THE FIRST TREATISE

IN THE FOLLOWING TREATISE WE SHALL DISCOURSE ON THE ORIGIN OF THE Stone OF THE PHILOSOPHERS AND THE ART HOW TO PRODUCE IT.

THE Philosopher’s Stone The legendary substance sought by alchemists, believed to be capable of perfecting imperfect metals and granting long life. is produced by means of the Greening and Growing Nature A reference to the vital life force found in nature, often symbolized by the color green in alchemical texts to represent vitality and potential..

HALI Likely Haly Abenragel, an 11th-century Arab astrologer and alchemist whose works were highly influential in medieval Europe. the Philosopher, says thereof: “This Stone rises in growing, greening things.” Wherefore when the Green is reduced to its former nature, whereby things sprout and come forth in ordained time, it must be decocted A technical term for heating a substance in a liquid to extract its essence or to "ripen" it. and putrefied The process of rot or decomposition which alchemists believed was necessary to release the "spirit" from the "body" of the matter. in the way of our secret art. That by Art In this context, "Art" refers specifically to Alchemy—the human skill used to assist and accelerate natural processes. may be aided, what Nature decocts and putrefies, until she gives it, in due time, the proper form, and our Art but adapts and prepares the Matter as becomes Nature, for such work, and for such work provides also, with premeditated Wisdom, a suitable vessel.

For Art does not undertake to produce Gold and Silver, anew, as it cannot endow matter with its first origin, nor is it necessary to search our Art in the places and caverns of the earth, where minerals have their first beginning. Art goes quite another way to work and with different intention from Nature, therefore does Art also use different tools and instruments.