Basil Valentine, His Triumphant Chariot of Antimony

«Since, Basil Valentine, by Religious Vows am bound according to the Order of St. Benedict, and that requires another manner of Spirit of Holiness, then the common State of Mortals exercised in the prophane business of this World» — así se presenta la voz que firma el tratado: un monje profeso benedictino que reclama para sí otro espíritu de santidad que el del común de los mortales, y de esa condición deriva enseguida un deber de enseñar.

«I thought it my duty before all things, in the beginning of this little Book, to declare what is necessary» — el voto religioso se convierte en obligación literaria: antes de la técnica hay que decir lo que el espagirista piadoso necesita saber.

«as, what he ought to do, and whereunto to direct his aim, that he may lay such Foundations» — el contenido de esa admonición previa: la conducta y el fin al que apunta el operador, para que los cimientos de toda la materia sean estables.

«lest his Building shaken with Winds, happen to fail, and the whole Edifice to be involved in shameful Ruine» — la imagen con que enuncia el riesgo de empezar sin ese fundamento: el edificio entero se viene abajo.

«which otherwise, being founded on more firm and solid Principles, might have continued for a long series of time» — el reverso de la misma imagen: sobre principios firmes, la obra dura.

«Therefore touching these five Heads we shall here following treat, and so far declare them, as that the general Work may be brought to light» — anuncia el plan del libro: las cinco cabezas se tratan hasta donde baste para sacar a la luz la obra general.

«For he, who regards not these, shall never obtain place among true Chymists» — pone las cinco cabezas como condición de pertenencia: sin ellas no hay lugar entre los verdaderos químicos ni entre los espagiristas perfectos.

«Invocation of GOD must be made with a certain Heavenly Intention, drawn from the bottom of a pure and sincere Heart, and Conscience, free from all Ambition, Hypocrisy, and all other Vices» — la primera cabeza no se enuncia como devoción genérica sino con requisitos: intención celeste, corazón sincero y conciencia limpia de ambición e hipocresía.

«For GOD will not be mocked (which I earnestly admonish) as Worldly Men, pleasing and flattering themselves with their own Wisdom, think» — el reproche que acompaña a esa exigencia va dirigido a quienes se complacen en su propia sabiduría.

«All these, by humble Prayer a Man obtains of that most excellent Father, who created Heaven and Earth, together with things Visible and Invisible, as the Firmament, Elements, Vegetables, and Animals.» — la oración humilde se presenta como vía de obtención de todo lo creado, visible e invisible.

«For the Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom.» — remata el tramo devoto con la sentencia bíblica, puesta como principio del trabajo y no como adorno.

«Whosoever purposeth in himself to seek after that, which is the greatest of Terrene things, especially the knowledge of every good thing, that is in the Creatures, and GOD hath liberally imparted to Men, and implanted (as to their effective power) in Stones, Herbs, Roots, Seeds, Animals, Plants, Minerals, Metals, yea and indeed in all things; let him cast away all Earthly thoughts, reject all that depends on them, and hope for freeness of Heart, and pray unto GOD with great lowlyness of mind:» — el objeto del arte queda definido como el conocimiento de la virtud efectiva puesta por Dios en piedras, hierbas, semillas, animales, minerales y metales; la condición de acceso es desprenderse de lo terreno.

«Which no Man will doubt, who knows, that he alone is GOD, who delivered Israel from all his Enemies; which deliverance he did in very deed effect, not only for Israel, but also for all Men making humble supplications to him, and praying with brokenness of Heart.» — extiende a todo suplicante la liberación de Israel, con lo que la promesa deja de ser histórica y se vuelve regla del operador.

«Therefore let Prayer by the first point of our Admonition, which also is, and by us is called Invokation of GOD, which if made, not with Hypocrisy and a feigned Heart, but with such Faith and Trust, as that,» — nombra la oración como primer punto de la admonición, con la condición negativa (ni hipocresía ni corazón fingido) que la hace válida; el tramo corta donde arranca la serie de ejemplos evangélicos.

«with such lowlines of mind, and confession of Sins, as the Woman of Canaan was endued with;» — segundo de los ejemplos evangélicos con que mide la oración debida, entre el centurión de Cafarnaúm y el samaritano del camino de Jericó.

«Lastly, if a Man’s Christian Charity extends itself so far, as if he obtain what he prays for, he would willingly communicate of the same to his Neighbour, then he shall unobtainably obtain Riches and Health, the of his Prayer.» — cierra la condición con la caridad: quien comunique al prójimo lo obtenido alcanzará riqueza y salud; el volumen imprime aquí una frase mutilada, *the of his Prayer* (sic), donde parece faltar el sustantivo.

«but that Nature should err, when rightly handled, is not possible.» — la segunda cabeza, la contemplación de la naturaleza, descansa en esta premisa: el error está siempre del lado del operador.

«The later consists of copious cogitations, which never proceed to effects, nor exhibit any form of a matter, which falls under the Touch.» — distingue la contemplación fecunda de la imposible, y el criterio que las separa es el tacto: lo que no llega a materia palpable no cuenta.

«These are, Calcination, Sublimation, Reverberation, Circulation, Putrefaction, Digestion, Distillation, Cohobation, Fixation, and the like of these; all degrees of which are found in operating, learned, perceived and manifest by the same.» — la lista de operaciones con que se ejerce esa contemplación; el texto añade que sus grados solo se aprenden operando.

«Seek first the Kingdom of GOD, and his Justice by Prayer, and all other things, which Man seeks in these Temporals, and he hath need of, either for the sustentation or health of his body, shall be added to you.» — aplica la sentencia evangélica al orden del trabajo: la salud del cuerpo se sigue de la oración, no se busca en su lugar.

«Next to the Theory, which researcheth out the inmost properties of things, follows Preparation, which is performed by Operations of the hands, that some real work may be produced.» — la tercera cabeza queda definida por el trabajo de las manos, después de que la teoría haya buscado las propiedades íntimas.

«From Preparation ariseth Knowledge, viz. Such, as opens all the fundamentals of Medicine.» — invierte el orden esperado: el conocimiento médico no precede a la preparación, nace de ella.

«Operation shews how all things may be brought to light, and exposed to sight visibly: but knowledge shews the practice; and that, whence the true Practitioner is, and is no other then confirmation:» — reparte los papeles entre operación y conocimiento, y llama confirmación a lo que hace al verdadero practicante.

«it is possible that a Medicament diligently prepared, and exhibited in due weight, may do more hurt then good in some Diseases, and eem to be Venom rather then Medicine.» — límite que el propio autor pone a la cuarta cabeza: ni la buena preparación ni el peso justo bastan si la enfermedad no lo admite; el volumen imprime *eem* (sic) por seem.

«Therefore the bottom of every Disease is to be knwon, that it may be understood, whether the same may be cured by external remedies only, or must from within be driven outwards.» — de ahí la exigencia diagnóstica que ordena todo el tramo médico: primero el fondo de la enfermedad, después el remedio; el volumen imprime *knwon* (sic) por known.

«For if the Center of the Disease by within, such a Medicine must be given, as can search out, apprehend and restore that Center; otherwise the Physicians labour will be fruitless and in vain.» — enuncia la regla en su forma fuerte: al centro interno solo llega una medicina capaz de buscarlo y restaurarlo.

«Physician ought well to know, whether his Medicament will be weak or strong, also whether it will do good, or hurt, unless he resolve to fatten the church yard, and with the loss of his fame, and hazard of his own soul.» — la ignorancia de la dosis se cobra, en su formulación, el cementerio, la fama y el alma.

«Moreover, if there be an internal Disease, which ariseth, and is fed from an internal Original, it must never be driven inward by external remedies; for great discommodity will thence ensue, and at length Death itself.» — prohibición explícita: el remedio externo aplicado a un mal de origen interno lo empuja hacia dentro.

«Therefore there is great difference between fresh wounds inflicted by Prick, Cut, or any other way, and the old which derive their Original from within.» — la distinción que sostiene toda la doctrina de la quinta cabeza: herida fresca contra mal antiguo de origen interno.

«For the fresh wounds may be perfectly cured by external remedies only; but in those, which are nourished from within, an external application of Oyls, Balsoms, Unguents, and Plaisters profits little, unless the Internal Fountain be stopped,» — el corolario práctico: aceites, bálsamos, ungüentos y emplastos sirven de poco mientras la fuente interna siga abierta.

«When the Fountain shall be stopped, the Flux will cease, and the evil may easily be cured with Diet only.» — y su consecuencia: cerrada la fuente, la dieta basta.

«It is no great point of Art to heal any fresh wound; for this every Country-man can easily effect with crude Lard: but to remove all Symptomes which happen in wounds, and to dry up the Fountain of the evil, this is the work, and this the labour of the Artist.» — sitúa el arte no en la curación sino en la supresión de la fuente, y usa al campesino con manteca cruda como término de comparación.

«Now come hither, you physicians, how many so ever there be of you, that arrogate to your selves the Title of Doctor of either Medicine, viz. of internal and external Diseases; understand ye the Title of your honour, and consult your own Conscience, and see, whether you recieved that from GOD, that is, possess it in verity, or whether you usurp it as a form, for honour sake.» — abre la invectiva contra los médicos titulados: el criterio que propone no es académico sino de conciencia y de origen.

«as much as Heaven is distant from the Earth, so vastly different is the Art of healing internal Diseases, from the Sanation of external wounds.» — la razón por la que niega que un mismo título cubra las dos medicinas.

«If the Title be given to you by GOD, the same GOD will give a Blessing, Felicity, Health and happy events; but if your Title be vain, and only devised and assumed for ambition, all things will evilly succeed to you: your honour will fail, and you will prepare for your self Hell-fire, which can no more be extinguished,» — la sanción que anuncia al título usurpado, en el mismo registro devoto de la primera cabeza.

«For Christ said to his Disciples; You call me Lord and Master, and ye do well, Therefore whosoever assumes a Title of Honour, let him see, whether he do well, and whether he ascribes not more to himself, than he knows and hath learned, which is the real abuse of this Title.» — define el abuso del título por exceso entre lo que se atribuye y lo aprendido, apoyándose en el dicho evangélico.

«Nor should he be ignorant of Anatomy, that he may be able to shew the Constitution of the Body, and discover from what Member every Disease proceeds, together with its Fountain and cause.» — añade la anatomía a lo exigible, ligada de nuevo a localizar la fuente.

«In times past, long before my days, the Doctors of Medicine did themselves cure External wounds, and judged that a part of their Office; but in these times, they take Servants, whom they employ» — narra como decadencia la delegación de la cirugía en sirvientes, y fecha el cambio antes de su propio tiempo.

«These, I say, profess, themselves Masters in curing wounds, and Doctors of Doctors; and to speak the truth as it is, they may by a better right glory in this Title, they thou magnificent Doctor, umbratical Chyrugion, and most ignorant Boaster of Titles, why do you style yourself Doctor of either medicine?» — concede a esos sirvientes el título con mejor derecho que a sus amos; el volumen imprime *they thou* (sic) donde el sentido pide than.

«I pray be not offended at this, or take it amiss; for you your self will quickly confess, if you do but seriously consider wounds made by Prick or Cut, that you have as much knowledge in the cure of them, as is in the Brain of a dunghill Cock, which Children learning their A.B.C. are wont to set in the Frontispiece of their Primer.» — remata la invectiva con la imagen del gallo de estercolero del abecedario infantil.

«Therefore I persuade all Men, of what state or condition soever, who are desirous of Learning, from your Masters to search out the true Doctrine, which consists in Preparation, and afterward in the Use;» — cierra el tramo devolviendo el asunto a las cabezas tercera y cuarta: preparación y uso.

«But let every Man seriously think with himself, what it is he ought to do, and what he is to omit, and whether he doth justly or unjustly use the Title assumed.» — el examen de conciencia con que despide la reprensión, dirigido a cada quien y no a un gremio.

«It is not sufficient, if anyone iwth the vulgar say (saving your reverence, let the more delicate Men pardon us, if we intending to speak to the purpose, make mention of putrefaction) this is egregious dung, it hath a strong and grievous ill savour, and know not how it comes to pass, that a Man, who perhaps eats food of a most grateful taste and odour, and well accommodated to his natural Appetite, thence makes excrement endued with qualities so contrary, and yielding an odour so very ungrateful, and repugnant to Nature: of which there is no other reason, then natural putrefaction and corruption.» — usa la digestión como caso doméstico de putrefacción para explicar cómo una misma materia cambia de cualidad; el volumen imprime *iwth* (sic) por with.

«For the Earth is nourished and fattened by stinking dung, and noble Fruit is produced of it.» — cierra el argumento con el reverso agrícola: de la corrupción sale el fruto noble.

«I do certainly heal my Brethren, as far as concerns the Soul, by Prayer, and in relation to the body, with apt Remedies» — la voz monástica reaparece repartiendo su oficio en dos: oración para el alma, remedios para el cuerpo.

«But to return to my Philosophy of Antimony, I would have the Reader, before all other things, to understand, that all things contain in themselves operative and vivificative Spirits» — enuncia el axioma con que abre su filosofía del antimonio, y lo pone como condición de lectura de todo lo demás.

«Elements themselves want not these Spirits, which (the living GOD permitting that) whether they be good or evil, have their Habitation in tehm.» — extiende el axioma a los elementos, con la reserva de que su habitación en ellos depende del permiso divino; el volumen imprime *tehm* (sic) por them.

«Men and Animals have in them a living operating Spirit, which receding from them, nothing but a Carkass remains.» — el mismo axioma en el orden animal, con el cadáver como prueba por ausencia.

«In Herbs, and all things bearing Fruit, a Spirit of Sanity exists; otherwise they could not, by any Preparation, be reduced to Medicinal use.» — en el orden vegetal el argumento se vuelve técnico: sin espíritu de sanidad ninguna preparación daría medicina.

«Metals and all Minerals, are endued and possessed with their own incomprehensible Spirit, in which, the power and virtue of all their possible effects, consists.» — y en el mineral, que es el que le interesa: toda virtud posible reside en ese espíritu, al que llama incomprensible.

«For whatsoever is without Spirit, wants Life, and contains in itself no vivifying Virtue.» — formula el axioma en negativo, que es la forma en que lo usará como criterio.

«Therefore, you are to know, that in Antimony also there is a Spirit, which effects whatsoever in it, or can proceed from it, in an invisible way and manner, no otherwise, than as» — aplica el axioma al antimonio; el tramo corta donde arranca la comparación con el imán.

«visible to the Intellect, and endued with Spiritual knowledge, which notwithstanding cannot (when they will) be touched or apprehended, as Natural Men are touched» — describe la primera clase de espíritus de su repartición: inteligibles y no tangibles a voluntad; la cita empieza tras la llamada a nota que el volumen imprime en el cuerpo.

«These Spirits are endued with Senses and Understanding, know Arts, and can change themselves into divers Forms, until the time of their Judgement; but whether a definitory sentence ought to be pronounced against them as yet, or no, that I leave to the Providence of the Divine Majesty, from whom nothing is hid.» — les atribuye sentidos, entendimiento, artes y mudanza de forma, y se abstiene expresamente de sentenciar sobre su condición.

«There are other Spirits, wanting speech, which cannot shew themselves visibly in the very act; and they are those which live in Animals, as in Men and the like, in Plants also and in Minerals; nevertheless they have in themselves an occult and operative Life,» — la segunda clase, sin habla, es la que sostiene la operación alquímica: vive en animales, plantas y minerales.

«After the same manner, the efficacious Spirit, and operative power of Antimony, manifests its gifts, and distributes them among Men, being first loosed from its own body, and freed from all its bonds, so, that it is able to penetrate, and render fit to be applyed to those Uses, which the Artificer proposed to himself in Preparation.» — la doctrina operativa que se sigue: el espíritu solo reparte sus dones una vez desatado del cuerpo, y penetra según lo que el artífice se propuso.

«But the Artist and Vulcan ought to agree: [FIRE MAKES SEPERATION] the Fire gives seperation for an operative power, and the Artificer forms the matter.» — reparte el trabajo entre el fuego, que separa, y el artífice, que forma; la cita conserva el epígrafe marginal que el volumen imprime entre corchetes.

«So of Antimony various works may be made for different uses: in which the Artist is the Smith that forms; [VULCAN, THE KEY] Vulcan is as it were the key which opens;» — la misma metáfora ampliada, con Vulcano como llave; conserva el segundo epígrafe marginal.

«O! if foolish and vain Men had but Ears to hear, and true eyes with understanding, not only for hearing what I write, but for understanding the Arcanum and knowledge of the use; assuredly they would not suck in those insalubrious and turbid Potions, but hasten to these limped Fountains, and drink of the Well of Life.» — condiciona el rechazo de las pociones corrientes al entendimiento del arcano y del uso, no a la mera lectura.

«Therefore let the World know, that I shallprove those pretended Doctors, who seem to be wise, to be mrere Fools and Idiots,and cause many unlearned Men (but such as are studious Disciples of my Doctrine) to become true Doctors in very deed.» — opone los doctores fingidos a los discípulos sin letras de su doctrina; el volumen imprime pegadas *shallprove* y *Idiots,and*, y *mrere* (sic) por mere.

«Wherefore I here solemnly cite and invite all Men, who earnestly aspire to knowledge, with a chearful mind, good Conscience, and certain hope, to embrace and become Spectators of our Doctrine, and accurately to peruse my Writings and Informations; for so, at length, they (being possesors of what they sought) will extol and commend me after death, rendering my mortal name immortal, with their perpetual remembrance of my praises, as long as the World endures.» — la convocatoria del autor pide conciencia y esperanza además de estudio, y espera del lector la inmortalidad de su nombre.

«But if when I am dead, any one be pleased to institute a disputation in the Schools against me, my writings will fully answer all his Objections, and I am assured my Disciples will never forget the benefit received from me, by which they will obtain the Empire of Truth, which ever was to me, and always will be to them, sufficient to suppress a Lie to the Worlds end.» — anticipa la disputa escolar póstuma y remite la respuesta a sus propios escritos.

«Also let the well meaning and sincere observer of Art know, that there are two kinds of Antimony very different from each other: one is fair, pure, and of a golden property, and that contains very much Mercury, but the other which hath much Sulphur is not so friendly to gold as the first, and is distinguished by fair long and white shining streaks.» — reparte el mineral en dos clases por su proporción de mercurio y de azufre, y da como señal visible las vetas largas y blancas de la segunda.

«Therefore one is more fit for Medicine and Alchemy, then the other: as when the Flesh of Fishes iscompared with the Flesh of other Animals, although both these are, and are called Flesh, yet each of these very much differs from the Flesh of the other; even so of Antimony the difference is the same.» — la consecuencia práctica de esa división, ilustrada con la carne de pez frente a la de otros animales; el volumen imprime pegado *iscompared*.

«Many do indeed write of the Interior virtue of Antimony, but few of tehm ever taught the true Foundation of the virtues with which it is endued, or found out which way, or in what manner it recieves them; So that their Doctrine is founded upon words only, exists without any true foundation, and they themselves lose the fruit they hopes to receive by such Writings.» — objeta a los que han escrito del antimonio que se quedaron en las palabras sin dar el fundamento de sus virtudes; el volumen imprime *tehm* (sic) por them.

«For to write truly of Antimony is a work that requires profound Meditations, a mind largely unfolding itself, and knowledge of its manifold Preparation, and of the true Soul of it, in which all the Utility is cited, and which being known you may be able to give an indubitate Judgement, of what evil or good, Venom or Medicine is latent therein.» — enumera lo que exige escribir del mineral, y sitúa toda la utilidad en su alma verdadera.

«It is not a matter of small moment by a true Examen to search into Antimony, and thereby to penetrate fundamentally into its Essence, and through earnest study to attain the final knowledge thereof, that the Venenosity of the same (against which unskilful Men ignorantly exclaim) may be taken away, and it be changed and prepared into a better State, becoming a Medicine fit for use and void of Venom.» — enuncia el programa entero del tratado: quitar la venenosidad por examen y estudio hasta dejar una medicina sin veneno.

«Many Artists intending to Anatomize Antimony, have divers ways vexed, wrested and tormented the same, in such wise as it cannot be well described in Words, much less believed; yet, the matter being truely examined, they effected nothing.» — mide el fracaso de los operadores anteriores no por falta de esfuerzo sino por su resultado nulo.

«By the black Colours a mist was cast before their Eyes, so that they could neither observe the true Soul itself, nor know it.» — da la causa de ese fracaso: los colores negros del proceso les velaron el alma del mineral.

«For Antimony like unto Mercury, may fitly be compared to a round Circle, of which there is no end; in which the more diligently any Man seeks, the more he finds, if Process be made by him in a right way and due order.» — la imagen del círculo sin fin con que declara inagotable la materia, condicionada al orden del proceso.

«It is Venom and a most swift poison, also it is void of Venom and a most excellent Medicine; whether it be used outwardly or inwardly.» — enuncia la contradicción como propiedad de la cosa, sin resolverla: veneno velocísimo y a la vez medicina excelente.

«Which is a thing hid form most Men by reason of their own blindness; and they judge it an incredible, foolish and vain work, because (through their ignorance) it is unknown to them, who can no otherwise be excused, then that they deserve the name of Stupidity: yet that is not to be suffered in them, because they desire not to learn or be better informed, either here, or elsewhere.» — carga el rechazo a la falta de voluntad de aprender más que a la ignorancia misma; el volumen imprime *form* (sic) por from.

«Antimony is endued with all the four first qualities; it is cold and humid, and against it is hot and dry, and accommodates it self to the four Seasons of the year, also it is volatile and fixed.» — le adjudica las cuatro primeras cualidades a la vez y las liga a las cuatro estaciones.

«The volatile part of it is not void of Venom, but the fixed is free from all venenosity; which is so very strange, as it may be reputed one of the seven Wonders of the World, of which so many Writers have discoursed, not knowing themselves what they writ.» — reparte veneno y sanidad entre lo volátil y lo fijo, que es la clave operativa de todo el libro.

«For the Masters of this terrene World are so intangled with their own Thoughts, that they seek nothing from Antimony but Riches, and forget to search its utility for medicine, and the Health of the Body, which notwithstanding ought above all things to be sought, that (being brought to Light) the wonderful Works of our GOD may be made manifest, and the Glory given to him» — objeta a los que buscan solo riqueza en el mineral, y pone la salud por encima con un fin declarado de gloria divina.

«It is not to be denyed, but that more of Riches and Health may be found in it than either you all, or I myself, can believe: for I profess my self no other than a Disciple in the Knowledge of Antimony, although in it I have seen, experienced and learned more than you, and all such as you are (who arrogate to yourselves great skill therein) either have learned, or ever can learn.» — se declara discípulo y no maestro del antimonio, sin renunciar a la comparación con sus contemporáneos.

«Yet no Man should therefore be troubled, or despair of Benefits; but because the World, indulging their own Ingratitude, have neither esteemed, nor with due Reverence acknowledged the Munificence of the Most High, but have preferred Riches before Health, GOD hath spread as it were a Spider’s Webb before their Eyes, that being blind they might not know the Secrets of Nature absconded in the Form of this Mineral.» — explica la ocultación del secreto como castigo de la ingratitud, con la imagen de la telaraña sobre los ojos.

«For the Lord JESUS, our Saviour, reserved the Supernatural Work to himself, as a Testimony of his Omnipotency.» — pone un límite teológico a lo que el arte puede alcanzar: la obra sobrenatural queda reservada.

«but how that Transmutation happened was hid from them.» — la reserva que acompaña a los ejemplos de transmutación conocidos: se vio el efecto, no el modo.

«Therefore, whosoever desires to become a perfect Anatomist of Antimony, the first thing to be considered by him is Solution of the Body; and in order to this, he must take it in a convenient place, and propose to himself the right way, that he be not seduced into devious Paths.» — primer paso operativo del programa: la solución del cuerpo, con lugar y camino elegidos de antemano.

«Secondly he must observe the Governance of the Frie, taking Care that it be neither too much, nor too little, or too hot, or too cold.» — segundo paso: el gobierno del fuego, definido por sus dos excesos; el volumen imprime *Frie* (sic) por Fire.

«For the summ of all is sited in an exact Governance of the Fire; by which the vivifying Spirits of Antimony are extracted, and loosed from their bonds, and so rendered capable to manifest their Effects operatively.» — concentra en el gobierno exacto del fuego la suma del arte, por ser lo que desata los espíritus vivificantes.

«Also he must take great Care, that this Operative Virtue be not mortifyed and persih Adustion.» — el riesgo contrario: quemar la virtud operativa; el volumen imprime *persih Adustion* (sic), donde el sentido pide perish by adustion.

«the Use or Dose is to be observed by him, that he may administer it in due manner, knowing the Measure, as I above mentioned, when I spake of the five principal Heads requisite in the Exercise and Practise of Chymistry; but here I only hint at it cursorily by way of a parable.» — remite la dosis a las cinco cabezas de la admonición inicial y avisa de que aquí solo la trata por parábola.

«By Resolution the sum of the Matter is proposed, but by Fire it is prepared to profit.» — resume en una línea el reparto entre resolución y fuego.

«but no Man can profitably enjoy this Flesh, unless he first boyl it by Fire, by which Operation the Red substance of the Flesh is changed and prepared into white Aliment.» — la parábola anunciada: la carne cocida cambia de roja en alimento blanco.

«should eat that Raw and Red flesh, it would be Venom to him rather than Medicine; because the natural Heat of the Stomach is too weak to concoct and digest that crude Body.» — cierra la parábola con el criterio que la hace útil: lo crudo es veneno porque el calor natural no basta.

«Hence, my dear Friend, you may conclude, that since Antimony hath greater Venom, and a more gross Mineral Body than Animal Flesh (as by the above recited common Example I have already shewed) it will also prove more» — traslada la conclusión de la parábola al mineral; el tramo corta en el cambio de plana.

«Therefore the Venenosity of Antimony is so to be taken away, as it may never against be converted into Venom, after the same manner, as Wine, which being once, by putrefaction and corruption turned into Vinegar, never afterward yields any Spirit of Wine, but always is and remains Vinegar.» — exige que la supresión del veneno sea irreversible, y toma el vino vuelto vinagre como modelo de irreversibilidad; el volumen imprime *against* (sic) por again.

«but on the Contrary, if the Spirit only of the Wine be seperated, and the Aquosity left by itself, and the same Spirit afterward exalted, it will never in any wise be changed into Vinegar, although it should be kept an hundred Years; but will always remain Spirit of Wine, no otherwise, then as Vinegar remains Vinegar.» — el reverso del mismo modelo: separado y exaltado, el espíritu del vino ya no se corrompe.

«This Transmutation of Wine into Vinegar is a wonderful Thing; because somewhat is produced from Wine, which was not before in its vegetable Essence.» — señala lo que le importa del ejemplo: aparece algo que no estaba en la esencia vegetal previa.

«but (on the contrary) in distilling Vinegar the Phlegm first comes, afterward the Spirit, as I have shewed above in its own place, where I also made mention of this Example.» — el signo de laboratorio que distingue los dos casos: en el vinagre la flema sale primero.

«Therefore Spirit of Wine makes Bodies volatile, because itself is volatile; [SPIRIT OF VINEGAR, FIX] but Spirit of Vinegar fixeth all Medicaments, as well of Minerals as Vegetables, and renders them solid, so that they apprehend things fixed, and expel fixed Diseases.» — opone los dos disolventes por su efecto —volatilizar contra fijar— y liga lo fijo a las enfermedades fijas; conserva el epígrafe marginal del volumen.

«Therefore Preparation of Antimony consists in the Key of Alchimy, by which it is dissolved, opened, divided and seperated; as in Calcination, Reverberation, Sublimation, etc. as we declared above it.» — nombra llave de la alquimia al conjunto de operaciones que abren y separan el mineral.

«Likewise by Arts and due Method, of it may be made an Oyl, which is effectual wholly to consume that new and unknown Disease, which the French, in their Warlike Expeditions, brought into our Regions.» — adjudica al aceite de antimonio la cura de la enfermedad nueva que dice traída por las expediciones francesas.

«If anyone would make Beer of Barley, Wheat, or other Corn, all these degress must be most perfectly known to him, before he can from those Grains extract their most subtil Essence and virtue, and reduce the same into a most efficacious Drink.» — abre la comparación con la cervecería, que le sirve para enseñar los grados de la operación con un oficio conocido.

«First, the Grains must be so long steeped in Water, as until they be able sufficiently, to open and resolve themselves (as I, when I was a Young Man, travelling into England and Holland, diligently observed to be done in those places) this is called Putrefaction and Corruption.» — primer grado de la comparación, y de paso un dato autobiográfico: dice haber observado el remojo de joven en Inglaterra y Holanda.

«This Key being used, the Water is drawn off from the Grain, and the macerated Corn is laid on Heaps close together, and left so for a due time, until it spontaneously conceive heat, and by the same heat, germinating, the Grains adhere each to other: this is Digestion.» — segundo grado: el calor espontáneo del montón es lo que él llama digestión.

