Chap. XIII Why the Stone Is Said to Be Perfect
FOr this cause is the Stone saide to be perfect, because it hath in it the nature of Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals: for the stone is three, and one hauing foure natures, to wit, the foure elements, & three colours, black, white, and red. It is also called a graine of corne, which if it die not, remaineth without fruit: but if it doo die (as is aboue said) when it is ioyned in coniunction, it bringeth forth much fruite, the afore named operations being accomplished. Thus curteous reader, if thou know the operation of the Stone, I haue told thee the truth: but if thou art ignorãt thereof, I haue said nothing. That which I haue spoken of the operation of the Sunne is finished: that is, that which hath beene spoken of the operation of the stone, of the three colours, and foure natures existing and beeing in one onely thing, namely in the Philosophers Mercurie, is fulfilled.
Thus endeth the Commentarie of Hortulanus, vppon the Smaragdine table of Hermes, the father of Philosophers.