Nathaniel Albinus, Doctor of Medicine

Carmen Aureum - Golden Song to Janus Cusinus

I, Jane Cusinus, have decreed to tell you, briefly,
The mysteries of Nature and art, as a friendly song to write,
And by night, I draw from the depths of the sun’s knowledge.
Therefore, arise, and with a focused mind, apply yourself to the work,
And the mind, with wisdom, will search all things.
From the beginning of the world, the empty region filled with light,
A force moved through the void, bringing shape, form, and color.

The light spreads far across the whole expanse of darkness.
From which the Creator, by His omnipotent will,
Placed the shining light, breaking through the dark,
The waters and the heavy mass of the earth’s burden
Exiled to the world, to turn into chaos.
Then the remaining earth, imbued with the elements,
And above the soil, varied by the divisions of things,
Produced countless forms of our own species.
From here, the blackness emerged, and the flame of the burning vein,
The shining moon reflected silver, the metals forming,
And from here, gold arose, the first shining in its origins.
And so, whatever earthly body is conceived in the flowing of light,
Exits, and the semi-firmament of the sky,
Water, ever flowing, bringing forth a fertile stream,
With its specific form and the degree that distinguishes metals,
Of which the chief is gold, the highest.
But this does not penetrate the firm heights,
Which in the upper regions do not spread the breezes,
But sterile, in its depths, it lies forever.
Nor can the craftsman’s hand make it dissolve,
Through the learned work, the growing metal,
From the middle degrees, not even worthy of gold’s name,
It rises, distinguished by itself.
Now you must know this work,
That the whole nature submits itself to the governing laws:
For first, in the darkness, the principles of things lie hidden.

And in the heavy body of confusion, still resting,
What was outside started to be the cause of its beginning.
Art indeed, without any element under control,
Was beginning things, which nature created by design.
The elements inserted into the body: nor does the freedom of power,
Or the first corruption that prevails over the body.
The original composition paved the way, then the moment arrived,
Everything from within, greatly improved from afar.
The principles were clarified, purified,
And nobility returned to themselves in the same manner.
The constant nature of the mind, and the understanding that followed,
With continuous effort and force, hidden within.
They seek the true secrets of things to uncover the unknown.
Here, the work is set: by a long passage of time,
The principle, by various efforts and labors,
Leads the beginning to the end of the matter.
For nature, the mother, leads things in an orderly way,
Always proceeding with a constant and certain law.
From which matter, compressed in the womb,
You see not the seed of new life requiring nourishment.
Can the sun give birth to life from the stars, as the child grows?
The example, indeed, as the judge sees it, is not.
It does not emerge into the world with experience.
Experience is something which science has not understood before.
So the gradual steps lead to light and warmth,
From where the path continues, leading to the cycle of years.
Once more, from one trifling moment, from its varied phases,
To imitate nature in its creation.

And because similar steps subject the body to heat,
So that when the series progresses, the art of coloring is evident,
Which, at last, is fixed as snow, and brightens the surrounding world.
But why not also reveal secret matters,
The foundations of principles are three, and the metals seven.
In the subject: first, the spirit itself,
The subtle one, which then fills the body,
Lures and leads through the soul’s inner gates.
Then, these two are as one, varied and distinct,
From which emerge seven brothers in long order.
Thus, nature, by the law of motion, guides the vast movements,
Steady with effort and long knowledge gained.
There is no true delay, for the work submits to labor.
The fire, an unskilled force, burns the first of metals,
In which life dwells as a spark within its hidden core.
These, with a moderate measure, bear the celestial gift.
From this, the vision of sulfur, and the clear shining of
The moon, and the species of Saturn, and the subtle arts,
Shining like mercury, sinking into the deep,
The composition like the crystalline body bright and serene.
Here, the continuous process of rising and heating continues,
Externally, like flames licking the chosen fire,
Internally, where one form mirrors another.
First, the work is the most remarkable,
Suddenly seen, a marvelous thing,
In the old chaos of flowing motions, and the silent darkness,
All things spread, and the night follows the gloomy path.
You will fail in spirit: for after the darkness comes light.

Splendidly it distributes distinct and separate parts everywhere,
And the ordered world is recalled to its new origin.
Then also the earthly mass will ascend into the heavenly sphere,
Purer, it will receive a body created without stain.
Where not silver, but the seeds of silver grow,
And for gold the fertile earth will bear golden sprouts.

Yet the work does not end here, nor the limits of labor:
For whether into silver, or if you attempt gold,
By removing the dross, to change corrupted metals,
It is foolish to hope, for vain desire destroys the whole work.
Therefore, first strive to unite the fixed metals,
With Mercury as mediator: that the three,
Joined together into one by a perpetual fire,
At last may bring forth the longed-for fruit.

Sweet are the delights, and on the lofty summit of the mountain
They shine forth: but the path is rare, exercised by few,
A way to be led through labyrinthine turnings.
A mountain steep with cliffs rises high everywhere:
Its hidden root descends into the earth’s depths,
But its peak, triumphant, is raised above the conquered sun.
In the midst shines the silvered horn of the moon.

These are they who rule the whole field of colors,
And like a hand, lead the craftsman through each step,
Wandering through every work of art in the same order.

Let these suffice, unless you wish for something greater:
Receive also what the green-shining emerald promises,
To be rolled forward by posterity in ages to come,
Interpreter of hidden wisdom, thrice-greatest Hermes.

Even if you observe a heavy body sinking to the depths,
Or light smoke drifting upward through the air,
Still they are from one thing: nature itself is one,
Whatever it is, however moved, even if in diverse ways.

So too with all things beneath the heavens,
And whatever is subject to the sky, the earth, or the sea:
From one mass, created by divine power.
The Sun and Moon alike are born of the same parents,
The former raised through the air, the latter nourished by the earth.

Through the constant art that turns labor into earth,
Perfected by virtue, vigorous in wonders,
Nature’s composition, and elements in marvelous order,
Are dissolved, joined, gradually separated, by great skill.
Then, borne on light wings, it ascends into the heavens,
And meanwhile gains higher powers from the sky;
Then it returns to the earth, and from the earth it draws strength.

Hence arises the surpassing glory of the whole world:
Diseases departing wholly from the body,
Poverty vanquished, and the deceit of false knowledge.

Farewell then, Janus, receive with cheerful countenance this song,
Where golden art is hidden under playful figures.
Surely it is the true golden ring of the vigilant,
Softly set with the green-growing emerald,
Which, given anew, one might think a dream’s promise—
A gift of foresight, wrapped in the image of vision.

The End.