Alchemy_Its_Science_and_Romance.pdf
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ALCHEMY ITS
SCIENCE
RIGHT
AND
REV.
BY
THE
J.
E.
BISHOP
SOMETIME
FOUR
WITH
ROMANCE
D.D
MERCER, OF
TASMANIA
ILLUSTRATIONS
LONDON
SOCIETY
PROMOTING
FOR
KNOWLEDGE
CHRISTIAN NORTHUMBERLAND NEW
YORK:
AVENUE, THE
MACMILLAN
1921
W.C. CO.
\^.'
"V \'
THE
BY
to
define
Cosmic
SOME
OF
PROBLEM
THE
SAME
the
AUTHOR
CREATION.
Gharactet 328 pp.
Process.
WONDERS
OP
and
An Trend
N
GREAT
of
the
75. 6d,
MATTER.
192 pp.
S.P.C.K.
''PHlNTei-
attempt
fc"^-^^^.
...r.*
6s.
^^^^^^BHi^Bsn^^Eis
V
PREFACE 4
This
perhaps claim to be an apology for Alchemy. It attempts to set forth,with more of its history, system and of sympathy than is usual, the doctrines it professed, and the results it achieved. It must not,however, be thoughtthat the apologetic intention of the studyimpliesany failure in recognising may
the weaknesses in the nature
Secret. of the had
and
follieswhich
abounded chimerical
developmentof the art, nor the its Grand of the means adopted for solving The
defence is based
conditions
under
on
which
a
critical estimate
the
genuineadepts
to think and work.
I have
consulted
the
works
of
representative periods.But I lay no claim to detailed research throughoutthe whole vast range of the literature of the subject. I have availed Berthelot had to specialise. Even less or myself freelyof materials which are more accessible in modem treatises on the Hermeitic easily art. I gratefully acknowledgemy indebtedness to the above-mentioned author,and, thoughin less degree, to such studies as those of Figuier, Muir, and Thorpe, written article in Hastings' also to a carefully as and Ethics. Fortunately the ofReligion Encyclopcedia juain features of the subjectstand out clearly;a of the earlier alchemists, especially
" *"
m
t"
20185
PREFACE
iv
of
study
and
tedious
often
founded
make
fair
the
the
but
evidence,
venture
I
for
alchemists their
To
discoverers.
is
present
right judge
hopelessly
to
them
8,
1920.
as
from
EDWARD
so
work, true
the
we
scientists
standpoint
MERCER.
we
which
under
their
rank
the
when
irrational.
J.
February
that
conditions
did
not
is
condemnations
contend
the
detail is
question
the
of
it.
allowance
genuine
to
justice
upon
acknowledge
the
I
What
unnecessary.
unintelligible
generally
shall and
of
CONTENTS
PAOI
x^RGFACEi
lit """
"""
t*t
"""
"""
"""
INTRODUCTION
THE
What
aimed
Alchemy astrology
AKT
AND
Alchemy
at"
Psychological
"
SuDj6Cu
t*"
PART
accounts "
mystical
AND
Early
HISTORY
EARLY
references"
factor---Spread
of
The
the
testimony
of
words"
idea of
mutation trans-
of
Leyden
"
The
art
11 ...
ARABIAN
Alchemy
The
"
Papyri
CHAPTER
The
*
I
Trismegistus
^Hermes
"
"""
"""
HISTORY
CHAPTER
Mythical
the
I
GENERAL
MYTH
of
"
t**
"""
and
Division
Romance
"
magic
with
compared
aspects
"""
V^
APPEAL
ITS
...
...
II
ALCHEMY
Documents
Gteher
"
Spread
"
of
Arabian ^3
"""
..t
"""
V
"""
"""
"""
vi
CONTENTS
CHAPTEE
y
III
MEDIiBVAL
ALCHEMY PAOK
Gerbert"
Albertus
LuUy
"
Magnus
Universal
Aquinas
"
diffusion
Medieval
"
Bacon
Roger
"
criticism
OHAPTEB
Baymond
"
Persecution
"
31
IV
DECADENCE
Medical
Alchemy
^Paracelsus
"
Rosicrucians^
Chief
Successors
"
CHAPTEE
Boyle
The
of
TO
at Oxford
Alchemy
"
end
Alchemy
Critics
"
"".
IDEA
A
world "
The
...
...
Dr. Price
Semler
"
...
...
"
...
I NATURAL
PROCESSES
The aim quality of colour Fixed ments elequalities of metals ^Imperfect gold analysis" Two receipts for making Precipitates Appeal to history
alchemist's
"
57
TRANSMUTATION
PROM
of change"The Dyeing the metals
43
II
OF
SUGGESTIONS
"
"..
CHAPTER
V
...
"
SCIENCE
PAET THE
Paracelsus
V
TRANSITION
Robert
of
of decadence
cause
"
Other
"
"
"
"
...
...
CHAPTEE
A
passage and
from
The
Alchemy the.metals "
of as
Psellus
"
separate entities
"
Platonic
Sulphur ...
TRANSMUTATION
theories of
mercury "
71
II
OP
PHILOSOPHY
...
of
matter
the
Platonism
"
tion Composi-
philosophers Theory and practice "
Qualities
"
...
...
...
...
8G
CONTENTS
vii
OHAPTEB ALCHEMY
III AND
ANIMISM FAOB
Metals
grow
metals
and have
Metals
"
icieas
Metals
"
"""
animal
birth
body and
soul
"""
"""
reviving
,,,
,,.
of
of moral
Introduction
"
CHAPTER MAQIC
and
Dying
"
","
,t,
lUu
IV
AND
ABTBOLOGY
Attitude of the Church Alchemist Early metallurgy and magic and and The metals magic philosophy Astrology alchemy and and the planets formulas Signs symbols Magic ing VaryAn animated statue strength of magical elements "
"
"
"
"
"
Palliation
"
...
...
...
THE
OF
CHAPTER
Wanted
"
of
"
the and
"
"
Beligion and
grand
Alchemy
secret
"
AND
STONE
"
Death
Summary
and
CHAPTER
The
secret
elixir "
"
Dyer
stone moral
"
AND
^The
alkahest
and
Eelley
"
"
of
of
Measure
properties
"
...
...
131
^
MYSTICISM
of metals
resurrection
of chief characteristics
CREDULITY
agent potency
STONE
II
CHAPTER THE
the
I
Early descriptions
transmuting agent The stone Descriptions Mental Healing powers
...
QUEST
philosopher's
a
...
III
OBJECTS
THE
113
...
PART THE
"
of the
"
The 143
stone
III IMPOSTURE
False tations transmuBejuvenation Alchemy and spiritualism "
152 ...
CONTENTS
vHi
IV
CHAPTEE
PAQK
OP
LIFE
SCIENCE
AND
I
CHAPTER DIFFICULTIES
161
"""
"""
IV
PART ALCHEMY
TREVES
OP
BEBMABD
INTERPRETATION
OP
I Obscurities
of
obscurity ^Straightforward receipts Examples
"
Vagueness
"
.*.
Map \
p8B
clavicula"
Gold
II
Lead
Iron
"
of
feeling "
Apparatus-"Processes~Ben
in detail
...
...
ADVANCES
of
...
...
178
III
CHAPTER
Combining
"
LABORATORIES
THE
Processes
Bronze, sulphur" Tin
Copper
"
"
and
CHAPTER
Intrusion
I
Eleotrum
"
and Mercury Mercury magnesia---Other materials
Brass, Aurichalcum" "
1G9
...
MATERIALS
Silver
"
terminology .."
...
CHAPTEE THE
of
AND
theory and practice"
Jonson*s list
...
"
.."
"""
193
IV DISCOVERIES
Dawn
of the scientific
The experimental method ^Boger Baconr" Aristotle Classification discoyeries" Mediaeval discoveries "
"
spirit^ Arabian
"
...
...
203
CONTENTS
ix
CHAPTER
TBANSITION
V
TO
MODEBN
CHEMISTB7
PAOI
in
Difficulty
discovering
Boyle
"
"
elements"
^Discovery
Unclumging
of
gases
Discoyery "
Alchemist
elements
THE
elements
are
Natural
"
"
transmutation
abandoned
220
"
CHAPTER
The
elements Lavoisier
Priestley
Joseph
the
of
not
VI
OUTLOOK
ultimates
and
Isomerism
allotropism
"
families
of
elements
"
"
Badioactivity"
The
elixir
of
Conclusion
life
233
"
,,,
...
...
...
...
...
ILLUSTKATIONS
The
Frontispiece
Alchemist ...
...
From
a
by
painting
Wrijht
Joseph
of
Derby.
facing
An
an
engraving
by
Ridley.
193
Labobatoby
Alchemist's
...
From
The
an
old
Boyle
222 ...
From
an
"
...
print.
Robebt
Hon,
48
page
...
...
Front
...
Pabacelsus
Theophbastus
Philip
...
...
engraving
by
W.
Uoll.
...
...
"
CALIFJOPNIA
ALCHEMY"
ITS
AND
SCIENCE
ROMANCE INTRODUCTION
The
OUR strong
Art
subject a
record
so
alchemy
ancient
shattered has
Appeal
its
^that
"
and
of modem
stream
leavingit days, and
is
and
yet
science
forlorn.
and
almost
passed
bafflingart, with
so
tarnished.
has
swept
It has of
out
The
it,
over
fallen
on
evil
remembrance.
sympatheticallystudied, it abounds yet, when in varied interests,for the poet, the historian, the And
scientist himself.
philosopher,and for the its adepts some among the
famous
most
civilisation.
It
operative toil
;
of
the
picturesque and annals of European
most
in the
personages
It numbered
philosophicspeculationand mysticism, magic and technical skill. welded
It lost itself in the wildest aberrations, and in
modern
chemistry.
medley of attractions appeal in proportion is softened
What
If
we
ask
what
strenuously sought
It
thus
and
to
unique
gain
in their
humanised.
Alchemy the
a
of power rialism Mateof modern the rigidity
which as
presents
yet issued
aimed
objects were attain, the 1
at.
which answers
the are
art not
so as
"
"
"
"
-
-ALCHfiikXrljbjS.SCIE AND
2- :
ROMANCE
would simple as many imagine. One of them stands the popular mind-r-the discovery out prominently m of the Philosopher'sStone which was the to transmute baser
than
more
into
metals
making
gold
remedy
for
objects
disease,
tended
to
a
the
to
renew
was
to
effect
universal
btone
extension
natural
was
idea
and
indefinite
an
of the
lhe"EIixir.
and
of the
vigour
far
at
The
medicine.
because together,
run
of the
was
a
aimed
rivalrywith the hope~6f of discovering a that
constant
silver
and
identitication
by
In
this.
