On Perfect and Imperfect Bodies

Perfect and imperfect bodies: and that which Nature did not complete within them, but only began, can easily be brought to perfection. Hence Aristotle The author likely refers to the "Pseudo-Aristotle," as many medieval alchemical texts were falsely attributed to him. says that it was never the intention of the Philosophers that our Stone The "Philosopher's Stone," the legendary substance capable of transmuting base metals into gold. should be made of anything but mineral principles—namely, of fixed Quicksilver original: "Argenti vivi"; mercury that has been treated to resist the heat of fire. and the finest living Sulfur.

When the body is mixed with the spirits according to their essences The fundamental nature or "soul" of the substance. in such a way that they are never separated from one another—just as water mixed with water—then all things are reduced to the nature of their own homogeneity The state of being of the same kind or nature throughout.. Thus the philosophers have said...