18. Arnaldus Villanovanus, or Arnold de Villeneuve, was a
distinguished French chemist and physician of the fourteenth
century; his “Rosarium Philosophorum” was a favourite text-book
with the alchemists of the generations that succeeded.
19. Hermes Trismegistus, counsellor of Osiris, King of
Egypt, was credited with the invention of writing and
hieroglyphics, the drawing up of the laws of the Egyptians,
and the origination of many sciences and arts. The
Alexandrian school ascribed to him the mystic learning which
it amplified; and the scholars of the Middle Ages regarded
with enthusiasm and reverence the works attributed to him —
notably a treatise on the philosopher’s stone.
20. Secret of secrets: “Secreta Secretorum;” a treatise, very
popular in the Middle Ages, supposed to contain the sum of
Aristotle’s instructions to Alexander. Lydgate translated about
half of the work, when his labour was interrupted by his death
about 1460; and from the same treatise had been taken most
of the seventh book of Gower’s “Confessio Amantis.”
21. Tyrwhitt says that this book was printed in the “Theatrum
Chemicum,” under the title, “Senioris Zadith fi. Hamuelis
tabula chymica” (“The chemical tables of Senior Zadith, son
of Hamuel”); and the story here told of Plato and his disciple
was there related of Solomon, but with some variations.
22. Ignotum per ignotius: To explain the unknown by the
more unknown.
23. Though he multiply term of his live: Though he pursue the
alchemist’s art all his days.