Page:Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus Vol I (IA cu31924092287121).djvu/179

 Another is the fire of the candle and lamp, which fixes all volatile bodies. Another is the coal fire, which cements, colours, and purges metals from their scoriæ, graduates more highly Sol and Luna, takes the whiteness from Venus, and, in a word, renovates all the metals. Another is the fire of an ignited iron plate, on which the tinctures of metals are probed, which also is useful for other purposes. In another way, scobs (i.e., alkali) of iron produces heat, in another way, sand; in another, ashes; in another, the balneum maris, by which many distillations, sublimations, and coagulations are produced. In yet another way operates the balneum roris, in which take place many solutions of corporeal things. Otherwise, again, acts the venter equinus, in which the principal putrefactions and digestions take place, and in another way operates the invisible fire, by which we understand the rays of the sun, which also is shewn by a mirror, or steel plate, or crystal, and displays its operation and effect, concerning which fire the ancients wrote scarcely anything. By this fire, indeed, the three principles in any corporeal substance can be separated on a table. Of so wonderful a virtue is this fire, that by means of it metals are liquefied, and all fat and fluxible things—all combustible things, indeed—can be reduced to carbon and ashes on a table, and without fire.

Since, then, I have placed before you and disclosed the steps of Alchemical Art, and the degrees of alchemical fire, I will, moreover, point out to you, and describe generically, the various transmutations of natural objects. Before all, one should speak of the metals; secondly, of stones; thirdly, of various objects after their kind. The transmutation of metals, then, is the great secret in Nature, and can only be produced with difficulty, on account of the many hindrances and difficulties. Yet it is not not contrary to Nature or the will of God, as many falsely say. But in order to transmute the five lower and baser metals, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury, into the two perfect metals, Sol and Luna, you must have the Philosophers' Stone. But since we have already, in the seven steps, sufficiently unveiled and described the secrets of the Tinctures, it is not necessary to labour further about this, but rather rest satisfied with what we have written in other books on the Transmutations of Metals.

But there are further transmutations of imperfect and impure metals, as, for instance, of Mars into Venus. This may be effected in different ways: Firstly, if iron filings are heated in water of vitriol; or, secondly, if iron plates are cemented with calcined vitriol; thirdly, if glowing iron plates are extinguished with oil of vitriol. In these three ways iron is transmuted into the best, natural, and heavy copper, which, indeed, flows very well, and has its own weight as well as any native copper. Iron filing can also be reduced and transmuted as if into lead, so that it becomes entirely soft, like native lead, but it does not flow easily. Therefore proceed thus: Take some iron filing, and the same quantity of the best liquefying powder. Mix them; place them on a tigillum in a blast furnace, make a strong fire, not so much as to melt the iron, but let it stand as if in a cement a whole hour. Afterwards increase the