this
these three burst out the leaves.
fruits.
man.
the
it
before.
it is
but not yet manifested.
beginning the three primals
in the
of the earth mix with the seed, so that
229
consumed
is
no more
left
happens to wood
on the the
in
Thus are growing things consumed and eaten away so that no relic remains, but all are removed like dust. The very remnants are so dispersed
fire.
by a strong wind that not a fragment survives and remains at the expiration of a year.
TEXT
VII.
and vegetables are produced out of the power of this element should before all else be learnt because some growing things are food and aliment, as vegetables and fruits others are drink, as grapes and berberis others purge the body, like turbith, hellebore, Since, then, trees, herbs, corn,
earth, the
:
;
;
and colocynth
others strengthen
;
have their virtue
in
pot-herbs and cabbage
as cinnamon, carraways,
as apples, pears, etc.
Now,
it
;
is
worth while to know how
all
form of an apple, or a pear, or a
man, operates the convenience.
first
is
The
is
it
fig, etc.
a species of drink.
preparation, and
After these, whatever
another growth,
;
mace
;
others
the leaves, as
others in the
man
It
like.
the
is
nutrimental virtues he
in three parts, the seed, the roots, the extremities.
of seed, as in wine there
in
these things take place.
a fruit on the tree because the Aniadus thrusts
into the
others
others in the seeds, as pepper, nuts, and the
Aniadus of the Earth who thus distributes them. arranges
;
others in the flowers, as ox-tongue
;
fruits,
is
it,
the root, as parsnip and gentian
forth,
Thus
the apple
and shapes the
In the nucleus
is
fruit
a species
So, then, the Aniadus, before directs the second for his
own
of a laxative nature degenerates into
as into the mountain
brook-willow,
the
rhabarbarus,
or
The Hermehc and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
230
Whatever is of a sweet nature passes into sugar, foenogrsecum, Hence it is that pears and figs derive their sweetBitterness turns to amarissima, warmth to and bees their honey.
hermodactylos. liquorice root ness,
and flowers.
pepper and grains of Paradise, coolness into nenuphar and camphor. as in the element of
everything by
fire
the virtue of the element of earth often happens that
is
divided to
two or three natures
its
Such
is
In
gamandria
persica and
and the red artemisia sus
:
or in
its
:
:
or
it is
makes
either
stench, as in the dane-wort.
down from
there are
many others, same way the
In the
for health, as in the tare, in
lily
of the valley and narcis-
These are
who
all
live
either
produced from
on the earth.
In this
As out of
the great Iliaster.
the element of earth trees pass off into wood, so in the
can be separated and passes off into food.
Of
this
same element there
kind are vegetables and cereals.
the avena
is
sulphur, but
developed into stalk,
Ttrra, Tract
III.,
etc.,
Text
it is
not edible.
and subsequently the \.
The esile
seed, however,
sulphur
is
is
collected
is
a certain sulphur which
Dry and humid
sulphurs
.ire
One of these is for use, the other is not. edible. The non-esile sulphur is first of all into the grains of the cereal. Dc EUmento
united, being the three principles duplicated according to nature and essence.
Thus
in
the mighty gifts are learnt, just as the virtues of the elements 'which have
flowed
*
it
So
of a consolidating nature, as in the comfrey
or in the odour, as in the
the Aniadus, or distributed for the use of those
way
mace
yet
the case with
and yet one does not on that account destroy the other.
power of the element of the earth
And
own growth.
link in a single substance.
cassia there are heat, sweetness, and a laxative nature.
odour, goodness, and strengthening power.
For
divided from another, so also
itself is
THE PHILOSOPHY .OF THE GENERATION OF THE ELEMENTS. BOOK THE FOURTH. Water with
Concerning the Element of
TEXT. is its
element
and
forth stalks
origin, into
per
\s
down
this
workshop proceed the
of this seed whilst fruit
it is
is
is
a seed from Vie, bringing
its fruits,
such as stones and metals
workshop, just as seed
latent in its
and
stalk
its
branches and
lies in
sustains
it
must be
From
soil.
Out
way.
the light,
soil into
For, as the element of earth bears
in the earth.
the body of chaos, so, in like manner, the earth
in
the
fruits, in this
produced the stalk, breaking out of the
remains lying
it
of water
water, and
:
broken up, and what the
it is
Concerning the seed of the element of water,
laid
that
things to be considered are
first
divisions
The element
se.
fruits, that is,
of various kinds.
what
Fruits.
I.
CONCERNING the element of water, the What
its
is
its
a body, which
growing things such as trees and fruits from the tree of the element There is rio element but requires a body by which it may be
of water.
sustained.
The element
Chaos bears impressions.
of
fire
sustains the fruits
of the earth, the earth bears up the fruits of water, the water those of the air.
Thus, the
fruits of
as from the seed of the element issues distributed throughout origin,
the
falls
down from
the globe with
its
down from above element of water. ;
And
distillation.
its
tree is a flowing stream,
things are one tree, with one
the streams of the whole globe are the
whole globe
to the earth, so these branches
All the
It
is
not on account of
with the other elements.
all
is
Abrissach,
the pores of
For, as the fragments from the fir-trees
way
In this
water and
by any, and yet, nevertheless, there
fruits,
so
the branches of this tree, and pervades
is
from the water
fall
down
takes place the generation of the
come forth from the element The element itself is never seen an element of water. From it emanates itself.
called an element on account of the water its
fall
all its fruits
but they are not the element
nothing but water.
.-Ml
All the hugiour of the
into the hollows of the earth.
of water
its tree,
whole earth.
one root, from one stalk.
branches of this one stalk.
which
Now,
each element are borne by some other element.
own complexion and
and
its
quality, just as is the case
The Hermetic and A/c/iemical Wrilings of Paracelsus.
232
TEXT But concerning' truth
that the tree has
is,
and perishes.
Thus,
was never before
II.
course and goal, as also
its
and end of
its exit
water that flows forth from
all
For, as the element of water
seen.
globe, so, the branches run out from the root in
and towards the
the plains
One branch
born.
From
light.
to
one
which
is
new, not
is
it
produced
falls, is
and
old,
the middle of the
lies in
on
its circuit
towards
sides
all
many branches
root very
this
are
Danube, another the Nile, etc. born out of that root which rises from
all
And
whence proceeds the element of water.
tree,
and
the Rhine, another the
is
So, there are also smaller branches,
the seed,
seats and termini, the
its
itself, rises
born of the root along a
outer firmament of the two elements,
and
fire
the stalks belong
all
triple line in the circle of the
then,
So,
air.
the
tree
is
distributed by this triple line over the universal globe, tending towards the
So the stalk and
light.
they reach the two external elements vi'here the line ends.
until
go on in
branches grow out from the centre of the globe
its
own
to its
It
does not
For, unless the Yliadum were so placed
body, or Yliadum.
that position, every tree would spring right up to the sky, extending itself
where
further outside the earth than from above,
it is
prescribed limit of the Yliadum, which
is
fixed in the earth.
grow
neither do the fruits of the element of the earth
So,
farther than to the
the lower chaos of the earth, not
occupying more of the earth than the height to which growing things Chaos, therefore, is
sustained
is
That which
twofold.
would extend
its
Yliadum above
fruits
all
which it
is
it
lies
Yliadum,
in its
one root, so
is
the sea.
The
is
that
all
is,
goes on to
its
where its But how far must be sought from philosophj',
Yliadum
in
the sea,
where they
ail
meet.
of itself neither the stalk nor the tree, but,
is
is
not
Why
first it
the subject of salts.
the fruits (or the humours) flow
they swell to a height, that
it
this
composed of the branches.
shewn where we speak about is
fire
compelled to reach one summit or canopy,
it
sea itself
that
is,
or proximately born from
is salt, is
position and because salt waters flow together into
flow
rise.
the chaos in which
height ends.
were, the canopy of the stalk, which
the root, but
is
So, too, the element of water.
the stalk of the tree
the branches reach their
For, as there
as
mid heaven.
to the
the plain of the earth,
extends since
because
above
and, unless the Yliadum were opposed, the element of earth
;
The course and progress of it
is
clissus.
it,
on account of
its
as will hereafter be
The cause of its ebb and down by night, hut by day
.Xnd this clissus in water
is
the
same
as in other fruits, increasing and decreasing, going and returning.
TEXT Now, their
since
well to
know
all
these things, so their death, that
Nothing
consumption, should be understood.
sumption. its
it is
III.
Yliadum,
It is
is
free
from
should be understood, then, that everything, when subject to putrefaction and
of consumption, and the passing
away
is
consumed.
it
Putridity
of that thing to which
it
is,
this con-
comes is
to
a kind
appertains.
Concerning the Generations of the Elements.
consumed just as if it had never existed. This is the operation of As Nature produces things, so does she again remove them. .As thing proceeds from nothing, so it returns to nothingness again. Hence
so that
it is
nature.
its
the it
233
is
clear that the element of water itself
ruption.
If
it
comes
consumed of
is
through guishes
subject to putrefaction or cor-
is
is,
to the sea,
manner, does the water.
itself, so, in like
fruits lie hid in
it
and some
some of
that
is
fruits
its
cerning this in
how many modes
streams
But
stood pass
arise.
in its
away
that they
death,
in
order that
the way, then, in
It
must
itself,
others
of nature and essence
things born of water
all
Concerning the death of
flow into Drachum.
this
casts out,
it
also be separately learnt coneffluents
its
may
In that hour they are
fruits
it
and
be under-
should be realised that the branches, but not the
it
to their canopies.
all
is
branches are distributed.
The nature and property of
bears within
it
altogether throws away.
it
This
its
remain to be seen, as also concerning their nature
and the generation of the outgrowths. element
grows putrid and
nature and arrangement.
which the tree of the element of water and
What
it
no extraneous agency being accessory thereto, but As the fire consumes and extin-
itself,
own
its
to its canopy, that
fruits,
should be said
consumed, as
lastly
it
should be understood and held on the subject of Drachum.
TEXT By way
IV.
of simplifyng any study concerning the origin of fruits,
consider that the following are the fruits of the element of water
and stones.
minerals, gems,
There
are, therefore, four kinds of
Sweet water
of the seed of the element of water, in this way. .'Afterwards its nature
is
manifold
in the
One matrix
matrix.
minerals, one of gems, and, lastly, one of stones. t
divided in a different way.
and alum.
vitriol,
The
of these has
salt,
many
some marcasites, some
metals,
admit of more kinds. *
For instance, there are three
And each
There are many kinds of
fruits
things which
of water are
lie in
bom
Each of
is
:*
we
will
— Salts,
growths out is
of
the stalk. salt,
one of
these, again,
fruits of
is
salt— salt,
many genera ranged under it. many of alum. J Some are
of vitriol,
cachimise.
But even these, again,
singly,
There are seven metals, nine marcasites, twelve
from the seed of .\res.
Archeiu,
who
them, dindes one thing from the other, and collocates
of water .\rcheus removes everj'thing, and ordains
it
into its
is
the separator of the elements and of
all
In the seed of the element Nedeon, for the Vliadum of the earth, separates the it
into
its
place.
manner the germs of sweet water and things which are of an acid When he has divided these things and educed them into Nedeon, the operation of Nedeon goes on into quality. Vliadum. together with its maturation to which it is ordained. — Z?^ EUmento Agtux. s. v. De G^ruribus Salium. c. t. t Metals, minerals, and stones, while they are all generated out of water, do yet owe their development and perfection to the element of earth. There is a twofold corruption of these substances— one which results from a too prolonged connection with the foreign element, and the proper corruption which takes place in their own element, even germs of salt from
all
other natures, and in like
its own tree. De Natiirtuibus Aquit, Lib. III. For example, the origin of vitriol, as also of alum, is as follows. For as salt is extracted solely according to its own essence, so also are separated vitriol and alum. But the form which is manifested in salt, even as in vitriol and alum, is known from this, that all the fruits of the element of water are minerals, and share the nature of metals.
as the fruit at List passes into putrefaction on J
all
and
It is
more akin to mineral virtue than vitriol, because the salts are But vitriol is the ultimate in the separation of minerals. as possible by the separation of metals, of which Venus b the first. Hence vitriol adheres It is partly salt and partly mineral. So in every vitriol there is copper, and by reason of this
those things which arise out of salts, none
But from minerals,
all
minerals
followed as closely
to the nature of Venus.
lie
is
hidden in one mx'^ and Ares.
234
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
^'^''^
So
cachimiae.
turn every metal by itself
in
manifold
is
:
as fixed gold and
Venus is both copper and zinc. Such So there is a vast variety of marcasites and origin and progress, their autumn and the rest— as,
not fixed, fixed silver and not fixed, and also
is
the case with the others.
As
cachimiae.
to their
for example, their harvest
and ingathering
— suffice
it
to say that all the fruits
proceeding from the element of water are divided into their branches and trees.
So
has
salt
its
even to the boundary of
But with regard to root, out of
So from one seed innumerable triple
proceeds its
its
fruits
in this
The same
and separation,
is
such
fruits consist of
all
and
in this
the
wood, the bark, the
fruit,
So also from one root passes to its own Yliadum
are but one tree.
are produced, but each fruit
as the founder has arranged.
way, from Yle into
one
condition.
its
its
own
If,
stalk,
therefore, the distribution
and
fruit is
produced after
kind, then different things are found proceeding from the element of water
— on
one stalk
salt,
on a second a mineral, on a third something
therefore, in the earth every seed produces is
the case with the rest.
is
all
separately born according to
tree,
separate, yet
all
line,
born one
is
of egress, together with sweet waters,
Yliadum.
their division
which each nature
the leaves are
and
own mode
its
own
fruit,
the seed of numberless things springing forth from
else.
As,
so the seed of water
it.
Now,
if
these are
brought to their Yliadum, and await their autumn-tide, then at length the
autumn and harvest come itself
for the fruit of every branch,
which
fruit is
in
of this autumn-tide and this generation.
metallic affinity vitriolic salt
is
of venereal nature.
Copper, in like manner,
is
combined with
vitriol.
Indeed,
its
and derives its body from the liquor of the metals. For this reason it acquires a certain fiery quality and brilliancy. .'Mumen, on the other hand, by no means h.is affinity with metals, but is a free salt, consisting solely of acetosity, and having a body which is devoid of earthy quality, unlike vitriol, which arises solely from a permixture of metallic bodies. Hence it exhibits a similitude with marcasites and cachimix, which come forth in the first generation of metals. The medium which unifies and conglutinates copper with vitriol is a phlegma. De EUmente Aqua, s. v. />«- Getieribjts Satium. generation instructs us that
it is
wholly
vitriol.
At the same time
vitriol in itself
remains a
salt,
Here ends the Philosophy of the Gener.\tio\ of Elements.
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX [In the
Geneva
which
folio of 1658,
I
by far the largest, as
is
it
also the
is
works of Paracelsus, there are many treatises included which conspicuously overlap each other and further, there are many treatises, independent in themselves, which are devoted to precisely the same
best, collected edition of the
;
For example, the Philosophla Sagax occupies, and
subjects.
a similar ground
to
the
Explicatio
substantially identical with another astronomical this
translation.
It
is
much
after the
interpretation
same manner
Minerals corresponds to the Liber Mineralitim,
at equal length,
and the
Aslronomice,
Totiits
but,
that the
latter
is
included in
Economy
of
having regard to the
metallurgical importance which, from the Hermetic standpoint, attaches to
both these works,
it
has been thought well to include
in
an appendix the
which here follows.)
treatise
A BOOK ABOUT MINERALS.
SINCE
have considered well beforehand, and come to the resolution of
I
writing about minerals
in
general,
all
minerals, and
that relates to
everything bearing on the generation and nature of minerals,
have you know before myself
in
all else,
their writings, they
Now, first
if
many
in
have never
fully
would
I
read their works,
I
As far as one can judge from understood what the ultimate matter was. errors.
the ultimate matter be not understood, what, pray, will happen to the
Whoever can
matter?
describe the beginning will probably be certain
about the end and ultimate.
end?
When
publishing on the origin of minerals.
found that they were involved
I
that not a few persons have the priority of
What
an astronomer
is
experience of light?
W'hat
is
a theologian
who
is
full
their letters
credit
this
;
proof positive
is
is,
the ultimate matter,
about the beginning?
not the foundation.
a short space as to
in
my
writing about this matter than those
I
I
ignorant of the
But,
in
possessing
my
treat this subject,
how
will
they be
repudiate their writings and
order that you
much
may have
greater dexterity for
predecessors had,
explain to you the ultimate matter of minerals, so that you
on what basis
is
Since, then, these authors are detected as in a state of
hallucination about the end, that
more worthy of
who
of boasting, indeed, but without
I
will first of all
may
plainly know-
and hence may more rightly understand
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
238 what
is
the beginning.
It is
necessary that a physician should
be familiar
first
when he knows this, the method of treatment will spontaneously unfold itself. But to know a disease is the end, not the beginning. The art resides in the departure, not in the entrance. The entrance is dark and dubious the issue is evident. In this knowledge with the disease with which he has to deal
;
;
lies
hid.
point out this, therefore, as the foundation, namely, that every
I
matter must be thoroughly known at
its
commencement, so
that
may
it
also
be more exactly understood for what purpose the matter has been framed.
Now,
if
man ought
use them,
to lay out before himself the
What good
he will be sure to abuse them. ignorant of
works of God, and
necessary that they should not be hidden from him
it is
purpose
its
Let him hand
?
it
is
rightly
otherwise
;
an axe to a person
over to one
who knows
all
who
about
is it.
same way, whatever God has created ought to be in the hands of a he ought to employ it. Men should know and learn these things, not mere trifles and phantoms conjured up by the devil. But when I propose to write about the origin of minerals, I shall do this not of myself, but from my experience, and by means of him from whom I In the
man who knows how
m)self received that the last
What
it.
said in
I
my
must be known before the
be understood.
I
make
this
paragraph,
first first,
I
here repeat, namely,
and from the
last the first
should
example of Christ, who was not
clear from the
until He sent the Holy Spirit, who, at His coming, revealed all By Him we understand Christ, though He came after Christ. So, things. from the same ultimate, that is, by the Holy Spirit, we now understand both the Father and the Son.
understood
Now
this fits in exactly
with the philosophy of minerals, because the
made up of those things which teach the beginning of their mother, or of their birth. From them this birth must be understood. Already in other philosophic paragraphs I have named these three substances. Sulphur, ultimate matter
Salt,
is
and Mercury, as being the principle of
four matrices, that
is,
necessary to explain that iron, etc., are
is frail
and corruptible, and
And
has issued forth.
here
substances just spoken of are fire,
steel,
lead,
those things which spring from
In the generation of minerals
emerald^ sapphire,
nothing else than Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury.
by Nature it
all
the four elements.
balsam, mercury,
or corals, you will
etc.
still
If,
is
it
flint,
it is
duelech,
Everything produced
can be ascertained by Art from what
a proof from Nature, since those three
in the air,
no
less
than
in
other things, such as
by the aid of Art you resolve
find Sulphur, Salt,
and Mercury.
steel, gold, pearls,
When
extracted by Art, nothing more of that mineral remains, but
all is
these are dissolved.
Seeing, then, that the dissolution of substances reveals particularly what they are,
and what
is in
them, you can gather that those things are three, namely.
Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury. is
These three are the body, and everywhere there
one body and three substances.
now begin my
Concerning these three substances
teaching, by which you
there are three substances, neither
may know
I
will
that in the ultimate matter
more nor fewer, and out of these three
all
A
Book about Minerals.
minerals have been formed.
On
be stated.
this basis
In the beginning
He
it
Furthermore,
how God
239 created Nature shall also
nothing shall be found lacking.
pleased
God
to
make one element
— water — whereinto
power of generating minerals, so that they might forthwith grow, and thus adapt themselves to human needs. Water, I say. He destined for this office, that it should be the Matrix of the Metals, by means of these three substances spoken of— namely, Fire, Salt, and Mercury. In this arrangement so much foresight and discrimination were observed that from the one element of water were produced metals, gems, stones, and all minerals. And though the fruit be unlike its parent, so God willed that each should be infused the
produced according to in the
own
its
All these
His good pleasure should be
Now,
is
a bird of the
air,
another a
fish
.And just as these differ one from the other, so do the natures of
water.
other created things.
mother of
One
nature.
depend on the power
fulfilled in
should
minerals, though water itself
of
all
who
willed that
be realised that the element of water
it
all
first
God,
of
them.
is
utterly unlike these.
not wood.
is
the
So also
is
wood Water
the earth related to wood, though earth is comes from it. In the same way, stone, iron, etc., are from water. becomes that which of itself it is not. It becomes earth, which it is not. So Whatever is is it necessarv for man also to become that which he is not. destined to pass into its ultimate matter must necessarily differ from its beginning. The beginning is of no avail.
Now,
water
is
the primal matter, namely, the three
flints,
a stone, another a
and many things of
flint.
So
thing
He
is
is
God shewn Himself, the Master of rival. He alone is in all things. He
has
able to
the ultimate matter.
He
succession to explain minerals, all
else
In like
a metal, another
is
snow, another thunder,
is
manner on
earth, too,
wood, another a herb, another a flower, and another a fungus.
artificer
is
One
this kind.
the sky, too, one
in
another the rainbow, another lightning.
one
substances,
and Mercury.
stones, they have
an
first
These have certain different natures in them, as hereafter be pointed out. They have metals, they have gems, they have
Fire, Salt, will
in
Nevertheless,
is all
we
things.
will, in the
all
things,
Such
whose works no
the primal matter of
is
Then, when
one
we come
in
all
:
due
ensuing discourse, speak before
concerning the properties of the matrix, that
is,
the element of water.
The things whereof I write were supposed by the ancients to spring from the earth. Their meaning was good but the position was incapable of ;
proof.
In this point
they were defective, as also
in
the materials for estab-
lishing that proof.
The principle, then, was first of all with God, that is, the ultimate matter. He reduced this ultimate matter into primal matter. It is just in the same way as the fruit, which is to produce other fruit, has seed. The seed is in the primal matter.
So
in the
case of minerals, the ultimate matter
determined that there
is
reduced to
The seed here is the element of water. God should be water. Then He conferred upon it, besides
the primal, as in the case of seed.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writing's of Paracelsus.
240
nature, that
this
should produce the ultimate matter, which
it
He
This water
That which
subjects to special preparation.
separates into metals and arranges each metal separately
which belongs to gems He also digested into stony
The same
manner.
like
in
own
its
He
metallic
That
itself.
b)'
That which
nature.
is
marcasites and other
with
the case
is
water.
is in
is
species.
Moreover, fruits
— He
God
if
created time
also appointed
its
own
— harvest for
that there might be a certain harvest and definite
water
too, the
The Archeus
an element,
is
is
autumn
the
the matrix, the seed, the root of
where Nature ends man begins. matter of man.
primal
for all things.
minerals.
all
to their ultimate matter.
The ultimate matter
of Nature
an admirable design, God
So, then, by
appointed that the primal matter of Nature should be water, which gentle,
and potable.
than which nothing
Yet
is
from the very softest
man
of
offspring or fruit
its
The very
harder.
— the
—
in
is soft,
hard, as metals or stones,
is
hardest, therefore, derives
from the water
fire
is
has
a
way beyond
origin
its
the capacity
But when the element of water becomes the matrix of
to grasp.
minerals, this
So,
who in Nature disposes and arranges all things therein, so may be reduced to the ultimate matter of its nature. From
Nature man takes these things and reduces them is,
for the
for the element of water, so
he
is
that everything
That
autumn
the corn and
autumn
special
God has produced a You judge a man by his mother.
not beyond the capacity of Nature.
is
wonderful offspring from that mother.
Every one has his own special feelings and properties, not according to his bodily organization, but according to his nature.
body are water, but according
to their
metals, stones, or -marcasites.
In
Thus
all
metals according
to their special properties they are
no other way can reason grasp that these
things are diverse in substance and in body.
Thus, then, God created the element of water, that element of
metals and stones
all
;
and He separated
elements into a peculiar body which was not
was something
sky, but
lower globe so that earth where
it
together with the earth
And
it.
the
is
and
in
;
the
the earth, in the
air, in
This he placed on the
it
with such wonderful
should carry men,
it
does not
so that the part lying under us
is
fall
ingenuity that
that
is
away from
it
its
Then our wonder its
centre
quite bottomless, so that the water receives no support
from the earth on which Q^%.,
the
turned upwards just as
same way hangs suspended downwards. is
in
who might walk and move upon
increased, seeing that the bed or pit of this genuine element, at
of greatest depth,
an
might be the
thing which moves our wonder in this respect
first
appointed station are,
the
from these.
surrounds and encircles the globe and yet
we
in
it
from the other three
might he above the earth and occupy the cavity
He founded
lies.
it
special, different
it
it
lies
nor does anything
;
fall
but
it
stands freely and firmly
away from
the shell
;
and
in itself like
this
is
a
clear
miracle of God.
Now,
in this
element are the generations of
all
metals and stones, which
A
Book about
Miner-als.
and forms.
exhibit themselves under multifarious natures
grow out
see, all fruits
of the earth into the
go out of water, there go
the earth, but
of the
sulphurs, etc.
matrix, that
—
is,
241 Moreover, as you
and none of them remain
air,
and separate themselves from
it
it,
in
growing out
so,
metals, salts, gems, stones, talcs, marcasites,
forth
proceeding from the matrix of this element into another
all
where the water completes
into the earth,
the root of minerals
in the
is
operation, but
its
as the root of trees and herbs
water,
the
is in
But they are brought to perfection above the earth, and pass on to ultimate matter, which is entirely in the air.
earth. their
manner when the
In like
So, then,
is
completed on the earth that which grows
root
and hence the doctrine of those writers the opinion that minerals
how many
grow out
clearly erroneous
is
of the earth, and that
who advance
all
the
these minerals,
soever they be, recognise the earth as their mother.
This idea
is
Indeed, nothing grows from the earth save leaves, grasses,
worth nothing.
woods, herbs, and the
Everything else
like.
by the same method of reasoning, the earth that they
grow
it
from the water.
is
Otherwise,
might be said of the growing things of
in the air since
Their roots are found
fallacious.
water.
in the
water the growth takes place on the earth,
in the
is
they live
in the earth,
in
the air
;
but this
is clearlj-
and hence we learn that
their
same way, that which originates in the water acquires its perfection in the earth. The growth of minerals follows the same course, convincing us that they are aqueous, and origin
is in
the earth, but their perfecting in the
proceed from the water, existing
same minerals,
In the
air.
the water as the primal matter of those
in
just as all fruits of the earth are generated in the earth,
generate that which rises into
its
own
in
is
special
When
them.
tree, that
is,
a root of
this-
kind
born,
is
also, the
Nature
first
produced, and afterwards the
is
puts forth a tree, which
afterwards grows out into the earth earth, just as the tree
fills
the air.
earth, the^fruits are forthwith their nature
there forth,
way
some
and condition.
sort of salt
is
;
many
that
When
so, also, in
;
is
the aqueous body, and this
is, it
occupies the pores of the
this tree
is
Here the metal grows
now
put forth into the
in its
own
special kind,
protruded.
is
And, just
in the
same
cherries or pears are found on one tree, so similar fruits of the
appertaining to the element of water. fruits,
fruit
produced, there again some genus of sulphur breaks
water are found at the extremities, and, as
many
In like
born, congenital with the tree, according to
and elsewhere some sort of gem
as
first
nut or the cherry does not spring straightway out of the
earth, but first of all the tree
the water
it
body, from which the particular
its
mineral, metal, or other growth, should be produced in the earth.
manner,
and
predestined period they burst forth into harvest, or autumn, and
after the
and others only few,
property, nature, and condition.
be sought, and afterwards their
it
were, on the shoots of the trees
Again, like as some trees put forth
so, in this
Trees of fruits.
case too, there
this kind,
is
a
similar
therefore, should
Thus, the rustic
who
first
pursues his
culture in the element of water will be taught and instructed, as the husbandK
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
242
man who
the soil
craft in
his
plies
husbandry and where
how
taught
is
he should pursue
his
must be found.
fruits
method of generation, so may hold good — in this way There are not nakedly, but under mixed conditions.
Careful attention, too, should be given
in
this
that the illustration from the earth
some trees which bear their fruit, The chestnut, the nut, and other
:
similar growths, have a bark, thorny in
appearance, and inside another, while,
a thin skin encloses the kernel.
lastly,
So, in like manner, there are metals, also, and minerals lying hid in flesh and skin, such as are the ore of iron, the ore of silver,
and so on.
be removed in order that, after separation, the desired fruit
On
the other hand, there
and good.
useful
So
in
another kind which puts forth
is
From
cherries, plums, grapes.
these nothing
may
may
its fruits
nakedly, as
thrown away, but
is
to
be extracted.
all
is
the aqueous fountain are found pure and naked silver,
gold, coral, carabe, and the like. there
These have
These are
so arranged by Nature that
all
be different sorts of trees and of barks, in which the mineral
lies,
which also depend upon the variety and division of water, climate, and geographical positron. That which lies hid within has to be extracted from the bark or shell, just as in the case of fruits. kernel a body and the kernel
element for,
itself
there
and then the
and so
makes
it
in
a body and a
is
And
yet further, as you see in the
so be well assured that, similarly, in the
spirit,
body.
spirit in the
so that the body has
Now,
it
is
That
the
is
a body, and the body
is
same
two bodies.
In the second
is
to be
makes
The mineral has one body,
worthless, because impure, and
incorporated the
need not be separated from that gold.
sought
the body,
as saying that, although there
separated by the goldsmith, so gold has a body which are
first
the spirit that
also the mineral (or the nutriment).
the fruit another.
gold
itself,
fruit
So then the
may
is
of the mineral, which
fruits are first
developed
out of the element into a tree, afterwards into a bodj', and within the shell that
which
body which with
all
is
is
precious and good.
another.
man
is
Whatever God has created He
He has made man in But He made man more
should be created
in
His
own
because water has
its
is
own
carefully,
in
its
is
good, so
because
is it
corporality by a
in another,
likeness, so that eternity, in
things have no share, might reside
The same judgment
perfects
one way, a tree
first
a twofold body, a dense
worthless, and within this another body which
growths.
similar process. in
Just as
be
must be not impure. There it
and a stone
He would
that
man
which other created
man.
to be passed
concerning the death of elements,
death no less than other things.
Indeed, water
is
consuming its own growth. We have proof of this in the earth. That which grows from it returns to it and perishes, so that no part of it any longer survives. So yesterday perishes and no man will ever see it again, and it is in like manner with the night past. In like manner also pass away all things born of the earth, which return to the earth, and are consumed by it, and yet it is not heavier by half an ounce then It was yesterday, nor is it heavier to-day than it was a thousand years ago. its
own
death, eating into, strangling, and
A
Book about Minerals. God has
weight remains one and the same.
Its
243
gifted His elements with this
peculiarity, that they should give fruits
and consume
whither those superfluities have gone no
man knows, any more
inasmuch as
consumes and
it
than he knows is its
own
That death
is in
In like manner, the element of water
whither yesterday has gone. de'atli,
their superfluities, but
mortifies
own
its
fruits.
the great centre and terminus of water, the open sea,Jnto which
water flows.
all
Whatever passes hereinto dies and decays, passing away even as wood is consumed in the fire. And as, year by year, new fruits emerge from the earth, while the old ones perish, so, every day new minerals are begotten, be they These all come forth girt metals, marcasites, gems, stones, salts, or springs. about with death, as an infant who brings along with it death bound up with life. Bj- the same method of reasoning, metals, too, bring with their own heginning their is,
own
death too, and they die
the open sea.
in
The Rhine,
not the element itself; that out of which
It is
The element
its fruits.
grow and
all
thus they acquire death whence
more
Danube, the Elbe, and other
the
they are
life
terminus of the water, that
in the
into
which
all
allotted to
is
must perforce return, and them This death will be
described hereafter in distinct paragraphs,
fully
rivers are
the open sea.
is in
when
pointed out
is
it
how each mineral comes into being and dies. Now, with regard to the tree of the element of water, mark
separately
Nature copper
about to put forth any growth into the world
is
be
;
brackish,
gem, emerald, sapphire, granate
it
warm
or
cold
;
be
or
coral
it
be
;
marcasite
the centre of the sea (or of the matrix).
and spreads forth
stock has the form of a liquid, which It
has the appearance of
That
not water,
is
wood produced from
wood, nor seed (or stock) and yet
it is
gold, silver,
then root
its
raises
up,
fixed in
is
tree sends forth its seed
Know,
branches.
its
When
this.
it
a spring, sweet or
it
— she
from the element of water, a tree on the earth, so that into the earth,
— be
oil,
therefore, that
its
bitumen, or mucilage.
the earth, but
of the earth, and each has
still
its
is
it
own
not
body.
That liquid is the stock, and its branches are that same liquid, just as a tree So, then, the mineral tree is is wood, and its branches are like in kind. formed into a body of
this kind,
and afterwards divided
into its ramifications,
so that one branch very often extends from another into a second or third,
running out and separately extending sixty miles.
One branch
itself to
turns to the
a space of twenty, forty, or
German
Alps,
another to Lungia,
another to the Valley of Joachim, and another to Transylvania. distribution throughout the whole world.
interwoven, wherever the earth extends.
one after another on of the earth.
sky tion
all
sides, their extremities
Sometimes they crop up
sometimes' they remain
;
which
is
in
.As
its
under the open
the earth according to the nature and condi-
special to each tree.
soon as ever these
is
extend to the uttermost parts
to the surface of plains
Hence
it
follows that at the extremities of
the branches the nature of the element of water pours forth earth.
Such
way innumerable trees are As trees grow forth in this fashion, In this
fruits
its fruits
on the
drop on the earth they are at once coagu-
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
244
and there
lated, in
produced from every such tree just what should be produced
is
When
proper kind and quantity.
withers and dies within
its fruit
passes on to the consummation where
according to
From together
its
new growth emerges
nature, a
And when,
fruits
which
it
if
many
is
at the predestined period,
Thus,
like itself.
sow them
the
Exactly the same
bag
filled
species
is
its
any person had
if
its
own
fruit,
bringing
perfection vi'ithout injury to the
kinds to be sown.
all
own
a bag,
in
with the element of water, as though this were
is it
with seeds of
brought to
own vigour and
its
all it is
a garden, Nature, being
in
equal to the occasion, would by-and-by allot to each
others.
than
the soul, spirit, and true
as ever the world produces, mixed together
he were to cast these forth, or to
every separate seed to
less
cannot help producing, then each genus
and species gives birth to that which different seeds, as
more nor
These three substances contain within them
metals, salts, gems, and the like.
about to beget those
minerals are put
all
neither
is
now made
Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, which are
while, lastly,
;
thence.
water, and that this primal matter
essence of the element.
and
other things, and itself
all
things find their end
all
you may learn that the primal matters of
this
in
has been completely shed, that tree
perishes like
It
itself.
Here, too, every genus and
nature and perfection.
God, according to His
marvellous plan, has gifted the four elements with these miracles of creation.
These are the elements from which issue forth fruits destined for the service of man. Every different kind has been created by God. By such investigations
works of God are explored and understood. philosophy is worthy of all praise which puts forward only the works of God for our consideration. E\ery man is bound to
as these the mighty
Surely, therefore, that
learn
all
he can about these, so that he
may know what, and how much,
his
Creator has done for his sakeTrue, the enemy has intruded and sown his tares
in this
philosophy.
Such
who
as this are Aristotle, Albertus, and Avicenna, with their accomplices,
are
mere tares of the field. That enemy bursting in has devastated everything and begotten other noxious philosophers whose system is destitute of all
knowledge of Nature, and
is
without any foundation at
Lacking
all.
of experience, such philosophy violates in the most disgraceful of Nature.
with
all
So
far,
you have heard that the primal matter
compounded
of three parts.
are the different kinds of Sulphur, Salt,
kind of Sulphur tin,
in
and so on.
another
gold, another
So, there
is
another
in
many
silver, in the
another
in stones,
Salts.
another
conjoined
in
the matrix
in
iron,
another
in lead,
sapphire, another in the emerald,
fountains,
many
is
As many as are the fruits, so and Mercury. There is one
amethyst, magnet,
flint, salts,
Sulphurs, but so
gems, another
in
one kind
in the rub}', crysolite,
a different kind in stones, not only so
light
things, exhibit themselves to the devil as sons of perdition.
as in a bag, being
many
all
the light
professors are the busy-bodies who, mixing themselves up
Its
good
way
etc.
and the There
in salts,
Furthermore, there rest. is
And
one Salt
another
is
there are
in
metals,
in vitriol,
another
A in
Such, too,
alum.
another
One are
essence
more
an apple,
Gold
specially divided.
not one
is
Sulphurs of gold,
but
is
one
Icind in metals,
Add
only three.
still
to this, that all these
not one but manifold, as also a pear,
There
manifold.
of gold,
Salts
is
Yet these things are
Sulphur, one Salt, one Mercury.
is
245
There
the case with Mercury.
is
gems, and so on as before.
in
still
Book about Minerals.
as many The same remark there are, some more
are, therefore, just
Mercuries of gold.
As many sapphires as more common, so many Sulphurs of sapphire, Salts of sapphire, and Mercuries of sapphire are there. The same is true of turquoise
applies to metals and gems. valuable,
others
in
one
closed hand, from which she puts forth every separate kind, the best
and
and
other gems.
all
Nature holds, as
All these things
were, as
it
Thus, she contributes metals to one genus, and divides
noblest that she has.
that genus into other and vatious species,
comprising metals.
all
way many
In this
the three primals are to be understood, namely, that they embrace as
created species as
;
and one Mercury.
Salt,
and yet they are only composed of one Sulphur, one As a painter with one colour depicts numberless
and forms, no one of which
figures painter.
In
this
alone
they
substantial
Then
;
the painter's are
is
Nature's productions are
mere shadows.
again, the reasoning about colours leads to a similar conclusion.
gives
colour,
all
colours proceed from Salt."
balsam and coagulation.
gives
substance, and build.
Mercury gives
Sulphur gives body,
and arcana.
virtues, powder,
So these
God
three ought to be combined, nor can one exist without the other. life
whom He has predestined to derive Him. Now Nature herself extracts the
to those
good
to
to each species that colour
each
Mercury. before to
which
takes from Sulphur.
it
So, then,
all else
know
make
is
it
from these as
The body which
suitable.
him
foundation for
whoever wishes
possible for any one
wishes to learn
But
virtues,
who
will,
3'ou
should
know
one with the other
and
to
whom God
that ;
yet
gives
separate them, to form, colour, and
it
it it.
exists in flowers,
God
is
very
is
much
so sublime to be ad-
His works, and from the contemplation of these one ought not to with-
draw by night or day, but constantly is
must
desires
endow them. Vou wakens our wonder when from a dusky black seed adorned with its bright and joyous colours, with leaves, fruits, how-
emerges a tree and flowers. This mystery of Nature, as and great that no one can fully investigate
This
He who
who
So he will have laid the examining the mysteries of every growing thing as Nature has
little efibrt it is
in
Again, he
scrutinise the secrets of Mercury.
the power, again to
mired
appropriate to
to learn the bodies of all things
himself acquainted with Sulphur.
Nature has mixed up such bodies, colours,
know
is
Thus, too, the necessary virtues are derived from
infused these mysteries into each separate species.
see and
gives
has seemed
it
colours from the Salt, giving
colours must seek his knowledge from Salt.
virtues let
with a
like that
Nature produces these things with
that head, notice this brief information, that
Salt
so Nature
like another,
is
differ;
while the painter produces only dead ones.
life,
On
grow
in the truest
sense to w^alk
to take delight in the study of them.
in the
ways of God.
The Hermetic arid Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
246
Moreover, as well,
if
it
be
will
consonance with
in
my
and of
subject,
practical use
advise you in one course of the order observed in this book about
I
which has been pursued by others. and these are not of one kind but distributed according to their own essences and also according to the uses which they supply for men. Some of these are fragile, others durable, and in proportion This order
minerals.
is
different to that
First the metals will be treated,
human
they are subservient to to
man
m
not
their metallic
human
minister to
convenience. form, but
in
order that they
may
are useful
be worn, or
Such as these are the sapphire, the magnet, the
health.
These are created
cornelian, etc.
some gems
So, also,
in
man may
a special form, so that a
be
them about with him. Then, again, there is another kind of stones which man does not use as he uses a metal or a gem, but which he able easily to carry
employs for building houses or other receptacles necessary for human life. Further still, another genus is composed of Salts, of more than one species, which are neither metals, nor gems, nor stones, which also are useful for Moreover,
purposes which are subserved neither by metals, gems, nor stones. a special order has been assigned to springs, internal
organs of the body, others help
others cold,
some
acid whilst others are
some
good
of which do
to the
warm and Some it externally. There are so many different sweet. are
species that one could not exhaustively define them.
There are also
kinds of marcasites, two, for example, coloured like gold and
different
silver.
But
God has held several things in reserve, there are very many which also are put in man's hand that he may seek what he will, and extract There are also things from them whatever God has conferred upon them. species in which
that belong to a different genus white, black,
;
talc,
of which there are four sorts, red,
This genus comprises neither metals, gems,
and clay-coloured.
something special and by
stones, salts, springs, nor marcasites, but
gives also sand, with a supply of that
it
is
useful for buildings
genus given to
us,
and
itself.
It
Of this more need not be said than making cements. There is also another
silver.
for
namely, sulphureous minerals, of which there are two, the
and there are also carabge. There are more of this nature, and especially one genus which is allied to no other, in which the health of men is to be found, and it can also be applied Besides this there is another genus not like the above-mento external uses
clay-coloured and the black
;
Of
tioned, namely, corals.
these the red and the white are well
known.
Other colours arc also found, and forms such as are described in the Moreover, after these there remains
paragraphs devoted to the subject
another genus, beyond what is natural, which, by the will of Nature, becomes an instrument of various forms and properties, as the eagle-stone and the The origin of these from the element of the buccinae, cockles, patellae, etc. water, you can find in too,
many
my
succeeding paragraph.
kinds of fruits are produced
those which are
known
to
me,
globe and the higher sphere,
I
;
From
and though
the element of water, I
shall
only describe
have found out much more, because the lower
in all
their parts, above, below,
and on every
A
Book about Minerals.
crammed with such
side, are
247
as have been mentioned.
I
should, therefore, be
many are hidden know nothing. Yet neither do others know them. It is, indeed, true that many and various things are about to be revealed by F ?r it is true God, concerning which none of us has hitherto even dreamed. Some that nothing is so occult that it shall not at length be made manifest. one will come after me whose great gift does not yet exist, and he will But
competent to write about these.
fully
in the
world about which
manifest
still it is
true that
I
this.
You
should know, however, that there are three parts
which the perfections of minerals are compared.
These three
in
Art, to
this
artifices in the
For as man has
nature of the element are congenital with the three primals.
by which he excels, so also Art affords to them
his gifts in the arts,
And
matter of the three primals.
it
the
in
should next be understood that no
man
can bring to perfection any thing or any work by himself, without some one
No
to help him.
how
But what can
it
and prepare
it.
will fuse
This, again,
apply
to
it
do of
alone
who knows
Iron ore, for example,
Secondly, this
Such
purposes.
is
is
it
seller, and man, as the
user.
Nature does not supply it is
has need of a dispenser,
who
to supply will
work, she deputes
what
is
God
ordained by
He
for this conjunction,
may
to
order what ought to be
in
accomplishment.
find
and that
it
Nature, nevertheless,
lacking.
arrange and set
joined together, so that what should be done is
One
the Archeus of Nature.
is
afterwards requires his operatives to co-operate with him, to fashion the
thing,
and bring
into that condition for
it
which
it
Hence
appointed.
is
follows that three things must be taken which reduce every mineral to
things.
This
is
This
is
is
First of
This
be begun.
is
Mercury.
there
nor every Salt for this
Then
its
is
Salt,
there
necessary a property- or virtue.
is
required compaction, congelation, unification.
is
at last the thing
not every Sulphur which
doing
is
Lastly, there
Thus
Salt.
all
Sulphur.
is
brought about as
it
should be.
a body for gold, nor every Mercury for
unification
it
its
and Mercury. Those three perfect need of a body in which the fabrication shall
These are Sulphur,
appointed end. all
it.
and to
The same thing not one thing only which makes a
Others must be added, analogous to the fuser, buyer,
primal matter whose duty
it
things.
all
mineral.
this
who
nothing without a smith to forge
the condition of
is
likewise occurs in Nature, where
If
ready to
is
Nothing, unless there be added one
itself?
of no practical use unless there be someone to buy
is
its
man
superior to another save that
is
what should be conjoined.
to conjoin
hand.
one
;
but just as there are
many
its
But
it
virtue,
blacksmiths, one
God, therefore, has appointed
thing, another that, so also here.
that the .Vrcheus should set in order those things which are to be conjoined,
just as a baker, cooking bread, joins together
what has
dresser seeks out and joins his vineyard.
finds out
what
Everything is
is
necessary for
has his lead ore, and
it
appointed to its
what has
to be joined, or a vine-
to be joined for the purpose of cultivating
own
its
own
purpose, and everything
special purpose.
be necessary to form a
Now,
if
the Archeus
tree in gold, iron, jacinth.
Tlie Hcrtnetic
248
and Alchemual Writings of
Paracelsus.
granate, duelech, marble, sand, cachimia, or what not, then he takes and combtnes the three simples. Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, which are of this nature,
and do serve
his purpose.
Afterwards he casts them into his Athanor, where
'
They
they are decocted, as seed in the earth.
way
that Sulphur
prepare
may add
its
body,
in
are decocted again in such a
according to their judgment for that which
it
become.
Next, out of the other two Mercury
that those
may
is
When
be present which ought so to be.
In this
of Salt.
way all
is
coagulated
Now
congeals, and lastly, coagulates.
autumn
is
ready and he
is
it is
hand who
at
that
;
ought to be or
it
decocted for
is
brought about by
the Salt
is,
is
and
necessary
plainly understood,
the old writers
and
in
what way they
led
to be dealt with,
this teaching, indeed,
order that everything
and that you may not be
may
away
like
them,
who
things,
the deceits of self-esteem,
are as unskilful as themselves,
may
but do not take their ease quite so much, hoping that they
and gather these
be more rightly
bj'
They are puffed up with vast
their followers.
and are only approved by those
is
it
And
instruction shall be given in the particular chapter. is
Let this
to beat out the metal.
Concerning each one separately, how
concerning minerals
next
first unifies,
strengthened, so that already the
brief account suffice for every generation of metals, namely, in
are conjoined.
to
properties, so
its
these decoctions have
.been made, there follows, lastly, conservation, which
means
They
which the operation consists.
search into
by more exact study. 11.
is
Concerning the generation of metals, you may be assured that there A metal is that which fire
a great number and vast variety of them.
can subdue, Of' this class
and out of which the artisan can make some instrument. These are called are gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, tin.
metals by every one.
But there are
ancients nor by the
common
metals which
also, besides these, certain
are not reckoned as metals, either in people,
the writings and philosophy
of the
To
and yet they are metals.
these
belong zinc and cobalt (which are subdued and forged by force of fire), as also certain granates (accustomed to be so called) of which there are many kinds, themselves also metals.
time are not as yet
known
But many more are those which up to
many
to me, as are
this
marcasites,
diff'erent sorts of
«
iJfjA/lfW
bismuths, and other cachimia;, which produce metals, but of kinds not yet
Only the principal ones are known, which are more ready and con-
known.
venient for use, such as gold, silver, iron, copper, pretty completely neglected, and
tin, lead.
nobody cares about
The
their properties
lo learn
metals are for other operators, not yet born.
save
metal has no
in
one way and by a single
truth in
it.
It
art.
The
witTi
its
one
is
like
competent
the rest,
It is
is
a
not being /J y, growth of peculiar a
belongs to another class of minerals
own body
— neither
assertion that quicksilver
a metal, a stone, a marcasite, or a sapphire, etc.
Nature, gifted
No
/
are
Neverthe-
the smith nor the ironworker, the tinman, brazier, or goldsmith. less, these
rest
;
and provided with
its
pro-
A The custom
perties.
249
passing away, too, of arranging seven metals for the
is
From
seven planets.
Book about Minerals.
this
it
arose that, not having
knowledge of metals,
full
According to their comparison Luna, copper is Venus, lead Saturn, and tin
people reckoned quicksilver as one of them. of Things, gold
is
Sol, silver is
Venus and copper you Join and compare lead with Saturn, and notice what happens. Compare tin and Jupiter, and Such philosophy is nothing but rubbish and consee what fruit will arise. fusion. Not the slightest vestige of any foundation or light appears in it. Such remarks are merely barbarou's, and not philosophy at all. Of the same But come, arrange these things.
Jupiter. will
kind
If j-ou join
soon see how they square and agree with one another.
the assertion that quicksilver
is
is
Compare
Mercury.
the complexion,
nature, working, quality, properties, and various virtues and essences', and see
how
They
they square one with another and agree.
One has
not the least likejiess to the ujther.
It
are quite incongruous.
true that the Philosophy
is
of Plants has arranged seven herbs according to the seven planets
but these
;
power of proof in them. .\ccording to them, mercurialis is Mercury, heliotrope Sol, and lunaria Luna. But do you think- you " Fathers "—that you can fly away to the sky and have the power of comparing earth with heaven without any astronomy or philosophy, when you cannot even get a glimpse of what lies hid in so common a growth as the heliotrope? This distribution, therefore, should be are the
"
mere dreams of
phj'sicians, with
no
stability or
admitted by nobody, but ought to be relegated to those ficcording to the light of Nature, but by their
on metals teaches you that those metals are
known
to me,
and
I
have given them above.
— some three or four -which are known whereof
number selves
shall still
be given
due course.
in
To
not judge
The chapter
number, so
far as thej' are
these are added a few others
think
it
very likely that a large
For by provings of the metals, many proofs present them-
remain.
which are metallic, that
of the six metals,
six in
who do
stoles.
me, and the number and species
to I
own long
they are reckoned according to the nature
is,
though they do not altogether agree thereto
should augur from this that a great number of metals mineral can be thoroughly
known and
discriminated
if
still
;
so that
I
Every
remain.
subjected to a sufficient
examination.
With regard
to the generation of Gold, the true opinion
is
that
dregs, blackness, and
filth
whatever, so transparent and lustrous
(if
one
is
it
Sulphur sublimated to the highest degree by Nature, and purged from
all
may
say so) as no other of the metals can be, with a higher and more exalted' body.
Sulphur, one of the three primals,
.Alchemists co'uld find tree at its roots in the
joy on their part.
and obtain mountains,
This
is
is
the
this Sulphur, it
first
such as
matter of gold. it is
If
in the auriferous
would certainly be the cause of
effusive
the Sulphur of the Philosophers, from which gold
is
produced, not that other Sulphur from which come iron, copper,
a
little bit
of their universality.
etc.
This
is
Moreover, Mercurj-, separated to the highest
degree, according to metallic nature, and free from
all
earthly and accidental
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
250
admixtures,
This
changed
is
The
second part of the primal matter. rose-seed,
from
purified
character, that
but
is
all its
and so highly separated
to the highest degree,
salt, crystallized
is
the
is
third part of the primal matter of
from which gold ought to grow, as a rose from a
gold, or of the tree
and
body with consummate clearness.
into a mercurial
the Mercury of the Philosophers which generates gold, and
is
aluminous, and
acridity, bitterness, acetosity,
vitriolic
no longer has anything of the kind appertaining to
it
it,
supreme point, and advanced These three ingredients in con-
carefully illuminated in itself to the very
to the highest transparency of the berj-l.
junction are gold, which
is
decocted
in the
way
we have
of which
already
spoken.
Moreover, the genus of gold
one
onl)-,
is
not single, but manifold.
Its
grade
not
is
but Nature of herself gives thirty-two degrees to the finest gold.
In
The
our Art, twenty-four degrees are found for establishing the best gold. cause of this
Epicurus
become
is
that gold in
tree
its
like
is
a cow
in the pastures, or like
As soon as he has gone out all vigour and animation So is it with gold because if it be reduced so matter of man, then, as if gone out of its kitchen, it at once
in the kitchen.
fallen
as to be the
and diminished.
first
:
loses eight out of the thirty-two degrees to
which allusion has been made.
