The Second Part

By Eirenaeus Philoponos Philalethes

THE FIRST BOOK

Alchemy, which by some is called the Golden Art, we have, in the former part, both proved, and by examples taught, that it is no fable as many have deemed, but a real Science; which now in this Second Part we shall in due order unfold the practice thereof, whereby may be obtained great store of silver and gold. And for a ground of what we intended, consider well, and with good judgment weigh the reason of our Work, otherwise you may spend your time and cost in vain, and reap nothing but toil and loss, as many have done.

Wherefore, the Stone you seek, we have said, and do still affirm is only gold, brought to the highest perfection possible; which although it be a most firm and compact body, yet by the direction of Art, and the operation of Nature, it may be made a tingeing and never fading Spirit; which Nature alone could never have effected, because gold has no power to move itself to such a degree of perfection, but it would for ever remain in its own proper constancy.

He, therefore, that would attain this Essence, must by Art turn his gold into dust, and make it resolve into a mineral water, which circulate with a good fire until the moisture being dried up it becomes fixed; this must then be often imbibed and re-congealed, thereby, as it were, sealing up the infant in its mother's womb, which feed so long until it obtains strength sufficient to overcome all its sturdy opposites: then being fermented, it must so long abide the doom of iterated blackness until the Natures rot and die, which then be sure to revivify, sublimate, and exalt, and again make it return to the earth, where you should let it stand in heat so long until its blackness is turned into the purest white; the King being then placed upon his Royal Seal, will shine like the sparkling flame, and the hidden stone which we call our sulphur. This you should multiply so long until it is made into the spiritual elixir; which then like the judge at the Day of Doom, condemned to fire all earthliness adhering to the pure substance in imperfect metals.

Wherefore, if our Subject is gold, then must we find a proper agent to unlock it, which if you know how to seek in its own kind, you need not employ much cost to prepare it; which appeared a vile matter to sight, being much defiled by its filthy outside: of this few authors speak, and those that do, obscure this key as much as they can; but I, kind reader, shall show such candour, as greater no man ever yet did devise; yet be assured this is not a work to be attained by one of dull genius, nor for him that disdains labour, for idleness is an absolute bar to this Art; but if you are of a quiet mind, and be industrious, then attend to what I shall now declare, and I will speak firstly of the history of that which lies hid in this our fiery Agent.

The substance which we first take in hand, is a mineral similar to Mercury, which a crude sulphur does bake in the Earth; and is called Saturn's Child, which indeed appears vile to sight, but is glorious within; it is sable coloured, with argent veins appearing intermixed in the body, whose sparkling line stains the connate sulphur; it is wholly volatile and unfixed, yet taken in this native crudity, it purged all the superfluity of Sol; it is of a venomous nature, and abused by many in a medicinal way; if its elements by Art are loosened, the inside appears very resplendent, which then flow in the fire like a metal, although there is nothing of a metallic kind more brittle.

This is our Dragon, which the God of war assaulted with armour of the stoutest steel, but all in vain, because a newly seen Star did show, that when Cadmus first did feel this force, he could not withstand so great a might, but from his body it did his Soul divide: oh mighty force! Which when the Sages beheld, they were amazed, and named this their Green Lion, whose fury with charms they hoped at length to tame. Wherefore, letting him prey on the associates of Cadmus, they found that by his might he overcame them, and the fray being over, behold a morning Star was seen to appear from out of the Earth, and the carcasses being removed, there instantly appeared a running Spring, whereat they said the Beast did drink, until this belly burst; but strange it seemed to them, that as soon and this Dragon came near the Spring the Waters, as though afraid, did straightway retire, nor could Vulcan's help at all avail, to reconcile them; then appeared Diana's Doves in bright shining attire, with whose silver wings the air was calmed, wherein the infolded Dragon lost his sting; then the Waters like a flood did straight away return, and swallowed up the Beast, whose colour turned as black as coal, and this our Dragon caused the fountain to stink with a most foetid smell, wherein he died, and it proved to him a grave: but through the aid of Vulcan this Dragon did again revive, and received from heaven a Soul, whereby both were reconciled, who before were enemies, whose souls being now united, they leave their bodies, and become the nymphs true bath, and our Green Lion; whereof the like was never seen before.

