Collectanea chymica

The Secret of the Liquor Alkahest.

3. Question. Of what substance is it?
4. Answer. It is a noble circulated salt, prepared with wonderful art until it answers the wish of the wise artist. It is by no means a corporal salt made liquid by bare solution, but a saline spirit which cannot be coagulated by the heat of evaporation; but is of a uniform spiritual substance, volatile with gentle heat, leaving nothing behind. Yet this spirit is not an acid or an alkalized substance, but salt.

5. Question. Who is its equal?
6. Answer. If you know the Pair, you may easily know the equal. Seek, for the gods have sold arts for labor.

7. Question. From what matter is the Alkahest immediately made?
8. Answer. I said it was a salt. Fire surrounded the salt, and water absorbed the fire, yet it did not prevail over it. Thus is made the Philosophers' Fire, of which it is said:

The vulgar burn with fire, we with water.

9. Question. What is the most noble salt?
10. Answer. If you wish to learn this, descend into yourself, for the salt and its Vulcan are carried about within you, if you are able to discern it.

11. Question. Who is it, tell me I pray you?