A decorative typographical ornament with symmetrical scrolled flourishes.

I.

Friar BASILIUS VALENTINUS Basilius Valentinus was a legendary 15th-century Benedictine monk and alchemist, though his works were actually first published around 1600 by Johann Thölde.

Treatise on Natural and Supernatural Things.

ON THE SPIRIT OF MERCURY. original: "DE SPIRITU MERCURII."

The Third Chapter.

Although I use a peculiar style
of writing, which will seem
strange to many, and will also
appear strange in their heads and
thoughts, yet there is sufficient reason for it:
Yes, I say sufficient, so that I may remain with my
experience, and pay little heed to other chatter,
because the same is hidden within my science,
and seeing always goes before hearing,
and the foundation Grund receives praise
over the baselessness Ungrund. In alchemical philosophy, the "Grund" (ground/foundation) refers to the stable essence of reality, while the "Ungrund" refers to the primordial abyss or void from which all things emerge.
Therefore I now say that all visible,
tangible things are made from the Spirit of
Mercury, which precedes all earthly things
of the entire world, and all things
are made from it, and have
their origin solely from it;
for in it is found
everything that can accomplish all that the Art-