ABSTRACT
The Preface [f. 4r: Table of Contents] [f. 5r] The chymic Stone, that did of late submitte To Academic censure whether it Deserv’d the name of Phylosophic, now, In English Rime, explanes the manner how (Since that Prometheus, by Minerva’s ayde, 5 From Phoebus’ fiery chariot wheele convey’de That lively Sparke to animate his man, Whoe, to that Age gave the Nestorean And gowlden name) the learned by like skill Promulgated this everlastinge Pill, 10 As ancient writeinges and th’experience high Of Rozen Craus, with others, testifie. [f. 5v] Which high philosophie to imitate, Some thought, by contracts with our soldiers made In India, to deliver to theyr hands, 15 Fast bound with Vulcan’s pyrotechnic bands, Dayrelius’ kinge, whome they had lately tane In Warre wi’ th’ people antipodian. Him with the dewclawes of a regall Bere Nam’d Basiludra they doe scratch and teare, 20 Till pitty moves them him to seperate From of her harpious clutches. This debate Haveinge his bones soe shatter’d that they fall To th’ bottom of the glasse in powder small, Him then they place with a tart Damoselle 25 (Urampela by name) ’n a sweatinge Cell For fower longe weekes, till he was fayne to yeald Himself unto her mercy. From which field [f. 6r] To rescue him, Pneumoina in must presse; On whom hee, to avoide ungratefullnes, 30 Conferres a scarlett gowne, & thus that crew The old Promethean banquett would renew. Others, for that these first two Harpies madde Theyr king, as they thought, entertained had Too coursely, tooke the Lass Hermaca wilde, 35 Whom (’cause shee was of neerer kindred stilde Then was Urampela unto his howse) They did resolve unto him to espouse. But first, poore man, hee must bee tortur’d sore, Untill his body swelter all in gore, 40 By tart Pneumalsa’s nayles, in curtesy Forsooth, for that more sympatheticke shee With humane moisture radicall’s conceavde To bee then Basiludra fierce. Receavde Yet of him must Hermaca bee, of course 45 (After her six weekes’ entertainement’s source), By a soft Dam’sell of more astrall blisse Callde Pnerebintha, who must often kisse [f. 6v] His oyly lipps, and then, at last, resigne Him to his sweet Pneumoina’s armes divine, 50 And best beelov’de: shee beeing to his blood A cousin Queen of the Vegeticke brood. A third, disdayning much that thus theyr king Should poyson’de bee by Basiludrals sting, Would onely pare his nayles, and them cement 55 With one Alsphecle, plac’t in fiery tent; Conceaving that shee n’ere would willingly In any wise offend this Maiesty— The rather that shee tumbled had in one Wombe with his deer Pneumoina, who doth moane 60 For his society, and proudly boast Thereof, when, after penance by her ghost In Mastich’s rayment, thither hee’s releast, And doth expect admittance to this feast. A Fourth, a shorter way this uncouth match Thinke to conclude, when soe long him they scratch [f. 7r] With tart Pneumalsa’s nayles, till to an oyle They joyntly are resolved by this toile. From whom, however, they him free, by th’ ayd Of a more fragrant Balsame from a mayd 70 (Arceutha hight) extracted, with a wish Hee might heer serve but as the meanest dish. But of these wayes, and hundreds o’ th’ same field, When none could ever that assistance yeald To humane nature, as the learned old 75 Promethean banquett-founders had enroll’d Of theyrs (whom yet that they disdayn’d to ly, Soe far ingenuous was this Chymicke Fry As to beeleeve), they straight beegan to jarre Amongst themselves, what jeofayle did marre 80 Theyr worke, and soe what might the reason bee It fell thus short of’s promisde energy. [f. 7v] Whence some, could they but once obteyne the lucke To free theyr king from all the sweates that stucke Unto him since his combates with those tart 85 Corrodeing Gossipps, by theyr Chymicke Art, That soe hee nere more would the cup annoy With blacknes, when the smooth fac’t Trojan boy Did powre it into’s Master’s Nectar, then These did conclude they onely were the men. 90 But this opinion unto Ganimed Gave cause to laugh, as one was better read In poynt of complacency to the state And pallate of the Gods, when ere they sate At’s master’s table. Soe our Doctors all, 95 By certein lessons Hypocraticall, Both for the sore and alsoe for the part Affected of theyr Patient, know the art To chuse a proper Vehicle, that soe The med’cine’s force may onely thither goe. [f. 8r] As, for example, when the Liver is Soe out of order that its force doth misse To turne the Chylus to pure blood, but letts It crudely range, untill that it infects The part it selfe first, and the whole man next, 105 Who thereby comes Cachecticke: then theyr text Adviseth them theyr king’s know’n energie Medicinall like Artists to apply, When to an oylisth substance brought hee is, Onely by tart Pneumalsa’s nailes—though this 110 Infects the cupp, unlesse it further bee Exalted by Arceutha’s industrie. Which industry of hers they lay aside, Till some infectious, pestilentiall tide Doth call for her assistance. But old age 115 For to retard and generall Equipage Of health to strengthen, balking these, they all For his joynt force with sweet Pneumoina call. [f. 8v] Others beethought that if they once could bring By these corrosions theyr abused king 120 Unto that height of subtilty, that hee By th’ art of th’ Alchemist might never bee Severd from th’ armes of those his gossips rude, Nor brought againe t’ embrace the body crude Whence he was first extracted: doubt lesse they 125 Of the Philosophers had found the key. But when they write, how this theyr regall mine From its owne proper nature must decline, And in humility upon it beare The shape of a more humble friend first, ere 130 It fitt bee to receave the soule’s disguise (Who, in its resurrection, vivifyes Its seed for everlasting): the mistake Of this deep Allegory made them shake Theyr leaden eares, and, as with fury bent, 135 Those Chymicke operations to invent Forecited; for they falsly did conceave That these unkind conjunctions corrosive [f. 9r] Was the only way by which theyr Kinge might be Divinely rayz’d to Astrall energie. 