Page:Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus Vol I (IA cu31924092287121).djvu/270

 granate, duelech, marble, sand, cachimia, or what not, then he takes and combines the three simples. Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, which are of this nature, and do serve his purpose. Afterwards he casts them into his Athanor, where they are decocted, as seed in the earth. They are decocted again in such a way that Sulphur may add its body, in which the operation consists. They prepare it according to their judgment for that which it ought to be or to become. Next, out of the other two Mercury is decocted for its properties, so that those may be present which ought so to be. When these decoctions have been made, there follows, lastly, conservation, which is brought about by means of Salt. In this way all is coagulated; that is, the Salt first unifies, next congeals, and lastly, coagulates. Now it is strengthened, so that already the autumn is ready and he is at hand who is to beat out the metal. Let this brief account suffice for every generation of metals, namely, in what way they are conjoined. Concerning each one separately, how it is to be dealt with, instruction shall be given in the particular chapter. And this teaching, indeed, concerning minerals is necessary in order that everything may be more rightly and plainly understood, and that you may not be led away by the deceits of the old writers and their followers. They are puffed up with vast self-esteem, and are only approved by those like them, who are as unskilful as themselves, but do not take their ease quite so much, hoping that they may search into and gather these things by more exact study.

Concerning the generation of metals, you may be assured that there is a great number and vast variety of them. A metal is that which fire can subdue, and out of which the artisan can make some instrument. Of this class are gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, tin. These are called metals by every one. But there are also, besides these, certain metals which are not reckoned as metals, either in the writings and philosophy of the ancients nor by the common people, and yet they are metals. To these belong zinc and cobalt (which are subdued and forged by force of fire), as also certain granates (accustomed to be so called) of which there are many kinds, themselves also metals. But many more are those which up to this time are not as yet known to me, as are many different sorts of marcasites, bismuths, and other cachimiæ, which produce metals, but of kinds not yet known. Only the principal ones are known, which are more ready and convenient for use, such as gold, silver, iron, copper, tin, lead. The rest are pretty completely neglected, and nobody cares about their properties—neither the smith nor the ironworker, the tinman, brazier, or goldsmith. Nevertheless, these metals are for other operators, not yet born. No one is competent to learn save in one way and by a single art. The assertion that quicksilver is a metal has no truth in it. It belongs to another class of minerals; not being a metal, a stone, a marcasite, or a sapphire, etc. It is a peculiar growth of Nature, gifted with its own body like the rest, and provided with its pro-