The Secret of Secrets,

BY KALID, SOLDAN OF EGYPT.

I. If you would e so h!""y !s to ot!#$ the less#$% of the "h#loso"hers, !s God doth l#&e
for e&er, so let th#s &er#ty l#&e w#th you. Now the "h#loso"hers s!y, #t !#des #$ the shell,
!$d co$t!#$s #$ #tself oth wh#te !$d red, the o$e #s c!lled '!scul#$e, the other fe'#$#$e(
!$d they !re !$#'!l, &e%et!le, !$d '#$er!l, the l#)e of wh#ch #s $ot fou$d #$ the world
es#des. It h!th "ower oth !ct#&e !$d "!ss#&e #$ #t, !$d h!s !lso #$ #t ! sust!$ce de!d
!$d l#&#$%, s"#r#t !$d soul, wh#ch, !'o$% the #%$or!$t, the "h#loso"hers c!ll the 'ost &#le
th#$%* #t co$t!#$s #$ #tself the four ele'e$ts wh#ch !re fou$d #$ #ts s)#rts, !$d '!y
co''o$ly e ou%ht for ! s'!ll "r#ce. It !sce$ds y #tself, #t w!+es l!c), #t desce$ds
!$d w!+es wh#te, #$cre!ses !$d decre!ses of #tself* #t #s ! '!tter wh#ch the e!rth r#$%s
forth, !$d desce$ds fro' he!&e$, %rows "!le !$d red, #s or$, d#eth, r#ses !%!#$, !$d
!fterw!rds l#&es for e&er. By '!$y w!ys #t #s rou%ht to #ts e$d, ut #ts "ro"er decoct#o$
#s u"o$ ! f#re, soft, 'ed#!te, stro$%, y &!r#ous de%rees !u%'e$ted, u$t#l you !re cert!#$ #t
#s ,u#etly f#+ed w#th the red #$ the f#re. Th#s #s the "h#loso"hers sto$e.
-. .e!d !$d re!d !%!#$, so w#ll !ll th#$%s eco'e 'ore cle!r to you* But #f herey you
u$derst!$d $ot the '!tter, you !re w#thheld y the ch!#$s of #%$or!$ce( for you sh!ll
$e&er otherw#se )$ow or le!r$ th#s !rt. /er'es s!#th, the dr!%o$ #s $ot )#lled, ut y h#s
rother !$d h#s s#ster( $ot y o$e of the' !lo$e, ut y oth to%ether* $ote these th#$%s(
there !re three he!ds, yet ut o$e ody, o$e $!ture, !$d o$e '#$er!l. Th#s #s suff#c#e$t for
you #f you h!&e ! d#s"os#t#o$ to u$derst!$d th#s !rt. The dr!%o$ #s $ot 'ort#f#ed, $or '!de
f#+ed, ut w#th sol !$d lu$!, !$d y $o other. I$ the 'ou$t!#$s of od#es, #$ the "l!#$s of
'ercury, loo) for #t, there th#s w!ter #s cre!ted, !$d y co$course of these two, !$d #s
c!lled y the "h#loso"hers, the#r "er'!$e$t or f#+ed w!ter. Our sul#'!t#o$ #s to decoct
the od#es w#th %olde$ w!ter, to d#ssol&e, to l#,u#fy, !$d to sul#'e the'* our c!lc#$!t#o$
#s to "ur#fy !$d d#%est #$ four w!ys, !$d $ot otherw#se, y wh#ch '!$y h!&e ee$
dece#&ed #$ sul#'!t#o$.
0. K$ow !lso th!t our r!ss, or l!tte$, #s the "h#loso"hers %old, #s the true %old( ut you
str#&e to e+"el the %ree$$ess, th#$)#$% th!t our l!tte$, or r!ss, #s ! le"rous ody, ec!use
of th!t %ree$$ess, ut I tell you, th!t th!t %ree$$ess #s !ll th!t #s "erfect there#$, !$d !ll
th!t #s "erfect, #s #$ the %ree$$ess o$ly wh#ch #s #$ our l!tte$, or r!ss. For th!t %ree$$ess,
y our '!%#stery, #s #$ ! &ery l#ttle t#'e tr!$s'uted #$to the 'ost f#$e %old( !$d of th#s
th#$% we h!&e e+"er#e$ced, wh#ch you '!y try y the follow#u% d#rect#o$s* T!)e ur$t or
c!lc#$ed r!ss, !$d "erfectly ru#f#ed, %r#$d #t, !$d decoct #t w#th w!ter se&e$ t#'es, !s
'uch e&ery t#'e !s #t #s !le to dr#$), #$ !ll the w!ys of ru#fy#$% !$d !ss!t#$% #t !%!#$.
