The Third Rule.
Of Mars and his Property.
The six hid Metals have thrust out, or expelled the seventh from them, and made him Corporeal, leaving unto him lowest Dignity, and imposing on him the most thick hardness and labour. In this body have they manifested their whole strength, and hardness of Coagulation to be, shutting up, or keeping inward, their Colours and Nobility, with their Fluidity. ’Tis hard and full of Labour, to make a Prince or King of a Peasant, or common Fellow: But ♂ by his Vertue, obtains Honour, and gets up into the high Throne of the King: But ’tis expedient, that care be used, least hastily posting forward, he be taken. It is to be considered by what Art ♂ may be promoted to the Throne; but the ☉ and ☽ put in the place of ♂ with ♄.
Glaub.] We are come now to Mars in order, it being the 3d. according to the Compute also of the Astronomers, descending from above. Now Paracelsus doth not attribute the first place to ♄, as the Astronomers do, but to ☿; and haply, not without great Cause, hinting hereby some singular thing. He goes on, and says Mars is rude, sharp, and thick, because the other Metals have cast out their most ignoble, and basest part upon him, which thing experience testifies: He is composed of hard knotty Timber, and hath in him but little good; he is sharp and churlish, and not at all to be compared to gentle, tender, and noble ♃; but if he be once freed from his knottiness, which is hard to do, and render’d tractable, he shews his Virtue, and discovers himself also to be a partaker of the Royal Blood. Paracelsus adds, that ♄ can take away his knots, and elevate him to an higher degree, although the Astronomers are very much displeas’d with the Conjunction of these two, as being the Author of all evil, and have therefore inserted peace-making, and benign Jupiter in the middle. Now that Lame Saturn may polish and make crabbed ♂ smooth, Paracelsus tells you that there’s need of Caution, lest by over hastiness, he bring loss upon himself. He stoutly resists, nor doth he easily yield, but rather busily contrives how to captivate and destroy others; yet Paracelsus mentions its possibility; whose Reasons, Way, or Manner, we will briefly illustrate. ♄ indeed is by Birth, fitted to wash the other imperfect Metals, and to purge them from their superfluous Sulphur, if any good doth accidentally adhere unto them, but knows not how to remove their radical, and innate Impurity; and that it is not alone sufficient for this thing, the trial of the Test witnesseth; for although you add Iron to ♄, to be separated upon the Cupel; (Abgehen Lassen) yet hath it no sincere ingress into ♄; but if it be so far brought by great labour, it doth not remain, but speedily separates to the Superficies, like Scoria, and leaves nothing with the Lead, but what was accidentally in it, himself withdrawing with his whole power, and native goodness; Tin also doth the same; but Copper albeit it swims not upon the Lead, nor goes away, yet it is not therewith radically joined, but being reduced with the Lead, into Liquable Scoria, descends into the porous Ashes, of which we have accurately treated in the Fourth Part of our Furnaces, and in the Appendix.
Lead is not therefore the true washing of Metals, but that it may so become, ’tis clear that it must be aptly prepared; and if you do more exactly contemplate on the thing, you’ll find it very rational; for by what means can ♄ the most liquable of all the Metals, freely copulate with ♂, which is the hardest: Indeed ’tis true, that they enter each into the other by mutual fusion; but ’tis forcedly and superficially, not radically; as if one boils Water, mixt with Meal, into a Pulse; the Water thickens, the Flour moistens; yet neither entring into the other, radically; but the Water getting into the Pores of the Meal, or Flour, makes it Pap: In the same manner is it with ♄ and ♂, they are indeed mixt; but cannot equally sustain the violence of the Fire. ♂ doth not alter his breeding or wit; but in the melting together, remain an hard, and not easily melted Metal; nor is the humidity and liquability of the Lead hereby corrected; for although they are become one Mass, yet each keeps his old Condition: but if they are so order’d, that both of them may undergoe the same Fire; then the Iron will yield, and deliver his Gold unto the Lead, and his warm Volatile Sulphur maturates the Silver, lying hid in the Lead; exalts it, and makes it corporeal, that each bestows on the other, his Goodness and Virtue; each supplies the others defects, and both are perfected; for although hard crabbed ♂ be