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A 1989R.A.M. S. Pno ou cT r oN

W OR D A BOUT B.,ArMeg.
R.A.M. S. , the Restoration of Alchemical Manuscripts Society is a very loosely knit group composed of private citizens around the world who have contributed to the present work and others in one way or another. The goal of the sociegr is to seek out and obtain copies of Alchemical ma.nuscripts, tracts, printed works and other such materials ard literature. From these, certain items are selected for I restorationf . This consists in re-t5rping the material to render it readable, therefore useable. The reading is made more enjoyable by the use of eharts, s;rmbols, dictionaries, diagrarns, insertion of printed illustrations and other annotations to shed additional light on the text. is a non-profit organization with members from all walks of R.A.M. S. life. There is no I organizationr per se, just individuals desirous of performing a labor of love. It is their hope that these efforts will perhaps result in renewed interest in the science of Alchemy or even contribute to new discoveries or fields of experirnentation. While this material is for all on the path of Alchemy, it i.s particularly for the sincere practicing Alchemist. The transcription of this material is as verbatirn as human skills permit. The only exceptions are to make the matter more readable, or understandable, with some t modernizationr . This is done ONLY where it is judged that no ambiguity will arise from a slight departure from the origind and there is no danger of deleting key words or phrases where a possible use of Gematria, Temura, Notariqon or other form of written code exists. Thus, mis-spelled or incgrrect material is to be found as well as archaic or strange grarnmatioally. This words. is in an effort to maintain the original text as far as possible. The completed material is then reproduced, sometimes borurd and offered to interested parties. The costs for these copies are used to defray reproduction costs and to obtain additional material for restoration. The work of R.A.M.S. includes such material as ttl.ast Will and Testament" of Basil Valentine, important selections from the invaluable Bacstrom Manuscripts such as ttcolden Chain of Homerrt, ttlamspringt s Process for the Lapis Sopfue"trntt, ttThe Chemistt s Key", ttThe Mineral Gluten of Nitre and SuUurtt, ttCoelum Philosophorumtt and others. Additionally, material by other writerf s is or will be offered. Suchas Geber, Ka,lid, Ripley, Bacon, Hazelrigg, Hollandus, Becher, l{onteSnyderrAlbertue Magnusr etc etc It is higtrty approrpiate to acknowledge the ma^nypersons who have either materially or philosophically contributed to the present effort and firtr:re ones. For some this might well be the first indication that they are considered as members of R.A. M. S. or that such a group even exists! While the list is long, it includes: C, Collins,Iri ![u11er. ,l)oris Edlein, Arp. Joo, D. and J. Nintzel, N. Ogle, G. Price, F. Regardie, W. van Doren, K. non Koenigeeek,and especially David Ham. For their labors and contributions, gratefirl ttranks are given Let their unseUish efforts inspire others to light the fires of Alchemy. To obtain copies of these materials, or to contribute in some way to this work, contact: W. Nintzel R. A . M. S . c lo Ttarr"

;nffiHr#lf,uou,

T n e Go lo e nHo n r 0 t Go r - o , I T s l l E n tr , IT s Ge ttr r e , IT s Use , T o Hr s Sp o u se Bv J " F n. l l r n l n o u r l , Do r . Co r co nru AEo u E Co te s "

B o o r 1 . , Cn n p r e n 1.
Gold not un ive rsal ft known in the e a rlie s t it is t ime s ; it s d is c o v e ry for and esteem by other things.

aqreement,

so t h a t

t h e y a rd s t ic k to

has often its

entered

my min d , that

f ry s p o u s e , in t o

d is c o v e r

mo r e e x a c t l y is, is soumen, and it good rea-

b y discussion i nsin uated ha vin g g h t with so n that "tur n ing tha t it sa u r u s" h iq h ly an y of r eco r ded th e other im p licit o the r pe r su ade ed for wr o te Tr o y,

why gold, fixed it

u s e d t o b e s o e s t e e me d , re p u t a t io n s o t e n a c io u s ly . d ilig e n c e , . t h a t writ e rs it is L a t in to f it d e riv e d g u a rd e d e ls e r hand,

and sti1l

extraordin a ry

t h e min d s o f see that is

done sor they

t h e re

such great mens'minds"i is

and n e e d le s s e a rlie s t

wit h

say the

the

name from

and once found, d e riv e On the t ru t h t h is that

so carefully "apo to oreoin,' dnd the word "thet h e min d t h a t that is atth-

gave the Greeks re a s o n was compounded f ro m it . desirous its in of findin g but of all the may seem to be u s e f u l, qualities, the accessories testimony of earliest t ime s lif e ,

t h e n a me f ro m other not

be ca u se it

watched ov e r mo re t h a n

a n y t h in g

h a s f u rt h e r is g o ld that of a g re e me n t . wa s n o t me t a ls ; g o ld lif e of

d is c o v e re d A n d it a lwa y s for the

ou g h gold

n e c e s s a rily

b ec a u s e o f has been spoken or to first the vorkr a lt og e t h e r t ha t t he men livdays of ot

b y u n iv e rs a l in c lu d in g

esteemed above

c e n t u rie s is

wa s p re f e rre d does not re c o rd s la c k in g b e f o re and those or So1, or s a y in g that a mo n g t h e

things

f have calle d it is rela t e d

a c c e s s o rie s in a n c ie n t g o ld . of

me, because the re

n o me n t io n

g o ld

o f m en, rather that gold

lit e ra ry

many centuries and silver

w it h o u t

No r a re t h e re S c y t h ia , o p in io n , f in d e r.

t,hose who who s a y i L Vulcanr the name

was disco v e re d by Indu s

b y A e a c u s a lit t le o r E ric h t h o n is , t h is f ro m it s 1.

t h e k in g wa s o f

wa s found by Thoas or Ae a c lu s , eve n Chrysus: of g o ld Hippocrates "ho chrysos" was t a k e n

I know that m uch before co u ld cla e a n tha t w r ote cu p ! th a t b o o ty ver . r ar e ly in if

it

has be e n writ t e n by the ric h in the hid e

that

g o ld

wa s n o t in the not

in

use in of

Eurpoe

was smelte d together in to

P h o e n ic ia n s

t ime

Cadmus. Amyit

Wh y, when Greece was alre a d y be scraped A pollo to have a g o ld and dear

a n d f lo u ris h in g re la t e s

enough gold F in a l l y ,

t h e wh o le o f c ro lrn , t ime it of

G re e c e t o that if

a l1 o w th e

Athenaeus. d rin k in g

w as so rare so small the I th in k,

K in g P h ilip p i1 lo w,

h e c o ns i d e r e d r.rhich was Samius ways is, golden their that Du riu s p h it ip ' s

he had done well that taken he could truth,

a c q u ire

a g o ld e n of

v e s s e l,

u n d e r h is

whose d e s c rip t io n from P liny ,

P h ilip ' s

lic e n t io u s a g a in s t t h e me t a l of s ilv e r in the in h is

wh e n h e in v e ig h s It

S o far Sparta it of

were the Gre e k s f ro m c h e ris h in g them to use it . grew and flou ris h e d fell and was ru in e d At h e n ia n s . h is pers o n came in t o wit h o u t P la t o c o in s

l aws forbade an d that fo r b a de

c a n b e p la in ly wh e n L y s a n d e r

s e e n f ro m hi s t o r y and gold, the golden sil"Laws" he same for were and first, Phothe b ro u g h t

the captured any privite

assents;

t o p o s s e s s g o ld ,

a n d d id

P erhaps it tr ipods

h e a d b e c a u s e g o ld k in g s

a n d s ilv e r

used in Greece, and after the in

a n d we re u s u a lly t h e L y d ia n S ic ilia n

s e e n o n L y in t e mp le s, G y g e s a n d Cro e s u s Soon after He b re ws h e ld to g o ld , o f h is if t y ra n t s . the

and images th a t Delphi

p o sse ssed, I recall altho u gh r ep o r ts i es". fo r b a de i on i t, if for som e of It

the m t h e

cae a n s inhabited

t h e me t a l re g a rd it ,

b e g a n f o b e c o mmo n ly u s e d i n G r e e c e . in wh ic h the metal, Josephus b ro n z e

diminishe d the

they had much o f truly also

p re f e rrin g a n d e le v e n t h o r s ilv e r. for of g o ld , it

sev e n t h

c h a p t e rs After o t h e rs it

comes to my min d t h a t centu rie s which of is

S p a rt a c u s

in h is

"Antiquitc a mp s i n I t a l y circulatpeoples, of least

anyone to have g o ld numberless India, them had little

had been in a n d A s ia n in it , at thought

a mo n g c e rt a in thought p a rt

A f ric a n ric h

re g a rd th a t

nothing

a nd in

t o b e v e ry that o f h is

we are speaking w learn there

A le x a n d e r

o f Ma c e d o n c o n king himnot was gold

qu e r e dr th a t self to no t is

from th e

accounts that

d e e d s b y t h e G re e k w r i t e r s wa s s a c k e d t h e c e rt a in in mu le s we re s c a r c e l y me n a g r e e d it wh y , a n d t h a t t h e r. ro rld t h a t

was no go1d, carry it. highly' other

a lt h o u g h

wh e n B e rs is t h irt y in f e r it is that not n a t io n

obtained e steem gold a lways

so much go ld

thousand c le a r

en o u g h to

We t h e re f o re a lt h o u g h t h in g s .

agreed and de c id e d

b y e v e ry

th e measure of

2.

Cn a p r e R 2.
G o t -o r{o r H IGH L y E srE EtttED BEcAUsE oF ITs NATURAL usEFULNEs s .

I do not to p ersuade it, not is on the exist,

bring the

forwa rd I c it e of

the

a rg u me n t wit h g o ld is is wit h o u t

wh ic h

s o me h a ve t r i e d t o men . Against could it not to

common ma n , t h a t iro n , a s it a ll e x is t , p o e t ry , as us e f u l not of is

v e ry

useful

contraryr an art

wh ic h A g ric u lt u re c o u ld f irst

g e n e ra l,

(A s X e n o p h o n s a y s A rmy , w h i c h ,

the mother it that

and nurse

the

a rt s ) A rc h it e c t u re a ll. f am the

b u ild , altho ugh ap p r ove a lso to i s; the life. th e g o ld

the Navy could hurts half-line gold life

a n d 1 e f me a d d t h e in ju re

some, d o e s n o t saying , is

that

similar in

The maxim that r uination r e co r ded fable high how old,

than iron", " G o 1 d is mo re h u rt f u l " g o 1 d is mo re p re c io u s t h a n iro n i n w a r . " d is a p p ro v e d o f b y t h e b e s t p e o p le a n d l e a d s in me a n in g t o and at the these. is f have also how unworthy we al t h re a s o n to for often it s a me t ime

c lo s e

how a d mire d for its gold ,

how he who first of Midas; repute of Furthermore, or silver, thinks, the

ho a rd e d g o ld wa s d e lu d e d a heap of u s e in s in c e gotd b rin g s

t h e me a n in g b e n e a t h

n o s o lid

c o mme rc e wa s n o p o we rf u l

an d from which C ypr ian g u e st th e w as Janus, first the

t h e o ld k in g s s t ru c k c o in s , not of but of b ro n z e (a e s ), o f wh ic h S a t u rn wa s t h e i n v e n t o r (a e ra riu m) g e t s it s n a me r d s C e c i l t h e the treas u ry although o t h e rs of c a rrie d then k in g writ e S a t u rn , h im. of the that the f irs t to strike co i n s later, and coins his was becontempo ra ry wh o s t ru c k A mo n g t h e d rrd g o ld to o n h is

and the

ship the

that

Ro ma n s b ro nz e s t ru c k ones,

to be rninted, consul Fabius

s ilv e rr f irs t

a f e w y e a rs s ilv e r

ca u se S ervius, co in s, soo n afterwards

seven t h

Ro ma n s , f irs t is s u e

bronze

wa s t h e

gold

wa s u s e d .

CHn p r e n 3. G oto's E x rR A oR DI t r r A RE Ryp UT A T I o N IS

NOT [IEDICINAL.

When it amatan

comes to that

the

medical

facultyr

som long-standing and strength in

Epicherthe

opinions

goJ-d produces

gladness

b o d ily

temperament have b e e n c it e d same faculty exists of the there for only s u p p o rt wh ile t h e ric h

a g a in s t ma n is in

me ; c o n t ra ry t h in k in g of

opinions goldand are the of them, not for

fr o m the e n co ins the r e m a tte rs b o d ily b o d ily an ti quity i en t M o r e o ver,

me , b e c a u s e d e lig h t s p e n d in g

in h e a p s o f these

are those

who take which

p le a s u re the is

mo n e y , b u t

imagination ,

in t e L le c t that they

a n d t h e min d , s a y a re b e t t e r

temperament, temperament, the

u n s e t t le d

b y h e a v y t h in g s

and dross. the of ancand by thempoffers fl e s h hid doctors as the

are man y t h in g s and t h a t rekindlin g

a re re c o mme n d e d b y e v e n t h e o f h u ma n lif e , F o r n o me t a l nor those of of n o u ris h e s , t u rn e d t h e ir g o ld e n t h e ir in t o

wh o s e s u f f ic ie n t

we ca n make more or less P eripatetics This in is b1ood. se lve s th e ir ght it proved

use of.

knew, n o r a re d ig e s t e d , by the a c t io n s of war an d t h e l-ik e the y which d e v a s t a t io n

rn rh owe re u p r o o t e d la n d s , c o in s c o lo u r in n at e inside

th e whirlwinds bellies, unchanged. And if is to se r ve d the

caves and,

Ca t a p o t iu s ,

b u rie d

we re s o o n re c o v e re d , a n d is o t h e rwis e , t h e g o ld

and weiheat, prehe was they guts in a a throuGold vapratdrrd the of sme1l of

perhaps a very lives it

gold of

p e ris h e s extent,

c o n s u me d b y t h e it to T it , u s

small

wo u ld h a v e b e t t e r Ca e s a r wh i l e if

those for

, J e ws wh o f le d if t h e ms e lv e s , b u rie d Josephus, h id lik e the it in

b e sie ging up by the th e gold

Jerusalem, avaricious

h a d b e e n d ig e s t e d r e t they to t h e ir wo u ld n o t e x t ra c t b e llie s ,

h a d s wallowed

to nouris h

have been cut a n d so g r e a t

A ra b s a n d A s s y ria n s that to t wo t h o u s a n d g o ld

f ro m t h e i r

they had previou s ly these according assuaging ttith its

wa s the number of sin g le che st, ghout n e ithe r ou r s her all night, not for These wretches the body, soothes rise metala the that

we re d is e mb o we lle d in t h e ir

a s c o n f irme d

by Aegesippus. s t o ma c h s a s i n Wh a t th e n ? it , s t a s t e by the those doctors, s me l l , It is least

therefo re

hungar r ot s me ll

ru o u ld h a v e b e e n d if f u s e d foodstuffs. wit h s p irit s they the the

and alte re d ,

other c a lle d taste t h e ir

n o r n u rt u re s

from hum a n b o d ie s , have an u n p le a s a n t to those s p irit departing

a n d a s u lf u ro u s s ic k ; unctuousness. tastes e x t re me g o ld

m u st be prejudicial r e tain ing we ll- known all the opinion the is

wh o f a l1 wit h

a re a lo n g

way from

of A lb e rt , u s least part stench, of it s 4

Ma g n u s t h a t a lt h o u g h because of c o mp o s it io n .

a n d od o r s f in e ne s s

met,als are somewhat u n p le a s a n t , sulfur that

has the

an d therefore

T h e re a re ,

h o r' r e v e r , t h o s e

w ho h old he lp ful tha n give n sho u ld also th a t chie f fo r to gold.

that It

not

only

the

s me ll,

but P lin y

a ls o but

the they

taste that

of g o ld

me t a l s le s s

are

to both

well

an d s ic k

p e rs o n s ,

a re o f

value they One wrote And if he

comes to min d t h a t hurtful, the

wro t e t o b rin g h e is of

wa s o n c e

the wounded and c h ild re n , s a me P lin y g o ld p o is o n wh o is o t h e rs

d g d in s t ( if

p o is o n s r to it .

so that

be less

a n d t o o t h e rs

t h e m * " . it h . s u p p o rt He a ls o

remembers that there is

us ) wrote

as m any reproaches conclusion exclude so doingr H e quotes in g medic. go ld . fe r l i ved at, fo llo wing Ba ssu s, at si m ples:

agains t

a s p ra is e s in g o ld , in t e re s t e d

a certain - for gold,

a n d t h is

I re me mb e r a s h i s a u th o r i t y

not

in Me d ic in e ?

do e s not

h a v e la t e r

ma d e h im t h e ir o wn t ime , at the

ds is V arro,

the c u s t o m. who wa s a ma n o f h is does not a s c rib e liv e d that Dio s c o rid e s in a n d a n ou t s t a n d a c t io n to some preDioscorides laughed s a me t ime f know that f o llo win g that as Varro, Li e n i u s a n y me d ic in a l a lt h o u g h t ime s , a t t rib u t e d those

Dioscorides S uidas, to

I have said Dioscorides but the

and ge n e ra l have liv e d of A rriu s , speak o f the Lo rd ,

o p in io n , P lin y ' s to

I would rath e r time

lis t e n

wh o t h in k

t o wh o m is t h e A rriu s but

a b o o k of m e d i c i n a l

I do not that

wh o s e h o p e s Ca t u llu s the

n or of

bitter

e n e my o f

o u r re lig io n

wh o s o o b s t in a te l y s a me a g e a s his is older was Ca e s a r a f t er Dio s c o rid e s lit t le . Varro

b la sp hemed Christ Ale xd r inus, vie t,o r y th a n th e th a t cer tainly he is Plinyr

o f h im wh o wa s o f but wh e t h e r

who was grea t ly

h o n o u re d b y A u g u s t u s s e e ms t o ma t t e r

over A nthony affected took later, slightly appropriate ingest,ed.

and Cle o p a t ra ; T riu mv ira t e ; ma t e ria

or a contemp o ra ry , by th e thei r

f ro m h im G re e c e ,

L a t, i u m a n d opinion he may

B arbarians

me d ic a ; we lJ a v e it a s o u r becaus e Dis c o rid e s is me n t io n e d b y P lin y ; earlie r, c h a p t e rs o rr c e n t u ry a s f t h in k , h e b e lo n g e d , me n t io n s of g o ld is other

be ea rlier, ie s bu t th is in g ulia r sla g , w hich in n ot the if

a c o n t e mp o ra ry . handed on many remedb ro n z e , iro n it and lead, is does; speakin peebecause

D i scorides, on gold.

to whatev e r

o n q u ic k s ilv e r,

A nd he s c a rc e ly Sma 1 l p ie c e s of when tre a t in g he says t h a t

me rc u ry ,

ha r m ful of

re me d y t h e h a rm i t Wh e n h e i s wit h iro n , is not

he mentions poisons, red-hot to it, which is but

me d ic in e s . c o mb a t t e d t h is s ilv e r, of

a c o n it e a mix t u re

p u re w i n e and iron of Aegina

gold just

has b e e n q u e n c h e d , as g o o d r d rd is 5.

but

p ro p e rt y

shared wit h

re c o mme n d e d b y p a u l

wh e n he deals id e s, treats of r e cip es, Al exander ve r m a tely with dr u n k;

with of the

pois o n s . powe r o f

G a le n u s , s imp le

v e ry

mu c h la t e r a ls o ,

than g iv e s g o ld

Discorthe same

me d ic in e s

and says as mu c h a b o u t g o ld Colophon in h is but in this his context, t e s t imo n y is

as I have. writ e s not s o s t ro n g

I re me mb e r t h a t that and silas to be legitigold For and then f have same nor of Vitruvinfected so

A le x ip h a rma x e it h e r

are useful, quoted

b e c a u s e h e wa s a p o e t t o E b e or because he equated it ma t t e rs a t u rb id 1 it t 1 e . liq u id

cau se he copied silver, h e says that

Dioscor id e s

a n d G a le n , t h o le ro " i

writing

" e n o ie ma t i s h o u ld g o ld

the metal

b e ma d e in t o

I do not

deny th a t

ma y h a v e s o me me d ic in a l a re in n u me ra b le p o is o n ; they g re a t s ilv e r

v a lue , b u t that power, it

a sk you how much? A lso'considering, so m e power of heal.ing j ud g ement b r in g g o ld i us, to ta b le sr the concerning pleasure, and silver or at end, however, pipes, the that or of silv e r. t h e re re me d ie s f ig h t in g A n d if o n e ma y ma k e t h e g e n e ra l la b o u r? denote wa t e r, s ilv e r p ilin g- u p For n o b ilit y ; is

h a v e n o me d ic a l

whence , vessels r least in his

I a s k y o u c o me s . t h is s o u g h t wit h ma d e o f le a d that t h e ir is

seems that

ves s e ls , eig h t h

b o o k d e a lin g the taste s ilv e r taste. t u rn for

wit h of

wh e n h e c o m e s is harmful; of

and shows t h a t adds clea rly soundnes s o f are in tabl e s , broug h t

h a rmf u l

b e c a u s e wa t e r v e s s e ls , t h e ir t h e ir they

b y l ead tho se

who have tables times silver dishes like

ma d e o f

t h e ir

u s e e ar t h e n w a r e our own and bowls

b e ca use of te m p estuous dish es the se of not into ea r thenware as fathers, i nsti gation

Ma n y p rin c e s u n v a lu e d e le g a n t

a g re e me n t , a n d p re f e r

banquets

f ro m I n d ia ,

E t h io p ia

are lacking,

form B y t h in ia , the ma n p ra is e d silver. g o ld the fo r it

though

and Egypt t ot, if ma y n o t h a v e p o t t e r s wh o p re f e rre d o b s c e n e d e s ir e s , Poppaea also her best its so highly natural ds w that it Is not it vessels does seems aniwh o a t M e s a l l a '

b y A g a t h o c le s , t riu mv ir a ll go1d. h is

Samian'rilare to

Even the t o g ra t if y taste of

Anthony, Ne ro ' s

used only it,

seem to have liked

to have rejected m a ls. g o ld does not

s h e h a d g o ld e n soothes the

s h o e s ma d e f o r h a v e writ t e n ,

I know what the A ra b p h y s ic ia n s nourish, power can be e x p la in e d to make the h e a rt before, that

although

eyes. a ll It

I wo u ld a d d t ha t for is not

i m ag inary fo r riches

re a s o n a b ly ,

esteemed as to be made t h e me a s u re o f t re mb le ? ha ve said Nic a n d e r' s

6.

t h in g s ? does not

f o llo wr

wo rd s a re v a in .

Cn Rp r e n 4. Po rns tE G oLDD oE s i l o r E x p L A n {T HE G RE A T t { o B L E NE s sF T H E o Itlernl.

They say that i l l ne sses, as fa r is tha t as a matter a matter is as nature for of

the us e o f allows; argument . t h is

p o t a b le I s h a ll

g o ld

le a d s

to

the

a lle v i a t , i o n of 1ife,

of but

the preservatio n

o f h e a lt h ,

and the c o n s id e rr of it

le n g . t h e n in g t h is , is not I assert in re a rly

rro t a s s e t tl e d , that de b a t e .

I n c o n f irma t io n a mo n g t h o s e a g re e t h a t

it

controver s y who drink but its

wh o a re s k ille d p o rt io n , that

Per h a ps those drunk, e sse n ce. In deed su b stances '

u p g o ld

goJ-d conjunct higher

p u re a n d s u b t le c o n c e rn in g and the for the

ca11ed the of

how many battle s have been sou g h t fight they of they to-d a y ,

q u in t e s s e n c e of

b y t h e g re a t

le a d e rs

follo wers still ( w ho se founder ved its th a t not th a t w ater r kin d is fr o m in i t, of it, the they theory

P la t o n is t ,

p h ilo s o p h y . Their and the peripateties ra t h e r but than they they they proallow do make

say wis h e d do no t five

q u in t e s s e n c e ,

existence)

a g re e a s t o wh o h a s t h e v ic t o ry , h a s s o me f o u n d a t io n , they s h o u ld e le me n t s . le s t have to

substances s u b lu n a ry s u lf u r

a11ow that gold

are h e a v e n ly

co n c e i d e

are composed o f

F o r wh e t h e r

po tab le

from honey r o t

or some secret copper, and if of take the the

pure t o E q u ic k s ilv e r r o t d is t ,i l l e d ea rt h t o r r if y o u p re f e r, f ro m s o me ex a l t e d t h e y will not say that the is s o me s u b t le q u in t e s s e n c e b u ilt will that power is a g re e t h a t cannot re a lit y , the F in a lly , to le a v e of

much ref in e d r They will they sa y t h a t re p ly element s ,

d r awn from it.

drar^rn

t h e q u in t e s s e n c e that they the

up from the be f o u n d the of Perieffects diverse concede this do g m a , t h a t t,he conforward is go l d go l d being itto

q u a lit,ies p a teti cs wh ich to th e

wh ic h t h e y

p re d ic t

one can readily something

a re c o n t e n d in g

appeara n c e f o r contrac t io n in t o

a n d a t t rib u t e c o n c u rre n c e if that they other

el-se co u ld

have caused to one. not I n o rd e r

ca u se s and their a n im a ls tr ove r sy all se 1 f. s orts to pe r su ed cannot of

P eripatetics' live to doctors reasons d.y; is this

why d o t h e y on me t a ls ? quarre llin g why t h e this

e n u n c ia t e

the they

e n d of b rin g g o ld

a mo n g t h e ms e lv e s , in v e s t ig a t io n to d o wit h

p o t a b le

h a s n o t h in g they

d rin k in g re d u c e

For it

clear

that

a re a c c u s t o me d t o

an a sh, wa ysr p a r ted , It

or a ca1x, it, if

as th e y it or not at

p re f e r a llr

to to

c a ll it s

L L , wh ic h p ris t in e if it s

is

done in

many

so as to for

reduce

f in a lly

f o rm,

wh e n p e r h a p s has dethe gold. is

you may drink

o r h a rd ly ,

mo is t u re that

you remov e it of aL1 me t a ls add tha t of

t h o ro u g h ly , that it is

y o u h a v e d e s t ro y e d of t h e ir is the n a t u re b ut of

h a s been declared

by A ris t o t le stones.

a n d T h e o p h ra s t u s f o rms p a rt not g o ld in

mo i s t u r e

a e o n stituent a r a tes of th e also of i t, of Therefore that power not

and sepa part has but

them from being they only

that

d ru n k , liq u id , c a lx

was once go1 d ,

d is s o lv e d that

a f o re ig n

which gold,

swe e t e n in g

a n d we a k e n in g c a n b e d ru n k ; a re s e v e ra l wh a t t h e ir ju ic e s r happens, wh ic h is

extracting viewpoint that of it is

somet h in g thems e lv e s say th a t not is

they

s a y t he k n o ws ; say; liq u e f y i n g a d d it io n s e at ,

same of gol-d, of varnature there-

g e m s' which cannot th is a n d that the y i ou s for e i ng you should saltr

b e d ru n k r

d s e v e ry o n e vays of opponents wa t e rs , so that the

defenders moreover

t h e re

b e lie v e

assert kinds

do n e b y c o rro d in g f ro m g o ld that it

or b y b it in g take n

t h e p o we r t h a t f ro m it s a s it for

b e stoved

on gold for

a n d lif t e d

everyone of the

must allow nourishin g of gold they

e s p e c ia lly No w wh e t h e r not f it

becomes Els we nature is from turnfrom fatten gold

m o r e fitted

h u ma n n a t u re . it s e lf ,

y o u ar e s p e a k e a t ing r its it fire

nature (which

kn e w from the wh e n mixed a g la ss the r est

P eripatetics

r o r wh e t h e r s a y is n o t g o ld a liq u id c a rrie d if

y o u a re s p e a k in g o f ju d g e me n t ), in t h e ir h a s f lo we d up by the heat other is of the

a g r e e d that, one is vessel of ed b a ck into water,

drinkin g

that

d ro p b y d r o p s o ug h t

as the va p o u rs

and wa s mix e d wit t r f a c u lt y r t h is not sa y t h e y wh o d rin k e x c re me n t s those cause of of

substances d rin k in g

the medical

g o ld

or drinking

ge m s, why do they e d b y a mixture be ca u se I think fo r tha t of d a ys, Th is Thr e e , wr itte n our bodies Co rnelius' free was learnt

win e d ra wn f ro m a s o i l e x c re me nt s ? a l1 o w p o t a b l e c a n b e v e ry a s e v e ry o n e t o h e a lt h use of those n o w. wh o wo u ld that

of variou s the something and those

a re d rin k in g

I have supported

c a n b e c o lle c t e d o t h e rs , of in y e a rs d is e a s e , of that

helpful agrees woman a few goli Book I have I can in in

e s p e c ia lly

our surgeon A ntoniu s from her wast in g

g o n e b y re s t o re d c o n s u mp t io n s o l-e ly by the in

a ma rriad

house who wa s d y in g from her u n c le speak f u rt h e r to p o is o n s

potable

Nic h o la s ,

wh o m I s h a 1 l

me n t ion

and I shall on antidotes

t h e ma t t e r

v o lu m e s But if

I a m p rin t in g

sa y that it th e an d desire ca n cure th o u sand ho w to

it

is for

gold of it?

that gold,

is

h e lp f u l

t o h e a lt h , s t ill me t a l the but

d o e s t h e re s a me g re a t in t o a mo n g s t t e n f in d about

remain hunqer

in

nobility

a n d is but

t h e re that

One p o u n d o f a k in g , mo rt a ls g o ld

d is s o lv e d

a liguid thousand who

not merely (ten gold,

a k in g d o m, y o u will f if t e e n

mil-1ion?) of

s c a rc e ly

f if t ee n t h em .

see k potabile

and a mo n g t h o s e

s c a rc e ly

t wo w h o k n o w

make potions

a n d a re k n o wle d g e a b le

Cn n p r e R 5.
T n e p u R IT y A r{D p E R Ir r Ar { EncE oF GoLD ARE lr or r HE REAsor {ilEttl
RATE IT SO HIGHLY.

