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and from whence it is said in Turba, "when thou shalt see
blackness to come to that water, know then the body is
melted".
Conception
Thou must know, my Son, that whilst the Earth in the
aforesaid blackness doth begin to retain with it some of
the Argent vive, then it is termed Conception, and then the
male acteth towards the female, to wit, Argent vive, with or
into the Earth, and this is the reason why the Philosophers
say that our Mystery is nothing else but the male and
female and their conjunction. For the water beareth sway
over the Argent vive, and the Earth increaseth, multiplieth,
and augmenteth. Hence again Philosophers say,
"Conception and Dispousation are to digest it in the
putrefaction in the bottom of the vessel, and the
generation of the genitors in the air and head of the
vessel, to wit, the still".For the body does nothing except it
putrefy and it cannot putrefy except with Mercury.
Therefore the Philosophers, "for with one part of the body
are six and thirty parts of the water to be taken, and let
putefraction be made with moist gentle fire of hot and
moist dung, and in no ways with others, so that nothing
may ascend. Because if any thing should ascend a
separation would partly be made, which ought not to be
done, until the male and female are perfectly joined
together, and one received the other, the sign whereof is
the superficies in the nature of perfect solution".
Impregnation
We must know that when the Earth is a little made white,
there it is termed Pregnation, because then the Earth is
Impregnated. For when the Earth is joined with an
imperfect body, it is called Our Earth, because the Earth is
the Mother of all the elements, when the Earth begins to
retain with it somewhat of Arsenic, or Our Salt, or Argent
vive, for then it is called a Conception, because the male
acteth towards the female, because the Mystery of the
Philosophers is nothing else but the male and female and
their conjunction. Water coming to them, that is Arsenic or
Our Salt, which increases much in the Earth and is
augmented and comes out when the Earth is dealbated,
then it is called a Pregnation, because the Earth having
conceived goes away pregnant. Moreover, that here and
in the former Chapter, the little star formed of seven fold
little pricks, becometh Red but not fully, it signifies that the
matter of the Stone now shut up in the Philosophical phial,
hath in some part suffered putrefaction, but it is far from a
plenary mundification, which is made in the bottom of the
vessel. For it ought to purge further, as is demonstrated by
the thirteenth Chapter. But whereas the Red and White is
not compounded of Red and White, but of Black and
White, there is no doubt but by the help of the Governor of
all things, it will in short space come into perfect
whiteness. But that the little star is not deprived of his
blackness, appeareth by the black complements sticking
to the little points and planets.
Generation
Matter and form are only contained (as saith the
Philosophers) by the Generation of Nature, but they
understand by the matter and form, the Agent and Patient,
thin and thick, Sulphur and Mercury, male and female, and
by consequence know Generation. He therefore that doth
know how to choose matter well disposed and very ready
to suffer, and strong to act, this man shall bring forth the
more excellent and strong effect, but that the generation of
the elixir might be the better done, let the artist diligently
consider what things are requisite for Nature in the
generation of metals, and what of art is to the generating
of the Stone, that a collection being made between these
thing he may have, from whence he may judge, whether it
be possible to generate the stone. Thou must know,
therefore, my Son, lest thou should err, that there are four
things that are altogether requisite or necessary to Nature
in the Generation of metals. First, to have composing
principles, one whereof hath itself as the Matter, the other
is the form of composing. Secondly, to have that due
weight of the principles. Thirdly, a fit place is altogether
required, that is a solid place, for unless the place where
Nature mingleth were according to the two principles solid,
the Vapours which are also termed Spirit would exhale,
and the solidity of the place doth condensate or thicken
those spirits already mixed, from whence it is they begin to
act and suffer one towards the other, by subtilizing and
separating impurities. The fourth thing requisite in the
generation of metals is heat temperated, by which metals
are in the end excluded and exhaled into the air. All these
things required are necessary in the art to generate the
Stone, all which the artist by imitating Nature in all things,
except in her weight, shall easily conceive that the Stone
may be gotten. But let him take the weight from Nature
necessarily as it shall be meet. Moreover, of the diverse
and intermingled colours appearing here and elsewhere,
you may see from day to day in the glass vessel, whereof
it is sufficient to have put you in mind, in this place.
Fermentation
Fermentation with the Philosophers is the incorporation of
the Animal part, the restoration of the vapour, the
inspiration of the odour, the supplying of the beings, and it
is double White and Red, whose ferment is the Sun, the
Sun of the Sun, the Moon of the Moon. That is, the Sun is
ferment to the Gold, or Red Elixir, and the Moon is ferment
to the Silver, or White elixir. But as substantial bodies, and
fixed upon the fire, cannot manifest their qualities, neither
do live or are lifted up of themselves, unless by the benefit
of spirituality, they are first purified and vivificated, so
neither can spiritual accidence manifest their permanent
virtue, except they are united and perpetuated with fixed
bodies. For then and not before, the body inbreatheth the
spirit, teaching him by vigorating, to reluct, strive or
struggle against the fire, and the spirit embraceth the body
teaching him to pierce through gross bodies, actually to
subtilize thick ones, and to generally cure all infirmities
and diseases. But the intention of Fermentation is that the
thing to be fermented should be prepared, washed,
calcined, and dissolved, that it may the better be joined
with the subtle work or body, that is to say, White ferment
with White, and Red with Red. Yet these things not
hindering, my Son, you are to know that Fermentation
doth not change the powder of the Stone into any form but
his own, but it giveth savor, odour, and strength to
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