Doctrine of True Alchemy and the Metallic Art

PROLEGOMENA BY G. GRATAROLO.

The proper name of this art is called Chymeia in Greek original: "χυμεία", which means "the art of melting." This is because metals and their related substances, such as salts, aluminas, and inks The term "atramenta" or "inks" here refers to vitriols and metal sulfates., flow when placed in the fire. In this art, they are primarily treated as things that can be melted original: "ἀπὸ τοῦ χέω, χῶ χήματα," meaning "from the act of pouring or casting.". The Arabs, who were skilled in this art like the Egyptians before them, borrowed this name from the Greeks. Following their custom, they added a prefix and called it Alchemy. Others, using more corrupted forms, call it Alchimia, Alcumistica, or Archimia. Like all other arts, this one has its own peculiar words and names that are not well known to the public. These include terms like Aludel A pear shaped ceramic vessel used in the process of sublimation., Alembic The cap or head of a distilling apparatus., Bearded Botus original: "Botus barbatus." Likely a reference to a specific type of slow heating vessel or manure bath., and Elixir. These terms are explained in this first book and elsewhere. Some words are used in unusual ways, such as "imbibing" instead of moistening, or "fixing" and "fixation" to mean making a substance stable so it does not perish or evaporate in the fire. We should not despise these treasures of knowledge because of the impurity of their language. The most brilliant men of that age, searching for a deep understanding of things through the principles of philosophy and experience, cared less for elegant speech. This is evident in the works of Avicenna, Rhazes, and the other Arabic and Latin authors who followed them. Panthaeus of Venice says that Archimia comes from the Greek particles archos and mia, meaning the leader of unity and of a single true counsel. However, common Archimia makes greater promises than it performs. Concerning that deceptive alchemy, the decree of Pope John XXII A reference to the 1317 papal bull "Spondent pariter," which condemned counterfeiters of gold. states: "The poor alchemists promise riches they do not provide." A decree of the Venetian Council of Ten from September 17, 1488, was issued against such people. It begins with the words, "These things must be removed from our midst." This law was not directed against Voarchadumia A term coined by the author Pantheus to describe "true" alchemy., which Panthaeus says means "gold of two reds" in Hebrew, referring to gold that has undergone two perfect cementations A refining process used to purify gold..

The chart on page 54 and following explains many other words belonging to this art.

Furthermore, the word "ferment" seems to be used in two ways by alchemists. In one sense, it refers to the Stone itself, composed and completed from its elements, in comparison to metals. In another and more proper sense, it refers to that which perfects and completes the Stone. Just as the leaven of a dough relates to another dough, so does ferment in the first sense relate to metals. A true transformation cannot be made from imperfect things. Nothing generates anything except its own likeness. The Philosopher’s Stone is generated by nature, with the help of art, and by the divine power that wishes to reveal it. The Stone or Elixir is composed of philosophical sulfur, arsenic, and quicksilver Mercury., all of which are extracted from a single metallic stone or earth. Whether that source is the dross of iron (especially the green kind), or iron itself, or a certain white earth, or Mercury, the Sun, and the Moon, you will understand by reading what follows carefully. Arnaldus de Villa Nova says the whole work consists of four words: Sulfur (called Mars and Marcasite), Arsenic (called Magnesia), Prepared Salt (called Quicksilver), and White Smoke (called Tutia) Tutia or tutty is a term for zinc oxide collected from the flues of smelting furnaces.. Anyone ignorant of the principles of nature should not cling to this art. Such a person should be called a Sophist rather than an Alchemist, for those who do not know the beginnings cannot find the end. Alchemists call "Stone" anything that does not evaporate from the fire. They also call this "body" and "substance." There is only one single Stone for both the white and the red work, perfecting all metals into gold, as all alchemy proclaims. You will see what this is in more detail elsewhere and in chapter 18 of the next book. The methods and order of making the Elixir and the Stone are: calcination, sublimation, descension, solution, distillation, coagulation, fixation, and ceration Ceration is the process of softening a substance until it has the consistency of wax.. To "prepare" means to take away what is extra and supply what is missing, thus placing a known perfection into the substances. The Sun and the Moon Gold and Silver. do not need this, but other metals do. Whatever bodies melt slowly are quickly solidified, and the opposite is also true. Every time you sublime a body with a mixture of a sublimated spirit, you will gain a thousand parts in the projection Projection is the final stage where the Stone is cast upon a base metal to transform it into gold.. Bodies exist potentially within spirits, and spirits exist potentially within bodies. A strong agent acting in a short time does as much as a weak agent in a long time. Art accelerates and hastens the work of nature. From these things, and even more from what follows, the answers will be clear to the objections of those who try to tear down this secret art with general arguments. Such people have either never dared to try anything themselves, or they attempted something common and erroneous and were frustrated in their hope. Aristotle says it is vain to ignore the senses for the sake of arguments. Experience, according to Galen, is the mistress of things. Yet, experience also rests upon its own reasons as if on a second foot. Furthermore, this science is more certain because it relies on the thing itself. It is known to fewer people than the Jewish Cabala. It does not lack antiquity or its own authors after God. However, it has often been ruined or gained a bad reputation because of the tyranny and greed of princes, as well as the ignorance and deception of craftsmen. Today, all kinds of men are ashamed to be counted among the list of Chemists. I have known some otherwise learned men who apply themselves to this art with all their strength at home and in private. Yet, in public, they mock and insult it with jokes or open abuse so they do not appear foolish to the world. But let everyone be full of their own opinion. May they not take it badly that I strive to help the students and workers of this practical science. I shall act as a whetstone, which can make the iron sharp even though it cannot cut by itself. Let the reader now read what follows for the further praise of this art.