If tin g e d sulfur , ver y fu r . w i th io n , It nor

one believes we find than less

that here other

t h e p u rit y a f a lla c y , s t ill, wit h to o n ly g o ld g o ld that me t a ls ,

of

g o ld it is

g iv e s t in g e d it

it it

it s is but is

particular f o u led with th a t and by its reasulthat

im p o r tance,

for it s

a lt h o u g h p ro p e rt ie s ,

a n d d e f il e d for

which mingles

not

substance,

as A lbert u s

writ e s , the

a n d p e rh a p s E g y p t ia n s is the to

son that

Hermes spoke o f was afraid

under the p u re r? it s a ll they for

name of he began

S hal1 I ask whethe r

o r g la s s to re d u c e

Therefore

Ro m a n leader and the is

h e mig h t

b e s wa y e d r s o t h a t g o ld it s o rt s feel a lo n g

a hammer, and contin u e d , famous for its

o rig in a l of

conditmetal. stones water Stont metby dirt all

road was c h o k e d wit h

g o o d s ma d e o f for

p e rma n e n c e , b u t g iv e it do e s , ris e if is to they not s la g , t h is

c o me s t o min d t ha t s p o t t ed ti m e . of

ar e more permanent, fire, th o u g h do not a 1 s? they melt, A fter cannot but they gold it

and a re mo re p re c io u s , avoid

neither

nor do they gold

n o r a re t h e y

a re ru b b e d

a c o mmo n p ro p e rt y d s a s e c u rit y a n d s ilv e r,

had co me in t o from it s

u s e a s c o in s r

when tradand this vas the did ye a r s not after the

i ng goods, se e m s to sa yin g fi r st the that

was emp lo y e d la t e r had been re c o rd e d from b ro n z e , b e f o re g o ld

o

t h a n b ro n z e that

detract

imp o rt a n c e

a n d u s e f u ln e s s . the

For we recollec

in Ro me K in g S e rv iu s Ro ma n p e o p le s ix t y it y e a rs that P y rrh u s , a n d s ix t y

to make coins founding of of the

and that

e ve n have silver co n sulship

coins

t h e wa r wit h wa s min t e d ,

city . tha t

B e c a u s e we a re t o ld

wa s d u r i n g later,

Fabius

th e

Romans ordered in of silver,

conqu e re d Ca rt h a g e not g o ld r so that

and the n e it h e r it s

other the

n a t io n s

to

pay useCis-

tr i bu te fu ln e ss silve r a lp in e ( co in ed e r s, th e y evil. for did pr e cious wh y the

p e rma n e n c e n o r lik e the

the metal

ca n b e a c a u s e (f o r s ilv e r by the

imp o rt a n c e ). n a t io n s ,

Gold and

coins

were longer it but poet

in u s e a mo n g e x t e rn a l n a me o f

Gau1s, who called wealth); he laid coins, not lyric

was le s s

" p e c u n ia s ign a t a " e s t e e me d b y P la t o r p rin c e o f p h i l o s o p h n o c it iz e n s a n d s ilv e r. is u s e le s s in h is state p e o p le s r ro o t sh o u l d p er h a p s of all use is by other so that

down a la w t h a t

suc h a s we re d e s p is e d g o ld g o ld sings that

go mad gath e rin g

A n d t h is and the

Cn n p r e n 6.
Is n o r r HE REAsoiruHy GoLD ExcEEDsALL ELS E I r s B R IGH T T E S S I1 { V A L U E , U H E T H E R BECAUSE IT DEL t GHTSTHE EYES, 0R
BECAUSE IT I'OES ]IOT TEAR AUAY ]{OR RUB OFF.

But Pliny the

the denies

gentle this,

colour

of

gold silver for

attracts

and

dazzJ-es the for further all it is and the colour

eyes. like a more metals not rethat (aurora) Why?

and makes insignia, is not

brighter, it shines

more in

day

and military way. its for Gold

familiar because markabl-e gold from It of is the

thought the

better stars,

than for that

other is

colour its all

resembles presence the rest like in

gems and other because it gold is

thingsr the colour

some think of dawn

outshines which easily

some would learnt

to the

think word

(aurum)

toot< its from of silver for the one

name;

that

was translated by the alteration may be, blame saying this. should rubbing nothing. relying

language letter,

Sabines,

who said say.

"ausum", However

as many good Pliny's he wrote, than is gold; eyes but

authors more

that

delighted believing lead is what

than

goldi

one cannot for

him that While

he should

be censured disprove use, one the not

heavier that gold

later

experiments worn are away by worn

he

says that

very

little and it that coins is

remember of the

golden and who of

rings though think

away by it is

fingers, are those

very is

little, not

There

gold

damaged by heat,

on the

authority

10.

o f Ar istotle, testi m ony, tha t is gold r ecorded,

third or not

chap t e r properly weigh t in a dust lo s e s it s

" Me t e o ric s " , for u n d e rs t o o d , wh e n s t ro n g ly o u r o wn d a y r

of

but

t h is for

is

not

reliable us It p1atime. if

e x p e rime n t g o ld

c o n v in c e s a lo n g

does lose fire with

heated fhat

and proved gold

d is a p p e a rs

ced on the of

ur b a n " i likewise r e tain s its colour

and b o t h ru ra l " t h a t a b o u n d s in mills a s ma ll a m o u n t it s y e llo w c o lo u r a f t e r c o lo u r b e re s t o re d re d s h in e to d a lly o n c e lo s t if dust is t e x t iL e s ; h a v e v a lid s o e a g e rly wit h and gold thrown this it that on it" g o ld e n F in a lly , and for caves, it of

use by man, nor can t h e loses ou t silver. any so lid Go ld can be beaten

t h in ly ,

a n d wo v e n in t o mig h t it

h a s in common with b e e n able for a fte r se lve s, o the r s Eth io p ia the the r izu m sta te. ir o u s d e sir e the th a t of their put to find gold deaths down in e steeming

n o lo n g e r,

I have not reason that, some them-

c a u s e wh y f o lk in h o llo w

so hig h ly , it is to the

p u rs u in g c a lle d

p la c e d deepest c o lle c t s h o re s

mo u n t a in s

t h em ; with of

h a ve it

min e s h a f t s , t rib u t a rie s re g io n s o n ly of wit h

others from the

strive with

f ro m t h e I n d ia , the

rivers, sands of dawn and ob-

farthest they

or the not

s u n -b u rn e d the

t oE sail use the

t h e We s t Win d t o

antipodes; - to Parisians

even a d o rn t h e ms e lv e s

g o ld t o t

as Greek wo rd - mix e d wit h a k in d o f c o lo p h o n y , do to-day, b u t wit h g o ld in it s c ru d e a n d u n w o r k e d not e a s ily of f in d t h in g s a re a s o n does not to s a t is f y is it s the wo rt h ) , man desthat would the natu re of huma n it y a s t o wh y t h e re equal t h in g s s r- r c h a g r e a t

S o you will knoving it part for matters

(when its divine

u s e f u ln e s s

greater

me a s u re s a ll

h u ma n b y it;

were n o t me a s u re d b y t h e

s a me me a s u re !

CHlp r e n 7 . Tn r E X TR A oR D II{A No R vB I L I T y o F G o L DDo E s r t r o rs r E r { F Ro } r

SACRED LITERATURE.

The belief that in it belief that divinely the

in

the

preciousness from sacred

of

gold

and the

long For

durat ion if

of we read

do not

stem

literature. for worship pure in

even Jewish

many objects ordered sang to

necessary

the

temple know so we

were that

be made from be given

goldi of

and we likewise Arabia"; even

Prophet

"He will

gold

11

ought b r o n ze great i an s

to

remember that

w e h a v e re c o rd e d t h a n g o ld , s p o ils of

Josephus' for in

t e s t imo n y c a lle d to t h e ir

that the custodWe wisdom is is reof

was somewhat bett e r sea, found among t h e it. E sdras, vessels than gold r that than

the vessel re s t o re d t a l-e n t s by the lig h t te11 the

Da v id

S o lo mo n ' s

tempLe,

wa s made of the si de r e d si gn ifi ed is th ought in occurs say that for co r d e d th a t fir e , not

in X e rx e s ' t ime s , that we ig h e d t we lv e u s in g

ironze better

a n d we r e c o n p rie s t s . of

mo n ie s g iv e n and the do not wit h o u t a n e a rt h y

sho u l- d also

realise brighter

in t h e my s t ic g o ld i so they is

pages of

Ho ly Writ u s wh a t lik e

by gold, literature,

speec h b y s ilv e r, th a t ca1le d t h e re

in t e lli g e n c e go1d,

fatness,

in A rabia,

p u re b y n a t u re

in t e rv e n t ion

and therefore

h u m a n frailty says) , Yo u may find an d despisedr id o ls of r up ti ble t ot

us. I need a s Dio d o ru s t e lls " a p y ro n " , to the 1eveI of God in his g o o d n e s s h a s lo we re d h ims e lf in many ma t t e rs o f g e n e ra l u s e t o ma n (a s Ch r y s o s t o m gifts that a re p o u re d o u t same Ho ly Writ P ro p h e t , A p o s t le , thaf cool the to the g o ld p re s e n t day. What? in that wa s o f t e n re je c t e d cor-

these

s Hosea t h e P eter Jacob, in

wh e re t h e y g o ld it

ma d e t h e ms e l v e s a n d s il v e r

gold t ot born

wh o c a 1 1 e d g o ld

who wro t e for

wo n d e r is no t very, it.

the min d s o f thing s

no smallru s t s r s o t h a t t ru ly ju d g e s o f a f f a irs as to where is not useful , oy hardly t ot c o mmo n w i t h other t h a t , a re m e a s u r e d h a v e mu c h in

such greed came from, besides, and goLd is th in g s, aq a in st

b y n a t u re ma d e o f

g o ld

muc h in f e rio r

t o ma n y t h in g s

8. Cn n p r e n
sHown T H e i l o B IL IT y o F Go L DDoES ir or sr Elr FRor {THE FAVoUR T HOSE UHOUEAR IT.

Who indeed hope tain gold to curry

is

so stupid by

as to

believe it? they fire,

that For used the as it to

those is

who seek reeorded in

gold cerfrom

favour old

displaying that the

foolish that

manuscripts experienced the wearer

make an ointment of which,

had not rendered herb

use those

magicians crowned gold

claimed, with the

as popular but it

who were spending

helichrysum;

seems to

me that

L2.

fr e e ly

does not

bring love

p o p u la rif y c o in s .

b y it s

b e s t o wa l, wh o is

but

ra t h er

, for

far acin goldanti-

fr o m encouraging cu m u lated the gu ity will fir e d , o b vio us empty vanities or, or to-day, you find

an d k in d n e s s , that that

k in d le s Mo re o v e r,

e n v y in

re t u rn

heaps of

golden

s o s t e e pe d in

of m o rt a ls seek g o ld w it h for for

h e l< n o v s h o w. t o ma k e t h at Ho w ma n y , e it h e r they do, re a s o n r o E if me t a L t h a t

e n ointmentr

knowing h o w, ma k e s it ?

whom be e n by no a

popular loved prefer

t h e ma s s e s b e c a u s e h e is wit h h is for re g a l g o ld d we llin g ? that a ll

c ro wn e d w i t h

the herb

helichrysum,

o r a n o in t e d

has not

or who is cause to one ! ) . grottoes, but

Whence comes such gre e d a m ere tacit pe r n icious Ca lla ian w i th to the

me n a re c o mp e lle d e1se, (wo u ld wit h beyond the that it Da lma t ia n riv e r the

g o ld

b e f o re

bond of and nor Solomon have been the wars

and unneces s a ry

a g re e me n t content

we re n o t caves p o o ls , of

Nor a re t h e y

and t h e g o ld b e a rin g sands of sea journeys t h a t h a v e b e e n ma d e s in c e seek t o ma k e it for n a t iv e b y a rt ; g o ld i to o p in io n s the le s s for of at home to m a k e g o ld undertaken undertake or study the a re n o t nor

t ime that

seek gold,

la b o u rs f e we r

un d e r taken a n d journeys o n ly order eagerly su b stances,

than

we s e e ma n y w h o n o t g o ld the f ro m m e t a l l i c in p h ilo s o p h e r s

ma n u a l la b o r s in g u la r

p re p a re

to make dusts and s t o n e s p ro d u c t iv e o f g o ld , lrh e t h e r t h e s e (to use the c o mmo n t e rm, wh ic h s h o u ld b e " me t a l s " a r e mineral in La ti n) tha t of is, or vegetable, tha t is ma d e f ro m h e rb s s o u ls t and shootst of o r a iry ot animal, made from being s wit h o E a mix t u re a ris e . to t wo or t h r e e substance, that thirty them, So only vo l u m e s

th emr ot whether is living

comp o s e d f ro m s o me e a rt h y veget a b le s a n d a n ima ls that

fr o m which metals, the r e o n th e but art'

I have heard t h e n u mb e r o f b y d is p la y i n g n o re a s o n wre t c h e d (o r

a man w h o b o a s t e d certainly in not

h e h a d re a d e ig h t y p o p u la rit y

and had writt e n

u n n u mb e re d s h e e t s t o g a in h a v in g t a c it g a t h e re d g o ld ,

seve n thousand, great is

to have what he desire d , the diligence

wh a t h e p le a s e d . for mo r t a l s !

c o lle c t in g

a w eak one) beyond the b a re

a g re e me n t o f

13.

J. Fn. Prcollrnnrour-l
S e co ro B o oK or { GoLD, To HI s UI FE.

Cx lp r e n 1 . ll nnr GoLD& s ILv E R ARE , A r { Do F T HE t { A r { E o F T HE A RTB y

WHICH IS IIADE.

So far how it is of

we have

spoken for the

of the

the

love

of

gold. it

Now we must be made r ot and is

discuss it not"

may be made, about by

question and

"Can the

can

tossed

learned the of

ignorant

the of not

subject, reducing in minute of every-

many debates, strength but of in

therefore least

considerable generally me on;

usefulness calming them, is to

their detail, the one's

r oE at general,

beckoned

for

it of

the

benefit before

state

man if are

matters resolved the

commonly without the

talked doubt. origin by the

and kept

attention

We sha1l have art been of

show that long gold the

name,

and

the

power

of

the

art

and widely

discussed

literary by the

schools. Greeks, metals in the

The Romans

making it by

was called same name, the

"Chrysopoeia" and the art most of of

called

making the

general them, as were so it the made was

was called calling means of by it, it it

'lChemiarr by "Alchemia." gold its making took

Greeks;

Arabs defined other

followed Chemia metals

The Greeks, and silver. the

moreover, For although noble

name from and later

most

and

excellent,

ca1led

"argyropoiea" are those

"Chrysopoiea." Chemia agree, was named from but it of gives fusion; Metal in silver of the so it the as law is the more art, saps 1ikely and to well and to the the juices, be Greek argument aqreed

There with from

who thought appears to final E in to

whom Hermolaus

which is the "fusing" H (rendered letter as long that that useful give the it it comes from can to matters the and it

function Latin)

st,rength it is

do with art.

enough are judged they

be called state in

metallic is

workers Iaws,

the

so stated gold and

because

employment matter

preparing gold). to

a further used to

result employ to

of the

(making

Expounders cover othersr

name of golden tion

a common metal coins by who, the for

pleased writes. of,

them I

indicate men-

word

"bronze"r that

as Ulpianus I can think

do not derive

those

no reason

would

L4.

( ch e m istry) l y- r ea d no t

from f that

"a1chem y " , this salr the in th a t

a n d I a m s u rp ris e d the d ia lo g u e that

that

E ra s mu s,

a wideand did

man, taught

h e c a lle d

a lc h e m i c a l . and that the no

f am surprised, r e cognize derived h e r emoved the w or d i s j uice s.

h e f o llo we d t h e c o mmo n o p in io n , rra lrt wa s u s e d b y t h e A ra b s , art ic le wh ic h o u g h t ra t h e r than t o b e in c lu d e d , dt o r t h e p o we r o f ma k in g o f le s s , t h e n a me r d n d t h in lc in g

aspiration,

wh e t h e r

from foun d in g r reject in g

saps and

I wonder more,

E ra s mu s , wh o c an i n

w ay be excused for w or d .

u p s o me u n u s u a l

Cn n p r e n 2"
T n e o R rcn {s Ar { D pRoGREss oF THE ART.

Vi ncent pa r e n t an d to Othe r s wr iti ng s r on . ea le d in of the

of

B eauvais

tra c e s

t h e b e g in n in g v a rio u s

of

the

a rt

f ro m t h e to others

first

the human race apostolic that of of

t h ro u g h

in t e rme d ia rie s f irs t in it up. that

Domin ic a n st o n e Sin a i of the

f ro m wh o m h e s a y s h e le a rn t we re d is c o v e re d the

many things. chemical of to HebrevthaL c it y

would have it on tablets the desert Nor are there

He rme s T ris me g is t u s that to t h o s e wh o writ e t a b e rn a c le v e ry o ld , by the thus

executed

want in g

wa s d iv ine l y

s o me He b re w in wa s s e t

a wa y s imila r writ e rs . to s h o rtl y G re e k s , P s e llu s a n d S u id a s t h e g o ld e n it a rt

i n wh ich As far fou n d the the cl ou d y that

the covenant the art is it

as I can gathe r W ar, for story of but is

f ro m t h e G re e k a n d L a t in and dates o ld e s t Mic h a e l a p p le s , c o n c e rn the me n t io n e d for

I have before the u nd e r

ce rt a in ly

Tr ojan d esire

wraps of

an d rid d le s ;

in t e r p r e t s says that fleece of is

E urystheus a ramskin which V arro

t h e g o ld e n does not

the voyage of Phr ixu s, d e scr ibed, ha ir y ie s. chis, h is no r for

Jason to C o lc h is

pa rc h me n t

in wh ic h

o f ma k in g g o l d does not c a 1 ls them

the A rg o n a u t s say s it wh ic h g o ld

s e a rc h e d , h id e s

a lt h o u g h S t ra b o of

e sca p e me that

wa s c a t t le

sheepskins For many of story of

- with

wa s c o lle c t e d

f ro m riv e r

tributarCo1in

the old e r

G re e k s r r c o u rt e rs that and to it

t,he voyage to E u s t a t ni u s not

among whom are Chara x a n d A p o llo n iu s the matter, hides of h a d it c a t t le , th e hairy

a n d la t e r

wa s a p a rc h me n t , t h e p re s e n t

a skin, are many

d a y t h e re

wr iter s fl ee ce Atr e u s' an d the it art Atr eu s

who consider is hidden

tha t

under the of

f a b u lo u s a rt the

cover

of

the of

gol-den So should lr a g e d i e s call-s fhe lamb of of

a descrip t io n

the

o f ma lc in g g o ld . G re e k writ e rs though it is the

lamp be considered , o f wh ic h Romans whom Cice ro a lamb; so, to so as to hint the re c a lls f s d lr re a d e rs

speak, that

S e n e c a in d ee d ra m o r

a ram, not

ma n y in t e rp re t

a d e s c rip t io n of

o f making gold. For Callisthenes Olyn t h iu s r the re la t iv e a n d d is c ip le a ro s e d e riv in g V a rro it in A ris t o t l e , it from on flocks us that others the weal t h foLlow hoof. o f A t re u s e x a mp le o f d e riv e a n d P e lo p s f ro m m e t a l s r vessels

in for m s altho u gh w hich tain e d g o ld is

an d h eards in

on the it (Gr,

O t h e rs

f ro m s ilv e r

designs

were chased .

naturally P ersians, the E ast. P ersia

"argyros " , accept e d b y G re e k a u t h o rs , the E g y p t ia n s r oE the I ha v e n o t b e e n a b le of to

F o r t h e wo rd " a rv o n " o r " la mb " i s c o n s ilv e r). O t h e rwis e , t h e a rt of m a k i n g t h o u g h wh e t h e r of those d e t e rmin e , d o wn t h a t in t ime of it, spread that Hostthat re s t n a t ion s a lt h ou g h Egypt;

fr o m the ar e near an e s in great an d it Eg yp t it is, C he m istryr

and Tamoru s in E g y p t h a n d e d it t h e p ra c t ic e b y it the in deeds of d o wn t o the

He r m e s w r o t e

dnd continued contain twice first

c h ry s o p o ie a

riches is in f

were produc e d

G r ee k books that stated the say, east, the De m o critus

Dio c le t ia n by the

r the a n d Ma x imini a n a g r e e ; found art that from fndiansi a c h e mic a l a d mire d ,

Dio c le t i a n

S u id a s wo rk s r G re e k in f lu e n c e d

d rld I h a v e a ls o P e rs ia n s

was the

and le a rn e d d id

mu c h f ro m t h e not d a re a t t a c k , P s e llu s P h y s ic s , wo rk s t o is

a n d t he

same De mo c rit u s

wh o m Hip p o c ra t e s the not

whom even sect, after-

Th im o praised, man of also great c alled

whom P lato

a n d wh o wa s c a l l e d De mo c rit an the o n ly

renown by Ce ls u s . the A bderans . on Rhetoric, the whom I re c a I l; and dedicat e d P laton is t work s r Hera c liu s h is

F ro m h im a ro s e h e re v e a le d h is the

Mic h a e l His t o ry ,

commentat-

or on A ristotle wa r d s wrote an d M edicine, o fl e i us, r ia n , all of e xp e r t wrote

s e c re t s .

He a l s o

Ma t h e ma t ic s

and Chemistry, of Arist-

E mp e ro r Co n s t a n t i n e . and expounder to the wa s Cy n e s iu s a rt . E mp e ro r T h e o d o s Africanus, Alexandof the

Olympiodorus

f ro m A le x a n d ria He lio d o ru s t h e re the t h e re back to Ca e s a r, v o lu me s o f

chemical

s o d id

and S tephanos to and others;

The o p hilus,

in p a rt ic u la r b e re f e rre d

wa s Z o s imo s , De mo c rit u s , a v e ry lo n g

who composed thirty- t wo them can clearly investigator of n a t u re ,

T h e t e a c hi n g s lif e .

wh o w a s a m o s t For he

a n d e n jo y e d
1a

l i ved to the It u r e l- yr

more than so that is frue

a hundred y e a rs , rea d e rs ; not p re c e p t s he did

a n d k n e w ma n y t h in g s wro t e h is

that

were hidden ra th e r obsc-

commonalty of that

h e a ls o

p re c e p t s t o h is knew of

s e e m t o k n o w Ch e mis t ry . we re k n o rrn o n ly wh o a lre a d y T h e re f o re school for c o lle a g u e s approvin for the matter t h e ma s s e s , a n d t h a t those it . h is h e a f t e rwa rds I c a n o n ly

his

an d fr iends, e d tho se som e other wr it'i ng bered give n plo y th e th in g

and unknown t o from wh ic h a man o f way could

headings

unde rs t a n d a n d a ll t a k in g and the

wonder at whether h av e r e m e m names were used to em-

H er m o laus B arbarus, that that to in fr o m malice the

o t h e rwis e e re d it

g o o d lit e ra ry it .

re p u t a t i o n ,

Democritus or arroltance, antiquity same thing, words, people;

a re d a mn e d a n d , He c o u ld d if f e re n t c la s s e s it that use the f in d

e v e n f ro m Ho me r' s t ime and t h e p rie s t s and in d e e d it is it h id for d id not

u p p e r a n d lo we r easy to the t h e ir they

different or dinary I do not

s a me w o r d s a s re c o rde d v e ry the (somepr a i s e w o r t h y , ph i l o s o p h e r s the and symfurther the author Syrre-

doubt he k n e w) t h a t in part ic u la r so t h a t wrote in Hera c lit a n s , they

wa s c o n s id e re d sects

a n d w as practised con sid ered Pytha g oreans b o ls, r i dd le s Pla to ia n s to fu te of to

b y a ll

important, and the

d o g ma s , e s p e c ia l l y e mp lo y e d s il-e n c e re p lie d wit h

because P lato those hid also

rid d le s , c la rif ic a t io n

and they of

who sou g h t his nor

the

e n ig ma s . imit a t in g to the

doc t rin e s sha 1 l

u n d e r ma n y v e ils , wa s , a c c o rd in g c o u n t le s s a g a in s t

P alestine,

whose c u s t o m it

Jerome,

use parables, B arbarus, to

f me n t io n

o t h e rs

wh o c ou l d

nor use th e m a s a d e f e n c e say he sho u ld

wh a t h e h a s p u b l i s h said philoprofane and

d n except wit,h the sop h ie s m u lti tu de. After Ita ly ple s l ated , ica , in h a b itants of

h a v e e me n d e d wh a t h e in c a u t io u s ly

corollary secretr

"The e a rly t e a c h e rs o f wis d o m k e p t t h e ir so that t h e y s h o u ld n o t b e c o me k n o wn t o t h e of the

" the decline

Ro ma n E mp ire G re e c e wa s d e p o p u lat e d b a rb a ria n of in v a s io n s ; then they lit e ra t u re e s p e c ia lly they

devastated A rabia,

by frequ e n t into

received

and the beginn in g s

f ro m t h e Mo o rs a n d p e o b o o k s we re t r a n s wh o liv e d a n d f in a lly in Baetthough a numermatters; those

who s e la n g u a g e ma n y c h e mic a l the Mo o rs , book s , n o r d id re je c t

and from these compiled other

t h e wo rk it s e l f ,

exp e n sive. th e y

Then A vicenna A rabian

a n d Rh a s is ,

a n d G e b e r, wro t e

ou s assembly of were lat,er

p h ilo s o p h e rs

v o lu me s o n c h e mic a l

fol-1owed b y V in c e n t iu s L7.

a n d A lb e rt u s

Ma g n u s a n d m a n y

o the r s. e cted

B ut these a theme in

writing s

we re n o t we ll-k n o wn , Ra y mo n d t h e f o rg o t t e n

t ill

A rn o ld is la n d e r

of

VilIa

N ova in hither in ve n ti ons, in pr e vious be tte r Per ip a tetics ica te o tl e d id ar t himself af ter I find sp read a great

S pain,

and la t e r

B a l-e ric

resurrmany

danger o f b e in g

b y mu c h writ in g s , better

and public centuries, in matters keener to r oE a little

ex p e rime n t s r an d wh e t h e r c o n c e rn in g to ma k e g o ld ,

a n d ma d e it me t e o ric s in

k n o wn t h a n with to of the dedArist-

b e c a u s e h e v a s mo re le a rn e d r o t f ro m a rg u in g n a t u re r the e x p lo rin g or because

versed

mo re c u rio u s a n d t e a c h in g

he wa s a little o f m e tals.

h e s e i' z e d t h e t h e wo rk o f the la t e r

o p p o rt u n it y f o llo we rs

learning

t ra n s m u t a t i o n

Howeverr fou will f in d f e w o f Timon spealcing o f t h e a rt " that he support e d the a rt number of his even to and it c o mp a n io n s .

b y n u me ro u s e x p e rime n t s , S o g re a t wa s t h e a rt ru s h f o o lis h T h e n c e a ro s e for of it

and so that and proinpatrithe

the un s k ille d were t ru e th ro u g h us r it faLl

ma s s e s .

e m p ty ideas, he r ited m on y if r ea so n , fo r

began t o b e d o u b t e d i+ h e t h e r t h e o r f a ls e , c rime the e mp t y p ro mis e s , wa s a t o n e t ime

and the that of

m i se o f malcing gold was easy to

wa s o b s e rv e d a n d f ro m lo s s mo n e y . in f o rb id d e n

money was lost Hermolaus tells

in t , o t h e and for

s t e a lin g

For this Venice argued teacha dewere

a n yone to make gold, Th o se whose opinions

s a me re a s o n s . Ch ris t ia n or not, re lig io n b e a llo we d o c c u rs and what was teach in

we re f o rme d b y t h e s h o u ld T h is often

m uch as to r,,rhether the cr a f t 1a wful er s of pr a ve d bu t and what unlawful. some doctrine manner what is doctors incre a s e

wh e n u n s c ru p u lo us So the o n ly rh e t o ric ian s

in n u mb e r, o r r. rh e n t h e y le g it ima t e . the

othe rwis e

on ce expelled a lso The re is, b y th e is th e na tur e th a t for opinion

from S parta , howeverr should of

a n d f ro m Ro me n o t

rh e t o ric i a n s , Chr y s o p o i e a Holsever, to believe out. by the eye it

and philos o p h e rs . rlo d o u b t , t , h a t t h is be c o u n t e d g o ld , that the if a rf , a ls o a rt o n ly is it of c a 1 le d a mo n g a lI o wa b le wh iJ . e t h e wo u ld as far o n ly n a t u ra l s t u d ie s . g re a t

Greeks,

the prie s t s produces

a s s is ta n c e

because it

p h ij-o s o p h er s seek it b ut ma t t e r s

artifical art

gold should

would b e u s e f u l onJ-y b e b e lie v e d we have not

c o u ld

b e ma d e s u i t a b l e

hu man beings,

whereup o n d o c t o rs

imme d ia t e ly a s it it is

Bu t th e w i tn e ss

c a n b e p ro v e d e v id e n c e , a ls o re le v a n t s t u d ie d

e xp e r iments. co m m o nalty of ar e a b out to

Of these of the

h e a rs a y

testimony

prin c e s

a n d p a u p e rs ; Of these 18.

by the we

learned.

and other

speak.