But there are diversities
some being
worse.
in the kitchens,
Accordingly as the gold
falls
either increased or diminished in degrees
mum down
to ten degrees as a
and not recognisable.
For
too,
into this
one or the other, so
it
is
from twenty-six degrees as a maxi-
minimum.
it is
better and others
The grades below
this are too pale
the nature of gold to be either light or dense.
This happens from some impediment which occurs from the stars or other elements which aid
in
subtle than another,
the decoction.
As one man
much body,
principally for this reason that too
Too
Too much
of corn.
membered, sometimes
too,
inuch Mercury
makes
Too much Salt causes much the colour
it
the gold too
.Sulphur confers excessive redness.
errs as well as
(as
.And
men.
If this
happens, the grade
twenty-four degrees remain.
graduate gold, which
assume
good of
its
its
is
done
Hut
if
kind cannot be exalted.
For the weight
way.
Yet
be graduated.
with regard to this
that
it
Indeed,
it
is
does not lose
it
It
it
is
called,
removed and
by the
may
in
excess
is
unfit
But what
is
not
be that gold which
is
too
But a principal item rf knowledge its
persistently retains both
a property of good gold.
unequal.
is
re-
Nature
the superfluous weight be
degree and to be reduced to a just standard.
may
is
must be
Let not the Alchemist, then, attempt rashly to in this
pallid in its decoction
quarta.
it
can be by Art), say, by antimony, by quarta, as
regal cement, or by other means, the irrelevant weights are
to
complete grade,
its
that sometimes the weights are unequally divided.
reaches a point from twelve to twenty-four.
removed
more dense or more
or Salt, or Mercury, has been
added, fi-om which fault and error are sure to arise. too great paleness.
is
so neither does gold always attain
its
body
in regale,
colour and
its
antimony, and weight.
This
A
Book about Minerals.
Gold becomes white by Sulphur
2%\
manner already
in the
body that
tinge a sulphurous
But the
detailed.
other two, Mercury and Salt, are white, and of a golden nature.
These so
its redness and grows white. Sulphur For though the whole be red, or white, or changed by the tincture which is composed of
loses
it
takes the tint of other colours. clay-coloured,
colour
its
Mercury and
Salt.
is
When,
.Alchemy can easily change
body
therefore, the
colour.
its
It
is
Sulphur, the tincture of
necessary, however, in this case,
is
that the other tincture, the Alchemical to wit, should tinge the Salt from whiteness to redness. it
ought
and
in
And
to have.
it
fact
man
in
which should be accepted
So
changed by corporal transmutation.
in
gold
himself. that the white complexion also
is
also
is
Yellowness inheres
separately inhere in redness.
is
These two colours vihiteness and these are
redness. in
;
This transmutation can be effected by means
subject to the primary colours.
of Alchemy, but under the condition that
it
and that
man, so that one
it
Mercury and
the colour which
should be realised that there are complexions
other metals, just as there are
Another
way gold assumes
In this
shall first of all be tested in
shall be directed to the complexions,
shall be
made
of a
melancholy or a sanguine temperament, just as cattle ma}' be made black or
and that by a
white,
Nature,
tincture.
man
acts exactly as she does with
in his
indeed,
generation.
in
her mineral working, In the
same way man
also ought to act in the generation of Nature, as being superior to Nature in this respect, if
only Nature has gifted him with the astral mysteries of the
This method of treatment, however,
arts.
.Attention also
must be paid
in Salt
body
which
in
is
Nature takes nothing save
Sulphur and Salt are so far avail-
nothing, only in Mercury.
able that the one gives the
relegate to astronomy.
In Sulphur there
the lead in matters of the kind described.
a body,
now
I
to the fact that at this juncture
is
gold, the other adds strength.
what relates to the nature, force, and virtue, all this is due to Mercury. Whatever property there is in Sulphur belongs to all alike. There is nothing in it except body where Mercury is not present. But know that So in Salt. balsam, and conserves Mercury so Salt is a that its virtues and properties In
Thus,
shall not putrefy or decay. it
this virtue is
be separated after coagulation in Salt
it
incorporated with gold, and
neither can the properties of Sulphur be discovered.
found
Mercury.
in
heed of
its
medicine. Salt,
still,
So when
medicine.
And although
In
.Art
like
the
separates,
manner,
it
it
if
cannot be detected by Art, as
But
all
these are readily
deserts the bodj-, nor takes anj'
deserts Salt, together with
its
body has some influence as a body, and Salt as
these medicines must not be sought therein, but only in Mercurj-,
whi6h contains
all
things.
For
this is the raiiomilc of creation, that in all
the
outgrowths from the four elements of Nature, not only are those things present which are of themselves seen and understood, but these also contain within them the magnet which, in decoction and preparation, attracts to itself the essences of the three primals, that
term
it,
though they ought rather
is,
to call
it
the Quintessence,
as the ancients
the quart-essence.
For the mineral
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
252
consists of three
and besides these there
;
The magnet has attracted this and
it is
much
too, in its ultimate separation, loses
When
Nature
its
generated the branches.
The
at the extremity,
is
When
weight.
flower follows
and the nucleus
same method observable
the
Mercury.
its
This spreads
kind.
the earth, like that in any other tree,
flower is
of
in
But Mercury
is
itself,
then the
;
is
born
not always burst forth where the flower had stood, but this the auriferous tree, that the fruit
open
ells
flourishes
the interior of the tree
in
sometimes itself,
and others midway between the two.
air,
the
flower as the
immature, so there
This,
in its place.
first
The And
fruit.
at the extremity.
too, while yet
itself,
and afterwards are
the generation of gold and of
in
the flower falls the fruit
several hundred
a medicine.
is
thus prepared and lead to such increase, at
is
gold becomes a tree after
in
the magnet, which
is
found
it
all
metals.
true,
is
does
the nature of
is
the distance of
at
some straightway in the is thus some diff'erence
There
amongst auriferous trees, the natures of which vary one from the other. Hence they are found distributed in different ways, just as their own peculiar mode of growth is assigned by God to other trees. Besides, with regard to gold, this fact also deserves to be well weighed,
namely, that
it is
sometimes overloaded with impediments, so that occasionally
nothing takes place except a generation of Mercury. leads one astray.
If
corrosive salts
just as the actual flowers
The
earth,
they bring forth no good.
fruitful
here also these
on trees are eaten by worms.
Mercury or burnt by Salts. and the firmament, and the
chilled by
it
takes place
matters,
in
If this
As
the water.
takes place,
it
on the flowers, they are eaten away,
fall
The
gold, too,
is
There are many mishaps of this kind. air may destroy it. Unless these, are
up by a blazing sun, so
trees are burnt
The
light of philosophy teaches us all
and they are abundantly established by experience.
The
minerals of gold, therefore, and others, are forced to submit to hindrances of
There
this kind.
with
its
Of
the degree.
nothing
is
in
existence which
not occasionally shaken
is
But there are other impediments which are wont to
tempests.
this class are cachimiae, resins,
and other marcasites, which
insinuate themselves into the workings, and send forth their tinctures.
these are rejected in the
effect
.All
.Art.
Concerning Silver. Silver
is
generated from white Sulphur,
most subtly prepared fixed nature, thai
a
fire
ence
is,
and rendered
Salt,
and Mercury, which, being
transparent,
have been restored to a
they are fixed from their special nature nearest to gold
oi ashes, but not with antimony, regale, and quarta. in fixation
between gold and
silver, in this respect, that
possesses masculine virtues, while silver virtues.
Herein
Since gold of silver
is
is
lies
male
it
is
female and
is
Here gold
in
is
the differ-
is
male and
possessed of feminine
the difference between the fixation of gold and of silver.
can bear more fixation, but silver
comprised
in its
primals, as
is
the
Thus the matter case with a woman. Gold less.
A and
Book about Minerals.
253
same primal matter but the same between a man and a woman.
indeed, are of one and the
silver,
distinction supervenes as exists
;
Concerning Jove.
OF
the generation of Jove
fixed white Sulphur, fixed Salt,
because Jupiter
this reason,
stance of Mercury.
ceases to be a metal
As soon as ever
this
;
known
that is
it is
produced from
not fixed
and
;
for
fixed according- to body, but not in the sub-
is
loses all
It
should be
it
and from Mercury that
fusion and malleability.
its
for the metallic spirit
has been done,
is
Afterwards
it
separated therefrom by Art.
nothing else but white Sulphur, and
it is
and dried Mercury.
Salt,
Concerning Saturn. Saturn
most
is
On
metals.
born from a black, sulphurous, and dense body bevond
account of
fluid Salt,
so that there
is
all
other
Mercury and the received into Saturn the most fluid body of
density
its
consists of the thickest
it
Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury.
These same, moreover, are the three most dense metal be dissolved and ceases to be lead, it becomes ceruse, spirit of Saturn, lead ochre, and finally glass. It consists of three colours, the lemon colour it gets from Sulphur, and the white from Mercury. It gets its spirit from Salt, and from all together its vitreous natures of
the metals.
all
nature, just as
all
If this
the metals have.
Concerning Iron and Steel.
On
the other hand, iron
is
generated from the least
and Mercury, being the very opposite of hard metal, and copulated
in itself.
one, iron and steel.
is
Iron
resembles that of gold and
They
together.
and
lead.
It is
Salt,
coagulated into a
For two metals are joined together
feminine and steel masculine.
silver, that is to
say,
in
This conjugation
the male and female
grow
can, therefore, be in their turn separated, the female to her
sex, the male to his. his in like
tin
Sulphur,
fluid
The female can be
applied to her uses, and the male to
manner.
Concerning Venus. Copper If these
generated from purple Sulphur, red Salt, and yellow Mercury.
is
three
Now, copper If these are
colours
mixed
be
contains within itself
with
one another, copper
own female
its
element, that
separated by Art, and the body reduced,
nature of each constituent
it
tion be
in fluxibility
and
malleability, as iron
made, and each consigned to
its
differing altogether in essence, species,
own
and
They
steel differ.
nature,
scoriae.
comes out male.
again destroyed, and the female no longer emits scoriae.
another
is, its
such that the male does not suffer
is
produced.
is
The
itself to
differ
be
from one
If that
separa-
two metals are produced,
and properties.
Note.
Such and so many up,
namely,
gold,
in
silver,
number tin,
are the metals, as
lead,
iron, steel,
I
have reckoned them
female copper,
.
and male
The Hermetic atid Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
254
Thus
copper. iron
and
number.
thej' are eight in
But
if
cannot be the case —
— as
and male and female copper respectively, are reckoned each as
steel,
one metal, there would be only
six,
and the arrangement would be incon-
There are seven well-defined and publicly known metals
venient.
silver, tin, lead, iron, steel,
be.
Of You
IVIixed
Metals.
from what has been already
perceive,
that the male
said,
always solitary without a consort, but often they co-exist, as gold and
silver, iron
which each retains
and
which grow together
steel,
own
its
special nature, but
still
Such, too,
from the other.
are thus joined no
but
;
good
it is
one working, from
in
they are mixed so that one
separated one
But where they
often the case with tin and lead.
is
result ensues
from them.
not
is
the cases of
in
own accord
does not impede the other, nor are they of their
one body
gold,
:
being reckoned as one metal,
last
and female are wrought together and not separated, as they
since the male
ought to
and copper, the
The)- do not
better that each should be separated into
its
square into
own
body.
Concerning Spurious Metals. Only gold and
Metals can be adulterated.
such a primal matter
is
present, does each
tree
;
and there
It
be grafted together on the
same marvellous kind of implantation here
the
is
when may
Only, therefore,
grow up together by itself.
easily be that six or seven different fruits shall
same
mix with the other
silver
metals, for the reason that they are the most subtle.
in
Nature.
Concerning Zinc. Moreover, there is
is
a certain metal, not commonly known, called
Many
of peculiar nature and origin.
metal of
itself is fluid,
because
it is
generated from three
not admit of hammering, only of fusion. colours, so that
Such, fully
1
say,
known.
it
is this
It
metals are adulterated
Its
metal that
its
tions of other metals.
It
in
the
fluid primals.
nor does
;
condition
me
ultimate matter, to
stands alone by
it.
It
It
The does
colours are different from other
resembles no other metals
does not admit of admixture
zinc.
in
of growth.
at least, it
is
not yet
allow the fabrica-
itself.
Concerning Cobalt. Moreover, another metal
is
produced from cobalt.
It
is
fluid
like zinc,
with a peculiar black colour, beyond that of lead and iron, possessing no brightness or metallic sparkle.
It
is
malleable, but not to such an extent as to
capable of fit it
being wrought, and
matter of this substance has not as yet been discovered, preparation. There
is little
in its constitution, as in
is
The ultimate nor its method of
for practical use.
doubt that the male and female elements are joined
the case of iron and steel.
They
are not capable of
being wrought, but remain such as they are, until Art shall discover the process for separating them.
A
Book about Minerals.
255
Concerning Graxates. Besides these, there
and marshes,
form of a seed
in the
and wrought by
Alchemy
is
it
copper or lead.
It is
fit it
known what
shall disclose its nature,
many mixtures
it is
found
is
a large or small bean.
like
but not so as to
itself,
no practical use, nor allows
another peculiar metal which
is
It
in
streams
is
founded
making instruments.
for
properties
not likely to be
of silver and gold, which
It is
made
clear at
penetrate
of
Unless
comprises.
it
It
all.
as they do
it
produced from citron-coloured Sulphur.
Note.— Concerning Gems. There are other transparent granates
the form of crystal, wherein are
in
and gold.
latent both silver
CoNi ERNiNG Quicksilver. There founded
;
moreover, a certain genus which
is,
and
stances, so
it
.'\lchemy reduces it
it
to malleability
silver,
made from
clear, that
it is
Its
it.
only be studied with great
and,
The
has.
toil
nor
to other sub-
should be a metal as
nature
right opinion about to get
Possibly also
tin,
it
is
from
it
lead,
and
manifold and marvellous, and can
is
and constant application.
This, at
all
events,
the primal matter of the Alchemists in generating metals,
moreover, a remarkable medicine.
Mercur)^ and
it
who know how
gold, copper, etc., as the event proves.
iron can be
is
it
the primal matter of the Alchemists,
it is
far
liammered is
and capacity of being wrought. Commonly
has no consistence, but sometimes
that
As water
So
this with reference to metals.
is
neither
is
a mineral water of metals.
is
Salt,
It
is
with this remarkable nature that
moisten, and runs about, though
it
has no
feet.
produced from a
it is
It is
fluid,
Sulphur,
but does not
the heaviest of
all
the metals.
Note.
So
far, then, all
known
the metals have been thus described, up to the point that
and origin, following that upon that foundation, which is supplied by the ultimate By means of this the first three are found out, what is their species, matter. and whence they are derived. Indeed, the generation of the others cannot be explained in any way save by experience, which is finally proved by the primal matter in Vulcan. In this way none can err.
they are
to me, according to their substance
guide, and based
Concerning Cachimi^, that
is,
the Three Imperfect Bodies.
.Attention should be paid to a certain
of a metallic nature, but
genus possess peculiar example,
all
which are marchasites. perfect
is
not a metal.
qualities, of
which
genus of minerals which
is,
The things which belong I
indeed, to
shall give several instances.
this
For
marchasites, which are multifold, red and white, as also pyrites, also
multifold,
There
and imperfect
are, ;
white
and
red,
and of another
genus
than
moreover, the genera of antimony, which are many,
next the varieties of arsenicalia.
To
these also pertain
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
256
many
auripigments, and
talcs,
which
cachiiniaj of this kind,
they are to a certain extent metallic,
with the
differ
we must
Concerning' these
regions in which thev are found.
down
set
that
that they have a proximate metallic
in
three metallic principles.
Metals such
as gold, silver, copper, lead, etc., are incorporated with them.
But because
matter, and descend from the
first
first
they incorporate also a metallic foe, nothing can be extracted from them
without alchemy
but these same foes are of great capacity.
;
generated in the following order
:
auripigments, sulphurs, arsenicalia.
talcs,
These are
Marchasites, pyrites, antimonies, cobalts, I
am
acquainted with
all
of these.
General Recapitulation concerning Generation. This chapter and text for this reason, that
same
the
is
entitled
Concerning the Three Imperfect Bodies
concerned with a metallic growth which bears the
relation to metals as
flesh, as the
some
it is
tumourous
fleshly excrescences
fungus bears to the herb, or the ape to the man.
bear to natural
Of
are in the body of sulphur, as marcasites, pyrites, cobalts
body of mercury, as antimony,
and auripigment
arsenicalia,
these things
others are in
;
;
others
yet
are in salt, as talc.
Of the Generation of Marcasites. Marcasite It is
is
of
colours, citrine and white,
two
generated from imperfect metallic sulphur,
metallic
which
and
brilliant.
destined to
is
become
marcasite by a natural necessity.
At
conclusion
the
of the
Book about Minerals
Geneva folio a brief fragment which ciples in their connection -with
man.
is
It
concerned with is
there follows
in
the
prime prin-
the three
entitled an
Autograph Schedule by Paracelsus. There bodies per
are, then, in se,
human
beings only seven planets
not forming part
of anything else.
minerals, those of the three primals to wit, which cury, and
Salt,
and are specially
called
come from Sulphur, Mer-
it
three parts, Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury
made up
perfect Yliadus.
The other
are
either
There are two minerals, and
several parts, which enter partially into their composition.
prised under minerals are
four of which arc
mineral, because they
themselves minerals or form parts of minerals.
bears with
;
There are also other
;
of these three parts.
Gold, for instance,
and
all
species
com-
Every planet has a
parts have not the same, as, for instance, sal
a marcasite is a species, cachimite gemma;, forming a species, not a part them, as the salt of a gem has species in spirits have But is a species. The Yliadus, however, differs Arsenic, fixed Sulphur, and liquid Mercury. from the former Yliadus, because the former has his substance and mineral ;
perfect.
Minerals have such species; not a manifest body as planets have.
Wherefore the Yliadus is to be understood in a twofold sense, one referring The corporal Yliadus is partaker with to the body, and one to the spirits. the spirits of the Yliadus
;
but the spiritual
is
not partaker with the former.
APPENDIX
II.
[The alchemical importance which attaches to a proper conception of the four so-called elementar)- substances
explained in
is
.i
note appended to the
The
Philosophy of Paracelsus Concerning the Generation of Elements.
origin,
of no less
nature, and operation of the three prime principles are, however,
As these principles are evidently to be distinguished from salt, sulphur, and mercury of the vulgar kind, it is requisite to accentuate the distinction by contrasting at some length the references to the principles which are contained in the text of the present volume with the knowledge
moment.
exhibited by Paracelsus on the subject of ordinary salt, sulphur, and mercury.
The
treatise
concerning the
selected for translation,
first
of these substances, which has
De
derived from a collection entitled
is
Rebus, which will be found in the second volume of the Geneva
been here
Naturalibtts
folio.]
CONCERNING SALT AND SUBSTANCES COMPREHENDED
UNDER
GOD
has driven and reduced
that he
is
unable
in
man
any way to
SALT. to such a pitch of necessity live
without
need thereof for his food and eatables. condition of compulsion.
Man
The causes
This
of this compulsion
and want
but has most urgent
salt,
is I
man's need and
will briefly explain.
sulphur, mercury, and salt. Of these consists anywhere exists, and of neither more nor fewer constituents. These are the body of every single thing, whether endowed with sense or consists of three things
:
also whatever
deprived thereof.
Now,
since
man
subject to decay, nor can he escape
it
is
divided
into species, he
except in so far as
God
is
therefore
has endowed
him with a congenital balsam which also itself consists of three ingredients. This is salt, preserving man from decay where salt is deficient, there that part which is without salt decays. For as the flesh of cattle which is salted ;
is
made
free
from decay, so also
preserves our body from putrefaction.
salt
naturally infused into us by
Let that theory stand, then, that
consists of three bodies, and that one of these
element which prevents the body born with all
created things,
all
it
is
salt,
as the conservative
from decaying.
substances, consist of these three,
God man
it
is
As, therefore,
necessary that S
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings
258
0/ Paracelsus.
they should be sustained and conserved by their nutriments each according to its
Hence,
i
also,
necessary that
is
it
growths of the earth should
all
gather their nutriment from those three things of which they consist.
do
not,
is
it
These nutriments are earth and
species.
In sulphur
are threefold nutriments.
mercury, and
So from
and die
inevitable that these first creations perish
in salt its
this liquid,
own
which
is
own
sulphur, in mercun,-
Nature contains
salt.
all
they
Herein there
rain, that is, liquid. its
If
their three
in
these things
its
own
in
one.
the nutriment of natural things, natural salt
is
is
decocted.
Hence by nourished
and conserved
salt,
it
that
:
sulphur, mercury
nutrimental
salt its
is
same way
the
in
nutri mental
parity of reasoning
is is
clear that
man
to say, that his sulphur
Whatever burns
mercury, and that which
is
depends the diversity of human aliments. the sustentation of his sulphur
man may two
Man
in
due
he wants moist foods for keeping up his
;
wondered
Now,
at, since in all
rest perish with
it.
The Academics know nothing of
series.
is humid Hereupon
salt.
is
salt.
other matters they neither
order be
If this
body perishes, whichever species
and when one part perishes the
be sustained
has need of ardent foods for
supply of mercury, and eats salt to cherish his nature of violated, that species in the
receive
sulphur, whatever
the balsam of these
is
must
nutrimental mercury, and the congenital
its
wherebj', from these three,
in his species.
himself also must be
is
neglected
;
This order must be kept
this philosophy, a fact not
know nor can do
be
anything.
the world over, there are ardent foods such as flesh-meat,
fish,
So there are humid foods, as springs, flowing streams, seas. In like manner, there is salt everywhere. These things are distributed over the whole world, so that everywhere the supply of them is ready to hand. bread, etc.
Now, with regard to the nature of man, The reason man desires food is on account drink, whether
it
be water or wine,
reason of his desiring salt
is
the following should be accepted.
of his sulphur.
salt in himself.
he needs ;
and the
These
facts are
on account of the mercury
on account of his
is
Why
known, but nevertheless nature does crave for these things. And this is men only but animals, too, become fatter, stronger, more useful, and more healthy with salt than without it. If the due quantity of salt little
not the case with
;
be not supplied, some defect arises
in
one of the two species, so that the
animal decays and
is
no longer supported by those necessary
dies.
Its
nature
The condition of man is similar. Without nutriments of this kind he cannot live. The appetite of the nature with which he is born requires some satisfaction proportioned to his need. It is reported, indeed, that in certain newly-discovered islands men prepare no food cooked aliments which
it
requires.
with
salt,
nor supply such food to their animals, but
their
own
nature and that of their cattle needs the salt water of the sea, and
that they have
cooked
their food
mixed with
this.
and thus compels
cattle,
quite certain that
Nature never rests at ease,
but constantly catches at and seeks for that which require,
it is
its
necessity
and use
not to mention man, to lick salted things.
Concerning Sail and Substances comprehended nndcr For ourselves, custom and necessity
Such an ordinance
our food.
nutriments meet
namely, drink.
other creatures,
—
fire,
is
if I
that
salt
By
may
the reason
is
it
and when once the balsam
is
Now,
if
itself
begins,
my Theory
the salt has not undergone
its
balsam
the disease called Persian is
to be dissolved,
it
contains the elements of dissolution, strength and power increase.
its
modes
which
in
this
If
may
in
which the
corruption,
then
salt
has been corrupted. the
neither
If
external nor the
body of man decays. in
aliment.
Hence we must conclude that salt is like a man and that the natural salt which man eats is his food and I have discussed the subject of salt at some length, for the sake of ;
Putting aside, therefore, the idea
securing fuller intelligence of the matter. of a natural balsam, it
is
of Medicine), then forthwith corruption and
decay begin, according to the mode
how
in
dissolved or corrupted (and the various in
three
man any decay
there accrue to
everything in creation
if
balsam
this dissolution
take place are given
balsam
But
—any cadaverousness, as
that.
way
one, and with these a third,
in
natural balsam of the li\ing body.
the
is
kept and conserved.
is
so term
eat salt in
this
nourished and sustained.
is
it
259
balsam the whole body of man, as well as that of
this
clear that even the very
internal
and food
to say, salt
In
so long as the body lives, so long- the aforesaid salt
is,
against putridity.
or
is
these nature
B}-
have said of
I
That
that
;
we
alike prescribe that
natural and prudent.
is
Salt.
is
would point
I
an aliment, and with what
preserving the health of
nothing
out, moreover, concerning the salt in food,
so
is
men and
good as not
gifts
it
warding
for
some
to have
is
endowed by God, both
many
off
combined with
evil
way
it,
for
But since
diseases.
it
remains
good and The nature and evil may be conjoined, and the one separated from the other. If salt can preserve the dead body or condition of salt are verj' remarkable. If by its power and efficacy corpse, much more will it preserve the live flesh. salt preserves the dead body from worms, much more the living body, and for for us to recount the evil there
this reason, that
it
is
is
in salt,
so that in this
the
not only an aliment, but a necessary food and a medicine
and young
must be supplied to all. There is sea salt, which is salt of itself, As wine differs from water, so the sea in its nature not salted by others. Other waters are sweet this is salt. differs from other waters. Secondly, there are some springs which are sweet yet salt at the same time. These have a special nature, insomuch as they have that nature not in common with the useful for old
alike.
But there are three kinds of
Salt
salt.
;
sea, but of themselves contain a different kind of salt.
Thirdly, there are also
mineral salts, with the appearance of a stone, of a different kind from other
The
metals or minerals. minerals.
Tiie harder
it
is
best salt
divided into
many
ties distinct
from one another.
is
is
the better.
kinds, so also
is it
As
from springs.
Then
how
it
grows.
is
Next comes that from sea
salt.
.And as salt
is
sundered into many and various proper-
to the
way
no need to discuss that subject here, since
the place to describe
there
in
it is
which
salt is prepared, there
clear enough.
That topic belongs rather
Neither to the
S2
is this
Book on
26o
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Tlie
My
the Generation of Minerals. vices of salt.
In this case there
written about
v.-hite salt
not treated here so
it is
which
is
to enlarge
no need to speak of
Of rock
applies also to sea salt.
much
upon the virtues and
Whatever
sea-salt. salt
not decocted again
as of salt wiiich has been so decocted.
All salt,
order and virtue of salt
;
for the strongest foundation
is in
liquid.
Sea-salt and rock-salt do not
become
passes into a liquid before
separated from the water into coagulated
The
it is
description of salt, then,
other of salt which
kind
;
it
entire
is
languid, and
But
liquid.
One
twofold.
is
and
salt
which
is
that of salt from liquid
is
:
man which organised.
the food
is
its
When
salt
assimilation imperfect.
defective food
is
From
If these
not properly salted,
in
incorporated
salt is not
not attracted by the blood.
occasions decay
salt
the blood.
proceeds an
The blood becomes
united
or
Moreover, there
the food
\\ith
is
;
that
nutrimental
is, it
salt,
is
in the urine.
the salt of natural
salt.
not be in salt.
away
or
the salt of the
is
Natural salt
and that conjunction causes the excrements
is
the sake
may
a solvent power
Urine
disit
attracted
obstructions of the pores or other accidents arise, salt takes
removes these, so that they pass away blood
wasted.
is
Whatever is sluggishly and faintlv Now, in order to avoid this, and for
deprived of their due nutriment.
its
two functions do not
of those particular members, foods should be salted, so that they
If an}'
not
is
certain that those liquids in
is
it
take nothing unsalted cannot be fed.
Where
the
;
the stomach takes food which has no salt,
if
proceed regularly, and the expulsions are not genuine, everything if
salt.
at the outset that this is the nature of every salt in
expulsive force in the excrement and the urine.
Moreover,
decocted
definite.
a corrective of foods.
For example
corrected.
decoction
is
is
known
should be
It its
is
prepared either from water, or out of a saline and mineral, preserves
is
common
the
intention
is
is
united with
to be expelled.
due mode and sufficient quantity, a natural Now, let ever)- physician know that, since natural salt is wont to issue forth or be expelled by means of salt, the use of salt should be so much the more frequent. It is a great advantage if the salt called sal gemmae is used, as being much more available than all other salts If,
however,
salt is not supplied in
conjunction cannot be effected.
for expelling the natural salt.
It
is
peculiarly the duty of physicians, there-
not to neglect the three species of salt and the operations of each, but
fore,
diligently to use them. I
have said above that the description of
the other as a solid or dry substance. that
all salt
dries
salt is twofold,
Concerning the
one as a liquid
liquid, note this fact,
up every description of humour that proceeds from the body.
more effect than the dried salt month so much more of a drying nature is there against superfluous humours than in dry salt. Even if dry salt be reduced it Nevertheless, the liquid itself in one hour has
would have is
in
a whole
;
not of equal excellence, as you will learn in
its
addition and correction.
It is
accordingly of great importance that the liquid of salt should be correctlydescribed.
If the liquid
be prepared of such a consistency that
it
will
bear up
Concerning Salt and Substances comprehended under Salt. 261 and sustain a whatever
vessel or an
diseases
egg when thrown from
produced
are
into
it,
virtue
its
humours,
as follows
is
infesting
:
natural
the
humours, these are purged when the liquid
is exhibited. Of this class humid tumours, and legs swollen by the influx of
are moist gout, dropsy,
To speak summarily,
humours. naturally
the
liquid
itself
frigerated
tomary
touches,
it
in
is
a
like
the patient
that
whatev'er leprous
consumes.
it
warm can
hot springs, and the
bath
it,
not
existing
effect in this
or hot springs.
in
sit
humour
produces such
It
If
he should wash
be
it
in
it
way so
as
is
:
re-
cus-
This, however, should be done on the
like.
how long and to what extent the treatment should be continued. Thus those humours are absorbed, the feet cease to swell and are reduced to their natural condition. A sound and firm nature consists in a dry body, not a fat, adipose, and humid one. A dry and muscular body is the best and healthiest. Whatever bodies are not so constituted, but are fat, humid, and flaccid, should all be washed in that bath thus they will be dried and become healthy. But if it happens that after a bath of such kind in progress of time the superfluous humours again invade the body after
advice of a prudent physician, as to
;
an interval, care should be taken that the patient spend his
A
salt springs.
long
life is
better than a short one,
life
and dwell near
and the pleasures of
this
world must not be considered. What diseases are of a kind to need this treatment you must learn from physicians. But now, turning to dry salt, it should be known at the beginning that there are several different kinds, as
rock
salt,
should be
common
known
table salt, clear salt, sal
Whatever be
earth salt, and sal stiriatus.
gemmae,
the case with these,
that any kind of salt put into water and used for
it
washing
wounds, preserves them from putrefaction and from worms, and so effectually removes any worms which may have been produced, that none are If wounds are kept pure and ever generated again. clean, they are healed by the operation of Nature herself, even if they are very severe, provided only they have not assumed a poisonous aspect, for the
most
ulcers salt
is
part, not
even a balsam does any good.
a singular remedy.
and a patient washes respect the liquid
is
Besides
therein, he
freed from
is
more powerful,
this, if salt
for
it is
all
in
which case,
So also
in virulent
be put into a bath,
sorts of scab.
In this
a potent cure of scab and itch.
And here, too, should be noticed the possibility of correction by which dry salt may be to a certain extent reduced to this form. Salt is useful in many other cases than we have so far recapitulated in external diseases of the body. So many virtues be hid in the use of salt. In .
conclusion,
it
should be remarked that
in
process of time the liquid removes
and cures baldness and mange. Correction and .\ddition o\ the subject of a Second Time Correcting AND Reducing Dry Salt. The following is a recipe for correcting and reducing back again dry salt
:
Take common
salt
and the
sail of urine in
equal quantities.
Let them
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
262
be calcined according to the rules of Alchemy for two hours.
them be resolved This
liquid.
in
a
cell in
much slower method
Thus you
Afterwards
salt.
operation.
in
differs little
it
For internal disarrangements of the body it is In applying and administering it you will observe
mentioned.
first
let
have the reduced
will
of such powerful virtue that in surgical cases
is
from the true liquid of
the
the usual manner.
It
should be known, also, that no additipn
visable, since the virtues peculiar to salt are found in
ad-
is
no otheV substance.
The less salt there is in other things the fewer similar virtues can be found and therefore every accessory preparation is useless. If alkalis be decocted these are not a genus of salt, that is, they are not salt, but alkali. There is a difference between salt and alkali in that alkali is natural salt in bodies derived from the three species. But salt is nutrimental, feeding and nourishing even, Therefore, no addition can be made, or any other correction, save onlv
alkali.
that the salt should be kept by itself without any addition, as
The same
subject of calcination. is
a
distilled into
an
into
But
oil.
spirit
is
from the calcined substance.
This
gilding,
same purpose. But, work of preparation.
after the
all
sal stiriatus,
common mode.
and the
fire is if
it
In
It is this. is
salt of
gems, the
fact
for the
that these
is
in them becomes very
easily as lead
salt
and the
The
Now,
salt nitre
salt of food.
If
man
nothing else than natural, corporal, and nutrimental
is
is
superfluous by
is
salt
formed
these two are joined
means of salt
the urine, which
meeting with other
the urine be excreted into nitre, and stand for
then the spirit of salt meeting together
deposited,
urine being collected and prepared
is
they expel from him what
is.
one other property
mentioned,
in
if
silver,
wrought almost as
salt, is called salt nitre.
from the natural corporeal
Now,
is,
whatever place the urine of men or animals
afterward produced.
.so as to form another
humours.
Alchemy
be reduced to a cement.
Besides the conditions of salt already
there salt nitre
without such ex-
priceless treasure to other artificers for
In these salts, any Luna, that
also the best purifier of copper
remains.
if
adapted to Alchemy, so that silver can be cemented
malleable, and without the aid of It is
But
a most subtle object of art for gold-
nevertheless, they must be skilled in
Concerning clear salt,
most of
is
it
and a constant and
the
are
gold
spirit resolves
be again extracted and carefully prepared, potable gold
if it
traction the gold be resolved, then in
said on the
true concerning the water of salt, which
of the most excellent character will be the result.
smiths
was
some
time,
in its
operation, prepares one salt out
of two, and that, indeed, of a peculiar kind.
This the Alchemists afterwards
extract from the nitre, clarify by alchemical art, and separate that which salt
from the
salt
which has been produced.
the salt nitre manifests ation of the salt
may
its
conditions.
That they
clarify again,
is
not
and then
In the preparation, however, a separ-
be brought about, so that the true and genuine salt
may
again be extracted from a certain part, and the rest mixed with the salt of the nitre.
Now,
tion
that this salt
is,
the reason is
why
the genuine salt can be again extracted by decoc-
not digested
in
man
or in the animal, but
is
passed out
•
Concerning Salt and Substances comprehended under in
a crude state, so that
digested
so that afterwards
Xo
nitre.
reduced
nitre,
may
incorporated with the corporeal salt
sa)',
cannot be separated, but passes into the form of
it
Alchemy found
salt in the universe is like this one.
virtue from
it
it,
But that which has been
can be detected as such.
it
mixed, and, as one
is
to the
form of a coagulated
salt,
and
it
salt
lying hid in
and then evolved the latent
only for purposes of Alchemy and the manual
to distil sulphur
263
Salt.
They
art.
tried
but this could not be accomplished on
salt nitre together,
Having accomplished
account of the violent chemical action produced.
this
afterwards by the addition of carbon, the Alchemists discovered gunpowder,
and gradually so augmented this by nev^' inventions that now through walls like a thunder-bolt. Hence it is with good reason
By means of
restrial lightning.
many
this salt
foundation or any good end.
It
We
But, so far as relates to the art of Vulcan,
This subject relates
purely to igneous preparations, which
nature of
man
simply from
its
is
not to write on
no one may be led astray.
this subject at all, so that
secrets be hid there.
have not yet got at the
best, therefore,
is
breaks
of the arcana in Alchemy are
brought about which need not be described here. true
it
called ter-
in
it
cannot be denied that great
no way to the health of men, but
demand a chapter
The
to themselves.
man
indeed wonderful, since, from the body of
or brute,
excrements, and by an internal motion, such a generation
is
when it proceeds from living beings- it is so violent against life It destroys man's life with nothing more destructive can be imagined.
contrived that that
such swiftness that no defence
is
sufficiently
strong against
matters must be referred to metaphysical science
in
But these
it.
the Paramirum.
had incorporated salt growing things have proceeded, and it is the balsam of salt which I have mentioned. It should be known, too, that from this salt another salt is found also in the earth, and like salt nitre. For Nature having pores, cavities, and cataracts in the earth, deposits in them stalactites and long dependent growths with the form and appearance of salt. If these are taken and prepared by the art of salt, they put forth two kinds of In the beginning of this chapter
in the liquid
From
of the earth.
salt, table salt
and
salt nitre.
said that Nature
I
this salt all
It is
called saltpetre, because
from which circumstance the name originates.
Salt nitre
ever, are distinguished by a certain difference.
nature of each can be easily discriminated.
be observed
in
man
is
A
adheres to rocks, saltpetre,
how-
probation of salt the
certain difference, too, can
the species and powers of salt, so far as they relate to health
and other matters. which
In the
it
and
At the same time,
formed from the
to eat,' unless
salt
you wish
to
very useful for gunpowder.
It
nitre
I
do not think
and saltpetre
make him
it
advisable that the salt
for food should be given
lean and dried up.
acquires another
spirit,
Otherwise,
a different nature
it is
and
condition.
Now, one must speak
of the losses and injuries of salt, for
write of the evil as well as the good. that
if it
be not digested
it
is
it
is
well to
Let this be understood concerning
salt,
driven from the stomach through the intestines,
The Hermetic and
264 and
Alcketiiical Writhigs
of
causes so severe a colic and bowel complaint that
in its transit
scarcely be cured even by the most careful treatment.
strong corrosive force that intestines. this
It
Paraceistis.
seems as though
it
it
It
it
can
acquires such a
wished to eat away
all
the
has been often discovered by -anatomy that a separated salt of
kind has produced perforation of the bowels. Besides
this,
if
it
remains
in
the
stomach
it
causes craving, heat of
stomach, and other ailments,
all
the orifice of the stomach.
In the case of these patients the physician
of which arise from crude salt adhering to
must
take great care to observe whether that salt has proceeded from salted,
smoked, or dried foods. food
;
and
It is
this
Salt
is
not added in equal portions to every kind of
circumstance should be diligently considered by the physician.
also happens sometimes that this salt enters the mesenteric veins,
there granulated and constipated,
whence
arise
only local but extending over the whole body.
those parts to which the urine penetrates on
many unusual
The same may its
and
diseases, not
also occur in
passage to the emunctories.
we leave to be weighed by the prudent physician. Now, therefore, we will conclude as to the matter of salt in its kind. We thought it should be specially described, as it is a German growth. Many more things could be said of it here, but they are not all relevant, and many All this
of them would be injurious, so that
What seemed experience.
to
me
useful
I
I
have done
have been unwilling to discuss them.
my
best to impart as the result of
my
APPENDIX
III
De Natural and may be compared with The Eeonomy of Minerals, c. 17. It an addition of considerable importance to the Hermetic Chemistry of [The treatise which follows constitutes the seventh chapter
ibus Rebus, is
Paracelsus.]
CONCERNING SULPHUR.
GOD
created the resin of the earth and
a resin of the earth.
It
will be
with
many unspeakable which
in sulphur,
suitable, then, not only to discuss the
medical virtues of sulphur, but also to treat of
Much has been
it
Other virtues also are conspicuous
operations. is
endowed
not only for remedying diseases, but also for alchemical
qualities,
its
alchemistical and other uses.
written and published on the subject of sulphur, but no one
has ever yet reached the source of
its
Many
true power.
authors have
undertaken to describe everything, but they understood nothing.
They
piled
up heaps of matter, but deduced nothing from the source as a good writer
They did not understand the subject themselves and though ambition led them to keep on compiling books, those books were without should do.
;
a mere dead
spirit or life, in fact, I,
letter.
as an experienced man, will lay before you
what
sulphur, and
other respects.
comprised
is
Unless
what
If
have learnt about
as regards medicine, alchemy, and in
God Himself
interposes and hinders, the operations
of sulphur are stupendous, so that the natural light in
admire them.
I
it
in
God does
not hinder, any defect
man
is
cannot sufficiently
handle their sulphur so that the result does not correspond to
When
every simpleton
is
made
a
who
in the artificers,
doctor and every
its
trifler
innate virtue.
poses
as
an
alchemist, this fact accounts for science not being brought out into open light.
And
the foundation
is
that so
many arcana and powers
of both faculties are
sulphur, that they cannot be thoroughly investigated by any
contained
in
because,
repeat, such excellent virtues are latent therein, they are deservedly
the
I
subject of universal
wonder.
After long experience gained
in
both
powers of sulphur were discovered and understood by me, realised that scarcely any exist which are superior to them, or which
faculties, these
and
I
can even be compared to them .Aristotle
in
medicine and
in
Alchemy.
Sulphur confutes
when he says that the species of things cannot be transmuted.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
266
Sulphur transmutes them
would be completely put
One who it
exists per
from
to the blush
sc,
but rather as
when
Ysopaic art
crude,
and made ashamed of himself.
it is
in
separated into
it is
becomes
it
accomplished by Ysopus, that called the
were ahve at the present day, he
Aristotle
if
practises as a physician or an alchemist does not use Sulphur as
impurity that
its
and
;
in
arcanum, and so cleansed
the art of separating, which
is,
Alchemy and
remarkable for
its
virtue whiter than snow.
its
use and for
first
according to
Hence
many.
it
its
nature.
These
may make any
mistake, and so that
medicine, and also are established
I
how
will
far
go on
it is
I
will differentiate
may
it
be clearly
due order
in other respects, all its operations will
that they will be able to handle
its
When
So, then,
use
in
natures,
no physician
known what
serviceable for Alchemy.
in
many
will detail separately, so that
to specify its dail}- uses.
have explained accurately and
and
I
Even
not produced from one matrix, but from
has diverse modes of operation, and comprises
one from the other.
differing
It is
is
external purposes.
all
Hut, in order to be quite accurate in explaining Sulphur, it
This
anciently-
kinds of sequestration.
in all
common
was
is its
use in
these points
when we
shall
medicine, in Alchemy,
be understood by everybody, so
without danger of error.
it
Concerning the Kinds of Sulphur.
As metal
often as
you get new metal, so often you get sulphur
without sulphur.
is
sulphur, salt, and mercury.
per
s.e,
You
removed.
is
but with a skin and a
concerning generation.
I
how-
see a nut generated,
not
and you know that these are super-
shell,
fluous save for the embryonic conservation of the kernel, as treatise
because no
In the perfection or generation of metals,
ever, the superfluous sulphur •AWCv^Xy
;
Every metallic body consists of three things,
adduce
is
illustration to
this
explained in the
shew
that there
many kinds of sulphur as of metals, each bearing relation to the nature And this is true not only of metals, but of stones. There of its own metal. All bodies having their own subare as man}- kinds of sulphur as of stones. stance are made up of the three constituents just mentioned. On this account are as
they have an embryonated nature. for
Hence
arise difterent
example, the embryonic sulphur of gold,
The sulphur
is
distinguished by the
name
generation of a single product, be
it
metals and stones only, but also of vitriol,
tion.
its
of the embryo, which arises from the
etc.
Each
\itriol
growing bodies of the contains
One
in itself a
or of jaspis.
earth,
I
speak of
of these comprises an
to the speciality of its
For instance, the embryonate sulphur of Mars
embryonate sulphur of
Nor do
the different corporalities, such as
all
name according
names of sulphur,
sapphire, marble, etc.
metal or stone.
alum, marcasite, bismuth, antimony,
embryo, which takes
silver,
is
own genera-
different
from the
The same holds good concerning
as woods, herbs, and the like, each of \\hich
sulphur of this kind.
thing should here be mentioned.
It
sometimes happens that embiy-
onal sulphur of this kind produces metals of
fair
quality,
gems pure and
Conceiyiing Sulphur. bright,
and other matters of
in that
generation whereby
united therewith which
is
And
certain spirit of that body.
because
like nature,
they are produced, something
267
not only the
as
is,
it
were, a
but with that same also
spirit,
a corporality, but a subtle and ephemeral one, which cannot sustain any
Apart from the Vulcanic operation gold from gold,
arises, in
sometimes made
in
produced
it is
lead from lead.
in
fire.
those metals whence
it
Similar preparations are also
sulphureous embryos of gems, by \\hich are separated
in the
mutually from one another dead sulphur, of a weak character, and a precious stone, latent in
But
art.
which things have been discovered and investigated by like that from which it was produced, granate from
all
it,
was
this stone
granate, hyacinlhus from hyacinthus.
we
the alchemical process,
and confirmed
Relegating these things, however, to
will here point
out only what experience has taught
the science of finding out secrets of this kind.
in
alchemist, therefore,
Let the
investigations of this nature, give his attention to
in
finding out the embryo, lest by chance he light upon something else.
much
be said, then, concerning one kind of sulphur, as to
this there is
and
another generation of sulphur, per
will set forth its virtues in medicine,
Sulphur, then, has
still
This
se.
Besides
now
describe,
I
will
Alchemy, and other
arts.
another generation, and one peculiar to
without any embryonic nature and condition, so that itself, like
it is
This
is
This sulphur
called mineral sulphur.
se.
And
true
body may be taken away from the
as the Vulcanic art teaches
so also in mineral sulphur there
is
own
its
a mineral /«;-
how
to separate minerals so that the
false,
— as silver or iron from
a body which
is
itself,
a thing growing by
a beech or an oak, separated from other substances by
special genus.
Let so
its origin.
is
its
ore,
extracted, as tin from
its
zwitter.
That body
mineral sulphur.
is
kinds, no one exactly like another.
Nature abounds
us, that the
for
There
species.
is
only one sulphur
;
Of this sulphur Thus you see in
genus
all
since one sort
is
many
distributed not into one but
is
So, there
For
this reason medical
I
:
— In
is
this
sufficiently clear
know
like
it
which
is
what are the
of another kind which
alchemical separation, gold
is
Of
prepared, and extracted.
;
but this sulphur
is
So, thus far,
a
all
which the sulphur
.And in truth,
so excellent an arcanum that
can be put forward, nor, indeed, ought to be
matter relates to Vulcan.
is
dissolved from
this kind are the
the sulphur of jaspis, the sulphur of vitriol, etc.
various secrets are here used
nothing
it is
as also silver, everj' metal, and gems, from
sulphur withdraws, of gold,
this,
should wish you to
special secret, as follows
corporality,
From
and conditions of sulphur, and how they are to be recognised.
But beyond these,
its
not
.And this difference should be
especially kept in view by alchemists, so that the particular species
different kinds
many is
of a higher, another of a lower grade, or
also should be sought therein.
sought may forthwith be found.
different
those things in which
not only one lead, one copper, one gold.
they have more or less of transparency and clearness. properties
there are
in this place since
we have put forward a
triple
^
A Ichcmical
The Hermetic and
268
Of
sulphur.
these three,
I
will point
maker
the alchemist, and the soap
Writings of Paracelsus.
how
out
they are useful to the phj-sician,
respectively.
Concerning E.mbryonated Sulphur. Concerning embryonated sulphur virtues according to that from which
it it
should be is
known
derived, that
A
Let us use an illustration to explain our meaning.
But the kernel contains
kernel.
in itself
is,
that
has different
it
from
its
generators.
Ti\xX,per se, is
simply the
an integument which corresponds to
As in foods, the kernel differs from its integument so do their virtues Over against this, again, a dry shell is produced, which is of a nature altogether different from the nut. As the bodies differ, so do their properties. Over this, finally, grows a green rind or bark, where the same diversity is once more observed. The chestnut, for example, has these two coatings. And as the nut.
;
differ.
when masticated in the mouth, so do the may understand how embryonimpurity from its embryo and differs from its true
the chestnut differs from the bark properties differ.
ated sulphur
is
say this in order that you
I
also a similar
products by as wide an interval as differ.
in
The
virtue of the nut
is
its
form, essence, substance, and corporality
not to be looked for in the shell
embryonated sulphur that one must seek the virtue of gold,
emerald, or jacinth
;
so neither
;
copper,
but another virtue must be selected for medicine.
Many
virtues are hidden in these sulphurs, each differing from the other.
which now we are going to say should be noted before with
all
these sulphurs the spirit of arsenic blends,
another.
As
is
is it
silver, tin,
that which
is
generated, so also
is
all
namely, that
else,
more subtly
This, also,
in
one than
in
that arsenic sometimes like
realgar, sometimes like auripigment, sometimes like crystalline, etc.
ad-
I
may understand that jxiu ought to be naturalists — not sophists — so that you may know natural substances, and discover what is this arsenic in embryonated sulphur, so that you may not They only know the sulphur of the treat men as though you were robbers. hucksters' shops. They would not even know that if they had not heard it talked about. Yet, all these things ought to be known thoroughly from Nature herself, if we would net lend ourselves to robberj-, but would have a good conscience towards God. You Academicians think nothing of this, content with one thing — if money flows into your pockets. Yon care nothing for God,
duce these facts
in
order that you ph}sicians
the Creator of yourselves and of
all
Nature.
Moreover, note this with reference to the embryonated sulphur of the metals. particular
It
can be clearly seen
member.
For
all
how
it
conserves and restores
members Thus the sulphur
the seven
other remedies for their ailments.
firml}-
of gold
the heart, the sulphur of silver to the brain, the sulphur
kidneys, the sulphur of lead to the spleen, the sulphur
sulphur of
tin to the liver, the
humours
in
thcni
own
is
beneficial to
of copper to the
of- iron to
the gall, the
But
sulphur of quicksilver to the lungs.
these avail in one disease only, as in the suffocation of these members,
be a flux of
its
require minerals only, and no
which threatens such suffocation.
if
all
there
.Although
Concerning Sulphur.
among
269
the ancient and rival physicians no recipes are found against sufFoc-
ations of this kind,
still
they one and
embryonatc sulphurs, and requires.
I
decline learning
all
to administer
them
to prepare these
when
necessity
write here, therefore, concerning this one sole virtue, because no
medicine has been found for suffocations, which metallic
how
to their patients
embryonated sulphurs
As
do.
able to do
is
what these
to their other virtues, these will be
They
dealt with under the head of mineral sulphur.
suit all operations
but
;
must be used with
the metallic are stronger than the mineral sulphurs, and
greater caution.
Moreover, there are also the sulphurs of gems lie
as a chestnut within
well
known.
thing which
In the
its
thorny bark.
same way,
also, all
this is extracted
you have no
are by Nature enclosed in
less virtue
than
the stone
in
So
for wearing, but for using in place of medicine.
the sapphire
is
it is
itself,
When
not, indeed,
known
well
that in
sulphur,
is its
if,
indeed,
Laid on thus,
used as a plaster.
it
effects.
case not only with anthrax, but also with cancer and Persian at the beginning,
breaks forth with an abscess.
if it
the
be extracted from the body and be
produces the same
it
to
it
Of
other corrosives, and yet without any corrosion.
all
is
some
concealed the virtue of removing anthrax, and reducing
an eschara above
same nature
which precious stones
in
constitution of eagle-stones
In that embryonate, sulphur lies hid.
their embryonate.
is
The gems
And
this is the
fire,
especially
Care must be taken,
from those gems which we Germans have we extract the virtues which are applicable to these special uses. If you have these virtues therefore,
that
gems you will have them also in sulphur, with the same mode of operation. They are not, it is true, equally strong in the sulphur, but still they are there. The application, separation, and gradation cause it to accomplish the same result. The correction and gradation alone tend thereto, otherwise none of these in
results could be
But
stood here. is
As
brought about.
from the difference of the if
no longer useful
shell
in the
beginning,
and the kernel
in
I
took an illustration
a nut, so
is it
to be under-
the kernel of the nut be corrupted or dissolved, so that for food, the nut
has the same properties as
still
its
it
shell.
Suppose the kernel
is burst, and an alkali becomes an alkali too, and both tinge with a black colour those substances which were not previously black.
