Section 31

-F^^rhowtomakeour^^^ Son.
Faync would I kno we that have we done -
My Sonne with lent and eafie he a te, ? frim.
The Elements togeather will kindly meate : Hafte not to faft whilcft they be rawc , Keepe well thcFie, beware of thelowe.
Shutt well the Veffle leaft out pafle the Spint, So (hall you all things the better kcepe 5 For if the Spiritts doe paflcyou from, ' Remedy to gett them againe have you none : And how marvcillous it is the Elements to meete Kecpe this as your principal! fecrete, At your begining give God the prayfe 5 And keepe your Matter in heate forty dayes. But fo that all things be made clearc, Or elfe you are never the ncare : And within this tyme itt wil be Black 5 And oft chainge colour till it be White, There you may ceafe^nd further proceede, By mendinge the heate to your mefurc indeed 5 And there withall now will I end, And to God onely thee Commend.
JOHN
3
JOHN GOWER
CONCERNING
The Philosophers Stone,
-
jNDalfo with great diligence, Thei fpnde thilke Experience : Which clcpcd is Alcwome, Whereof the Silver multeplie$ jThei made,and eke the Gold alfo.
And for to telle howe^itt isfo:
Of bodies feven in Speciall ,
With fowre Spirites joynt withall $
Stant the fubftance of this materc,'
The bodies which I fpeke of here,
Of thePlannets benbegonrie,
The Gold is titled to the Sonne :
The Ultoem of Silver hath his part,
And Iron that ftonde uppon Marti
The Lccd after Satur wgrowcth,
kx\d$ttpiter\ht Brafle beftoweth 5
The Copper fette is to Venus :
And to his part Mercurius >
Hach the Quickfilvcr, as it fallcth,
The which after the Boke it callcth r
Is firft of thilke f oure named
Of Spirits, which ben proclaymcd,
And theSpirite which is feconde, In Sal Armomake is f ounde :
The
upon the Thilofophers Stone^ %6p
The third Spivke Sttlp&ur is,
The fourth Sewende after this,
Arcennium by name is hotte
With blowyng, and with fires hotc :
In thefe things which I fay,
Thei worchen by divers waye.
For as the Pbilofofher tolde,
Of Gold and Sylver thei ben holde,
Two principall cxtremitees,
To which all other by degrees ,
Of the mettalls ben accordant,
And fo through kinde refcmblant :
That what man couth awaie take,
The ruft,of which they waxen fcjlake,
And the favour of the hardnes 5
Thei fhulden take the likenes 5
Of Gold or Silver parfe&ly,
Bnt for to worche it fykerly ^
Betweene the Corps and the Spirits
Er that the Metall be parfitc,
In feven formes itt is fcttc
Of all, and if one belettc,
The remnant may not avayle,
Butothcrwife itmaie nought fayle 5
For thei by whome this Art was founde,
To every poynt a certayne bounde,
Ordeinen that a man may finde,
This Craft is wrought by wey of kinde 5
So that there is no fallacc in 5
But what man that this werkc begyn 5
He mote awaite at every tyde,
So that nothynge be left afyde.
FyrftoftheDiftillacion, Forth with the Congelacion,
Ccc Solucion
27© JohnGower
Solution, Diffcencion, And kepc in his entencion, The poynt of Sublimation, And forthwith Calcination, Of very Approbation, So that there be Fixation, With temperate hetes of the fycr, Tyll he the perfite EMfcer, Of thilke PhiUJofhers Stone* Maiegette, of which that many one Of Philosophers whilome write : And if tljou wolt the names wite, Of thilke^tf* with other two, Which as the Clcrkes maden tho 5 So as the Bokes itt recorden, The kindc of hem I fhall recorden.
Thefc old Philosophers wyfe* By wey of kyndc in fond ry wife 5 Thvc Stones made through Clcrgie, Thefyrftlihallfpccifie, Was cleped Vegetahite 5 Of which the proper vcrtueis, To mans heale for to ferve5 As for to keepe, and to preferve, The body fro ficknesall. Till death of kinde upon hymfalL The fecond Stone Ithebchote, Is Lapi& Animate hote : The whofe vcrtue, is proper and couth* ForEareand Eye,Nofe and Mouth 5 Whereof a man may here, and fee, Andfmell and taft, in hisdegree^ And for to feele and for to goe^ Itt helpeth a man of both two;
The
upon the Thilofophers Stone. 371
The witts five he underf ongeth To keepe, as it to hym belongeth.
