CHAPTER VIL

Concerning the Renovation of Men.
Some of the first and primitive philosophers of Egypt have lived by means of this Tincture for a hundred and fifty years. The life of many, too, has been extended and prolonged to several centuries, as is most clearly shewn in different histories, though it seems scarcely credible to any one. For its power is so remarkable that it extends the life of the body beyond what is possible to its congenital nature, and keeps it so firmly in that con- dition that it lives on in safety from all infirmities. And although, indeed, the body at length comes to old age, nevertheless, it still appears as though it were established m its primal youth.
So, then, the Tincture of the Philosophers is a Universal Medicine, and consumes all diseases, by whatsoever name they are called, just like an invisible fire. The dose is ver>^ small, but its effect is most powerful. By means thereof I have cured the leprosy, venereal disease, dropsy, the falling sickness, colic, scab, and similar afflictions ; also lupus, cancer, noli-me- tangere, fistulas, and the whole race of internal diseases, more surely than one could believe. Of this fact Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Bohemia, etc*, will afford the most ample evidence.
Now, Sophist, look at Theophrastus Paracelsus. How can your Apollo, Machaon, and Hippocrates stand against me ? This is the Catholicum of the
30 Ttie Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
Philosophers, by which all these philosophers have attained long life for resisting diseases, and they have attained this end entirely and most effectually, and so, according to their judgment, they named it The Tincture of the Philosophers. For what can there be in the whole range of medicine greater than such purgation of the body, by means whereof all superfluity is radically removed from it and transmuted ? For when the seed is once made sound all else is perfected. What avails the ill-founded purgation of the sophists since it removes nothing as it ought ? This, therefore, is the most excellent foundation of a true physician, the regeneration of the nature, and the restoration of youth. After this, the new essence itself drives out all that is opposed to it. To effect this regeneration, the powers and virtues of the Tincture of the Philosophers were miraculously discovered, and up to this time have been used in secret and kept concealed by true Spagyrists.
Here ends the Book concerning the Tincture of the Philosophers.
THE GRADATIONS OF METALa
PREFACE.
WE now purpose to speak concerning gradations,* and those of such a kind that a metal dissolved or digested in them can be promoted to the degree of Sol and transmuted. Many persons endeavour to transmute the lesser metals into silver, and others, of a mediocre nature. Into gold, with some difference, however, in their conjunction, so that in a cineritlum, by transmutation of graduation » the lesser metals may be brought to the perfection of the greater ones — a perfection which answers any suitable tests. We will sel down, then, in this place, fourteen gradations. Many others may be found, but these we willingly forget, and have collected those only w^hich arc established by experience, and are worth writing about. These we arrange with a triple differentiation. Some are strong waters, others are oils, and the rest liquids. These we arrange in a like order, as is clear from our method of treating them. That is to say, we put, first of all, strong waters, secondly oils, and lastly liquids.
The First Gradation,
Take of Vitriol, Alum, and Salt Nitre, two pounds each ; of Flos Aeris^ Crocus of Mars, and H^ematitis, a quarter of a pound each ; of Cinnabar, a pound and a half; of Antimony,! three-eighths of a pound ; of Arsenic, one- eighth of a pound.
Let all be distilled with a very strong lire into strong water, which purify and clarify after the method of such waters, and dissolve therein cemented Luna^ or Part with Part, Luna and Venus ; then put it in digestion for a monthp Afterwards take out the residuum by fulmination, and thus you will
• The term gmdatioti is uoed by ParaccJ-vus in more than one sense ; here it b ihe proccs* by i^rKich one «tit>stanc developed into another* Care must be taken lo distln^imh between iMs ami the grades of metak, etc. Thui, in gold there are said to be twenty-fotir grades ; in silver thirty-two grades of sofincss ; in iron farty-«x grades of bardneaa * in lead eighteen degrees of fluxibility ; tweh-e ofmalleation iti copper ; in Mercury eighty^three pfoperttca or branches. • CAirttr^ia A finery Lik III. Preface.
t Frotn the time of Ba&il Valentine, Antimony played alnuvt as important a part in the operatiofis of Alchemy as it performed in Medtdne, It is variouiUy described by Paracelsus. Sometimes the term h made to include all marcaAttes, cacbiroigj taka, ogerta, eic—Df MmHs Mttalikis, Tract ItL, c. > Again, Antim^wy ta a mucibge, or, that you may ondentand me the better, fimLiium. --/^i/, c f* It tran&mtite!* Saturn into Venu««— i>r Aridum. It receives its body from Mercur>', and is the mcxt gross nature of Mercury* after it bas been purged out (tltat i*, expelled from the prime prlncipleX it retains all the powen and virtues of Mercury. Of all products coming fonh out of the three firtt principles, there b none which retains the virtue of Mfcrcury more patently than Antimony. It t» nothinig but Mercury coagulated through the Spirit of Sail and Sulphiu-. Uut, at the same lime, understand thai it is derived horn thft pDtt and rough, not from the subtle nature of the said Mercury, —i?^ EitmuitU A flue. Tract V., c $.
32 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
find it transmuted. Let that which is still in the aquafortis be precipitated and fulminated as above, and thus the remainder of the silver can be obtained. Care should be taken that the aforesaid simples be prepared and separated, first of all, in purgation, because any impurity hinders this work of transmutation verj' seriously.
The Second Gradation.
In this second gradation it is worth while to note carefully another process, it being one which can be adopted with greater gain and subtlety, as follows : Take of Saltpetre and of Cinnabar each one pound. Let them be pounded together, and the water distilled from them ; which water preserve. Do the same with an equal weight of Antimony and Arsenic. Mix together the three waters, and add of Salt Nitre, Alum, and Vitriol each one pound. Distil all again, after the manner of Aquafortis. Afterwards pour this on its Caput Moiiuuw^ which has been finely powdered. Again distil it to its ultimate spirit, and clarify it, just as any other aquafortis. In the case of all metals which have been dissolved in it, and have remained in digestion until perfect, its powers of operation are incredibly great. In very truth, there are latent in a composition with these ingredients all the forces of those metals which have in themselves a corporeal matter. For three of such distillations tinge so powerfully, by the force of the water, that scarcely any greater or more powerful means of working with strong waters could be found.
