THE ASSEMBLY OF THE PHILOSOPHERS.

...is made, and if you cook it afterwards, gold is made. I say that it turns the sea itself into red and into the glue of gold original: 'auricollam'; a substance used to "solder" or join metallic spirits.. And know that gold is not turned into rust except by permanent water original: 'aquam permanentem'; the universal alchemical solvent, because nature rejoices in nature. Direct it, therefore, by cooking it into a moisture until the hidden nature appears. If it appears on the outside, soak it seven times with water, cooking, soaking, and roasting it until it becomes red. O those heavenly natures of truth, multiplying natures by the will of God! O that strong Nature, who conquers and has overcome natures, and makes her own natures rejoice and be glad! This, then, is specifically that to which God has granted a power that fire cannot achieve. Therefore we have magnified and honored her, than whom nothing is more precious in the true tincture The "stain" or color-changing agent that transforms base metals into gold., and whose like or equal is not to be found at all. She is the truth, which those searching for wisdom love. For when liquefied with its bodies, it performs the highest of works. If you knew the truth, would you not give me manifold thanks? Know, therefore, you who tint the ash: you must destroy those things which are mixed together, for it overcomes those things mixed with it and turns them into its own color. And just as it conquers the surface in the sight of the eye, so it has overcome the innermost parts. And if one thing is fleeing original: 'fugiens'; volatile, or easily evaporated and the other is enduring fire original: 'ignem patiens'; fixed, or stable under heat, once joined together, both endure the fire. And know that if the clouds have whitened the surface, without a doubt they will whiten the innermost parts. And know, all seekers of Wisdom, that one thing overcomes four, and that our sulfur alone burns all bodies. The Assembly replied: You have spoken excellently, Parmenides; however, you have not demonstrated the arrangement of the smoke to those who follow, nor how it is whitened by it.

Twelfth Discourse.

LUCAS says: I shall speak, following in the footsteps of those who came before. And know, all seekers of Wisdom, that this Treatise is not about the beginning of the direction of the work. Take the quicksilver original: 'argentum vivum'; mercury which comes from the male, and coagulate it according to custom. Do you not see me telling you "according to custom," because it has already been coagulated before? This is not, therefore, the beginning of the direction; however, I command this: that you take the quicksilver from the male and place it upon iron, or tin, or governed copper original: 'æs', and it shall be whitened. Similarly, white magnesia magnesia In this context, magnesia refers to a mineral substance or "primitive matter" capable of transforming metals, rather than modern magnesium oxide. is made, and the male is transformed with it. Since there is a certain affinity of the magnet with iron,