The third Stone in fpcciall by name is cleped Minerall, Which the Mettalls of every myne, Attempreth, till that thei 6enfynej And pureth hem by fuch a wey. That all the vice goth awey, OfRuft,ofStynke, and ofHardnes: And when they ben of fuch clenncs, This minerall fo as I fynde, Transformeth all the fyrft kynde, Andmaketh hem able to conceive, Through his vertuc and receive Both in fubftance and in figure, Of Gold and Silver the nature. For thei two ben the extrcmitccs, To which after the propertees, Hath every mettall his defire, With hclpe and comforte of the fyre. Forth with this Stone as it is faid, Which to the Sonne and Mooncislaide.* For to the Red, and to the White, This Stone hath power to profitc 5 It maketh Multiplicacion Of Gold and the fixacion , It caufeth and of this babitc, He doth the werke to be parfite .- Of thilke £//*tr which men call Alconomy, as is befalle To hem, that whilome were wife,- But now it ftant all otherwife : '
Thei fpeken faft of thilke Stone, But how to make it now wote none.
Ccc 2 After
57^ John Gower
After the footh Experience,
And nathles greate diligence,
Theifetten upthilke dede,
And fpillen more then thei fpede $
For alwey thei fynde a lette.
Which bringeth in povetee and Dettc 5
To hem that rich were to fore,
The Loffe is had the Lucre is lore:
Togetteapoundthei fpenden five,
I not how fuch a Craft fhall thrive :
In the manner as it is ufed,
It were better be refufed,
Then for to worchen upon wene,
In thinge which ftant not as thei wene :
But not for thy who that it knew,
The Science $f himfelfe is trtw :
Uppon the forme as it was founded,
Whereof the names yett be grounded 5
Of hem, thatfirft itfounden out:
And thus the fame goth all about,
To fuch as foughtenbefines,
Of vetueand ofworthines,
Of whom if I the names call,
Hermes was one the firft of all ,
To whom this Art is moft applied,
Ceber thereof was magnified,
And Ortelane and CMorien,
Among the which is Avicen.
Which founde and wrote and greate partie,
The pracrickc of Alconomie,
Whofcbokcs pLiinLeastheiftondc,
Uppon this Crat^e tew underftonde.
But yet to pur hem in affay,
There ten full mank now a day,
That
upon the ThilofophersStone. 375
That knowen litle that thei mcne, It is not one to witc and wcne, In forme of words thci it trcte 5 But yet thei failen ofbeyet. For of to much, or of to lite, There is algate found a wite : So that thei follow not the line, Of the perfect Medicine, Which grounded is upon nature; But thei that writcn the Scriptute5 Of Greke, Arabe, and Caldee, Thei were of fuch Auftoritcc, That thei firfte founden out the wey, Of all that thou haft herd me fey, Whereof the Cronicke of her Lore, Shall ftonde in price for evermore.
Ccc a THE
374
npup
VISION OF
J* GEO%gE %JTLEY: ChanonoF Bridlington.
H*n bufie at my booke I was upon a certeine nrgte, This Vifion here expreft appear'd unto my dim-
(med fight, A Toade full rudde I faw did drinke the juce of
grapes fo faft,
Till over charged with the broth, his boweils all to braft; And after chat from poyfoned bulke he caft his ven ome fell, For greif and paine whereof his Members all began to fwell, With drops of poyfoned fweate approaching thus his fecret Den, His cave with blafts of famous ay re he all be- why ted then ; And from the which in fpace a golden humour did enfue, (hew: Whofe falling drops from high did ftaine the foile with ruddy And when this Corps the force .of vitall breath began to lacke, This dying Toade became forthwith like Coale for colour blacke: Thus drowned in his proper veynes of poyfoned flood, For tearme of eightic dayes and fowre he rotting ftood t By tryall then this venome to expell I did defire, For which I did commkt his carkafe to a gentle fire : Which done, a wonder to the fight, but more to berebear'ft, The Toade with Colours rare through every fide was pear'ft, And White appeared when all the tondry hewes were pall, Which after being tin&ed Rudde, for evermore did laft. Then of the venome handled thus a medicine I did make 5 Which venome kills and -faveth mch as venome chance to take. Glory be to him the graunter of fuch fecret wayes, Dominion, and Honour, both with Worfhip, and with Prayfe.
