natural bodies ; of 2, that is to say, of twofold mercury ; of 

 1, that is to say, of the primary principle of all things which 

 was spoken into existence at the creation of the world.'* 

 "When about to make use of the miraculous power of the 

 stone, it is necessary to pay great attention to the twelve 

 steps in the process: calcination, solution, separation, con- 

 junction, putrefaction, coagulation, cibation, sublimation, 

 fermentation, exaltation, augmentation, and lastly projection. " 

 Then in the metaphorical diction characteristic of his kind, 

 he continued : "The greater the quantity of the Eagle opposed 

 to the Lion the shorter the combat; torment the Lion until 

 he is weary and desires death. Make as much of Eagle until 

 it weeps, collect the tears and the blood of the Lion and mix 

 them in the philosophical vase." 



The learned student of occult philosophy, Dr. Leonhard 

 Vychperger von Erbach, then announced that he had just 

 discovered the esoteric meaning of the legend of the Argo- 

 nautic Expedition, saying: "When ancient Philosophers by 

 poetic parables described the laborious navigation of Jason 

 to the island Colchos, where resided an huge Dragon vomit- 

 ing fire, which with eyes never closed diligently watched the 

 Golden Fleece, they added this, viz.: that Jason was taught 

 by his wife Medea to cast to this waking Dragon an edible 

 medicine to be swallowed whereby he should be killed and 

 burst, and that Jason should presently take the Dragon thus 

 slain and totally submerge him in the Stygian Lake. Jason, 

 in this ingenious fable, hieroglyphically represents the philo- 

 sophers ; Medea, accurate meditation ; the laborious and peril- 

 ous navigation signifies manifold chemical labors ; the watch- 

 ing Dragon vomiting fire denotes saltpetre and sulfur; and 

 the Golden Fleece is the Philosophers' stone, by the help of 

 which Jason restored health to his aged father and acquired 

 for himself immense riches. By the pills of Medea is meant 



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