The$ '!)e #t to desce$d, !$d #ts %ree$ colour w#ll e '!de red, !$d !s cle!r !s ! hy!c#$th
( !$d so 'uch red$ess w#ll desce$d w#th #t, th!t #t w#ll e !le to t#$%e !r%e$t &#&e, #$
so'e 'e!sure, w#th the &ery colour of %old( !ll wh#ch we h!&e do$e !$d "erfected, !$d #s
#$deed ! &ery %re!t wor). Yet you c!$$ot "re"!re the sto$e y !$y 'e!$s w#th !$y %ree$
!$d 'o#st l#,uor, wh#ch #s fou$d !$d rou%ht forth #$ our '#$er!ls( th#s lessed '#%ht,
"ower, or &#rtue, wh#ch %e$er!tes !ll th#$%s, w#ll $ot yet c!use ! &e%et!t#o$, s"r#$%#$%,
udd#$% forth, or fru#tful$ess, u$less there e ! %ree$ colour. 1herefore the "h#loso"hers
c!ll #t the#r ud, !$d the#r w!ter of "ur#f#c!t#o$, or "utref!ct#o$( !$d they s!y truth here#$(
for w#th #ts w!ter #t #s "utref#ed !$d "ur#f#ed, !$d w!shed fro' #ts l!c)$ess !$d '!de
wh#te. A$d !fterw!rds #t #s '!de the h#%hest red( wherey you '!y le!r$ !$d u$derst!$d,
th!t $o true t#$cture #s '!de ut w#th our r!ss or l!tte$.
2. Decoct #t therefore w#th #ts soul, t#ll the s"#r#t e 3o#$ed w#th 3ts ody, !$d e '!de o$e,
so sh!ll you h!&e your des#re. The "h#loso"hers h!&e s"o)e$ of th#s u$der '!$y $!'es,
ut )$ow cert!#$ly, th!t #t #s ut o$e '!tter wh#ch does cle!r or 3o#$ #tself to !r%e$t &#&e,
!$d to od#es, wh#ch you sh!ll h!&e the true s#%$s of. Now you 'ust )$ow wh!t !r%e$t
&#&e w#ll cle!&e, or "erfectly 3o#$ !$d u$#te #tself u$to. Th!t the !r%e$t &#&e w#ll cle!&e,
3o#$, or u$#te #tself to od#es #s f!lse. A$d they err who th#$) th!t they u$derst!$d th!t
"l!ce #$ Geer of !r%e$t &#&e, where he s!#th, 4 whe$ #$ se!rch#$% !'o$% other th#$%s,
you sh!ll $ot f#$d y our #$&e$t#o$, !$y '!tter to e 'ore !%ree!le to $!ture, th!$ !r%e$t
&#&e of the od#es.4
5. By !r%e$t &#&e #$ th#s "l!ce, #s u$derstood !r%e$t &#&e "h#loso"h#c!l( !$d #t #s th!t
!r%e$t &#&e o$ly wh#ch st#c)s to, !$d #s f#+ed #$, !$d w#th the od#es. The old
"h#loso"hers could f#$d $o other '!tter( $or c!$ the "h#loso"hers $ow #$&e$t !$y other
'!tter or th#$%, wh#ch w#ll !#de w#th the od#es, ut th#s "h#loso"h#c !r%e$t &#&e o$ly.
Th!t co''o$ !r%e$t &#&e does $ot st#c), or cle!&e to the od#es, #s e&#de$t y e+"er#e$ce,
for #f co''o$ !r%e$t &#&e e 3o#$ed to the od#es, #t !#des #$ #ts "ro"er $!ture, or fl#es
!w!y, $ot e#$% !le to tr!$s'ute the ody #$to #ts ow$ $!ture !$d sust!$ce, !$d
therefore does $ot cle!&e u$to the'. For th#s c!use, '!$y !re dece#&ed #$ wor)#$% w#th
the &ul%!r ,u#c)6s#l&er* for our sto$e, th!t #s to s!y, our !r%e$t &#&e !cc#de$t!l, does e+!lt
#tself f!r !o&e the 'ost f#$e %old, !$d does o&erco'e #t, !$d )#ll #t, !$d the$ '!)e #t
!l#&e !%!#$. A$d th#s !r%e$t &#&e #s the f!ther of !ll the wo$derful th#$%s of th#s our
'!%#stery, !$d #s co$%e!led, !$d #s oth s"#r#t !$d ody. Th#s #s the !r%e$t &#&e wh#ch
Geer s"e!)s of, the co$s#der!t#o$ of wh#ch #s of 'o'e$t, for th!t #t #s the &ery '!tter
wh#ch does '!)e "erfect. It #s ! chose$ "ure sust!$ce of !r%e$t &#&e( ut out of wh!t
'!tter #t #s ch#efly to e dr!w$, #s ! th#$% to e e$,u#red #$to. To wh#ch we s!y, th!t #t c!$
o$ly e dr!w$ out of th!t '!tter #$ wh#ch #t #s* 7o$s#der therefore 'y So$, !$d see fro'
whe$ce th!t sust!$ce #s, t!)#$% th!t !$d $oth#$% else* y $o other "r#$c#"le c!$ you
ot!#$ th#s '!%#stery. Nor could the "h#loso"hers e&er f#$d !$y other '!tter, wh#ch would
co$t#$u!lly !#de the f#re, ut th#s o$ly, wh#ch #s of !$ u$ctuous sust!$ce, "erfect !$d
#$co'ust#le. A$d th#s '!tter, whe$ #t #s "re"!red !s #t ou%ht, w#ll tr!$s'ute, or ch!$%e
!ll od#es of ! 'et!ll#c) sust!$ce, wh#ch #t #s r#%htly "ro3ected u"o$, #$to the 'ost
"erfect sol, or the 'ost "ure f#$e, %old ( ut 'ost e!s#ly, !$d !o&e !ll other od#es lu$!.
