Sun Without Clothing or Thirty Experiments to Extract the Purple from Gold

A decorative typographic headpiece consisting of three rows of ornaments: the top and bottom rows feature fleur-de-lis motifs, while the middle row consists of stars.

original: "J. J." This abbreviation likely stands for the Latin Jesu Juvante, meaning "With Jesus' help," a common pious invocation used by authors at the beginning of a treatise in the 18th century.

To speak of the actual origin, beginning, and propagation of gold, we should rightfully make the start; however, because all mining books original: "Berg-Bücher." These were practical and theoretical manuals on mining and mineralogy, such as those by Agricola or Lazarus Ercker. are already filled with such writing, I wish to direct the esteemed reader there, where he will find the detailed and thoroughly extensive report. I am not writing here about the nature of gold, nor do I wish to involve myself in any word-quibbling with anyone as to what gold is. For as many minds as there are heads original: "quot capita tot sententia." A Latin proverb implying that everyone has their own opinion, and consensus is difficult to reach., it is certain that—as most authors original: "Autores" believe—it is brought into such a noble body original: "Corpus" from the very purest sulfur, and well-cooked mercury original: "Mercurio", through the help of the most subtle salt. It is also certain that gold, wine, and man are the three noblest creatures of the world and its three kingdoms, and they maintain such a sympathy original: "Sympathiam" with one another that it is truly to be wondered at. J. B. Likely a reference to Jacob Böhme (1575–1624), the famous German mystic and theosopher whose works deeply influenced alchemical and philosophical thought in the 17th and 18th centuries. however, identifies the three noblest creatures thus: in the mineral kingdom original: "in regno minerali", gold; in the vegetable kingdom original: "in vegetabili", wine; in the animal kingdom original: "in regno animali", the snake; man now, as the microcosm original: "Microcosmus," the "little world" or man, who was believed to reflect the structure of the entire universe (the macrocosm)., holds all of this within himself