The Third Gradation.
The third gradation, which is reckoned as last among the strong waters, is to be understood and compounded as follows : — ^Take of Cinnabar, Arsenic, and Antimony, each half a pound, of Saltpetre two pounds, and of Sulphur half a pound. Let these be pounded together, mixed, and distilled to strong water with a very powerful fire. Afterwards take two parts of this water, of Common Alum and Alumen Plumosum each a part and a half, of Vitriol one part, of Verdigris and Crocus of Mars each half a part. Let all these be distilled together into a strong water with a very violent fire. At length, for the whole of this water, take two parts of the Caput Mortuum ; and of Antimony, Verdigris, Cinnabar, and Sulphur, half a part each. Distil these from their dregs by strongly driving them into a receiver. Afterwards, in this water, when it has been clarified, dissolve half a part with ten parts of flowers of brass and crocus of Mars, and let it be digested therein. You will afterwards find more of the residuum transmuted to Sol than you would deem possible to the Art.
The Fourth Gradation.
Let us now speak about gradations made with oils, which do not dissolve after the mode and form of strong waters, but in digestion, and thus accomplish their perfection. The first gradation of this kind is made with Oil of Antimony, in which is latent a wonderful tincture of redness. Let the
The Gradatwns of Metals,
33
following be the process adopted : —Take of Antimony one pound, and of sublimated Mercury half a pound. Let them both be distilled tog^ether over a powerful fire by means of an alembic, and the redness will ascend as thick as blood. This tinges and graduates all Luna into Sol^ and brings the latter when pale to the highest degree of permanent colour.
The Fifth Gradation,
The fifth gradation, whereof the oil Is reckoned second in order, is made in
the manner which follows : — Take of the Oil of the Philosophers one pound, with which mix half a pound respectively of Calcined Alum and of Citrine Colcothan Distil a second time, and afterwards rectify to purity and a constant colour. Put in Luna, and let it remain in digestion. Reduce what remains, separate it in aquafortis, and, lastly, fulminate by means of Saturn.
The Sixth Gradation.
The sixth gradation, third in order among the oils, is made In the following way ; — Take of Live Sulphur* two pounds, and of Flax Oil (linseed oil) four pounds. Let these be formed into a compound, and this be distilled into an oil. To this let there he added the same quantity of Live Sulphur, and let it be treated just as it was for the compound. Let it be digested in horse-dung for a month» or if longer, so much the better* After this let there be added one-eighth of a pound of each of the follow^ing : Salt Nitre, Vitriol, Alum, Flos Aeris, Crocus of Mars, and Cinnabar. Distil whatever will ascend. Remove the liquids, keeping only the oils. Put these apart in a glass cucurbite, adding the species as above, and the Caput Mortuum in powder. Distil again as before. Afterwards pour it off again from the dregs, let it be putrefied a second time for a month, and further distilled. When the colours are gone or separated^ keep the red, and rectify it as required. Lastly, let plates of Luna be digested at the proper time, and at length reduced by a process of fulmination.
The SE\TiNTH Gradation.
Gradations which are produced by liquids are found in two different forms, namely, the tenacious and the watei^\ First let us speak concerning the tenacious. Take one pound of Honey, and in it decoct one-quarter of a pound each of Vitriol and of Alum with an eighth of a pound of lamen. Distil the water from these over a strong fire, and add thereto one-eighth of a pound each of the Caput Morhmm from a human cranium, and half a pound of Sulphur. Decoct into the form of a hepar and digest for a month ; thendisti! and rectify with water until pure. Afterwards add one-eighth of a pound each of Sal Ammoniac, Flos Aens, Crocus of Mars, and Alum; a quarter of a pound of Vitriol, and two ounces each of fixed Antimony and fixed Red Arsenic. Pound
• Live Sulphur t» that of which I Dg PrtrpAP^ihtiihtu^ lib. 1., Tract 9.
nu or pMiiclai wUt cohere without il being iji 4 ili«$Qlv«d or fluid state.-
D
34 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
these together, put into water, and let them stand in heat for ten days. After- wards let the liquid be separated from the dregs. Purify and project into the mixture metallic plates ; then let them remain in moderate digestion until perfect. Lastly, let the matter be burnt* separated, and fulminated.
The Eighth Gradation,
The gradation by the second liquid is as follows :
Take a sufficient quantity of aquafortis. In one part thereof dissolve Sol, in another part Venus, in another part Mars. Mix these solutions together, and afterwards distil the water from them. Pour this again on its dregs, ancl once more distil and pour as before, until a thick liquid is produced therefrom. To this add five parts of distilled and prepared Honey. Let all be digested for a month, and afterwards separate the phlcgma. Keep the liquid, and in it let projected metallic plates be digested for a month. Lastly, let it be coagulated into a mass» and into one distinct body. Let this be sub- jected to a process of fulmination and quartation. Fulminate a second time, and thus will be found an excellent transmutation by means of liquid,
Thb Ninth Gradation,
By the third liquid the ninth gradation is made in the following manner i Take aquafortis, in which dissolve Verdigris, and let both be kept together in horse dung for the space of a month. Now distil the water from the dregs, pour it on again, distil and pour it over several times, until an oil is produced from it. Into that liquid put metallic filings, and in the course of its being digested you will find a transmutation. Although the liquid may be small in quantity, nevertheless it graduates most effectually, and affects the very largest amount of metal in proportion to its own quantity.
The Tenth Gradation;
In the following manner the fourth liquid is to be understood : Take the best Aquafortis » and in it dissolve as much Steel as possible. Let these remain in digestion for a month, and from them will be formed a compound ot one colour. Let this compound also be distilled into a liquid, in which metallic filings must remain in digestion until the liquid is incorpor^ ated. Then let both be fulminated together— that Is to say, the liquid and the metal — by means of Saturn. Then will be found this transmutation, which must be separated and prepared in the usual way.
The Eleventh Gradation.
