After some time, however, as it is further raised with fire of one degree and steadily digested, it gradually returns downward in drops, imbibing, moistening, soaking and refreshing the body so that it does not wholly languish and burn. It then rises upward again and descends again. This happens approximately seven times. The fire must then be arranged one degree stronger, yet this does not mean that you should hurry it. The measure and governance of the fire, upon which most depends, must be maintained diligently throughout.

Meanwhile many signs and colours will appear in the glass or vessel. Observe them carefully and direct yourself accordingly. If you see them follow one another, this is a good indication that the work will reach a fortunate end. First there appear grains like fish-eyes, then a circle around the matter, somewhat reddish, and then at one point whitish. It next becomes green and yellow like a peacock’s tail, afterwards most beautifully white, and finally fiery and blood-red. After time has passed and greater fire and heat have been given to the work, the soul and spirit are fully reunited with their body lying at the bottom, in an inseparable and indissoluble fixed state. This union is such a great and inexpressible marvel that it can scarcely be seen and contemplated without astonishment, fear and trembling. Then a newly risen, living, perfect and glorified body is seen and found, containing the most beautiful purple-red colour, like scarlet. Its tincture afterwards changes, tinges and heals all other imperfect bodies, as will be discussed further below.

When, with God’s help, the work has thus been brought to a fortunate end and the noble phoenix or wonder-bird of the wise has arisen, you must again, with knees and heart bowed, thank the Almighty, who has been the chief governor of this whole work, for his glorious benefit and grace. You must also know how to apply and use it rightly for his praise and honour and for alms to those in need. Here, then, you truly have the correct account of the whole process by which this noble art and high work—the philosophical egg and the Stone of the Wise—can be opened, prepared and completed.

To conclude this part, it must further be shown how a chance error or mistake might be remedied or corrected in time if one should creep in or occur, as can easily happen, although it greatly hinders perfection. First, you may see something sublime and rise before the dissolution and blackness, or something like a red oil float on top of the matter: this is a very bad sign. Second, the matter may begin to turn red too soon, either before or after whiteness. Third, at the end it may refuse to yield and coagulate properly. Fourth, the matter may have been so altered and spoiled by the heat that, if taken out and placed upon a glowing iron, it does not immediately melt and flow like wax, tinge and colour the iron, or subsequently remain stable and be found fixed in the fire. All these are noteworthy signs that the work has not been properly begun and governed, or has otherwise been carelessly neglected.

These defects can nevertheless be met and the work set right, provided they have not gained the upper hand and action is taken in time. Handling them requires great diligence, skilful practical measures and orderly means, which should and will be known to an experienced and practised artist. For beginners and pupils who love this art, however, I shall also mention and indicate them very briefly. If one or more of these defects or errors occurs or is perceived, you may take the entire compound out of the glass, dissolve it afresh, and imbibe, moisten and strengthen it with the mercurial water already described. The philosophers also called this the virgin’s milk, or the milk, blood and sweat of the first matter; again, the indestructible fountain or aqua vitae, the water of life, which nevertheless also contains the greatest poison. Then cook it again until nothing further sublimes or rises upward and the coagulation or fixation of the work appears fully and properly, in the manner described above. Its subsequent fermentation and multiplication will be discussed further in PartThree, in connection with its use.

I should also give a somewhat fuller account of the time required, when and for how long each action is to be performed. Yet no certain period can well be prescribed here. The philosophers mentioned differ greatly in their opinions about it, for their writings show that one always attains the result more slowly than another. It has already been urged and stated, however, that careful attention must be paid in all this to nature, as it reveals itself in other things. If one does so, diligently observes it and keeps the right mean in every undertaking, the work may reach perfection the sooner.

I warn and instruct you, however, that at the beginning of the other or subsequent work your reckoning must not go beyond this character X, the middle or point. You must know how to divide it exactly, and then, in the composition of this work, step back with half of that character, namely V. When this has been done, put it together again and properly reckon a XX part: within that number or time, provided no other hindrance intervenes, you may bring the work to its end. Be content with that time, for seeking a more precise term is very uncertain and easily leads to error. A single hour can throw you back a whole month or, if you hit it correctly, advance you by the same amount of time. Take care nevertheless not to calculate too narrowly, nor, as already said, to go beyond it. If that happens you will produce a malformed birth. Many people, through their supposed haste or inconstancy, have obtained a NIXIR instead of the ELIXIR they hoped for.

Since this magical knowledge is of no small importance, I have wished only to touch upon and indicate it briefly here for the children of wisdom to consider further.

Riddle. Seven cities and seven metals, Also seven days and seven numbers; Seven letters and seven words, Also seven times and seven places. I mean seven herbs as well, Also seven arts and seven stones. Seven and three are counted off; Let no one hurry a half here. In sum, within this precious number Rest all things upon the whole earth.

A Brief Account of the Process of the Whole Work. The first or preliminary work: Dissolve the matter, Then putrefy it forthwith, Afterwards distil it also; Thus the water is coagulated. The second or subsequent work: Then conjoin two things, Putrefy and blacken them, Afterwards digest them diligently Until they are most beautifully whitened, And finally deeply reddened, Coagulated and fixed. When this is further fermented, The whole work is completed. Then one such part tinges, And the thousand is multiplied.

Or Thus, More Briefly Still. Seek three within one thing alone, And in turn one within three. Open it and close it again: Then you possess the whole art.

A Riddle in Which the Process Is Also Indicated. In time the body is given The spirit that gladdens the soul. When the spirit draws the soul to itself And neither departs from the other, All three remain together Until the body is freely dissolved, Putrefies and dies; soul and spirit Separate from it. Yet after a time, In the final heat, everything Comes together again and keeps its place, Entirely in true perfection, Glorified with great joy.