I I I. Cn n p r e n Cor c r n r t r e r H E A R TI T sEL F ,IS r r L AUF UL o R ilo r ? lJn lr r HE

F0Ul{I}ERS, COl{}lEI{TATORS, AllD I I{TERPRETERS 0F THE LAUS AllD CAtlOl {Sr THE THE0LOGIAIIST AilD THE IRITERS HAVE SAII'. 0F CO}ltlOl{ CO}lPEllDIA

The founding tho se the ter s who like k now of r ulings

fathers

a n d in t e rp re t e rs o n a ll of t h e o lo g ia n s ,

of

c iv il

and canon lav of c o n s c ie n c e o n v ar i o u s in of b ut

and from mattheir the

to make e p it o me s the making o f foundin g now. Minate n s is , in g o ld

q u e s t io n s

and doctrines Of the W illiam

a n d writ e rs

a n d h a v e ju d g e d we s h a ll the

a n d re p o rt e d

wr iti ng s. Bishop w or k

f a t h e rs

s p e a k la t e r, t o h is

com m entators

a p p e n d ic e s

c e le b r a t e d is is a true supported Metal

d e c la re s t h a t " t h e ma k in g o f g o ld " S peculum juris", a n d l egitimate arL, usef u l f o r t h e S t a t e " , wh ic h o p in io n and Nic h o la s the this lawy e rs P a n o rmit a n u s a n d in t e rp re t e rs these n o r c o mp le t e ly e x p e rime n t , to the c iv il a n d o t h e rs . of la ws of V alentine persuade show in since Caesar in J u s t in ia n ' s volu me t h a t com me n t a t o rs mention us; arE , of the is c o d e x wh e re it

by Jo hn Oldradus w or ke rs We sh a1l r ig h tl y la ter siu s the

T h os e f o r m e r speaks of viewed of by Accurof this.

c a n o n la w o f d is a p p ro v e d a n d p e rh a p s la ws , if

la ws we re n e it h e r

by ordinary ones, Florentinus,

ma d e o f

who ad d e d g lo s s e s he e x p o u n d e d , nor the than a rt s h o u ld de p re c a t e s the

anyone reads

the m , will art; he a p proved An gelus a u tho r ga r d est it as if of

convince the precepts of the Clavasinus a treatise he thought of of it. their

I h a v e re a d h is h is

c o mme n t s o n t h e u n d e r h is d ig e s t c a lle d

ma gi s t e r y

a lwa y s a rt it ,

o wn n am e , s h o w interpreted the rethan order in

b e o t h e rwis e Ro s s e lla

in h is

c o mp e n d iu m, w h i l e seems to ra th e r

s a me o rd e r in p u g n wa s in

lightly,

rdther

a n d s p e a k s o f A n g e lus ' d i g ro g u e s , the of a f o re s a i d both the the

the hands of Cla v a s in u s

d isa p p roving o p e n ly the of digests the art, works,

Joh n L ig u r boo k s c a lle d

a n d S y lv e s t e r A.

marshal

arguments

a t t a c k in g

wit h

ma n y re a s o n s for

T h o ma s Ca je t a n u s c o me s o u t

in his truth art could in be

e o m p endia and his Th e celebrated the ir

theolog ic a l theolog ia n s in

c o mme n t a rie s A lb e rt u s

as we shall although

s o o n s h o w. a n d T h o ma s f a v o u r T h o ma s ' o p in io n s the case of 19. t h e re

so m e dissension in d u e course. m u tati on po in ts

between c o mme n t a t o rs A lbertus and be lie v e d in

a n d o u rs e lv e s , h e wro t e a s s e rt e d of me t a l t h is a rt ,

a s will t h re e cannot to

be shown transespecial be transAristotle into like vardoctsul-

Ma g n u s , a lt h o u g h the

mu c h o n t h e

of metals among many.

The first

w?s r "They wh o t h in k to A vice n n a . mate ria l by t h e a id

t h e k in d s s h o u ld wh ic h a rt . in b e lo n g s k in d s

m u ted are mistaken" i the a s a r e credited r e fer s i ou s o r s, fur d e s af to kinds the prime of metal that vive writes the of

s a me t h in g s

b e c re d it e d

Ne x t h e s a y s t h a t o f me t a ls of the

t ra n s mu t a t i o n A lb e rt u s p ro c e e d t h e m, conclu-

c a n b e t u rn e d F in a lly a rt of

length

they wh o a re s k ille d path a ll and p re p a re tha t a p ro p e r

the to

and that and arqent if

the most pro b a b le

those

rrh o pu r i f y

mix t u re

by whose drawn

po we r , i nto

I may use his shapes of Thomas in the truth

o wn wo rd s ,

o f me t a l

a re pr o d u c e d ;

a n d he finally the Saint a ffir m s

me rc u ry ma y b e h a rd e n e d me t a ls .

a n d t h e nc e

the va rio u s Che mis t ry , app e a r that

s e c o n d v o lu me o f ju d g e me n t s ,

" S u mma T h e o lo g ic E r" , p a r t t w o , wh ic h h e d id n o t d o in h is s e c o n d t h e re f o re ma n y s e e t h e matter his is wh e n we in t e rp re t

co m m entary of d iffe r enLl! o p in io ns of e st the o p in io n says sale is, ful1y.

theological

t as will

in d u e c o u rs e

A t the p re s e n t

d a y S ilv e s t e r,

T h o ma s ' f o llow e r ,

same opinion, John Ligur

wi t h w h i c h " g t o ld ma y b e ma d e b y t h e a rt " , does n o t a g re e . B u t T h o ma s Ca je t , a n u s in h i s d i g -

wit h o u t f ra u d it s h o u l d n o t "A s long as the a rt is p ra c t is e d be co nsidered unlawful n o rr d s lo n g a s t h is a p p li e s , o f it s e lf , should th e th a t e ithe r of things is manu f a c t u re d proper." is for that e n la rg e by the the a rt sale not I n h is p rin c e s q u e s t io n s . of the 1 imit , t ru t h the it , of the art s h o u ld if p o ss i b i l i t i e s . why should ean to b e n u mb e re d a mo n g s i n s , c o mme n t a rie s o n S t . T h o ma s r t r t s u m is in d e e d p o s s ib le , L h e a rt , bu t is the a n d wh e n h e h a d c o n s u lt e d p o we r o f a rt

m a Th eologica" a u tho r ities an d a cutely, b y St. it not

he writes not

human, or he did

on the

as he usua11y,

does on othe r

M any wonder that For Thomas'reasoning be human? why is it men? the do i t, fo r the

a ma n wh o wa s c o n v in c e d a n d re a s o n in g , de mo n s t ra t e s p rin c e s that

Thomas authority A nd if

h e a llo we d

a n d t h e wis e me n t , h e y c o n s u l t e d p rin c e s P la t o is , a n d t h e wis e we r e n o t me a n s re q u ire d p rin c e s them b y a ll

beyond ma n r d s if Neve rt h e le s s , stat e , that

b e a ccounted

good of

e it h e r

that

should

20.

p r a cti s e Fo r this pr in ce s tha t cou ld

philosophy, reason

or t h a t

p h ilo s o p h e rs in

s h o u ld a g a in s t

a d min is t e r c e n s u re , n a t u re ,

the for

State. there they replied gold in-

Cajetanus

can be defended for c h e mis t ry T o t h is to

a r e few princes a r e u nable, require wh e n his

who are e x p e rie n c e d they h a v e p rin c e ly

t h e wa y s . o f la c k we a lt h , to

and most experiments Pico

who have leisure unless great

t h e me a n s , t h e ref o r e do those Jo. it wh e t h e r that my u n c le

expen s e .

c e n s u re the

brother

A ntonius with

wa s a s k e d h is d if f ic u lt y .

o p in io n

or not

be artificially is no doubt if

m a d e , s a y in g gre a t St. that

e n q u ire r

could

d e e d be done, but There pr e ve nted sh o u ld a r t, a r ie s la wful i or s if for the it him from

T h o ma s in h is d e c id e d that c o u ld on the of St. the

T h e o lo g ic a , wh ic h the a rt g o ld fhe it

death by the commentwas a junart

finish in g , to s d lr

o f ma k ing g o l d

be believed he wrote art

m o re t h in g s

b e ma d e b e s id e s the s a me in s a y in g T rin it y ,

as we are about

a n d h e p ro p o s e d p a rt n a t u ra l author a n d it is

on S everi n u s ' b o o k

and a subordin a t e does not is lie

p h ilo s o p h y , it s e e ms t o a d d re s s e d in h is

as the

say. title

I have read be s id e s about A lbertus

T h o ma s ' b o o k

o n t h e me t al l i c to

be genuine Reginald, read out the some-

mentions

as teacher

to wh om it It no t

agreed Tho ma s s e n t on the ma k in g o f p lu c k

other g o ld

writ in g s . a n d s ilv e r of

I h a v e a ls o s e a rc h depths

Tho m as' opinions thin g foreign

c om m e n t a r i e s . f know

se ems to me that what notions, in that previously. is true

many wh o k n o w lit t le f ro m t h e ir me n t io n in g

c h e mis t ry

t oE rather

uneducated

and av o id

t h e n a me o f

a lc h e my t o

co m m on people, hin ted It one (f m i ssi on. of th is to a ll

case a b u s e s h o u ld E rasmu s wro t e p ra c t is e s to those g iv e n as he is .

b e h e a p e d u p o n it , it a rt is will a c a p it a l h is not t ime .

as we have o f f e n ce b is h o p ' s h im , u n de r to F irs t they if any-

that the

quote his Most of

words)

a lc h e my wit h o u t a lo n g not

perleast ask one should

p ra is e

those who have ex p e rime n t , e d f o r man, learned A re t h e re Then they e d ic t t h ro u g h and many un d e r k in g s his own pri v a t e

ma n y b is h o p s

sup r e me one, the ab o lish m etal ed ict with workers, should it

wh o a re mo s t u n willin g a s k wh e t h e r la ws o f p ro v in c e s , T h e y s a y a ls o a c c o rd in g a n d f o o lis h ; those ago. a ll

submit

Roman B ishop hims e l-f ? published should will

a n y b is h o p that to

Ca e s a r c o nc e r n i n g such an been custom, a n d h a v ing

s o lo n g

be promulgat e d

pr o m u lgated, othe r wise

be s t u d ie d

a n d c o n f irme d a n t iq u a t e d

be con s id e re d

t,hey also

2t.

a sk i f

P ope John 22nd ma d e a s e c re t regarding E truscas about whether of gold the a n d s ilv e r us of re min d s id e a r

o f h is the

c h e mis t ry ,

wh ic h

proved uneducatmade that

a d e ce ption Al l i gerius

s a me .

He a s k e d t h e

e d an d illiterate w he the r silve r fect for b id thin g tice th e ir fu1 w ha t is ne ithe r and gold, metals. the it, of for

t ra n s mu t a t io n e E c e rt a in f irs t , of a ju s t

o f me t a ls ; p rin c ip le s la w t h e y in t e rp re t e rs f o rb id s

and he finally, c le ar l y f ro m the or of impercanon can

by some excellent

e x p e rime n t s ,

f ro m t h e ir

From the de f in it io n doctors it is to th e o lo g y

have argued e x c l-u d e s a of men is is

nor the

must be a c c o u n t e d to ma n y ; f o r restr a in and t h a t power if not forcer of it it

a n u n ju s t

1aw that

because it and honesty to divine

uncommo n , a n d p ro h ib it s , hands that o t h e rs ; he1ps, if it that

and keeps away justo w o r k t ' o conuseand

advantage

wo u ld b e a s t ra n g u la t io n a re re a d y the a id s , a n d a b le to p o we r g iv e n a n d a s s is t s in t h e

own advantage for men; it lacks all is

for m a b le pla in ly

wh a t

c o n f o rma b le

abuses that they

in t e n t io n

d s t h o s e wh o a re le a rn e d they will o b s e rv e in the

scriptures civil Er a s m u s , and

kno w beyond doubt, la ws do not un le ss tha t act sor These are the

and I ma y me n t io n unles s that those that at the things

wh o ma k e t h e of

p re s c rib e d ra t h e r than

conditions. s e rio us l y ,

b e a s k e d a n d e n q u ire d jo k e is

one considers of

h e wro t e

he was laughing think

wh o a re g re e d y

cr ed u lous

imposters,

o f wh o m t h e re la ws a re s ile n t th e q u e s t io n the b o o k t h a t s o lo n g

t o ma k e g o ld t oE t o o a g re a t n u mb e r, e v en m o r e a n d h e c o ul d it is also by a foreign written ends, 22nd's body art. fortis", the their crime arL, Accurfalsifthe p riv a t e John the of "in

be ca u se they a u tho r ity, tha t e d ict of th e princes is of do g o o d for

o r a s le e p ,

be asked why he solved because in the this S tater sort, the

u n d e r c o n s id e ra t io n A c c u rs iu s act g lo s s e d c a re . for

who are gold-ma k e rs be c a u s e it

t n d y r rrh e n s t riv in g as they the wit h wa s n o t but to re c e iv e d but h e d id that

a s p a rt re ma in e d not

l-aws in

seven v o lu me s o f use this e d ic t

la rrs ,

an d was not se n se s, of

embodied in

t h e De c re t a ls , in a ru b ric but t h e n a me o f speak at

d is lik e c o me t o the t ru e

Tho se who blindly fa lsification for

a s a n a rg u me n t s h o u ld v e ry that we s p e a k o f f a ls it y , le n g t h of

and be warned tha t is be taxed wit h

e d ic t the

prosc rib e d '

w hich cannot a n y tr i bunal, siu s, W illiam i cati on .

n o r b e d ra g g e d b e f o r e sees that c rime of the

anyone wh o f o llo ws '

t h e m c o rre c t ly

and the oth e rs

22.

U nless d isco vered, h is in the

some falsehood no kind of

e it h e r p e n a lt y it

in ma t e ria l s e rv ic e

or to that

it s the that

p re s e n t a t i o n E ls B a ld u s c ro wn . says

is in on

c a n b e in f lic t e d r

"Usus feudorum" bishop's to and false the contrary

when me n t io n in g artific e rs , to n a t u re , T h e re f o re th a t is

Further lying proa 1ie,

sermon,

b e c o me s c le a re r do not g o ld is of it

h e is

a g a in s t

i m po sters m ise riches

wh e n h e writ e s t ru e

a lc h e mis t s d rrd c la im they

poor wh ic h t h e y

p ro d u c e r o rd e re d the poor go1d, t h is

na m e ly that, sp u r io us fa lse ced to as th ey seize d

a n d s ilv e r that g e n u in e

a re m a d e b y a who make be forgold goods edict word should

transmutation. deposit sold for

money from gold

s p u rio u s b e n e f it

and not

the pu b lic to pris o n .

a s mu c h r e a l and have their s u mma ry o f a lmo s t in

or gave in p a y me n t in wh o a re f a ls e

s p u rio u s and not

and be sent artificers it

We h a v e g iv e n

the the

con ce rning in w hich

g e n u in e

was written.

Cn lp r e n 4 . Pn o penopl l rl or{s or rH E A RTo F } I A K I I { G G o L DDE p E ilD o N I { A T URAL

P HI L O S O P HY . M o reover,it p r e ter s of the of the th e words of n a tural wh ich nature does not others depend on the e d ic t s of p rin c e s , but nor the int,er

laws and c a n o n s , and d ila t e pro mis e s , of in g e n e ra l;

nor on those

wh o f ill not

t h e ir on the

pages with principles to make origins? of in thing them can be arises

o n h u ma n c u s t o ms , a n d ma y it f o rm a ris e s of s p e c ie s not

philosophy elsewhere of

s o ma y s o me t h in q

be made by art

b e p o s s ib le

same form, Th e question

substance

a n d e s s e n c e s p ru n q

f ro m d if f e re n L f ro m t h e they of

mutatio n altera t io n

c o n t e n t io n s

ph ilo sophers pa r ti cular bu t n ot The r e fore m a n y others ie s be r e duced co n ce r ns, in g s that

about

a n d wh e t h e r wh ic h t re a t s

cha n g ed indiscriminately. from A ristotle' s so clearly there stoutly to that

T h e a rg u me n t a b o u t " Me t e o ric s " , f irm a n d c e rt a in wh o mo c k t h e a lt h o u g h T h is

ma k in g g o ld

v ar i o u s

a x io ms c a n b e d ra w n f r o m a rt , wh o m A v ic e n n a , d e n ie s is it that he confesses one of in e x a c t ly fresh that

are thos e resis t ,

Geber and speccan they

A v ic e n n a c e rt a in ly

can be produced except

throu g h

t ra n s mu t a t io n ,

a common f o rm. that to

A ris to t l e ' s t , h os e w r i t t h in g s in

he d o e s n o t me n t io n b e g e n u in e . 23

are thought

T h e re a re c e rt a in

Ar istotelian with fur but l on s not certainty that sa yin g

teaching that they of

tha t

favour

the

a rL ,

a n d b e s id e s , o f me t a ls a n d t h e re c a v e rn s of

I in is

can say "Meteorics", and su1a certain earth, are called are concrett h o' h e does

he s p e a k s o n ly a rls e

g e n e ra lly

mostly

f ro m mo is t d o f ro m d ry in h a b it the a ir, of

v a p o u rs r ones, the

ds stones the

a nd sandaraca a re sublimed Greek vord the moist thunder, in his of

generally to the

pr o p o r tion b y the

them that

does not re g io n

t h e re f o re f ie ry

they

"meteo r" ; h e s a y s t h a t c lo u d s exhalat io n s , a n d f ro m t h e d ry and t h a t books , k in d of t h in g much be t we e n t h e m. h e s a y s t h e re wa s writ in g at of le n g t h T h e re is

a n d ra in s

ones winds, evidence he

l i gh tning, b e yo n d this si nce will to in not

a re p ro d u c e d , not any exact s a y s it wo rk . but of

d iscriminate

mu c h c le a r

n o r d o e s h e e x p re s s c o mme n t a t o r A le x a n d e r about in

teaching, is difficult

the beginning decide,

a re ma n y t h in g s t h is

upon which

and the writes of sure,

know what A ristotle Olimpiodorus from either

a n d o b s c u re ly , both for A ris t o t le , of t h e m.

you can easily doctrine in a as he was,

un d e r stand a n d th e sa id tu s of

t h e m s o me t h in g

A ris t o f le ' s le a rn e d

difficulty

ch e mis t ry ; an d t re a t e d h is

he was not

s o me t h in g s

s u p e rf ic ia lly , F o r a lt h o u g h too, s a y in g they e a rt h , p ir t ime , kata g o ld

m a n n e r that sto nes

agrees with in his book, waterr indicate for

p e rc e p t io n

B u t f ro m T h e o p h r a s he wrote that alth-

o ne may glean were all

what w ill

e n d c o n t ro v e rs y . o f me t a ls tooth of

he d is c o u rs e d ds stones c le a rly he t e ll-s

o u g h they le ss ar e h is ch r yso s", ie n ce d cin n a b ar, e d at to civil r u ct to in g s si l ver cip le the

worn a wa y b y t h e

a re n e v e r t h e hence these a rg y r o n kai

c omposed of words, which artificers,

a re c o mp o s e d o f enough that

"hydratos

me n t a me t a lliy o me n a , us that Ca llia s

is ma d e by e x p e r made he had

t h e A t h e n ia n No w u n le s s

when he thought task. For it is

h e wa s ma k in g g o 1 d . s c a rle t sand, the k n o wn t h a t

ho p e d to make gold be made into the of less but go1d.

from t h a t

h e wo u ld n o t s a n d c a lle d

have labourif not the of the instattain beginn-

Ch ry s am o s u s e d we s ha l 1 d id

go]-dr ds it in t h is

u s e d t o b e d u g f ro m t h e e a rt h , A s o u r wo rk p ro g re s s e s , ma t t e r, for if Ca llia s he had beyond doubt a g re e t h a t we ma y le a rn o b t a in e d

laws are read prope rly . skilled only cinnaba r, art,ifice rs

go ld,

Be cause skilled and gold callisthenes,

t h e b e g in n in g s s o me t h in g h ims e lf ,

cinnabar, co-dis-

are hidde n ,

f ro m h is

and f ro m T h e o p h ra s t u s

wh o t a u g h t

24.

a cco r d ing

to A ristotle;

f ro m t h e ir a rg u in g if t h is

o p in io n s

me t a ls

c a n a lt e rn a t e form to that they when by at

be tw een themselves, d iffe r one of only

since

Ca llis t h e n e s

a s c rib e s re a lly

a s in g le p re mis s e s in t h is

the m , which Galen admits, in externals Galen's.

f ro m s e v e ra l b o o k is Ca llis t h e n e s that

t o b e q o n si d e r e d ma t t er of go l d g ra in s

f can ag re e wit h of s ilv e r

he says that the m selves the of sa m e medicine; same time out cover pa r tition", Vi ncent tha t art for tha t f r a ther of falle n sh a l1

he has freque n t ly likewise in the

e x p e rie n c e d

and grains

b y t h e ms e lv e s s e e n g o ld wh a t is in

p ro d u c e

o n e an d t h e t og e t h e r the

f have often wit h it

a n d s ilv e r

sam e me d ic in e r iE ,

d o d wh e n f h a v e e x a min e d w h a t h a s c o mmo n ly c a ll p1ace. c o v e rin q that nearl-y h e re ga r d s s a y s t ha t of the it all the can "water but we c o n t a in e d t h e ir a s s e rt s mu c h g o 1 d,

of gold

when t re a t e d

and tested experiments

p la in ly

mo re c a re f u lly co n c e rn in g of n a t u re , go1d, in

B urgundy w h o wro t e separa t io n it lie s

ma n y v o lu me s ,

has been written as the

t h o u g h h e a ls o e x p e rie n c e other cannot the

i nd e e d con ten d it

be made, influenced that that it can only

p e rh a p s b y h is h id d e n b e s e p a ra t e d

matter, but who art, for

he observes

me t a ls .

Many others

- wh ic h

be denied

can be born and ma d e r p ro d u c in g P s e llu s , that gold can b e ma d e f ro m t h a t and s h o ws u s s ix a ls o ju d g e d the s h o w a lit t le o p in io n is d if f ic u lt

ma n y re a s o n s wh ic h is not

f ro m ph i l o s o p h y . g o ld if by the

i nd e ed know Michael many reasons, Later also they reasonsr

a G re e k c o mme n t a t o r wa y s o f la t e r. that g o ld d o in g c o u ld

o n A ris t , ot l e , it ,

a sse r ted givin g r ig h t,ly. othe r tho u g h fi na l the se . pa teti cs

f remember the Periin the

writers

t h a t , g o ld

b e ma d e , b u t

ds we shall seem to be o f that the it third in of

Ma n y o f

c a n b e ma d e b y a r L , T imo n , is one of for they

claim

a n d d a n g e ro u s .

question

b o o k o f A ris t o t le ' s a ls o

" Me t e o ric s " doubt,

Th e subjects h a ve different to changing The r e are those pa r ti cul-ar in fr om the d iffe r e ntly a n d female, one, first but ap pearance,

form a n d s p e c ie s d if f e re n t they

c a u s e s o me t o s p e a l< wit h it s that in

meanings f o r form and spec ie s who say t h a t and there for there principles otherwise,

p h ilo s o p h e rs ; o n ly

a n d wh en i t t h re e

comes

u s u a lly

vo i c e s . in d i v i d u a l spring

a s p e c ie s

c h a n g e s in t o content the is

one other

a re o t h e rs a re c e rt a in of the 1 -iv in g t h in g s but 25 t h is

wh o c a ll t h in g s both

c u s t o ma rily not

s p e c ie s b irt h

s a me w a y a s a n d from male nor be seen,

from certain

wh o s e b irt h

c a n n e it h e r

disce r ned th a t will if those not the y r up ti on

by any of things of matfer

the

senses; d if f e r

t h e re f o re in s p e c ie s t

p h ilo s o p h e rs a n d a ris e e t v e ry but

often

consider corSome

that

are b o rn f ro m c o it u s , t o b e re mo t e ,

f ro m t h e

do not

lit t le . in is

a11ow first are immediate. it was this only

princ ip le s man o f

cannot

d e ny t h e m Galen of of the out a voman'r that

I re me mb e r re a d in g

s u c h t h in g s for a c h ic k but is

w he the r of th e

P e rg a mo n (G a 1 e n ) o r s o me o n e e ls e by the hen, t h e q u e s t io n a rt if ic ia l the heat of

sam e name who commented o n Hip p o c ra t e s egg not by in c u b a t io n who cla im that br e a st, is b o th and by the warmt h o f h o rs e -d u n g .

b ro ug h t

There are those who1ly an d th ey th a t r em a in s reconcile the

an operation na t u r a l , as as it s of matter art a species

artificial

a n d p a rt ly

a n d p a rt ly wh ile a id

the de s c re p a n c y is done not not

b y d is t in g u is h in g f o rm g o e s , but wit h s o mu c h wit h the a rt both is

which

can be change d a s f a r same, which but nature ac t in g

a s it s a lo n e ,

by na ture,

a s a s er v a n t . ma t t e r and its is less not or if was form a

The r e are those who say t h a t fo r m changer ab su r d ad m it of th e that so that and may be said either divine metal to the alone; talk

t h e wo rd s me a n t h a t wh o lly d if f e re n t t h o ' wis e is

some t h in g o r a rt they sp e c ie s , th e the

ma d e , wh i c h c e rta i n l y is is that that

an d d e f e n d e d ,

me n will

nature

c a n d o it , wh e n g o ld they will

s e e in g

a property

con s e g u e n t ly of in

ma d e f ro m s ilv e r the

w ha tever th e y r em a in s of go ld.

you like,

say that

a n in d iv id u a l h a v e it is then

ma de r o E , material that the if

prefer

same while present

f o rm c h a n g e s , f o rm o f s ilv e r of the

b e c a u s e t h e ma t t e r found under is

p r e vio usly

Thus one may say that spe cie s p a teti c of th e y consists schooL, of both and S t.

p a rt

o n ly

s p e c ie s

changed, th e

f o rm a n d ma t t e r, t h e re p a rt of

a s we l-e a rn f ro m

Periwhen change is joinis

T h o ma s in p a rt ic u la r, a re p h ilo s o p h e rs it food d is a p p e a rs , is that

a n d t h e mo re r e l i a b l e wh o s a y s p e c i e s , d o e s no t of it s ju rist s writ e it form a n d p a rt taken s o me t h in g

the rnoderns, although only mean form. seeing that

On e c a n a L s o s a y t h a t for wh e n t h e ma t t e r is in a lt , e re d another for 26.

ab so lu tely, b r o ke n r

ed vh e n change occurs, E IS we usually and its rest, is disa p p ears Fo r the spe cie s th e species

up the

se e wit h

has been eaten;

form t,hat that or

matter

b y d ig e s t io n . s o me r. rh e re a mo n g t h e ma n n e r, s in c e g o ld is they

I rememb e r re a d in g be defined not change d if ,

should

e x a mp le r

ma d e f rom t i n

l ea d . pe r h a ps b e le ss th e

Here they one takes than of will the find

seem to b e t a k in g the m e t a ls perfect nothing s p e c ie s to or of

the genus for

the t in to

s p e c ie s ,

unless to

s u c h a s b ro n z e ,

le a d r

and silver grade this defend

g o l-d t o wh o s e e s p e c ia l He wh o wis h e s h im e it h e r lo g ic ; s c h o o ls . he1d. types the it If in is the

r est

the metals

ma y a s c e n d " re s t ra in in c o rre c t is

no ti on b e in g r eje ct

etymology

of

th e Greek wordrrmetal"l rejected fr o m which we differed those who ascribe who in

a lo n g

way from opinionl it we must planets, iron hands at a sinthis,

by the ph ilo s o p h ic a l above, t h e v a rio u s

Ca llis t h e n e s ' we a c c e p t to the h im in n o t io n o f me t a l

a ls o

am o n g whom are John V ers o r Ar i sto tle, do e s not disp r o ved. m e n t, since, on e a nd the g 1 e grain nor u p b y way of th e vanity of mel-t, which

a n d t h o s e wh o f o llo w f o o lis h

e x p la i n i n g that

one pJ -a c e e x p re s s e d a thousand p la n e t a ry b e f o re r

e y e s h a v e s e e n a n d t wo t h o us a n d d o c t rin e s g o ld that a re n e g a t e d g iv e a n d s ilv e r the rise in

However, his same time the to

by experi-

as we have s a id several, their

one and the a n d n o t h in g of the d a ily

s a me me d ic in e , S u n a n d J u p it e r ma p s o f the

wh e t h e r

or in

a s t ro lo g e rs p la n e t s . t h e m.

can dream But since John Pico answer in of in glassy there, depends even modproper an exChristhuman For

conjunc t io n diff e re n t

c a n e x pl a i n

can any of

astrologers to respe c t

h a s b e e n re f u t e d Ca llis t h e n e s ' e s p e c ia lly in t o

o n c e b y my u n c le o p in io n s a s it c a n e a s il y is re c o rd e d sort

an d many times Al be r tus, g la ssy his

by me, f s h a ll

s a y n o mo re a g a in s t

H e who wishes Jose p hus that sand is

who held "glass said

the o p p o s it e ,

can b e t u rn e d s imp le

me t a I " ,

and that

to be f o u n d a b u n d a n t ly me d ic in e s it is S in c e together a n o t h e r. f ro m s p e c ie s ,

n e a r P t o le ma is . does not ris e e it h e r t h is the deny that t o me t a ls

Galen

work on the power of it is plainly into forms

a n d golden o r n e arby; ca n easily ti ncti ons e r a tely to

sands are fou n d be turned

a n d g iv e

seen that

s a me met a l - r o E d e c id e t h is a ll, t ru t h s t ra y what disis, in of

wh o le q u e s t ion No o n e wh o is task of

o n d istinguishing learned

we mu s t f irs t

to make between f o rms a n d s p e c ie s . can be u n a wa re wh a t a d if f ic u lt of over philoso p h y . t,his m a t t e r' a s in the f re me mb e r t h a t

th e heights of

I wro t , e a lon g i s h

w or k mulling am in a tion i an p e r fection; teachings,

t h e mo s t d if f ic u lt d o c t rin e the hypotheses t h e m h e re , of

the vanity as well and enter if f were to

of heathen re p e a t

and the I s h o u ld

I ma d e c o n c e rn ing d s it , we re .

fa r t h e r

fr o m the path

la b y rin t h

n a t u re r

27

in d e e d , a n d s of tl ed no t i cal will the n the ir i tio n s. i ou s

the Meander of controversies things that

th e th a t

poets a ris e

h a s a s ma n y win d in g s t h e re f ro m, g o ld wh ic h will out

as the n e v er to

thousbe setcommon or

by human reason. and he who wishes schools. first I shall try to

S o o n e mu s t s e p a ra t e sh o w wh e t h e r to wit h those k n o w mu s t t a k e wh a t ma n y t h in k e x p e rime n t s f e a t u re s , a n d s h a l1 the not the

a n d re d u c e of the that

se n se the

c a n b e ma d e a rt if ic ia ll y a d v ic e f a c u lt ie s t a n g le d for the me re ly wit h p e o p le I have, in

philosoph-

I myself, clarify the describe

me n t a l

a n d d if f ic ul t , t h e p u rp o se , t h e ir b rie f e s t of of a p p ea r a n c e s , proposin varspecies

d e v is e d

framework S o far

and salie n t light,, I have t o ld the powe r o f

a n d br ing

them to

d o it

wh a t v a rio u s a rb ,

h a v e writ t e n

ways about

and the

t ra n s mu t a t io n

Cn n p r e n 6.
T n o r n s A o u n {A s' o p IN Io t{ s ot{ THE t{ AKIt{ GoF GoLD ltADE cLEAR.
Bu t now let h is the d ict buf in terpreters o pinions himself m ost of of us make c le a r are div id e d the Fathe rs he appr o v e s in p a s s in g upon, it . for h e s e e me d t o to S t T h o ma s ' o p in io n s , in h is deny the h e is the the re c o n c ile Let of do not a rE , wh ile thought the re a d e r a rt to which in his

s e c o n d c o mme nt a r y o n contrawhether it was

Su m m a Theologica

T h e re f o re

by those vh o h a v e t rie d them have no t go ld

d if f e ren c e s , ju d g e Jo h n L y g i u r ' s go1d" were work for in

done enough. I t h e re f o re f ro m t h e mo c k e d a t the that

o r no t p r e m ise,

I have done enough . who excluded and he therefore form. A mong the s e in

a g re e wit h

re a c h

because ma k in g o f b e in g

so no ble; p e r fect

a rt if ic ia l a s e n t ie n t wo rk e rs

No w a s we have said, th e m ost outstanding p r o p e r ly h e a t, h is for u se for l og ica ,

Thoma s a llo we d t h e ir

was a more

t h e Ma g e s , t h o s e re s u lt s . c o u ld not

upon nature, wh o c ou l d

N or am I moved becaus e t h e y or were properly moisture transmuting the final meta ls . reposito ry Lygur

f in d

wo rk e rs is

s k ilI e d .

