Turba Philosophorum
The Thirty-Fourth Dictum
Bacsen saith: On account of thy dicta the
Philosophers said beware,* Take the regal Corsufle, which is like to the redness of copper, and pound in the urine of a calf until the nature of the Corsufle is converted, for the true nature has. been hidden in the belly of the Corsufle. The
Tureva saith: Explain to posterity what the nature is. And he: A tingeing spirit which it hath from permanent water, which is coinlike, and coruscates. And they: Shew, therefore, how it is extracted. And he: It is pounded, and water is poured upon it seven times until it absorbs the whole humour, and receives a force which is equal to the hostility of the fire; then it is called rust. Putrefy the same diligently until it becomes a spiritual powder, of a colour like burnt blood, which the fire overcoming hath introduced into the receptive belly of Nature, and hath coloured with an indelible colour. This, therefore, have kings sought, but not found, save only to whom God has granted it.* But the
Turba saith: Finish your speech, O Bacsen. And he: I direct them to whiten copper with white water, by which also they make red. Be careful not to introduce any foreign matter. And the Turba: Well hast thou spoken, O Bacsen, and Nictimerus also has spoken well! Then he: If I have spoken well, do one of you continue.
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