TABULA SMARAGDINA HERMETIS.
Verum sine mendacio certum et verissimum; quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius; et quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius, ad perpetranda miracula rei unius: et sicut omni res fuerunt ab uno, mediatione unius, sic omnes res notæ fuerunt ab hâc unâ re adaptatione. Pater ejus Sol est, mater vera Luna; portavit id ventus in ventre suo, nutrix ejus terra est; pater omnis telesmi, sive consummatio totius mundi est hic. Vis ejus integra est si versa fuerit in terram. Separabis terram ab igni, subtile a spisso, suaviter cum multo ingenio; ascendit a terrâ in cœlum, iterumque descendit in terram, recipitque vim superiorum et inferiorum. Sic habebis gloriam totius mundi, ideò fugit a te omnis obscuritas; hic est totius fortitudinis fortis, qui vincet omnem rem subtilem omnemque solidam penetrabit. Sicut mundus creatus est. Hinc erunt adaptationes mirabiles quarum modus est hic. Itaque vocatus sum Hermes Trismegistus, habens tres partes philosophiæ totius mundi. Completum est quod dixi operatione Solis.
THE SMARAGDINE TABLE OF HERMES.
True, without error, certain and most true; that which is above is as that which is below, and that which is below is as that which is above, for performing the miracles of the One Thing; and as all things were from one, by the mediation of one, so all things arose from this one thing by adaptation; the father of it is the Sun, the mother of it is the Moon; the wind carried it in its belly; the nurse thereof is the earth. This is the father of all perfection, or consummation of the whole world. The power of it is integral, if it be turned into earth. Thou shalt separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, gently with much sagacity; it ascends from earth to heaven, and again decends to earth: and receives the strength of the superiors and of the inferiors—so thou hast the glory of the whole world; therefore let all obscurity flee before thee. This is the strong fortitude of all fortitudes, overcoming p. 8 every subtle and penetrating every solid thing. So the world was created. Hence were all wonderful adaptations of which this is the manner. Therefore am I called Thrice Great Hermes, having the Three Parts of the philosophy of the whole world. That which I have written is consummated concerning the operation of the Sun.