For they

knew the necessity to d e ny i t

and m a n y v a p o u rs , Add that h e s t e a d ily o f h is S y lv e s t e r

wh ic h n a t u re a f f irme d o p in io n s . and Peter in h is it

a c c u s t om e d t o SummaTheoin f lu e n c e d t,hat allowing

T h o ma s a p p e a rs

youth,

but much later

in h is

No r a m f

b y wh at influenced St Thomas wrote

G o ma s , wh o t h o ug h t

about po o r wo rk e rs 28

s e c o n d c o mme n t a ry ,

po we r to

the one and den y in g not of of to nature,

it

to

the

o t h e r.

No w h e s p e a k s o f a rt to is the p e rf e c t io n

the

p o we r of making, a n d i nstrument w ho ar e able w he ther There is m ake s little bu t bu t o n ly na tur e of sin naturally of

t h e ma k e rs , wh e t h e r they

b e c a u s e t h is

minister by all

wh ic h c a n b e b ro u g h t taught.

use it,

b e me n o r b o d ile s s stand

s p ir i t s , a lc h e m y r o t it s powrsr accuse material, and not but are Thereoften

or supe rn a t u ra lly typ e sayin g of it, that it

a certain

o f p e rs o n wh o c a n n o t v y e s wit h

n a t u re of it s

wit h

sometimes aids th ey

and ov e rc o me s it . say t h a t ad mit doin g unruly n a t u re a rt

T h e p h ilo s o p h e rs is wit h la id ru le d wh ic h

on account they the for

t h e re c a lc it ra n c e that t h in g s

lia b le

nevertheless mind; rules

b y in t e llig e n c e it is e n g a g ed , re a s o n i n g not if a rt in a ny .

a se p arate be ca u se the slig h ted, far for e

c o mmit s ma n y mo re e rro rs , d o wn b y rig h t ru le s , of wh ile a n d a re at la s t n a t u re the n a t u re ,

because of

ma t e ria ls

whereas if supplies

a m a n we re t o u s e t h e s e the e rro rs art they in wit h h e lp t u rn r it s ma t e ria ls , so that e a rt h ly

a b u se t h e m , le a n s of not upon the art

fr om erring nature to

he would c o rre c t

na tur .e, se r vie nt w i th th a t ven ts fir e fo r m sulfur ofte n purer, b y i tself'

and so that help

e a c h o t h e r, that

s o me w a y s u b s k ill have made

each other

nature's v ery gold

can ma k e s o me t h in g

c o u ld

and even trans mu t e that of

ma t e ria l,

o f wh ic h

we m a y t a k e What preaid of this places is

about whic h we a re a rg u in g Nature, places vive e mp lo y in g

a s a n e x a mp le . me t a ls of the s d lr wh e t h e r by the suor g o ld

men from impressing and the sun? in the hidden and argent experienced, but

f o rm o n o t h e r the heat for

t h e e a rL h , it

made from

a s De mo c rit u s d ra wn o u t

a n d o t h e rs

and as I have vapours, none the from lessr some a

or whe t h e r a sing le

c a n b e ma d e f ro m o t h e r those s a me ma t e ria ls it a ris e s ott is if s a id c a lx y o u lilc e , a g a in s t it

none t,he less

an d compressed into un kn o wn liquidr l i qu id l i xi vi um tu s Lixa Lixa cr i tu s m etal m etals called

n a t u re r o r wh e t h e r imp lie d , f s d lr that

zrs Theoph ra s t u s lixivium, calx, it taken and Lixa form that for not,

from that wh ic h Alberfor

wh ic h De mo c rit u s was a n o t h e r one that

to have believed, me n t io ne d ,

mixed with

in veighs,

De mo c rit u s s o t h e re f o re

was anciently by experts, in liquid

t o b e a J -iq u id r c a ro b y t h e t h in g c a n b e s a id a g re e wit h

wa s c a l l e d the of

c o mmo n p e o p le r o r r, t rhe t h e r D e m o v iv a t o t ma t e ria l c h ie f to be the f irs t

meant some mysteri o u s (the P eripatetics

b y t h e wo rd a rg e n t t h is , a n d t h e ir

s po k e o f

29

"yda tosgaresi", th in g im itate tha t th a t of its fa ce e a r th, an d i t 1a n d s, the fo r m s or ig in a l by th e sor ts, ar t of to it go ld this g old that w hy sh ould

) or wheth e r has hidd e n of the

g o ld

is

ma d e f ro m s o me o t h e r deepest the re c e s s e s of of s a me me a n s ?

k in d s the

of not imagine

nature

in t h e the is

earth, I

not men do the is is the the very created fabric leas t

s a me , u s in g that

Ca n t h e y

the heat

s u n wit h to

in d u lg e n c e n e c e s s a ry .

n a t u re ?

No r should th e

one listen

t h e p h ilo s o p h e rs by the heat of cause of and then o n ly in the

wh o t h in k the f a il; sun, t h is those t h in g s

a n d te a c h the that heat heat are genforth the gold, isin own surof

solely of

a s if

sun were nob the un iv e rs a l in t h e wo rld is

e r a ted of

pours of

g ifts

as much in caves a n d s u b t e rra n e a n the earth. The f ire of not on ly not s u lf u r a ris e s , of

c h a s ms a s u p o n th e t h e h id d e n p a re n t v e in s a n d n u rs e

where the vapor is but revealed in many of Others

b y S ic ilia n d e e p ly

E t n a a n d t h e n e ig h b o r i n g E u ro p e , in the h a v in g wit h a n d is a rt f irs t c o n s p ic u o u s their d e s t ro y ed of of imp re s s

the mo u n t a in s who b e lie v e they kin d s to

Apennines. forms, but also

on the common materia l and this power of various

o f me t a ls , do not of

the various the seek

o n ly

d e v o u rin g

wa t e r s t o t

s a lt s t e E b y me a n s o f o ils by the us e o f g o ld it s e lf wh e n b y t h e s k il1 g iv e it b irt h to it s e lf , t h is to jo in it s e lf , a n d in

has been made fit being gold

t h e k n o wn b e g i n n i n g s ma n n e r t h e y wit h p o wd e rs t o qe t h e r , a little

mixed in w it h and sto n e s of these

tr a n smute that the

a n d a t t e mp t E lix ir u s e d t h is

an d w i th th in g w hich it is

the aid

t , h in g s t , h e y ma k e mu c h g o ld f o llo win g the n a me .

was given

the n a me o f Me d ic in e , often

b y t h e A ra b p h ilo s o p he r s , G re e k s , by whom

Romans called P sellus

agreed that

Cn n p r e n 7.
Anr t F I c I AL GoLL ltAy BE ltoRE pERFEcr rHAN NAT I vE GoLD .

They bosom of get for to

learned nature;

certain the

methods substance to the (and

of itself

digging they

the were

substance able to

out

of

t,he and diggers as who in I

discern other who,

lcnow by

referring

clever by the

Galicians way to other

and the workers

silver had it

and gold, been

also to

think, collected

privileged those

make metals called

from

ancient Tagus and

times) , Pactolus

from

rivers

Hermus,

30.

pa r ti cularr g r a in s 1 u ck. of

drrd they gold not

lea rn e d of

to

s e a rc h

the

depths p e b b le s ; but

of

other

rivers,

a n d to mark the m a n y sdlr

shores with

t h e A t la n t ic

O c e a n , wh e re t h e y they a ls o

c ol l e c t e d la b or e d , unexpected the but transalways a medthings,

from amon g t h e v a ric o lo re d only t h e ir o wn e x e rt io n s ,

wit h

As wise men have inde e d a s s e rt e d , m u tati on r ig h t i ci ne n e ithe r r e a d of tr affic wr itte n , i ou s for of metals horses, for. by a d iv in e fhat c o n t a in e d and proper.

mo s t mo rt a ls often s il-v e r v iv a s ilv e r

p e rf o rm h id d e n ,

p ro v id e n c e , a rg e n t

For f h a v e re a d t h a t I myself have seen both

wa s ma d e wh il e a mo n g ma n y o t h er a n d g o ld the of a rt of and though

wa s l ooked

mad e w h e n mak i n g g o l d I have not say during varthe upon

was hoped for. this with that occuring evil this of

I h a v e e v e n re a d t h a t s p irit s , It in my t ime , of I h a v e h e a rd

wa s anciently

passed on b y imma t e ria l e x p e rime n t s .

L E , a n d sh a 1 l

m o r e when I am speaking medical

s o me t ime s o c c u red

daemon s r E rs f s u s p e c t r reme d ie s I reme mb e r e n la rg in g e s p e c ia lly

a n d I b e lie v e

wh a t h a s b e e n

we re o n c e re v e a le d in the

b y d a e mo n s i n b o o k s I wro t e we re t a u g h t

temples;

u p o n wh e n I wa s re f ut i n g

su p e r stition p r o p h ecy, of m edicine

foreknow le d g e , use t h a t literatu re is

and in my comme n t a rie s nov in Lf

o n my Hy mn s ; t h e re ma in t a in e d p o s t e rit y of

a re ma n y p r e c e p t s by such of

a n t iq u it y in f o rms s a id

su p e r stitions, m e d icine the ir to

rig h f ly . A e s c u la p iu s ' it is far a re they t h in g , p rima ry temple, from revealed a frue of evil to whom all

Be cause Hippocrates no w b urned, minds; out fi nd even spirits that they

t o h a v e p a s s e d o n t , h e t e a c h in g s t h e q u ie t t ru t h , re s u lt s , t ru e , is to is not though after a useful God the

from books to me mo ry in can utter t ru e ar e re a lly men may util is e

have striven and of a u t h or the

because they

by d e mons, but n a tur e , tr uth and all

because s u c h a re s u lt b e re f e rre d goodness;

and can plainly

b e c a u s e G o d c a n f in d h is o u r p e rc e p t io n s

g o o d e v e n in a n d o u r lif e r I s h o u ld at

d e e d s of men and demonsr s o g re a t w e fin ally th e Apostle u te no t the owe our existe n c e has taught of of us.

in e f f a b le

k in d n e s s ,

ds Paul

Th e utterances revelation m e n , or those ad va n tage

reas o n p e rs u a d e me t h a t in

n o wh er e a t t r i b to wicked jus t i c e does the diswhen

th e p o we r o f ma k in g g o ld s p re a d T h is

a n y t ime

who are ste e p e d men to

a1low those

in e g u it y b e s id e s , d iv in e s o u ls t o t h e p o is o n in t h e ir o p in io n 31.

of humankind.

s e e ms t o b e s t re n g t h e n e d

we consider dia lo g ue, er s th e is in

him whose na me wa s S t rix , for he did truth of not th e

o f wh o m we s p o k e in c o in s accept t e a c h in g in v a rio u s mu c h , f o r in riv e r lik e that

ou r

third followof it

s h a re e v e n a f e w g o ld We ma y t h e re f o re a rt is re v e a le d to t h in g s to le a rn on1y,

rrrit h h i s

obscene pursuits. to attribute in that the gold

s o met h i n g though

singular ea sier

b y g o o d s p irit s ,

s u c h re v e la t io n man y d if f e re n t art in we re a b le o n e p la c e

and experience. e x p e rim e n t s , in d e e d sands, v e in s, of nature A1and he and for the and heat pasinto gold su1-

H aving collected th o se b e r tus skilled wrote do e s not ha d h eard p r e se ntly fur strewn produce that

n o r b y o n e me t h o d o n l y . ro c k , g re a t e r of it s riv e r

pure g o ld the

wa s t o b e f o u n d a ro s e mix e d wit h g o ld better found in O n e wa s t h e c le a n s e d

impure go ld

he added that among the mercury

the

s a n d s wa s b e t te r , p u rit y e a rt h in e ss , that of the the

w hich he advanced two re a s o n s . sand s , is be ca u se its pu r e r h id d e n sa g e is a no b ler m e tals a r ive r or d in a ry is sp e a king ba r ic fou n d his of In deed in fre q u e n t ly

wa s h e d b y t h e t u rn s

a n d re n d e r e d wh e n i t s p la c es th e

and more subtle. stopped form; are born. T have said matter. of up, this

The other bottom

re a s o n h e s a y s is s c a t t e re d

the banks and t h e is

b a c k o n it s e lf substance of the s p e a k in g

and c o o k s t h e

w h a t h e s a y s in th a t the g o ld b rig h t that

where bed of of when weighbarlump

f c o lle c t e d f re e s ilv e r. of

f ro m of

has remained it

ext re me ly is fo u n d of

a n d q u it e

p ie c e s A lb e r t u s th a t but in

Though I h a v e b e e n t a lk in g t o b e mix e d wit h says that g o ld

p u re g o ld ,

when trial

m ade, much of

the nature

a lu mp wa s f o u n d those

e d m any pounds. it

A hundr e d ma rk s a re t h e wo rd s h e u s e d , eigh t gold in ouncesr so that hund re d o u n c e s . was found that of t h is is it spi t e He s a y s t o o , wa s s o ld p o in t , of I n d ia in A s ia that

that the

name signifies to be eight mountain but time

wh o we ig h e d t h an

Germany in others because iL, but Ital branches, Po in us t,here of m o u n fact gr a v e l . t,hat

wa s c o n s u me d le s s P lin y Min o r,

w he n assayed, its novelty; n e ve r theless the is

mo re c h e a p ly o mit s the f ro m riv e r

because t h is S pa in , tha t on t h e lik e

a s u b t le

he mentions

ma n y c o lle c t io n s t h e P a c t o lu s

g o ld

a s fr o m the Tagus in H ebrus in Thrace, no gold purer than No r was he silent ta in sr g o ld is nor did found running

an d t h e G a n g e s in g ra v e s v e in s of

a n d h e t e 1 ls by that the nor ru in s the

ru b b e d a n d p o lis h e d we lls nor

me a ns .

he omit

C a n a lit iu s t

o r Ca n a lie n s is , t h ro u g h p ie c e s

o f ma rb le

32.

An d so the g o ld of th e r th e n ar t th e y w er e , in th e sea'

artificers

we re a b le

to

le a rn

f ro m t h o s e riv e rs

wh o s e a r c h in

for ano-

in mountain wdlr with in

caverns r to

o n t h e b a n lc s o f f ro m t h o s e in v e s t ig a t e k in d le d t h is g o ld

and on the wa s re v e a le d it s

shores nuterof the

and likewise with heat, with of in

t o wh o m it n a t u re , f ire , wa y t h e y

and learned first strong

a n d imit a t e t h e n wit h tested wit h a mn io t ic n a t u re r b e in the

i ng heaL'

a b a re ly a n d in n a t u re , re a l m id wif e ,

a s lo w o n e a n d p o v er s

conjunction and acted it, not

a n d f in a lly , f ro m t h e

ma n y e x p er i m e n t s , me mb ra ne , a s i t of the art but is, te1ls that and between some is an d D i o d o r u s f ro m in the testmore exnature's but with ds they s e e n, sdlr that than

drew the

foetus as its only

and by constant imit a t e s s e e ms t o h e lp E rs t h e t ime if c o rn e rs of than if of t h is

p e rs u it ,

ob tain ed

a f o rm t h a t it ;

on e that

clearly gold,

perf e c t s

a c c o rd a n c e

w ha t many have asserted, ar ti ficial n a ti ve llsr g o ld bits ton goldr or of

a n d wh a t I d o n o t n a t u re ' s c o lo rr f ro m t h e f in is h e d : b e s id e s , d s P lin y t h e g o ld I s d lr to

d e n y h a v in g a u t h o rit y P s e llu s , the s c ra p s , of

made wit h a bet t e r

ma y b e mo re p e rf e c t wh o t a u g h t mo rs el s wo rd s

A lb er t u s

a nd as many have said made by art obtained to found was bet t e r

from the P a c t o lu s in than the de e p e s t the re s t r

I ma y u s e h is t h e re the s a id , f o rme rly of I n d ia e a rt h r

" ch r y s o e i d i s o

P al<tolo psegmaton"

a re d is t in c t io n s so that

th e gold

m or e valuable as w e said ce lle n t w or k, n a tur e fo u n d of

a n d A lb e rt u s , a s s e rt e d ,

earlier, the outdo

and a s Ho ly Writ rest; they if ,

i m on y of which we know t h a t than why should

wa s c o n s id e re d the a rt ?

t h e re

a re d is t in c t io n s a rt

be d e n ie d it s e lf , in

t h e wo rk s o f a s we s a id Book of it re a d s dnd that

Not only

d o e s nature in

a some rv h a t imp e rf e c t scents, a n d ma n y o t h e r t h e h o ly a ro s e r S e p t u a g in t g o ld

in p o we r a n d we a l t h , b e f o re r

sometimes outrivals colors, it is - but if written in the

d rld as w e h a v e that of in that the the land ancland

ma t t e rs . G e n e s is E v ila t the - wh ic h g o ld

Tr uly, Ha vilah took i en ts

to be fndia, we rely interprets

w as the best, Sep tuagint it

o n t h e L a t in

t ra n s la t io n

the He b re w t e x t ,

" k a lo n " r a s t h e a n d wh e t h e r y o u p re f er to read

a s "good" or "beautifu l" , o n e mu s t a l1 o w t h a t t h e re is a c o m p a r i s o n un le ss one prefers to say t h a t t h e g o ld t h a t a ro s e in o t h e r p r o v i n c e s w as neither b e th e not best good nor bea u t if u l. gold and goo d g o ld not Wh y wa s t h e u n le s s of g o ld found there said was doubt to t h e g o ld E v ila t ? found e ls e whe r e

gtood gold r ot

as g o o d a s t h a t 33

O n e c a n n ot

tha t it is

a thing said

is

said

to b e b e s t whic h that sdlr a rt , I is

b y c o mp a ris o n , of the

nor can one deny that a substance therefore f or or of we

to be good by c o mp a ris o n to another not t h e re inference be denied, with nature. matter of silver

wh e n o n e re f e rs a re d is t in c t io n s in k in d or

som e kind g o Id, ar t th e in

s a me g o o d n e s s , in q u a lit y , wit h n a t u re r of P lin y that

m u st draw the en ce s cannot

b e t we e n n a t u r a l differfrom natin r ot

distinctions, comparison

wh e t h e r o r in

wh e t h e r

a ris in g

f ro m t , h e a rL it s e lf t e s t imo n y writ in g s )

c o mp a ris o n

u r e compared with gold e xp a n ded on this va r ia b le tim e s stitutes weight a ninth,

We h a v e t h e e ls e wh e re

who called there part, is a

made by Caius Ca e s a r f ro m o rp ime n t in h is in a ll- g o ld ,

e x c e lle n t ,

(t , h e a u t h o r some-

s o me t ime s a t e n t h

sometimes a n e ig h t h t o r a f if t h , a n d t h is p o r t i o n conelectrum, the e n e my o f p o is o n . Ma n y d is t in c t k in d s o f g o l d s o me t ime s le s s in n o n -me t a llic w o u ld b e f o u n d ha s a ls o in p u re , about at is found in other of metthe

ar e pr oduced by such mea n s . . Go 1d, sometimes purer, a ls. What? It is that found it M a g n u s, saying h u m a n Cranes, cr op s, it like substances, wit n e s s in Albertus

a h u n d re d

hairs

and gold

been found

in my t ime the

partridges' swallor,tied

and whether

when t h e y

we re p e c k in g

g ro u n d t h e y

corn r et whether b y s o me h id d e n p o we r it wa s g e n e ra t e d f r o m wh a t they ate, they picke d u p f ro m t h e g ro u n d t h e p re lu d e s t o g o l d , e sp e cially La ke Fucino

the partridges not and having perhaps nothing and can power unless in it

from the in the

noble doing

p o we rs o f milit a ry
there.

the

g ra s s in

in

t h e Ma s u s m o u n t a i n s , p a rt s , wit h
to of this

b e ca u se as a youth

s e rv ic e
I

these

oo t
the

far

from how

A lban F ie l-d s ,

I re me mb e r s e e in g
was then the it the I matter is

s u rpr i s e
day with the there I

resorted sufficiently although this, for

ignorant

cause, am

investigated f it suspect is hidden also, to that in nor,

ignorant, forbids be found

connect,ed of is to

gold; earth, any

caverns may sdlr ability

on the

surface

t,he roots is pure

and grasses wantoness, for Crete teeth

suppress

the

make gold, case for

and the

same seems to have

be the they

four-footed in in the

animals, of

reliable who fed were

witnesses on the

said of

saw ibexes lda, near famed the

mountains and their

grasses

Mount

song,

golden-coloured,

especiaJ-J-y

gums. I pass over t,he kind Latin of school gold called to obrizon think it in Greek, "that although which

Isidore

and the

liked

meant

34.

g listen s wr o te tho se ti m e of is

with gold

splendour". cal1ed w it h

P lin y

s e e ms t o b e n e a r

the in

t ru t h

when he but own our

obriz o n ,

wh ic h wa s re d a s f ire G re e k lit e ra t u re , f o rme d f ro m

c o lo u r ,

who are familiar Hermolaus, think

a mo n g wh o m in

t ha t i s , " a b ro n " , p e rh a p s f ro m " e u r i z o r l " soft t oy delicate r o t r E rs I t h in k r te n d e r , ( go o d root), because it is p ro d u c e d f ro m t h e b e s t s e e d , a n d g r o w s a s t h e wo rd is it w ere from fhe legitimat e outd o in g ro o t , wh e t h e r y o u c o n s id e r the it prepared translates may to use a unmelted than the is na tur a lly, i t, or by art n a t u re . o b riz o rt , for S e p t u a g in t d e s ire d of A ra b ia , in a p la c e , it is that the the s o me t ime s a wo rd t h a t

Th e Hebrews have a wo rd f o r m eaning sometimes the b e r e n dered calle d by he at, the a n d called fact that

n a me o f

as "purest" in L a t in , w or d meaning "very pure", p e rh a p s apyronr s Diodoru s , set in it ; and so brilliant stones the in c o lo u r

and because they ra b b is g o ld is

s a me a s wh a t wa s a n c i e n t l y wa s b rig h t er

dug up by the

p r ecious

b y t h e wa y it the it s e x c e lle n c e my s t ic

me n t io n e d of of

Psalms the

"gold of A ra b ia " . Beyond the other point e rs to the mind may r is e is indicate d gold forth , to t h is servant , it equal brings under f o rt h for

t h e me t a 1 , it to the

f ro m c o n t e mp l-a t io n b y v a rio u s those

peaks of

w i sdo m, which An d so nature ti m es its the art it of gift, vi es help, art is is is

n a me b y t h e wo rd " g o 1 d " . me a n s , a rt lik e wis e , somewit h it , they or that c o n qu e r i n g the power of that the of the for by

as nature's brings not

s o me t ime s v y in g task

wh o c o n s id e r they do'not

a re mis t a k e n ; wh ic h of

t h in k

an almost nature, strong rules ruling it, a nature it

natural

f a c u lt y , a k in d

d e e m wo r t h y p rimit iv e the

na m e of

which nev e rt h e le s s endowed w it h and arrange s and intellig e n t n a t u re and mod u la t in g r due to n a t u re in ma rb le , thin g s , of a rt , of in

h a s p o we r o v e r c o g n it io n , re a s o n in g ,

forms, to this

h a v in g and, of

character rdsorlr sometimes

a soul

thanks in t rin s ic n a t u re , a rt r

d u mb a n d v o id it . it

a n d , both with

s o m t ime s imit a t e s add that a s is in t h a t a rt , s imu la t e s in the that

and sometime s o u t d o e s

To the honors na tur e je we l, its void is

ds w h e n Polycrates ndture A deathly the pumice it be draw

makes patterns and many other imitation of of art.

found

case of ends,

wh e n r d s t h e wis e v e rs e n a t u re

Poet saysr

own bow in

made by the withdra wa l F o r it tufa.

can never

s imul a t e

ch a r a cteristics a n d l i qht

d ra ws it , s o wn b o w in n a t u ra l a rE , mo re la t e r; h e re le t

the

p o we r o f 35.

stated go ld it

that

the more they

wh o a s p ire that it

in v a in is

to

u s e a rt it , to a b le

for

malcing let

are curbed, and to

the mor e t h e y

u n re a s o n a b ly

a rg u e f o r e a s ily

but

be statedr

orr the cont ra ry ,

be a help

to na ture

overcom e mu t e n a t u re

b y h a rd wo rl< .

CHlp r e n 8 . Ftve l rE TH oDoF s l rA K IrGG o L DA RT T F I c I A L L v B , y u HI c H A s I r lt Ar y

OTHER TH I ]IGSI ART OUTDOES I{ATURE BERI FT OF ART.