The eleventh gradation is made by the first aqueous liquid according to the formula subjoined :
Take four pounds of the most highly purified Saltpetre, and repurge this from its phlegma by combustion. Add two pounds of Common Salt duly prepared. Mix these together, and distil with an alembic six or nine times, until the Salts altogether pass over through the alembic into the receiver
\
The Gradations of Metals,
35
placed ready for the purpose. Then take two pounds of this Water ; two ounces each of Flowers of Antimony, Flos Aens» Flos Martis, and Flower of
Sulphur, with two ounces and a half respectively of Sal Ammoniac and of Alum. Mix all these together, and let them remain In digestion for four and twenty days. After this let them be separated in the purest water. Afterwards let Luna and the metals be graduated by digestion, fulminated by Saturn, separated by quartification, and fulminated a second time.
Twelfth Gradation.
By means of the second aqueous liquid the twelfth gradation is produced in the following manner :
Take three pounds of the most highly corrected Vinum Ardens; one pound of the Water of Saltpetre ; half a pound of the Water of Common Salt ; and three quarters of a pound respectively of Vitriol ^ Alumen Plumosum, and A!umen Aochi. Let these be combined to form a mixture, and distil this six times from the Caput Mortimm. \\\ this water let metals be digested, when they will be fixed and transmuted* as we have said above concerning the others.
The Thirteenth Gradation.
By the third aqueous liquid the thirteenth gradation is produced in the following manner :
Take one pound of Isteris of Blood. Distil it thirteen times from its dregs, and place in it two ounces each of Flos Aeris and of Sulphur. Let them be dissolved in horse-dung for a month. Afterwards put in Calx Lunae, so that the colour and substance may be consumed. Afterwards !et them be coagu* lated and fulminated in Saturn. Know^ that in this liquid common Mercur}\ as w^ell as that of metals, is coagulated according to the conditions of Transmutation.
The Fourteenth Gradation.
The fourth liquid in this place is the Water of Mercury, which is made for the fourteenth gradation as follows below :
Take one pound of Mercury sublimated twenty times with Sal Ammoniac, and one ounce respectively of the Flowers of Venus, Mars, Sulphur, and Antimony. Grind and mix all together, and then iet them be resolved into a water. This water requires no other labour whatever, Metals projected into it, digested for a short time, and afterwards fulminated, are graduated in a wonderful manner.
Here ends the Book of Gradations.
THE TREASURE OF TREASURES FOR ALCHEMISTS. By Philippus Theophrastus Bombast, Paracelsus the Great
NATURE begets a mineral in the bowels of the earth. There are two kinds of it, which are found in many districts of Europe. The best which has been offered to me, which also has "been found genuine in experimentation, is externally in the figure of the greater world, and is in the eastern part of the sphere of the Sun. The other, in the Southern Star, is now in its first efflorescence. The bowels of the earth thrust this forth through its surface. It is found red in its first coagulation, and in it lie hid all the flowers and colours of the minerals. Much has been written about it by the philosophers, for it is of a cold and moist nature, and agrees with the element of water.
So far as relates to the knowledge of it and experiment with it, all the philosophers before me, though they have aimed at it with their missiles, have gone very wide of the mark. They believed that Mercury and Sulphur were the mother of all metals, never even dreaming of making mention meanwhile of a third ; and yet when the water is separated from it by Spagyric Art the truth is plainly revealed, though it was unknown to Galen or to Avicenna. But if, for the sake of our excellent physicians, we had to describe only the name, the composition, the dissolution, and coagulation, as in the beginning of the world Nature proceeds with all growing things, a whole year would scarcely suffice me, and, in order to explain these things, not even the skins of numerous cows would be adequate.
Now, I assert that in this mineral are found three principles, which are Mercury, Sulphur, and the Mineral Water which has served to naturally coagulate it. Spagyric science is able to extract this last from its proper juice when it is not altogether matured, in the middle of the autumn, just like a pear from a tree. The tree potentially contains the pear. If the Celestial Stars and Nature agree, the tree first of all puts forth shoots in the month of March ; then it thrusts out buds, and when these open the flower appears, and so on in due order, until in autumn the pear grows ripe. So is it with the minerals. These are born, in like manner, in the bowels of the earth. Let the Alchemists who are seeking the Treasure of Treasures carefully note this. I will shew them the way, its beginning, its middle, and its end. In the
The Treasure of Treasures.
37
following treatise I will describe the proper Water, the proper Sulphur, and the proper Balm thereof. By means of these three the resolution and com- position are coag-ulated Into one.
Concerning the Sulphur of Cinnabar.
Take mineral Cinnabar and prepare It in the following manner* Cook it with rain water in a stone vessel for three hours. Then purify it carefully, and dissolve it in Aqua Regis» which is composed of equal parts of vitriol, nitre, and sal ammoniac. Another formula is vitriol, saltpetre^ alum, and common salt.
Distil this in an alembic. Pour it on again » and separate carefully the pure from the impure thus» Let it putrefy for a month in horse-dung ; then separate the elements in the following manner. If It puts forth its sign,^ commence the distillation by means of an alembic with a fire of the first degree. The water and the air will ascend ; the fire and the earth will remain at the bottom. Afterwards join them again, and gradually treat with the ashes. So the water and the air will again ascend first, and afterwards the element of fire, which expert artists recognise. The earth will remain in the bottom of the vessel. This collect there. It is what many seek after and few find.
This dead earth in the reverberator)^ you will prepare according to the rules of Art, and afterwards add fire of the first degree for fiv^e days and nights. When these have elapsed you must apply the second degree for the same number of days and nights, and proceed according to Art with the material enclosed. At length you will find a volatile salt, like a thin alkali, containing in itself the Astrum of fire and earth, t Mix this with the two elements that have been preserved, the water and the earth. Again place it on the ashes for eight days and eight nights, and you will find that which has been neglected by miuiy Artists, Separate this according to your expenence, and according to the rules of the Spagyric Art, and you will have a white earth, from which its colour has been extracted, join the element of fire and salt to the alkalised earth. Digest in a pelican to extract the essence. Then a new earth will be deposited, which put aside.