BiiFaTcTiemists
gold.
of
a
of
graces
two
frequent latter,
"The
master-power,
youth,
lengthening of
the
nay,
term
it of
life^ Further, adepts claimed that Their woiSdfous remedy would give intellectual and moral excellence, happiness,influence with the spiritworld, communion with
the
Thus
Creator. until
expanded of metals
they
only, but
were
embraced
of human
pf_powers^which^reached large. "
But
the
objects, it
was
delusive ;
aims
into
said,
and
of the
transmutations,
beings,and out
art, it will be
the
the
never
is therefore
the
art not
control
universe
at
attained
its
unworthy
study. Such an inference is easilyshown be to superficial. Delusion hasty and undeniably bulks largely in the history, and raises in an acute the curious in man's form problem of its function intellectual and spiritualevolution. delusion is But tale. In searching for the Stone and not the whole the Elixir, real substances had to be handled, real It could not, then, be experiments had to be made. that there should accumulate than otherwise a body of the substances of empirical facts concerning the nature and their mutual reactions. Moreover, even of serious
INTRODUCTION the
helped
alive
keep
to
their
had
charlatans
8
to
part the
play,
interest
in that
in
they
alchemical
pursuits. Alchemy
has
Bacon
kindred
kinds
two
to the
attributed
better
intelligenceand
Astrology, Natural
his reason,
the
ends
astrology pretendeth
For
belief is
to certain authors
which
have
the
three
tion imaginaof
pretences
which
are
:
which noble. -
that
is
had
in number
discover
to
the
opinions,
Alchemy; or
concatenation
or
are
and
Magic,
nevertheless
sciences
and
confederacy with
with
than
for
much
too or
he groups
"As
arts
themselves
sciences
The
when
themselves,
arts
art.
man
yielded to
either
:
in any
of
in which
pseudo-arts. is
which
Astrology.
and
suggestivepassage
a
together three of credit facility it is of
Magic
with
compared
spondence corre-
between
the
inferior ; the natural superior globe and magic natural pretendeth to call and reduce philosophy from a variety of speculations to the magnitude of works alchemy pretendeth to make separation ; and of all the nature
are
A
few
help could
much
unlike
comments to
an
the
on
points
imderstanding long
so
it gained
a
in mixtures
"
by
facilityof Bacon.
here
of how
raised
of
We
credit It
of
note
was
will
pseudo-art
a
period, and
attention.
continued
groimds mentioned of
which
incorporate."*
flourish for
worthy of place that men
parts of bodies
why
in the
"
on
both
cultivated
it is first the
by
selves, imagined that either they themrepute who or others, had genuinely solved the great secret "
Advancement
of Learning,
Bk.
I.
ALCHEMY"
4
ITS
SCIENCE
AND
ROMANCE "
of
Philosopher's Stone,
the
soUd
of
amount
it thus
and
prestige which
gained
survived
an
constant
failures and
disappointments. It was also in the same case as astrology and magic through the strength of its appeal to the emotions. Spurred on by the dazzling hope of wealth and all that wealth can give, and by the
desire
clever
to
their
Astrology sought of
life ;
hiunan
with
In
which
as
as
Bacon
shall see,
we
they
and
all three the
among
says,
chief
in
astronomy,
alchemy
in
chemistry.
merging do not affect of the principlesand ignorance and
away,
and
nucleus
for
the
themselves
natural
differences
The the
greater and from
and
nature
the
more
store
solid
physics
;
which
and are
Astrology physics, and
in the rates
of
significance
the
involved.
processes
arts,
fortunes,
together
in
magic
Accretions
gradually stripped
superstitionwere
and
Their
times.
own
vanities
these
sciences
to
our
accumulating
Mathematics
noble.
tp
of human
and
errors
powers
laboured
debased,
birth
gloriesof
merged
of
the
relation
the
satisfaction
were
gave
sufficed
into
bend
to
intimately linked
were
alike
the
often
too
even
their
sway
success
alchemy
;
of
spite, then,
marred,
their ends,
wills for
to
star-lore
magic sought
substances
manipulate
of
decay,
aglow.
bring
to
human
to
nature
needs.
chances
fire of enthusiasm
the
natural
and
imagination
slenderest
The
keep
disease
conquer
allowed
men
reason.
to
'
of facts
formed
the
triumphs.
were
the
first to of
entangling creations
free
tion. imagina-
to early emancipation they have the comparative clarityand thank precisionof their for a longer time Astrology was subject matter.
For
cultivated
their
on
its
emotional
side
ets
a
means
tq
INTRODUCTION and foretelling, was
in the
times, ,
of
case
had
men
Alchemy For, until quite recent the unravelling of the
changing, the
even
worst
5
all. in
guides
no
future.
other reactions of chemical complex and subtle mazes than a medley of loose analogiesand vague hypotheses. in this sphere of research Advance was necessarily slow and Liebig is justified painful. Nevertheless when he asserts that alchemy from first to last was chemistry." "
Aspects.
Psychological
The
interest.
during
piu'suitof
the
the
psychological
brings
art
before
amid changing centiu'ies,
an
aim.
absorbing
putting mystic and
for
material
here
of
of
replete with
us,
varying
the influence of emotion types of civilisation,
stages and in
story
long series
a
also
is
subject
Our
the
to
Is
test
there
not
of
many
the
occult
speculations and themselves so persistently practices which manifest ? not in all ages, excluding oiu* own Undoubtedly is a place for these. The world is in realitya there temple of mysteries, and there is perennial truth in the much-quoted aphorism that there are more things tendencies
in
to
heaven
and
earth
than
philosophy. Notwithstanding, of the
alchemists
allowing
the
dominant
set
serve
to
dreamt
are
put
the
us
errors
on
oiu*
of
and
in
omr
follies
guard against
critical
faculty
of keen
desires, of deep cravings,or
to
be
swamped
by
a
of
soaring aspirations. If it be
weaknesses, can
moreover
urged
that
our
own
age
has
outgrown
such
psychology utters a warning note, and appeal to a sufficientlydisturbing
ALCHEMY"
6
of
array
ITS
bids
It
facts.
environment
distinguishbetween
us
of the
hereditary structure
individual
provides that (or its development. True, oiur vastly improved ; but oiur minds
the
which
those
as
same
of this fact wfll
immunity
our
with
mind
make
the
and
the
stimulus
environment
has
fundamentally
are
realisation
A
of former
condemnation
our
will likewise of
mind
forefathers.
our
mitigate
credulities,and the
of
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
less confident
us
of
generation.
own
Romance. from possible,then, to justify,even standpoint, a serious consideration its But alchemy was and what it achieved. It is
constitutes
a
the
it has
outset
poets^laywrights days
a
medium
in
marvellous.
the
for artists,
In
of
in which
to
verse
Jean
the
de la Rose^
subject his
is at
Jonson
which
Alchemist^
with
many
a
mysteries
inconsiderable
no
(1275), the
was
the
expoimd
art, and
Meung
de
it the
makes
famous
fh'm believer in
of two
author
alchemy,
of his shorter
"rarest"
his
in
consider
his
poems.
play,
finest
brings it to the fore. Writers have fiction innumerable exploited its resources their plots Scott in his Antiquary being enhance the least notable example. Browning has chosen "
the most
hero
of
an
ambitious
poem,
Paracelsus,
astonishing professors. Artists
have
one
The
work.
in his Faust
Goethe
the
Aurelius
of the Roman
Ben
novelists.
romance
it abounds
fascination
a
what
certain
success.
and
and
had
of
tarian utili-
early mediaeval Augurella employed the
practicesof
and
For
fantastic, the. uncanny,
wild" the From
claim.
further
a
of
of to not
for its
exploited
INTRODUCTION
picturesqueaccessories
7
presiding sages and of allegory and Lovers its mysterious apparatus. symbolism can revel in its mystic serpents, interwoven triangles,salamanders, dragons, and the like weird is of imfettered creations store imagination. The its
its
"
inexhaustible. It would science 6f its our
inexcusable
be
has
teems
conquests of the
sense
all is said
free
the
into
on
world
labours
hopes and
no
the
than
to
cold
the
which
facts
chills romantic
and
get back
to
way
share
to
when
have
we
;
hard
surer
or
deepens
But
said,
of
phantasy
easier
story
present-day experimenter
burden
of
and
peculiar charm
a
a
for
while
a
the
alchemists.
of the
Division
be
can
of
us
is
olden
the
that
rovings
There
fervour.
universe.
methods
depersonalised impose limits
of the
score
modem
The
romance.
interest
loss of
the
acknowledge
that
with human
mystery
this
on
of
its elements
not
contend
to
of
Subject.
the
"
It would
separately
be each
history
the its
science, and
divisions
the
of
interest
its
from
art
devote
to
subject.
our
of
to
however, profitable, the
of
cumbersome
sources
to
these
shall thus
We
desultory wanderings.
from as
of
It will be
enumerated.
and
artificial and
Let
us
treat
above to
tinguish dis-
philosophy the larger
be
preserved
therefore
proceed
follows. We
cannot
story until
hope
we
general course. of the historyof
have We
to
understand
secured
a
the
details of the
bird's-eye view
will begin, then, with
the art from
its
a
of
its
sketch
originto its decadence
ITS
ALCHEMY"
8
obtain
thus
and
closer
a
it. the
come
of
an
the
attempt
to
will
the
ask
promising that of
a
to
could
bygone
thus
is attain be
day.
;
of
the
taking
for
results
suspected
or
ditioned con-
the
sopher's Philo-
Next
will
the
value
science.
be
really new
which
the
admiring
and
positive
a
which of
and
Life.
amount
art
may
which
clear
be
the to
not
art
ideas
substances,
estimate
it
Then
materials
Elixir
whether
persons,
ruling
the
illusive
made
rather,
anything sages
will
which
fitted.
the
and
those
and
we
of
way
Stone
whether, and
The
contributions
lastly
of
methods,
of
virtues
be
may
development skill,
technical
into
consideration
the
guided
ROMANCE
AND
framework
a
discoveries,
happenings, come
SCIENCE
lease
may
imagined
And dead
;
of
or
life,
surpass
by
the
PART
GENERAL
I
HISTOBY
CHAPTER
MYTH
did
WHEN
it
of
fall
the
in
be
second
the
it resulted
era,
and
that
art
of
the
Egyptians
Greeks,
and
with
conjimction
;
from
take
us
it is of
back
origin
by
were
invest
the
But
it
no
with
of
Some
Adam it
as
as
old
its as
the
race.
home
triple
this
third
them
dignity
were
the
The
loss 11
of and a
bold
very
with
of
the
art
sought
hoary
to
quity. anti-
claimed
and
naive
desire
of
of
secret
came
the
of
century
historians
easily satisfied,
traced
when
even or
and
imposing
founder,
its
of
the
of
importance.
second
adepts
the
practical
the
note
is ancient
the
thus
means
Christian
Accounts.
alchemy than
further
no
era.
our
of
careful
"
alchemy
found
which
be
can
philosophy
fundamental
Mythical
The
the
the
into
the
of
until
not
"
called
union
a
mysticism
Let
But
of
deed, in-
known,
however,
century
with
the
Alexandria.
in
much,
third
or
is
it emerge
properly
art
certainty.
any
It
does
This
history.
with
The
?
career
ancestry.
Empire
the
long
lacking.
ancient
an
its
answered
is
Roman
that
inferred, arose
has
HISTORY
begin
cannot
valid
of
light
EAELY
evidence
that the
AND
alchemy
question Trustworthy
I
making with
ITS
12
ALCHEMY"
the
loss of Paradise. finner
ground
AND
he
when
ROMANCE
Borriehius
Olaeus
fixes
is
what some-
on
Tubal-eain, the
on
Bible, for it is certain that
of the
smith
famous
SCIENCE
the
metallurgy of primitive times provided the practical enlisted Noah these basis of alchemy. was among patriarchaladepts. It was argued that he must have possessedthe Elixir of life,otherwise he could not have begotten children when he was five hundred years old. The contention, however, is not quite convincing. different and A supposition of a very far sounder kind is advanced the word when is alchemy "
derived
from
Noah.
But
in
should
we
Philosophy^*that Once
lore
the
were
or
Chem
name
not
this
on
Shem
started enrol
of
was
this
on
Moses.
the
Chem,
he
not
be
Hermetic
the
1
track, historians
Was
to
conclude,
score
alchemist
an
of
son
proved
seventeejith-century History of
a
fail to
Shem,
name
even
evidence,
with
the
"
could
learned
not
in all the
the
not Egyptians, and would alchemy be included ? that when Moses Moreover, it is recorded was angered at the idolatry of the Israelites, he "
took
the
fire,and
calf which
and
water,
it
ground made
they had made, and to powder, and strewed the
children
of Israel
burnt
it with
it upon drink
of
the it."
Here, they triumphantly infer, is proof positive that he its
had
the
agency,
float
the
Philosopher'sStone. could
he ?
have And
made
For the
if it be
how,
save
by
gold powder
objected that there is no trace of knowledge of the Stone in the subsequen t is ready. Moses narratives, the answer kept the entrust the knowledge to himself, and would never secret to his people. on
water
"
Longlet du Fresney, bom
1674.
