Section 23

This marriage hallowed at midday Spheare.
35. And at this feaft were theGodesall, Saturne from blacknes was turned to white 5 And Inciter let his mantle fall, Full pale a nd meager of greate delight, Clothed in|lylies that every maner wight, Of Heaven and Erth, and Gods of the Sea, Rejoyced in Heart, and were full glad and light, To be prefent at this great Solemnity.
>Jn tJllALi
%66 'Daftiris Dreame.
$6.Mars forgot there hys fturdy black hardincs, Caft off his Habergeon fret with old ruftj Vcnm forfoolec her mincrall rcdncs, Tooke Gold for greene and flic againe alfo forluft^ Bccaufe fhe had in Hosbus fuch a truft, o
That he fhould this feaft hold of moft noblencs : Of brotherly pitty needs as he muft, Give her a mantle of Oricntall brightnes.
37. After this Wedding here afore devifed, Of faire Phabm andfrefti Lucine* Pbilofophers have prudently pra&ifed,
A Cloffet round by their wife Do&rine, Cleere as Chriftall of Glaflc a litle fhrine 5 With heavenly deawe fluffed that dungeon, Kept night and day whh glorious maidens nyne$ To kcepe the Queene in her Concepcion.
38. Religioufly they kept their Sylenee, Till that from heaven their a royali light, And there with all in open audience $ Was heard a voyce almoft at mid night, Among the Virgins moft amiable of fight, That faid unto them, to fave that \yas forlorne5 I muft againe through my imperial! myght,
Be of my Mother new conceived and borne.
39. 1 muft pafle by water and by' Fire, The brunt abide and there from not decline, To fave my brethren I have fo grcate defire. With new light their darknes to yllumine, 1 But fore I dread that venomous Serpentine, Which ever advanceth with his violence , My tender youth to hurt and toinvenome, Bur in your keeping doe you your diligence*
The
40. The King thus cntrcd in his bed royal], The Queene conceived under a Sun bright 5 Under her fecte a mount like Chriftall, Which had devoured her husband anon right, Pead of defire and in the Maidens fight 5 Loft all the Collour of his f re(h face, Thus was he dead, the Maidens feeble of mighr Difpaired> flept in the fame place,
41. The Serpent bold flied out his poyfon,
The Queene and Maidens for fearc tooke them to flight^
Seaven tymes aflending up and downe
With in a vault, now darke, now cleere of light.
Their generation was fo ftrong of might,
Tfter death now palfeth Purgatory 5
Ao Refurrcccion as any Sunbright*
Things that were loft to bring to his glory,
42. The Qiieene tooke her full poffeffion, The Soule reviving of the dead King; Bat of old hatred the toxicate poyfon,
Was by the Serpent caft in to their hindring 5 The Prince was buried, but of his rifing, The Btethren were glad the] truth was fcene, When they were waflied by his rtaturall clenfing ; ; And their old Leprie by Miracle was made cleane*
43. The full Moonc halfe fliaddowedthe Sun, To putt away the burning of his light 5 Black (haddowed firft the styes were fo dunn, The Ravens bill began wholoofceth right, Blacker then Jett or Bugle to fight 5
But litle andlitle by ordinary apparance, The temperate fire wich his cherilhing might Turned all to white^ but with noe violence*
jn 2 Tyme ,
268 T>ajliris T>reame.
44. Tymc to theQueene approchcd of Childing, The Child of Nature was ready to fly,
Paflage was there none to hys out going : He fpread hys wings and found no liberty * Of nyne Virgins he devoured three, The other fix moft excellent and fairc, Fearefull for dread in their greateft beauty, Spread their feathers and flew forth in the Aire,
45. The Child coloured firft Black and after White, Having noe heate in very exiftence ,
But by cherifhing of the Sun bright,
Of forraine fire there was noe violence ;
Save that men fay which have experience,
He dranke fuch plenty of the Water of the well,
That his fix fitters made noe rcfiftance;
But would have devowred 3 Daft-en can you tell.
46. Sometymes black, fometymes was he redd, Now like a(hes,now Citrine of Colour:
Now of Safforne hew, now fanguine was. his head, Now white as a lylie hefhewed him in his bower. The Moone gave nourifhment to him in his labours And with all their force did their buifnes, To cloath hym frefher then any flowre, With a mantle of everlafting whitnes.
Pearee
%6?
■
P E A R C E
THE BLACK MONKE
upon the Elixir.