Let us take a further illustration.
formed from
When,
it,
then, in like manner, the shell
therefore,
generated,
I
I
say that the virtue of the embryonate'
would be understood
reduced to a Vulcanian preparation.
embryonates of gems and the
thus,
if
talc, etc.,
it
like that of the
the generated be dissolved and
The same must be understood of
all
the
rest.
But with regard to embrj'onated sulphurs antimony,
is
should be
known
that
in cachimia;, if
such as marchasites,
they are extracted from their
bodies and from the matters adhering to them, they produce a similar clear
and bright sulphur.
In proportion as the degrees hereof are graduated in the
operation, the operation itself and the virtue answer to that degree. is
extracted, so are
all
other embryonates, of which there
is
more
As
this
to be said in
The Hermetic atid Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
270
their alchemical operation,
virtue
is this,
that
which cannot properly be recounted here.
rivals those
it
which are generated
Secondly, they are specially useful
the preparation.
Whatever can be naturally supplied condition.
its
I
world to-day,
was
\\\
But the
be corrupted in
it
phlegmatic cases,
in all
empyemata, and every kind of cough. any way, that this sulphur brings to
phthisis, peripneumonia,
especially in
if
in
have no greater desire or longing than that the state of the
among
its
princes, kings,
and magnates, may be the same as
Then
the time and age of the Magi.
the virtues in
it
things would
all
men would admire God, being such a profound artificer as He is, since He has hidden so many miracles in Nature, in order that man may trace them out. The Magi passed away, and the drunkards rushed into their place, and now nothing remains but whoremongers, mockers, robbers, and thieves. One ought to grieve from the heart that there is to-day no Magus flourishing among princes, but all things on every side have degenerated into so shine forth that
mere
and ineptitude, while wolves
trifling
masterv,
all
who by
their exactions
and
gain for themselves and their lords.
sit
at
our councils, and have the
their usuries
Secrets of Nature, that after the passing
away of the Magi, same fate and in
the sciences also perished together by the
say
nod, threw
me're
?
The
arts
all
or of Magic,
;
scribes with long garments, and rapacious wolves, their
make more than enough
This fate awaited the Science of the
who, swaying
in their
all
rights
What
things into a state of terrorism.
have perished, and
all
their place arose
by
shall
I
place a den of robbers has been
substituted.
Next
concerning the embryonated sulphur
in order,
Know this,
nates, which are species of vitriol.
that they
in vitriol all
and
its
cog-
produce a wonder-
sulphur when animated bodies are separated from their embryonates, as
ful
from etc.
salt,
from the
Here
I
will
gemmae, from
sal
down a
lay
formed from vitriolated
different species of alum,
general rule for you, namely, that
salts are stupefactive,
producing, with this special property, condition
is
so placid and gentle that
as an opiate, as
is
from
vitriols,
all
sulphurs
narcotic, anodyne,
and
sleep-
however, that here the somniferous
it is
free
from
all
harm, and does not act
the case with henbane, pepper, mandragora, etc., but safely,
quietly, clTectually, yet without evil consequences.
Such a sleep-producing
stupefactive, therefore, decocted, prepared, and corrected by Nature herself, is
worthy of the highest
praise.
kind produce many wonderful
much poison
that, except
Phvsicians are agreed that soporifics of this
effects.
in the
In opiates, on the contrary, there
is
so
form of a quintessence, they cannot be used
;
and the more confidence should be placed in this present soporific, since we know that there are many diseases which are not curable without anodynes, and of which the whole remedy has been placed by God in these anodynes. How it is the reason why I write the more carefully about this sulphur.
This is
found and prepared
concerning
this
of vitriol
is
it
is
described
same sulphur,
the best
known
it
in
may
the alchemical process.
Here, howe\er,
be mentioned that of
the productions
extract, because
it is
all
fixed of itself.
Then, too.
Concerning Sulphur. it
has a certain amount of sweetness
them
to sleep for
from
eflfects
in
271
so that poultry will eat
it,
sends
It
it.
some time, but they wake up by-and-bye without feeling any evil Concerning^ this sulphur there cannot be two opinions
it.
diseases curable by anodynes, without any
ill
effect,
it
lulls all
in all
;
passions, soothes
and prevents the severe symptoms of every disease. remedy and preventive in ail ailments, being followed up by the quintessence as a tonic. What other means can raise physicians to a higher position, beyond nil Apollos, Machaons, Hippocrates, and Polydores ? pains, reduces
all
fevers,
all
This ought to be the
And
first
because
this is called the philosophers' sulphur,
results
— to prolong
only
fire,
with the wood.
which
in
philosophers aim at these
and
live in health
this faculty in its highest
degree
in this
is
Besides this there is
all
make men
centuries, to
why they have given it this name. Give your utmost you may learn how to graduate, separate, and purify it.
That
attention that
sulphur
many
for
and they have found
resist disease,
sulphur.
life
is
another kind of embrj onated sulphur
which none can kindle save
This sulphur exists
Everyone knows that
It
which
those substances
wood.
wood, which also perishes
is
vegetable, not
have to
be
fixed,
by
prepared
sulphur indicates the virtue of other sulphurs
this
This
substances which are wooden, or
in all
burning can be reduced to ashes.
available only for
in
in
and fire.
in that
consuming all things, so every sulphur is an invisible way. As fire consuming diseases. As fire consumes wood visibly, so does the other invisibly. For this reason the element of fire is a great arcanum in all it is itself fire,
Whatever physician has not this element of fire in its arcanity word cannot boast that he is a true and tried physician.
diseases. if I
may
He
is
—
coin that
a mere tyro, and pilferer
then, that sulphur
proper
because
and
namely, which is
to that if
is
mountebanks, with
it
be
is, it
is
reduced to
its
shall be so sub-
separated from
So diseases are not
and the element of
;
not fixed against
and acquired development
you contend that sulphur
it,
The sulphur being reduced to subtlety consuming body must be consumed, that,
not fixed by Nature.
sham physicians had acted
say,
fire.
fixed against the element
which
if
may vanish like flame, that own body, and its own body
then at length the is
But
fire.
One may now
purses.
you must take care that
not an element of
volatility,
body
it
will leave its
it
it is
the element of effect,
so that
volatility,
tilised that
is
medicinal
is fire in its
of people's
it,
thus,
in the
that
if
this
is,
it is
fire,
fixed
at least,
but the
opposed
opposed to diseases.
Now,
our philosophy had found a place
schools of medicine, while the
their blind eyes,
;
is
were
banished,
there
is
triflers
and
no knowing
what position might have been reached, while these people would have avoided any number of homicides of which they have been guilty by their rashness. In the meantime, since they have no consciences, what can one do but let them pose as sham physicians ? But whoever wishes to be a true physician must hunt out the \irtues of the elements in natural things. There he will find, There are, then, two kinds of not only truth, but how to cure his patients. embryonated sulphur, one fixed, but made volatile, the other pure fire. That is'
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
272
one
to say,
living
is
other
the
fire,
insensible
however, the
Each,
fire.
sensible as well as the insensible, has a like consummation, the one in wood,
the other in diseases.
Concerning Mineral Sulphur.
The following of separation from
is
its
"The
of in the book on
know something
Generation of Minerals."
of its virtues.
a remarkable medicine,
if it
This
not necessary here to speak.
it is
It
must not be used
It
medicinal purposes, but has to be separated from
is
of
it
Roman
Jss.
myrrh,
standing.
It is
in childhood.
in
who
drink
be taken daily
it
it
It
it.
it all
out.
If
wine
not,
Nothing can be found pared.
It is
Moreover,
is
like
In business
and commerce
it
of
in
is
and a curative
it
it is
a corrective
wholesome
for those
a crude state.
leaves nothing impure
treated herewith
it,
then takes
it
a preservative
is
it
;
if
preserves the health, and prevents any-
it
however, be used
abscesses
apoplexy,
calculus,
way
remains sound and uncorrupted, and
must
above
aloes [aloe eputtciis), l\.
into a powder.
In this
all
be prepared
it
oftener the better),
vitriol.
powerful a preservative for wine that drives
if
in
prevents the
it
also a preservative against the falling sickness,
If
it is
every kind of cough, whether recent or of long
thing untoward from happening. of wine, so that
pleurisy,
purified sulphur as
and a half; best
vitriol (the
essence and virtues of
and a curative
in all fevers,
ji.
Of
Rec.
Mix and make
(half).
be elevated several times from
into itself the
to
be raised in the second or third degree from aloes
according to the following prescription. ;
way
In this
pestilence for that day, or pleurisy, or abscesses, especially
oriental saffron,
mode
treated
crud^ form for
faces.
its
the is
however,
well,
in" its
and myrrh. It is an excellent preservative in the plague, in abscesses and putridities of the body. Taken in the morning
described,. Ix.
Of
a brief dissertation on mineral sulphur. scoria
in the
It is
does not produce gravel or
any kind, fluxions, coughs, fevers,
or of equal
efficacy with
not without reason, therefore, that
so
wine, but
I
it,
when
here sound
it
is
etc.
pre-
praises.
its
If
one had time, a very few pages of this our writing would suffice to establish this point in discussion
before swine
;
Pearls are not to be cast
with the academic doctors.
die than yield a
and these would rather see people sicken and
jot of their opinion, although they are not able to be of the slightest use to the sick.
But
be used better
it
in
to return to mineral sulphur
a crude state, but prepared.
turns out
;
at
length
character, and everything in
it
it
that
observe once more that
:
The more
throws
carefully
off all
is
useless retires
its
it is
it
dregs and poisonous
from
it
;
what remains
a pearl of price and the most desirable of medicines. Crude sulphur has the property of bleaching red colours with It
turns red roses into white ones.
state
it
If
it
be used medicinally
produces whiteness, but only externally.
must not
prepared, the
in
Moreover,
its
is,
is
fumes.
an elevated it
should be
observed that there are several kinds of sulphur, differing in colour. for instance, the yellow, the yellowish, that which
is
There
red in a greater or
Concerning Sulphur. less degree, purple, black, white, ash-coloured
273
but of these colours none
;
is
any use except the yellow.
The more yellow sulphur is, and the more it inclines to gold colour, the and more wholesome it is. The others contain a good deal of arsenic,
better
realgar,
and so are avoided
etc.,
But so
medicine.
in
as concerns
far
alchemy, these others are better on account of the ingress which they have
through such
spirits of realgar.
Moreover,
it
is
worth mentioning that
sulphur removes skin diseases
this
and other external affections of the body.
In
these
cases
coloured
the
sulphurs are better than the yellow, on account of their subtle arsenical spirits.
If
plumosum,
these sulphurs are sublimated with
eradicate skin disease and ring-worm. it
vitriol,
alum, sal gemmae, sal
they become so subtilised that they completely
etc., several times,
This treasure
so precious because
is
removes externally those blemishes which have an internal
magnet
attracts iron to itself, so that
remain where explained.
A
it
moves from
its
As the
origin.
position and does not
was, so here are magnetic powers which cannot be altogether
it
single experiment in the Vulcanic art opens up these marvels of
Nature.
God has
supplied medicine in sufficient quantity.
The blindness
separated from what
They think
useful.
is
it
suffices
if,
like apothecaries,
they jumble a lot of things together and say "Fiat unguentum."
been so far esteemed learning that medicine It
is
mere
is
trifling,
Vet,
if
not, as
granulated
it
is
we have
said,
it
This has
to such a condition
once was, an art or a science.
artists,
who have
the pre-
a far more healthy
Note, then, with regard to sulphur, that when
foot.
a most useful medicine for man, not, indeed, taken
internally, but exhibited externally,
as
it
medicine were handled by
system would be set on is
and
not the artists in medicine, but the mere sophists,
eminence.
it
and the world has returned
:
lies in
may be
the fact that no one attempts their preparation, so that the useless
even
in the
form of fumes.
In this
preserves and conserves, with the addition of
way,
some grains
of juniper, rosemar}', etc.
Concerning Metallic Sulphur
:
that
is,
Sulphurs prepared from the
Entire Metals.
Alchemy has devised
certain arts
and modes whereby metals are drawn
out of their bodies, so that they are no longer metals but a certain destroyed
matter which has lost
its
former condition.
remembered that every metal and mercur}-. it
is
made up
On
this subject
of three constituents,
it
should be
salt,
sulphur,
Since these three, then, are the primal material of the metals,
follows from hence that these three can be destroyed and dissolved and so
subjected to art, that they can be reduced to another essence and transmuted.
This destruction having been made, the three primals can be separated by art, so that the sulphur remains solitary and by the salt, and the mercurv respectively.
We
will
still
itself,
further
as does
speak here of the sulphur,
T
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
274
leaving the other two on one side.
Whatever
way.
this very
forces
Sulphur
separated from other metals
and the more so because the metal has
;
acquired a special nature from that which makes
some are conferred on more noble than other
in
have assigned to sulphur generally, these
I
also exist in the metallic sulphurs
is
And
sulphurs.
Of these virtues more excellent and
a metal.
it
sulphur, so that the metallic
is
the physician ought to
know
that
all
the virtues of sulphur are present in this kind of sulphur, graduated to their
very highest degree
(if I
may
endowed with the condition
so say), and
Hence, sulphur acquires from gold the virtues of gold, from
metal.
from iron the virtues of
virtues of silver,
Whatever
iron.
castrum, of lead, and of other metals. get possession of these sulphurs.
marked.
manner
In like
is
it
by magic, whereby he
with the sulphur of
Every physician, therefore, should
The dose of them
this
It
same
these
all
is
small, but the effect
These should convince the physician that God has
over against every disease.
what-
iron does,
ever the crocus of Mars does, whatever the topaz of iron does, things the sulphur of iron does.
of the
silver the
set a
be true, the physician should be produced
may understand
Thus
the secrets of Nature.
all
who
unacquainted with magic
is
such so long as he
lives.
and to have visited
its
It is
a
will
it
be made clear that Nature has such resources as to heal even the lepers. phj'sician
is
remedy
The
a mere tyro, and will remain
is
matter to have understood medicine,
difficult
innermost shrines, at
events for those
all
who
are un-
acquainted with the Cabbala and with magic.
Concerning the Alchemical Virtues of Sulphur
:
and First Concerning
Embryonated Sulphur. The
extraction of embryonated sulphur
and sometimes by descent, plentiful supply,
too subtle,
it
if
is
brought about by sublimation,
the sulphur be properly ripened and there be a
without the admixture of other bodies.
will
Sometimes,
if it
be
not admit of sublimation or descension, but must be ex-
tracted with strong waters,
means of other bodies
so that by
we
may
be
There are many
reduced to water and then coagulated again from the water. kinds of these strong waters, which
it
will not recount here,
but they should
be of such a kind as not to take away or change the power of the sulphur.
For
if
they be extracted by art, according to their
not, indeed, be golden, but in
alchemy they
They admit
for other preparations.
strong waters and put forth their gold. in
alchemy, unless
cordance, from those things in which as
is
often the case,
it
strained, nor ality.
Many
is it
taken
in
way
they will
in-
cements a
that they bear separation in
Otherwise, from this sulphur nothing it
it is
contains gold, that
likewise so fixed for retaining
own concordance,
be very convenient sulphurs
of fixation, and so produce
volatile subtle gold in metals, in such a
can be hoped for
will
all volatile
be extracted, according to latent, is
and afterwards be
its
discovered by fulmination.
gold that
separation on account of
processes have, indeed, been tried for
it
its
con-
fixed.
If,
It
cannot otherwise be
is
re-
tenuity of subtle corpor-
making
a tincture out of.
Concerning Sulphur. sulphur.
These have not succeeded, because there
sought there, nor ought
There
more so than another.
It
it.
is,
produced
As
antimony, red
far as concerns
Whoever wishes
in
and one kind
silver character, onlj' golden,
they are rarely deficient in gold.
etc.,
in
to be attempted that gold should be
it
none of a
is
no tincture
is
Unless gold were contained therein, nothing can be
therefore, labour in vain.
other bodies.
275
talc, gold,
marcasite,
him
to treat this, let
take care to separate the sulphur so subtly that nothing shall depart from the
And
gold.
God opposes (for He does not wish all to be rich, and why goats have not longer tails), much could be few words. But since riches lead the poor man astray, and
unless
Himself knows the reason here imparted
away
take
his
in
modesty and humility, adding haughtiness and pride in it is better to be silent and let these people remain poor.
their
place, therefore
Concerning Mineral Sulphur. Next
order
in
I
impart to you some marvels, though
will
I
am aware
that this discourse concerning the wonderful use of sulphur in alchemy will be
unacceptable to many.
It is
known
to all that the spirit of the sciences does
not take holiday, but works constantly and unremittingly, that
may hunt God has
it
out and discover those facts in the secret things of Nature which
With
hidden.
and
goes together for the most part another bad
this spirit there
but
false spirit, not only in this art,
the soul.
But concerning
mixes himself up
matters, but
all
i^n
others too, even those which regard
in
this false spirit
keep
I
The
silence.
devil,
indeed,
make no remark on his deceits. For made many attempts
I
the sake of this mineral sulphur the alchemical art has to is is.
form something from a miracle
it
which
God has allowed
This, however,
would be the
potency of
ver)-
superintending the sulphur, and
how
;
art,
art,
it.
made experiment
when
lung from the
lung
manifold.
milk,
as to
is
which
also gives a red
oil,
itself
since
this
what can be formed from itself,
but,
however,
begetting
art is the
man and
is
to be accomplished
the father
who
brings
it
all
But now that stage of the operation has been reached oil
But
differs in
Now,
herself cannot beget children, but
the spirit of transmutation has given
liver or
art.
not in the sulphur
If this
Here
must be by means of two. things to perfection.
is
The woman by
she begets them with the man.
done by
to be
this itself
than the thing of
the great Master of the art Himself has, by
something which
can be obtained from
Now
be more than sulphur.
shall
— to make something more out of a thing
it is
prescription
its
of flax and sulphur.
The
making
the
is given by and fat. It This milk and that blood have not con-
found out by operating that
no respect from like blood.
founded their colour and essence
for
distillation of this liver or
in
common
this liver
milk, but
is
thick
the process of distillation, but these have
remained distinct and separate, the white subsiding to the bottom and the red ascending to the top.
Art,
it is
true,
has urgently sought to form silver out
of the white or the milk and gold out of the red.
But
I
am
certain that this
has never been able to be done, either by the ancients or by those of more
T2
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
2/6
recent times.
tained in
I
say, therefore,
But concerning
some
for
be placed in years
it
dead, and nothing
is
this
red
oil,
is
time, it
namely,
Alchemists, indeed, have tried to
a jacinth of
good quality
for
some time
And
says that this cannot be done.
this
shines
it
a burning coal, and can be seen everywhere. mentally.
be placed
it
not highly graduated,
is
and bright that
clear
if
three years, becomes a jacinth.
for
a ruby which
becomes so
Any
which gives the liver-mark.
which has been previously well polished,
or beryl oil
that the milk
con-
it.
a
in in
crystal in
this
If there
space of nine
the darkness like
This has been proved experi-
make a in
carbuncle of
the
But
oil.
colouring
it
my
by placing experience
does not take place
ways that have been mentioned; but the same oil tinges a In the same way it colours sapphire also a blue colour, mixed with green. Over glass and similar substances it has no power. But it so other gems. only
in
exalts
the
gems
that they attain their highest degree of excellence, a higher one,
indeed, than that to which they could be exalted by Nature.
Concerning other
gems nothing more has been heard or written than blood of sulphur colours and tints them. And here observe that
gradations and colourings of that the red
all silver, if it
be placed therein and
left for
a due time, by-and-bye grows black,
and deposits a calx of gold, which until the proper season is not fixed, but is a volatile and immature substance. If, however, it reaches its proper limit, by its own despatch it hastens on other things, about which I must not say
more here. So, then, remark concerning sulphur, that if it be duly graduated, the more subtle, beautiful, high, and quick in operation it is, the higher and Let In this way metals and stones are formed. greater will be the result. him w-ho For it.
is
about to make the attempt not think, but be sure, that he can do most perilous work of all in alchemy, needing for its
this is the
accomplishment great experience and continual practice. It should not depend on mere hearsay, but on manifold practice. Of the virtues themselves and
how
they are graduated,
I
cannot say anything.
speak of the colourings
I
only, that they should be exalted to the highest degree.
take place in colours
I
do not think possible.
This
is
But that
this
should
a tincture not of virtue,
but of mere colour.
Concerning the Use of Sulphur of the IMetals I
have several times
in this
in
Alchemy.
chapter mentioned sulphur prepared from the
decomposed metals, and added something as to their use in medicine. So far as relates to alchemy, I would have you know that many have tried to extract from it a tincture with which they should change things from one tint to another.
This has not been successful, for a reason not to be mentioned here.
But whoever has the sulphur of gold can by means thereof graduate other gold from 24 to 36 grains or more, so that gold cannot mount any higher, whilst it
abides and remains in antimony and quartarium.
too, so exalts silver in its whiteness, that
if
But the sulphur of
silver,
copper and silver are mixed
in
Concerning Sulplnir.
277
equal proportions, they cannot be discriminated by the needle or the Lydian stone, but both
seem
to be equally pure
and choice
silver.
same way,
In the
by the sulphur of copper, the metal copper can be brought to such a state that it
proof against lightning, even though
is
own
From
steel.
From lead,
From
colour.
the sulphur of
the sulphur of Saturn
made
is
is
as well as copper does. the
tin,
is
per
If the
se.
but has no power of fixation ation of sulphur into
;
its
the best and most excellent
which
fixed Saturn,
will
bear the lightning.
which gives neither white
spirit.
power exercised by the sulphur of the metals over
This
metals.
be not graduated, and retains
made
The sulphur of quicksilver reduces it can be wrought with the hammer, and bears The ashen fire, however, it does not bear.
nor minium, nor any other
fire
This
it
is
the sulphur of Jove, the best
quicksilver to such a point that
the
Mars
sulphur of gold
and
some other
this
is
is
its
applied to silver
own it
special
colours
it,
always the case with the transmut-
metal.
you have learnt how many kinds there are, and what are the nature, properties, and essence of sulphur. Whoever wanted to say all that
So
far, then,
can be said about sulphur would consume a great deal of paper.
demands a shout or
careful
only, but puts
one.
both
workman, a ready and
traffic in trifles, it
to the test of
He who knows in
who
skilled artist,
one
The
who
subject
does not
does not deal with his art by mouth and tongue
work
itself.
Miracles will abound for such an
nothing about sulphur
is
a
man
of no worth, unskilled
philosophy and medicine, and conscious of none of Nature's secrets.
APPENDIX
IV
THE MERCURIES OF THE METALS. was
the year 1582 an octavo edition of the Archidoxorum Libri Decern
IN published
and included several other treatises of ^reat importance, some of which are absent from the Geneva folio. Among these there is one upon the Mercuries of the Metals, which fills a Latin at
in
Basle,
somewhat curious lacuna in the writings of Paracelsus, as there is no other extant work attributed to him which treats individually of Mercury, while concerning Salt and Sulphur there little
embarrasses selection,
an abundance of material which not a
is
entirely devoted to experiments,
It is
and
will
it
be consequentlv of the more value to practical students of early chemistry. .\
Little
Book
con'cerni.ng
the Mercuries of the Met.vls, bv the Gre.\t
Theophr.\stus Paracelsus, most Excellent Philosopher
AND Doctor of both Faculties. Extract aquafortis out of 4 lii.
of alum, and
of sal ammoniac.
Bi.
copper, dissolve in this water
well
In this
taken place ;
Let
water dissolve
there
gii.
let
the calx subside
;
it,
and you
ammoniac, which has
things.
Pound
all
them very
dissolution
sweet condition. until
has
For
finely,
finely
to the
this
no sharpness of the
Subsequently dry the calx over a slow
and white calcined tartar of
the
.After
to a
will find that a third part of the
vitriol,
pre-
effect separation by drawing off the aqua-
Thereunto add an equal proportion of very quantitv of
little
be hence produced aqua regis
purpose wash six or seven times with sweet water
weigh
of green vitriol,
of gold, which has previously been
and then reduce the calx by washing
aquafortis any longer remains.
lbs.
has subsided with a
it
most exactly purged by antimony.
and
fortis
After
of crude sal
§1.
viously been slightly pounded.
through V.
of salt nitre, with 3
lbs.
fire,
weight has been extracted.
pounded sulphur, a double weight of
all
the aforesaid
place in a glass vessel, and pour upon
the top exceedingly strong vinegar, together with salt water, so that aqueous
matter
may swim upon
the top to the height oi
Seal the vessel effectually, and place thirty days.
it
The furnace must not be
in
two
fingers,
more or
less.
a cupel, or alchemistic furnace, for
of sufiicient heat to burn the finger
when placed therein. At the expiration of the time specified break the glass, when the matter will be in the form of washed silver, or calx of silver which
The Mercuries of is
Mercury, meanwhile,
small grains.
friable into
Nevertheless,
it is
Therefore
not visible.
is
pestle, for
Mer-
Let this process continue until Mercury shall
compelled by pounding.
become complected, and a
279
pound with a wooden
place the said matter in a mortar, and cur)' is
the Metals.
matter, or bod)-, shall have been produced.
live
not so quickly produced or composed as Mercury of Saturn.
Next cleanse the remaining matter with fresh and clear water dry it perfectly and you will have Mercury of the Sun, when the gold will be no longer fixed ;
;
but voluble, and can be sent through the corium, whereby any impurity which
may chance
to
remain
is
separated.
Mercury of the Moon. Let silver be reduced to thin plates,
removed, and at the same time well with strong vinegar, and set aside until
it
becomes completely
in
such a wa)' that
it
may
be easily
Sprinkle one of such plates
a humid place for a short space of time,
Then
blue.
in
purified.
by the separation of solution, and after
dissolve with aquafortis separated it
subsides, and the aquafortis has
been afTused but not sweetened by washing, and dried gradually, pour vinegar again upon the calx, and then separate until the whole becomes completely blue.
Then take
gii.
of mountain or mineral cinnabar ground to a very fine
powder, and afterwards sulphur, and vitriol.
|i.
respectively of calx of silver, cinnabar, alumen,
When
ground subtly place
these in ajar, including
all
the calx of silver, which ought to sink to the bottom.
Furthermore, cover
compound, at the top of the jar, with welding sand, such as the workers in iron are accustomed to use. Afterwards place this jar, mouth downward, on the top of another jar, which must be filled the surface of the matter, or
About the upper jar whole of the said upper jar shall become white with heat. Let it cool a little, and the Mercury of the Moon will be found in the lower jar. Let the jar remain for two hours, more or less, at a white heat, and thus out of gii. of the Moon is produced This is si. and a half of Mercury, which is altogether like crude Mercury. with pure water, and hidden
kindle a slow
fire,
in-
and increase
it
the earth by descent.
more and more
until the
again pressed through the corium, so that the pure
may
be separated from
the impure.
Mercury out of Venus. Take copper reduced Divide layer.
it
to thin plates
into small particles,
and purged
and confect with
to the
salt
utmost of
all
dross.
on a tigillum, layer upon
Seal the upper orifice of the tigillum, so that nothing
may
evaporate.
Place the said tigillum on the hottest part of a brick furnace for nine da3-s.
when
Then take out ness. Pound
it
the tigillum.
Macerate the powder
to
the copper,
with salt
in
it
will
in
it
has been removed from
strong wine, and
let
there be added
Leave and a half of copper. Let the measure of wine the space of fifteen days.
each 5v. of subtly ground arsenic,
each of these together for
be of red colour approaching black-
a mortar as soon as
si.
The Hermetic and Alchefnical Writings of Paracelsus.
28o
When Wash this
be sufficient to swim over the powder to the height of two straws.
removed there
remain an excellent,
will
whitish calx.
brilliant,
spring water.
in fresh
Take
of the Calx,
Jii.
of Sulphur,
sii.
of Gluten of Sulphur,
of Vitriol of Arsenic
of
Mix each
of these,
when very
Let them
vinegar.
all
Alum
each 5ss.
r J
pounded, with half a measure of the best
finely
be distilled through the alembic until no further water
Then add
can be extracted.
Jii.
-\
remove the water, and there
fire,
the side of the top of the alembic a white powder.
Venus.
upon hot water, and
Sprinkle this
Vn.
and a half of Mercury are obtained
and
subtle,
said water
and is
so soluble that
is
it
;
will
is
such Mercury
is
on
Mercury of
flow together. of
It
is
Venus
altogether thin
Wherefore the
escapes in boiling water.
it
will collect
the
From one pound
be at a white heat.
sufficient if the cucurbite
This
only tepid.
Mercury out of Mars. Reduce Mars
into coarse filings, but avoid chalybs, wherefore filings de
Take
calcaribus are the best.
water
Mars
thereof ten pounds, and sprinkle well with salt
leave for ten days or longer
;
in
— the longer the better.
Afterwards wash
such a fashion as to avoid separatnig the turbidity.
water becomes
clear, for the turbidity sinks
red viscosity.
Separate the water gradually by straining
At length the
the bottom in the form of a
to
;
keep the matter
;
may remain. Take of this viscid matter 3 v., of pounded sulphur Bxxx., compound delicately to the form of fine flour. Place it in the tigillum. Seal up securely, so that nothing may dry
so that no excremental or gross part
it
escape, and
let
a grey powder
the tigillum will
ammoniac, and 5v. of will
have
live
for
Add
vitriol.
the water will flow out.
you
Then let it cool, break it, and of spume of glass, gss. of sal Place on a smooth stone in a humid spot, and
glow
be found.
But leave
Mercury, which
Mars one drachm and
an hour.
thereto
it
is
for ten
Jupiter
is
a half will be obtained.
Dry, and there
will
black and dull
in colour.
:
Take
filings
corresponding
Place in good distilled vinegar for twelve
apart.
cuticle.
Remove
this carefully
Again moisten, and again dry the
separate a similar cuticle a second time, and repeat this process till enough of the white calx. This take, and subject to all the processes which the Calx of Lead is subjected, but avoiding the addition of Succinum,
filings
there to
it
it in the hands, and Out of ten pounds of
crush
Jupiter.
adhere a whitish
with the hare's foot and set
;
It is
calcined in the following fashion
grossness to the back of a knife.
hours.
days
Mercury of Mars.
Mercury of in
Bi.
;
is
The Mercuries of or white
Put green copper rust
vitriol.
place thereof, and the
in
much Mercury
Jupiter does not yield so
accomplished.
pound of the metal produces
than
less
281
Metals.
tlie
work
will
be
as Saturn, for one
Ivi.
Mercury of Saturn.
it
Take Villarensian Lead, or any other in which there is no silver, otherwise must be purg'ed in the following manner If it has been calcined, let the calx :
boil for
been it is
two whole hours
in
dissolved one ounce of alumen and eight ounces of salt.
first
purged of
all
sulphur and other viscous matter.
following manner with salt
mix
it
a lixivium composed of willow ashes, in which have
well with
common
Melt the lead, pour
:
and
salt,
it
the calx
five
:
Take
wooden
no saltness remains
till
When
gradually by continual agitation.
produce water as follows
Calcine this lead in the into a
receptacle,
be reduced to a powder like sand.
will
Cleanse the salt away ten or twelve times,
Dry
it
In coction
in the lead.
has been dried,
it
of white vitriol, otherwise called succinum,
ounces, and one measure of vinegar, to six pounds of calx of lead.
Dissolve the
vitriol in
vinegar.
Sprinkle the calx of lead with this water, or
perfectly saturate, or so place the calx in water that
Leave
it
for thirty-six hours, so that
it protrudes above it. becomes an ashen-coloured powder.
it
Then take a light marble vessel, the larger the better. humid place, or in a wine cellar, and in front of receptacle that
it
will receive
whatever
dissolved with three measures thereof.
Put it
it
obliquely in a
so place a wooden
may
shall flow out.
Calx of lead
Again take
water and add to
this
be it
a small quantity of fresh matter, which will concrete in the form of flour at the bottom.
make
Place
it
in
a small charcoal
a similar marble, put a copper operculum over at the top of the operculum.
fire
matter receives the heat Mercury comes forth
;
the
fire is
When preserved
order and grade until no more of the calx of lead remains.
it,
and
the said in
good
Therefore,
Mercury of Saturn which flows into that wooden receptacle should be well washed and purified, so that if perchance crude Saturn flows down at the same time, as often happens, the same may be separated. From ten pounds of Saturn are made eight pounds, and often eight pounds and a half, of
— Let not the
Mercury.
Note.
otherwise
much crude matter
To
the said marble apply a
fire in
the
operculum be too great or
of Mercury will flow
down
its
sides
be open for the passage of the Mercury.
:
\\.
of Salt Nitre,
sii-
and
ss.
of Mountain Verdigris, Jss.
Rock
Salt,
size
Let the front part
Then take greyish powder made
from lead, together with succinous matter, and add to
Take of Alum,
time.
and ends of the height
of a spithmia, and should be shaped like a frying-pan.
of
fierce, for
same
copper operculum corresponding to the
of the marble, which operculum should be at
water
at the
Eii.
it
the following
282
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Pound these substances minutely, saturate with
distil,
and
there will proceed water of yellowish colour (golden, or crocus).
To
this
water add semi-vitrified calx of lead, and the calx
bottom.
Afterwards gradually pour
off the water.
never turns putrid, and a centenarius of in
an equal and moderate grade.
same
time,
it
will sink at the
Set the same apart, because
fire
If the
stale wine, then
it
should therefore be maintained
crude Mercury flow forth at the
remains after passing through the corium, and must be cooked
out from the rest, for another confection, and thus thou hast Mercury of
Saturn by the most simple way.
APPENDIX
V.
DE TRANSMUTATIONIBUS METALLORUM. a Congeries Paracelsicce Chemicc de Transtnutaiionibus
the year
IN Metallorian1581appeared
in
octavo at Frankfort.
In the notes
to the
Aurora of the Philosophers, Concer)iing the Spirits of the Planets, and elsewhere, some references have been already made to this work, which antedates by nearly a centurj- the Geneva edition of the writings of Paracelsus.
As ical
its title indicates, it
treatise
attempted to collect and digest into a single method-
the whole substance
While
many
as taught and practised by
of alchemy,
was passably well done, and affords a tolerably representative notion of the opinions and experiments of Theophrastus, it is perhaps needless to say that, as it was included in the compass of a small volume, it is really very meagre. There is, however, one point in which it may be of value to the student. The Congeries is, in all Paracelsus.
in
probability, an adaptation of
which
is
respects the digest
autograph manuscripts, and where
its
readings,
by no means invariably the case, can be distinguished from editorial
interpolations
and extensions, they may be useful
the readings of the editions.
Geneva
Perhaps, after
all,
folio
in
and some other
the value, such as
it is,
so far as they varj- from less
carefully supervised
of this point,
be appreciated only by that very small circle of readers
who
is likelj'
to
believe that in
ancient practical alchemy there are chemical secrets hidden which are
unknown
For these the importance of a perfect text of the old alchemical processes, whether in the case of Paracelsus or in that of any other recognized master, is no doubt very high. In the present instance, the
to the chemistry of to-day.
difficulty of distinguishing
are substantial variations,
purpose of this appendix
few paragraphs
in the
and these
is
it
vi\)\z\\ it
it is
editor, in so far as there
There are a
has not been found possible to identify
of Paracelsus, or at least they offer very conspicuous it
is
desirable to cite.
erection of the philosophical furnace, which affirms
its
needless to tabulate the readings, and the
of a far less pretentious character.
Congeries
in the collected editions
differences,
between the text and
makes
difficult to describe, at least
The
first
has regard to the
The Aurora of
as regards
its
the Philosophers
form, while the specific
direction contained in the third treatise, Concerning the Spirits of the Planets,
only partially corresponds to what constitutes the
is
stated in the following excerpt, which
fourth chapter of the
Congeries Paracelsicce Chemia.
The
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
284
argument which follows is also worth inclusion, as it is concerned in more than one instance, must have struck the reader
editorial
with a matter which,
of the present translation, namely, that to
it
is
not altogether easy,
every case,
in
harmonize Paracelsus with himself.
Concerning the Visible and Local Instruments and first of ALL CONCERNING THE SpAGVRIC UtERUS. :
Before
we come
to the matter,
ments, both actual and that the
first
we must
describe in order
which are required
local,
actual instrument
is
the
The
fire.
first local
This takes the place of the uterus
in
asserts that this spagyric work, in which
extreme point, originated
in the
is
the
of athanor.
the inventor of this art, no less
than Paracelsus in spagyric medicine, deserves to be called
its
have said
spagyric generation.
Hermes Trismegistus, though he was not
He
We
instrument
name
furnace, designated by the ancients under the alchemical
the instru-
all
in this art.
its
restorer.
human philosophy
reaches
meditative contemplation of the greater
world, intimating that the spagyric athanor ought to be constructed in exact imitation of the heaven and earth.
In order to exercise the ingenious
not be amiss to examine this comparison, and to profit
No is
my
of
all
who
acknowledge that
will
is
kindled by the
centre of our matter
a
fire,
will
fire
is
itself
but
;
this fcetus exists in the centre
who have no
those disciples of the philosophers
will
knowledge of the Actnsean machinery
it
shall be able thereby
I
readers. it
:
other
than that which comes from the fleshly eye, This terrene sun of the lower, or elementary,
just like rustics in this respect.
is
think
philosopher will deny that the sun generates a sun like
not every one
least
I
fire
of the higher sun.
Just
in
the
same way
the
kindled by the centre of our world, or athanor, which
discharging after a manner the function of the natural sun.
Who
does not see
—
I
ask you,
my
brethren
— that
the form of the whole
created universe has the similitude of a furnace, or, to speak more respectfully,
that
womb— the
the form of that which contains the matrix of a
is
elements,
which the seeds of the sun and the moon, cast down by the
to say, in
stars in their different influxes, are decayed, concocted,
the generation of
all
things ?
and
finally
These things are transparently
say to philosophers, but even to boys, wherefore we
digested for
clear,
will not insist
I
will not
upon them
further.
Let us come, then, to the construction of our athanor. First let a furnace be built seven spans in height, interior be the height of
part inside, and stick
let it
one span, the lower part a
little
and
let
the rounded
broader than the upper
in, may not may be able easily to fall down being burnt. To equalise this let there be
be polished, so that the coals, when put
through the roughness of the surface, but
through the grating while they are
—
two or three holes, with which two or three lateral or uterine furnaces or, if you like, a single one shall correspond the breadth of the mouths should be
—
:
De To
four fingers.
be
Transmutationibus Metallorum.
every furnace
the glass in
work of
uterus for the
its
going to work, and
all
fire
;
and these are
fitted,
egg
as the
in
coals at the top or in the middle
but
;
may
let
fill
up the turrets with these and
the top be kept shut, so that the
not be kindled, thus stirring up a heat
When
that shall destroy the whole work, and burn everything together.
heat shall appear to exceed what tile
to the
mouth
proper,
is
on the other hand,
;
more
readily
controlled
if it
by registers (which
are
be too slack,
The
fire
you have arrived
The
at this stage.
regulated to a just proportion, as Nature teaches
cause a fermentation, and by-and-bye
fire,
prepa-
in
then, having been
heat will
in all things, the
this will affect the
let
can be
governors).
called
Experience teaches the uses of those things which are necessary rations before
the
can be controlled by applying a
it
the coals be stirred up with an iron rod beneath the grating. still
is
Then, when you are
the magistery.
larger,
little
at the door beneath
small brick or
to
the hen, so
has been carefully prepared, having broken coals into
pieces the size of walnuts, or a
kindle the
a brazen vessel be
let
Let the others be shut up
with water.
filled
285
matter lying hid
in
the &g%.
Henceforwards, just as the sun
and gives
to the rest of the stars
life
illuminating
its
athanor, with
all
acts just like a hen which hatches
But
hear a giant roaring
I
Paracelsus to devour him.
now
Just
in the
and
great universe shines, illuminates,
to the elements, so the spagyric
warming
the instruments, and its
animated Q%^.
like
a lion against the furnace, and seeking
"See," says
he,
"how
he contradicts himself!
he told us, and that with considerable severity, not to build a
with coals
;
now he
is
teaching the use of coals for this art of his
have touched the matter, no doubt, but only
in
the
same way as
judged that the other writings of Paracelsus are contradictor)'. other eye,
my
one-eyed friend, or you
a judgment about colours. particle
coals
?
— simple Do you
yourselves
Can you not
what
see
of a blind is
the
You
)-ou
have
Open
man
the
passing
meaning of
this
—added to the interdiction of see how Paracelsus, though dead, answers you and his his living works, saying — " You, who adjudge me to
not
err,
even when judged by yourselves.
admonished you, and those
my
will act the part
fire
"
!
and without middle meaning
other calumniators in err,
fire,
the sea-bath,
like
Have
you, envious people that you are,
works, not to pass over even a
little
I
in
not
often
almost
all
word which you have not thoroughly
same thing happens to you, giants, fighting with my pigmy homunculus, as formerly happened to Goliath fighting with the boy David ? Take care, I say, lest you collide with this stone of ours as the great mysten,', and sink down with it to the abyss whereto you would consign me " Thus seems Paracelsus to thunder forth in his tomb. We must not,
appropriated, lest the
!
my
brothers,
speak unfairly of the dead, even of those whose deserts were
Let them
all remain at rest, and all await their deeds. It is easy to judgment to-day is difficult at the last it will be impossible. What are you which I am not, or what am which you are not ? -Again,
small.
carp, but to avoid
;
1
2
86
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Tlie
which may occur to another, men and error happens to men more than it brutes without reason, who are stirred solely by the promptings of It is yours confess that I err in very many things, and you err.
what has happened namely, to err
does to Nature.
to both of us save that
We
?
are
all
;
I
to confess
and mine
it,
Be
to admonish, not to judge.
it
your duty, as
it is
mine, not enviously to disclose those things of your brothers which have not
been duly done, before that, with a certain amount of modesty, you have to the discipline of true philosophy,
admonished him according neither you, nor he, nor
name be so
But
of philosophy. is
!)
we
I, if
act in a contrary manner, are
this philosophic
that
discipline (alas,
impugned even by the most learned
:
otherwise
worthy of the should
it
and so much has the dogma
of heathen philosophers prevailed, being at the present day very celebrated
among
these people, that they do not take a comprehensive glance at what
without and within
and renown.
come about
;
This
the chief end of their study' and
is
not consider that no great at least
still,
ill
are
all
conscience
God and men
likely that
If,
then,
we have done we may mislead
we have
so,
ready to acknowledge their
common
preserve no
still
as
erred at
all,
it
others, let us in the presence of
error, but
men are ever men and stubborn fools are The
wisest of
Every made course seems the straight road
this.
and our
by which error on our part
and that without reserve.
retract,
not ready to do
efforts.
us that
tells
and nobody even
who
wisdom may, even good God into open folly,
Let us look to it, then, lest our day and generation, be turned by the
seems only too
and
foolish together,
what we parade
and that through our own
own
has
But these wretched people do
else.
are wise, a few very wise,
medium. this
it
can be done which will not incur a greater
we
if
Many
approaches wisdom.
in
Hence
toil.
that everybody tries to get credit for- himself by tripping up or
blackening the character of somebody
punishment
is
they display nothing beyond a mere ambition for honour
for them,
vice vcrsd.
The following passage appears
as a sequel to the Treasure of Treasures,
which, in a somewhat modified form, occupies the thirteenth chapter of the Congeries.
may
It
be entitled
The Phcenix of the Philosophers. The it is
name
exposition of the cabalists has, under the
the Flying Eagle,
of the phcenix to
whose nest,
its
feathers
fly
which
is
in
nourished the element of
young peck out
their mother's eyes with their beak,
whiteness
separated sphere.
in its
the balsam of
its
intestines.
since
it
treated,
I
According to the Cabalists
Very
of
life
is
fire.
Its
produced a
its
heart and
this refers to the
lately,
when electrum
referred the reader to cinnabar, and not without cause,
has the greatest
or mixture of
and there
In this consists the
sulphur of cinnabar, to which Paracelsus alludes.
was being
of the Phcenix, that
without the wind, and bear the body
affinity therewith.
What
is
cinnabar but a composition
two minerals, sulphur and quicksilver
?
What,
too, is electrum
De
Transmutationibjts Metalloy-um.
but a mixture of two or more, whether minerals or metals therefore, joined artificially with
Sol,
why
should not this be electrum,
The
which
chapter of the Congeries.
it
It
is
Whether each
not cinnabar?
will
be
The sulphur of
?
why made by
Mercurj' of Luna,—
philosophic
Nature or by chemistry, the component parts do not last citation
287
is
differ.
make
necessary to
the fifteenth
is
an exceedingly concise abridgment of the
book of the Archidoxies as regards the section on the Stone of the it is inserted at this point as an illustration of the method
fifth
Philosophers, and
It is called
of the editor.
A Very I
is
neither
taught
am
Brief Process for Attaining the Stone.
nor wish to be a teacher or a follower of that Stone which
in different
for its attainment,
I
ways by very
Leaving, therefore, this process
manj'.
have proposed to describe
has been discovered by
me through
practice
in
very few words that which
and experience.
than the other, affects the bodies of men, though
same
This, no less '
it
is
not prepared by the
Take, then, mercury, otherwise the element of mercurj^, and
process.
separate the pure from the impure.
Afterwards
whiteness, and sublimate this with sal
let it
ammoniac
be reverberated even to
until
it is
resolved.
Let
it
be calcined and dissolved again, and digested in a pelican for one month,
being afterwards coagulated into a body.
way consumed, but remains by
it
in
the
same
This
is
no longer burnt, or
condition.
in
any
The bodies penetrated
are permanent in the cineritium, so that they vcannot be reduced to
but it takes away, as we have often said, all superfrom sensible and insensible things. have here set down a very brief way and process, it requires
nothing or be altered
;
fluous qualities both
Although
I
and one that is involved in many intricate circumstances demanding, at the same time, an operator who is unassailable by fatigue, and in the highest degree diligent and expert.
long labour,
APPENDIX
VI.
THE VATICAN MANUSCRIPT OF PARACELSUS. the nineteenth chapter of his Ritiiel de la Haute Magic, Eliphas Levi
IN
"amongst
observes that
and precious books which contain
the rare
the mysteries of the Great
Arcanum, there must be placed
in the first
rank the Chemical Patlr^vay, or Mainial of Paracelsus, which contains
manuscript work, unique and priceless, exists
A
transcription of
Baron Tschoudj-
work
his
it
The Burning
Paracelsus, contains satisfactory
and
in that quality
is
although, as
Manual
manner
will
for
incomparable
the
that a person
of intelligence which
made
is
find
when they have studied
in this
be seen
interesting citation,
it." is
still
fail
to
to
which
an unedited treasure,
to prefer before
all
who
desires
in the
to
make
Art of Alchemy
published writings of the same author, must
make
He
will
an exceedingly, succinct, and simple presentation of the fundamental
Though
it
may
not initiate the reader, whatever the
quality of his intelligence, into the mystery of the Great
his
they
the next appendix, there has been at least one
in
of the Vatican treatise, the student
alchemical theories.
its
if
The manuscript
with the Hermetic Catechism, as suggested by Eliphas Levi. it
of
treatise
must be absolutely wanting
requisite for ocultism
acquaintance with a work of Paracelsus which adepts
shift
in
point out to
attributed to Paracelsus, which has been in print for four centuries.
In the absence
seem
we
This catechism, which
substitute
Vatican.
was made use of by
the veritable principles of the great work, after so
all
explicit a
attain the absolute truth
reference
a
as
cabalists,
instructed
Star.
this
This
Hermetic Catechism contained
for the compilation of the
entitled
in the library of the
was made by Sendivogius, and
the
all
mysteries of demonstrative physics and of the most secret cabala.
way, very lucid and interpreter,
is
direct.
Whether
this merit
Arcanum,
it
is,
in
belongs to Paracelsus or
an unprofitable subject of speculation
in the
absence of
the original text, which few persons have had the opportunity or disposition to to consult.
The work
Hamburg,
in
17S5, and
regard to
its
period,
trace back Free it
of Baron Tschoudy later
it is
Masonry
was published
in
two volumes at Having
on there was another edition at Paris.
a sensible, though somewhat romantic, attempt to to its historical origin, while, over
and above
this,
constitutes a valuable hand-book of the analogies which subsist between that
system and Hermetic science, more especially Alchemy.
The catechism
itself,
A which
is
most
tlie
Short Catechism of Alchemy.
important section
of
289
Burning
the
Star,
teems with
analogies of this kind, wiiich, of course, are the creation of the editor, and are suppressed in the translation which follows, in part because they exceed the intention of the present work,
and
in
part for other reasons.
A Short Catechism of Alchemy Founded on the Manual of Paracelsus preserved
in
the
Vatican Library. Q.
What
A.
It is
Q.
What
A.
God,
Q. Q.
Whence are all things derived ? From one and indivisible Nature. Into how many regions is Nature
A.
Into four palmary regions.
A.
is
the chief study of a Philosopher ?
the investigation of the operations of Nature. the end of Nature ?
is
Who
is
also
its
beginning.
separated
Which are they ? The dry, the moist, the warm, and the elementary qualities, whence all things originate.
?
Q.
A.
Q.
How
A.
Into male and female.
Q.
To what may we compare Nature? To Mercury.
A.
Q.
A
is
cold,
which are the four
Nature differentiated?
Give a concise definition of Nature. It
is
not visible, though
it
operates visibly; for
it is
simply a volatile
spirit, fulfilling its office in
bodies, and animated by the universal spirit
divine breath, the central
and universal
fire,
which
vivifies all
— the
things that
exist.
O.
What
A.
They should be
should be the qualities possessed by the examiners of Nature like
That
unto Nature herself.
is
?
to say, they should
be truthful, simple, patient, and persevering.
Q.
W^hat matters should subsequently engross their attention
A.
The
philosophers
should
most
carefully
ascertain
?
whether their
designs are in harmony with Nature, and of a possible and attainable kind they would accomplish by their
own power anything
by the power of Nature, they must imitate her Q. shall be
What method must
be followed
in
in
that
is
;
if
usually performed
every detail.
order to produce something which
developed to a superior degree than Nature herself develops
it.
The manner of its improvement must be studied, and this is invariably operated by means of a like nature. For example, if it be desired to develop A.
the intrinsic virtue of a given metal beyond
its
must
avail himself of the metallic nature itself,
inate
between
its
natural condition, the chemist
and must be able to discrim-
male and female differentiations.
U
The Hermetic and Akluiincal Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
290 Q.
Where does
A.
In the four elements.
the metallic nature store her seeds
?
With what materials can the philosopher alone accomplish anything? With the germ of the given matter this is its elixir or quintessence, more precious by far, and more useful, to the artist, than is Nature herself. Q.
A.
;
Before the philosopher has extracted the seed, or germ, Nature, will
in his behalf,
be ready to perform her duty.
Q.
What
A.
It is
stance
the germ, or seed, of any substance
is
?
the most subtle and perfect decoction and digestion of the sub-
itself; or, rather,
it is
Balm
the
of Sulphur, which
is
identical with the
Radical I\Ioisture of Metals.
By what is this seed, or germ, engendered ? By the four elements, subject to the will of the Supreme Being, and
Q. A.
through the direct intervention of the imagination of Nature.
what manner do
Q.
After
A.
By means
the four elements operate ?
of an incessant and uniform motion, each one, according
to its quality, depositing its seed in the centre of the earth,
jected to action and digested, and direction by the laws of
What do A certain
Q. A.
which
is
is
subsequently expelled
where
movement.
the philosophers understand by the centre of the earth
void place where nothing
may
Where,
A.
In the ex-centre, or in the
which, after
it
then, do the four elements expel
and deposit
their seeds?
margin and circumference of the centre,
has appropriated a portion, casts out the surplus into the
region of excrement, scorias,
fire,
Q.
Illustrate this teaching
A.
Take any
level
table,
and formless chaos.
by an example.
and
set in its centre a vase filled with water;
surround the vase with several things of various colours, especially care that a proper distance intervenes between them
water from the vase, and
it
will
over the
salt,
and
will contract
water does not modify the places which teristics of places is
its
it
is
in
for
;
it is
In the
in the likeness
of
its
manner do
in
it
is
the seed
subject to
passes, so that every
when a seed
and pure water, a pure
an opposite case.
