CHAPTER 12
ON PHILOSOPHER'S MERCURY
AN EXLANATION OF FIGURE NINETEEN
Having recently heard an old Meistersänger melody, we thought it might be good to conclude this work in a similar fashion and offer our thoughts on the magical figure 19 (see page 350) in poetic form for the benefit of those who pursue the transformation of metals into gold.
Sulfur, salt, Mercurius, provide a lively Spiritus,
It is enough for those who know, but seeking it, they should go slow.
For man, then, through his sinful fall polluted and corrupted all.
Yet, this amazing element does help with this predicament;
Among us here it can be found, though as a vapor it abounds
For all the creatures now alive, without which they could not survive.
It is concealed and bound so fast that nothing can reverse the cast;
Of efforts vain man never tires, relying so on earthly fires
To loose the bands that hold it tight, but ne'er affect its binding might.
To use its own is now in order, to loose it from this spirit-water;
And with this we'll achieve our end, but best of all we must attend
To seek the force of that first hour, before the curse did vent its power.
The force of all Creation, then, can now be captured once again.
This way alone will bring success, 'tis not the case with all the rest
Although of them there is no lack, full seven of them in a stack
The first is called Mercurius, an element well known to us,
Beguiles all men, as they'll soon know, when up the chimney it does go.
The goldbug must in fear retire, his task has failed, his time expired,
Betrayed by mercury again, and drained of power in the end,
By fire, poisonous dust and smoke, as is his habit to invoke.
Don't imitate him, rather do what's natural and right and true.
Avoid old Saturn, too, we say; this is the true and safest way.
He is the villain at your door who'll rob you blind and make you poor.
He's powerful enough, they say, from all his brothers to keep away,
And since he likes on them to spy, we'll keep on him a wary eye.
His greed is great and not discrete, he'll ruin all through his deceit.
Their sheds he'll leave quite desolate, and leave them, too, disconsolate.
Old brother Sol alone has might, this energy most foul to fight,
But Luna, too, the goddess fair, will not let Saturn master her,
She purifies his bath and then, resplendent, she appears again.
More noble, too, does Saturn rise, if well we plan out his reprise.
And those who can remove his salt, and sulfur, too, we shall exalt,
Without a flame or smoke to tether both elements here fast together
With Mercury as well, you'll see, in the manner of philosophy.
He'll prosper then and be content with time and efforts he has spent
He with this mixture much has shown, until he finds the noble stone
Of which philosophers did write, although they practice out of sight.
To Jupiter then a glass we'll raise, for its sulfur merits highest praise,
But poor in salt it is, you see, and poor its inner Mercury;
Old Saturn cannot win him o'er; instead he binds them all the more,
So that the bonds are strong and fast, and that the bonds will ever last
For those who master well this art, good fortune from him ne'er will part.
But Mars of warrior cast, you'll find, will plunder and leave naught behind;
He shows no mercy to his brothers, and may destroy them like the others,
As he is often wont to do, and change their very essence, too.
His noble sulfur, truth be told, is oft compared with that of gold,
And those who have the precious skill to separate it at their will,
Without the murderous force of fire, the art to which they all aspire,
And if it joins with Venus fair, he can retire without a care,
His work completed with success, no more to worry of the rest.
As anyone can learn from this, there is but one true road to bliss;
And riches, too, await them all, if only they will heed this call.
For vanities in riches dwell, true wisdom, though, does age quite well,
As Job discovered through his pain, when God rewarded him again.
His property will be replaced, with seven sons he will be graced,
Although they'll prosper and gain fame, the Scriptures do not tell their names.
The reader can now comprehend this passage and its wondrous end.
The sons of Job will go unnamed, but not his daughters; they are famed,
As seeds they're named which will provide, be useful and will multiply.
Jemimah was the first of them; Keziah was the second then,
And Keren-happuch as the trey, sufficient now in every way,
Although the daughters count as three, in truth they're one essentially.
One Father did them all imbue, the first one and the other two,
With spirit, soul and body thus, our Sulfur, Salt, Mercurius.
To each of them 'twas equally done, the wonder that made three to one,
Inseparable as you know, both male and female seed they sow.
If of these secrets you are sure, you needn't worry any more,
Most clearly, friend, now you will see just what the Philosopher's Stone might be.
Desired and by men pursued, reviled as well by not a few
But foolishness is much too strong, and men will tarry far too long
In evil ways they hold so dear, instead of wisdom, which they fear.
But those who love the truth will see that Sulfur, Salt and Mercury
Are in their essence all the same, despite their threefold different name.
Now, in conclusion mark ye this, for those who these three parts dismiss,
They know not God who reigns on high, regardless of their prayerful sighs;
In darkness they are firmly planted, know nothing of what God has granted.
Yet those who love the truth should heed these words of wisdom that they need,
For in Cabbala they will find the key to plumb the secret mind,
The secrets buried here within reveal to us their truthful end,
The path to truth we'll find with ease, if the Lord our God we strive to please.
May each of us find saving grace that takes us to another place.
Job 42, verses 13 to 15, states, “He had seven sons and three daughters; and he named his eldest daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-happuch. There were no women in all the world so beautiful as Job's daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance with their brothers.”