Complete Works, Vol. V

...is directed in its work by a formative virtue, just as the heat that digests and transmutes the seed of an animal is directed by the formative virtue residing within that seed. Otherwise, without a doubt, if that heat were excessive, it would incinerate the material; or, if it were insufficient, it would leave it undigested and unsuitable for the form of a stone. The other instrument exists in the matter of the watery humidity, which has been acted upon by the earthy dry element; and this is the cold of the humidity, not merely constrictive—as occurs in metals—but also expansive of the humidity. Indeed, this most vehemently hardens and coagulates. And because it entirely expresses the humidity, to the extent that nothing remains in the matter except its mere continuity, such stones can in no way be melted by dry heat. This is what Aristotle means when he says that crystal a clear, rock-like stone is generated from water once the heat is universally removed. A sign of this is that alchemical operations fail to melt stones without the addition of other humid material.

Why the operations of alchemy are difficult and imperfect.

It is also clear why the operations of alchemists are more difficult and imperfect in the making of stones than in the making of metals. This is because they do not provide a formative virtue to the material. Instead, art takes the place of the formative power for them, and burning heat serves as their instrument, which operates most uncertainly. However, the virtue given by the heavens to the place and the matter, which is called the formative virtue, is certain; it has the matter and the instrument, and it holds the instrument suitably proportioned to the matter. Therefore, nature is most certain in its operations.

How the famous proposition stating that cold does not enter into the work of nature is understood.

There is also something else to be noted regarding this instrument. Although coldness in no way operates for life in those things that are animated, it does, however, work upon stones. This is because minerals are closest to the elements, and the elements are transmuted only slightly within their matter. For this reason, the qualities of the elements remain only slightly altered within them, etc.

CHAPTER VI.

On the substantial form of stones.

Regarding the forms that are the substantial ones of stones, it seems to be the mark of a madman to doubt them. Sight confirms that they are all coagulated, and that the matter within them is determined toward a certain species. If they were merely dispositions of the elements, as they exist in transmutation toward one another or toward other things—such as clouds, rain, and snow—without a doubt they would not remain for long, but would shortly be resolved back into the elements. And we see the exact opposite of this occur in the natures of stones. Furthermore, we find virtues in stones that do not belong to any element, such as driving away poison, repelling carbuncles, or attracting or repelling iron. Regarding these, as will be proved below, it is the common opinion of all wise men that this virtue is a consequence of the species and form of this or that stone. It is therefore evident from these facts that stones possess determined forms and species. These forms, however, are not souls, as it seemed to some of the Ancients. For as we shall show in the book On the Soul, and as was evident at the beginning of the Physics, a soul performs only one thing, but performs many things by itself and not by accident; however, the nature of a stone does not perform more than one thing, and that which it does, it performs by necessity—which a soul does not do. Moreover, the primary work of a soul is life; this, however, is not found in a stone according to any of its differences. If it used nourishment, it would need to have pores and paths through which the nourishment could be brought into it. Its very hardness, and the compaction of many stones, which do not permit it to be divided and opened for the reception of nourishment, show this to be false.