Text.Alchemica.1625-01.J3r
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Source: Dyas Chymica Tripartita, Das ist: Sechs Herrliche Teutsche Philosophische Tractätlein, ed. Hermannus Condeesyanus [Johannes Rhenanus], Frankfurt am Main: Lucas Jennis, 1625, sig. J3r–J4v = pag. 69–72 [BP.Alchemica.1625-01]
Summary: Mynsicht recounts a personal journey of enlightenment, attributed to God's grace, which unveiled to him the secrets of the Philosophical Stone. Despite this revelation, the author struggled for years to apply this knowledge practically, particularly in separating and purifying the mythical substances associated with the stone, such as the "blood of the red lion" and the "ferment of the white eagle."
The text criticizes the complex and often misleading alchemical practices of the time, including various forms of chemical processing and the search for the stone's material in unlikely substances. It dismisses these practices as sophistry and foolery, disconnected from the true nature that the wise seek to understand. The author warns against the deceit and thievery in the alchemical community, where many claim to know the secrets to making precious metals from base substances but in reality, lead people astray.
Mynsicht emphasizes that the true understanding and application of this profound knowledge require divine revelation and a deep connection with God, rather than mere technical prowess or adherence to the cryptic writings of past alchemists. The author asserts that even if one were to know the true material of the Philosophical Stone, it would not guarantee the ability to unlock its secrets without God's guidance.
In conclusion, the author reveals his name cryptically, related to a numerical code, and expresses a desire to share this sacred knowledge responsibly, keeping in mind the divine covenant and the ethical implications of such powerful wisdom. (generated by ChatGPT)
Text
An den Christlichen vnnd würdigen Leser.
Freundlicher/ Gottlibender Leser/ vnd sonderlich jhr sapientiæ & doctrinæ filij, demnach vor etzlichen Jahren/ Gott der Allmechtige auff mein stetiges einbrünstiges Gebett vnnd embsiges anruffen/ meine Augen durch erleuchtung seines heiligen Geistes (auß welchem wir alle Weißheit empfahen/ vnnd vns durch Christum vom Vatter ist gesandt worden) so weit eröffnet/ daß ich das wahre Centrum in Trigono centri, die einigen vnd waren materien des Edlen Philosophischen Steins erkante/ vnd wesentlich in Händen hatte/ wuste ich gleichwol fast bey die 5. Jahr nicht/ wie ich darmit ersprießlichen/ recht vnd gebürlichen/ des roten Löwen Blutt/ vnd des weißen Adlers gluten darauß zuscheiden/ viel weniger dieselben nach dern proportionirtem Gewicht der Natur gantz geheb vnd auffs beste zuuermischen/ einzuschliessen/ versiegeln/ vnd dem geheimen Fewer zu committiren, procedirn solte/ welches dann nicht ohne grosse Vernunfft vnd gebrauchter Vorsichtigkeit geschehen muß. Vnd ob ich woll in den scriptis, parabolis, & variis Philosophorum figurismit sonderlichem/ mercklichem fleiß nachgeforschet/ vnd mich jhre vielfelitge/ wunderbarliche vnnd zum theil auß eigenem gehirn erwachsene ænigmata so soluirn hoch bemühet/ habe