DIALOGUE

Theophrastus. Those goals are: to bring glass to the hardness of a diamond; to provide the most excellent and sudden remedies from metals for desperate diseases; and indeed, what exceeds all wonder, to preserve the nature of man immune from imminent diseases, and thus, so to speak, to shut out old age. Add to this a most exquisite and certain antidote against all poisons and the power of venomous things, such as was recently made by a certain rustic or metal-miner from Meissen original: "Miseno". Meissen was a famous mining region in Saxony., by chance rather than by design, from a most neglected thing (as I hear), which he has personally approved through his own experience many times. Finally, there is that which far exceeds the power and efficacy of everything I have listed so far: that is, a certain and concise method by which the most subtle and thin spirits are prepared. By these, perfected metals—increased and more complete by a manifold proportion—can be brought back meaning: transformed or refined without any attempt at a false metamorphosis or change of substance.

Chrysophilus. Well done, Theophrastus! I have been waiting for you to bring this forth for a long time. Therefore, putting aside all the other things you have mentioned, we shall examine this alone more diligently. Out of confidence in searching for this experiment, I have endured so many expenses; I have read through so many books brought to me from various parts of the world; I have entrusted them to so many learned men to be interpreted. But (which is most miserable), frustrated of all hope, I am stuck in the middle of the storms, as I said before. I greatly fear that I must grow old among them, as if upon the rocks of the Sirens In Greek mythology, the Sirens lured sailors to their doom on rocky shores with their song.. Therefore, out of the many whose counsel I have used, I have only you left who can show me that method and explain whatever pertains to this business.

Theophrastus. To be able to understand from those books of yours—from whatever nation they are said to come—that which I mentioned in the last place, is no less laborious than picking fruit from the gardens of Tantalus Tantalus was punished in the underworld with fruit that receded whenever he reached for it.. Moreover, for those counselors of yours, or whoever promises you their labor in this matter, to be able to perform it is as easy as making ivory white with ink. This is because almost all of them are imposters or fools who dare to persuade themselves and others that they understand what they do not know. Furthermore, in almost all these books, mere riddles are contained—mere mazes and shadows, untangleable even by an Oedipus Oedipus was the legendary hero who solved the riddle of the Sphinx..

Chrysophilus. Why then (if these things are so) did those idle-talkers original: "ματαιόλογοι" (mataiologoi) bestow so much work upon this business? Why do they so boldly promise a perfected science and instruction to men?

Theophrastus. As you say, this has been done by almost everyone. While I would not deny it, it seems to me they were led to commit this for four reasons in particular. First, to exercise the minds of idle men. Second, to provide a handle for the ingenious to investigate many very famous and useful things that flow from there. Third, so that they might wretchedly (as was fitting) torment curious men, as well as the greedy and those who thirst so much for gold, and abuse their work and labors (not without great delight and laughter). Do you not realize this has been done by them so often, when they have given many names to the same thing everywhere—more names than were once given to Jove himself by the idol-worshippers? Finally, so that they might leave a testament to posterity that they understood the secrets of nature and physical actions themselves.

Chrysophilus. Why then did they prefer to write down those things which no one ever understands in such wordy commentaries, rather than remain silent? When these are inspected more diligently, I am led to this opinion: they are mere trifles and shadows of things, fabricated by the imposters themselves or rather by some Plutonic demon A demon of the underworld or of wealth (Pluto/Hades). to overthrow many people.

Theophrastus. You should not affirm this universally, Chrysophilus. It is true that almost all of them could have remained silent, for my part. However, when you say there is nothing but fiction in some of their books, you act in the manner of those who judge a thing not understood nor ever seen, just as the blind judge colors. I confess there is a great heap of books, as far as has come to my knowledge, all entangled in this business. A great part of them are unworthy of being inspected by an ingenious man; and yet they are circulated under the names of Hermes, Avicenna, Averroes, and the like. These are spurious, compiled by Europeans and barbarians, such as—to name a few—Richard the Englishman, Gilgil, Christopher of Paris, Morienus, Rosinus, and Stephanus, who all dare to call themselves philosophers (if the gods please!). To this category belong the booklets that falsely claim the title of Mary, the sister of Moses Referring to Maria the Jewess, a famous legendary alchemist.. On the other hand, commentaries by others exist which, if read with judgment, are tolerable and not unworthy of reading; yet to extricate yourself from them, the thread of Theseus is needed The thread used to navigate the Minotaur's labyrinth.. Among the more ancient of these, the writings of Geber and Simplicius should hold the first place. More recent are John of Rupescissa, Roger Bacon, and Aloisius Marlianus. Yet none is found to have been of a saner mind than Joannes Augustus Augurellus.

Chrysophilus. Good God, why did I not understand this so many years ago? But you, bring a remedy to these desperate matters.

Theophrastus. As if you could use me as a counselor! I disagree diametrically original: "ινδιαμέτρου" (indiametrou), as they say, with the opinion of all those whom you have ever understood to have spoken on this matter—at least not regarding those things which have been discovered and published by the benefit of this art. For methodical experience has proved those things to be true. If you wish to be occupied with those, you will be able to spend your life in an honest occupation, not without various delights, and at no great expense. Let metallic castings be an example, by which not only small animals and solid objects, but even herbs, flowers, and indeed every minute thing can be expressed most accurately. Likewise, there are the distillations, as they call them, by the benefit of which herbs...

herbs