I. Hermes saith, I have not in a very long age ceased to try

experiments, nor have I spared any labour of mind : but I
obtained the knowledge of this art, by the inspiration of the living
God only, who esteeming me his servant worthy, did reveal and
open the secrets to me. He has bestowed upon rational creatures,
the power and faculty of judging and determining truly, not
forsaking any, so as to give them an occasion to cease searching
after the truth. For my part, I had never discovered any thing
of this matter, nor revealed it to any one, had not the fear of the
judgments of God, or the hazard of the damnation of my soul
for such a concealment prevailed with me. It is a debt I am
willing to pay to the just; as the father of the just has liberally
bestowed it upon me.

Now understand, O ye children of wisdom, that the
knowledge of the four elements of the ancient philosophers, was
not corporeally, nor inconsiderately sought into : they are through
patience to be attained, according to their kind, but in their
own operation are hidden or obscured. You can do nothing,
except the matter be compounded, because it cannot be per-
fected, unless first the various colours are thoroughly accom-
plished. Know then, that the division which was made of the
water by the ancient philosophers, is that which separates it

Hit-Dies Trismegisius. 3(17

into four other substances; one into two, and three to one;
the third part of which is colour, or has tincture, viz. the coa-
gulating humour or moisture, but the second ;md third waters
• re the weights of the wise. Take of the humility or moisture,
an ounce rfnd half; of the southern redness, viz, the soul of sol,
half announce, that is, a fourth part of both ; of the orange
guiri in like manner, half an ounce: of auripigment half uu
'ounce, which are eight • that is three ounces.

Now understand that the vine of the wi<=e men, or tree
of the philosophers is extracted or drawn forth in three, hut
the wine thereof is not perfected till at length thirty he com-
pleted. Understand the operation. Decoction diminishes the
.e.'.ter, but the tincture augments its strength. Because luna in
fifteen days is diminished, and in the third is augmented.
This is then the beginning and the end.

Behold, I have exposed to you that which was hidden,
and the work is both with you and for you : that which is within,
B quickly taken out, and is permanent or fixed; and y°ii may
have it either in the earth, or in the sea. Keep therefore your
argent vive, which is prepared in the innermost; chamber of the
bridegroom, in which it is coagulated: for that is the ardent
vive itself, which is said to be of the remaining earth. He
therefore that now hears mv words, let him search into, and iu-
nuire, from them; it is not for the justification of the work of
any evil doer, but to give to every good man a reward, that I
have laid open or discovered all things which were hid, relating
to this science; and disclosed and made plain and open to you
the greatest of secrets, even the intellect ual knowledge. Know
therefore ye children of wisdom, and ye seekers after the fame
thereof, that the vulture standing upon the mountain, cries out
with a great voice; saying, I am the white of the black, and
the yellow of the white, and the citrine of the yellow, and behold
I speak the very truth. Now the chief principle of the art is the
crow, which in the blackness of the night, and clearness of the
day Hies without wings. From the bitterness existing in the
throat, the tincture or tinging matter is taken : but the red goes
forth of its body, and a pure water is taken from its back. Un-
derstand aud accept of this gift of God, which is hidden from
ignorant and foolish men. This hidden secret which is the vene-
rable stone, splendid in color, and sublime in spirit, an open sea,
is hid in the caverns of the metals : behold I have exposed it to
you : and give thanks to the almighty God, who teaches you
this knowledge: if you be grateful, he will return you the tribute
of your love. You must put this matter into a moist fire, and
make it to boil, which augments the heat of the humour or
matter, and destroys the dryness of the incombustible sulphur;
continue boiling till the radix ma}r appear then extract the
•redness and the light parts,, till only about a third remains.
For this cause saue. the philosophers are said to be envious or

3G8 Alchemical Treatises.

■obscure, not for that they grudged the thing to the honest or just
man, to the religious or wise; or to the legitimate sons of art?
but to the ignorant, the vicious, the dishonest : lest evil persons
should be made powerful to perpetrate sinful things : for such a
fault the philosophers must render an account to God. Evil
men are not worthy of this wisdom.

Now this matter I call by the name of the stone ; the femi-
nine of the magnesia, the hen, the white spittle, or froth, the
volatile milk, the incombustible ashes ; so that it might be hidden
from the simple and unwise, who want understanding, honesty,
and goodness: which notwithstanding is signified to the
wise and prudent by one only name, which is the stone of the
wise, or the philosophers stone. Conserve therefore in this, the
sea, the fire, and the heavenly bird, even to the last moment of
its exit. But 1 deprecate, or wish a curse from our benefactor,
the great and living God, even to all the sons of the philoso-
phers, to whom it shall please God to give of the bountifulucss
of his goodness, if they shall undervalue, or divulge the name
and power thereof, to any foolish or ignorant person, or any
man unfit for the knowledge of this secret. Whatever any man
has given to me, I have returned it again ; nor have I been be-
hind hand with any, or desisted to return an equal kindness;
even in this friendship and unity consists the chief matter of this
operation. This is the concealed stone of many colours, which
is born and brought forth in one colour only : understand this
and conceal it. By means of it, (through the permission of the
omnipotent) the greatest disease is cured ; and every sorrow,
distress, evil, and hurtful thing may be evaded : and through
the help thereof, you may come from darkness to light; from a
desert or wilderness to a habitation or home ; and from straight-
ness and necessities, to a large and ample fortune.