_How by the benefit of a certain Metallick Salt, from =Venus= her
Son =Cupid=, or rather the true =Mercury=_ _of Philosophers, may
be prepared in the space of One Day, so, as to sustain the Trial
of a Cupel: and indeed, it is neither =Sol= nor =Lune=, but a
Tincture most ample for certain white Subjects._
As for the Method of Proceeding, I have willingly offered to the Sons
of Art occasion of understanding That: but the thing it self is of so
easie Operation, as even the Forgers of infamous Libels, and all the
Brethren of Ignorance, would understand and perform the same, if any
One in describing it should give them but a very little Light. It would
be an unadvised thing to cast so noble a Pearl before Swine. Wherefore
I must forbear to write fundamentally of it. Nevertheless, that the
World may know such a Tincture is in the Nature of things, and may be
prepared of Things of small value; I confess I thought it worth while
to discover something thereof.
_Recipe_ of irreducible fixed _Arsenick_, and of _Mercury_ of _Luna_,
of each eight ounces. Both which Species being diligently mixed, you
will have a famous Cementing Powder, by help of which you may perfect
this _Arcanum_, thus:
_Recipe_ of Plates of _Venus_ beat thin and cut small four ounces,
which, with the Cementing Powder above mentioned, (making Lay upon
Lay, as the manner is) into a Cementing Box glazed within, the Cover
of which you must lute very well, and place that in a Cementatory
Furnace; or (if you have not such a Furnace) upon a Chimney Hearth,
putting so many Coals round about, as the Box may be covered well.
Kindle the Fire above, and heat the Box leisurely, and keep it there
red-hot among the Coals ten or twelve hours. Then let your Fire go
out, and the Box cool: out of which, if you take your Cement, you will
find, that the Volatile Spirits of _Luna_, taking the fixed _Arsenick_
to themselves, have introduced the same into the Copper Plates, and
procured to it the whiteness of Silver. This Cement, together with the
Copper Plates mixed with salt Alcali or burnt Tartar, melt in a strong
Crucible in a Wind-Furnace, and pour out the Mixture into a Cone. When
cold, separate the _Scorias_ from the _Regulus_, which will be white as
_Lune_. Cupellate this white _Venus_ with _Saturn_; then that, which
is not _Lune_, will enter with _Saturn_ into the Cupel, but the fixed
_Mercury_ remain above upon the Cupel. Granulate that, and dissolve it
by the help of _Aqua-fortis_; then indeed the _Luna_ will dissolve,
but the Philosophick _Sol_, or rather _Mercury_ of Philosophers, will
remain in the bottom undissolved, like an Ash-coloured Calx. This
edulcorated and reduced, passeth into an heavy Metallick Body; in
Face, Colour, and Hardness very like common and known Lead, which by
_Spagyrists_ is called the _Black Lead of Philosophers_. This Black
Lead hath sustained the Examen of the Cupel, yet it is neither _Sol_
nor _Lune_. For if it had been _Lune_, the _Aquafortis_ would have
dissolved it; and if it had been vulgar _Sol_, it would have been
infected with no Lead colour. Nor can it be Copper or Arsenick; because
if it had been so, it could not have sustained the Trial of the Cupel.
Therefore, according to the Fables of Poets, it must be _Cupid_, or the
Son of _Venm_. When the Gods saw that _Vulcan_, or the Son of _Jupiter_
and _Juno_, was born so very black and deformed, they took care to
have him carried into the Isle of _Lemnos_, that there being washed
by Apes (that is, by Men or Philosophers imitating Nature) he might
obtain a better Form, be nourished and brought up to Man’s estate. Who
afterward married _Venus_, of whom he begat _Apollo_. Whosoever desires
farther Information touching this matter, let him read that Ingenious
Treatise of _John Bracescus_, of the Tree of Life; where many great
_Arcanums_ are revealed, and the obscure Writings of Poets and Ancient
Philosophers explained.
Here I have in few words divulged one of the greatest of _Arcanums_.
I have not my self, as yet, by trial adhibited this _Mercury_ of
Philosophers, for the Transmutation of Metals. Nevertheless, as I have
written, it is a very far extended Tincture for white Bodies, and this
I have several times experienced; yet onely in white Glass: where one
part of the Tincture tingeth one thousand parts with the redness of a
Ruby, but the Glass keeps its own hardness. Now, if it could obtain the
hardness of a Ruby, as well as its fair Colour, such a Tincture would
be full as good, as if it could tinge _Lune_ it self, or _Mercury_
into _Sol_. For a good Ruby weighing but one ounce, is more esteemed
than sixteen ounces or a pound of Gold. But this Glass, with how great
Beauty soever it is tinged, still remains Glass, and cannot otherwise
be used than to adorn certain Pictures and Images.
_Note_: If any one knows how to extract the Tincture from this coloured
Glass, they will obtain a most excellent Universal Medicine. For,
although this _Mercury_ of Philosophers hath once passed the Trial
of the Cupel, yet this happened onely by help of the Silver, which
defended it from devouring _Saturn_; otherwise it had been consumed by
it. But now it is separated by help of _Aquafortis_ from the _Luna_,
it is destitute of a Defender, and is constrained to enter again into
its Mothers Womb, that it may there be ripened, and afterward new born.
For all Sand or Flint, of which Glass is made, is the Matrix or Mother
of all Metals. Glass is the Philosophers Lute of _Sapience_, or Seal
of _Hermes_, with which all Volatile Mineral Subjects are so bound and
fixed, as they can abide fixed, sustaining the force of Fire.