Mirror of Lights.

Page 11

Note: What the stones are

The stones are: Human hair. Blood. The hen's egg.
stones

These are called the "stones of the philosophers." Hair is indeed called the "red stone" found in various places, which is born on two mountains original: "nascitur in duobus montibus"; this is a common alchemical allegory for the dual nature of the material or specific anatomical sources.. Blood is indeed the hidden, precious stone, because it is hidden within the human vein; it is precious because it is of a friendly nature Meaning it is compatible with the human constitution or the "life force" of the work.. The hen's egg is indeed the noble white stone. These stones are used for the art of alchemy Latin: "alkā", a common abbreviation for "alkamia". because from them are produced waters and oils which stabilize all spirits.
Note: What the flowers are

Blood assists in the making of sal ammoniac. ¶ The flowers In alchemy, "flowers" usually refer to the fine powder or sublimate collected after heating a substance. are: flower of tartar, flower of alum, flower of antimony, flower of copper Latin: "eris", from "aes"., flower of ernabi Likely a corruption of an Arabic term like "arnab" (lead) or an obscure mineral., flower of minium [red lead], and flower of vitriol. From the flower of tartar an oil is made in which all calxes The powdery oxides left after a metal is burned. of bodies and spirits are dissolved into water; and it is one of the "fixing agents" Latin: "retinaculis", literally "tethers" or "retains". These substances prevent volatile spirits from evaporating. of spirits, and with it, the spirits are fixed. ¶ Flower of alum is mixed in sublimations The process of heating a solid until it becomes a vapor and then a solid again. and from it a water is made for all alchemical reductions. ¶ Flower of antimony is produced from antimony, which is an earth with no odor, having sulfur by means of calx; and from this flower a red water is made with which spirits and bodies are reddened with a permanent red color which they will never lose. ¶ Flower of copper is above all things for the art, for from it indeed is made a red water by which spirits and bodies are reddened with a permanent red color which it never loses; and it is one of the "fixing agents" of spirits and

fixes all spirits; in this water are many secrets. This flower is indeed called atincar A term derived from Arabic for borax, used as a flux in soldering and chemistry.. ¶ Flower of ernabi is a noble thing which pertains to the art, and is also called unifaz. From this flower a red water is produced with which spirits and bodies are reddened with a permanent red color that never fails. And from the flower of minium and the flower of vitriol, red waters are made with which bodies and spirits are turned red with a permanent red color which they never lose.
Note: What the calxes are

¶ The calxes are: the calx of eggshells and of white marble; it is prepared for the sublimation of mercury. Common quicklime Latin: "calx viva". pertains to the making of
Note: What the ashes are

sal ammoniac and salt alkali. ¶ The ashes are: ashes of wine dregs [tartar], ashes of glass, ashes of human blood, and clavellated ashes Latin: "clauslati"; essentially potash or "ashes of the keys," produced by burning the tartar found in wine casks.; namely, ashes of clean things. Through them, white tinctures come to satisfy the dyeing of cloths. These ashes are found instead of salts; they make a powder that pertains to the sublimation of mercury. Iron scale The flaky dross that falls from iron when it is forged. pertains to the sublimations of orpiment Reading the OCR "anzipicti" as "auripigmenti". and arsenic, and they are also sublimated to iron soot. Wine vinegar is mixed in many decoctions, in the preparations of spirits, in sublimations, in the calcining Reducing a metal to a powder through heat. of the Sun [gold] and the Moon [silver], in the preparations of flowers, and in the preparation of sal ammoniac. Fresh water pertains to the preparation of common salt and salt alkali, and for washings. Human urine is prepared for the sublimation and decoction of orpiment and arsenic. The urine of boys is for the making of sal ammoniac and for the solutions of the stone.