The Golden Fleece

[Place it in] ashes / so that the matter is half visible / and make a very subtle fire beneath it / like the sun shines during the Dog Days The hottest days of summer; a metaphor for a steady, intense but gentle heat. / let it stand until it turns black / keep it at a constant heat / until the blackness disappears / then increase the fire by one degree / so many beautiful colors will appear.

Now you shall govern the fire degree by degree with understanding / until the white-gray appears / then this treasure has become entirely fixed original: "fix". In alchemy, a substance is "fixed" when it becomes stable in fire and no longer evaporates. / and incombustible. Now maintain the fire at a high heat / so it will begin to turn yellow / and with great wonder it reaches the highest Salamandrine redness The "Rubedo" or Red Stage, the final phase of the alchemical Great Work, named for the mythical lizard that could live within flames. / and thus this Work is brought to its conclusion / for it requires no other labor / than only to tinge original: "thingieren". The act of "projection," or using the alchemical stone to transform base metals into gold. / as follows hereafter.

Thus Tinge.

Take one part of this Work / finely ground / and let 1,000 parts of the best Hungarian gold original: "☉". Alchemical symbol for Sol or Gold. Hungarian gold was renowned in the Renaissance for its high purity. flow strongly in the heat / then add the portion of the Tincture wrapped in paper / let it remain in the flow for three-quarters of an hour / and this one part transforms everything into Tincture. From that, take one part / let 1,000 parts of fine silver flow / and add this [Tincture] upon it / that transforms it into the highest gold / the likes of which has never been seen / which is very soft under the hammer / almost like lead / and stable in all probes Assays or metallurgical tests to determine purity..

From this superior Tincture take one part / let 1,000 parts of tin original: "♃ium". Alchemical symbol for Jupiter or Tin. from the mine flow in a clean crucible / made of earth / in the fire / when it begins to smoke / then add the part of the Tincture upon it / so it will become pure Tincture. And of this Tincture take again one part for 1,000 parts of raw tin / so it will become the best and highest gold original: "☉". / stable in all tests / and of a very high grade / which also tinges other pale gold / to the highest degree / and so heavy in weight / that no gold is equal to it. And I say that where this gold is dissolved in a fiery wine Likely a strong spirit or "aqua vitae." / and a leprous original: "aussetziger". person drinks eight lots A historical unit of weight, roughly 10–15 grams per lot. of the wine while fasting / within twenty-four hours he is [cleansed] of his leprosy