THE HERMETIC MUSEUM.

THE BOOK OF LAMBSPRING.

FIGURE III.

The Sages The "Sages" are the wise masters or historical alchemists whose hidden knowledge forms the basis of the "Sacred Art." say truly
That two animals are in this forest:
One glorious, beautiful, and swift,
A great and strong deer;
The other a unicorn.
They are concealed in the forest,
But happy shall that man be called
Who shall snare and capture them.
The Masters shew you here clearly
That in all places
These two animals wander about in forests
(But know that the forest is but one).
If we apply the parable to our Art The "Art" refers to Alchemy, often called the "Great Work," which seeks to perfect both matter and the human soul.,
We shall call the forest the Body.
That will be rightly and truly said.
The unicorn will be the Spirit at all times.
The deer desires no other name
But that of the Soul; which name no man shall take away from it.
He that knows how to tame and master them by Art,
To couple them together,
And to lead them in and out of the forest,
May justly be called a Master.
For we rightly judge
That he has attained the golden flesh A symbolic term for the "body of light" or the perfected state of matter, equivalent to the success of the Alchemical Work.,
And may triumph everywhere;
Nay, he may bear rule over great Augustus. A reference to the Roman Emperor Augustus, symbolizing the highest possible earthly power and wealth, which the successful alchemist is said to exceed in spiritual authority.