Q.
After what
A.
In order to the complete elucidation of this point,
the elements procreate this seed it
?
must be observed
two gross and heavy elements and two that are volatile in Two. in like manner, are dry and two humid, one out of the four
that there are
character.
another
certain that
same way
channel, and
arrival at a certain point encounters pure earth
substance results, but the contrary
;
the will
traverses, but the diverse charac-
the places through which
produced
one
;
assume a tinge of red
deposited by the four elements at the centre of the earth
existing substance
on
will
taking
Then pour out
all.
a saline flavour
change the nature of water.
a variety of modifications
salt,
flow in streams here and there
encounter a substance of a red colour, and
which
?
repose, and the existence of
assumed.
Q.
will pass
sub-
it is
an outward
in
A
Short Catechism of Alchemy.
291
being actually excessively dry, and the other excessively moist.
They arc also Now, each of them has a marked tendency to within its own sphere. Moreover, they are never in
masculine and feminine. reproduce
own
its
species
repose, but are perpetually interacting, and each of the most subtle portion thereof.
itself,
them separates, of and by
Their general place of meeting
is
in
the centre, even the centre of the Arc/icus, that servant of Nature,
where
coming
to the
to
mix
and
their several seeds, they agitate
them
finally expel
exterior.
Q.
What
A.
The
itself
the true and the
is
first
matter of
matter, properly so called,
first
of a twofold nature
;
The
warm
How
A.
Mercury^
Q.
B}'
what
A.
By
the rays of the
first
air, in
to all substances indiscriminately,
O.
metals
dual
in
?
its
essence, or
is
in
one, nevertheless, cannot create a metal without
the concurrence of the other.
humidity, blended with a
all
is
and the palmary essence
an aerial
is
the form of a fatty water, which adheres
whether they are pure or impure.
has this humidity been named by Philosophers?
governed
is it
Q.
What
A.
The warmth of
is
?
Sun and Moon.
the second matter ? the earth
— otherwise,
that dry heat which
termed
is
Sulphur by the Philosophers. Q.
Can
A.
Its
the entire material
body be converted
eight-hundredth part only
— that,
into seed ?
namely, which
is
secreted in
the centre of the body in question, and ma\-, for example; be seen in a grain
of wheat.
Q.
Of what use
A.
It is
ariditj',
the bulk of the matter as regards
is
its
seed
?
useful as a safeguard against excessive heat, cold, moisture, or
and, in general,
hurtful inclemency, against which
all
it
acts as an
envelope.
Would
Q.
body
those artists
into seed derive
possible to perform
None
A.
it
who
pretend to reduce the whole matter of any
any advantage from the process, supposing
it
were
?
on the contrary, their labour would be wholly unproductive,
;
because nothing that
is
good can be accomplished by
a deviation from natural
.methods.
Q. A. there
is
though
What, therefore, should be done ? The matter must be effectively separated from no metal, how pure soever, which their extent varies.
is
entirely free
Now all superfluities, cortices,
its
and
peeled off and purged out from the matter in order to discover
Q.
scorias its
must be
seed.
should receive the most careful attention of the Philosopher
?
by no means to be looked the vulgar metals, because, these having issued already from the hands
A. for in
What
impurities, for
from imperfections,
Assuredly, the end of Nature, and this
of the fashioner,
it is
is
no longer to be found therein.
VZ
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
292 Q.
For what precise reason
A.
Because the vulgar metals, and
?
are absolutely dead,
chiefly gold,
while ours, on the contrary, are absolutely living, and possess a soul.
Q.
What
A.
It is
is
the
of metals
life
?
no other substance than
fire,
when they
imbedded
are as yet
in
the mines.
live,
Q.
What
is
\.
Their
life
by
fire,
their
death?
and death are
but their death
Q.
After what
A.
When
from a
is
manner
in reality fire
one principle, for they
die, as
they
of fusion.
womb
are metals conceived in the
of the earth
power or
the four elements have developed their
?
virtue in the
centre of the earth, and have deposited their seed, the Archeus of Nature, in
them
the course of a distillatory process, sublimes
superficially
by the warmjh
and energy of the perpetual movement. Into
Q.
what does
the pores of the earth A. it
the wind resolve itself
whence
resolves itself into water,
It
all
merely a humid vapour, out of which there
is
when
is distilled
it
through
?
principiated principle of
all
things spring is
in
;
this state
subsequently evolved the
substances, which also serves as the
first
matter
of the Philosophers.
What
Q. first
then
is this
principiated principle, which
matter by the Children of Knowledge A.
in the
identical matter, which, the
It is this
is
made use
of as the
philosophic achievement
moment
it is
?
conceived, receives
a permanent and unchangeable form.
Are
Q.
separately
is
Sun,
Venus, the
Mars,
Jupiter,
endowed with
One
A.
Saturn,
Moon,
the
etc.,
individual seed?
common
to
them
all
;
their differences are to be
accounted for
by the locality from which they are derived, not to speak of the fact that Nature completes her work with far greater rapidity in the procreation of silver than in that
of gold, and so of the other metals, each in
O. A.
How is gold formed When this vapour,
centre of the earth, and
of which
when
it
there
is
this
is
sublimised
in
from such amalgamation
abandoning the vaporous other places, which have
preceding vapour, and the earth whereof has con-
sequently been rendered more subtle, pure, and humid this earth, is joined thereto,
Q.
How
A.
It
which are
is
totally
and gold
Saturn engendered
occurs
the
Mercury, becomes adapted and
itself;
produced a certain unctuousness, which,
been cleansed by
in
places,
to the channels, then this vapour,
their
sublimes with
form, assumes that of grease, and
proportion.
?
we have spoken, is subhmed warm and pure
where a certain sulphureous grease adheres it
own
has passed through
which the Philosophers have denominated joined to this grease, which
its
bowels of the earth
in the
when
is
produced as a
;
it
fills
the pores of
result.
?
the said unctuosity, or grease, passes through places
impure and cold.
A Q.
How
A.
She
Short Catechisvi of Alchemy.
Venus brought
is
produced
is
in
293
forth ?
where the earth
localities
but
itself is pure,
is
mingled with impure sulphur.
What power
Q. possess
By
A.
whatsoever that
Q.
What The is
it
has the power of perpetually rarefying
crude and impure, and of successively attracting to
is
A.
principles
?
continual progress
its
pure around
is
does the vapour, which we have recently mentioned,
centre of the earth
in the
the seed of the
is
first
matter of
matter of things, that
first
itself all
it.
is
all
things
?
to say, the matter of principiating
begotten by Nature, without the assistance of any other seed
other words, Nature receives the matter from the elements, whence
in
;
sub-
it
sequently brings forth the seed.
What, absolutely speaking, is therefore the seed of things ? The seed in a body is no other thing than a congealed air, or a humid
Q. A.
warm
vapour, which
is
useless except
Q.
How
is
the generation of seed comprised in the metallic
A.
By
Nature, is
it
be dissolved by a
vapour.
the artifice of Archeus the four elements, in the
kingdom
a ponderous vapour of water into the centre of the earth
distil
the seed of metals, and
but because of
its fluidity,
it is
called Mercury, not
and the
facility witli
on account of
which
it
will
?
generation of
first
its
;
this
essence,
adhere to each
and every thing.
are
Q.
Why
A.
Because of
Q.
From
composed
The
k. in
is
this
vapour compared its
vihat species of
Mercury are we
reference
is
exclusively to the
common
to conclude that the metals
Mercury of the Philosophers, and
or vulgar substance, which cannot become a
seed, seeing that, like other metals,
it
alread)- contains its
own
seed.
What, therefore, must actually be accepted as the subject of our
Q. ?
The seed
A.
which
sulphur?
?
no sense to the
matter
to
internal heat.
is
alone, otherwise the fixed grain,
and not the whole body, and
differentiated into Sulphur, or living male,
into Mercury,
or
living female.
Q.
What
.A.
They must be joined
which they
will
operation must be afterwards performed together, so that they
proceed to the procreation of a
fruit
?
may form
which
is
a germ, after
conformed
to their
nature.
Q.
What
A.
The
that which
is
is
the part of the artist in this operation ?
must do nothing but separate that which
artist
subtle from
gross.
Q.
To what,
A.
The development of one
and nothing
is
therefore,
further.
is
the whole philosophic combination reduced? into tvio,
and the reduction of two into one,
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
294 Q.
Whither must we turn
for the seed
A.
The seed
properly the water which exists in the centre
of minerals
is
and
life
of metals and minerals
?
and the heart of the minerals.
it is
Q.
How
A.
Every seed, whatsoever
does Nature operate by the help of Art kind,
its
placed in a suitable matrix, where
it
germ, and by the congelation of the pure Q.
How
A.
By
Q.
What is therefore He finishes what
A.
warmth of
air,
What
A.
It
the coction of the
its life bj'
particle, or fixed grain.
its
body.
performed by the
artist in the
mineral kingdom
?
cannot be finished by Nature on account of the
which has permeated the pores of
but on the surface and not
Q.
by Nature or Art
useless, unless
is
receives
the seed subsequently nourished and preserved?
is
the
crudity of the
?
in the
all
bodies by
its
violence,
bowels of the earth.
among
correspondence have the metals
themselves
?
necessary for a proper comprehension of the nature of this
is
correspondence to consider the position of the planets, and to pay attention Saturn, which
the highest of
is
all,
and then
Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and,
lastly,
succeeded by
is
by
tiie
Moon.
It
to'
next by
Jj,ipiter,
must be observed
that the influential virtues of the planets do not ascend but descend, and ex-
perience teaches us that into
Mars, which
muted
is
Mars can be
Venus, not Venus
easily converted into
of a lower sphere.
into Mercury, because Jupiter
So, also, Jupiter can be easily transis
superior to Mercury, the one being
second after the firmament, the other second above the earth, and Saturn highest of
all,
while the
never ameliorated by
its
Moon
is
inferiors.
It
Q.
all
enters into
clear that there
is
pondence between Saturn and the Moon, but to
The Sun
lowest.
is
but
it
is is
a large corres-
middle of which
in the
all,
is
the
Sun
;
these changes the Philosopher should strive to administer the Sun.
When
the Philosophers speak of gold
extract their matter, are
we
and
silver,
from which they
and
to suppose that they refer to the vulgar gold
silver?
A.
By no means
Philosophers are
full
;
of
vulgar silver and gold are dead,
hile
those of the
life.
among
Q.
What
A.
Proficiency in the art of perfecting
is
\\
the object of research
the Philosophers?
what Nature has
left
imperfect in the
mineral kingdom, and the attainment of the treasure of the Philosophical Stone.
Q.
What
A.
The Stone
is
perfectly purified
this is
Stone
and educed
perform such great things
humid
?
nothing else than the radical humidity of the elements, into a sovereign
for health,
life
fixation,
which causes
being resident exclusively
it
in
to
the
radical.
what does the secret of accomplishing this admirable work consist ? consists in knowing how to educe from potentiality into activity the innate warmth, or the fire of Nature, which is enclosed in the centre of the Q.
In
K.
It
radical humidity.
A What are
Q.
the
it
295
must be made use of
to
guard against
?
Great pains must be taken to eliminate excrements from the matter,
A.
and
the precautions which
work
failure in the
Cfitechism of Alchemy.
S/iorf
conserve nothing but the
to
kernel,
which contains
the virtue of
all
compound. O.
Why
A.
It is
does
tliis
powerfully
How
its qualities,
the natural warmth, which
fortifies
other physics irritate
Q.
medicine heal every species of disease
not on account of the variety of
it
it
?
but simply because
gently stimulates, while
by too violent an action.
can you demonstrate to
me
the truth of the art in the matter of
the tincture ?
A. Firstly, its truth is founded on the fact that the physical powder, being composed of the same substance as the metals, namely, quicksilver, has the faculty of combining with these in fusion, one nature easily embracing another
which is
is
owing
to the crudeness of their quicksilver,
powder, which easily
Secondly, seeing that the imperfection of the base metals
like itself.
is
and
to that alone,
a ripe and decocted quicksilver, and,
communicate
to
them
its
own
in itself
the physical
a pure
fire,
can
maturity, and can transmute them into
its
to say, their quick-
nature, after
it
has attracted their crude humidity, that
which
is
the sole substance that transmutes them, the rest being nothing
silver,
but scoria; and excrements, which are rejected
Q.
What
is
in projection.
road should the Philosopher follow that he
may
knowledge and execution of the physical work ? A. That precisely which was followed by the Great Universe
the
in
creation
of the world, by observing
attain to the
.Architect of the
how
the chaos
was
evolved.
Q.
What was
A.
It
the matter of the chaos
?
could be nothing else than a humid vapour, because water alone
enters into
all
created substances, which
all finish in
being a proper subject for the impression of O.
Give
A.
.\n
me an example
to illustrate
example may be found
all
a strange term, this term
forms.
what you have
in the special
just stated.
productions of composite
substances, the seeds of which invariably begin by resolving themselves into
a certain humour, which
is
the chaos of the particular matter,
by a kind of irradiation, the complete form of the plant.
whence
Moreover,
it
issues,
should
makes no mention of anything except water whereupon the Spirit of God brooded, nor of anything
be observed that Holy Scripture as the material subject
except light as the universal form of things.
Q.
What
profit ma^' tiie
Philosopher derive from these considerations,
and what should he especially remark
in the
method of creation which was
pursued by the Supreme Being? .\.
In the first place he should observe the matter out of which the world
was made
;
he
will see that
began by extracting
out of this confused mass, the Sovereign Artist
light, that this light in the
same moment dissolved the
The Hermetic and Alcliemical Writings
2g6
oj Paracelsus.
darkness which covered the face of the earth, and that
He
universal form of the matter.
generation of
served as the
it
then easily perceive that
will
the
in
composite substances, a species of irradiation takes place,
all
and a separation of
and darkness, wherein Nature
light
copyist of her Creator.
The Philosopher
manner, by the action of
this light, the
an undeviating
is
understand after what
will equally
empyrean, or firmament which divides
was subsequently produced
the superior and inferior waters,
;
how
the sky
was studded with luminous bodies and how the necessity for the moon arose, which was owing to the space intervening between the things above and the ;
things below
for the
;
moon
is
an intermediate torch between the superior and
the inferior worlds, receiving the celestial influences and communicating
how
Finally he will understand
to the earth.
them
the Creator, in the gathering of
the waters, produced dry land.
Q.
How many
A.
Properly there
heavens can you enumerate
one only, which
is
the space that
is
rarefied,
and
is
above the clouds.
upon the
fall
?
the firmament that divides the
Nevertheless, three are admitted, of which the
waters from the waters. first
is
fixed stars,
and
In this heaven the waters are is
it
also in this space that the
The second heaven
planets and wandering stars perform their revolutions.
the firmament of the fixed stars, while the third
is
the abode of the super-
is
celestial vt-aters.
Q.
Why
A.
Because
is
because God,
the rarefaction of the waters confined to the
in
it
is
in
first
heaven
?
the nature of rarefied substances to ascend, and
His eternal laws, has assigned
its
proper sphere to every-
thing.
Q.
Why
does each celestial body invariably revolve about an axis
A.
It
by reason of the primeval impetus which
is
virtue of the
same law which
will
it
received,
?
and by
cause any heavy substance suspended from
a thread to turn with the same velocity,
if
the
power which impels
its
motion
be always equal. Q.
Why
A.
Because of their extreme rarefaction.
do the superior waters never descend
skilled chemist can derive
more
It
? is
for this reason that a
from the study of rarefaction than from
profit
any other science whatsoever. Q.
What
A.
It is
is
the matter of the firmament
properly
air,
which
is
more
?
suitable than water as a
medium
of
light.
After the separation of the
Q.
waters from the dry earth, what was
performed by the Creator to originate generation
He
A.
placed
it
created a certain light which
in the central fire,
and moderated
and by the coldness of earth, so as
to
this fire
What
is
the action of this central fire?
for this office
;
He
by the humidity of water
keep a check upon
to His design.
Q.
?
was destined its
energy and adapt
it
A A. into
It
Short CaUchisvi of Alchemy. humid matter, which
continually operates upon the nearest
vapour
now
;
this
vapour
is
297
the mercury of Nature and the
exalts
it
matter
first
of the three kingdoms.
Q.
How
A.
By
Q.
How
A.
By
is
the interaction of the central is
the
What
fire
and the mercurial vapour.
the salt of the sea produced?
same
action of the
which
aerial humidity,
Q.
the sulphur of Nature subsequently formed ?
upon aqueous humidity, when the
fire
contained therein, has been exhaled.
is
should be done by a truly wise Philosopher
when he has once
mastered the foundation and the order in the procedure of the Great .\rchitect of the Universe in the construction of
He
A.
his
may be
all
that exists in Nature
was
;
become a
possible,
In the physical chaos he should
Creator. actually
should, as far as
make
his
?
faithful copyist of his
chaos such as the original
he should separate the light from the darkness
:
he should form
firmament for the separation of the waters which are above from the waters
which are below, and should successively accomplish, point by point, the entire sequence of the creative
act.
With what is this grand and sublime operation performed? A. With one single corpuscle, or minute body, which, so to speak, contains nothing but faces, filth, and abominations, but whence a certain Q.
tenebrous and mercurial humidity is
is
extracted, which contains in itself
required by the Philosopher, because, as a fact, he
in
is
all
that
search of nothing
but the true Mercur)-.
What
Q. the
work
kind of mercury, therefore, must he
Of a mercury which, as
A.
make
such,
is
in
performing
not found on the earth, but
tracted from bodies, yet not from vulgar mercury, as
Why
Q.
use of
?
is
it
the latter unfitted to the needs of our
ex-
is
has been falsely said.
work ?
must take notice that vulgar mercury has an insufficient quantity of sulphur, and he should consequently operate upon a body created by Nature, in which Nature herself has united the sulphur and mercury that it is the work of the artist to separate. Q. What must he subsequently do ? \. He must purify them and join them anew together. Q. How do you denominate the body of which we have been speaking ? .\. The Rude Stone, or Chaos, or Iliasle, or Hyle — that confused mass Because the wise
A.
which
is
Q.
known
artist
but universally despised.
As you have
told
me
that
Mercury
is
the one thing which the
Philosopher must absolutely understand, will you give description ot
A.
it,
so as to avoid misconception
In respect of
regard to
its
motion,
its
nature, our
it
is
descent; by that of descent, lates the
drooping
fire
Mercury
also dual, for it
is
it
me
a circumstantial
? is
dual
— fixed
and
volatile
the influence of plants, by which
of Nature, and this
;
in
has a motion of ascent and of
is
its
first
office
it
stimu-
pre\ious
to
The Hermetic and Alclumical Writings of Paracelsus.
298
By
congelation.
and as
this
ascensional movement,
its
after congelation,
is
substances, which, beneath
it is
rises,
it
seeking to be purified,
considered to be the radical moisture of preserves the nobility of
its vile scorise, still
its first
origin.
How many
Q.
composite thing
There are three
.A.
other elements in
moisture do you suppose to be
of
species
— the
Elementary, which
natural
true
is
each
properly the vase of the
the Radical, which, accurately speaking,
;
which the entire virtue of the subject
the
in
?
is
resident
which draws up the
dissolvent,
causing corruption and blackness
bj- its
is
— lastl)-,
the
or balm,
oil,
the .Alimentary,
drooping
internal
fire,
humidity, and fostering and sustaining
the subject.
How many species of Mercury are there known to the Philosophers? The Mercury of the Philosophers may be regarded under four
Q. A.
aspects
the
;
first
concealed seed
;
Mercury of bodies, which
entitled the
is
the second
is
the Mercury of Nature, which
is
actually their
is
the Bath or
Vase of the Philosophers, otherwise the humid radical applied the designation. Mercury of the Philosophers, because it is found in It is the sphere of Saturn it is the their laboratory and in their minera. is the true salt of metals, after the acquisition of Diana of the Wise it wiiich the true philosophic work may be truly said to have begun. In its ;
to the third has been
;
;
fourth aspect,
it
is
Wilgar, but rather
is
Common
called
Mercury, which yet
because
it is
not that of the
properly the true air of the Philosophers, the true middle
substance of water, the true secret and concealed fire,
is
common
to
minerte, for
all
it is
called also
fire,
common
the substance of metals, and
thence do they derive their quantity and quality.
Q.
How many
A.
There
is
operations are comprised
matter by the mediation of
What
sophers
our work
?
one only, which may be resolved into sublimation, and
sublimation', according to Geber,
Q.
in
fire,
nothing other than the elevation of the dry
is
with adherence to
precaution should
be taken
in
its
own
vase.
reading the Hermetic Philo-
?
Great care, above all, must be observed upon this point, lest what upon the subject should be interpreted literalh- and in accordance with they say the mere sound of the words: For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Q. What books should be read in order to have an acquaintance with A.
our science A. studied;
?
.Among the in
ancients,
and another. The Entrance read before
all
the
works of Hermes should especially be The Passage of the Red Sea,
the next place, a certain book, entitled
all
into the
Promised Land.
Paracelsus also should be
among elder writers, and, among other treatises, Manual of Paracelsus, which contains all the
Pathivay, or the
demonstrative physics and the mo.st arcane Kabbalah.
manuscript work exists only
in the X'atican
his
Chemical
mysteries of
This rare and unique
Library, but Sendivogius had the
A good fortune
Short Catechism of Alchemy.
to take a copy of
sages of our order.
Mecum above two
in
the illumination of the
Lully must be read, and his Vadc
his dialogue called the Tree of Life, his testament,
all,
recipes
false
in
inserted with the object of
and more
futile
of ancient authors, contains also which
7 iirba
much
Roger Bacon, and a
certain
that
Among
valueless.
is
fictions,
which seem
his
which
Philosoplioriivi, is
have been
to
disguising the truth
effcctuallj-
In the third place, the
ignorant.
and
respect to
in
because, like those of Geber, and also of .-Vrnold de Villanova,
last,
they abound
much
Raymond
There must, however, be a certain precaution exercised
codicil.
the
which has helped
it,
Secondly,
299
from the
a collection
is
materially good, though there
is
mediaeval writers Zachary, Trevisan,
anonymous author, whose book
is
entitled
The
Philosophers^ should be held especially high in the estimation of the student.
Among moderns
most worthy
the
some
the truth, he has imported
to be prized are
who wrote
de Nation, and Jean D'Espagnet,
John Fabricius, Fran(jois
Physics Restored, though, to say
false precepts
and fallacious opinions into
his
treatise.
When may the Philosopher venture to undertake the work? When he is, theoretically, able to extract, by means of a crude
Q. .\.
spirit,
a digested spirit out of a body in dissolution, which digested spirit he must
again rejoin to the Q.
Explain
.A.
It
may
vital oil.
me
theory
this
in
a clearer manner.
be demonstrated more completely
great experiment
may
be undertaken
when
in the
actual process
the Philosopher, by the
a vegetable menstruum, united to a mineral menstruum,
is
;
the
medium
of
qualified to dissolve
a third essential menstruum, with which earth,
and then exalt
it
into a celestial
menstruums united he must wash the quintessence, to compose the sulphureous
thunderbolt, which instantaneously penetrates substances and destroys tHeFr
excrements.
to
or
Have those persons a proper acquaintance with Nature who pretend Q. make use of vulgar gold for seed, and of vulgar mercury for the dissolvent, the earth in which it should be sown ? Assuredly not, because neither the one nor the other possesses the gold, because it has been deprived of it by decoction, and
A.
external agent
—
mercury because In
Q. there no
it
has never had
A.
this
It is
in
gold
itself,
in
undoubtedly true that
in
gold
a more perfect condition than
make
it
is
contained the auriferous seed,
is
found
in
any other body
use of vulgar gold, for such a seed
each of the other metals, and
which Nature has infused
in the first
is
is
;
but
equally
nothing else but that fixed grain
congelation of mercury,
common substance, who become worthy of receiving it b)-
one origin and a
is
to be
?
does not force us to
found
in
danger of producing a species of monster, since one appears
departing from Nature
and that
it.
seeking this auriferous seed elsewhere than
all
metals having
as will be ultimately unveiled to those application and assiduous studj-.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
300 Q.
What
A.
It
follows from this doctrine
much more
extracted
?
follows that, although the seed
is
more
perfect in gold,
from another body than from gold
easily
bodies being more open, that
is
to say, less digested,
and
mav
it
be
other
itself,
less restricted in
their humidity.
me an example
Q.
Give
A.
Vulgar gold may be likened
taken from Nature.
maturity, has been cut off from
to a fruit which,
and though
its tree,
it
having come
to a perfect
contains a most perfect
and well-digested seed, notwithstanding, should anyone set it in the ground, with a view to its multiplication, much time, trouble, and attention will be consumed in the development of its vegetative capabilities. On the other hand,
much
same
a cutting, or a root, be taken from the
if
planted, in a short time, and with no trouble,
will
it
tree,
and similarly
spring up and produce
fruit.
Q.
Is
it
necessary that an amateur of this science should understand
the formation of metals in the bowels of the earth
he wishes to complete his
if
work ? So indispensable
A. all
such a knowledge that should anyone
is
other studies, to apply himself to
its
fail,
before
attainment, and to imitate Nature
point by point therein, he will never succeed in accomplishing anything but
what
/
worthless.
is
How, then, does Nature deposit metals and of what does she compose them ?
in the
Q.
Nature manufactures them
A.
them by
bowels of the earth,
out of sulphur and mercury, and forms
all
their double vapour.
Q. What do you mean by formed thereby ?
double vapour, and
this
how can
In order to a complete understanding of this question,
A.
be stated that mercurial vapour
is
it
firstly,
elements, there
which
and
is
the Vitriol of Nature is
must
first
united to sulphureous vapour in a cavernous
place which contains a saline water, w'hich serves as their matrix.
formed,
metals be
developed out of
;
this Vitriol
neither mercurial nor sulphureous, yet
is
Thus
of Nature a allied to
new vapour,
both these natures,
passing through places to which the grease of sulphur adheres,
this)
joined therewith, and out of their union a glutinous substance otherwise, a formless mass, which
cavernous places.
By
this
is
permeated
is
by the commotion of the
secondly,
b)-
is
the vapour that
vapour, acting through the sulphur
it
is
produced, fills
these
contains,
are produced the perfect metals, provided that the vapour and the locality are pure.
If
the locality and the vapour are impure,
The terms
imperfect metals result.
perfection and imperfection have reference to various degrees of
concoction.
Q. A. bodies,
What is A spirit
contained
in this
vapour?
of light and a spirit of
fire,
of the nature of the celestial
which properly should be considered as the form of the universe.
A
a
Short Catechism of Alchemy.
Q.
What
A.
This vapour, thus impregnated
does this vapour represent
30
?
bj'
the universal spirit, represents, in
complete way, the original Chaos, which contained
fairly
required for the original creation, that
And one
Q.
r
was
that
all
universal matter and universal form.
is,
cannot, notwithstanding,
make use
of vulgar mercury in
the process ?
No, because vulgar mercury, as already made
A.
plain,
devoid of
is
external agent.
Whence comes
Q.
agent
common mercury
that
it
is
without
external
its
?
Because
A.
in
the exaltation of the double vapour, the
been so great and searching, that the
spirit,
The
occurs, with very close similarity, in the fusion of metals.
the unique mercurial part
is
deprived of
its
commotion has
or agent, has evaporated, as result
is
that
masculine or sulphureous agent,
and consequently can never be transmuted into gold by Nature. Q.
How many
A.
Three sorts
Q.
What
A.
Astral Gold has
rays to
all
is
species of gold are distinguished by the Philosophers ? :
— Astral Gold,
Elementary Gold, and Vulgar Gold.
astral gold ? its
centre in the sun, which communicates
inferior beings.
It
an igneous substance, which
is
continual emanation of solar corpuscles
that penetrate
all
it
by
its
recei\-es a
things sentient,
vegetable, and mineral.
Q.
What do you
A.
This
is
refer to
under the term Elementary Gold
?
the most pure and fixed portion of the elements, and of
all
All sublunary beings included in the three composed of them. kingdoms contain in their inmost centre a precious grain of this elementary
that
is
gold.
Q.
Give
A.
It
me some
description of Vulgar Gold ?
the most beautiful metal of our acquaintance,
is
Nature can produce, as perfect as Q.
Of what
A.
It is
species of gold
A
is
unalterable in
the best that
itself.
the Stone of the Philosophers ?
of the second species, as being the most pure portion of
metallic elements after
gold.
it is
its
purification,
perfect equilibrium
when
it is
all
the
termed living philosophical
and equality of the four elements enter
into the
Physical Stone, and four things are indispensable for the accomplishment of the work, namely, composition, allocation, mixture, and union, which, once
performed according to the rules of
and the Phoenix which eternally Q.
What
A.
It is
in the radical
is
art, will
rises
out of
own
ashes.
actually the living gold of the Philosophers
exclusively the
fire
moisture, to which
the nature of the sulphur,
termed mercurj-.
?
of Mercury, or that igneous virtue, contained it
whence
it
has already communicated the
fixity
and
has emanated, the mercurial character of
the whole substance of philosophical tively
beget the lawful Son of the Sun, its
sulphur permitting
it
to
be alterna-
The Hermetic and AlcJicmical Writings of Paracelsus.
302
What
Q. gold
other
name
A.
They
recognize
without
true
also
term
and
their living sulphur,
it
existence in
its
all
and there
bodies,
their true
fire
;
they
nothing that can subsist
is
Where must we
look for our living gold, our living sulphur, and our
fire ?
A.
In the house of Mercury.
Q.
By what is this fire nourished? By the air. Give me a comparative illustration of the power of this fire? To exemplify the attraction of this interior fire, there is no
A.
Q. A.
comparison than that which simply a dry,
is
terrestrial
inherent to
it
this
;
fixed nature
Q.
Mercury
which
What
unto
is like
itself to the
it
where
earth,
By
on the humidity which into it
is
its
own
nature,
attracted by a
?
Q.
Cannot Nature perform
A.
No; because she
should develop
matter which
A.
acts
own.
its
He
their
a humid vapour.
to
it
should be done by the Philosopher after he has extracted his
A.
Q.
united
attracts to itself, transmutes
it
and then rapidly precipitates
better
derived from the thunderbolt, which originally exhalation,
and by assuming the igneous nature,
exaltation, is
also given by the Philosophers to their living-
it.
Q.
is
is
?
is
it
from potentiality into
activity.
this of herself?
stops short after the
first
sublimation, and out of the
thus disposed do the metals engender.
What
do the Philosophers understand by their gold and silver? The Philosophers apply to their Sulphur the name of Gold, and to
Mercury the name of SiKer. Q.
A.
Whence
are they derived
I
body wherein they are found
know how Q.
in
this operation
and
entirel}- philosophical, process.
has been duly performed, to what other point of
must they next apply themselves
To
from a homogeneous
great abundance, whence also Philosophers
to extract both by an admirable,
When
the practice A.
?
have already stated that they are derived
?
the confection of the philosophical
amalgam, which must be done
with great care, but can only he accomplished after the preparation and sublimation of the
Q.
Mercury.
When
should your matter be combined with the living gold?
During the period of amalgamation only, that is to say, Sulphur is introduced into it by means of the amalgamation, and thenceforth there is one A.
substance;
the process
tincture at the
Q.
What
same time is
is is
contained
shortened by the addition of Sulpliur, while the
augmented. in
the centre of the radical moisture?
contains and conceals Sulphur, which
A.
It
Q.
What must
be done to apply
it
to the
is
Great
covered with a hard rind.
Work?
A
Short Catechism of A/chcmy.
must be drawn out of
303
bonds with consummate
skill, and by the method of putrefaction. Q. Does Nature, in her work in the mines, possess a menstruum which is adapted to the dissolution and liberation of this sulphur?
A.
It
A.
No; because there is no and purify the
dissolve, putrefy,
with Uie Physical Stone, which Q. A.
place,
first
for its multiplication. is
local inovement.
metallic body, she
Could Nature, unassisted, would herself provide us
Sulphur exalted and increased
is
Can you elucidate this doctrine by an example ? By an enlarg'ement of the previous comparison of a
which, in the
what
its
good
put into the earth for
is
Now,
seed, extracts
who
the Philosopher,
from
it
its
its
fruit,
solution, is in
centre, consigns
in virtue.
or a seed,
and afterwards
a position to discern
it
to its proper earth,
when it has been well cured and prepared, and therein he rarefies it in such a manner that its prolific virtue is increased and indefinitely multiplied. what does the whole secret of the seed consist? knowledge of its proper earth. O. What do you understand by the seed in the work of the Philosophers ? I understand the interior heat, or the specific spirit, which is enclosed A. in the humid radical, which, in other words, is the middle substance of living silver, the proper sperm of metals, which contains its own seed. Q. How do you set free the sulphur from its bonds? O.
In
A.
In the true
A.
By
O.
What
A.
It is
Q.
What
putrefaction.
the earth of minerals
is
their proper
?
menstruum.
pains must be taken by the Philosopher to extract that part
which he requires ? .\.
He must
take great pains to eliminate the fetid vapours and impure
sulphurs, after which the seed
Q.
By what
must be
may
indication
road at the beginning of his work \.
When
he
finds
is in
the right
?
the
that
injected.
the .\rtist be assured that he
and the thing dissolved are
dissolvent
converted into one form and one matter at the period of dissolution. Q.
How many
A.
There are three.
and metallic body is
solutions do you count in the Philosophic
The
How
is
solution
is
into its elements of sulphur
that of the physical body,
Q.
first
and
the third
is
Work?
that which reduces the crude
and of living
silver
;
the second
the solution of the mineral earth.
the metallic body reduced by the
first
solution into mercury,
and then into sulphur? A.
By
Q.
How
A.
By extracting from
the secret artificial is
this operation
vapour of the elements, sulphur from
Q.
How
its
is
fire,
which
is
the
Burning Star.
>
—
performed? the subject, in the
first
place, the mercurj- or
and, after purification, by using
it
to liberate the
bonds, by corruption, of which blackness
is
the indication.
the second solution performed
?
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
304
When
A.
the physical bod)-
is
resolved into the two substances previously
mentioned, and has acquired the celestial nature.. What is the name which is applied by Philosophers to the Matter Q.
during this period? A.
It
Physical Chaos, and
called their
is
name which can
Matter, a
male— which is sulphur with the female — which Q. To what does the third solution refer ?
—
A.
it
is,
is silver.
the humectation of the mineral earth, and
It is
the true First
in fact,
applied before the conjunction of the
hardly be
it is
closely
bound up
with multiplication.
Q.
Wliat
A.
That
Q.
What
A.
of
all
It
must be made use of
fire
which
fire is
the potency of this
dissolves everything that
Why
A.
Because
is it
fire ?
A.
It is
Q.
Who
A.
It is
Q.
What
A.
It is
world, because
in the
is
Mercury
also termed in its
it is
the principle
it is
?
nature aerial, and a most subtle vapour, which par-
takes at the same time of sulphur, whence
Q.
?
and corruption.
dissolution
Q.
Where
our work
in
used by Nature.
is
is
concealed is it
has contracted some contamination.
of art.
in the subject
that
known is
it
this fire concealed ?
is
familiar with, and can produce, this fire?
who
to the wise,
can both produce
it
and purify
the essential potency and characteristic of this
excessively dry, and
is
continually in motion
;
it.
fire ?
seeks only to
it
it is that, in disintegrate and to educe things from potentiality into actuality circulates in mines, a vaporous in solid places a word, which coming upon ;
torm upon the matter, and dissolves it. Q. How may this fire be most easily distinguished ? A. By the sulphureous excrements in which it is enveloped, and by the saline
environment with which
Q.
What must be added
it
is
clothed.
to this fire so as to accentuate its capacity for
incineration in the feminine species? .\.
On
Q.
How many
account of
its
extreme dryness
philosophical
There are
in all three
Q.
Explain to
me
A.
The
A.
fires
— the
it
requires to be moistened.
do you enumerate
?
natural, the unnatural,
and the contra-
natural.
is
natural
fire is
the feminine, which
and assuming
these three species of
is
it
fire,
or the chief agent
;
the unnatural
the dissolvent of Nature, nourishing a white smoke,
that form.
care be exercised, and
the masculine
fires.
is
This smoke
is
quickly dissipated,
unless
much
almost incombustible, though by philosophical sub-
becomes corporeal and resplendent. The contra-natural fire is that which disintegrates compounds and has the power to unbind what has been bound verv closelv bv Nature. limation
it
A Q.
is
305
our matter to be found?
it must specially be sought in metmore easily available than elsewhere. Q. What kind must be preferred before all others ? A. The most mature, the most appropriate, and the easiest but care, beall things, must be taken that the metallic essence shall be present, not only
A.
allic
Where
Short Catechism of Alchemy.
to be found everywhere, but
It is
nature, where
it is
;
fore
potentially but in actualit}',
everything contained
Q.
Is
A.
Yes
may be
and that there in
moreover, a metallic splendour.
is,
this subject ?
but Nature, at the same time, must be assisted, so that the work
;
perfected and hastened, and this by the
means which
are familiar to
the higher grades of experiment.
O.
Is this subject
A.
It is vile,
say that it is
it is
not saleable, because
O.
What
A.
It
Q.
What
Q.
How By
O.
it is
useful in our
operation
is it
What
is
in the first place
perform
extracted ?
Q.
What
Dissolution with purified
then
?
salt, in
the
and afterwards fixing that which
first is
place volatilising that which
volatile into a precious earth,
Vase of the Philosophers, and is wholly perfect. must the Philosopher begin his enterprise ? At the moment of daybreak, for his energy must never be
the
When
A.
When may he take his rest ? When the work has come to its
Q.
At what hour
is
the end of the
relaxed.
perfection.
work
?
High noon, that is to say, the moment when the Sun is in and the Son of the Day-Star in its most brilliant splendour. power, What is the pass-word of Magnesia ? Q. I reserve my A. You know whether I can or should answer A.
:
X
?
follows?
A.
Q.
to be able to
the form of a white smoke.
in
Igneous water, or Sulphur.
A.
alone.
and perfect sublimation.
What
is
work
that done ?
is
sole
A.
O.
should anyone
?
most important
Q.
which
;
the species to which they refer, but, fundamentally,
does our Matter contain
Mercury
fixed,
?
without native elegance
successive extraction of the Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury.
A.
'A.
is
contains Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury.
The
.\.
is
saleable,
it is
exceedingly precious
and originally
me
Q.
Give
A.
Begin
Q.
Are you an apprentice Philosopher
A.
M}' friends,
Q.
What
is
A.
From
the
;
its
fullest
s/'cec/i.
the greeting of the Philosophers. I
will reply to
you. ?
and the wise, know me.
the age of a Philosopher
moment
Philosopher does not age.
?
of his researches to that of his discoveries, the
V
APPENDIX
[The manuscript is
of
Paracelsus which
not the only treatise which
is
VII.
preserved
is
in the
attributed to him under the
The octavo volume, which has already supplied
Vatican Librar)of Manual.
title
the material for the fourth
appendix, contains two extensive collections of processes, the one devoted to
chemistry and the other to medicine, which are respectively described as the
Frhimm and
The
the Secunduiti Mamiale.
of this translation, but the
first,
latter
deserved a position of palmary importance in not grave reason to doubt
its
authentic and forged writings which early date of the
contents it
;
it
proper section
its
The
genuine character.
stated that there are no satisfactory rules
The
wholly outside the scope
is
which here follows, would have assuredly if
between the
for distinguishing
pass under the
there were
preface has already
name
Basle octavo might be regarded as
of Paracelsus.
favour of
in
its
contains the Archidoxies, which are themselves indisputable, and
will be seen that the
Primicm Manualc claims
from an autograph manuscript.
have been printed direct
to
At the same time
it
does not correspond
any traceable manner with what is known of the Vatican "demonstrative physics" would appear to belong rather
in
and its the most sus-
treatise,
to
picious section of alchemical literature than to serious experimental records.
While
this, of
course,
an individual opinion,
is
it
is
based upon a somewhat
wide acquaintance with the great masters of alchemy, and on the evidence of other writings contained in the present volume which are less open to question.
exclude
it
its
because
of doubtful authenticity, or because
it
is
correspondence with what
is
actual value,
appendix, where
it
may
it
known concerning a manuscript
have an opportunity of access.
work
would by no means be right to
But whatever
It
has been,
be accepted for what
it
therefore, is
worth.
it
to
is
not in
which few
reserved to If
it
an
be really a
of Paracelsus, the veils of the great mj'stery have been folded very
thickly,
and are not of an inviting texture.]
MANUAL OF PARACELSUS THE GREAT,
A
That most excellent Philosopher and Doctor of both kinds of Medicine; THAT
A Thesaurus
IS,
of Special Alchemical Experiments under the Autograph OF THE
Author himself
— Paracelsus.
The Work on Mercury for Luna and
Own
WITH MY
TAKE
of calcined tartar 2lb., and
Sol, which
I
have done
Hands. quicklime
of
Mix
ilb.
Place, in a vessel well luted, in a potter's furnace, that
calcined and rendered white.
together.
may
it
be
Dissolve that matter in the following
the bottom shall become tartar turned Then distil by a filter afterwards take the lixivium and place on it lib. of egg shell with lib. of quicklime. Make all boil together, so that it may become a stone. Put this to be again calcined as before, and also place
Hxivium.
Let
it
stand until the calx
into water.
it
again
in
;
in the lixivium
;
dissolve
and
distil it
by the
Treat
filter.
it
again
with egg shell and quicklime, as above, and repeat this three or four times lastly, is
take
the lixivium
congealed.
dissolve
it
into
or four times.
by the
filter,
Let that tartar be calcined by
an
Mercury, sublimate
What
distilled
oil,
and thus you
oil
it
boil until
;
it
or 16 hours; then
itself for 15
have
will
and make
Then take
of tartar.
the
with quicklime and egg shell and calcined sulphur three
it
Imbibe
it
nine times with the aforesaid
and sublimate
oil,
it.
What
ascends,
imbibe another nine limes, sublimate, and preserve what remains.
Imbibe
remains at the bottom, preserve
yet again,
and continue doing so
mercury, pound
an
oil in
Place
it
it
well,
a cold cellar. in
and imbibe
When
horse-dung, that
dissolved, coagulate
it
all is it
yet once again.
crocus of Mars, that
be
1
dissolve
oz.
the
it
into
of silver
foil.
dissolved into water,
and,
when
into Luna.
Into In the place of
Then
dissolved put in 6 oz.,
may
Then take
nothing ascends.
until it
a glass vessel.
in
Sol.
Luna take Sol, and it may become red.
in the imbibition of
the Mercurj' add
V2
The Hermetic and Alchemical
3o8
The Lixivium
in
of Paracelsus.
IVritiiigs
made thus
:
Quicklime
R
Wood Egg of each a sufficient quantity
and
;
ashes
shell
thickness
the
boil to
you know
to be
sufficient.
The Work of Sulphur, according to our Operation.
R
Sulphur
lib.
Crocus of Mars Colcothar
ilb.
ilb.
Place in a glazed vessel, and boil with the aforesaid lixivium until
Then
reddened.
distil,
calcine the remains, repeat operation,
twelve times, or even more,
till
one part of
Then mix with
of tartar, and
oil
let it fix
be well
becomes red and the other remains
it
Let that whiteness be distilled by
white.
it
and do the same
itself
so long as
the mercury.
does not burn.
it
congeal
It will
it if
it
be boiled therein, and will be fixed by sublimation and putrefaction, so that
Take
one part tinges a hundred parts. silver foil, will
and
let it
have good and excellent Sol.
Hamelius
result follows.
pounds there
first
oil,
place
on
it
Or boil mercury in the same and a similar made a lixivium, and says that out of ten
scarcely one of tartar.
is
the red part of that
Afterwards purify by ashes, and you
stand for a week.
Let
be very acid.
it
Concerning Mercury.
Take mercury, and pound
it
it.
and imbibe
of Luna.
tartar
it
with
oil
and sublimated mercury.
on a gentle
for 24 hours,
fire
with egg-shells.
Repeat
afterwards sublimate
and then
Dissolve
with
it
oil
Then take
of tartar, and
that mercury,
Having done this, add a little of the Mix all together and put in a flask, well for four
then find a stone which will perform wonders.
water tinges to Luna.
Boil
this fifty times.
in
it
as
hours on a
fierce fire.
Dissolve this
much Luna
in
oil
of
luted,
Vou
will
water, and the
as possible, and afterwards
coagulate.
To Reduce the Dust Take of imbibe with
the dust of the metal oil
i
of Metals into Ashes.
quartal
;
borax, tartar,
i
quartal each
;
of tartar, and afterwards dissolve.
Concerning Stelliones or Spotted Lizards. If stelliones are distilled
that
it
should
fix
by descent, they yield an
mercury and convert
it
oil,
of which
it is
said
into Sol.
Another.
We
believ-e that the
ashes of a
stellio
should convert Luna into Sol,
if
they be projected on Luna. .'\notiier. If
you pour
into
Mcrcuriits vivus, put
mercury, which
is
their
it
Luna.
stomach, by means of a reed, a quantity of
into a luted vessel,
Take
and burn
it,
you
will find fixed
particular notice of these stelliones.
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
309
Concerning Lizards.
As we have prescribed
common
cerning
in the
The
lizards.
we
case of steiliones, so do
also write con-
animals should be carefully
virtue of these
noted.
To Cut Iron with Take a them,
in
which dissolve a small knife as
may
long" as
have an opinion that the fixation of mercury can
effected than in the following
alum, salt of
Take
:
and colcothar.
nitre,
water from
Distil the
be necessarj-.
Opinion on the Fixation of Spirits.
.\n
We
some earth-worms.
a radish, and
leek,
Iron.
no way be better
in
the white of eggs and purify Distil
it
with
calcined tartar and the ashes of eggs from three to six
the mercury from the colcothar and calcined tartar with the aforesaid it
remains on red-hot iron.
it
in
again to digest until
water and project Luna.
it
When
this stone,
gold instead of Luna, and
it
has been dissolved, put
altogether turned to water.
is
whereupon
But
forever.
It will last
oil until
Place that mercury in a glass vessel and dissolve
That water dissolves Luna.
water.
vitriol,
Then distil with times. Then imbibe
again and again.
it
it is
if
is
it
you desire
Coagulate
this
it
with
dissolved and converted into to turn
it
to a red colour, take
coloured red with water of the crocus of Mars.
Investigate concerning the calx of
Luna and
fixed arsenic.
The Preparation of Tuthia for Perpetual Redness. Take some green fire,
tuthia and
and sweeten the compound. and
pound
Mix
it.
it
with
a well luted crucible, for a day and a night.
in
will
it
Repeat
this process
I
lb.
then scatter
;
shaken
Then
five
place
let
times
You can pour Then
on a
it
Luna upon
it
be luted and leave
Then
each day.
in
in fresh
spirit
Constantly shake
in
acetum upon that
water,
it
lb.
each, of
and afterwards
it,
it
distil
1
5 lb. or 6
lb.
Pour acetum over
of calcined tartar, quicklime, and alum.
stand for three days.
an hour.
and place
it,
be reddened for ever.
For Fixing all Spirits. Take of the salt of tartar, vitriol, and saltpetre salt, wood ashes, oak ashes, vine-wood, and aminon it
salt,
Afterwards open crucible
set
this, it
by means of a
until the virtue
is
filter,
and
let
to boil for
to stand for fifteen daj-s,
it
common
each, with
it
oeing
and keep
it.
thoroughly extracted.
congeal and dissolve
it,
and
it
will
be
congealed.
The
F"ixation of Spirits.
Take of prepared common salt, sweet water, prepared salt of alcali, sal ammoniac, oil of urine, and tartar, i lb. each, and of honey 5 lb. Place these in
a glass vessel
in
horse-dung
them
for a period of eight days.
them out and
let
white stone.
Project this in acetum, and
water imbibe the into Luna.
boil
spirits
gradually
in
succession. it
is
Then you
Afterwards take will find a clear
With
turned into water.
and the calcined bodies
;
thus mercurj-
is
this
converted
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
3IO
The Fixation of Imbibe the extracted from
Take
with
spirit
it.
Keep
of tartar, and then
oil
doing- this until
the sublimated spirit, etc., and
Place until
it
Afterwards put
consumed until
Do
perfectly dried. it
a phial and plunge
in
Afterwards put
into water.
the
distil
fire.
of tartar.
oil
oil
from
for ten days, until
hot furnace with a clear
in a
it
distilled or
it
evaporated from the coal.
is
dung
in
it
is
on marble with
it
nothing
this until
oil
stand a somewhat strong
will
it
pound
the
an alembic upon the sublimating furnace, and
in
it is
Spirits.
it
is
fire
congealed.
it is
Note, that you can
the spirit with
fix
and with water of white
of sulphur, or of sal ammoniac,
oil
But for conversion into Sol
vitriol.
must be
it
treated with water of tartar.
How
Spirits should be Dissolved.
Put into water eggshell,
warm
poured on the
dissolve and congeal
The
or fused Spirit and
it
ammoniac.
sal
This water
becomes a powder.
Dissolve nine times and
it.
it
is
Afterwards
will be fixed.
and of Spirits so that they will remain in the fire and melt like lead. acetum and place therein mercury at pleasure, sulphur,
Fix.\tion of Salts
Dissolve salt in
and
and
salt of alcali,
arsenic,
and they
will
melt together.
Concerning Lixivia.
Make
a lixivium as strong as possible, pour
Shake
two days. done if
this, try
not, put
it
it
frequently,
whether
will
it
on again
until
and
it
stand the it
it
on
it,
and
let it
stand for
Having and good; but
will be converted into milk. fire.
does, well
If it
does stand, and
seven days, imbibing and drying
oil
it
over a slow
Do
will be fixed. It
fire.
this for
will then flow like
lead.
Concerning the Virtue of Oil of Tartar. Distil the oil
from crude
of the spleen, whilst
it
tartar.
It
avails in
The Fixation and Tincture of Take of calcined Let
it
dried,
boil,
and
take the
Let
it
thus
it
repeat this as
pound
it,
it is
well imbibed with
water of
sal
be fixed.
oil
the body
of tartar.
long as the ingredients remain
and place
it
quantum Distil until
in the fire.
suff. it is
Afterwards
within a glass vessel in horse dung.
remain for ten days, desiccate over will
Spirits.
tartar one part, of water of
and note that
spirit,
diseases of the joints and
all
also absorbs ulcers.
Note that you can
fire
the water thence produced, and
fix spirits
ammoniac, or with water of white
with
vitriol.
oil
of sulphur or with
Distemper the water of
tartar in the sun with crocus of Mars, as above, etc.
To Dissolve Tartar Take marble and place upon
in it
one hour without a Furnace. some tartar. Let it stand in water
as possible, but so that the water shall not touch be dissolved.
the tartar,
and
it
as long
will
soon
Manual of
//
Note concerning If
Paracelsus the Great.
Note Concerning Minerals. which has been made from It
be fixed.
will
Another Method of Combustion, which holds good for Take Mineral, 4 lbs. Calcined Tartar, Flour, y^
Make
lute
a ball the size of your
closed vessel or a hollow globe. it
with litharge and anatron
two or three hours.
in
.\ll
Minerals.
quartal.
lb.
Bruised Glass,
Good
i
and
i
lb.
oil, qiiaiit. sitff.
fist. Dry it and burn it for ten hours in a Having done this, break and wash it, imbibe
Saturn, with glass or sand strewn over
.Afterwards
1
the strongest lixivium.
alcali,
a mineral be imbibed therewith in a glass vessel,
3
it
must be fulminated
but note
;
for
it,
this, that
it
should be imbibed with the sand until no smoke ascends, and then fulminated.
Note on the above. Every mineral should be
first
evaporated
Saturn before
in
it is
placed in
the ashes.
For Sulphureous and Antimoniac Minerals. Distil the
Then
the sulphur
which
an
is
purged by
is
But into
sulphureous or antimoniac minerals by descent for 6 or 8 hours.
if
distilled
lead, as
a lixivium
is
by descent, and the mineral holds Luna or Sol,
you well know how.
put into the lower vessel, then the sulphur
To Separate Luna from Venus Take equal over a slow
and
is
converted
oil.*
left in
parts of arsenic and saltpetre.
