74 The Triumphal Chariot of A ntimony. 



whence it receives all its glory and 

 strength, and is exalted to the perfection 

 of operation. We must shew also how it 

 originates in the earth, after what man- 

 ner it is made subject to the dominion 

 of the stars, by which elements it is 

 cooked, and by which led to maturity. 

 Antimony is nothing but a vapour, or a 

 mineral exhalation, produced by the stars 

 above, and digested through elementary 

 media to a state of coagulation and 

 maturity. Observe that Antimony has 

 originally received its virtue, essence, 

 properties, and efficacy from the same 

 planet as common Mercury ; but its 

 coagulation and its essence are harder. 

 The reason is to be found in the fact that 

 of the three principles, it has received 

 more salt than liquid Mercury. For 

 though salt is the least important of its 

 three first principles, yet it has more of 

 the essence of salt than common Mercury, 

 and consequently a more permanent 

 coagulation. For it is salt that imparts 

 hardness to minerals, and an excess of 

 hot spirit of sulphur keeps Mercury in a 



