Page 13 - Treatise on Salt

unless it be, that from them may be drawn the antimonial stone by
separation, and that one part thereof can only transmute five parts, by
reason that it remains fixed in the coppel, and in the antimony itself, in
the quartal, and in all the other trials; where, on the contrary, this true,
and most ancient stone of the philosophers is able to produce infinite
effects. Likewise in its augmentation and multiplication, the stone of fire
can not exalt itself any further, whereas gold is of itself pure and fixed.
However, the reader is moreover to observe, that there are stones of
different species, which tinge in particular, for I call stones, all fixed and
tinging powders; but yet there is always some one which tinges more
effectually, and in a higher degree than another. The stone of the
philosophers holds the first rank among them all. Secondly, comes the
tincture of the sun and moon to red and white. Then the tincture of vitriol
and of Venus, and the tincture of Mars, each of which contains also in
itself the tincture of the sun, provided it be brought to a lasting fixation.
Then again the tincture of Jupiter and Saturn, which serve to coagulate
the mercury; and, in fine, the tincture of Mercury itself. Thus you have
the difference, and the several sorts of stones and tinctures, they are
nevertheless all engendered of the same seed, of the same mother, and
from the same source: from whence also was produced the true universal
work, excepting which, there is no other metallic tincture to be found;
nay, not even in all the things which can be named; as for the other
stones, whatever they may be, as well as the noble, as the ignoble and
vile, I have nothing to do with them, and I do not pretend so much as to
speak or write of them, because they have no other virtues than what
relate to physick. Neither shall I make mention of the animal and
vegetable stone, by reason they only serve for the preparation of
medicaments, and can not make any metallic work, not even to produce
of themselves the least quality; of all which stones as well mineral,
vegetable, as animal, the virtue and power is found accumulated together
in the stone of the philosophers. The salts of all things have no manner of
virtue to tinge, but they are the keys which serve for the preparation of
stones, which otherwise can do nothing of themselves; that is what
belongs only to the salts of metals and minerals. I say something now, if
thou would but understand, I make known to thee the difference that is in
the salts of the metals, which must not be omitted nor rejected, in what
regards the tinctures; for in the composition, we can not be without them,
because that in them is to be found that great treasure, from whence all
fixation draws its origin, together with its duration, and its true and only
foundation.” Here end the words of Basil Valentine.

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