Then
fire.
the
money
in
a state of flux
in
Money.
Dissolve by successive degrees put
is
and the Luna
is
in,
piece by piece,
Pour
a state of fusion for about a quarter of an hour.
in
a regulus,
separated from the Venus.
The CoAGUL.viioN of Mercury. Fill
an egg-shaped crucible with mercury, fasten the opening with a
then place will
have
it
it
in
an open vessel.
Pour on
and put
lead,
it
to cool.
lute,
Thus you
coagulated.
To Redden Sulphur. Let
it
be distilled by descent, and afterwards
lower vessel.
The sulphur
and
will adhere,
My own
will
let
water be placed
Crude Tartar,
lb.
Calcined Tartar,
dissolved. •
From
When
in
it
6
lb.
be
i.
ij.
lb.
iij.
oz. of calx of
this point the recipes are given partly in Latin
latter language.
may
be coloured red.
a glass vessel in cold water, so that
dissolved put in
the
Recipe.
Take Sublimated Mercury, lb. ij. Sublimated Sal Ammoniac,
Mix together and place
in
and partly
in
Luna.
it
Let this dissolve,
German, the greater part being
often in the
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
iI2
and when you have done
Dissolve and coagulate a second
coagulate.
so,
time.
Take
In
Alchemy.
Oil of
Antimony,
Auripigment,
Crocus of Mars, Salt of Nitre,
parts
iiij.
part
i.
part
i.
part
i.
Reddened Flos Aeris, i. part oil of antimony and dried, until the whole of the Take of these powders 3iij-, and of Luna gs. Let them
Let them be imbibed with oil
is
imbibed.
remain continuously for 12 hours separation of the strong waters,
^^ white Take
or yellow arsenic,
of this
burnt salt
oil
Ix. d.
-^o
t'y
You
a state of fusion.
in
of
good
gold, or
more
^^ by the side of
....
the fusion of sulphur
and
half an ounce, of fixed sulphur
sal
will find in the
ammoniac
oi.,
lily.
and of
5ij-
A Cement
of Part with the Part. Take 3 iiij. each of Bolus Armcnus Fixed Salt of Nitre
Common
Fused and prepared
Red
v/
3i.
Salt
Vitriol.
each of Sal
Ammoniac
Flos Aeris. Bi.
each of
Burnt Brass Red Calamine Stone. Let the powders be imbibed with urine, and
Luna be cemented six hours.
Then
for twelve hours.
let
pars cum parte of Sol and
\.\\e.
stand
it
in
a state of flux for
Let this process be repeated by cementing three times, and you will
have Sol of 24 degrees according to every
test.
Given by the Grace of God. Take Oxide of Vitriol \ Flos Aeris Sal
Ematite Boil in a glass vessel it i.
may
be dissolved to water.
part of gold,
viii.
and dry
ii.
or
iii.
-
Ammoniac i.
oz.
to a powder.
Coagulate
Place in this
The more
A Very Good Cement Take salt.
dung
or a ccllarium, that
Then take
water to a powder.
Dissolve and project
of silver.
oz. projected in a state of flux.
\ part each.
1
it is
I oz.
of this over
burnt, the better
it
in Sol.
calcined Venus, vitriol calcined to a gray colour, and use a
Let Sol be cemented
the highest point.
in
it
i2 or
6 or
S,
will be.
and
it
will
common
then be &' graduated to
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
313
Fixed Oil.
Take equal
parts of salt, of nitre, and of quick lime.
hour, then dissolve and
of tartar.
oil
and
filter it,
Take equal
it
parts of both.
Common
Dissolve
Sulphur
(
\
"'• "^'''''^ ^^''^'-
in the
ij.
Put them at the same time to be
regulus, and purify
in
a cinder
fire.
Projection" of Luna.
Take of golden marcasite and of stibium equal
From
together into a fusorium 27. alcali.
same with
a bath.
...
Salt fused
Pour
The
the
in
)
Let them flow together into a black mass.
melted with the marcasites.
Do
dung or
well for one
x. parts.
Crude Tartar
Common
in
it
Gold by Marcasites.
Solution" of
Take Antimony
Burn
be coagulated.
will
the fusorium
Project in succession, and you will find
much
parts.
Pour them
extinguished
it is
Sol
in
strong
the separation of
in
the strong waters.
The Fixation of Antimony. Take Antimony
i.
lb.
Saltpetre Alb.
Put them to melt together It
a tigillum, and the mixture will become fixed.
in
no longer consumes gold or
nor
silver,
evaporated by
is
fire,
and
is
of a
red colour.
Water [Also
if
giving
you wish
Weight to Sol and Luna.
to give
weight to a
A Great
Ammoniac
Let these be mixed by impastation.
may
be dissolved.
will acquire three
Distil
by a
filler.
gold cup.]
Secret.
Take Calx of egg-shells Sal
silver or
2.\
-^
sij.
ozs.
Leave the mixture
Then
in
a
damp
place that
it
dip gold or silver therein, and they
times their original weight.
A Good Mode
of Whitening, which will stand the Fire, and the Test of Lead.
Take Sublimated MercurjSublimated Arsenic bubhmateu Calcined Luna Sal Ammoniac Bviij.
.siv.
)
,
,..
j
Sublimate three or four times, and afterwards add the clear part of eggs, cooked quant, siiff. Pound the whole together until it be dissolved Afterwards distil in an alembic and congeal. If it be then dissolved in a bath, it will
have more strength, and
let
purified copper, tin, or mercury.
there be placed therein one part in
100 of
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
314
For Minerals not Fixed. Take the unfixed mineral
Common
Salt
Flour Let them be pounded together and moistened, so as to be-
equal parts.
in
come a
mass.
tliick
Let
be dried by the
it
afterwards pounded, washed,
fire,
and fulminated.
Method of Calcining Mercury and the Preparation of Mercury WITH MaRCASITES.
Take
Salt of Nitre
Alum
Calcined I
Take
each.
lb.
marcasite
in
Pour upon dry
powder, and place
it,
the mercury ceases to
with
reduce to a
From
it
less in quantity.
Take
the
a phial with three ounces of Mercury.
in
it
and
the aquafortis aforesaid,
it
When
wax.
more nor
aquafortis, neither
the phial be closed with sealing-
let
move and
to leap about, then
wash it well, Mix all,
take equal parts of litharge and calcined tartar.
fluid together,
afterwards by ash
the golden marcasite
is
made
Sol,
fire.
and from the
silver,
Luna.
A Test for the said Work over Marcasite. Take marcasite, and place it in a tigillum with Mercury over the coals. Thus the Mercury becomes hard and red, and the marcasite fluid. Then it is
strong.
Another Method for the above. Place
and
it
in
divisible
lead previously washed.
when
struck,
it
is
lead renders it hard as Lima, Lord Leonhardus Sems (gave) the
If the
good.
above.
Note.
Take
of Cinnabar
i.
lb.
of Arsenical Sulphur
)
of Calcinated Tartar
)
equal quantities, i.
of Alcohol of Soot j
i
-I
viz.,
quartal. 11,
"
of Twice-prepared Salt
)
of Saltpetre to the weight of
all.
Let them be mixed, pounded, and imbibed several times with water of eggs or
albumen of
Let them stand
tartar.
in flux for
After this liquefy the mixture for four hours to
wash and purge by
cineritium,
and you
*in
three hours.
a very strong
will
Then fire.
kindle.
Proceed
have the Treasure of the
World.
Of zinc
Take aquafortis next by means ;
in
which Luna
of the cineritium.
Zinc. is
dissolved
;
afterwards imbibe with
Also imbibe and fulminate the dross
in the glass.
For Minerals which do not readily Melt. Extract is
alcali
out of the caput mortuum, with which alcali every mineral
forcibly dissolved.
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
315
CONXERN'ING MINERALS OUT OF ArSENIC.
Take, pound the
smoke
the
fire till
well,
and
by vicediam.
lute into slime
Then
ceases.
it
Afterwards burn
in
will be sublimated.
Another Method. Take equal
Make
quantities of slime and of minera.
the size of a bean.
Let
it
a small pellet about
be imbibed successively into Saturn, and afterwards
fulminated.
Another Method for Augmenting Take placed will
in
Miner.als.
of minera and of slime equal quantities.
Let them be mingled,
Burn three days and nights.
ajar, and well luted.
After this
it
be fulminated and augmented.
For Sulphurous Antimoniacal Minerals. Take of minera i. lb., of saltpetre i lb. Burn for an hour. Afterwards wash. Reduce to lead with litharge, and afterwards by means of the cineritium.
Note.
Take of filings of X'enus twelve parts of laminated Next make the following powder Take xxxij. lb. of Sulphur Sand iij. lb. of Caput Mortuum ;
Jupiter one part.
:
i.
of Sulphur
lb.
Make two layers of this powder. Distil in become a black powder. Next smelt it with half a Pour the regulus. Join to it three ounces of Luna in a cineiitium Then you will have your Luna and 7^ oz. in cineritium.
Pound them with the
said filings.
a wind furnace.
it
part
fz.
of light.
Let
Reduction of the Minera. Take of minera lb., of minium lb. i. Cause them to stand in flux half an hour. Then infrigidate. Combine in equal quantities with litharge. Imbibe Vou will then find one dram of Luna and more in Saturn and fulminate. than half an ounce of pure gold. Dross makes up the larger proportion. i
Digestion of the Moon.
Take of Alum
v.
lb.
of Saltpetre
)
,,,...,
of
,
Make
^
lb.
oz.
iij.
of Cinnabar
.
nil. ^
)
of \'erdigris ,,
each
,-
v itriol
ii.
oz.
aquafortis.
Afterwards take of Cinnabar crude Mercury reddened \'itriol
\
>
xv.
lb.
each
)
Let the aquafortis above-mentioned be poured over these recipes. at length purge.
.-Mso
take
therein
two marcs of Luna.
days.
Vou
will then find
iii.
iij.
lb.
of this water.
Afterwards oz.
of
good
let
gold.
it
Distil
and
Let there be dissolved
stand on the cinders thirty
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of
3i6
Water
Mercl-ry— A True Recipe.
Fixing
Take of
Sal
Paracelsus.
Ammoniac
\
Alcali
>
Saltpetre
)
Imbibe them with burnt wine and
equal quantities.
This water
distil.
Mercury.
fixes
Digestion of Luna. Dissolve four ounces of lead, and as
Then put
again. viij.
You
will
inject four
little,
Pulverise
tartar into a paste.
amalgam
ounces of
Place above
in the tigillum.
Dissolve thoroughly, mix, afterwards pour out and
Imbibe thrice with
Then take
Dissolve as before.
of tartar.
oil
Sprinkle gradually over
one ounce of purged Luna. powder.
melts a
of
oil
the whole aforesaid
oz. of fixed sulphur.
pulverise.
with
Pulverise, imbibe
quicksilver.
it
it
one ounce of the said
then find the weight of two grains of good gold.
Separation of Gold from the Cup.
Take
of white calcined Tartar
Ammoniac Then
Sal
Let an
oil
be produced
Take
vinegar for a long time. into the cup.
of
oil
oz.
oz.
ij.
boil the roots of
the cellarium.
in
i
pyrethrum
and water equal quantities.
in
Put them
Note, of sublimated sulphur see elsewhere.
For the Cineritium. Take of Cinder three parts of Brick
pounded and
strained,
two parts
Also take again three parts of cinders, with one part of melted salt boiled It produces the equivalent of one talent. with one part 27 oz. of small nails.
To render Iron unusually Hard. Distil
maw
water from radish and
and gems can be cut with
worms.
To make Light without Take
cantharides, putrefy
hollow crystal, and there
Extinguish twice or
thrice,
it.
will
it
in
dung, and
Fire.
distil
Put this water into a
it.
be sufficient light to read by.
For the White and Red. Take
Vitriol
Rom.
Saltpetre
Cinnabar But
Distil as aquafortis.
divide
it
into
two
parts,
mercur\-, in the other part
Having done
collect the
and i.
the
in
it
alembic until only a third part of
it
Afterwards put
it
earth for fifteen davs.
into a
Then
oz.
iij.
second water, which first
part dissolve
oz. of silver filings.
this, let
carefully.
lb. j.
lb. vj.
good
distil
Let
it
over a very slow
is i.
saffron-coloured oz. of
dissolve and close fire
;
sublimated it
by means of an
remains. vessel of glass,
and place
this in cold,
damp
the aforesaid matter falls to the bottom like a
A and
small, clear,
Manual of
Next, by means of a
crystalline stone.
water, so that the stones
may
thoroughly luted, for
vessel,
Paracelsus the Gi-eat.
remain, and place these,
days
five
dung, and
in
3 filter
extract the
a well-closed glass
in
them be dissolved
let
1
into
water.
Take
put
this water,
in
it
another vessel, and place the vessel
Make a
other earth with a moderate light.
more than the will
it
for 30 da)s.
Let
before,
Then
Take
Then once more
aforesaid.
dissolve until
it
Take
more dung
Luna
it
under dung as
dissolved in one it.
at every trial.
And it will One part
be of
you wish to Multiply.
if
Put
in plates.
of sublimated mercury by
one ounce of the being made.
elixir
Put
by
in a vessel
it
in
itself
damp
spot, for nine days
in the
form of a crystalline stone.
much
then
;
is
viij.
For Sol
it is
as you will.
\'itriol
Rom.
lb.
Saltpetre
lb.
i.
Cinnabar
lb.
i
descend to the bottom,
water by means of a
off the
bottom.
Then take the warm dung
under
in
this,
medicine.
one part dissolve quick
In
water by an alembic, and
off the
may
It
Having done
oz. of the aforesaid
Burn
this in the fire, as
you
be dissolved perhaps in aqua
take
viij.
What you
oz. of the red
water
have placed therein
the shape of a crystalline stone.
filter,
be
i.
water.
Then draw
be like blood. red.
falls will
:
a second prepared
know how, and it will fortis and make this i.
descend to the
Extract the water by
And the saffron medicine which made thus
the calcined mercury will remain at the bottom.
and
will
all
method described above, and place the stones in They will then be dissolved into water. the water of Luna and Mercurius, and that one ounce
Take
mercury, as
is
it
before put
in the
that this
as before,
until
days as before.
of the medicine should be
one on a thousand.
named
already described, which has stood for 12 days, while
the earth, in a cold,
for nine
it
these ingredients, in a well-closed glass vessel, under
all
means of an alembic
Leave
Into the water
bottom of the vessel
warm dung Then know
it
and the same quantity
itself,
another vessel.
dissolved in the water mentioned above.
vessel,
in
the aforesaid aqua fortis in such quantity that you can dissolve in
40 oz. of Luna
will
is
it
be better able to congeal and dissolve
will
And
itself
a glass vessel
in
it
that stone once
deposited for every thousand parts of mercury.
is
Distil,
some
be again dissolved into water and hardened once inore by
it
a water which congeals mercury into true
Luna
place
and keep on dissolving and congealing
Then you
day.
on cleansed marble.
manner
the
in
in
underneath, scarcely
fire
of a lamp, for the space of three days, and that water
light
be hardened to the consistence of a stone.
and pulverise
fire
very slow
Then draw
as before, and the stones will remain at the
aforesaid stones, put for nine days,
and
it
them
will
in
a well-closed glass
be dissolved into a water.
This medicine gives one part for every one thousand parts of quick mercury.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
3i8
Another Good Method.
Make an amalgam
of best mercury, carefullj' washed,
parts,
iii.
and of
Then wash very carefully with salt and acetum, until all Pound the amalgam on a stone, and dry it. Steep it blackness disappears. in urine after wrapping in linen rag. Take an alembic placed on ashes in a furnace, and make a moderate fire of coals, so that you can touch the top of Keep on thus decocting and pounding until it is the urine with the hand. thoroughly black, for this is a good sign. Then wash it in the water of common salt, thoroughly pure, until no blackness appears. Then once more good Luna
i.
part.
pound, decoct, wash, and dry on linen rag until
Put
then
it
sublimation,
in a glass vessel for
the glass, and the
Luna with
Leave
it.
pound and decoct twelve times
in
all
when
ascends to the sides of
it
and again mix
to cool,
it
blackness has disappeared.
Then ammoniac
succession.
place
it
all
together
;
a vesica with
in
Pound it with the said amalgam, and let the sal ammoniac be dissolved in warm water, or, better Afterwards let the vesica be luted and dissolve in warm still, in aqua vitas. dung, changing the dung every week so that the matter shall be thoroughly Afterwards put it in urine to evapdissolved, and it then becomes an elixir. orate, and when the water is evaporated increase the fire, so that all the sal ammoniac may ascend, and the medicine may remain fixed in the bottom. Then remove the sal ammoniac, and congeal the medicine with a slow fire, as if it were Sol, for several days, and the thing is done. a long neck, together with sublimated sal
If
you wish
to multiply this elixir, place one part with loo parts of quick
mercury, purified and heated fire
and
it
becomes
quick mercury
it
friable
will
Red Oil which
in
Luna.
it
completely over a slow
you put one part of
If
become purest
fixes
Melt
a crucible.
this to loo parts of
Sol.
Luna and Sol, and from which the Carbuncle made.
IS
Take Crocus Arabicus Calcanthus Arabian Verdigris Litharge
Red Calcined
Tin,
oz.
iij.
each
Quick Sulphur Citrine Arsenic
Red Sublimated Calx, lbs. Prepared Sal Ammoniac Saltpetre, distilled
Red Animal
Oil,
and
lb.
j.
ij.
each
rectified
with distilled
each.
Let these ingredients be covered with wax, and, when they have been thus treated twice, put the mixture to dissolve, until a pure red water
Then
let it
be distilled
silver aforesaid.
Then
in
an alembic
;
and with
dissolve and distil
sulphur and the arsenic.
Leave
it
it
to dissolve
this
as before, and
and
is
produced.
water imbibe the quick-
waxen with
to distil until
it
it
the
be clear and
A red,
Manual of Paracelsus
and coagulates of
own accord
its
has been coagulated, waxen addition of animal
oil until it will
it,
and
will
it
Reduce
pour out
on 100 parts of Luna or Jupiter. tinge
in the vessel
as above
it
If there
with the
fire
Project one ounce of
it
it
crystals.
Gr.\d.\tiox ok Lun.\.
Ammoniac, oz. i. Alumen Jameni, oz.
Take
Sal
Flos
.<^ris, oz.
Vitriol
Rom.,
Tuchia, oz.
Then
fortis.
i.
ij.
oz. \
Saltpetre, oz.
i.
When
over a slow
be coagulated, producing gold better than that of Nature.
The
Make an aqua
of coagulation.
it
wax.
like
319
be mercury or anything else therein,
Hereby also carbuncles can be made out of
part of Sol and
Great.
the
\
i.
pulverise thoroughly the dregs.
part of Luna, and project ^2 a
Dissolve
dram thereupon.
i.
Afterwards
granulate per sturbam in the aforesaid strong water, and thus, beyond any doubt, you will have gold that will answer any test up to
xxiiij.
degrees.
Perpetl'.al W.\ter.
Take
Dissolve
the calx of eggs.
with the white of eggs for three
it
This water placed on a brass plate heated to redness
weeks.
will
acquire
perpetual whiteness.
Another Mode. Dissolve the calx of eggs with alumen jamenum, sugar, and
once
Distil
in
an alembic, and
it
common
salt.
serves for Luna.
Precious Water.
Take
Salt of Nitre
„
,
Sal
.
1
.
vj.
.
Ammoniac
ozs.
each
)
Honey, cooked and skimmed,
v. oz.
Boy's Urine, xv. oz. Let these be mixed
;
place
one day and dissolve
;
that has been purified
them
and
it
a furnace for two days.
in
will
Then congeal
for
be perfect water, which congeals mercury
and heated.
It
will also
transmute brass into good
Luna.
The Stroxg W.\ter called the Oil of the Philosophers. Take one part each of Vitriol Rom., and salt of nitre. Pulverise them and mix with charcoal made from linden wood. Moisten with acetum then pound, dissolve, and distil, when it will become an ardent water. For Sol. .
;
Dissolve cinnabar with water of sal ammoniac, until
it
is
perfectly fixed
dissolutions.
ammoniac. in
Put this
and becomes for
red,
sublimation
Repeat the sublimations
until
which with it
vitriol,
the
it
be as
fluid as
wax, and part of
it
same
salt of nitre
quantity
be poured forth.
acetum, having previously dissolved plumose alum
until
and
will be after three or four
in
Then
the bath.
tinges prepared Luna,
"
of
sal
dissolve
Continue
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
320
Corporal Mercuries. Then take Luna, and dissolve it in aqua fortis. Sublimate the that. Join them together, and strain them as you know how. Put it into a damp arsenic from the body, and it will become a sort of mass.
Take
place,
arsenic and dissolve
and
it
will
be dissolved into mercury.
Corporal Mercury. Take any body you will and two parts of arsenic. Pulverise, and then Place in hot water and it will come forth as mercury. sublimate them. Corporal Mf.rcury
Make
them one over the other
thin plates, place
be reo'ulated to
the Metals.
froai
of any metal one part and of purified white arsenic another part.
Take
first
of
a slow
all in
successively
into cold water,
Then pour quickly
smoke.
fire,
and you
Mercury from Jupiter and
and
layers,
in
made stronger will find
until
them
let it
begins
mercury.
S.\turn.
Put layer for layer of quicklime and metal, and place them in a sublimatory. The mercury ascends, adfire, and sublimate as you know how.
Set on the
hering to the alembic, and
is
quickened.
Corporal Mercury from Saturn. Dissolve Saturn and put salt upon
Then wash
it
and pour upon it
warm
with it
it
until
it
Afterwards put
it.
the white of eggs and water of
horse dung for two days, then take
in
Shake
it.
water and dry
out,
it
sal
turns to a powder. in
it
ammoniac.
and you
will
a glass vessel
Lute
it,
put
have what you
require.
The Mercury of Saturn according to the Experiment of Hamelius. Take thin plates of Saturn, placed layer by hwer with common salt in a Bury it for eight days in the ground. Dilute with common water, vessel. and then a part of the mercury
be found at
will
otice.
Repeat the process with
the rest.
Mercury of all Take some Put them
sal
ammoniac,
in layers,
acetum, and you
iiie
flos aeris, vitriol,
and plates of any kind of metal.
Place the
and sublimate them.
will find
Metals.
Do
Mercurius virus.
sublimated portion
in
this until all the plates are
turned into mercury.
Mercury from all the calx of any metal and place
Take
it
Bodies.
in
acetum,
in
which there are two
parts of the calx of the body and one part of sal ammoniac.
dung from with
it,
Place these
and the body becomes mercury. If an amalgam together with Sol and Luna, by degrees natural mercury
for seven days,
in
is
made
is
fixed
it.
Corporal Mercury.
Take Saturn, and
dissolve
ammoniac, and stir over Afterwards project the powder it
sal
it
in
a tigillum.
When
it is
dissolved, scatter
becomes a powder.
it
with a spatula until
in
boiling water, and the salt will be dissolved
it
A Manual Then
the water.
in
of Paracelsus
Gieat.
321
desiccate pulverised lead in the bottom, and put
white of eggs into a glass vessel for 62 days.
and you
the
will find the
mercury
with
it
Afterwards remove the water,
in a fluid state at the
bottom.
Another Method. Take a sufficient quantity of sulphur and linseed oil. Boil the mixture until it comes to the form of a vapour. Put in it plates of Saturn, and it is converted into Mercury
Take aquafortis
in
three days.
Corporal Mercury from Luna. Extract the Luna dissolve in aquafortis. by means of an alembic, and wash the calx with fresh water. Mix plates of fulminated
;
with it sal ammoniac, alcali, and oil of tartar. Blend all together on marble and pound thoroughly for three or four hours. Then the body gains a soul. Collect this soul carefully,
This If
and the four elements.
the Fouxdation about which all the Philosophers have Written. you cannot pound them so long on marble, then after you have done so is
two days, and the soul does not shew any desire for the body, place all Afterwards set together in a glass vessel, and put it in dung for four weeks. the glass vessel in a capella and abstract the water until all moisture has disappeared. Strengthen the fire, and the blessed water ascends. Collect this If they carefully, and if any remains in the alembic, remove it with a feather. glass vessel it in a body is not totally abstracted, add more oil of tartar, put with other simples, as before, pound it well, and set it in dung for eight days. for
Thus the whole
will
be extracted.
Corporal Mercurv from Saturn. Take Saturn, put it in a patella, and when it is slightly well with an iron spatula.
When
salted with salt.
water over put
it
in
it,
and
it
Afterwards this
done
is
attracts the water to
a closed glass vessel, well luted
a month, renewing the
;
oil
equal parts.
set
in
of vitriol by descent, calcined
Mix them, adding
horse dung or
in
a bath of
it
for four
the vessel and put equal weights of
with
oil
of vitriol.
in
it is
horse dung,
let
it
stand for
transmuted into Mercury.
of tartar, and sal
and place
weeks, that
pounded
calx of marble,
into Aloth.
oil
calx of Luna,
Mary
Then take
itself.
To Convert White Sol Take
Pour warm
be again dissolved.
dung each week, and
it
be divided into minute parts and
let it
let it
dissolved, stir
sal
in
it
ammoniac
a phial.
may
putrefy.
ammoniac and
salt
in
Set this
of
Open alcali,
Putrefy as before for four weeks, and the body will be
entirely converted into .Moth.
Corporal Mercury. Take
vitriol, saltpetre,
and alum.
take caput niortuum and extract
its
the caput niortuum a second time,
Make salt
aquafortis as you know.
with
common
water.
again extracting the
salt.
Then
Reverberate
Repeat
W
this
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
322
process, the oftener
Pour over
through the alembic
Afterwards take the earth that remains.
the better.
Leave
aquafortis.
it
stand for one
to
it
Then
da)-.
Dissolve the moon.
that aquafortis.
in
force
it
Abstract the
phlegm through the alembic in the bath. Afterwards take good sal alcali, reverberate it, and dissolve in oil. Then take good oil of tartar, and afterwards Take equal dissolved sal ammoniac, which has been six times sublimated. Pound away the calx therewith, put in a cupel. quantities of these three oils. Pour the oils over to the height of a finger. Place in horse dung fifteen days. Then set over cinders. Drive at first gently, afterwards violently. Then there ascends a white powder, which proves from a marc to two ounces of This makes living with brandy or sunst.
Luna.
Receipt of the Bishop of Strasburg.
Take
of
filings
Luna two ounces.
of
Dissolve
in
Then
aquafortis.
Put
abstract thence into the third part of the water through the alembic.
in
Then take so much of salt of tartar, and half as much of sublimated sal ammoniac, and putrefy them in dung, whereupon the pebbles will become mercury. Dry If it does not become Mercury, sublimate it, it by means of fustian (?) cloth. whereupon you will have Mercury out of Luna. a cold place, where white pebbles collect
;
take them and weigh them.
Freising.
Take alumen.
of aquafortis one part out of In
it
salt of tartar
two parts of
two
parts,
common
one part,
salt
vitriol,
and one part of
Then take of
dissolve Luna, then excoct the calx.
the burnt
salt alcali, salt of urine
one
part each.
Pound these salts together with the moon he as much as of
of the salts of the
next put glass
wheat meal and a
therein
Then sublimate
(?).
calx of the
moon, and Dissolve
the salts.
all
Let
brandy.
little
Thus Luna Mercurius
it.
is
it
let it
the quantity
water
all in
;
become dry as
produced.
Note.
Take
leaves of
Luna beaten extremely
breadth of a creutzer, put consecutive days, purify reverberate
takes place
it
when
Impaste silver.
five
it
it
into
a
the leaves
this sulphur
Reverberate
it
become
in
more sulphur.
nine
and This
with quintessence of wine, and there will be quick-
with
wood
of oak or birch.
aquafortis, then let
it
out of a stone into an
Stir
in
a vessel with a hard
of the body.
it
forth,
black.
dissolve it
and reverberate
or six times, or until Luna yields no
Dissolve tartar
moon.
a finger's length and the
(?)
from the sulphur which then comes
The Original Then
thin,
mortar
has. it
oil.
evaporate and be coagulated.
Pour
it
upon sulphur of the
wooden spoon, and you have Mercury
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Gteat.
323
Mercu'ry ok the Body.
Take
of
ammoniac one part, of Mercury sublimated one part, of Pound the sal ammoniac and mercury well together;
sal
calx of lime one part. let
them melt gently.
Put
on a dish with water, and
in the stir
then have Mercury of the
will
Luna, speedily take
it
out again (and place)
Then dry it with a towel Moon, true and good. it.
You
or leather.
Another Method. Take
Pound it well and put it whereupon the saltpetre will boil Then take the calcined Luna and put it into water. Let it stand which has been well
saltpetre
into a cucurbit. like water.
Set
it
among warm
purified.
ashes,
Then mercury
thus, care being taken lest the ashes be too hot.
be produced.
of silver will
Strain through a cloth and collect the mercury.
CoRPOR.\L Mercury. X'itriol also, if
it
be distilled alone into water and a quantity of filings be
placed therein, will in the course of time become Mercury.
Another Method. With Mercury sublimate seven times, pound metal
add
;
flour
and water.
Reduce
Mercury.
filings
will descend,
to a cinder after solution
thoroughly of saltness and
Take
It
or cinder of every
cal\
for
it
will turn
into living
and repercussion, cleansing
it
spirits of aquafortis.
Afterwards take Mercurj-, which you must wash Cook Mercury with vinegar and salt. Take three filings of Luna one. Make an amalgam and pound well smooth stone. Then let the Mercury evaporate. .After-
of Luna.
with salt and vinegar. parts of this
and of
two hours on a wards remove the vinegar and for
Luna
twentj- hours,
salt
with
warm
Calcine that calx of
water.
and there will be a woolly Luna.
After which calcination
Then make the remaining calx, working as above. Then take the extracted Luna, pound it with some tartar, and it will be live put
in
the distilled vinegar.
Mercury.
Note. Dissolve filings of
Luna
in aquafortis,
draw
the third part through the
it in a cold place, where crystals collect. Take it and weigh add the same quantity of sulphur and half that quantity of sal ammoniac,
alembic and put it;
as see above,
etc.,
in
the Bishop's art.
-Another.
Take
the calx of any metal, place
two parts of sulphur, of part.
Let
it
be placed
among the amalgam of Luna distilled
it
in
vinegar, wherein
ammoniac one part, and dung or in the bath eight
sal in
cinders,
and Mercury
there be distilled
or ten days, then
will ascend.
or of Sol, and you will tinge
let
of .Mercury sublimate one
all
With bodies.
it
be
this there is
an
let
Take of
subli-
mated Mercury, which see, pound it with steel filings, out of sal ammoniac, put it into a wet place, .'ind let it be dissolved into oil without water. \V3
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
324
Praxis. of Mercury of the sun one part, and of crude Mercury.
Take
a phial and
seal.
Give
from the
it,
four or five gentle
first,
the heat gradually until you perceive the red powder. all
Take
Treat the white similarly.
bodies.
It
Put
fires,
into
it
increasing
tinges Mercury and
of Mercury of
Luna two
parts,
Possibly the red process should have been treated
of crude Mercury one part.
same manner.
in the
Note.
Take an equal quantity of salt and sulphur, and of water of arsenic. Take Put it in a cupel, pour as much as you like of calx of Luna, well sweetened. weeks in dung or three Let it stay three fingers. water over to the height of Let
in the bath.
it
be well luted.
slowly, then drive
away
Mercury ascends;
let it
Then
First distil the
place in sand.
water
Afterwards strengthen, whereupon the
the spirits.
become cold and you have
it
potent.
Another Method.
Make Of
this
aquafortis of equal quantities of saltpetre, of
water take one part,
sublimated mercury.
Leave
the alembic in the cinders
;
in
which dissolve 4
it
to putrefy fourteen days.
c.
of sal
vitriol,
and alumen.
ammoniac and
12 of
through
Distil slowly
then take calx of the Moon, well sweetened, pour
this extracted aquafortis over, so that
may
it
remain three or four days in a tepid heat, and
Mercury of
stand three inches high it
will be
changed
;
let it
into Mercury.
S.aturn.
Pound them together, two parts, and of oil of soap Impaste well, let it stand one month in the bath, afterwards pour one part. warm water over it, move with the finger, and you will have the mercury of
Take
distil like
of soap one part, of living calx one part.
an aqua
Then take
fortis.
of ceruse
the bodies.
Mercury of the Bodies. Take one^ pound of Then place two pounds
sal
ammoniac,
of rock [pctra)
purified with in
P calcined and prepared.
the middle of that sal
ammoniac sub-
limated, below, above, and around, to the thickness of one finger
compressed and placed which has the
lid
in
well luted, and give for four days the
fire
There
will
let
it
of a candle, at
with one light, afterwards with two, thirdly with three, and, lights.
;
be
a glass vessel, and then set amid the sand in a jar,
then be a black matter.
finally,
first
with four
Subsequently, press through the
bag.
Note.
A vitriol.
cury,
tincture
Let
it
must be made
after the
come over a slow
and prepare
it
fire.
over a similar
fire,
manner in which oil is extracted from Then take a quantity of sublimed merTake till it shall have become white.
body of Luna, with two parts of the Eagle and of Mix them well in a crucible, which seal, and set over a good sal ammoniac. When the contents are completely melted remove them, let them coal fire. one part of the
cool,
filings of the
and then press through a
cloth.
Then take mercury
;
let
it
remain
in
A the cloth
;
Manual of
expel thoroughly by
Paracelsus the Great.
means of Saturn, take a portion of mercurial
On
water and a portion of running Mercury. take care to cover the body produced.
Afterwards
water.
Dissolve this
account of the low temperature,
formation must take place
Its
effect its digestion, sealing well, until a
in the
and you
at least,
will
325
cold and coagulate
the warmth.
in
it
have a powder which
powder
Perform
in
the
results.
this twice
potent for tinging.
is
Again'.
Take
and pound
vitriol,
it
thoroughly.
covered so as to prevent exhalation.
slow
fire
below for a whole day, and you
take filings of Mars, well washed
which pound heavily vitriol,
Set
in
mortar.
in the
Place
in
it
a glass vase, well
above the furnace and keep up a
it
will find
turned into water.
it
sweet water until
all
Then
the vitriol depart; after
Sprinkle the said filings with water of
then leave to dissolve for two or three days, whereupon there will
result a calx of those filings, but at the
bottom of the vessel you
will discover
Mercury.
Mercury of the Body.
Make
aquafortis out
Of Vitriol lb. Of Salt Nitre lb. Of Calcinated Alumen i.
i.
And
if
the alembic
becomes
\
lb.
red, take the red spirits separately
;
in
it
dissolve
the body of the sun and moon, so far as they are capable of dissolution.
Of
the same take one part, and four parts of extracted tartar, with quintessence of wine as aforesaid.
Or, put the hot tartar into the quintessence to the
extent that the quintessence will
receive
Of
it.
the
same quintessence, Then pour
together with the extracted tartar, take, as said above, four parts. the aquafortis, with
drops, and
set
may remain until
it
the body, into the quintessence, for the
in the
it
with
whereupon the body
or boiling wine. until
it
is all
boil
it
time
first
clear, that
by-
no dross
Extract this once, and again pour on (the aquafortis),
it.
becomes a transparent
previously stirred, and extract fire,
Then
bath for eight days.
Then
oil.
its
phlegm
will arise.
Place
brought over
in ;
the
then
it is
Next take the earth Then give a subliming and make it living in vinegar
genuine.
into the sand.
Cleanse
it
same Mercury it
the aforesaid
oil
separately
will tinge.
Mercury of the Body. Take of Sublimated Mercury four Sal Ammoniac two parts.
parts,
Mercury of \^enus, or preferably Salts of Urine, two Calx of Luna pounded with the Let them remain
Take of
in
putrefaction for eight days.
Another Method. Luna pounded with the same quantity of sal ammoniac. or four times. Then wash the sal ammoniac from it. Drive
calx of
Sublimate three
parts.
salts.
the calx through a retort with a small
fire,
and you
will
have mercun*-.
326
Hermetic and Alchanical ]Vritings of Paracelsus.
77/1';
Augment.
Take
mercury four parts, and of
of corporal
Make an amalgam
When
digest eight days.
mercury sublimated and
it
it
it is
augment
fixed,
Afterwards augment
about three times.
eight days
fine Sol or
a copper vessel, with an ordinary bath.
in
rectified is the
it
common mercury
with
drive over, and you will again \ivify
again,
with crude mercury (but perhaps
it
Do
best).
this continually,
Or, dissolve Mercury
will also be fixed.
Luna one part. Then leave it to
and
in
aquafortis, then let
in
with that augment.
it
To MAKE FIXED AUGMENT. Dissolve Luna crystals collect,
Imbibe
produced.
cinders with
powerful
in aquafortis,
fire
them
place
little
it
permit half of the water to evaporate
a glass cup in
in
a small augment.
witli
oil
will
;
if
be
Place for eight dajs on hot
heat, the glass being open,
and pulverise
and an
a cellar,
.\ftorwards subject
to a
it
well.
Reduction.
Take
of
Minium one
part.
Ceruse (otherwise litharge) one part.
The Fixed Augment one Pound
smelt thoroughly for an hour.
Then
part.
Put into a well-luted crucible, and
the three things well together.
cool and clear
away
the regulus.
Mercury of the Bodies. Take equal
with long neck, into to stand eight days. in the
quantity as find at the
Put them
quantities of tartar and of vinegar. oil
of vitriol.
Next
Inject calx of
inject sal alkali
previous recipes.
Place on
and
any metal. sal
dung
Stir,
ammoniac
thirty days,
in
in
a phial,
and leave the
same
and you
will
bottom calx converted into Quicksilver. NOTK.
Take
of Mercury sublimate half a pound.
of Sal
Pound
well
and put them
ammoniac an equal
together in a glass.
quantity.
Let
it
be well luted.
Put
Thus it will Kindle a mild fire beneath. in carcUcit, in warm sand. become one (solid) mass. Remove this pound it small and put in a damp compartment to dissolve. Afterwards take of filings of Luna one marc. Put This also becomes water. Coagulate on soft ashes, and reduce it in water.
it
;
;
to
powder, of which
inject
one part upon ten of Mercury, of purged Jupiter, or
of crude Mercury.
Mercury of
Jupiter.
Then inject the same quantity of Mercury, and thus make an amalgam. Next let them be well pulverised and thoroughly incor.porated with water of sal ammoniac, tartar, salt of urine, and the same Place in a flask, well sealed up. and set in dung for quantity of common salt. twenty days, when it will be converted into Mercury. Liquefy Jupiter.
A
Manual 0/
Paracelsus (he Greal.
d-"/
Augment on Mercury of Saturx. Take of Mercury of Saturn of Sol
31.
3 s.
The amalgam, if kept at a moderate temperature for eight days, changes into a brown powder, which becomes the finest gold. Add to it half-an-ounce of common Mercury. Again let it stand for eight days, when again it becomes a brown or a red powder, and so on with common Mercurj-. The case is the same for Luna, and for Mercury of Jupiter with Luna. The whole process must occupy eight days. Note. Dissolve Luna cined tartar.
may
that none
in
any quantity of aquafortis, and in vinegar dissolve calthe two solutions properly together, in such a manner Afterwards pour
run over. Set
luted at the top.
wards put
in
Then pour it
in
dung
horse
an (earthen) pan
which must be well
into a phial,
becomes inodorous.
it
till
it
to putrefy for fourteen days.
bottom whatsoever adheres to the upper part of the pan, and
becomes as thick as a pottage.
Then
After-
Precipitate to the
cook thus
let it
become cold, and stir it under the tartar. If mercury collects, remove it. Then take a measure of water and gradually wash off tiie tartar, whereupon all the mercury will until
it
let
it
collect.
CoRPOR.\L Mercury.
Mix.
Take of Luna out of sweetened aquafortis si. of Sal ammoniac 5s. Pour over them oil of tartar, which must stand over them
of two fingers.
Extract
ascends will
the
humidity
to be put in
is
to the height
Put into a glass well luted, and leave to putrefy four weeks.
from
warm
Sublimate
it.
the
water, vinegar, or
oil
remainder.
Whatsoever
of tartar, and thus you
have Mercury.
Oil of Tartar
Take
of calcined tartar.
stand for twenty-four hours.
is
Produced as Follows.
Pour upon
it
Pour out again
the quintessence. until at last
no more
Allow oil
it
to
remains
in the faeces.
Mercury of the Body. Take
sal alkali,
dissolved therein.
and pour upon Distil
it
through the
pure urine of youths, so that filter,
and coagulate.
it
may
be
Afterwards take
some sal ammoniac and twice that quantity of Mercury sublimate. Pound them together, and place them over a glass slab to dissolve. Afterwards take Place the glass in the the water thus dissolved, and pour it into a glass. You must bath of Mary, that the aquosity may be consumed and vanish. then test
it
by means of the blade of a knife, as you know.
Afterwards place
therein leaves of Sol, Luna, Venus, Jupiter, or Saturn, for the space of an ordinars- dav.
It will
then be converted into Mercurv.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Parace'sus.
328
Mercury of Saturn. Take
ammoniac half-an-ounce
of Sal
of Calcined Saturn two ounces,
manipulum Calcined alumen
of Sal c
01
Mix
.
,
,
one ounce each.
,
,
Put into a glass with a narrow neck, and underneath, at
together.
all
„
the bottom, put a quantity of genuine mercury.
Afterwards place the
on the
top.
horse dung for four weeks.
Then
will
it
Close the glass securelj'.
Set in
-natter
become Mercury.
Another Method. Take until
of calcined Saturn, smear with sap of henbane, dry
S.\LT of
Take of the
and Quicksilver
fire,
and smear
it,
will
it
the humidity
until
fire
come
forth.
Urine for Mercury of the Body.
urine of a
through the bath.
a slow
set over
Subsequently, increase the
departs.
urine.
Then
resembles a paste.
it
man who
Completely dry the
Then take two ounces
continually drinks wine, and
Then you
faeces.
of the water of
will
distil it
have the
salt of
four times rectified.
life,
In
this dissolve half-an-ounce of salt of urine
and half-an-ounce of calcined Luna.
Pound
more the
the calx subtly with burnt salt, the
with hot water.
Then you must put
putrefy fourteen days in dung.
Pound with a
calx.
little oil of
it
Afterwards tartar,
better.
into the aforesaid
and
it
the water of
distil
will
Cleanse that calx
water of
life.
life
Let
it
from the
become Quicksilver.
Mercury of the Moon. Dissolve
down
Luna
Pour
in aquafortis.
Take one
to the bottom.
in sal
Mercury sublimate and sal ammoniac. there will be Mercury of the Moon.
Thus Luna is sent Take an equal part of
ammoniac.
part of this calx.
Place in hot cinders, and in three days
To Convert Met.als into Mercury. Take Mercury sublimated seven times, and add to it the same quantity of the purest flour of wheat. Pound them together and saturate the matter with a little pure water. Place in a vessel and subject them to a slow fire, that the moisture
may
evaporate.
This having been done, put the matter into a circular
furnace (retort) with the neck of the glass downward.
and the Mercury
will
descend.
And
that
Drive
it
by descent,
Mercury being heated devours
all
metals, until they are reduced to Mercury.
Mercury out of Bodies. Take of Salt of Tartar gii. Sal
Ammoniac
Calcined Saturn
Mix all these However, let
?i.
ii.
Luna or Sol si. together and pour over them good vinegar, and let it be distilled. it swim on the top (tiie height of) one palm or thereabouts. Seal
A
Manual of
in hot cinders, and thence
upon
Mercury
tl
distil
place for a month.
Collect
329
Afterwards place
Next make a strong it as you will.
the vinegar.
ascend.
will
warm
Set in a
the vessel hermetically.
Paracelsus the Great.
fire,
where-
and use
it,
Mercury of the Moon. Dissolve Luna
Pour
Extract the moisture, even to the
in aquafortis.
esh aquafortis upon
f
Do
it.
Then
this thrice.
let
it
spirits.
Put
dry.
with
it
same weight of four salts in a cellar to dissolve until it will not melt any more. Then put in a glass. Leave it to putrefy for four weeks. Then strain it off, like an aquafortis. Whatever remains behind dissolve again on the stone, putrefy, and strain as before reduce the residue, and then take the the
;
following salts Oil of Salt Alkali
Oil of Tartar
Common
Oil of
Ammoniac
Oil of Sal
Pour
Then
together.
all
'" -^l"^'
Salt
it is
proportions.
/
prepared as above.
Mercury of the Body. Let an amalgam of any body be cooked
by
sal
ammoniac
decocted
in
when
water of eggs and
in
very strong vinegar and fixed
become Mercury or let it be ammoniac, and it will become Mercury in
for fourteen days, sal
it
will
;
one day.
Another Method. Take Luna or
Sol, calcined or otherwise,
and dissolve
in aquafortis
out of one part of Mercury, one part of saltpetre, and half a part of ?
cause the water
bottom
at the
one part of tartar
and
sal
may
float
same
water of
The
fire, let
living
When
life.
time, dilute
it,
and
let
on the top to the height
putrefy for eight days
over the
However, to dissolve the Sun add to the aquafortis Next add to the said Sol or Luna, thus dissolved,
oil.
ammoniac.
distilled
dried at the it
an
made Then
bath to evaporate, whereupon Luna or Sol will remain
in the
like
.
dung
in
of
it
has been seven times imbibed and
the water of
life
or in a bath.
Then
be distilled, so that
Afterwards leave to
three fingers.
the water being evaporated
an alembic be placed above and set on a good subliming
and running Mercury
Augment
will
Lun.a by
in
fire.
ascend into the receptacle.
Count Willi.\m
in
Sager.
To MAKE Sol out of Luna. Take one ounce
of
6,
of
n, and of
them.
Put into a cucurbite, close
so that
it
fro,
(the sand)
may
whereupon there
same from
its
and although a
Thus out
melt.
will settle
it
sal
Add
a
Set
it
powder out in
a part of the calx of Luna.
warm
of
sand,
Stir to
and
Cleanse the
warm water. Then take the ^, wash it clean, may still be present, make no mistake in the work. Put it in Take of 5 one marc. you may make
silver
of ever}- metal
Make
a liquid matter at the bottom.
impurity with little
ammoniac.
up with a small cloth.
».
The Hertnelic atid Alchemical Wj'itings of Paracelsus.
330
Pour upon
a glass.
Put
three ounces of the hereafter to be described aquafortis.
Then extract Afterwards take two parts
bath of Mary for six days and nights.
in the
it
it
and preserve the matter at the bottom.
and three parts cinnabar
Pound
of sulphur
leaves a blank], and impaste over a
[the original
made.
is
the water
this very small, then boil
ing to the process described above, until
all
it
in oil
as
fire,
of tartar, accord-
the sulphur be excocted hard, and
Of cinnabar add one marc to the above S, which is to remain in Pound it together. Put it into a glass, but pour six parts of the said
do not burn. the water.
aquafortis upon
Let
it.
Then excoct
and place
thin plates of Saturn
a
of calcination, that
fire
equal quantities.
in
hot
Take Take
Set
Perlute well.
of circulation, for sixteen days, that
is,
in
pound the matter
alternate layers with the powder.
in
and verdigris
vitriol, saltpetre,
in
the water and
Fix the powder by the fixation to be described hereafter.
to powder.
glow
Mary, or
stand, however, in the bath of
it
sand, for seven days, to digest.
it
to
may
it
Then reduce it and refine it, whereupon you will have a great augment in the Luna, and there will be much Sol therein.
always glow gently.
and
find
To pour on
the aquafortis, do as follows
Take of -
of of
Make
:
Saltpetre
1
each one pound,
A Alumen andJ o Sal Ammoniac Alumen Plumosum, half a pound. ,
/'
•
1
-'
aquafortis and extract
moisture.
its
The Oil of Tartar. Take or of
of
of tartar two pounds, and of
oil
of calcinated
oil
vitriol,
oil
two pounds.
of
vitriol,
extracted by descent,
In this excoct the cinnabar, as
explained above.
Mercury of the Bodv. Then
Take Luna and water, so that salt
it
dissolve in aquafortis.
may
water as to look
night
become thoroughly
boiling wine.
Inject
about
for eight
;
pour
Luna
and put
it
will
ascend
in oil
in
it
will
Take
in ashes.
it
Bviij.
Thus
in
-i- ),
;
of
Distil
dissolve
which must go
out and extract the moisture.
Give
the form of a powder.
of tartar.
over the
this
day and a
Take
pass over into the wine
this solution
days to putrefy.
Afterwards lute the glass, and put the
for a
be dried.
will
of calcined tartar and two of sal ammoniac.
siiij.
eight parts of sal alcali
Leave
Leave
milk upon the aquafortis.
like
through the alembic, and the crystals
over.
salt.
thereupon the sweet moon descends and
;
dissolve salt in ordinary
Pour such a quantity of
it
a vehement
fire.
Then
Clear this out of the glass,
a single night, without
fail,
there will be
produced Quicksilver.
Mercury of Sol or Luna. Take
and coagulate again. Place by the fire, that Afterwards imbibe with the quintthe aquosity may be perfectly removed. .\fter this pour away essence four times. - Let it stand twenty-four hours, the
fifth
tartar, dissolve,
filter,
essence again and add another.
Then cause
Repeat the process four times.
the quintessence to evaporate in the
fire,
and into
lliis
oil
place
A calx of the
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
Then
Sun or Moon.
produced, as Maulperger has told
331
the Quicksilver, in twelve hours,
will
be
us.
Otherwi.se.
Make an
aquafortis out of two pounds of vitriol, two pounds of salnitre,
Take one pound
and one pound of alum. therein
two ounces of
When
ammoniac.
sal
Then
twelve parts of sublimated mercury.
of this
this
aquafortis.
Dissolve
has been effected, next take
dissolve
it
After this
aquafortis.
in
put the aquafortis into a cucurhite, which must be well sealed up.
Next
putrefy for fourteen days.
Sun or Moon
Leave
water.
it
and thoroughly dry
Luna when washed
Dissolve
hot water, and
in
at the
let
until
the
will
in the said
it
be Quicsilver.
and
whereupon the calx
the salt be dissolved, distil
water, and
the
in
suffer to flow in the glass.
becomes somewhat black.
oil
of tartar, dry
Afterwards pour over
thrice.
Next place will
remain
afterwards the calx and sal
it
on the top to the height of two fingers.
float
three or four times
-1-)
.Afterwards place
and the calx
(fixed),
it
Next imbibe the calx
Repeat the process
may
again.
to
of the Body.
ammoniac
skewer
Then
bottom.
ammoniac.
it
it
Place the calx of the
aquafortis, sweeten with sweet water, next place the
in
in sal
Stir vigorously with a it
as you know.
to digest for several days,
Mercury calx,
it,
Then you must imbibe
the water.
in
in the oil of tartar,
distil
Leave
it,
the
Let
and imbibe again.
oil
it
of tartar, that
it
stand for a natural
Then pour out the black oil of tartar, and pour another above. Do as and repeat the process until the oil of tartar becomes clear. Pour out the oil, and place the calx of Luna in a glass with a long neck. Pour over it equal quantities of sal ammoniac, oil of tartar, and vinegar. Leave them to
day.
before,
Afterwards place the alembic above.
putrefy for fifteen days.
vinegar from the matter
;
then sublime the sal ammoniac.
remain at the bottom tartar, with
wash
it
Place
it.
the tigillum
it
be
it
in
there will
the matter,
Drj- the matter
layers in the tigillum, with leaves of pure silver,
Next
filled.
box on a jar wherein
set the
is
water,
when you have found the extracted Mercury, with vinegar and salt, and wash the same extracted Mercury even as
as explained below.
imbibe
Then take
Moon.
with vinegar until the blackness no longer appears.
and cover until
salt of the
Distil the
Thus
.Also,
common Mercury. And Make
amalgam with
an
sublimated and revivified.
you until
will see it is
Let
Mercury ascending.
fixed
Notice.
extracted Mercury, by the addition of Mercury, it
stand by a slow
Make
it
fire
over the cinders, and
descend by turning the fixatory
and remains with the extracted Mercury at the bottom.
add another sublimated and
revivified
sublimated Mercury, and so multiply
Mercury.
