Isaac Hollandus

...into the stone The "Philosopher's Stone" or the primary material being worked upon. no foreign things should come / which are not of its nature / yet they unskilled alchemists want to bring it to its nature / for it is not possible for them to work / so that they fix original: "figiren"; in alchemy, to "fix" a substance means to make a volatile or liquid spirit solid and resistant to heat. the one thing / and when they have fixed it / they are as close as they were before / for then it is nothing other than earth that has lost its moisture / it is non-fluid and has no entrance meaning it cannot penetrate or "tinge" other metals. / for they stop exactly where they should first begin to work / but if they knew of what lineage original: "Geschlecht" it was / and recognized its father and mother / sister and brother / arm in arm / mouth in mouth / they would die at that very hour This refers to the alchemical "death" or "putrefaction" (nigredo), where the substance must be destroyed to be reborn in a higher form. / if they recognized and understood these same things / they would achieve all their desires from the Art / and all their works would turn out successfully.

Dear Sons Filij Latin: "sons," the traditional way an alchemical master addressed his pupils., I have revealed all this to you with bright, clear words / therefore do not begin any foreign operations operationes Latin: "workings" or "procedures." before you have completed the Great [Work] / thereafter begin whatever you wish, so that neither cost nor time shall harm you / for you will have such things according to your pleasure. I have told you of many defects that may occur / of which there are many more / but you should know / that there is a simple rule original: "schlechte Regel"; in this context, "schlecht" means plain or uncomplicated. / about which the Philosophers Philosophi The ancient alchemical authorities such as Hermes Trismegistus or Geber. all speak so strangely / and give parables / and set forth with hidden names / and yet they all mean the Great Work / and those who can perform the Great Work can also understand all parables parabolas Greek: "symbolic comparisons" or "allegories." and hidden words. Furthermore, you should understand and know of this work /