The art a lo n e o n ly berift

of preparation of but for in gold

e x c e ls a rL , It

in Ch ry s o p o e ia , b y t h e h e lp e x c e ls a ls o of

a n d o u t s t rip s n a t u re it s e lf . a b le to

nature Not use

the heJ-p o f experimen t .

in glory,

sp e e d o f p re p a ra t io n r ma y b e ma d e a rt if ic ia lly

E ls will in b e in g in

b e ma d e c l e a r f iv e me t a lr in d if f e r e n t ds when sildone. For Contrargo1d. le a d

w he n we speak of m an y methods, w ays. Fir st, ver is m etals iwise r

the metal

may b e e x t ra c t e d in o t h e rs , in

f ro m a n o t h e r f e s p e c ia lly s ilv e r,

extracted are often gold of gold the

from bro n z e , hidden perfect

s o me t h in g

re me mb e r s e e in g s ilv e r a n d e v e n in

may be found h id d e n me t a l

and bronze

so m e thing Ne xtr

ma y b e f o u n d .

may be mad e f ro m t h o s e me t a llic substances known common(here I fo llo w 1 y as minerals t h e b a rb a ria n a p p e lla t io n ) , for the pr in cip les of gold are in t h e s e me t a llic s u b s t a n c e s , e s p e c ia l l y in m er cu r y Th irdr th e a bility Fourth, ne ve r theless no r without ph ilo so phers de ter m ining of w hich a b ility and the gold sulfur th a t is not affected seed of n a t u ra l wh ic h not tend for the is to they b y f ire , g o ld ; t h in g wh ic h , I may sdyr call f h a ve seen myself. may be ma d e f ro m t h e for itself . mo re p e rf e c t the g e n e ra t e s e p a ra t e in t o it . than The about parts gold, gold, s h o u ld b e wif h o u t seed of s e e d is t h e re wh a t f is to multiply, gold in e v e ry a certain

to propagate

may be ma d e f ro m t h a t other p rin c ip le s c le v e r,

such a subs t a n c e those were extremely what the that they

that can do, to

p d in s t a k in g , ma k in g g o ld h e a v e n is lik e

a n d c a re f u l

artif ie e rs

those

a substance a certain

choose for that 36.

ma n y p ar t s r o f and a certain ds

proportion

c o rre s p o n d

e le me n t s ,

pr o p o r tion

to heaven,

wh e t h e r

a g u in t e s s en c e r

th e

Peripatetics unite universal and they things,

sdlr the

or t h e e s s e n c e o f E rs t h e they

f ire r

ds the both wo rld the is

P la t o n is t s the u n it e d with

say:

an d they an d with he a ve n, p a r ti cular of m etals, si l ver th e

seeds o f me rc u ry causes r ma k e in c re a s e

a n d g o ld f ro m t h e

wit h

elements

s u b lu ma ry e mp lo y b o t h

also

p a rt ic u la r in t rin s ic for

seeds of natures and o ne , a p a rt , while and the this and that outhave to are not Therefore that of its can is

and th u s

and the fertile. form of

seeds o f me t a llic M o re o v e r, the o rig in a l t h is d e s c rib e d imp re s s e d

substances me t h o d is me t a l a re s p e c ia l

ma k in g g o l d

very

a g e n e ra l ones. t o rn the f if t h is

three

I have previously form The firs t the all. th ird

When the th e th e ar t fi fth fourth e xcels

ig n o b le

seco n d more powerful method. at a1lr most of nature p r o fi ta ble

o n t h e me t a llic p ro f it a b le , sor the

ma t e ria l, g re a t ly , said,

me t h o d is mo d e ra t e ly

s e c on d s c a r c e l y

No r should do e s nature do w i th in th e g ive n th e y n a ti ve of ar t of ar t to to oil,

anyone be s u rp ris e d to nat u re ' s

a t wh a t we h a v e a lre a d y for in is s a lt to those ma t t e rs

b e n e f it ,

we h a v e s e e n a rt t h at k n o wn t h a t

that

used for the water,

the g o o d o f n a t u re go J -d , b e c a u s e it and the it is s a lt s and the

the making of the oil,

G o d h as p l a c e d

ma d e b y a rt a s p ire

p o we rs t h a t to a n a rt f lo w the if

the wa t e r, that

ma d e b y n a t u re . n a t u ra l

who consider ability add to

imp o s s ib le h ig h e r

p r o ce ed

beyond nature it.

is mis t a k e n ,

because the

must be c o n s id e re d consider

and better n a t u re

exertions powers of channel sdlr excel" deemed but a we see is,of came had huts

For we do not n a ture should

t h e p o we rs a d d e d t o but it s f u n c t io n s that a rt is

by the as the seen to but is

be separate

and d if f e re n t ,

we s a y t h a t wit h r a rt not

a rt is

be comp a re d in it is, mo re o v e r,

E rs o n e m i g h t wro n g ly

n a tur e

naked and powerles s , larr of natu re ,

a n d b y c o mp a ris o n a s we h a v e s a id I do not in t e llig e n t , the s k ill those

Ho w wonderful as a s pecial w or thy n a tur e of

rep r e s e n t e d

a lre a d y ,

the name of na t u re i arranged , and a ll un t il clothes,

me a n a s ile n t a n d p ro f ic ie n t . of lif e of

n a t u re , T h is wh ic h a s it c e n t u rie s that o n ly

properly

in ho uses, n a tur e to in its

t h e d e p a rt me n t s a n d liv in g

were once t ha t were, they in

r ou g h and uncivilised, improved, aid, and by its and grottoes in the

t h e h u ma n min d , in s t ru me n t ,

a most n o b le in

d ilig e n c e

me n wh o f o r

had lived

caverns

t h e mo u n t a in s r o E in h o v e ls a f e w we e k s c a me t o liv e not

e xe a vated,

space o f

37.

bu t the y of

in

palaces, hides of

and the y animals

wh o c o v e re d we re c lo t h e d eat

t h e ms e lv e s in g a rme n t s

in

the

u n cu r e d and wild benefit of

w olle n a n im als a rt

ma d e b y a r L , t h e milk p le a s u re . by the

who nourished for the if of that

them s e lv e s

o n ra w v e g e t a b le s , foods and a not of u n wo rt h y

and uncoolced me a t c a me t o sake of h e a lt h art, th a t is , it . you mak e a u n iv e rs a l underl ie s

p re p a re d

Fina11y, i m pr ovements du m b nature to th e i on s. str o n g, th e o logy, o f matters livin g a n d drew it ce n turies b e lie ved th e ir find that other

f in d t h a t t h e / o u will outdo t h e wis d o m o f h u ma n n a t u re, s u rv e y r d o n e t h is , of it y e a rs is to no surprise complete, operatwith and and the what

Ha v in g

what has t a k e n

t h e o n e h u n d re d s o E e v e n in a n d milit a ry o f n a t u re , in v e s t ig a t e d of the o f wh ic h s e c re t of

does in

a few d a y s r p a in t in g ,

a f e w h o u rs , ma t f e rs

by its

Thus medicine, since within the on to following because of formerly they immersion did in of the tufa that

g re w a n d w a x e d wit

thus men obtain e d by experim e n t , the o rb it

p h ilo s o p h y ,

a n d b e c a me mo s t f a mi l i a r re ly in g the le d d iv in e b y a rt o n in b o rn f ru it s , h u ma n k in d that a re

menrs s u rv e y

str e n gthened beings,

p o we rs a n d p r o p e r t i e s roc k s , in to wonder, scarcely believe certain na t u r e time. banks of my wonby

t h e mo o n , h e rb s ,

cont e mp la t io n consid e r the y their see n . wo n d e re . d a t f lo win g t h is I t a ly T e lin a after those th a t me n t io n f if t h that d id

p ro v id e n c e ;

ma n y t h in g s

a n t iq u it y

by those the

wh o d o n o t

eyes have not for

Antiquity sp r in gs, con ti nued No t only within L a ke Lary of

p e t rif y in g a c q u irin g o f wa t e r it ,

p o we r o f a stony for but a lo n g

saw g ra s s

a n d t u rv e s s t re a ms

f wonder a t

wh e n I re a d o f v a l1 e y to d id of the

f e v en s a w i t but

the confines through into also

wh e n f wa s t ra v e llin g Rh e t ic not o n ly bunehes of but an eye. s p e c ia lly

f ro m t he A lp s ; f e rn iro n ,

de r c eased when I e lm turn Consider in r ecent som e go1d. ar a tes tor y no t silver in his g o ld become liquid centuries,

saw t h a t in t h e

a nd f r o u n d s silverr

a y e a r' s t win k lin g d e v o u rr that ma rv e llo u s

imme rs io n ,

drrc

e n d o we d w a t e r s r r t t a d G some silver one that which n a t ur a l f o llor , r i n g that a sign hisis of septhe

s o f t iro n r that

s o f t b ro n z e , p ro d u c e s , of the

f do not in his except than

c o mmo n a n d we ll-k n o wn n a t u re c o lle c t o r say that

from go1d , twenty-first

nor those v o lu me ; the

Po e t speaks of wonderful, rather

book and the I wo u ld re a d e r

wo u ld c o n s id e r

we a kness,

a p a ra d o x 38.

I have seenr

E rs f b e lie v e,

a water

tha t cu r y salt g ifts

could that that of

be drunk with o u t the well is strongest or river

h a rm t h a t d is s o lv e d

h a d a p o we r o v e r wa t e rs of d id it

s u b li m e d not havet all.

merupon These in-

a n d mo s t d e v o u rin g wa t e r a re t h e re ma rk a b ly to effects lie

h a d n o p o we r a t n a t u ra l about in it s the

the Chemists'art something

s t re n gt h , arL, p o we r r

d e e d there d u m b nature i ng that w i th o u t n o d o ubt e ter n ity.

t h e o lo g ic a l d re a min g occur in

and rnErrris an of

has long bee n s a id rebirt h of rebirth is

a wonderful that this natural thing finest there

c a n q u ic k ly d iv in e p o we r,

in n a f u ra l the t v in k lin g

th i n g s of

any new miracle

a n d wh e n it

d o e s th e r e

a c c o mp lis h e d

e ye by fixed

chara c t e ris t ic s is that c ru d e

wh ic h g iv e substances s p irit s r s p irit s t h is of it

u s in t ima t io n s

An d another o n e s, th e and these in the str en g th to p lace i n w ater, te n fh a t not years vap o u rs,

a re o v e rc o me b y f i n e r so that t h e re If is greater of in t h e wh o l e b u l k it s to salt d is s o l v e down for fine silver, is the igand that it

by even mo re s u b t le a n d t h in n e s t po u n d s o f d is s o lv e , a we ig h t . the

than

substance;

are ma n y e x a mp le s o f o n a lig h t sheet though If

to hand. a lu m o r s ilv e r,

one were

ten thousand it will

substance

e xu d e s from baked bricks never with so great in

we re p re s s e d and the

o n e p la c e s

a n o u n c e of s a me of th i s in

drawn from the v e ry bu b o f

s a me ma t e ria ls , a rt o u t d o in g of

which was solid a worl< of nature, cannot writers of one, it

f o rm b e c o me s mo is t u re in a f irm

a n d liq u id ; not wd lr

n a t u re , lik e

a variable le a r n e d not

an d i nconstant norant ski l l ed i ficia l o n e that m etals

manner, b u t speak of of yore,

and steady effects, a n a t u ra l

so that

a v a rie t y P lin y , of it

those

S e n e c a , a n d V it ru v iu s , Styx, substance, wa s c o rro s iv e , f u n c t io n s ra t h e r

wh o , w h e n t h e y an arthavsolidified, by w h i c h and the

w er e writing

the waters orr t h a t with

saidr

o n e t , h a t it a re c le a rly is a n o i1

was explosive;

these

contrary,

i ng no connection are deeply both co lo u r ed, m ar in e, salt th o se

e a c h o t h e r,

t h e re

penetra t e d , that

we a k e n e d , liq u if ie d r c o mp o u n d s a lt

t n o is t e n e d , that

inwardly

a n d o u t wa rd ly . mu lt ip u rp o s e excels

No r sha1l

f omit if

mountain,

or san d y s a lt tha t hot

overleaps, that

k n o wn t o a n t iq u it y ; t h is a r t i f i c i a l f may s a y s o (NB ), t h e o t h e rs i mo re o v e r, i t i s a re s e e n n e v e r a n d lia b le to t o b u rn a s we ll as from I fire ig n it e , s o mu c h s o t h a t , that

m a d e from substances are very sha 1 1 not deny having

se e n a s a lt 39.

ma d e f ro m s u lf u r

s p ur n e d

a n d w as so brilliantly wr iter s, th e cou l- d not ta ste, ur e s in reporting the a customed gift at

br ig h t in E gy p t t o it . g ra s s

a n d s h in in g t h e p rie s t s A n d it that is

that of of

the the

s a lt o ra c le

wh ic h of, of

Greek that as I was

dee d s o f A le x a n d e r

Ma c e d o n , t e ll

Ammon,

be compared to

o n ly

a few days dgo,

r em e m b er, that the that

my comma n d a s a lt r Ferra ra and the to

d s J -o v e ly t o n e ig h b o u rin g s ic k f la v o u r, d e ig n e d

s e e a s s wee t t o in m y p a s t Mantua. upon it, that its Du c h y o f I

was made from the Duchy of it

g ro ws in p a rt ic u la r

Fo r when my out-pasture se e in g th e no t it of sa lt, which resembled properties, the

s h e p h e rd s we re p a y in g t h e ir in it than wh ile t h e g ra s s and thus, f ie ld s ,

me my t a x e s wa s t h e to

had been of h e lp

f lo c k s ,

t h o u gh t c a u se o f h is s a lt r

h e a lth- giving flo oding wa s sweeter

P o wa s wit , h in

banl<s, and riches; dod in

surroundin g unless

s h o w u s its

and more b e a u t if u l drying , up, help

s e a o r mo u n t a in mo re u s e f u l; g u a lit ie s it s attack bounty. a n y f u rt h e r h e lp e d not the b y a rt the

m a tte r s i ts ed in g r a fte d tha t o n th e

metallic, penetrating, a brief is broken

I a m mis t a k e n , a n d b u rn in g and under

f ma k e n o m e n t i o n f o rme r shape of and but it,s about

wh ic h we re d i s c o v e r be born

moment by d rt r of a rt

a m etal

and t h e n is

s o me o t h e r a n d n a t u re ' s ru le d re c e iv e

f o rm c a n e a s ily

on by the other

S o me o n e m a y s a y in t e llig e n ce , h e lp from read,

n ature,

though hand it parts,

silent , sti11 it while

b y a n u n e rrin g

cannot a id ;

e o n sti tu ent the p le ntiful will it

t h e h u ma n min d , mu c h is in o f me t a ls

and strengthenalthough

e d b y practice, n a tur e not in

brings production generate the the aid,

seen, after

t o me n t io n passage of a rt

a f e w d a y s b y h u ma n d rt r

t h e m, e x c e p t

many years. in Strabo

N ow Michael w eig h in g ab o u t the r ea d in g of is

P sellus r wt it in g balance changin g it transmu t in g

a few pages upon the wo n d e re d a t p o we r o f in t o

wh en h e f f a s wh ils t other p o we r , not metals r.rhich

o f p h ilo s o p h y , o f me t a ls is

re a d in g

aforesaid

s o me f o u n t a in , the shapes of

about

b y ar ti ficial th e matter

though h e re me mb e re d ma n y s u c h . c o mp e lle d

Un le s s ,

as he says

elsewhere,

b y s o me p ro p e r

w ha t he concludes.

40.

Cn lp r r n 9 .
Ir I s u i ti rE cE ssA R y F o R T HosE sKILLED r N THE ART oF itAKIt{ c Go LD
TO HAVE A DEEP Al{D PROFOUilD KilOULEDGE OF THE FITIER POIIITS OF

Pn . r lo so p n v
N or should p r im a r y we listen to for t h o s e wh o s a y t h a t of the t h e re h o ld s a re t h o s e in s t o re we s h o u ld substances u n le s s know the re s u lt i n g we c a n can

elements

and the . p ro p o rt io n s

fr o m them to make gold; kno w nothing in ve sti gated r ea ch fu l. Bu t the tim e th a t to of craftsman to so far, its

wh o s a y t h a t

of what natu re beginning s ; only

we h a v e al r e a d y a ll wa y s d o u b t take it after but of the is has the the assists

b u t . n e it h e r

re a s o n

n o r e x p e rie n c e

guess e s t h a t skil le d obsc u re nat u re to do. in

a re u n c e rf a in t h e ma k in g o f it is

a n d in g o ld

need not h is wh at

investigate a minister of the

causes;

e n o u g h if does not re f u s in g

character

e v e r-b e a rin g S o a mid wif e s h e is so the f a rme r,

a n d p ro d u c in g

be e n divinely na tur e in m o st cr o p s va in ly spr in g its g lu e to

ordered foetus,

e n q u ire

af wh ic h

c o mp le t e ly

ig n o ra n t , seeds of the

th e w oman bearing properties to of the earth, the not nor a sturdy is expect

the ch ild ;

k n o wle d g e

of whe a t a n d b a rle y r where h e h a rro ws rewards stock; that of of o f h is a n d it the is

c o mmit s t h e and tends that is ,

those

t h e mr E rrrdd o e s n o t n u me r o u s o f f nor of the joined

la b o u rs , the

s a me wh e n h e ma k e s a g r a f t ; a n d b e c o me s c lo s e ly a n d f ru it s . wro t e , me e t in g s is nor seed, c a n p ro d u c e not s c a rc e ly n u me ro u s ; is it another time; a wo ma n , b u t ev e r y

nature b a r k; What?

t re e

o n wh ic h h e ma k e s it , softens we d g e s a n d in s e rt e d

he uses,

the wa y b a rk pro mis e s

rather, growing

when he h a s d riv e n that

buds he sees

a p r o g eny

f lo we rs b y wa y o f

S ee how a man, wh o , a s A ris t o t le gets offs p rin g from a hund re d o r a t h o u s a n d but productiv e , of the the s t ill n a t u re h is ignorant or to o f h is

m a n by himself, but no t l ess to or although i n vain, he is it ph ilosophy,

one is nevertheas to

p ro g e n y

known either

d o c t o rs Do e s it

wh o q u a rre l

a mo n g t h e ms e lv es

wh e the r

comes from ex c e s s f o o d t o y t h e b ra in , from the wo ma n ? T h o u g h t h e s e if if he will it is not re c e iv e d

+r.

o r t h e wh ol e b o d y , Or does if the ma y b e u n c e r t a i n of o f f s p ri n g wo ma n in

fr om somewhere else.

c o me f ro m t h e ma le a lo n e ? t h in g s b e d is a p p o in t e d b y a f e rt ile

som e seed flow his seed is

an d unknown to him, fertile,

r i gh t the n is

places, the infant in

and if is not

all

the

other for

f u n c t io n s , the to the

both o rd e r

o f ma le a c t i v i t y ru n of in a ll smoothly; nature the is art and of

a n d female born

passivity, due time.

ne c e s s a ry conc e iv e d

s a me re s u lt

a c c o rd in g t h in g s the

One should m a kin g gold, no r for the the ir should their it of a n d species

imagin e

that for

a re o t h e rwis e e q u ip me n t of

where the mo s t ma rv e llo u s be necess a ry those herself earthr it is met a llic

used, genus in kind-

a rt if ic e rs

t o k n o w e v e ry

substances

c o mmo n ly k n o wn a s m i n e r a l s ; b o rn a n d h i d d e n a c q u a in t e d ru le s s h o u ld t h e re with of s o g re a t know the a n d un k n o w a b l e change

parent

s c a rc e ly s o v a rio u s

k n o ws wh a t is a re t h e y r and to of

caves of the number; but

e n o u g h t o b e t h o ro u g h ly we d o n o t t h e n a t u re the deny that e f f ic ie n t

r e d substances, tho r o ughly. wo r ke rs the y go ld obtain on to is

known b y e x p e rime n t ,

Nevertheles s r

be wiser

who have explore d

a good know le d g e o f h o w t o the common b a s e o f occupied will learn by t h e it f o rm o f f ro m t h e it s p la c e ,

imp o s e t h e n o b le they it

c a u s e s r so t h a t p ro p e r f or m o f t h is they common can aid me t a l

e le me n t s , a le s s so that p la c e lik e

a n d e v e n if c a n d riv e

m a ter ial LE, and it pr e vious d r ivin g pu t it

to b e c u re d r obt a in

aw a y t h e an d w h i l e Ery and as

form,

and upset

h a s s e iz e d , t h e wa y t o

away they

a g o o d k n o wle d g e o f 1 ie

the more noble plainly

form in wrote

s o me o f

o u r p re de c e s s o r s , in me t a l s , g e ne r a t i o n e , and says not the stars. fire nor is seed and there Arist-

wh o knew whatever Ar istotle tha t in otl e la ted ob tain p a teti c s a g e neral Th e y also ca1 x, po we r,

seeds o f mu lt ip lic a t io n in h is to it in re a s o n t h a t the in to

h id d e n

s e c o n d b o o k De a n ima liu m s e e d p ro lif e ra t e d , of n a t u re is in the is c o n t a in e d of re a lm

wh e n he showed what was t h e what is agreeable but a n ything th at a q u ality into this so strong, foamy matter

t h e wa rmt h t h a t in p a rt the

ex p re s s e d

t h e wo rd S p irit , e le me n t s that

in wh ic h

corresponding to write Latin

was pleased

t h e s e G re e k wo rd s , wa y s , is

have been trans-

in vario u s there f o re that the na me o f to to turn turn

Wise artificers gave it cause. strove

t o ik ei o . " " p a n t o n me n g a r. s e e k wit h a ll c a re a n d d ilig e n ce to d ra wn f ro m me t a ls . Ma n y o f th e Peri-

substance

it was Q u in t e s s e n c e r E rs t h e y b e lie v e d ma n n e r h e a v e n is a g e n e ra l ca u s e . In a s imila r e a rt h y ma t e ria l k in d s in t o of a p o wd e r lik e s a lt a n d o i1 in t o wa t e r, of burnt great and finer from it v a rio u s

and prepared and strove

mo re liq u id

ma t e ria l

42.

m a ter ial But, this, and if

into

the

thinnes t iE is

a irs

a n d v a p o u rs , for s e c re t s of

equal a ll

to

f ire

in to

strength know

as we have said, therefore any of

n o t n e c e s s a ry to your a rt if ic e rs r y o u f irs t of to

wo rk e rs

we give

you the

o u r rid d le s . in a c c o rd in g ly . the

v er s e , vorId, to

them are c le a r and bes t of

p ro c e e d yet f lit

"He who really l- e t him be chief kn o r 'r all win g s you r child , Be lie ve sh a lt of through mother's me' it the

knor'rs t h e h id d e n for

seeds and causes of it is not your

necessary descend to couch, at the mist.

and everything great is

wa y o n m i g h t y

peaks a n d h e ig h t s wom b a n d c ra wl, of the it s u lf u r t win is

heaven, the

soon to n u p t ia l

s e e in g to "

and the progeny thou make one of

a n d a rg e n t t ig h t b irt h .

v iv e

in b lin d in g

enough t o h o ld

p o we rs c lo s e

ha n d , ' t h e n t he t,heme

An d we shall th e present h a ve said' g h ts p r e p a r ed the h elp the disco vered g u id a n ce h e a ts ab le la y

see what f o llo ws . argument, th e m t o h o ld th e y

But as far fast to

a s c o n c e rn s to s e c re t s

enough for

a rt if ic e rs c e rt a in v e s s e ls taught

know what we and weiit is and of have nature's apply suitformerly know the

enough for and of which of nature,

commonly unlcnown, t o k n o v t h e v a rio u s a re t h e ma s t e rs , of w h ic h A lb e rt u s a re g f e n e ra t e d , la b o u r, f la me s , of

in wh ic h

b y e x p e ri e n c e wo rk e r s with to

s p o k e wh e n h e wa s writ i n g a lt h o u g h in and they and the la t e r one vesseL, rig h t t ime s that

p laces

where metals

much, and have ma d e p re p a ra t io n and much experim e n t a l and o f the fire. the Rec e p t a c le s earth is

h a v e c o me t o a re

and strengths for

or r emove the h idden in

g la s s

o r e a rt h e n wa re

the work of prep a ra t io n , t re a t e d .

in wh ic h n e w ma t e ria l

Cn n p r e n 10.
G o l o cA r B E n A D E l ro R E EAstly Ir { ouR cEr { TURy r HAr { Iir pREvr ous
OI{ESI AI{D I NIVE ASSE}IBLED }IAI{Y ARGUIIEI{TS AGAII{ST THOSE T'HO SLAI{DER THE ART AilD AGAII{ST EVEI{ FA}IOUS URITERS UHO HAVE A DISSEtITII{G OPIl{IO1{ COilCERItIl{G CINiIABART HERCURY AllD ltlANY OTHER TH I iIGS .

Gol d than in

can times use

be made more gone byr for

easily they

from did

these things

substances more simply, of

in

our

century now all

and ve ago;

seldom

those

things

which

t,hey made great

use

long

43.

th e no t

same, they r eall-y

employed c e rt a in nam e , f o r thin k they

min e ra ls e x a mp le ,

of t h e re

wh ic h is

o u r a rt if ic er s

do for mis-

know the

a ltho u gh ta ke n . I th r e e th in k no t cur y It is

some people

k n o w wh a t it t t ra t

t h e wo rd " oc h r e " , is , t h e y a re g r e a t l y at least

am certain things it

(unless

I a m wro n g )

I h a v e d is c o v e re d Wh o k n e w p y rit e s , ma rc a s it e ? substance As I that say, f ro m by the of nor

to which is

this

n a me ma y a p p ly . c o mmo n ly c a lle d it wa s t h a t n a me o f

unless, was brough who will

as so me think,

wha t is

f do not

sandarac was known, u n le s s under t h e cinnab a r ds far in color, tell you that

to m e from V enice and sulfurr different

re d s u lf u r. b y B u c a s is

wa s c re a t e d u n lik e

t h e A ra b f r o m m e r a monkey? in artancient the one we have in earth in are qualthey this, ftal b e ma d e p l a i n n a t iv e

f ro m t ru e

c in n a b a r in n a t u re ,

a s a lio n a s will p ra is e d dt,

d u e course. ifi cer s not the

W ho can show t h a t ot

c h ry s o c o lla h in t e d

and masters

of m a k in g g o ld ? ra t h e r,

I a m s p e a k in g

chrysolla

one mentionedt

b y P lin y ,

Ga le n mentioned. Fo r anyone could m an y s ubstances itself. tha t that have ma d e it are n o t the (c in n a b a r). B u t n o n e t h e le s s f ro m a f a r, they but of f o un d the c a v e rn s re je c t o n J -y b ro u g h t I t h in k that that

For many minera ls were unknown to almost, mixtures different

a re d u g u p f ro m t h e a n c ie n t s . we c a n n o t

ma y b e p ro du c e d says there s u p e rf ici a l in asserting c o lo rs

m e r e days, d iffe r e nt the r e fore iti es are, fo r

and te s t imo n y of m in e ra ls effect s to the y th e y t h e ir

h a v e d if f e re n t f ro m t h e m, . t h e ir and the in nor am I d ig g in g g re a t a lo n e the

and tastes,

p ro c e e d a re s o ld i a v o id e d that

varying formerly

according by decree

n a t u re , .

mo re a b u n d a n t

the more cheaply

Ro ma n ' s I t a l i a n in the matter in Ers

m i ne s. No w although ar e th a t th e y i mported the s aid, ately, many thing s a re o f advantage p ro d u c e d for g iv e s in from differen t did of no t d ire c t io n s , know of, a n d a re s u p p lie d mu c h is in di s c r i m i n andr color And as unis,

neverthelessr ancients they

ds I h a v e s a id , t h e b u s in e s s is

and brought n or

c h a lc a c a n t h , that of c a lle d

e x a mp le; a b lu ish

pursued

wit , h f e w re s o u rc e s ,

do they

m ake any mention w he n rubbed, th e r e dive r se tou ch ed is a sulfurr

the wh it e grn ,

c h a lc a c a n t h

and there

a c h a lc a c a n t h b lu e r that the is

a n a s h e n p a l-lo r. " a p y ro n " l that

o E v a ri-c o lo re d

a p p e a ra n c e ,

in power as in c o lo r, by fire, unless

p e rh a p s 44.

a n c ie n t s

we re f u rt h e r

ad v a n c e d .

N ow you see an apyron t h a t wh ite and ashy coloured, that I sha1I them. not see m in g to vye with be sid e s La ti n ne ithe r ton the story words for casuallyr an d thuon", red oc h re Y o u will set

is in

ra t h e r it s h e re , f in d

s h in y ,

lilc e c o lo r.

e le c t ru m, T h e re

and

a n d q re e n a n d y e 1 1 o w a n d b 1 a c k , f la min g o t h e rs re v ie w b e c a u s e t h e re quoted a s " s a n d a ra c o n " c in n a b a r" that that they nor wh ic h

and red, are others

a re n o Gr e e k o r b y n a me in A r i s t o t l e a n d o c h re is d ra g g e d assert and milinto the arises is

nor of not

p u rp o s e , f u rt h e r

and a litt le of mercury in

as a stone, struggle

that

c in n a b a r

s a y B u c a s is they but that

Ar a b m ade out fr o m the tw i ce i us d u g fr om holes

a n d s u lf u r,

between a n e le p h a n t I ha v e s e e n it it f a c u lt y , the that in

and a snake, I t a ly ,

which

the gro u n d a n d wa s imp o rt e d that found wa s imp o rt e d

f ro m A f ric a ; a n d Dio d o ru s day, of of the

I know that and Vitruvone when houses. also Theoalthough

in my lifetime of

ha ve written

in A u g u s t u s ' other t a lk in g

spe a kin g ca lle d

the medical

p a in t in g to

Th e se substances minerals, ph r a stus, ch r yso colla a r r e n icon ty this e ve r

in min e s o f me t a ls cyanos, o c h re ,

and dug out

them are

and amo n g t h o s e

a re d u g u p ,

a c c o rd in g

are chrysocolla,

min iu m a n d s a n d a ra c ,

and cyanus are s a n d y , o c h re a n d min iu m e a rt h y , sandarac and (for he calls by t h is n a me wh a t o t h e rs c a ll a rs e n ic ) are dusus that t h e re o n ly to is n o d if f e re n c e one cannot a n d a lo t t h e re for they s a me in b e t we e n t h e m . re ly of o n c e rta i n , t h ing s . betcinnaand he of other From howthat o c h re says the ma t t e rs , h e t h in k s a n d A ris t o t le t h in g s ; by the re p e ls s ig n e d the it . in Co lc h is a n d S p a in , but the other is t h is

a n d he informs

p assage one may gath e r famous, when they was the in and arsenic: The ophrastus f irs t Plin y

de s c rib e

say that

wa s n o d if f e re n c e another wd lr t h in k s in

we e n o chre cle a r ly ba r ,

made mistakes

other

wh e n P lin y a re t h e T h is is

chrysocolla, fot

and sulf u r, and cal ls

s a me a s m i n i u m d e n ie d other find that

a n d Gr eek milton, p la ce s, M ilton

t h e m c in n a b a r.

in Theophrast u s E IrI earth lumps of in

a n d G a le n y o u will G a le n e ls e wh e re and says that p rie s t , f in d that

and Cinnabar

are dif f e re n t that it , a ll of

me n t i o n s he r e c e i v e d on and mi l t o n

Le m n ia n miltonr tw en ty- thousand the island ci nn a b a r tha t

p o is o n ,

wh e n h e lan d e d o n n a t u ra l history,

of Lemnos; but , b e s id e s are different it cinna b a rr

y o u will

f a mo u s writ e rs

so m e o f whom call there Th e one is ar ti ficia lly

Do t c in n a b a ri:

T h e o p h ra s t u s

ind i c a t e s

are two kinds naturally made, nof

pro d u c e d

fro m me rc u ry 45.

a n d s u lf u r,

f ro m t h e

scarlet

sa n d that tha t P liny

Callias erred minium,

the A t h e n ia n not not once b u t cinn a b a rr

f irs t g o ld .

ma d e n in t y F ro m t h is

y e a rs

b e f o re, that

and Callias

fr om which he hoped to p ro d u c e pr e p a r ed

y o u will

understanc

ma n y t ime s .

