An Hermetic Work.

AN HERMETIC WORK .

( Continued from page 4 . ) CHAP . III . The sooner a thing promised is performed , the more grateful . Wherefore I return to my predestinated History .

THE twenty-seventh of December , 1666 , in the afternoon , came a Stranger to my house at the Hague , in a Plebeick habit , honest Gravity , aud serious authority ; of a mean Stature , a little long face , AA'ith a few small Pock holes , and most black Hair , not at all curled , a Beardless Chin , about three or four and forty years of age ( as I guessed ) , and born in North Holland . After salutation he beseecheel me with a great reA'erence to pardon his rude accesses , being a great lover of the Pyrotechnyan Art ; adding , he formerly endeavoured to visit me with a friend of his , and told me he had read some of my small Treatises ; and particularly , that against the Sympathetic !; : Powder of Sir

Kemlm Digby , and observed my doubtfulness of the Philosophical Mystery , Avhich caused him to take this opportunity , and asked me if / could not believe such a Medicine Avas in nature , Avhich could cure all Diseases , unless the principal parts ( as Lungs , Liver , etc . ) Avere perisht , or the predestinated time of death AA'ere come . To ' which I rephyed , I never met Avith an Adept , or saAV such a Medicine , though I read much of it , and have wished for it . Then I asked if he were a Physician , but he ,

preventing my question , said he was a Founder of Brass , yet from his youth learnt many rare things in Chyinistry , of a friend particularly , the manner to extract out of Metals many Medicinal Arcanas by force of fire , and was still a lover of it . After other large diseourse of experiments in Metals , This Elias asked me if I could know the Philosopher ' s Stone Avhen I see it . I answered not at all , though I had read much of it in Paracelsus , Belmont , Basilius , and others ; yet dare I not say I could know the

Philosopher s Matter . In the Interim he took out of his Bosonie Pouch or Pocket , a neat Ivory Box , and out of it took three ponderous pieces or small Lumps of the Stone , eaeh about the bigness of a small Wallnut transparent , of a paile Brimstone colour , Avheretmto did stick the internal ssales of the Crucible , Avliereiti it appeared the most noble substance Avas melted ; the value of them might be judged Avortli about Twenty Tims of Gold , Avhich Avhen I had greedily seen and handled almost a quarter of an hour ,

and drawn from the owner many rare secrets of its admirable effects in humane and Metalliek bodies , and other Magical properties , I returned him this Treasure of Treasures ; truly with a most sorrosvfnl mind , after the custom of those who conquer themselves , 3 'et ( as ivas but just ) very thankfully and humbly , I further desired to know why the colour AA'as 3 'ellow , aud not red , ruby colour , or purple , as Philosophers Avrite ; he answered , that AA'as nothing , for the matter ivas mature and ripe enough .

Then I humbly requested him to bestow a little piece of the Medicine on me , in perpetual memory of him , though but the quantity of a Coriander or Hemp Seed . He presently answered , Oh no , no , this is not lawful though thou wotddst give me as many Duckets in Gold as Avould fill this room , not for the value of the matter , but for some particular consequences ; nay , if it were possible ( said he ) that fire could be burnt of fire , I would rather at this instant cast all . this substance into the fiercest flames . But

after he demanding , if I had another private chamber , whose prospect Avas from the publick Street , I presently conducted him in to the best furnished , room backwards , where lie entred without wi ping his Shooes ( full of snow and dirt ) , according to the custom in Holland , then not doubting but he would bestoAV part thereof , or some great secret treasure on me , but in vain ; for he asked for a little piece of gold , and pulling off his Cloak or Pastoral habit , opened his Doublet , under which he wore five pieces of Gold hanging in green silk Eibons , as large a ? the inward round of a small Pewter