Tabula Smaragdina
The Emerald Tablet from the Geheime figuren
This picture, plain and insignificant in appearance,
Yea, it containeth a secret of the kind
For what on this earth is deemed more excellent
And hath also a healthy body,
Until the predestined time
All this, as I have stated, clearly
Three separate shields are to be seen,
And painted in their very midst
Heaven and Earth in like manner
And between the hands outstretched towards each other
And in the circle surrounding the picture
Therefore I shall now tell
And then indicate without hesitation
Therein is a secret thing of the Wise
And how to prepare it will also
The three shields together indicate
The Sal hath been one Corpus that
The Sulphur henceforth is the soul
Mercurius is the spirit of power,
Therefore it is called a medium
For soul and body could not die
And soul and spirit could not be
And no power had body or spirit
This is the meaning of the Art:
The soul doth dye and tinge it,
And therefore the Art cannot be
Nor can the greatest secret exist alone:
And now what is the fourth,
The same names teach thee
The Lion likewise by its colour and power
In the Eagle yellow and white are manifest.
The imperial orb doth exhibit
Heaven and earth, four elements,
The two hands do testify with an oath
And from what roots are derived
Now there remain only the seven words,
If thou dost now understand this well
Every word standeth for a city
The first signifieth gold, is intentionally yellow.
The third, Mercurius, is likewise grey.
The fifth for iron, is blood-red.
The seventh for lead, is black as coal.
In these city gates, indeed,
For no one city alone can effect anything, And as soon as the gates are closed
And if they had no gates
But if these gates are close together
Shining very brightly together
Thou canst not find such wonders on earth,
Seven letters, and seven words,
Seven times, and seven metals,
Whereby I mean seven herbs
Therein stands every lasting art.
If this be too hard for thee to understand
Truly I reveal to thee
How it is named with one word
If thou wouldst oft figure out
Seven and fifty in the cipher
Let not the Work discourage thee,
Besides that, note this fully,
From it the metals are produced,
A moistened dust a fuller wind doth raise,
If thou dost not understand this,
Now I will instruct thee
There are seven ways for this art,
But thou must, before all things else, know
And although this be twofold,
The first work is freely done by it
Without distilling something in it,
From all of its earthliness
This first way hath two paths,
The first extendeth through the strength of fire,
The second extendeth further
This is done by dissolving,
This must be undertaken first of all,
After the whole purification hath been completed
Or in the warm dung of its time,
Until it becometh constant and perfect,
The other ways are very subtle
For here is the purpose of the distillation
The separation of the four elements
Air, water, and rectified fire.
Having been deemed a worthless thing,
Some know not how to separate it
Concealeth a great and important thing.
That is the greatest treasure in the world.
Than to be a Lord who ever reeketh with gold,
Fresh and hale all his life long,
That cannot be overstepped by any creature.
Is contained within this figure.
And on them are eagle, lion, and free star.
Artfully stands an imperial globe.
Are also placed herein intentionally,
Are to be seen the symbols of metals.
Seven words are to be found inscribed.
What each meaneth particularly
How it is called by name.
In which is to be found great power.
Be described in the following:
Sal, Sulphur and Mercurium.
Is the very last one in the Art.
Without which the body can do nothing.
Holding together both body and soul,
Since whatever is made without it hath no stability.
Should spirit also be with them.
Unless they had a body to dwell in,
If the soul did not accompany them.
The body giveth form and constancy,
The spirit maketh it fluid and penetrateth it.
In one of these three things alone.
It must have body, soul, and spirit.
From which the three originate,
And the sevenfold star in the lower shield.
Showeth its nature and its property.
Mark my words well, for there is need of care:
The symbol of this highest good.
Fire, light, and water, are therein.
The right reason and the true knowledge,
All of the metals and many other things.
Hear further what they mean:
This knowledge shall nevermore fail thee.
Each of which hath but one gate.
The second for fair white silver.
The fourth for tin, is heaven-blue.
The sixth for copper, is true green.
Mark what I mean, understand me well:
Standeth the whole ground of the Art.
The others must also be close at hand.
One cannot enter any city.
Not one thing could they accomplish.
A ray of light appeareth from seven colors.
Their might is incomparable.
Wherefore hearken unto further particulars:
Seven cities, and seven gates,
Seven days, and seven ciphers.
Also seven arts and seven stones.
Well for him who findeth this.
Here me again in a few other particulars:
Very clearly and plainly, without hatred or envy,
Vitriol, for him who understandeth it.
This Cabbalistic way with all diligence,
Thou findest figured everywhere.
Understand me rightly, so shalt thou enjoy it.
There is a water which doth not make wet.
It is frozen as hard as ice.
Wherein are all qualities.
Then I may not name it for thee otherwise.
How it should be prepared.
If thou neglectest any of them thou workest in vain.
Thou hast to succeed in purification.
Thou art in need of one alone.
Without any other addition,
Simply through its putrefication.
Is everything afterwards prepared.
Happy is he who goeth on the right path.
With and in itself, note this well.
Until one cometh to treasure and to gain.
And again by saturating, I inform you:
So comest thou to the end of the fine art.
It will be prepared and boiled in the sun
Which extendeth itself very far
And the treasure of the Wise is in it.
And many mighty one fail therein,
And the sublimation of the Wise Men.
Is also called by the Wise Men
The earth on the ground hath mislead many,
Although all the power lieth in it.