A M 8 N.
VERSES
37*
*********** >.f ************
VERSES
BELONGING
TO
A^EM'BLEMATI GALL SCROWLE:
Suppofedto be invented by Geo: Ripley.
Shall you tell with plaine declaration,
Where, how, and what is my generation :
Omogem is my Father,
And ^Magnefia is my Mother :
And A\ot truly is my Sifter,
And Kibriek forfooth is my Brother :
The Serpent of Arabia is my name,
The which is leader of all this game :
That fometymc was both wood and wild,
And now I am both meeke and mild;
The Sun and the Moone with their might,
Have chaftifed me that was fo light :
My Wings that me brought,
Hither and thither where I thought
Now with their might they downe me pull,
And bring me where they woll,
The blood of mync heart I wifT,
Now caufctli both Joy and bliflfe :
And
yj6 Verfes belonging
And diflfolveth the very Stone, And knitteth him ere he have done ; Now maketh hard that waslix, And caufeth him to be fix. Of my blood and water I wis, Plenty in all the World there is. It runneth in every place 5 Who it findeth he hath grace : \w the World it runneth over all, And goeth round as a ball : kut thou underftand well this, Of the worke thou flialt miff. Therefore know ere thou begirt, What he is and all his kin, Many a Name he hath full fure, And all is but one Nature: Thou muft part him in three, And then knit him as the Trinity : And make them all but one, Loe here is the Philofofbers Stone.
THe Bird of Hermes ismy name, Eating my wings to make me tame*
IN the Sea withoutcn lefTe, Standeth the Bird of Hermes : Eating his Wings variable, And thereby maketh himfclfe more ftabk$ When all his Fethers be agon, He ftandeth ftill there as a ftone$ Here is now both White aud Red, And alfo the Stone to quicken the dead,
All
to Ttykys Screak. 377
All and fume withouten fable, Both hard, and nefh and malliabk Underftandnow well aright, And thanke God of this nght.
TAKE thou Vhmbus that is fo bright, That fitteth fo high in Majefty 5 With his beames that fliineth foe light, In all places where ever that he be, For he is Father to all living things, Mayntcyncr of Ly fe to Crop and Roote, And caufeth Nature forth to fpring - With his wife being footc, For he is falve to every fore, To bring about thys precious worke; Take good hcedc unto his lore, I fay to learned and to Clerk, And Omogenj is my Name : Which God ihaped with his ownc hand, And Magnefia is ray Dame5 Thou (halt verily understand, Now hecre I fhall begin, For to teach thee a ready way : Or elfc litlc ihalt thou wyn, Take good heed what I fay 5 Devide thou Phoebus in many a parte 5 With his beames that byn fo bright, And thus withNaturc him Coarte, The which is mirrour of all light : This Phebus hath full many a Name, Which that is full hard for to know 5 And but thou take the very fame, The Philofophers Stone thou ftalt not know,
Ddd There-
378 Verfes belonging
Therefore I councell ere thou begin : Know him well what it be. And that is thick make it thin ; For then it /hall full well like the. Now underftand well what I meane, And take good heed thereunto, Theworke {hall elfelitle be feene: And tourne thee unto mikle wtoc. As I have faid in this our Lore, Many a Name I wiff it have, Some behinde, and fome before 5 As Philofophers of yore him gave.
ON the Ground there is a Hill, Alfo a Serpent within a Well : His Tayle is long with Wings wide* All ready to fly on every fide, Repairc the Well round aboutT That the Serpent pas not out -5. For if that he be tliere agone, Thou loofeft the vc; tae of the Stoney What is the Ground thou mayft know hcere, And alfo the Well that is fo cleerc : And eke the Serpent with his Tayle Or elfe the worke (hall litle availe, The Well muft brenne in Water clearc, Take good hcedc for this thy Fyre, The Fire with Water brent fliabe, And Water with Fire wafh lhall he % Then Earth on Fire fhalbe pur, And Water with Air (halbeknir. Thus ye (hall go to Putrefaccion, And bring the Serpent to redu&iojou
Firft
to %i$leys Scrowple.
