The Most Secret Rosary of the Philosophers

without which all medicine is of little efficacy; wherefore Physicians use them in their medicines to expel the most serious diseases. It is, however, the most true argument of Doctors that the best stone of all stones is of more value for the expulsion of all infirmities. Note here concerning the best stone of all stones, which is gold, through the intellect. The best stone of all stones, therefore, is that which is most cooked and nearest to the fire, which sustains the fire more and is broken more slowly by the fire. Therefore, precious stones, such as the ruby and sapphire, are worth more than other stones, since they are generated in a hotter place, closer to the sun, and with greater heat. And so it is also in metals: gold is worth more than silver, because it is more cooked; and silver more than copper or any other metal. And just as the ruby has in itself the effect of all precious stones, so too gold has in itself the power of all ductile stones. For it contains in itself every metal; it tints them and vivifies them, since it gives its light upward as far as Saturn and downward...