c_. 1310) to a similar effect.[3] One wonders how far the fact
that human and animal seed is fluid influenced the alchemists in their
choice of mercury, the only metal liquid at ordinary temperatures, as
the seed of the metals. There are, indeed, other good reasons for
this choice, but that this idea played some part in it, and, at least,
was present at the back of the alchemists' minds, I have little doubt.
The most philosophic account of metallic seed is that, perhaps, of
the mysterious adept "EIRENAEUS PHILALETHES," who distinguishes
between it and mercury in a rather interesting manner. He writes:
"Seed is the means of generic propagation given to all perfect
things here below; it is the perfection of each body; and anybody
that has no seed must be regarded as imperfect. Hence there can be
no doubt that there is such a thing as metallic seed.... All metallic
seed is the seed of gold; for gold is the intention of Nature in
regard to all metals. If the base metals are not gold, it is only
through some accidental hindrance; they are-all potentially gold.
But, of course, this seed of gold is most easily obtainable
from well-matured gold itself.... Remember that I am now speaking
of metallic seed, and not of Mercury.
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