8. Decoct f#rst w#th w#$d or !#r, !$d !fterw!rds w#thout w#$d, u$t#l you h!&e dr!w$ forth
the &e$o', wh#ch #s c!lled the soul, out of your '!tter( th#s #s th!t wh#ch you see), the
e&erl!st#$%
!,u! &#t!e, wh#ch cures !ll d#se!ses. Now the whole '!%#stery #s #$ the &!"our. Let the
ody e "ut #$to ! f#re for forty d!ys, of ele'e$t!l he!t* !$d #$ th!t decoct#o$ of 29 d!ys,
the ody w#ll re3o#ce w#th the soul, !$d the soul w#ll re3o#ce w#th the ody !$d s"#r#t !$d
the s"#r#t w#ll re3o#ce w#th the ody !$d soul, !$d they w#ll e f#+ed to%ether, !$d dwell
o$e w#th !$other, #$ wh#ch l#fe they w#ll e '!de "er"etu!l !$d #''ort!l w#thout
se"!r!t#o$ for e&er.
:. Our 'ed#c#$e #s '!de of three th#$%s, &#;. of ! ody, soul, !$d s"#r#t. There !re two
od#es, to w#t sol !$d lu$!* sol #s ! t#$cture, wherew#th #'"erfect od#es !re t#$%ed #$to
sol( !$d lu$! t#$%eth #$to lu$!( for '!ture r#$%s forth o$ly #ts l#)e, ! '!$, ! '!$, ! horse,
! horse, <c. 1e h!&e $!'ed the od#es wh#ch ser&e to th#s wor), wh#ch of so'e !re
c!lled fer'e$t( for !s ! l#ttle le&e$ le&e$s the whole lu'", so lu$! !$d sol, le&e$ 'ercury
!s the#r 'e!l #$to the#r $!ture !$d &#rtue. If #t e de'!$ded, why sol !$d lu$!, h!&#$% !
"ref#+ed t#$cture, do $ot yet t#$%e #'"erfect 'et!ls= > !$swer* ! ch#ld, thou%h or$ of
hu'!$ )#$d, !cts $ot the '!$( #t 'ust f#rst e $our#shed !$d red u" t#ll #t co'es to
'!tur#ty* so #s #t w#th 'et!ls !lso( they c!$$ot shew the#r "ower !$d force, u$less they e
f#rst reduced fro' the#r terrestre#ty to ! s"#r#tu!l#ty, !$d $our#shed !$d fed #$ the#r
t#$ctures throu%h he!t !$d hu'#d#ty. For the s"#r#t #s of the s!'e '!tter !$d $!ture w#th
our 'ed#c#$e* we s!y our 'ed#c#$es !re of ! f#ery $!ture, !$d 'uch sut#ler, ut of
the'sel&es, they c!$$ot e sut#l $or s#'"le, ut 'ust e '!tur!ted, or r#"e$ed w#th
sut#l !$d "e$etr!t#$% th#$%s.
?. E!rth of #tself #s $ot sut#l, ut '!y e '!de so throu%h 'o#st w!ter, wh#ch #s
d#ssol&#$%, !$d '!)es !$ #$%ress for sol, th!t #t '!y "e$etr!te the e!rth, !$d w#th #ts he!t
'!)e the e!rth sut#le( !$d #$ th#s w!y the e!rth 'ust e sut#l#;ed so lo$%, t#ll #t e !s
sut#l !s ! s"#r#t, wh#ch the$ #s the 'ercury, 'ore d#ssol&#$% th!$ co''o$ w!ter, !$d !"t
to d#ssol&e the s!#d 'et!ls, !$d th!t throu%h the he!t of f#re, to "e$etr!te !$d sut#l#;e
the'. There !re se&er!l s"#r#ts, !s 'ercury, sul"hur, or"#'e$t, !rse$#c, !$t#$'$y, $#tre,
s!l6!r'o$#!c, tut#!, '!rc!s#tes, <c. ut 'ercury #s ! etter s"#r#t th!$ !ll others( for e#$%
"ut #$to the f#re they !re c!rr#ed !w!y, !$d we )$ow $ot wh!t eco'es of the'* ut
'ercury, !s #t #s 'uch sut#ler, cle!rer, !$d "e$etr!t#&e, so #t #s 3o#$ed to the 'et!ls, !$d
ch!$%ed #$to the', where!s the others ur$ !$d destroy the', '!)#$% the' 'ore %ross
th!$ they were efore. Now 'ercury #s of such ! sut#l $!ture, th!t #t tr!$s'utes 'et!ls
#$to s#'"le !$d "ure sust!$ces !s #tself #s, !$d !ttr!cts the' to #tself( ut $o 'et!l c!$ e
tr!$s'uted y !$y of the other s"#r#ts, ut they hu' #t to e!rth !$d !shes( wh#ch 'ercury
#t eco'es #'"!l"!le, !$d therefore #s c!lled !r%e$t &#&e. 1e t!)e $oth#$% else to
sut#l#;e 'et!ls, to '!)e the' "e$etr!t#&e, or to t#$%e other 'et!ls* so'e c!ll #t !r%e$t
&#&e, or ! w!ter, !$ !cetu', ! "o#so$, ec!use #t destroys #'"erfect od#es, d#&#d#$% the'
#$to se&er!l "!rts !$d for's( our 'ed#c#$e #s '!de of two th#$%s, &#;. of ody !$d s"#r#t*
!$d th#s #s true, th!t !ll 'et!ls h!&e ut o$e root !$d or#%#$!l. But why c!$$ot th#s
'ed#c#$e e '!de of two co'"ou$ded to%ether= I !$swer* #t '!y e '!de of !ll these
to%ether( ut they 'ust e reduced #$to ! 'ercury, wh#ch would e d#ff#cult #$ res"ect of
the short$ess of '!$s4 l#fe* therefore we t!)e the $e+t '!tter, wh#ch !re the two !fores!#d
th#$%s, &#;. ody !$d s"#r#t. So'e "h#loso"hers s!y, our 'ed#c#$e #s '!de of four th#$%s,
!$d so #t #s* for #$ 'et!ls, !$d the#r s"#r#ts !re the four ele'e$ts, Others s!y true !lso, th!t
'et!ls 'ust e tur$ed #$to !r%e$t &#&e* here '!$y le!r$ed !$d w#se 'e$ err, !$d loose
the'sel&es #$ th#s "!th. Thus f!r of the '!tter of wh#ch our 'ed#c#$e #s '!de, or w#th
wh#ch #t #s 3o#$ed* $ow of the &essels.