But not to hold you any longer in suspense, I shall now plainly unfold the meaning of theses allegories, and untie those knots, whose obscure sense may much perplex the reader.

Wherefore now observe, that our Son of Saturn, must be united to a metalline, and mercurial form, because it is Argent-Vive alone, which is the agent our work requires, but common argent-vive availed nothing to our Stone, being dead, yet it is inclined to be actuated by the salt of Nature, and true Sulphur, which is its only mate. This salt is found in Saturn's off-spring, being pure within, and hath power to penetrate to the centre do metals, abounding with such qualities as fits it to enter the body of Sol, which it divided into elements, and after dissolution abided therewith. The Sulphur you must seek in the house of Aries, this is the magic fire of the wise, to heat the Kings bath, (which you may prepare in a weeks time) this fire lies straightly concealed, which you may unlock in an hour's time, and afterward wash it with a silver shower.

It seemed strange indeed, that a metal so stout and fixed as to withstand the thundering blast of Vulcan, which will not relent in any heat, nor mix in flux with any metal, yet by our Art, it will in this piercing mineral liquor be made retrograde. This kingly work the Almighty hat sealed, to teach the prudent that the Royal Infant is here born, whom straightway they diligently seek and by the Star are guided to him; but fools search for our secrets in sordid things, out of kind, and thereby bring themselves to ruin.

This substance is of a stellate nature, and wholly spiritual, being totally inclined to fly from the fire; the reason is because the soul of each is a magnet to each other, and this we call the urine of old Saturn. This is our steel, our true hermaphrodite, our Moon, so named for its brightness: this is our unripe gold, which to sight is a brittle body, but is tamed by Vulcan, the soul of which if thou cant's mix with Mercury, no secret shall be hid from you.

I need not cite authors, for I have seen, and with my hands have wrought this mystery, and by constantly adhering to the council of Nature, have been directed to render the most solid body soft, and have the gross body a tingeing fixed Earth, which will never fade. Nor do I say this alone, for many more attested the same, whose knots I here untie: Artephius hath named it, but he doth not disclose the other secret, because he saith it ought to be sought for of God, unless it be taught by a wise Master.

This is the riddle, which has so much perplexed the students of this Art: hence Zeumon in Turba p.18, Ars Aurif: Vol. 2, said: Our Stone is vile, and yet it is conjoined with the most precious, the vile cast out in the high-way, and on Dunghills, and in found in filthy places, which is the matter we must take for the true ground of our Art; none can live without it, and it is applied to sordid uses, all which denoted it to be Mars only to whom all this betided; in ships he floated upon the ocean, and without him cannot any ship or house be built, nor any merchandize be well carried on; by him we plough our land, reap our corn, dress, boil, and cut our meat, and with him are horses shooed; with many other uses too tedious here to enumerate, and yet it doth often lie in a contemplative manner upon the Earth, in old stub nails. Which are scarce worth the finding, whereby it may be esteemed vile.

Moreover Aries is know to the house of stout Mars, in which all artists charge you to begin in your work, and what can be said more plainly? Surely there can be none so ignorant as not to believe that a hidden meaning is concealed in these words, which hitherto was never better explained. Belus in Turba, p.27, Ars Aurif: Vol. 2, commanded to join the fighter with him that desired not to fight; wherefore to Mars the God of War, he assigned Saturn in union, who delighted in peace, whose kingdom I need not relate, being so well know to all.

Behold the second figure which is placed in the Philosophers Irne Rosary, p. 212, Ars Aurif, Vol. 2, where the King and Queen in royal robes held between them our true Lunary, bearing eight flowers, yet without a root; and between them is a bird; under their feet are the Sun and Moon, the King held in this hand a flower, the Queen another, and the bird held a third in his beak, having also a Star upon her tail, which signified our great secret; for the winged bird denoted Mercury joined with the Starry Earth, until both become volatile and flying.

