Incipit: From a certain manuscript of the Philosopher R.C.

Speculum Luminum

...[they sig]nify that? if Sulfur and foul earth are present, it produces a stain in the metal. If indeed the occasion arose from corrupted matter, appearance, and moisture, Note it results in a failure. When red and clean Sulfur is mixed with quicksilveroriginal: "argento vivo" in clean earth, the nature of gold is created through constant decoction The process of "cooking" or heating a substance in a liquid to extract its essence or mature it.. If, however, the sulfur is white, clean, and mixed, silver is made. But if red sulfur, corrupted by burning original: "adustionis", is mixed in a [certain] quantity? of [corrupted earth], copper will be made.

But if white sulfur, corrupted by burning, is mixed in a clean place, tin will be made. Whence it flows according to its hardness? and speed because of a defect in the mixing of quicksilver with sulfur. When indeed corrupted white sulfur is mixed with quicksilver in clean earth, iron will be made. But from black and corrupted sulfur mixed with the [weight] lead? of quicksilver in clean earth, lead will be made; and it is said that the silver which is lead is "fallen gold" This refers to the alchemical belief that base metals are simply "diseased" or "imperfect" versions of gold.. And they say that metals differ among themselves only by accidental formsoriginal: "formas accidentales" – in Aristotelian philosophy, these are non-essential qualities like color, smell, or hardness that do not change the underlying "essence" of a thing..

Likewise, what is judged? by the natural philosophers regarding metal, they say is determined only by colors, purities, and corruptions, and thus these are accidental forms; they say there are only accidental forms in metals before he introduces the seals of the metals. Likewise?, quicksilver does not differ from gold in itself except in this: that the sulfur in gold is red, while the sulfur in quicksilver is white, because [it lacks] coldness? and perfection?.

All metals are generated from sulfur and quicksilver, but whiteness and redness are accidental forms—namely qualities—and they say pure quicksilver and pure gold possess only accidental forms. And likewise, copper does not differ from gold in this: that the sulfur

in gold is clean, and gold is generated in clean earth, while [in copper] there is foul sulfur in which there is corruption; and copper is generated in unclean and foul earth from which corruption follows?. But purity and corruption are accidental forms—that is, qualities—and they say pure gold and copper possess only accidental forms. And likewise, copper does not differ from quicksilver itself except in this: that the sulfur in quicksilver is itself clean and white, and pure quicksilver is generated in clean earth. But through the sulfur in copper, it is red and corrupted, and copper is generated in foul and unclean earth from which it produces corruption.

But whiteness and redness, purity and corruption are accidental forms—that is, qualities—and they say pure quicksilver and copper possess only accidental forms. And likewise, tin does not differ from gold except in this: that the sulfur in gold is red, clean, and well-mixed. The sulfur in tin is white, corrupted, and not well-mixed.

But whiteness, redness, impurity, and corruption are accidental forms; they say pure gold and tin possess only accidental forms. And likewise, tin does not differ from quicksilver itself except in this: that the sulfur in quicksilver is clean and well-mixed with the quicksilver. But purity, corruption, and mixture are accidental forms; they say pure quicksilver and tin possess only accidental forms.

And likewise, iron does not differ from gold itself except in this: that the sulfur in gold is red and clean, and gold is generated in clean earth. [Whereas] the sulfur in iron is white and corrupted, and iron is born in [foul] earth...