the Artick pole, to the Antarticke, that by the singular providence
of God I was cast upon the shore of a certain great sea, and although
I well knew and understood the passages, and properties of the sea
of that Coast, yet I knew not whether in those Coasts was bred that
little fish, which was called _Remora_, which so many men of great and
small fortunes have hitherto so studiously sought after. But whilst I
was beholding the sweet singing Mermaides swimming up and down with
the Nymphs, and being weary with my foregoing labors, and oppressed
with divers thoughts, I was with the noise of waters overtaken with
sleep; and whilest I was in a sweet sleep, there appear’d to me in
my sleep a wonderfull vision, which is this. I saw _Neptune_ a man
of an honorable old age, going forth out of our sea with his three
toothed instrument, called _Tridens_, who after a friendly salute led
mee into a most pleasant Iland. This goodly Iland was situated towards
the South, being replenished with all things respecting the necessity,
and delight of man: _Virgils Elisian_ field might scarce compare with
it. All the banks were round about beset with green Mirtles, Cypresse
trees, and Rosemary. The green meadowes were covered all over with
flowers of all sorts, both fair, and sweet. The hills were set forth
with Vines, Olive trees, and Cedar-trees in a most wonderfull manner.
The woods were filled with Orenge, and Lemon-trees. The high wayes were
planted on both sides with Bay-trees, and Pomegranate-trees, woven most
artificially one within the other, and affording a most pleasant shadow
to Travellers. And to bee short, whatsoever is in the whole world was
seen there. As I was walking, there was shewed to me by the foresaid
_Neptune_ two Mines of that Iland lying under a certain rock, the one
was of Gold, the other of Chalybs, or Steel. Not far from thence I was
brought to a Meadow in which was a peculiar Orchard with divers sorts
of trees most goodly to behold, and amongst the rest, being very many
hee shewed to mee seven Trees marked out by speciall names; and amongst
these I observed two as chiefest, more eminent then the rest, one of
which did beare fruit like the Sun most bright, and shining, and the
leaves thereof were like Gold. The other brought forth fruit that was
most white, yea, whiter then the Lillies, and the leaves therof were
as fine Silver: Now these trees were called by _Neptune_, the one
the tree of the Sun, the other the tree of the Moon. And although in
this Iland all things were at ones pleasure, and command, yet there
was one thing, and but one wanting: there was no water to be had, but
with great difficulty. There were indeed many that partly endeavoured
to bring it thither by pipes, and partly drew it out of divers things:
but their endeavours were in vain, because in those places it could
not bee had by any means or medium; and if it were at any time had,
yet it was unprofitable, and poisonous, unlesse they fetched it (as
few could doe) from the beams of the Sun, and Moone; and he which was
fortunate in so doing could never get above ten parts; and that water
was most wonderfull: and beleeve mee, for I saw it with mine eyes,
and felt it, that that water was as white as the snow; and whilest I
was contemplating upon the water, I was in a great wonder. Wherefore
_Neptune_ being in the mean while wearied vanished away from before
mine eyes, and there appeared to me a great man, upon whose forehead
was written the name of _Saturne_. This man taking the vessell drew ten
parts of water; and tooke presently of the tree of the Sun, and put it
in; and I saw the fruit of the tree consumed, and resolved like ice in
warm water. I demanded of him; Sir, I see a wonderfull thing, water
to bee as it were of nothing; I see the fruit of the tree consumed in
it with a most sweet, and kindly heat, and wherefore is all this? But
he answered mee most lovingly. My Son, it is true this is a thing to
be wondered at; but doe not thou wonder at it, for so it must be. For
this water is the Water of life, having power to better the fruit of
this tree so, that afterward neither by planting, or graffing, but
only by its own odour it may convert the other six trees into its own
likenesse. Moreover this water is to this fruit as it were a woman,
the fruit of this tree can be putrefied in nothing but in this water,
and although the fruit of it be of it self most wonderful, & a thing
of great price; yet if it be putrefied in this water, it begets by
this putrefaction a _Salamander_, abiding in the fire, whose blood is
more pretious then any kind of treasure or riches in the world, being
able to make those six trees, which here thou seest, fruitfull, and to
bring forth their fruit sweeter then the honey. But I asked, Sir, How
is that done? I told thee (saith hee) that the fruit of that tree is
living, and sweet; but whereas one is now sufficed with it, when it
is boyled in this water, a thousand may then bee satisfied with it. I
demanded moreover, Sir, is it boiled with a strong fire, and how long
is it in boyling? But said he, that water hath an intrinsecall fire,
and if it be helped with a continuall heat, it burns three parts of
its body with this body of the fruit, and there wil remain but a very
smal part, which is scarce imaginable, but of wonderful vertue; it is
boiled by the skilfull wit of the Artificer, first 7 months, then 10,
but in the mean time there appeared divers things, and alwaies in the
fiftieth day, or thereabouts. I demanded again, Sir, cannot this fruit
be boiled in other waters, or something be put to it? Hee answered,
there is but this one water that is usefull in this Country, or Island;
and there is no other water can penetrate the pores of this apple, but
this: and know also that the Tree of the Sun hath its originall from
this water, which is extracted out of the beams of the Sun, and Moone
by a magnetick vertue: Besides they have a great correspondency betwixt
themselves, but if any strange thing be added to it, it cannot performe
that which it can do of it self. It must therefore be left by it self,
and nothing added to it but this apple: This fruit after boiling
becomes to bee immortall, having life, and blood, which blood makes
all the trees bring forth fruit of the same nature with the Apple. I
asked him further, Sir, is this Water drawn any other way, or to be
had every where? And he said, it is in every place, and no man can
live without it; it is drawn divers ways, but that is the best, which
is extracted by vertue of our Chalybs, which is found in the belly of
_Aries_. I said, to what use is it? He answered, before its due boiling
it is the greatest poison, but after a convenient boiling it is the
greatest medicine, and yeelds nine and twenty graines of blood; and
every grain will yeeld to thee the fruit of the Tree of the Sun in
864 fold. I asked, Can it not be made yet better? The Philosophicall
Scripture being witnesse (saith hee) it may bee exalted first to ten,
then to a hundred, then to a thousand, and ten thousand. I required
again of him, Sir, Doe many know that Water, and hath it any proper
name? He cryed out saying, Few know it, but all have seen it, and doe
see it, and love it: it hath many and various names, but its proper
name is the Water of our Sea, the Water of life not wetting the hands.
