Page 16 - Book of quintessence

from a thick plate. And you shall understand that wine does not alone
hold in it the properties of gold, but much more the properties of all
liquefiables if they be quenched therein. And that is a sovereign secret.
For this reason, if you quench Saturn liquefied in wine or in common
water seven times, and afterwards in that wine or water you quench Mars
many times, then Mars shall take always the softness of Saturn. And the
same shall Venus do, and all other liquefiables. Or else, and you quench
Mars in white wine or in common water many times, and afterwards in
the same wine or water you caste Saturn liquefied oftentimes, then
without doubt you shall find that the Saturn is made right hard. Therefore
the properties of all liquefiables may be brought into wine or water, but
much more mightily into burning water good and precious.

The science to make a fire that is without coal, without lime, without
light, working against all manner sharpness or action of visible fire, right
as works the fire of Hell.

And this secret is so virtuous that the virtue thereof may not all be
declared. And thus it is made. Take Mercury that is sublimed with vitriol,
and common salt, and sal ammoniac seven or ten times sublimed, and
mingle them together by even portions, and grind it small, and let it
brood upon a marble stone. And by night set it in a soft clear air, or else
in a cold cellar, and there it will turn into water. And then gather it
together into a strong vessel of glass and keep it. This water forsooth is
so strong, that if a little drop thereof fall upon your hand, anon it will
pierce it throughout. And in the same manner it will do if it falls upon a
plate of Venus or Jupiter into this water, it turns them into likeness of
pearl. Who so could devise [reparale] and prepare kindly this fire,
without doubt it would quench anon a burning sickness called the fire of
Hell. And also it would heal every corrosive sickness. And many
philosophers called this thing in their books sal amarus, although they
teach not the mastery thereof. If it be so that this fiery water break the
glass and run out into the ashes, then gather all together that you find
pasted in the ashes, and lay it upon a marble stone as before, and it will
turn into water. And this is a great secret.

The science to bring gold into calx. Take fine gold and make it into
small filings. Take a crucible with a good quantity of Mercury, and set it
to a little fire so that it vapour not, and put therein the filings of gold, and
stir it well together. And afterwards within a little time you shall see all

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