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I. THere is one thing which is to be won∣dered at, viz. after what manner Carmine, to wit, Grana Nostra, doth tinge or Dye Silk, which is of a contrary Natue, and tinges not a Dead thing: and af∣ter what manner Uzifur, to wit, Our Vermilion doth tinge Vestem which is of a contrary Nature and tinges not Live or growing things.
II. For it is not Natural for any thing to tinge other
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substances, not agreeable to their Natures. If therefore you put into your Composi∣tion, Red Gold, you shall find in the Tincture a pure and perfect Red: and if you put into it White Gold; the most passive Red will vanish or go forth. There is no∣thing indeed does tinge any thing, but what is Consimi∣lar to, or like it self.
III. And I testifie to you by the Living God, maker of Heaven and Earth, that the Stone which I have de∣scribed, you have perma∣nent or fixed, nor are you kept from it by the Earth or the Sea, or any other matter.
IV. Keep then your con∣gealed Quick-Silver, many parts of which are lost be∣cause of its subtilty. Also the Mountain in which is the Tabernacle which crys out; I am the Black of the White, and the White of the Black; I speak the Truth indeed, and I lye not.
V. Now know, that the Root of the Matter is, the Head of the Crow flying without Wings, in the dark and black of the Night, and in the appearance of the Day: from the Throat the fixing Spirit: from its Gall the Coloring or Tinging Matter is taken, from its Tail, the desica∣tion, or drying of the mat∣ter; from its Wings the li∣quid Water; and from its Body the Redness.
VI. Understand the mean∣ing of the words, for here∣by is understood our vene∣rable Stone, and the Fume or Vapour thereof which is exalted [lifted up or subli∣med] and the Sea eradi∣cated, and a Light shining.
VII. You are also to note, what Alums and Salts are, which flow from Bodies: if you put the Medicines [or Matters of the Medicine] in a just or true proportion, you shall not fear to err; but if you mistake the propor∣tion, you must add or di∣minish, according as you see it tends to the emenda∣tion or performing of the Work, lest a Deluge should
come and overflow all, drowning the Regions, and overturning the Trees by the Roots.
VIII. And tho the Matter be unknown, yet consider these things, how, or after what manner these two Colors are distinguished, or diversified, by their Va∣pours: look into the sweet∣ness of Sugar, which is one kind of sweet Juice; and into the sweetness of Ho∣ney, which is yet more in∣tense or inward.
IX. Except you make the Bodies spiritual and impal∣pable, you know not how to putrefie Ixir, or proceed on in the Work; nor how the three Volatile Matters or Principles, fight one against another; and how they fail not, each in their turns, to devour one another, till of two being left, one, only remains.
X. Be careful also, how you increase your Fire (tho it is not to be very small when you dry up the Wa∣ter) and take heed that you burn not the Matter, be∣cause if the Vessel breaks, it will be with a mighty impe∣tus or force.
XI. And unless the Mat∣ter of the Stone, prove ini∣mical one to another, or con∣tend and fight with, and strive to destroy one ano∣ther, you shall never attain to the thing you seek after.
XII. If you mix your Calx with Auripigment, and not in a mean or due propor∣tion, the splendor and glo∣ry of the Operation will not succeed; but if you in∣terpose a medium, the ef∣fect will immediately follow.
XIII. Now know, that it is our Water, which extracts the hidden Tincture. Be∣hold the Example and un∣derstand it; if you have once brought the Body into Ashes, you have operated rightly.
XIV. And the blood (which is in the Philosophick Wa∣ter) of the animated Body, is the Earth of the Wise, to wit, the permanent or en∣during perfection.