«When the Corn is thus prepared, it is carried to the Mill, that it may be broak and ground small; this is Vegetable Calcination.» — tercer grado: la molienda es la calcinación vegetal.

«Afterward, by heat of Fire cocting these Grains, the more noble Spirit of them is extracted, and the Water is imbibed with the same; which without the aforesaid Preparation could not have been.» — cuarto grado, con el límite explícito: sin la preparación previa la extracción no ocurre.

«The Hops, when added to the Beer, is the Vegetable Salt thereof, which conserves and preserves from all Contraries, endeavouring to corrupt the same.» — cierra la comparación adjudicando al lúpulo el papel de sal vegetal conservadora.

«Spaniards and Italians know not, and in my native soil of Germany about the Rhine, few are found skilled in this Art.» — dentro de la comparación cervecera, el volumen declara el suelo natal de su voz: Alemania, en torno al Rin.

«After all these works are performed, a new Seperation is made by Clarification, viz. of the Drink, in this manner: a little Yeast or Ferment is added, which excites an internal motion and Heat in the Beer, so that it is elevated in it self, and (by the help of time) Separation of the dense from the rare, and of the pure from the impure is made;» — la levadura entra como agente de una separación interna: denso de raro, puro de impuro.

«and by this means the Beer acquires a constant virtue in Operating, so that it penetrates and effects all those Ends, for which it was made and brought into use: which before could not have been;» — lo que la clarificación añade no es limpieza sino constancia operativa.

«because the Spirit, the Operator was hindered, by its own Impurity, from effecting its proper Work.» — da la razón de la etapa: la impureza estorba al espíritu, que es quien opera.

«That cannot, before the time come, in which the Impuritys may be separated from it, so very perfectly and efficaciously perform its own Work, as after Separation of the pure from the impure:» — insiste en que la eficacia depende del momento de la separación, no solo de que ocurra.

«After all the aforesaid, a new Operation may be instituted, by Vegetable sublimation, for separation of the spirit of the Wine or Beer, and for preparing it by Distillation into another Drink of Burning Wine, which may also be made of the Lees or Dregs of Wine and Beer.» — último grado de la comparación: la sublimación vegetal que da el vino ardiente, obtenible incluso de las heces.

«When this is done, the Operative Virtue is separated from its own Body, and the Spirit being extracted by Fire, forsakes its own unprofitable dead Habitation, in which it was commodiously hospited before.» — describe el resultado con el mismo léxico que usó para el antimonio: el espíritu abandona su habitación muerta.

«Now, if this Burning Wine, or Spirit of Wine, be rectifyed, an Exaltation is made by often distilling it, and by a certain method of Operating, the pure part (free from all Phlegm and Aquosity) may be so concentred, and as it were condensed, as one Measure of it may effect more, then twenty or more could have done before.» — cuantifica la exaltación: una medida rectificada rinde más que veinte sin rectificar.

«For it sooner inebriates, and is swift, volatile and subtil for penetrating and operating.» — la prueba sensible de esa concentración, puesta en la embriaguez.

«Yea, I here solemnly affirm, that there are many words dispersed here and there in my Writings, to which if the Reader give heed as he ought, and know in what Fundamentals the principal Heads of the matter are sited, and as it were buried, he will have no Cause to repent his often turning over the same Leaves, but will esteem every word as much, as a piece of Gold coin.» — declara su propia técnica de escritura: palabras dispersas y enterradas que exigen relectura.

«For you know, that althought the Examples by me proposed, sound harsh, as delivered in a rude manner, yet they contain in them somewhat that is excellent and of great Moment.» — defiende la rudeza deliberada de sus ejemplos; el volumen imprime *althought* (sic) por although.

«I was willing, by these gross Examples to lead you by the hand, and shew you the way, that by them you might attain to the Thing itself, and not at the very first err from the Gate; for so doing you would long wander, and never bring your Operation to the desired End.» — explicita la función didáctica de los ejemplos groseros: evitar el error en la puerta misma.

«because in Antimony (as in Mercury) all Colours are found, which no Man should wonder at,» — enuncia la propiedad cromática que después articulará las correspondencias con piedras y planetas.

«I purposely and willingly produce Examples so rude and common, because the power of Antimony and the true Virtue thereof, deeply and profoundly abscoded in its inmost parts, is to be searched out.» — repite la justificación, ahora ligada a la profundidad de lo que hay que buscar; el volumen imprime *abscoded* (sic) por absconded.

«If a book happen to be given to a Man, that is unlearned, he knows not what is signified by that Writing, or what that Scripture intends; for it is hid from his Eyes, and he stands amazed, as a Cow at the sight of a new Door.» — la comparación del antimonio con un libro: sin lectura, la materia queda muda.

«But if unto that unlearned Man, anyone suggest the Explication of the Book, and teach him not only the matter contained therein, but also the use of the same, the Man no more admires it, as an Art; but by this means it becomes to him a Common Thing, the Reason and Operation of which he understands, and by his own Study can learn, conceive, and comprehend the Utility so perfectly, as now none of those Things, which were contained in the Book , are hid from him; because he hath learned both to read and understand what is written therein.» — el segundo tiempo de la comparación: explicada, la materia deja de ser arte admirable y se vuelve cosa común.

«But here, what comes into my mind, and ought in no wise to be passed over in Silence, I think good to mention; viz: that at this Day many are found who exclaim, and rashly pronounce Crucifige, Crucifige, against all those, who prepare Venoms into Medicaments, by which (as they say) many Mortals perish, or, if they escape with Life, live miserably; such are Mercury, Arsenick, Antimony, etc.» — consigna la acusación de sus adversarios en su propia letra, con el grito evangélico puesto en boca de ellos.

«Against these I do in a special manner exclaim and protest, against these, I say, who (ignorance of Preparation) exhibit Poison to Men: for Mercury, Auripigment, Antimony, and such like, are venoms in their Substance, and unless rightly prepared remain Venoms.» — su réplica concede la premisa del adversario: sin preparación, esas materias siguen siendo veneno.

«Yet after a Legitimate Preparation, all their Venenosity is broke, extinguished and expelled, so that no part of them remains, but what is Medicine, which resists all internal Venoms, although most deeply rooted, and radically destroys the same.» — y solo entonces afirma lo contrario, con la condición explícita de la preparación legítima.

«For Venom, being in such a manner prepared, as it can no longer hurt, resists all Poison, which is not as yet prepared, and so very well prepares and subjugates it, as it is compelled with the same to put off its own venomous Nature.» — el principio de semejanza que sostiene su farmacología: el veneno preparado somete al no preparado.

«Here I shall raise a great Contention among the Learned; for I know they will doubt what these my Words should signify, as whether what I affirm and write be possible to be done or no; and they will be divided into several Opinions there-about.» — anticipa la disputa y la divide en opiniones, en vez de darla por ganada.

«Some will judge it is in no wise possible, that from those Things, of which we treat, the venenosity should be wholly taken away; nor do I wonder, that they persist» — recoge la primera de esas opiniones sin descalificarla de entrada; el tramo corta en el cambio de plana.

«Yet a small part of these Men will with me be constrained to acknowledge, it is possible a vile Thing may be changed into a Better.» — reduce la disputa a una concesión mínima que espera de sus adversarios.

«For you (you Doctors I mean) must confess to me, that your purpose is to reduce that Evil, from which the Disease had its Original, into a better State.» — vuelve el argumento contra los médicos usando el fin que ellos mismos declaran.

«Go to then; will you not also grant, that if any Evil be in those Things, of which Medicine is to be made, the same Evil must be converted into a better State, that it may so much the better perform its operation, and more powerfully and profitably act, without any notable peril?» — extiende esa premisa del enfermo a la materia médica, y la formula como pregunta y no como sentencia.

«But since unto very few as yet is known, or by Experience found, the Way, by which a Man ought to proceed in these Preparations, a very small part of these will assume and contend for the Opinion I here affirm, and publicly profess:» — acota su propia expectativa: espera muy pocos defensores, y por falta de experiencia ajena.

«and neither the Devil, nor Death, nor the very Gates of Hell, nor any Creature, how powerful, or perverse soever, can effect anything at all, whereby to overthrow this Truth.» — el registro en que sostiene su tesis cuando la contradicen: apocalíptico, no probatorio.

«So I hope, yea doubt not (although all vagabond and circumforaneous Medicasters, all Physicians resident in Cities, and how many soever there be, that profess themselves Masters of any part of Medicine, do all together contrive what they can, and exclaim against Antimony) but that the same Antimony will triumph over the ingratitudes of all those unskilful Men (for true Physicians and such as are always ready to learn, I touch not here) and by its own power and virtue acquired after due preparation, will overcome and tread under foot all its Enemies.» — la imagen del triunfo que da título al libro, con una excepción declarada dentro del propio paréntesis: los médicos verdaderos quedan fuera de la invectiva.

«But, on the contrary, those ignorant false Judges, and pertinacious contemners of Antimony, because they know not the Truth, together with the proud and blood-thirsty Jews, shall perish, and be cast into the Abyss of Hell.» — el volumen equipara a los despreciadores del antimonio con los judíos en una fórmula de condena; se consigna tal como está impresa.

«How ridiculous those magnificent, and to themselves only wise Doctors, seem to me, who deterr Emperors, Kings, Princes and all other Great Men, and seriously admonish them not so much as to touch such Medicines with their Lips, because they are noxious, venomous, and every way perillous, I will not here declare, since I see them only to judge according to their own Opinion, without entertaining any Observations of other things, the Knowledge of which they have not before acquired by their own Contemplation, and therefore cannot judge of any thing else, or otherwise than they have learned.» — describe cómo esos médicos disuaden a los príncipes, y adjudica el rechazo a un juicio cerrado sobre lo ya aprendido.

«Therefore to these I say, if there be any Man, that hath taken so strong a Poison, as present Death is necessarily expected to follow, I will (provided the Man be left wholly to my Care) give him an Antidote by me prepared which shall continually resist that Venom, and quickly expel it out of the Body.» — ofrece el desafío en forma de apuesta clínica, con la condición de que el enfermo quede enteramente a su cargo.

«But I little care, whether you Mr. Doctor, who do neither know this Thing, nor ever would apply your mind to know it, do slight the same, and repute it as a ridiculous, and altogether false tale; it is sufficient for me, that I am able (but if praise worthy, let praise be given to GOD) to prove and defend the Truth thereof.» — remite el mérito a Dios en el mismo movimiento en que reclama poder probar lo que dice.

«For I myself have experienced it, I have made, I have prepared, I have prescribed this Medicine, and there wants not a sufficient number of Witnesses to confirm it under Hand and Seal.» — apoya la afirmación en experiencia propia y en testigos con firma y sello.

«And whensoever I shall have occasion to contend in the School with such a Doctor, who knows not how himself to prepare his own Medicines, but commits that Business to another, I am sure I shall obtain the Palm from him: for indeed that good Man knows not what Medicines he prescribes to the Sick; whether the Colour of them be white, black, grey or blue, he cannot tell; nor doth this wretched man know, he only knows, that he found it so written in his Books, and thence pretends Possession (or as it were Possession) by Prescription of a very long time: yet he desires no further Information.» — el reproche central del tramo: el médico que delega la preparación no conoce ni el color de lo que receta.

«the Sick Labour is tedious to them, they commit the matter to Chance, and being secure of their Honour and content with their Fame, they (like Brawlers) defend themselves with a certain Garrulity, without any respect had to Conscience or Truth;» — describe la conducta que atribuye a esos médicos: azar en la cura y garrulería en la defensa.

«Vulcan himself, viz. the Prepairer of Medicaments, is not found among them;» — nombra a Vulcano como preparador de medicamentos, figura del fuego que después recorrerá todo el tratado.

«A Paper Scrol in which their usual Recipe is written, serves their purpose to the full, which Bill being by some Apothecaries Boy or Servant recieved, he with great noise thumps out of his Mortar every Medicine, and all the Health of the Sick.» — la escena con que remata la crítica: el mozo del boticario machaca en el mortero la medicina y la salud a la vez.

«But I trust the Creator of all Things, (both of those which fall under our Sense, and of those that are remote from our Senses) will benignly hear our Prayers; that, if not whilst I and my Brethren live, yet after our Death, such a Conversion of Things and Men (GOD answer these desires) may follow, as that thick and obscure Veil may be taken away from the Eyes of our Enemies, and they by true and infallible Illumination, obtain a clear sight, that tehy may find their lost Groat: which GOD, the eternal Governour of Time and Things of his Grace and Mercy grant.» — cierra la invectiva con una oración por los adversarios, y sitúa su cumplimiento después de su propia muerte; el volumen imprime *tehy* (sic) por they.

«But it is fit, that I, who intended to publish a certain Discourse of Antimony, in all its Numbers Absolute» — anuncia el tratado propiamente dicho y el orden por el que empieza: el nombre; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota que el volumen imprime en el cuerpo.

«among the Latines at this day the name of Antimony is used, by which name they first of all signified it» — el tercer eslabón de la serie de nombres, tras el árabe Astinat y el caldeo Stibium.

«We Germans in our Language have given it a Name, which seems to express a certain property of its Nature, for since it is seen to consist of a certain streiked Matter, and of it may easily be made Glass endued with various Colours, which proceed therefrom, we have called it Spiesglass, as if we should say streiked Glass.» — el cuarto nombre, el alemán, motivado por la textura veteada y por el vidrio que de él se hace; el volumen parte *Spiesglass* en el salto de renglón como *Spies-glass*, y la cita lo devuelve unido, que es la forma que también da la capa de fragmentos del troceo.

«From which Variety of the Name, by a prudent Judgment a singular Collection may be made, viz. that Antimony was knwon, and greatly esteemed, and its virtue and Utility observed and brought into use by the Arabians, Chaldeans, Latins, and our Germans: but afterward, the Heresies of various Opinions arising, the use was vitiated, and its Virtue and Glory first obscured, and afterward wholly extinguished.» — de la serie de nombres deriva una historia: estima antigua entre cuatro pueblos y extinción posterior por herejías de opinión; el volumen imprime *knwon* (sic) por known.

«Of which there is no Reason to Doubt; for nothing is more probable, than that Truth should suffer Dammage and Shipwrack by the Oppression of Enemies.» — el principio historiográfico con que sostiene esa reconstrucción: la verdad naufraga por opresión.

«But since to discourse of the name of Antimony, is not to our purpose, we will desist from this Matter.» — corta la historia de los nombres declarando que no es el asunto del libro.

«For all the Praise of Antimony consists in the Preparation thereof, which is made for perfecting the Virtues infused in it from Nature by the Author of Nature.» — pone toda la virtud del lado de la preparación, entendida como perfeccionamiento de lo que ya está infundido.

«Yet before I come to declare the Virtue of Antimony, since I above confessed, that it is meer Venom, I would have you know and diligently note, that Venom is able to draw Venom to itself, because like itself, much sooner and much more than any other Thing of another Nature.» — enuncia el principio de atracción por semejanza que gobierna toda su teoría del veneno.

«Now let any Reader consider, and observe it as a Thing worthy of Note, that the true Unicorns-horn, sophisticated by no fallacy, repels all Venom from itself, nor can it assume or draw to itself anything of Venom, as is manifest by Experience.» — el caso contrario del mismo principio, con la reserva de que se trate del cuerno verdadero y no adulterado.

«But if the Circle be made of venemous Matter, it is not to be doubted, but that the Spider will go out of it, and pass over that Venom like it self.» — la prueba de la araña y el círculo, que le sirve para mostrar el paso libre entre semejantes.

«But on the contrary, Nature in a wonderful manner loves and follows its own like, as appears by this Example.» — formula el principio como inclinación de la naturaleza y no como propiedad de la materia.

«Nature so much loves its own like, and so much hates what is unlike itself, as this flies and that follows.» — la versión condensada del mismo principio, con sus dos movimientos: huida y seguimiento.

«Therefore let our Doctors consider, that Venom by a certain Magnetick Power Attracts Venom, and those things which are void of Venom, do in like manner draw to themselves things pure, and wanting a Venomous quality.» — nombra magnética esa fuerza y la aplica en los dos sentidos, veneno y pureza.

«Therefore Venom may be taken away two ways; first, by its Contrary, which resists Venom, as already is related of the Unicorns-Horn.» — la primera de las dos vías de destrucción del veneno: por el contrario.

«But the Venom which must heal Venom like itself, ought first to be so prepared, as its Venom may pass into Medicine, and by its own attractive virtue, assume the other to and expel it with itself.» — la segunda vía, por lo semejante, con la condición previa que hace toda la diferencia: que el veneno pase antes a medicina.

«Now since our Discourse hath led us so far, and we have begun to open Nature so much; that the truly Studious of Medicine (though hitherto ignorant of this) may clearly know, what Good or Evil is latent in Nature, what is Venom and what is harmless; which is a thing hath not as yet been found out by Doctors, by reason of their own supine negligence; and that the Truth thereof may be demonstrated and also confirmed, it will not be amiss to produce certain Experimental Examples, which may discover the Truth, and refute the false Opinions of others.» — anuncia el paso a los ejemplos experimentales, y adjudica la ignorancia ajena a negligencia y no a dificultad.

«Yet lest this our purpose should not be fully enough confirmed by Examples, I will also add another, by way of Supplement.» — encadena un ejemplo más, con la fórmula de suplemento que usa a lo largo del tratado.

«Take Frog-Spawn in the Month of March, and laying it on a Board dry it in the Sun, when dry reduce it to Powder, and strew of this Powder, upon wounds made by Venomous Vipers or Serpents; by this means such Wounds will be so prepared, as they may be perfectly healed by other Medicaments applied thereunto.» — receta de la hueva de rana de marzo; el límite lo pone el propio texto: prepara la herida, no la cura sola.

«Or otherwise, if Linen cloths be often moistened in Frog-Spawn, and as often dried, and that Linen cut into small pieces and applied to Wounds, they effect the same, as the aforesaid Powder would have done.» — variante de la misma receta con paños de lino repetidamente empapados y secos.

«But that the very foundation of this Truth may more clearly be declared; take a venemous Toad, dry him in the Sun, shut him up in an Earth closed Pot, and by burning reduce him to Ashes;» — el caso del sapo calcinado, presentado como el que muestra el fundamento del principio.

«then having taken out the Ashes, and reduced the same to Powder apply of that Powder to a Wound made by Venom, and this Poison attracts the other Poison, and joins it with itself.» — el efecto que le atribuye: el veneno calcinado atrae al otro veneno y se une con él.

«Why so, I pray? Because by this Burning, which is the Calcination of the Toad, its interior Virtue is made manifest, and efficacious for operating; so, that Like can attract like, and especially Venom, to itself.» — la explicación que da: la calcinación manifiesta la virtud interior, sin la cual la semejanza no operaría.

«Therefore firmly perswade yourself, that this Truth is infallible and immuatable, which I have here proposed to you and others by Example.» — cierra la serie de ejemplos afirmando su carácter infalible; el volumen imprime *immuatable* (sic) por immutable.

«If anyone afflicted with the Pest, do diligently observe this, he will find the Truth of those things I have here above mentioned: the Astrum of Sol, from which (as from an operative and all vivifying Sun) all things in their kinds universally arise;» — introduce el astrum del Sol como origen operativo universal, ligado al caso de la peste.

«therefore I determine that in the potency of Gold, more than in all other Things, is an Operating Nature; that is, in its own Astrum, whence both itself, and all Metals and Minerals, in the Beginning, received their first Nativity and Propagation of Generation.» — adjudica al oro la mayor potencia operativa, y la localiza en su astrum, no en el cuerpo.

«After the same manner process is to be made with Antimony, which hath the same Operations with corporal Gold; yet of the Astrum thereof I now speak not.» — equipara las operaciones del antimonio a las del oro corporal y reserva expresamente el asunto de su astrum.

«For I know (saith Antimony) it behoves me, before that, to fear and tremble; although in many principal Arcanums of Medicine, I far excel it; yet universally I am able to effect none of those Things, which the Astrum of Sol (confirmed by the Testimony of Celestial Verity) is able to produce.» — el tratado pone la jerarquía en boca del propio antimonio: se declara superior en arcanos médicos e inferior en lo universal.

«The Astrum of Mercury I omit, because I my self have my descent from the same Original with it: but as to a Celestial penetrating power of Operating, I give the first place of Dominion to the Astrum of Sol.» — continúa la prosopopeya: el antimonio dice descender del mismo origen que el mercurio y cede el primer lugar al Sol.

«My Writings and Books, composed by Experience, properly follow and answer each to other; as one metal (as to its virtue) is observed and esteemed by another, and must by Fire be proved of what value it is.» — declara la trabazón de su corpus y le aplica el criterio metalúrgico: el fuego prueba el valor.

«Into the Schools, I say, where Riches obtain to themselves (as it were) an Hereditary place, and instead of that take away all the Honour, which is due to Vulcan only, who can boast himself to be a Master in his own Element of Fire.» — objeta a las escuelas que sustituyen por riqueza el honor debido a Vulcano, único maestro en su elemento.

«When most hard Steel is struck with an hard and solid Flint, Fire excites Fire by vehement Commotion, and accension, drawing forth the occult Sulphur, or the occult Fire is manifested by that vehement Commotion, and enkindled by the Air so, as it truly and efficaciously burns; but the Salt remains in the Ashes, and the Mercury thence takes its flight together with the burning Sulphur.» — el ejemplo del acero y el pedernal, leído como reparto de los tres principios: sal en la ceniza, azufre encendido, mercurio en fuga.

«So here also understand, that Antimony ought in a certain Method so to be handled, as its Mercury may be separated from the Sulphur thereof, in a Natural Manner.» — traslada al antimonio la lección del pedernal: separar su mercurio de su azufre por vía natural.

«Hence it is manifest, that Fire can effect nothing, before it is in a certain manner opened and set at Liberty, that before it is in a certain manner opened and set at Liberty, that it may operate.» — la consecuencia general sobre el fuego oculto; el volumen repite aquí una cláusula entera, y la cita la conserva tal cual.

«Whatsoever is occult and absconded from the Knowledge of the Vulgar, that injoys the Name and Honour of Art, viz. as long as it lies hid; but so soon as it is discovered and made manifest, Art hath end, and it becomes a Mechanick Work; as I have than once declared in other of my Books.» — define el arte por su ocultamiento: revelado, se vuelve obra mecánica; el volumen imprime *than* (sic) donde el sentido pide more than.

«Yet for this Cause Honey is not to be condemned, nor is it to be said, that although it hath a most grateful Sweetness, yet it is a Corrupt Medicine; because a Corrosive may be made of it: but it should rather be said, that Corruption proceeds from the Physicians ignorance, who knew not how duely to prepare it.» — el ejemplo de la miel devuelve la culpa del corrosivo al preparador y no a la materia.

«Therefore, I pray you, my unexperienced Doctor, who have neither learned my Preparation, nor conceived the Use, not to judge from a false suspicion, and your own ignorant Thoughts; but set about the Work itself, and learn how the Preparation of Antimony ought to be made, how you should further proceed with it, how its Venom is expelled and separated, and Salutary Medicine posited in the place of it, and exalted.» — pide al médico que opere antes de juzgar, y enumera lo que tendría que aprender para hacerlo.

«Now as Fire, which lies absconded in Matter, unless it be made manifest, and can be demonstrated, is profitable for nothing, is not (as I may say) tangible by the Hands, nor can it effect any thing to purpose; so Medicine can effect nothing that is excellent, unless it be first separated from its Grossness, rectified and so discharged of Impurities, clarified and brought to Light by due Preparation, as is manifest in all Things: for when Separation of the pure from the impure is made, and all that is mountanour or terrestrial is segregated from the pure Metal, then the desired Harvest is to be expected.» — la analogía completa entre el fuego oculto y la medicina impura, cerrada con la imagen de la cosecha.

«For of Antimony, if its Venom be first changed into Remedy, is made a Medicine, which eradicates, and like Fire penetrates, prepares and by cocting consumes all Diseases.» — la formulación más apretada de la tesis del libro, con la condición puesta por delante.

«But you infamous men, more mad than Bacchanalian Fools, who will neither learn, nor foul your Hands with Coals, judge not lest you procure Judgement to be pronounced against you,» — el reproche se concreta en un gesto: no ensuciarse las manos con carbón, es decir, no operar.

«Every Physician ought above all Things to take Care, that he do neither less nor more, than procure the Restitution of Health lost, not instituting his Curation contrary to Nature, or deviating from her direct Intention.» — la regla positiva que opone a esa crítica: ni más ni menos que restituir la salud, siguiendo la intención de la naturaleza.

«When Spirit of Wine is poured upon Aqua Fortis a vehement Ebullition is made, and these two Natures will not easily permit themselves to be together; but he, that knows how by Distillation to conjoin them and unite them, according to the true Intention of the Philosophers, he may use them in many things for good.» — la doctrina útil que sigue a la invectiva: la unión por destilación de dos naturalezas que se rechazan.

«After the same maner, Oil or Liquor of Tartar, and Vinegar made of Rich Wine, act each upon other, for they hate and fly from each other, as Fire and Water, although they proceeded from one and the same Matter.» — segundo par de sustancias enemigas, con la observación de que provienen de una misma materia.

«Therefore the Physician ought in a special manner to be mindful, to understand all Circumstances from the Sick very exactly, and consider the same being understood that in Curing he may use such Means, as are fit to remove the Disease, lest the Patient be injured by the Medicine.» — traslada la lección de las sustancias enemigas a la clínica: informarse de las circunstancias antes de elegir el medio.

«Of all these Things, our Gown Doctors know nothing at all; therefore they have no other Defence for their Ignorance, than Silence only.» — el remate de la invectiva: adjudica el silencio a los doctores de toga como única defensa.

«You titular Doctors, you I speak to, who write long Scroles of Receipts: you Apothecaries, who with your Decoctions fill Pots, no less than Those (in Prince Courst) in which Meat is boiled for the sustentation of some hundreds of men: you, I say, who hitherto have been blind, suffer a Collyrium to be poured into your Eyes, and permit them to be anointed with Balsom, that the most thick skin of Blindness may fall from your Sight, and you behold the Truth, as in a most clear Glass.» — la exhortación con que cierra el ataque, en la imagen del colirio y el bálsamo sobre los ojos.

«GOD grant you Grace, that you may know his wonderful Works, and the Love of your Neighbour be rooted in you, that you may search out true Medicine, which the Ruler of the Heavens hath, by his own omnipotent hand, and his ineffable and eternal Wisdom, from above infused in, impressed on, and communicated to his Noble Creatures, for the Good of Mankind; whence man may find help in his greatest Necessity, and Counsel for Health in his Diseases.» — la oración por los adversarios liga el conocimiento de la medicina al amor del prójimo.

«Why do you, miserable Worm of the Earth, and food of Worms, look so intently on the Rind or Shell, and neglect the Kernel, being unmindful of your Creator, who formed you according to his Image; when as you ought to give thanks to him, and with diligent Study to search out his Works, exceeding Nature herself?» — la imagen de la corteza y la almendra con que opone apariencia y esencia.

«I am a man Religious, incorporated in a most holy Order, in which I will persevere, as long as it shall please the Omnipotent GOD, to animate this miserable Body with Vital Spirit: therefore I must not write other things, or otherwise, than is agreeable to this State.» — la voz repite su condición monástica y la convierte en límite de lo que puede escribir y de cómo.

«Antimony is no other than a Fume, or (as I may otherwise call it) a Mineral Vapour, which is genited from above by the Stars, and afterward by the Elements deduced and digested to formal Coagulation and Maturity.» — la definición cosmológica del mineral: vapor engendrado por los astros y coagulado por los elementos.

«Here it is to be noted, that Antimony hath acquired its Essence, Virtue, Power, Operation and Quality, from the same Principle, Root and Essence, whence Vulgar Mercury is produced; yet with more firm Coagulation, so that it is brought to an harder Essence, than the living or running Mercury of the Vulgar hath.» — emparenta antimonio y mercurio vulgar por raíz común, y los separa solo por el grado de coagulación.

«The Reason of this is, because it hath assumed from the three Principles, a little more of the Substance of Salt, than Common Mercury.» — da la razón de esa diferencia dentro de la doctrina de los tres principios: un poco más de sal.

«For although of all the three Principles, it hath the least part of Salt, yet it hath assumed more of the Essence of Salt, than common Mercury, whence unto it hath happened such a Coagulation.» — matiza la afirmación anterior: dentro del propio antimonio la sal es el principio menor, y aun así basta.

«Hardness in everything is from Salt, which vulgar Mercury hath not.» — el axioma que sostiene todo el pasaje: la dureza viene de la sal.

«For it hath a very small part of Salt, but in it, in a spiritual manner, is insited a certain more hot Spirit of Sulphur; therefore it always flows, and cannot be brought to Coagulation, unless by the help of other Metallick Spirits» — explica la fluidez del mercurio por su azufre caliente y condiciona su coagulación a espíritus metálicos ajenos.