made flow with liquid and combustible Sulphur, or a Sulphureous Mineral, as ♁, Arsenick, or Auripigment; yet is not any transmutation made, each remaining in his own Nature, without alteration; like as ☿ being reduced into Amalgama, with ☉ or ☽, makes no solution, only adheres unto the Gold, and easily separates therefrom, leaving the Gold to himself: But if any one know how to conjoin, ☉ and ☽ with Mercury radically, they would not forsake one the other; but would perfect themselves mutually in a strong Fire; so would the other Metals too, were they but radically commixt. Some one may ask, what is this radical or spiritual Commixtion of the Metals, and what I understand thereby? for Answer, They are to be so united with an implanted Love, that they freely join together, and so remain equally, enduring prosperity and adversity; and neither of them discernible from the other, that they penetrate the shut Gates, and thick Walls, without any obstacle; that the Volatile exhales not in the Fire: that which is liquable, separates not from what is illiquable; thereby penetrating the Vessel, leaving behind it, the more fixt, or rougher part, in the form of Scoria: But thou mayst demand by what means I spiritualize the Metals, and radically conjoin them; what, must they first be dissolved in Aqua fortis, or other corrosive Spirits, and be distilled by an Alembick, that they may become Volatile? No, I mean not any of this; this kind of spiritualization is a meer deceitful, and cheating Labour, hindering many thousands, which otherwise would be nigher to the Truth: All the Philosophers disswade you therefrom, that you do not torment the Metals with sharp spirits, whereby instead of being perfected, they are corrupted and mortifyed radically. ’Tis madness to pour more Water into any one that is suffocated with Water, thereby to restore him to Life; this is to put the Bridle on the Horse’s Tail. Now ’tis evident, that the superfluity in imperfect Metals, is their combustible and corrosive Sulphur; and by how much, the more imperfect and base they are, so much the more of a combustible Sulphur do they possess: an evident Testimony, of which we have in Iron, or ♂: ’Tis only his acid Sulphur that deprives him of every degree of dignity, which gross, acid, and vitriolated Sulphur, did he not so much abound withal, he would not contract Rust so easily; and by the attractive Moisture be so soon corrupted: and were he not so quickly rusty, he would be put to better uses, than now he is. But you may object, that you cannot conceive, how he can have such a corrosive Sulphur, whence should it happen to him, for the Mineral, and Stones, whence he is extracted, do not appear to be impregnated with such a Sulphur; whence comes it therefore to be in him? Besides, if the Mineral did partake of such a Sulphur, surely it would never abide a Fire so violent, but it would be driven away.
My Friend, thou dost not at all understand the Nature of Metals, and for what end it was, that Nature left such a Sulphur in Iron, and the other imperfect Metals; for it is a Nutriment unto their better Parts, being like an Embryo, and as it were, a Covering or a Matrix, in which a noble Child is maturated, and is (after the ripeness of the pure Metal) thence excluded. For Natures intention was not, that Iron should be but Iron, but rather Gold; but the digger not willing to wait so long, and knowing the manifold uses of Iron, allows not time for it to become Gold, just like the Fisher-man (who catching a very small Fish, and the Fish desiring to return into the Water, until being grown bigger, he might the better fill the Platter) said, nay, but I will hold thee, as thou art, for ’tis uncertain, whether or no, being grown bigger, thou mayst then be found. Just thus doth the Miner do, he waits not the Irons becoming Gold, but puts it to its present use.
’Tis commonly known, that there is abundance of corrosive Salt therein, which is not combustible in melting Fire, neither needs it any further demonstration; it having been also treated of in the Annotations of my Appendix: and that thou mayst see that a Metal can preserve, and keep its volatile combustible Sulphur in a melting Furnace, I will expound it somewhat clearer: Gold having already obtained its perfection (it being a mature product) Nature hath separated this combustible Sulphur, or acid volatile Salt therefrom; because it needs it not for any further nutriment: neither would it hold it, if it should be put unto it, but thrusts it from it in the Fire, and hath no affinity therewith, as the other imperfect Metals have.