140 And this occasion did administer Unto such Authors Criticall as were Possess’t with that severer fancie’s ginnes: To rayle, not only at these medicines Forecited, but likewise to play theyr part 145 In spitting venome ’gainst the very Art. Omitting others, thus German Courtin Did Paracelsus jerk; soe Mathew Gwyn With Angell: Sala joyn’d, our Anthony Of London to chastise; Palmarius, hee 150 Must fall uppon Libavius; and, above All others as who malice would improve, Guilbertus must not only quite disgrace The Art, but such as after should the face Have, once to question ought that hee sayth ill is: Nati natorum et qui nascentur ab Mis. [f. 9v] Yet, by his leave and theyrs, the subsequent Discourse shall, only by the by, comment How that the tincture of the Sun, thus boy’d And violently extracted, is not voyd 160 Of all assistance to the wasting lampe Of our fraile bodyes. But, in trueth’s right stampe, Both Paracelsus and Franck Anthony Were much to blame, with Charletonian cry, For that by quacking these in open gate 165 Above theyr meritt, they themselves create Renowned Doctors would, in that highe art (Whose Keyes the Authors closely had a part Hid in such Tropicke groves from vulgar sights, That neither they nor yet theyr opposites 170 Could ever finde, as to the world most cleere Doth by theyr severall writeings still appeare). For not to have his blood broach’t out (poore man) By nailes of bonny Besse, Tom Tinker can [f. 10r] Perswade for to beeleeve that therefore Besse Beecome one body with him is, unlesse Shee give him leave in love with her to jest, To call for t’ other flagon, and the rest. And soe our king, though nere soe coursly woo’d With Complements infernall by this brood 180 Of Goodies, can nere bee deservedly Said to degenerate soe farre that hee By them dissolved may bee callde, I wis: Since that a Physicke Dissolution is, By rule of Schoole, The neate Division of 185 A body mix’t. At which though some may scoffe, Yet wee well know it the first point must bee Of this our worke by meer necessity. And therefore lest this Authour may bee thought, “While of the Quacks of others hee doth ought 190 Correct, himselfe noe better is,” hee now, Unto the censure of all those that know [f. 10v] The secretts of this Art, doth willingly Submitt himselfe, desireing them to try Whether that hee directly trampled hath 195 In this his worke th’ Philosophicke Path. Which if they find hee hath not, hee now prayes They would vouchsafe him his erroneous waies In Philosophicke termes to show, that soe Long awkward paths hee may noe longer goe. 200 Or if it chance his better fates have taught Him heer (with Philosophicke pickelocks fraught) To part the Elements without theyr griefe, Then them to Cleanse and joyne, and soe the Thiefe To bind in golden fetters, hee intreates 205 The further learned would once show theyr feates Our hoofe of Mule to harden—that (in fine) Th’ Olybian Lampe ’mong us might once more shine. This beeing the maine reason did compell Him to put pen to paper, weighing well [f. 11r] That learned sentence Seneca doth write To warne from overtrusting to selfe might: Many had come to th’ heights of skill In the diviner Arts, [f. 215] If with a selfe-conceited pill They had not choakt theyr parts. And therefore heer hee gives a full Essay Of all his worke, with each erroneous way In working hee discoverde, that those might Noe longer stand as mothes in th’ woorker’s sight. 220 [f. 11v] The First Chapter First hee beegan to worke with vulgar eyes, Beholding the Rhetoricall disguise Of a position with Schematicke slight, Which Geber thus Liptoticly doth write: Who knowes to joyne proud Mercury 5 With bodyes firme by art, Hath of our secretts found the highe And sole perfective part. This Thomas of Bononia doth recite To noble Bernard as noe common slight, 10 Whose sence upon those words did seeme to show The Count of Geber’s sentence did allow: [f. 12r] If this thou understands’t, wee have To purpose somwhat said; If not, thou might’st the labour save 15 One line thereof t’ have read. But, nere considering the obscurer Scheame Of Geber when hee writt that learned theame, The Author foorthwith ’gan to purify Quicksilver crude, the which with Sulfur hee 20 Extracted from Apollo’s fiery rayes; In Ovall glasse decocts for eighty dayes, Haveing a bowle which o’re the dreggs did turne With constant motion, as the heate of th’ Urne Was such, untill hee all converted saw 25 Unto blacke mudde, which from Vulcan’s maw Hee tooke. Then flue the waver-winged Dove From the mine through th’ Hipocraticke Glove. Diagram of hexagonal form, fol. 13v. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203079263/dac4a1ce-5cd1-4cf7-93cc-59d02c15496b/content/fig7_1_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> Next, all his Mercury with Astrall seed Impregnate, hee with constant heat did feed 30 For eight weekes longer, in the intervall Of which with joy hee did beehold it all [f. 12v] Playnly to passe through all the colours neat, From blacke to white most clear. With stronger heat Then, for six long moneths more, did hee decoct 35 It, till, i’ th’ end, the greatest part was lockt Up in Amalgam bright as Christall that, Being cleanly washt and dryde, resided flatt In forme Hexagonall: a joyfull sight, Consid’ring of that forme what Authors write. 