Hence it appears the ancient Sages chose rather to instruct the eye by figures, than the ear by words; nevertheless some of their discourses are so plain, that almost any fool may gather the meaning couched in them: to which purpose, being myself a son of Art, I have in the Cabala Sapientum clearly explained the same, whereto I remit the studious reader; and shall now proceed in my intended course to show how to obtain this Water, which so few find, where by we draw out the most secret seed of Sol, wherefore with all diligence learn to obtain this Water, for it is the ground of our Quintessence.

Know then that all metals have but one matter, which is nothing else but Mercury; which as a ground first gave an entrance to a possibility of transmutation; and hence we conclude that our most secret Water has the same matter as that of vulgar Mercury. And if crude Mercury, and all the five imperfect metals, may be turned into gold, (which by reason of their crudity will burn away in the fire), the reason whereof, as the Wise men teach, is because that all metals do partake of Mercury and are therefore alike transmutable: and if our Mercury, which we call our living Water, be other than unripe gold, then whatever metal shall by Art be converted into gold, must hold such a nature, as may by Art be made our Argent-Vive.

So then if lead, tin or copper, were resolved into a real Mercury, then might Art cause those Waters for it appear so changed in from, that any of them might be framed into our Philosophic Mercury. But why do we need this, since nature hath produced a Water object ready to each artists hand, on which a form may by Art be induced, which may easily command our secrets? Therefore consider what it is that Mercury wanted of being our most secret Menstruum; for we grant, that both are Metalline, and of weight and colour alike, and also that each are fluid and volatile in the fire; but we seek for a Sulphur in ours, which that of mine lacked, and this Sulphur purifies the matter, making it fiery, and yet it remained a Water. For Water is the womb, which wanting heat, is wholly useless for true generation, nor will our body be reduced to sweat, and send forth his Seed, but in a station of a circulating fire, commixed by Art with a Mercury partaking of Sulphur.

This Sulphur must be of a magnetic force, or virtue, and therefore must be true gold, although unripe, and also of one source both as the matter and form, with only this difference, that as the other is fixed, thus must be volatile and flying, having power to open and loosen the former. And there is only one body in the Earth, which is so nearly allied to Mercury, as is fit to prepare it for our secret stone, and to hide the solid body in its womb, this as I said before is the off-spring of Saturn. Well known to all the magi, and which I have showen.

And although some of the metals may be fixed with Argent-vive, yet do they not enter each other otherwise than as to sight, but by heat may easily be driven from each other, for you will find that they never penetrate the centre, nor will any of them be altered for the better. The reason is, because the Sulphur which lies in the perfect metals, is sealed up, as it were, or else in the others does partake of earthly faeces, and crudities, which Mercury abhors, nor will it be united unto them, although to sight they may seem to be mixed. If you separate those faeces you shall obtain fluid Mercury, and a crude Sulphur, which by congelation have hardened the humidity, and you shall also find an aluminous Salt, but all these are of too remote a kind from gold.

But the mineral we so much esteem, except its crude dregs, (which are all separable), contained a purer Mercury, which shall restore dead Bodies to life, that they like all other things may thereby be enabled to generate their own kind. But it contained in itself no Sulphur, save only it is congealed by a burning sulphur, being brittle, and black with shining veins; this Sulphur is nothing metalline, but if rightly separated according to Art, dregs being removed, there appears a nut in fashion like to a metal (which my be powdered to dust) wherein is shut, like a tender soul, which in a small fire arises as smoke, similar to Argent-vive, slightly congealed, which the fire does evaporate.

This gives penetration unto our Water, and enables it to enter to the centre of bodies, which it wholly inverted, and reduced them into their first true matter; and this wanted to be joined unto a true Sulphur, which is to be found in the house of Aries. By this mineral only through the artist's skill, and the help of Vulcan, is Mars retrograded into a mineral; as by many has often been assayed: this is our true Venus, the spouse of lame Vulcan, who is beloved of Mars.