Now Luna although it be not so compleatly perfect as Sol; yet, ’tis more perfect than the others, and hath notwithstanding, a Commerce with this sulphureous Salt; yea, so as to hold common Sulphur a very long while in a great heat, which we shall declare anon in the separation of Metals; and if ☽ (which is almost a ripe Metal) doth thus, questionless the other more imperfect ones will do it more willingly; which thing, that you may be the more assured of, incorporate a sulphureous Salt with any Metal, and continue it in a great heat; and after a few hours you shall see that your Metal will hold that Sulphur, and defend it against the force of Fire; but if a Metal be in some sort freed from this sulphureous Salt by a melting Fire, it doth again receive and hold it; Will it not therefore hold its own, wherein it was born and from whence it came forth. ♂ excells them all as to this, being not only a friend to sulphureous and corrosive Salts, but also to Vrinous which (when it cannot have acid salts) it doth by a magnetick power attract and defend these in the fire. For example; mix the filings of ♂ with Nitre and salt of Tartar, and these salts, in a melting Fire, will be fixed with ♂, and resists the Fire. Which thing is most worthy observation, and by no means to be neglected.
But to return to my former purpose of demonstrating, that Imperfect Metals are not only, not bettered by corrosive salts and spirits, but are rather corrupted: Daily experience doth prove it before the eyes, that all such as have used corrosive spirits in their bettering of metals, have done no good at all therewith, but have, to their hurt, lost both their time and labour: whereas those that have used other menstruums that are not corrosive, have profited more therefrom, and have seen more than they have sought; such as those are in a way tending to dissolve metals without corrosives; to make them spiritual, and radically to unite them, that they may mutually act in, and sustain or undergo the Fire alike, and may co-operate to purity and perfection, and may ennoble themselves. Of which Spiritualization more shall be spoken in the Sixth Chapter, where Paracelsus also treats thereof. This therefore do I affirm of ♂, that he must be handled with such menstruums as are not only not corrosive, but contrary to Corrosives, and such as mollify and separate those Corrosives which the Metals hold in fusion, that so for the time to come they may attract no more any moisture, and thereby contract Rust, and be corrupted; but may be rather able to preserve and defend themselves against Corrosives and combustible Sulphur. But let none think, that ♂ being by this Antidote freed from its thick, earthy, and combustible, and corrosive sulphur, will be wholly turned into ☉, for ’tis the smallest part of ♂ that is good: by how much the ☉ is more noble than common ♂, by so much is the ♂, from whence the Sol is separated more vild than other Iron, and the remainder is nothing else but a most vild Earth or Scoria, void of all metallick fusion. The milk of a Cow or another Animal, if unmixt with water, is good milk; but yet ’tis far inferiour in goodness to pure, good, well-wrought Butter; and by how much milk is more vild than butter, by so much is the whey and acid milk from whence the Cream is separated, more vild than that which is sweet and abounds with Cream. If generous wine be spoiled of its spirit most sweet and most excellent, by the benefit of Destillation, one part of that is better than 12 parts of wine out of which it was extracted; the remainder cannot be wine any more, but is much inferiour to good wine, as wine is to the spirit.
The like is it with Metals, which being deprived of their soul, whereby they obtained a metallick form, they can no more be malleable Metals. Therefore ’tis good to consider whether or no in the separation of ☉ out of the Imperfect metals, it will be answerable (in value) to the metal, and other Expences necessary about extracting it; but now, if you know how to apply the residue of the Metal to other uses, you may with the more confidence attempt the separation. But to return to the words of Paracelsus, I will shew how ♂ may, through ♄’s help, arrive to a Kingly dignity. I have before said, that there is no familiarity between the most fusile and most hard metal, but the one will be gone away in fume before the other will melt, and that we cannot want ♄ in the separation of ♂; but how it is to be handled, I will briefly explain.
