Page 47 - Treatise on Salt

the books of the philosophers, and by the lecture thereof grew sensible of
the grossness of his former faults and follies. Having thus discovered the
true foundation, that he might preserve a remembrance of the same, he
put it into German metre, as follows.

Discourse translated from verse.

A certain thing is found in this world, which is also everywhere, and in
every place,
It is not earth, nor fire, nor air, nor water,
However it wants neither of these things,
Nay, it can become fire, air, water, and earth;
For it contains all nature, in itself purely, and sincerely,
It becomes white and red, is hot and cold,
It is moist and dry, and is diversifiable every way,
The band of sages only have known it,
And they call it their salt:
It is extracted from their earth,
And it has been the ruin of many a fool;
For the common earth is worth nothing here,
Nor the vulgar salt in any manner,
But rather the salt of the world,
Which contains in itself all life:
Of it is made that medicine, which will preserve you from all maladies.
If then you desire the elixir of the philosophers,
Without doubt that thing must be metallic,
As nature has made it,
And has reduced it to a metallic form,
Which is called our magnesia,
Out of which our salt is extracted;
When therefore you shall have found this thing,
Prepare it well for your use,
And you shall draw forth of this clear salt,
Its heart, which is very sweet,
Make its red soul come out likewise,
And its sweet and excellent oil.
And the blood of the sulphur is called,
The sovereign good in this work;
These two substances may generate for you,
The sovereign treasure of the world.

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