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Then of them thus a temperament may forth go,A temperament not so thick as the Body is,Neither so thin as Water withouten miss.Between the dry Body and the fluid Water, we make a temperament whichis called Impastation, for it is made like unto Paste; and Inceration, for itbrings to the temper of Wax; but most properly Amalgamation, or grossConjunction, which is a middle consistence between Mercury, and a Metalnot so hard as the one, for it may with a Knife or ones Finger be spread toand fro easily; nor yet is it so currant as Mercury, for no Mercury will runout of it, though it be inclined one way or other. I need say no more, forthere is hardly any vulgar Chymist who is not acquainted with the notion ofan Amalgama, and knows what temper that is, when it will spread likeButter, and yet laid declining, will let nothing run from it which is thinnerthen the whole Compound; for in a thin Amalgama, the Mercury if it bedeclined will run to the declining side, like Hydropical intercutis Water.But ours is not so thin, and yet so soft that it is easily plyable, yet so that itmay be rouled up in Balls, and no quick Mercury run down or sink to thebottom, He that can miss I this direction, would hardly find the shining Sunat Noon-day.Loosing and knitting be principles twoOf this hard Science, & Poles most principal,Howbeit that other principles be many moe, &cWe have done this Chapter, and to conclude assure thee, that all our twelveGates are nothing else but locking and unlocking, shutting and opening,dissolving and congealing, volatilizing and fixing, making the dry soft, andafterwards the soft dry, loosing and binding. Learn but this, and thou shaltbe sure of the Keys of this Terrestrial Paradise.Yet because I would be more clearly understood, I shall pass through theother Gates of the Philosophers, that running through their multiplicity, Imay as I go reduce them all to unity.Upon a day as I abroad was walking,The pleasant Fields to view,A voice I heard in silence softly talkingOf wonders passing new.Whereat I starting stood like one amazed,Not knowing what to guess;But when I round about a while had gazed,This terrour it grew less.144