Mineral Stone, or the Highest Medicine

brought to more-than-perfection original: "plusquamperfection"; an alchemical term for a state beyond complete purity or maturity / to which nothing can be compared / for the prevention of sickness and poverty / and for a rich, overflowing delight of the body and of goods.

This is now the way to obtain the Spirit of Mercury original: "Spiritus Mercurii" / which I have revealed / as much as has been granted and permitted to me / by the highest Emperor original: "Imperatorem"; likely referring to God as the ultimate ruler of nature. The manual procedures of my discovery in this work of mine / which I have made so manifest / you shall wisely take heed of / so that you do not have to suffer a bath in hell on my account, despite my faithful warning / because the true opening of the gate that leads to the royal court / is opened only by a single key / which cures original: "curirt" all diseases / whether it be dropsy Dropsy: An old medical term for edema, or the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water. / consumption Consumption: Historically, a wasting disease, most commonly identifying pulmonary tuberculosis. / gout original: "Podagra" / the stone original: "Stein"; referring to kidney or bladder stones / epilepsy original: "Fallendsucht" / stroke original: "Schlaag" / leprosy original: "Aussatz" / and whatever names they have in general original: "in genere". This Medium original: "Medium"; here referring to the prepared alchemical medicine also cures original: "curirt" all types of the French disease French disease: A historical name for syphilis, which spread rapidly through Europe in the late 15th century. / and all old, long-lasting injuries / whether they be lupus original: "Wolffs" / sores original: "Siren"; likely referring to 'Sirones' or skin-burrowing mites / lichens original: "Flechten"; likely eczema or psoriasis / worms original: "Wurm" / fistulas original: "Fistel" / cancer original: "Krebs" / and devouring sores / as I have revealed to you and withheld nothing. Finally, mark and take heed / that you wish to make known only this much and no more / because all art has its beginning and flows forth from the Spirit of Mercury original: "Spiritu Mercurii" / which is refreshed and awakened into life by the spiritual sulfur original: "Schwebel"; an archaic spelling of Schwefel / so that a heavenly thing simultaneously comes out of them / and with and through the salt original: "Saltz" they become living and take form / let the beginning of the soul / of the spirit and of the body /