MYTH Solomon
AND
EARLY
even
was
HISTORY certain
more
18
be
to
claimed
as
of widely held to be a master occult and magical arts, and was possessedof enormous of gold. Clearly he knew the mysteries of stores transmutation. Yes, said early higher critics,he had it, why did he go to so gold ; but if he could make trouble and much This to send to Orphir ? expense obvious objection was parried by the supposition that, determining to keep the secret, he had the metal and carried there brought back again, in order to mislead the people as to its real source I For
adept.
an
he
was
Hermes
the
greater significanceis the
much
Of art
Trismegistus.
founded
was
Thrice-greatest Hermes.
supposed the
as
account,
inventor
of
gods. So alchemy that
statement
the
it.
mass
elevated
time
his
Hermetic
of
of their
one
of
with be
to
came
earliest and
^that of the
"
of waters
unity
a
open
to
me
faculties
bearing
of this
treat
of the
open
praise on
our
and the
winds
All
and
of
exists.
earth, open
the All and
the
subject will
philosophy
;
trees, tremble
;
heavens
istic character-
most
of all that
voice
to my
Let
we
"
Art
praisethe Supreme Lord,
my
rank
the
connected
name
I would the
to
that
on
His
Universe, be attentive
the
arts, and,
often was mystical hymn quoted by the adepts, as an authoritative
doctrines "
"
for
recited and
useful
closelywas
the
synonym
of
course
Egyptian priest, B.C., widely revered
an
2000
all the
the
"
was
lived about
to have
in
He
that
Trismegistus
Hermes
by
claim
be the
let
not.
the One.
still ;
let all
One."
The
be considered
alchemy.
;
when
ITS
ALCHEMY"
14
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
significanceof the prominent place given to lurgical Hennes lies here. It was undoubtedly the metaland chemical knowledge and skill possessed by the Egyptians that started the idea of the practical From the earliest possibility of transmutation. metals times that with pioneer civilisation worked and alloys,with the making of glassand enamel, and The
has
shown
which
of
concoction
the
with
it is the
that
take
we
Hermes
a
claim of
large measure We
claim
overlaid
by
For
yet
there
has
extinct
during
1) that
magical formulae The
veil that
be
may
accorded
not
press
historical
fact
and
myth
whole
of
our
over
arts,
occult
the was
fantastic
this should
that
the
to
have
Christian
widely spread conviction ancient the Egyptians had
which
hung
Egyptian
a
secret
many
of
wonder
we
been
of
the
single individual
a
of
core
accretions
can
happened. era
this
enormous
Nor
legend.
be
to
validity*
For
far.
too
of
careful, however,
be
must
succession
alchemy.
on
Trismegistus
his behalf
on
Berthelot
accumulated
oldest treatises
representative of a whole instead priest-metallurgists, discoverer, the
And thus
material
in the
is embodied
If, then,
medicines.
(not covered dis-
doctrines, and
had
been
lost to
the
ruined
retreats
the
world.
at Thebes
and Memphis, the ignorance of what was known practisedthere, allowed free play for imagination and cast the little that had survived. a glamour over Mediaeval few a (and not modems) firmly sages of that believed that the bizarre signs and emblems
and
almost
obliterated of
and
the
past concealed
deepest import.
absurdities.
The
fact
secrets
Hence
nevertheless
and
tions revela-
exaggerations remains
that
MYTH this
HISTORY
EARLY
AND
starting-pointfor
a metallurgy gave alchemy properly so called.* At last,then, we approach the
ancient
have
We
discovered
accumulation
of
craft
had
its
generation between
itself.
confines
of
history. Egypt of a large
in
materials
Jewellers, painters,potters,
of technical
store
which
with
pre-eminently metal-workers
own
after
of
kind
the
alchemy concerned glass-makers,and
existence
the
15
each
"
handed
secrets
on
generation by personal instruction and
masters
were
also manuals
been
preserved, and
apprentices.
and
treatises
in any
there
Doubtless have
these
but
;
as
not
sidiary played a quite sublays great emphasis on the part. Berthelot He tends conimportance of such professionaltradition. that the Egyptian lore was in this way mitted transof Rome, to the artisans preserved during the Dark Ages in the workshops of Italy and France, and into the generalbody of alchemical gradually absorbed doctrine and practice.
Idea
The
Although facts,we
have
derived
from
have
We from
to
succeed
pwHm,
For
Transmutation.
of
are
in
now
yet reached
the time
to
inferences
found
in
?
of
the
idea
Certainly
detailed
of not
proofs, see
especiallypp.
31 fP.
when
more
later
records.
probable it is
And
have
we
tracing
Berthelot, Les
testimony
less
or
transmutation.
by
historical
is available.
documents
contemporary trust
with
touch
period of semi-obscuritythat
rise
"
not
statements
in this the
we
case
any
to
find
Can series
we
of
Origines de VAkhimie,
ALCHEMY"
16
ITS
specifichappenings, of scientific
about
in
Egypt alloys of
?
is
possiblein
made
resembled
gold
in
to
to
from
the
baser
be
their
use
certain
that
closely
which
would
knowledge,
the
that
metal-workers
and
compounded Now
case
metals.
observe
soon
silver.
and
think
came
the
Still,it is
times.
goldsmiths
could
ROMANCE
men
would
They
often
so
in modem
how
those
metals
putting
AND
discoveries
possibleto surmise precious could be How
as
SCIENCE
be
they
slow
legitimately,
some
others
artificers would illegitimately.The dishonest get great gain from debasing the precious metals and from uttering false coinages,being thus the precursors of the
fraudulent
of the
long history.
But
alchemy,
producing laboured about
alchemists
as
alloys that for genuine
that
there
have
we
flourished
who
seen,
aimed
resembled
an
honest
more
end
than
or
silver;
it
How
came
it
gold
transmutation.
arose
at
to the
belief in the
possi* question
to the bilityof this process ? A full answer would our anticipate too much study of the three / conjoining factors knowledge of technical processes, Greek philosophy, and Alexandrian mysticism. But not we speaking quite generally, may safelyimagine that something of this kind happened ? Certain in the workers making of these alloys of their were reallypuzzled by the results of some of analysis experiments. With the imperfect means at their command, they would at times be deceived into thinking that they had perceptiblyincreased the of the preciousmetal amount they were treating. By of reinforcement of a growing suspicionof success, way "
there
would
them
the Greek
come
to the
doctrines
minds
of the
concerning
more
the
one
learned
of
substance
MYTH
out
of
EARLY
AND all others
which
HISTORY
supposed
were
further, there
And
17
be
would
be
pounded. com-
keen
edge
to a
research
by the hope of a sure and the of multiplying their wealth. Under easy way of these converging influences, it is not difficult sway alchemist. how craftsman to see an a might become had the idea of transmutation For when once begun take definite shape, it would to speedily establish itself with peculiar strength. The magnitude of the fire the imagination, and lead to stake would would of effort. specialisedconcentration Alchemy would its extraordinary career. thus be launched on put
their
upon
Early the
Supposing the
near
direct
mark,
or
the
it
such
a
whether
does This
there
exis^, and is
of
our
be
to
would
much
earliest centuries
somewhere
is any
lend
evidence,
it
support. is valuable, though
clearlyproved, there
era
had
that
in
into
come
definite class of
their
They but
ask
we
scanty.
being
surmise
above
indirect, which
Fortunately all too
References.
business
well
were
The
to
alchemists
not
were
operative chemists who made effect genuine transmutation.
the
on
for
who
of-fact allusions to
of the term,
sense
way.
authorities
at first authors
in the full
justifyingthis
make an
statement
incidental
mere
accepted belief
and
in the
are
matter-
possibility
of transmutation. The an
first bit of
author
century)
"
of
testimony
uncertain, but
^Manilius.
Astronomicay
in
which
He he
I shall
did
early,
very
wrote
a
his
adduce
poem best to
is from
date
(first
entitled emboUish
18
ALCHEMY"
the
dull
of
action
for hidden
calcining of veins
the
gold
and
and
in
yet
Elder.
the
Pliny
*
allusion
second
The
discourses
fire and
in the In
of process in with no
metals, brought
explanation ;
how
astronomical
"
He
specialart
passage
doubling of
idea
be
to
the
course
quoted
records
riches,
of articles made
case
it of
possible
for buried
this
the
on
makes
of minerals, and
silver."
of the
mention
he
metals
material
the
doubling
of
book
tells
He
ROMANCE
astrologicaland
fourth
fire.
search
the
of
the
In
AND
SCIENCE
his
details of
themes.
*'
ITS
"
have
we
the
precious a necessity for mutation. implies transis to the
that
found
be
Emperor
of Caligula,greedy of gold, ordered a large amount orpiment (arsenicsesquisulphide a yellow powder) "
but
gold ; did
not
at
the
that
the
repay
warranted but
that
calcined;
be
to
any
Berthelot
thus
in itself,such
probable ; analogous
was
involved.
cost
this
it does
rate
was
of it
amount
taking
in
result
the
comments
to
f
mean
excellent
some so
We
small may
for it
be
not
;
artificial manufacture.
mean
the
on
that
seems
it
transmutation
"
passage
:
Pliny reports it,is nothing
as
that
we
have
here
The
fact
else than
operation
an
cupellation (refming),having for end in of the result the extraction and gold contained certain compounds of sulphur with metals, distinto
"
"
Quidqiiid in
iisns
metalla Scrutari caeca Ignis agit. Depositas et opes, terrseque exurere venas, certa manu duplicarierarte Materiamquo Quidquid ot argento fabricetur quidquid et auro." .
t brem
**
Invitaverit
.
spes Caium
jussit excoqui
czcellens, sed (Bk. xxiii,ch. iv).
aurum
.
magnum ita parvi
principem avidissimum auripigmenti pondus,
ponderis,ut
auri, quamoet
detrimentum
plane fecit sentiret
"
HISTORY
EARLY
AND
MYTH
their colour
19
possibly containing gold. of pre-existing extraction The gold, or the making of ideas quite distinct for two it out and out, these are in the minds confused of ancient us they were ; but (Les Originesde VAlchimie^ p. 69). operators not The two just quoted are quite, passages though nearly,free from suspicion. There is,however, doubt cast upon a testimony which points to the no time Diocletian Greek of (284-805). Suidas, a lexicographer(c.975-1025), tells us that this Emperor all Egyptian books the making of gold and ordered on
guished by
as
"
silver
to
be
practicallythe a
time
We
burnt.
time
same
which
noted
was
and
writings. Alchemy
had
not
attained
to
The The
dealing
oldest with
thus
are
by
as
taken
Manilius
for secret
and
plainlyon dignity of an
was
the
Papyri authentic
back
and
to
Pliny magical arts "
its way,
but
art
of transmutation.
in
existence
Leyden.
of
documents
this
early phase of the art are certain of manuscripts stored in the libraries of Leyden, groups Venice, and Paris. They are not treatises on alchemy, rather but guides to the technical practices of the chemistry of their period. The most ancient of them in the Leyden collection,and on the score are of their Kistorical value
and
characteristic
contents
call for
a
brief
descriptionand critical notice. According to Berthelot, the greater this collection are Egyptian, dating from century,
by
order
and of
so
of the
Diocletian.
same
order
They
were
as
those
number the
of third
destroyed probably found
ALCHEMY"
20
together
ITS
in
the
They contain, the
tomb
in intimate
SCIENCE of
AND
ROMANCE of
magician
some
Thebes.
association, magic, astrology,
alloys,dyeing, and the virtues of plants. Here is a heading which displaysa singular combination of magic and to gold-craft. How make a ring that shall act as a talisman, by graving on a jasper, set in the ring, the form of a serpent of metallic
study
"
which Sim
bites
its tail,the
with
moon
two
stars, and
the
above." From
speciallyalchemic point of view, remark number of receiptsfor working metal we a and of imitating alloys,and descriptionsof methods and falsifying gold and silver. There is,for example, be given an explanation of how a white colour may to certain of arsenic ; and how, by metals by the use the
the
addition
gold.
more
of cadmia,
All this is leadingup
colour
acquires the
copper
of
belief in the
possibility of real transmutation. And, indeed, we actuallyfmd paragraphs treating of the multiplicationof gold by alluded recall the doubling forming alloys. We in the classical authors to previously quoted. The idea was evidently taking possession of the nascent to
a
"
"
alchemists.