«Hence it is known, that all Animals and all Vegetables are too weak to fix Mercury into a malleable Substance (as many have in vain endeavoured) because all these have not a Metallick Nature.» — de ahí niega eficacia a las vías animal y vegetal para fijar el mercurio, con la razón puesta en la falta de naturaleza metálica.

«Mercury, within and without, is no other than meer Fire; therefore it is not combustible by any Fire, no Fire can apprehend it so, as to alter its Essence, but it suddenly flies and resolves itself into a incombustible Oil Spiritually;» — define el mercurio como fuego puro y deriva de ahí su incombustibilidad.

«or after its fixation it remains so invariable, as no strength or power of men is sufficient again to alter it.» — la otra salida de ese fuego: fijado, queda inalterable a toda fuerza humana.

«And whatsoever can now be made of Gold may then also be made of it by Art; because after Coagulation it is altogether like Gold: for it with Gold hath one and the same Root, Stock, or Production originally.» — la consecuencia transmutatoria: coagulado, el mercurio admite todo lo que admite el oro, por raíz común.

«Wherefore most diligently think on this; often bear in mind, observe and understand, that all Minerals and Metals together, in the same Time, and after the same manner, and of one and the same principal Matter, are produced and genited.» — la tesis de la materia única de todos los minerales y metales, que sostiene la posibilidad de la transmutación.

«That Matter is no other, than a meer Vapour, which is extracted from the Elementary Earth by the Superior Stars, as by a Sidereal Distillation of the Macrocosm: which Sidereal hot infusion, with any Airy-Sulphureous Property descending upon Inferiors, so acts and operates, as in those Metals and Minerals is implanted spiritually and invisibly a certain Power and Virtue, which Fume afterward resolves itself in the Earth, into a certain Water, from which Mineral Water all Metals are thenceforth generated and ripened to their Perfection;» — el mecanismo entero de la generación mineral, nombrado destilación sideral del macrocosmos.

«and tehy have much or little of Sulphur and Salt, or an unequal Mixture of the weight of them, whence some Metals are fixed; that is, some constant and stable, some volatile and easily mutable, as is seen in Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Tin and Lead.» — explica la diversidad de los seis metales por la proporción desigual de azufre y sal sobre una misma materia; el volumen imprime *tehy* (sic) por they.

«But Gold, in its Astrum and Beginning was imbibed with a much more perfect Sulphur, and a much more perfect Mercury, than all other Metals and Minerals, and therefore its operative Virtue is much more potent and more efficacious, that the Astrums of other Metals:» — la primacía del oro se explica por la perfección de su azufre y su mercurio en el origen.

«Moreover I say, when that one thing is brought to further Maturity by Fire, it contains more Perfection, than all Metals and Minerals together.» — abre la excepción a esa primacía: madurada por fuego, una sola cosa supera al conjunto.

«There is one only Mineral, of which I have often made mention already, in which is found a Sulphur of Sol, equally as strong and powerful, yea more potent and more strong, than in Gold itself: so also, there are two kinds of Metals found, in which this Predominancy powerfully Triumphs, of which at this time I have neither will nor disposition to write; but I am willing to keep within the Bounds I have set myself in treating of the Essence of Antimony, touching which I purpose now to speak.» — declara la reserva: hay dos metales con esa misma predominancia de los que no quiere escribir aquí.

«Therefore Antimony is a Mineral made of the Vapour of the Earth changed into Water, which Spiritual Sidereal Transmutation is the true Astrum of Antimony; which Water, by the Stars first, afterward by the Element of Fire, which resides in the Element of Air, is extracted from the Elementary Earth, and by Coagulation formally changed into a tangible Essence, in which tangible Essence, (viz. whence Antimony is formally made) is found very much of Sulphur predominant, of Mercury not so much, and of Salt the least of all three; yet it assumes so much Salt, as it thence acquires an hard and immalleable Mass.» — la definición completa del antimonio: astrum, generación y proporción de los tres principios.

«The principal Quality of it is dry and hot, or rather burning, of Cold and Humidity it hath very little in it, as there is in Common Mercury; in Corporal Gold also is more Heat than Cold.» — fija sus cualidades dominantes y las compara con las del mercurio común y las del oro corporal.

«Yet the Lovers of Chymistry should not think this Philosophick Reason by me alleged of absolute necessity to them, nor need they be solicitous to know, in what center the Astrum of Antimony rests, or from what root it flows; but should rather desire to learn the Utility and use thereof; viz. which way it ought to be prepared and reduced to its State, that tehy may know its Virtue, Power, and Operation, touching which in times past so many Things have been written, and to this Day are mentioned, and spoken of by all men of all States and Conditions.» — el propio autor rebaja la necesidad de su teoría frente a la práctica; el volumen imprime *tehy* (sic) por they.

«For the Learned, as well as the Unlearned hope to have their ardent and insatiable Desire satisfied by This; therefore I will not detain the Reader with ambiguous Discourses, or tedious Delays, but simply teach every Thing, which I by great Study and Diligence (which I have often imployed about Antimony) could find out touching the Essence of Antimony.» — promete enseñar sin ambigüedad, en contraste con la técnica de palabras enterradas que declaró antes.

«For no man, by reason of the shortness of Life, can know or search out all its Arcanum’s: because in Preparation of Antimony, one new Wonder follows another perpetually; one Degree succeeds a former Degree, Colour follows Colour, and one Virtue, Power or Operation always manifests it self greater than another.» — el límite que él mismo pone a esa promesa: la vida no alcanza para agotar los arcanos del mineral.

«And, to begin here I say, Antimony is meer Venom, not of the kind of the least Venoms, but such, as by which you may destroy Men and Beasts, so venomous a power is diffused through the whole Substance of this Mineral.» — el arranque del tratado propiamente dicho concede al adversario el punto más fuerte: veneno difundido por toda la sustancia.

«For this Cause let us dissuade all men from its use; for it endangers the Health and Life.» — continúa hablando en la voz del adversario, a la que va a objetar acto seguido.

«Therefore Doctors resident in Princes Courts, admonish Monarchs, Princes, and other Potentates not to use Antimony.» — describe la cadena de la advertencia: de los médicos de corte a los príncipes.

«Other Scholasticks cry out, Beware, you in no wise admit Antimony into Medicinal Use; for it’s meer Poison: these the Inhabitants of Cities and Villages follow.» — y su propagación: de los escolásticos a las ciudades y aldeas.

«For truly and holily I affirm (as truly as GOD is the Creator of all things visible, which are contained in Heaven or Earth, which either have come, or in time to come shall come unto our knowledge) that under Heaven, or by the Rays of the Sun, with the Guidance of Experience, can be found or demonstrated no greater Medicine, than is in this Mineral; yea, there is no Subject, in which so fluently and abundantly can be found such most certain Remedies for Health, as shall be declared (by sure and undeniable Experiments) to be in Antimony.» — la afirmación contraria, jurada en forma solemne y remitida a experimentos.

«But I assent to you, and confess (as I have before acknowledged in my Writings) that Antimony at first is meer Venom, and before Preparation hath nothing in or with itself, but Poison; and that I affirm to be true.» — concede expresamente la premisa del adversario antes de negar la conclusión.

«Antimony is Venom, therefore every One must beware he use it not.» — el silogismo del adversario, puesto en el texto en su forma más limpia para ser contestado.

«No, that doth not follow Mr. Doctor, Bachelor, or, Master; it doth not follow, I say, Mr Doctor, although you be proud of your Red Hat» — la réplica objeta la inferencia, no la premisa, y se dirige al grado académico del interlocutor.

«Treacle is made of the most perillous Venom of a Viper, which is called ‘animal’, whence also it had its Name; therefore no man must use it, for there is poison in it» — el contraejemplo con que muestra el vicio de la inferencia: aplicado a la triaca, el mismo razonamiento la prohibiría.

«You hear, that after Preparation, no Venenosity is found in Antimony» — la conclusión que extrae del contraejemplo, con el epígrafe marginal del volumen advirtiendo que sin preparación no hay bien alguno.

«but without Preparation you shall find no Good in it, nor anything of Medicinal Help, but much loss and detriment» — la otra mitad de esa misma conclusión, que es la que el adversario tiene razón en sostener.

«Now, whosoever desires to become a Disciple of Antimony, he must, after Prayer, and an earnest Invocation of GOD, betake himself to the School of Vulcan; for he is the Master and Revealer of all Secrets.» — la escuela de Vulcano, es decir el fuego, entra como segundo requisito tras la oración.

«This Master is condemned by the Wise Men of the World, set very light by and derided; because they, by reason of their own Negligence and Malignity, have learned nothing of him; and all Revelation, through their own Sloath, is impeded:» — adjudica el desprecio del fuego a la pereza de los sabios del mundo.

«for no Medicine was ever prepared without Vulcan, whatsoever those senseless mad men shall babble and affirm to the Contrary.» — enuncia el fuego como condición sin excepción de toda medicina.

«But I will proceed to the Proceed and Preparation of Antimony; for I little value the Clamours of arrogant and self applauding men: let them make and bring to light any Work that can excel Antimony.» — corta la polémica y la convierte en desafío operativo.

«It is well known to me, that of Antimony may be made Medicines equal to Those, which are in gold and vulgar Mercury (I except the Astrum of Sol) for of this may be prepared Aurum Potabile against the Leprosie, of this may be made Spirit of Mercury, the highest Remedy against the French POX, of this other infinite Remedies may be prepared.» — iguala el antimonio al oro y al mercurio en medicina, con la excepción declarada del astrum del Sol.

«No man can give a sound Judgement of that, which he never learned.» — la máxima con que descalifica el juicio de los que no operan.

«So, right Judgement, with a solid Foundation cannot be given by a man, who before hath not bent his Studies that way, that from Writings he may be able to discern what, in such a Business, is just or unjust.» — la misma máxima desarrollada, ahora con el estudio de los escritos como condición.

«The Infusion of Venom falls under a twofold Consideration, viz. Natural and Supernatural.» — abre la doctrina del veneno con una división que después desglosa en causas.

«The First Reason, why GOD the Supreme Lord of the Stars, and the maker of Heaven and Earth, hath proposed to us open Venom, especially in Minerals, is, that by this his Ordination he might show to us his Wonders and powerful Works, for distinction of Good and Evil, as in the Law he prescribed to us the Knowledge of That, which lies as a Duty on us to do, viz. to Choose the Good and Eschew the Evil.» — primera causa: el veneno existe por ordenación divina, como signo para distinguir bien y mal.

«So also the Tree of Life in Paradise was proposed; its right use tended to Good, but its abuse brought the Fall to Evil; for by that GOD’s Command was broke, whence proceeded Destruction and all Evil.» — el paralelo bíblico que sostiene esa causa: el mismo árbol admite uso y abuso.

«A Second Reason is, that by this we might comprehend and understand the Distinction between Evil and Good, and at length learn to exterminate Malice and reposit Goodness in its place.» — segunda causa: el veneno enseña a sustituir el mal por el bien, que es lo que hace la preparación.

«For GOD wills not, that man should perish and be destroyed, but that he should depart from Evil, and come to amendment of Life, that Destruction may be driven far away from his Soul.» — el supuesto teológico de esa segunda causa.

«So, to Us his Creatures, with wonderful Conveniency hath he proposed Good and Evil, which is found both in the Precept of the Word, and in the Work of the Creature, that we may choose what is profitable and good for Health, and shun what is evil and pernitious.» — pone en paralelo el precepto de la palabra y la obra de la criatura como dos lugares de la misma elección.

«Thirdly, Venom is also made by the Stars, when contrary Oppositions and Conjunctions of them happen, by which the Elements are Infected so, as they become the Cause of Pestilences, and other Venomous Diseases in this World: which also is to be understood of Comets.» — tercera causa, astrológica: oposiciones y conjunciones contrarias infectan los elementos, y lo mismo vale de los cometas.

«Fourly, Venom is made from Things repugnant each to other, as when any One inkindles a deadly Poison in himself, by Anger or Sadness; also when a man drinks being above measure hot.» — cuarta causa: la repugnancia entre cosas, incluidas las pasiones del propio sujeto; el volumen imprime *Fourly* (sic) por Fourthly.

«Fifthly, among Venoms may be numbered Weapons, with which any One is slain; then the Abuse of Arms is Venom to that man.» — quinta causa, que traslada la noción de veneno del cuerpo al uso: es el abuso lo que envenena.

«But when any One useth Arms, for the just and unblamable defence of his Body, to which end they were invented, then they may be accounted a certain kind of Medicine.» — y el reverso: las mismas armas, usadas para el fin con que fueron inventadas, cuentan como medicina.

«Lastly, the Cause of Venom may be demonstrated by Nature, in this manner: whatsoever Nature resists is Venom, and that because it fights against Nature.» — la definición general que cierra la serie: veneno es aquello a lo que la naturaleza se resiste.

«all Catharticks, whether Minerals, Animals or Vegetables, are venomous, because of a certain Mercurial volatile Matter still predominant in them» — adjudica la venenosidad de todo purgante a una materia mercurial volátil que sigue dominando.

«Fixed Remedies purge not by the Inferior Parts, because that is not the familiar way of Expelling fixed Venoms» — el corolario clínico de la oposición fijo/volátil: lo fijo no se expulsa por abajo.

«For in me (Antimony speaks of himself) you will find Mercury, Sulphur and Salt, then which» — el texto vuelve a hacer hablar al mineral en primera persona para enunciar los tres principios; el tramo corta antes del epígrafe marginal siguiente.

«Mercury is in the Regulus, Sulphur in the Red Colour, and Salt in the remaining black Earth» — localiza cada uno de los tres principios en una fracción visible del trabajo: régulo, color rojo y tierra negra.

«He that can separate these, and again unite them in a due manner, according to Art, so as Fixation may bear Rule, without Venom, he may rejoice with Honour and Truth» — el criterio de éxito de la obra: separar, reunir y que la fijación mande sin veneno.

«For by Separation and Fire, which perfect Fixation, Venenosity is taken away, and a Change is made of the Evil into Good» — nombra los dos agentes de la conversión: separación y fuego.

«Therefore we often admonish all and every One, that all venomous Impurity is totally to be taken away from Antimony, before it can either be, or be called such a Medicine» — repite la condición en su forma total: toda la impureza, no parte de ella.

«Whatsoever the Vulcan in the Greater Orbe leaves crude and perfects not, that in the Lesser World must be amended by a certain other Vulcan» — reparte el trabajo entre macrocosmos y microcosmos con dos Vulcanos, y hace del arte la enmienda de lo que el cielo dejó crudo.

«For in Antimony you may find all Colours, Black, White, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, and more other mixt Colours» — enumera la gama cromática del mineral, que es la base de todas sus correspondencias.

«let the Lover of Art consider, that every of the other Metals may be compared to every of the Precious Stones; but this only contains universally the Virtue of all Stones» — la singularidad que reclama para el antimonio: no una piedra, sino la virtud de todas.

«Its Transparent Redness is assigned to the Carbuncle, Ruby and Coral; its Whiteness, to the Diamond and Crystal; its Blue Colour, to the Saphire; Green, to the Emerald; Yellow, to the Jacinth; its Black, to the Granate, which Stone contains in itself a a certain Blackness occultly absconded» — la tabla de correspondencias de color y piedra preciosa; el volumen imprime *a a* (sic) por duplicación.

«But as to Metals, the Black is assigned to Saturn, the Red to Iron, the Yellow to Gold, the Green to Copper, the Blue to Silver, the White to Mercury» — la segunda tabla, de color y metal, que en el renglón siguiente adjudica a Júpiter la mezcla de colores.

«But as all the colours of all Metals and Precious Stones are clearly found in Antimony; so also all the powers and Virtues of Medicine are no less showed in it, than the Colours aforesaid» — el paso de la correspondencia cromática a la médica, que es el que le interesa.

«but to educe from it all these Colours is not the Labour of one man.» — el límite que pone acto seguido a esa abundancia.

«For our Life is circumscribed with Limits more straight, than will permit one man by his Labour throughly to learn whatsoever Nature keeps concealed and absconded in her bosom» — la razón de ese límite, que repite a lo largo del tratado: la brevedad de la vida.

«from Antimony by distillations is drawn forth an Humour acid and sharp, like true perfect Vinegar.» — primera de la serie de vías de preparación, con su producto ácido.

«Another way is prepared a shining Red Colour, sweet and savoury, as purified Honey or Sugar.» — segunda vía, con producto dulce, opuesta a la anterior en sabor.

«Another way, a Wormwood like Bitterness proceeds therefrom; otherwise, a certain Acrimony, like some Salt-Oil: thus always one Nature follows another» — tercera y cuarta vías, con la regla que las ordena: una naturaleza sigue a otra.

«Against, but Sublimation it is driven to the Olympic Mountains, like a flying Eagle, red, yellow and white.» — la sublimación descrita con la imagen del águila y los montes olímpicos; el volumen imprime *Against* (sic) por Again.

«Also forced down by Descent, it yields diverse Colours and Preparations:» — el descenso como operación inversa de la sublimación.

«also by Reverberation, of it is made a Metal, like common Lead.» — la reverberación y su producto: un metal semejante al plomo.

«Likewise a transparent Glass, red, yellow, white, black, and endewed with other Colours:» — el vidrio de antimonio, que ocupará varios capítulos del tratado.

«all which notwithstanding, are not safe to be used in Medicine, unless they be first proved by another Examen.» — la reserva con que cierra la enumeración: nada de eso es seguro sin un examen ulterior.

«Also it is reslved into rare and wonderful Oils, which are various and manifold, some of which are made perfect with Addition, others without mixtion of any other things; some likewise are taken inwardly, others only outwardly applied to common Ulcers, and Wounds» — los aceites, divididos por si llevan añadido y por la vía de administración; el volumen imprime *reslved* (sic) por resolved.

«It supplies us with so many several Extractions, varied with so many Colours, as it would tire a Delphian Apollo to describe them all;» — mide la abundancia con una figura oracular: ni el Apolo délfico daría abasto.

«but indeed, all the Mutations of its Nature, which are discovered through the Gate of Fire, it by its own Oracles will best unfold.» — continúa la figura: es el propio mineral quien da sus oráculos, tras la puerta del fuego.

«Of it is made living Mercury, and Sulphur which burns like common Sulphur, so that of that Gunpowder might be made.» — del antimonio se saca mercurio vivo y un azufre que sirve para pólvora.

«Of it is made a true and natural Salt; and many other things are prepared of the same.» — cierra la extracción de los tres principios con la sal.

«Now diligently mind, and with profound Meditation consider all the following Preparations, one succeeding another, as I shall reveal them.» — anuncia el orden del recetario que ocupa el resto del volumen.

«For there is no One inserted, which hath not its singular Utility, but every of them is useful, according as ordained as its State.» — declara que ninguna receta está de más, cada una según su estado.

«A fixed Medicine of Antimony, expels fixed Diseases and eradicates tehm; but Antimony» — la regla que empareja lo fijo del remedio con lo fijo del mal; el tramo corta en el cambio de plana y el volumen imprime *tehm* (sic) por them.

«Therefore I will set about the Preparation of all, that appertains to Antimony, and discover all the Keys of its Preparation, which now (as by a New Nativity) are brought to Light, and revealed by Fire, in the same state to which tehy were ordained by GOD their Creator.» — presenta las llaves de la preparación como una nueva natividad revelada por el fuego; el volumen imprime *tehy* (sic) por they.

«especially when I shall in my Writings declare to you the Stone of Fire, and its Preparation, together with other various Secrets and Arcanums, which indeed are scarcely at all known to the World; and which have been little regarded, since the Egyptians, Arabians and Chaldeans died, who professed these Arts» — sitúa su propio saber en una tradición perdida de egipcios, árabes y caldeos.

«And since Antimony to the Aspect presents a crude black Colour, mixed with a little whiteness, I will first speak of its destructive alteration, which consists in Calcination and Incineration, and that is thus made.» — justifica por el color del crudo el arranque del recetario en la calcinación.

«Take Hungarian or other Antimony, the best you can get, grind it, if possible, to an Impalpable Powder;» — la primera instrucción del recetario, que fija la materia preferida: el antimonio húngaro.

«Here let my Reader, unlearned and but a Beginner in Art, know (for I write not to men skilled in this Art, who have often experienced the powers of the fire, but to Candidates, Tyro» — declara al destinatario del recetario: principiantes y no expertos; el tramo corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«the studious Disciples of the Spagyrick Science; because to make Glass of Antimony is a thing common, and well known to many) know, I say, that every Glass, whether made of Metals, Minerals, or any other Matter, must be thoroughly cocted in Fire to due Maturity, that it may have a clear and transparent Colour, and be apt for further Preparation to Medicinal use» — continúa la misma frase tras la nota: la regla general de que todo vidrio se cuece hasta transparencia antes de servir a la medicina.

«Then, that you may certainly and infallibly prove, whether the Glass made thereof be sufficiently cocted, and hath acquired a transparent Colour, put a long rod of Iron cold into the Crucible, and part of the glass will stick to the Iron, which with a hammer strike off, and hold up against the Light, to see whether it be clear, clean and transparent; if so, it is well, and perfectly mature.» — la prueba de taller con que se decide el punto de cocción: una varilla fría y la luz.

«which translucid and pure Maturity Vulcan only effects in his secret and hidden Nature.» — adjudica la madurez del vidrio al fuego y a su naturaleza oculta.

«When in the Method we have taught, you Antimony is converted into Glass, take a Platter or Dish made of Copper, which is smooth and broad, heat it hot at the Fire, otherwise your Matter will flie out; then pour in the fluid Matter as thin as you can, and you will have pure, yellow, transparent Glass of Antimony.» — el vaciado sobre plato de cobre caliente, con el motivo del calentamiento dado dentro de la propia instrucción.

«This is the best way of preparing Glass of Antimony per se, without addition; and this Glass, above all others, is endewed with the greatest Virtue and Power, which it manifests after its further Preparation. This is by me called Pure Glass of Antimony.» — nombra el producto y lo declara el de mayor virtud entre los vidrios, con la reserva de que esta se manifiesta tras preparación ulterior.

«The Redness may be abstracted from this Red Glass, with Spirit of Wine» — el paso siguiente sobre el vidrio rojo; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota que el anotador aprovecha para corregir el disolvente.

«and by long continued Circulation in Fire, be perfected, and rendered a most excellent, profitable and efficacious Medicine» — continuación de la misma frase tras la nota: la circulación prolongada perfecciona la tintura.

«At first indeed it will be yellow, but if it stand longer in Fire, the yellowness vanisheth, the Matter receives a white Colour, and thenceforth becomes a fair and white Glass.» — la marcha de colores como reloj de la operación: el amarillo cede al blanco con el tiempo de fuego.

«But since my purpose here was not to describe other Glasses, then I myself had experienced, and which manifest happy success in Healing, I judged it unnecessary to waste Paper in describing them, or by a tedious discourse to weary the Reader;» — acota el recetario a lo experimentado por él mismo, y lo dice como criterio de selección.

«The black Colour, which Antimony had before Preparation, is now in a Spiritual manner flown up the Chimney; because in such a Spiritual manner, very much of the Venomous Substance had left it before, through the Expulsive force of the Fire, as by Calcination.» — lee la desaparición del negro como salida del veneno por la chimenea.

«Yet because in this Preparation all the whole Venom is not taken away from the Glass of Antimony, but it still retains very much thereof; I am willing (now I have begun) further to reveal to you, which way the Venom may wholly be removed from this Glass, and another Separation of the Pure from the Impure, of the Venom from the Medicine, be instituted;» — el propio autor acota el alcance de lo enseñado hasta aquí: el vidrio sigue reteniendo mucho veneno.

«Therefore the first Separation of the Sulphur from its Body, and the Extraction of the Tincture from its Salt, is performed in this manner.» — anuncia la operación siguiente en los términos de los tres principios.

«Take pure Glass of Antimony, as I taught you to make it, without the adjunction of any other Thing, Grind it to subtle Powder» — arranque de esa receta; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota con que el anotador añade el modo de molerlo.

«This Extraction is sweet, grateful, and so very efficacious in Medicine, as no man, that hath not experienced the same, will give credit thereunto.» — declara la extracción increíble para quien no la haya probado, y pone la experiencia como única vía de crédito.

«The Feces in the bottom retain the Venenosity, but the Extraction Medicine only, which Experience hath taught to be profitable Remedy for men and Beasts.» — el reparto que buscaba toda la operación: el veneno queda en las heces, la medicina en el extracto.

«For if three or four Granes of this Medicine be taken, it expels the Leprosie and Gallick Lues, purifies the Blood, drives away Melancholy, and resists all Venom:» — la dosis y el catálogo de virtudes que le adjudica, con la melancolía entre ellas.

«Breathing, or Pricking of the Sides, he may be cured by the Use of this Medicine» — cierre de esa lista de dolencias; el tramo corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«which effects many wonderful Things, if rightly administered, and in due time» — la condición doble con que acota todo el catálogo: administración correcta y momento oportuno.

«This admirable Liquor heals all green Wounds, if soon after a Wound is made, it be put therein with a soft Feather, and the Wound well covered with a Styptick, or other Preservative Playster.» — el uso externo del mismo extracto, con su modo de aplicación por pluma.

«All fresh Wounds inflicted either by Prick or Cut, are healed by this Liquor, without Putrefaction, Inflammation, or any superfluity of Filth, so perfectly; as unto him, who created Heaven and Earth, and in them insited such a Medicine, due Thanks and Praise deservedly ought to be given.» — remata la virtud del licor devolviendo la alabanza al Creador, según el patrón devoto de todo el tratado.

«In all old, malignant, and corrosive Wounds, use this Extraction or Balsom of Antimony, and it will never fail Thee in thy necessity.» — nombra el producto bálsamo de antimonio y lo extiende a las heridas viejas y corrosivas.

«This Oil is the Quintessence, and the highest, that can be written of Antimony;» — nombra el aceite como quintaesencia y término superior de todo lo escribible sobre el mineral.

«Understand thus: four Preparations must be made before it can be perfected; and the fifth is the Utility, and effect of the Work in the Body of man» — el esquema de cuatro preparaciones más una quinta, que no es operación sino efecto en el cuerpo.

«The first Labour is Calcination and Liquefaction into Glass.» — primera de las cuatro.

«The second is Digestion, by which Extraction is performed.» — segunda de las cuatro.

«The third is Coagulation. The fourth is Distillation into Oil, and after that Separation follows Fixation, by the ultimate Coagulation, through which the Matter is deduced to a perlucid Fiery Stone» — tercera y cuarta, con la fijación y la coagulación última que dan la piedra de fuego.

«which that it may operate upon Metals, must be fermented, for acquiring its penetrative Property» — la condición añadida para que esa piedra obre sobre los metales: fermentarla.

«but not so much, as that Ancient Stone of the Philosophers, because it is not Universal; but only tingeth particularly.» — el límite que el propio autor pone a su piedra frente a la de los filósofos: tiñe en particular, no en universal.

«Touching which, about the End of this Book, more shall be spoken when we treat of the Stone of Fire.» — remite al final del volumen el tratamiento de la piedra de fuego.

«of which we have now spoken, effects all things, that are necessary to be known by a Physician, and which he hath need of, in his Cures» — continuación de la frase sobre el aceite destilado tras la llamada a nota del volumen.

«It makes a man very young again, delivers him from all Melancholy, and whatsoever in the Body of man grows and increaseth, as the Hairs and Nails, fall off, and the whole man is renewed as a Phoenix (if such a feigned Bird, which is only here for Example sake named by me, can anywhere be found upon Earth) is renewed by Fire.» — el efecto rejuvenecedor, con una reserva del propio texto sobre el fénix, al que llama ave fingida.

«Astrum of Sol only exceeds every Medicine of the World when rightly prepared to perfect Fixation: for the Astrum of Sol, and the Astrum of Mercury arise almost from the very same Blood of their Mother, and from one original of vivifick Sanity» — mantiene al astrum del Sol por encima de todo remedio y lo emparenta con el del mercurio; la cita empieza tras la llamada a nota.

«Now, no man hath cause to fear, that this Oil of Antimony Extracted first with distilled Vinegar, and afterward with most pure and subtle Spirit of Wine, and then further exalted (as highly as possible) by Vulcan, will in any wise purge, or excite frequent Stools, or make any Alterations: for it effects nothing of all this, but by Sweat, Urine, and Spittle, expels the very Root of the Disease to amazement, and restores whatsoever is corrupted by any Symptom.» — distingue este aceite de los purgantes: obra por sudor, orina y saliva, y no por evacuación.

«and shall commend you out of the Sepulcher to which I am destinated, although in Body thou art to me unknown, nor ever had I any discourse with thee, because perhaps not yet born.» — se dirige a un lector futuro y aún no nacido, desde el sepulcro al que se dice destinado.

«When the Fermentation is made, I shall have need of a vast Quantity of Paper to declare all the Arcanum’s of Nature, which by this Medicine are effected beyond the Opinion of all men.» — mide la abundancia de arcanos por el papel que haría falta, fórmula con que a la vez se excusa de detallarlos.