Fix
it,
and again add
Then fresh
infinitely.
Also. Invariably place a
and
revivified
Mercurv.
little
dissolved
Luna between
the extracted Mercur>-
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writhigs of Paracelsus.
332
Mercury of the Body. Take of
Vitriol
and
of Saltpetre equal quantities
;
of Calcined alum half a pound.
Make aqua a
be
If there
Dissolve
fortis.
and Luna
salt,
little
is
Take
Dry
Moon.
much
Collect
will
powder emerges.
powder follows. Add
to
it
Then you
of calcined
stand on the top more than the
first,
it
into the
wood
Afterwards
and afterwards Mercury of the Philosophers.
e.o:_g
of the ash.
Subject
Afterwards increase the
it
to a slow
fire until
a white
half the quantity you require of the corporal Mercury,
and the third part of reverberated calx of the Sun. a red powder.
Inject
with the hare's foot, and you will have Mercury.
Place in a cupel of the
a black
as you like.
Place in a cucurbite.
ammoniac and one it
ascend
hereof as you wish, and put
Close perfectly. fire until
it
Let
the calx.
horse-dung for four weeks.
in
it
Then vinegar
as aqua fortis.
as
Place
much
of Luna, as
ounces, add two ounces of sal
five
height of two fingers.
of the
filings
it
Pour upon these strong vinegar.
tartar.
distil
in
precipitated.
what you
will obtain
Digest
it
until
it
becomes
desire.
Extraction of Mercury of the Moon. Take of calx of Luna one mark of oil of Tartar and sal ammoniac \.\\o drams each (or six drams). Mix in a well-closed glass. Put the glass into cold water. Then the calx of Luna becomes solid like a cheese. Next let it stand a day and a night. Then leave it in horse-dung for three weeks. Afterwards take it out, and place it in the bath of Mary for fourteen days. Next set it for three ;
days on cinders, that the water dried.
over
it.
may
evaporate, and the matter be completely
Then take the matter from the glass. Pound it about some time. Thus it
and there
will
Pour
fiercely boiling
water
become living Mercury, be scarce four parts out of one marc. That which remains will
reduce again
Otherwise.
Take Luna dissolved in aqua fortis. Then dissolve tartar into vinegar in the same quantity as Luna. Pour the two solutions together by drops, lest it should crackle. Gently extract the moisture. Then extract from it a strong Mercury of the Moon. Thereupon, a greyish powder attaches itself thereto. Take it, and rub with oil of tartar in your fingers, and it becomes living Mercury.
Otherwise.
Take dissolved Luna, and
dissolve tartar in the quintessence of wine.
the quintessence be four times as
much
as the aqua fortis.
a ready union, without any commotion.
and there
is
adhesive
tincture.
Take them
Mercury comes forth and
is
out, dry,
Let
Unite these solutions
They combine like an Then the living
and sublimate.
produced.
Mercury. Take Mercurj- seven times sublimated and revivified, as you know, and Supply the same with leaves of Luna to devour. place in a warm stove-bath.
A When
Luna has been
over the Mercury said Mercury,
may
3.
[
its
above mentioned Mercury,
if
Congelate and waxen
oil.
is
Then having thus
the medicine
collocated the
common purged Mercury, so that common purged Mercury is a Mercury over other Mercury 3. You may you know. Also, you must know that the with
it
Thus, also,
hot bath. is
to revert into a body, as
it
stove-bath, you will perceive that
in the
? to the third grade.]
you are to nourish
digest well in
coo
transformed into powder, which
totally
converted into a powder which
cause
Paracelsus the Great.
they have thus been arranged
the said
it
Manual of
placed in dung, will for a time be converted into
with incombustible
this
oil,
and
its
virtue will be
augmented.
infinitely
M.\KE THE ATTEMPT, AND VOU WILL SEE MaRVELS.
The process of congealing
without medicine consists
it
in filling
a strong
vessel to the top therewith, the head of the vessel being closed with salt, lime,
and yolk of ^Z^. Let it be permitted to dry, and underneath let a fire be kindled from morning till night. Afterwards examine it, and should you find it fluxible, kindle a fire
underneath
it
therefrom, except that
differ
dissolved salt, until
it
it
Dissolve
hardens and becomes
in
is
and
it
in
will
again and project
it
it
into
silver.
the water from it. ammoniac, and afterwards an be distilled through an alembic.
it
a long-necked vessel.
be turned into Mercury. Jupiter.
of Mercurj- subl. V\y
Mercury crude, Jupiter
Pound together
for five or six hours.
water, and Jupiter into Mercury.
as you
The crude
Mercury
Body of
Jupiter
Mercury
subl.
know
.Afterwards increase
;
all
will
then be converted into
these.
part,
Common
Make an augment,
gj.
Sij.
Preserve
Take of Lunaj.
\
V
iiij.
parts each.
)
place in the glass vessel.
Apply
at first a
it.
Oil of Arcanum. Take some honey with juniper and celandine. of flax
it
sal
Let
Mercury of
fire.
will
same over calx of Sol or Luna, etc., ammoniac and oil of tartar. Mingle these Let the same stand in dung or the bath,
sal
Take
slow
and you
Place the
wherein there must be dissolved together
it,
entirely distil
water the same quantity of
the qualified water.
extract
white as silver, nor does
Lr.vA.
Then
aquafortis.
is
Melt
melts quickly.
amount of Mercury sublimate.
equal
This
Luna
in this
and
like lead,
Mercury out of Dissolve
Then
for another day.
have the same stone, which melts
Distil thrice (ten times) oil
with sulphur, also distilled thrice (water caudi
magnje mirandse.
The Hermetic atid Alchemical Writings of Pai-acelsus.
334
Let
Distil thrice oil of yolks of eggs, with the calx of eggs.
be mixed together, and
let
these species be added
Take
of
Lime Calx c II Egg cu Shells
)
each of them
j.
:
each
I
lb.
Ib.j. '
\
Nitre
Colcotar
Alum
Ib.s. i-
each.
Crude Tartar
Antimony and renew the prescription
Distil
of
oil
Afterwards take of
thrice.
the bottom,
Ib.ij.
of
;
oil
of antimony, sublimated, distilled, and red,
a Ib.(j.quartale); of red species of aquafortis into
this
one vessel of good glass.
lb
Let
j.
.Afterwards take
all
xiiij
Ib.j.,
these be mixed together
prepared by the calx of cementation, with
salt petre, of fused salt, all thrice
coagulation with crocus of Mars congealed and
five
Let
Ib.j.;
Of
and of the aforesaid
filter,
Of
times fused.
corrected tartar, and of alcali of corrected soot Ib.s
mated, dissolved, and congealed.
parts of
quartal of sal ammoniac, of
j.
continual dissolution in red vinegar, and by distillation through a
is.
oil
of tartar and antimony, with boiling wine extracted and precipitated to
red arsenic subli-
oil
as
much
as there
these be mingled together and dissolved into a glass, and
all
and
alcali of
let
it
become a red and very thick oil, gilding all things, and everywhere making marvellous ingress and tincture of the Sun. But this is not yet perfected. In order to strengthen spirits
dry into
it,
it
by the
distillation of the
alembic these
:
Take
Do
this
will
remain, which
thrice
of
will
it
Mercury from
Ib.j.
quart. \
Salpetre
\
Calcined .Xlinn
)
lb. j.
each.
;
of each.
of alcali of tartar.
oil
be lawful to call the arcanum of Christ.
Mercury — A Very Great .Arcanum.
of
place the seventh time
ammoniac,
j.
Colcothar
next remove the moisture by means of the bath, and an
;
Water Take
of .\ntimony,
salt of tartar, as often as
it
does not ascend, this takes
likewise, take sublimated arsenic
and sublimated
Let them be imbibed frequently with
oil
Afterwards dissolve over marble into water.
sal
of the salt
Then take
much as there is of this water, and of sublimated sal ammoniac as before. Of Mercury and arsenic take Ib.j. .Again dissolve into water. In this water dissolve ij. ounces of Luna and one quartal of alcali of soot and of best Mix them together, and coagulate them, by means of an prepared salt. as
exceedinglj'
Correct and
gentle fix
fire,
very
into
many
a stone.
times.
again, and do this eight times or more,
stone of tincture.
.Also let
it
Imbibe
this
with
water of eggs.
Dissolve again, and coagulate.
when you
will
Imbibe
have the miraculous
be imbibed to the red with the
oil
of the
A arcanum, so that all,
because
Manual of may become
it
Paracelsus the Great.
red
for this
;
is
335
an arcanum not
known
to
coagulates and fixes Mercury into genuine Luna.
it
Notable Elixir. Take solve
of dragon's blood and
Ib.s.
seven times
it
and desiccate.
then frequently
drj-
of atrament.
With
Afterwards congeal
Ib.j.
of most white sal peregrinum.
water of pomegranates.
in
this
.Afterwards dissolve sal
ammoniac
in
water
water pound the calx.
Dissolve for three days.
One
part changes thousands of
ashes to the
in
Dis-
Let the calx be imbibed, and
elixir.
prepared Saturn into best Sol, which
will
be better than the mineral.
Elixir at the White.
Take half a
of fixed sublimated Mercury
j.
part,
and of white sublimated arsenic
Imbibe both with water of eggs,
part.
Pound as many
and desiccate five times. and as often again desiccate, when it will ultimately be
times,
Take of the same one part. Take one and project over xxx. parts of \'enus, or iron burnt
converted into a white crystal plate. part of this recipe
through arsenic, and reduced to a
solid substance,
when
it
will
become
silver,
perfect under any test.
Another
Elixir.
Take of Fixed Mercury sublimate Fixed arsenic r-
1
bal
Imbibe
all
„ ammoniac
Ib.j.
"j
•
"
Ib.s.
each,
J
these with water of eggs, afterwards place in a glass, and on the
top as
much
wax.
Place
of the water as floats above. it
in
warm horse-dung
Close up the glass vessel with
for fifteen days.
Afterwards take
it
out,
and you will find the whole dissolved into water. Take this water and distil through the alembic, Next put the water thus purified in a small vessel. Then devitreate and place over cool ashes leave it there till it is converted ;
into a plate,
which plate does not fear the force of
deep, tinging and permanent
;
j.
fire.
It
is
upright and
part changes 100 parts of every body into
the purest Luna.
Note. the
Water of eggs distilled seven times, and sulphur imbibed therewith over stone make it fixed and fluxible thereby Mercury will be congealed. ;
Elixir for Llna.
Take some them
in
crucible. it.
boys' urine.
Over
that
This having been effected, perfectly close the glass crucible with another
crucible by luting fire
alumen lamenum. Dissolve Then take that powder and dissolve at the bottom of a powder set Mercury sublimate, so as to completely close
calx of eggs, calcined tartar, and
for
it
so that the
one hour, and
it
smoke may not
escape.
Then
place by the
becomes beautiful Mercury of Luna, which then
undergoes increment. Place them in
Concerning Luna and Venls. layers and layers with sal ammoniac and laminated Venus.
Also lute the tigillum thoroughly, and place on the furnace for three hours.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Wrttings of Paracelswi.
336
that is, let Afterwards wash the plates with waiter, and distil by descent Repeat the them be granulated per scobam, if not sufficiently whitened. after, add two parts and a half of Luna, and it will stand process as before ;
;
any
Ihere
test.
mav
is
a very great secret ui
particiilaribus, in
which every one
recover their outlay.
Notable Elixir. Take
of Mercury
ounces.
ij.
Jewish stone
,
ammoniac
Sal
salt
Antimony Pound each separately and mix. Set Mercury on the
to digest that the
J
such a manner luted and placed
in
Arrange coals above and beneath.
does not escape.
^
powders, and the
layers, first the
in
Let the tigillum be
top.
,^
,
one half ounce.
'-
Common
Afterwards take and place on the cineritium
then purge, and you will have
;
perfect Luna.
Removal of Copper. Take of Oil of tartar 1 Arsenic Place over
fire in
Pound
one mass.
this water, inject
a slow
j.
the cinders
and dissolve
in it
a glass vessel, so that they
over marble into water.
of white and blind arsenic.
of which elixir
fire,
Luna, whence you
in
it,
I
part whitens
j.
Congeal vj.
it
cause
will it
of copper, and
Leave
two days, when
it
as
Mix
it
much
of
with natural Sol.
filter.
Place
as you like,
two days. Afterwards become blood. Distil through the
to stand for
will
it
alembic, and you will find at the bottom the sacred divinity. into Sol.
of
will rejoice.
be a thin pottage.
to boil for
Ib.j.
a glass vessel with
in
NOIE CONCERNING SULPHUR. Take very strong lixivium in any quantity. Distil through a Add as much sulphur devitreated matter with gallow-stone.
and
may become
there be
If
converts Venus
It
N.B.
Malleable Mercury. Cause sulphur and you
out,
the
fire,
part
to boil in oil
will find
and you
will
then pour
;
a mass which a
Mercury.
in
hammer
be able to mingle
it
Immediately take
will flatten.
It
it
does not fear
with Sol and Luna, with a third
— [lacuna]. Fixation of Mercury.
Take equal
quantities of sal alcali,
imbibed well with boiling wine and water
compound
fixes
ammoniac, and distilled
This
Mercury.
Note concerning a will
Let them be
nitre.
through the alembic.
Construct a pvxis of
iron.
then audibi)- groan.
When
Inject it
Pyxis.
Mercury with the sap of gladiolus.
ceases to cry out, put
j.
lb.
It
of Mercury into
A the tigillum,
of pure
lb.
j.
Manual 0/ tin,
Elixir M.\king of
giij.
have expended
let
them be
Melt them tog-ether.
of pure Sol.
Ij.
a cask, with Saturn, from morning
in
;
all tests.
Incredible Quantity of Gold.
.\n'
new Saturn and
on the cineritium
T^'i)'!
and half an ounce of pure Saturn
This silver stands
dissolved together.
Take
Paracelsus the Great.
Place
evening, until you
till
of living sulphur, and you will see the same.
Out of two parts of aqua fortis, and you will have the matter from gold This is the medicine, and is called the elixir of the usual colour and frangible. for the sun. Place j. part over x. of Luna, and it will be 0. Should vou place the first part over two of Luna, there will be aurum florenonan traniij.
lbs.
this project
scending
credibility.
W.-iTER OF Mercury. Place
iij.
parts of Mercury subl. and
glass vessel.
Let
water and close well together
in
also
;
add
Then take
water.
and put with
Ib.ij.
in Ib.s.
Ih.s.
ammoniac
this in
that water and congeal.
Mercury, which
oil.
in
a luted
Take
that
Dissolve the whole
One
will
part changes at
be the best Luna,
test.
True Take
dissolve
part of filings of Luna.
j.
least Ixvj. parts of Jupiter or crude
standing every
parts of sal
iiij.
become a mass and
it
of purged Jupiter and
Elixir.
Ib.j.
of purged Mercury. Dissolve Jupiter,
of Mercury and arsenic sublimated.
ammoniac.
of sal
Keep
strongest vinegar.
Place
that which
cucurbit
in
Afterwards pound them with the addition of the
Afterwards increase the
is distilled.
fire
Also pour vinegar over them again, and proceed as seven times, or until nothing more be sublimated. above Then leave to until
it
be sublimated.
decalcine.
Dissolve in vinegar and
pound and dissolve j.
into
That which remains
distil.
water over the stone, and coagulate
at the
in
bottom
due fashion.
part changes xxx. parts of Venus, which passes through every test.
For Lu\.\. Take of Arsenic
)
1.
•
lb.
J.
.
each.
'
Tartar Living calx _,
,
Prepared
) ,
salt
^
quart.), each.
\
Let them be pulverised and placed in a luted vessel over a slow fire. .Afterwards break and collect the powder. Next dissolve j. lb. each of Luna and Venus. Also project 3s. of this powder, and it will be good Luna.
Tincture for Luna.
Take of
Salt thrice sublimated
Mercury
"!
six times sublimated
Calcined Luna
i-
Ib.j.
Water of Sal ammoniac compounded and rubified Imbibe altogether first
with a slow
in
fire,
a glass vessel.
Afterwards place
in cucurbit
and
distil at
next with a moderate one, for the space of three days.
X
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
338 Then
shall
if it
have cooled, extract, and when
has thus been
it
distilled,
add
another pound of water of sal ammoniac, again dissolving as before, restoring to
it its
water, which had been distilled from the faeces, so that
imbibed or
you
distilled, or
bottom of the vessel a
will find at the
stable
One
and permanent.
part of
it
may
it
ammoniac be consumed.
of sal
till iij.lb.
crystal plate
tinges 1,000 of
be thrice
Afterwards
which tinges and
Venus
is
into Luna.
To REMOVE Venus. Take
iiij.
parts of
of tartar, and
oil
tliem repeatedly until the
oil
Afterwards dissolve
has been consumed.
purged Venus with glass and of idded afterwards iij. parts of Luna.
elixir part
ol
Imbibe
part of white arsenic.
j.
Make Luna.
j.
vj.
parts
Let there be
Luna out of Mercury. Take of Living Mercury
1
and
Salt fixed by calx
dissolved eight times
part
\
j.
each.
Alcali of soot
Crude tartar
-'
Mix after combustion. Place in layers, and let them Then Mercury will yield Luna, and it will be perfect
Pound, mingle, and burn. melt for four hours.
Luna.
For Luna. Take a Mercury set
a
in
on the
and
tigillum well luted,
hempen bag above
fire for
one day, or
at the
next
;
until
sulphur then passes into Mercury
;
let
bottom place sulphur. it
moisture ceases to appear.
The smoke of make ij. [sic). Ib.j.
of purged
Luna.
will be natural
it
Afterwards
next repeat the process and
Afterwards take of this Mercury one half ounce, and project over
Venus, when
Also suspend
be everywhere luted.
Elixir for Sol.
Take
Vitriol
\
Crocus of Mars
\
j.
part each.
Flower of Copper ) Prepared sal ammoniac. Prepared haematite. Dissolve
Let them be pulverised and mixed together. aquosity
is
consumed, and
it
vessel on horse dung for several days, or
duced. iij.
Congeal
of Luna.
it
with a slow
fire.
in
a
it
is
damp
cellar.
Afterwards take
Melt, and over xvj. parts of this
Thus, the more
burnt the better.
It
Luna
will
a glass
part of Sol and
ij.
or
project one part of Elixir.
Cement. Salpetre,
j.
in
Let water be pro-
be perfect and most beautiful
gold.
Take of Antimony,
a tigillum until the
in
Afterwards set
becomes a powder.
Ib.j.
Ib.ij.
Calcined tartar,
Ib.j.
A
Manual of
Melt together, and inject
two parts of Mercury
part over
^
of pounded
(otherwise
tin),
Dissolve again, as above, and melt, until
be melted.
let it
Ib.j.
Paracelsus the Great.
in flux (of
339 and immediately very red, one
it is
Venus perhaps).
Oil of Antimony.
Antimony converted
into
a very strong li.vivium out of clavellated
oil in
cinders fixes spirits.
Take equal
Mercury into Red.
OF
Fix.\TioN-
of salt tartar and
quantities
up, pour lixivium in again until
form of a crocus colour than cinnabar
;
Waxen
a strong
has dried
it
with calx of Luna.
it
and sulphur. become aquafortis. bodies with Mercury will remain in the
;
it
;
if it
all
Afterwards
let
it
has been calcined half a day,
does not diminish
in
weight, and
it
be redder
will
dissolved into extremely
is
Afterwards coagulate and, when coagulated, reduce with
red water. it
and when
Rectify Mercury.
life.
This water dissolves Mercury, and
petre
Make
nitre.
saltpetre, sal alkali, cinnabar, alum, flower of copper,
be imbibed with water of
it
sal boil,
it
rubified.
it is
To Perm.\nently Take Let
Make
Inject sublimated Mercury.
lixivium.
thus becomes gold.
tinges parts (number omitted) of
salt-
and dissolved, one part
further coagulated
If
Luna permanently.
Projection of Luna.
Take of Cadmia
\
Salpetre
Melt
in luted tigillum
5j.
>
Calcined alum
one hour, and you
each.
•'
will find 5j. of Sol.
Note. Oil of iron colours citrine, the oil of chalybs red,
Best
Let them boil
in
\
Calcined tartar
>
Sublimated salmiax
'
water together
Then
equal quantities.
afterwards
;
let
them
all
metals.
Borax, which dissolves
red.
Bor-j^x.
Take Alum
tightened bag.
and that of lead
boil
in
let
them be strained through a
You
alcali.
will
subsequently have
Perpetual Augment.
Take
j.lb.
of Luna, cemented and purged by
Mercury purged with in
a cupel on a slow
fire
saltpetre with yolk of
lute
it it
is
dried up.
well,
matter,
means of salt, and
an amalgam, place
in
and
eggs
imbibe thrice or more times over the
Imbibe again as before
will find
half the weight of
;
stand it
in
a slow
fire
until
it
purged gold
;
be fixed.
for eight days.
white and hard as crystal.
of
may
(and avoid closing) for one day, that the vapour
suff"er it to
when you
iiij.lb.
a phial over cinders
Afterwards place over the amalgam as much as there
evaporate.
until
Make
salt.
Pound
place again in glass vessel,
is
of fixed
fire
;
cook
Afterwards
Take out this well
;
the
add
as above, and
X2
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
340
once more superpose the same quantity of fixed saltpetre
and
to evaporate, as before,
on
set
permit the moisture
;
So the process goes
to stand for six days.
it
for ever.
Reduction to the Same.
Take
and imbibe the same with
the matter
oil
white stage, but for the red with yolk of eggs.
of
albumen of eggs, for the the same quantity of
Add
Melt, afterwards cement.
borax to the tigillum.
Note to the Same. Cinnabar
by descent
distilled
the best Mercury.
is
Another.
To reduce Cause
paste.
it
with raw albumen of eggs, pound and
let it
become a hard
this to melt with borax, as above.
Water
of Nitre.
This retains Mercury. Fixation.
Take White Tartar White Arsenic Fused Salt
[
in
equal quantities.
'
add the same quantity of pounded Venetian glass. Let become a powder. Take one part of it, and of the amalgam two ounces.
Boil well in vinegar it
\
Place
in
;
a luted tigillum, and
melt for one hour, afterwards proceed by
let it
cineritium.
Permanent Elixir for the White by Cineritium. Take of Sal Ammoniac ^oz. each. Sublimated Mercury I
Live Calx, loz.
Mix together, lute
place in a glass vessel, and permit evaporation.
and increase the
evaporation
;
to dissolve.
fire,
so that
ammoniac
the calx with sal
again pour on
The
;
is
it
kindled, and you will find
also pour over
warm
water, and
it
warm will
water.
Afterwards
Mercury over Next, cause
be possible for the tartar
calx will then arise from the Mercury, and the Mercury will
remain at the bottom
like
snow.
Perform
this
operation twice, and
let
the sal
Afterwards take half an ounce of calx of
ammoniac and Mercury be fixed. Luna out of aquafortis, and half an ounce
Dissolve each of
of this powder.
these by itself in aquafortis, and afterwards abstract the aquafortis. Place the
matter in a glass pitcher.
and so again,
etc.
Do
Pour over a strong alkaline lixivium and coagulate,
this four or five times.
a glass vessel, and again pour over times or more, and it
it
will
it
be a hard stone.
preserves the white copper
in the
Afterwards put the matter
aquafortis and abstract.
Do
Also afterwards add Luna
lead over the capella.
take half an ounce of white powder of copper.
Let
it
in
this three ;
Also, over
be projected
in
then
Mars flux.
Also that powder fixes Mercury which has been coagulated without metal.
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
34
Note.
Take
Saltpetre
,
Alum Sal Ammoniac
Make
equal quantities.
in
!
'
a powder and a pottage, so to speak, with water, and unge clinodisa,
which are mixed with gold and
silver,
and
will
it
be a gold colour.
Projection of Luna.
Take
of Burnt .'\lum
-j
Ammoniac
Sal
Red
of
Cause them
eight ounces.
-
Vitriol
J
Jaspis,
Jiiij.
Take
and become a powder.
to melt together
eight ounces of Luna, and you will have
much gold
over
gs. of this
eight ounces of Luna.
in
Fixation of Cinnabar.
Take Cinnabar
"|
Litharge
r
Antimony
3J.
Arrange
Place in an iron pan to boil with strong vinegar.
Place
Let a tigillum be luted. will
be fixed into gold
;
by a slow
it
but finally
each.
'
make a
fire for tw^o fire in
in layers
with Luna.
hours, and the cinnabar
a wind furnace.
Production.
Take Good Gold
1
Granulated Venus
\
Red Sulphur, sublimated by Crocus of Mars
i
Melt the gold and copper.
sumed
in the fusibilum,
of Venus.
j.
Project one part of sulphur, and
part each.
when
con-
it is
take the regulus and add again the same quantity
Once more pour on
three parts of sulphur.
Do
the regulus and add copper, as before.
Melt again.
this thirty times,
and
Take it
will
be perfect gold, and of the best colour.
Note. I
have written as
many
praises of this
powder as
could.
I
Also.
Grade together with Sol white and red melted together. Pars cum Parte of Master Thomas.
Take equal
Make
quantities of Sol and Luna.
Take Haematite
1
c Sal
)
,
1 Ammoniac
(Oh
Evaporated Vitriol „
Bolus Armenus
Alum
each. )
r
,
Saltpetre
plates of them.
5
... 111"'
,
each.
[ •>
J
^^'
Verdigris, one-sixteenth part.
Tutia, id parts.
-^z
The Hermetic and
342
Make
a most subtle powder.
Imbibe the powders
and make a layer the
Luna
tigillum
and you
A Iche^nical
in
and will
in
Writings of Paracelsus.
Afterwards take
in the tigillum as thick as
three parts of
Luna
Sun
in all
layer over layer.
Make
Place
this
Then take
your operations
well weighed.
of vitriol.
Distil
it.
a coulter, after having saturated
Thus arrange
set in a circular fire for three hours.
have the
j.
Afterwards take powders
a thrice-devitreated jar.
the aforesaid water.
lb.
and
in aquafortis,
Perlute the
cement this it
thrice,
gold
will
vt'ith
be con-
verted in the following manner.
When
Aquafortis, wherein Luna,
Take
Vitriol
)
Saltpetre
)
placed, becomes Gold. Ib.s.
Alum
Sj.
Precipitate aquafortis with crude Mercury.
It
afterwards converts Luna into
Sol.
Albatio Bambergensis.
Take any quantity of Jupiter, and the same of living Mercury. Make an amalgam. Then take sulphur if for the red stage, or arsenic if for the white, and sal ammoniac, all in equal quantities. Pound thoroughly. Place in a Sublime for half a day with a slow fire, afterwards with a whole day, next with an exceedingly strong one for two days. Then take what is sublimated, and set apart. Let that which has not been sublimated undergo a further process. Then sublime the same from salt well well-luted vessel.
fiercer fire for a
prepared, twice or thrice, until
it
Venus
it
will
into best
Burn with a
fierce fire,
so that they
may be
Afterwards pound, dissolve, and coagulate, at least three be an Elixir of which one part tinges eight parts of purged
melted together. times, and
luted.
parts of these
.\rrange in layers in a glass vessel,
species and one part of filings of Luna,
which must afterwards be
Take two
becomes as snow
Luna.
Arsenic Sublimed becomes as Luna. Sublimate
it
from calx of eggs, and
it
becomes
just like silver.
Note. Sublime Mercury sublimated from Saturn
;
it
makes
lead like Luna.
Fixation of Luna. Imbibe cinnabar with borax, and immediately in
oil
of tartar, afterwards cement Luna, melt
coloritio.
it
with
[This process seems to be unfinished.]
Sublimation of Mercury. dissolve as much Mercury as you please. Then which Take add the same quantity of common salt. .Abstract aquafortis through the an alembic. Then increase the fire, so that the Mercury may be sublimed aquafortis, in
;
must then be employed, arrange in layers with that Mercury and plates of Jupiter on a humid place, when the Mercury will become water exceedingly fierce
fire
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
343
Fixed Luna. Let Luna be cemented for six days further affected by aquafortis, and
crocus of Mars.
in
Let
not be
it
will take the tincture.
it
Fixation of Mercury out of R.
Take Mercury Borax Impaste properly together
Pound and sublimate till
takes place
this
which
also in the
first
Mercury
the
until
completely invisible.
is
process
until ascension altogether ceases, repeating the
Break the sublimatory.
then cool.
;
You
found at the bottom thereof.
is
par. vj.
Jiiij.
Luna you
eight ounces of this
have the best Luna
will then
will
Fulminate that
have 2^ ounces of best
;
Sol.
Note of Master Albertus. Prepare salt by frequent dissolution
Repeat
this until
it
afterwards take
Pound in
it
in
melting and congealing.
fire,
melts like wax, fifteen times employing a
iiij.
parts of borax, and
Then take
again, even seven times.
equal quantities.
Put
filter, etc.
.-Mso
with well-calcined alum.
it
the said salt and white borax
warm.
a glass vessel moderately
in
it
pound
Then a
is produced from this. One part of it is projected over 30 of Mercury, and the same becomes Luna, commencing to flow immediately with
tincture
the tincture.
Blow strongly so
that the Mercury
Melt, and you will have Luna.
may make
its
way through.
Notice carefully.
Fixation of Luna. Dissolve eight ounces of to this calx the
Luna
in aquafortis.
Afterwards congeal.
same quantity of Mercury sublimated.
Sublime 15 times, as Afterwards
frequently imbibing and drying, until
all
reduce the dross into a body with
of tartar, and you will have
weight of the gold, and
it
stands
oil
in
that
is
there
is
Add
imbibed.
Luna
to the
cement.
Note for Luna. Take a globule three or four hours.
of earth and
fill
it
Put
with Mercury.
Afterwards Saturn attracts Mercury to
it
into Saturn for
itself.
Over this Next
Saturn and Mercury project fixed borax with saltpetre into the tigiilum. This
fulminate in a furnace of wind.
Water
will test the
Luna.
of Mercury.
Take equal parts of tartar and mercury, sublimate thrice, and pound on marble. Then dissolve. The metal is dissolved in that water in one hour, but the matter
is
Luna equal
to be distilled in water.
Dissolve
parts.
of borax and camphor.
them and keep
it.
in the
.Afterwards take of pure gold and pure
aforesaid water.
Next take one drop of
this
water wherein the body has been dissolved. days, and
drops.
it
will
Repeat
liquid remains.
become
Then take one
Reverberate one-half of these,
Replace
milk.
this process until
Coagulate
this
;
it
this,
distil
water and project
Place
it
on a slow
and make
part each
the water from
in turn
it
in the
fire for seven
two or three
no longer grows white, but another red
then take one part of the white powder and
^
Hermetic and Alcheviical Writings of Paracelsus.
^/'^
344 project
every
it
test.
over thirty parts of Venus, when
white, and the whole will
rendered white, and answers
is
it
powder, project
Finally, take the red
become
over the above-mentioned
it
red.
Secret Note.
Take filing's of Venus and put them in wax for three days and nights. Take one pound thereof, four of vitriol, and five of sulphur. Mix lute between two bricks in a carefully watched furnace, and note the result. ;
In the Distill.\tion of Vitriol for Fixation.
Place camphor in a glass vessel containing
oil,
and
will
it
become
fixed.
Note on Pars cum Parte. Pour pars cum parte several times into blessed
It
oil.
gains in grade and
acquires great softness.
RUBIFICATION.
Take
and pound
vitriol
Then take two stone
consistence of a paste. the other.
dung and thing
small on marble.
it
Place therein imbibed
Put
gravel.
it
in
and
vitriol,
Imbibe
it
with wine to the
somewhat larger than with a material composed of
dishes, one lute
a furnace for the space of a natural day, and the
done.
is
The Purification of Project three or four times over
oil
Tin.
of tartar.
Note. Oil of tartar
is
that which
copper be frequently placed
in
made
is
it, it
For Broken Take coal
sal
ammoniac, place
it
for
common
use
;
but
if
a plate of
becomes white. Coins.
the crack and the lesion disappears over a
in
fire.
Sal Ammoniac is made thus. Take twenty parts of urine passed by a wine-drinker. Skim and let it cool. Add one pound of sublimated dung and two pounds of salt. Mix these and let it stand for three days then boil until coagulated. ;
For Reddening Crystal. Take together.
olive
that the
over a slow
process
is
and quicklime
Then take two
Mix these so Distil
oil
fire
in
oil
shall float
and
let it cool.
not complete.
any quantity, and shake them well
parts of salt alkali
Repeat
until
and one part of common
on the top to the depth of one Set a light to it
it,
and,
if it
no longer kindles, and then
salt.
finger.
burns, the it is
made
ready for rubifying the crystal.
Fixation of Mercury. Sublimate with quicklime until complete.
For Gilding. Distil the
and
yolk of eggs.
lasts for ever.
It is
converted into a red
oil
which gilds money
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
345
Sal Ammoniac. Take one pound of sal ammoniac, pour on it acetum and wine, distil by means of a filter, and add ten pounds of sublimated dung. Set it to boil, when it will be desiccated. Pour urine on it again until a twentieth part of it is consumed. Then add pure water and dissolve. Take the clear water and lay aside the dregs.
and dry, either
Boil
sun or
in the
in
shade.
Sal Borax.
Take
calcined
Pour on
tartar.
straining-bag until
upper part
the
warm
it
Pass this through a
water.
Then take common
clarified.
is
salt
dissolved in water, add one part of this, and afterwards boil in an iron dish until
it
is
Then
thickened.
Thus you
friable.
will
place in a vessel and desiccate until
have borax, which place
it
becomes
in glass.
Another Method. Take
one-third part of crude tartar.
common
of prepared
and
Set to cool,
Sift
by means of a
distil
thoroughly, and add six parts
Boil for a day, until
salt.
filter,
it
converted into water.
is
afterwards
let
it
boil until
hardened, and you will have the very best borax.
Sal Borax for Goldsmiths.
Take one two
Of
part each of starch mastic and sulphur.
parts, pulverise
and
boil
until
thickened.
Set
it
in
this
mixture take
a glass vessel to
putrefy for four weeks, and you will have borax.
Sal Borax.
Take
Calcined Tartar,
lb.
Quick Lime,
ij.
Wood
lb.
Ashes,
lb.
Crude Tartar, Prepared Boil
all
together,
a
distil in
filter,
i.
j.
i\.
lb.
Common
Salt, lb. vj.
and coagulate.
Thus
is
obtained excellent
borax.
Lazurium.
Take one mercurj'.
smoke ascends Take
part
ammoniac, two parts of sulphur, and two of
of sal
Mix, and proceed as directed above with cinnabar, ;
then leave
lapis lazuli.
Another and Better Method. Heat and pound it. Then take two and a
of pitch, goat suet, and
oil
of laurel.
.-Vnother
Take
sal
ammoniac and
mercury, and place
Then gradually Finally,
you
it
until a purple
off.
in
increase
pulverize
Method. it.
.Amalgamate
a glass vessel closely luted. it
will discover
to the
half parts
Dissolve these together.
smoke
of citron
this
with four parts of
Sublimate for one hour.
wood
;
afterwards diminish.
lazurium at the bottom.
Another.
Take sulphur and mercury.
.Amalgamate as above, and sublimate.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
346
Flos Aeris.
Take desiccate,
filings of
Venus, urine, and
Mix them
ammoniac.
sal
together,
and imbibe a second time. CiNNABRIUM.
Take sulphur, dissolve one part thereof and two parts of mercury. Cool them, place them in a glazed vessel, and sublimate. First of all a purple smoke ascends, and afterwards a red one. Then cease.
To MAKE Marble. Take quicklime and extract the lixivium with wine. With this pounded flint. Forthwith it is susceptible of colour.
imbibed
is
calcined and
Corals are made thus minium one part and of cinnabar half a
:
Take lime of
of
flint
five parts each,
lixivium and the white of eggs. boil in linseed
part, but of quicklime
and
with a sufficient quantity of the above-mentioned
Add
much
as
salt as
you please, and
finally
oil.
Factitious Corals.
Take
of
good gypsum two
parts,
pure lime half a part, minium and
cinnabar half a part each, white of s^^ quant,
Form and
suff.
dry.
Pearls from Chalk. Put chalk
in the fire until
it is
and again harden with you
fine
Mix with white of eggs and shape. Whiten with silver tablets
friable.
Then harden, and afterwards moisten with
spittle.
powder, either
in the
sun or over a coal
fire,
as
please.
To make Pearls better than Natural Ones. Take mother of pearl and pulverize it very small, afterwards adding fine flour. Mix and temper this with Maydew. Shape according to pleasure. Then give them to hungry pigeons to eat. Wash their dung, and you will discover very fine pearls.
days without anything to
of
Take mother crystal, pound
Afterwards
boil
Afterwards dry
But notice that the pigeons should be kept eat.
Another Mode. wash it well. Then take
of pearl, boil and it
for three
the
thoroughly
in the sun, or
in
linseed
over a
oil,
and
same quantity
Shape and
small and mix with the white of eggs.
dry.
wash with white wine.
fire.
Note for Luna. Take of arsenic and of sublimated mercury one part each, and sublimate them by themselves. Add an equal weight of quick lime. Imbibe with water Sublimate of fixed sal ammoniac, then cover with wax and place on the fire. thrice,
and keep
in a
closed vessel.
Afterwards desiccate
part over twenty-five of purified \'enus.
Thus Luna
will
it,
and project one
be produced.
RUHV.
Take
4lb.
atramentum.
of strongest
acetum, not
Distil this after the
distilled,
manner of
and
in
it
put
one
of
aquafortis, and at last with a
A very strong
so that
fire,
acetum, and place
Mars. it
Stir
Majiual of Paracelsus
may
spirit
tlie
Take
ascend.
347
four parts of this
a glass vessel, into which put one part of
in
it
the Great.
with a rod, and the mixture begins to boil without
it
filing of
Set
fire.
apart to stand and you will see a pellicle form and float on the surface.
Collect this and put
and once more
surface
Then take
it
stir
the mixture again for an hour,
into a
firmly luted crucible, to be
again, pound, and dissolve
in fresh
it
Collect once more, as directed, the pellicle floating on the
before.
Afterwards dissolve
in aquafortis,
which dissolves gold, and reduce
Then it becomes a medicament which thereof fall upon two hundred parts of Luna.
the water three times.
One
Sol.
and put
this as often as necessary,
again dissolve and calcine as above, and repeat this process three
;
times.
Do
yellow, like gold,
is
calcined for twelve hours.
acetum as
Then
side.
collect the pellicle.
matter, which
this
on one
it
part
tinges
Luna
to
Aqua Ardens or Water of Mercury. pound of sal ammoniac, a sufficient quantity of tartar and live sulphur, with one pound of common salt, and a quart of good white wine. Place all these in a well-luted vessel and submit to the fire, perhaps somewhat severely. Then keep the water well away from the wind. This :
Take
half a
and converts mercury
purifies metals
Water Take vessel,
of sulphur and 4^
lb.
!
and put a
to
of Sulphur.
lb.
of saltpetre.
Place these in a well luted
ashes for twenty-four hours.
in the
Then mix one-fourth of turned
into pure Luna.
with 3
this
oz. of
pure water
;
Remove and pulverise. whereupon the water is
and money can be coloured therewith
red colour,
into
the
semblance of most beautiful Sol.
AURUM MUSICUM. Take
of
no
comes
dirt
sal
same time wash
at the
first
Then
off.
and the same quantity of and
sulphur each
of
.Afterwards wash,
pulverise. until
and
tin
dry.
as before.
so that the glass vessel be half see a golden
amalgamate, and
full.
Mortify the mercurius with acetum,
Then
Heat
it
in
place
it
in
a well-luted phial,
sand for four hours
until
you
smoke ascend.
Wonders Take antimony and fortis.
Dissolve
it
itself.
Then
will
proportion
part,
Next take two pounds of Mercurius vivus
ammoniac.
it,
one-third
with lixivium and then with pure water,
it
of one
in
purify
it
of Antimony. Afterwards make aqua-
with calcined tartar.
the water, and congelate, either in the aquafortis or by
be an
part
oil
incapable of mixture — oil or stone — in
on three parts of Saturn
answering perfectly to every
;
and
it
will
be
the
silver
test.
Wonderful Aqua Ardens. Take
and put in a glazed vessel one part of auripigment, and a fourth of quicklime. Mix together; afterwards by means of a rose alembic and the thing is done. old red wine
half of quick sulphur, distil
;
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
348
The Virtues of Whoever a rag placed
places his finger in
in
it
burns
it
like a candle,
is
Water.
this
burnt as by a
and
is
In like manner,
light.
not extinguished by water.
Augmentation.
Make an amalgam Take equal
lime.
and
let it
Then
of mercury and Luna.
fill
a vessel with quick-
parts of salt of alkali and of litharge.
Put layer on layer
stand for a day and a night.
Afterwards
let it dissolve.
On Red Venus. Take
equal parts of crushed beans and of crude tartar, together with a
Mix all well together and Venus which have been laid all night in
quantity of tutia exceeding one of those parts. place layer upon layer with plates of
Pour
acetum.
You
it
over the layer, and
let
it
shape wherever
it
can be poured.
will see the result.
Calcination of Jove and Saturn to White.
Make
upon layer with quicklime and the above-mentioned metals. Cement by night, then take again, dissolve, and pour into a lixivium of quickIt will then be as Luna. lime, acetum, and vine-ashes. layer
To Reduce Calcined Bodies to Take
one-fifth of the metal
their Original Matter. and two pounds of borax of tartar.
together, and place in an iron vessel.
become Sol and Luna
if first
It
imbibed with
will
oil
Pour
be as Luna, and can
easily-
of tartar.
Calcination of Sol and Luna.
Take
of Sol and place it in acetum for nine days. Then put it in ammoniac. Imbibe well then desiccate, and continue the process as long as you please.
water of
filing
sal
;
The Devil Dissolve,
fix,
in
Alchemy.
coagulate, and reiterate.
Water of Salt of Alcali. Take alkali, sal ammoniac, and egg-shell. Pound together with good acetum, and dissolve at the same time. Purification of Sulphur.
Take pounded sulphur, pour on it acetum and wine, let it boil for a dav, and skim it. Then pour in urine and boil for two hours. Do this until it Whatever body there is does not float in the urine, but the ceases to froth. urine
is
clear
and
sufficient for the purpose.
The Sublimation and Fixation of Sulphur, so that Take of sulphur as much as you will, and pound it. it. 1
it
Heat
it
as before
until all fatness is in
removed, and then lay
boys' urine, and
prepared alum, place
it
in
draw
aside.
Secondly, heat
Next, pound
a sublimatory and sublimate for three hours.
the white sulphur ascends like snow,
snow storm.
it
off the fatness.
becomes White. Pour acetum upon
it
it
with
Then
and flows down upon the coals just as a
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
Oil of Vitriol.
Take as much bright green it is
oil,
like in its
vitriol
and
is
as you
and
will,
distil it
called milk of mercury.
349
'
But
by descent.
renders a
It
must have a large
it
fire
;
nature to balsam.
Another Method. with an alembic over a very strong
Distil vitriol
nights.
Let
Afterwards
be imbibed thrice with
it
distil five
its
fire
for three
days and
dregs, and be distilled from them.
or six times, and thus a great arcanum
is
produced.
Correction of this Process. After the third distillation mix with
it
a half portion of vinum ardens, and
as aforesaid.
distil
Another very Expeditious Mode. Take vitriol and distil it vigorously by descent, afterwards by an alembic, and then by a balneum Marise. Finally, do this twice or thrice by means of a Some say they have seen the oil of vitriol retort, and the method is subtle. distilled until
a whiteness like milk supervened.
Preparation of Common Salt.
Make layer on layer with quicklime. filtre,
Let
it
be cemented well,
distil
by a
and coagulate.
Another.
Take them in a
urine, quicklime,
and
salt
vessel, project to water,
do as before, and
it is
;
reduce to water and
and coagulate.
ignited at length whether
Then put
boil.
Place again
in the vessel,
suffice or not.
it
Fusion of a Marchasite.
Take three-tenths of the Marchasite, \ of Saturn, iij.5 At the same time it is poured upon iiij.n of Scoria of Iron. of Saturn, and
II
of Luna,
3
of Venus.
Alkali
Take wood
of Venus, and iiij.
is
made thus
:
ashes, quicklime, and the ash of beans.
Extract the lixivium
and coagulate.
The Sublimation of Sal Ammoniac. Take of
for
the salt itself and of pulverised Mars, equal parts, and sublimate.
Crocus of Mars. Take aquafortis, not too strong. Place it on filings of Mars some days. Then heat it over a coal fire and it is made red.
Another Method. Take Antimony, filings of Mars, and crude together, and a good crocus is produced.
tartar.
;
let it
stan^
Dissolve them
Sal Borax of the Philosophers in which all Metals and Glass are Fused. Take lac tauri purified by a filter, alkali, borax, gem-salt, and goat's
Mix with water, put in a phial, and desiccate. blood, equal parts of each. Then \'enus or any other substance, whether metal or glass, is fused therein.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
350
Saltpetre.
of
Take quicklime and warm water. Stir for six days and distil by means until it is consumed and you will have saltpetre. Place it in a filter.
The Solution of Sol from Silver. Take one part of calcined tartar with two parts of sal ammoniac. Place them on marble and then in a glass vessel. Then take the root of pellitory, pound it with acetum and strain it off. Mix this in the above mentioned The Sol is dissolved from the water, and put the water in a gilded cup. silver
and
again reduced with borax.
is
The Softening of Iron and all Metals. Take
ammoniac, and
of alum, sal
acetum over a
fire
equal
tartar,
Put
parts.
in
good
and extinguish the metal. Solution without Antimony.
Take Venus which has gold put find
it
over a
fire
and
let
it
in
it,
and sprinkle on
Then pour
melt.
it
the following powder:
and you
into a fusibulum
will
Purify over ashes.
gold or Luna.
Item.
Take one
with three parts of sulphur and do
part of saltpetre
with
copper as above.
Water Take two
of Gradation.
parts of vitriol, one part of alum, and half a part of antimony.
Distil.
Fixation of Mercury.
Take a
which put quicklime quant,
vessel, in
this lime place
Heat
coagulated mercury.
stiff.,
and
for five hours,
the middle of
in
and
will
it
be fixed.
Ready Method of Coagulation. Take the pounded root and portions of the herb hermodactyl. mercury, pour
it
and
over,
it
will
The Fixation of Take oil
.'Xrsenic.
of tartar, quicklime, glass, and arsenic equal parts.
Imbibe with
of tartar, and sublimate in a vessel after the usual method.
whiteness ascends, leave
Heat
be coagulated.
When
the
off.
Gilding.
Stamped monej^ is remains for some time.
entirely
gilded
the juice
in
of
the
aurearia
and
Cement.
Take
Vitriol,
Sal
j.
part.
Ammoniac,
Verdigris,
"j
>
Alum,
ij.
parts each.
)
Saltpetre, \ part.
Pound
in
an iron mortar.
gives a great layer with Sol.
smoke It is
;
Mix over
coals
and a black powder
and when the powder
is
desiccated,
graduated to twenty-four degrees.
will result.
make
It
layer on
A
Manual 0/
Paracelsus the Great.
35
Fixation of Saltpetre.
Take
the purest saltpetre.
by means of an alembic and a portion
Distil
of the saltpetre will remain at the bottom.
Perfect Fixation of Luna. two parts and of Luna one
Take
When
of this saltpetre
becomes
the saltpetre
consumed,
.-^dd
wards pour
it
Then
it
Take one
will
like glass, increase
crocus of Mars and
through antimony as
Luna
be
let
it
the
the saltpetre
let
it
into
it
a
After-
and white.
fixed
water for three hours and
Mercury, put
is
be fulminated.
The Coagulation of Mercury, producing Venus. parts of Mercury and Venus as much as you
in
done.
be consumed as before.
Take equal them
is
Let them melt.
part.
fire until
necessary, and
is
and two
part of this
Dissolve on stone, coagulate, and the thing
parts of quicklime.
linen rag, let
it
Boil
like.
Afterwards take the
continually
stir
stand for a night, and
it
will
be
coagulated as Venus.
in
Another Coagulation of Mercury. Take an egg-shaped crucible, and fill it with Mercury. Lute it, place it a patella, pour lead over it, and let it cool. Then take it out, and you
have coagulated Mercury. Purification of Metals.
Take two parts of antimony, and two parts each of vitriol and saltpetre. Pound well a moderate weight of filings from the metal, and cement over a slow fire for about an hour. Then let it be heated for 15 hours, and afterwards fulminated.
be diminished one-third part.
It will
Cement from above. Take ammoniac, verdigris, common salt, and Pound them together and imbibe them three times with urine. Afteralum. wards with a portion of this make layer on layer for six hours, in the end with a strong fire. Then you will have a golden regulus, but it will not stand in the equal parts of saltpetre, sal
cineritium.
Oil which tinges Luna into Sol.
Take antimony ceeds a red
oil
5. j.,
From
with Ib.^ of sublimated Mercury.
this pro-
which has the property of gilding.
Oil tinging Brass into Gold of 24 degrees. Take the very strongest lixivium and distil by means of a rose alembic. Then place it in a glass vessel and add saltpetre, sulphur, and crocus of Mars j. 3.
or more,
one
finger.
fire
and
let
it
venes.
it
cool.
etc.,
Let will
it
stand until
become red
Place
What
so that the lixivium
it
again
it
may
on the surface to the depth of
an alembic and
remains at the bottom
This
Afterwards take
like blood. in
float
sinks to the bottom.
is
distil
it
until
a tincture, and
production, possessing the virtue of natural gold.
is it
is
done over a coal from the
fire
and
whiteness supera most wonderful
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
352
Perfect Fixation of Luna.
Take cinnabar, gem-salt, and common
Pound them
salt.
Lute them layer on layer, place on a
of Luna.
fire
Afterwards place
then purify by cineritium and repeat this process thrice.
cement
for i8 hours
Take
of this
together.
in
and you have fixed Luna. three parts, of pure Sol one part, and dissolve
Luna
colour
Its
well with plates
of cement for six hours,
is
not diminished in aqua
them
but remains there.
fortis,
Glorious Oil of Sol.
Take very strong colcothar,
on the
it
is
a fixed
water into
dissolved
it
Luna and
fixed arsenic.
whereupon
in
it
its
This
Mercury
fixed
now
I
Dissolve
boil until
it
in the lixivium,
grows
Above
sides
all
3^.
to Sol.
it
became
fixed.
In this water
I
I
afterwards
placed calx of
of Mercury. with the same
5.,
place
them
Let
it
Water
quantity of saltpetre.
in a linen cloth in horsedung, with
a covering, setting the horsedung
remain for two weeks, and then pound
be sufficient for
It will
Next
remains
dissolved in horsedung and coagulated,
this put a cloth as
above and below.
until quite white.
red.
What
tincture.
Then
Pulverise them together.
glass below.
until
primal matter.
Water
it
it
Thomas Aquinas.
became a stone of
Take of
all
an alembic with sulphur,
in
and tinges everything
oil
St.
on
making
fire,
have very often sublimated Mercury
I
it
twelve times, or oftener, until whiteness comes forth
the bottom
in
distil
and crocus of Mars, equal parts of each.
and afterwards place distil it
lixivium and
Luna
of Sal Ammoniac.
Take sal ammoniac, the same quantity of ^g% shell, and a little acetum. Pound these together. Dissolve them afterwards on marble and you will have water of
sal
ammoniac.
Lac Virginis. Take pulverised litharge, together with a sufficient quantity of acetum. Pour it on again, Let them boil well. Afterwards distil with a white filter. sal ammoniac and and distil until the water grows clear. Then take some anatron. Treat these in the same way, and afterwards mix them together. Then is produced lac virginis. Purgation of Venus after the Greek Method. it some purified sulphur or
Dissolve Venus and project on it
arsenic, until
no longer emits any smoke.
Take IIj.
of
For Recovering Luna of Tartar j. C d
Antimony
ij.
,
Antimony.
