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all blackness by cooking; continue the cooking until its whole nature be disintegrated, until the defilement perish, until it be
found clean, and is wholly broken up (or becomes wholly clean). But if ye wish that the whole arcanum, which I have given
you, be accomplished, wash the same with water, that is to say, the other part which I counselled you to preserve, until there
appear a crocus, and leave in its own vessel. For the Iksir pounds (or contains) itself; imbue also with the residue of the water,
until by decoction and by water it be pounded and become like a syrup of pomegranates; imbue it, therefore, and cook, until
the weight of the humidity shall fail, and the colour which the Philosophers have magnified shall truly appear.
The Twenty-third Dictum.
Cerus saith:- Understand, all ye Sons of the Doctrine, that which Theophilus hath told you, namely, that there exists an
affinity between the magnet and the iron, by the alliance of composite existing between the magnet and the iron, while the
copper is fitly ruled for one hundred days: what statement can be more useful to you than that there is no affinity between tin
and quicksilver!
The Turba answereth:- Thou hast ill spoken, having disparaged the true disposition.
And he:- I testify that I say nothing but what is true why are you incensed against me Fear the Lord, all ye Turba, that you
Master may believe you!
The Turba answereth:- Say what you will.
And he:- I direct you to take quicksilver, in which is the male potency or strength; cook the same with its body until it
becomes a fluxible water; cook the masculine together with the vapour, until each shall be coagulated and become a stone.
Then take the water which you had divided into two parts, of which one is for liquefying and cooking the body, but the
second is for cleansing that which is already burnt, and its companion, which [two] are made one. Imbue the stone seven
times, and cleanse, until it be disintegrated, and its body be purged from all defilement, and become earth. Know also that in
the time of forty-two days the whole is changed into earth; by cooking, therefore, liquefy the same until it become as true
water, which is quicksilver. Then wash with water of nitre until it become as a liquefied coin. Then cook until it be congealed
and become like to tin, when it is a most great arcanum; that is to say, the stone which is out of two things. Rule the same by
cooking and pounding, until it becomes a most excellent crocus. Know also that unto water desiccated with its companion we
have given the name of crocus. Cook it, therefore, and imbue with the residual water reserved by you until you attain your
purpose.
The Twenty-fourth Dictum.
Bocascus saith:- Thou hast spoken well, O Belus, and therefore I follow thy steps!
He answereth:- As it may please you, but do not become envious, for that is not the part of the Wise.
And Bocascus:- Thou speakest the truth, and thus, therefore, I direct the Sons of the Doctrine. Take lead, and, as the
Philosophers have ordained, imbue, liquefy, and afterwards congeal, until a stone is produced; then rule the stone with gluten
of gold and syrup of pomegranates until it be broken up. But you have already divided the water into two parts, with one of
which you have liquefied the lead, and it has become as water; cook, therefore, the same until it be dried and have become
earth; then pound with the water reserved until it acquire a red colour, as you have been frequently ordered.
The Turba answereth:- Thou hast done nothing but pile up ambiguous words. Return, therefore, to the subject.
And he:- Ye who wish to coagulate quicksilver, must mix it with its equal. Afterwards cook it diligently until both become
permanent water, and, again, cook this water until it be coagulated. But let this be desiccated with its own equal vapour,
because ye have found the whole quicksilver to be coagulated by itself. If ye understand, and place in your vessel what is
necessary, cook it until it be coagulated, and then pound until it becomes a crocus like to the colour of gold.
The Twenty-fifth Dictum.
Menabdus saith:- May God reward thee for the regimen, since thou speakest the truth! For thou hast illuminated thy words.
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