40 [f. 13v, Figure 1] [f. 14r] As Crollius first doth thus begin his part, Pronounceinge loudly, none unto this Art’s Perfection can attayne, till of the Sun The fattnesse, and Lunaria’s blood, be spunne Into one thread by motion circular 45 Of th’ Elements, in forme Hexangular. And Doctor D’Avison of Paris, in His chymic course, doeth evidently bringe The maner by how mutch the neerer ought Unto the height of puritie is brought, 50 By soe mutch to this forme it climbes; therby Noteinge that heere Perfection loves to lie. This then the Author tooke, and with encrease Of heate (but gentle though) he did with ease Convert t’ a Solar sulfur pure (though dead), 55 Meltinge like waxe; which ere the pott were red, Would thorough it unbroken penetrate Into the fier, its true domestick mate. He allsoe found a quick compendious art T’ augment this sulfur, by projectinge part 60 Of it on parts twice tenne of mercurie, To which, for fifteen dayes, he usd t’ applie A boylinge heate, untill the sulfur were Wholly resolv’d into it. Then appeare In liquid substance would the matter by This action, when he usd to purifie [f. 14v] His sulfur, by destillinge quite away The fetid water that amonge it lay, In Cohobatinge maner; this devise Soe oft repeatinge, till there did arise 70 A third of water. Then the residue, Beinge filtrated, would leave to open view A part of this Amalgam to reside Within the Strayner, which he layd aside; And did dissolve his strayned mercurie 75 With water stronge, which allwayes would passe by, A part of it untoutchd in ’ Malgam right, As was the former boath to test and sight. Thus by destillinge and disolvinge he This cited matter usd to multyplie. 80 !But to the toutch when he had brought this stone— To see if it the praedicated tone To th’ medcin Phylosophic ore could singe, By mettall’s imperfection banishinge— He found it fall much short. But what the cause 85 Should of this faylinge be, he gan to pause. And as alone he walked, this to skanne, H’ espied farre off a coomely, grave ould man Come to accost him, as if thither sent By fate; whome viewinge ere he farther went, 90 The Author by his countenaunce could guesse Him to be one whoe som way did professe The longetayle-trade. Then said he, “Sure, I’le trie If this man be not skilld in chymistrie.” [f. 15r] Whoe, next to his Godten aven, did demaund The cause of his retirement to the straund. “Sir,” quoth the Author, “I’me a man half blinde, Spent most my time discov’ries for to finde Of Pyrotechnic mysteries; that soe (Tryinge God Vulcan’s friend aswell as foe) 100 The certeyntie of art, if such there be, By woorkes unfayn’d I once might testy fie.” !“That trueth of Art by doubts you seeme to wave,” Doctor Allslagen said (for soe he gave His name), “declares your slender readinge, or 105 At least your Judgment Phylosophic, for To dive to th’ Authors’ meaninge, knowinge well You never are to listen to theyr Bell Accordinge to the letter; for, say they, ’When ought we playnly write, we nothinge say.’ 110 And therfore, Sir, the possibilitie Of Nature must be weyghed cunninglie By all your readinge, th’ Artist beinge noe more Then Nature’s servaunt; and my self therfore Can not but wonder that you should not see [This, being] versd in schooles of Germanic” [f. 15v] The Author then reply’d, “Sir! I commenc’d My woorke (as I suppose) beinge strongly fenc’d From errour by the woords of Trevisan Your learned Count on those of Geber” Then 120 His whole past woorke he did repeate, and pray His doctorshipp would show where th’ errour lay. To which he condescended willinglie And gan the Errours thus to summe; said he: “You nicely have misunderstood the wile 125 Of Geber where he bidds you reconcile The light-heel’d God with bodies, in that you Have made them friend, whether they would or noe. Soe that where you an Arbitrator should Have been, you turnd a Party soe to mould 130 Nocopa, that for feare shee thought it safe To take what termes Spinthelius would voutsafe To graunt her—which some thinke was kindly done, To joyne her in one body with the Sun. Soe thought Arnoldus, of whome all his bookes 135 Doe testyfie his Philosophic lookes Could pierce noe further: his new light, behowld, Unto the Pope. And for those Wandes of Gowld He’s said, at Roome, to make with Mercurie, Soe, by this worke, may either you or I. 140 “But this Nocopa, when you know aright, You’l finde to be a true Hermaphrodite, Whose power masculin you did soe wound When by this forced contract you her bound [f. 16r] Unto Spinthelius, endinge soe the strife That now (poore Sowle) shee as a spoused wief Into his family engrafted is, Addinge noe honour unto him nor his— But on the contrary, what ever shee Hath of perfection, that obsequiously 150 Shee doeth acknowledge unto him to owe; As this woork’s triall to be true doeth show. Therfore looke back, and further Councell take Wherby you may this reconcilement make, In such a way as shall boath parties please, 155 And then the woorke you will performe with ease.” “To reconcile two enemies,” reply’d The Author, “and please boath, a mighty wide Gappe seemes to be made up, and such a taske That if the Ridle you doe not unmaske 160 To ayre its tropic visage, as to me A Gordian Knott will proove, I playnly see.” “This wants not such a high-discerninge Clarke,” Allslagen sayd, “if you but only marke Which of them boath (for ’tis a thinge in Ure 165 ’Mongst Arbitrators) redyest seemes to Lure Unto this union; and he willingly Doubtlesse will somthinge yeald in Pollicie. And who that is, you easyly may looke And finde in Aristotle’s fift playne booke 170 Concerninge the Republique, where he boasts That whoe excells in vertuous actions most [f. 16v] Are least Seditious. Now I know you catch By these my woords how to conclude the match.” Emblem, “The Sun Speaks,” fol. 17v. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203079263/dac4a1ce-5cd1-4cf7-93cc-59d02c15496b/content/fig7_2_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> “By what y’ave sayd,” quoth th’ Author, “now I minde What in the Metamorphosis I finde Engross’d concerninge th’ mighty Jove, when as He walk’d the Rounds about his walles of glasse To view if ought were perishd by the fier Unluckie Phaeton’s over-proud desire 180 Then kindled had, when his beloved Land Of Arcadie he then did understand To want her arbours green and christall springes To bath the turtle dove’s half-burned winges; As these he was restoringe, how he woo’d 185 A Nymph of Nonacris, in lecherous moode Couchinge his minion, there espied by chaunce, In counterfeited garb and countenaunce Of Phoebe pale. (How stronge a thinge is Love, When thus it conquer can the Gods above— 190 Aura theyr reason blindinge till that they With Cephalus theyr Procris shoot and slay.)” “Y’ave pick’d the lock,” quoth Doctor, “tis e’en soe; But this you might have sooner learned, though, Had you with piercinge eies observd what in 195 The sole text of this art, the Table greene Of Hermes stands engrav’d—an Axiome high, As certeyne of this royal Pedigree: Sol shall be father to this Bratt, The Moone shall be his Mother; 200 The Winde shall make him fayre and fatt, From’s Clouds e’re he recover. [f. 17v, Figure 2] [f. 18r] “Now for the Parents boath, you had them right In your first woorke, but for the fleetinge slight Of th’ Nurse, observe how in her Apron lies 205 One of the Keyes of this art’s chief disguise. Which Key to deifie the Auncient stock Emblem of Hen, fol. 19r. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203079263/dac4a1ce-5cd1-4cf7-93cc-59d02c15496b/content/fig7_3_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> Thought in noe scorne, for that it to unlock Theyr vessell did possess a facultie, As Hermes shewes in’s booke of Alkhemie. 210 Which heavenly vessell, fraught with liveinge fire, Prometheus’ moulded clay, with lief t’enspire. Though by this Key you have in part its glorie Discoverd in your late recited storie Of Jove’s fowle lust with’s Nymph, yet let me trie 215 How I may further yet exemplifie Those woords forecited out of th’ Emralld table, Singinge my Comment thus as I ame able: Whoe ere he be that doeth conteyne A thinge within him, he 220 Unto that thinge I may mayntayne A Vessell ought to be Reputed; as unto the Egge, The Shell, soe to our Child The Winde to show to be doeth begge This Hieroglyphic wild.” [f. 18v] “By this,” quoth th’ Author, “I presume I gather My Errour and the cure thus farre; but whether Phaetonlicly mistaken in the Size Of heate I was, I pray doe me advise.” 230 “Not soe mutch in degree of heate,” he said, “As in the way of’s application layd, Was this your second Errour, as detect To you I shall, if that, with due respect To rules rhetoricall, you view agen 235 Each stroke belonging to this fiery Hen.” [f. 19r, Figure 3] [f. 20r] “By this I see, like Dulman’s master, I My part have acted in this Tragedie. For as his Play’s disturber he condemd To tosse soe longe within a blankett hemm’d, 240 Untill the sowle showld through the lower loope Depart from’s nastie bodie, soe that trope Which he made use of to lett out the lief I did infuse it by. But, t’ end the strife,” Said th’ Author, “which his part heere acted best, 245 I leave for you to Judge and show the rest.” “The third,” then said the Doctor, “did acrue Mutch from these heere fore cited; for had you On equall termes concluded this sadd match, Your dissollution with a quick dispatch 250 You had accomplishd, and the sprite sublime Coagulated in as litle time. For tis an Axiome that these actions fall Out at one time by love reciprocall. And know, what kinde of dissolutions ere 255 These actions both by them doe not appeare Performd in space of three short howers, you may ’These are not Phylosophic’ bouldly say. “For note the Poet’s rime on Miriam’s high Alchemic science, whome, though some denie 260 For Moyses’ sister, or t’ ave writt that tract, My self avow it true by proof of fact: [f. 20v] Marie in short, strange thinges doeth ringe That with her gummes shee may The flyinge thief to fetters bringe 265 In lesse then half a day. Marie in three howers’ space doeth tie, By Pluto’s daughter’s ayd, The threefold knott soe equally That each is well apayd.” 270 “Now,” quoth th’ Author, “I doe see in vayne How longe I have been labouringe for my payne.” “For labour lost, yours neither can be thought,” Quoth he, “but as the farmour’s sonnes that wrought So stoutly for the Pitcherfull of gowld 275 Theyr dyinge father in the vineyard towld Them he had hidd: though they the pott nere found, Yet did theyr labour mutch enrich the ground. And soe did yours, as shall be to your sight More manifested by the giglish flight 280 Of Daphne from Apollo’s love. But first I must take leave to quensh your fiery thirst With that ne’re over-woren dialogue Twixt th’ Sun and Moone, which to you disembogue A secrett shall—with phylosophic eies, 285 If seriously you ponder its disguise. “And thus the Sun begins: ’My wisdom doeth With my pale Sister take degrees of growth, And not with any servaunt to my Crowne, For I the good seed ame, that beinge sowne 290 Into as fertill ground, doe beare mutch grayne With augmentation to the sower’s gayne.’ [f. 21r] Then said the moone: ’O Sun, thou wantest me As doeth a kock the henne, and soe I thee, Thou beinge perfect high with lordly youth 295 Boath hott and drie, and I the moone in growth Beinge could and moist. But when w’ave learnt the trade Of Amorillis in the ivory shade Of stately Jove, thou there wilt clipp my winge And, ere thy Taylor for th’ incestuous sin 300 Hath brought thy mourninge suit, in spight I shall Impede thy fluxion, though it cost m’ a fall.’ “Now Sir, the only marke you may by this Perceive of perfect dissolution is When that the bodie thus disjoynted lies, 305 By loveinge poysonous draughts in attome-wise, For then the principle hath found the end. Which, of a perfect action all comend As certeyne signe (and nought save dust to be), The Phylosophic Turb doeth testifie 310 And further manifest the reason why Noe body mixd can unto puritie Caelestiall be exalted, in the dust Untill it hath done penaunce for its lust. “Mercurie speakes out of the ashes,” fol. 22r https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203079263/dac4a1ce-5cd1-4cf7-93cc-59d02c15496b/content/fig7_4_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> And what else meaneth that Ovidian shirt 315 Of Hercules with Venom soe beguirt (Attracted from the Snake of Lerna cold): That what he from his mother’s blood did howld It soone consumd, to th’ end his heavenly part (On which the thunder-thumpinge Jove his art 320 Had showen) might be extolld, and he most cleere A Starre in’s father’s heaven might appeare?” [f. 21v] To this the Author said, “Doctor, I have Apply’d my full attention to your grave Discourse thus farre, the which t’ ave somwhat quick’d 325 My stupid understandinge theoric, Denie I will not. But these Attorns, how To bringe the worke to them, I fayne would know.” “I wonder mutch,” reply’d the Doctor then, “You are thus hasty, Sir, beliveinge, when 330 Your longe decoctions of tenne monthes in grott You did attend, your Egges were not soe hott. And can you not from Choller now refrayne, While that my Henn is sittinge t’entertayne Discourse? Yet since your humor’s such, pray walke 335 Till th’ henne hath done her woorke, and then wee’l talke.” [f. 22r, Figure 4] [f. 23r] The Author his first incivilytie Thinkes to dawb o’re with this Apologie: “My excellent Allslagen! I doe now Perceive that father Adam was to you 340 Not only common Ancestor, but came And stood himself by th’ font to give your name.” “I crie you mercy,” th’ Doctor then reply’d, “I thought you had hence in a furie been hy’d Ere I had coold my Eggs; however, now 345 I’m gladd to meete you, ere I bidd adiew.” “Not soe, I hope Sir. Since that thus farre you T’ asist your servaunt have voutsafd, ye now Will not leave in the Suddes, till you contrive Some feate our Kinge from’s ashes to revive.” 350 “In few woords, Sir, I can noe longer stay; But, for your sake, some two monthes hence, this way I purpose to retourne, and then to view If that you sowinge be of garments new For this your dust reviv’d; mean while, I’le send 355 A friend that can you mutch asistance lend.” [f. 23v] The Second Chapter “Well! Once the German Doctor I supposed Intended the whole art to have disclosd. But whether my fidelitie mistruste He did, or what dislik’d him, I now must My bookes agayne revolve”—the Author spoke 5 Thus to himself. And then he gan to looke On Hermes’ booke of Alchemie, where lurke These words pertayninge to his present woorke: Departe the fume from off the wief, The blacknesse from the meate; 10 Restore the dregges agayne to lief, And then th’ hast done the feate. This putt the Author in a mumpish case And to bethinke him what in roman phrase He heard the Poet singe uppon this doubt, Beinge then as farre, as he himself now, out: [f. 24r] Charon will over Styx with ease Transferre you without fee; But if you chaunce to gett release, He bidds you grumblinglie 20 Turne back and pray the God of Hell Come doe’t himself; for he Not able is without his spell, He sayth ingeniouslie. Then he began the Necyomantic slights 25 To meditate, if that from thence he might Some lesson learne, wherby descrie the Jesse Of this Kinge’s soule he showld, and soe addresse “Elixir's Purgatorie,” fol. 25r. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203079263/dac4a1ce-5cd1-4cf7-93cc-59d02c15496b/content/fig7_5_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> His Cordialls thither. To which end, the Ladds Of Aristotle whoe, for three nights, cladd 30 With Bacchanalian Flagons, warmly lay Close by the gastly tombe in Lipara, T’ observe the Revells of the hellish fiends, He thought t’ advise with once. Yet surer signes The Goddesse great Adrastia could, he thought 35 (Layinge aside all other tricks at nought), To him discovr, knowinge well that shee Must be sole Judge of this impyetie. Her he therfore implores to yeald relief With sable offringes, milke, wine, and (in brief) 40 As the Cumaean sybill had forestampd To the ould Romans in the Martian Camp This Lesson as a true directorie Theyr yearly sacrifice to offer by, And as the Kinge of Argives (whoe first feed 45 Her grace in hallowed temple) had decreed His Priests showld immolate: Just soe did he, Soe mutch he longd for this discoverie. [f. 25r, Figure 5] [f. 26r] But whether to the Goddesse it appeere Did, that this Author was not (as her seere) 50 With scrupulous devotion qualyfie’d Unto this service; or may be shee eied Somthing misplac’d—perhapps the Author may Not rightly stand the new Eutopian way; Or whether that the sacrificeinge Cave 55 Was yet not consecrate wi’ th’ presence grave Of Magpie-gowne and Tippett; or else whether Th’ Oblator had not holy Orders, neither; Or, may be, twas the fume fro’ th’ burninge sticks Which digged were from graves of Hereticks 60 That did her Majesty offend. What ever The matter was, twas somthinge alltogether That did not please, the Author well perceivd. For till next night he answer none receavd To his propounded question, when in bedd 65 He heard a Voyce this Ridle to him readd: “As for thy Kinge, his