The lives of alchemystical philosophers; with a critical catalogue of books in occult chemistry, and a selection of the most celebrated treatises. On the theory and practice of the hermetic art / [Anon].

  • Francis Barrett
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The lives of alchemystical philosophers; with a critical catalogue of books in occult chemistry, and a selection of the most celebrated treatises. On the theory and practice of the hermetic art / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    As for what was in all the rest of the written leaves, which was wrote in good and intelligible Latin, I must conceal, lest God being offended with me, should send his plagues and judg- ments upon me. It would be a wickedness much greater, than he who wished that all men in the world had but one head, that he might cut it off at one blow. Having a obtained this delicate and precious book, I did nothing else, day and night, but study upon it; conceiving very well all the operations it pointed forth, but wholly ignorant of the prima materia with which I should begin, which made me. sad and’ discontented: My wife, whose name was Perrenelle, whom I lavied equally with myself, and had but.lately married, was mightily concerned: for me, and with. many’ words comforting me, earnestly desired to know how she might deliver me from this trouble. I could no longer “keep counsel, but told her all, shewing her the very book, which, when she saw, she became as well pleased! with it-as myself, and with great delight beheld the admirable | cover, the engraving, the images, and exquisite figures thereof’ but understood as little of them as I. Yet it was matter of consolation to me to: didveekis and . ene: tertain myself with her, and to think what we should do, to find out the interpretation and meaning thereof. » At length I caused to be painted within my chamber, as. mach to the life or original, as I could, all the images and figures of the said fourth and fifth. leaves. These I shewed ‘to the greatest scholars. and most learned men in Paris, who understood thereof no more than myself: I told them they were found in a book which taught the philosophers’ stone. But the greatest part of them madea mock both of me, ‘and that most excellent secret, except one, whose name was Anselmey a practiser of physic, and a deep student in this art. | He much desired to see my book, which he valued more. than” any thing else in the world, but I always refused him; only made him a large demonstration ‘of the method. He told me that ‘the first figure represented. Timney whibhs ie vours al] things; and that according to the number of the six written leaves, there was required a ‘space of six years to perfect the stone; and then, said he, we must turn the:glass, and see it no more.’ ‘I told him this was not painted, but only to shew the teacher the prima materia, or jirst agent, as was written. in the book: He answered me, that ‘ this digestion for six years, was as itwere a second agent; and that cer tainly the first agent was there paint- ed, which was the white and heavy ‘water. This, without doubt, was Argent Vive, which they could not fix, z.¢c. cut off: his feet, or take away his volatility, s save by that long digestion in-the-pure blood of young infants.
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