F o r h e writ e s

d isti nguished cin n a b ar. Pl i ny w as stony, Ar istotle sisa se os Pl i ny in tha t

between th e wrote that

e u o t in g T h e o p h ra s t . u s , wh o n ev e r t h e l e s s t wo a n d h a d s e p a ra t e n a me s f o r mi n i u m a n d c in n a b a r wo rd s , wa s s a n d y , h e c a lls d e lit h o s c a lle d T h e o p h ra s t u s " lit h o d e s " e k t o ia u t e s that what gigaus is found it

besides

and in his described oion says that is kinnabari. there

ow n t o n g u e

(G re e k ) "to

in t h e s e " miniu m, is

wh ic h Dio s c o rid e s t h is in

Ephesus, but cinnabar arises

n o wo rd o f

" a me n io n " T h e o p h ra s t u s , for

he write word

made in naturally

ci nn a b ar

E p h e s u s , a n d a d d s " k a i a rg a s ia s . " in Co lh is a n d S p a in ; I s u b s t it u t e

Likewise, the

thus t h is p a s s a g e p o in t s o u t t h a t a rt if ic i a l cinn"a u top hues" for it, a b a r was made in E phesus , a n d t h e n a t u ra l c a me f ro m S p a in a n d C o l c h i s . H e a scribes a n d i mitates the deepest sa ys that true the minium' color of of not the that e a rt h , the wo rd s , wh ic h is n o wa d a y s ma d e f ro m 1 e a d , but that wh ic h is sought other and in he lo c a lit ie s , n a t u ra lly r is of v e ry h o p e r milt o n wit h although the hard n a t u ra l min iu m,

recesses

t o v a rio u s o n e a ris in g di

there

are two k in d s , These are h is I can tes t if y , milton that, if of correct of is Theoph ra s t u s

m an u factured. he d e technike". sto n y, f to which He says that a m surprised he did not d e s, ti on s

"esi adds that

men a u t o m a t o s

c in n a b a r a k in d the

h a v in g

s e e n it e d it

my o wn e y e s . n a t u ra l of earth; Dioscori menthe

min iu m a n d o c h re e rro rs , Of the

He rmo la u s d id P lin y ' s P lin y . but

Co ro lla rie s o n ly

wh ic h h e s a y s h e rej e c t e d o t h e rs , g iv e s the Theophrastus the b lo o d of c inn a b a r , f ro m t r u e a n c ie n t and not o n ly , me n t io n

r,rhen

he e d ited

a criticism

two kinds

cinnab a r,

he does not s h e we d t o a n d h is c o lo r

sna ke and the elephant, an d which cin n a bar; did not ove r . cin n a bar the Dioscorides this, I it think,

t o wh ic h P lin y pr e v io u s ly B u c a s is it s is the

n a me o f in o n ly

b e d if f e re n t p a rt it is

imit a t o rs in o u t s id e

times all

make, for For artificial is arose native

dis p la y e d ci n n a b a r the it id e a o f h a d it s

re d o n t h e in wh ic h s t ru g g le in o rig in

native b1ood, fable.

much bright,er whether

wit h in ,

mo re lik e or in

wh e n ce there elephant, Ad d that

b e t we e n t h e the f ire

s n ak e a n d

in h is t o ry

cinna b a r

wh e n h e a t e d 46

b e c o me s b r i g h t e r

an d cleaner, r e m a in s. in l ed

whereas the natural

a rt if ic ia l lin e s r v iv e the in

b e c o me s a c lo u d E rs it f o rme r we re , n a t u ra l, wh ic h f o rm, it s e lf

o f wh ic h

nothing Nor do who ca1Dioroofs of is of

In the

o n e y o u ma y s e e s p a rk s a n d h y d ra rg u m

o f me rc u ry o f me rc u ry . lik e is P lin y ,

shining,

th e manufactured th e latter

thick e r

I d isti nguish sco r id es, a n d that silve r co lle cted.

between arg e n t manufacture d , by t h e bea rs

c o n t ra d ic t in g in the

who called which nature

s a me n a me t h a t t wo f o ld ot

ma d e f rom m i n i u m

h a n g in g

mines,

where it

f o rms d ro p s t (a s it

in min e s wh e nc e i t mistake it

Th ence we may understa n d Pl i ny liq u id ; the Pl i ny w ater " ca lle d fo r with which others it tw o g enera, o ther they it

s e e ms t o me ) t t re g re a t that is , h e d iv id e d p o is o n in g in it that liq u id is o n e ra n f ro m t h e u lc e r, the So then

h a v e t a x e d h im,

into as a

of which he c o n s id e re d an e t e rn a lly writers the co lo r in d if f e re n t

ro ck

he called reputable are not "guick"

everything; Dio s e o r i d e s vive, in "silvery the Romans this,

he says arises

wa y s .

a n d o ther

h y d ra rg u m a n d liq u id it s seem to

s a me a s a rg e n t wh ile h ims e lf of

sa me b e c a u s e t h e

G re e k s c a lle d f lu id it y , a g re e wit h it

from its

watery P liny

becaus e o f

mo v e me n t . ab o u t wh e n h e is s p e a k in g gilding v es s e l s of whom he and that that this, if they for you in liter-

The selfsame si l ver , w hich

do e s n o t

he uses the name hyd ra rg u m o n ly nor does he say e n o u g h t o the artificers use o n ly ones. vive it Even those seventh is

d is t in g u is h

f o rm a rg f e nt v i v e d e n y it ? )

wh e n t h e y

a re ma k in g g ild e d u s e it ; of the f ire

fr o m pure silver Vitr uvius w r i te s the a fte r that

(a n d wh o will

speaks in his arqent collect

book used to f u me s o f not o n ly to

mo re o v e r

ma d e f ro m f ra g me n t s wh e n t h e got is o n ly it

stone,

a r tificers the vapor

h a v e s ub s i d e d

has been ma d e t o ris e , th e y P osterit y that, not s u p e rio r a rg e n t G a le n , t h in k

a n d wh o c a n d o u b t a n t iq u it y but in

use d i t; no w it pr e fer er a 1 s, atur e no t a r ise r e str wo r d s, is to

they made it; metal. not call it is difficult

f ro m min iu m a n d s t o n e s

fr om every

to get

v iv e r o t h y d ra rg u m, wh o wa s a s e x p e rie n c e d that not h y d ra g u m is me d ic in e s , f ro m t h o s e these

f ro m a n y me t a l,

f ro m m a n y m i n a rt if ic i a l , were his that Fo r t h e me d ic in e s

and it

amazing t h a t s h o u ld

as in experiment, "ek esj- ton. from nature, but w do not read of

native.

For when he s p o k e o f fro m t h o s e

s imp le that

. . s k e u a z o me n t ' s o ma n y n a t u ra l 47.

a re ma n u f a c t u re d . ma t e ria ls

a s a re n o w u s e d

by m akers of gold w er e the If of first to m ention n a turally natural

and silv e r, of t h is things . corre c t ly r

e it h e r

in V in c e n t ,

or

in A lb e r t u s ,

who

writers

l< in d a f t e r A lb e rt u s s a lt , that

t h e G re e k s a n d t h e h a s writ t e n of e ig h t

Arabs kinds in by arsenic nat-

I have counted occurring

min e ra ls , writ e s

a lu m, o rp ime n t ,

a t ra me n t , ought wh ic h p a le , is

a rs e n i c , c a lled the c o lo r is th a t

w hich he includes tha t sa id i ve name, for is it yet that i n G r eek,

orpimen t ,

wh ic h c e rt a in ly

to be ca1led

V itruvius

mined in was not

P on t u s ,

a n d Dio s c o rid e s , but of ra t h e r the used, t ru e a rs e n ic is

a ma n o f g o ld e n

same era, and first which kind want(menwill be

good o rp ime n t ,

wh ile

to Mysia near

the He lle s p o n t aft e r it

qu a lity; tha t i ng the those

he used the and P liny

s a me wo rd f o r V it ru v iu s

a n d o rp ime n t , , n o r a re

eve n Celsus

a n d t h e re

a th i r d there

Romans, the A rab s a n d A lb e rt u s who said that to wa s n o t wh it e ,

spoke of, but

me d iu m-c o lo re d . f ro m A lb e rt u s h e c a lls say) it , a t in

iu m ? ) . Anyone who expects d isa p p ointed, ced in g ) i ficia l, an ce storsr r i te s, a silve ry, en color, m ed icinal it is be co u nted But the can scarcely for b e sides w hich calle d no t to not both he adds niter, u n d e rs t a n d t h e ma t t e r in his wo rd s a n d h is n a t u re . yet b e e n d is c o v e re d wh ic h Dio s c o rid e s and, (t t re y among our pyis of and it that a n d G a le n c a l l e d of re lia b ilit y . a lt h o u g h T o t h es e (preit, art-

ma rc a s it e

and tutty,

the work of has not it is it is said is

Tr u e marcasite unless it though

t , h a t De mo c rit u s

d is c o v e re d

a golden, although purposes.

a b ro n z e , Fina1 1 y , that th a t

I wo u ld a d d , lis t s b e a rs r

and a leadwhether cannot with

t h e b ro n z e -c o lo u re d A lb e rt u s n a t u re

one they e le c t ru m, o E is up to after deepest

re c o mm e n d f o r wh ic h, c a v e rn s . gotd time, and tutty, G ree k s , are known many ancwas

among those things white it

metals that

a rt if ic ia l, p re p a re c ry s t a l, the

among those

a re d u g f ro m t h e n o wa d a y s d ig n u mb e r in

min e rs t h e ir

be added to arsenic ,

a n y s h o rt

space of

wh ic h t h e y

c a 1 le d

although called

was ca 1 1 e d b y t h is are ma n y k in d s as I h a v e s a id , of of

n a me b y s o me o f t h e G re e k s , that of o f ma rc a s it , e ma n y k in d s s u lf u r never it

for m e r ly

by this

n a me b y s o me o f

wa s f o rm e r l y p e rh a ps Add to not this

Cadmia, there

r e membered, and, ou r ancestors, of talc

c a lc a n t h

and man y k in d s

a s we ll.

ki nd s i en ts,

and many k in d s there

a n t imo n y

me n t io n e d wit h

by the

although

are s o me wh o e q u a t e d 48

s t ib iu m,

without,

th in k,

clear

authority antiquity golden

o r g o o d re a s o n . t ra n s mit t e d t h e y ma d e . n o me n t io n seek?

Add to

t h is

ma n y k i n d s wh a t that f

of in

alu m of which th e w onderful by exp erience f be lie ve fo r th in g of they

n o re c o rd ,

nor

a n y e v id e n c e was nor f or

relic s is

I n o w re c o rd a mo n g t h e

learned do iL, somef rubheavy, if sulfur sulfur

a few days a g o , there used it; I t e ll

a ru s t -c o lo u re d y o u f n e it h e r

c in n a b a r found nor

sho wn me, of which w ho finds

a n c ie n t s ,

s o u g ht

what he do e s n o t heard o f ? if it it is that

Wh o s e e k s in n a t u re about it is a b la c k is h the f la me , p a rt it is if p a rt

he has never color is

F ro m s u c h c o n je c t u re wh ic h re ma in s in a b lu e but wit h

c inn a b a r

h a ve l earned a b lue if it it bed; th a t is is

a n y t h in g ,

min e ra l , of of the it s

on the o u t s id e , burned goes off at

s a me c o lo u r then

s h o ws re d . f irs t of

F u rt h e rmo re , re ma in in g o p p o s it e

contains mercury of

that, which

wh olly

disappe a rs , devouring dissolv e s fiery in

and the the

i ntr ansigent vapors resist it, portion

and contemt u o u s in

f ire ,

mix e d w i t , h t h e F or t h e so little does consumed. antiquity, besubby ancp o rt i o n

l i qu id do e s i t r esist wh ich r er ia ls. si de s i en t

wa t e rs , liq u id ; t h in g ,

happens.

sulfur o us

t h e wa t e r h o we v e r, of f not,

a g re a t , ru s h r h a rd ly k n o wn t o

the

t h e me rc u ria l ima g in e ,

and remains it

the bottom

t h e v e s s e lr

I ha ve related vD if calcination

a wonderful labored

t o ma k e g o ld r

z rs I h a v e s a id , wit h not

used few mat-

Moreover, and other in

artifice rs in o u r t ime la b o r (f use t h e wo rd s o f A lb e rt u s ), activ it ie s art to of that a re e it h e r g o ld r o r a re n o t writ e rs is

ma n y t hi n g s

d is t , illa t io n , me n t io n e d

l - i m ati on, ascr ib e s Ar ab s for th a t not b e b r o ken r esu lt m e tal

workers

the

e x p la in e d . wh ic h it

The same author is agreed they can 1eft,

an elixir

them (L a t in prin c ip le ) on ly

use the

s a me wo rd a s t h e so that s p e c ie s t e lls

a medicinal upr so that

by the use of they e f f o rt . v e s s e ls , g o ld r if d rd the

the primal a n y particular

species onei great of to

o f min e ra L s

p e n e t ra t e d , me t a llic

t h e ma t e ria l a n d g re a t a rt if ic e rrs c o lo r in is is not of it . c o lo r,

h a v e in c o mmo n i s

a n d a d if f e re n t a rt the the

ma y t h e n any

by means of talking can be tinged

Al bertus, pe r h a p s ar ti fice r th e y ea sily th e r e

u s t ha t

(t o

u s e h is

own words) and t,he can

even a more beaut if u l has made no mis t a k e s say that the art, the re no r defend

e lix ir beneath for that

b e n o b le a ll those

F ro m t h is wa n t in g those

p a s s a g e mo r e o v e r , me t a ls wh o t h i n k mentioned;

who will

o n e n a t u re c o u n t in g

s u p p o rt

are several

natures ,

A lb e rt u s

49.

fo r

o ne may dissent not of perfect

from h is na t u re s ,

re a s o n e d but of wa s t h e d is c u s s

a rg u me n t s b y s a y in g ones that case for in t h is we re in f irs t the

that

he of held in that the reato

sp o ke , na tur e ,

some way ma tt e r

un fi nished,

which he allo we d he appear s common folk , variou s also the art of to

fruitful subtle, the

and corru p t ib le . p a s s a g e a re b ot h h er e that it is o p in io n s , the a rt , seat rn d y le ar n but that that wit h ou t and ac t u a lly a re s o r a n d a re c o lle c t e d such

The matters be r a ther a wa y that no t o nly an cie n t son to h e ld ea sily on e but io u s ti m e l ea d for

b o u n d b y t h e ir wa y s o f d e f e n d in g

are there artificers

u s e d ma n y ; a n d t h e y g o ld -ma k in g t it le , h a llo we d

wh o la b o u r b y t ime r c a n le a rn

dethrone ages, several checked;

f ro m t h e

has not in prevfrom of nature,

by legitima t e those for

c z rn be m o r e than

wh o m I h a v e me n t io n e d we re a b le in of the t o ma k e it a rt those

ways to ma k e g o ld r they and s k ill applicat io n rightly

d rld mu c h mo re e a s ily f ro m t h o s e lo n g g re w wit h

centuries; to to time the the

s ub s t , a n c e s ingenuity f a cu l t , y of alth-

w e ha ve mentioned,

p ra c t , i i e ;

re ma rk a b le

min d s a n d t h e ir the in s o le n t in the

same result;

t h e re f o re

wh o s la n d e r

Ch e m istry o u g h they a cu tely is i ne ,

should are not of

c e a s e f ro m t h e ir that they in

c a lu mn ie s ; s u b t le t ie s that

among t h o s e wh o b e lie v e same p ro p o s it io n s no n e t h e le s s to its it s g if t s me a s u re ,

n o r capable la cking,

the

t h e p h ilo s o p h e rs c la im is the a rt e x c e lle n c e of

have so a ny p u r s u i t the to divpro-

investigatedr according out

cannot

which pours like.

and so the e x p e rime n t s , the jo in in g the

e n c o u ra g e d

d u ce the slig h t th e l i ve

N or can they odes over wit'h a little

deny sim ila r great the

such as the the absent

passage of flour vapor by them itself,

d is t a n c e s , iro n vast

ra is in g

o f h u g e ma s s es o f ma g n e t t o of a lit t le I s ay , lea d No w if

ferment,

remora delaying

s h ip s r b y t h e ir

in f e c t io n

wh e r e by thousands thin g s out him , the r the la r g e th e m ere look a nd back, of

of men a re wa s t e d b y p e s t ile n c e . touchr their p o we r a n d s t re n g t h , the y zeal deny that a n d in d u s t ry me t a ls ever

these

I have enumerated c a n ,

d Dd d a re h is

c h a n g e t h in g s , u n le s s

which no o n e wo u ld b e lie v e re a s o n d o e s n o t

senses had told

why then should any man in his g r eat mass of flour

can be changed when the For r ask you whein d et a i l f is h, how how a the d is c o v e re d b y a lit t le f e rme n t ,

se n se s say yes r drld thb a ship

say no?

c a n b e immo b ilis e d wit h a lit t le

heap of

can ris e

h o w wit h

50

sm a lle st foo ' a ir in

amount of the presenee

an od o ro u s why iro n r of

substance p u lle d

t h e wh o le h o u s e , a n d in v is ib le a n d b rin g p rime k in d ru in .

a nd c l o t h e s the vapour For interthe matter to is are writers. are sympathy

sme1l stronglyr

b y n o ma c h in e ,

hangs in

a ma g n e t , wh y a f in e in h a b it e d h ig h , re g io n s

h a s the power to a lL h o ugh m e d ia te there qualitiesr

infect

has been mu c h a rg u me n t a b o u t prope r, understandin g c o n c e rn in g s a t is f y a t h in g t h is

q u a lit ie s , o f h id d e n a s t h e re

lo w a n d u n k n o wn q u a lit ie s , a s ma n y o p in io n s is it s but

p h ilo sophers' as fo llows No thing the of p resent things, calle d he n sib le

- we may read a lmo s t else day, which quality, that cou ld save th a t friends h ip , is in the

t h e min d h a s b e e n d is c o v er e d a t t rib u t e s , a n a b s t ru s e wh ic h o r a s t h e G re e k s s d lr

the mutual

e n mit y , e n d n o t h in g

and incompre-

nor can o n e s a y o t h e rwis e wh e n f ro m t h e jui c e of on e o r several plants come s a liq u id f lu id s ilv e r that then hardens, an d when mercury likewise , v a n is h in g a wa y s o le ly b y t h e h e a t o f t h e fir e , is turned into silv e r o r g o ld t o t wh e n , f ro m t h e f in e s t grains salts or alumst not ot fro m v a rio u s k in d s of o ils is of o r wa t e rs r ma d e (f o r t h is k in d ) or the from art som e s ubstance gener a lly nor it k n o wn , s o me t h in g s c o p e in ma t t e rs the c o rlp o s s 7 jo in s , t o wo rk u p o n r in substance can the it f in d s

of

h a s a wide and all-embrac in g no n e of ele m e nts; r en e ws, th e se lf cate the ab le it it the elements, so the art des t ro y s r what e v e r earth

any of

substances

ttrat omits ma d e b y jo in i n g the t e a rs s o it it a p a rt , v a rie s , p ro m i s e d and pul1s it itwas to

up an d down whatever perfects of the surface this

u n d e rt a k e s

s u b t e rra n e a n that

caves or on p o le mic is t s h ims e lf and assigned s id e , the

t o ma k e t h e that is ,

would make. creatures is

The q u e s t io n th e

a mo n g t h e o lo g ic a l Cre a t o r t o G o d a lo n e is it s no doubt e a rlie r to n a t u re

wh e ther

was creation , omnipotence? by which one is is said

communibut

to his d ivine ability

p o we r p ro p e r O p in io n s t h e re lo s e s d o in in of

a re re c o rd e d

o n e it h e r that

as fa r

as creation

con c e rn e d , a substance to

remarkfor

f o rm a n d a c q u i r e s o r a rt, of it s y e a rs , p a rt a rE c a n d o an h o u r . su l f u r former on e s u d d e n l

a sub seguent wh a t nature in an hour A friend bered so u g h t in

not

c o mmu n ic a t e d e it h e r dnd often te n t h p a rt

to be a b le

a h u n d re d

and a halfr than the its

t h e h u n d re d t h a n h o u rr depths;

has more than

o n c e s h o wn me h o w a min e ra l so that the

c a n be d i s m e m -

less of

the height,

me rc u ry va n is h

I have seen the

a p p e a r ance

a metal

c o mp le t e ly , 51.

a n d a n e w g o ld e n

im p r e ssed of the aid

on it of

by art art,

a n d c ra f t i but

n a t u re

a lo n e ,

that lo n g e r it ;

is ,

n at u r e plain d u ra t i o n .

befeft

does n o t boo k s , emulat e d single means; f o r

d o s o r n o r d id n a f u re

a n t iq u it y ,

a s is

fr om reading Po ster ity ar e converted of an tiquity.

ancient in

t h e wo rk wa s o f a n d imit a t e d b lo o d , o p in io n o n ly above, is

clearly

me a t a n d f o o d b y d ig es t i o n , from that alterrre h a v e a 1 t h em a t

d a y s t o c le a r re c e iv e d o t h e rs

wh e t h e r

or b y some other in g minerals; r ea d y written l en g th.

d if f e re n t

Here f ha v e t o u c h e d f have me n t io n e d of them, it wo u ld n o t

o n o n e g o o d me t h o d o f a n d s in c e to re p e a t

b e f it t in g

52.

t n , UP 0 t tG J . Fn. Pt c o D E LLA i l r R l lr o o r l, Co u u r o F Co t t c o Ro l 0 LD , B oo r T Hn e e , Cn lp t e n 1 .
Ar c t e n r E xp E R I r{E t{T s I r { t{ AK I nG colD By r HE cHErI{ cAL Anr .

In that,

the

first

book

we discussed

the

reputation to all explain things. of

of

gold,

showing is

no persuasive gold fhat it

reason is

can be found the measure varied from the of

why so much In the

made of having authorsr the

second, kinds of

collected w went

together on to that it

the

opinions early art.

different

prove could

philosophers In gold the has

and third,

from which

theologians in handr

be made by you

we have can shall

we sha11 by dealing advic e

convince with on its public

t,hat

been

made and we into and and

be made now, append

experiments use, lest

ancient you be most and of

and modern; to slip

sound

1iab1e firmly of

shamefulagreed that let

abuse. gold

Certainly was formerly after

opinion the

has art

stated man,

made by times

craft

me reeall of this

that art

ancient first

Vincent

Beauvais in and

placed our his introcontemalready reason to t he skin

masters duction; poraries indicated, than

among the

of

rflrrr as we said the Dominican saidr for of hade

this from that Ror

information the time of

came down to Moses.

The Greeks to golden but

ds we have no other Phrixus from by call

the did

Argonauts Jason carry King could

sailed the Aectes, learn for its both

Colchis fleece a book

thisr from

Greece of art. hide

the

home of which one

a ram,

from

how to our power

make gold to

chemical Phrixus'

It'was a golden This is

therefore fleece

not

wrong of

ancestors to making

because in

gold. for instance in the

easily

seen

books

conrmon and briefly where In gold art; this by his

rare,

in

Suidas, book

Elementum of

Posteritatis,and "Argonauts", by Mercury. to was turned the

and he

obscurely says that the of

second fleece writes by this

Apollonius' to gold

Phrixus' author Mercury;

was turned that the

passage the touch

ramskin meant "

he clearly chruson. in his

chemical says the of

words in his

are,

geneaz rather sailed than

Now Charax that be that

plainly for

"te ephaphe philosophy, the Argonauts

History, to

fleece a live

which

was not

thought

rdrrlr but

was a method

53

of m aking gold, em b r acing G eo g raphy. m a ke precious an cie nt g o ld Aectes, i str y writers but that

an alla s h e c a 1 1 s it , "membra n a p e ri e ille me n o n " , parchment, as E u s t h a t iu s s a y s in Dio n y s u s t h e L iby a n r s What? things Is th e re not not a G re e k p ro v e rb Un d e r t h e v e ils o n ly the fact kept that in p a rc h me n t those s a y in g of one can the make King Dragon Chemand We skin of chalto fro m s k in s ? f a b le

have hid d e n also it is said vive

how to

was written they for argent they in

on a s h e e p s k in in d ic a t e d k n o wn t o is that g o ld

the house of the the n a me o f a rt of

t h e me t h o d u n d e r wh o p ro f e s s

an d Mercurlr Therefore h a ve also th a t there

s ig n if ie d

b y t h e wo rd s Me rc u ry wa s ma d e b y Me rc u ry ' s of the g o ld e n of b o re le a d to the the

and Dragon.

touch,

m a d e the watchful read

drago n t h e g u a rd ia n Orphic th a t se e n . v e rs e s on the t re e

f le e c e . P h rix e a n a lo n e ,

theft that to

t h e G o ld e n F l e e c e p ro d u c t i o n but

was a meadow u n d e r t h e

in w hich many things m e r cury can th, fab u lous ta u g h t i fie d in were plainly that is,

a re b e lie v e d No t s h ru b s

a n d p o t -h e rb s one,

atramen t r meant n o t of

rro t c a lc h a n t h u m, me re ly it of

o r e v e n p s a la c h a n t u m , so that the but

disti nguish the

the vegetable fleece art

n a me f ro m t h e me t a llic one passage, is that t h is wh a t t h e

a wh o le b o o k t h a t signgoldis a writhe of Tanthe sought on the and documents, of the So for that the f ro m Ovid the

gold-ma k in g ; Nor is th e

G o 1 d e n F le ec e f le e c e

antiquity.

u n lik e ly a n c ie n t

writ t e n

ca1 1 ed by the name of po e t, bo r n e ten de r ived talu s r eig n afte r h a vin g ha tr eds eror th a t o b scure the a name like on trees, from the document,

g o ld e n

f le e c e t o E t h e

en sheep or ram, were p a rt while and this stolen lacking of th a t el d e r of th e

Ch ry s o p o e ia . s e e in g

Golde n T re e c a me t o min d , effects d e s ire d p a s s a g e s e e ms a ls o p a rc h me n t . t h o s e wh o d e c la re d c h e mic a l Thyestes to

f ru i t go l d

a re p ro d u c e d c o n c e rn that the

N or were there of

ric h es

were descriptions P elops'sons seems likely that his is, that the

c o mp o s it io n s wa s lo n g younger the

o n la mb s k i n s ; a n d wid e s pr e a d , son of g o ld P e lop s wr i t t e n

an d t h e P e lo p id a e

h e n ce it

a lamb, violated

a d o c u me n t o n t h e ma k in g o f s o n A t re u s wif e , t h e h o a ry re c a lle d s a id kept s e c re t ly , it , e x t o rt e d t ra g e d y . t h is ,

a la mbskin,

and Thyestes, poets and Cic-

bro t h e r' s

wh e n c e a ro s e o n a h id d e n

and cruelties manner. riches

T h e o ld

S eneca, and P apirus We als o of the

a lt h o u g h

abover la y

o n Ca llis t h e n e s ' not in t h e h id e s

a u t h or i E y , of their

P e lo p id a e 54.

she e p , ag e ? ? ) .

nor

in

taxes, we linger

but

in min e ra ls the fact that it

(f a r

f ro m o f f e n s iv e the a rt

by their to the as that have been the philoGr e e k o n k no w n t o why does times, Nown ow ? shellfish for the making method book other to

No r shal1 na ti on s the ti m e of of study

ov e r

that the

wa s s p re a d

from Greece and P h ry g ia , of wisdom, the cheris h e d art Diocletian down to the the

E g y p t ia n s '

mu c h g i v e n

g re a t ly r is re lia b ly

d n d a mo n g t h e m at wa s a s we ll-k n o wn re p o rt e d at that lit t le to t ime for

o f g o ld -ma k in g a n d it of c o n s t a n t in e ,

cu ltivating

fields, time

pr o d u ced

so p h e r Michael So meone will ha ve existed. no t no t the o nly art it of

P sellus perhaps f reply dyeing

co mp o s e d a n e le g a n t a s k wh y t h e ( o mit t in g qarme n t s but that in a rt

b o o k in g e n e ra lly b e s a id ) e x is t

the m aking of gold. wa s n o t c o u ld mu c h t h a t

wa s s o f a mo u s in t h e wh o le wo rld , a rt if ic e rs

f o rme r

in Tyre and S ido n , found to-day, the in colo r

wh e r e is

nor do the

know the

fr om whose blood go ld are clearly eve n if of of it m a king gold Pliny's

wa s p re p a re d . in t o ld S y ria

T h e ma t e ria ls B e s id e s ,

evide n c e ,

a n d t , h e p ro c e s s Egypt. of for

k n o wn in ma n y p l a c e s , t h irt y -t h ir d

has perished Natural that

c o mp le t e ly wh ic h

was known t o Histor y , of

t h e Ro ma n s , r, rit n e s s t h e the of

o n e me a n s o f p a in t e rs it

ma k ing g o l d as an eart,h and and

fr om orpiment ver y

was d u g u p in goLd. he ord e re d but

much the colour

C aius says that Pl i ny tells to says that us that for it

a g re a t s o lit t le

we ig h t that

to be heated, a loss. at o n e

he cl ear11r made good gold , gold the

h e s u f f e re d

r,'raskn o wn t o b e p ro d u c e d was ma d e b y a rL , at rule the of t ime Ca iu s , a ls o of the

f ro m o rp ime n t Ca e s a rs , Cla u d iu s

t o wh ic h p e rh a p s e a rlie r of wit h of but that

h e wa s a n e y e an d l i v e d whose wh o s u c c e e d so r l r w h o

w i tn e ss,

he lived

see not

only

e d C aius and even V espas ia n . d e e d s he committed w as C aesar's be Em peror; d e r e d public Ne r o and that titl e the r e shows. Bu t Caesar suffered should have been, a lo s s r to writ in g , b y h is the descendant games. his

He f o u g h t b ro t h e r J u n io r

Ca e s a r G e rma n ic u s , Cl-a u d iu s h is b e s id e that

those s it t in g

G e rma n ic u s , a f f irme d

a n d wa s c h o s e n t o h im wh e n h e o r h e wro t e under ds the than

he says he s a w Me s s a lin a P lin y Natural His t o ry

wa s d e d ic a t e d

t o V e s p a s ia n r wa s le s s

p e rh a p s

b e c a u s e t h e re the g re a t

and because of 55 "

expense of

sailing

an d bringing fit if fo u n d in

orpiment or of

to if

Ro me , a n d p e rh a p s q u a n t it y ,

h e wo u ld h a v e mad e a p r o wrote The Egywas of the E gy p t i - a n s , Che m i s t r y the and dare excel1ed. Elements" sand, as they the two Romin

he had a sufficient Carmania, that

a s mu c h a s O n e s c rit u s wh o m we me n t io n e d above.

h e h a d h a d t h e k n o wle d g e Ca e s a r o rd e re d t h e y wo u ld re c o v e r o f g o ld -ma k in g in the tenth

wh o were so fearful Gr e e ks wrote pti an s, to r ebel This After p a id ea r ly Th is Plin yr th e for to b e collected