Saturn of himself is liquable and volatile, but yet can be made illiquable and fixt without detriment of the Radical Moisture or Metallick Nature; so as to undergo the same Fire with ♂, and being brought to this pass, it is then fit for the separation of ♂. ’Tis many waies made illiquable (Hartflussig) but the best way is by fixed Salts, of a contrary nature to the superfluous Sulphur in ♂, and excellently well separated from the Reguli made of ♂; for Nitre and Salt of Tartar do not only harden ♄, but unite other metals with him, making them spiritual, and most like to transparent, soluble Glass, the which having sustained the Fire their proper time, the Agent being taken away, and the Patient sufficiently purged, the purest part of the Metals, thus spiritually mixt together, doth by the force of ♄ separate from the other unprofitable part. The Regulus is purged easily, so that there’s no need of separating the whole Mass by precipitation and reducing it into Reguli; but ♄, by his innate force, doth in its due time finish the separation or precipitation of the pure from the impure, of metals thus spiritually commixt and united. This is enough spoken concerning the way of separating gold out of ♂, by ♄, viz. ♄ being first fixed by salts, and made hard to melt, so as to endure the same force of Fire with ♂, or otherwise ’twill be impossible to have any thing from ♂ by the usual way of the Refiners, by the help of scorifying with ♄ (mit ansieden) and separation (abtreiben) which even as ♃ also doth not stay with common Lead in a strong fire, but separate themselves and go into Scoria; the which we have also hinted in the First Part of this little Book, whereto we referr the Reader. This separation of ☉ out of ♂, may be done with Regulus of ♁ and Nitre, and in some manner better than with common Lead, but that I do not deliver the whole Process from top to bottom, let no body wonder thereat, for then the Book would grow to too great a bulk, and I should not receive any reward the more from the Unthankful: Let it suffice, that I have declared the manner and the Species wherewith ’tis to be done; for ’tis for the sake of such Chymists as are most expert in the Fire and Metalline Works that I write, and not for the common Destillers of Waters. And as touching what may tend to illustrate what is said, it shall be supplyed with some Processes at the end of the seven Rules.
Whereas I have attributed to ♂ in the First Part of this Treatise and elsewhere, that he doth not only unwillingly deliver his own gold, but also if any be either accidentally, or of set purpose, added thereto, he swallows it up and hides it, and will not restore it without detriment and loss. Some body may admire how it’s possible for to be done so easily by ♄ and Salts; let him know that this Extraction of ☉ out of ♂ is not any the common Examen or Trial, (abtreiben,) but a true and Philosophical separation (Seigerungh) wherewith ♂ being well dissolved, is most throughly separated from his thick and hard body, concerning which, I never met with any full pregnant Processes any where. And albeit that I am not ignorant that many, yea most that read, will not have any higher thought or consideration, yet I say that there is something else hereunder; and do believe, that it is to be esteemed far more excellent than Sol it self; which that thou maist not over-much trouble thy head about, I will not be shy in communicating it also unto thee. viz. Out of Iron is prepared a Salt without any corrosive, which is able to extract the soul from Gold, that it will remain half dead. But ♂ will be impregnated as it were divinely, so as to be able to give forth a golden Child: the debilitated Gold will recover its lost Colour and Virtue by ♀ and ♁. Other Philosophers have likewise made mention hereof, viz. that ♂ will not spare even the King, out of whose bowels he will steal Treasures, and will not blush to adorn himself with the same. Concerning which Secret the most famous Sandivow wrote on this wise. “The Chymists know how to change Iron into Copper or ♀, without the Sun: They likewise know how to make ☿ out of ♃: Others there are that can make ☽ out of ♄; but if they knew how to administer the Solar Nature to these mutations, questionless they would find a thing more precious than any Treasure. On which account I say, that we must not be ignorant of what metals are to be conjoined one with the other, and whose nature of them corresponds to Nature. There is therefore given one metal, which hath a power to consume the other metals, for it is as it were almost their water and their mother; one thing there is that only resists it, and is bettered thereby, viz. the humidum Radicale of the Sun and Moon; but that I may discover it, ’tis called Chalybs.”
Thus you see, that from ♂ also some good is to be gotten, although all speak ill of him; and indeed he is wicked if he gets possession: Nor will he spare the highest Powers, from whom he will forcibly wrest their hidden Treasures, but yet by Commerce with ♀ he will again repay it in time to be distributed amongst the subjects; although the king being robb’d of his goods, looks pale upon it, yet he lays not down his Life, and he remaining alive, there is no cause of complaining, for as long as the Riches are not exported, but remain in the Kingdom, distributed amongst the subjects, he is able to receive his former majesty and splendor from his Revenues, and to gather new Riches, and preserve his kingly dignity whole and sound.
Here I foresee that our common Know-littles, in the light of Nature, will traduce me, as if I enterpret Sandivow’s Chalybs to be common ♂, and say that ’tis not to be understood according to the Letter, but the Author would hint somewhat else thereby; but ’tis no matter, what I have written, I have written, and that not without cause. I am not ignorant, that he means not common Iron no more than I, but his inmost Magnetick force and power, or essence, prepared without corrosive, and known to few, which doth most greedily extract and transmute the soul of Gold above all other things. And herewith we will rest and cease.