ON ALCHEMY

...authority and power, and loom over us.
Theophrastus. I recognize crocodile tears.
Chrysophilus. What were you saying?
Theophrastus. I said that I recognize your benevolence. Yet from your speech, I understand that I (whom you chose for counsel) will satisfy you very little in this matter. For you to be able to fulfill your wish, so that you might obtain tranquility of life and mind from what you turn over in your thoughts, is as honest and consistent with reason as if the Vestal Virgins The Vestal Virgins were ancient Roman priestesses sworn to celibacy and ritual purity. were to celebrate phallic festivals original: "Ithyphallica". These were boisterous, often lewd festivals in honor of Priapus or Bacchus, the complete opposite of Vestal modesty.. I shall make you understand this more clearly than light: if I may be allowed to repeat some deeper points concerning the power and nature of the Chemical Art, at least as far as my own knowledge reaches.
Chrysophilus. That is indeed what I have long desired. Tell me.
Theophrastus. First, you must consider that the Chemical Art is the most ingenious of all sciences and the most useful, even necessary, to the human race. It is not unworthy for someone to spend their entire life on it, as you will later understand. However, it extends further than you believed. We consider the whole of it, both that which concerns metals and that which concerns metallic substances, to be divided into two different types. One arises from physical principles and flows from the logic of sympathy and antipathy The alchemical belief that certain substances naturally attract or repel one another.. It is joined with the highest praise and admiration. The other only seems to be of such a kind. It prefers to seem rather than to be. Therefore, it is Sophistical term: "Sophistica". In this context, it refers to deceptive or counterfeit alchemy that uses tricks to make substances look like gold without truly transforming them.. Since its outcome is deceptive, it has never been accepted by any wise man, but it is embraced by almost all those who think like the common crowd. The former art, as I said, is accustomed to produce admirable, beautiful, and healthy, not to say divine, effects from the secrets of nature. From that true art, certain things have been unearthed and discovered by ingenious men, but they have become so common that they no longer deserve to be called arts. Some powers of this science have not yet been discovered, and these are believed to be greater in number. Thus, they are rightly called secrets original: "arcana".. Third: some things have indeed been discovered, but they have remained known to very few, and almost no one, for many centuries, unless the supreme Governor of nature demonstrated it to them. Out of all these, there is one principal thing, the target and true end of the entire Chemical Art. It is always hidden with wondrous craftsmanship and deep silence, so that it must still be counted among those secrets. This has resulted in many men daring to affirm, more constantly than truly, that this thing does not exist in the nature of things. When so many geniuses have labored in vain to reach this target, wandering (as they say) across the whole sky, they still wish to appear to the public as having achieved something. Relying on human wisdom, they decide it is prudent to flee to that other art which I called Sophistical. Thus, they have fished with a golden hook A metaphor for spending a great deal of money (the "golden hook") in the hope of catching a result that never covers the cost of the expedition., as I will explain later.
Chrysophilus. Explain these things more exactly. I do not know which inventions of this art you call discovered and which you say are not yet found.
Theophrastus. Chemical inventions (to follow the most important ones) are partly about metals themselves and partly about metallic substances. Regarding metals, these things can generally be established: mixing certain metals together so that they appear to be something else, examples of which are common enough. Also, changing certain things, making them more solid, changing the color in many, adding weight, or (which is easier) taking it away, and making some softer and others harder. All these things are done without any intent to deceive. Other things concern metallic substances, which are nevertheless connected with metals: such as gilding and silvering (for I please to use these unusual words), and the separations themselves, for which use those most powerful waters Refers to "aqua fortis" (nitric acid) and other mineral acids used to separate gold from silver. were prepared. From these, the admirable powers of metallic substances have been investigated. From there, the friendships and hatreds of metallic substances with metals were perceived, which we rightly call sympathy. These include the relationships of antimony, mercury, sulfur, camphor, gold-solder term: "chrysocolla". A mineral or preparation used in soldering gold, sometimes identified as borax or malachite., ashy lead, whiter lead Likely referring to tin or a specific lead oxide., and others with gold, silver, and brass term: "orichalchum". A golden-colored alloy, often used to describe high-quality brass.. Next comes the invention of gunpowder original: "pulveris pyrici"., which with its admirable power imitates thunder and lightning. It has now progressed so far that it retains almost the same force without the noise. To this belongs the science by which glass is drawn into very long lines. Likewise, the making of mirrors, especially those exquisite ones made from electrum An alloy of gold and silver.. Though others, which they call burning mirrors, came from the discipline of optics and were first discovered by Archimedes. Likewise, the composition of the metal foils placed under gemstones. I omit mentioning those which pertain to various remedies, since almost no medicine is free from these processes. Are not all exhalations, which they call distillations (the extreme of which is called the Quintessence term: "Quinta essentia". The "fifth essence" or purest spiritual part of a substance, extracted through distillation. by more recent authors), subject to the Chemical Art? Are not the principal compositions of colors? Are not those most noble and healthy fumigations and very precious odors? I will not even speak of the reductions of almost all simple substances into the thinnest spirits. Nor is it fitting to pass over in silence the metallic fusions, than which hardly anything is more ingenious or more accurate. Finally, that invention should also be rightly recorded by which napkins and hand-cloths, and also table linens, are made, which are washed not with water but with fire, and yet are not damaged A reference to asbestos cloth, which was a great curiosity in the Renaissance and often associated with alchemical wonders.. All these things have long since come to our knowledge by the benefit of the most excellent Chemical Art.
Chrysophilus. I understand everything you say perfectly. But what are those things which you say are not yet discovered?
Theophrastus. As if it were permitted to speak of things that are not yet in the nature of things! Yet I do not doubt that many more things can be found: such as the softness of glass without fire The legendary "flexible glass" (vitrum flexile) which could be bent without breaking., the composition of amber, the crafting of the hardest stones, the boiling of the thinnest waters by which wonders could be performed, and other things of this kind that still lie hidden.
Chrysophilus. It remains for you to recount those things which you said were indeed discovered by the Chemical Art, but were known to very few.