ich doch reipsa befunden/ dz es alles mit einander lauter phantasie vnd narrenwerck ist/ wie denn solches die Aurora Philosophorum gleichsfals bezeuget/ [p. 70] nemlich: das alle præparationes, daruon Geber, Albertus Magnus, vnd dergleichen/ sampt dero purgationes, sublimationes, cementationes, distillationes, rectificationes, circulationes, putrefactiones, coniunctiones, solutiones, assensiones, coagulationes, calcinationes, incinerationes, mortificationes, reuificationes, &c. Wie gleicher gestalt jhr dreyfüß/ Athanor, Reuerberierofen/ Schmeltzofen/ Faulhintz/ Roßmist/ Esch/ Sandt/ Cucurbith, Pellican Viol, retort, fixatorium, &c. Lauter Sophistische/ verführische vnd vnnütze dinge sein/ wie ich den solches für mein Person auch in warheit bekennen muß: Sintemal die edle Natur/ so in jhrer eigenen angebornen substanz sich gantz gerne finden lesset/ hieuon nichts weiß: Dannhero der Theophrast, in Secreto Magico de Lap[ide] Philos[ophorum] von denen die da materiam lapidis in Wein/ in den imperfecten corporen, im Blut/ in Marcasiten, in Mercurio, in sulphure, in vrina, in stercore, in auripigmento, vnd in Kreutern als: Chelidonia, Springkwurtzel/ Ebhew/ Jsoph/ &c. suchen/ recht saget: Es sey alles miteinander Schelmerey vnd Dieberey damit/ das sie die Leut verführen/ bringen sie vmbs Gelt/ verzehren vnnd verliehren die zeit vnnützlich/ vnd vergebentlich/ vnd fahren allein jhren Narrenköpffen nach/ der vorhin nicht kann außrechnen/ was die Natur erfordert: Lieber sage mir eins/ wer muß mir in den Mineren der Erden/ Wasserbrennen/ oder hat es auch Leut darinnen/ die den Wein vertewren/ oder Kinderharn bruntzen/ damit mann Metallen macht/ oder meinst du es sein Apotecker drinnen die alle ding also feil haben/ damit die kanst Metallen machen: du Narr/ kanst du nit verstehen das du jrrest/ das deren dingk keines zu der Natur gehöret/ oder wilt du vber Gott sein/ das du auß Blut wilt Metallen machen/ so mache auß einem Pferd einen Menschen/ oder auß einer Mauß eine Kuhe/ die gibt dir darnach gute Milch darzu/ das wehre auch eine multiplication, es geschicht aber nicht/ vnd als wenig das kann geschehen/ also wenig kanst du auß obgenandten recepten metallen machen/ dann die Kunst ist nicht auß der Natur/ vnnd was dieselbe erschaffen hat/ da kann die Kunst keine Wirckung haben/ Wann eine Frawe ein Knäblein gebihret/ darauß vermag die Kunst nicht ein Medelein zu- [p. 71] machen/ was ding auch darzu gebraucht wird. Hierauß ein jeglicher leichtlichen zuermessen hat/ wie/ vnnd welcher gestalt/ auch worinn materia benedicta soll gesucht vnd gefunden werden. Es wolle sich aber keiner imaginiren, viel weniger von einigen Artisten vberreden lassen/ das/ ob er schon warhafftig veram materiam entweder durch heimliche offenbahrung Gottes/ oder deren/ die sie kennen/ auch weiß/ kennet vnd in handen hat/ das er alßdann ebenmeßig dieselben auffzuschliessen/ das purum ab impuro auffs höchste zuscheiden vnd zu reinigen wisse/ gentzlichen verstehe. Ach nein lieber laborant bey weitem nicht: der Hund licht nun allererst im Bisem begraben/ vnnd gehöret Kunst vnnd ein geschicktes Gemüthe zu der sachen/ siehe an zum Exempel was du anfangs von mir gehöret/ das ich 