Pound together with Sulphur
Pulverise, and melt.
Aqua Take equal and
in .
at
last
Fortis.
parts of vitriol, sulphur, and alum.
a very strong
fire.
If
you wish
to
Distil first with a gentle
have
it
stronger, substitute
A alum
calcined will
Mamcal of and
for the alum,
have very strong aquafortis.
Paracelsus the Great.
If
aquafortis
a
it
let
converts
all
alone has
vitriol
This aquafortis dissolves
metals
all
there be added to the distilled
ammoniac, or common
sal
little
and then
toj^ether,
made from
Aquafortis also
be desired to dissolve Sol,
it
Then you
citrine colcothar for the vitriol.
a wonderful odour as pleasant as musk.
except Sol.
353
Let these be dissolved
salt.
metals into water.
The Oper.\tion Bom
Them.^tis.
Take of sublimated fixed Mercury two parts, of calx Luna; one part. Pound these with water of sal ammoniac, and desiccate seven times then ;
After this
dissolve.
water
in
water
is
distil
a glass vessel. entirely
balneum Marias and place
the water by a
Set
it
in
this
the ashes of a sublimatory furnace until the
consumed, when the tincture
hundred parts of purged Venus, or of Mars
For
will
for
Take one
remain.
part to a
Luna.
Sol.
Take Calx Solis and Crocus of Mars
of the water
place
in
of
sal
will
be
ammoniac.
Take 9
The Operation Bon.^ warm it, and in human
vivus,
Boil in white of eggs,
hardened.
and you
R.^pacis.
blood
For the Same. Take Mercurius vivus and put it in menstrual quantity of juice from cornflowers and a four days, and
it
little
Take
the bones of large fishes, or
to a calx,
it
with an equal
blood,
euphorbium.
Let
it
stand for
coagulate for working.
will
Calx PERECRiNORUNf, OR Reduce
Thereupon
7.
have excellent Luna.
will
and when
it
ftL^RixE Calx.
signum peregrinorum, or cockle
shells.
has acquired whiteness you will have the Calx
Peregrinorum. PaPL'A TiNCTfRE.
Take
of
and of pounded antimony as much Take the more subtle portion, and becomes in some part Sol, as myself have
vinum ardens quantum
Wash
as you will.
in
suff.,
the usual way.
project on dissolved Luna.
It
1
seen.
The Work of the Noble Canon
We
was placed it
in
Alchemy.
have seen when we cemented pars cum parte, and the golden regulus in
the cement, that the result was, as
did not remain in the cincritium as pars
it
cum
But
were, the best gold.
parte.
Nevertheless
it
did
Thus we made a cement on fixed Luna, and placed aquafortis, when it deposited for us a large residuum. When, that Luna in however, this was fulminated, it grew white again as Luna. Once more we remain
placed fortis. all,
or
in aquafortis.
it
in aquafortis,
We is
and not the
least thing
remained for us
believe that the matter in the cementations
not cemented sufficiently, or
its
realgar
is
is
in that
aqua-
either nothing at
not fixed enough.
Y
The Hermetic and Alchcfnical Writings of Paracelsus.
354
Calcination of all Gems.
Take any quantity sulphur. it
Set
fire
to
it
be necessary, wash
;
it,
)'0u
like
thus
it
of each gem.
Pulverise
it
and mix with
burns, and you have the calx of that gem.
and the powder
If
be white.
will
How Bones may be Cut. Take wood ashes and quicklime in equal parts, quant,
stiff.
Boil the bones
herein until they are softened.
Softening of Metals and Ivory.
Take the strongest lixivium of alkali and place in it the metal for fourteen when it will be softened. Take it out again, cool it in water, and it will once more become hard. Place ivory in the same way, having previously days,
added the strongest acetum.
To Gild Metals. Smear
the metal with varnish,
and then place upon
it
a plate of Sol.
To Whiten Venus. Take aquafortis and dissolve Luna common salt make a pulp and desiccate
Some add
sal
in
Then with pounded tartar and Thus it can be used with acetum.
it.
it.
ammoniac, smear the Venus, and heat
it,
continuing the process
until the result is satisfactory.
Light Shining without Fire.
Take
the eye of a goat, put
in
it
water, and place a mirror above
it.
Another.
Take some and camphor.
lixivium
Put
it
made out
Place therein alum
of the best quicklime.
glass vessel with live Mercury and set a mirror
in a
above.
Water
of
Common Salt and Water
Take some of this with marvellous power of fixation.
and
tile
If
distil
Luna
is
of Saltpetre.
This water
it.
melted
in
it
is
said to have a
and common
salt,
it
can
be distilled with honey.
White.
Take alcalum, with
juice of
Steep Mars therein, and
white onions.
it
becomes Luna.
Method of Quartation. Take one plates
and put
part of Sol, and into aquafortis.
let
two or three parts of Luna be made into is the most consummate and excellent
This
test of gold.
Colouring.
Take a acetum.
little flos a;ris
It is
and
ammoniac.
Make them
into a paste with
one method of testing and colouring gold.
How
a
Cloth cannot be Burnt
Moisten the cloth with fully
sal
with white of s^g.
salt water.
Let
it
Afterwards desiccate
in
dry of it,
the Fire. itself.
and the
Prepare
effect
is
it
care-
produced.
A
Manual of
When Take a
Glass
Paracelsus the Great.
Destroyed by
is
Fire.
half portion of minium, quicklime, and flour.
Apply a cloth moistened with
eggs.
and place
it,
it
355
Mix with white of
for a short time
on the
fire.
Lute.
Take
ten parts of well-prepared lute,
three parts of cows' hair, five parts
of liorse-dung, three parts of goat's blood,
common
three parts each of quicklime and
t^^ and gypsum a
parts of iron filings, and of white of
salt, six
Thus
sufficient quantity.
made
is
a lute.
Another for Luting Broken Glass. Take equal parts of calcined flint, quicklime, common eggs. Mix these together, and then take a cloth, place it Let
the glass or fracture.
and a better
oil,
A This
structible in
then smear
;
tartar.
and smear
water with linseed
in
it
is
proof against Fire.
out of bullock's blood, quicklime, and
salt.
It
is
inde-
fire.
An Excellent Method of Luting Take
therein,
be found.
VERY strong Lute, which
made
is
harden
it
lute could scarcely
and white of
salt,
sufficient quantities of
Make
a pulp
;
Venetian glass,
lute the fracture
and place
Glass.
pounded, and
finely it
before the
fire
to ashes
and
of
oil
to melt.
To Make Minium. Take
of Saturn as
and
1
Take of and
let
place
it
in
it
it
becomes
a vessel over a moderate
The Process of Sulphur.
this powdefi 5.
boil.
it
it,
be coloiited red.
will
it
as you please, dissolve
Afterwards pound
citron-coloured. fire,
much
It
Pour over
j.
it
linseed
place
oil,
gives a red froth and grows thick.
in
it
Pour
an iron pan, it
out and
it
becomes a red substance as thick as hepar. Put the particles into which it is divided into an iron pan with laterine oil and boil it thoroughly for two hours. Afterwards place it in a glass vessel on ashes for three days. Then the sulphur is converted into an oil. Take the glass vessel again and put it cold water for three days and three nights.
in
over a slow
fire,
calcine the dregs,
water. is
Then
changed
the
but increasing the heat until
distil for
oil
Then is
;
seven hours.
which distil
will it
Do
this
take place
by
itself
in
distil
it,
first
of
all
Thoroughly
sufficient.
which are called the caput mortuum.
to white,
aforesaid
it
Imbibe with the
first
again until the redness of the
oil
Finally, take again
three hours.
and the process
for seven hours,
is
complete.
Then take a into Luna, well
plate of
Venus and
and good.
dip
If not, distil
it
in the said oil.
again
If
until this
it
is
transmuted
takes place with the
said calcined faeces.
Or: Imbibe the plate
and
it
faeces frequently with the said oil.
becomes white.
Let
it
flow over a copper
Afterwards take one part of the
fjeces,
Y2
and
five
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
356
Place these together
parts of Mercury. the
Then
fire.
and you
cool,
a crucible well luted and set
in
will find a not
very hard substance.
in
it
Take the
and repeat the process with the aforesaid faeces. Proceed as above, and you will find an elixir of which one part is projected on looo of purified Of this take one part and Mercury, and there is produced perfect Luna. Then will be attained fuse it with ten parts of calcined and white Venus. Of this elixir take j. 3. and of a perfection with which none can find fault. crucible
Mercury
boil,
however, you wish to
If,
Then take
the element of
and good Luna is produced. transmute the above-mentioned place
fire,
silver plate,
and
Then take some
melt like wax.
will
it
Elixir into Sol
a large glass vessel, and desiccate
in
it
After this imbibe with pure water.
the sun.
on a
Let them
4. j.
If not,
imbibe
it
of this
:
in
powder
again, until
it
Next take one part with two parts of live Mercurj'. Lute them together, place them for half-a-day over a fire, and do as I before directed. Then take and add of the fire spoken of above the same quantity as the Mercury, and proceed as above. Once more it becomes citron-coloured and Of this Elixir take one part to 1000 parts of the Luna which as hard as Sol. suffices.
has been
made from
that of Nature, and
Then Luna
the said Mercury.
by separating the said
it
has admirable power, so that people say this
of
all
5.
is
becomes gold better than with j. 4.* Mix and then
ij.
the most
consummate
Elixir
Alchemy.
Take prepared
may
Operation for the Preceding Work. purified sulphur and put it into a vessel so
be four parts empty.
which will
it
is live
Mercury.
Place over
Lute
it
closely, put
harden and become as Luna.
fresh Mercury, then
when
the whole will
it
If this
on a
fire
For Sol Boni Mercury,
for three days,
does not take place, treat
add one part of that Lnna with become good and pure Luna.
Take
that the vessel
a cloth folded double, underneath
it
five of purified
when it
it
with
Venus,
Them.\tis.
iij.
5.
Crude Atramentum,
j.
5.
Pour over these Salt Water,
ij.
Jamen Alum, Mix these ingredients together, and and
is
arsenic,
converted into water.
and sulphur, and
let
it
Put stand
5.
j.
5.
place in the sun in in
luilil
the mercury dies
a box thoroughly luted with lead,
a steady heat for one
daj'.
Open
the
box and you will find the Mercury coagulated. Pound this together with After this the above-mentioned water made of atramentum and alum. proceed as before for three hours. in box, and it once more the desiccate, place in
of
Once again for the fourth time imbibe with the aforesaid water, and place dung for putrefaction during five days. Then desiccate in ashes, and take Take one part of the this tincture one part to a hundred parts of Venus. •
The
transition
i^ lileral,
though the sense
is
not intelligible.
A
Mattual of Paracelsus the Great.
aforesaid elixir and of calx peregrinorum.
with water of mercury
imbibe
you
Pound these two together and imbibe frequently, and it will two hundred parts of Venus, and
desiccate,
;
Finally take one part of this to
coagulate.
357
have the best Sol that can be found.
will
Mode of further increasing this augmentation Boni Thematis. Take white of eggs with the same quantity of quicklime. Pound with orpiment water, imbibe, and coagulate. Add water of sal ammoniac, and putrefy in dung for five days. Strain through a cloth and desiccate. This elixir tinges Venus into Sol. Item.
Take some of this elixir, e.g^ shell, and peahen's eggs calcined. Once more imbibe with orpiment water for ten hours. Desiccate, pound with water of prepared
salt,
and putrefy
one da).
for
Desiccate again, and one
part tinges a hundred parts of \'enus to Sol.
A Tincture most Effectual Take of mercury ten Place a
little
it
for Sol.
Mars
melt
in
White and
two
some water of
also
Red.
parts, of fixed sublimated
sal
ammoniac and imbibe
a glass vessel into horse-dung for fifteen days.
in
on heated iron and
Next take one part of
fire.
of
Take
parts.
Then put
frequently.
for the
calcined sulphur, white and fixed,
melt like wax.
will
it
this elixir to a
Coagulate with a slow
hundred parts of Venus purified
sal ammoniac, adding continually a little crocus powder grows red, whereupon putrefy it in dung. Then Take one part to one hundred parts of purified Mars, and it
Imbibe with water of until the iron.
becomes gold better than that of Nature. Oper.\tion for Sol.
Take
Live Mercury,
parts.
viij.
Sublimated and Fixed Calcined Luna,
White Arsenic,
j.
(?
Mercury),
iiij.
parts.
parts
ij.
part.
and pour over it box and you will find Pound this with water of sal ammoniac, desiccate, and a white powder. Take 3.J. of putrefy for fifteen days until it melts like wax over red hot iron. Luna. will true together and it be Pour it to one mark of purified Venus. Pulverise, put in a silver box, lute well, place in a vessel,
Saturn for
five
days
in
Then take out
one solution.
For Then redden more
Sol.
the sulphur with crocus of Mars.
take calx of Sol, and place carefully strained
it
in the
box.
and putrefied
the
Instead of the calx Lunse
The substance must afterwards be
for a longer time.
White. Take Luna, 3 Jove,
5.
ij.5.
Saturn,
iij.5.
The Hermetic and Alchemical IVriiings of Paracelsus.
358
Fuse these
somewhat more,
project 5S., or
Let them cool a
thoroughly melted.
until they are
warm Mercury, and you
of
little
;
then
have the
will
white.
Fixation of Mercury.
Take a until
it is
a third or half
Then place it
it
it
hot
into
sound
silver phial of
any capacity you Close
full.
among burning
like the
Heat
coals.
Continue to do
water.
salt,
in
Mercury
it
and white of egg.
and then immediately plunge
it,
this for
Then
hissing of a goose.
and place
like,
up with bread,
it
is
it
an hour, when sufficient.
will give a
it
Take
it
out,
and
will be silver.
Augmentation of Luna. Make an amalgam of Jove and Mercury, mix it with pounded salt, and wash it until no blackness appears. Take this amalgam, put it in a sublimatory, and sublimate the Mercury from the Jove. Then take of the Mercury thus sublimated four loth. Dissolve in aquafortis 21 (sic) crocus of Luna, 2 16 [sic] loth, of Venus, and dissolve each separately by itself. When all are dissolved mix the whole in one glass vessel, distil the water from the dregs, pour over
it
fresh aquafortis as before,
dregs, and afterwards in
wash with
acetum, pour this on the dregs, and
Then
distil
it
common
and you
will find
sal
ammoniac
stand throughout the night.
Purify the body you have in the
salt.
loth, of
si.x
Water Make
it
once more from the dregs by means of an alembic, and reduce
the faeces with sal alkali and cineritium,
let
the water from the
re-distil
Next, dissolve
fresh water.
most excellent Luna.
for Gilding.
aquafortis out of one part of vitriol, one part of saltpetre, and four
made put four loth, of sal ammoniac. same water dissolve an amalgam of Mercury and Sol, as Let this stand for eight the goldsmiths are accustomed to form amalgams. Into the water so
parts of alum.
In the
Re-distil.
or fifteen days.
down
Let the water boil
to one-third of its volume.
you wish to gild dip a pencil into that water, whatever you please. smiths do.
Then
let
it
dry,
stir
it
briskly,
and afterwards burn
When
and paint over it,
as the gold-
To Blot Out Writing. Take Roman Vitriol, j. 5. Usifur, 54.
Jamen Distil a
collect
by
itself.
this water,
When
touch the
.-Mum, ^Ib.
first it is white and this you must you wish to erase any writing, moisten a cloth with
strong water from these.
letters,
At
and they are
;
obliterated.
Cement. Take Reddened Vitriol Verdigris
„ „ Burnt Brass Sal
Ammoniac to make
Alum,
> '
ilb.
Each one
weight of
part.
all.
A Make
Mainial of Paracelsus
Great.
the
layer on layer for eight hours in a closed vessel,
359
and afterwards dip
it
in urine.
To Make Precious Stones. Take very white
silex, calcined
and pulverised, one
of minium.
Place within a crucible in a brisk
and you
have a precious stone.
will
It is
part,
Then
fire.
and three parts
let it
cool of
itself,
coloured as an emerald by ashes of
Venus.
Cement as Pars Cum Parte. Take of Bloodstone r A Bolus Armenus of D
)
.
.
each,
)
of Vitriol, a quarter,
Then take
,,
J-lD- J5-
1
2.
j.
Sun or the Moon. Make plates. Then arrange in layers, as you know, and remove by smoke. Take from the fire, when you will have the best Hungarian Sun. It has been tested by me. White. Take of Venus, Ib.j. Pulverise.
half a part of the
of Luna,
Melt. ject
Afterwards sprinkle
upon
it j.
passed and
quartal.
Let
of salt
ammoniac and
stand for one hour
Out of
made.
it is
Ib.ij. it
Ib.s.
that
;
Ib.ij.
of pure salt.
Luna you can make anything you
desire.
Beautiful Mercury brought over from Mercury. Dissolve in aquafortis Take Luna and Mercury equal parts. abstract the water so that
it
may remain
pottage again for eight days, and
it
will
Pro-
repeat until eight hours have
as a thick pottage.
:
then
Dissolve this
be converted into water.
Abstract
when you will ultimately have water and makes out of Mercurj- a Luna which re-
as before and again resolve four times,
which persists through
A
mains everj-where.
all
tests,
drop or i\ to
2 oz.
of Mercury heated to evaporation.
Note the Sulphurous Work. Boil sulphur well in vinegar or urine. it
over the
Wash
it
well.
Afterwards dissolve
and project as much as possible over the
fire
luted instrument and burn gently in a slow
have at the bottom a Mercury which glass vessel into
oil.
This
oil
is
fire
fire.
for 30 days,
not very red.
Place
it
when you
Dissolve
in
in
a
will
an open
tinges in a marvellous manner.
Good and Proved Lazurium. Take of Live Mercury, any quantity, of Sulphur, a third part,
of Sal Ammoniac", one part.
Mix.
Burn
like cinnabar,
and when you see a purple smoke, take out and
mollify the lazurium with boiling water.
Water which makes Mars
fluid and also boils in Air.
Take Camphor, Salt of Glass, Vitriol,
Boiling Wine, Distil, as
you know, and keep
well.
360
Tlie
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
Water which makes Luna Take
into Sol.
red vinegar, sublimated, and live calx.
vinegar sal ammoniac and
Then put
Boil.
in
that
dissolve and distil through the alembic.
vitriol,
Extinguish plates of Luna therein and
it
will
be converted within and without
into the Sun.
For Luna. human
Extinguish Mercury twelve times in
Afterwards
boil
it
in the
blood, and
yolk of eggs for one hour, when
it
it
will
will
be hardened.
become good
Luna.
Take
Ib.j.
of sal alkali, the
Firm Tincture. same quantity of calx of eggs, two parts of
dew
clavellated cinder, also four parts of the
the third part. diligently
Afterwards thrice
and you
will
distil
Decoct
of heaven.
through the alembic.
all
these to
Perform
this
have very strong water, with which Mercury and
all
bodies of metals are dissolved.
Take of
the above water,
of Foliated Luna,
Place in cinders for three days, and the
Luna
Ib.j.
§j.
will
be converted into water.
Place Mercury, sublimated and well pulverized,
in
a phial
among
the
Pour over some of the said water made from Luna, and it will be Continue this process, imbibing and desiccating until half part of congealed. ashesi
the water fixatory.
is
exceedingly falls
consumed fierce,
Afterwards place powder from Mercury into the
Ib.s.
Digest slowly.
and you
On
day augment the
the third
fire,
making
it
an everlasting tincture, one part of which
will find
over 100 parts of crude Mercury, when
will
it
be good
Luna standing
every weighing and hammering, and lasting for ever.
Concerning the Oil of Sulphur.
Take
of Oil, one-fourth, of Sulphur,
Make
a hepar.
Boil
it
in
wards that which remains secundario per lateres.
Take
Ib.ij.
lixivium so that the at the
Make
may
oil
bottom must be
be abstracted
;
afterretort,
sufficient oil.
Pars Cu.m Parte. Antimony prepared in Oil of Tartar, Prepared Salt of Nitre, Prepared
through the
distilled
Common
5J.
\
Salt,
5s.
each.
J'
'
Plumose Alum, Let these ingredients be well mixed twice or thrice and imbibed in oil of tartar, whence will be formed a powder, which place layer by layer with Luna in
a cementing
sublimated.
fire
for six hours
and,
;
Then take one ounce
when
of this
this
has been done,
Let these be pounded together and formed into plates
on layer with the following powder
:
let it
and half an ounce of pure ;
be
Sol.
and then make layer
A
Manual of
Take
Paracelsus the Great.
Ammoniac,
Sal
\
Saltpetre,
\
Common
Prepared
361
Salt,
j.
5 each.
j
Verdigris,
Alum,
'^^
'^
Hfematite, Vitriol,
Pound these together and let them be imbibed with oleum laudis ten times or more, when they form a powder. Place them layer by layer in the fire for twelve hours.
Afterwards take the regulus, sublimate, add three parts of in the following water of gradation
Venus, and place
:
Take
Vitriol,
\
Saltpetre,
>
.
,
each.
j.lb.
Alum, ) Plumose Alum, „ , Calcined Alum, ,
)
....
}
each. UIJ.5 '' '
)
Cinnabar, I
Sulphur, Verdigris,
j.lb.
Antimony, Distil twice, that
which
is,
vj.§
once from the caput mortuum and from the residuum
found at the bottom.
is
as to answer every
Fulminate
;
and you
Take
oil
have Sol so good
till it
attains to an oily consistency,
Mercury.
of tartar boiled in best lixivium, and
Take
will
test.
Fix.xTioN OF
boil
each.
lb.
and place
distil
in
a
through
good
filter.
Next
glass.
of the said Lixivium, one pocale. of Salmiax, five times sublimated, one pound, of Mercury, sublimated seven times,
of very strong
Let ihem be mixed together day, so that the boiling
dung all
for a
may
in
Water
a Venetian vase.
cease.
month, and the whole
Inject
will
Ib.j.
of the Fount, half a pocale.
Allow them to stand for a
upon the
oil giij.
be converted into
things into Luna, can be coagulated into a stone, and
Projection.
Mercury.
Of
Common
Prepared Salt,
Saltpetre,
\
5J.
Sal Alkali,
Prepared Sal Ammoniac,
Albumen,
\
Vitriol,
Verdigris,
jiij.
Crocus of Mars, Cinnabar,
5J.
3s.
Prepared Antimony,
gij.
5s.
Luna
of
oil.
This is
in
oil
horse tinges
the water of
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
362
Make
a powder which
Afterwards
Dissolve for six hours.
of antimony and tartar (and
oil
Project over them
Mercury ten times.
urine) of
fortis,
imbibed with
to be
is
let
it
Luna and
of
51].
jiij.
be fulminated and placed in aqua-
or cemented as you know.
Prep.\ration of Salts.
Make
it
with quicklime, and by means of a lixivium, as you know.
be twice or thrice imbibed with
of tartar, but the other in
oil
Let
it
of tartar.
oil
Concerning Talc. Let talc
it
be cemented a whole day with
Let there be poured over
bag.
over again, until the calx
it
Afterwards
salt.
Let
Then
it
falls
Afterwards
well.
in
it
the
let
be put
it
Let
a very strong lixivium.
dissolved.
is
Dry previously very
bottom. It
common
be collected from the salt and most subtly pounded.
in
the lixivium to the
be dissolved into
let it
a
be poured
oil.
coagulates Mercury into Luna, and similarly Jupiter.
Digestion of Luna.
Take
Saltpetre, j
Vitriol,
'^'•J-
Cinnabar,
Make
Jiiij.
Let this water be divided.
a strong water.
each.
I
In one part let there be
Luna, in the other cinnabar. Let them be dissolved by the addition of sal ammoniac and then joined together. Let them be digested for fourteen days and the matter distilled. Then let it be reduced, and you will have a double quantity of Luna.
Each
loto of the salt will
have a loto and a
half.
Concerning Talc. Let
it
wards the it
be cemented with talc
must be
common
collected,
be melted over a very strong
talc is dissolved.
It
then
then dissolve into an
It
whole day
in aquafortis.
most subtly pounded, and put
lye,
falls in
oil.
salt a
and
let
in
After-
Let
a bag.
the process be repeated until the
the lye to the bottom.
Dry previously
well,
coagulates Mercury into Luna, and Jupiter
likewise.
Separation of Sol and Luna.
Take Antimony,
gviij.
Filings of Mars, 5VJ.
Crude Tartar,
Common Pound
all
Salt prepared in fluxion,
Fuse the Luna Place
Then Take equal
together and fuse in a tigillum.
stance, which also grind to a powder.
in
^iiij.
until
it
jiiij.
there will be a black sub-
parts of this and of Luna.
appears bright and clear, that
is,
with the powder.
cupel with lead, and the .-mtimony entirely evaporates.
Afterwards
purge by means of a cineritium.
Concerning Scoria of Luna. Take scorias and powders in equal quantities. cocted the
silver.
Melt until you have
Let this process be thoroughly carried out, then refine.
A
Manual
of Paracelsus the Great.
The Fixation of Cinnabar Take of beechen in
which dissolve of
in
one day.
parts, of quick lime
aslies viij
salt of vitriol,
salt nitre,
363
j.
Make
part.
a lixivium,
and verdigris, each
of flower of alum and calcined tartar, \ part each. Dissolve these cinnabar therein for a whole day, and it will be fixed.
j.
;
part
;
boil the
On ANriMONV. Imbibe
tlie
mineral
Saturn.
in
the sand attracts the antimony to
.Afterwards scatter sand upon
When
itself.
becomes
it
scoria,
with a spatula and sprinkle sand again, as before, until
Then
evaporate.
it
will
fulminate.
Concerning the Solution of Magnesia. Take one part thereof, and of sublimated Mercury ij. parts.
Then a
together, and distil by an alembic. oil,
is
This tinges Mercury
distilled.
projected into
it. Then remove it no longer
in
and
thick
Then
itself.
Grind, mix
fat water, like linseed it
tinges
bodies
all
it.
Fixation of .Antimony.
Take
Salt of Alkali, Salt of Nitre,
Antimony, Melt together, then
let
them stand
ij.
oz.
oz.
j.
lb. j.
to cool,
and the antimony
will
be fixed.
Oil of .Antimony and Mercury, fixing Spirits and of itself DISSOLVING Bodies.
Take Mercury,
iv. lbs.
Antimony, Dissolve as you
know how.
This
oil
j. lb.
dissolves metals.
Oil of Borax. Put borax into a glass vessel and dissolve
Let
it.
it
be pulverised,
hardened, and placed inside another glass vessel, in a balneum Mariae.
converted into an
oil
which
It
is
fixes all spirits.
Oil of Gold.
Take Sulphur,
j.
part.
Quick Lime,
parts.
viij.
Let these be decocted in water and the decoction becomes red.
Distil
alembic, and there remains at the bottom the redness of sulphur. called the
oil
of gold.
sal
ammoniac, Jamenus, and
Water Take any
spirit,
dissolve
it
in
by which all Spirits are fixed. vitriol. Distil by alembic.
water, abstract
it,
imbibe
fixed.
Another. Take Antimony, Crocus Sal
01 Sulphur,
Ammoniac,
iiij.
)
parts.
it
thrice,
and
by an This
is
Then take it
will
be
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
364
Imbibe with strong acetum sal
at last dry
;
Abstract, and
ammoniac.
it,
and then mix with water of
fixed
distil.
Fixation ok Sulphur. Grind
and
Dissolve with the water of
salt of nitre in equal parts.
Put
congeal.
it
in
a vessel,
afterwards dissolve
and
lute,
water,
in fresh
and the sulphur
third time,
common salt common salt and
with salt of tartar or crude tartar, together with
it
set
distil
it
in
the
with a
Let
fire.
filter
;
become capable of being melted
will
get red-hot,
it
congeal a second and like
wax.
SuBLni.\TioN TO Sol with Sulphur.
Take Live Sulphur
\
Roman
\
Vitriol
Verdigris
common
Imbibe with the water of
Honey, and
of Sulphur,
parts
equal parts.
j
salt.
Alkali.
Sublimate
Or, take equal
thrice.
Let them boil for one day.
This
mixture makes Sol out of Luna.
Water Grind Place it
in
of Antimony (Sulphur) for Sol.
and take thereof
it,
iij.
one part of
parts, with
sal
hot water, and
perhaps
would be
it
it
will
become
like blood.
If
were boiled
it
ammoniac.
Then pound
within a glass vessel, well luted, on ashes for one day.
it
a lixivium
in
better.
Fixation of Sulphur. Imbibe and dry over a slow
Take sulphur and honey. a strong lixivium.
boil well in
Renew
clear.
Wash
ammoniac and
sulphur.
this three times,
let
it
the substance until the water appears
and
j.
common
salt
and the same quantity
Then
Let these be well ground together twice.
dissolve with white of Q^^y and congeal.
Repeat
Then
seven times, and you will find the sulphur white
Afterwards take prepared
like crystal.
of sal
this process
fire.
Distil
by means of a
part changes xxx.
parts of
filter,
and
cool.
warmed mercury
into
permanent Luna.
fire.
Take it, let it boil in alkali for one day, and be sublimated over a slow Having done this, moisten it with acetum four times, abstract by means
Fixed Oil of Sulphur.
of a
filter,
means
of
marble.
One
and again moisten three times.
aij
alembic, and will then be fixed.
Then take
part tinges
It
Let
is it
afterwards abstracted by be dissolved into an
the body of the sulphur, dissolve
three
parts
to
Luna, and that
it
with
oil,
oil
on
and congeal.
Luna has many of
the
properties of gold.
Take
it,
The Whitening and Fixation of Cinobrium. common
together with calcined alum and prepared
together with vinum ardens, dry, and sublimate. fixed.
Then
it
is
salt.
Pound
whitened and
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
365
Fixation of Spirits.
Take quicklime,
and
salt of alkali,
mixed therewith.
oil
imbibe the spirits with test water, repeating the process until
it
Distil,
and
melts on the
plate.
Water
Mercury Fixing all
of
Take
Mercur)-, Sal
Rub
the
two together Pound
Put
this
marc.
j.
Ammoniac,
marc.
ij.
into a glass vessel over a slow
fire, and it will become become a powder, which dissolve in Then take j. marc, of pure Luna or Sol carefully made into plates. in the aforesaid water and this water fixes all spirits.
a hard mass. water.
Spirits.
and
this
it
will
;
To Fuse Bones. Take any quantity of bones and burn them into lime. Having done this, pound it. Take of this Ib.iiij., of quicklime ilb. Mix them Afterwards dissolve some bitumen in a moderate together in the powder. quantity of wine, until the whole of it is melted away. Then place the bones therein, and stir briskly into a thick pulp. Afterwards pour into a mould made of paper. First, however, let it be smeared with oil set it to cool, carefully
;
and
it
will be
hardened
any colour with minium,
To Make
cformPound
a
very
tiles
You
like ivory.
or any other tints you
flos seris,
Mould for Casting fine,
and
them
boil
an exceedingly thin paste.
Dry
make
a water from the white of eggs.
and
will
it
can, in course of fusion, give
"
all kinds of Lmages. strong lixivium so that they
in
and strain
this
Then
it
like.
let it
it
carefully.
Afterwards
be pressed on a machine,
dry from the top.
To Colour
Glass.
Take tartar, wood ashes, and quicklime. Make an alkali from them. Take thereof j. part, dissolve in iij. parts of colour in water (hV). Coagulate, and again dissolve with the colour. It will
A Method
this three
or four times until the
Afterwards melt glass with the aforesaid
stone shall be thoroughly coloured. stone.
Do
be coloured by the stone, and thus you can fuse crystal.
of Colouring whereby Softened Crystal can be Tinted
AND Hardened like a Precious Stone.
Take ij.
parts.
alkali
made from
Pound
tartar,
j.
part
:
sublimated salmiax, \ part colour and again pour the colour :
well together, dissolve in water,
thereupon, repeating the process until the colour will
be coagulated into a stone.
Pound
is
oil
Then
sufficiently deep.
this very fine,
crystal that has been previously softened with is
is
and mix
of tartar.
made with cinnabar, and becomes equally red therewith made from saffron, and the green with sap-green.
;
The
it
it
with a
red colour
the citron-colour
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
366
How
EVERY Stone can be transmuted into a clear one, though
be
it
AND WHEREBY YOU CAN TINGE A BoDV, BOTH Crystal and all similar Bodies. Example.
ITSELF opaque,
Take of ematite in a
stone, very
finel)'
pounded,
half a day, so that
may
it
Then
be alkalised.
sublimated sal ammoniac and also crude
Afterwards dissolve
in
water
in
a
sal
damp
Let
parts.
ij.
wood
lixivium (previously prepared from tartar,
boil fiercely
it
ashes, and quicklime) for
sprinkle over
parts each of
it iij.
ammoniac. Dry overa veryslow
imbibe again with that water, repeating the operation until the whole into sal
Then put it ammoniac which oil.
longer for
in the oil,
and sublimate from the
into a glass vessel
When
not fixed.
is
you see
then pound the stone, and boil
six or eight hours
fire.
and what remains on the stone
cellar,
turned
is
has ascended and
it
it still
the
oil itself
no
is
further in the lixivium
and then again, as before, dissolve with the
;
sal
ammoniac, both sublimated and crude, then by the sublimation of the lixivium and the solution of the sal ammoniac it is changed into a thick oil. Then those spirits which are not fixed are separated from
by sublimation, separated will
;
in
the
way
before
it
better,
will
;
then the
of the stone alone.
oil
but to
alkali,
filter
be
not
will
oil
be raised up with the water.
will
be separated, and you will have the
however, not to separate the
ammoniac
as the sal
lixivium
but add water, which has been distilled by a
remain at the bottom, and the lixivium
Thus
it,
The
specified.
let
it
remain
in
the
It
is
oil.
Description of the Adept's Fire.
Take
'\
Vitriol,
Alum,
\
j.
each.
lb.
'
Saltpetre,
Calcined Alum, Calcined Vitriol, Distil
in
:—
Calcined Alum,
Saltpetre, i\
above and renew
strong water
thrice.
-i
,,
,
lb.
each. Ib.ij.
of the following
\
Calcined Vitriol,
Distil as
,
5 j
Afterwards take
aquafortis for 30 hours.
strong water
)
)
J-
'b-
each.
lb.
Having done
this,
dissolve in the following
:
Sal
Ammoniac,
Salmiax,
j.
ij.
quarts.
quart.
Sublimated Mercury,
j.
Calcined Tartar and
its
Sublimated Arsenic,
j.
After each has been separately dissolved,
Alkali {no quantity given).
quart. let
it
be distilled by a bath and
be hardened a
poured over twice. Afterwards let it In this water dissolve moist bath into a water as will dissolve.
iij.
coagulate as long as you please.
it
and dissolve
parts of Luna, or as
Coagulate into a hard stone and
strong lixivium into most potent water until
little
is
let
this
alkalised.
boil
in
in
a
much
a very
Dissolve and
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
367
For Luna. Take
Ammoniac,
Sal
^
Vitriol,
equal parts of each.
Rock Alum, Salt of Alkali or Tartar,
Sublimate
in
One
a glass vessel.
part tinges six parts of purified brass.
Then add Luna.
The Purification of Brass With Acetum, Take
Salt,
three pounds of
afterwards add
Oil of Sulphur. Hepar Sulphur. Boil
Rubified Vitriol,
Calcined Alum, Glass,
well into one mass.
three days
;
Distil
;
and repeat
from the white
Mode
oil.
j.
in
quart.
j.
fire,
so that the
Re-distil
and keep doing
;
this process until in
it
spirit
may
Pour that which
Then thoroughly reverberate
These tinge
;
by an alembic, having previously putrefied
upon the caput mortuum again.
it
a lixivium of soap
quart.
Set aside the white part.
whiteness comes forth. Distil
in
Ib.j.
and with a very strong
energetically expelled.
it
Ibj.V.
V'erdigris,
for
:
Ib.ij.
Crocus of Mars,
Mix
effected thus
is
and Tartar.
this until
the caput
no longer burns
be red
is
no
mortuum.
in the fire.
Putrefy
a wonderful manner.
which Sol is produced with Pars cum Parte. Take Antimony, parts. ij.
Common
Grind to a powder.
Take
Vitriol,
)
Alum,
j
ij.
iij.
j-
P^-"'-
in
fire
for
j.
part of filings of Luna.
for
two hours. Then place
parts of this, and
together, and place in a tigillum on a slow
very strong
parts.
Salt,
fire
another two hours, and melt
Saturn and purify by means of a cincritium.
and put them layer on layer with this powder.
Common
it
in glass.
Next convert Then take
K
Alum,
lb.
of each.
Vitriol,
Ematite, Flos Aeris, Calaminaris, Tutia,
Cinnabrium,
Minium, Burnt Brass,
.
\ oz. of each.
in
a
Afterwards imbibe
Salt, fused,
Salt of Nitre,
Mix it
it
into plates,
The Hermetic and Alchemical WHtings of Paracelsus.
368 Dry by Place last it
the
Make
fire.
day
Luna
a graduated
in
{sic)
iij.
until
it,
it
parts, of pure Sol
and placed
copper
part, of
j.
of
Dissolve iiij.
Then you
will
be hereafter described.
have a residuum of Sol perfect according to every
Take
Then take
parts.
ij.
the
Wash
Let the regulus be dissolved into
in the aquafortis to
The
On
by a cineritium.
it
proof against aquafortis.
is
together and cement for ten hours. parts,
for six hours.
fire
put in the regulus, having purified
{sic)
again and cement
that
Imbibe three or four times with urine.
into a powder.
a luted tigillum and set
in
test.
Fortis.
Aql'.v
Vitriol,
^
Saltpetre,
each.
j.lb.
>
Alum, J Antimony, 4 ss. Cinabrium,
4
5
Verdigris, 5
vij.
ss.
(
a water.
Distil all these into
For Beauty of Face.
Make an ointment and besmear
and Dragaganth. the face therewith once. Then remove it.
Take
Oil of Tartar
Note Concerning Cements. Take laminated Luna and
it
be cemented with species of cements
Afterwards add one part of purged \'enus.
twice or thrice.
and you
of gradation,
let
will
have gold
if it
remains
Note that pars cum parte
acquires a red colour.
is
Dissolve in water
time, namely, until
its
made
it
as above.
Note. Place verdigris in ashes so that
when
vinegar, desiccate
it
again
will
become
Tutty
is
it
may grow
manner
cf a pottage.
bottom of the by the
fire,
as
let
Divide
it
Also take
more
5ij.
and becomes
above,
Also take
it
into
two
parts.
Wash
in
the
manner of
of Tutia,
5j-
of Verdigris, of Vitriol, prepared as above,
Place
Take the Thus dry twice
ceruse.
Also take of Crocus of Mars,
well.
let
Afterwards pound well.
that which floats above.
Mix together, pounding
Also
layers, well luted.
Desiccate and imbibe with vinegar.
subtle portion.
red.
of cinnabar and
Let one part he placed at the
Arrange cinnabar above in may not glow, for two hours.
of crocus of Mars.
5s.
the vitriol be imbibed witli vinegar after the
tigillum.
so that
in
made
Next
of vitriol as above.
Then extinguish
Afterwards pound, wash thoroughly, and
colcothar be imbibed with vinegar as above. 5j.
white.
red.
jj.
each
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
369
Fixed Venls.
Take of
Filings of Iron,
of Antimony, of Venus.
Place in a tigillum well luted.
Let
it
stand twelve hours
Afterwards
in flux.
You
infrigidate and fulminate the king with the same quantity of Saturn. will
then find 12 lotones of fixed Venus of
nor
is
j.lb.
It
Vou can make
further destroyed by R.
it
To THE White with Metallic Let
be fixed by means of imbibition of the
it
until the tincture be
makes no more
scoria,
red or white.
Arsenic. oil
of eggs and of tartar
made.
Crocus of Mars. Take any quantity of Mars, and the same and become red. Let it also become sulphur,
Make
of saltpetre. etc.
Also take
it
5J.S.
burn
of sal
Pound. Also take 5'j- of glass, prepared and pounded as above. Also take iiij.oz. of filings of Mars and Mix and imbibe with vinegar twice. vitriol. ounces of red Make crocus with vinegar, as you have seen. Let two Imbibe sal ammoniac as before until it the oil of Mars be distilled. Take of antimony h. j., well pounded, and of tartar h. j. Mix reddens. Next dry. Shut up in a jar, so that it may not grow white on the well. Leave for two hours. Afterwards pound it and pour vinum aniens coals.
ammoniac.
over
it,
so that
Next
day.
it
may
distil.
be inebriated.
Pour over
it
Place
it
in
a phial for a night and a
again, and distil by a slow
fire.
To Soften Glass. Take
Lybisticum.
Press out the sap.
Cause the glass
to boil in this.
This is the Method of Making Luna. Take j.lb. of Mercury. Heat it. and pour over it the following water Take common salt j.lb., saltpetre j. quart. Grind them, and then bake j. quart Mix well in an iron dish over a slow fire imtil it froths, for one of lime. Remove from the fire and cool. Mix all together, and dip it into oil hour. :
twice.
Fulminate
this
Mercury
in
a cineritium. and you will rejoice for ever.
Correction of Oil of Tartar, for Beauty and for Luna.
Make for
layer on layer with tartar
two hours.
and
lime.
Burn
Then
well.
Lastly dissolve, and you will have corrected
oil
filter
of tartar.
Note.
Take equal parts of sulphur and Mercury. Form a paste like amalgam. Then mix with salt. Let them remain in gentle fluxion for half an hour or thereabouts. Then burn afterwards wash. The Mercury which you find ;
there grind with a salve of Aza, wax, vintnn ardens, etc.,
until
Finally reduce in a cineritium with borax, and you will have
any doubt.
it
is
burnt.
Luna without
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
^70
Water
of Fixation.
own shell four ammoniac j. §.
Rectify the white of eggs with their of well purified Sol
Ib.j.,
urine.
and
3,
j.
sal
Dissolve these together and
Take of this them well with
times. Boil
by means of an alembic.
distil
Imbibe
therewith sulphur and arsenic, sublimate until fixed, and you will have an elixir.
Note.
Take Cinnabar,
Ib.j.
Sulphur, j
Arsenic,
Ib.iiij.
\
Calcined Tartar,
,'
Alkali of Soot, lb.}. Salt, nine times prepared, Ib.^.
Salt Nitre, the
same weight
Mix, pound, and moisten several times of tartar.
Let them remain
in
vi'ith
as
all
the rest together.
the water of eggs or albumen
Afterwards
a state of fusion for three hours.
warm, when it readily dissolves the saltnitre one part of sublimated Mercury and two parts of sulphur must be stirred continually with a stick. It then speedily loses its smell. The salts are prepaped by frequently evaporating the acetum or urine. Afterwards melt them so as to mix for four hours over a very strong fire. Then wash and purge over ashes and you will have the Treasure of the World. kindle and
;
;
Reduction.
Take Goldsmith's Borax,
part
j.
Assafoetida, Sarcocolla,
Oxicroceus,
^
parts
ij.
Wax, Galbanum, Dissolve the gums in vinum ardens, mix with the borax, as above, and it If it does not melt, add more borax until it melts. burnt at the same time.
is
Oil which Fixes and Tinges.
Take Linseed
Oil,
)
OZ.VllJ.
Honey, Yolk of Eggs,
)
oz.vj.
Eggshell and Quicklime, each Colcothar, Saltpetre, and
j.
1
„,.,,,
Calcmed Alum, Antimony and Tartar, each
quart. ,
each
1
..
11.
quarts.
)
Juniper
Pound, mix, and
until the
this drive out the spirits of nitre,
alum,
becomes red and
Then
water or
oil
the tartar and antimony, and pour in the
more reddened.
Add
iiij.
lb. J.
4.
Having done
distil.
colcothar, and antimony
warm
Wood,
oil
thick.
may thus be may thereby be
that the spirit
parts of aquafortis, so that the
oil
A more
fixed.
It
Manual
would be
the calx of the egg-s and
0/ Paracelsus the Great.
well, too,
own
its
and ten parts of
the
same time take one
more
If
Take
ingress.
it
Cement
parts.
ij.
distilling six
Let
fixed salt.
of this sulphur
for four hours,
and
it
nitre.
be
At
Jamen alum, and sulphur
the sulphur has been imbibed with nitre
and gives
fixed,
Mercurj-
quart, each of alkali fuliginis,
from
rectified
and
and fusions, and as often by
fixed by ten cementations, solutions,
of tartar.
were previously
fixed spirits by renovating-
Lastly, take of this oil jib.
times.
this oil
if
371
it
j.
renders
part
it
red and
of coagulated
;
becomes gold more perfect are fixed by this method.
it
manner all spirits and ingress and tincture are added to all species. It turns to Sol the calx of Luna when placed upon it, and equally It fixes calcined or sublimated Mercury, fixed copper in the same manner. This oil can be both into a body and into a tincture, that is, an elixir. than that of Nature.
In like
They perform wonders, do
the like,
coagulated over a very slow of which
to
is
prepared for
turn
It fixes
it.
and you
fire,
pure
into
have a stone, the virtue
will then
Luna,
Sol.
Venus, and
fixed
metals
all
also cinnabar into Sol.
C.\PfT M0RTUU.M FOR THE SUBJECT OF THIS SuBLIM.\TIOX.
Take Arsenic,
\
Sulphur,
each.
j.lb.
\
Crude Tartar,
J
and prepared,
Salt, fused
Ib.ij.
Saltpetre to the weight of
Dissolve over a slow
Then
completed.
mortuum
fire
kindle,
with
and
them
let
be imbibed>swith the said
all.
of crude antimony, until
Ib.j.
No
oil.
two hours are Let this caput
an hour.
melt for
better caput has been discovered.
Ready Method for Co.\gulating Mercury. Take
when made very warm,
it
steep frequently in
warm
oil,
and
it
will
be hardened.
Arsenicus Matellinus.
Take Quicklime, j
Common
Salt,
Calcined Tartar,
Mix with
the clear part of eggs.
Make
J"
)
ij.
into pills,
P"
p.
and
distil
by descent.
White Cinabrium. Take equal
parts of Alum,
Calcined Tartar,
Common
Salt,
Cinabrium.
Sublimate white
in
of tartar
all
these.
It will
a strong capitellum 7,
become four times as white. if
you
boil
or more, becomes good,
it
for a night.
It
also
becomes
Jupiter steeped in
etc.
12
oil
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
IT 2
anu such also as NOT Dissolved by Water. Take aquafortis made from saltpetre and alum, together with oil of tartar, j.lb. each. Pour all together then put into them a little vinum ardens, and the whole will coagulate into an ice by the power of fire.
For making
Note.
Ice easily Fusible in Fire,
IS
;
we use for Projection on Melted Luna.
Oil which
Take Purest Gold, j. Sal Ammoniac,
loth.
loth.
iij.
Oil of Antimony, x. loth.
Aquafortis, quant,
know how.
Dissolve, as you
and
distil
Having done
ij.
fixed sublimated sal
and
all
which
it is
measure.
The
as possible. projected,
By
this
and
oil will
if it
the aforesaid
loth.,
with purest
each of sublimated Mercury
loth,
iiij.
until x.
Proceed as above with fresh aqua
ammoniac.
these ingredients are converted into a thick
much gold
putrefy for seven days,
Of this take
oil.
Dissolve at the same time
loth.
and
it
the whole
by a bath, continually renewing
materials are converted into a thick
gold
stiff.
this, let
oil.
fortis,
In this oil dissolve as
then transmute into gold
be coagulated into a stone
it
all
tinges
metals on it
method you can proceed to silver. Mercury and in the same manner sal ammoniac.
beyond be
will
fixed with white of eggs,
A Wonderful Cement
by one Stone over Lun.\,
Take Crocus
of Mars,
Hjematite, Verdigris,
v.
loth.
j
loth.
ij.
loth.
Pulverise well and boil in a very strong lixivium for ten hours, so that
be alkalised.
Having done
so, take of this
and of sublimated salmiax
into a
watery
until the
Pour the
whole matter
into a stone,
is
oil
j.
in
it
may
ammoniac
iiij.
loth.
This being done, coagulate
turned into water.
which sublimate
of sal
Mix together and dissolve on marble thus made on the dregs, and keep doing this
loth.,
oil.
alkali ^Ib.,
it
ammoniac maj- evaporate, Then once more boil the stone in very-
order that the sal
and the matter alone may remain. strong red lixivium. Again add the aforesaid weight, dissolve into oil, and again coagulate the oil, sublimate the sal ammoniac from it, and do this over and over again until the matter of the species flows from them on the marble.
Take this water, coagulate it afresh, dissolve it again and put it in j. quartal When it is dissolved coagulate of powder or j. loth, of water of ducat-gold. it.
This stone
is
effectual in cements,
and effectual also
in projections.
also tinges crystal.
Cement by which half of Luna becomes Sol. Take Hematite, v. loth. Flos Aeris,
ij.
loth.
Crocus of Mars, Sal
Ammoniac,
Nitre,
ij.
loth.
iiij. iij.
loth.
loth.
It
A
Mafmal of
and desiccate.
Boil
Paracelsus the Great.
Afterwards imbibe nine times
373
witii oil of
antimony
then
;
with equal parts of this powder and of Luna make layer upon layer.
done
Luna and fulminate
this lay aside the
Then
it.
it is
Having separated by means
water and purged by a cineritium. Take Antimony, Ib.vj.
of successive applications of ,
Verdigris,
Ib.j.
Calcined Vitriol,
Calcined Alum, Saltpetre,
Ib.ij. Ib.j.
Ib.iij.
Sublimated Mercury,
Ib.^.
and there issues forth a strong red water which tinges everything
Distil,
into Sol.
Cement whereby four parts of Llxa become perfect Gold. Take Luna, iiij. loth. Venus,
Make Take
thin ij.
:
and form layer on layer with the following powder. vitriol, calcined alum, and saltpetre j. loth, each haematite, and tutia, with iij. loth, of sal ammoniac. Dry by each of red
evaporation over a slow into a
;
and imbibe several times with white of eggs.
fire,
powder, and cement the Luna for seven hours
Afterwards put
fire.
loth.
plates
loth,
of verdigris,
Make
j.
Take
it
Saltpetre,
)
Alum,
)
Calcined Alum,
Cinnabar,
\
bulphur,
)
j.
White with
lb.
make
j.
quart.
of eggs boiled in calx of eggs,
into a strong water.
I of calcined
a graduated
quart.
Verdigris and Calaminaris, each
Mix, and
in
into a cineritium with the following strong water.
Distil
again
Ib.ij.
Ib.iij.
of the aforesaid faeces
alum and one quartal of plumose alum.
gradation of twenty-four hours reduce with borax, and there
After a
will result the
most perfect gold. Zalusia. Dissolve calcined alum,
etc.,
as also calx of alum.
sugar and camphor, imbibe with quintessence, and burn. is
burnt out and consumed, while the alum
in
aqua
is
Mix with white Then the camphor
transmuted into
oil.
Place
it
vit
Oil of Vitriol for all Weakness.
^
Make it
vitriol
up to redness.
can be dissolved.
Dip that calx
Pour out that which
is
in
common
acetum, as far as
dissolved and keep
it.
That
which
is
not dissolved dissolve again with fresh acetum, as above, uniil the
whole
is
dissolved.
moisture from
it
Then
anew.
let
the acetum evaporate to dryness.
Then
place
it
for distillation
and you
Calcine the will
have an
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
374
Over
oil.
pour the
this
quintessence and place
rectified
putrefying.
The superfluous
and you
have the quintessence by means of the alembic.
will
in
Pour
part remains at the bottom.
a bath for
this off clear,
The
of a
oil,
deep red colour, remains at the bottom. S.ALT OF
and you
have
will
in
Take
Filter, coagulate,
urine.
Take it soon white vinegar and coagulate of tartar.
salt
Dissolve the other part
Tartar. in cooked
Dissolve
Calcine tartar to whiteness.
let
;
dissolve in
it
oil.
into a salt.
Antimony. Antimony ij. p. of Fused Salt, j. p. of
Let them be melted until the water ceases to redden
and the antimony
becomes white.
