The Most Secret Rosary of the Philosophers

...but other bodies do not have such conformity to it, because they participate less of its pure nature. Also, nothing is submerged in it except the Sun. Therefore it is necessary that this medicine should be elicited precisely from those things in which it consists most: for it is as much in bodies as in quicksilver according to nature, since they are found to be of one nature. But in bodies it is indeed more difficult, in quicksilver, however, it is closer, though not more perfect. Of whatever kind, therefore, the Medicine may be, whether from bodies or from the substance of quicksilver, the matter of the precious stone is investigated, and that is because there is no transition from extreme to extreme except through the middle: the extreme of metals on one side is quicksilver, and on the other, the completed Elixir transformative agent. The middle of these are bodies, which elongate themselves toward the hammer, of which some are more depurated, decocted, and digested than others; and those are closer, which we do not believe chemists are ignorant of. Do not stray, therefore, because there is no true tincture except from our brass. And know that all gold is brass,