Page:Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus Vol I (IA cu31924092287121).djvu/278

 talcs, auripigments, and many cachimiæ of this kind, which differ with the regions in which they are found. Concerning these we must set down that they are to a certain extent metallic, in that they have a proximate metallic first matter, and descend from the first three metallic principles. Metals such as gold, silver, copper, lead, etc., are incorporated with them. But because they incorporate also a metallic foe, nothing can be extracted from them without alchemy; but these same foes are of great capacity. These are generated in the following order: Marchasites, pyrites, antimonies, cobalts, talcs, auripigments, sulphurs, arsenicalia. I am acquainted with all of these.

This chapter and text is entitled Concerning the Three Imperfect Bodies for this reason, that it is concerned with a metallic growth which bears the same relation to metals as tumourous fleshly excrescences bear to natural flesh, as the fungus bears to the herb, or the ape to the man. Of these things some are in the body of sulphur, as marcasites, pyrites, cobalts; others are in the body of mercury, as antimony, arsenicalia, and auripigment; yet others are in salt, as talc.

Marcasite is of two colours, citrine and white, metallic and brilliant. It is generated from imperfect metallic sulphur, which is destined to become marcasite by a natural necessity.

''At the conclusion of the Book about Minerals there follows in the Geneva folio a brief fragment which is concerned with the three prime principles in their connection with man. It is entitled an''

There are, then, in human beings only seven planets; four of which are bodies per se, not forming part of anything else. There are also other minerals, those of the three primals to wit, which come from Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, and are specially called mineral, because they are either themselves minerals or form parts of minerals. There are two minerals, and several parts, which enter partially into their composition. Gold, for instance, bears with it three parts, Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury; and all species comprised under minerals are made up of these three parts. Every planet has a perfect Yliadus. The other parts have not the same, as, for instance, sal gemmæ, forming a species, not a part; a marcasite is a species, cachimiæ is a species. But spirits have species in them, as the salt of a gem has Arsenic, fixed Sulphur, and liquid Mercury. The Yliadus, however, differs from the former Yliadus, because the former has his substance and mineral perfect. Minerals have such species; not a manifest body as planets have. Wherefore the Yliadus is to be understood in a twofold sense, one referring to the body, and one to the spirits. The corporal Yliadus is partaker with the spirits of the Yliadus; but the spiritual is not partaker with the former.