The Child-Bed of the Philosopher's Stone

...not, when it has already come to its end / and do not occupy yourself for long with the resolution The chemical process of breaking a compound down into its constituent parts. of all determined mixed bodies In alchemy, "mixed bodies" refers to any physical substance composed of a combination of the four elements. / to extract from their womb this precious matter original: "Materie"; the primary substance required to begin the alchemical transformation. which you desire. But if you remain stubborn against my reminder / you will wander in error for the whole time of your life / and in the end have nothing other than confusion / vexation and regret / for not having followed the right opinion of him who / out of the working of Christian love / desires nothing else than that you may attain the fulfillment of your wish.

If you seek it in the cabinets / in the chests and treasures of universal Nature / which are the four elements / you will find your satisfaction even less / and you will be poor in the midst of your elemental treasures / for Nature has not directed you so far: It belongs to no one / but God alone / to make something or all things from the simple elements The pure, unmixed states of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, which were believed to be the building blocks of the universe. / just as it is not possible for man to make / what God has prepared from the simple elements. But if you pretend that you have them in their simplicity / as some ignorant artists A common term for alchemists or practitioners of the "Hermetic Art." boast / who instead of the elements separate different substances original: "Substanzen" from the subject original: "Subjecto"; the raw material or base substance placed in the alchemical vessel. / to which they falsely give the name of simple elements / such a thing is impossible for man / as all the more understanding and learned in the secrets of nature confess.

Nevertheless, it is not right / to leave you stuck merely in either despair or ignorance