Text.Duclo.1598-01.!6v
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Source: Gaston Duclo, Apologia crysopoeiae et argyropoeiae adversus Thomam Erastum Doctorem et Professorem Medicinae, ed. Bernard Gilles Penot, [Geneva]: Eustache Vignon (heirs), 1598, sig. ¶6v–¶8r [BP.Duclo.1598-01]
Summary: Penot emphasizes the proven truth and simplicity of the Art of transmutation, referencing his previous work and the book by Duclo, which solidly refutes skeptics like Thomas Erastus through logical arguments, demonstrations, and experiments. Penot underscores the importance of understanding natural causes before attempting the Art and warns against careless engagement. He reveals the essence of the Art as encapsulated in two processes: "Solve" (dissolving bodies into Mercury and Mercurial water) and "Coagula" (transmuting metallic bodies back to their prime matter), challenging the views of others like Raimundus Lullus on the impossibility of certain transmutations. Penot supports his stance with references to authoritative figures in alchemy, such as Geber, highlighting the profound secrets and potential of metals like gold in alchemy. He promises future publications on related topics, encouraging readers to appreciate the depth of alchemical work and to approach it with reverence, diligence, and a desire for knowledge, concluding with a call to fear God and love one's neighbor. (generated by ChatGPT)
Text
Bernardi G. Penoti a Portv S. Mariae Aqvitan[i] praefatio, in qua omnem totius artis potentiam & efficaciam in duobus consistere verbis ostendit.
Non est (Amice lector) quod refricem diu agitatas illas quæstiones, quibus quæritur. An Ars transmutationem sit vera: cum anno proximè præterito, id grauißimorum virorum testimonius, & authoritatibus, satis supérque probauerim, quum huius argumenti, plures sint libri æditi: Lectores itaque ad eam remitto præfationem, quam non ita pridem, ei Dialogo, qui est inter Naturam & filium philosophiæ præfixi. Ridiculum vero foret, si in præsentia repetionibus vterer: siquidem Author libri huius [[:Category:<span style="font-variant:small-caps|ClavevsGaston Duclo|">ClavevsGaston Duclo]][[Category: ClavevsGaston Duclo]] aduersus Thomam Erastum disputans, eiusque argumenta omnia solide refutans, firmißimis tum rationibus, tum demonstrationibus, (adde & certis experimentis) [sig. ¶7r] Artem veram, certam & facilem esse ostendit, & confirmat. Quapropter qui authoritatibus & exemplis veritatem Artis tibi probari & exemplis veritatem Artis tibi probari vis (Lector) huius Clavei librum percurre. Sed antequam operari incipias, rerum naturalium causas prudenti consilio perpende, aut noli rem aggredi. Incauti prima fronte hunc librum intuentes, implicabuntur. Tu (Amice lector) magno cum iudicio, lege, relege, ora labora: & Deus Mysteriorum autor tui miserebitur. Hoc vnum te latere nolo, omnem potentiam & totius artis efficaciam, in duobus consistere verbis, nimirum, Solve & Coagvla.
Solutio duplex est.[m1] Prior soluit corpora in Mercurium, id quod fit per Mercurium, Et inuenta est ad particularia, quam istius libri Author sequitur. Altera vero in aquam Mercurialem, Hæc ad opus vniuersale pertinet.[m2] Estque transmutatio quædam corporum metallicorum in ipsorum primam materiam. Quam Doctus huiusce operis Author negat fieri posse, & spiritus mineralium fixari cum perfectis corporibus, Raymundóque Lullio refragratur, illud impossibile. Cuius opinionem non assequor: Imo [sig. ¶7v] contrarium: Authoritatibus plurimorum huiusce Artis virorum probo. Geber enim in tertia Parte perfecti Magisterij cap[itulo] 32 de Auro[m3] (inquit) Aurum quoque est Metallorum prætiosißimum, & est tinctura rubedinis, quia tingit, & transmutat omne corpus, calcinatur & soluitur cum vtilitate & sine vtilitate, & est medicina lætificans & in iuuentute corpus conseruans. Frangitur facile cum Mercurio: & odore Saturni teritur. Iupiter & Luna illi in substantia conueniunt. In pondere & putredine, Satvrnvs. vltimo vero Mars. Et est vnum de maximis secretis naturæ.[m4] Cum ipso similiter commiscentur spiritus, & figuntur per ipsum maximo ingenio, quod non peruenit ad artificem duræ ceruicis & pectoris. Hæc Geber. Ex Scala philosop[hica] Spiritus congelantur beneficio dissolutionis naturæ fixæ, & corporis, & mixtionis illius, cum argento viuo: Et alius. Fige ergo terram, & aquam, vt aë poßit figi in aqua: quoniam si aquam bene occidisti, omnia elementa occidisti, & mortua sunt. Hactenus. De his plura lege in libro qui septem claues Artis[m5] insigni- [sig. ¶8r] tur, quem aliquando in publicum ædam: vna cum tractatu aquarum mercurialium, quibus quæuis metalla in currentem mercurium, reducuntur: si Æternus Devs Optimus nos superstites voluerit. His interim (Humane lector) fruere & Vale: Et nostris lucubrationibus faue.