5. Jahr veram materiam lapidis gekant/ vnnd die gantze zeit vber nicht damit zu procediren gewust/ biß mir entlichen nach dem 6. Jahr der Schlüssel des gewalts/ durch heimliche offenbahrung von Gott dem Allmächtigen ist vertrawet worden. Vnnd haben diesen Schlüssel die Alten Patriarchen Propheten vnd Philosophi je vnd allewege heimlich vnd verborgen gehalten: denn sagt der Monarcha in loco dicto: solten sie es offenbar geschrieben haben/ das es ein jeder Schuster oder Zahnbrecher verstehen künte/ das were ein grosser Diebstall/ so wehre es auch kein Geheimnuß nicht/ vnd künte viel vbels hiedurch zugerichtet werden/ das dann offentlich wieder den Willen Gottes gehandelt were/ &c. Auß diesen vrsachen vnd deren so ich zum theil in Epilogo angezogen/ auch/ damit ich nicht/ das talentum à Deo mihi commissum zuuergraben/ angesehen würde/ habe ich in diesem meinem Aureo seculo rediuiuo, so viel mir Gott vnnd die Natur erlaubt/ das grosse Geheimnüß der Weisen/ wie dasselbige haben meine Augen gesehen/ meine Hände eingerichtet/ vnnd durch die Gnade Gottes zu rechterzeit in grosser Krafft vnnd Herrligkeit wieder außgenommen/ offenbahren wollen: Der fromme vnd Gottliebender Leser/ wolle es anders nit als im guten erkennen/ auff vnnd annehmen/ dextre consideriren, vnd sich durch auß nicht jrren noch anfechten lassen/ das zu zeiten/ dem Buchstab nach contraria mit vnterlauf- [p. 72] fen/ es hat sich per Theoriam ad praxin zu schreiten nicht anders schicken können/ noch gebühren wollen: Weil deutlicher vnd klärlicher hieruon zuschreiben ernstlich vnd zum allerhöchsten in republica chymica verbotten ist: trage aber gantz keinen zweiffel/ es werden all die/ so diß Trectetlein in warer Zuuersicht mit den innerlichen Augen des Gemüths/ so alles vermügen/ recht anschawen/ in denselben fleißig studiren, vnd darbey für allen dingen Gott inniglichen vnd von Hertzen anruffen gleich mir/ die hierin verborgene Philosophische wundersüsse Früchte geniesen/ vnd derselben nach dem Willen Gottes theilhafftig werden. Vnd alsdann sein vnd bleiben sie/ ware Brüder des güldenen Creutzes/ vnnd außerlesene Gliedmassen der Philosophischen gemeine in ewiger Verbündnuß.
Schließlichen/ damit auch der Christliche verstendige vnd würdige Leser/ eigentlich meinen Tauff: vnd Zunahmen wisse/ wil ich so candidus sein/ vnd denselben folgender gestalt/ damit sich mit fug niemand vber mich zu beschweren/ geoffenbahret haben: So wisse nun ein jeglicher/ das die zahl meines Nahmens ist M. DCXII.[e1] in welcher zahl mein gantzer Nahme durch 11. Todte vnnd 7. lebendige[e2] vollkomnlich in das Buch der Natur ist geschrieben worden: Vber das ist der 5. Buchstab der fünffte theil des 8.[c1] vnnd der 15. ist abermal der fünffte theil des 12.[e3] vnd laß dir hierbey genügen. Datum in Monte abiegno, die 25. Martij Anno 1621.
Apparatus
Word Explanations
- ↑ M. DCXII.] haDrIanVs a MVnsICht = 1612
- ↑ 11. Todte vnnd 7. lebendige] "HADRIANVS A MVNSICHT" has 11 consonants (HDRNSMNSCHT) and 7 vowels (AIAVAVI).
- ↑ fünffte theil] The 8th and the 12th letter of "HADRIANVS A MVNSICHT" are each a "V" (5), the 5th and the 15th letter are each an "I" (1), thus a fifth.
Corrections
- ↑ 8.] corrected from: B.