I asked yet further, Doe any use it to any other things? Every creature
(saith he) doth use it, but invisibly. Then I asked, Doth any thing
grow in it? but he said, Of it are made all things in the world, and
in it they live: but in it nothing properly is, but it is that thing
which mixeth it self to every thing. I asked againe, Is it usefull for
any thing without the fruit of this tree? To this he said, Not in this
work; because it is not bettered, but in the fruit of the Tree of the
Sun alone. I began to intreat him, Sir I pray, name it to mee by such a
manifest name, that I may have no further doubt about it. But he cryed
with a loud voice, so as that he awakened me from sleep; Therefore I
could ask him no further, neither would hee tell mee any more, neither
can I tell any more. Be satisfied with these, and beleeve mee, that it
is not possible to speak more cleerly. For if thou dost not understand
these things, thou wilt never be able to comprehend the books of other
Philosophers. After _Saturn_’s unexpected and sudden departure a new
sleep came upon mee, and then appeared to mee _Neptune_ in a visible
shape: He congratulated my present happinesse in the gardens of the
_Hesperides_, shewing to me a Looking-glasse, in which I saw all Nature
discovered. After the changing of divers words betwixt us, I gave him
thanks for his courtesies shewed to me; because I not only entred into
this garden, but also came into _Saturn_’s most desired discourse. But
because by reason of _Saturn_’s unexpected departure some difficulties
did yet remain to be inquired after, and searched into, I earnestly
besought him, that by means of this happy opportunity hee would resolve
mee my doubts. Now I importuned him with these words, Sir _I_ have read
the books of Philosophers, and they say, that all generation is done by
Male, and Female, yet I saw in my dream _Saturne_ put the fruit alone
of the Tree of the Sun into our Mercury; I beleeve also thee as the
Master of this Sea, that thou knowest these things; answer my Question
I pray thee. But he said, It is true, my son, all generation is done
in Male, and Female, but by reason of the distinguishing of the three
Kingdomes of Nature, a foure footed Animall is brought forth one way,
and a worme another: Although wormes have eyes, sight, hearing, and
other senses, yet they are brought forth by putrefaction, and their
place, or earth, in which they are putrefied, is the Female. So in
this Philosophicall work the mother of this thing is that Water of
thine so often repeated, & whatsoever is produced of that, is produced
as worms by putrefaction. Therfore the Philosophers have created a
Phenix, & Salamander. For if it were done by the conception of two
bodies, it would be a thing subject to death; but because it revives
it self alone, the former body being destroyed, it riseth up another
body incorruptible. Seeing the death of things is nothing else but the
separation of the one from the other. And so it is in this Phenix,
because the life separates it self by its self from a corruptible
body. Moreover, I asked him, Sir, are there divers things, or is there
a composition of things in this work? But he said, there is only one
thing, with which there is mixed nothing else but the Philosophicall
Water shewed to thee oftentimes in thy sleep, of which there must be
ten parts to one of the body. And strongly, and undoubtedly beleeve, My
son, that those things which are by me and _Saturn_ shewed thee by way
of dreams, according to the custom, in this Iland, are not dreams, but
the very truth, which Experience the only Mistris of things will by the
assistance of God discover to thee. I yet further demanded some things
of him, but hee without any answer, after he had took his leave of mee,
departing set me, being raised from sleep, into my desired region of
_Europe_. And so friendly Reader, let this suffice thee, which hath by
mee thus farre been fully declared.
_To God alone be praise and glory._
[Illustration: *decorative divider*]
A DIALOGVE BETWEEN _MERCURY_, the _ALCHYMIST_ and _NATURE_.