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Anonymous

The Sophic Hydrolith

Water Stone of the Wise

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The Sophic HydrolithThe Way of Truth

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English Page · Branch 233 of 287

The Way of Truth

German & Latin

1619 pp. 267–268 · scans ER271, ER272

Wiewol dennoch die Metallische essentia die rechte materia ist, welche durch eine natürliche Kochung vom vntersten biß zum höchsten gradu muß erhöhet werden, daran haben sie für den Verstenndigen, die es recht verstehen, wol recht gesagt, aber dem Vnwissenden ist diß eine Verführung, weil sie vermeinen, vnnd auß der Alten Büchern errahten, daß es auß den Metallen muß genommen werden, vnnd sich als dann damit bemühen vnnd martern, biß es perfect werde, dasselbe ist Sophistisch, vnnd auff Vnwegen gewandert, denn die Metallische essentia ist von den perfecten Metallen ohn Schaden nicht zubringen, Vrsach, so man es durchs Fewer wolte scheiden, so verfleucht der liquor, vnd die essentia wird mit der Erden verbrannt. Auch so man wolte die essentiam der imperfecten Metallen durch starcke Wasser arsenicam, aquam vitæ, od durch Laugen abscheiden, so würde die essentia mit seine liquore durch eine frembde Feuchtigkeit, die es nit erleiden kan, corrumpirt, denn die Metallische Art begeret nichts frembdes, kan es auch nit vertragen, od so jrgend etwas frembdes mit dem Metallischen liquore sich vermenget, ist es schon auß seinem gradu gewichen, vnd auß dem Metallischen Wesen entrücket, vnd in die Sophistische Ordnung gestellet, dafür du dich hüten must.

1619 pp. 267–268 · scans ER271, ER272

The Sophic Hydrolith: The Way of Truth

1619 pp. 267–268 · scans ER271, ER272

Nevertheless, metallic essence is the proper matter which must be exalted by natural coction from the lowest degree to the highest. In this the ancients spoke correctly for the informed, who understand it rightly. For the ignorant it is misleading, because they suppose and infer from the old books that it must be taken from metals, and then toil and torment themselves with it until it becomes perfect. This is sophistry and a departure onto false paths. Metallic essence cannot be extracted from perfect metals without damage: if one tries to separate it by fire, the liquor escapes and the essence is burned with the earth. Likewise, if one tries to separate the essence of imperfect metals with strong waters, arsenical water, aqua vitae or lyes, the essence together with its liquor is corrupted by an alien moisture which it cannot tolerate. The metallic kind desires nothing foreign and cannot endure it. If anything foreign mixes with metallic liquor, it has already departed from its degree, been removed from metallic being and placed in the sophistical order. You must guard against this.

1619 pp. 267–268 · scans ER271, ER272

About This Reading Edition

The anonymous Water Stone of the Wise of 1619, with German text, a new English translation, 240 annotations, three companion treatises from the original volume, two separately identified responses of 1661, and the complete supplied study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Wasserstein der Weysen. Frankfurt: Lucas Jennis, 1619. The governing e-rara copy belongs to the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung, Zürich (DOI 10.3931/e-rara-8968). The work is traditionally attributed to Johann Siebmacher; this remains an attribution, not a name printed in the anonymous witness. The separately sourced First and Second Responses use the 1661 Wolfenbüttel witness, qun-642-1s, pp. 200–206.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

Historical texts printed in 1619 and 1661 are in the public domain. The supplied 2026 German reading text, new English translation, introduction, notes and complete study apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization. The original triangle is credited to the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung, Zürich, and e-rara, Public Domain Mark.