@. The &essel ou%ht to rese'le the f#r'!'e$t, to e$close !$d e$co'"!ss the whole wor)
* for our 'ed#c#$e #s $oth#$% else ut ! ch!$%e of ele'e$ts o$e #$to !$other, wh#ch #s
do$e y the 'ot#o$ of the f#r'!'e$t( for wh#ch re!so$ #t 'ust $eeds e rou$d !$d
c#rcul!r. The other, or seco$d &essel, 'ust !lso e rou$d, !$d e less th!$ the outw!rd
&essel* s#+ or se&e$ #$ches h#%h, c!lled ! co$t!#$#$% cucur#t( o$ wh#ch you 'ust "l!ce !$
!le'#c or he!d, throu%h wh#ch the &!"ors '!y !sce$d, wh#ch 'ust e well luted, w#th
lute '!de of flour ,u#c)l#'e !$d wh#tes of e%%s, <c. Or of flour !$d l#'e e,u!l "!rts
te'"ered w#th wh#tes of e%%s, wh#ch you 'ust #''ed#!tely use* lute #t so well th!t $o
s"#r#ts '!y fly !w!y( the loss of wh#ch w#ll "re3ud#ce your wor) e+tre'ely( therefore e
w!ry. The fur$!ce or o&e$ 'ust e rou$d, twel&e or fourtee$ #$ches h#%h, !$d s#+ or
se&e$ #$ches ro!d, !$d three or four #$ches #$ th#c)$ess to )ee" #$ the he!t the etter.
>9. Our '!tter #s %e$er!ted throu%h, or y hel" of the he!t of the f#re, throu%h the &!"our
of the w!ter, !$d !lso of the 'ercury, wh#ch 'ust e $our#shed( e w#se !$d co$s#der, !$d
'ed#t!te well u"o$ the '!tter. Now #$ order to th#s wor), there #s >. D#ssolut#o$. -.
Se"!r!t#o$. 0. Sul#'!t#o$. 2. F#+!t#o$, or co$%el!t#o$. 5. 7!lc#$!t#o$,. 8. I$%ress#o$. 666
D#ssolut#o$ #s the ch!$%#$% of ! dry th#$% #$to ! 'o#st o$e, !$d elo$%s o$ly to od#es, !s
to sol !$d lu$!, wh#ch ser&e for our !rt* for ! s"#r#t $eeds $ot to e d#ssol&ed, e#$% !
l#,u#d th#$% of #tself( ut 'et!ls !re %ross !$d dry, !$d of ! %ross $!ture, !$d therefore
'ust e sut#l#;ed. F#rst, ec!use u$less they e sut#l#;ed throu%h d#ssolut#o$, they
c!$$ot e reduced #$to w!ter, !$d '!de to !sce$d throu%h the !le'#c, to e co$&erted
#$to s"#r#t, whose re'!#$#$% fe!ces !re reser&ed for ! f!rther use, Seco$dly, ec!use the
ody !$d s"#r#t 'ust e '!de #$d#&#s#le !$d o$e* for $o %ross '!tter 3o#$s or '#+es w#th
! s"#r#t, u$less #t e f#rst sut#l#;ed, !$d reduced #$to !r%e$t &#&e, the$ the o$e e'r!ces
the other #$se"!r!ly. For !r%e$t &#&e 'eet#$% w#th ! th#$% l#)e #tself, re3oyceth #$ #t( !$d
the d#ssol&ed ody e'r!ces the s"#r#t, !$d suffers #t $ot to fly !w!y, '!)#$% #t to e$dure
the f#re( !$d #t re3oyces ec!use #t h!s fou$d !$ e,u!l, &#;. o$e l#)e #tself, !$d of the s!'e
$!ture. D#ssolut#o$ #s thus do$e( t!)e le!&es of sol, or lu$!, to wh#ch !dd ! %ood ,u!$t#ty
of "ure 'ercury( "utt#$% #$ the le!&es y l#ttle !$d l#ttle, #$to ! Aessel "l!ced #$ so %e$tle
! he!t, th!t the 'ercury '!y $ot fu'e* whe$ !ll #s d#ssol&ed, !$d the '!ss see's to e
o$e ho'o%e$e ody, you h!&e do$e well* If there e !$y feces, or '!tter u$d#ssol&ed,
!dd 'ore 'ercury, t#ll !ll see's to e 'elted to%ether. T!)e the '!tter thus d#ssol&ed, set
#t #$ B. B for se&e$ d!ys, the$ let #t cool* !$d str!#$ !ll throu%h ! cloth or s)#$( #f !ll %oes
throu%h, the d#ssolut#o$ #s "erfect* #f $ot, you 'ust e%#$ !%!#$, !$d !dd 'ore 'ercury,
so lo$% t#ll !ll e d#ssol&ed.
