This passage is drawn from Thomas Norton's Ordinal of Alchemy, a seminal 15th-century English poem included in Elias Ashmole's 1652 compilation, the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum.
Tfethow wilt thys warke begyn, Than fehrevy the clene of alle thy Seyne : Contryte in hert wyth alle thy thowght, And ever thenke on bym that the der bowght. Satisfaction thow make wyth alle thy myght, Than thre fayre flowers thow haft in fyght; Yet nedeth the mor to thy conclefyon, Take thow good hede nowe to thys leffen, Thow must have Grafe, Nature, and Refen, Spekelatif, and Coning, wyth good Condition: Yet thow must have more now herto, Experience, wyth Pracktik, Prudent alfo Patient that thow be, and Holi in Lyfyngs, Thenke thow on thys in thy beginings; Thes fowrtyn Heslys as I the faye, Ever kepe thom man both nyght and day, of thy defyres thow mayst not myffe, And allefo of heven that fwet bleß.
Translation to current English
("thou wilt this work begin,
Then cleanse thyself of all thy sin:
Contrite in heart with all thy thought,
And ever think on Him that thee dear bought [redeemed].
Satisfaction thou must make with all thy might,
Then three fair flowers thou hast in sight;
Yet needeth there more to thy conclusion,
Take thou good heed now to this lesson:
Thou must have Grace, Nature, and Reason,
Speculative [knowledge], and Cunning [skill], with good condition [character]:
Yet thou must have more now hereto,
Experience, with Practice, Prudent also;
Patient that thou be, and Holy in living,
Think thou on this in thy beginnings;
These fourteen hests [commandments] as I thee say,
Ever keep them, man, both night and day,
Of thy desires thou mayst not miss,
And also of heaven, that sweet bliss.")