Ake Erth of Erth, Erths Modcr , And Watur of Erth y t ys no oder, And Ficr of Erth that4>eryth the pryfe, But of that Erth louke thow be wyfe3 _ The trew Elixer yf thow wylt make,
Erth owte of Erth looke that thow take,
Pewer futel faire and good,
And than take the Water of the Wood:
Clecre as.Chryftall fchynyng bryght.-
And do hem togeder anon ryght,
Thre dayes than let liem lye ,
And than depart hem pry vyly and flye,
Than fchale be browght Watur fchynyng,
And in that Watur ysafoulereynynge,
Invifible and hyd and unfeene,
A marvelous matter yt ys to weene.
Than departe hem by dyftillynge,
And you fchalle fee an Erth appennge,.
Hevie as metale fchalle y t be 5
In the wych is hyd grete prevety,
Deftil that Erth in grene hewe,
Three dayes during well and trew •,
And do hem in a body of glaff,
In the wych never no warke was*
Nn 3 in'1
zjo cBlac/{Monfy
In a Furnas he muft be fett,
And on hys hede a good lymbeck*
And draw fro hym a Watur clere
The wych Watur hath no peere,
And aftur macke your Fyer ftrongcr,
And there on thy Glafle continew longer,
So fchal yow fc come a Fyer 5
Red as Mode and of grete yre,
And aftur that an Erth leue there fchale,
The wych is cleped the Moder of alle $
Then into Purgatory fche muft be doe,
And have the paynes that longs thereto,
Tylfchebe bryghter than the Sune,
For than thow haft the Mayftrey wone$
And that fchalbe wythin howres three,
The wych forfooth ys grete ferly :
Than do her in a clene Glaff,
Wyth fome of the Watur that hers was.
And in a Furnas do her againe,
Tyl fche have drunke her Watur certaine ,
And aftur that Watur give her Blood,
That was her owne pewre and good ,
And whan fche hath dranke alle her Fyer,
Sche wyll wcx ftftfng and of grete yre.
Than take yow mete and mylcke thereto,
And fedc the Chylde as you fchowlde do,
Tyl he be growne to hys full age,
Than fchal he be of ftrong courage •
And tourne alle Bodies that leyfull be,
To hys owne powre and dignityc,
And this ys the makyng of owre Stone,
The trewth here ys to wide yow evereech one*
For all that taketh any other wey, Mouch they loofeth and mouch they may.
For
upon the Elixir. %ji
For trcwly there ys no other way of righte,
But Body of Body and Lyghte of Lyghte,
Man of Man begottyn ys, S
And Bcfte of Bcfte to hys lykcnes,
Alle the foolcs in the worlde feeken ; |
Athyngethattheymay never meeten,
They woldc have Metalle owte of hem,
That never was fownde by worldly men :
Nc never was fownde by Goddis myghte*
That they fchould beare any fuch fryghre*
All Saltes and Sulphures far and nercy Iinterdite hem alle in fere, AlleCorofiye waters, Blood andHayrey j
Pyff, Homes, Wormes and Saudiver , Alume, Atriment, alle I fufpende, Rafalger and Arfnick I defendc, Calx vive, and Calx mort hys Brother,, I fufpende them both, one and other, n
For of alle things I wyll no moc, But fowrc Elements in Generall I fay foe*. Sun and Moonc,Erth and Water; And here ys alle that men of clatter,
Our Gold and Sylver ben no commonplato? '** But afperme owte ofaBodi I take, Inthewychys alle £*/j Z***, Lyfe and Lyghte . Water and Erth, Fyre and Fryght : And alle commyth of one Image, But the Water of the Wood makyth the marryagt $ Therefore there ys none other waye, But to take thee to thy Beades and praye : For Covetous Men yt fyndyth never y Though they feek yt once and ever, Set not your Hearts in thys thyng, But only to God and good lyvyngei
Afldi
And he that wyll come thereby, Muft bemeeke, and full of mercy : Both in fpyrit and in Countenannce , Full of Chereti and good Governaunce5 And evermore full of almes decde, Symple and pewerly hys lyf toleade: v Wyth Prayers, Pennaunces, and Piety, And ever to God a lover be, And allethe rychcs that he ys fped, To do Godworfchyppe wyth Almes deede*
In Arfenyck fublymcd there ys a way ftreight, Wyth Mercury calcyned nyne tymes hys weight And grownde together with the Water of myght That bereth ingreffion lyfe and lyght, And anon as they togyther byne, Alle runnyth to Water bryght and ftene, Upon thys Fyre they grow togcthyr, Tyil they be faft .and flee no whythyr 5 But than feede hem fowrth wyth Lthy hond> Wyth mylke and mcate tyle they be ftrbnge, And thow fchalt have there a good Stone, Whereof an Ounc on fowrty wyll gone: Upon Veym^t on Mercury, Thys Medicyn wyll make thee merry.