Next place
Put the froth
in
Coagulate
a glass.
it
becomes white
powder and then red
Then
to a
on the
refine
much
sal
Then take one marc of when the metal is in flux.
Crocus of Mars. Then distil the aquafortis from
ammoniac as
two days.
Distil
acetum
in
the solution by a
to dissolve in a slow heat
and then cause the acetum
filter,
Afterwards strengthen the
to evaporate.
Take
thence.
crocus, and sublimate four times from the crocus.
Afterwards put the whole substance for
a it
test.
Dissolve in aquafortis. as
in
it
again.
Sprinkle thereon a quint of this powder
Jupiter.
it.
with an iron scraper, and repeat the process until
long cap-pot, extract
The
fire.
ammoniac
sal
and
retires,
the crocus remains in a fluid state at the bottom.
Water Take crude Mercury fire,
and a single drop
drops
come
will
the whole
is
j.lb.
Put
come
will
of Mercury. it
in
a cucurbit to
Pour
forth.
this
;
distil
Pour these back again, and continue
forth.
Give
distil.
back
it
a slow
two
again, and
this process until
This water penetrates and dissolves
converted into water.
bodies.
Note.
Take crude Pour
its
collects
Take
;
tartar
and pound
water again upon the
it
Then
well.
faeces,
and
distil
then put the same into another receptacle.
live calx in the
same quantity
as red
oil.
extract the water through the alembic until
bottom.
distil
Next put
Afterwards again
Pound no more
much Then make an amalgam out sulphur into the
half as
distil.
through an alembic.
again until a water or
Heat and extinguish and five parts of Mercury. Mercury is fixed, and there are many arcana in it.
oil.
in
Afterward it
rectify
thoroughly.
fajces
oil it.
Then
remain at the
Putrefy for ten days. of one part of oil
six times.
Luna Then
Note.
The
calx of the body
solve in a cold chamber.
is
cast into a fluxion of saltpetre over the
It falls
on the bodies.
fire.
Dis-
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
Water Make an
375
of Luna.
pound of saltpetre and two of vitriol. Dissolve therein half an ounce of Luna then dissolve a common salt in warm water. Pour into it aquafortis with Luna, when it will be precipitated. Then extract the water from it, and dry it. Add to the dissolved half ounce one ounce of sugar-candy. Pour upon it again a fresh supply of aquafortis. aquafortis out of one
;
Extract the moisture therefrom
in
a bath.
Afterwards put
and extract the water of the moon through the alembic. more than once, pour the ascended water thereupon
If
a sand cupel
in
it it
does not ascend
until
shall
all
have
passed through.
The Fixation of Arsenic. Take two parts of alum and one part of saltpetre. Make a water by means of an alembic, and put into the water a part of sublimated arsenic. Distil to a fixed water.
Fixation of Mercury.
Take of Fixed Arsenic, of Sal Ammoniac,
two parts each. I
of Fixed Sulphur, one part.
Melt them together. it
Then take one marc
into the melted matter therein.
the test.
You may
You
lose nothing,
and you
will
Warm
of Mercury.
Wait an hour.
Then
refine
it.
it
in
Next put Saturn on
have more than two parts of the Sun.
then also take the Mercury which
is
coagulated with the smoke of
Saturn.
True Albatio. Take
of Sublimated Zaibach, x. parts.
White Sublimated Kybrick, iij. parts. Sal Ammoniac, iij. parts. Imbibe frequently with water of sal ammoniac, and dry until they are white and roasted. Again imbibe and roast. At length take water of the eagle, Put it to dissolve that is, sal ammoniac, double the amount of the powders. under moderately warm dung for three weeks. Then take it out of the dung and congelate it into white powders. Of these project one part on 100 parts of purged Venus, and the whole will become silver. These are the truest experiments of many philosophers who have worked by Zaibach, Kybrick, and the eagle. For these are three great spirits. Thus prepared, they tinge.
To Fix Sulphur. Take as much aquafortis as you wish. Inject 5J. of live sulphur and the same quantity of pulverised alum. Dissolve in water, when the sulphur will become red as blood and fixed. This water dissolves all bodies. Note.
Mercury Mercury
is
is
called
called water.
honey, calcined Luna,
Thus
Plato.
the
assistance.
Water
of
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writino^s of Paracelsus.
376
Fixing Salt.
Take Quick Lime, ij. parts. Soft Smegma, j. part
Wood
Ashe.?, ^ part.
some ashes from the dregs of wine. Reduce all these to powder so that they may become a strong lixivium. Strain through a filter coagulate, and -Also
;
you
have fixing
will
salt,
concerning which see below also.
Fixing Oil.
Take
of olive
Mix
one part.
three parts, of quicklime two parts, and of sal
oil
all
together and
distil
the
oil
Do
from them.
ammoniac
this three times,
always renewing the dregs.
Soft Soap. scutellse of water, in which place one dissolved. Then add half a scutella and
T;me twelve Boil until
Remove from
reduced one-third.
the
fire
and
distil
by a
until
oil
ashes.
the water
Then
filter.
parts of the water thus strained off add a third part of
evaporating over a
wood
scutella of boil
9.
Do
to this
is
two by
fire.
Coagulation of Mercury. part of Luna and five parts of purified Mercury. Place it in a glass vessel with a narrow neck which is well smeared below with the lute of wisdom. Place under the amalgam in the glass one layer of salt previously prepared, and also above. Afterwards pour over it the oil previously prepared to the height of three fingers, and let it boil over
Make an amalgam from one
a slow
for seven days.
fire
Note. In art
we
easily fulfilled.
two co-operators by whose means our working
find
The one
the destroyer, that
is
sulphur and arsenic reduced to an sulphur inspire
to coagulate Mercury.
is
and
vivify the stone,
omits to prepare the
oil
if it
oil
to say, sal
is
promote the work.
The
in
due manner.
of Mercury should take the
oil
more But
propert}' of
But the property of arsenic
be prepared
is
ammoniac. is
only to
Hence, whoever
of arsenic
in its place.
But when a philosopher speaks of joining in matrimony the body and the by sal ammoniac, he speaks of the oil extracted from Mercury.
spirit
Solution of Bodies. Dissolve honey over a
fire,
so as to imbibe the moisture.
and pour over
Then
distil
it
tiles
heated and pounded
by an alembic, and a saffron-
coloured water will be produced, because otherwise the honey cannot be distilled.
Into this water let the spirits of aquafortis enter, that
Then
is
to say,
Luna and Sol in that Then this water, and get ready also an ounce of prepared common salt. converted material can be eaten or drunk without injury, because it is aurum equal parts of
potabile.
vitriol
and
saltpetre.
dissolve
A
Tear the fustian or the cloth
remain thus three days.
When
length
in
Afterwards take
at first into fragments.
out and dry
it
;
Let
it
on a board.
it
has dried take one tatter after another on a small stick.
it
make
to
377
a pint of good wine, and with the wine mix about a half pint of
it
good brandy.
if
Paracelsus the Great.
NoTA Bene. That vou may know the Recipe for Solution. clean cloth, like ticken or fustian, as much as an ell
Take a pour on
Manual of
Burn
it
as
Put the burnt tatters one by one into a brazen basin.
tinder.
when
the whole will speedily
become an oil. Then amalLet the Mercury evaporate Place a calx upon the slab. again Pound it with brandy. Then take twice the quantity of the above oil, and twice the quantity of the body of Mercury. Temper it thoroughly on a table made of Saturn. Set it subsequently in a Place
a cellar,
in
gamate Luna
or Sol with three parts of Mercury.
moist place, when you will soon find
oil
of the body, which use as yOT
know
how.
Luna Fixed by Me. Take
antimony, and arsenic, and imbibe them well with
saltpetre,
tartar, so that they
may
wards melt them
a tigillum,
one. loth.,
in
Dry them somewhat.
be thoroughly mixed. first
over a slow
fire
Sol
is
the
first
which
is
not altered by
fire,
nay,
duration, the rectifier and lightener of
But
Saturn.
Saturn
it is
it
all
of these one-fifth to one
it is
elixir,
bodies, and
is
improved by
which
is
fire,
and
of eternal
joined with Mars and
cannot be joined with Mars except Mars be
joined as
of
and then over a stronger
Pound the whole together into powders. Take or more if you like, and you have, etc. (sic).
cannot (otherwise) become a great or perfect
oil
After-
but with
filed,
it is.
A Noble Work. Take Saturn and melt it. Before it hardens project an equal amount of Mercury. Wash this amalgam thoroughly with water and salt, afterwards Grind on a stone, and afterwards add as much sal with pure water. there is mercury. ammoniacum as Place it in a damp, warm place. When it
is
entirely dissolved
take sublimated arsenic.
Imbibe
thoroughly on the stone with the aforesaid water.
remember until it
is
it is
Set
it
it
that there should be something there to lighten
quite cold.
projected
by pounding
it
to dissolve, but it.
Let
it
stand
This preparation serves as a means of lightening when
on one hundred parts of Venus and on two hundred of
Saturn.
But note that you always ought to place
the spirit
may
in
it
salt of alkali, so that
penetrate better and enter through the whole body.
Fixation and Rubification of Mercury.
sal
Tiien the Take bloodstone, mix it with sal ammoniac and sublimate it. ammoniac ascends red, but the stone will remain at the bottom black.
Then, having once sublimated the Mercurj', grind
and sublimate ®The
it.
text at this point,
The mercury and
in
many
will
it
with that sal ammoniac,
remain at the bottom fused and
red.
places throughout the latter part of the collection, seems exceedingly corrupt.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
378
Note. Calcine the cinnabar well with vitriol and
salt,
when
goes into the
all
it
metal.
Note.
With regard taken out,
it
enters
not readily enter into lead, nothing having been
will
matters
boil the
of vitriol, and
what
to
strong
in
Add
alkali.
much
thereto as
as you like
in.
\V.\TER OF Mercury.
Take
of mercury sublimated and of antimony
Put together
pieces separately.
in
apply a gentle
with a coal.
Increase the
fire until it
remove
Then put again
Set
it
a sand
in
attach itself in the tube, ease
it
When
no longer comes over.
Pound
put the matter upon a stone.
Break each
each.
giiij.
a well-luted retort.
Should
Refine over.
fire.
in
Should Mercury
small.
cold
it is
still
;
it
remain,
Refine more effectually than become water. Thus you may also make oil of antimony. Take the matter in a glass. Pound small. Pound the moisture. Do this continually and distil until a red oil comes over. it.
previously, even until
all
a retort.
into
the mercury has
Fixation.
Take
of Mercury Sublimate, part
Sulphur, part
Break up together. out, at first stir
Put
a cucurbit.
in
weak, afterwards stronger.
with a piece of
wood
;
will
it
j.
ij.
Set
in
it
Let the smell go
sand.
Should the sulphur not lose
then lose
its
smell,
smell soon.
its
Proof. Set
upon a
it
Should
plate.
quantities of sulphur
not smell
it
Pound
and mercury.
fixed
it is
;
does, take equal
if it
together, as at
first,
until at is
fixed.
Reduce as Follows. Take one sulphur. first
and of Mercury, and a small quantity of
Put the Mercury into the crucible and thoroughly
a small
Wash
part both of litharge
fire,
the Luna.
then a stronger, until Refine
in
it
melts.
Then separate
Saturn.
Apply at
lute.
Afterwards
let
it
cool.
in aquafortis.
White.
Take
the white of forty eggs, break up well and boil.
water through a
same quantity dry
cloth.
Afterwards take
of arsenic.
Ib.j.
let
Ib.j.
finger or two.
Set in horse
dung
in
to the height of a
a closed glass for fifteen days.
out on the sixteenth day, and you will find an aqueous mass. in cinders.
Of
this
j.
will
become
perfect.
Take
Coagulate
this
part tinges one hundred of the bodies, and especially
of purged Venus, to which it
the
ammoniac be
of sal
Pour the water over the pounded powder
added twice.
distil
Impaste frequently with the aforesaid water, and
Afterwards (another copy has)
suflficently.
Then
of Mercury sublimate, and the
perfect Luna.
if
there be added three or four parts of Luna,
If
you add a ferment the Luna
will
be
still
more
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
2>'19
Oil of Mercury and of the Sun for Gilding.
Take
Ammoniac, i
of Sal
oz.
Mercurj- Sublimate,
which are to be well pounded together.
Then remove
the yolk, and
same with
the
smell. sal
calx of the Sun.
Boil the salt
ammoniac it
hard
boiled
tgg.
or through the floor a small hole with
Take one quarter
of the Sun.
Paint
it
salt
Put this also
as calx.
before to dissolve into an
moisten
a
pounded small. Let the Mercurj- lose its with hot water from the calx. Then take twice as much
Put therein
with Mercuf}-.
quint, into
Put the egg on a small glass to eliminate the humour.
a barrel of a pen.
Do
make under
j.
Put
in
an egg with a small hole.
Set
it
as
but should the sal ammoniac not melt readily,
oil,
with brandy.
Oil of Vitriol.
Pour aquafortis on carefully-calcined Afterwards
for fourteen days.
and the
let
the
it
stand
in
putrefaction
remains at the bottom.
oil
To Extract the Quintessence Put
Let
vitriol.
phlegma of the aquafortis be removed,
ammoniac
of Luna, Saturn, or Jove.
acetum
Put tartar
and
in this the
ashes of Saturn, Jove, or Luna.
warm dung
sal
for eight
days.
into
Afterwards
distil,
in
a well-closed glass vessel. Seal thoroughly and set in
and the acetum comes
first,
next the quintessence of the calx, after the manner of quicksilver.
Aquafortis on Venus, to make Luna. Take of Salt, of Hungarian White Vitriol, j.
of Alum,
lb.
each.
of Arsenic,
Pound small according therein as
much
to the proper manner.
Make
aquafortis.
Dissolve
as you like of \'enus, and you will have silver to the quantity
of one-half.
Elixir.
Take equal plates of them,
parts of Sol, Luna, Mars,
and Venus.
which suspend over acetum.
Do
Scrape
Melt them and make
off the
green which
will
consumed and turned transmutes it into portion green on lo parts of Luna green. A of this into If you wash this green with warm water, and afterthe appearance of Sol. wards mix with it some water of sal ammoniac, letting it stand for seven
be formed there.
days, and dissolve,
this until the plates are entirely
its effect
is
doubled
If,
too,
in
place of sal
ammonia
you added aqua foetida, that is, Mercury, and then operated, as with the water nor can you make any of sal ammoniac, you would certify your work in a philosophic being combined mistake on account of the metallic substances ;
way.
Note Rubify
this well.
vitriol,
pound
ammoniac over a slow
it,
fire,
Another. and dissolve it in acetum. Then sublimate sal and add what is sublimated to the aforesaid red
The Hermetic and Alche^nical Writings of Paracelsus.
380 water
Give
equal weight.
in
will be
coagulated and
become
a deeper red.
Fix
on a plate of copper.
and a sort parts of in
my
a slow
it
fixed.
If
until
it
Luna
into Sol
;
One
change sixty parts of Luna
will
as above
of Mercury,
good
powder.
Pour
fire,
Take
so that
it
melt.
upon
it.
Thus
it
had been
much
then be
into Sol
better.
in Sol.
each.
)
the alembic from
into
water lose the smell thereof, so that in
it
it
red.
Subject the other in a
it.
Take
it
Make
out.
again, and put on the
may become
red as scarlet.
it
Take the gold and throw
upon ten ducats of
it
arrives at the twenty-fourth grade.
I
believe that
into a
Let the
fire.
Pulverise.
Incorporate the powder thoroughly with
a crucible.
prove
water out of them, from which Mercury
may become
it
own water back
its
j.lb.
>
Vitriol,
Distil a
together.
proceeds into the alembic. glass to a
melt
will
it
;
Tincture on Ten Parts of Luna Take of Verdigris, \
Mix thoroughly
will
to eight parts of Sol,
P.\rt of
of
Melt a ducat
powder
this
it
will
it
produced, one part of which tinges thirty
and that Sol
Add antimony
opinion.
completely fixed, which you
it is
Put three parts of
of fermentation will be
and
cautiously for three days,
fire
be not fixed, then repeat, and
it
it,
silver, if
or
and
a ducat
resolved in water of Mercury, and again coagulated with the
first
former powders and resolved, and that three times,
it
ought to tinge the
powders.
Water Mercury
thrice sublimated
of Mercury.
from tartar
thereby turned into water in a
is
cucurbit in hot ashes.
Particular.
Take
Add
red vitriol, put
it
while
crocus of Mars and leave
grind
it
very
fine,
and imbibe
still
warm
in
strong acetum, and dissolve.
thus for eight days.
it it
Then take verdigris, Next take sulphur,
with the former liquid.
Mercury just as if you wished to make cinabrium, or else take cinabrium itself and sal ammoniac equal in quantity to the above-mentioned and
kill
Grind
ingredients.
together, and
all
and
it
much
will
become
place
Take one part of
Coagulate the solution.
Add
Sol.
that
on porphyry to be dissolved.
powder and
the Spirit of Venus,
to ten parts of it
will
Luna,
perhaps be so
the better.
Aquafortis Purging all Metals and Fixing Sublim.\ted Spirits. Take vitriol, alum, sal ammoniac, and oil of tartar. If you put a metal over
warm
them from
ashes all
it is
soon melted.
It
fixes
sublimated spirits and purges
superfluity.
A Marvellous Fact
about Mercury. equal parts, and sublimate both together. The)^ will then ascend together into the glass. Take some of that sulphur and sublimated salt, ground small, and place them in a sublimatory on
Take
salt
of tartar
and sulphur
in
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
Sublimate them together
crude Mercury.
381
then you will find the sulphur and
;
the salt of tartar above in the glass sublimatory, while the Mercury remains at
nobody can ever more revivify it. Take two parts of white it. At length mix them together, and congelate. of these powders to 200 (or else 100) 3 of Mercury made
the bottom, and
sulphur, and also dissolve
Take also j. 5 warm, and caused
to melt.
Then you
will find
Luna.
Cement.
Take one
Make
part of
common
R
,
as
it
in itself,
is
two parts of
tile
dust,
W.\TER FIXING ALL SPIRITS AND DISSOLVING ALL MeTALS. Take alum, verdigris, and orpiment, j. oz. each sal ammoniac and :
ij.
oz.
M.
regal cement.
each
cinnabar * oz.
:
Make
vitriol
a strong water.
The Fixation of Orpiment. Pound it and distemper it with crepine oil. Pound again, imbibe, desicPreserve for use. Then put in the fire and cate, and pound over a stone. therein it will become coagulated and hard. you put heated Mercury melt. If Then take it, place it in a glass, and close securely. Set it over a slow fire for seven days (otherwise seven hours), and it becomes good gold.
How
THE Spirits of Water
.\re
prodlxed
:
or concerning the
Aquification of all Spirits a.nd all Bodies.
Take of Calx of the Shells of Eggs, 01 bal Ammoniac, .
,
j-
pound each.
)
should take fixed sal ammoniac.)
(I
Cover well with the lid of Venus. Subject to a fire Then pour over the stone. Pound most of coals. This smelts the matter. Pour minutely. Set to dissolve over the stone. Take j. ounce of this water. over whatever spirit you will which flows in the crucible. It is then converted Put into a copper vessel.
Dissolve the same
into a powder.
Sun melting
in the crucible.
then dissolves bodies.
in
in
Take as much as
waters are fixed.
all
Water
case
is
Then
this nine times.
of this water.
Pour
it
the
over the
thereupon converted into powder, which
It is
The
water.
You have
Do
water.
there
is
the
same with Luna,
Mercurj', and other
waters fixed to work with them.
very good for the Red. ammoniac, sulphur, and, if you will, antimony Grind these together and distil with an alembic, until the whole of the also. water shall pass away, for this helps greatly to redness, and is marvellous for the above (sic) work of one day.
Take
of Vitriol
:
vitriol, verdigris, sal
Elixir.
When Luna then
sublimated fixed arsenic, sublimated fixed Mercury, and calx of
are covered over with water of sal is
formed an
elixir for
the secret of the Greeks.
ammoniac and
every purified metal, and
it
dissolved with
it,
This
is
tinges 100.
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
382
The Work of One Day for the Red. Take
parts of * and grind in a brazen mortar with
v.
j.
part of sulphur.
Place this in a vessel enclosed for four hours in a baker's oven.
Afterwards
pound and imbibe with water of atramentum and of sal ammoniac. project j. part on xxx. parts of Luna, and thus it will be coloured. melt this Luna with Sol
this
If
you
be very good.
will
it
Of
Another for Saturn. Take
Pure Live Sulphur,
Crude Mercury, Prepared First of fire
all
so that
may
it
parts.
ij.
5.
acetum over a slow Next add Mercury, by well incorporating it with a rod. Then it will be black amalgam. Take
be resolved.
from the
fire
increase the
it
and grind
vessel well luted with a
Then
part.
join the sulphur with the vitriol, pulverised in
with them, and stirring this
ij.
Vitriol,
j.
fire
good
for
it
to an impalpable powder.
Give
seal.
it
Break the glass and pound
one week.
continuous heat, until you have a bright red colour. placing
it
closed with
Then
another great and strong vessel, well luted
in its
hermetic
Give
seal.
Place in a glass
a moderate heat for
it
a very strong
fire
two weeks. it,
giving
in the midst,
for
it
cool and pound,
one week,
and until
you see the substance melted like wax or oil. Then refrigerate and take out If it does not turn to oil as is here described, that most precious substance. dissolve it with rectified aqua vitK, and coagulate three or four times until the Then melt viij.lbs. of Saturn and viij.lbs. of oil remains in the fire. Mercury. Make an amalgam, as you know how, by fusion, and project j. lb. of this medicine leaving
wood.
to melt for a quarter of
it
Afterwards cool the black substance
viij.lbs.
of Saturn and the
viij.lbs.
of Saturn and
viij.lbs.
viij lbs.
an hour by mixing
it
with
one part thereof tinges the
of Mercury into a medicine.
of Mercury.
do again as above, and you
part,
;
Take
of this
Melt again
medicament one
will find Sol.
Augmentation for Sol.
Take Saturn. Melt, and pour over it an equal quantity of Mercury. Mix it with Saturn and Then take the same quantity of white arsenic. Mercury, and let it become a powder. Then take three parts of Luna. Melt Inject the powder gradually, and little by little, until it completely in * Then purge in a cineritium. Stir it well with a stick. enters. .
A
Secret for the Solution of Sol or Luna.
Place it in a calx of Luna or Sol with sal ammoniac. mouth open over hot ashes, and dry with a moderate Next heat until there shall be seen a white mass in which is no plated Luna. Thus it is or twelve natural days. of Maria for nine dung or a bath in place
Pound thoroughly
glass vessel with the
dissolved into water, which putrefy for the proper time.
and dissolve
it
;
and thus you
will
have the Stone.
Afterwards congeal
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
Or
Better.
Ferment the water thus produced with lumps of Luna or
gence, until,
Stone
is
you
if
congeal
;
it
Then
dissolve the
frequently according to your lofty
have operated
shall
or with
little
the
rightly,
Luna intelli-
Philosophers'
perfect
Also take care that the volatile part does not exceed that
produced.
This
of the fixed body.
way you understand.
the
in
in the aforesaid water
of Luna,
filings
an equal quantity of Mercury dissolved and then
Sol, with
re-converted to Stone,
383
is
Way.
the First Secret
Water of Mercury. Take of Mercury, equal ^ _ ^ of Sugar Candy, ,
1
quantities,
)
Pound them
Leave the whole
together.
to putrefy for ten days.
Distil
it
through the alembic twice and you have sublimated arsenic.
Sublimated Arsenic. Take of Crude Arsenic, )
of Soap,
Pound
Mix
the arsenic well.
This arsenic dissolves well
(
these together, and so sublimate once or twice.
in aquafortis
and
is
good
to
fix.
Item.
Take equal
parts of crude sulphur and mastich.
OR,
Take equal parts come a water or an oil. parts of saltpetre.
Mercury
fixed in
of sulphur and white sugar.
Take
thrice distilled
Distil to a water.
It
aqua
Distil,
dissolves
and there
and place
vitae,
in
it
will
two
bodies and renders
all
one hour.
Dissolving W.\ter. Dissolve glass gall
in
The same water
an aquafortis.
dissolves
all
spirits, arsenic, sulphur, cinnabar. Mercury, etc.
Note. Calcine sublimate.
Luna with orpiment. Thus it becomes fine
Sprinkle the same powder upon Mercury silver.
Note.
Take equal parts of orpiment and vitriol. Melt together so that a red powder is produced, of which project some on Luna in a state of flux, and you
will find fine gold.
Extraction of the Ql'INTESSEnxe fro.m all Metals. Take acetum distilled from wine and sal ammoniac fixed extracts the quintessence from
all
metals and
is
in
it.
It
a secret.
Calcination and Solution of Sol.
Take laudanum into leaves,
and burn
well it.
ground
Then
{sk), stratify
the Sol
is
it
with Sol perfectly divided
reduced to a calx, which
forthwith dissolved in the quintessence of wine.
Let
it
is
to be
be distilled by ashes
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
384
go over through the alembic. If you wish it into water, and distil gently quintessence, and remain in the bottom as gold of a and
itself alone, then put
wish but
to have pure Sol by
will
it
for
it
aurum
potabile, use
otherwise,
if
citron colour.
you
If
with the quintessence of wine and rectify
it
you can make these two
for a tincture,
if
pass over as a
will
it
;
fixed as
you know how
;
;
or
you join dissolved gold together with its own quintessence to Then there is produced a tincture which rejuvenates
rectified oil of vitriol.
With bodies, and will transmute all metallic bodies into perfect gold. Mercury dissolve white sugar in quintessence of wine. Place at once in the calx of Sol burnt by laudanum and it is wholly dissolved'. These
human this it
solutions avail for
all
purposes.
Oil of Tartar which dissolves itself
Take
water of
rectified
from
it,
before,
calcined tartar, or, as
Let
life.
stand 24 hours
it
Do
it.
this until
it
Let
it
oil
and you have
This recipe
etc.
is
it
putrefy for 24 hours, as
dissolves itself into an
crude Mercury (and possibly prepared with Saturn).
Pour over
Extract the water
in the bath.
and add fresh aqua vita continually.
and extract
in he.\t.
think better, salt of tartar.
I
oil.
Then take
two drops of that an old wound.
Inject
the best medicine for
Augment.
Take of
Filings of Luna, \ oz.
of Crude purged Mercury, i^ oz.
Amalgamate. Add a third part of sublimated Mercury. Place in a jar or Pour on oil of tartar so as to stand higher than two fingers. Shut glass. up place over a fire, and apply a slow heat for six days, until the matter be hardened. Take out. Pound on a stone. Place again in the vessel. Add ;
more
oil
Set again over a slow
as before.
fire
of five or six coals.
Rule the
Then test. Refine a small quantity Saturn, but what you do not reduce augment with Mercury, and work
fire
for three days
and
will
it
be
fixed.
in
as
before.
Oil of Tartar Dissolve calcined tartar
Cause the vinegar
in
is
made as follows.
good wine vinegar.
to evaporate.
length permit the salt to melt by
Distil
through the
filter.
Dissolve again, doing so ten times. itself into
an
oil,
At which use for the above
digestion.
Oil of Luna.
Take Pound, place fortis,
in
of \'erdigris,
)
of Sulphur.
1
Make
a glass cucurbit.
with a gentle
fire
at
first, latterly
5U-each.
therefrom a water like an aqua-
with a stronger.
Next take
5ij.
of
Pour the former water thereupon. Luna dissolved in common Extract the water together with the aquafortis through the alembic even unto aquafortis.
and the matter becomes brown in a glass thus the Luna in the becomes hard, and melts in the warmth like an oil or wax. To the Place in a cucurbit of glass, lute well. same Luna add viij. oz. of purged t? the
olitet,
Keldt
;
(?)
.
A Set in sand,
at
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
with a gentle
first
for
fire,
days
eight
afterwards increase the grade of heat.
unifies itself;
does not ascend, yet
it
becomes
and
fixed,
385 the matter
until
Although the matter
half n part of
remains.
it
For the Ashes of Luna. when it is in a state of fluxion project Then make filings from it, and calcine them in an open reverberatory apparatus for six days. Thus the salt is extracted, w^hich coagulate and again dissolve. One part thereof coagulates Put Luna
on
purging
salt of alkali, thus
it
and
a crucible to melt, and
in
it.
40 parts of Mercury, and that Mercury, being coagulated, tinges 50
fixes
parts of purified \'enus into real gold.
Oil of Sulphur.
Take Sulphur,
\
Tartar,
Pound
together.
and put
Melt.
Immediately
Thus
into a strong lye.
it
Ib.j.
>
Glassgall,
each.
)
liquefies extract
it
dissolves,
and the
it
lye
with an iron spoon,
becomes
red.
To Fix Saltpetre. Take flux
Ib.j.
fixed,
and soon becomes an
pounded
Melt slowly.
of saltpetre in a vitrified vessel.
thereupon one ounce of feathery alum
Sprinkle into
Thus it is The altimen plumosum must previously be
oil.
(iiltimen plianostini).
small.
Coagulation
Take arum water from
it.
continually,
and
Put Mercury thereupon.
in
of'
Mercury.
May. Pound it with a wooden hammer. Then distil a Pour it thereupon, even to the fourth time. Pound the faeces in
let
the water be consumed.
When
a crucible.
Thus
Then make eeltele die druchtic (?). commences, throw the powder
the bubbling
the Mercury coagulates itself into Luna.
Oil of Mercury. Dissolve Mercury
and
fire
oil
for
three
aquafortis.
in
hours
Pound upon a
Dry.
out.
an
stir
in
stone.
Allow
Protect'it from the
to boil.
it
Then take the .Mercury a moist cellar. Thus it becomes
an open glass.
Put
it
into
or water.
King.
Take "
alutnen de phnna.
-w'ater clarifies
Place vinegar over
new and immature
Make ;
and
distil into
water.
Cement.
the king out of naphtha and marcasite, that
is,
antimony made
the latter becomes black as amber, the other white as Luna.
therewith
Sol
and Luna with
This
pearls.
Note.
white
it
pounded
glass
and
salt
for
Cement
twenty-four
hours, etc.
AA
The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
386
Fixed Llna, Discovered by Me.
Take
Saltpetre,
Antimony, Sublimated Arsenic.
Imbibe thoroughly with
wards melt
oil
a crucible,
in
with a slow
first
Take
the whole of this to powder.
and you attain the
Dry
of tartar, mixing- intimately.
j.
fire,
slightly.
After-
then with a strong one.
Grind
quint over
or more,
5j.,
you
if
like,
result.
Note.
Take equal below
parts of
common
rendered
salt
fluid like
wax by
Place in a strong glass phial or in a crucible, setting
sulphur.
Then
it.
be incorporated.
will
it
One
a candle, and
above and
fire
part of this suffices
for
60
parts of Mercury.
Or, If
it
sublimated Mercury, or several times with
incorporated with
be
sublimated arsenic, and then be
sublimated,
it
works wonders.
The Extraction of Mercury. common water, lest
Take sal
itself
it
be too strong, and
oil
of antimony, with
aquafortis, to which join
ammoniac.
which you can
If
you evaporate
this
water you have
test anything.
Note. you wish to Dissolve Mercury Sublimate and White
When
Marcasite (perhaps Bismuth). Put the sal ammoniac into aquafortis, and they they
Aquafortis
will not.
is
made
will dissolve
;
otherwise
of vitriol, saltpetre, alumen, cinnabar, and
verdigris.
Note.
Take
oil
quantities.
of tartar and
Mercury
will
oil
ee over
amalgam of Luna and Mercury in Hans Rormeyer has stated.
equal
then be fixed as
The Secret Philosophical Water Coagulating Mercury and Fixing Luna.
Make away viij.
the
aquafortis out of vitriol and saltpetre in equal quantities.
first
water.
Ib.j.
of the other.
parts of vitriol beaten small.
days.
Afterwards
distil
coagulates Mercury. the
Take
through a
It is
Add
viij.
Take
parts of verdigris and
Seal up well, and put in a bath for nine filter.
This water dissolves
the secret of the philosophers.
Place
all
(?
bodies and
upon) plates
Moon.
Augment of the Moon. marc of Mercury. Impaste with 3J. of sulphur and one ounce of j. Make arsenic. Then pound with them four ounces of iron filings. cinnabar with it all. Take up j. marc, of Luna and oz. iij. of cinnabar. Should the Luna have remained in the test, throw it upon it and it augments Take
itself.
A
Manual
of Paracelsus the Great.
387
Note.
Take Ib.j. of sugar candy. Put it in a tin can. Pour therein four parts of good white wine. Put this all in a kettle with water. Close the cans {sic) well with the upper cowl. Then boil so that at least one can may be well boiled. Then pour again another can of wine upon the remaining matter. Do this in the same fashion five times and you will have the oil. Lay the species therein as you will. Take one ounce of oil or of any species of aromatic. Pour a wine into
and reserve in the oil.
it
again, as above, and
matter at the bottom of
find a black
for use as
Boil
you know.
and you
it
will
it
let it boil ;
oil
species according to your pleasure
balsam.
artificial
tinges
Then you will by means of a filter,
as before.
extract the
Lay the
have an
Imbibe with wine and
thereof.
it
Take a drop .or two
itself.
Of the Water which dissolves Sol or Luna. Take alkali.
calx of the
Place
Sun or Moon.
Pound
have perennial water.
This water fixes
Cleanse with water of salt
it.
a dissolving vessel, and when
in
it
has been dissolved j'ou will
spirits
and coagulates Mercury.
(Perhaps alkali of the Philosophers would be better.)
Note.
Take a common aquafortis. Dissolve Luna therein. Place impasted Mercury with sulphur, as you know. Extract it eight times, and prove in the cineritium. If you add oil of soap thereto, it will then be made. Oil of Soap.
Shave the soap small. Prick the leaves
[sic).
Add
to
beaten
it
Distil
tile.
through
retort.
It fixes all spirits.
Salpetra Lupi.
Take equal dissolve in
it
as
parts of vitriol, saltpetre, and alum.
much Mercury
as possible. fire
the
of sublimation, and at the
bottom as red as blood.
Next take
sal
Do fifth
Keep
vessel, let
this five times,
time
it
ammoniac sublimated once by
on marble to be dissolved, and
Take
let it
become a red
oil,
five times.
and of the
Then put
which also preserve.
Sol which has been calcined and five times sublimated, with an
have a red
you
will
j.5,
liquor solis j.5. it
remains at
It
iron filings, j.Ib.;
Sublimate
equal weight of the above-mentioned sal ammoniac.
project
always giving at the end
does not ascend.
this.
above-mentioned Mercury an equal weight. it
aquafortis and
of sublimation, so that the spirits
Having cooled the
what remained at extract once more by an alembic. fire
Make
extract the water by an
may go what was sublimated and the bottom be again dissolved in the same water, which
alembic, and finally give a great
out of the water.
a
Then
liquid,
which you must
retain.
Put this to dissolve
Then take
oil
;
and
of Mercury
Mix and coagulate. Take one part of this medicine, on twenty-five parts of calcined Luna, and you have Sol always
remaining at twenty-four degrees.
3S8
Hermetic and Alchemical Writings 0/ Paracelsus.
Tlie
Note.
Take
of Calx of Luna, 1
of Saltpetre,
Pound
on a gentle
fire until all
Next, pound
to a small pwder.
it
When
it
in
a crucible.
Set
of the crucible on a stone.
Lea\e the matter with the stone
damp
in a
dissolves in water, take one part of this and one part of water
Put both waters together
of Mercury.
One
temperature to coagulate. revivified
Put them
Then pour out
melts.
j.
)
three substances well upon a stone.
tlie
cellar.
each part
\
of Salt Alkali,
Leave in a moderate powder tinges xij. parts of
one glass.
in
part of
the
Mercury.
Fixation of V'enus.
Make
a sharp alkali of pitch ashes and quicklime.
Take
of Arsenic,
Ib.j.
of Saltpetre,
{(ilias qq).
Ib.j.
of Calcined Tartar,
Jiiij.
of Mercury Sublimate, 5J-
of Orpiment,
Make powders. upon.
Pour four parts of the
lye therein.
Add an equal weight
Melt Venus.
powder.
Let
it
dry as a
boil as
of the powders in flux there-
then be fixed \'enus.
It will
Antimony.
Take some
that has been subtly ground.
aquafortis, until Distil
until
it
Take is
it
the antimony and calcine well. it
it
;
Water or
with
six,
of
third
Place
is
it
it
when it the same
the fourth part of gold.
it
small
it
it
;
it
imbibe a few times, say,
six times in
Put
dry seven times. the weight of
a distilling stove.
gently, then stronger, and strongest last of
and
oil
Distil
five
in
it
a
of vitriol, it
as an
Then
all.
brilliant like a small oriental pearl in a distillatory
beautiful sublimated
phlegm
in the bath.
waters.
;
it
Mercury as can never before have been seen.
proceed continuously as long as you please.
fix
weight
the
part of the sublimated Mercury distils away, and the other stands up
beautiful
all
in
of Mercury.
Pour upon
together with the moisture. first
does not diminish
This you must pour into
Continue to pound
vitriol.
thoroughly luted glass.
aquafortis, at
it
tinges Mercury into Luna, and
Take Mercury sublimate, pound oil
If
small and pour the quintessence thereupon,
extracts to itself a certain substance.
glass vessel
therefrom an ordinary
it becomes white. Next pour the quintessence thereupon. becomes fixed. This proves it.
Next, pound
right.
Distil
Then you
Ferment
and coagulate, and
this it
will
have water of Mercury, which
God
such
Then
Next, gradually extract the
with soul of the Sun.
will tinge if
is
is
above
Coagulate and dissolve,
has so willed
it.
A
I\Ianual 0/ Paracelsus the Great.
389
Augment of the Sun and Moon, good and short. Take of
Vitriol,
,j
of Verdigris, ;s.
of Alum,
each.
of Saltpetre, of Caluerey,
Pound
Moon
all
log-ether
in
Put the Sun and
the crucible.
Place the powders again on the top.
over them.
Then
two hours and pour together.
coals for
^j.
and place the powders
it is
Set
among
ignited
right.
The above-named Fixation. Take Calcined Tartar, Ib.j. Saltpetre,
Ib.j.
with one measure of acetum distilled by the
filter,
and extract the
with the
salt
said acid, with which imbibe the amalgam, until the acetum with the
salt shall
the acetum evaporate, and so the
amalgam
After every imbibition
harden. will
be fixed.
Also,
if
you
let
imbibe arsenic, and even sulphur, with
will,
oil
of
and add to the former. Thus beyond a doubt will of the amalgamated Mercury. Lastly, melt all, and
tartar three or four times,
be obtained the fixation at length purify.
The Hermetic Take two pounds ammoniac, with and
add
3'OU
on a slow Distil
iij.oz.
oi strong
of sulphur.
salt of alkali,
fire,
it
constantly stirring
by 3 and keep enclosed
in
(If
be an
will
Bird.
lixivium,
the sal oil
and
put therein
coagulating Mercury.)
until all is turned into
it
of sal
iiij.oz.
ammoniac and sulphur be
fixed,
Set to boil
water red as blood.
glass for future use.
Oil of Luna Dissolving Sol.
Take
of aquafortis from vitriol
these by dissolving a
on that Luna
in the glass.
Remove
cheese.
little
Luna It
j.lb.,
therein.
arsenic
a spoon.
Luna, to which add aqua
vita;,
you
Luna, wherein you
will
find the oil of
Convert into an
oil,
distil
A Good
of glass.
Then you
have water of
will
the
Thus
the moisture thence in a bath. will
be able to dissolve gold.
Aquafortis.
in suflScient quantities.
Dissolve sublimated
Coagulate, and you will find ulitmen chatinmn, which
Take
Purify
j.ib.
of alum and pour
coagulate, and you will attain your desire.
Take vinegar and cinnabar Mercury.
and stibium
Then take water
form a substance white and resembling
will
this carefully with
and
j.Ib.,
same quantity of arsenic out of
is
made out
iron to sublime.
.Attinkar of Venus.
Take one powders; also
amalgam press
it
in
part of Luna, filed and calcined by ow:.
means of
part of Mercury, purged by vinegar and
vinegar, and afterwards pour into hot water.
delicately out.
salt into salt.
subtle
Make an
Then take
it
Next take exactly double the quantity of both.
and Put
The Hermetic and Alchcviical Writings of Paracelsus.
3go
them together
an egg with a long neck
in
the neck shall emerge
sublimate
it
Do
come out
Let the humidity
fire.
away
it
;
(sic)
Set on hot ashes over a gentle
Then thoroughly
first.
on the side through the cupel.
lute the neck,
In order to
stand continually for four hours, and
let it
pound
the
stir
and
&%%
Then remove and take exactly the same quantity of arsenic as there was of Luna at first. Let the moisture previously escape. Then seal up, and treat in all respects as before for nine days. Then take sal ammoniac sublimated by itself in the same quantity as the matter. Remove this for nine days.
ammoniac.
the sal
Dissolve that which
is
bottom
at the
in the
white of eggs,
Take you know, while that which will not dissolve is to be dried. again the same weight of sal ammoniac. Pound together. Sublimate the Conarsenic again therefrom, and dissolve it once more in the small trough. as
tinue this until it if
it is
Thus
about.
becomes
it all
Then put
dissolved.
all
Treat
the moisture has departed.
it
it
Ultimately
fixed.
together into the
all
Lute
^%^g-
as before for nine days, stirring it
melts
in
it
the glass like an
enamel, of which one part out of ten parts of purged Venus will be perfect
Luna.
To Augment the Tincture. If
you have a
piece of wood.
quint, put
Afterwards,
it
thus to stand
it
is
in
the
fire until
again readj% treat
a crucible.
in
it
when
it
continually with a small |oz. of Mercury.
Leave
you can no longer perceive any smoke.
When
manner
in this
Stir
hot, set
it is
it
on a
successively, according to the
amount
of the weight of the tincture.
When
a Thing cont.ains
Gold or anything else and will not Separate.
In this case cast a
lump of arsenic twice or
speedily departs and becomes
thrice
upon
it
;
it
then
fair.
For Saturn. Take
it
in
filings dissolved
again by the alembic. filter
and
distil
What
with acetum.
remains
bottom as a fused
in the
Keep on
by an alembic.
Possibly the
oil.
oil
Distil
it
by the tongue and
bottom dissolve again until
in
acetum,
the Saturn remains at the
of Jove could be produced in the
same way.
Flowers of Bodies. Take fingers.
Place them
a vessel to the thickness of
five
the middle of the vessel a circulus, and on
the
the dregs of wine.
Let there be
circulus place
a wooden
in
cross.
On
in
this cross put plates,
of the vessel be smeared with the lute of wisdom.
seven days. it
On
the eighth day take
with a brush, or simply
in
a cloth, and dry the flower.
water.
it
Place
and in a
let
the aperture
hot furnace for
out and put aside the flower, washing
Let the water subside, strain
Then operate
it
as before with the plates.
through
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
391
Note.
Make an
produced during the night,
If
water
a
man young.
is
extract of lemons in a clean vessel.
Put gold
therein.
filings
this is the gold for leprosy,
and
it
keeps
Also.
Crush green sloes
a pan.
in
Amalg.\mation.
Take equal
quantities of orpiment and vitriol.
Take one
produce a powder.
and you
part and throw
it
Smelt together so as to
upon Luna when
it
melts,
Luna.
will find
Another.
Take bismuth
any quantity as calcined tartar and pitch (?). Melt and found three or four times. Then add to the bismuth this wilderness. Take in
one part thereof and one part of Luna.
Purge by Saturn and you
will
have Luna. Also the pars ctun parte * will be tincture over Luna.
But
the
if
Luna be added to Mercury sublimate or arsenic, and be prepared according to art, it will become a tincture over Venus. Each of them tinges flower of
one hundred parts.
Note. Liquefy the body Zidar spoon, projecting
upon a
it
a large crucible and take
in
There
stone.
flat
will
out with an iron
it
be plates which you can
your pleasure for the above-mentioned operation.
select according to
To EXTR.\CT THE Take Luna and
let
it
Whilst
melt.
which attracts the soul of Luna.
Then
SoUL.
in flux project
within
it
some
talc,
extract the soul in thrice distilled ace-
The Luna will be fixed if it be frequently melted with some more talc. Note when the soul is extracted. Then take earth and extract from it the combustible oil. Pour on the earth distilled phlcgma and extract from it its Then take the spirit in which is the soul, plant it by degrees in the salt. tum.
earth, always with an eighth part of water.
repeat this, always drying
drunk up as much as
know how, and
it
it
Afterwards
can.
distil
.^nd Lu.\a.
Luna, and place them
filings of Sol or
days to putrefy.
common
salt
with water of
sal
often in the day as this
many
substance
After this pour so that
it
you can
after
some
away
may be
ammoniac.
the acetum
pure.
Grind, dry
until the
colours supervene, is
has
(otherwise sublimate) as you
in
thereon a sufficient quantity of undistilled acetum, and
with
it
as you have the intention.
Sol
Take
Imbibe the earth and continually
with a gentle heat night and day, until
to
difficulty
stand four or
and wash the
Dry on a in the
Pour
a glass vessel. let it
stone,
five
filings well
and then imbibe
sun, and keep doing this as
substance shall become black.
which you need pay no heed. coagulated on the stone
in
Before
When
the
the sun, after
it
The Hermetic a7id Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
392
has come to the point that
Now
can be dissolved with
it
* in the sun,
put the stone with the substance into a cellar, and
suffices.
it
resolved entirely
it is
night. Set this oil in dung for five days to Then distil with an alembic in a warm and moist place. Having done this, take a clean sponge, dip it in water of sal ammoniac, which changes over the oil. Thus extract the sal ammoniac. After this is extracted, press the sponge in the hand, and having entirely drawn off the sal ammoniac water from the oil, pour on it common tepid water, and you will remove thus all saltness with the sponge, until you perceive nothing into oil in the course of the
putrefy.
saline remaining
and the whole of the
oil is
sweet.
Precipitation.
Melt them. does not
Two
Take of Calcined Alum,
(
of Saltpetre,
)
ounces thereof
^^^^
'^'
The Luna
upon one marc of Luna.
fall
anywise weaken aquafortis.
in
TiN'CTURE.
Take
thin plates of Sol in
any quantity you
like,
place
them
in oil
and
it, let it burn, and Take the calx, grind place in it a it well on a stone with an equal quantity of fixed sal ammoniac modicum of strong acetum. Having ground these ingredients, put them in a glass vessel carefully closed with the lute of wisdom. Set this in horse dung Take sublimated Mercury, for eight days and a red water will be produced. place it in water and grind on a stone. It becomes a red powder. Place it Congelate this and then in dung for eight days and it will become a water.
boil in it
will
one glass vessel.
become calx of
Put
sublimated wine, kindle
in it
Do
gold.
this thrice or oftener.
;
one part tinges one hundred parts of Luna.
Tested Algment of
Take
of Saltpetre,
Make in
Take
aquafortis and purge.
Take again
of the aforesaid water
that water dissolve
ij.
Lux.\.
of Well-calcined .Alum,
Ib.j.
Ib.ij.
of that 4 oz. gij.
Add
In this dissolve
thereto a
little sal
Jij.
ammoniac, and Again
ounces of metallic or crystalline arsenic.
take two ounces, with the addition of sal ammoniac, and dissolve of sublimated
Then
Mercury.
of Luna.
Preserve
dissolve in the said aquafortis
Ib.j.
ij.
ounces
waters specially, each by
these
of purged Venus, which
itself.
solution
These being dissolved, conjoin all the waters in a grand cucurbit. Pour a fourth part of water thereon. Let it stand three hours to mix. Afterwards distil the water from it by means of
takes place, say,
an alembic, the
in
twenty-four lotoncs.
fajces will then
by means of a slowly burning
Mix them under together.
Crush and
Pour refine
the it
powder
in
remain moistened at the bottom. fire.
Then take
a crucible.
Set
into a receiver or crucible
upon
the test
;
you
will
saltpetre it
in
Dry
and melted
a wind furnace.
smeared with honey or
these salt.
Melt suet.
then have twelve ounces of Luna.
A
Manual of
Paracelsus the Great.
393
Cement Regal. Take
of Brick Dust, two parts, of Salt, one part.
Moisten with vinegar
grade therein.
;
Physical Water. ammoniac, which has been thrice sublimated, distilled, and coagulated, and then once more let it be resolved and distilled. Let the
Take
sal
process be repeated thrice.
If
it
coagulated, and finally resolved,
it
also
in
aqua
vitte, distilled,
calcined and burnt bodies, as
all
calcined and sublimated bodies, with a marvellous solution, in a
all
^n
crucible
the
God and by
of
has been dissolved dissolves
fire,
within the space of a single hour, and this by the help
Him
virtue of
Item.
compound our Philosophic water by the help of God and His Take of sal ammoniac, dissolved and thrice distilled, vj. drams, and of oil vj. drams. Mix together and imbibe six of the aforesaid plates by
Let us virtue. rectified
degrees on porphyry, or on a glass table until
when
On
absorbed, put
all is
it
it
has thoroughly imbibed, and
a glass vessel under horse-dung for three days.
in
the fourth day project this on three
pounds of the aqua
On
described, and put in a venter equinus for fifteen days.
you
will find the plate dissolved into a
dung
a water penetrating and quieting,
substance
all
lighting candles
from
the
the philosophic
oil,
escaping, such
and illuminating the
Herewith every
philosophers are sustained.
restrained
is
is
as
already
Change
white water like milk.
every fourth day, complete this water, and this
house, and whereby
vitae
the sixteenth day
Mercurj',
volatile
Sulphur,
and
Arsenic.
The White. Take equal for
nine
people. it
days.
That
is
After this perfect,
shines by night, and
woman. old,
If
if
extract
the
makes a
anyone drinks of
If
beautiful colour
this oil
will
stand
it
be placed in a glass globe
on the face of a man or a
every morning, though he be 100 years
not be able to be out of
asthma.
let
according to the fashion of lay
perfectly produced.
on an empty stomach perfectly cures too,
oil
he shall have the complexion of a young man,
and he
Mix and
quantities of Mercurialis and Saccharum.
spirits.
all
his limbs will
Taking
be light,
this oil for
40 days
epilepsy of 40 years' standing.
The white strengthens man's nerves beyond
all
So,
other kinds.
Mixed with castor oil and applied to the bone it removes all contraction of the and cures paralysis of the nerves. For these reasons we put it forward
limbs,
as precious.
One drop
of this white put in the eye every
morning
clears the
eyes and keeps them healthy. Item.
Take white
(?
cadmia), gold
equal parts.
Grind together.
entirely cures
if it
leaf,
This
is
oriental pearls,
and rhabarbarum
the best medicine for leprosy, which
be taken each morning on an empty stomach.
It
BB
in it
produces
"'
The Hermetic atid Ak/ieviical Wrilings of Paracelsus.
394
a good colour, but care must be taken to drink
little
man
should use this medicine until his complexion
will
be perfectly healthy, please God.
A
and only good wine. is
good, and he himself
Otherwise Take equal
shall be previously heated.
extract the
oil
Mix so that the Mercury Then allow to stand for nine days. Afterwards the mode of the lay people. This oil is perfect, etc.
parts of Mercurialis and Meter.
according to
A Light which .\lways Burns. Take any quantity of sugar, and an equal amount thoroughly and leave
it
to stand for 13 or 14 days
Then take a small linen cloth and glass it would shine like a light.'
oil.
press
it
through.
Mix
of Mercury.
Afterwards If
it
distil
as an
were put
in
a
Fix.\TioN OF JNIercurv.
Take alum and dregs of wine. Dissolve in urine, and distil by a filter. Then resolve sulphur in it by boiling. Place Mercury in it and let it boil with a gentle
fire,
continually stirring
it,
so that
it
may escape
the
fire.
— Certain
fortnulee and quantities 'which occui' in the Manual of Paracelsus are either peculiar to the treatise or have long fallen into disuse,
Note.
and
it
is difficult to
identify their
meaning.
Here ends the First Volu.me of the Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
/
Minotaur FUms, Inc.
Zambeliou 73 Xania (Crete) Greece