«I urge this so much the more earnestly to the Physician, that he may consider those things which I propose Philosophically, betake himself to labour, perform this Preparation of Antimony, and deduce it to Use; then, he himself will dayly find more Praise, and learn from it more Operations than any of the other Physicians could have prescribed him.» — insiste en que el médico pase de lo filosófico a la operación, y le promete aprendizaje propio y no prestado.

«When you shall have brought Antimony so far, and duely perfercted your Work, in which you are to act prudently, and the matter is to be largely and profoundly weighed, that by Labour you may acquire Experience; then may you boast that you have obtained the Magistery, which is known or communicated to few.» — define el magisterio como término del proceso y lo declara comunicado a pocos; el volumen imprime *perfercted* (sic).

«This Magistery mix’d with a solution or Tincture of Corals, and exhibited with Cordial Water effects Wonders in Diseases, that are to be cured by purifying the Blood.» — la composición del magisterio con tintura de coral y agua cordial, acotada a los males que se curan purificando la sangre.

«And whatsoever Distemper is offered to you, in which the Blood is corrupted by any Accident, this Magistery heals it, exhilarates the Heart, promotes Chastity and Honesty, and renders man apt and fit for everything he takes in hand.» — al efecto médico añade efectos morales: castidad y honestidad entre los resultados del remedio.

«For all these Benefits to the Creator and Conserver of all Things, thanks is always to be given from the bottom of our Heart; because he hath with so great Compassion respected his Creatures, Infirm both in body and Mind, and supplied us with Means, by which the Diseases of either may be healed, and we in every necessity obtain solace, assistance and perfect Help.» — la acción de gracias que cierra el tramo, con la enfermedad del cuerpo y la de la mente puestas en el mismo plano.

«Now when you again rectify this Arcanum, one drop of it exhibited with Rose water, is more available than a Pot full of the Decoction of Herbs; for it causeth a good Appetite, corrects the Stomach, and concocts all malignity in it, drives away Sadness and Melancholy, makes good Blood and a good Digestion; in the Suffocation of the Matrix and Cholick Passion (both which it wonderfully appeaseth) it is instead of a Treasure of inestimable Price and deserves Commendation, not easily expressible by Words.» — opone una gota del arcano a una olla de cocimiento de hierbas, que es su manera de contraponer química y galenismo.

«After the Arcanum of Antimony next in order follows the Elixir» — anuncia el elixir como paso siguiente; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«This being done, pour on it strong distilled Wine Vinegar, and extract its Redness; afterward abstract the Vinegar, until a Powder remain.» — el paso operativo del elixir: extracción de la rojez con vinagre destilado y evaporación hasta polvo.

«It causeth gentle Stools, and purgeth without Gripings of the Belly; and indeed if you have proceeded well in preparing, it renders the Blood agile, and is a Medicine apt for those who desire Gentle Purgations.» — el efecto que le adjudica, condicionado a que la preparación haya ido bien.

«Here perhaps some Physician may wonder, how ‘tis possible, that this Medicine should cause moderate and easy Purgations, when as Antimony is a Matter vehement and forcible, and to it is joined Rubarb, which of itself also hath a Purging Property.» — se plantea a sí mismo la objeción: dos purgantes juntos deberían purgar más, no menos.

«But let him cease his admiration, and know that the venomous purging power of Antimony is by this Preparation so mortified, as it can apprehend or expel nothing; but as soon as some purging Simple is adjoined to it, it then according to the powers of its own Nature performs the Office of opening and purging.» — su respuesta: el antimonio queda mortificado y solo obra por medio del simple purgante que se le añade.

«But Antimony prepared hath no action upon the» — el arranque de esa misma explicación; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota que el volumen imprime dentro del cuerpo.

«Stomach, thence to expel its impurities; but by the purging Medicine, its adjunct, acquires a more open Field, and therein can operate without Impediment any other way, and discern, yea search out the way of Effecting that better, to which it was ordained and prepared, without hindrance» — continuación de la frase tras la nota: el purgante le abre campo al antimonio para obrar por otra vía.

«I would have all men to credit these words, since I have no necessity to write other than the Truth.» — la garantía que ofrece de sí mismo: no tiene necesidad de escribir otra cosa que la verdad.

«This Elixir in such manner prepared, as I have taught, penetrates and purgeth the Body, as Antimony purgeth Gold, and frees it from all Impurity: So that if I would at large commemorate all the powers and virtues thereof, I must put up my Supplications to the GOD of Heaven, and intreat him to vouchsafe me a longer Life, that I might laud his wonderful Works, and search out further, and according to Verity communicate to others what I have found, that they with me excited to admiration, may publickly render thanks to their Creator, for his so great Blessings.» — el paralelo que da nombre a la operación: el elixir purga el cuerpo como el antimonio purga el oro.

«But to proceed in my purpose, having once begun, I here describe the Virtues of Antimony, as far as I have experienced them; yet what is hid from my knowledge, I ought to pass over in silence.» — declara el alcance de su libro y hace del silencio sobre lo no experimentado una obligación.

«For it becomes me not to give my Judgement of things unknown, and which I have not with myself experimented, but I leave them, commending the same to other Judges, who with study and labour in this Subject, have made some good progress.» — remite lo no probado a otros jueces, con la condición de que hayan trabajado el asunto.

«No one man can be so expert in knowing the Virtues of Antimony, as nothing shall remain unknown by him, not only by reason of the shortness of his Life (as I before said) but also, and chiefly because some new thing is dayly found in it.» — añade una segunda razón a la brevedad de la vida: la materia produce novedades a diario.

«Therefore, let men know, that Antimony not only purgeth Gold, cleanseth and frees it from every peregrine Matter, and from all other Metals, but also (by a power innate in itself) effects the same in Men and Beasts.» — el paso de la metalurgia a la medicina se apoya en una misma potencia innata.

«If a Farmer purpose in himself to keep up and fatten any of his Cattle, as for Example an Hog; two or three days before, let him give to the Swine a convenient Dose of crude Antimony, about half a dram mix’d with his Food, that by it he may be purged; through which Purgation he will not only acquire an Appetite to his Meat, but the sooner increase and be fattened.» — la aplicación agrícola del crudo, con dosis en dracmas y su razón: purgar para abrir el apetito.

«And if any Swine labour with a Disease about his Liver or other Parts, or else be Leprous, Antimony causeth the Leprosie to be dryed up and expelled.» — extiende el uso veterinario al hígado y a la lepra del cerdo.

«Yet I would have no man, following me as his Author, to give a Medicine of Crude Antimony to men; for mute Animals can in their Stomach concoct much more hard Foods, than the tender Complexion of Men is able to digest.» — la reserva expresa que impide trasladar ese uso al hombre, con su razón fisiológica.

«Wherefore, he who would rightly and with profit use Antimony, he must learn the Preparation thereof first, and afterward know the Dose, as what is convenient for the Young, and what for the Old; how much may be given to robust Bodies, and how much to the weak, in which no small Mystery of this Art consists, the ignorance of which will do more hurt than an imprudent Physician can do good.» — pone la dosis por edad y complexión como misterio propio del arte, no como detalle.

«Should I confirm all things by Examples, that would be the Cause of a very Prolix Writing; therefore I will break off this Discourse, and pass on to another Preparation of Antimony, and describe its fixedness; which acts like Wine, from which its Spirit is substracted and separated from its Body.» — corta el tramo veterinario y anuncia la fijación, con el vino otra vez como modelo.

«This Spirit heals the Body internally, and if externally applied, draws to itself all the Heat of a part inflamed: but, on the contrary, when of the Wine, Vinegar is made, it cools, either inwardly or outwardly applied; although the Wine and Vinegar have their Original from the same Root, and proceed from the same Stock.» — el par espíritu/vinagre como caso de efectos opuestos desde una misma raíz.

«The Reason of this diversity is, because Vinegar is made through digestion only, by which Putrefaction of the Wine follows, together with a Vegetable Fixation: but on the contrary, Spirit of Wine is made with Separation by distilling, or vegetable subliming, which renders the Spirit volatile.» — adjudica la diferencia al procedimiento y no a la materia: digestión que fija contra destilación que volatiliza.

«By like reason Antimony is prepared, and according to its diverse Preparations hath diverse Effects, and diversely communicates its Gifts to us, which are scarcely comprehensible by the humane Intellect.» — traslada esa regla al antimonio: los efectos siguen a la preparación.

«Half a dram of this being taken thrice a day, viz. Morning, Noon, and Night, or oftner, hurts no man; for it expels all clotted Blood out of the Body, and being long taken securely opens all perillous Imposthums, and expels them; radically cures the French Disease, causeth new Hairs to grow, and notably renovates the whole man.» — la dosis del polvo fijo y su catálogo de efectos, con el crecimiento del cabello entre ellos.

«of men neither can discourse of, nor answer to these; because they have not learned the Processes of such Operations: but the least part, viz. the Disciples, Apostles, and Followers of the Spagyrick Art, will more esteem my Writings, more diligently read them, and more prudently give Judgement of the same» — reparte a sus lectores entre la mayoría que no puede juzgar y la minoría espagírica; la cita empieza tras la llamada a nota del volumen.

«But, my Disciple and Follower, if you will imitate me, my advise is, that you take up your Cross, at first, and suffer as I have suffered; learn to bear Persecution, as I have already born it, labour, as all our Predecessors with me have done; with continual Prayers seek unto the Lord GOD, and be thou patient, and laborious without weariness, and then the Most High, who hath mercifully heard me, will not forsake Thee:» — pone la persecución sufrida como parte de la disciplina que exige al discípulo.

«for this Cause I every hour give thanks to GOD, as my Eyes are filled with Tears can and do witness.» — el registro devoto en primera persona con que remata esa exhortación.

«Now, to proceed in my Instruction, touching the Flowers of Antimony, it is to be understood, that the true Flores of Antimony, may be prepared, not one, but various ways, as is known to every Spagyrist.» — abre el capítulo de las flores declarando que hay varias vías conocidas del gremio.

«There are some who drive them, mix’d with Sal-Armoniack, over by Retort; then they edulcorate them, by washing away the Sal-Armoniack, and these they greatly esteem; for these Flowers are of a fair and white Colour.» — primera vía ajena, con sal amoníaco y retorta.

«Others have perculiar Instruments for this Work, prepared with windy Caverns, through which the Antimony may receive the Air, and be sublimed.» — segunda vía, con instrumentos de cavernas de aire.

«Others, setting three Alembecks one upon another sublime them with strong Fire, and with one and the same labour make white, yellow, and Red Flores; all which ways I have tried, and found no Error in them:» — tercera vía, y una concesión: dice haberlas probado todas sin hallarles error.

«but the Process, by which I make Flowers of Antimony, most profitable for Medicine, and more efficacious in their Operations is this.» — introduce su propia vía sin desautorizar las anteriores, solo prefiriéndola.

«I mixed the red Flowers of Antimony with Colcothar of Vitriol, and sublimed them together thrice.» — el paso propio: colcótar de vitriolo y tres sublimaciones.

«These are my prepared Flowers of Antimony, which I administered to my Brethren, and others, who in there Necessities, required help of me, for their Souls spiritual, in respect of my Ecclesiastical State, and for their Bodies temporal, by reason of the Trust they reposed in my Art.» — vuelve a unir los dos oficios de la voz: el eclesiástico para el alma y el del arte para el cuerpo.

«These Flores purge gently, without frequent, or excessive Stools, and have cured many Tertian and Quartan Fevers, also very many other Diseases;» — el efecto de sus flores, medido por la suavidad de la purga.

«that they likewise may acknowledge the wonderful works of the Most High, which I (by my diligence) have extracted from the Bowels of Nature, and which he himself had hid and absconde in her profound and most secret Recesses.» — el fin declarado de publicar: que se reconozcan las obras del Altísimo.

«But touching the Sublimations of Antimony, which are afterwar called Flowers; let the Reader further observe, viz. that they are like Waters, which break out in high Mountains.» — abre la analogía entre sublimación y manantiales de altura; el volumen imprime *afterwar* (sic) por afterward.

«waters in the Earth, is on one part more abundantly replenishe with the Riches of waters, then on another; since every Element hath a peculiar Matrix, either strong or weak, according as it is produced by the Sydus, whence Elements derive their Original an have being.» — introduce la matriz propia de cada elemento, más o menos fuerte según su astro; el volumen imprime *replenishe* y *an have being* (sic).

«Now, when such a Matrix is strong and potent in the Earth, it can drive forth its Seed strongly and efficaciously from itself, by a vehement Pressure, even up to the Snowy Mountains of the Alps, or to the very top of the Babylonish» — la fuerza de esa matriz medida por la altura a que empuja su simiente; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota.

«If any fatuate man hear this my Discourse, he will say, I am either mad or drunk with Wine; but this will be no other than a Reproach, like to that, which was cast upon the Disciples of our Saviour.» — anticipa la burla y la empareja con la que recibieron los discípulos en Pentecostés.

«Of Sublimation, the Reason is the same; for as Waters, which are many times found in the highest Mountains, are more salubrious, and more cool than those, which by digging deep into the Earth are found in Plains: so, if the Matter by pressure & force of fire be driven upwards to the Mountains of the Ancient Wise Men, who died long before my time, the Earth, which for the most part is unprofitable, remains until its Salt shall be extracted from it for its proper use.» — cierra la analogía: lo sublimado es lo salubre y la tierra queda abajo hasta que se le saque la sal.

«Thus is made Separation, by which the Evil may be distinguished from the Good, the Pure from the Impure, the thick from the thin, the subtle from that which is not subtle, and the Venom from the Medicament.» — la serie de oposiciones que definen la separación, cerrada en la que le importa: veneno y medicamento.

«We miserable Mortals, by Death which we have deserved for our Sins are put into the Earth, until we putrefie by time, and be reduced to filths; and afterward by the Heavenly Fire and Heat raised, clarified, and exalted to a Celestial Sublimation, where all our Feces, all Sins, and every Impurity shall be separated, and we made the Sons of GOD, and of Eternal Life, unto which the Lord of his Mercy and Goodness bring me with you.» — traslada la sublimación a la resurrección, con putrefacción, exaltación y separación de las heces como etapas.

«But I hope no man will take amiss this Comparation of the Mundane with the Spiritual, viz. the Heavenly Exaltation with the Earthly Sublimation.» — el propio texto se hace cargo del riesgo de esa comparación y la deja declarada como comparación.

«For no man should suppose what I have done, to be done without Reason, but rather know, that I am not ignorant what is white or black, how much the tenebrous and dismal Air differs from the serene and clear Heaven.» — insiste en que la analogía es deliberada y no confusión de planos.

«Therefore let us break off this Discourse, and produce another Preparation of Antimony.» — la fórmula con que corta las digresiones y vuelve al recetario.

«Let the Disciple, Apostle, and faithful Imitator of Art, understand this Instruction, and according to the true Philosophick Doctrine faithfully consider, that every Extraction from Antimony (as also from all other Things) hath great difference in Operation, which neither consists in the Matter, nor is known by the Matter, from which it is drawn; but consists and remains in the Preparation, and in the Addition, by which the Virtue is extracted from the Matter, as is known by Experience; as for Example.» — enuncia la tesis central del recetario: la diferencia de efecto está en la preparación y el añadido, no en la materia.

«Whatsoever is Extracted from Antimony, or any other thing with Spirit of Wine, hath a far other virtue of Operating, than those, which are extracted with good and sharp Vinegar.» — el caso que prueba esa tesis: dos disolventes sobre la misma materia dan virtudes distintas.

«The Causes of this I have already hinted in my other Writings; but the principal Cause have is, because all Extractions made with Spirit of Wine, from Antimony, or any purging Herbs, Roots, or Seeds (understand of the first Extraction) powerfully expel by Seidge: but on the contrary, whatsoever is extracted with Vinegar, purgeth not downward but rather prevents that, and retains in a certain peculiar manner, by which the Volatile is changed into fixed.» — da la razón operativa de esa diferencia: el vino expulsa, el vinagre retiene y fija.

«66. This is a singular Secret, and an Arcanum of great price; but there are none, or very few found, who mind such things; because many things are hidden, and lie deeply buried in this Arcanum, which no One, either Master or Servant, nor any Wise man of this World hath unto this Day observed» — marca el pasaje como arcano; la cita conserva el número de sección con que el volumen abre el párrafo.

«Vinegar obstructs, and Spirit of Wine, of itself powerfully expels and causeth Urine, as also Stools; as elsewhere in another manner is shewed, and especially where I speak of my Twelve Keys, as namely, that the Extraction of Glass of Antimony moderately purgeth; but on the contrary the Extraction of the same Glass, which is made with Vinegar purgeth not: which is true and not permixt with any falsity.» — remite a otra obra propia, las Doce Llaves, para la misma doctrina de los dos disolventes.

«But it is a thing much to be admired, that every Subject, which is first of all extracted with Spirit of Wine, should have a Purging Property.» — señala como admirable la regla general del espíritu de vino sobre cualquier sujeto.

«In a word it Cures very many Disease, also asswageth a Malignant Cough, and whatsoever is of that Disposition, and is a Medicine very admirable.» — cierre sumario de las virtudes de una preparación, con la tos maligna nombrada aparte.

«Moreover, thre is another Extraction of Antimony made in this manner.» — fórmula de enlace del recetario; el volumen imprime *thre* (sic) por there.

«then, after some time the Vinegar will be tinged with a Blood-like Colour, pour off this Extraction clear, filter it, and distil by Alembick in Sant: then again, in distilling, it shews admirable Colours, pleasant to the Sight, and wonderful in Aspect.» — el color como señal de avance en la extracción con vinagre, con la destilación en baño de arena.

«at length becomes Red as Blood and leaves many Feces and prevails against many Infirmities» — el estado final de ese aceite; la cita empieza tras la llamada a nota del volumen.

«the New Disease lately risen amongst the Soldiers is by it consumed and dried up, and indeed it effects Wonders.» — vuelve sobre la enfermedad nueva de los soldados, que en otra plana adjudica a las expediciones francesas.

«This Extraction may indeed be profitably used; but in a small Dose, and with great Caution.» — el límite con que entrega la receta anterior: dosis pequeña y cautela.

«What happens in this Operation is very admirable. For the Spirit of Wine abstracted, can no more be united with the red Extraction, whence it was distilled; but one floats above the other, as Water and Oyl, which cannot be mixed.» — describe una irreversibilidad observada: el disolvente ya no vuelve a unirse con lo que extrajo.

«But if the abstracted Spirit of Wine be poured upon other Liver of Antimony, it again attracts the Colour to itself; yet this, although poured upon the former Extraction, cannot be mixed therewith.» — precisa el alcance del fenómeno: el mismo espíritu sigue extrayendo de materia nueva y no de la vieja.

«Which is a Thing so strange, as it may be numbered among Wonders.» — el juicio con que cierra esa observación.

«I now say, when such an Extraction is made by Vinegar, and the Vinegar is again abstracted by B.M. and the Powder which remains is resolved in a moist place, into Oyl or Liquor of a Yellow Colour; it effects such Wonders in Wounds, new and old, as I neither can, nor dare to commit them all to writing.» — la receta con baño maría y resolución en lugar húmedo, y una reticencia declarada: ni puede ni se atreve a escribirlo todo.

«For it represseth all Symptoms of what kind so ever, suffereth none to take Root, and admits no Putrefaction in fresh Wounds.» — el efecto que sí describe, formulado en negativo.

«Also the Extraction of this Powder, before Solution is made by Spirit of Wine, effects the same, and yields not us inferior to other Medicaments, which are administered against internal Affects.» — extiende el efecto al uso interno; el volumen imprime *yields not us* (sic).

«For whatsoever I write is not without Reason; and my words are Short, but require much Consideration, although often repeated.» — vuelve a declarar su técnica de escritura: brevedad que exige relectura, y repetición deliberada.

«There remains another Extraction by a Caustick Water, which Experience hath taught me in this manner.» — introduce la extracción por agua cáustica, atribuida a experiencia propia.

«Subtly grind the Caput-mortuum, and in a Cellar permit it to resolve into Water, this Water keep and filter it through Paper.» — la resolución en bodega, técnica que el tratado usa varias veces.

«When it hath stood there for a due time, the Matter will be like an Amethyst, with a blackish Violet-Colour.» — el color como señal de etapa, aquí la amatista.

«Then augment the Fire much, and you will have a transparent Colour, like unto a blue Saphire.» — la etapa siguiente, el zafiro, obtenida aumentando el fuego.

«This Powder taken, hath the same Operation, as the red Extraction of Glass of Antimony, by Seidge, and it also excites Vomiting.» — equipara el efecto de este polvo al de la extracción roja, con el vómito añadido.

«In that Solution made from the Caput-Mortuum, and kept in a Cellar, if thin Plates of Iron be digested, Mars will be truly transmuted into Venus, as Experience will teach.» — enuncia una transmutación de hierro en cobre como resultado observable de la digestión.

«Take that distilled Oil or Water, as is spoken of above in this process and pour it upon Crocus Martis, with Sulphur reverberated to a Redness; set the Mixture in Heat, and you will have an extracted Tincture of Mars, red as Blood.» — la tintura de Marte, obtenida sobre crocus martis y azufre reverberado.

«All will not pass over by Distillation, but a fair clear Solution remains fixed» — el residuo fijo de la destilación; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«in the Bottom; which we may use in old open Wounds, wherein it laies a Foundation for Healing to Amazement» — continuación de la frase tras la nota, con el uso quirúrgico de ese residuo.

«The Caput-Mortuum which is left, being resolved in an Humid place, yields a Liquor so sharp, as no Aqua Fortis may be compared with it in sharpness.» — mide la acidez del licor contra el agua fuerte, que era el patrón corriente.

«For I must now speak of a White Powder, which may also be prepared of Antimony in this manner.» — anuncia el polvo blanco fijo, una de las preparaciones que más desarrolla.

«This Composition burn in a new glazed Pot (which was never infected with Fatness) in a Circulatory Fire; not all together, but by parts, and at divers time.» — la instrucción de la detonación, con la condición del recipiente nuevo y la quema por partes.

«This way of Operating, Ancient Spagyrist called Detonation, a Term of Art to be learned by the Disciple of Art, as being not Common to every Rustick, in his Artifice and Experience.» — nombra la operación con el término de los espagiristas antiguos y lo marca como término de arte.

«This Powder effects many egregious and wonderful Things, which cannot easily be believed by Those, who have not proved the same.» — la fórmula con que remite otra vez al crédito por experiencia.

«But it operates not suddenly, it must have time to exercise its Powers, and shew its own Virtue, by the Testimony of Experience, very admirable.» — acota el efecto del polvo blanco fijo: obra con el tiempo, no de golpe.

«Whosoever labours with internal Imposthumes, let him take of this white fixed Powder of Antimony in the Spirit of Wine, or any other rich Wine, the fourth part of a Dram, five or six times a Day, and he will find his internal Imposthume opened, and all the Coagulated Blood to be expelled by degrees, without any peril of Life or Health.» — la posología del polvo blanco fijo y su efecto sobre la sangre coagulada.

«He, hwo is afflicted in his Body with the New Disease of Souldiers, if he use this Powder in the aforesaid manner, will also find this Evil consumed throughout the whole Body, and by the same expelled.» — extiende el uso a la enfermedad nueva de los soldados; el volumen imprime *hwo* (sic) por who.

«Moreover, it produceth new Hairs, and renovates a man to the admiration of all men; it gives new, sound, and pure Blood, and is the Effecter of so much Good, as ever the least part of it (although Equity seems to require this) cannot by me be described or declared.» — a los efectos añade la reticencia habitual: ni la menor parte del bien puede él declararla.

«If anyone think it strange, that I here propose certain singular Processes, in which my Philosophy differs from other, let him be answered with this, that Philosophic Speech much differs from the Method of other mens Discourses, who nakedly and sincerely declare some Process, without any Ambiguities or Cloudings of Enigmas.» — defiende su modo de escribir distinguiendo el discurso filosófico del proceso declarado sin enigma.

«Therefore, consider the difference, and accuse not me, as if I had deviated from Order, in my Style of Philosophy, and of Preparations and Processes.» — pide que su orden no se juzgue con la vara del otro discurso.

«For in a Philosophic Discourse, it is not behooful to learn and judge of what appertains to the Theory, but the Practice teacheth you the Instruction of Processes; therefore in them, true, simple, clear and well grounded Words are to be used.» — el límite que él mismo pone al enigma: en los procesos, palabras claras.

«Also, of Antimony is made a Balsom, against grievous Diseases very profitable; yet not Crude Antimony, but of the Regulus thereof, whence may be made living Mercury, in the following manner.» — introduce el bálsamo del régulo y precisa que no se parte del crudo.

«Take of the best Hungarian Antimony, and crude» — arranque de esa receta; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«Tartar equal parts, and of Salnitre half a part; grind them well together, and afterwards flux them in a Wind-furnace; pour out the flowing Matter into a Cone, and there let it cool; then you will find the Regulus, which thrice or oftner purge by Fire, with Tartar and Nitre, and it will be bright and white, shining like Cupellate Silver, which hath fulminated and overcome all its Lead» — continuación de la receta tras la nota: proporciones, horno de viento, cono y triple purga del régulo.

«And although every Preparation of it ought to be made by Fire, without which the Virtue of it cannot be amnifested:» — la regla del fuego como condición de toda preparación; el volumen imprime *amnifested* (sic) por manifested.

«So Antimony, when prepared by the Addition of Water, assumes another nature and Complexion for operating, then when prepared by Fire only.» — el añadido de agua cambia la naturaleza operativa, que es el principio que ordena la serie de aceites.

«Therefore the Oil of Antimony, per se, without addition, and the true Sulphur thereof are prepared after this Method.» — anuncia el aceite per se y el azufre verdadero.

«Take crude Hungarian Antimony, put that ground to a subtle Powder, into a Glass Cucurbit with a flat bottom:» — arranque de esa preparación, otra vez con antimonio húngaro.

«When you have this Sign, then true Solution is made, by which the further Separation of Elements is procured.» — el signo de taller que autoriza pasar a la separación de elementos.

«This is endued with the same Virtues, as Balsom of Sulphur, as I shall then show, when I write of Sulphur, because they require one and the same Preparation.» — remite al tratado del azufre que promete, e iguala las dos preparaciones.

«Of this Balsom only three or four Drops, taken thrice in a Week with hot Wine, heal the Diseases of the Lungs, cure the frequent Cough, and Asthma,» — la posología del bálsamo y su campo: pulmón, tos y asma.

«Also many Oils may be prepared of Antimony, some per se and without Addition, and many others by Addition.» — la división general de los aceites por si llevan añadido.

«Yet they are not endued with the same Virtues, but each enjoys its own, according to the Diversity of its Preparation.» — repite el principio del libro aplicado a esa serie: la virtud sigue a la preparación.

«So also when Antimony is sublimed in Fire through the Air, and further prepared, another Virtue, other Powers, and another Operation follow, than in the Preparations already described.» — extiende el mismo principio a la vía de la sublimación.

«Use of the weight or dose, that neither more, nor less then is fit, may be given» — su glosa de la cuarta cabeza reduce el *modo de usar* del autor a la cuestión del peso.

«Consider and observe these things diligently; for this principal Key is of great concern. Therefore Antimony, which contains in itself its own Vinegar, ought to be so prepared, as all its Venenosity may be taken away, and he, who useth it, conceives no Venom thereby, but rather drives away and casts out all Poison from himself, by the use thereof» — marca este punto como llave principal, y formula la exigencia en términos del vinagre que el propio antimonio contiene.

«other, as Sublimatories, with their Aludel [or Head] are wont to be made, and it must have a long Neck like a Phial, (or Bolthead) and pour on it Spirit of Wine highly rectified, til it riseth three Fingers above the Matter, and having well closed the Vessel, set it in a moderate Heat for two Months.» — la descripción del circulatorio de tres globos y los dos meses de calor moderado; la cita conserva el corchete con que el volumen glosa *Aludel*.

«Then follows another new Extraction, and the Spirit of Wine becomes transparently red as a Ruby, or as was the first Extraction of the Vinegar, yea more fair.» — el color como señal de la segunda extracción, medida contra la primera.

«then the Spirit of wine carries over the Tincture of Antimony with it self, the Elements separate themselves each from other, and the Alembeck and Recipient seem to resemble the form of pure Gold transparent in Aspect.» — la separación de los elementos descrita por el aspecto dorado del vidrio.

«In the end some few Feces remain, and the Golden Colour in the Glass altogether fails.» — el fin de la destilación, señalado por la desaparición del color.

«The red Matter, which in distilling passed over into the Receiver, put into a Circulatory for ten Days, and as many Nights.» — el tiempo de circulación, contado en días y noches.

«By that Circulation Separation is made; for the Oil thereby acquires Gravity, and separates itself to the bottom from the Spirit of Wine; and the Spirit of Wine is again Clear, as it was at first, and swims upon the Oil.» — la separación por gravedad, con el disolvente que vuelve a su claridad inicial.