Concerning the Red Lion,
Afterwards take the lion in the pelican which also is found [at J first, w^hen you see its tincture, that is to say, the element of fire which stands above the water, the air, and the earth. Separate it from its deposit by trituration.
• The Sign b nothing else Uutn tlie mark left by an operation. The house consirucled by the architect Ia tbe «ign of hts hatulicrart, nrherehy hb skill and art arc tleterminecL Thus the dgn is th« achievement ituclf.— iV C^iua.
t The earth alw ha» it* Astrum, It* courier tt» order^ ju^t aA muclj as the Firtnament, but peculiar to the element, So ako there \s> an Aiitrum in the water, even as in the earth, and in like nuinncr w^irh air and fire. Consequently, llwt itpper Aitrtim has the As.tra of the elements for it^ medium, and operates through them, by an irresiittble attraction. Throug;h this operation of the i^uperioir and Inferior Astra, all things are fecundated, and led on to their txA.^ Exf^iicAti^ Tfitim Ai/wvM^mjW. Without the Astra the elements cannot Aouriah. ... In tlje Astrum of the earth all the celestial operations thrive- The Astrum itself is hidden, the bodies are manifest. , . , The motion of the earth ia brought about by the Astrum of the earth. . . . There arc fotir Astra in man (oorrespotulijiK to those ci the four elcmentsX ^°^ ^^ ts the lesser world. -Dt Caducts, Par. II.
38 The Hermetic and Akhemkal Writings of Paracehus.
Thus you will have the true aurum poiabile.^ Sweeten this with the alcohot of wine poured over it, and then distil in an alembic until you perceive no acidity to remain in the Aqua Regfia,
This Oil of the Sun, enclosed in a retort hermetically sealed, you must place for elevation that it may be exalted and doubled in its degree. Then put the vessel, still closely shut, in a cool place. Thus it will not be dissolved, but coag'ulated. Place it again for elevation and coagulation, and repeat this three times. Thus will be produced the Tincture of the Sun, perfect in its degree. Keep this in its own place.
Concerning the Green Lion.
Take the vitriol of Venus, t carefully prepared according to the rules of Spagyric Art, and add thereto the elements of water and air which you have reserved. Resolve^ and set to putrefy for a month according to instructions. When the putrefaction is finished, you will behold the sign of the elements. Separate, and you w\\\ soon see two colours, namely, white and red. The red is above the white. The red tincture of the vitriol is so powerful that it reddens all white bodies, and whitens all red ones, which is wonderful.
Work upon this tincture by means of a retort, and you will perceive a blackness issue forth. Treat it again by means of the retort, repeating the operation until it comes out whitish. Go on, and do not despair of the w^ork. Rectify until you find the true, clear Green Lion, which you will recognise by its great weight. You will see that it is heavy and large. This is the Tincture, transparent gold. You w^ill see marvellous signs of this Green Lion, such as could be bought by no treasures of the Roman Leo. Happy he who has learnt how to find it and use it for a tincture I
This is the true and genuine Balsam, J the Balsam of the Heavenly Stars, sufFering no bodies to decay, nor allow^ing leprosy, gout, or dropsy to take root. It is given in a dose of one grain, if it has been fermented with Sulphur of Gold.
Ah, Charles the German, where is your treasure? Where are your philosophers ? Where your doctors ? Where are your decocters of woods, w^ho at least purge and relax ? Is your heaven reversed ? Have your stars wandered out of their course, and are they straying in another orbit, away
* Aurum Fa/tiSt/r, that h, PotiibEe Gold, Oil of Gold^ and QuLntei»sence of Gold, are dktmguUhcd that. Aurum Poi ^ih \^ goXd rendered potable by intermixture wiih other sulbtanccs, and wtth liquids. Oil of Gold is an oil ex> Lrjurted from the preciotisi metal without the addition of anylhing. The Qdniea^cnce of Gold is the r^ness of gold extracted therefrom and separated from the body of the metal.—/)/ Mt-mi^m Ccntntciis^ Tract IL, c a.
t If copper be pounded and resolved without a corrosive, you have VitrioU From this may be prepared the quiiit* CMcncie, otlt and liquor ihtiTtoL^Dt Afot^tJi TA*tatfu^ Cuprine Vitriol is Vitriol cooked with Copper. —JP* j1/ Vtrmium^ Par. 6* Chalcanthum is present in Venus, and Venus can by separatton be reduced into Cbalcanthuin.— Ckhufgrn Mttgmi. Pars. 11I.» Lib. IV.
J There U^ indt'ed» diffused through all thlnifs a Bah^in created by God, without which putrefaction would im- mediately supervene. Thus, in corpses which arc anointed with Baliam wc see that corruption is arrested, and ihm in the phyRicaJ body we infer that there is a certain natural and congenital Balsam^ in the absence of which the living and complete man would not be safe from putrefaction. Nothing removes this Balsam but death. But this kind dilTer^ from what is more commonly called Balsam, in that the one Is conservative of the living, and the other of the dead.— CAiruriria Magna^ Pt* I L^ Tract IL, c. j. The confection of Balsam requires special knowledge of cbeinbiry, and it was first discovered by the Alchemists. --/^«/., Ft. L, Tract IL, c, 4.
The Treasure of Treasuresy
trom the line of limitation, since your eyes are smitten with blindness, as by a carbuncki and other things makings a show of ornament, beauty, and pomp? If your artists only knew that their prince Galen —they call none like him— was sticking in hell, from whence he has sent letters to me, they would make the sig-n of the cross upon themselves with a fox's tail. In the same way your Avicenna sits in the vestibule of the infernal portal ; and I have disputed with him about his aurum pi^iabUe^ his Tincture of the Philosophers, his Quintessence, and Philosophers' Stone, his Mithridatic, his Theriac, and all the rest, O, you hypocrites, who despise the truths taught you by a true physician, who is himself instructed by Nature, and is a son of God himself! Come, then, and listen, impostors who prevail only by the authority of your high positions ! After my death, my disciples will burst forth and drag you lo the light, and shall expose your dirty drugs, wherewith up to this time you have compassed the death of princes, and the most invincible magnates of the Christian world. Woe for your necks in the day of judgment ! I know that the monarchy will be mine. Mine, too, will be the honour and glory. Not that i praise myself: Nature praises me. Of her I am born ; her I follow* She knows me, and I know her. The light which is in her 1 have beheld in her; outside, too, I have proved the same in the figure of the microcosm, and found it in that universe.