The
Mystical
Factor.
manuscripts also give us a glimpse the in which into mysticism magic and manner blended with philosophy ^the third practice and in alchemy factor contained properly so called. So strong is the thaumaturgical ingredientthat it points of mysticism, as the to Alexandria, that great home art had its origin. actual centre in which the Hermetic These
ancient
"
MYTH There
that
in
was,
all
brought
into
to
directly in-
in these
And
incantations
spells and
aid of technical
to the
it.
with
contact
how
see
we
of
medley
a
bound religionwhich was directly or thinking was,
whose
brought treatises
seething centre,
21
and
philosophy, magic, influence
HISTORY
EARLY
AND
were
It is obvious
formulas.
supposed co-operation of unseen powers would tend to develop the idea of real transmutation ; for the barriers set by ordinary experience of the there natural be evaded order would or ignored when was expectation of supernatural intervention. that
the
Spread
We
be
may
to
The
Art.
the
from
knowledge
a
Alexandria, of the
art
new
great cities in
the
of
most
Empire.
that
sure
originating centre, spread
of
the
the
as
would Roman
superstitions,religions, and
arts,
the Western world speculationsof the East invaded with the travel and More rest. alchemy would in Constantinople, especiallydid it find a congenial home the cityin which so much art and learningwere fostered and granted a refuge in the troubled days of it is from Rome's Alexandria decay and fall. And and of those Constantinople that there issued most the preservation of the ensured Greek treatises which lost ; others were Hermetic art. Many of them were in forgotten libraries ; others fell into buried the "
hands
of
the
tongue, and
so
the
end
were
in
transmutation It is in
Arabs,
one
of
a
were
the new
of these the
fifth
translated of
means
into
their
setting the
own
idea
of
environment. Greek
treatises,written
century
by
a
certain
about iEneas
ALCHEMY"
22
Garseus,
the
as
work
specimen
a
his
History
much
of Chemistry
from
this
they the
laziness
great led
were
into
disservice
great
it thus
Since
roughly
maintained
were
The
sufficient from
to
will
come
did
official
completely At find
the
that
the
of
alchemy
will
be
conviction
or
managed
to
and
order,
after
their
though
adepts. it
Here
of
relations
and
from
In
was,
that of
sort
religious
new
well,
so
they
days
art
so
never
was
banned. close
of
alchemy Wars,
Empire.
what
to
art."
of
with
condemnation.
succeed
not
the
to
life,
of
way
alchemists
motives,
themselves
escaped
rise
whether
that,
speculations
again.
up
that,
say
prudential
adjust
solitary
ecclesiastics
between
question
and
ask
to
should
writers
these
of
contemporaneous
it is natural
Christianity,
interest
Boerhaave,
says
the
it
as
we
decadence.
that
appears
speaking,
what
is
adulteration
and
this
historical
enthusiastical
vain
earliest
the
Be
It
of
period
^
"
be
to
broader
class.
its
a
said
is
transmutation. of
of
from
anticipate in
is
ROMANCE
AND
what
alchemic
of
may,
found
is
that
mention
SCIENCE
ITS
out.
We
being
adopted
now
this
had
become
into
to an
see
alien
in
extinct
revolutions, turn
period,
preparatory
invasions,
how
it
was
civilisation.
then,
the
Roman
crushed
resuscitated
we
it
by
CHAPTER
II
ARABIAN
the
IN
seventh
dire
for
confusion.
settled
But
they
began
speculations,
arts,
and
Alexandrian
others, itself
devoted
many
affairs
by
thrown
were
when
the
conquerors
to
interest
themselves
of
had
they
the of
students
into had in
art,
life, and
who
the
the
suppressed.
Hermetic
lease
new
a
invaded
was
sciences
form
given
was
its
time
a
down,
The
Egypt
century
and
Arabs,
ALCHEMY
among
attracted
were
to
genuine
very
chemists.
The We some
this
to
owe cases
are
preceded
the
by
al'kohl
^kohl
Oriental
by
use
and
liquids,
group
of
is
said
and
of El to
be
now
Greek
a
is
at
of
the
course
Greek
last
known
Such
aL
black
to
the
the
Arabic
xerion, 23
used
to
powders particular
the
alcohols. we
article
meaning
still
lashes.
and
various
adopted
word
instance,
powder,
attached as
alcohol,
for
eyebrows
in
words
are
alcohol,
extended
was
was
fine
darkening
for
word
liquids
of
example elixir.
the
a
Greek
others,
word
The
being
ladies
The
article,
aludel.
"
in
;
which
words
certain
era
Arabic
Arabic
Words.
of
Arabian
pure
elixir^ alembic, is
Testimony
As
take
may ;
an
the
ixir
powder.
dry 0
24
ALCHEMY"
But
it may
meaning
ITS be
"
It would
ROMANCE
AND
Arabic, iksir^from
pure
kasara^
root
a
grind."
to
chief
The
SCIENCE
of this group
in line with
be
to
seem
of words
alchemy itself.
is
above
those
;
but
disputed ; and a glance at the rival derivations will be not only interestingetymologically, but will give us valuable some side-lightson the As was history of the art. pointed out in the last derivation would link it to Shem, or chapter, one
its
originis
Chem,
a
another
much
son
son,
desperate ; the
of the
patriarch
Ham,
or
Egyptian
of
Hebrew
meaning,
Hebrew
chamariy
lead
those
called
Chemla,
the
black
of
descriptiveof still
the
the
blackness
of
Egypt,
word
same
eye.
authorities
some
dialect
the
The
it to
the
follow
the
would soil.
the
think
the coimtry
that
as
name
of
who
purely
a
to
of
in his treatise Isis and
tells us,
OsiriSythat in the sacred
founding
refer
who
how
seen
for
It is safer
mystery.
of Plutarch, who
was
do
is
this word
in the seek
means
no
have
we
then,
not,
by
that
";oncemed
substitute
we
is
case
and
Egypt,
was
as a
If
is little doubt
name
closelythis country need alchemy. We
the
Cham,
for there
Noah.
used
for
thus
be
There
are
Plutarch
that
was
stronglyin his favour is the fact that the arts which provided the practicalpart of alchemy were peculiarlyEgyptian. Other that authorities, however, argue alchemy is one of the terms resultingfrom prefixingthe Arabic on
the
article
righttrack.
to
a
Greek
chemia, which before
the fourth
And
word.
appears
mentioned,
silver."
And
a
There
in the
against
commentator
century of
our
"
is
a
decree
the on
Greek of
makers
word,
Diocletian, of
gold
and
Aristotle, writing in
era, calls attention
to various
ALCHEMY
ARABIAN vessels and were
named
chuika
organa
melting
and
pouring.
It
which for that
would
many
word
the
Perhaps that
both
way
of
an
chumeiaf
alchymy
contained
"
"
the
has
the
have
reference
a
^Egypt supplying
the
speculations on
the
rational basis
know,
case,
the
art
is first called In
centuries. but
name,
Hermetic
the
have with in
the
Renaissance
and
its
was
art,"
of
nature
idea
Arabic
phase
earlier
known
as "
divine
the
to the
front.
of
the
which
of transmutation. article
testifies to
of its development. so
sixth
far
and
stages it had "
two
Greece
and
matter
of transmutation, in the
the
foimding
practicalpart,
alchemy
the
the
to
of
no
art,"
science,"
and
which "
as
we
seventh
sacred
of designations of a like kind, many retained rightthrough the history,though "ame
its chief
reflected
each
to
for the
the
In any
be
chemistry
our
contributed
which
a
would
prefixingof the importance of the Arabian
Then,
describe
"
also
offered
would
chymistry. would thus be defensible, though the the greater weight of authority. And we
forms
countries
It
in
of
groimds
on
spellings alchemtfyand
of
art
but
out suggestion thrown the Egyptian alchemy mean
derivation
difference
should
^and
"
melting and pouring. May there not of the Egyptian chemia early confusion
Greek
former
I
by declaring this, not by
The
make
would Greek
processes,
Both
of terms
part of the
settled
sound
are
probability.
The
the
this set
substantive
harmonising,
convenient
Plutarch
been
is to
is best
dispute
contentions
historical
art.
the
^that is, apparatus
"
alchemy."
"
by
refer
calcination
for fusion and
used
instruments
25
special "
the
other were
alchemy
"
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
20
ROMANCE
AND
Documents. So much
for derivations.
form
what The
the
But
great.
very
assumed
art
in the
inasmuch
hands
issued
false.
consider
to
of the be
to
in later
as,
impudent forgeries were famous adepts, it is matter
in
Arabs*
Arabian
times, many
the
of
names
to difficulty
of great
is
sift
I shall
keep to the evidence is most which generally accepted as trustworthy, relyingspeciallyon the researches and conclusions of Berthelot in his splendid treatises on this subject. the
from
true
oldest
The
of the
master
There
doubting
tradition.
the
of Arabian
alchemy without
features
which
did
because
the
ground
is clear
simply Many
to
Arabian
medicines.
It is curious
Paracelsus with
to as
a
for
dependence as daylight.
take
their
over
of the fantastic
severelyin
so
and
the
art
was
healing. This change mostly adepts were
themselves
devoted
who
chieflyconcerned
good
abandoned,
physicians
of the art, with
dedicated
Greek
to
for
he
rate, the
means
a
had
have
to
condemned
were
ascribed
any
not
Boerhaave
Greek
about
the
no
modification.
alchemy mainly practisedas came
At
on
Arabs, however,
material
be
to
three
whom
to
seems
are
reputed
was
monk
Syrian
a
treatise.
the
documents
(704 a.d.), who
Halid
The
the
turn
us
which. claim
of documents
mass
Let
note
its
healing.
chemical
to
that
the
final
prophet, was The
wheel
phase
likewise came
full
circle.
Geber. The life is
most
famous
assigned
to
is that
name
the
end
of
the
of
Geber, whose
eighth century.
ALCHEMY
ARABIAN
his
right,and
own
he
Ages when of
to
him
the
case,
It
1
illustrious in
was
still more
became
honoured
was
he
But
in the
so
by being made
legends. No
numerous
ascribed his
him.
about
Little is known
27
less
than
the
Middle
subject
works
200
are
be
easilyimagined that, in distinguishingof genuine and spurious can
Even those which bear extremely hazardous. marks of the of authenticity,though free from many absurdities of later periods,abound in obscure terms of exposition. It is amusing and modes find to from his name. Dr. Johnson deriving gibberish Needless The to say, he was ever, mere fact, howwrong.* that such what error an was possible shows minds the of those on impression had been made hardy enough to explore those tangled disquisitions. Recent critics,with fuller and better opportimitiesfor to say, put a high understanding what Geber wanted is
"
estimate
on
value
the
of his work.
titles given
The
"
to
these
treatises
symbolic, such as of Pity The Book
The
trationy The
of Oriental Mercury.
which
of Royalty
The
of Balances^
The
usually
Little Book
^
9
Book
Book
are
Book
of
Concert-
They contain
is
strangelymixed, and include formulas and known what of was receipts which embody chemistry at that period. Let us glance at the contents of one of these The Book of Royalty. matter
"
The formula
author
"In
sets
the
out,
as
usual, with
of
God
the
Muslim
compassionate and merciful ^and asks for blessingson Mahomet and his family. He then proceeds : The present little is one work in which I have speciallyindicated two classes of operations. The first is that in which "
name
"
"
"
"
"
Gibberish
"
is
reaUy
akin
to
"
gabble
"
and
"
jabber."
ALCHEMY"
28
execution
ITS
is
themselves
inner
able
work, the
thinker.