«Which admirable Separation is like a Miracle in Nature: Separate this Oil» — el juicio sobre esa separación; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«This Oil is of a singular and incredible Sweetness, with which no other thing may be compared, it is grateful in the Use, and all Corrosiveness is separated from it.» — la marca de calidad del aceite: dulzura y ausencia de corrosivo.

«No man can by Cogitation judge, by Understanding comprehend, what incredible Effects, potent Powers, and profitable Virtues are in this Royal Oil.» — lo nombra aceite regio y declara sus efectos incomprensibles al entendimiento.

«It drives away Melancholy and sadness of Heart, it confirms the Junctures, and above all strengthens the Heart, when given with the Magistery of Pearls.» — los efectos que sí enumera, con el magisterio de perlas como vehículo.

«if six drops of it mixt with equal parts of Oil of Cinnamon be put upon the Tongue,» — la dosis y la vía: seis gotas con aceite de canela sobre la lengua.

«It refresheth a man so, as if he were new born; it purifies the Blood; mixt and exhibited with the Tincture of Corals, it cleanseth Leprosy, and expels every Scab, which through impurity of the Blood takes Root in man.» — la renovación y la limpieza de la sangre, con la tintura de coral como añadido.

«Another way to drive Antimony, without Addition, over by Alembeck is this.» — abre otra vía per se por alambique.

«The Salt of Antimony, I say, only resolves itself into Liquor, which filter, and put into a Cucurbit, that it may be condensed by extraction of the phlegm; and again set it in moist Place, then will yield you fair Crystals.» — la obtención de cristales de sal por resolución y condensación.

«Separate these from their Phlegm, and they will be pellucid, mixt with a red Colour; but when again purified become white.» — la purificación de esos cristales, medida por su color.

«Then is made the true Salt» — nombra el producto sal verdadera de antimonio; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota.

«of Antimony, as I have often prepared it» — continuación de la frase tras la nota, con el aval de haberla preparado a menudo.

«First a white Spirit comes off, afterward a red Spirit, which also resolves itself into white.» — la marcha de la destilación por colores del espíritu.

«Rectify this Spirit gently and subtily in a dry or moist Balneo, and so you will have another white Oil distilled from the Salt of Antimony.» — la rectificación en baño seco o húmedo y su producto.

«it provokes Urine, and is profitable in the Gout.» — el efecto de ese espíritu, acotado a orina y gota.

«Also this Spirit of the Salt of Antimony purifies the whole Blood, as the Salt of Gold doth.» — lo equipara a la sal de oro en la purificación de la sangre.

«And although, in healing very many other Diseases it may be profitably applied, yet it is not so perfect, as the above described red Oil of Antimony, in which its Sulphur is deduced to the highest, purified and separated, as I said; therefore I forbear to speak more of this.» — jerarquiza sus propios productos: el aceite rojo por encima del espíritu de la sal.

«Now, since I have treated of the Sulphur and Salt of Antimony, and shewed how they may be reduced into Oil and Spirit, to be subservient to Medicine; I here treating further, purpose to speak of its Mercury also, and to manifest what Medicine lies absconded, and as it were buried in it.» — cierra dos de los tres principios y anuncia el tercero, el mercurio.

«These dry Salts mix with three Parts of Venetian Earth, and by Retort distil the Mixture with strong Fire, and you will have a wonderful Spirit.» — la receta con tierra veneciana y retorta.

«Then gently distil the Vinegar from it, and with what remains mix a fourfold weight of the filings of Steel, and with violent Fire distil by Retort: then the Spirit of Salt, which passeth out, carries over with itself the Mercury of Antimony in the Species of Fume.» — la extracción del mercurio en forma de humo, arrastrado por el espíritu de sal.

«Wherefore in this Operation you must apply a great Recipient with a large quantity of Water in it, so doing, the Spirit of Salt will be mixed with the Water, but the Mercury collected in the Bottom of the Glass into true living Mercury.» — el recipiente con agua como modo de separar el espíritu del mercurio vivo.

«Behold, O Lover of Art, I have showed you, how of Antimony may be made running Mercury, which very many have so long, and in so many Parts of the World sought; and how we may use this Mercury with praise in Medicine, I will here discover and set down in Writing.» — declara cumplido lo que dice buscado tanto tiempo y anuncia el uso médico.

«when the impure Lightness is taken from it by Vinegar, because the Vinegar assumes that, then the Oyl receives its just weight, becomes compact, and settles to the Bottom.» — explica el cambio de peso del aceite por lo que el vinagre se lleva.

«This is a great Arcanum, and seems repugnant to Nature, that this Oil should first swim, and afterward being rendered more ponderous, settle to the Bottom.» — señala como arcano lo que él mismo llama contrario a la naturaleza.

«This Oil is profitable against the Apoplexy, comforts the Brain, makes a man industrious, and cherisheth the vital Spirits of the Ehad.» — sus efectos sobre el cerebro; el volumen imprime *Ehad* (sic) por Head.

«If anyone hath laboured long with grievous Diseases, and will for some time dayly use this Oil, his Hairs and Nayls will fall off, and he will be renovated, as a man newborn.» — la renovación por caída de pelo y uñas, motivo que repite en varias preparaciones.

«All the Blood in the Humane Body is by it so purified, as every Evil is taken off from it, and expelled.» — la purificación de la sangre enunciada sin excepción.

«This heals the French Disease, which we have lately inherited; for by this Medicine it is radically extirpated.» — vuelve sobre la enfermedad francesa, que llama herencia reciente.

«the praise of this Oil is greater in Medicine, than can be expressed in Speech or Writing.» — el remate hiperbólico con que cierra la serie del aceite.

«I will manifest to you what your Eyes never saw, and will show you the way of Health and Sanity, which before you never knew.» — la promesa con que abre este tramo, dirigida al lector en segunda persona.

«For I have often said, that this our Life is circumscribed with more strait Limits, then that one man should be able to search out all Things, which Nature bears absconded in her Bosom.» — el límite que repite a lo largo del libro, aquí puesto junto a la promesa anterior.

«But the reason why Fishes die, is because, when the Ice is not opened, their respiration is hindred, and they thence are suffocated.» — la observación de los peces bajo el hielo, que usará como modelo del mineral encerrado en la tierra.

«For it may easily be proved, that no Animal can live, when to it the Use of air is denied.» — la premisa general de esa observación.

«Whence it may well be concluded, that those Fishes, which are found dead under the Water, in an extreme Cold Season, die not of Cold (as men of little understanding think) but because they are deprived of Air.» — objeta la explicación corriente por el frío y la sustituye por la falta de aire.

«But with many and laborious Preparations of Artifice, it must be manifested and brought to Light, for the expected Sanation of Diseases, by reason of which it hath been so long sought into.» — traslada la lección al mineral: hay que sacarlo a la luz con preparaciones laboriosas.

«But since thou understandest neither White, nor Black, nor Green, nor Red, nor Yellow; nor knowest which way to go about to justify Antimony, its Virtue, Power and Utility, being unknown to thee, thou doest well, if thou keepest Silence, and permittest this Reprehension of thy Ignorance, as a Wave driven with vehement wind to fly over thy Head;» — mide la ignorancia del adversario por los colores del proceso, que es su criterio técnico.

«Yet this must not be done with a dissembled and feigned, but with a true and pure Heart, without all Hypocrisy; then your Redemption and Help will undoubtedly follow, so that in all Verity you will see and find the Winds and the Sea to obey you, and all Things be brought to the desired End.» — vuelve a la condición devota, con la imagen evangélica de los vientos y el mar obedientes.

«I wish man were but so disposed, as he would study to obtain somewhat with labour and Diligence, then certainly the gods, the Presidents of Prosperity and Art would give Success, by which such a Disciple and Follower of Art might be assured, that in the wished School of Art, and desired Domicile of Grace, Felicity and Health hsould not be denied him, but that he himself should certainly see and find the Foundation of the Corner Stone, upon which he might commodiously build up all the other Orders of Stones.» — el volumen habla aquí de *the gods* en plural dentro de un libro de voz monástica; el volumen imprime *hsould* (sic).

«Hasten not, I say, O man experienced in our Art, to pass your Sentence of Judging, and be not willing to condemn, what you have not yet yourself acquired by Thoughts, or gained by Discipline.» — dirige la misma cautela de juicio a los ya experimentados, no solo a los legos.

«But my Auditor and Disciple, do thou with sharp Judgement weigh this my sincere Information, and iwth fervent desire strive to penetrate the inmost Center of Art, which by the external Face can be known to no man; prosecute and press after the Virtue and Power thereof, no otherwise, than as a Hunter pursues a Wild Beast; search out its Footsteps through the Snow, that you may rightly distinguish, and not take an Hart instead of an Hind, or an Hare instead of a Fox, or give a false estimate thereof, by erring from its Footsteps.» — la figura de la caza para el centro del arte, con la advertencia de no confundir el rastro; el volumen imprime *iwth* (sic) por with.

«I do not unprofitably spend my time; for all the Words in my Writings are of use, and in them are found few empty Letters, which contain not some Utility together with a profitable Instruction, so that the time I spend in Writing will rather be a Recreation, than a Burthen to me.» — repite la declaración sobre su propia escritura: ninguna letra vacía.

«Take of Hungarian Antimony one part, Common Salt half a part, and six parts of Argilla not burnt, grind all together, and distil vehemently with a continual Fire without Intermission and at length an Oil will come forth:» — receta del aceite con sal común y arcilla cruda, a fuego continuo.

«This Powder grind subtily, and resolve it into a Liquor, upon a Marble Stone; and you will have a red shining Balsom for Wounds, which far excels very many other Balsoms.» — la resolución sobre mármol y el bálsamo rojo que resulta.

«is principally in Wounds, which have been a long time open, and in the Cure of which the Doctors with their Plaisters, Unguents, Oils and Ligaments could effect nothing: but with very great Disgrace they at length take off the Horse’s Bridle and Saddle, and return him to the Stable, whence they had him» — acota el uso a las heridas viejas y remata con la imagen del caballo devuelto al establo; la cita empieza tras la llamada a nota.

«My Form of Speaking Savours of Simplicity; for I am a man Religious, to whom the Method of Secular Men is unknown; therefore cannot so clearly detect and describe all Things, as the Matter itself seems to require.» — atribuye la simplicidad de su estilo a su condición religiosa, y la presenta como límite y no como virtud.

«Such a man as I, as to the Terms, because he cannot so formally use them, desires to be pardoned in this, and if he neglect anything therein, he craves the candid Acceptation of all men, and in respect of his State offers himself willing and ready to serve all Christians Day and Night, and by his Prayers to GOD, to recompence this their Benevolence.» — la excusa retórica que sigue, con la oferta de servicio y oración como contrapartida.

«This Oil is salutary in many grievous Accidents, and especially in old wounds, so that few Medicines are found, which must not give place to this.» — el alcance del aceite, medido contra los demás remedios.

«Only that Oil, which is prepared with the Vulgar Sublimate of Apothecaries, is equal unto it in Effects, and is oftentimes by Experience found to be better, especially in the Wolf and Cancer, and in the Noli me tangere.» — concede que un preparado corriente de botica lo iguala y a veces lo supera en ciertas úlceras.

«nor at this time, as I can holily affirm, is it aimed at by me.» — su reiterada declaración de desinterés por la fama.

«This Oil effects wonders in many Affects, where Nature gave no hope of Amendment, and it always mostly shows its force, virtue, power, and efficacy, in the perfect Emendation of Evil into Good.» — sitúa la eficacia del aceite justo donde la naturaleza no da esperanza.

«When old Wounds can in no wise be healed, then use this Oil. For it is strong, potent and penetrative: and lays a good Ground (even as Oil of Vitriol doth) for future Sanation.» — acota su papel: no cura, prepara el terreno de la curación.

«An admirable Balsom of divers Ingredients (among which is Antimony) very useful in old Wounds is thus prepared.» — introduce un bálsamo compuesto en el que el antimonio es solo uno de los ingredientes.

«Let the Artificer separate these Rubies from the Cinnabar, which ascends in the Sublimation, grind them to Powder and extract them with strong Vinegar.» — los rubíes volátiles que aparecen en la sublimación, separados del cinabrio.

«This Liquor is salutary in old open Wounds, and is a vulnerary Balsom in like Accidents, if put into them, and they covered round with a common Stiptick Plaister.» — el modo de aplicación del licor sobre la herida abierta.

«it leaves no man destitute of help, although such, as in the Cure of which all otehr Remedies have been tried in vain.» — su fórmula de última instancia; el volumen imprime *otehr* (sic) por other.

«extirpate the Disease: although at this time few are found, who bend their thoughts this way, or take any Course to touch the Root itself of those Diseases, of which I now treat.» — objeta a sus contemporáneos que no van a la raíz del mal; el tramo empieza en mitad de la frase del volumen.

«If Men would in their Minds well consider the Calamities of Life, into which the Fall of our first Parents precipited us, and seriously weigh that Original Sin, and the great troop of Evills thence issuing, viz: of Sadness, Anguish, Diseases and Miseries, they certainly would spend their time better, and employ more labour to search out the health of their neighbours, so strictly commended to them by the Supreme Ruler of Heaven, and by him commanded as their proper Duty.» — deriva de la caída y del pecado original el deber médico hacia el prójimo.

«But how many (with grief be it spoken!) shunning labour, consume their time unprofitably, and do not what was to be done by them, but what they formerly have done, and still ahve a lust to do, being afraid to do so much, as will soil their Fingers Ends; as if they did envy the Tradesman, who perhaps gets a small Gain by selling Soap, which they would not willingly buy, to wash their delicate hands.» — vuelve sobre el reproche de no ensuciarse las manos, ahora con la imagen del jabón; el volumen imprime *ahve* (sic) por have.

«Are not all we miserable Mortals, that live here, Strangers in the Earth, possessing nothing, that we can call ours?» — la premisa de su moral de los bienes, formulada en pregunta.

«Are not all Things we here use, the Goods of our Lord, lent to us, whilst we live and no longer?» — la segunda pregunta del mismo argumento: todo bien es prestado.

«Therefore we ought so to behave our selves in using them, taht supported with a good Conscience we may be able to stand in that Day, in which an Account is to be given for them; and be not for our Ingratitude cast into Prison, and utter Darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing Teeth.» — la conclusión escatológica de ese argumento; el volumen imprime *taht* (sic) por that.

«If this were the Meditation, and this the Intention of every Man, he would be like a Monster, if he should think of admitting Sin in himself, or of neglecting his Office; and all Men would, with a certain Emulation strive to pleasure their Neighbours, with the Gifts received from GOD.» — la emulación en el servicio al prójimo como consecuencia de esa meditación.

«But these things are remote from the thoughts of the World, and Wordly Men; Money, Money, is the Scope of all their Intentions; this the Potent seek directly or indirectly, and for this the Poor are subservient to them, that they also may participate of the Mamon of Iniquity.» — describe la codicia como cadena que ata a poderosos y pobres.

«Yet take heed, I advise you to take heed, lest the Bones of that Flesh, sticking in your Throat, suffocate you, or the Back-bones of Fishes pierce your Heart.» — la advertencia con que remata, en la misma imaginería de la asfixia del pez.

«But what doth Admonition help which the World little esteemes of and derides?» — la duda que él mismo pone sobre la eficacia de su propio sermón.

«When I, according to my vow, undertook a Pilgrimage to St. James, to visit that holy Place as a Stranger, I prayed to GOD, and bound myself with a Vow, that if he granted me an happy Return to my Monastery, I would render him due Praise.» — dato biográfico que el volumen pone en boca de su autor: una peregrinación votiva a Santiago.

«He granted my Request, and I daily return Thanks to him.» — el cumplimiento del voto, en la misma voz.

«But I thought many more would have rejoiced with me, and have given thanks to the same GOD, for the famous Reliques, which at that time I brought with me to our Monastery, (for Consolation of the Poor, and many Others) that it might procure to it self a Name, in this perishing Valley of Tears, that could not be wiped out by any Oblivion.» — añade que trajo reliquias al monasterio y que esperaba de ellas fama para la casa.

«Yet hence few were rendered either better, or more grateful to GOD, for so great a benefit; but persevered in Derision and Contempt of that, which GOD will vindicate in the last Day.» — el desenlace que consigna: burla y desprecio dentro de su propio entorno.

«But of these enough at this time, let us proceed in our Instruction of Antimony, whence yet another Medicine may be prepared, which I myself have experience to be very salutary; and effectual in every kind of Feavers, and in the Pestilence.» — corta la digresión moral y vuelve al recetario, con la peste como campo.

«Grind Antimony subtily, put it inot a Glass Retort, and distil it with a strong fire, without any Addition, 3 or 4 times, and always with a large Receiving Vessel; at length of it is made a Red Powder, which extract with Vinegar, and circulate the Extraction with a gentle fire for ten whole Days; abstract the Vinegar by Distilling» — la receta del aceite contra fiebres y peste; el tramo corta ante la llamada a nota y el volumen imprime *inot* (sic) por into.

«Let this Oil be further Circulated until all Humidity be drawn off therefrom, and it again be reduced to Powder, as it was; when the Vinegar is abstracted and separated by Distillation, then gather the Oil in a new Receiver.» — el remate de la operación, con el recipiente nuevo.

«Four Grains of this Oil taken with water of Carduus Benedictus, if the Sick be well covered and Sweated, heal Quotidian, Tertian and Quartan Fevers.» — la dosis con agua de cardo bendito y el régimen de sudor.

«The same Dose is very available for expelling the Pest, either given with Spirit of Wine, or with distilled Vinegar, according as the Paroxysm of the Pest first invades,» — la misma dosis contra la peste, con el vehículo elegido según el paroxismo.

«Which is witnessed by three Brethren in our Monastery, who recovered of the Plague by this Arcanum, when they expected no other but Death, and had made their Wills.» — el testimonio que aduce: tres hermanos del monasterio curados de peste tras haber testado.

«they gained more true Knowledge in searching out the Arcanums of Nature, then they could before obtain in a longer series of time.» — el saldo que atribuye a esa experiencia.

«I recommend their Reward to the Supreme Physitian, who dwells in the highest Heavens, and there will refresh them with sufficient Joy, and make up in Heaven that Just Recompence, which here on Earth was denyed them by ignorant, and ungrateful Men.» — encomienda su recompensa al médico supremo, con el reproche a los ingratos de la tierra.

«Another Oil of Antimony for wounds, is prepared with Addition in the following manner. [OIL OF SULPHUR PER CAMPAN. HOW MADE] Take of Antimony, Sulphur, Saltnitre, of each equal parts; Fulminate those under a Bell, as Oil of Sulphur per Campan. is made; which way of preparing hath long since been known to the Ancients.» — la receta del aceite bajo campana, adjudicada a los antiguos; conserva el epígrafe marginal del volumen.

«But Consider, you will have a better way, if instead of a Bell, you take an Alembeck» — propone el alambique en lugar de la campana; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota.

«and apply to it a Recipient; so you will obtain more Oil, which will indeed be of the same Colour, as that which is made of Common Sulphur, but in powers and virtues not a little more excellent, then it» — continuación tras la nota: mismo color, más virtud que el de azufre común.

«We use 3 or 4 Drops of this inwardly taken with Spirit of Wine against the Phthisick of the Lungs; but outwardly, if it first be anointed, and a Stiptick Playster applyed, against all Wounds stinking, and tending to putrefaction, and so you will find it to be the most certain Remedy of all Wounds.» — reparte el uso interno y el externo del mismo aceite, con dosis y vehículo.

«Again another Oil of Antimony against all corroding Wounds very profitable, is this way made.» — fórmula de enlace hacia la receta siguiente.

«Much more might be written of this Balsom, did I not fear, that every unskillful Man, and the Rabble of Sophisters would fall foul on me, and say I speak too largely, and commit more to writing, then Experience hath taught me; and so that I boast only of Speculations, and mere Imaginations.» — declara que calla por temor a la acusación de escribir más de lo experimentado.

«Sublime one part of Antimony, with a fourth part of Sal Armoniack, with subtile Fire. The Salt carries up the Sulphur of Antimony, red as Blood.» — la sublimación con sal amoníaco y el azufre rojo que sube con ella.

«Or otherwise, take the Sublimate, and edulcorate it from the Salt added, gently dry it, and you will have Sulphur, which burns like Common Sulphur, which is sold at the Apothecaries.» — la variante que da un azufre indistinguible del corriente de botica.

«It heals the Phthisick, remedies the Prickings of the Sides; and if any One labours with difficulty of Breathing, let him take two Grains in the morning, and as many at Night going to Bed.» — el campo respiratorio del preparado, con posología de mañana y noche.

«In the Elixir or Spirit of Wine, and he shall be healed, For it dilates the Passages of the Breast, expells all Impurities, and Phlegmes out of the Breast; and to me it hath often produced many unlooked for Effects.» — el vehículo de esa dosis y el mecanismo que le atribuye.

«But cince in other Preparations of Antimony, I have described such Virtues, as with this are common to them, I Judge it needless to repeat them all, lest in the Sectators of Art I should create tediousness through multiciplity of Words, or alien thoughts by an impertinent Tautology.» — se abstiene de repetir virtudes comunes; el volumen imprime *cince* y *multiciplity* (sic).

«In the mean while, the Liquor, which, as I above said, was resolved in an Humid Place, is an external Medicine, and very profitable; for it cleanseth the Impurities of the Skin, and if a little Oil of Tartar be mixed therewith, it heals the Phagedena of the Fingers; and it often anointed therewith, it purifies the Skin and cures Scrophulaes.» — el uso externo del licor, con el aceite de tártaro como añadido.

«To reduce the same into an Oil by Distilling, is worth your while: Although the Oil above mentioned hath greater Virtues, because its Body, by the Sal Armoniack, in the beginning of the Sublimation was better dissolved and opened.» — jerarquiza dos aceites por el grado de apertura del cuerpo en la sublimación.

«There yet remain many things to be written of Antimony, and especially Three, necessary to be knwon by the Spagyrick Physician and Philosopher, viz. the Preparation of Vinegar, which is made of its Minera; and then the Philosophick Signate Star, which is not to be omitted; and lastly the Lead of Philosophers, of which we shall speak somewhat; touching which Many have imagined Great Things, and though (in their way of Reasoning, and Speculation) to prepare the true and sincere Mercury of Philosophers of it; which indeed cannot be done, since so great» — anuncia los tres asuntos que faltan y niega de entrada que del plomo de los filósofos salga el mercurio verdadero; el volumen imprime *knwon* y *though* (sic) y el tramo corta en el cambio de plana.

«That Mercury is the first Ens, or first Water of Metals, which is perfect, otherwise the Great Stone of the ancient Wise Men could not be made of it.» — define el mercurio verdadero como primer ente o primera agua de los metales.

«Therefore I will stand to my Promise and comfort my Disciples, according to their Wish, by satisfying and instructing them, which way the Separation of Good from Evil may be known to them, and giving Information touching the Vinegar of Philosophers, which is made of Antimony.» — anuncia el vinagre de los filósofos como cumplimiento de una promesa a sus discípulos.

«This Vinegar Cools vehemently, not as common Vinegar, but with great Admiration, and certain Experience, especially for assuaging the Gangreane, produced from Gunpowder; also it heals» — la virtud refrigerante del vinagre, aplicada a la gangrena por pólvora; el tramo corta en el cambio de renglón del volumen.

«In time of the Pestilence, taken inwardly, the Dose of one Spoonful, several times, and outwardly applied to the Swellings by Linen Clothes moistened therein, extracts the Venom, and most excellently cools:» — el doble uso contra la peste, con dosis en cucharadas y paños sobre los bubones.

«but consider, when you would use it in this manner outwardly, it must be mixed with a third part of Water distilled from Frogspawn.» — la condición para el uso externo, que reintroduce la hueva de rana de las planas iniciales.

«Many highly esteem the Signate Star of Antimony, and very many have endeavoured to prepare it, sparing no labour to attain the same.» — abre el asunto de la estrella signada por la estima que le tienen otros.

«Which some have acquired with good success, others have lost all their labour and Cost,» — consigna el reparto entre logros y fracasos sin arbitrarlo.

«Many have assumed an Opinion, that this Star is the true Matter, whence the Stone of Philosophers may be made, induced hereunto, by this thought or Imagination, viz. because Nature herself hath signed it into a Star, therefore they could not choose but esteem of it, and by these Cogitations were led» — expone la opinión ajena y el argumento que la sostiene: la firma natural en forma de estrella.

«Yet I affirm, that in it lies absconded a famous Medicine, which may be made of it.» — concede a la estrella signada una virtud médica tras negarle la de piedra filosofal.

«Note, when you have rightly completed the Fusion, and have used a manual Operation, as is fit (which is of principal concern in this Work) you will obtain a fair Star» — la señal de la operación bien hecha; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota.

«bring and shining like Cupellate Silver, no less artificially formed, then if some Painter had with Compasses diligently divided the same» — la descripción de la estrella, comparada con un trazado a compás; el volumen imprime *bring* (sic) por bright.

«This Regulus, or Signate Star, melted often with the Stone Serpent, is brought to such a state, as at length it consumes itself in it, and wholy unites itself with the Serpent.» — la unión del régulo con lo que el texto llama la piedra serpiente.

«This being done, the Sectator of Art hath a Matter altogether hot and fiery in which very much of Art is latent.» — el estado de la materia tras esa unión.

«This prepared Matter resolves itself into an Oil; this very Oil ought to be brought over the Helm by Distillation, and then rectified, that it may be pure and clear,» — la resolución en aceite y su rectificación.

«This Oil may commodiously and securely be taken inwardly; but with great Prudence and Caution, and not oftner then twice or thrice in a Week, and no more at one time, then three Drops in two ounces of Wine, or other Water distilled from Herbs, according to the Exigency of the Disease.» — la posología de este aceite, con frecuencia y cantidad acotadas.

«For this Reason, it is the Physicians part to know the Causes of Diseases, together with the Complexion of the Sick, that he may the more securely use his Remedies.» — deriva de esa cautela el deber diagnóstico del médico.

«This is a famous Acrimony» — nombra así el producto; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«containing in itself many Arcanums; but there is no need to reveal all things together and at once to unskillful men» — continuación tras la nota, con la reserva declarada de no revelarlo todo.

«Some Arts are to be suppressed, that some Secrets and Arcanums may remain proper to the Philosopher, who in searching them out hath daily sustained grievous Toil.» — justifica el secreto por el trabajo que costó, no por la peligrosidad.

«But let him, who resolves to tread in my Footsteps not be weary of Searching; but what I have done, let him do, and what I have so often desired, and what with so earnest Wishes I have sought, let him seek.» — la fórmula con que traspasa al lector su propio itinerario.

«These Principles, which I have prescribed you, are sufficient for to search out the End by.» — declara suficientes los principios dados, sin prometer el fin.

«Many have failed, yea many have been cut off by Death, before they could in their Learning attain to the Principles only; that is, they are deprived of Life, before they could acquire the Magistery of Art.» — mide el costo del arte en vidas gastadas antes de llegar a los principios.

«Therefore, I at first set forth a Book of Rudiments, that the Studious follower of Art (who in his first Experiences had need of so much time) might the sooner attain his desired end, and wished Scope, and next unto GOD give me thanks.» — remite a otra obra propia, un libro de rudimentos, escrito para acortar ese camino.

«Moreover, in this Oil a wonderful Effect is latent.» — fórmula de enlace hacia otra virtud del mismo aceite.

«Thus you will have a Medicine, which admirably breaks the Stone in the Bladder, and expels it, and there also effects many other Things, by a certain famous virtue in it.» — el efecto litotríptico que le adjudica.

«But that we may also say something of the Lead of Philosophers, let the curious searchers of Nature know, that between Antimony and common Lead, there is a certain near affinity, and they hold a strict friendship each with other.» — abre el tercer asunto anunciado, con la afinidad entre antimonio y plomo.

«Now although there is so strict an affinity between Antimony, and Saturn; yet by reason of the too much Sulphur, which Antimony hath in itself, it is cast out from it:» — acota esa afinidad: el exceso de azufre lo expulsa de Saturno.

«Morever, I say, the Lead in Antimony is no other, then its Regulus, which hath not as yet obtained Mallaeableness.» — identifica el plomo del antimonio con su régulo aún no maleable.

«And, as above I said, when the Regulus and Steel by Liquefaction are united, and deduced to a Star, there are many, who would thence make the ancient stone of Philosophers; which I before denied to be possible.» — repite su negativa sobre la piedra antigua, y consigna la opinión contraria de otros.

«For it receives it’s ponderosity from the Spirit of the Salt, which also gave it softness, so that it’s Body now is compact and heavy.» — explica peso y blandura del régulo por el espíritu de la sal.

«Therefore I say, there is not much difference between the Stignate Star, and Lead of Antimony; which notwithstanding are every where distinguished as two diverse things.» — objeta la distinción corriente entre estrella signada y plomo de antimonio; el volumen imprime *Stignate* (sic) por Signate.

