Page:Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus Vol I (IA cu31924092287121).djvu/141

 fact in our book on the Resuscitation of Natural Things. This is the Mercury of the Philosophers. In this way you will prepare the Mercury of Gold, of Luna, of Venus, of Mars, of Jupiter, and of Saturn. Although in their books Arnold, Aristotle, and other philosophers boast about this, yet I am well assured that it was never prepared or seen by them. It will now be for you to keep this great secret and mystery of Nature, and to take care that it does not fall into the hands of my adversaries; since it would be an indignity for them to get to know it. A pearl or a precious stone will not please a goose, because the goose does not know its price and value. It would infinitely prefer a turnip. We may fitly say the same of the sophists. It is no injustice to conceal secret mysteries from them. Let us not seem to cast pearls before swine or give that which is holy to dogs, since God sternly forbids us so to do.

But let us proceed to the practical work of our electrum, as we promised at the outset. We would have it prepared, compounded, and conjoined according to the revolution of the heaven and the conjunctions of the planets. We will proceed in this way. First, you must diligently observe the conjunction of Saturn and Mercury; and, before this occurs, have ready the appliances you require. These are, fire, a cauldron, lead cut up into minute pieces, and Mercurius vivus. Take care that nothing be wanting which the work in hand requires, or for lack of which the action may be hindered or retarded. Then when the conjunction is just going to take place, let the lead be melted in the fire, and be not quite hot when it shall have fused, lest the Mercury which you pour in escape, or, if the heat be too great, pass off in smoke. Let this be done at the very moment of conjunction. Take out suddenly the cauldron with the liquid lead; pour in the Mercury, and afterwards let them both be coagulated.

Then there will be need of attention when the conjunction of Jupiter with Mercury or Saturn is about to take place, so that you may not be ignorant of the time or pass it by. Let everything you will want be ready to hand as I before admonished you. You must take care, before the actual moment of conjunction, to melt in one vessel fine English tin, and in the other lead with Mercury. At the moment of conjunction move the metals from the fire, slackening the heat a little, and pour all into one crucible. When they have coagulated into one body you will have three metals softer and more easily melting over the fire. When they are united let it not escape your notice that in the very first place these are to be dissolved and conjoined. Then notice when there is a conjunction of any of the other four planets—Sol, Luna, Venus, or Mars—with one of the three former, Saturn, Mercury, or Jupiter. Have all instruments and materials ready. Let them be dissolved singly first; then when liquefied pour them into one at the very point of conjunction, and keep them. In a like way proceed with other metals which are to be joined and copulated with the former, until you have reduced and united all the seven according to the due conjunctions of the planets. So will you have prepared our electrum, concerning which enough has now been said.