First then cause Mars to embrace this mineral, so shall both cast away their earthiness, and in short space the metalline substance shall shine like the heavens, and for a sign of your success, you shall surely find a seal of a stellate king imprinted thereon. This is the royal stamp, the mark which the Almighty sets upon this strange subject; this is the heavenly fire, whereof a spark being once kindled, caused such a change in the bodies, that the blackness is made to shine like a sparking gem, wherewith as a diadem our young king crowned. To this add Venus in a due proportion, whose beauty is admired by Mars, and she is known to have great love and desire to be joined unto him, when she to motion is soon inclined, as being allied to gold, Mars, and bright Diana, with whom she conciliated love, and true union.

But Vulcan growing jealous, it grieved the limping cuckold to feel his head adorned with horns, and therefore hoping to destroy this compact. He spreaded his net over them and catching his spouse and Mars in the act, showed the entrapped lovers wrapt therein.

Nevertheless, let not this be esteemed merely as a Fable; but first observe how Cadmus is by our fierce beast devoured, whom Cadmus afterwards having stoutly pierced, deserved a champion's name, for this Serpent (by might overpowered) he with his deadly spear transfixed against an oak, whom before every one did fear. Observe also the Star, which really is Solar, as may be proved, for gold united intimately with Saturn's child, whose faeces being purged out, all that is perfect subsided to the bottom, which after fusion, being poured forth, when cold, it shows a Star, even as doth Mars. But Venus gives a Metalline Substance, which of itself alone is contemptible, but being united which Mars, as if infolded in a net, it appeared fine to behold, which the sharp sighted mysterious poets have in a hidden disguise described, although clearly enough to the Wise.

Wherefore the soul of Saturn, and Mars, are by our Art with the help of Vulcan very closely mixed, but both alike are volatile, whose parts are not divisible, until the soul of Mars becomes fixed, which then left Saturn, and is then in trial found to be must perfect gold, and of a most pure and true tincture. But this mediation must be attained by Venus, or else could no skill of man sever them, no not even though they might be reduced to dust; yet being conjoined, they will be reduced only by the association of Venus, whereof Diana makes of them a separation.

Some in order to prepare their Water, use the Doves of Diana, which is a most tedious labour, that even for an artist to hit it once right, he may twice unfortunately miss: but the other way, (which is the most secret), we recommended to all that mean to be true artists.

Wherefore let the most subtle vapour of the Water be so long and so often circulated, until the souls of each (leaving their grosser matter) unite, and fly together aloft; where you must be sure not to let them abide so long until they be congealed, for then your work would prove erroneous.

Therefore take of the Son of old Saturn two parts, and Cadmus one part, these purity so long by the aid of Vulcan, until (being freed from their faeces) the Metalline part be pure; which must be done in four reiterations, whose perfect operations the Star shall teach you.

Make AEneis equal to her lover, purging them artfully, until the net of Vulcan enclose them both, which then let them be well wet with the water, and continued in heat and moisture until they become perforate, and the Souls of both be glorified. This is the heavenly Dew, which must be fed so often and long as nature required, at least three times, or until seven, thus leading them through waves and flames as reason shall direct, but beware that thou put not the tender nature to flight by the force of too great a fire.

Know also for certain that the Mercury, where with we begin the work, must be liquid and white, but be careful not to dry up the moisture to a powder by too great a fire, so as to look red, for thereby thy female sperm would be corrupted, and you would miss your desired issue: neither endeavour to turn the Argent-vive into a clear transparent gum, oil, or unguent, for so the proportion being lost, you can not attain unto a true dissolution; but must then be obliged to adjourn your work as forlorn, to another time, because you have proceeded contrary to, the rules of Art.

Only seek therefore to augment a spirit which common Argent-Vive lacked, then sublime the gross unto the firmament, and separate the dregs by Art; which being reiterated seven times, then espouse it unto gold, until they be perfectly combined with each other.

Thus by Art, and Nature's help, is the true Maiden prepared, which being severed from faeces, becomes a heavenly off-spring, which has made soft the solid body of Sol, and being severed into atoms turned black, rotted and putrefied, which does afterward revive again and becomes volatile.