sin soe fowle (In that he made a Strumpett Of’s Sister) was, that now his Sowle To th’ inmost Hell is shrunked 70 Within himself; from whence retourne It never shall, untill All’s filthynesse thou wash and burne, By the renowned skill Of Azoc and Paidowra cleere, 75 Or else Oxosa pevish, These beinge Servaunts to the fier His wickednesse to punish. [f. 26v] Which if thou canst but use with Art, I tell thee certeynlie, 80 From this drosse will arrise a part That never more shall die.” “The End doeth promise fayre; the maner, though, T’ encompasse it full hard,” the Author thought. How ere, the trueth therof he can not doubt, 85 Since the same sence Hermes himself sets out. Himself he therfore to his furnace gott Right soone, and there in purgatorie hott Did place his Kinge; his limbecks likewise he Thus sets in order. And, in its degree 90 While each his office served, he began To meditate uppon his Countryman Ould Merlin’s Allegorie deepe and darke, Which covertly Adrastia’s sence doeth marke By two Physitians, wherof Nilus th’ one 95 Hath snatchd, and tother t’ Alexandria’s gone. Then was the Author full intent to trie The Psychegogic witty feates, therby The Sowles of these to evocate, and passe The alchemist's furnace, f. 27r. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203079263/dac4a1ce-5cd1-4cf7-93cc-59d02c15496b/content/fig7_6_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> This doubt an answer. Where (for that it was 100 Most usual in Ægypt) he resolvd, Of all the rules in magic art, to howld To Decanomantie; for of this blinde Sentence he hop’d some firme resolves to finde. [f. 27r, Figure 6] [f. 28r] But in his wedges as the characters 105 He carvinge was, and ordringe of the hayres Of th’ Hide, and skumminge of the watry froth, He’s interrupted by the presence of A stranger unexpected. Whoe, uppon The sudden, courtes his good permission, 110 Declareinge with a Cringeinge Complement How strict commandes from Doctor Allslagen To him he carried—nothinge to account For honour, but what some way might amount As helps, his weake abilities t’ improove, 115 Industriously to gayne the Author’s Love. Whoe, as he spoke and shrugg’d, could soone perceive This was that help which as he tooke his leave The Doctor promisd had. Then that he would Voutsafe to approch his furnesse and behowld 120 (In th’ absence of his honourd Doctor) how He passd his time, he prayd, and next to know Of th’ ould Hero’s welfare, and since that he came From him how longe it was, and eke his name. “Monsieur!” the stranger say’d, “there have not pass’t Full two dayes naturall since I’d a taste 126 Of his Jocunditye, with a comaund In his grave name to kisse your fayrer hand. And for my Appellation, be you sure, It is Toutguerres, and your Serviture” 130 “Sir!” quoth the Author, “if assurd I were Your name did this Etymologie beare (Which yet to doubt, soe farre injurious I, Though stranger, dare not to your meritt be), [f. 28v I showld in reall english be thrice more Yours, then your Phrase exprest you mine before.” “Be garre, Mounsieur!’ said he, “your Pulpitt man (I see) hath conjur’d you, that reason can Take noe impression on your intellect. Mi Bon Dieu! what a laughinge was there kept 140 At Cambridge longe agoe (attend me) when The Joviall Philosopher did then Present but a poore balsome cure was made By Medico de Champ: A Learned trade, To give a Vomitt to a Caniball 145 That had not half concocted, nae scarse all The carcasse eaten of th’ unweildy ladd. That quackinge Surgeon, there to rest him, had Giv’en order, while he walkd alonge the strand, To gather a few hearbes, and out of hand 150 Retourninge, and the Giant findinge there Stand pickinge of his teeth, a great mattere His powder through those nostrills wide to th’ mawe At once to blow: and soe those gobbetts raw (Each in circumference at least a spanne) 155 To joyne together, and soe cure the man! Soe wonderfull you made this presentlie That scarce you did forbeare to give the Lie. “But give me leave my self to recomend Unto your audience how, by Pont Neuff’s end, 160 When I demur’d in Paris, my owne Art On a farre greater cure performd its part. [f. 29r] As thus: A Chevaleere was quite forlorne Betooke him to my Sharge, whoe, in the morne Before I was t’ attend him, as he rose 165 To th’ Shamber-pott, and thought to dense his nose, Instead of Sneuill he the Gristell flung Into it; and a member (which my tounge In mayden modesty forbeares to name) Dropp’d in likewise. Boath, when the mayd up came, 170 Shee flunge into the Seyne, where they were by A fish leapd at and swallow’d presentlie. Which done, th’ unhappy fish, twixt drunke and dead, Lay still uppon the water, as if fedd He had on quicklime; which my Boy, by the Gilles 175 (That stood o’ th’ Bridge divulginge of my Billes), Tooke up fro’ th’ water and presented me, Like a good Gerson, most obsequiouslie. Then strayght to dresse, I did comaund my Cooke The Laquee’s present; whoe, as he did looke 180 Into its maw, did finde it fully fraught With a congeled powder, which was brought Soone to my presence, whoe as soone descri’d Twas that whose want my Patient did abide. “Then Mounsieur! I a Partinge water had, 185 With which the Powders of boath members sadd I seperated, and most learnedly To theyr originall carnositie Reduc’d, and then conjoynd—where now they are. Ma damoselles, il este vray be gar!” [f. 29v] “Mounsieur! I heare you are the only Man,” Quoth th’ Author, “that my sadnesse comfort can, Haveinge a Patient for you, who is all Converted quite, as yours, to powder small.” “Such desp’rate cures as those doe joy my Spright 195 To deale in,” quoth Toutguerres, “leavinge quite The rest for Sharletons to traffique in, As such to me