Curious Physics

Light / the salt of the air a spirit / the air a salt to the water / the water with its vitriol Vitriol: historically, a sulfate of a metal (like iron or copper), often viewed by alchemists as a potent salt that could dissolve or "master" other substances. like a master to the earth. Light, spirit, and salt, air and water all at once. Whatever further explanation is lacking, I will place in the margin and insert each (as much as the unrest of travel currently allows me) where the order requires it. May GOD rule the senses, so that they do not make this writing—or what is contained within, and what the understanding is—common to everyone. For GOD's judgments are then wonderful. I testify by the Most High that almost all those to whom I revealed it out of love and friendship died quickly; among whom were a king and two great princes. Now I am fearful and more cautious, and pray to GOD that He may graciously forgive me such sin, although I have also had to sufficiently atone for it and be persecuted.

A M E N.

Three horizontal bands of decorative typographic ornaments (fleurons) arranged in a rectangular block.

CHAPTER I.

concerning the

Metallic Tincture.

Because so much is said and written about the Metallic Tincture original Latin: Tinctura Metallica. In alchemy, a "tincture" is a substance capable of "dyeing" or transmuting a base metal into a noble one. (commonly called the Philosopher’s Stone) / and yet only a few of those who toil so bitterly original: blutsauer lassen werden - literally "to make one's blood sour," meaning to exert extreme effort or work oneself to exhaustion. to work it out and gain possession of it / know what the Metallic Tincture or the Stone of the Wise is / or how it is possible that a small quantity of the same can change a large lump of lead and other metals into good silver and gold; I have, out of love for those who exert themselves greatly in this art, set down the following / and shared it with them / so that they might have the pleasure of knowing truly and without the slightest doubt what kind of thing such a Tincture is / in what it consists / and how it cannot be otherwise What is the Tincture? etc.