labour vpon it. There muſt therefore bee ſuch a matter choſen, wherein there is Argent-uiue, cleane, pure, cleare, white & red, not fully compleat, but equally and proportionably commixt after a due maner with ye like Sulphur, & congeled into a ſolide maſſe, that by our wiſdome and diſcretion, and by our artificiall fire, we may attain vnto the vttermoſt cleanneſſe of it, and the puritie of the ſame, and bring it to that paſſe, that after the worke ended, it might bee a thouſand thouſand times more ſtrong and perfect, then the ſimple bodies themſelues, decoct by their naturall heate. Be therefore wiſe: for if thou ſhalt be ſubtile and wittie in my Chapters (wherein by manifeſt proſe I haue laid open the matter of the ſtone eaſie to be knowne) thou ſhalt taſte of that delightfull thing, wherein the whole intention of the Philoſophers is placed.
CHAP. IIII.
Of the maner of working, and of moderating, and continuing the fire.
I Hope ere this time thou haſt already found out by the words alreadie ſpoken (if thou beeſt not moſt dull, ignorant, and fooliſh) the certaine matter of the learned Philoſophers bleſſed ſtone, whereon Alchimy worketh, whileſt we indeuour to perfect the imperfect, and that with things more then perfect. And for that nature hath deliuered vs the imperfect onely with the perfect, it is our part to make the matter (in the
former