Avt hic avt nvsqvam est qvod qværimvs
Devm time et proximvm dilige
Apparatus
Marginalia
Modern English Raw Translation
Bernard G. Penot's preface from Port Saint Mary of Aquitaine, in which he shows that the entire power and effectiveness of the art consist in two words.
There is no need, dear reader, to revisit those long-discussed questions about whether the Art of transmutation is true: since last year, I have sufficiently and abundantly proved it with the testimonies and authorities of the most serious men, as there are many books published on this subject. Therefore, I refer the readers to that preface, which not long ago, was prefixed to the Dialogue between Nature and the son of philosophy. It would indeed be ridiculous to repeat myself now: since the author of this book, Duclo, arguing against Thomas Erastus and solidly refuting all his arguments with the strongest reasons, demonstrations, (add also certain experiments) shows and confirms that the Art is true, certain, and easy. Therefore, if you wish the truth of the Art to be proven to you through authorities and examples (Reader), go through this book of Duclo. But before you begin to operate, wisely consider the causes of natural things, or do not attempt it. The careless, at first glance at this book, will be entangled. You (dear reader), with great judgment, read, reread, pray, work: and the God of Mysteries will have mercy on you. I do not want you to be unaware of this one thing, that all the power and effectiveness of the entire art consist in two words, namely, Solve and Coagula.
The solution is twofold. The former dissolves bodies into Mercury, which is done by Mercury, and is found in the particulars, which the author of this book follows. The latter into Mercurial water, This pertains to the universal work. And it is a certain transmutation of metallic bodies into their first matter. Which the learned author of this work denies can be done, and that the spirits of minerals can be fixed with perfect bodies, contradicting Raimundus Lullus, calling it impossible. I do not follow his opinion: On the contrary: I prove the opposite with the authorities of many men of this Art. For Geber, in the third Part of the Perfect Magistery, chapter 32 on Gold (he says) Gold is also the most precious of Metals, and is the tincture of redness, because it tints, and transmutes every body, is calcined and dissolved with benefit and without benefit, and is a medicine that gladdens and preserves the body in youth. It is easily broken with Mercury: & ground with the odor of Saturn. Jupiter & Moon agree with it in substance. In weight & decay, Saturn. but finally Mars. And it is one of the greatest secrets of nature. With it likewise are mixed spirits, & fixed through it with great ingenuity, which does not reach the craftsman of hard neck & chest. Thus Geber. From the Philosophical Ladder, Spirits are frozen by the benefit of the dissolution of fixed nature, & body, & their mixture, with quicksilver: And another. Therefore, fix the earth, & water, so that air can be fixed in water: because if you have killed the water well, you have killed all the elements, & they are dead. So far. Read more about these in the book titled "The Seven Keys of the Art," which I will someday publish: along with a treatise on mercurial waters, by which any metals are reduced to running mercury: if the Eternal God Most Good wills us to survive. In the meantime (Kind reader) enjoy & Farewell: And favor our nocturnal labors.
Here or nowhere is what we seek
Fear God and love thy neighbor
