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177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
9
"Think
most
diligently
about
this;
often
bear
in
mind,
observe
and
comprehend,
that
all
minerals
and
metals
together,
in
the
same
time,
and
after
the
same
fashion,
and
of
one
and
the
same
principal
matter,
are
produced
and
generated.
That
matter
is
no
other
than
a
mere
vapour,
which
is
extracted
from
the
elementary
earth
by
the
superior
stars,
or
by
a
sidereal
distillation
of
the
macrocosm;
which
sidereal
hot
infusion,
with
an
airy
sulphurous
property,
descending
upon
inferiors,
so
acts
and
operates
as
that
there
is
implanted,
spiritually
and
invisibly,
a
certain
power
and
virtue
in
those
metals
and
minerals;
which
fume,
moreover,
resolves
in
the
earth
into
a
certain
water,
wherefrom
all
metals
are
thenceforth
generated
and
ripened
to
their
perfection,
and
thence
proceeds
this
or
that
metal
or
mineral,
according
as
one
of
the
three
principles
acquires
dominion,
and
they
have
much
or
little
of
sulphur
and
salt,
or
an
unequal
mixture
of
these;
whence
some
metals
are
fixed--that
is,
constant
or
stable;
and
some
are
volatile
and
easily
changeable,
as
is
seen
in
gold,
silver,
copper,
iron,
tin,
and
lead."
(Basil
Valentine.)
"To
grasp
the
invisible
elements,
to
attract
them
by
their
material
correspondences,
to
control,
purify,
and
transform
them
by
the
living
power
of
the
Spirit--this
is
true
Alchemy."
(Paracelsus.)
"Destruction
perfects
that
which
is
good;
for
the
good
cannot
appear
on
account
of
that
which
conceals
it....
Each
one
of
the
visible
metals
is
a
concealment
of
the
other
six
metals."
(Paracelsus.)
These
sayings
read
like
sentences
in
a
forgotten
tongue.
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