>>. Se"!r!t#o$ #s the d#&#d#$% of ! th#$% #$to "!rts, !s of "ure fro' #'"ure. 1e t!)e our
d#ssol&ed '!tter, !$d "ut #t #$to the s'!ller &essel wh#ch st!$ds #$ the cucur#t, well
lut#$% to the !le'#c, !$d sett#$% #t #$ !shes, co$t#$u#$% the f#re for ! wee)* o$e "!rt of
the s"#r#t sul#'es, wh#ch we c!ll the s"#r#t or w!ter, !$d #s the sut#lest "!rt( the other
wh#ch #s $ot yet sut#l, st#c)s !out the cucur#t, !$d so'e of #t f!lls !s #t were to the
otto', wh#ch #s w!r' !$d 'o#st, th#s we c!ll the !#r. A$d ! th#rd "!rt re'!#$#$% #$ the
otto' of the #$$er &essel, wh#ch #s yet %rosser, '!y e c!lled the e!rth. E!ch of these we
"ut #$to ! &essel !"!rt( ut to the th#rd we "ut 'ore 'ercury, !$d "roceed !s efore,
reser&#$% !lw!ys e!ch "r#$c#"le or ele'e$t !"!rt y #tself, !$d thus "roceed#$%, t#ll
$oth#$% re'!#$s #$ the #$$er &essel, ut ! l!c) "owder, wh#eh we c!ll the l!c) e!rth,
!$d #s the dre%s of 'et!ls, !$d the th#$% c!us#$% the ostruct#o$, th!t the 'et!ls c!$$ot e
u$#ted w#th the s"#r#t( th#s l!c) "owder #s of $o use. /!&#$% thus se"!r!ted the four
ele'e$ts fro' the 'et!ls, or d#&#ded the', you '!y de'!$d, wh!t the$ #s the f#re, wh#ch
#s o$e of these four= To wh#ch I !$swer* th!t the f#re !$d !#r !re of o$e $!ture, !$d !re
'#+ed to%ether, !$d ch!$%ed the o$e #$to the other( !$d #$ the d#&#d#$% of the ele'e$ts,
they h!&e the#r $!tur!l force !$d "ower, !s #$ the whole, so #$ the "!rts. 1e c!ll th!t !#r
wh#ch re'!#$ed #$ the #%%er &essel, ec!use #t #s 'ore hot th!$ 'o#st, cold, or dry* the
s!'e u$derst!$d of the other ele'e$ts. /e$ce Pl!to s!#th, we tur$ed the 'o#st #$to dry,
!$d the dry we '!de 'o#st, !$d we tur$ed the ody #$to w!ter !$d !#r.
>-. Sul#'!t#o$ #s the !sce$d#$% fro' elow u"w!rds, the sut#l '!tter !r#s#$%, le!&#$%
the %ross '!tter st#ll elow, !s he s!#d efore #$ the ch!$%#$% of the ele'e$ts* thus the
'!tter 'ust e sut#l#;ed, wh#ch #s $ot sut#l e$ou%h, !ll wh#ch 'ust e do$e throu%h
he!t !$d 'o#st$re, &#;. throu%h f#re !$d w!ter. You 'ust the$ t!)e the th#$% wh#ch
re'!#$ed #$ the %re!ter &essel, !$d "ut #t to other fresh 'ercury, th!t #t '!y e well
d#ssol&ed !$d sut#l#;ed* set #t #$ B. B. for three d!ys !s efore. 1e 'e$t#o$ $ot the
,u!$t#ty of 'ercury, ut le!&e th!t to your d#scret#o$, t!)#$% !s 'uch !s you $eed, th!t
you '!y '!)e #t fus#le, !$d cle!r l#)e ! s"#r#t. But you 'ust $ot t!)e too 'uch of the
'ercury, lest #t eco'e ! se!( the$ you 'ust set #t !%!#$ to sul#'e, !s for'erly, !$d do
th#s wor) so ofte$, t#ll you h!&e rou%ht #t throu%h the Ale'#c, !$d #t e &ery sut#l, o$e
u$#ted th#$%, cle!r, "ure, !$d fus#le. The$ we "ut #t !%!#$ #$to the #$$er &essel, !$d let #t
%o o$ce 'ore throu%h the !le'#c, to see whether !$y th#$% e left eh#$d( wh#ch #f so, to
the s!'e we !dd 'ore 'ercury, t#ll #t eco'es !ll o$e th#$%( !$d le!&es $o 'ore
sed#'e$t, !$d e se"!r!ted fro' !ll #ts #'"ur#ty !$d su"erflu#ty Thus h!&e we '!de out
of two, o$e o$ly th#$%, &#;. out of ody !$d s"#r#t, o$e o$ly co$%e$erous sust!$ce,
wh#ch #s ! s"#r#t !$d l#%ht( the ody, wh#ch efore w!s he!&y !$d f#+ed, !sce$d#$%
u"w!rds, #s eco'e l#%ht !$d &ol!t#le, !$d ! 'ere s"#r#t* thus h!&e we '!de ! s"#r#t out of
