A New Light of Alchemy

2Do not overlook the great correspondence between Saturn and Luna, with Sol placed between them; likewise between Jupiter and Mercury, with Sol also in the middle; and in precisely the same way between Mars and Venus, which also have Sol between them. Chymists know how to change iron into copper, or Venus, without Sol. They also know how to make Mercury from Jupiter, and some make Luna from Saturn. If they knew how to apply the nature of Sol in these changes, they would certainly discover something more precious than every treasure. I therefore say that one must know which metals are to be joined to one another and whose nature corresponds to which nature. There is consequently one metal endowed with the power to consume the others: it is almost their water, and almost their mother. Only one thing resists it and is improved through it: the radical moisture, namely that of Sol and Luna. To disclose it, it is called chalybs. If gold couples with it eleven times, it emits its seed and is weakened almost to death. The chalybs conceives and generates a son more splendid than the father. Afterwards, when the newborn’s seed is placed in its own womb, it purifies that womb and makes it a thousand times fitter to bear the finest fruits. There is another chalybs, resembling this one and created by nature herself. By a wondrous force and power, it knows how to draw from the sun’s rays what so many people have sought; it is the great beginning of our work.