«For a Conclusion you are further to know, that Antimony may be applied to many other Uses, then as above expressed, as to Scripture or Printing, for which Printers use it.» — consigna el uso tipográfico del antimonio, ajeno a la medicina.

«Also under a certain Constellation and Concourse of the Planets, a Mixture of Metals is made with Antimony, of which Artists form Signatures and Characters endued with singular Virtues.» — el uso talismánico bajo constelación, dicho sin desarrollo.

«Of the same Mixture also are made Speculums, of many and wonderful Aspects and Properties.» — los espejos hechos con esa mezcla, en la misma serie de usos.

«Also Bells and other Instruments may be made thereof, of admirable sound.» — cierra la serie con las campanas y su sonido.

«But since these things concern not Medicine, nor appertain to my Order, Rule, and Calling, I rest well satisfied in my Vocation, and commend them to the Handling of Others, who know them better.» — deja fuera esos usos apelando a su regla y estado religioso, y los remite a otros.

«When, at a certain time an abundance of Thoughts (which my internal and fervent Prayer to GOD suggested) had set me loose and wholy free from all terrene Businesses, I purposed in my self to attend to Spiritual Inspirations, of which we have need, for the more accurate scrutiny of Nature» — arranque de la parábola del autor, presentada como fruto de la oración y no de la especulación.

«Therefore I resolved to make myself Wings, that I might ascend on high» — el proyecto de la parábola; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«themselves, as Icarus, and his Father Daedalus in times past did, if credit may be given to the Ancient Writings of Poets» — continuación tras la nota, con la reserva expresa sobre el crédito de los poetas antiguos.

«But when I soared to near the Sun, my Feathers with it’s vehement heat were consumed, and burnt, I fell headlong into the depth of the Sea: yet to me, in this my extreme Necessity invoking GOD, help was sent from Heaven, which freed me from all peril and the present Destruction» — la caída de Ícaro reescrita con socorro divino, que es lo que la separa del relato pagano.

«For an Angel hastened to my assistance, who commanded the Waters they should be still, and instantly, in that deep Abyss appeared a most high Mountain, upon which at length I ascended» — el ángel que detiene las aguas y la montaña que emerge, escenario del examen que sigue.

«And having searched into Things, I found, that whatsoever the Ancient Masters had so many Ages since committed to Writing, and delivered to their Disciples, who earnestly desired to be the true Imitators of them, was (as I may say) more true than Truth itself.» — el resultado del examen: suscribe a los maestros antiguos en lugar de enmendarlos.

«In very deed (that I may expound the matter in few Words) I found all Things, which are generated in the Bowels of Mountains, to be infused from the Superior Stars, and take their beginning from them, in the form of an aqueour Cloud, Fume or Vapour, which for a very long time fed and nourished by the Stars, is at length educted to a tangible form by the Elements.» — repite la cosmogonía mineral del libro como conclusión de la parábola.

«Moreover, this Vapor is dried, that the Wateriness may lose its Dominion, and the Fire next, by help of the Air, retain the Ruling Power.» — el paso del dominio del agua al del fuego dentro de esa generación.

«Of Water Fire, and of Fire and Air Earth is produce: which notwithstanding are found in all things consisting of Body, before the Separation of them.» — la derivación de los elementos unos de otros; el volumen imprime *is produce* (sic).

«Therefore this, viz. Water is the first Matter» — nombra el agua materia primera; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota.

«of all things, which by the Dryness of Fire and Air is formed into Earth» — continuación tras la nota: el agua se hace tierra por sequedad de fuego y aire.

«But now since my Intention is to describe the Stone of Fire, how it is made of Antimony, together with the Process of its Preparation, which not only heals Men, but Metals also particularly; it will be necessary before all Things, to speak somewhat of these following Heads.» — anuncia la última parte del libro, con la doble acción sobre hombres y metales.

«In this my purpose, I pray, O spirit of Heaven illuminate me, that I may give a true and sincere Instruction, viz. according as is fit for me, and the matter itself permits.» — la invocación que precede a la parte final, con dos límites declarados: lo que le compete y lo que la materia permite.

«Indeed I have hopes of Eternal Absolution from this my Supreme confessor, who from Eternity possesseth the Throne of Mercy, and will give Testimony of all things, when the Decretory Sentence shall be pronounced upon all Men, in the Last Judgement, without any appeal.» — pone a Dios como confesor y testigo de lo que escribe.

«Therefore first know and consider, that the True Tincture of Antimony, which is the Medicine of Men and Metals, is not made of crude and melted Antimony, as it is sold by Merchants and Apothecaries; but extracted from the Minera, as it is taken out of the Mountains, and before it is formed into Glass.» — la condición material que separa su tintura de las comerciales: mineral de mina, no antimonio fundido.

«But, my Reader, you must diligently mind this, viz. that the Tincture of Antimony prepared fixed and solid, or the Stone of Fire (as I name it) is a certain pure, penetrative spiritual and fiery Essence, which is reduced into a coagulated Matter, like the Salamander, which in Fire is not consumed, but purified and conserved.» — define la piedra de fuego con la figura de la salamandra, que no se consume en el fuego.

«Yet the Stone of Fire tingeth not universally, as the Stone» — pone el límite de su piedra frente a la de los filósofos; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota.

«of Philosophers, which is made of the Essence of Gold itself» — continuación tras la nota, con la materia de la otra piedra: la esencia del oro.

«To this no such power is given, as that it should perform such things, but it tingeth particularly; viz, Silver into Gold, Tin also and Lead; but Mars and Venus it toucheth not, nor do they yield more, then from them by Separation may be effected.» — acota exactamente sobre qué metales obra y sobre cuáles no.

«Moreover, one part of it can tinge no more, then five parts of Metal, so as to persist in the Trial of Saturn and Antimony; whereas, on the contrary, the Great Stone of Philosophers can transmute to infinity.» — cuantifica la diferencia entre las dos piedras: cinco partes frente a infinito.

«Also in augmentation it cannot be so far exalted; yet the gold is pure and solid.» — concede la limitación y a la vez sostiene la calidad del producto.

«The Minera, out of which this Stone or Tincture is made, is no other then (as I above mentioned) the very Earth of Antimony; from which, I say, it is made: but how or with what virtue, force, and power it is endued, you shall hear anon.» — fija la materia de la piedra de fuego en la tierra del antimonio.

«Let the Reader consider, that there are many kinds of Stones found, which tinge particularly; but all fixed Powders, which tinge, I here signify by the name of Stones; yet one tingeth more highly then another, as especially the Stone of Philosophers, which obtains the principal place;» — declara su propia convención terminológica: llama piedra a todo polvo fijo que tiñe.

«This is the difference and multiplicity of Stones and Tinctures, all which notwithstanding are generated from Seed, and from one original Matrix, from which the true Universal Stone proceeds, but out of these no other Metallic Tincture is to be found.» — reduce la multiplicidad de piedras a una matriz común.

«But all other Things, by what name soever called, all Stones (whether precious or common) I touch not now, nor have I any Intention to write or speak anything of them at this time; because they contain in themselves no other Virtues, then what appertain to Medicine.» — deja fuera las piedras preciosas por no tener más que virtud médica.

«Yet all the Virtues of all Things, Mineral, Animal, and Vegetable, collected into one, are found in the Stone of the Philosophers.» — la excepción a esa exclusión: en la piedra de los filósofos están todas las virtudes reunidas.

«Salts are endued with no tinging Virtue, but are only Keys» — niega virtud tintórea a las sales y las llama llaves; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota.

«for the Preparation of Stones; otherwise of themselves they effect nothing» — continuación tras la nota: la sal solo prepara, no obra por sí.

«Yet, as for Metallic Salts (I now speak to the purpose if you rightly understand, what distinction I put between Mineral Salts) they are not to be slightly esteemed, nor to be rejected in Tinctures, since we can in no wise be without them, in their Composition, For in them lyes that most precious Treasure, from which every Fixation derives its Original.» — matiza lo anterior distinguiendo sales metálicas de minerales, y hace de las primeras el origen de toda fijación.

«Here some may ask, and indeed very properly; whether such a Stone can be made without matter? I answer, No.» — se plantea la objeción y la contesta en una palabra.

«But Love is a disease, with which no other Disease may be compared, which is not healed unless by Production of its own like, which either Sex desireth, and that Desire is not satisfied, unless by fulfilling his will of the enkindled affection.» — abre la analogía del amor humano con la unión alquímica, y lo define como enfermedad que solo cura su semejante.

«but Love, without distinction of poor or rich, young or old, seizeth All, and having seized so blinds them, as forgetting all Rules of Reason, they neither see or fear any Snare.» — la universalidad de ese apetito, que es lo que hace útil la comparación.

«If they two be inflamed with Mutual Love, neither Delay, nor Rest is admitted, until they be united, and their Desire satisfied: after this Union they rest, and are multiplyed, according to the good pleasure of GOD, and the promise of his Blessing.» — la unión y la multiplicación como término del apetito, que traslada acto seguido a los metales.

«All Tinctures of Metals ought to be separated, as that they may be moved with a certain principal Love and Affection to Metals, and have a propensity and desire of uniting themselves with tehm, and of reducing them to a better State.» — el traslado explícito: la tintura ha de quedar con apetito por el metal; el volumen imprime *tehm* (sic) por them.

«Love leaves nothing entire, or sound in the Man; it impedes his Sleep, he cannot rest either Night or Day; it takes off his Appetite, that he hath no disposition either to Meat or Drink, by reason of the continual Toerments of his Heart and Mind.» — describe los efectos del amor en el cuerpo con vocabulario clínico; el volumen imprime *Toerments* (sic).

«If to Lovers the Success be not answerable to their Wish, or so soon and prosperously as they desire, how many Melancholies hence arise, with griefs and sadnesses, with which tehy pine away and wax so lean, as they have scarcely» — la melancolía amorosa como enfermedad; el tramo corta en el cambio de plana y el volumen imprime *tehy* (sic).

«But of these enough; for it becomes not a Religious Man to insist too long upon these Cogitations, or to give place to such a flame in his heart.» — corta la analogía apelando otra vez a su estado religioso.

«I have throughout the whole course of my Life kept myself safe and free from it, and I pray and invoke GOD to vouchsafe me his Grace, that I may keep holy and inviolate the Faith, which I have Sworn, and live contented with my Spiritual Spouse, the Holy Catholic Church.» — declaración de castidad y de obediencia a la Iglesia católica, puesta como esposa espiritual.

«The first Fire is Celestial, by GOD kindled in our Hearts, by which being inflamed we are moved with Love and a certain confidence in and of GOD our creator, of the Most Holy and incomprehensible Trinity, and of the Mercy, Grave of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST; which Confidence kindled is Us by Love, never fails, never deserts us in our Necessities, but will most certainly deliver our Souls from everlasting destruction.» — primero de los cinco fuegos, que no es operativo sino teologal; el volumen imprime *Grave* y *kindled is Us* (sic).

«The second Fire is Elemental, produced by the Sun, and tends to the Ripening of all things in the Macrocosm.» — segundo fuego, el elemental del macrocosmos.

«The third Fire is corporal, with which all Foods and Medicines are cocted and prepared, without which Men can neither obtain Health of Body, nor sustentation of Life.» — tercer fuego, el corporal, que es el del taller y la cocina.

«Of a fourth Fire mention is made in the Sacred Scriptures, viz. that, which before the Supreme Judgement of GOD shall consume this visible World: but what Fire is, and how it shall operate, that (if we be wise) we must leave to be judged of by his own Supreme Majesty.» — cuarto fuego, el apocalíptico, sobre el que se abstiene expresamente.

«A fifth Fire is also spoken of in Holy-Writ, viz. Eternal Fire, in which never to have end, the Divels shall never be set at liberty from their Infernal Prison, and wicked Men, their Companions, adjudged to those Eternal Fires, shall be vexed, punished and miserably tormented forever: from which I pray the Omnipotent and merciful Lord to preserve us.» — quinto fuego, el eterno, cierre de una serie que va del corazón al infierno.

«Our stone of Fire (which is to be noted) must be cocted ripened with Corporal Fire in the Microcosm, as all other Medicines and foods are prepared by the same.» — sitúa su piedra en el tercero de los cinco fuegos, no en el celestial.

«Corn is augmented and ripened by the Elementary Fire of the Macrocosm; but by the Corporal Fire of the Microcosm a new Coction and maturation is effected, that man may use and enjoy that Divine Gift for his sustentation, and by the same perfect the Last and the Least, which is produced of the first and the Greatest.» — el ejemplo del grano para articular macrocosmos y microcosmos.

«The true Oil of Antimony, of which the said stone of Fire is made, is above measure sweet, and from it’s earth is in such wise purged and separated, as if a Glass full of it be exposed to the Sun, its casts forth various and wonderful Rays (as if many fiery Speculums were there present) resembling a Ruby and other Colours.» — la prueba visual del aceite verdadero: los rayos que da al sol.

«This is the pure Sulphur of Antimony, which must be separated as exactly as is possible.» — nombra el producto azufre puro y exige exactitud en la separación.

«and the Salt will unite itself with the Extracted Sulphur.» — la reunión de sal y azufre tras la separación.

«The Powder which remains urge with vehement Fire, and not without admiration will come forth a varicoloured sweet Oil, grateful, pellucid and red.» — el aceite multicolor que resulta del fuego vehemente.

«By Distillation in Sand remove the Phlegm from the Mercury; then you will have a precious Precipitate, in Colour such, as never was any more grateful to the Sight; and in Chronical Diseases and open Wounds, it may profitably be used for recovering the Pristine Sanity.» — el precipitado y su campo clínico: crónicas y heridas abiertas.

«For it vehemently dries up all Symptomatical Humors, whence Martial-Diseases proceed; in which the Spirit of the Oil, which remains with the Mercury, and conjoins and unites itself thereto, powerfully helps.» — el mecanismo que le atribuye, con el espíritu del aceite unido al mercurio.

«Take this precipitate, and of the Superior Sweet Oil of Antimony, equal parts, pour these together into a Phial, which well closed set in convenient heat, and the Precipitate will in time resolve and fix itself in the Oil.» — la unión final de precipitado y aceite, que da la fijación.

«what remains become a Red, dry, fixed and fluid» — la descripción del polvo final; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«Powder which will not in the least give forth from itself any Fume» — continuación tras la nota: la prueba de fijación es que no humea.

«When you have brought your Philosophic Studies (in the Method by me prescribed) to this end, you have the Medicine of Men and Metals; which is grateful and Sweet in use, without all peril, it is penetrative, yet causeth not Stools, it induceth Emendation, and expells Evil.» — el producto final del libro, nombrado medicina de hombres y metales.

«Use it as is fit, and it will yield you many Commodities, both for health and temporal necessity; by which means you will be freed from want in this World;» — la doble promesa del libro, salud y sustento, con la condición del uso debido.

«Here, O my GOD, I as a Religious Man am troubled in Mind; and know not whether I do well or ill» — la duda del autor sobre su propia revelación, formulada en oración; la cita corta ante la llamada a nota del volumen.

«speaking I have exceeded or not reached the due Bounds; whilst I propose, and show to everyone, as it were, his proper House» — continuación tras la nota: la duda se plantea en los dos sentidos, por exceso y por defecto.

«Do thou, that art a young Follower of Art, inquire, search and try, as I have done; if you attain your End, give greatest thanks to GOD, and after him to me your Master. But if you turn aside into devious and by-paths, blame yourself, not me; for I am not guilty of your Error.» — reparte el crédito y la culpa: el logro a Dios y a él, el error al lector.

«Now I have said enough, and writ enough, and taught so clearly and openly, and plainly, as more manifestly or clearly cannot be done by Writing, unless some lost and rash Man, knowing and willingly would cast himself into Hell, to be there Submerged and Perish:» — declara agotado lo escribible, y pone el límite en un riesgo espiritual, no técnico.

«Therefore know, that the Use consists in Observation of the Person and his Complexion, with relation to what appertains to Humane Health, that Nature be not overpowered with too great a Quantity, or not helped by too small.» — la cuarta cabeza reaparece al cierre: el uso es cuestión de persona y complexión.

«Yet too much is not so Religiously to be feared; for it will not readily hurt; because it helps to recover the pristine Sanity, and fights against Venom, if any be in the Body.» — relaja aquí la exigencia de dosis que había sostenido a lo largo del libro.

«This I only add, three or four grains of it, given in one only Dose, are sufficient for expelling every Evil, if taken in Spirit of Wine.» — la dosis final de la piedra de fuego.

«For this Stone or Tincture passeth through all the Members of the body, and contains in itself the Virtues of many Arcanums.» — el mecanismo que le atribuye: penetración por todo el cuerpo.

«It remedies the Giddiness of the Head, and all Diseases, which have their Original from the Lungs.» — primera parte del catálogo final de virtudes.

«It cures difficulty of Breathing, and the Cough; the Leprosy and French Disease are amended by it, in a wonderful manner.» — segunda parte del mismo catálogo.

«122. In these, I think I have done my part, and writ more then sufficiently of Antimony» — la última sección numerada del volumen, con la que el autor da por cumplido su oficio.

«If any One follows me, he may add his own Experiences to these, that (with the singular favour of GOD) before the consummation of the World, the Mysteries of the most High may be revealed» — deja el libro abierto a la experiencia de otros, con un horizonte escatológico.

«Having finished this Discourse, I intend for a time to be silent and return to my Monastery, there to learn Philosophy further, that I may be able to comment of other Thigns» — cierra volviendo al monasterio; el volumen imprime *Thigns* (sic) por Things.

«as I have already promised, I shall (GOD willing) write of Vitriol, common Sulphur, and the Loadstone, and open their Principle, Powers, Operations, and Virtues» — anuncia tres tratados más: vitriolo, azufre común y piedra imán.

«Let GOD the Lord of Heaven and Earth grant to us temporal Health here, and hereafter Eternal Salvation for the Refreshment of our Souls, in the Seas of Joy and Gladness, never to be limited within any Bounds of time» — la doxología con que despide el volumen, en el par salud temporal y salvación eterna.

«Incline your Mind to those, and with them compare these last, which I have prescribed you touching the Stone of Fire» — su última instrucción de lectura: comparar el aceite rojo con la piedra de fuego.

«If you acutely consider them, you may easily find their Union unto the End, by this Comparation. For the Foundation is the same, the Reason the same, the Friendship the same, by which Health is required, and the Stag long sought taken with a pleasant Hunting» — el remate del volumen, que vuelve a la figura de la caza usada al hablar del centro del arte.

«If prayer effected no other thing, it certainly collects the mind (called away from all other things) into it self and renders it apt for that which is in hand;» — [Kirkringus] su primera anotación reduce la eficacia de la oración a un efecto comprobable en el taller: recoge la mente y la vuelve apta para lo que se tiene entre manos.

«And so by the help of Prayer we receive many things, which we (if not ungrateful) must needs acknowledge we have obtained from GOD.» — [Kirkringus] y de ahí deriva el reconocimiento debido, sin entrar a juzgar la piedad del autor, que dice no querer alabar ni vituperar.

«That also is of use in dissolving all Riddles, or Enigmatical Writings: For if you burn with a great desire of knowing them, that is Prayer;» — [Kirkringus] extiende ese mismo mecanismo a la lectura de los escritos enigmáticos: el deseo ardiente de entenderlos ya es oración, y la meditación es cooperación.

«when Prayer is made with a Heart not feigned, but sincere; you will see that there is nothing more fit for the acquiring of what you desire.» — [Kirkringus] el comentarista suscribe la exigencia del autor, y la formula como aptitud del medio antes que como mérito.

«Let these suffice to be spoken of Prayer, which Basilius and all Philosophers with him do not vainly require, as an Introduction to Chymistry.» — [Kirkringus] adjudica el requisito no solo al autor sino a los filósofos con él, y lo llama introducción a la química.

«Attend to the words of the Author, and you will see, that he perfectly knew that Spirit penetrating all things, which presides or bears rule in all things, yet is involved and absconded matter and defilements on every side; from which if once freed, it returns to the purity of its own substance, in which it produceth all things, and is all in all.» — [Kirkringus] su lectura de la teoría del autor: un espíritu que penetra y rige todo, envuelto en materia e inmundicias, que liberado vuelve a su pureza.

«Manual Operation is chiefly required in this third Part, without which, every Operation, like a Ship wanting Ballast, floats and is uncertain» — [Kirkringus] sitúa la operación manual en el centro de la tercera cabeza, con el símil del barco sin lastre; la cita recorta el asterisco con que el volumen marca la anotación.

«It is difficult to express this with a Pen; for more is learned by once seeing the work done, then can be taught by the writing of many Pages; yet if it be no offence to you, to peruse these Commentaries together with Basilius (in this so necessary part) will not a little help.» — [Kirkringus] declara el límite de la escritura frente a ver hacer la obra, y con ese límite justifica sus propios comentarios.

«By Use, the Authour understands what others call Dose; for what will a good Medicine profit you, if you know not in what quantity to administer it» — [Kirkringus] traduce el término del autor al vocabulario médico corriente.

«By experience only to learn this, is a work full of perilous casuality, yet the Discipline or knowledge of Doses was found out this way first, and afterward easily taught by Words.» — [Kirkringus] admite el peligro de aprender la dosis por experiencia y a la vez lo consigna como origen histórico de la disciplina.

«although of Antimony I can affirm, that being duly prepared it is as harmless a medicine as Cassia or Manna.» — [Kirkringus] pone su propio testimonio: bien preparado, el antimonio le resulta tan inofensivo como la casia o el maná.

«That Indication is to be taken from things helping and hurting, is known even to Tyro’s.» — [Kirkringus] rebaja a lugar común lo que el autor expone, y a cambio pide atención para lo que sigue sobre curación interna y externa.

«All which with Basilius, we leave as unknown, to the Judgement of the Divine Knowledge.» — [Kirkringus] se suma a la abstención del autor sobre los espíritus de los elementos, después de recordar que los teólogos han sostenido opiniones diversas y los han adjudicado al fuego eterno.

«Nature seems to have made choice of this Mineral, therein to hide all her Treasures.» — [Kirkringus] su lectura del elogio del autor: la naturaleza eligió este mineral para esconder en él todos sus tesoros.

«Therefore not without reason hath Basilius made for it a Triumphant Chariot, which is daily enriched with Spoyls taken from the Camps of Ignorance.» — [Kirkringus] explica así el título del libro, y añade que nadie hasta su día ha podido experimentar todas las virtudes del mineral.

«this opens to you the first Gate, this will also unlock the last, which leads to the Palace of the King. But as I said, not only beleive, but also consider and observe» — [Kirkringus] pone su propia fe junto a la del autor y pide que a la creencia se sume la observación.

«He who obtains this Key, and knows the Method (which is called Manual Operation) by which to use it, and has strength to turn the same, will acquire Riches, and an open Passage unto the Mysteries of Chymistry.» — [Kirkringus] añade a la llave dos condiciones que el autor no explicita: conocer la operación manual y tener fuerza para girarla.

«Come hither you Traveller, stay your Journey here. Contemn not or flighty pass over this tautological, but not impertinent, Admonition; often in your mind have recourse to this Description of Beer, search, contemplate, and weigh all Things, perhaps in this turbid and famous Gulf, you will find the Fish you look not for» — [Kirkringus] señala la comparación cervecera como pasaje capital y admite que es tautológica sin dejar de recomendarla.

«I know not any Collyrium will profit you:» — [Kirkringus] cierre de esa misma anotación: si ni con esa luz se ve, dice no conocer colirio que sirva.

«Believe, read, meditate, labour, and spare the use of so many Chymical Books, which distract you with the Error of various ways, this one tells you all things.» — [Kirkringus] recomienda restringir la lectura a este volumen frente a la dispersión de la literatura química.

«Chymists overcame by the Justice of their Cause, but were overcome by Number: yet, having verity and goodness on their side, thy fought with so great Confidence, as they were certainly assured they should bear away the Victory; which our Author here shews, and Paracelsus (prophesying of the Coming of Elias the Artist) did presage would be.» — [Kirkringus] sitúa la polémica del autor en una historia de la química y trae a Paracelso y su profecía de Elias el Artista; el volumen imprime *thy* (sic) por they.

«And certainly unto me (seriously considering how greatly chymists have in these times improved their Knowledge) the Dawning of that Day hath opened itself, since I behold so many Rays of the approaching Sun.» — [Kirkringus] fecha desde su presente el cumplimiento de esa profecía, hablando de rayos del sol que se acerca.

«Poets do often posit in the midst of their Poems, Histories or Fables of Princes, that by a continued Series of Things, they may the more easily attain their End, which is to delight their Readers: Chymists for another end use the same Medium.» — [Kirkringus] explica el desorden aparente del tratado comparándolo con la digresión de los poetas, y advierte que en los químicos el fin es otro.

«For since their purpose is to teach the Readers so, as they may only be understood by those, who wholly devote themselves with a fervent desire to the Study of that Science, they keep not that Order, which proceeds from the beginning to the End by Mediums.» — [Kirkringus] adjudica el desorden a una intención de filtrar lectores, no a descuido.

«but by and by turning from this Discourse, he answers an Objection, before it is made by Interrogation; viz. whether from Antimony all its Venom may be taken away, the possibility of which he proves by very profitable and significant Examples.» — [Kirkringus] describe la técnica argumentativa del autor: contestar la objeción antes de que se formule.

«You, who read this most simple Comparison of Steel and a Flint, slack the Reins of your Admiration, and seriously ask yourself, whether there can be found out anyway or Method, by which from this Stone and Cold Iron may be extracted, a Substance, of which one only Grain (but why do I speak of a Grain?) of which the hundred part of a Grain can in a very short time Convert a great Mass of some rude Matter, into the most splendid and most pretious of all Things; yea, into fire most profitable for Mankind?» — [Kirkringus] lee el ejemplo del pedernal como cifra de la transmutación y lo formula en pregunta al lector.

«This is possible, and is dayly done, when the fixed is made Volatile, and the Volatile again fixed.» — [Kirkringus] contesta su propia pregunta con la fórmula operativa de fijo y volátil, y la declara cosa de todos los días.

«Here again the Author waxeth hot against false Physicians; but do you read on, and after this Heat he will give you a profitable Doctrine, which you may soon find in Aqua Fortis and Spirit of Wine.» — [Kirkringus] señala las invectivas del autor como digresiones de temperamento y orienta al lector hacia lo que sigue.

«Rightly doth Basilius say, he writes to the Tyro’s of this Art, because he begins with the Glass of Antimony, that is, from the very Rudiments of Chymistry, and so accurately teacheth to make that, as no man how ignorant soever can be deceived therein» — [Kirkringus] repite el destinatario que el autor declara y explica por qué empieza por el vidrio.

«For although I did for several years most diligently read Basilius and other Masters of the Art of Arts, and in Labouring following them, as exactly as possibly I could, yet I committed so many Errors (the rememberance of which fills me with Horror) lost so much Money, and was so often constrained to amend those Errors with labour, as I have compassion of all Those, who would enter into this way, incited thereunto by their earnest desire to help their Neighbours:» — [Kirkringus] declara años de lectura y fracaso propios como razón de escribir sus comentarios.

«But do you, who are endued with a more noble Spirit, First seek the Kingdom of GOD, which is either constituted or propagated by Charity to your Neighbour, and all other Things, which other men so impiously seek, shall spontaneously (which is the bounty of GOD) be added to you.» — [Kirkringus] repite la sentencia evangélica del autor y la glosa como caridad al prójimo.

«I need to use no great Arguments to persuade any man to read those Commentaries; for every One’s own Business will sufficiently admonish him, when he shall see me often with one word, and a most simple Animadversion to save him so great Charges, which he hath too frequently bestowed in labouring without success.» — [Kirkringus] justifica sus anotaciones por el ahorro material que promete al operador.

«I do here candidly profess to thee, studious Reader, had the Manual Operations been as sincerely showed to me, as I here open them, I should have saved a great Sum of Money; for I very often erred, when I would over eagerly prosecute certain Processes of others, and by that vain endeavour, lost some Thousands of Florens.» — [Kirkringus] cifra su propio gasto en varios miles de florines.

«I shall not here institute a Tyrocinium of Chymistry, as other Authors, well known to young Beginners, have already done; but I am willing, by Admonition to help those, who long since could loose this Subject from its Bonds, and with most fervent desire design to arive to the Goal exposed to their Eyes and Mind, least either slippery Blood in the Way, or Entellus now lying prostrate, should hinder them from gaining the proposed Reward, which is Riches and Health.» — [Kirkringus] delimita su libro frente a los manuales de iniciación y cita la carrera fúnebre de la Eneida como figura del tropiezo.

«This is now the Common, and well known way of making Glass of Antimony, which is profitable in many Operations: but to administer it so to the Sick without Distinction, is a Work full of» — [Kirkringus] objeta al procedimiento común no su preparación sino su administración indiscriminada; el tramo corta en el cambio de plana.