! ody, we 'ust $ow '!)e ! ody out of ! s"#r#t, wh#ch #s the o$e th#$%. F#+!t#o$, or
7o$%el!t#o$, #s the '!)#$% the flow#$% !$d &ol!t#le '!tter f#+ed, !$d !le to e$dure the
f#re( !$d th#s #s the ch!$%#$% of ! s"#r#t #$to ! ody* we efore tur$ed the dry$ess !$d the
ody, #$to 'o#st$ess !$d ! s"#r#t( $ow we 'ust tur$ the s"#r#t #$to ! ody, '!)#$% th!t
wh#ch !sce$ded to st!y elow( th!t #s, we 'ust '!)e #t ! th#$% f#+ed, !ccord#$% to the
s!y#$%s of the "h#loso"hers, reduc#$% e!ch ele'e$t #$to #ts co$tr!ry, you w#ll f#$d wh!t
you see) !fter, &#;. '!)#$% ! f#+ed th#$% to e &ol!t#le, !$d ! &ol!t#le f#+ed( th#s c!$ o$ly
e do$e throu%h co$%el!t#o$, y wh#ch we tur$ the s"#r#t #$to ! ody. But how #s th#s
do$e= 1e t!)e ! l#ttle of the fer'e$t, wh#ch #s '!de of our 'ed#c#$e e #t Lu$! or sol( !s
#f you h!&e >9 ou$ces of the 'ed#c#$e, you t!)e ut > ou$ce of the fer'e$t, wh#ch 'ust
e fol#!ted( !$d th#s fer'e$t we !'!l%!'!te w#th the '!tter wh#ch you h!d efore
"re"!red, the s!'e we "ut #$to the %l!ss &#!l w#th ! lo$% $ec), !$d set #t #$ w!r' !shes*
the$ to the s!#d fer'e$t, !dd the s!#d s"#r#t wh#ch you drew throu%h the !le'#c, so 'uch
!s '!y o&erto" #t the he#%ht of - or 0 #$ches( "ut to #t ! %ood f#re for 0 d!ys, the$ w#ll the
d#ssol&ed ody f#$d #ts co'"!$#o$, !$d they w#ll e'r!ce e!ch other. The$ the %ross
fer'e$t, l!y#$% hold of the sut#l fer'e$t, !ttr!cts the s!'e, 3o#$s #tself w#th #t, !$d w#ll
$ot let #t %o( !$d the d#ssol&ed ody, wh#ch #s $ow sut#l, )ee"s the s"#r#t, for th!t they !re
of e,u!l sut#lty, !$d l#)e o$e to !$other( !$d !re eco'e so o$e !$d the s!'e th#$%, th!t
the f#re c!$ $e&er e !le to se"!r!te the' !$y 'ore. By th#s 'e!$s you co'e to '!)e
o$e th#$% l#)e !$other( the fer'e$t eco'es the !#d#$% "l!ce of the sut#l ody, !$d the
sut#l ody the h!#t!t#o$ of the s"#r#t, th!t #t '!y $ot fly !w!y. The$ we '!)e ! f#re for !
wee), 'ore or less, t#ll we see the '!tter co$%e!led* wh#ch t#'e #s lo$%er or shorter,
!ccord#$% to the co$d#t#o$ of the &essel, fur$!ces, !$d f#res you '!)e use of. 1he$ you
see the '!tter co!%ul!ted, "ut the !o&es!#d '!tter or s"#r#t to #t, to o&erto" #t two or
three #$ches, wh#ch d#%est !s efore, t#ll #t e co!%ul!ted !lso, !$d thus "roceed, t#ll !ll the
'!tter or s"#r#t e co$%e!led. Th#s secret of the co$%el!t#o$, the Ph#loso"hers h!&e
co$ce!led #$ the#r oo)s, $o$e of the' th!t we )$ow of h!&#$% d#sclosed #t, e+ce"t o$ly
L!r)!l#+, who co'"osed #t #$ '!$y ch!"ters( !$d !lso re&e!led #t u$to 'e, w#thout !$y
reser&!t#o$ or dece#t.
>0. 7!lc#$!t#o$. 1e t!)e the )$ow$ '!tter, !$d "ut #t #$to ! &es#c!, sett#$% ! he!d u"o$ #t,
!$d lut#$% #t well, "ut #t #$to ! s!$d fur$!ce, '!)#$% ! co$t#$ued %re!t f#re for ! wee)*
the$ the &ol!t#le !sce$ds #$to the !le'ec)4 wh#ch we c!ll !&#s her'et#s* th!t wh#ch
re'!#$s #$ the otto' of the %l!ss, #s l#)e !shes or s#fted e!rth, c!lled, the "h#loso"hers
e!rth, out of wh#ch they '!)e the#r #$cre!se or !u%'e$t!t#o$, throu%h he!t !$d 'o#sture.
Th#s e!rth #s co'"osed of four ele'e$ts, ut !re $ot co$tr!ry o$e to !$other, for the#r
co$tr!r#ety #s ch!$%ed to !$ !%ree'e$t, u$to !$ ho'o%e$e !$d u$#for' $!ture* the$ we
t!)e the 'o#st "!rt, !$d reser&e #t ! "!rt to ! f!rther use. Th#s e!rth, or !shes, Cwh#ch #s !
