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German & Latin Page · Branch 204 of 287
The Way of Truth
German & Latin
1619 pp. 232–234 · scans ER236, ER237, ER238Mit solchen vnnützen vnd vnnötigen Processen haben die rechten Chymici nichts zu schaffen, sondern sie gebrauchen sich der Ehrwirdigen Natur, wie die es in den Adern der Erden nach ihrer arth, weise, zu wegen bringet ohn Solution, Coagulation, Putrefaction, welche doch in sich gantz simpel vnd schlecht ist. Dann bedencke dich doch recht, lieber Freund, was für Instrumenta als Helmen, Kolben, was für Retorten, Circulirgläser, Sublimirgläser, oder mancherley Ofen, mancherley Fewr, auch mancherley Materien man findet in den Adern der Erden, da die Metallen grunen vnd wachsen, ob die Natur auch in den Adern der Erden so viel vnd mancherley Ofen oder Gläser, auch so mancherley Materien gebrauchet, als Vitriol, Saltz, Arsenicum, Mercurium, Schweffel, vnd anderm Lumpenwerck mehr, hie vnnötig zu erzehlen, wie heut die Alchimisten gebrauchen, damit sie jhr Gelt, vnd Zeit mit grossem vnverstand zubringen, mag sie auch billich vor Vnverständige schelten, dieweil sie sich täglich in Alchymia vben, aber doch in der grossen Sudlerey mit jhren Solutionibus, Coagulationibus, Distillationibus, Putrefactio: das doch nichts werth ist, verharren, vnd das Gelde vnd die Zeit vnnützlich verzehren, dieweil die Natur so schlecht ist, vnd jhre Arbeit so gar simpel vnd schlecht verbringet. Worzu dienet vns dann die grosse Sudlerey vnnd Mühe, die doch nichts als Thorheit von den wahren Künstlern gerechnet wird?
The Sophic Hydrolith: The Way of Truth
1619 pp. 232–234 · scans ER236, ER237, ER238True chymists have nothing to do with such useless and unnecessary processes. They follow venerable Nature, which accomplishes the work in the veins of the earth according to its own manner, without solution, coagulation or putrefaction, and is itself entirely simple and plain. Consider carefully, dear friend, what instruments are found in the veins of the earth where metals flourish and grow: what alembic heads and cucurbits, what retorts, circulating vessels and subliming vessels, what assorted furnaces, fires and materials? Does Nature use so many different furnaces or glasses in the veins of the earth, and so many materials—vitriol, salt, arsenic, mercury, sulphur and other rubbish which need not be listed here—as alchemists use today, spending their money and time with such great ignorance? They may rightly be called ignorant, since they practise alchemy daily yet persist in their great bungling with solutions, coagulations, distillations and putrefaction, which are worth nothing, and uselessly consume money and time. Nature is plain, and accomplishes its work very simply and plainly. What use to us, then, is all this bungling and labour, which true practitioners regard as nothing but folly?
Socrates
Reading The Sophic Hydrolith · The Way of Truth · The Way of Truth · Unit 3
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
- Governing historical witnesse-rara: 1619 witness
- Separately identified later response sourceHerzog August Bibliothek: 1661 responses
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