suitable treatments copper becomes without shadow and better than
gold.... The elements grow and are transmuted, because it is their
qualities, not their substances which are contrary." (Stephanus of
Alexandria, about 620 A.D.)

"If we would elicit our Medecine from the precious metals, we must
destroy the particular metalic form, without impairing its
specific properties. The specific properties of the metal have
their abode in its spiritual part, which resides in homogeneous
water. Thus we must destroy the particular form of gold, and
change it into its generic homogeneous water, in which the spirit
of gold is preserved; this spirit afterwards restores the
consistency of its water, and brings forth a new form (after the
necessary putrefaction) a thousand times more perfect than the
form of gold which it lost by being reincrudated." (Philalethes,
17th century.)

"The bodily nature of things is a concealing outward vesture."
(Michael Sendivogius, 17th century.)

"Nothing of true value is located in the body of a substance, but
in the virtue ... the less there is of body, the more in
proportion is the virtue." (Paracelsus, 16th century.)

"There are four elements, and each has at its centre another
element which makes it what it is. These are the four pillars of
the world.... It is their contrary action which keeps up the
harmony and equilibrium of the mundane machinery." (Michael
Sendivogius.)