Page 43 - Book of Composition

with it minerals are made fit, and evil souls are retained in their bodies.
Also the whole fire and Nature of it is the nature and perfect probation of
this thing. And if you handle these things according as we have said, by
the help of God your intent shall be effected.

Therefore understand well what we have said, and being understood,
commit them to your memory, and study often in the disposition of them
according to their order. For the often study of it will reveal to you a
more perfect way of it. Know likewise, the greater root of this work is in
the inquisition of kinds which are better for this Magistery. For every
mineral is of many kinds. It is also convenient for you to know this
which you demanded concerning the white fume, because white fume is
the Tincture, and also the soul of these dissolved bodies, and also of dead
bodies, the souls of which we have now extracted, and have again joined
them to their bodies for every body will be dark and obscure when it
shall want its soul. And it is white fume which flows into the body, as the
soul does, that it may altogether take from it its blackness and filthiness,
and consolidate the bodies into one, and that it might multiply the water
of them.

For unclean is black and much light, and therefore when its blackness is
taken away, its whiteness is strengthened, and its water is multiplied, and
its fairness will be more apparent, and its tincture will work the better in
it. Why should I use many words? If all these things shall be well
handled, the tincture will have good operation in it, and the Q of it will
come forth most pure and glorious, that you shall not find any more
better and purer than it. Therefore, for this cause, Q hath been called of
some men, Roman Q or Roman Ethees.

I would also have you to know this, because if white fume were not, the
pure and profitable Q Ethees of Alchemy, could by no means be
obtained. This is the chief point of this Magistery, and as it were the
whole direction of it. And when the alchemy shall be finished, then let
one part of it be put to nine parts of R and it will all be converted into
most pure Q. Therefore blessed be the Lord God world without End.
Amen.

Here ends the book of Alchemy
translated out of the Arabic tongue into Latin,

Anno Domini 1182 [1144 A.D.],
in the month of February,

and in the 21th day of the same month.

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