«For I have seen a Sick man, who after he had taken but half an ounce of the Infusion, vomited and purged above measure, and soon after died.» — [Kirkringus] aporta un caso propio de muerte por media onza de la infusión, dentro de una obra que defiende el remedio.

«hence are those Tears, hence those Clamours arise against Chymists, as if the impious rashness of some false Chymists were to be imputed to the Art, which PseudoChymists care not how many Houses they fill with Funerals, provided one or two that are healed will blaze their Fame, and they can hear themselves called Doctors, and rob the simple of their money.» — [Kirkringus] separa el arte de los falsos químicos y describe el cálculo de estos: uno o dos curados bastan para la fama.

«The reason of this great danger is, because all the Emetick force of Antimony contained in the fixed Salt thereof, in which resides all its Venenosity, which weak Natures cannot overcome, and therefore receive not so much good from the Salutiferous virtue thereof, as hurt from its Venom.» — [Kirkringus] localiza el peligro en la sal fija y lo mide por la resistencia del enfermo.

«But this thing should not deter sound men from the use of Antimony, since they see it, even then when mixed with Venom, often to produce salutary Effects.» — [Kirkringus] saca del mismo peligro un argumento a favor del mineral.

«They should rather thus reason; if that salutiferous Virtue be freed fromt he Noxious faculty, what Good would it not do, or what Diseases would it not heal» — [Kirkringus] formula ese argumento en condicional; el volumen imprime *fromt he* (sic) por from the.

«Therefore, behold I here offer to you such Glass of Antimony, as I myself use often, and may be used by every man, without any danger of a mortal Catastrophe.» — [Kirkringus] ofrece una preparación PROPIA, no del autor: el pasaje es su anotación y no cuerpo del tratado.

«Take pure Glass of Antimony, made as Basilius here teachet, melt it in a Crucible, and keep it in flux so long, as until a third part be consumed» — [Kirkringus] arranque de esa receta suya, que parte del vidrio del autor y consume un tercio en flujo.

«Put this Glass for one Night in two ounces of Cold Wine, and in the Morning let the Sick drink that Wine, and you will find very good success, for it purgeth kindly, and if Nature incline to bring the Matter upward, it performs that action moderately, causing gentle Vomits.» — [Kirkringus] el modo de uso de su vidrio: infusión de una noche en dos onzas de vino frío.

«Only Note this: the prescribed Dose must be diminished, according to the Strength, Age and Constitution of the Sick.» — [Kirkringus] añade la reserva de dosis por fuerza, edad y constitución.

«The Caution, to which our Author here ascribeds the Success, is that you use a most strong Fire, such as is required for melting Gold: for without this you cannot acquire the Redness of a Pyropus.» — [Kirkringus] explicita la condición que el autor deja implícita: fuego de fundir oro para lograr el rojo.

«Not with common Spirit of Wine, but with Philosophic Spirit, which for extracting this Tincture, I thus prepare.» — [Kirkringus] sustituye el disolvente del autor y ofrece su propia preparación de espíritu filosófico.

«What I here shall advise is short, but very profitable, without which what the Author appoints cannot be done, nor by beating or by grinding in a Mortar can you ever bring the Body to a requisite fineness, much less upon a Porphyry Stone can you grind the same.» — [Kirkringus] declara insuficiente la instrucción del autor para alcanzar la finura pedida.

«Therefore first beat it in a Mortar, afterward mix it with distilled Vinegar, that it may have the Consistency of a soft Paplike matter, and so grind it upon a Porphry Stone, as Painters grind their Colours, and undoubtedly you will obtain your desire.» — [Kirkringus] su remedio: humedecer con vinagre destilado y moler como el pintor sus colores.

«I exactly followed this short Admonition, stirring the Cucurbit twice or thrice a Day, but the Matter was always coagulated like a Stone, and stuck so firmly to the bottom, as it could by no force be removed thence;» — [Kirkringus] relata el fracaso propio de seguir al pie de la letra la indicación del autor.

«but afterward, being more wary, from the first I began to stir the Matter with a Wooden Spatula five or six times a Day, or oftner; you may imitate the same, if you be wise, not only here, but also in the Superior Preparation of Antimony, and in every Extraction of Tincture from Antimony.» — [Kirkringus] la enmienda que saca de ese fracaso, y su generalización a toda extracción de tintura.

«Our most sincere Author here deceives you not, but conceals a certain manual Operation, which if you attend to me clearly discovering the same, the Work itself will never fail to Answer your desire» — [Kirkringus] distingue engaño de ocultamiento en el autor, y se ofrece a suplir lo callado.

«If you have much Tincture, you must have a great Cucurbit; if Little, a less will serve.» — [Kirkringus] la primera de sus reglas de vasija, proporcionada a la cantidad de tintura.

«For if you take a greater Vessel, than your Tincture requires, the vinegar must necessarily have a great fire to cause it to ascend, by reason of the height it must unavoidably rise, or it cannot be distilled; and in sustaining so forcible a Fire, there is great danger of Corrupting the Tincture itself.» — [Kirkringus] razona esa regla por la altura de ascenso y el fuego que exige.

«Here also is required another Caution; viz. this, after two thirds are distilled off, you must change your Vessel and put the remaining Matter into a less Glass body, and thence distill off the Vinegar, until the Remanency acquire the just thickness of a Poultis.» — [Kirkringus] añade el cambio de vasija a los dos tercios y el punto de espesor de cataplasma.

«Also take heed, as Basilius seems to intimate, that you distil not off the Vinegar unto dryness, lest the Tincture by Adustion be wholly corrupted.» — [Kirkringus] atribuye la advertencia al autor con una reserva expresa: *seems to intimate*, es decir, la deduce y no la lee.

«Notwithstanding all This my own Precaution now given, I could not choose, but labour a whole year to little purpose, often repeating this Tincture with a vain endeavour, whence I was almost as often weary of Chymistry through desperation; for my Tincture was of no efficacy in Medicine; because a meer Caput-Mortuum only, unsavoury and of no value.» — [Kirkringus] consigna un año entero de fracaso propio pese a sus propias cautelas.

«Hence consider how little any Process profits, whether set down in Writing, or received from a Friend by word of mouth, unless you set to your hand, and practically learn every particular of the Work fit to be observed in operating.» — [Kirkringus] saca de ese fracaso una tesis sobre el límite de todo proceso escrito o dicho.

«Also see, how liberally I deal with you, in revealing that, the ignorance of which hath put me into great trouble and charge.» — [Kirkringus] reclama para sí el mérito de revelar lo que a él le costó caro.

«The manual Operation, which is requisite for edulcorating this Pap-like Matter remaining in the bottom, is this.» — [Kirkringus] anuncia la operación manual que el autor omite.

«When you have repeated this a third time, you will find the Water to come off sweet; which time must be observed and with very great diligence.» — [Kirkringus] fija el punto crítico de la operación en la tercera repetición.

«For if you be deceived in that, your work is at an end, all your labour lost, and you shall get nothing, but a Caput Mortuum.» — [Kirkringus] mide la consecuencia de errar ese punto.

«For as soon as twenty, or at most thirty drops of sweet water come forth, an Acidity appears again and distils forth, which the unwary judging to be an Acidity of the Vinegar formerly added, proceed in distilling, expecting the Water to come forth sweet; but this being the Acidity of Antimony, which (the Vinegar being extracted) immediately follows the Sweet Water, that persisting to distil destroys the whole Virtue of the Antimony, and leaves nothing remaining but an unsavoury Caput-Mortuum.» — [Kirkringus] describe la trampa exacta: una acidez que no es la del vinagre sino la del antimonio, y el error de lectura que arruina el trabajo.

«Therefoer be thou more wary, and as soon as this Sweet Water comes forth, cease to distil, and take out the Pap-like Matter residing in the Bottom, and putting that into another Glass, permit it to dry at the Solar-Heat; or else evaporate all its Moisture with most gentle Fire, that it may remain a dry Powder: and when you have avoided this danger, then go on.» — [Kirkringus] da la maniobra que evita esa trampa; el volumen imprime *Therefoer* (sic) por Therefore.

«These Medicaments, which perform their Operations, not by sensible force, as Catharticks, Emeticks, Diaphoreticks, and the like are wont to operate, but insensibly uniting their own more pure Universal Spirit unto our Spirits, amend Nature and restore it to health, are not to be used, unless where the Body hath first been cleansed from the impurities of pecant Humours,» — [Kirkringus] distingue los remedios que obran por fuerza sensible de los que obran uniendo espíritu, y condiciona estos a una limpieza previa.

«For although, by reason of their manifold Virtues, they may be called Universals, yet they are to be numbered with Topicks, before which Generals are to be used, according to the opinion of Galen, and all Physicians.» — [Kirkringus] recorta la pretensión universal del remedio invocando a Galeno y el orden de generales antes que tópicos.

«The Tincture here spoken of, performs all those Cures, which Basilius mentions, if the use of it be continued for some time.» — [Kirkringus] suscribe el catálogo de curas del autor con la condición de un uso continuado.

«If Chirurgions would here give credit to our Author, with how great Care would they prepare this Balsom for themselves, and with how great Fruit, and how frequently might they use the same?» — [Kirkringus] dirige a los cirujanos la recomendación del bálsamo.

«I interposing my Judgement must say, that Basilius here comes far short, in expressing its due Praises; for it performs more, than he declares of it.» — [Kirkringus] va más lejos que el autor comentado, y lo dice interponiendo expresamente su juicio.

«A certain Woman, about forty Years of Age, for seven years together suffered great dolours in her left Breast, which were accompanied with a Tumor and Hardness.» — [Kirkringus] abre la historia clínica con que respalda esa afirmación.

«Those Chirurgeons and Physicians, who she advised with, did all with one Consent judge her Disease to be a Cancer;» — [Kirkringus] consigna el diagnóstico unánime de los cirujanos y médicos consultados.

«The woman, resolving rather to suffer all Dolours of the Disease, then to sustain so cruel and inhumane a Remedie, came to me.» — [Kirkringus] explica que la enferma acudió a él por rechazo al remedio quirúrgico propuesto.

«I, beholding her Breast, found it wholly inflamed, and twise as big as the other, and an abundance of thin Humours flowing to the Wound» — [Kirkringus] describe lo que dice haber visto al examinarla.

«I purposed to try all I could do, rather than suffer this miserable Woman to perish; and thinking of this Balsom resolved to try, whether That» — [Kirkringus] plantea el caso como prueba del bálsamo; el tramo corta en el cambio de plana.

«and which is very strange, in the Space of two Days the Matter came to Ripeness, and a just Consistency.» — [Kirkringus] el primer resultado que consigna en el caso de la enferma del pecho.

«Therefore, I then filled with good hope, adjoined inward and outward Remedies, which seemed convenient for the purpose, and in two Months Space the Womans Breast was perfectly healed.» — [Kirkringus] cierra la historia clínica con la curación en dos meses, y con remedios internos y externos añadidos al bálsamo.

«Upon this I, not without a perculiar Joy, blessed and praised the Lord, that had conferred so great virtue on this Balsom.» — [Kirkringus] devuelve el mérito a Dios, en el mismo registro que el autor comentado.

«This is the Work, this is the Labour, very few true Sons of Art (whom Apollo loves) could extract this Tincture by Alembeck» — [Kirkringus] mide la dificultad de la extracción por alambique con una fórmula virgiliana.

«There is need (as Basilius saith) of a certain peculiar manual Operation.» — [Kirkringus] cita al autor para la exigencia de una operación manual propia.

«This Tincture I sought many years, and at length (GOD favouring me) found the same.» — [Kirkringus] declara haberla buscado años y hallado, y presenta el hallazgo como favor divino.

«Alciatus, painting a Dolphin wreathed about an Anchor, write these words: Make not too much hast.» — [Kirkringus] cita el emblema del delfín y el ancla de Alciato para pedir lentitud en la operación.

«Therefore I again and again admonish you, to cause Wings to be prepared for your Matter, by Juno, Bacchus and Vulcan; but as you love your Life, permit it not suddenly to flie, rather deliver it to Mercury to be instructed by him gradually to accustom itself to flying; yea, bind it with a Cord, lest (as a Bird got out of a Cage, and past your Reach) it through Ignorance approach too near the Sun, and with Icarus, having its Feathers burnt fall headlong into the Sea.» — [Kirkringus] escribe la operación en clave mitológica, con Ícaro como figura de la volatilización precipitada.

«But after you have detained it for its due time, loose its bonds, that it may fly, and come to those fortunate Islands, unto which all Sons of Arts direct their Sight, and where unto all Adeptists aim to arrive, as unto their desired and long sought Harbour.» — [Kirkringus] remata el enigma con las islas afortunadas como término de los adeptos.

«They, who understand me, understand Art: and unto such as are Chymists, have I opened the way, which if they diligently travel in, they may arrive, where they desire to be.» — [Kirkringus] cifra en su propia claridad la prueba de comprensión del lector.

«No man did ever so clearly reveal this to me; but by reading the Writings of Authors, strenuously labouring, and trusting in GOD without fainting or desperation (which is a most efficatious kind of Prayer) I at length attained to what I have.» — [Kirkringus] declara no haber tenido maestro, y llama oración a la perseverancia sin desesperación.

«Do thou study, and be diligent, that thou mayest comprehend: for he, who, knows how to render Tinctures volatile, is already admitted into the very Penetrale, and Conclave of the Chymical Art; because of all other Mysteries the Method is the same.» — [Kirkringus] hace de la volatilización de las tinturas la puerta única del arte.

«For whatsoever I have experienced (but there are very few Processes contained in this Book, which I have not tried: for He, from the very first, was my Teacher, Friend and Patron) I have found so very efficacious beyond the Authors Promises, that it seems to me, he hath been sparing in declaring the virtues of his Medicaments, least in praising them, he should be thought too much to commend himself.» — [Kirkringus] declara haber probado casi todos los procesos del libro y llama al autor su maestro, amigo y patrono.

«Yet I shall not here in his stead, undertake comment much on their laudable Virtues.» — [Kirkringus] se abstiene de suplir el elogio que atribuye al autor haber omitido por pudor.

«Let him who believes not, make trial, that he may know.» — [Kirkringus] remite la disputa a la prueba en vez de al argumento.

«Whosoever shall by his own incredulity be deterred from experiencing the Truth hereof, he will suffer punishment enough for his Offence, by the Want of the fruit of the same.» — [Kirkringus] formula la sanción de la incredulidad como privación, no como castigo externo.

«For this Oil, if rightly used in its time, is a Medicine truly Universal.» — [Kirkringus] declara universal el aceite con una condición temporal expresa.

«Consider, I pray, what I say, if rightly used in its time, that is, the Body being firsted purged from gross and crude Humours, and general Medicines used (as you may remember I did before admonish) this Oil is an Universal Medicine, for healing all Diseases Curable.» — [Kirkringus] desarrolla esa condición y acota lo universal a las enfermedades curables.

«Chymists are not so mad, or conceited, by reason of the Goodness and Virtue of their Medicaments, as not to judge some Diseases to be Unsanable.» — [Kirkringus] concede que hay enfermedades incurables, contra la caricatura del químico.

«Who can restore any of the Prnicipal Members absumed by putridness?» — [Kirkringus] pone el ejemplo del límite; el volumen imprime *Prnicipal* (sic) por Principal.

«yet I would not have all Diseases judged unsanable, by these our Chymical Remedies, which are everywhere vulgarly condemned as such.» — [Kirkringus] pide que la concesión anterior no se generalice.

«As for Example, how often have I restored the Crystalline Humour taken away; which who judgeth not impossible to be reduced?» — [Kirkringus] aporta el humor cristalino del ojo como caso propio contra esa opinión.

«Only of this Medicament I say, that it heals Feavers of every kind; yea, even the Quartan itself (that ancient Reproach of Physicians) and in Chronical Distempers manifests wonderful Effects.» — [Kirkringus] destaca la cuartana, que llama antiguo reproche de los médicos.

«Note: me Friend, and Lover of Art, that this Oil, whether you prepare it yourself, or receive it from antoher prepared by him, doth not imitate other Diaphoreticks in operating, which being used, will in their first Dose provoke Sweats.» — [Kirkringus] avisa de que el aceite no se comporta como los diaforéticos; el volumen imprime *me Friend* y *antoher* (sic).

«For if this be given to a Patient whose Body is obstructed with Humours, the first Dose acts nothing, but gently opens the Passages, that Sweats may be procured;» — [Kirkringus] explica que la primera dosis no produce efecto visible, y por qué.

«the third Day it Sweats moderately; but the fourth Day, and thence forward, it causeth such an aboundance of Sweat, as the Waters proceeding thence run through the Bed upon the Floor.» — [Kirkringus] da el calendario del efecto, día por día.

«here is need of a true Physician; Hercules Club will profit little, if not in the Hand of Hercules himself.» — [Kirkringus] condiciona todo lo anterior a la mano que administra, con la figura de la clava de Hércules.

«Let no man here prodigally or rashly wast his own Gold, now he hears of the Astrum of Sol, nor expose himself to so great Hazard, as to enter a perillous Combat with vulgar Mercury» — [Kirkringus] advierte contra la lectura literal del astrum del Sol como oro corporal.

«But we have treated, and must treat of Antimony only.» — [Kirkringus] corta su propia digresión devolviendo el asunto al mineral.

«Take Glass of Antimony, more pure, four ounces. Venetian Borax one-half ounce. Melt them together. This being artificially done, you will have a Green Glass transparent as Emerald.» — [Kirkringus] receta propia de vidrio verde con bórax veneciano, dentro de sus anotaciones.

«Emetick Wine may be given to the Sick without peril» — [Kirkringus] su juicio sobre el vino emético, que en la misma anotación describe como remedio de empíricos ambulantes.

«When the Author saith, it must be clarified with Spirit of Wine unto Transparency; the Admonition is short indeed, but of great weight» — [Kirkringus] destaca como decisiva una advertencia que en el autor pasa casi inadvertida.

«You cannot understand, unless either divinely Philip, or humanely Oedipus, appear to you, and clearly teach you the way of preparing this Tincture.» — [Kirkringus] mide la oscuridad del pasaje con dos figuras del descifrar, el diácono Felipe y Edipo.

«The difficulty of the Enigma consists in this; viz. that all Menstruums, with which Tinctures are extracted, must necessarily be void of Colour; otherwise how can you know:» — [Kirkringus] localiza la dificultad en un requisito operativo: el disolvente ha de ser incoloro.

«I will not detain you with a tedious Discourse full of ambiguities, but lead you asi t were» — [Kirkringus] anuncia el modo directo de su explicación; el volumen imprime *asi t were* (sic) por as it were, y el tramo corta ahí.

«I took that Red Oil, thus far prepared as is already showed, and rectified it by Retort; and then acquired a White Oil, of an acid but grateful Taste.» — [Kirkringus] describe su propia operación y el aceite blanco que dice haber obtenido.

«For he wills, that this Oil should be driven over by Alembeck, the signification and manual Operation of which, I have already above taught.» — [Kirkringus] remite a su propia explicación previa del alambique para leer la instrucción del autor.

«his own Tail to be devoured for six whole Months, and obtained a Tincture most pleasant and grateful; ten or twelve Grains of which given to the Sick, provoke Sweat, comfort the Natural Powers, and (not to amuse the Intelligent words) in all Diseases both of Humane and other bodies, it is an universal Medicine.» — [Kirkringus] describe seis meses de circulación con la imagen de la serpiente que se devora, y da la dosis en granos.

«But if in this Operation you persuade yourself you have separated the Pure from the Impure, you will be deceived: for this Water imbibes a certain Salt, which infects the Tincture; but Spirit of Wine rectified is its proper Menstruum: because That only assumes the volatile Sulphur thereof, and hath no Commerce with the Salt.» — [Kirkringus] avisa de un engaño de la operación y da el criterio para elegir disolvente.

«The same happens in Tincture of Corals, which is extracted with Spirit of Wine distilled upon Orange Pills: for here you obtain not the sincere Tincture of Corals; because, by this Menstruum, the pure Sulphur is not separated from the Body of the Corals.» — [Kirkringus] extiende el mismo error a la tintura de coral.

«The like Error to be committed in many other Things, I have observed by Experience, which should be esteemed the best Mistress, unless we take it for granted that chargeable and fruitless Processes are necessarily required in this Art.» — [Kirkringus] pone la experiencia por maestra, con una ironía sobre los procesos caros y estériles.

«But that I may conclude with the Tincture, whence all this Discourse hath proceeded; I would have no man to think this to be the Aurum Potabile of Philosophers: for this would be a very great Error in Philosophy, and give occasion to Sophisters (as their manner is) to prefer their Sophisms before the Truth itself.» — [Kirkringus] niega que la tintura descrita sea el aurum potabile de los filósofos, y da la razón del cuidado.

«Otherwise, I should declare, how sol might be prepared by Venus and Vulcan, so as in the space of two hours to resolve itself into Mercury united with Bacchus, leaving very few feces; which Mercurial Menstruum may again be separated from the resolved Gold; and so you might acquire a most grateful Liquor very ponderous, which can never afterward be reduced to its former Consistence.» — [Kirkringus] escribe la operación en nombres de dioses, que es su modo de decir y callar a la vez.

«That is to say, it is of great concern to know, with what Menstruum every Tincture should be extracted, For it is not sufficient (according to the erroneous Opinion of many) that Menstruums be sweet and void of Corrosion; but it also behooful, that there be in them a peculiar Amity and Conveniency with the Mercury of the Body, on which they are poured, that from the same they may extract its true and sincere Sulphur.» — [Kirkringus] enuncia el criterio del disolvente: no basta que sea dulce, ha de tener amistad con el mercurio del cuerpo.

«Of Antimony and Sal-Armoniack equal parts are to be taken, which Basilius seems to intend, but I know not how he forgot to mention it» — [Kirkringus] suple una proporción que el autor no imprime, y declara que la deduce.

«Which may not only be useful in this Case, but also in every Sublimation of other Matters.» — [Kirkringus] generaliza su añadido a toda sublimación.

«This Union must be so firm, as in distilling one may not be separated from the other; otherwise you will lose your Labour and Cost» — [Kirkringus] exige firmeza en la unión y mide el fallo en trabajo y dinero perdidos.

«they best know, who only by confounding two things together, think they shall effect wonders; but afterwards (their Experience failing them) they learn how great difference there is between Union and Confusion:» — [Kirkringus] separa unión de confusión, distinción que atribuye al aprendizaje por fracaso.

«but by Union, I know not what Spirit is ingested, which performs such things as the Mind of man could never perceive to have their being thence.» — [Kirkringus] declara no saber qué espíritu aparece en la unión, y consigna la ignorancia como parte del dato.

«Hence consider in the Generations of Animals (who would believe it!) how from the Union of Elements is generated Sight, Taste, Touching, and so many Powers of Animals, which are insited in none of the Elements, and yet arise from them united.» — [Kirkringus] apoya esa idea en la generación animal: los sentidos no están en ningún elemento y salen de su unión.

«Note here very seriously, that Galenick Catharticks have power of expelling, but not of Correction Humours; but Chymical Purgers are endued with either Faculty; and certainly it should not be minded how much is expelled, but how much is healed, which the occult power of Medicaments prepared Chymically doth much better effect, than that common and publick violence of purging forcibly.» — [Kirkringus] opone catárticos galénicos y purgantes químicos por la facultad de corregir, y cambia el criterio de evaluación de lo expulsado a lo curado; la anotación lleva su propio epígrafe entre corchetes.

«Let him who attains to this fixed Powder use it in Chronical Diseases, especially where Sweats are to be excited, and he will see Effects causing him to rejoice, if he use it in himself; and by which he will be glorified, if he use it in others.» — [Kirkringus] recomienda el polvo fijo para lo crónico y distingue el provecho propio de la gloria ajena.

«I do not here speak of those Writers, who sharply reprehend certain Vagabond Sophisters, that covering their own Wickedness, under the Pretext of a most noble Art, do by a great Name impose great Frauds upon the People.» — [Kirkringus] separa de la disputa a quienes atacan a los charlatanes, no al arte.

«Because there are men found, which use not the Art itself, but the Name and Shadow of this Art.» — [Kirkringus] la distinción con que sostiene esa separación: nombre y sombra frente a arte.

«I am unwilling to prolong this Apology, lest Envy, which hath been the greatest cause of Calumny, fall upon me in this manner» — [Kirkringus] corta su propia apología por temor a la envidia.

«In Shops they now sell Medicaments, Chymically prepared (as they say) and those very Persons, who are willing mostly to be esteemed Hippocratick Disciples, scarcely dare to condemn Chymistry, and since they call into use what are made by the Chymical Art, they cannot deny it.» — [Kirkringus] observa que quienes se dicen hipocráticos ya venden preparados químicos en sus boticas.

«In vain with so great attention and study (of which in preparing this Powder, there is very great need) did our Philosopher intend this Work, if these Mysteries of so great Effects must come to the handling of the Vulgar, or be publickly sold for Money.» — [Kirkringus] objeta la venta pública de los preparados, en la misma anotación en que reconoce su circulación en botica.

«many things lie hid in the Earth, which I, as well as others am ignorant of.» — [Kirkringus] declara su propia ignorancia como parte del argumento.

«For this I Know, GOD, in time to come will manifest his Wonders, and bring to light many more of them, then unto this Day have been known by us.» — [Kirkringus] proyecta al futuro la revelación de lo oculto.

«Also this is true; there is nothing absconded, which shall not be revealed; therefore there cometh One, whose Magnale lives not yet, who shall reveal many Things.» — [Kirkringus] anuncia a un revelador todavía no nacido, en clave evangélica.

«Therefore be comforted, be comforted, O Lover of Chymistry, and prepare the way of that Elias, who brings happy times, and will reveal more Secrets than our Ancestors, by reason of Envy, and the Iniquity of their Days durst discover.» — [Kirkringus] nombra a ese revelador Elias y pide preparar su camino.

«and the Time of Elias come (for Arts also, as well as is understood of other things, have their Elias, saith Theophrastus)» — [Kirkringus] adjudica a Theophrastus la fórmula de que también las artes tienen su Elias.

«This Parable is of very great moment, but so very clear to those, from whose Eyes the Cataract is taken away, as to explain it to them, would be to hold a Candle to the Light of the Sun: to others, from whose sight the Cataract is not took off, this place gives no occasion of detracting the same» — [Kirkringus] se niega a explicar la parábola de la matriz y da su razón: para el que ve, sobra; para el que no, no daña.

«Therefore, read, peruse, and meditate; Day is an Instructor to the Day; the later Reading explains the former, and the former the later.» — [Kirkringus] su regla de lectura del volumen: los pasajes se explican unos a otros en los dos sentidos.

«Take the best Minera of Antimony, which is friable )for if you take crude Antimony, as Basilius seems to indicated, you can effect nothing; because it hath already lost its most subtle Sulphur in the first Distillation) grind it to so subtle a Powder, as it may pass through a Tiffany Seive:» — [Kirkringus] cambia la materia de partida del autor, y da la razón: el crudo ya perdió su azufre más sutil; el volumen imprime *)for* y *seems to indicated* (sic).

«Set it in Digestion for forty Days, and (if you have exactly observed all things, which are here unto required) your Vinegar will be tinged with a Colour red as Blood.» — [Kirkringus] fija en cuarenta días la digestión, con la condición de haber seguido todo lo prescrito.

«Then again abstract the Spirit, and you will have a most ponderous, thick Oil.» — [Kirkringus] el producto de su propia versión de la operación.

«Here we have described it, and brought is so far, as it becomes a most excellent Medicine in grievous Diseases, which are in all places accounted uncurable.» — [Kirkringus] declara el alcance de lo que ha descrito; el volumen imprime *brought is* (sic) por brought it.

«And since there is no Disease, which it helps not; what need is there to name any?» — [Kirkringus] renuncia a enumerar dolencias apoyándose en una pretensión universal.

«There is no man who hath made any Progress in Chymistry, that knows not what the Quintessence of Antimony is.» — [Kirkringus] da por sabido el término entre quienes han avanzado en el arte.

«Here thy Sincerity, Valentine, is suspected. Who can by this thy Prescription make this Quintessence, which Petrus the Spaniard, in his Book of the Quintessence of all Things, deservedly extols, as the greatest Secret of Philosophy» — [Kirkringus] pone en duda la sinceridad del autor comentado, y trae a Petrus the Spaniard y su libro de la quintaesencia como término de comparación; es el pasaje donde el comentarista se dirige a Valentine por su nombre y en segunda persona.

«What shall I say? Malice makes thee, not a perverse, but timerous man, fearing, lest if Arcanum’s should be communicated openly to the wicked, they would do more hurt with them then good» — [Kirkringus] resuelve esa sospecha a favor del autor: no lo llama perverso sino temeroso del mal uso.

«This Process seems to me to be purposely described obscurely by this Religious Man (why else should he not have written otherwise!) because he knew the Sons of Art would understand it by his Prescript» — [Kirkringus] adjudica la oscuridad a un cálculo deliberado del autor, a quien llama *this Religious Man*.