&ery f#+ed th#$%D we "ut #$to ! &ery stro$% e!rthe$ "ot or cruc#le, to wh#ch we lute #ts
co&er, !$d set #t #$ ! c!lc#$#$% fur$!ce, or re&erer!tory, for three d!ys, so th!t #t '!y e
!lw!ys red hot * thus we '!)e of ! sto$e, ! wh#te c!l+( of th#$%s of !$ e!rthy !$d w!tery
$!ture, ! f#ery $!ture* for e&ery c!l+ #s of ! f#ery $!ture, wh#ch #s hot !$d dry. 1e h!&e
rou%ht th#$%s to the $!ture of f#re( we 'ust $ow further sut#l#;e our ele'e$ts( we t!)e
!"!rt, ! s'!ll ,u!$t#ty of th#s c!l+, &#;. ! fourth "!rt* the other we set to d#ssol&e w#th !
%ood ,u!$t#ty of fresh 'ercury, e&e$ !s we h!d do$e for'erly C#$ !ll the "rocesses of the
!fore%o#$% "!r!%r!"hsD !$d so "roceed o$ fro' t#'e to t#'e, t#ll #t #s wholly d#ssol&ed.
Now th!t you '!y ch!$%e the f#+ed #$to ! &ol!t#le, th!t #s, f#re #$to w!ter, )$ow, th!t th!t
wh#ch w!s of the $!ture of f#re, #s $ow eco'e the $!ture of w!ter( !$d the f#+ed therey
#s '!de &ol!t#le !$d &ery sut#l. T!)e of th#s w!ter o$e "!rt, "ut #t to the reser&ed c!l+,
!$d !dd to #t !s 'uch of the w!ter, !s '!y o&er to" the c!l+ two or three #$ches, '!)#$% !
f#re u$der #t for three d!ys( thus #t co$%e!ls soo$er th!$ !t f#rst, for c!l+ #s hot !$d dry,
!$d dr#$)s u" the hu'#d#ty %reed#ly. Th#s co$%el!t#o$ 'ust e co$t#$ued t#ll !ll e ,u#te
co$%e!led( !fterw!rds you 'ust c!lc#$e #t !s for'erly( e#$% ,u#te c!lc#$ed, #t #s c!lled
the ,u#$tesse$ce, ec!use #t #s of ! 'ore sut#l $!ture th!$ f#re, !$d ec!use of the
tr!$s'ut!t#o$ for'erly '!de. All th#s e#$% do$e our 'ed#c#$e #s
f#$#shed, !$d $oth#$% ut #$%ress#o$ #s w!$t#$%, &#;. th!t the '!tter '!y h!&e !$ #$%ress
#$to #'"erfect 'et!ls. Pl!to !$d '!$y other "h#loso"hers, e%!$ th#s wor) !%!#$, w#th
d#ssol&#$%, sul#'#$%, or sut#l#;#$%, co$%e!l#$%, !$d c!lc#$#$%, !s !t f#rst. But th#s our
'ed#c#$e, wh#ch we c!ll ! fer'e$t, tr!$s'utes 'ercury #$to #ts ow$ $!ture, #$ wh#ch #t #s
d#ssol&ed !$d sul#'ed.
They s!y !lso, our 'ed#c#$e tr!$s'utes #$f#$#tely #'"erfect 'et!ls, !$d th!t he who
!tt!#$s o$ce to the "erfect#o$ of #t, sh!ll $e&er h!&e !$y $eed to '!)e 'ore, !ll wh#ch #s
"h#loso"h#c!lly to e u$derstood, !s to the f#rst or#%#$!l wor).
>2. See#$% the$ th!t our 'ed#c#$e tr!$s'utes #'"erfect 'et!ls #$to sol !$d lu$!,
!ccord#$% to the $!ture !$d for' of the '!tter out of wh#ch #t #s '!de( therefore we $ow
! seco$d t#'e s!y, th!t th#s our 'ed#c#$e #s of th!t $!ture, th!t #t tr!$s'utes or ch!$%es,
co$&erts, d#&#des !su$der l#)e f#re, !$d #s of ! 'ore sut#l $!ture th!$ f#re, e#$% of the
$!ture of ! ,u#$tesse$ce !fores!#d, co$&ert#$% 'ercury, wh#ch #s !$ #'"erfect sust!$ce,
#$to #ts ow$ $!ture, tur$#$% the %ross$ess of 'et!l #$to dust !$d !shes, !s you see f#re,
wh#ch does $ot tur$ !ll th#$%s #$to #ts $!ture, ut th!t wh#ch #s ho'o%e$e w#th #t, tur$#$%
the hetero%e$e '!tter #$to !shes. 1e h!&e t!u%ht how ! ody #s to e ch!$%ed #$to !