Modern English Raw Translation
To the Christian and worthy reader,
Kind, God-loving reader, and especially you, children of wisdom and learning, after several years in which the Almighty God, in response to my constant fervent prayer and earnest invocation, opened my eyes through the enlightenment of His Holy Spirit (from whom we receive all wisdom and who was sent to us through Christ from the Father) so far that I recognized the true center in the Trigon of centers, the sole and true materials of the noble Philosophical Stone, and had them essentially in my hands, I still did not know for nearly five years how to profitably, correctly, and properly separate the blood of the red lion and the ferment of the white eagle from it, much less how to mix them together in the perfectly balanced weight of nature, to enclose, seal, and commit to the secret fire, which must proceed with great reason and careful precaution. And although I diligently researched in the writings, parables, and various figures of the philosophers, and exerted myself to solve their multifaceted, marvelous, and partly self-conceived enigmas, I found in reality that it is all sheer fantasy and fool's work, as the Aurora of the Philosophers also testifies, namely: that all preparations of which Geber, Albertus Magnus, and the like speak, along with their purgations, sublimations, cementations, distillations, rectifications, circulations, putrefactions, conjunctions, solutions, ascensions, coagulations, calcinations, incinerations, mortifications, revivifications, etc., as well as their tripod, Athanor, reverberatory furnace, melting furnace, dungheap, horse dung, ash, sand, cucurbit, pelican, viol, retort, fixatorium, etc., are merely sophistical, misleading, and useless things, as I must also confess in truth for myself: Since the noble nature, which likes to be found in its own inherent substance, knows nothing of this. Therefore, Theophrastus, in the Secret Magic of the Philosophers' Stone, rightly says about those who seek the material of the stone in wine, in imperfect bodies, in blood, in marcasites, in mercury, in sulphur, in urine, in dung, in orpiment, and in herbs such as chelidonium, mandrake, yew, hyssop, etc., that it is all trickery and thievery with which they deceive people, take their money, waste and lose time unnecessarily and in vain, and merely follow their own foolish notions, who cannot beforehand calculate what nature requires: Tell me, who must I believe in the mines of the earth, water burning, or are there people in there who consume the wine, or children who urinate to make metals, or do you think there are apothecaries inside who have all things for sale so you can make metals? You fool, can't you understand that you are erring, that none of those things belong to nature, or do you want to be above God, wanting to make metals from blood, then make a human out of a horse, or a cow out of a mouse, which would then give you good milk, that would also be a multiplication, but it does not happen, and just as little can it happen, so little can you make metals from the aforementioned recipes, for the art is not from nature, and where it has created, art has no effect. When a woman gives birth to a boy, art cannot make a girl out of it, no matter what is used. From this, everyone can easily understand how, in what manner, and where the blessed material should be sought and found. But let no one imagine, much less be persuaded by some artists, that, even if he truly knows and possesses the true material either through God's secret revelation or from those who know it, he then equally knows how to unlock it, to separate the pure from the impure to the utmost, and to purify it completely. Oh no, dear laborer, by no means: the crux of the matter is now buried even deeper, and it requires art and a skilled mind for this matter. Consider, for example, what you initially heard from me, that I knew the true material of the stone for 5 years and all that time did not know how to proceed with it until finally, after the 6th year, the key to power was entrusted to me through God the Almighty's secret revelation. And the ancient patriarchs, prophets, and philosophers have always kept this key secret and hidden: for the monarch says in the said place: if they had written it openly so that every cobbler or tooth-puller could understand it, it would be a great theft, it would also be no secret, and much evil could be done through it, which would then be openly against the will of God, etc. For these reasons and others which I
have partly mentioned in the epilogue, and so that I am not seen as burying the talent entrusted to me by God, I have wanted to reveal in this my Aureo Seculo Redivivo, as much as God and nature allow, the great secret of the wise, as my eyes have seen it, my hands prepared it, and by the grace of God, taken back in great power and glory at the right time. The pious and God-loving reader should recognize and accept it in good faith, consider it favorably, and not be disturbed or troubled that at times, according to the letter, contradictions may occur; it could not be arranged nor deemed proper to proceed from theory to practice otherwise. Because it is strictly and most severely forbidden in the republic of alchemy to write more clearly and plainly about this: but I have no doubt that all those who view this treatise with true trust through the inner eyes of the mind, which can do all things, study it diligently, and above all, fervently and sincerely invoke God like me, will enjoy the hidden philosophically wondrous fruits contained within, and become partakers of them according to the will of God. And then they shall be and remain true brothers of the Golden Cross, and chosen members of the philosophical community in eternal covenant.Finally, so that the Christian, understanding, and worthy reader may know my baptismal and surname, I will be so candid and reveal the same in the following manner, so that no one may justly complain about me: Know then, everyone, that the number of my name is M. DCXII., in which number my entire name is perfectly inscribed in the Book of Nature through 11 dead and 7 living: Beyond that, the 5th letter is the fifth part of the 8th, and the 15th is again the fifth part of the 12th, and let that suffice. Given at Monte abiegno, on the 25th of March in the year 1621.
