The Chemical Wedding

The Chymical Wedding:

Requirements for the guests: according to the seven weights original: "Requisita in hospitibus: secundum 7 pondera." These "weights" refer to a series of tests or trials of character and virtue that the protagonist must undergo to prove his worthiness..

I waited with great longing / and finally, through
diligent recalculation and the calculation original: "Calculation." This refers to the astrological practice of determining the positions and influences of the celestial bodies. of my
noted planets, I found that I would
never have expected it would involve such
heavy and dangerous conditions. For where
I previously thought: I only needed to appear
at the wedding to be a welcome and dear guest,
it now directs

1. Uncertain selection original: "Electio incerta.".

me toward Divine providence, of which I am
still not certain. I also found within
myself that the more I weighed my own soul,
that in

2. Lack of skill, ignorance, and blindness of the mind original: "Inscitia, Ignorantia caecitas Mentis.".

my head there was nothing but great misunderstanding /
and blindness in secret matters / also that I could
not understand that which lay right beneath
my feet / and with which I dealt daily / much

3.
4.
Nature's
secrets.
& 5.
6.

less that I should be born for the exploration and
knowledge of Nature’s secrets original: "Natura secreta." In this context, "Nature" is not just the outdoors, but the hidden, divine laws governing the physical and spiritual world. / because in
my estimation, Nature could always have
found a more virtuous disciple to whom she
might entrust her so precious / yet temporal
and perishable treasure. I also found that my
body / and external good conduct and brotherly
love toward my neighbor were also not rightly
purified and cleansed. So too does the itch
of the flesh still show itself / whose mind was

Worldly? attachment? original: "Mundanus affectus." This refers to an emotional or spiritual preoccupation with material success rather than divine work..

set upon high reputation / and worldly splendor /
for the sake of my fellow men / and I always thought /
oh, how could I, through such an Art, promote
my own benefit so magnificently in a short time /
erect stately buildings / make an eternal name
for myself in the world / and similar carnal thoughts.