I
heaven's
lead facility
cherished
child, and
around
be as
not
"
If
:
corrupted ; glass is
.
.
brother, do
to
still less to do
not
your any
heed
repentance is
clear
a
But
for
let
this
.
not
wife,
to show or
other
your
person.
this advice, you too
late."
approbation the saying of the divulge this work, the world will as gold would then be made easily
we
for
made it I
make
are
with
quotes
ancients
firmly, my
if you
master.
you,
brother, if you
will repent of it when He
Seize
this
to
in this work, and
you,
my
given
or
for
execute
divulge this proceeding,or
to
of those
dear
by dear
it to any
My
to
second,
only I have
why
easy
my
you
The
of Royalty.
it
swear
sake,
princes do not feel complicated operations,
going to expound
am
will appear
thing
for
sages
reason
Book
name
ROMANCE
them.
which
is the
I
;
AND
undertake
is that
brother, what the
easy
towards
to
That
princes. treatise
and
drawn
being
not
rapid
SCIENCE
for the A
bazaars."
needless
And
warning
yet, he could
I
body of the treatise is occupied with of operationsfor concocting the Elixir of descriptions The
main
"
of ferments, which
Elixirs, the ferment the
elements
itself."
at
They
the
time
same
author
while
of what
he
he
has
water"
has in
spoken
plain terms, about
that
it transforms
seemingly simple, but,
are
unintelligible.The he
will transform
"
the
in
reality,
does, indeed, allow calls
"
the
wrapped
balance
of
"
fire
balance up
"
that
in
his
of
structio in-
terms
enigmatic and a little complicated." Iljuminating is his concluding paragraph. all this, dear In fimdamental brother, the principle is that the lam of the elements (them transmuting Essence) "
ARABIAN well
be
should
That
effect." this
but to
been
hinder
is to say,
there
free from
a
naive, but he
Moreover,
certain the
on
defend
to
arguments
he had
no
lived in the tenth There
Rhazes.
ment
his had
are
he
of Alchemy and so
blinded
and
of the
denying
of the
stars
of
most
scientific
of this
the
spirit.
school, who
the medical
for art
entitled
philosopher
him
violentlyacross
unable face
the
to
with
Establish-
prince. of his
verify some
to
him
finding
The
it to his
presented
^
asked
logical
uses
important treatises which these brought him misfortune.
of
plea
a
*
several
One
written
man.
of the treatises
discarding and
was
have
to
honest
an
one
student
It is
himself
he
seems
him,
to
share
century,
name.
royal patron him
small
enthusiastic
Another
He
he
was
In
his art,
that
out
opinions regarding the influence Like production of metals.
Arabians,
bear
reformer.
attributed
assuredly
most
producing its unvarying failure ; the ingredients,not
;
certainly he
a
oils which
alchemist's quest.
doubts
graver
was
was
point
to
the
it from
of the
character
not
from
impuritiesin
to
Geber, however,
fair to
29
freed
which
due
was
vain
the
was
purifiedand
it, and
corrupt
ALCHEMY
His
ments, experi-
comply, struck a whip that he
him. other
Many
Arabian
alchemists
there
were,
of
less fame,
stand though these two names them. from out Speaking generally,we may among the Caliphs alchemy accept it as proved that under had a comparatively wholesome and made a career,
greater
distinct an
or
contribution
industrial "
to the
Stimma
to
rank
the of
which
movement an
experimental
PerfectionisMagisterii
in
sua
Nalura.
art.
raised
ITS
ALCHEMY"
80
Spread
The
carried
into
of Arab
arms.
all the It
cultivated
in
deservedly
so
is to
to
with
merge
The
mediaeval of
Islamic
yet
extinct.
places, there renowned
and
recorded.
Ah
In
interpreted
!
^gold
"
"
for
of
the
them.
would
their
Mecca,
in
the
if the
What
Geber's be
"
of
secret
made
unchanging
its
treatises,
their
their
breasts.
really
was
production
formulas
boast
would
as
other
stirred
hard
easily
to
is not
and
old
that
of
tion considera-
interesting
Philosopher's Stone
the
acquired
the
cherish
bums
Western
moribund,
hope
was
complexion
it is
in
The
still
Their
to
though
who
it
of thus
the
are
countries,
stream
art,
^
Crusades,
European
on
Morocco,
that I
the
century,
passing
alchemy,
that
discovered,
took
Before
ancestors
believe
They
made
and
jealously guard
twelfth
general
individuals
are
of
of transmutation
phase
next
that
even
and
idea
which
learning
other
the
thought. this
the into
environment,
new
note
travel
to
civilisation. a
towards
triumph
enthusiastically
time
the
By
was
eighth century,
was
of
centres
famous.
say,
beginning and
those
it
the
by
that, in the
where
Spain,
reached
that
thus
alchemy
East,
affected
countries was
Alchemy.
in the
firmly established
Once
it
Arabian
of
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
could be as
is be
cated vindi-
glass
is
bazaars.
"4
III
CHAPTER
MEDIiEVAL
Spain,
FROM the was
that, the
the
fifteenth
the
whole
attained
in a
exceedingly
reliable
form
to
this
as
at
least
which are
the
of
period
reflecting
characterised above
suspicion.
together,
it is
of
mediaeval
to
work
is
By
possible
to
alchemy. to
study
number
putting gain The
the
doctrines,
fair
A
a
full
true
and
and
there
that
the
within thus and of
simplest
teaching 31
can
it
fiction
But
sources,
and
ideas,
it.
from
appeared
it concerns, the
renders
estimates.
all
nearly
preceding
the
fact
earlier
as
Magnus,
distinguish
the
over
of
in
names
Albertus
treatises
historical
advantage
pseudo-literature limits
to
such "
case
we
believed
spurious
of
difficult
when
who it
Bacon, the
prominence
manifest
men
about
in
As
is
famous
Roger
seventeenth
The
Ages
By
throughout
the
in
was
safe.
was
success.
wrote
multitude
the
its
the
of
Aquinas.
period,
is
list
art
and
Middle
the
LuUy,
Thomas
and
of
rule
Arab
cultivated
was
expansion
of
the
the
through
out
process
time
of it
it, and
it, practised
Raymond
future
apogee
through
run
the
Christendom,
the
spread
The
by
century of
attained it
nations.
steady
overthrown,
alchemy
then,
Western
so
ALCUEMY
and
be
the used
practices authorities
spurious
living picture way
of
activities
going of
a
ITS
ALCHEMY"
82
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
but representative adepts ^not biographically, merelyin so far as they throw lighton our particular subject.
few
"
Gerbert
Michael
and
Scott.
completedependenceof mediaeval alchemy on the Arabian is manifested by the fact that the first Western students gained their knowledge in the Spanishuniversities. An illustrious example is foimd in Gerbert, afterwards Pope Sylvester II (999-1003). The
he attracted the attention of Borel, young man, of Barcelona,and went Count with him to Spain, As
a
he
where
studied
science
especially chemistry. His that, after the
and
attainments
of the
manner
philosophy,more were
times, he
was
so
great
reputed
leaguewith the devil. It would seem that such a charge should have put an end to his chances of ecclesiasticalpromotion. He was, however, made Abbot of Bobbio by Otto II, became Archbishopof Ravenna, and then climbed into the Papal chair itself. His career thus not only proves dependence on Spain,but shows that an alchemist could attain to the highestojBSce. He was the precursor of a long series of men of note who honoured the art by being to call accurate adepts. Perhaps it might be more to
him
be in
chemist
a
than
an
alchemist
is
hardlyworth drawing, as those days inseparable. We The
descend
Muslim
Spain.
the two
classes
were
in
to Michael Scott. years to come influence was still great ; for we find 200
that he studied Arabic in
; but the distinction
Frederick
in
and spent ten Sicily,
II became
his
patron,
years and it
\
MEDIAEVAL this
to
was
monarch
that
Secretis.
treatise, De into
ALCHEMY
notice,,but
did
He
writes
for
the
There,
Evidently
the
:
different
very in
the
best
much
resigned his see to While cultivatingmany Stone
in and
LibelltLS de
his
efforts
the
Elixir.
Alchimia^
also
of
one
He
was
devote branches to
He in
alchemy." !
was
Magnus a
of Ratisbon.
he
relaxed
Scott
type, Albertus
Bishop
became
and
in
in evidence
Michael
and
infernal
the
Magnus.
of his time.
men
of
experimented
was
with
sense,
doubtful
invocation
Albertus
Contemporary
art
"
too, he
magic
the
bring
to
a
guise. For At Toledo he learnt magic famous natural magic or jugglery, as well as black
"
thus
city was experimental physics or magic, involving the powers.
in
dedicated
he
1209
much
apparently
Fergusson which
in
88
a
the
himself
to
a
guished distin-
most
Dominican After
of
alchemist
an
"
man
monk,
three
years,
his studies.
of
learning,he never discover the Philosopher's published a treatise, his
which
he
gave
copious
structio in-
the
practice of the art, described of the apparatus and operations,and gave accoimts substances origin and main propertiesof the chemical In short, he proved himself to him. to be, known the limitations of his day, a man under of genuine his Libellus scientific spirit. A brief quotation from for
reveals
"
much.
I found
many
rich scholars, abbots,
imleamed folk, physicians, and superiors, canons, time and who, in prosecutingthis art, expended much
labour, and Of
himself
who he
had "
says,
to
desist
I did
not
from
lack
despair, but
of means."
expended
ITS
ALCHEMY"
84
alchemy
Clearly, the money." sections of society was very
enthusiasm
the
and
all
on
ROMANCE hold
and
labour
infinite
AND
SCIENCE
evoked
of
strongs
immense*
was
Aquinas. renowned
The
scholastic, Aquinas, shared
Albertus, and An
master.
amusing
the
statue
fully of
pair
the
Hermetic
that
gold
to
say,
there
there decides
confined
and
effects, though
the
to
Ixxvii,
distinction
between
distinction
Michael
that
men
may
be
that
the
art.
art
ii). in
more
famous
determines if it be
the
true
That he
unlawful
natural it
here
and
black
also
tion. transmuta-
is not
He
of
nature
but
successful
if
causes
demoniacal has
in
magic
mind "
^the
estimate
Ferguson's
of
Scott,
Bacon
(1214-1294).
with Practically contemporary Roger Bacon, undoubtedly one our
the
he
not
think
white
appeared
Roger
was
In
investigationof
qu.
have
to
practice of the only as proof of
fraud,
is
some
livmg
a
is fraudulent.
transaction
it be
the
here
if it have
but
;
knows
he
also
(Pt. ii, 2,
the
by alchemists,
silver made
and
recognises that He
with
his
of
treat
to
come
we
discussing adulteration,
be sold metal, may the true metal, the is
when
collaboration.
the
of
when
Summay
told
It is mentioned
art.
labours
concerning
story
magic mingled
closeness
the
alchemic
pupil of
a
popularly supposed
were
will be
fashioned
in the
was
nation
has
produced.