But I must proceed with my design in order to satisfy my disciples to the full extent of their wish. I willingly do this for them, if only skilled in the light of Nature and thoroughly practised in astral matters, they finally become adepts in philosophy, which enables them to know the nature of every kind of water^
Take, then, ol this liquid of the minerals which I have described, four parts by weight ; of the Earth of red Sol two parts ; of Sulphur of Sol one part. Put the^e together into a pelican, congelate, and dissolve them three times. Thus you will have the Tincture of the Alchemists. We have not here described its weight : but this is given in the book on Transmutations.*
So, now, he who has one to a thousand ounces of the Asirum Soils shall also tinge his own body of SoL
If you have the Astrum of Mercur)% in the same manner, you will tinge the whole body of common Mercury. If you have the Astrum of Venus you will, in like manner, tinge the whole body of Venus, and change it into the best metal. These facts have all been proved. The same must also be under- stood as to the Astra ot the other planets, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Luna, and the rest. For tinctures are also prepared from these : concerning which we now make no mention in this place* becattse we have already dwelt at sufficient length upon them in the book on the Nature of Things and in the Archidoxies. So, too, the first entity of metals and terrestrial minerals have been made sufficiently clear tor Alchemists to enable them to get the Alchemists* Tincture,
• ll i* difficull to tdeiitiry U»e lreau*e t© which refercnc* U laade here. It doe* uot »cc«i to be the twvcniJi hook concerning The Nature* of Things^ nor the enduing tract on C*M€**ts, The general qutsktion of lutursJ ikud arlificiA] wcl](hl U dUcu»*ed m the A uritfvt ef tht Fktl*n<>/k*rt.. Ko detached wrork on TraounuUlUin* b«* come down lo uft.
40 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
This work, the Tincture of the Alchemists, need not be one of nine months ; but quickly, and without any delay, you may go on by the Spaygric Art of the Alchemists, and, in the space of forty days, you can fix this alchemical substance, exalt it, putrefy it, ferment it, coagulate it into a stone, and produce the Alchemical Phcenix.* But it should be noted well that the Sulphur of Cinnabar becomes the Flying Eagle, whose wings fly away without wind, and carry the body of the phcenix to the nest of the parent, where it is nourished by the element of fire, and the young ones dig out its eyes : from whence there emerges a whiteness, divided in its sphere, into a sphere and life out of its own heart, by the balsam of its inward parts, according to the property of the cabalists.
* Know that the Phoenix is the soul of the Iliaster (that is, the first chaos of the matter of all things). . . . It is also the Iliastic soul in vazxi.— Liber Azoth^ S. V., Praciica Linett Vitte.
Here ends the Treasure of the Alchemists.
CONCERNING THE TRANSMUTATIONS OF METALS AND OF CEMENTS,
By THEOPHRASTUS.
JUST as we have given instructions concerning- other transmutations, in the same way also we will fulfil our task with reference to cements. We
will make mention of six cements, under which, indeed, all the kinds of cements will be comprised, with which we shall deal singly in serial order according- to the recipes and modes of operation. The consideration has to be made general in all respects, so that all the cements may be reduced to one mode of fixation and colouring. These two conditions should not be separated, but they should always persist and remain together in one cineration, coloration, and quartation, just as the properties of true gold are conditioned.
This book on cements does not state how inferior metals are to be trans- muted into others, as lead into copper, or iron into copper, etc. But this at least it teaches : how metals may be cemented into the chief metal, gold, that is, Sol. For cements with other recipes cannot perfectly fulfil their operation for transmuting to other metals ; but in these only there is a complete and rapid work of transmutation into Sol, which masters all the other metals, not, indeed, by quartation, but by colouring and tincture.* And notice should be taken what are the bodies which confer their own concordance as though belonging to the same species. For there are some bodies which are receptive, and others which are not so. Some have first of all to be reduced
* From all that has coiiw down to us oonoerziing tlve laboitrt and investigations of the old philosopbers, we see how indefatigalhle was ihcit scaindi after the bc^t method for prcierving and lengthening Ufc But Itelng thcinHelv«s devoid of a perfect instmction in the preparation of medicine*, they did not hesitate lo have recourse to the Alehernists, and thus, by the combined labours of both parties, there at. length aroie a genuine science of pliarmaq^, which then, by means of various chemicaJ e}tiperLiTvents devoted to medicine, was tnarveUoiti^iy propogatct! And iturreased* But that which ihey call the Tincture esccelled all. Vcl, at the same time, ii hati fallen into n certain di^crollt, owing to tbe gold-makers, who thought it chiefly useful fcKr the transmutation of metaU. The philo»oplieri of old having compounded the Tincture, whereby they transmuted the colours of metals and purged skway their dms^^, a^ might have biKn expected, next began to ihinic of making ute of it for the pur|x»c of Medicitic ; and acring thai the floHcr* of the metals were endowed with greater virtue^ than the metals themscK'cs, they attempted to uliH;e the»e in the interests of the physician. Accoirdtngly, whether from the benignant disposttion of H cavcn or through the rerttlity or their minds, those Tinctures were discovered and improved, the eSicacy of which h lx>rnc witness to by ancient tniuiuscript», which manuscripts have been suppressed by the crowd of pseudo-medici ; but we do not hesitate to publish them.^ — CAimrjIpia Mn^mn, Tract 111,, c. t-
42 The HimuHc and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus,
to tbdr flowers; with others this is not necessar)'. In Hke manner, some species colour according^ to the red Sol, others according to the clayey Sol ; some in flux, some in half cement. In like manner, toO| diligent attention should be paid to fire, as being that wherein all cements chiefly lie concealed* and wherein they gain their power of operation. Fire contains within itself the whole of Alchemy by its natj%*e power to tinge, graduate, and fix, which \&^ as it were, born with it and impressed upon it.^ Every elaborator of cements, too, must attend carefully to the method of the process ; for the method is even of greater moment than the prescription or recipe.
