The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

For if there were no occult and nitrous virtue in the Rain, it would conduce but little to fertility; and if there were no spiritual and astral Gold, or spiritual and astral Sun in Salt, the immature Metals could not be ripened by the same. By how much the oftner therefore, a good Spirit of Salt is drawn off from the Saturnine Earth, and Saturnine Seed, so much the sooner also doth that Seed arrive unto its full ripeness. For at every turn [of drawing off] something of the good part of the Spirit of Salt remains behind, attracted by the Earth and Seed, from which the melioration and augmentation doe arise: as may be seen in the Vegetable Seeds which sprout forth out of the Earth, and are encreased by the help of Rain.

The possibility of these things I have seen, but have not hitherto brought the said matters to a full maturity, or to speak more rightly, I have not finished the whole operation. He that is minded to make a thorough trial, may so doe: and if he misseth the effect of his endeavours, let him not blame me, for I doe not aim at drilling on any one by my perswasions, to bestow his charges on an uncertain thing. But I mention these things that so the nature of Metals as also of Salts may be known, and that (by the help of this knowledge) the Writings of the Philosophers may be the better understood. For the labour here proposed avoucheth the truth of those Operations which the Philosophers call their Calcination, Dealbation, Incineration, Ascention, Descention, Cohobation, Inceration, Distillation, Sublimation, Volatilization, Maturation, Fixation, and say that all these and the like Chymical Operations may be made in one Vessel, with one Fire, in one Furnace, without any change of the Labours, Vessels, or Fire.

For the Philosophers have described their greatest secrets and Arcana’s parabolically, and in Riddles, but especially the Poets, as Ovid, Virgil, and many others, who are very hard to be understood by those that have not the knowledge of the nature of Metals, which being once known and understood, renders the meaning of the Poets easie. For the Poets were wont to impose one while such a name upon such a Metal, another time another name upon another Metal, which custom of theirs, he that does not heedfully mark will easily fall into an errour, and miss the apprehension of their meaning.

For Example, in one place they call Copper Venus, in another, the Wife of Mars, in another, the Sister and Wife of Jupiter. And so deal they with Silver too, one while they call it Lune, by and by Diana or Jana, another time Vesta. Apollo is by them stiled one while Sol, then Phœbus, then Latons, so that it is exceeding necessary, for those that are desirous to learn ought out of their Writings, to be well acquainted with those different names and Appellations. And although the Poets do account all the Metals for the Sons of Saturn, yet do they sub-distinguish them and stile them, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, &c.

The common Lead is Saturn, and so is Antimony, Saturn, Bismute, Tutia, Lapis Calaminaris, the Ashy Colour, Yellow, White, and red Magnesia are termed by the name of Saturn: The white Marcasite and Zink are deemed to be of the Family or Pedegree of Jupiter: Orichalcum or white and red Copper, are stiled by the name of Venus. But according as Venus is impregnated, and according as the Copper is white or red, so hath it its name. The red Copper is as yet a Virgin. Forasmuch therefore as the Poets have committed unto Writing the Transmutation of the Metals under the Cover, and vail of Fables, and have made mention of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Venus; it can never possibly be, that he who knows not this different distinction can understand their meaning. And for an Example hereof, consider but the Fable of Diana and Apollo, brought forth at one Birth by Latona, who was gotten with Child by lying with Jupiter, and was driven into exile by jealous Juno, and having a long time suffered Persecution by the biting Serpent Python, and being driven to flye through all the Countries of the World, did at last after many grievous labours and troubles pass over the tempestuous Sea into the Island Ortygia, and betook her self to her Sister Asteria, by whom she was received, and begat these Twins, viz. Diana and Apollo.

Who will be able to apprehend the meaning of this Fable, save he that well understands the nature of the Metals? Verily no body will so much as dream of or smell out ought of those Mysteries, unless he shall meet with such like Histories in his metalline labours, and then at length will he understand what the meaning of the Philosophers is. But for Example sake, let us take two Metals which have an affinity with each other, namely Jupiter and Venus, these I joyn together, that so the Woman may be impregnated with the masculine Seed. Latona therefore being great with Child, I cast her forth into exile, that she may be continually persecuted by the biting Serpent Python, untill she flies through the Salt and stormy Sea, into the Island Ortygia, to her Sister Asteria, dwelling in the Island Ortygia, and there bring forth the fair Diana and Apollo. Now these things are easily understood, were but the genuine Appellations substituted in the room of such strange terms, of which thing I have onely some knowledge, but do not profess my self a perfect Interpreter. Yet methinks I cannot choose but say somewhat. The venemous Serpent Python is a sirname of Appollo, for he is produced by the efficacy of the Sun, and is that corrosive Salt which doth so long afflict and torment the impregnated Latona all over the dry part of the World, untill she betakes her self by the Sea, that is, by that strong Salt Water, unto her Sister, that is, unto pure Venus, and precipitates her self, and brings forth the fruits of Jupiter, namely, Diana and Apollo together. The Poet doth here mind both the moist and the dry way together, when the Metal is wrought with a due Cement, and made fix it is [then] dissolved with the Salt Water of the Sea, and pure Plates of Venus are put into it thus dissolved, that so the pure Metal may draw unto it self her impregnated Sister, who brings together with her Gold and Silver, which having been so long hidden in its body doth now manifest it self.

It is indeed the better to fix the Metals by Cements, and so to render their fugacious Gold and Silver compact, which may be as well done in the moist way by sharp Waters and moist Fires. But if the Metals, legitimately impregnated, do first pass through a dry and burning hot Fire, and are afterwards yet once more transmitted through the moist and cold Fires, then Pluto sends the mundified Soul out of Purgatory unto Neptune, by whom it is carried into Paradise, where it doth afterwards remain safe and free from all danger of the Serpent.

Upon occasion of the aforesaid Fable, and particular Transmutation of the inferiour Metals, this is to be yet more observed, that every Jupiter is not fit to impregnate Latona, but that onely which is yet living, efficacious, young, and full of Seed is able to impregnate Latona. For Latona carried with her no more but the Seed onely of Jupiter into the Island Ortygia, and left behind her all the body of Jupiter.

Moreover this is to be considered, that Latona did bring forth Diana first, in the Bosom or Lap of Venus, that is, of the Midwife, but Diana, presently after she was Born, performed the office of a Midwife in receiving her Brother Apollo in her Lap, which thing is sufficiently manifest unto those who have laboured (though but little) in the Metals. For should the Nativity of Apollo have preceeded, Venus could not have received him, for which reason Diana ought to come forth first, that so she might the more commodiously receive Apollo from Latona. I know not how by any means it may be proposed more clearly.

Every one that does but know the nature of the Metals doth well understand, that when Gold and Silver are spiritually dissolved in one Water, and that plates [of Mars probably] are put in to the Solution of the Gold and Silver, neither of those Metals will adhere to the Plates. But if the Plates of Copper are put into that Bath, he shall presently see that all the Silver that was in the Water will adjoyn it self thereunto. And now, after that the Silver is thus precipitated and sticks on to the Copper, the Gold will likewise fall down out of the Solution, and apply it self to the Silver; which labour I have more at large handled in the [third part of the Prosperity of Germany]. It could not therefore otherwise be, but that Latona must first bring forth Diana, and Apollo afterwards, seeing that Venus the Sister of Latona could be helpfull onely in the bringing forth of Diana. It was therefore necessary that Diana her self should be an assistant in the Birth of her Brother Apollo, for otherwise he could not have been Born.