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THE SECOND BOOK OF HERMES TRISMEGISTVS.
CHAP. XV. The Enterance into the Work, beginning with Argent Vive.
I. HERMES the Wise saith, if you Con∣serve a third part of your Camels, [viz. of the swift or Volatile Matter, or that which must bear the Bur then,] and Consume the re∣maining two thirds, you have attained to the thing desired; you have perfe∣cted the Work.
II. In like manner you must be careful of your Ar∣gent Vive; for the black Matter does Whiten the Flesh, and the Work is per∣fected by the Fire of the Wise.
III. And the Work is to be performed by a Spiritual Water, in which the black∣ness is washed away; and by that Instrument, in which the Foundation of the Work is laid, and in that time and moment, in which the Clouds appear.
IV. Now that Water, in or by which the blackness is washed away, is the Sweat