«But that you, Reader, may understand, you have not in vain spent your Money in buying, or time in reading these Commentaries, I will clearly and nakedly discover to you, how I myself have oftentimes» — [Kirkringus] se propone declarar sin velos lo que el autor cifró; el tramo corta en el salto de renglón del volumen.

«But in the first place consider, that instead of Crude Tartar, it is better to take Salt of Tartar, not only for accelerating the Operation (for otherwise it must be melted so long, as until the Tartar be changed into Salt) but chiefly, that you may have Glass of a far better Colour.» — [Kirkringus] sustituye el tártaro crudo del autor por sal de tártaro, con dos razones.

«Here I am unwilling to forbear to admonish, that not only in this, but in every Melting of Antimony, the Artist ought to observe the Face of Heaven, and begin his Work when the same is clear and serene.» — [Kirkringus] introduce una condición astrológica en la operación: empezar con cielo sereno.

«If you do otherwise, you will in vain deplore the Obscurity of the Colour in your Liver of Antimony.» — [Kirkringus] liga esa condición a un resultado observable: el color del hígado de antimonio.

«For if you laugh at me, attributing much Virtue to the Influences of the Stars, I shall deride you, deploring the unluckie Success of many Processes.» — [Kirkringus] anticipa la burla por atribuir virtud a las influencias astrales y la devuelve.

«I would no more urge Reasons against these men, then against these, who deny even the Mutation of Metals by the Stone of Philosophers.» — [Kirkringus] equipara a los que niegan la influencia astral con los que niegan la transmutación.

«We judge such men more worthy of Contempt than Refutation, who say that is not possible, which they have beheld with their Eyes, and done with their hands: for it is very rude to say, I deny, I deny, who proves?» — [Kirkringus] su regla de disputa: la negación sin prueba no merece respuesta.

«Therefore, returning to the Matter from whence I digressed, I affirm, that there are some times of the year, in which if Liver of Antimony be made, and precipitated with a due Menstruum, it will be imbibed with altogether another Colour, and be endued with other Virtues than that, which is made at another time;» — [Kirkringus] afirma que la época del año cambia color y virtudes del producto.

«I will also add this: from the Liver of Antimony may be extracted a Redness with Spirit of Wine, which Redness is made volatile, and passeth over the Helm, which also may be exhibited to all without danger.» — [Kirkringus] añade una operación propia y declara su producto seguro para todos.

«Nor is there any great need of that Caution of Basilius (even before the Redness is volatilized) that it must be given in a small Quantity.» — [Kirkringus] relaja expresamente una cautela de dosis del autor comentado.

«For being given from thirty to forty, or fifty Drops, it sweats moderately, and doth not Purge or Vomit: but it effects wonders in purging the Blood, extirpating the Roots of a Disease, and rendring the Patient vigorous, by insensible Expiration, and its occult Virtues.» — [Kirkringus] da su propia dosis en gotas y describe el efecto por expiración insensible.

«This Vendible Wine needs not the Bush of Eloquence to commend it to the Sick; who once having experienced its Virtues, know what it can do, and that it as much answers their Desires, as they esteem their Money.» — [Kirkringus] recurre al refrán del ramo en la puerta de la taberna para decir que el remedio se recomienda solo.

«Also Basilius forgot, or for some Reason did omit, to appoint the Glass first to be poured into a Platter made hot, and then beaten to Powder in an hot Mortar: otherwise the Glass, by reason of the Salt of Tartar, as soon as it takes the cold Air is changed into a certain Pulse or Pap.» — [Kirkringus] señala otra omisión del autor y deja abierta la duda de si fue olvido o reserva.

«Here I will teach you the Manual Operation, O Lover of Chymistry, which undoubtedly you will greatly esteem of, when you shall find the great commodity thereof in operating» — [Kirkringus] anuncia otra de las operaciones manuales que el autor calla.

«Lest, as it often happens, when you distil the Spirits of Metals, your Vessels should be broken.» — [Kirkringus] declara el problema práctico que su instrumento resuelve.

«Of your Earth Retort A. open the upper hole B. into which put your matter by Parts, lest all together senting the heat, should act all to forcibly; and presently Close the Hole with its proper Cover.» — [Kirkringus] describe la retorta por letras de figura; la cita conserva esas referencias, que remiten a un grabado.

«This Instrument will be most apt for your use here; not only, as I said, lest a most strong Spirit passing out break the Glasses, but also for other Works, as by an easy Speculation you will hence gather.» — [Kirkringus] generaliza el uso de su instrumento a otras operaciones.

«For if you include a very small part of Mercury in a Retort, first made very hot with a vehement Fire, as this must be, if you would extract the Spirit, that Mercury, with its own vehement and untamable violence, would not only burst the Retort, but overthrow the Furnace also; unless you give it a larger space, and greater liberty of Flying; so that, after it hath visited many Retorts, it may rest, and being as it were tired, settle.» — [Kirkringus] razona el diseño de varias retortas encadenadas por la violencia del mercurio.

«But since it is well known to all true Chymists, of how great Virtue this Mercury is, in the Resolution of Metals, I will here make no further mention thereof.» — [Kirkringus] corta el asunto dándolo por sabido entre los del oficio.

«The principal Use of this is, in the Emendation of Metals, which Basilius doth not so much as mention.» — [Kirkringus] señala un uso metalúrgico que el autor omite por completo.

«Do thou, Lover of Chymistry, in mind and though swiftly follow me expounding the Oracle; but the Operation cannot be so swiftly performed.» — [Kirkringus] separa la velocidad de la lectura de la del trabajo; el volumen imprime *though* (sic) por thought.

«If you perform this, you have Two conjoyned in an inseperable Matrimony: and you have separated the pure from the impure, have rendered the Volatile fixed, and fixed the Volatile, and are not far from that Felicity, which will answer all your Desires.» — [Kirkringus] resume la operación en las fórmulas del matrimonio y del fijo y lo volátil.

«Basilius doth not misguide or delude you, O Lover of Chymistry, whilst he so candidly discovers most Secret Mysteries, and so sincerely and faithfull present their wonderful Effects.» — [Kirkringus] avala la sinceridad del autor en este pasaje, tras haberla puesto en duda en otro; el volumen imprime *faithfull present* (sic).

«For after the first Detonation with Nitre, and so soon as you shallhave separated the Salnitre from the Powder with pure Water, you have the Powder of Ruland, with which that man effected so many Medicinal wonders, whereby he got to himself so great a Name, and so much Wealth.» — [Kirkringus] identifica el producto del autor con el polvo de Ruland y consigna la fama y la riqueza que le dio; el volumen imprime pegado *shallhave*.

«Which, if you prepare under a certain Constitution of Heaven (as I advised, in preparing the Liver of Antimony) you will have so much the better, by how much the more Red: for the Colour is the Soul thereof, the Effect of which in Medicine, Ruland proved and commended;» — [Kirkringus] repite su condición astrológica y enuncia que el color es el alma del preparado.

«This Crocus of Metals (for so it is called) is not that, which is publicly sold in Shops, upon eight Grains of which they pour two ounces of Wine, and although the Sick only drink that wine, without any other Powder, it oftentimes works so forcibly, upwards and downwards, as either way, sometimes both ways, the life itself issues out.» — [Kirkringus] distingue el crocus del tratado del que se vende en botica, y describe la muerte que atribuye al segundo.

«Nor doth this Medicament only expel Humours, but (as is proper to Antimonials rightly prepared) it strikes at the very Root of the Disease, and whatsoever in the Body is corrupted and declined from its due state, that it amends and restores.» — [Kirkringus] repite la distinción entre expulsar y corregir aplicada a los antimoniales.

«What wonderful Effects, this only Tincture hath discovered to me, I forbear to mention, lest I should be compelled to bring their Credit in Question, who have experienced them.» — [Kirkringus] calla sus resultados por no comprometer a sus testigos.

«In this only believe me, whosoever thou art, that woulest use Chymical Medicaments, always be sure to take the true Tinctures of Things, in which their Volatile Sulphur is absconded; if you neglect this, you neglect your own Fame and Gain, and the Health of the Sick.» — [Kirkringus] su regla resumida: la tintura verdadera es la que lleva el azufre volátil escondido.

«If you have believed, or experienced the virtues of this Powder once detonated, you will not be a Thomas in this third Detonation.» — [Kirkringus] mide la incredulidad del lector con la figura del apóstol Tomás.

«Valentine hath so clearly detected all Things, as no man, either before or after him, hath done it more clearly.» — [Kirkringus] su juicio de conjunto sobre el autor, aquí nombrado Valentine.

«Hence it is, that they do not Publicly extol his Praises, according to the high Esteem every man Privately hath of him; nor have they translated his Books into other Tongues, although He, of all Authors, is the most worthy, Who speaks in the Languages of all Nations, that he may be a comfort to the Lovers of Chymistry, erring in the Labyrinths of others, and always produce a new Off-spring of Philosophers.» — [Kirkringus] consigna que los libros del autor no se han traducido a otras lenguas y que su estima es privada, no pública.

«But no man should think, that he could so clearly speak, as every man, handling Chymistry (according to the saying) with unwashed Hands, might presently understand him; that is, as himself saith, not possible to be done, nor is it expedient that the Son of a vile Clown should eat of the finest Flower, in preparing which he took no Pains; yet (as below he confesseth) our Author hath used plain, simple and clear Words.» — [Kirkringus] concilia la claridad que le atribuye con la dificultad efectiva, y lo hace con un argumento de mérito social.

«If you cast away the Glass (as all men for the most part do) you will do ill.» — [Kirkringus] recupera como útil un residuo que el oficio descarta.

«This Tincture is a most excellent Cordial, if thirty, forty, or fifty Drops of it be taken in convenient Liquor, and that, if you will, twice or thrice a day; for it is taken with safety, and recreates the whole Man.» — [Kirkringus] da su propia posología de la tintura y la declara segura.

«Whensoever it happens, that any Tincture seems to have united itself with its Menstruum, and afterward may be separated therefrom, that therefore is because Matrimony is not legitimately Celebrated, nor the union in a due manner perfect; which you shall more than once see to happen in the Tincture of Sol and Antimony.» — [Kirkringus] usa la figura del matrimonio para distinguir unión verdadera de mezcla, y señala dónde falla con frecuencia.

«The Instrument, by which conjoin my Tinctures, and am wont to copulate them in an undissolvable Copulation, you shall find described hereafter in this very Book.» — [Kirkringus] remite a un instrumento propio, descrito más adelante en el mismo volumen.

«That in Spirit of Wine is to be noted, which happens not in other Menstruums; because it is most easily united to Things, and again with a slight artifice separated from the same.» — [Kirkringus] señala la propiedad que hace preferible el espíritu de vino: se une y se separa con facilidad.

«you have not only whatsoever can be made of Antimony, but also almost all that can be promised by a Chymist.» — [Kirkringus] declara que en este pasaje está casi todo lo que la química promete.

«This Basilius reveals, this he repeats, this he inculcates; this is his Triumphant Chariot, which he as it were carries about, and often shows in the various Parts of his Writings.» — [Kirkringus] explica el título del libro como figura de lo que el autor pasea y repite en toda su obra.

«he presents it under the Name of an Extraction of Crude Antimony, here it is Oil of Antimony, soon after it is converted into a Stone, which is called the Stone of Fire.» — [Kirkringus] identifica bajo tres nombres una misma cosa a lo largo del tratado.

«Thus this Proteus often offers itself, always various, yet always the same in Substance.» — [Kirkringus] nombra Proteo a esa identidad bajo nombres cambiantes.

«Compare all these Processes, which are so often diversely propounded, which these my Commentaries made upon the Extraction of Crude Antimony, and you will have the Work complete in all its Numbers; you will have a Treasure, in which, if you know not what you have, I remit you to Aesop’s Dunghil-Cock, who found a Gem in the Dunghil, but knew not what he had.» — [Kirkringus] pide leer los procesos unos contra otros, y usa la fábula esópica del gallo y la joya.

«you will find that no man hath dealt more clearly and sincerely with Thee, than Basilius, and me after him, who show thee there the Hare lies, which so many Others have hunted in vain.» — [Kirkringus] se pone en la misma línea que el autor y usa la caza como figura del hallazgo.

«you be not here wise, you will not be healed with three Anticrya’s.» — [Kirkringus] cita el eléboro de Anticira como remedio de la locura, es decir, declara incurable al que no entienda aquí.

«I will add nothing, lest I make Fools mad, who now indeed are wise.» — [Kirkringus] corta ahí su comentario con una fórmula de reserva.

«For this Salt acuates all Menstruums, for their more easie extraction of Metals; but those Extractions most, which are made of Antimony, as of a Mineral to it of affinity and like.» — [Kirkringus] añade el uso de la sal como agudizador de disolventes, por afinidad con el propio mineral.

«For various Artificers have now invented various Methods, and every One useth that, he best approves of.» — [Kirkringus] consigna la pluralidad de métodos en uso en su tiempo.

«There is no need of Torches at Noon Day, nor or of Commentaries in so perspicuous a Description, by which Basilius teacheth to make the Mercury of Antimony.» — [Kirkringus] se abstiene de comentar donde juzga clara la descripción; el volumen imprime *nor or* (sic).

«Begin leisurely, give heed to all particulars, and your Work shall never deceive you.» — [Kirkringus] su única indicación en ese punto: lentitud y atención al detalle.

«But in the Emendation of Metals, it shows itself to be endued with singular Virtues.» — [Kirkringus] vuelve a subrayar el uso metalúrgico que el autor no desarrolla.

«For I say, and clearly affirm, he that can bring this Oil here described by Basilius, to the state of a fixed Stone, may glory that he aht a fixed Tincture, only inferior to the one only King of Kings, the Great Stone of Philosophers.» — [Kirkringus] sitúa el producto justo por debajo de la gran piedra de los filósofos; el volumen imprime *he aht* (sic) por he hath.

«I doubt not, but that this Mercury will manifest wonderful Effects in the Humane» — [Kirkringus] su expectativa sobre el mercurio de antimonio; el tramo corta en el salto de renglón del volumen.

«The Emperor is imitated by the Orator, in placing his Arguments so, as he may overcome the minds of men.» — [Kirkringus] introduce la comparación con que explica el orden del tratado.

«Basilius imitates the Orator, in disposing his Processes so, as he may lead his Disciples to Sapience, and the Fruit of Wisdom.» — [Kirkringus] adjudica al autor una disposición retórica de sus procesos, no un orden técnico.

«Now follow those, that are in themselves clear enough, and not of so great moment as the former; therefore we shall not insist upon them.» — [Kirkringus] declara por qué deja de comentar en este tramo.

«I now, O Lover of Chymistry, Speak to you by Pictures, not in words onely that by a Compendium of Speech, you may also have this Compendium of Labour, and Charge. Behold this Instrument, and provide for yourself such an One, that you may follow Basilius, in making Oil of Sulphur per Campan» — [Kirkringus] declara que sus anotaciones incluyen figuras y no solo palabras; el volumen imprime *onely* (sic).

«From Sixteen ounces of Sulphur you may extract half an Ounce of Oyl, which others, in their way, do scarcely expect from Sixteen Pounds.» — [Kirkringus] cifra el rendimiento de su instrumento contra el de los demás.

«Yet in the process there is this difference, that here the Sulphur is separated by the Sal Armoniack from the Antimony, and then extracted from the Vinegar; whereas in the other Process, the Sulphur is extracted by the Vinegar, whilst it is yet united with the Antimony.» — [Kirkringus] compara dos procesos del autor y señala en qué punto difieren.

«But these are not things of so great a Moment, as to frustrate the Effect of Operations.» — [Kirkringus] resta importancia a esa diferencia.

«Therefore this Variety gives the greater Liberty to the Operator, that he may not be Scrupulous is these Things, in which he understands the Reason of what he doth, and of the Method by which he acts.» — [Kirkringus] convierte la variedad de procesos en libertad del operador, condicionada a entender la razón; el volumen imprime *is these Things* (sic).

«For although it may be made in the way Basilius prescribes, yet there are still some things wanting to render the Work both more easy and more perfect, which I here subjoin;» — [Kirkringus] declara incompleta la receta del autor y añade lo que falta.

«For six pounds of Antimony are required sixteen pounds of Distilled Water, and when (after Digestion) we would distil it, a certain manual Operation must be observed, on which depends the Success of the whole Work almost.» — [Kirkringus] suple las proporciones y vuelve a poner la operación manual como bisagra del éxito.

«otherwise the Spirit’s of the Antimony will be lost, and more then half part of the same perish, or the Work require much more time for its perfection.» — [Kirkringus] cifra la pérdida en más de la mitad si no se observa esa operación.

«When the whole Water hath passed over by Alembeck, the Fire (as the Author admonisheth) is to be increased, and three Days, and as many Nights continued without intermission.» — [Kirkringus] repite el tiempo de fuego que el autor prescribe.

«If you tinge this Vinegar with new Minera of Antimony, you will have a Tincture, which Basilius names his Balsome of Life, so often described, but never sufficiently commended.» — [Kirkringus] identifica el producto con el bálsamo de vida del autor y dice que este se queda corto en elogios.

«O, did Mortals know what Mysteries lie absconded in this Tincture, I question whether they would be desirous to set about any other Preparation of Antimony.» — [Kirkringus] pone esa tintura por encima de todas las demás preparaciones del libro.

«In the third fusion of the Regulus, the Fire must be vehemently heightened, that if any Impurity remain with the Regulus, it may by that intense heat be taken away.» — [Kirkringus] precisa el fuego de la tercera fusión, que el autor no gradúa.

«By this means you will have a Regulus in beauty and Whiteness comparable to Silver, but in Virtue and Price far Superior.» — [Kirkringus] describe el resultado de esa precisión.

«They are few Things which I admonish, but by the ignorance of these or those, great Errors are committed, and the Work with all its Costs and Charges perisheth, or at least yeilds not sufficient to pay what the Materials cost.» — [Kirkringus] justifica la brevedad de sus notas por el costo de ignorarlas.

«Of a Snake or Serpent the Nature is such, if you slacken your hold he riseth up, if you gripe him hard he bursts, the same I fear here: Therefore the Author calls that a Serpent, which he mixeth with this Regulus» — [Kirkringus] descifra el decknamen del autor y declara a la vez su propio temor de decir de más o de menos.

«They, who understand of how great Utility it is to extract the Essences from Metals, are not ignorant of the Virtues of this sharp Oil» — [Kirkringus] remite el valor del aceite agudo al saber de quienes extraen esencias metálicas.

«I not enviously, as many Chymists do, but affectionately deal with Chirurgeons: wishing that they would in their mind, as according to their faculty they may and ought, endeavour to prepare such helps, for their miserably afflicted Patients, and such Compendiums of Sanity, as may be prepared of this Regulus.» — [Kirkringus] se distingue de los químicos celosos y ofrece el régulo a los cirujanos.

«The virtues and powers of Antimony which the Author here in this Appendix so lightly toucheth, and passeth over, are so many and so various, as indeed the hundredth part of them is not yet known to Men.» — [Kirkringus] llama apéndice a este tramo final y mide lo no sabido en noventa y nueve partes de cien.

«This Mineral, in which lies hid so admirable Spirit, that by Exhausting it cannot be exhausted, hath also Virtues, which by no man studying can be sufficiently known.» — [Kirkringus] repite la fórmula de lo inagotable con que el autor abre el libro.

«It sufficeth me, that I can say, that among all Metals and Minerals, there is not any Substance known, which contains so much of a Celestial Spirit, and hath so great Sympathy with the Stars, as Antimony.» — [Kirkringus] adjudica al mineral la mayor simpatía astral entre todos los metales.

«This Leave is to be given to all, who treat of Sacred Things, viz. to declare those things, which they are willing to discover (not to the unlearned ignorant Deriders, but only to Men, worthy, and to such as sincerely desire, and aspire to the knowledge of the same) in a certain singular and Parabolical kind of Writing» — [Kirkringus] defiende el derecho a la escritura parabólica, y lo funda en la selección del destinatario.

«In which our Author is the more to be excused, because when he comes to the greatest of Mysteries, which he intended to explain in this Book, he betakes himself to certain hiding Places of Parables, and with the Heaven of Piety, which is wont to cover all things (yea even the most wicked) he so veils his Secrets, as None but Pious and sincere Disciples of Art can with the acuteness of their sight penetrate these Clouds» — [Kirkringus] declara que la piedad del autor funciona como velo del secreto, no solo como devoción.

«Do thou therefore, with a certain intellectual Luxury sport with him, he will not delude thee» — [Kirkringus] su instrucción de lectura para la parábola: jugar con el texto sin temer engaño.

«There hath been no Man, who had darted his sight but as it were through a Lattice, into the Penetrals of Chymistry, who did ever deny this Influence of Superiors upon Inferiors.» — [Kirkringus] declara unánime entre los del oficio la influencia de lo superior sobre lo inferior.

«Therefore let Basilius so holily affirming, and so often openly declaring it to Men» — [Kirkringus] pide crédito para el autor en ese punto; el tramo corta en el salto de renglón del volumen.

«This is an Old Song, this is the Sum of Art; from this Imitation of Nature is found the lesser Stone of Fire, from this it is made, whensoever it is prepared, from the Same also the great Philosophick Stone derives its Original» — [Kirkringus] identifica la doctrina del agua primera como el núcleo repetido de todo el arte.

«This is the water of Anaxagoras, the Fire of Empedocles, and Aristotle’s first Matter, of which all things have been, and to this Day are made.» — [Kirkringus] alinea la doctrina del autor con Anaxágoras, Empédocles y Aristóteles.

«Which is clearly evident in the Nutrition of Man, the Growth of a Tree, and in the Generation of Metals, for that, which constitutes Flesh, Woods, and Metals, is not taken from Food, Rain or Earth, but is infused into them from elsewhere.» — [Kirkringus] apoya esa doctrina en tres casos, y niega que la materia venga del alimento, la lluvia o la tierra.

«That very Thing is the Aliment, which nourisheth all things, but that it may be so variously specificate, it must be separated from that Body, in which it dwells, and by joined to another, which by the Chymical Art is performed.» — [Kirkringus] hace de la separación y unión químicas el mecanismo de la especificación; el volumen imprime *and by joined* (sic).

«As much as Heaven is elevated above the Earth, so much doth the true Stone of the Philosophers differ from this Stone of Fire.» — [Kirkringus] repite la distancia entre las dos piedras que el autor enuncia.

«I myself do candidly confess, that although I have found this, yet I am very far distant from the other.» — [Kirkringus] declara haber alcanzado la piedra de fuego y no la de los filósofos.

«Salts, as here is rightly said, are Keys; they open the Chest wherein the Treasure lies.» — [Kirkringus] suscribe la fórmula del autor y la amplía con la imagen del cofre.

«It is not safe in this Case to take Quid for Quo, as Apothecaries are wont.» — [Kirkringus] advierte contra la sustitución de una sal por otra, y adjudica esa costumbre a los boticarios.

«To discover so many Mysteries, in so few Words, as here thou doest, assuredly if it be not Madness, it is a certain very great benevolence to Posterity.» — [Kirkringus] se dirige al autor en segunda persona y deja abierta la alternativa entre locura y generosidad.

«Surely, if thou hadst not laboured with I know not what Intemperance of Mind, thou wouldst have closed thy Lips, and not have so clearly opened, what it is to separate the Pure from the Impure, what to render the fixed volatile, and again to fix that; how the Inferior becomes Superior, and that again plunged into the Deep Abyss, from which it had ascended.» — [Kirkringus] reprocha al autor haber dicho de más, y al hacerlo repite en claro la doctrina que dice revelada.

«Take heed, take heed, O Lover of Chymistry, lest by this Fire, you burn the Wings of your Bird, which hath now raised itself to the top of Mountains» — [Kirkringus] retoma la figura de Ícaro para advertir del exceso de fuego.

«Few words are sufficient to the Intelligent, there is no need to inculcate the same things often, our careful Father Basilius doth that often enough.» — [Kirkringus] llama padre al autor comentado y le reconoce, con ironía, la insistencia.

«This word, our Mercury, which hath so often rendred Thee ambiguous, is also here to be understood: for if you take not the true Mercury of Philosophers, you do nothing» — [Kirkringus] señala el término que más ambigüedad produce en el volumen y lo declara decisivo.

«Whosoever he be, that shall candidly tell you this, he will be to you Pylades, and you to him Orestes, and nothing will be more pleasant to me in Life,» — [Kirkringus] mide la revelación del mercurio verdadero con la amistad de Pílades y Orestes.

«Let the King enter into his Bed-Chamber, that he may consummate his Marriage.» — [Kirkringus] cifra la conjunción final en la fórmula nupcial regia, dentro de una anotación que manda callar a los profanos.

«Our Author judgeth himself to have spoken too much, if you also think the same, you will rejoice in his Sadness. Yet it is strange, that no Man can contribute a little Light to this Philosophy, but he presently repents» — [Kirkringus] observa como rasgo del género el arrepentimiento de quien revela algo.

«Here the Medicinal Virtues are spoken of at large. For Basilius supposeth Thee not to be defiled with the Filths of Avarice, but splendid in the Light of Charity, and burning with a Desire of helping thy Neighbour, following him discovering thse Secrets» — [Kirkringus] adjudica al autor un supuesto sobre el lector: caridad y no avaricia; el volumen imprime *thse* (sic) por these.

«enjoy it, and communicate the same to the Sons of Art, that Philosophy oppressed for so many Years with the intollerable Yoak of Avarice, may at length be revived, and a return be of those times of Egyptians, in which Trismegistus and so many wise Magi, Philosophized not with empty denominations, but with wonderful Works» — [Kirkringus] cierra el volumen situando el arte en un linaje egipcio de Trismegisto y los magos, y opone obras a denominaciones vacías.

Piedra filosofal (lapis philosophorum) — La obra distingue su piedra de fuego de la Gran Piedra de los Filósofos: la suya tiñe en particular —plata, estaño y plomo, no Marte ni Venus—, una parte tiñe cinco de metal, y la otra transmuta al infinito.

Quintaesencia (quinta essentia) — El antimonio se prepara primero en piedra verdadera, que el texto llama su quintaesencia y de la que sale la piedra de fuego; el aceite destilado se declara la quintaesencia y lo más alto que puede escribirse del mineral.

Materia prima — El agua es la materia primera de todas las cosas, formada en tierra por la sequedad del fuego y del aire; el comentarista la alinea con el agua de Anaxágoras, el fuego de Empédocles y la materia primera de Aristóteles.

Azufre (principio sulfúreo) — De los tres principios el azufre es el predominante en el antimonio; su azufre verdadero se separa con sal amoníaco y vinagre, y arde como el azufre común de botica.

Mercurio de los filósofos (Mercurius) — El texto declara que el mercurio verdadero es el primer ente o primera agua de los metales, sin el cual no se hace la Gran Piedra; el comentarista señala ese término como la mayor ambigüedad del volumen.

Putrefacción (putrefactio) — La digestión produce putrefacción —el vino vuelto vinagre, el grano remojado, el excremento como caso doméstico— y de la corrupción sale el fruto noble.

Microcosmos (el hombre-mundo) — Lo que el Vulcano del orbe mayor deja crudo lo enmienda otro Vulcano en el mundo menor, y la piedra de fuego se cuece con el fuego corporal del microcosmos como el grano con el elemental del macrocosmos.

Decknamen (nombres cubiertos) — El volumen llama serpiente a lo que funde con el régulo y águila a lo sublimado; el comentarista descifra el primero y declara que el autor cifra a propósito los mayores misterios.

Secreto (lo que se jura no fijar por escrito) — Algunas artes se suprimen para que queden propias del filósofo que las buscó, y el comentarista defiende la escritura parabólica como filtro del destinatario.

Cuatro elementos (fuego, aire, agua, tierra) — El antimonio está dotado de las cuatro primeras cualidades y se acomoda a las cuatro estaciones; en la cosmogonía del final, del agua sale el fuego y del fuego y el aire la tierra.

Prisca theologia (la teología antiquísima) — El arte se remonta a árabes, caldeos, latinos y alemanes, y sus secretos quedaron poco atendidos desde que murieron egipcios, árabes y caldeos; el comentarista desea el retorno de los tiempos de Trismegisto y los magos.

Spiritus mundi (espíritu del mundo) — Todas las cosas contienen espíritus operativos y vivificantes, y el comentarista declara que ninguna sustancia contiene tanto espíritu celestial ni tanta simpatía con los astros como el antimonio.

Nigredo (la obra al negro) — El crudo se presenta negro, y el negro se va por la chimenea con el veneno en la calcinación; el negro corresponde a Saturno y al granate.

Albedo (la obra al blanco) — El vidrio pasa de amarillo a blanco con el tiempo de fuego, y el polvo blanco fijo es una de las preparaciones a que el volumen dedica más planas.

Rubedo (la obra al rojo) — La rojez del pirope exige fuego de fundir oro y se extrae del vidrio rojo con espíritu filosófico; el color es, según el comentarista, el alma del preparado.