OF THE MINE OF GOLD, AND ITS

QUALITIES IN PARTICULAR,

FIRST CHAPTER.

A decorative woodcut initial 'P' shows a landscape featuring a building or bridge in the background, marking the beginning of the first chapter.

BECAUSE gold is a mineral compound that is approved by Philosophers In this context, Biringuccio refers to "Natural Philosophers" or alchemists like Aristotle or Hermes Trismegistus, who studied the nature of matter. and by every intelligent person as being of the greatest perfection among all mineral mixtures; for this reason, and for its great beauty, and the universal opinion that it possesses excessive virtues beneficial to men, it is esteemed as the first among all things in this world (except for living beings). Therefore, I too, to honor it, wish to begin here by speaking of it before any of the other metals, and to narrate to you in particular its conception original: "concettione"; referring to the way the metal is "born" or formed within the earth according to Renaissance geological theory. and its most apparent qualities. For although it is a very well-known metal, desired and sought by every kind of person, there are not many who care to know from what substances or by what nature it is formed. But so that you may not be one of those who only know it by name, or by the apparent surface shown to us, I tell you that its original and proper materials are nothing other than elemental substances, proportioned to one another with equal quantity and quality, and most subtly purified. Because they are joined together (being of equal strength), an amicable and most perfect mixture original: "mistione" is born from them; and following this, through fermentation and decoction The process of "cooking" or maturing by the heat of the earth's core over long periods., they finally become fixed and permanent. They are joined in such a union that they are almost inseparable; such that by the virtue of the heavens, or by time, or by the order of most wise nature, or by all of these together, such substances are converted into this metallic body called gold. This, as has been said, because of its great temperance In the sense of a perfectly balanced "temperament" or ratio of elements. and most perfect and unified mixture, becomes dense—and of such density that it does not dissolve from its common permanence, but remains almost in incorruptibility. The cause of this is its inability to contain any superfluity within itself, even if it were subtle and small. And from this it follows that even though it may be in the earth or in the water, it does not bring rust upon itself over a long age, for neither one nor the other can exert their power over it; nor can fire, which has the power to incinerate or resolve every created thing. Rather, gold not only defends itself from these with its vigor, but is continually purified and made more beautiful. And similarly, its aforementioned perfect union causes its body to be without phlegm In early chemistry, "phlegm" referred to a watery, tasteless, and inactive impurity. and without superfluous oiliness original: "ontuosità"; referring to the sulfurous substances that were thought to make metals prone to burning or tarnishing.. Hence it happens that it always remains in its bright and beautiful state in its own color; nor, when rubbed, does it leave any black or yellow stain on things, as almost all other metals do. Nor does it have any odor or flavor that can be perceived by the sense of smell or taste; nor, if one were to eat it by choice, or...