His
the
last
named
^
of range
the
greatest
of scientific
MEDIEVAL
inquiries was
wide
favoured
of his
unwearied
in
ALCHEMY but
;
85
alchemy
least
the
not
was
subjects. He devoted the third book of his Compendium Philosophiceto the art, and it is of the earliest authentic one (some maintain, the He of it. that treat earliest) European works firmly believed in the Philosopher'sStone, and was Alchemy
Trdm
of
modem
That
is to
last.
first to
chapter dealing
By
the
on
secret
books true
a
was
number
of
of the
more
possessed
spent
and
in
various
of science
been
power
of
tradition, modem
speedily Gerbert
the
to
and
Albertus, and
a;nd imprisonment.
provoking
How
is hard
cause
Raymond Less
higheron
prominent that
of
his
Had
and spirit, shackles come
of
more
than
persecution
alchemy
was
a
to say.
the
(1285-1815). science
alchemy, comes "
librae
2000
fortunate
much
suffered
Lully on
have less
was
far
to
philosophy.
off the
would
He
from
postponed
his
by
throwing
birth.
of the
discoveries.*
animated
science
our
experiments. That plain from the variety
remarkable
his
adepts
his
is
as
animistic
than
more
simpler
doctrine
alchemist
the
with
various
use
the
of it is
had
man
in
things
same
in the
of alchemical
he
1267
year
the
brings
consideration
The
of
out
much
If differs,however, which
of
that
held
built up be
to
characteristic
so
he
defines
He
it.
generation
say"
be
seem
"generation,"
element
the
of
can
would
discover
to
science
notion.
term
and
efforts
substances
This
ones.
he
the
as
elements.
kinds
the
his
See
p. 208.
the
roll of honour, name
of
but
Ra}anond
ALCHEMY"
86
ITS
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
full of romance exceptionally remarkable and and adventure, presented a most and enthusiasm for combination in religion of fervour knowledge. It was not until after middle age that he life
His
LuUy.
turned
to
taken
it up,
and, of
as
he
and
to the
in
Edward
allotted
that
of Arabian
be
to
certain
invitation
an
him
to
adept,
an
title
the
in the
he
not
power
to
that
in his
It is said
from
that, I
Edward
where
London,
to
came
as
had
with applied himself philosophy,chemistry,
popular belief it. actually claimed
II, he
were
fame
a
to
response
he
once
sciences,earned
He
It appears
gold, but
make
the occult
on
study
countenanced
only
when
acquired great
soon
medicine.
but
art ;
lUuminatus.
Doctor
ardour
Hermetic
the
writer
a
one
was
apartments
The
Tower.
or
story goes
he
replenishedthe royal coffers by transmuting iron, lead, pewter and quicksilverinto gold. Some, that the replenishingcame however, maintain through his advising a tax on wool ! evidence
The But
there
is
for the
the
converted
that,
drawn
grand
in his last will which
statement specific
a
definitelyproves was
English episode is disputable.
he
up, He
secret.
the
time
claimed therein
less than
no
at
50,000
to
when have
asserts
the
put that
ment docuto
he
pounds weight
use
had
of base
most
gold.* This is very puzzling,especially had consistentlyshown himself to be free from of the delusions of his day. It has been suggested
that
in his
metals as
he
and
into
that
accord
we
"
*"
plumbi,
he
age
the una
stanni."
his
mental
himself
dreamt
him
Converti et
old
powers
into the
were
idea.
waning, Willingly
benefit of the doubt,
vice
in
aurum
ad
L
millia
pondo ai^nti
vivi,
MEDIEVAL
Arnold noted
ALCHEMY
Villanova
of
87
(1245-1810).
of
Arnold of LuUy was He Villanova. was probably a Spaniard; at any of Spain. He is rate, he studied amongst the Arabs iron bars into gold at Rome. transmuted said to have A paragraph from a treatise of his on "the grand to a pupil of his, will give a fair operation," addressed A
of
notion
contemporary
the
fantastic
more
elements
in
mediaeval
alchemy. "
to
Know,
teach
the
take bed
in the
appeared
That
him.
afresh
put
him
a
to
crucified
will be
quake.
Then
will
everybody
is the raise
see
has *
rent, and
been
Quoted
to a
in error."
Sun
will be
the a
him Then
he
has
deliver
him
being
thus
veil of the
great earth-' hot fire,and
employ a spirit concerning "
by Figuier,VAlchimiei
when
seize
when
to
and
destroy
water.
and
moon,
there
time
itself
The
the
see
;
afresh
Jews.
the
by
him
cold
have
son
not
may
again,
into
will
Signs
in his bed, and
his bed
on
seize
will not
you
temple you
time
second
crucified
be
pride
senses
naked
him
his senses,
recovered
his
his
to
come
plunge
to
that
she
seize this
;
the
on
penitence
Then
will sin.
moon
replace him
done,
him
see
you
the
and
sun
reason,
sons
strict
sins.
who
son
a
in order
him
all her
this
eight a
so
woman,
For
her
with
going
am
Philosopher's
the
by
she makes
from
the world
into
chastise
that
; see
is washed
until she
bring
her
the
re-established. her
I
chapter
of
lost
was
place
mother,
watch
;
her
by
in this
preparation
world
the
it be
must
the
you As
Stone.
that
son,
my
p. 42.
which
ALCHEMY"
88
ITS
modem
a
conceive
ROMANCE
less like the
Anything in
AND
SCIENCE
manual
descriptionof an chemistry it would
of
experiment be
hard
to
!
that Arnold himself seem Figuier remarks to have of the value of this exposino high estimate tion. For when the pupil exclaims, "Master, I do the not master imderstand," promises to be more clear another time. The interpretationwould indeed be hard Certain will gain a meaning terms to find. when consider alchemist to come we phraseology, such as the sun for silver,and for gold, the moon so forth. and But the general tenour spirit of the exposition belong to another world than ours.
Universal
Diffusion.
be apparent
how
firm
had
got in Christendom
at
had
seized
It will the
art
Stone
now
was
a
society
on
that
viction large. The conthe Philosopher's
that
substance, and
known
the hold
was
that
its secret
The contagion of by any one. might be discovered Reason example fanned these high hopes to a flame* was compelled to play a subsidiary r61e; emotion and led it captive. blmded the monarch all ranks, from Its spell was to on XXII the peasant. A Pope himself, John an was
alchemist.
ardent
in him the than
25 source
at
magic
He
florins
of the
was a
"
wealth
in transmutation
1
but
;
he
Avignon, where
person.
million
careful, indeed,
was
black
on
censures
laboratory
He
said
to
he
had
conducted have
to
nounce pro-
his
own
ments experi-
left behind
though thing quite possible, has to be sought elsewhere Nor
was
the
highest royal
MEDIEVAL
from
the
fame
there
was
open
to
Almost
whom
And
the other
the
at
peasant's cottage modest
was
the
fool
court
end
of its
had
of stillsand
store
century the
Emperor
accorded,
were
privilegesof
art
study
stimulated.
89
Rudolph II, for the title of "the Hermes of Germany," of his laboratory at Prague, where for all adepts who welcome cared to in Europe had its alchecourt mist, every
example, earned
it.
The
lacking.
patronage
use
ALCHEMY
devoted
Indeed,
or
the
furnace
"
the
and
its
In the sixteenth
religion
a
it, so
said,
poet laureate." social scale, many a
crucibles.
to
been
the
smoking
almost
became
has
as
"
intense
earnest
so
the
feelingit
the
knowledge of the secret, declared, could only come by the grace of God many ^bya specialinspiration.One adept thus addresses thank has granted the operator: "Now God, Who
"
so
you
many
favours
to
as
lead
work
your
to
this
to guide you, and point of perfection. Pray to Him to keep your precipitationfrom bringing about the has come loss of a labour which to a state so perfect." Another adept, after an experiment, breaks forth into a doxology, long and fervent, such as might conclude It is quite common, in technical a devotional manual. with injimctionsthat no operation treatises,to meet
should
be undertaken
without
Medieval
There
how
remember about
the
was,
the
for its
success.
Criticism.
however, Geber
prayer
another
had
side to all this.
confessed
accomplishing of Mediaeval period, there
to
doubts
grave
transmutation. were
some
We
So, in who
were D
sufficientlydetached
ROMANCE
AND critics
become
to
line of criticism
One
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
40
"
The by Aquinas in his Sumtna. it was urged, is impious ; it transmute, we
are
the
prerogatives of
in the
unknown
not
present day,
spiritualistic phenomena. of reverence. based a perverted sense on decided, so we, too, may regard all avenues of nature to be open, provided, of moral principlesare transgressed. no line
Another
criticism
of
was
of
As
regards them
"
that
tells him
I
metals
a
shadow
of
by alchemy.
And
rightly recognise thee, Adam
Brescia
of
I
is accused
"
had
sort.
He
of
from
Arezzo
recoUect, if I
I
aped " "
nature."
If I
"
spoke
The poet in falsifythe coin." he had these passages speaks of def rauders of whom misused the He art. actual knowledge, and who not does imply, however, that the art itself was that the phrase, spurious. It is even argued by some
false,thou
*
too
Dante,
didst
see
falsified the
who
Sinon
the
me."
shalt thou
so
must
well
by
he
practised in
Capocchio how
the
condemned
err,
it
Canon's
distinction
Griffolino
thou
find
From
of every
things,in
not
that
course,
alchemists
sees
alchemy
may
are
ledge know-
to
Dante.
Florentine, laments,
the
am
in
words.
for the
who
world, Minos,
Capocchio,
and
deeds
of
case
suggested by the which accompanied
Falsifiers
falsifiers in
as
falsifiers in
it he
suffering among
known
that
find
chasm
tenth
the
of
arch
We
Tale.
YeowmCs
on
Aquinas
knavery We ,and tainted the development of the art. quaintly, but strongly,stated in Chaucer's amount
enormous
to
They
into
inquiry
as
arguments
in the
as
to,
presumes
ParaUel
Creator.
art.
attempt
saw,
the
the
^alluded
theological
was
of
Inferno^Onrto
xzix, 118-139
; xzz,
115.
MEDIEVAL "
How
than such A the may of
41
I
aped nature," impliesits impiety rather its misuse; but the whole context negatives an interpretation. weU
third
line of criticism
first,and
transmutation.
1830
wrote
preciosa (a scholastic
tradition held
Good
the a
the to
arguments is
assumption.
Here
substance
be transformed
can
it be first reduced
to
than
the
a
here
possibility to
and
advance
imperious ;
so
sway
It
second.
there.
For
of
treatise for
name
legitimatethan
ventured
many
its appearance
Peter
example,
more
It questioned the
Not
when
still it made
was
fundamental
more
be called scientific.
it in the times
in
ALCHEMY
one
Lombardy, a physician, on Chemistry Margarita he used Stone), in which alchemist disprove the of his syllogisms.* "No "
into another
its elements.
Now
kind
imless
alchemy does an imaginary
it is Therefore proceed thus. science/* Again, "Natural gold and silver are not the same artificialgold and silver. Therefore," etc. as of its weight (such This criticism is deprived of much find its author it is)when as we assertingthat he can with equal ease prove that alchemy is a sound science ! Still,it raised the issue. not
Persecution.
practicalside to the effects failures. Kings and rulers produced by constant who patronisedalchemists looked for tangibleresults. How fared it, then, with adepts who disappointed Some saved themselves them? planations! by plausible exThere
was
also
^some
"
"
Quoted
a
by
flight.
Not
by Figuier,VAkhimie,
a
few
p. 87.
suffered
ALCHEMY"
42
punishments,
severe
Honest
and
Marie
Ziglerin,
the
of
Bragadino
hanged
by
hanged
irony,
had
the this
how Some
imtil
imprisoned
then
The
became
device
learnt
to
avoid
^naive
were
was
in
their
and
harmony
with
the
I
and
promises.
and
comedy Mediaeval
of
its
:
am
invitations.
fraud.
spirit
gibbet
alchemists
wise
tragedy
gross
grim
courts,
flattering
most
"
alchemy
fulfilled that
with
now
to
intermingled
fanaticism
and
^
was
his
on
'
the
by
1590
invited
common
the
even
strangely
Thus
so
they
Saxony.
who,
mercury,
were
avoid
Krohnemann
posted
'
Brunsto
of in
Beyreuth,
fix
to
himself
de
inscription
fixed.*'
myself
of
adept, of
Augustus
William
that
female
Julius
Munich
than
failure
of
a
killed
at
Margrave
knew
once
that
fates. better
no
fact
Duke
by
Elector
Bavaria.
of
the
Benther
the
was
Elector
burnt
David
1575.
anger
I
Was
off
thus
was
untoward
by
came
was
"
It
mattered.
in
it
rogues
really
wick
failed
who
ROMANCE
AND
perished
or
professors
deceivers
*
SCIENCE
ITS
time.