So, then, let us proceed to the series of the six cements, as being those wbereby all cements are regulated. Among these the first is the Royal Cement. Paying little heed to the method of the ancients, we will follow experience as our guide, and those prescriptions which experience proves to be of DO use we will omit. Thus : —
Take Flower of Brass, Antimony, Brick Tiles, Common Salt, of each half a pound. Having pounded all these very small and mixed them together, let them be imbibed with wine and dried. Repeat this process twenty-four times. With this powder let plates of Luna be cemented, in a moderate degree of fire, for four hours. Then at length take Regulus, plated and crude from the former process, and cement it with the same materials and an equal degree of fire, repeating the operation four or five times. .Vftenvards, having fulminated it again with cinders or ashes, reduce it once more to Luna. The instruments, such as the melting vessels, etc., must be thoroughly luted and stopped up. And although what we here set down is a somewhat lengthy process, yet you must know we make it so for the reason that experience teaches us there is no good in short processes by fire. Indeed, seeing that the continuance and force of the fire supply the chief fixation for the Royal Cement, it would really be far better If the substances spoken of were left for four days in the same kind of cement.
Note, too, that the flowers of brass should be extracted from copper by means of vitriol. For herein is contained some natural fixation when it is taken thus, and that for many reasons.
So, too, the tiles should be taken from a good house ; for the roof has the power of fixing the vapours w^hich exist in Luna, which otherwise all fly- away and escape.
• Tire lne» everything ; wkat ia Impure it rexiioy«( and tt brings about the nuuiifeslfttion of pure substAnces.— P^ramtrum^ Lib, L, c i. Fire Mparale the fixed rrom the rugttivc — ^/ Motbi* MetalliciSt Lib. IL, Tract I., c. i. What»ocver pertaint to separaiion bclotiEr^ to I be ^ictice of Akhcmy. It teairheai how to extract, coagulate, and separate ever>' Hubatance in ittt peculiar ve»6cL — Z># Morbh Ta^tartis^ c. \t, WhaUfoever man does the planets do also, but in an akhemiuic lensc and process. Accordingly, a,^ the AlcheniUt »ccks &aJtpetre lo iiitre^ mercury in dung, aulphur in ftre» m he alkO »eeki th« ftrnuuncntt which is tnvi»ibie Vulcan. Unticn he ha^ collected Lhcse substances and has united ihem^ detonation follows, of that kind which in heaven is called a ihuiHlerlKjli, but ihc Akhemkt terma it B^mh^fti. For he has the power of producing thunder, asi in magic, which l^ the philosophy of Alchemy. There are fooliih people who confound it with (what is now understood as) Kigromancy, yet there is u sense in which it is properly such, and in which "Kigromancj* is its true name from its earliest origin, being derived from the word blackness, becauwc lis intilat^ walk about as black ascharcoal burners. They are all N igromontica who serve Vulcan. ^Dt Cfi/ica^ i. V, Pnraipns.
The Transmuiaiions of Metals and Cements.
43
Salt corrects and fixes leprous Luna, cleansing- it from its blackness. These four details should exist and be put into practice together ; but it is the fire that must be specially observed and noticed. To this cement no other metal is applied ; and after it is fulminated it discloses and exhibits gold. Therefore this cement should be considered sufficient for one.
Concerning the Second Cement.
The cement which vvc wish to put down in the second place is only for Sol, and with regard to it there are four objects which have to be considered. The first is that Sol is sometimes found in this cement defective in the fourth or middle part, because it is not fixed, or not broug-ht to its degree without its deficiencies^ as we set down in our treatise on Gradations. Wherefore it has to be cemented in order that it may be able to retain its own volatile body, which other%vise sometimes flies off in the cement, or in the process of inciner- ation, or else in aqua fortis,
The second object is that a good deal of Sol is found which is defective in colour, and it is necessary one should know how to bring it to its perfection of colouring without diminution of its bulk, and so that the colours may remain in the specimens.
The third is that this white, imperfect colour of So!, having the appear- ance of Luna^ may be cementedj so that it may retain the colour thence acquired in every specimen.
The fourth concerns the weight in which the Sol is sometimes defective, so that it is esteemed as somewhat common. This must be entirely restored to it, when it proves its higher quality by its colour, and a higher grade of Sol exists, for many reasons. For the weight deceives no true artist, as the probe may, also, for many reasons.
By means of cement gold can be perfected in these four particulars so that afterwards no defect shall be found in it, nor any volatile or unfixed condition. Let the preparation of this cement be as follows : — Antimony and Flower of Brass, of each half-a-pound ; of coagulated mercury* one-fourth of a pound ; let all be mixed together and imbibed with red oil of antimony until the whole is reddened. Afterwards cement with it gold in ver\^ thin plates or grains, lique- fied by fire for twenty-four hours, without the beat being allowed to decrease, in a fusing vessel closely fastened. When this time has elapsed, take out the Regulus not acted upon by the crude antimony. Let it be liquefied with the addition of copper-green or borax, and afterwards pour It into a form. So you will have the ver}^ best and most abundant cement for rendering Sol free from defects and in its highest degree, fixed and permanent in all cements, incinerations, and quartations.
Concerning the Thtrd Cement.
So far we have set down the two fixations or cementations for Luna and Sol, which ought to be adopted when these metals are to be multiplied. But
44 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
others, too, have to be cemented, and afterwards placed in a colouring cement. This third cement is adapted for perfecting the other metals and rendering them fit in themselves for the tincture of the other cements. For where a metal has not been prepared and smeared over for this tincture it is not able to take it, or only in a very slight degree, and by a dangerous process.
