The compovnd of alchymy Or The ancient hidden Art of Archemie: Conteining the right & perfectest meanes to make the Philosophers Stone, Aurum potabile, with other excellent Experiments. Diuided into twelue Gates. First written by ... George Ripley ... & Dedicated to K. Edward the 4. Whereunto is adioyned his Epistle to the King, his Vision, his Wheele & other his Workes, neuer before published: with certaine briefe Additions of other notable Writers concerning the same. Set foorth by Raph Rabbards Gentleman, studious and expert in Archemicall Artes |
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 | The compovnd of alchymy |  |
Of Calcination.
The first Gate.
Calcination
is the purgation of our stone,
Restoring also of his naturall heate,
Of radicall humiditie it looseth none,
Inducing solution into our stone most meete,
After philosophie I you behight
Doo, but not after the common guise,
With Sulphures or Salts preparate in diuers wise.
Restoring also of his naturall heate,
Of radicall humiditie it looseth none,
Inducing solution into our stone most meete,
After philosophie I you behight
Doo, but not after the common guise,
With Sulphures or Salts preparate in diuers wise.
Neither with Corosiues nor with fire alone,
Neither with vineger nor with water ardent,
Nor with the vapour of leade our stone
Is calcined according to our intent:
All those to calcining which so be bent,
From this hard science withdrawe their hand,
Till they our calcining better vnderstand.
Neither with vineger nor with water ardent,
Nor with the vapour of leade our stone
Is calcined according to our intent:
All those to calcining which so be bent,
From this hard science withdrawe their hand,
Till they our calcining better vnderstand.
For by such calcination their bodies be shent,
Which minisheth the moysture of our stone:
Therefore when bodies to powder be brent,
Dry as ashes of tree or bone,
Of such calxes then will we none;
For moysture we multiplie radicall,
In calcining minishing none at all.
Which minisheth the moysture of our stone:
Therefore when bodies to powder be brent,
Dry as ashes of tree or bone,
Of such calxes then will we none;
For moysture we multiplie radicall,
In calcining minishing none at all.
And for a sure ground of our true calcination,
Worke wittely only kind with kind:
For kind vnto kind hath appetitiue inclination,
Who knoweth not this in knowledge is blind,
He may foorth wander as mist in the wind,
Wotting neuer with profite where to light,
Because he conceaues not our words aright.
Worke wittely only kind with kind:
For kind vnto kind hath appetitiue inclination,
Who knoweth not this in knowledge is blind,
He may foorth wander as mist in the wind,
Wotting neuer with profite where to light,
Because he conceaues not our words aright.
Ioyne kind to kind therefore as reason is,
For euery burgeon answers his owne seede,
Man getteth man, a beast a beast I wis,
Further to treate of this it is no neede.
But vnderstand this poynt if thou wilt speede,
Each thing is first calcined in his owne kind;
This well conceaued fruite therein shalt thou finde.
For euery burgeon answers his owne seede,
Man getteth man, a beast a beast I wis,
Further to treate of this it is no neede.
But vnderstand this poynt if thou wilt speede,
Each thing is first calcined in his owne kind;
This well conceaued fruite therein shalt thou finde.
And we make Calx vnctuous both white and red
Of three degrees or our base be perfect,
Fluxible as waxe, els stand they in no sted.
By right long processe as Philosophers doo write,
A yeare we take or more to our respite:
For in lesse space our Calxes will not be made,
Able to teyne with colour that will not fade.
Of three degrees or our base be perfect,
Fluxible as waxe, els stand they in no sted.
By right long processe as Philosophers doo write,
A yeare we take or more to our respite:
For in lesse space our Calxes will not be made,
Able to teyne with colour that will not fade.
And for thy proportion thou must beware,
For therein maist thou be beguil'd,
Therefore thy work that thou not mare,
Let thy bodie be subtilly fyl'de
With Mercury as much then so subtil'd,
One of the Sunne, two of the Moone,
Till altogether like papp be doone.
For therein maist thou be beguil'd,
Therefore thy work that thou not mare,
Let thy bodie be subtilly fyl'de
With Mercury as much then so subtil'd,
One of the Sunne, two of the Moone,
Till altogether like papp be doone.
Then make the Mercurie foure to the Sun
Two to the Moone as it should bee,
And thus thy worke must be begun,
In figure of the Trinitee,
Three of the bodie and of the spirite three,
And for the vnitie of the substance spirituall
One moe than of the substance corporall.
Two to the Moone as it should bee,
And thus thy worke must be begun,
In figure of the Trinitee,
Three of the bodie and of the spirite three,
And for the vnitie of the substance spirituall
One moe than of the substance corporall.
By Raymonds reportory this is true,
Proportion there who list to looke,
The same my Doctor to me did shew,
But three of the spirite Bacon tooke,
To one of the bodie for which I awooke,
Many a night ere I it wist.
And both be true take which you list.
Proportion there who list to looke,
The same my Doctor to me did shew,
But three of the spirite Bacon tooke,
To one of the bodie for which I awooke,
Many a night ere I it wist.
And both be true take which you list.
If the water also be equall in proportion
To the earth, with heate in due measure,
Of them shall spring a new burgeon,
Both white and red in pure tincture,
Which in the fire shall euer indure,
Kill thou the quick the dead reuiue;
Make trinitie vnitie without any striue.
To the earth, with heate in due measure,
Of them shall spring a new burgeon,
Both white and red in pure tincture,
Which in the fire shall euer indure,
Kill thou the quick the dead reuiue;
Make trinitie vnitie without any striue.
This is the surest and best proportion,
For there is least of the part spirituall,
The better therefore shall be solution,
Than if thou did it with water swall,
Thine earth ouer glutting which loseth all
Take heede therefore to potters loame,
And make thou neuer too neshe thy wombe.