CHAPTER
IV
DECADENCE
the
WITH its
materials
provided
sifted
out
point
for
less "
further
a
balanced to
wilder"
the
of
popularity
ol
the
of
decadence
its
claims. This
from
art
of
century,
with which
that
art
in
and
in
ushered
advance the
in 43
facts.
with
for
total
a
its later
general
of
world
followed
lasted
decadence
wandered
the
by
acme
a
period
discrediting
until
stages in
triumphs
well
a
the
even
thus
And was
ended
abandoned
and
heavy
bear.
the
which
period
eighteenth
of
hand,
overwhelmed
too to
other
quacks
the
was
monstrosities credulous
foolishly
and
starting-
foundation
the
absurdities,
away
consequence,
burden
nature
visionaries
ever-
it the
the
On
chemistry.
and~further
further a
of
ways.
tliought
sober
laid
and
was
were
the
of
parting
false, made
experiments,
it
objects
careful,
of~
have
But
avowed a
the
rom
complexity would
advance.
came
minds,
themselves'
As
tru^f
reaTsciehce
'
of
the
operations.
It
good.
its
men
its
increasing
further ;
~one"^andr
the
On
for
Hence
/Ufiattainable.
the
to
chimerical
essentially
and
science,
all
been
multiplied
alchemy
years,
doctrines,
genuine
a
have
would
its
aims,
it been
Had
of
passage
into
of
the
porary contem-
was
knowledge of
modem
of
*y
ITS
ALCHEMY"
44
science.
SCIENCE
Steady lightswere
ROMANCE
AND into
coming
which
view
students of the out quagmires of guided earnest rescued the irresponsible them from fantasy and pranks of will-o'-the-wisps.
Medical
Perhaps the decadent period
characteristic
most "
the
was
extension
of
the
the
of
transmutation rather
the
on
of
virtues
professed
healers
anything
there
of
new
went
of
need
was
hope
of
were
more
sober-minded and
;
spiritual
based
or
the
on
in their nature.
livingorganism, that the Not remedy. a
abandoned.
was
alchemists
it remained
with
visionaries
even
became
sickness
mental
chemical
fixed
now
even
was
the
been
Alchemists
chemical
a
and
then, with
transmutation
great aim
moral,
bodily and development
wrong,
is
Attention
wonder-worker.
vital processes
that
idea
medical,
the
The
disease.
metals.
powers Hitherto
the
to
the
of
feature
Philosopher's Stone. main, though not the only, object had
attributed
If
Alchemy.
the
the
With the and
one tionaries, reac-
to the gaining merely subordinated of health, prolonged life,and happiness,by alchemical Concurrent with growth of the new means. tendency there was a startlingincrease of nebulous mysticism, superstition,and trickery.
it
When
root, it
was
once
the idea of chemical
naturally led It is fearful to
had We
to
had
days,
suffer a
when
very
the
at
faint
drugs
were
to
the
remedies
making
of many
had
taken
ments. experi-
contemplate what poor mortals hands of practitioner adepts reflection of it in fairlyrecent fashionable, and patientswere
!
DECADENCE dosed
without
regard
45
methods
sounder
and
for other
healing. Nevertheless, in so far as the experiments were reasonably conducted, the results of medical often profitable both for chemistry and alchemy were of
/
medicine*
Ifor
Paracelsus The the
active
originatorof the
whom
man
alchemists," the
he
was an
in
any
extended, and
career
and
He
the
new
the
development zenith
and
Paracelsus.
right,is
own
influence
of
sum
How
existing tendencies,
was
far
how
and
imcertain.
But
enormous,
widely
persistent. Some
knowledge
of
teaching is
to
of his
standing of what
of
in his
his
case
^^
renowned
adapter
innovator
far
caUs
Naud6
all
an
(1498-1541).
was
essential
the
his
imder-
is to foUow. of
himself physician, and was for his father's profession,though it would educated much without or seem care thoroughness. While under the spellof alchemy, still a student, he came and was deeply smitten by the lure of the Philosopher's was
With
Stone.
might aid him
son
a
in the
series of travels. means
"
view
a
to
acquiring knowledge
quest, he
set out
on
an
extended
gained his livingby very ^tellingfortunes, professing magic He
that
varied powers,
and sellingquack medicines, acting as army surgeon, other activities reputable or the reverse. When many at length he settled down, the diversityof his pursuits less remarkable. As one no was biographer puts it, he was at once adept and wizard, scepticand critic." The most noteworthy acquisitionhe had gained was an acquaintance with metallic chemistry,l)y which he "
ALCHEMY
46
said
was
had
-ITS
to
been
have
cured
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE thirteen
princes whose
cases
declared
fame hopeless. His rapidly increased, and in 1526 he was appointed professorof Medicine Natural and At the Philosophy at Basic* end of two years he was ejected on a charge of quackery. He led a life of unbridled intemperance, became died at and a hopeless sot, took again to travelling, the of forty-eight in a condition of abject age
poverty.
glaringfaults and weaknesses, his vanity effrontery,his intemperance and quackery, have His
he
Perchance he
had
be
as
bad
so
hardihood
that
sure
by venturing
he
as
he
a
painted ; for with unsparing
was
attack of
the
the
gave
!
gain
not
Still,there
enemy
; and
time
reputation would course
led
charlatan.
worthless
a
traditions his
such
on
that
little doubt
to
medical
the
may
not
was
the
vehemence we
him
condemn
to
many
and
ample
can cause
be to
be him declared to blaspheme. And yet Lavater The EncyclopcediaBritannica a prodigiousgenius." the the pioneer of modem chemists and calls him in science." Browning prophet of a revolution him of his most be the subject of one chooses to ambitious not extenuating aught, but recognising poems, "
"
in
greatness.
It is
give grounds
can
of
elements
him
the
have
so
of
a
noble
assuredly necessary for such
prejudiced and long obscured
encomiums
strain that should
and a
of true
man
who
be cleared
superficialjudgments his exceptional giftsand
which solid
merits.' Take
as
an a
recorded
of him
represent example of misunderstanding, or misIt is practiceadopted by Paracelsus. that he had a jewel in which he kept
DECADENCE
imprisoned of the
some
that
and
remains
powers
As
traits which
loved
of
suum
and
their
it and
knew
used
Preceptor
From
poor.
another
dispensed medicines free of charge to those
attendance
they
"
the German
and
who
call
King
that
we
was
find
personal
gave could
of
he
source
and
been
For
of him
often
have
must
dear
records
at least two
are
pupils.
and
remedy
a
monarch,"
epitaph
the
to
he
his
He
shall
Who
it.
beloved
our
his
And
generous
and '*
and
Arts."
his credit.
to
noble
of his most
is
respected by "
this
poem,
one
"
Browning
as
his
word
"
stand
Hermes,"
to
end
accomplished as alleviator of human suffering? to his personal character, there
an
that
Now,
it has
what
estimate
him
he
that
the
inscribed
it.
this
possible,nay, probable, popular delusions concerning the of his potent drug ^but the fact
the
fostered
nature
as
It
discoveries.
he
to
In
represented with
it
laudanum siriiply
was
notable
is
the
at
notes
his command.
at
on
he gave
name
the
in
remarks
and
hand,
the
Azoth,"
Azoth
spiritwho was old portraitshe
his
in
jewel "
a
47
not
afford
him.
pay
attributed to him critically full of turgid,incoherent are writing. The obscurities stances subnecessarily incident to describing non-existent in his case and were imaginary powers gerated exagcondition of his brain. But by the inflamed is in rebellion He one thing is certain. against The
the
works
medical
that
system
unsparing in his in its vigour. by his coarseness that
he
be
can
of
diatribes
initiated
school
of
Galen.
He
is
his
language is unrestrained be although we repelled may
And and a
the "
self-assertion,
great reform.
He
we
must
burst
allow
through
48
ALCHEMY"
the
fetters
ITS
with
which
it should
gold,
at
as
and
he
in
place
those
was
of
Violent
and
type* much
so
His
medicine.
maintained
He
the
at
of
making
the
furthering of healing and the arts ; direct appeal to nature ever ready to make of searching for authorities in the works written
of her
knowledge
not
had
of tradition
centuries
new
a
ROMANCE
AND
chemistry
of
aim,
had
who
the
in
strangled progress alchemy, even, was that
SCIENCE
as
about
nature
with
small
but
ways. his
was
rebellion
against the received rid himself completely
systems, he could not, of course, of their influence. Indeed, in
he
respects
many
started strengthened prevailing superstitions, and fresh ones. is How deeply he erred in such matters claimed evidenced by the fact that the Rosicrucians him
medical
Elixir of Life.
the
the
instance, he
For
heart
all
and
cured, provided that
is
be
he borrowed
source
administered
diseases
gold had been here leaning on
analogiesderived same
that
old
from
the
and
ossification of thus
could
obtained
certain
past, and
be
by
logical astro-
the
from
should
his idea that medicines
particular conjunctions
at
new
potable gold
the
He
transmutation.
of
manner
connects
held
He
with
his
Even
greatest founders.
is adulterated
chemistry
absurdities.
with
their
of
one
as
of
the
planets. One
bizarre. hmnan
of his doctrines He
taught there
will be that
dwells
in
judged by the
stomach
most
of
to
be
every
is a sort of spiritwho alchemist, mixing in due proportions the various atory. foods that are brought together in that livinglaborIs this reallyso far removed from the teaching authorities modem ? of many Driesch, for example,
being
a
DECADENCE has
49
***
the unknown entelechy,'* unifying agent in organism which guides and controls the physical his
an
chemical
and
life.
alchemy
medicine.
"
has
Bacon
It
chose
and
sustain
Paracelsus
the
nobler
also the
was
judicious
a
build also
case
Paracelsus
rate
any
this
in
Perhaps prophet I At
that
processes
comment
was
a
side
of
difficult.
more
this
on
its
subject.
body (he writes)is of all things in nature most susceptibleof remedy ; but then that remedy is most **
Man's
of error. For the same susceptible subtletyand variety of healing, of the subject,as it suppliesabundant means of failing. And it involves great facility therefore so have be this art (especially now as we it) must as of the most reckoned so the inquiry as one conjectural, of
it must
difficult." He
failed.
mystical "
him.
be
accounted
It
was
follies.
and
man's
the
exact
that
Paracelsus
body
to fancies and
Bacon
(he proceeds)the
alchemists, that
and
most
exactness
it is that
Hence
that I share
of Paracelsus in
in this
of the
rash, headstrong, prone
was
Not
one
repudiates idle notion
there
are
to
be
certain
correspondences and parallelswhich have respect to all the species (as in the extant are stars, planets, minerals) which universe 2 foolishly and stupidly misapplying the ancient emblem a microcosm was or epitome (thatman of the world) to the support of this fancy of theirs." * is right. Nevertheless such Bacon even errors as their share in bringing in a better system, had these the prestige of because they served to break down found
tradition.
aspect of Paracelsian
Another *
De
healinghas
AugmerUie Scieniiarum, ohap. ii.
an
oddly
ALCHEMY"
50
modem
SCIENCE
ITS
look.
ROMANCE
AND
anticipates Christian
It
Science, by "
tion Fascinaemphasising the power of mind on body. (says Bacon) is the power and act of imagination the body of another; the school of wherein upon Paracelsus and the disciplesof pretended natural been so magic have intemperate, that they have the power of the imagination to be much one * Paracelsus the power of miracle-working |aith."
exalted
with
wrote
a
imaginativa of his
specialtract and
;
Once
again,
he
mentions,
to
bread
and
lie eye,
"
food and all
meat
parts of
the
elements
parts
a
that
"in
brain, liver;"
and
his
nose,
internal
notion
artist, educes
rejectionthe several body." f Here Paracelsus
our
to
nearer
animal
truth
than
his critic.
For
of
out
members is after it is
now
of nitrogenised components the corresponding bodies derived from are also is separation and of their food. There
that
transformation how
on
genius.
How
the
of
tragicallyhis
of
?