Dio c le t ia n ,

Dioclet ia n th a t the

a ll. b o o k s o f o p p re s s in g t h e ir in wh ic h but

and burn e d wh e n h e wa s c ru e lly a rt

he feared

we a lt h they o f h is a s lo n g re a s o n

by means of gold

c an be seen in Diocletian the

S uida s ,

c o mp ila t io n o rp ime n t the t h is a rL ,

wa s n o t ma d e f ro m wh o p ra c t is e d s c ru p le s ,

f ro m go l d e n

as wa s openly laws in

done by th o s e the

Caesars a few g o ld

and for e n t it le d e n o u g h in

Codex J u s t in ia n u s ds appe a rs men t io n A ccursiu s . s t u d io u s c le a rly

o f Me t a ls a n d b a lu x the c iv il

we re m a d e . by the la w s and in

s and was called so f need not of

Ch ry s a mo s b y t h e G re e k s , t h e a b s u rd

an s a nd S panishr g lossaries fn our time r ea d not w hich in goJ.d is It

wo rd s b a la c a

and chrysamos

a certain poured. ought

a n d le a rn e d is the

ma n c o n s id e rs it as the that t h re e is ,

one should vessel letters "golden seashore, must For paid makgolden from even

Chrysamo but

Ch ry s a mo n , a n d in t e rp re t s B u t Ch ry s a le s t ill to

n a me o f

vessel,

Pl autus,

and the word is

c o mmo n ly u s e d wit h but deal E ls is g a t h e re d of wit h p la in it , . it ,

i nve r ted. sa n d ", a n d gold

beyon d d o u b t fro m c e rt a in wit h

re a d Ch ry s a mo n , t h a t mix t u re s

which wasr howev e r, was prepared

n o t min e d , me n t io n e d min e s r to the me n t io n e d f irs t

f ro m t h e the o t h er s f ro m

Th e ttto laws previously b e un derstood i ng and the ch e m ists a tithe. i ng fr om i ng of g old, its of as dealing different tax e s

both

the word-

b y c iv il of

and canon 1aw. wh ile mi n e r s c a lI e d me a ns o f

owed a few scru p le s P sellus telling color, record e d us of

Ca e s a r' s sand of

t re a s u ry , the

s e v e n c h e mic a l s e a s h o re ,

a c e rt a in

wo r d s, b e g in s

and nam e d " t h e g o ld e n s a n d " b y s o me ; t h e s e a r e h i s c h ru s a mmo n o n o ma z o u s in " . G a le n w h e n t a l k "ammos tis esi the power of simpJ -e me d ic in e s o b t a in e d f ro m t h e e a rt , h a t s o by making mention of Ch ry s it is a n d A rg y rit is , it s ric h n e s s s ma lle s t then c o u ld c h ip s sand from whos e a p p e a ra n c e say s t h a t 56 he s p e a k s be judged, an d c h r u s go l d are

go lden

an d hence you may unders t a n d a m m o n, because P liny calle d baluca.

t h e d if f e re n c e t h e v e ry

b e t we e n b a lu x of

Even if go ld , po r ted bu t but

chrysamos con s is t s only it of a golde n p a id

of

the

t in e s t

g ra in s , will to

they

are not from remethods. p s el l u s

c o lo r, in

a n d g o ld mix t u re s .

b e p re p a re d E ls e wh e re Ca e s a r' s f iv e

the m by many digestions that was not that gold

o f v a rio u s f ro m it , c o mp e lle d

s u c h g ra in s

t re a s u r i e s , or six wh en c e h i s experiments and he aqreed b e li e v e experiments vive, the havbirth when and has the

was extrac t e d honest y the ho emo s

a n d re c o rd e d

Ye t h e swore that w or d s, "ho despota is also There a tte m ptlng tha t tho se of i ng the of it it

h im t o ma n y t h in g s , c o n c e rn in g

p s y c h e s t u ra n n is " . o f A lb e rt u s a rt r o f wh ic h h e re a d , He a d d u c e s n o t of o n ly of a ll

tes t imo n y by the

to make gold in it the art.

was commonly repo rt e d skilled but that his own a ls o .

a n d k n o wn t h a t

o n e s h o u ld

Wh a t ?

o thers, s aid go ld

F o r v h e n s p e a k in g and substance s u lf u r f irs t f lo w of

a rg e n t off lit t le Do r in

was the ma t t e r like

me t a ls ,

p ower of burning and silver, start did of hardens not co mes to slowly Albertus

an d d ig e s t in g it

and touches c o lle c t s the e a rt h r a t ro o p of in

t h e me n s t ru a l c o n v e rt e d .

wo me n , a d d s t h a t

a new s p e c ie s and is see t h is in the

lumps, the hidbut Nor the are the noble 1oworder

the n

in c a v e s o f h e d ig of

d e n r ecesses l eisu r e e r w orld ce le b r ated d id it in Ar n o ld,

naturer

o o r d id lig h t

wit h f a l1

o f min er s ,

he sa w at homet ot to observe rrith

d a 1 r, f o r

h e wo u ld n o t as to re ma in

have had in in

under t h e

imp e n d in g lit t le

t h e mo u n t a in s . re t u rn in g ,

w ou ld he have been so foo lis h no light to w i tness the nuptials once every their lega1 for of is

a n d f o rg e t f u l

a n d v e ry

hope of so that

o f Me rc u ry hu n d re d y e a rs r

a n d S u lf u r, have the re c o rd

wh ic h p e rh a p s h e mig h t o f h is t e s t imo n y of

know how they experiments g re a t l y , sorts is it it s ilv e r of likely from wherenot

noisome b e d . and d o c t o r, that

We a ls o

philosopher

and the A rn o ld ,

am o n g the Sp e culator, se n t te sts th a t g o ld b y if twigs (this

document s a n d a d d e n d a o f G u lie lmu s , he writes in gol-d t h a t h e h a d ma d e t o that wa t e r p ro o f f a ls e A rn o ld , wh ic h b y f ire g o ld t e lls Ro me f o r f a ls i), o t h e rs , wa s n o t usi but d is a p p e a rs , s e p a ra t e s

n ic k n a m e d T h e a ll

wh o m h e p ra is e s nor if

the

the d o c u me n t De c rimin e b e y o n d a ll

he would have omitte d and is it is day; but lived

an argument p o we rf u l cert a in ly b e f o re heated seven t ime s

had been

u se d in his

wa n t in gr as I s ha l l

as Albertus,

wh o nevertheless m e n ti on

Raymond the noble

B a le a ric 57

is la n d e r

b e f o re

I c o me d o w n t o

the m en of Co lo n us,

our day,

I sha l1

re f e r

to

the

t e s t imo n y

o f A lb e rt of

of sublunary subwhich

the Franciscan. a v o lu me o n t h e s h o w if o n ly q u in t e s s e n c e and how it theoretical of he said nor did men of the can b e e x t ra c t e d he c o u ld s c ie n c e s f ro m a lmo s t teach the a n y s in g l e re a d e r in t o

For when he was writing sub stances stan ce, on e o f the g o ld ; old the tha t p la in is is the this p rison, o rder they he added that

h e wis h e d v it h me t a ls

h e c o u ld in h is it

how in and an in

twinkling

an eye t o

c h a n g e imp e rf e c t

s ilv e r

he re c e iv e d he re c e iv e E v a n g e lic a l

min d wh e n h e wa s k e p t those t it le at

f ro m t h e mo u t h s o f c o mmu n io n , b y wh ic h St. o p e ra t io n s

men whom he calls

h e called

of the holy m e n u n d e r t h e ru le o f '!ilere not slippin g in t o a lc h e mic a l of some evil books, reach that to to de mo n , s in c e but h id it in those s u b lime

F ra n c is ,

wit n e s s i n g th e instno one except few" the mind very truth ar t

i ga ti ons

n o p h ilo s o p h e r in c o mp re h e n s ib le s e c re t s p u re s t of the 1 if e ,

ma d e t h e p a ra b le s i c h e mic a l b y wh ic h to

in his

allowed jo ined

b y th e highest

contemplat io n

and the

of God , a n d t h is

h e c la ime d

wa s g iv e n

Cn n p r e n 2.
It{ ouR DAy, wHEREIiT LIE r { Ar { y E xp e n l l rE r{T sIl { Go L D- } r AKIt{ G F EATSOF CNCNISTRY.

ft silve r tho u g h

has been established not in have frequently you may teIl so far

by both

the

e y e s a n d e a rs but in s e v e ra l,

of

ma n y l i v i n g , that gold and

a n d of myself, i ng metals. qe n u inei wr o te

one ma n n e r o n 1 y , be e n ma d e in o u r they

Nor have th e are they

t ime b y t h e c ra f t of convertb o o k s f h a v e ju s t re a d p e rs u a d e d m e , d 1 seem to e x p e rime n t show that that t he art is who ago o n e au t h o r

P ope L e o t h a t

f ro m d e n y in g

a book beqan like t h is : The golden art for me n o f lit t le writing the that about

s o u ls ,

sougfht by us and long ends thus:wa s t ru e , the

ob tain ed. And another, So old Fo r it is Ch ry s o p o e ia , f le e c e Jason took likely g o ld e n f ro m h a p p y Co lc h is . more so

wh a t t h e P o e t wro t e

58

be ca u se the said of th e gates their that

P oet

(V irgit), end o f

a c c o rd in g t h e p re v io u s

fo

c u s t o mr

writ e s

that do not

he had have for

enough at

the

v o lu me wh e n h e ma d e m e n t i o n in of a c e rt a in v a ry in g la rg e n a t ur e

of horn is, let

and iv o ry . or four

F o r ma n y h is t o ria n s c o mp o s it io n s

b e for e vo lu m e, I

eyes what I h a v e s e e n writ t e n three first A fev us mak e t h e m k n o wn . t o wh a t I h a v e h e a rd y e a rs a g o Nic h o la s h is honest lif e in lif e ,

m akin g gold; shall

refer priest,

then h is

t o wh a t f o d ie d , f re e d o m in

my

eye s have seen. Fr an ciscan an d h is an d died r eve lations th e p u s'

Mira n d o la p a rt ic u la r,

an oLd from sin, t ho s e holy

known f o r

abstemious

and s o lit a ry

wh o h a d l i v e d 1rou sent wa g e d a g a i n s t and CarJ er u s a l e m where a witthat he of

among companion s o f g re a t some of whic h y o u will the a f o re s a id He made s ilv e r many y e a rs

s a n c it y re a d ily wa r t h a t

a n d s h a re d P o p e J u liu s in ma d e it t h e re is

re me mb e r, wif e r B o lo g n a in

m e in Germany during Venetians. according told

a n d g o ld of

b y a rt

to many wit n e s s e s ,

a n d h e a ls o t o wh ic h

w he r e he was for h e himself n e ss living. m e th at i n h is to his wa s s kilLed th e h earth, l i ght, L iving i ta te of to p la ce s in

a s ru le r the

t h e me n o f h is

o rd er , s t ill

me he ha d ma d e g o ld , Mira n d o la , rela t iv e art f re e ly

Nicholas paternal the

s u rg e o n h is a n d o p e n ly

n e p h e w, e v e n t o l d

confessed the it

o f ma k in g g o ld

a n d s h o we d h im a b o o k w r i t t e n testimony in other of not hesways matters that new the a rt of o f ma k i n g g o l d p h ra s e . a p rie s t wh o d id re lig io u s t we n t y

own hand on many s u b je c t s , and two exp e rime n t s , ard he had the n in our day the re in the affirm their to his t o ld

wh e re b y re a s o n , h e b ro u g h t

h im t h a t

h e h a d h id d e n t u rn s p rie s t s , wib h A p o llin a ris , of

by interpolation

a n d u n d e r o b liq u e wa s b e s id e s o rd e r that a f o re s a id f rie n d s When they

g o o d reputation

h e k n e w mo re t h a n they we re r

m aking good gold. in the 1-iterary

h a d f in is h e d h o riz o n s ,

an d turned disco veries sa id , about it of tau g h t with the

minds t o wid e r conve rs io n the of battle s part the

c o n s id e re d ds they

o f me t a ls

re a s o n a b l y they they it thought had

of more use to

c o mmu n it y t h a n

s p e n d in g

wh o le d a y s a r g u i n g wh ic h the

o f p h ilo s o p h e rs , in A ris t o t le of a n o t h e r,

a n d p e rh a p s that

w as a special previously. is on e thing

p h iJ -o s o p h y a n d me d ic in e ,

The y h a d re a d dec o mp o s it io n u n iv e rs a ls . not

p rod u c t i o n happens elements

and that

particulars,

T h e y h a d a ls o wh e n t h e y jo in

re a d t h a t t o g e t h e r.

can be mixed and change d u t t e rly 59.

The y observed a le a r n ed wo r kin g un a id e d m en ts of ought tha t o ff man is

that

God a n d n a t u re t h in g in natu re c o u ld

ma k e n o t h in g n a t u re , wh a t it t h is a n d in in lie s these t h in g s

in v a in , c o u ld is

and that do in so they to knowledge to the

the best of

lo we r p ro d u c e

b y wh o s e s ki 1 l , n e v er a ll o b v io u s

upon nature, and befift life,

the h e lp it

o f ma n , a n d if

a r b o r iculture, bo u n d up with be co n tent is i nto to se n se s; give n

in painting, why should society,

in me d ic in e , b e o b s c u re of of

a lmo s t in

de p a r t -

c a s e o f min e ra ls , h id d e n to a n o t h er ; to the L e a rn e d wit s a s p ire a n d is s u b je c t

w h e re o n e o f t e n t h e n a t u re but t h e p a rt s

to have known that with threaded they through also

was n o t

generalitie s ,

n a t u ra lly

should their art

h a v e k n o wn t h a t we re t h o s e for

c irc u la r

a rg u me n t s w a n d e r but c h e mis t s the can which

vagueness, taking by the

and t h e re a grea t opinio n , with

a mo n g t h e m wh o we re t o o g a in p la in for to h u ma n it y , for a rt ,

ima g in a t io n s

re a lit y ,

pr o d u ce su p p l- ies co n fi r m ed said o ils of

a n d wo n d e rf u l a s is s in c e

the many wants o f mo rt a ls , by publ-ic alchemists, for they alike together amo n g t h e o ils

senses and a s is comJnonly and unwas made poor. church a few was made than a

ma n y re me d ie s ma d e b y t h e

wo u n d s a n d d i s -

e a se s have been found agree,

wh o m t h e y wh o mo s t s e e k s u c h h e a lt h - g i v i n g T h e le t t e re d f in a lly need of in of g o ld the that d e p e n d e d o n mix in g t ime ; many sub-

are t h e Mo s e s o f me d ic in e . for a lo n g

l ette r e d sta n ce s

knew many a n t id o t e s and diges t in g to the re lie v e d e x p e rime n t s

w ho se abundance repeatedly But 1 e t me return An e p itaph in Ro me, Lf ye a r s g r a in of on gold it collecte d

t h e wre t c h e d f ro m wh ic h in s ma ll the

I h a v e d ig re s s e d . a p u b li c g o ld f ig h t in g ;

f ro m le a d wa s writ t e n re c e n t v e ig h t a c o n s id e ra b le a v e ry to and I t h re e

has not

be e n d e s t ro y e d

ago among the vive to the of wheat that, vive

V ene t ia n s acco rd in g

fr om argent ar g ent

by means o f good go ld ,

o b je c t

n o g re a t e r t u rn e d those

wit n e s s e s , one of in s p e c t e d it

an ounce wh o s a w i t ,

spoke to

an d I heard th a t m e d icine. f come to The r e is m e tallic sa w go ld

from him that

h e h a d c a re f u lly and that to

t,he substance

p erformed

bransm u t a t io n things this re v e a le d

wa s a n a s h e n c ol o r e d s id e of the of veil. mine, from for I

those to

u s o n t h is t ime s

living

d a y a me n I k n o w wh o is mo re t h a n s ix t y not o n e me t h o d ,

a f rie n d but

wh o m ade gold

and silver

in my p re s e n ce s e v e ra l,

substances; and silver

he f o llo we d

made s imu lt a n e o u s ly 60.

a n d u n e x p e c t e d ly

by making

a metallic and mercury, it could also

water the

in

which

neither of the at

gold

nor

silver, in

nor such

even

sulfur that I and and

principles for I said and gold

gold, reward

but

not

quantity expense. 9o1d fort,h,

be repeated, seenr ds

was less of

than this

the workr

have silver in

the

beginning grains f of have much.

being

formed

separate lie

them seen

poured silver

silver bronze

no little by said, since to strong of

hidden; but not

extracted is one method, not think

from

raaters, making

And this but one out

as we have much of metals, I have it, but

gold

and

silver,

should of

that

which from truth joined

was perfect minerals of think the this is

was got appears

imperfect however ways. generally produce in a few more enough day,

make gold the

more in

useful; various it is to and

experienced is another

matter still

often alive,

There agreed gold daysr service and

man whom I not his the

for

that

he has

dead, with offices

who was pleased 1itt1e expense gold,

many times this to

from to

furnaces, public art

he sold nature in died in

as pure for lives

induced

and the this

than art.

necessary, There

he was rich to the live into present

diligent he life by the

important days hands a certain ago, f

unless noble gold fruits, Nor ed to

a few whose of

a man rich seen

enougrh to turned from the

a fairly silver and or

have juice, of

bronze

use

made either fire to

vegetables met,al.

and the shall him I

application omit to

a fierce what he

mention which

a certain proved turn to

poor by

man told

me oecurWhen he for a

during and

s1eep, did not

soon to

experiment. his hunger,

was anxious

know where high

bear

h'e r,ras oppressed large ly the number of

by very children, name is gold in in

taxes , by to

a foreign and the

treasury

and by

he went the

sleep of then at

saw a certain saints, at by to

heavenhim

being art

whose of use

catalogue and

who taught the itself, his or art I water to family, four of he

making for

riddles

hint,ed first

should gold, he

making

gold;

he used however,

LE, but from to

make and times,

not

a great

weight, twice

enough

feed three the

also

made gold experiment not

from

iron,

orpiment me that, A little verser

and by goLd is

he therefore oflr but in I sang

proved truthful. hexametric have of

making

an empty wrote

later some of and

therefore f have

gratefully quoted and I in

a puzzLe to which I

which

above, the

and

added him

a prologue

an epilogue, rich. silver which

same verses seen

who became into

truly genuine

have

someone who turned

mereury

61.

wa s m ixed with ve r by cgr tain m e r cu r y silve r with w hile of art tha t ted

gold

in

t wo d if f e re n t

wa y s :

I h a v e s e e n g o ld

and si1cinnaseen into

m ade from cinnabar with

fro m wh ic h g o ld o iI , but

a n d s ilv e r

had been removed

means; f have s e e n s ilv e r a simp le Fina1ly , that on, of

a n d g o 1 -d ma d e f ro m p u re not mu c h ; I h a v e o f t e n a n d le a d h o u rs is , in t ra n s f o rmed f ro m in p rime it ,

ba r b y mixing that

had been re mo v e d f ro m b ro n z e in e a rlie r b e in g wa s ma d e in t h e re c o n v e rs io n , e x p e rie n c e t h re e that le t

and go1d. my hands gold I was looking

days f have seen and touched t ime the silver e it h e r the the material contending is convern o s ilv e r both is a lre a d y

m e r cu r y of it to

or the water transmuting cannot

the metals,

and by th is metals ,

t h o s e wh o d ef e n d t ra n s mu t e d

a n d t h o s e wh o mis re p re s e n t t h e me t , a l t h a t f irs t , o f me t a ls

be done u n le s s

the common materia l

b e c o n v in c e d .

Cn n p r e n 3.
A w n n u tu e ro rH E r u H o U ILDLv sLAnDER THosE SKILLED Ir { THE A R T
OF i lAKIllc GOLD, UHO DESERVE THE TITLE OF PHILOSOPHER iloRE THAI{ ANY OTHER I I{VESTI GATORS OF ilATURE.

I thought stan ce s, fy not th in k le a r n lie ve sho u ld to br in g

that

these

e x a mp le s , la y

t o ld

re a s o n a b ly

a n d wit h

many insatis-

whould be enough t o and t,hat t o for

in f o rm for

o t h e rs I c o u ld

a n d my s e lf , not of. they c o n t in u e o t h e rs

and to a c e rt a i n t y if

yo u in part, w rite it

b a re wh a t f k n o w f o r a d mo n is h t h o s e they t h in g s at, a rt of to

wo u ld remove much uncerta in t y , something ideas to about foo lish thing s

I did t he r e f o r e learn can as be-

you and to my wh ile is if

wh o h a v e

t h e y k n o w n o t h in g a s s e rt p o is o n the author of

I s h a l1 n e it h e r

has been worth arguer

wh o m f h a v e re p ro v e d to treat

fr om me not cr i m i nal in de se r ves na ture, the

rlor t o

know nor rig h t l y nor

from others,

E rrrdv h a t

wo rs e a n d mo re h a t e f u l, those a s c rib e a ll F o r t h e re d e mo n s in t o of wh o e it h e r to is the e v il o f ma k in g g o ld , t ru t h ,

or madr oE to h is s or ski1lfully both to in pity art the

ex e rc is e

- which

and l a u g h t e r to Go d t h e and to in d u s t ry .

d e mo n s w h a t to good spirits, if rre any

be ascribed

no doubt, p ic t u re ,

power and cleve rn e s s sublim e

that

on e skilled

e x p e rime n t s 62

Ch e mis t ry

or knowing

liter a ture d o u b tful wicke d wifer her

can restrain origins of to

s la n d e re rs a s s u me t h e

of

t h is

n a t u re

b y h in t in g for lie

at For a his with

the

the mo t h e rs oth e r

f ro m wh o m t h e y f o rm o f

we re b o rn . p ro p e r of to

demon was able or of whatever her of

A mp h it ry o n

ma n a wo ma n ju d g e d of A le x a n d e r of

and give The stories

ehildren . the c o n c e p t io n be fou n d the Ma c e d o n a nd o f c o n c e rn in g King mu c h la t e r, s a me writ in g s f ro m t h e a rt in it , a n d mu c h e ls e c o n t a in succubi both the slur for

Sele u cis, a n d incubi an cie nt th a t the se er y of fathe r le sr th o se le t

and of Merlin are to and moderni

in t h e writ in g s

o u r t h e o lo g ia ns d is h o n e s t y lie s in v is ib le re c a lle d S t rix of under

a nd d e c e i t re m e d i e s by others;

an d good health demons are we also of

derived involved in the

o f me d ic in e t h in g s c a lle d

a n d c a n b rin g d ia lo g u e s

w ou n ds and diseases, recall

and d o ma n y o t h e r those author

upon the the f a ls e t e mp l e s p o k en , to

Trickgod of of Aes-

demonsr trot to m e n t io n medicine,

t h e p rin c ip le s t ime s

Hip p o c ra t e s

the

o f wh ic h wa s A p o llo a c q u ire d s in c e they of in

th e h eathen, cula p iusr G od is the p r o ve d

who had the m in a n c ie n t principles of are sti ll best Le t witho u t Let Hip p o c ra t e s these wit h t h in g s us,

f ro m ma n y d e mo ni c o r a c the and

and these principles

rlow burnedt the greatest

we h a v e a lre a d y author f ro m t h e that

a re h e ld

be true. therefore

a n d f irs t

a ll- t ru t h ,

slanderers

who f o rm o p in io n s t h e m le a rn h a v in g o n e s id e , t h e m le a rn

f ro m s e a n t y

by A ristotle. w ho make judgements l aw s uit having

in f o rma t io n be reju ris t s that those the la w s h o u l d a a re strongly wh o in t e rrup t , Ca e s a r. wit h o u t that

s e e n t h e wh o le o f they and often

be blamed as unworthy.

heard o n ly

n e it h e r,

co n d e mned by A nnaeus an d la u g h e d the m l-earn t,hat gold of the subtleties over in of their o we d natural vag u e ly a r ts but aid of of lite ra t u re ;

a t b y Cla u d iu s but

T he n l e t , knowledge fol1the by t,he ma n y t u r n of all considered,

can b e ma d e e x p e rime n t a lly a n d u n d e rs t o o d m in d s c a n n o t I speak of the t h in g s

h e wh o h a s n o t

g e n u in e l y

philosophy

b e a t ru e

p ro f e s s o r

Chemistry. decided, experiment. f give

s u c h t h in g s

a s a re o f t e n

n ever

which n e v e rt h e le s s

a re f re q u e n t ly

d e c id ed

Why should ce r tain he r b s, con ve rt fruits, them?

the n a me o f p h ilo s o p h e r wo rd s , but is stones, a n d t h e ir to

t o h im wh o h a s r e a d t o t a J -1 y ig n o ra n t of mix and

books of

phiJ.oso p h ic a l

metals, rs it

p o we rs a n d h o w t o the n a me o f

not mo re ju s t 63.

a p p ly

philosopher

to h im who has learned th o r o u ghly po we r s of de a th, give n up i n investigated of

th e it s

g e n e ra l- p rin c ip le s p o we rs in e a rt h ? the

of

n a t u re

and has and the the and has his har-

s u b lu n a ry

re a lm, b irt h t h at

seeds below th e thing s in not the of

He n c e t h e min d ma y le a rn subsequent d iv in e t h in g s of the ma je s t y h id d e n h im t o

m on y and discord man the gift the

b e lo w a n d t h e ir of d is c o v e rin g bounty

and may rise bor^reLs of the help

ad mira t io n o n ly e a rt h , it wit h to

and shut under and

b u t h a s e n a b le d goods for t h in g s the the

establish mo rt a ls

h o m e with

nat u re ' s

wh ic h d e lig h t s outer s u rp a s s the

m a n y names and'soothes D oes not a r g u m entative an d aimless th in g s ue r of so p h e r, by the usu a l an d of r e d u ce the ir tha t a s o ccur is d e m o nstrates naturer rather as the thoughts? than things

body. g a rru lou s t ru t h fi c k l - e great valey the latter

he who holds

these

body e x c e ls F o r if spe e c h , and b rin g s

shadow t oE the a ma n o f lig h t , o n ly t h is

d e e d s e x c e e d wo rd s a n d d o in g does not them to re s t ra in e d nvr to wh o is the b y h is

better

s o rt t o r h e w h o a n impa r t i a l n a me o f ima g in i n g s r notions philo-

rnor truly

a n d e x c e lle n t ly

d e s e rv e

than he wh o is ever anx io u s r not

commonplaces of fo him, argument,s. sage to to proofs; the a feeling opinion not

dia le c t , ic s , a p p lie d they

o r b y s u c h me t a p h y s ic a l c e rt a in r the n o is y n a me o f s o p h is t , to it

a lwa y s b u s y w i t h t,o the to de r i v e

A ntiqu it y forme r, th is

P e rip a t e t ic s , le a rn e d those

wh o s e d o g m a s have see

from wh ic h and so o b t a in

a re h a rd p u t those

scorning

f e e lin g

in c h y mis t r y you will

a co n trary sa yin g s

t h e v ic t o t ! r sage to s k ille d of a rt s . re a s o n

t h e re f o re a n d p ro p e r

the Greeks gave the public lightly

n a me o f

me n a n d ma d e t h e i r inc l i n a t i o n . k n ew , eguipuse, and by the the socstandbe

n o r wit h o u t both p ro f e s s o rs

Am ong the A rabs, m en t such as the w as g iven tho se ie ty who ply

as wo rk e rs th a t or

a n d ig n o ra n t c h y mis t ry It is that

lute,

g e n e ra ll y le a rn e d, k n o wn in g o ld is

the name of wis d o m b y t h o s e musical all in s t ru me n t a l for t h in g s , S t o ic s ,

we h a v e c a lle d

in which we have live d external by the gold; use it

s o me c e n t u rie s a re me a s u re d ; b o d ie s p e o p le

a r d b y which w on d e red dt, in the pursuit should so u ls r ar e st th e y

ca11ed goods by the to the

P e rip at e t i c s more to of to danger g o ld death their this God,

a n d conveniences of

a n d wh a t is

many mortals be totally

e x p o s e t h e ir s u c h g o d le s s f o rg o t t e n . c o rre c t ly , g if t r

wh o p re f e r a b u s e it ,

T h e wic k e d a n d if ric h e s they they

the honest to

an d w ell-advised should not

have been granted thanks

and most heavenly

so that
64.

ma y g iv e

grudge a n y mo rt a l

and advantage.

Ir

4. CHAPTER p R o p E R Ly A i l A t{ }rA y BE cALLEDRIcH BEcAUsEoF Exr ERr { AL

}IATTERS, THOSE SK ILLED II{ THE ART 0F llAKIllc GOLD DESERVE THE SAIIE TITLE.

