Page 28 - Book of Composition

first it has been red, and lastly white, and so its blackness is altogether
taken away, and then it is turned into a bright and clear redness.” Also
Maria says : “and when Laton [copper or aurichalcum] is burnt with
alzebric, that is with sulphur, and the softness melted upon it: so that the
heat of it is taken away, then all its obscurity and blackness is taken from
it, And so it is converted intomost pure Q [gold]”. Likewise Datyn
[Zosimus] the philosopher says : “And if Laton be burned with sulphur,
and its softness often times poured upon it, its nature by the help of God
will be turned from good to better.” Also another man saith : “And
whereas pure Laton is decocted so long until it glistens like the eyes of
fishes, so long shall the profit of it be expected. And then know that he is
returned again to its nature and colour.” And another man said in like
sort : “that how much the more any thing is washed, so much the clearer
and better it will appear, but if it be not washed it will not appear clear,
nor return to its colour.”
And likewise Maria saith : “There is nothing that can take from Laton
[copper or aurichalcum] its obscurity and colour, but Azoc [Mercury] is
as it were its covering. First that is to say when it is decocted : for it
colours it and makes it red. And again Laton has dominion ever Asos,
that is wine, or makes it red.” Also another philosopher says : “that Azoc
cannot substantially take from Laton its colour, or change it, but only to
the sight; but Laton may take from Azoc its substantial whiteness,
because there is a wonderful, fortitude in it, which appears above all
colours. For when colours are washed, and the blackness and
uncleanness is taken, so that the whiteness appears, Laton is afterwards
named Azoc, and it makes it become red.
Also Datyn the philosopher says that everything is not but of it, and with
it, and that every tincture proceeds of its like. Likewise Adarmath that
wise philosopher said, that all the names of these things, and the
similitudes of them are called and changed of the ancient men, for no
other cause but that you may understand that the beginning of this thing
is testified upon its end, and that its end is testified upon its beginning.
And that you may know this Magistery to be but one thing, which has
both a father and mother: and his father and mother nourish it, and feed
it, not that it can any way differ from his father and mother. Euthica
[Theosebeia] also said: “how may it be brought to pass that a shape may
be tincted of its kind.” Also Datyn the philosopher said in like sort, “of
whence is that thing which has come forth of it, and will return unto it?”

23