All yow that have fowght mani a Leave worke, take yowre Beades and pray, For the longer that yow feeken, The longer yt ysor yow meeten - And he that now fayne would be fped, JLyften to my Daughter Megg\ Forfchhe (call telj yow trewth and ryghte, Hearken now wyth- all your myght. lam Mercury the myghty Flower, I am moft worthy of Honour *
upon the Elixir. 2,72
I am fours of Sol, Luna^ni CMars,
I am gendercr of Iovis^ many be my fnares:
I am fetler of Saturne^ and fours of Venus 9
I am EmprefTe,Prynceffe and Regallof Queenes,
I am Mother- of Myrrour, and maker of lyghr,
I am head and hygheft and fayreft in fyghc .•
I am both Sun^ and Moone,
I am fche that alle thynges muft doone.
I have a Daughter hight Saturne that ys my darlyng,
The wych ys Mother of allwerkyng,
For in my Daughter there byne hydd,
Fowre thyngs Commonly I kydd :
A Golden feede, and a fpearme rych,
And a Silver feede none hymlich$
And a Mercury feede full bryght,
And a Sulphur feede that ys ryght.
Of my Daughter wythowten dred , Byn made Elyxirs whyte and redd, Therefor of her draw a Water cler, The Scjenct yf thow lyft to leare. Thys Water reduccth every thyngc, To tendernes and to fyxing : It burgcneth growyth and gy veth fryght and lyght, Ingreffion ly fe and laftyng in fyght : Alle ryghteous werkcs footh to fay, It helpcth and bryngyth in a good ^vay: Thys ys the Water that ys moft worthy, Aquaperfettiftma & fios mundi r For alle werkes thys Water makyth whyte? Reducyngand fchyning as Sylver bryght: And of the Oylc grca>e marvell there ys, For all thyngs yc bryngyth to redncs: As Cy trine gold he ys full high, None ys fo redd nor none ys fo worthy:
Oo And
274* (Blac^ Mon^dcc.
And in the Erth grete marvele ys hyd, . That ys firft fo black, and than fo red :- And alle ys done in howres three3 Thys may be cleped Gods Prevetie ( Than the Erth fhall torne red asblood, • Citrine Gold, naturall cleere and good, And than the red Oyleto hem fehall goe. Red Ferment, and red Mercury alfoe, And grow togeder weekes feaven, Blefled be Almyghty God of Heven: One Ounce of thys Medycine worthy Caft upon two hundred ownces of Mercury r Schall make Gold moft royall, .And ever enduring to holde tryallj Eyre and Hammer Tuch and Teft , And all eflfayes moft and leaft. And yt ys Medycen above common Gold, To mans body as God yt would.
For Gold that cometh from the Oare Is nouriihed with fowle Sulphur : And Engendered upon Mercury he ys, And nouryflied by Erth and Sulphur I wys, And our Gold ys made of threpewre foules^ In the wych ys noe Corrupcyon foule: But purged pewre as clene as Chryftall, Body and Spyryt and Sowlc wythallj-. And fo they grow into a ftone, In the wych Corrupcyon there ys none5 And than caft hym upon Mercury, And he fchalbe Gold moft worthy, Now have you heard the makyng of our Stone, The b^gynyng aod endyng ys all one,,
i THE:
*7?
THE WORKE OF
•RICH: C^RfE^(JE%
F litan Magmfia take thecler light, ., T he rede Gumme that ys fo bryghc, * OfPhrfofofris the Sdftr vife,
I called Gald wythouten ftryfe ; .
Of hem drawe owtc a Tinfture, And make a matrymony pure : Becweene the husband and the wyfc, I fpoufed wyth the Water of lyfe : And fo that none dyvyfion Be there, in the conjunccion Of the CMoene and of the Sonne, After the marriage ys begonney And that Mercury the planete, In loefmake hem fo to mete; That eyder wyth oder be joyned even, As a Stone engendered fente down fro hcveny Of hem make water clere rennynge, As any Chryftall bryght fchynyngc. Drawen out of bodycs fyxed. By Nature prively mixed Within a veflfal dcpured dene, Of Philofofris bright and fchene ; Beware the Fume efcape the nowghr, And allefo marked well in thy thowght^ That of the Fire the quallitee, Equal to Pbebe^ bcmes be5 *\n '
In the moneth oilune and lule, ^ c
Undeiftand me be not dulle^
O o 2 For
zj$ Carpenters Worfy.