Quicksilver,* which is comprised under this cement, is not among the num- ber of the metals, but only among metallic materials and malleable bodies. The cement is to be made thus : Antimony, one pound ; Saltpetre, one pound ; common Salt and Salt of Tartar, half a pound each. Having mixed all these together, put them in a dish, placed layer by layer with plates or filings of the metals. Let them be closely shut up and cemented for twelve hours with a most powerful fire, which had been originally for the first two hours only a gentle one. When this time has elapsed, let all that remains be extracted, that is to say, the loppa (refuse) along with the Regulus. This must be noted, that all cementings of this kind do not exhibit the Regulus, but some of them only the loppas. These should be afterwards treated with Saturn, according to the ordinary method, and Saturn of the same kind burnt in the vessel ; then the metal will be found fixed upon it. And here mark the difference of the separation by means of the jar, the cupella, or the cineritium. The metal enters into the cineritium or the cupella, but in the other case it remains on the jar. Metal of this kind, which remains on the surface of the jar, you will cement a second or a third time, as above, so that it may turn out more fixed and remain on the cineritium. When this has been done, it is fixed for receiving the tincture, which is given it by cementation.
With regard to this cement it should be remarked that two or three metals can be blended together in one mixture and one body, which will be better than before. The following is the method. Take filings of Mars, Venus, and Jupiter, or Saturn. Let them stand in a fire of liquefaction for twelve hours. Addition. The cement will be more useful, if besides the above there be taken of Antimony and Salt each one pound ; filings of Mars, Venus, and Saturn, half a pound each. Treat them as before mentioned.
The Fourth Cement.
The fourth cement is that which is composed of minerals containing within them a perfect metal, and losing it by means of liquefaction. Here it should be noted that metals cannot be better fixed than when they are crude. They vanish altogether in the process of liquefaction. Transmutation of this kind takes place in minerals and metals before liquefaction, so that the metals may be fixed in their own nature, or may be transmuted into some other metal. Therefore we will here comprise two cements under one. The former is
* Quicksilver is generated from the Mercurial prime principle. It is not ductile, and is opposed to ductility. Although of all metals it is chiefly assimilated to Mercury, it diflfers in this, that it has not received ductility from the Archeus, through the weakness occasioned by its small quantity of salt and sulphur. It can, however, by the Spagyric process of addition, become a ductile metal, as is demonstrated by the philosophy of transmutation, which shews that it is capable of conversion into any metal. — Dt Elemmto Aqiuty Tract III., c. 7.
The Transmutations of Metals and Cements.
45
for fixing a metal in a mineral without transmutation ; the latter for trans- muting the metal of Venus into Sol, or some other metal. It must be remembered that there are far more excellent spirits in minerals than in metals themselves. These are they which assist the g-radations and the fixations of minerals when they contain in themselves the tincture and the colours of the matter, which properties have not yet been destroyed by fire, as we fully point out in other books. The following is the prescription for fixing a metal in its own mineral *—
Take of the mineral of Mars, well ground, one pound ; to which add two pounds respectively of Antimony and Saltpetre. Cover them closely, lute them, and let them be kindled in a fire of liquefaction for twenty-four hours. Then pour them out. Diminish with some reduction and fulminate with Saturn. Thus you will find metal of the same kind, with good colour of its own, which can be tested in many ways and demonstrated naturally. So with other minerals whereof we make no mention here. For ihe spirits existing crudely in metals take precedence according to their ow^n colours and essences*
The following is the prescription for the transmutation of minerals : — Crocus of the flowers of Mars and flow^ers of the Crocus of Venus» each one pound. Vitriol and Alum, each half a pound. Prepared common salt, one pound. Of the mineral, two pounds. Let all be liquefied, deprived of humidity, and cemented for twelve hours. Afterwards let them be liquefied and fulminated in Saturn. When this is done there will be found in the vat a transmutation of the cineritium* You can even, for a transmutation of this kind, add a mixture of metals, taking into account, however, the special aptitude existing in them by means of which o\\^ can be more easily transmuted than another.
The Fifth Cement.
This fifth cement concerns only volatile bodies, as of common Mercury, and metals such as Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, etc. It must be remarked that the corporal Mercuries from the metals differ from the common Mercury in their tincture, since they demand more tincture from the proved metals than that common one does. So, too, it should be understood that both Mercuries, the corporal and the common, should be first of all coagulated in order that they may be able to resist the cement, and to recover their corpor;il substance, together w^ith their tincture and colouring, as the best metals should.
The coagulation of Mercury* is as follows :— Take Aquafortis, weakened by a solution of Luna to such a degree that it no longer has any corrosive force nor sharpness for dissolving. Into this put either of the Mercuries before spoken of; let the water be warmed a little and afterwards stirred to a thick mass. Then the Mercury will coagulate and harden into the form of
*' Mercury \% coagulated by Lead, for no Ttielol tuu greater affinity for Mercuiy than leari {My^esMS. Coagulatiofl U performed thus : Take 3ii. of fine lead. MeJt it in a vessel of clay ; remove it from the fire, and let U cool tomeixrhat. When it approftchct congdiitioD, pour into it the ^aoie quantity of living VLvKxarf^—ArchtdojfU Magkw^ Lib. V[ L
46 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
metal. Take it out of the water ; wash until clean, and then cement it with the following ; — Borax, two drams and a half; Sal ammoniac, two ounces; Crocus of the Flower of Brass, and Flower of the Crocus of Mars, each six ounces ; calcined Vitriol and calcined Alum, each two ounces; H^ematitis and Botus Armeni, each two ounces. Let them he well pounded, mixed, and imbibed several times in urine. Afterwards let them be placed, layer by layer, in a fusing vessel, with the junctions closed and luted, Y^ou will cement by observing" the degrees of fire, gently for one hour, and then with a stronger heat for the next hour. Cement for four hours, and keep in a state of fluxion. Then put it in Saturn and fulminate. So you will have the transmutation of Mercur\^ as we said above.
But when it has been cemented otherwise than in the way now described, it can still be transmuted with the following cement : — Cinnabar and Borax, of each half a dram. Let these be liquefied into one body, which sublimate after the method of Cinnabar, so that it shall still be one body. Then add the following : Calcined Common Salt, Flowers of Brass, Crocus of Mars, Bolus, of each two ounces; of the above-mentioned body, one dram. Let them be placed layer by layer in a crucible ; afterwards let them be slowly heated for the first six hours, and for the next six treated with a greater fire, and at last for twxlve hours subjected to the most violent heat. This having been done, again sublimate as above by the aforesaid process, and on the fourth or fifth cement you will find the cinnabar fixed, which reduce and fulminate by Saturn. You will then have its transmutation as aforesaid. In this way you can proceed to transmutation with other volatile bodies.