For there is least of the part spirituall,
The better therefore shall be solution,
Than if thou did it with water swall,
Thine earth ouer glutting which loseth all
Take heede therefore to potters loame,
And make thou neuer too neshe thy wombe.
That loame beholde how it tempred is,
The meane also how it is calcinate,
And euer in minde looke thou beare this;
That neuer thine earth with water be suffocate,
Drye vp thy moysture with heate most temperate,
Help Dissolution with moysture of the Moone,
And Congelation with the Sunne, then hast thou doone.
The meane also how it is calcinate,
And euer in minde looke thou beare this;
That neuer thine earth with water be suffocate,
Drye vp thy moysture with heate most temperate,
Help Dissolution with moysture of the Moone,
And Congelation with the Sunne, then hast thou doone.
Foure Natures into the fist so shalt thou turne,
Which is a Nature most perfect and temperate,
But hard it is with thy bare foote to spurne
Against a barr of yron, or steele new acuate,
For many doe so which be infatuate,
When they such high things take in hand,
Which they in no wise doe vnderstand.
Which is a Nature most perfect and temperate,
But hard it is with thy bare foote to spurne
Against a barr of yron, or steele new acuate,
For many doe so which be infatuate,
When they such high things take in hand,
Which they in no wise doe vnderstand.
In egges, in vitriall, or in blood,
What riches wend they there to finde,
If they Philosophy vnderstood,
They would not in working be so blinde;
Golde or siluer to seeke out of kinde:
For like as fire of burning principle is,
So is the principle of gilding gould I wis.
What riches wend they there to finde,
If they Philosophy vnderstood,
They would not in working be so blinde;
Golde or siluer to seeke out of kinde:
For like as fire of burning principle is,
So is the principle of gilding gould I wis.
If thou intend therefore for to make
Gold and Siluer by craft of our philosophie,
Thereto neyther egges nor bloud thou take
But Gold and Siluer which naturally
Calcined wisely and not manually,
A new generation will forth bring,
Encreasing their kinde as doth euery thing.
Gold and Siluer by craft of our philosophie,
Thereto neyther egges nor bloud thou take
But Gold and Siluer which naturally
Calcined wisely and not manually,
A new generation will forth bring,
Encreasing their kinde as doth euery thing.
And if it true were that profit might be
In things which be not mettaline,
In which be coulors pleasant to see,
As in bloud, eggs, haire, vrine, or wine,
Or in meane mineralls digd out of the myne,
Yet must that element be putrified and seperate,
And with Elements of perfect bodies be dispousate.
In things which be not mettaline,
In which be coulors pleasant to see,
As in bloud, eggs, haire, vrine, or wine,
Or in meane mineralls digd out of the myne,
Yet must that element be putrified and seperate,
And with Elements of perfect bodies be dispousate.
But first of these elements make thou rotacion,
And into water thine earth turne first of all,
Then of thy water make ayre by leuigacion,
And ayre make fier, then Maister I will thee call
Of all our secrets great and small:
The wheele of Elements then canst thou turne about,
Truely conceiuing our writings without doubt.
And into water thine earth turne first of all,
Then of thy water make ayre by leuigacion,
And ayre make fier, then Maister I will thee call
Of all our secrets great and small:
The wheele of Elements then canst thou turne about,
Truely conceiuing our writings without doubt.
This done, goe backwards turning the wheele againe,
And into water turne thy fire anone,
Ayre into earth, els labourest thou in vaine,
For so to temperment is brought our stone,
And Natures contractions foure are made one,
After they haue three times been circulate,
And also thy base perfectly consumate.
And into water turne thy fire anone,
Ayre into earth, els labourest thou in vaine,
For so to temperment is brought our stone,
And Natures contractions foure are made one,
After they haue three times been circulate,
And also thy base perfectly consumate.
Thus vnder the moysture of the Moone,
And vnder the temperate heate of the Sunne,
Thine Elements shalbe incinerate soone,
And then thou hast the maistrie wonne:
Thanke God thy worke was then so begunne,
For there thou hast one token trewe,
Which first in blacknes to thee will shewe.
And vnder the temperate heate of the Sunne,
Thine Elements shalbe incinerate soone,
And then thou hast the maistrie wonne:
Thanke God thy worke was then so begunne,
For there thou hast one token trewe,
Which first in blacknes to thee will shewe.
The head of the Crowe that token call wee,
And some men call it the Crowes bill;
Some call it the ashes of Hermes tree,
And thus they name it after their will:
Our Toade of the earth which eateth his fill,
Some nameth it by which it is mortificate
The spirit with venome intoxicate.
And some men call it the Crowes bill;
Some call it the ashes of Hermes tree,
And thus they name it after their will:
Our Toade of the earth which eateth his fill,
Some nameth it by which it is mortificate
The spirit with venome intoxicate.
But it hath names I say to thee infinite,
For after each thing that blacknes is to sight,
Named it is till time it waxeth white,
Then hath it names of more delight,
After all things that been full white,
And the red likewise after the same,
Of all red things doth take the name.
For after each thing that blacknes is to sight,
Named it is till time it waxeth white,
Then hath it names of more delight,
After all things that been full white,
And the red likewise after the same,
Of all red things doth take the name.
At the first gate now art thou in,
Of the Philosophers Castell where they dwell,
Proceede wisely that thou may winne
In at moe gates of that Castell,
Which Castell is round as any bell,
And gates it hath eleuen yet moe,
One is conquered, now to the second goe.
Of the Philosophers Castell where they dwell,
Proceede wisely that thou may winne
In at moe gates of that Castell,
Which Castell is round as any bell,
And gates it hath eleuen yet moe,
One is conquered, now to the second goe.
The end of the first gate.
| The compovnd of alchymy | |