s"#r#t( !$d !%!#$ how the s"#r#t #s to e tur$ed #$to ! ody, &#;. how the f#+ed #s '!de
&ol!t#le, !$d the &ol!t#le f#+ed !%!#$* how the e!rth #s tur$ed #$to w!ter !$d !#r, !$d the
!#r #$to f#re, !$d the f#re #$to e!rth !%!#$* the$ the e!rth #$to f#re, !$d the f#re #$to !#r, !$d
the !#r #$to w!ter( !$d the w!ter !%!#$ #$to e!rth. Now the e!rth wh#ch w!s of the $!ture
of f#re, #s rou%ht to the $!ture of ! ,u#$tesse$ce. Thus we h!&e t!u%ht the w!ys of
tr!$s'ut#$%, "erfor'ed throu%h he!t !$d 'o#sture( '!)#$% cut of ! dry ! 'o#st th#$%, !$d
out of ! 'o#st ! dry o$e* otherw#se $!tures wh#ch !re of se&er!l "ro"ert#es, or f!'#l#es,
could $ot e rou%ht to o$e u$#for' th#$%, #f the o$e should e tur$ed #$to the others
$!ture. A$d th#s #s the "erfect#o$ !ccord#$% to the !d&#ce of the "h#loso"her* !sce$d fro'
the e!rth #$to he!&e$ !$d desce$d fro' the he!&e$ to the e!rth( to the #$te$t to '!)e the
ody wh#ch #s e!rth, #$to ! s"#r#t wh#ch #s sut#l, !$d the$ to reduce th!t s"#r#t #$to ! ody
!%!#$ wh#ch #s %ross, ch!$%#$% o$e ele'e$t #$to !$other, !s e!rth #$to w!ter, w!ter #$to
!#r, !#r #$to f#re( !$d f#re !%!#$ #$to w!ter, !$d w!ter #$to f#re* !$d th!t #$to ! 'ore sut#l
$!ture !$d ,u#$tesse$ce. Thus h!&e yo$ !cco'"l#shed the tre!sure of the whole world.
>5* I$%res#o$. T!)e sul"hur &#&e, 'elt #t #$ !$ e!rthe$ &essel well %l!;ed, !$d "ut to #t !
stro$% lye '!de of ,u#c)l#'e !$d "ot !shes* o#l %e$tly to%ether, so w#ll !$ o#l sw#' o$
the to", wh#eh t!)e !$d )ee"* h!&#$% e$ou%h of #t, '#+ #t w#th s!$d, d#st#l #t throu%h !$
!le'#c or retort, so lo$% t#ll #t eco'es #$co'ust#le. 1#th th#s o#l we #'#e our
'ed#c#$e, wh#ch w#ll e l#)e so!", the$ we d#st#l y !$ !le'#c, !$d coho!te three or
four t#'es, !dd#$% 'ore o#l to #t #f #t e $ot #'#ed e$ou%h. Be#$% thus #'#ed, "ut f#re
u$der #t, th!t the 'o#sture $!y &!$#sh, !$d the 'ed#c#$e e f#t !$d fus#le, !s the ody of
%l!ss. The$ t!)e the !&#s her'et#s efore reser&ed, !$d "ut #t to #t %r!d!t#', t#ll #t !ll
eco'es "erfectly f#+ed. Now !ccord#$% to A&#ce$, #t #s $ot "oss#le to co$&ert or
tr!$s'ute 'et!ls, u$less they e reduced to the#r f#rst '!tter( the$ y the hel" of !rt they
!re tr!$s'uted #$to !$other 'et!l. The !lchy'#st does l#)e the "hys#c#!$, who f#rst "ur%es
off the corru"t or 'or#f#c '!tter, the e$e'y to '!$4s he!lth, !$d the$ !d'#$#sters !
cord#!l to restore the &#t!l "owers* so we f#rst "ur%e the 'ercury !$d sul"hur #$ 'et!ls,
!$d the$ stre$%the$ the he!&e$ly ele'e$ts #$ the', !ccord#$% to the#r &!r#ous
"re"!r!t#o$s. Th#s $!ture &or)s f!rther y the hel" of !rt, !s her #$stru'e$t( !$d re!lly
'!)es the 'ost "ure !$d f#$e sol !$d lu$!* for !s the he!&e$ly ele'e$t!l &#rtues wor) #$
$!tur!l &essel(* e&e$ so do the !rt#f#c#!l, e#$% '!de u$#for', !!ree!le w#th $!ture( !$d
!s $!ture wor)s y 'e!$s of the he!ts of f#re !$d of the od#es, so !lso !rt wor)eth y !
l#)e te'"er!te !$d "ro"ort#o$!te f#re, y the 'o&#$%( !$d l#&#$% &#rtue #$ the '!tter. For
the he!&e$ly &#rtue '#+ed w#th #t !t f#rst, !$d #$cl#$!le to th#s or th!t #s furthered y !rt(
he!&e$ly &#rtues !re co''u$#c!ted to the#r su3ects, !s #t #s #$ !ll $!tur!l th#$%s, ch#efly
#$ th#$%s %e$er!ted y "utref!ct#o$, where the !str!l #$flue$ces !re !""!re$t !ccord#$% to
the c!"!c#ty of the '!tter. The !lche'#st #'#t!tes the s!'e th#$%, destroy#$% o$e for' to
e%et !$other, !$d h#s o"er!t#o$s !re est whe$ they !re !ccord#$% to $!ture, !s y
"utrefy#$% the sul"hur, y d#%est#$%, sul#'#$%, !$d "ur%#$% !r%e$t &#&e, y !$ e+!ct
'#+t#o$, w#th ! 'et!ll#c '!tter( !$d thus out of the#r "r#$c#"les the for' of e&ery 'et!l #s
"roduced. The "ower of the co$&ert#$% ele'e$t 'ust "re&!#l, th!t the "!rts of #t '!y
!""e!r #$ the co$&erted ele'e$t( !$d e#$% thus '#+ed w#th the ele'e$ted th#$%, the$
th!t ele'e$t w#ll h!&e th!t '!tter wh#ch '!de #t !$ ele'e$t, !$d the &#rtue of the other
co$&ert#$% ele'e$t w#ll e "redo'#$!$t !$d re'!#$( th#s #s the %re!t !rc!$u' of the
whole !rt.