that Credit none can bringe.” “I heare,” reply’d the Author, “your owne Quire Singe you above them; therfore I desire 200 You would unto this Patient’s Case attend, Whome to your Skill I purpose to comend. And thus it is: He somtimes bore comaund Ore sixe large Provinces within the Land Orcadian, whence he first was tane away 205 And hither brought as Vagabond to stray (Though still he somtimes doeth with th’ Gods combine To cheate men’s hearts t’ acknowledge him divine); Where wandringe in Gray clothes, by chance he layd His amorous Eie uppon a Country mayd 210 Whome he (in brief), after the woonted plight, Did for his wief espowse. But the first night As boath in bedd they lay, and gave account Each t’ other of theyr forepast lief, he found That married to his sister deere was he. The thought wherof did kill him presentlie; [f. 30r] The like did her. Soe that next morninge, as The Bridemen came t’ attend him up, there was In stead of the Younge, Loveinge, merry payre, This heape of ashes which to you I beare.” 220 “Ho la, Mounsieur!’ Toutguerres answer made; “You must not thinke to sheate me out my trade Soe easyly; for your Position I Have learnt of ould, ere since in Italy I livd with a grave Doctor, whoe did then 225 His time passe over just as Allslagen Doeth now, delightinge in noe thinge at all, Save t’ study for the Pierre Philosophall. I know full well Sir! now what you would have; You would reduce your Kinge out of his grave 230 To a younge Phoenix that nere more shall die. This Allslagen can doe, as well as I. But, if you please I take the woorke in hand, That you may be assurd I can comaund The action of my Speech, I’le first the fate 235 That hurld me over hither t’ you relate. “This ould Itallian, whome I menciond now, When soe farre spent with age he was, that how By course of Nature he might longer live He knew not, did comaund me to revive 240 Medea’s art uppon Duke Aeson’s age, By practice uppon him. Directions sage, [f. 30v] All thinges aright to order beinge before Receavd (all which I punctually ranne ore)— Untill, at last, with breach of many a glasse, 245 Th’essentiall part wholly reduced was (That fier could not ore master) to pure Salt Most Christalline and fixt. But marke the Hault: “While this a doinge was for the full space Of thirteene months, the neighbours gan t’ uncase 250 Theyr conceivd wonder, noe man knowinge ought Of this my master’s reach (soe deerly bought), Demaundinge allwayes, whensoere they eied Me, why he hidd him soe? I still reply’d He was resolv’d his chamber to keepe in, 255 And not to take the ayer untill the Springe. But still th’ enquirie did increase, when I Bethought it was my wisest way to hie Me with my salt to someplace wher I might Runne through the course of this my Chymic slight. 260 At last I gott me to this strand; where soone I’ th’ night time as I lay in bedd alone (Whether some reliques of my former feare By hope imprisond in my fancie were, Or whether, as Pneumatics learned write, 265 The Sowle of some of th’ Ancients did invite Me to attention—that I doe not know, But this), me thought a voyce showld tell me how That, ‘Nature’s Ens transcendent gave comaund All thinges in order heere below showld stand [f. 31r] Subordinate, as beinge all composd, And in theyr right subordination closd In number, time, and measure right tri-une, The lower allwayes to beare witnesse knowne Of’s neighbour next above him; and eke all 275 Of him that only is, and was, and shall. Thus th’ Sulfur, Salt, and mercurie we finde To witnesse of the Spirit, water, winde (Whether congeald they be, or raryfide), And they agayne of Body, Sowle, and Sprite— 280 Which of the father, th’ Word, and Sprituall might Doe testyfie likewise: thus doeth the spright Descend through all these Spheres subordinary, Yet can not be sayd from its seate to vary. Soe doeth it allsoe witnesse beare profound 285 Of’t self The Trueth in all; as well was found By th’ Ancient writers when they did descrie All seeds were by the seventh property In Number, weyght, and measure multyply’d, Which Qualytie they therfore fully try’d 290 Neerest of th’ Woord aboove to testifie, Which to that age was manifested by The name of the world’s sowle, in doctrin cleere, As by theyr writinges amply doeth appeere. ‘And further, that the forme of every thinge 295 (In which the sowle resides) doeth allwayes klinge (I speake of thinges subordinate) unto Th’ Essentiall salt: which nothing differs, though, [f. 31v] From th’ Sulfur fixd, as, by reduction keene Of Salts to Oyle, is playnly to bee seene. 300 From which, each Sowle hath its prefixed moode Of restitution, comonly understood By the woord Seculum, which every yeare The Springe for vegetives doeth make t’ appeare To be theyr Seculum. As when in urne 305 We, for example, vegetives doe burne, And cleere the Salt from off the ashes’ lee, And with unsav’ry earth it mixe, we see The followinge Springe the very same arise In’s true proportion, hue, and qualities. 