1. O seeker of the heights of knowledge though
Its principles you've failed to grasp by thought and sight

2. Attempting to uncover nature's mysteries
In what nature does made your heart and vision blind

3. My advice don't pry into their secrets rashly
Without experience or be fooled by false report

4. The learned have a custom — he who grasps it
His hands gain otherwise he suffers loss assured

5. So reason that you may attain the hidden sciences
By logic gain sound lessons and advice

6. The matter's one, no more, kept moderate
All else is fruitless, bearing no ripe fruit

7. In truth they multiplied bewildering names
To hoodwink the ignorant so don't be fooled and think

8. All that they told of their elixirs is
Mere metaphor and likeness, commonly obscured

9. The secret's in the spirit purified
Transmigrated through created forms and kinds

10. Still borne from shape to shape its form endures
From one that lives to herb and tree that grows

11. Until through ranks of moderation it rose
To full perfection — thus the wise man hints

12. With lofty stone combining two fine dews
Congealed with talc white soaring and inclined

13. Mystifying in some holy ground unmoved
Unless hot fire disturbed it never flies

14. Divide the two then take them separately
Without the least impurity or taint

15. Save spirit accidents that come to grace
Subtleties imperceptible to sight

16. Then calcify the earth repeat the process
With fire — it makes them evaporate sans form

17. As you have seen the plants bloom through
The rain and sun — manifold flowers and blooms

18. After the conquering fires cleanse
All filth and damage lodging in its form

19. Embody thus the spirit — through return
Our fire dissolves all dross that might remain

20. The sages' oil unnamed but understood
As myrrh — the bitter principle its name

21.
Whiten the dark and turn it silver white

22. The ash it is — perfection of the powers
Then leave it all to putrefy allotting

23. The time of Moses till it's cooked and cured
Spirit and soul and body rendered whole

24. Our elixir made — so human beings are formed
Dissolved in death then water recollected

25. Abundant wealth for who had little and was poor
There the elixir's perfection was achieved

26. By one who knew God's secrets in creation
Repeat the process mentioned — combinations

27. Of this art complex are not quickly grasped
Insert the ferment in the compound rotting

28. It in manure when buried in its hole
And dissolution lifting high the low

29. Is like the heavens' course around a star
With two lights' motion endlessly until

30. The sun and moon finally coalesce
This growing that diminishing evermore

31. As night and day in length expanding shrinking
All things combined dissolve then recompose

32. As blood and flesh — consider it reflect
This is the secret of solution hidden

33. I have revealed it patent not obscure
As for its reddening I have demonstrated

34. Through metaphor a summary explanation
It is the food in liver turned to blood

35. In breasts changed to pure white pearls
So too your medicine — gentle fire wears it

36. A dye whereby effects clearly emerge

37. If you restore solution once again
And coagulate you'll add unto the dose

38. Myrrh and saffron dye — not what conjectured
Minds of the ignorant who always lose

39. Myrrh is water generating earth's depths
The dye creation's origination in bursts

40. It is copper sans shade — our quicksilver
Gained it fought fire in hell's deepest pit

41. If you've the patience to let it calcine
With gentle fire no burning or distress

42. First wash and roast the copper leaving it clean
Restore a dye of iron pure and bare

43. And saffron yolk then soak what you have learned
And drip it on the sediment

44. Till like water made then drip its weight
Again in buzzing reddish dye and test

45. You'll find it like dissolved purple dyes
What you whitened — weight for weight assay

46. Then cook your medicine gently mixed
For fine balance of the sexes' wedding song

47. Crops thirsting need the rain but flooded
Drown — spare water use the least amount

48. Cut off its water long before the harvest
Lest rotting — so pour gently in the pot

49. Strange things reject — the elements together
Are siblings in their youth and aging hoar

50. I've generated four out of the one
Grown old while young still in its tender shoots

51. Nor can a spirit a form long forsake
And there's a memento for the thinker sage

52. Let not names confuse for upon diverse
Guises backgrounds come forth in future days

53. If you gain the secret of division
That to me is triumph's utmost edge

54. If you uncover the ferment's arcana
You'll need no more forever after this

55. So be patient reflect never despair
Though slow — patience slays the lock of hardship's prison

56. If guided to their secret treasure-house
Restrain your tongue don't hawk it cheap and low

57. If graced don't envy others fortune's gifts
Beware the fate of tyranny and sin

58. Act for your progeny — this world entirely
Has not deserved — so favor and amass good deeds