But should I here disclose all the secrets contained in the fabric of this our Water, I should be disdained of all true artists, for they are communicated to these alone whom God shall deign to teach, while others must be suffered to wander in a mist of errors labyrinth. But he that with pains and prayers shall studiously search after this hidden secret, not being stirred up with covetous desires, but seek for knowledge with a candid mind, shall surely attain this mystery, whereof not anyone ever wrote so plainly.

There are some who by Art can prepare a wonderful Liquor (Alkahest?), which the Adept have named the Fire of Hell, whose virtues are so strange and powerful, as (by its force) to resolve all concretes into their primeval Matter, or Water; this in a gentle dissolved Argent-Vive so thoroughly, that like to crystal drops it may be poured out, without any thing settling to the bottom of the containing vessel, nor is its virtue thereby in the least impaired; for being distilled often, it leaves the Argent-Vive behind, which you shall find appear like unto a fixed salt, in smell resembling musk, or aroma, and to taste like honey for sweetness, which can be pulverized like to rust, and which no fire can destroy: this on the test with Saturn is found in fixity equal pure Luna.

This being cohobated five or six times with the said Water (with previous digestion) will appear like an Oil, and shortly after distils like to a Spirit, which by adjunction of a small subject, it by and by separated into two distinct substances, which done, they are then collected apart, the on being an Oil or Tincture, soluble in Liquor; the other (if suffered to boil) is by Art reducible into Mercury, which Argent-Vive is a subject of great wonder, the like whereof is not to be found under heaven.

This can neither by salts or strong water be corroded into a precipitate, nor can it by frequent circulation in the fire be ought, so altered as to sublime, or be turned into a dry powder, neither can it be fixed, but it will for ever remain volatile. The great Elixir, it cannot transmute, but doth dissolve and destroy it; its strangeness is such, as makes all artists amazed, which no power or skill can change or annoy: and by the forenamed way, the like way be produced of all Metalline bodies.

Yet this in our Art avails nothing, for we seek to multiply the Sulphur which is Solar Hematine, whose tayl is Lunar; these are the only planets of our earthy sky which we esteem, rejecting the others and all other arts. For if Gold, which by nature is made pure and perfect, might by this our secret fire of Water be made to retrograde into Mercury and Sulphur, which is entire in substance, and which before would not be severed by the force of fire, but did firmly abide the same; who sees not that such Mercury is remote from our work? For we seek to increase a Tincture; and it is Sulphur only, which like a coat enclosed the Mercury, and is agreeable to the Metalline nature, without which the Water cannot claim the name of a metal.

This Sulphur appeared more or less in every Metalline thing, in some a certain dross coinquinates the pure substance, whereby it is destroyed in the fire, for whatever is gross and foul is therein burnt and consumed. But of metals Sol and Luna are by a pure Sulphur so closely shut up, as enables them to endure the greatest force of Vulcan, nor can any Art of man divide their Sulphur from its Water; except by the a forenamed patent liquor, whose virtue is so powerful as to reduce even the Sun and Moon from their fixed state, to become volatile: nor that alone, but also our admired Fire can do the same to gold, and that in a direct and kindly way caused it to become retrograde, yet doth not divide the Sulphur from its centre, but being clothed in a Mercurial attire, they both abide mixed together in a Golden Water.

But the said strange Liquor, in dissolving destroyed the Metalline homogeneity, which by separating them caused a disagreement and disunion, that neither of them can enjoy the other, and therefore the central Mercury being parted from the tinted Liquor subsided below; so that the Hematine, which before in gold had the Pondus of a Metal, is now so altered, as to become lighter that Argent-Vive, appearing to sight like an Oil, or rather unctuous Salt, and is a noble medicine for the sick.

Hence it appears, that by how much any Metalline substance is dissolved in this humidity, by so much is it changed from a Metalline nature, whose Sulphur, by the force of this Liquor, may (although unwillingly) at least be brought unto an elemental Water; such power hat this Liquor on any matter.

To this the Philosophers agree, who all conclude our Mercury to be but one, which moistened nothing but what is homogenously to metals, and is the mother of our Stone, of which secret if yet you are ignorant, you are then a first person to keep council; whereof none ever yet has write more plainly.

The End of the First Book.