Page 18 - Compound of Compounds

therefore look for another means of extracting from these bodies the water, oil and
very subtle spirit of Sulphur that is the true, very active tincture we seek to obtain.
Thence, we will work these bodies by separating either by decomposition or by
distillation their natural composite parts, so as to arrive at their simple parts. Some who
are ignorant of the composition of the Magistery want to work only with Mercury,
believing that there is a body, a soul and a spirit therein and that it is the first matter of
gold and silver. To answer them truthfully, a few philosophers maintain that the Opus
consists of three things, the spirit, the body and the soul, that are extracted from one
thing. On the other hand we cannot find in something what is not there. Namely,
Mercury has no red tincture, therefore it cannot suffice by itself to form the body of
the Sun; it is impossible from Mercury alone to successfully complete the Work. The
Moon alone does not suffice, notwithstanding the fact that it is, as it were, the basis of
the work.

No matter how we work and transform Mercury, never will it be able to constitute
the body. They also say: “We find in Mercury a red Sulphur, therefore it holds the red
tincture.” Error! For Sulphur is the father of metals and is never found in Mercury that
is female.

A passive matter cannot procreate by itself. Mercury does actually contain
Sulphur, by as we indicated before, it is a terrestrial sulphur. Finally, notice that
Sulphur cannot withstand fusion. We conclude that the Elixir cannot be drawn from a
single thing.

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