For thou fchalc fee marvelcs grete, Colures fprirtg oute of the heate : Fyrfte Blakke and Whyte, and fo Redde, And after Setryne wythouten drede: And fo wythin howres thrc, That Stone fchall thorowe perced he Wyth Aier that fchall upon hymlyght, The wych ys a wonder fyght .• Whenne the fpiryt ys refrcyned, And wyth the Bodie fo conftrayned, That hem afounder maycnothyng parte, So Nature hem doth there focoart, In matrife whenne they both ben knyte, Lett never thy Veflel fae unfhytte $ Tyl thys ingendred have a ftone, That in thys world ys not fuchc on : For hyt ys called Anymal, Richer then the Mineral* Wyche ys founden in every plafc, Who foundeth hyt myght have grafe .• In the and me and over alle Both Vegetables and Sophifticall : On Hillcs hye and Valeys lowe, He groweth who cowde hyt know, Take thys for an informacion, InCaryt and in Proporcion, Lyth alle who fo coudc feke oute, In Bus and Nubi ys alle the doutev |ie that puttcs hcmfelf in prcs, To Genis and to Species : Qualitas and every Quantite, . To mane a man hyt wol not -be. To brynge about thys trefeur, I mene owre Stone of fuchc valour 5
And
477
And yet who coudc well underftonde,
May tyndc hit rcdy at hys honde :
For Fowles that in the Ayre done flee,
And alfo Fifches in the See :
Thcmoyfterofthercde Grape
And of the Whyte, who coud hymtafce:
Vert ucs of Erbcs vegety ff,
And foules oi Beftes fenfytyff:
Rey fons of Angels that doth difecrne,
Goudc and Yeul Man to governe,
All bryngs to thyn houfc
Thys Noble Ston fo precious ,
AndSoverenteofallethys Werke,
Both to Lewd and to Clerke:
This ly th alle by difcrecion,
In Fyre^and in Decoccion .•
The craft recordethyif he can rede>
How all and fume who ihal fpedc 5
In Bokcs cler as ye may c fee,
Stat in Ignis rtgimint :
To bry nge fosth at my devys,
Thys rychc Rubye, thys Ston of prys :
Harde hevy and pcrcyng,
Now ys thys a wonder thyng .•
I coude never fuche on a fpye;
Save that I finde howe on Marie i
Fy rft found hyt wy thoutcn lefe ,
The wyche was fufter to Meyfe^.-
But who hyt be that fchall hyt wcrke,
Let hem not begenn in the dcrke .-
For he mai fayle for faute of lyght>
But the Sunnefchyne full bright .•
Advy fe the well cr thow begene,
Or clfe ly tel fchalt thow Wynne*
O05 THE
vj*
THE HUNTING
OF
thcg^EE^E LYO^.
LL haile to the noble Companie Of true Students in holy Alchimie, Whofe noble pra&ife doth hem teach To vaile their fecrcts with miftie fpeach $ Mought y r pleafe your worihipfulncs
To hearemy filly foothfaftnes,
Of that pra&ife which I have fcene,
In hunting of the Lyon Greene :
And becaufc you may be apaid,
That ys truth, that I have faid 5
And that you may for furety weene,
That I know well thys Ly$n%greene »•
I pray your patience to attend
Till you fee my fhort writt end,
Wherein He Jceepe my noble M afters rede,
Who while he lived ftoode me in fteede 5
At his death he made me fwearc hym to,
That all the fecrets I fchould never undoe
To no one Man, but even fpread a Cloude
Over my words and writes, and fo it fhroude,
That they which do this Art defire,
Should firft know well to rule their Fyre :
Fo*
Hunting of iyp
For with good rcafon y t doth ftand, Swords to kcepc fro mad Mens hand : Leaft th'one fliould, kill th'other burne. Or either doc fome fore ihroud curne : As fome have done chat I have feene, As they did hunt thys Lyongreem. Whofe collour doubtles ys not foe, And that your wifdomes well doe know 5 For no man lives that ever hath feene Upon fourc feete a Lyon colloured greene :, But our Lyon wanting maturity, Is called greene for unripenes truft me, And yet full quickly can he run, And foone can overtake the Sun : And fuddainely can hym devoure, If they be both Ihut in one towre : And hym Eclipfe that was fo bryght, And make thys redde to turne to whyte: By venue of hys crudytic, And unripe humors whych in hym be. And yet wythin he hath fuch heate , ' That whan he hath the Sun up eate, Hebringcth hym to more perfe&ion, Than ever he had by Natures direction; This Lyon maketh the Sun fith foone To be joyned to hys Sifter, the CMoonci By way of wedding a wondcrous thing , Thys Lyon fhould caufc hem to begett a King: And tis as ftrangc that thys Kings food, Can be nothing but thys Lyons Blood h And tis as true that thys ys none other, Than ys it the Kings Father and Mother* A wonder a Lyon^ and Sun and Moomy All thefe three one dqede have done;