310 ‘Now for the body Animall, once gone To dust, in that it Seculums but one Can have, its resurrection likewise can Noe more in number be. Wherof the Man, Its kinge, whose sowle was by immediate Spell 315 Inspird, and in which now the Woord doeth dwell In’s sprituall seed, his fall and rise can know The only All above and soe below. ‘But that a Resurrection sure there is, The vegetive demonstrates; and that this 320 New lief shall astrall and e’relasting be, The minerall doeth proove apparantlie. ‘And further, that in it a forme most rich Resides, appeareth by those collours which You saw in the first destillation mixt 325 Of this your salt before you had it fixt. ‘The same will soe appeare if you destill The home of stagge or fallow deere with skill Of destination laterall: to th’ side Of the receaver shall you then see slide [f. 32r] The Salt, and there in forme of hart’s homes clinge; To th’ trueth wherof, the practice will you bringe. Yet call to minde how, when those collours fayre To you in the extraction did appeare Of this your Master’s salt, you noe way could 335 Your Master’s forme throughout your course behowld, But fayre orientall collours in a way Confused, as of ould the Chaos lay. And why of Man you could not there the forme Behowld, as in the tother of Stagge’s horne, 340 I give you leave to reason, or in Poste Ride to consult with Jacob Behmen’s goste. ‘As for the min’rall sowle, its lief is linkt To rules of art, and those to woorkes distinct In number two—Solution beinge the one, 345 Reduction tother—which the Woord alone (That by such contemplations we might him Only admire and honour) pleasd hath been Unto our understandinge to subject, As unto you I shall anon detect. 350 ‘But first your Master’s errour shall by me To you yet further manifested be. Which was, when he th’ same principles descri’de And Elements togeather to recide In all thinges, and agayne in one that All 355 T’ abide with interest reciprocall; And further how that the Solution, Seperation, and Coagulation Doe over all thinges heere below prevayle, And allsoe Champion the three bodies frayle, [f. 32v] Keepinge within the body minerall E’en as without it doeth the animall: He thought therby that all the bodies three Were controvertible accordinglie. And soe they are, but by our God alone; 365 For if man could this doe, he might—all’s one— As God himself, from out the very Sand Rayse children to inherit Abra’mes lande, Since that the sand in its tri-unitie Subsists aswell as man, soe prowd is he. 370 All which conversions further to ensure, Unto the man God given hath a power To controvert the lower bodies two, As the Alchemic art doeth playnly show. For if you take the juice of Chelidon 375 With other milkish hearbes, and them soe longe Digest as twenty dayes, you then shall see From them emaninge perfect mercurie. And soe from salts of Vegetives you may A Mercurie extract, to each essay, 380 Which shall performe (when the same course y’ave ranne) Those very operations that you can From th’ minerall expect; which into Gowld How to convert, to you hath been foretowld. ’The Persian, when he this did apprehend, 385 And what stronge force the sun above did lend Unto the Lower, thought immediatlie, Either this sun the world’s great Sowle must be, Or else that Sowle must surely in it lurke, It beinge the fayrest seate of all its woorke. [f. 33r] For that the Author of all bodies, boath Astrall and Elementall, showld (forsooth) Himself that priviledge denie, that he Had on his woorkes conferr’d soe craftylie Sem’d to them most unreasonable. But we, 395 Whoe dare not once our Potter question why He you a Charger made, and me a Panne Did frame; or why he temperd not with sand Tane from the bankes of Seyne his clay when as Camber he made, as when Gomerus was 400 For that clime fitted. Much less dare we pore Into his reasons for the measure, or The stuffe, or collour, of his robes of state, Or where he rests him when the day growes late, Or where he keepes his Christmasse? Heerin all 405 Men, children-like with admiration, fall Showld at his footstoole, least they doe renue Ould Adam’s sin, which the whole world doeth rew. ‘And soe showld not your Master (though he might The body vegetive and Mine unite, 410 And boath destroy, and lief unto them give Spirituall for earthly) once belive This Art his salt likewise to youth recall Could, nor such thoughts lett from his fancie fall. ‘But if with man the same had been the case 415 In point of resurrection, as it was Found with the minerall to be, yet went He not the right way this to circumvent. [f. 33v] For whene with fier alone he bidd you burne The ashes to white chalk, and then in urne, 420 All naked, unto redd—ere you about Could this have brought, you had been tired out. But call to minde what Hermes writes of this: How that not only fier but Azoc is Likewise required to clense these nastie Celles; 425 And allsoe how that Miriam Aron tells There is a water, or a thinge that may Be likned to it, which in half one day, Doeth clense fowle Hendrages. This water (now, To put you out of doubt) runnes from a trough In Arcadie; from whence, with envie fraught, Ould Antipater fetchd the poysnous draught, 430 “The Weoman Speakes,” fol. 34r. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203079263/dac4a1ce-5cd1-4cf7-93cc-59d02c15496b/content/fig7_7_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> In hoofe of Mule that Alexander charmd Wi’ th’ furies to encounter, all unarmd. And for the maner how to use that rare 435 Infernall draught, doe but observe this fayre Unconquerd Beuty.’ Then I ‘woke and eied This Emblem pinn’d unto the Curteyne side.” [f. 34r, Figure 7] [f. 35r] “Mounsieur!” sayd th’ Author, “whether I ame most Engag’d to your Cure, or the diviner Goast, 440 Or Emblem, Puzles me, since every one Hath’s share contributed to reinthrone My phylosophic Dietie. Your dreame, Haveinge explan’d soe Elegant a Theme O’ th’ Theorie of your Cure, which I descrie 445 To sound the same with great Jove’s Surgerie On minced Archas: where the howse beinge burn’d And to a hayry Woolf Lycaon tourn’d, The water that this great Physitian’s Grace Made shift at present wish to wash the face 450 Of’s new-raysd sonne (though there the envious Crew O’ th’ Phylosophic Poets doe not show), Your Embleme heere hath nam’d. But whether we Our Kinge have raysd by the same industrie, Heere comes the Doctor, let him Judge; that then 455 We may goe weygh more Beech with father Ben.”