Firft he fhalbc Black as any Crow,* And downe in his Deri (hall lye full lowe: I fwel' d as aToadc that lyeth on ground, Burft with bladders fitting fo round, They fhall to braft and lye full plaine, And thus with craft the Serpent is flainc He fhall flicw Collours there many a one, And tournc as White as wilbe the bone. With the Water that he was in, Wafh him cleanc from his fin : And let him drinke a litle and a lite, And that fhall make him faire and white, The which Whitnes is ever abiding, Lo here is the very full finishing 2 Of the White Stone and the Red, Loe here is the true deed.
V79
$©
Jft $& $& K& j{ffl ^f!# Jfini *nl
llilf tttf i*f ff f tf f f 1 f f 1 f '
THE MISTERY
OF ^£ CHYMISTS, Compofedby Sir Geo: Ripley
Chanon of Bridlington.
Hen o in T and Phoebus fhines bright, (ing [The Elements reviving the new Year fpring- Thc Son by his vertue givesNature & Light, And moyfture refrefheth all things growings InthefeafonoftheYearewhenthe Sun waxethwarme, Frefhly and f ragrantc the Flowers doe grow, Of Natures fubtill working we cannot difcerne. Nor yet by our Reafon we can it not know, In foure Elements is comprehended thingsThree, Animalls, Vegetabills, Mineralls muft be, Of this is our Principle that we make our Stone, Quality and Quantity is unknowne to many one* Sm. Quality {Father) would I faine know ,
Of what nature it is and what it hath in his kinde. Father. As Colours divers which on the ground do grow,
Kcepe well this fecret {Son) and marke it in thy minde. Sun Without Proportion {Father) how fhould I it know,
This working now is far from my minde. JttlEwC Nature and kinde (Son) together do grow,
Quality by waight (Son) {halt thow never finde. Mzml To- iepcratc Elements {Father) I muft needes know,
Either in Proportion which be more or WT.
Out
The Mijiery ofAlchymtfis. $8 i
Out of our Principle foure Elements thou (halt draw* Father. Thou (halt nccde nothing elfe that necdefull is •, Our Principle in quality is fo perfe&ly mixed , By vertue of the Son and his quality, So cqualy Joyned, fo throughly fixed. As nothing fo well mixed may be.
This Principle {Father) is but one thing, Son"
Good (Father) tel me where it doth grow. Father.
In every place (Son) you (hall him well finde 5 By Taft and by Colour thou (halt him well know 5 FowlesintheAyerwith it doe fly, And Fifties doe fwim there with in the Sea, With Reafon of Angels you may it diferne, Both Man and Woman togoverne, With our fixed Body (Sen) we muft thus begin. Of him make Mercury and Water cleare, Man and Woman is them within, Married together by vertue of our Fire, The Woman in her working is full wild, Be well aware (he goe not out 5
Till (he have conceived and borne a Chylde,
Then all his Kin on him (hal lout 5
In their workes they be unliable,
The Elements they be fo raw 5
And in their Colour fo variable,
Asfomctymelike the head of a Crow,
When he is black ye may .well like.
Putrefaction muftgobcforne,
After Blacke he wilbc White,
Then thankeye God the Chyld is borne.
This Child is both King and Empcrour,
Through his region both far andneere5
All the World doth him honour ,
By the vertue he hath taken of the Fire;
Dddj His
382 The Mifiery
His firft Vefture is White and pure,
As any Chriftall fhining clecre,
Of White tin&ure then be you fure 5
By verture taken of our Fire,
His firft Vefture that is fo White,
Betokencth his Virginity,
A fimilitude even thereto like,
And according to the Trinity :
Our Medicen is made of things Three,
Againft which the Phibfophcrs cannot fay nay,
The Father, the Son in one degree,
C erpus, Spirit us & Anima.
When Nature is with Nature, thou mayft fruite finde,
By proportion more or lefle,
In pra&ife hereof many men be blinde,
Becaufc they underftand not what Nature is 5
His fecond Vefture as Gold is Red,
In his Veffell bright fhining,
ADiadem fetonhis head, "
Richer then any earthly thing.