On the Principles of Nature

[The power of] sulfur sent and the sulfurs, without the aid of coarse sulfur, perfect and give form to gold; and this subtle sulfurousness is likened to the heart. The form and tincture A "tincture" in alchemy is a substance capable of infusing its color and properties into another body, effectively "dyeing" it into a new state, such as turning mercury into gold. of gold, which all Philosophers seek, is that of which Rhazes original: "Rasis," referring to the Persian physician and alchemist Abu Bakr al-Razi (c. 865–925 CE). speaks in the first chapter of the Book of the Light of Lights, saying: "The tincture is in the stone as the heart is in the animal." This is because when the external sulfur has, by its own virtue, sent its active power into the quicksilver original: "argento vivo" (quicksilver or mercury).—arousing, perfecting, and strengthening it—the coarse sulfurousness is then separated from it. Therefore, sulfurous stones are found in all mineral veins of metals, and thus sulfur contains the metallic nature and virtue.

Consequently, Alchemists Alchymistæ; practitioners of the art of transmutation treat much of it, and this is on account of the virtue which is hardened and congealed by means of quicksilver. This is evident because quicksilver is hardened through the smoke or vapor of sulfur and of lead itself. For this reason, the Philosopher Aristotle says in the fourth chapter of the Book of Impressions original: "libro impressionum," likely referring to Aristotle's Meteorologica, which discusses the formation of minerals.: "Sulfur is the proper hardening and coagulating agent of quicksilver"; and this comes from a virtue conceived in the earth, which descends from the stars above into the earth.

Yet it must be known that just as there are two sulfurs, so there are two tinctures and metallic virtues: namely, one of coarse sulfur, and the other of subtle sulfur. Although these two sulfurs coagulate and tinge quicksilver into metals, coarse sulfur tinges and coagulates quicksilver imperfectly, because it is impure and "evil" In alchemical theory, "evil" (malum) refers to material that is corruptive, volatile, or contains too much "earthy" impurity to form a perfect metal.. Therefore, it possesses an impure tincture. For this reason, Geber, King of Spain original: "Geber Rex Hispaniæ," referring to the Latinized name of Jabir ibn Hayyan; the title "King of Spain" is a legendary medieval attribution. posits the tincture of sulfur—

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