The Sixth Cement.
It now remains to be said in what way Part with Part comes to be ce- mented so that it receives more of the tincture, and receives it sooner than by other like operations of the Artists, because Sol is fixed and graduated by the cement. It should be understood, too, that these should be cemented and both raised to the highest degree, prepared, subtilised, and re-purified ; after- wards liquefied at the same time, and made into plates in equal weight, then stratified in a crucible closely shut, with the following powder : Cinnabar, Flower of Brass, Bloodstone, half a dram each ; Sal Ammoniac, Calamine, Sulphur, Common Salt, Vitriol, Alum, and Crocus of Mars, two ounces each.
After having been well ground and mixed into one body, let them be exposed to a gentle fire, and afterwards imbibed with urine, and at length use it for the aforesaid strat^cation. Let them be placed at the fire six hours to liquefy : then renew and liquefy for another six hours. Do the same a third time for twelve hours ; a fourth time for twenty-four hours. Lastly, liquefy by a fulmen of Saturn. In this way you have transmutation, If, however, you have selected other metals, such as Venus or Mars, add more of the powder and more heat, that they may be able to mix and be brought to a state of transmutation*
The Transmutations of Metals and Cements. 47
Conclusion.
In these few words we would conclude our book on cements, believing that we have treated these matters with sufficent clearness. Although many other prescriptions for similar cementations are in vogue, we exclude them from our own enumeration, putting down in this place only those which have been by experiment proved more useful.
Here ends the Transmutations of Metals and Cements.
A
The Aurora of the Philosophers.
49
patriarch Jacob painted, as it were, the sheep with various colours ; and this was done by magic : for in the theolog>^ of the Chaldeans, Hebrews, Persians, and Egfpytians, they held these arts to be the highest philosophy, to be learnt by their chief nobles and priests. So it was in the time of Moses, when both the priests and also the physicians were chosen from among £he Magi — the priests for the judgment of what related to health, especially in the knowledge of leprosy. Moses, likewise, was instructed in the Eg}*ptian schools, at the cost and care of Pharaoh^s daughter, so that he excelled in all the wisdom and learning of that people. Thus, too, was it with Daniel, who in his youthful days imbibed the learning of the Chaldeans, so that he became a cabalist. Witness his divine predictions and his exposition of those words, ** Mene, Mene, Tecelphares/' These words can be understood by the prophetic and cabalistic Art. This cabalistic Art was perfectly familiar to, and in constant use by, Moses and the Prophets, The Prophet Elias foretold many things by his cabalistic numbers. So did the Wise Men of old, by this natural and mystical Art, learn to know God rightly. They abode in His laws, and walked in His statutes with great firmness. It is also evident in the Book of Samuel, that the Be relists did not follow the devil's part, but became, by Divine permission, partakers of visions and veritable apparitions, whereof we shall treat more at large in the Book of Supercelestial Things.* This gift is granted by the Lord God to those priests who walk in the Divine precepts. Ft was a custom among the Persians never to admit any one as king unless he were a Wise Man, pre-eminent in reality as well as in name. This is clear from the customarj' name of their kings ; for they were called Wise Men. Such were those Wise Men and Persian Magi who came from the East to seek out the Lord Jesus, and are called natural priests. The Egyptians, also, hav- ing obtained this magic and philosophy from the Chaldeans and Persians, desired that their priests should learn the same wisdom ; and they became so fruitful and successful therein that all the neighbouring countries admired them. For this reason Hermes was so truly named Trismegistus, because he was a king, a priest, a prophet, a magician, and a sophist of natural things. Such another was Zoroaster.
CHAPTER H.
Wherein is Declared that the Greeks drew a large part OF THEIR Learning from the Egvptians ; and how
IT CAME FROM THEM TO US.
When a son of Noah possessed the third part of the world after the Flood, this Art broke into Chaldsea and Persia, and thence spread into Egypt. The Art having been found out by the superstitious and idolatrous Greeks, some of them who were wiser than the rest betook themselves to the Chaldeans and
• Koworiepn reference is iiiad€ i
r oorretpondmg to this title is ex^taai i •Cil9»ed in tbe Pkiia$tfkia Sii^tuf,
the wrUSngs c/ Paracelsus. Tbe subjects to whtdi
E
50 The Herfnetic and Alchemical Wriitngs of Paracelsus,
Egyptians, so that they might draw the same wisdom from their schools. Since, however, the theological study of the law of Moses did not satisfy them^ they trusted to their own peculiar genius, and fell away from the right foundation of those natural secrets and arts. This is evident from their fabulous conceptions, and from their errors respecting the doctrine of Moses. It was the custom of the Egyptians to put forward the traditions of that surpassing wisdom only in enigmatical figures and abstruse histories and terms* This was afterwards followed by Homer with marvellous poetical skill ; and Pythagoras was also acquainted with it, seeing that he comprised in his writings many things out ot the law of Moses and the Old Testament* In like manner, Hippocrates, Thales of Miletus, Anaxagoras, Democritus, and others, did not scruple to fix their minds on the same subject. And yet none of them were practised in the true Astrology, Geometry, Arithmetic, or Medicine, because their pride pre\xnted this, since they would not admit disciples belonging to other nations than their own. Even when they had got some insight from the Chaldeans and Egyptians, they became more arrogant still than they were before by Nature, and without any diffidence propounded the subject substantially indeed, but mixed with subtle fictions or falsehoods ; and then they attempted to elaborate a certain kind of philosophy \\hich descended from them to the Latins. These in their turn, being educated herewith, adorned it with their own doctrines, and by these the philosophy was spread over Europe. Many academies were founded for the propagation of their dogmas and rules, so that the young might be instructed ; and this system flourishes with the Germans, and other nations, right down to the present day.