C ertainly sop h e rs ig n o r e r i ch?

there

was n o s ma ll witn e s s dese rv e

d is p u t e

in

a n t iq u it y ric h , in of ric h

a mo n g p h i l o nor d id poets on1y, A re y o u a l - o n e

and orators the question, A nother at might

as t o wh o s h o u ld

b e c a lle d

wh a t wa s s a id t o b e c a lle d not a ma n c o u ld wro n g wit h

Cra s s u s . in

p h ilo s o p h y

an d who would suppose th a t m o n e y lent ly de e d rich ge n u inely interest no one will see anyth in g

t o E e mb ro id e re d

la n d t o E i n g a rme n t s r o t g o ld ? Certaint h e ma n wh o s a y s , of Ch ris t ' s e n d o we d wit h "He is re lig i o n , the inis

b e ric h

who is healthy

imbued wit h

t h e p rin c ip le s a n d is

in mind a n d b o d y , entirely rich, la c k in g

ability poor comor is not he

to m a ke gold an d far p la in ts sa fe m e r ch ant wh o r elies h is crops, apart tho se in

and silver." in g o o d n e s s o f min d is v er y n o r d o e s h e wh o s u f f e rs f ro m b o d ily h e a lt h r

N orr he who is

from being

commonly deserve voyagest or is

t h e n a me , n o r h e wh o la c k s a lwa y s a f ra id and often of ro b b e rs or

from wdrr

he who de p e n d s o n t h e wh ims o f we a lt h f e a rs

p rin c e s ,

he who makes sea, damage to interest, can know

o r a n a n g ry mo n e y a t (if

upon rural

u n s e a s o n a b le lo s e s

he who makes mo n e y d is h o n e s t L y , who are the ill-s p o k e n b it e of inw a rd

from those who suffer

of by the best ric h ); of that

h u ma n in s t i t u t i o n s , they inherited who, as healthy as one may from the

a b a d c o n s c ie n c e ,

a n y way be properly ancestors live,

counted can e a s ily after

a mo n g t h e the that f a l1 a rt

e v e n ric h e s but to

fr om .one's tha t l on g fi r e ft o ve r it

b e s t rip p e d

a wa y ; wh o d o e s n o t Ca rt h a g e , b e lo n g s v it h h e ma y b e r the

bread was begged for as they is is rvill and who will

re f u s e

hu m a n mind, m ake gold?

p ro h ib it

wh e re e v e r

s o lon g wh ic h

at hand, true is

and cert a in

p o wd e rs a n d liq u id s

that

the G e rma n a n d P a n n o n ia n p rin c e s for a g e s wit h of three leavin g y e a rs s in c e t h e k in g s B a e t ic a of

d u g it of

d e e p e st a g r e at

caves of fleet

the mou n t a in s

thousands

meni more-

scarcely t,hat, shore

S p a in p rep a r e d oceans, seekinq

t h e p o rt s

a n d L u s it a n i a ,

for so o l< the

to me a s u re t h e A t la n t ic 65.

a n d I n d ia n

un kn o wn regions ar t can, with of d a ys, u s to whether express

rich little

in g o l-d , wh e re a s h e wh o is expe n s e a n d g re a t re wa rd r as a guest, often

c o mp e t e n t p ro d u c e under s a id , it it

in in

the a few mere

at home or liv in g a servant;

the

sup e r vision

a n d a s we h a v e a lre a d y

pleased

these gold e n a n d s ilv e r rid d le s in v e rs e : "N ever judge me to be a ric h ma n , ric h in 1 a n d , ric h in e m b r o d e r e d clo thes, in a lofty m a n s io n , o r in a k in g d o m n o r s h a ll I ever be r i ch fnd ia pus with no t er y ly if I rely across winds. prayers, on a S pan is h the A tlantic , the is des ire richr ric h e s s h ip b e a rin g of t re a s u re the s t re n g t h mo rt a ls f a it h is e t e rn a l f ro m b rillia n t of rn d lr t ru e , n o rt h e r n on high if they he is and Olymmake fi11ed father s c o rn f u l

sou thern ple a sing

However, h e t o wh o m t h e d s lo n g that a s h is

has granted light, g oods. to itself thought

t o d o wh a t e v e r min d in p a rt f u ll

and has a hea lt h y external with B ut as the g re a t e r gold to be he who e n jo y s coin s

a h e a lt h y

body,

a n d is

fortifmiswide-

i ed b y those

s e e me d t o

Ch ry s ip p u s ric h e r

c o n ve n i e n c e s , ma n i s of

o f h u ma n k in d e v e r me t e s o u t n o wa d a y s t h e c o f f e rs r d rrd a we a lt h f o re ig n a le t t e r,

a n d s ilv e r, g a in e d

either so that

m e tal- , who sends the th e ir number multiplies i nter e st To m e the si l ver ba n ke r's w i th o u t ti m e. take

a t h o me t o of

re a lms r p e o p le

u p o n t h e o p e n in g wh ic h of a lwa y s for a p rin c e the sea, seem to

and adds fresh can plunder u nj u s t wars"

to new wealth, the rich table spiteful This the man will from his each year fraud,

o r a g re e d y

a n d submerge in and gold

depth s

o r s n a t , c h a wa y in that exceeds the wit h o u t nor for a n g ry g o ld if

b e h e wh o d ra ws a n a m o u n t o f a mo u n t o n t h e wic k e d wi1es, spaces of

o wn f u rn a c e s re q u irin g k in g s of the

a h u n d re d y e a rs , n o r p e o p le s the huge sea, in t o wo u ld

s ma l1 e x p e n s e a n d s h o rt

wealth

neither

enemies can he knows how." a re c o n c e r n e d , the Pan-

away, nor the it

harshn e s s that

a n y o n e wh o l i k e s

can turn

sweepingrs of appears fable,

e a rt h as far

y e llo w

Therefore do r a of

a s e x t e rn a l

ma t t e rs of

h e wh o has the power of ma k in g g o ld ancient in v a in

in v a in

b e c a lle d A ma lt h e a.

b e s h o wn t h e h o rn

66.

Cn n p r e n 5. r s r { or F AL se( wn r cHI T Anr r F r c r A LG o L D

LAHFUL TO SCTL), I{ATM BUT GENUINE AND IS }lIilED

WO UL DP RO B A B L YI I O T B E

I { O T WO RS EI T { O UA L I T Y T H A i I

GOLDr BUT O F T E iI B E T T E R.

He who makes gold sick brings great in is

for

the of

advantage wealth (only) to

of

either

the as that

healthy long the as gold

or those

the

increase literature

mortals,

who are by ar t,

skilled if it

understand the

made in to its the

genuine, to

bears the

exactly in

same relationship as the that earth the does or

essence gold from ties that the as

and qualities craftsmen sands that to of

gold

common use caverns of

remove rivers, from

from

the

collect

and that the

in

common use the

has

same properof the those one exploded.

taken

metal-diggings; beliefs, the body nor, if its other wit,hout we are essence

opinions that have

who strove could For or if

reconcile

differing that

allowing could,

be made while you you never. prefer, shal1

denying

been or

f ind

a natural

qualities seeking if its

propert,ies, nature of are

endowments, we ever

the

something, remov ed. Aristotle they or that nature are

discover

properties

was of

the

opinion

that

those by the assist gold

properties one word us in art

which

although

many and various and accidental the nature born thus of of it

he called properties If it

"sumbebetoka", knowing has havb the the what same same be sold is,

external is,

things. nature will

made by

as gold and

will the

consequently same value properties, it, it of

properties, for those of the

be of

and I not could

should say,

same price. in it

A11 the

accidental can is

by which most sus-

skilled for

handling one or the

gold

recognize lacking, talk and

some or

themr of

whole

be under if you

picion sider

falsity. they to be is it,

And although al Iow false and it ful1

they gold is

custom,

con-

carefully

silver, what the

usually law says; is I

called neverin never the great-

adulterated, theless closed agree er part

so1d,

worth

when one recesses, with of their

made in is

view,

and

the

other

born will

a dangerous because easily and

matter, the less

therefore wise,

opinion, are of

who form

humankind, the path

deluded. stolen money made from fraudulent

Moreover

false

67

gold men.

and But

silver, although

known there

as

adulterated, are

is

strewn ways both

with of can

fraudulent making and

many different arts and by which the other in

forging for the

metal, one

and

different comes first have

be prepared, nevertheless seem to to perfor is changes

always

follows,

imposters find vert the the

who already path of

false

metal easier it with for

their than

possession those who Lry

wiclced metal never that

deception by mixing be

genuine should reason

a worse evil that

one;

the

means it

evil-doing for this is

increased

men. the

Perhaps art if and that

Albertus

Magnus wrote that gold yellow it

metals were had ness sly

genuine by lesser

whereas the mere

he said color with of the fhose

was false and of silver gold in

artificers thought pale and they whiteobviou-

deceived endowed of

metals

and the art,

silver, the

exulted buyer.

like

competent

the

deceived Experienced

men can to

agree

that

artificial when mixed from fictive, than that

gold, with that

though and from

not

nat-

i.ve, or

can

be shown

be genuine and not

foods dug

antidotes, the shady

digestive

waters, of it the is

different the

bedchambers is not; and R.P.,

earth,

while

falser minted this, I

drld adulterated by shal1 they princes Ery r oE to ex-

much more

useful

stamped plain

and because for I have

many do not known those to the

know

further;

who although their that is,

lcnelr how to relatives, afraid

make gold fearing that else ure of and the

nevertheless that they would

refused abuse

teach art,

friends they vlve

and were or

artificial that of might

gold,

whether

made from if

argent

something the nat-

be thought Perhaps so that they its have

harmful had heard

eaten that

might "he

overcome lethal

gold. viver could

brewed

weights swift death' t,hat

argent they

increased read the

power books of

might those of in

compel

easily of

who claimed bringing

properties off

native

gold' were

especially not to to

those

gladness go1d,

and rnrarding something

leprosy' Timon to

be found rebut that, in

artificial

that

was as

right

"Res

meteorologica" signs were

as he was vrong helpful I if of ies in shallgold gold,

allow gold. all art

when he said

astrological

making free

from

anxiety is genuine all it,

those gold,

who harbor it wilt and

such have

doubts, the nature

for

the true that

made by and

therefore flow from

the

external-

accidental shown,

propertthere-

naturally

as we have.already

68.

for e pe ls thin g s is

it

brings if

gladness that they gold is will

if

that say that a rt

is

the

f u n c t io n p ro p e rt ie s . v iv e I

of

g o ld ,

and repoisonous t h at gold earth. the

leprosy enter

o n e o f g o ld ' s c re a t e s . in

But perhaps

a rg e n t the

and other a f f irm p a rt s p o is o n s t o o ls ma d e . in t o it s lo s e s o rr of of

the

that

s h a l1

m ade from the very f shall not just the one. task, affect it I

sa me t h in g s that sha1l they g o ld

lo we s t

Fin a lly, w ays, in io n , sh a ll

submit

c a n b e a rt if ic ia lly a lt h o u g h the t h in g is v iv e ,

ma d e i n m a n y a re employed I silver shrewdit and det ra ns m u t a t T o t hi s s o lid

add that of

finishing also

a re t o b e c o u n t e d v iv e wh e n it

and do not so that ztfises argent Lhat this

t h e n a t u re

add that

arge n t

t u rn e d

o r g old 1 y saysr cr e a ses say that co n tend is

ceas e s t o b e a rg e n t its is to c o ld n e s s not of

deadliness,

w he t,her this

comes from s o me h id d e n from vive is does t o ea s ily

p ro p e rt y r

Z rs A lb e rt us n e v e rt h e le s s t h e re a hot other a re o n e,

a n d mo is t n e s s ; a lt h o u g h n a t u re , that to is the but it s s a id f ire ,

the harm it

t h e n e rv e s , a c o ld a ll

some who

s e e n f ro m s o me o f thanks

q u al i t i e s . on anoproduce opinis proit

N or should the r the io n nature, substance c onsider ff p e r ti es to it? is l ose s by th e a n im als

I omit which gold' it it in

say that is

to be poisonous and puts the to s u b t e rr a n e a n the the c o nt r a r y t h in gs c u rat i v e

purged by many conve rs io n s ' indee d bron z e ,

wh a t mu s t h a p p e n in a n d a rg e n t they s t ill it s I v iv e those

ca ve s where sulfur,

c o me t o g e t h e r wh o h o ld

bec a u s e a lt h o u g h ripen s gold that a n d o b t a in s

most he a t h f u l,

c o n s id e r

m ad e from before you say that laclcing

o wn n a t u re h a s c e rt a in s h a ll fo re p ly , her wh ile le a rn

as harmful. Wh o c a n c o m e pr e p a r i n g what ru 1 e,

p re p a re d p re p a re d n a t u re ' s

b y n a t u re b y a rt , of mid wif e

a conclusion dr awn in, its

concerni n g is driv e n

t h e n a t u re

g o ld

h e is

Who can investigate what during the in poison when it anima ls differen t

o u t , wh a t is f re e o f a n y s u s p ic i o n , what h a s ju s t e n t e re d t h e wo rk , wh a t is f r e e d or after t h riv e in of the it . d if f e rin g T h is c a n b e su p p o r t e d other to digest that found that o n e a t in g liv in g wh a t k ills a b ilit ie s t h in g s c le ar l y occurs, noxious

fr o m poison

prepa ra t io n , cau s e ly in g k in d s e n p lo y

example of bo eat,

a n d transmute

c re a t u re s . p o is o n o u s a s is q u it e c o n t ra ry

And again ve might b e co me beneficial in th e case of things h a r m ful theriacs

t h e e x a mp le o f a n d p re p a rin g , the

by mix in g resulting

a n d a n t id o t e s ;

a ls o

f ro m s o u n d o n e s t h ro u g h
69.

n o f o re ig n

sub stance he a lthy ver y it bu t go ld i nto m an .

was added. if

Le t if

a hen's ra w, if

e g g b e a n e x a mp le , lig h t ly c o o k e d it it is g o ld it it if the t h e re is is not

for

it

arouses a could by

na u se a in most people portion, noxious foodstuff. of

a wo n d e r f u l l y re c k o n ed be, d is t in gu i s h a b l e nor

hard e n e d b y t o o mu c h h e a t , S in c e a rt if ic ia l o t h e rwis e to the s a me s p e c ie s ,

fr om natural be said since d iffe r e nt ge r , nor the Let

by human fac u lt , ie s , to be,

wo u ld n o t of of

we re d is t in g u is ha b l e is , f teIl you,

properties, it fear cannot of to

su c h a s le a d be dis t in g u is h e d , the pot, that

re c o g n it io n ig n o ra n t in

a substance, no danthe boil, of

danger. cook in morsel s r gold

Y o u a re e n t ire ly that the y o u p lu n g e

wh e th e r wa t er in to

y ou put

y o u f ile ,

h a mme r, a n d d i v i d e s e e t h in g to t ime skil1 would there three iE was gold own it to is

smallest

ha s b een ripped othe r wise eve r ywhere sti l - l to hu n d r ed tho u sand m ad e in the

from the b o we ls o f would n o t among t h e

e a rt h r e y ma d e b y t h e b y s o ma n y , b u t that it

us add that art

wa s ma d e f ro m t ime b e p ra c t is e d liv in g

antiquity,

have been mo c k e d a n d re je c t e d books on th e a rt ,

b y c o mmo n c o n s e n t ;

be found ful1

a ma n wh o b o a s t e d iE ,

he had eight

a n d h a d b e s id e s about

re a d mo re t h a n

and seven injunc t io n s antiquity,

a n d a s I h a v e s a id , s e p a ra t in g a n t iq u it y for of a rt if ic i a l lik e the the

as ve h a v e p ro v e d or

f ro m e x p e rie n c e . for our

What reason fr om native? th e like colo r p ublic is

or argume n t d o y o u h a v e f o r No sign with s t a mp e d b ra n d , it s No t it s n e it h e r for th e ma rk o f

a g e stamped gold offices the an honourable

p rin c ip a l c o lo r, s id e the for

me n , a n d t o o k t h e v e rd ic t

to be t rie d . judge, g iv e s Not it s No t it s to it else softness

t o uc h s t o n e , wh e n t h e balance resists eaten has asthings then know what for the or is

same.

we ig h t

tongue wh e t h e r if

do e s not be n d ing drunk cr i be d if

more.

Not its ascribe

o r s mo o t h n e s s wh e n n e it h e r g o ld t h e q u a lit ie s g o o d re a s o n ; for s o me o n e e ls e s e v e ra l not a c e rt a in c e rt a in ly u n le s s that will to

and pu1Iing. to something effects to ascribe

effects,

you cannot

wit h o u t

tog e therr d ifferent su b stance the r e sho u ld g r e a ter So if will

Dot separately, the

a re re q u ire d d if f e re n c e of those wh e n wh a t is too, t h in g s

effect,

are p ro d u c e d y o u will

y o u h a v e inv e s t i g a t o n e in g re d i e n t mo re o f t en in g re d ie n t s . g o o d g o ld you have

e d the various

qualities to

h a v e c o mb in e d, occur

be occasions

a s c rib e d

be ascribed the lnixture you do not

an o t h e rr

d rld t h is the

or th e

la rg e r

n u mb e r o f the

know h o w t o d is t in g u is h 70.

o b tain ed borner the all

from nature's never it is

w o mb f ro m t h a t drin k a toast you to

wh ic h re a l

s k iI 1 g o ld . it

a n d c ra f t F o r, a ll is

have

1rou will gold called part of doubtful,

c o ns i d e r i n g if a or either by

natural, but since

e it h e r

c o n s id e r ro

h a rmf u l v h o le s o m e , o t he r

ce r tain

de e me d , u n wh o le s o me r o r a ll a s we h a v e s e e n r d is t in g u is h it of is for effects, t h e m is the

le g it ima t e o n e f ro m t h e

d is t in c t i o n s called

ca n be made, if by the the name of What? o u r princes r e cko ned He r a clian clu d in g tha t of is,

you cann o t

touchstone, say that E ven if harmful, stone that sandy. vive harsh that

or the b a la n c e , eithe r go ld

or even by that s e p a ra t in g not h a rmf u l. that it ,

wa t e r s ilv e r

the partition all for

f ro m g o l d , stamped by s h ou l d c o lo r of a s we1 1 , be the in-

yo u cannot

b e n e f ic ia l, is mix e d wit h t h in g s that is

wh ic h as the

is

and republics indicates . artific ia l is qets Niter are

u s e in b u y in g

a n d s e llin g

co p p e r

Other s a lt

a re mix e d in f a ls e ly and the is

c a lle d

am m o n i a c a l , part whose poik n ow " o n And besides and silcolor more. and re-

s o me t ime s a d d e d , it s n a me b e c a u s e it b y b o ilin g ; that we c a ll it

p o is o n o u s

a r gent (?) there smiths that

s u b lime d ,

so n o u s qualities a ltar s tha t ver go ld fute mildew

inc re a s e d thin g s

wh o d o e s n o t d ig e s t io n " . that for of n o x io u s c o in s , o n ly

and lea v in g s

h a rm t h e

are other is pale

that

g o ld they

employ to put

a s h in e

o n g o ld e n writ e

by nat u re opinion s .

so that

g lit t e rs

a n d s p a rk le s L h e a rt

Eno u g h of wholesomeness, common false

n o w we s h a ll

Cn lp r e n6 .
S e v e nl l p rE cE s o F A D vIcE FoR THosE yHo EAGERLv sr RIvE T0 IT IAKE
GOLD BY THE CHEIIICAL ARTr AtlD Ail A1{SIER TO THE COl,ll{Ol{0UESTtOltl WHY THOSE YHO OCCUPY THEI{SELVES UITH THE ART OF IIAK I NG GOLD ARE POOR.

I not cise

should to try

like

to

warn

those are

who seek beyond

to

make gold flor

artificially more to preseek not who who

experiments nor to

that promise

themr great

neglect, flor

studies,

themselves deluded means

wealthr hope.

principalities allow either it to desire all

and kingdoms, men of glory r et small

by vain (as it is

God does said) those

commonly nor to

practise

mercantilism,

7L.

have nor

great even the to

riches, those of

nor

to

those

who rule

principalities hoping should his to

and

kingdoms, or as to

who follow the

literary the for

studies, matter

equal

outdo

glory

ancients;

be considered according

uncommon, his

and very

difficult, not ours. gold

God gives

gifts

own judgement, Now if they

who prepare things andr ds

and their

seek

to

transmute if build they

metals promise in

turn themthe air, both and men"

vain selves they by

and harmful too should much, realise and I

over the they

in

minds, says,

proverb are

castles

that the

easily

deceived of

and deluded, spirits mine

themselves ago

deceitful

badness

dishonest friend in or of

Some time told ing by gold,

remember that not if I if

a certain he sought abuse it for

learned to

who was of that in made makit

an oracle he should

be adept

the harm,

craft and

vainglory himself who told using

would both

be allowed body

him

he mastered know another, liquid it to the

and became me that the

healthy he once and in again

and mind. silver that

genuine of of plants, trying

solid and

from he thenr sold

mercury, those

sap

leaves the in art vain, he

who were

skilled

metals, he had

using

same leaves, never

he tried

and what tr ied . f knew

done

once

he could

do again,

however

often

another, about

who is

still by

alive, the art, of

who, lost

after the

he had abiliLy,

made sil-ver and, that havit

and gold ing had

fifteen

times in in the his

a revealation to some fault of the the

quiet

his

fireside, soul,

realised

was due the but t,ruth

ungrateful that

and hence

we may learn is nothing once

apostle's increase. of but gai n. he had

words,

he who sows or man told then, me that using so that that better

reaps

God gives

A cerfain gold and silver,

he had the his the

made a great erials, greatly have bronze ing that

quantity

same matloss loss could from believ-

he made some, exceeded avoided of his if

a very It

sma11 amountr

came into to

my mind the

been

tried

attain have and not

metal attempt

instead nothing the

silver, at all

and he should would happen, he would by

made the in

then attain and

some wonderful might come to by pass.

fashion (pailure

thing

he thought sometimes

occurs)

disappearance it should olher

sometimes

many

intertwined that

causes,

nevertheless from that

be clearly than

understood

impediments The

arise

reasons he had

human ability. a friend who had

same man affirmed

learned

from

72.

m a d e the be tfe r th e to is

best

silver

fro m c in n a b a r but th is t o rn a lwa y s

that

after

h e h a d u n d e rta k e n h e h a d re a lis e d of the e a rt h , that it that

the

worl< many times, confirmed substances it

in v a in , c a v e rn s

results you that with

re a s o n in g . f ro m t h e o me n . is wit h of

No w wh e n y o u s e e a n a b o r t i o n seems it their Anhaeus Seneca says that o u r o wn b o d ie s , it s n a t u re I o mit of f ro m a b lo w t o t of heat t or

a m o n g these

must be a g re a t substances suffers small of if a s it

these often

m o isture too of to great

h a rm, wh e t h e r a n a p p lic a t io n e v e ry t h in g

s h a k ing r o r ignorance deeds lose zrs the

de ca y r oE cold r oE the c o rru p t io n or too or earelessness d emons, but your prayers, in our of reward; the wo rk e r,

b y h e a t t oE f r o m f ro m t h e t h e ma n y e v i l God, you will bo a s t r v e rs e wit h o u t

n o r s h o u ld

even if

y o u d e s ire g ra c e

s h o u ld

happen according

you d o n o t h a v e t h e som e t ime

you r

and at

y o u ma y ma k e a t h o u g h t le s s in t o

we r eca11 com p lexities

riddles , a riddle : -

b u t wh ic h we p u t

"Though nature keeps t h e e v e n t e n o r o f h e r wa y , t h o u g h n e i t h e r the workman's hand nor h is h e a rt t u rn a s id e r f e t n a t u re ma y p r o d u c e m a n y monsters if she is s u f f o c a t e d b y t h e h e a t o f t o o mu c h f i r e , if sh e lacks to give th r o u gh ti r ed be i n witho ut ne ither ti m e i on , th a t the it the it, or suffers t o o mu c h c o ld . O ld Mo t h e r E a rt h continues birth from her wo mb r d n d t h e wo rk e r ' s we a ry min d is b o r n e trackless ways, t o o in t e n t u p o n t h e s t o n y t a s k , a nd s o h i s from th e is in vain rig h t path. v a in these h ims e lf for a g a in s t c a lx la b o rs S h o u ld a llu n le s s of t h in g s the tb n a t u re that I have listed desires; and Meanre m e m b e r the all ever nev e rt h e le s s a re t h e c a n b rin g O mn ip o t e nt a n d a rt , f ru it io n . f

hands turn order, this time evil

nor might restrained

Demon ing ra t ia t e s to y e llo w

a n d t h ro r^ rs a ll f re me mb e r. o rd e r substance b re e z e r b lo win g the

in t , o c o n f u s -

unless

f ro m o n h ig h ;

I changed black fLame spread

o f n a t u re ;

m e t,a l at

once shone in my e y e s , the co n q u e rin g a little on t h e heat, with

t h e g e n u in e a n d wit h

g lit t er e d , d rrd s u d d e n l y of a little ligh t the to the the shone same its king the cross

upon the the win d .

dispersed

br e a th, tim e e a r ly

and vanished to

t h in -b o d ie d t h e re a s o n . He llr

Wh e n t h e s ig n of

an d the mist looked vigorr r e p e lled

was cleared

f ro m my min d I wa s a ma z e d a n d a t For the the t h e wo rld s o g re a t wa s re s t o re d p o we r o f

Olympus f o r is

the black high

moc k e ry o f cross

so great

o u r p ie t y ,

w ho from his

s a v e d h u ma n it y , 73.

so that

me n ma y re g a r d

b e g in nings Wi th R om e or cave s, i gn o r ant er s ve st ci pa l bu t the the n use ful is this e d fo r of of

of

their

ven t u re s g a in

c a lmly

and succeed, both me t a ls of

h a v in g than in

once begun. fhe mines of ki n g . " for the Callais'

experience ll-lyria nor shall cannot the the art

you will yield,

mo re o f

mo re t h a n

t h e A s t u ria n t h e g o ld

dug for

you then wo n d e r a t usefu lly re p e a t learn repeat, cannot

P h ry g ia ' s

f may therefore I m a y usefully so n would

wh a t I h a v e a lre a d y s t u b b o rn on that that account

s a id, the

too mu c h r rro r t h e t h e re f o re , c o o k u p f a ls e

b e t o o muc h w a r n e d . slanderperharprin-

e h a rg e s .

F o r n o s e n s ib l e s ic k s h o u ld d ie d , not for s k ill the

speak out fields

aga in s t they of

a g ric u lt u re

o r me d ic in e

because the

was lo s t t o t b e c a u s e t h e the d iv in e , nor nor

causes upon which nature r ules and the will because the the art censure of

d e p e n d a re o b v io u s ly a re t rif lin g

alone, from For Why

y o u s h rin k v e ry b y a ll. of the ric h .

m a kin g gold

re s u lt s

or not a rt not

are n o t

e t e rn a l

c o n f irme d re je c t

do you not returns art of

t h e n e c e s s a ry

a n d b a s ic is

a g ric u l t u r e ancient and It thwart-

w he n its surely

are not h in g ?

Wh y d o y o u n o t t h e p ro mis e d Co rn e liu s h e a lt h

curing

the h u ma n b o d y wh e n it t h e writ e r

s u c c e s s fu l ? a re o f te n illu s t rat e s s ic k r food

because we kno rt t h a t reasons; own discip lin e s . med ic in e

effects p e rh a p s to the in

various

from his

For he says that cu ltur e promises but in the wrote results; the m ay r esult, to p r oduce a n d silver m akin g gold to h ealth, a n ti quity ple

p ro mis e s

ds a g r i nor health failure gold of back

food f o r

h e a lt h y

b o d ie s . of the

Ne it h e r c h e mic a l h e is the of

are promis e d , same wa y . is f u ll

h e s a y s c a re f u lly , Wh e t h e r o r n o t of d a n g e ri for

case of

t,he p ro f e s s o r

a rt

p ro mi s e s the si c k

mo re c o n f i d e n t that

as he wishes task always

t h a n Hip p o c ra t e s

b rin g in g a lwa y s

e mb ro c a t io n s sor nor nor do the a s s is t ,

would be e f f ic a c io u s de liv e r the s ic k ,

a re n o t

do simcolleges

medicines

wh a t t h e y wh o m t h e y the

p ro mis e ; a lwa y s goal

o f m edicine Add to we ig h t that this it is r e wa r d. of is

prevent that at

f ro m d y i n g ,

ho we ver much they this gold

promis e small

a c u re . s u b lime F o r it they that the is o f ma k in g a l a r g e gift much that and gain G o d ' s p e c u lia r I s p e c u la t e t u rn in t o give

few a t t a in

expense. is of

r.mimportant to most that t h e t ru t h

make much gold me t a ls g re a t

To have made a lit t le the case so that The re s u lt s

wh a t ma t t e rs .

each other rise

m ay be recognised.

wo rk d o n o t

74.

to fer is

r i ches, l ossesr

even if

you c a n p re p a re

g o ld

in

s ix

h u n d re d wa y s, o t h e rs or in c o me , in

for but a

th e r e

are those who can s c a rc e ly dnd others one, to so therefore

bear

the

expense, s t a t io n

who sufthaf

wh o h a v e n o f ix e d y o u ma y e a s ily

va r ia ble u n a b le at

a n s we r t h e q u e s t io n so often

commonly asked, enrich expenser For either gr eat they

W hy a re t h o s e wh o ma k e g o ld make t o o or the ir princes lit t le to g o ld t o E if re s u lt s a n y g e n e ra l

r,rant and is that of want-

themselv e s ? t h e y ma k e m u c h i t v a ry , rig h t of s k ill, as the s o met h i n g fe a r is the p la c e I a w. Or the I o mit e x p e rime n t a l d is t u rb s

h a p p ens oftenr fi er ce i ng , sly ly give or they

rrot conf o rmin g do not of

and greedy credulity the

t h e mr o r t h e a n d s e rv a n t s . wit h la c k wit h

have re t a in e rs of ma n y , jo in e d

absurd justin

a n d fickle besmirch rise

a nd t h e furnaces both earth, are

wickedness to

fraudule n t not g a in ,

a rt if ic e rs , the

wh ic h Often in

y o u c a nn o t

art.

Bu t wh y b e s u rp ris e d ? s a me o c c u rs T h e re f o re g o ld in in the ant iq u it y . se e lc e rs f o r

loss,

t h e min e s , of they the

ou r own times m isg u idedly sa yin g that i nco mpetent p o sse ss. with a b le r great

and in

De me t riu s depths vhat u n c e rt a in

P h a le r a e r u s ones,

reproves they in care their

waste g a in s

the hand for a n d lo s e e v e ry t h in g

inv e s t ig a t io n s , v D if e x p e n s e is u n le s s

a lr e a d y t h at a ls o you favorconconseed, the divin womb to and uncirbe in

Neverthelessr in your

that

you have prepared a n d a ll is

and grea t

f a v o ra b le ,

h a ve desired

pra y e rs ,

G o d ' s d e c is io n of n a t u re ,

labor in v a in . |ou will One can see this in t h e wo rk in g s and birth of is feminine many other into arts. the of mort a ls sterilit y reaso n s , fo r ligh t .

b e c a u s e in t h e ma s c u lin e p re s e n c e h id d e n is it s in of the

the

ce p ti on d iti on s a n d for i ne will

a n a b o rt io n a n d a b o v e a ll

ma y o c c u r the

in v a rio u s

a n d we a k n e s s o f t h e c h ild t h e a rt , but to the lia b le wh o lie s wh ic h t h e re d iv in e in g re a t is is

necessary

co m e forth th e useful m ovin g,

Ho w mu c h g re a t e r

imp o rt a n c e s u re

In sho rt , it is not

a lwa y s n o t h in g to

relies

on no co n je c t u re s , s u b je c t or n o t

so certain

a n d unshaken that cu m stance, in clin ed suffe ring, of Augustus

p a rt will.

change in a n d a lwa y s

nor totally

Wh e n y o u f e e l you, o r c au s e y o u aphorism that he

to make gold, and meditate "There

b e wa re o f g re e d t h e g if t will often upon that that

a n d e la t io n b e n e f it t ru e G o d g iv e s

dr e a d as to whether

a n d b e a u t if u l in anger

are ma n y t h in g s 75.

do e s not to all to for

concede of his

i m mortal th e honor the

g ra c e . " T h e re f o re f irs t o f a 1 i- g iv e t h a n k s God and assi g n t o h im a s mu c h a s y o u a re a b 1 e , t h e n w i t h the he a v e n ly of of a n d s a c re d me n . g if t a n d u s e it is dutifully and glory benefit t h e Ho ly T rin it y , other wh ic h one God, and

modesty accept especial

76.