Hereafter follows concerning the origin of the

Stone of the Ancient Sages, and

how that is accomplished with Art.

FIRST TREATISE.

A large decorative drop cap 'D' featuring ornate leaf patterns and a central figure or abstract shape within the letter structure.

THIS Stone of the Sages The Philosophers' Stone, the legendary substance capable of transmuting base metals into gold and granting eternal life. is produced through the way of Greening Nature Greening (Viriditas) refers to the generative, life-giving power of Nature, a central concept in medieval alchemy representing growth and spiritual renewal.; of this, Hali the Philosopher original: "Hali der Philosophus"; likely referring to the Arabic alchemist Khalid ibn Yazid or Haly Abenragel. speaks, saying: this Stone concerns its growing and greening things. For why "greening" is brought back again to Nature is so that a thing may become better, more perfect, and greener at its ordained time. To this end, one must cook and putrefy original: "fäulen"; the alchemical process of breaking down matter to its base state so it can be reborn. through the way and secret of the Art, so that through Art, assistance is shown to Nature. Nature then cooks and putrefies by itself until time gives it the right form. And the Art is nothing but a tool and preparer of the materials which Nature has fashioned for such a work, including the appropriate vessels and the measure of the operation with foresight and wisdom.

For just as little as the Art undertakes to make a new beginning of Gold original: "☉", the symbol for the Sun and Gold. and Silver original: "☽", the symbol for the Moon and Silver.—since it cannot give the first beginning to things—so too is it not necessary for the Art to follow the natural secrets and methods of minerals as they have their first beginning in the Earth. The Art has another way of Nature, and therefore it also has another distinct set of tools. Consequently, the Art produces special things from the preceding natural roots at the beginning of Nature, which Nature through herself could never bring forth; for Nature cannot by herself bear...