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easily appears by it changing of colours, for whatever coloureth is ofSulphur, which is unctuous, and therefore the Sublimation appearspinguous: the medium of this Extraction is Water, because our Water andthe Sulphur are Homogeneal.Wherefore in this Circulation there are two things to be considered, thebottom, and the top; the bottom is not only the Body of Sol, for so it wouldnot stand liquid, and flow, and boil, and bubble as it doth: therefore it iscertain, that the Body retains part of the Water, which is more thick, whichthickness digestion and mixture hath caused; which grosser part of theWater is joined with the Body, but not perfectly united. The uppermost partis not only from the Water, nor yet the most whole of the Water, but acertain subtle portion of your first Vinegar, which hath in it the most purepart of your Gold, which is sublimed with it, which both together make amedium of much Firiness: So then by reason of the mixture both theuppermost and subsident part are reduced to a mean, which hold one ofanother; therefore our Body at this time, and in this Operation, is called theBody both of the Sun and Moon, and the Vapour contains both the Soul ofthe Sun, and the Spirit of the Mercury. Take this for your prey, for I havereveal’d what Philosophers upon penalty of an Anathema would neverdisclose.If you have well attended to what I have said, I have said enough, and ifthis do not suffice you, I know not what will. Remember well what I havesaid, if you ever expect success.To sum up all therefore in one word, for I have been so long that I fear Ihave been too prolix: Remember what you go about, and what you workon. You take in hand an Earthly Body, which you would bring to aHeavenly Tincture. This you would effect by Mercury, which is the onlyway or medium in the World. First then, sublime till by Mercury thou hastbrought thy Body to the height of volatility, and thou salt find that in thisdissolved Body there will be such a ferment, which will recongeal theSpirit.Water with Water accord will and ascend,And Spirit with Spirit, for they be both of one kind,Which when they be exalted make to descend.So shalt thou unloose that which Nature erst did bind,Mercury essential turning into Wind;Without which natural and subtle Separation,May never be compleat profitable Generation.For the Body though in its manifesto it be Sulphur congealed, and dry, yetin its occulto it is Mercury liquid, and moist: Now the Water which thou122