It
is remarkable
irresponsiblespeculator powers
He were
verily
was
wasted
a
I
Paracelsus.
for the great master.
successors
*
this
discoveries.
modem
Successors So much
materials.
the
points
many
touches
and
other
many
by separation and
established
at
was
condemn,
the
Archseus,
Vi
subject,De
prophet I anticipated organic chemistry. also he
Bacon
that
it in
mentions
Here
writings.
this
upon
What
Healthy development
of his was
Augmentia ScierUiarum, chap. iii. of Aphorism, Organon, 2nd Book t Novum
disciples slow
De
xlviii.
and
DECADENCE The
laborious.
still too
was
thinkers
steady the
in
absurdities.
we
just now
new
seized
entangling all the
on
Certain
transmutations. this.
alchemy
held
They
of
that
his
and
taught,
they
"
well
as
as
plished accom-
vital
were
followers
as
gloried
were
everything
of all kinds,
substances
elements
worst
^that
"
The
errors.
that digestiveprocesses
subtle
a
ledge know-
strong and
even
example, Paracelsus
For
saw,
by
material
enable
to
avoid
to
chemical
doctrine, exaggerated them,
in
on
physical and
scanty
minds
unbalanced
of
store
51
improved
^metals
and
animals
and
digests, eats, drinks, assimilates, rejects. Or had taught that a spirit presides again, the master men
"
His followers improved digestiveprocesses. this idea also. They multipliedthe spiritsuntil on with all the manifold they had corresponded in nmnber Sylphs inhabit the air, nymphs workings of nature. the water, pigmies the earth, salamanders the fire. In medicine, rashly responding to a rashly given lead, harm by employing, without they wrought untold
these
over
skill
knowledge,
or
strong
metallic
poisons.
And,
they provoked by their irrational that zeal reactions seriously retarded much-needed Nevertheless reforms. they were breaking up the their master,
like
of
cake
world,
mixed is
and
custom
wise
In
into
to
In
have
suffer
this
strangely
their function.
fools
gladly "
It
^within
!
measure
calm
fanatics
even
sometimes
tradition.
cheering and
the
acute
contrast
intellects
scientific value
discipleswho
these
wiser
those
striking encomiums
the
was
progressive
who
of the
have ;
for
carried new
work
of
inquiries teaching. It was
secured
on
for Paracelsus
they seized
upon
and
ALCHEMY"
62
ITS
developed what there
the fateful
came
length to which effect
who
mysticism and
parting
thus
that
of the ways.
The
very
had
went
carried
not
were
a
away
steadying by their
speculations.
occult
Rosicrucians.
The A
was
the visionaries
those
on
It
in him.
best
was
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
famous, romantic, and of
development known
altogetherextraordinary the irresponsiblealchemy was that brotherhood
the secret
as
of the Rosicrucians.
itself with so much societycontrived to surround mystery that popidar imagination had free scope in able to do. guessing at what it was, and what it was This
As
a
they
excitement
the
artfullyfostered books purporting to of the fraternity, as
of
advertising of their
by dramatic
and
was
members
authorised
from
caused
issue
by the
maintained
stories got afloat ; and
extravagant
consequence
come
and
powers
also
their
inte^tions" such
society existed not any known at all ; for it had meeting-place,nor there a recognised roll of membership, though was individuals less definite various or professed more adhesion to its professed principles. At rate, any those who representedit by their publicationsrepudiated It is not
any
certain
even
other
derivation
of its.name
referred
it back
This
certainlyhad a career r61e assignedto him.
man
play the in
a
monastery,
magicians when
the
that
to
he he
initiated for five years
than
that
which
reputed founder, Rosenkreutz.
Jell was
a
into but
into
which Bom the
sixteen
fitted
him
to
in 1878, educated hands years
of
certain
old,
was
their secrets, travelled
in
DECADENCE
58
Turkey, Palestine, and Syria, conferred with Arabian visited Spain, and at last, fully illuminated, sages, his
returned
to
in
and
a
himself
up
lived in solitude to the age of a hundred always in full health, and exempt years,
cave,
and
six
from
infirmities.
from
him
; his
There, in 1484, God in the
body remained
his tomb.
became it
shut
He
country.
own
After
"
spirit
which
cave,
six times
his
took
thus "
twenty
years
of marvellously rediscovered, and all manner found there. It magical things were mystic and in the year of this reputed miracle, 1604, that the was Rosicrucian confraternitytook its rise. This legend is abbreviated from Figuier'saccount Figuier ; and took it from Rosicrucian manifesto a published in It 1615. admirably illustrates the spirit which animated the society. was
It the
was
society
existence
1459,
should
with
name
to be
in
Thus
years.
and
claimed, then, that
those
be
were
the also
with
kept refuted
the
those
derived
it from
for
Rosie
ros^
"
the
Cross "
dew
its 200
connected "
a
that
secret
who of
founded
ordinance
profound
a
sign or emblem who
Rosenkreutz
'*
;
(held
cross powerful dissolvent of gold),and cruXj (which, in chemical symbolism signifies light**)" The latter of these repudiated origins,at any rate, is in harmony with the view that supported by many the Philosopher'sStone was vention to be sought by the interof dew and light. In an pamphlet, issued in 1614, the anonymous members declared to be are possessed of fabulous scientific knowledge, and to be absolutely free from illness,disease, and suffering. In 1622 the Society We, deputed by put out the following manifesto : "
a
"
"
"
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
54
make college each in this city speak the language of our
.
.
draw
to
"
books
and
notes,
or
the
"
invisible the
that
mentioned,
refers
Society
the
to
had
fact
already
settled
no
and its government; the gift of being have
visible
nor
without
.
invisible,
we country wherever are, like ourselves, from the error of death/*
men,
word
The
.
ROMANCE
abode, visible and
our
.
.
AND
centre,
members
were
and unseen known unsupposed to ^thereby in no small measure increasingthe when excitement they proclaimed that they were about to visit any city. This late development of the Hermetic art sought doctrines to give prestigeto its fantastic by assigning spurious treatises attributed to Hermes, as authorities "
of the
other
Aristotle, and to
modems.
Gradually
It
continued
Stone
The
supposed
was
the
generally for
used
be
well
as
Magnus, Paracelsus,
Albertus
attributed
ancients,
kind
be the
to
give
to
those
and
other
Rosicrucian
name
any
as
of occult
great
pretension. of
centre
command
to
came
mystery. elemental
over
defy limitations of space, time, and matter, afford intimate knowledge of the arcana This farrago of nonsense of the universe. pressed exwas through a welter of symbols and metaphors and red bridegrooms lilybrides, green dragons and ruby lions, royalbaths and waters of life. At last such enable spirits,
to
men
"
overshot
extravagances not
only
say
the
other so
is that and
salamanders, of
Brotherhood,
of the
can
one
Middle horrors
far made
the mark,
the
the
but
"
that
world
sealed
of the
the cruel
incubi, succubi, had a
art.
sylphs, pigmies,
the rest, ousted
Ages
and
terrified
All that gnomes,
demonology and
demons,
Christendom
happier place to
the fate,
"
live in.
and
DECADENCE has
Addison "
He in
engaged great
charming Essay it by tellingus
a
opens
with
discourse
secret.
"
who
not
55
he
Rosicrucian
a
this kind
As
"
on
of
was
once
the
about those
(I mean
men
ment.** Content-
of
with professedcheats)are over-run and enthusiasm amusing to philosophy, it was very hear this religious adept descantingupon his pretended is much which discovery.'*Then follows an account them
to
are
it summarises
because
present purpose,
our
the
"
He talked of the Secret leadingideas of the Society. lived within an of a Spirit which as emerald, and converted it to the highest near everything that was It gives a lustre,' perfectionthat it was capable of. *
says
*
he,
to
It irradiates
the
sun,
and
metal,
every
water
and
to
the
diamond.
lead
enriches
with
all
into properties of gold. It heightens smoke further flame, and added, light into glory.' He that a singleray of it dissipatespain and care and it falls. In melancholy from the person on whom its presence he, short,' says naturally changes he had After place into a kind of heaven.' every in this unintelligible time for some on cant, I gone that he jumbled natural and moral ideas together found the
*
*
the
into
nothing
same
discourse, and
else but
The
Addison
that
his
great
secret
was
content."
Chief hits
on
Cause the
of
Decadence.
gravest fault of
alchemy,
jumble of natural and moral ideas or in more generalstatement, the confusion of objectivefacts and c"
"
the
"
*
No.
674, July 30th, 1714. E
ALCHEMY"
66
ITS
characteristic
marked
read
themselves
patiently No
on
so
did
science
alchemy
men
could
science
conducted
had
as
sober reckoned
activities
The
fostered Ashmole
it, and
and
Newton
^but
among
of
the
it
Indeed,
experiment. those science
which of
is
may the
transmutation
the
"
future.
true
subjective
survived
engaged
was
when
head,
It
them.
research
as
of
of
teach
to
And
hope
disappear.
however,
not,
Adepts instead
long
its
up
a
head
a
career.
method.
lift
first to
came
had
so
a
doomed.
the
experiments,
develop
fatuous
but
long
nature
length
at
was
which
what
observing
true
did
their
mto
from
;
its
of
period
ROMANCE
was
alchemy
of
closing
this
AND
fault
This
nntiaps.
subjective
in
SCIENCE
the
minds
only even
engage
of
by yet the
art
such
way to
highest
of be
CHAPTER
V
TRANSITION
old
THE
the
belong
prepared there
that
not
was
detail
child If
^a
"
about
the
off
rather
at
a
stroke,
self-sufficient.
long
of
pressure careful
This
continuity
central
of
only yielded but
in and
parent
existence. has did
child
a
an
unbroken
change
idea
of
growth
come
not
is
cut
way straight-
transmutation the
to
growing
accumulated
surely
by
experiment. would
It
of
beginning concurrently well
The
slowly
facts
than
more
have
difference,
science
new
any
and
will
independent
the
the
yet
links
the
to
is the
the
which
by
its hold,
retained
as
which
an
that
find
And
observes,
that
but
steps
shall
we
itself
wide
Thorpe
living bond,
trace
we
that,
^how
"
seem
chapter
characterises as
but
;
They
continuity.
which
plant,
individual every
last
nevertheless
was
I
True.
the
in
of
recognise
to
us
them
worlds.
treated
incidents
chemistry
new
between
gap
different
to
the
and
alcheiny
great
SCIENCE
TO
on
century.
its Its
nineteenth
predited
be
artificial
the
transition
with
the
way
in
close
century, and
modem
to
assign
decadence the
of
middle be
may
It
period.
put
when
the
67
set
its
ran
the
was
seventeenth of
fhially
was
on
the
course
and
beginning
alchemy
chemistry
for
alchemy,
of at
date
a
a
firm
the dis-
footing.
SCIENCE
ITS
58
ALCHEMY"
The
essential difference between
ROMANCE
AND
old and
the
the
new
conveniently paralleled by that between Paracelsus, the representativeof the mysticaldevelopment, and Robert Boyle, a splendid example of the alchemist merged in the scientist. be
may
Boyle
RoBEET
the
contrast
the
aims
of the
sent
was
a
his father, the
by
Paracelsus
Eton.
set
last
On from
last
on
Paracelsus
tutor.
of Cork,
vagabond nent, the Conti-
first
from
chaotic.
Boyle
studious, gentle, restrained. hurried
experience to another, at his home quietly down
settled
Both
Oxford.
almost
on
his travels, Paracelsus
turbident
Boyle
rest.
a
was
returning from one
first Earl
violent, ungovemed,
was
first to
from
out
striking. The been neglected.
six fruitful years
Boyle spent accompanied by
travels.
to
had
Paracelsus
of
yet
characters, and
the most
was
And
century intervenes.
pioneers is
two
Boyle
Robert
1640.
environments,
in the
education
early Boyle to
Hardly
in 1626.
bom
about
died
Paracelsus
(1626-1691).
cultivated
men
the
on
at
never
and
sciences,
at
more
chemistry. But whereas Paracelsus buried especially what was good in his reforms under a load of incoherency and charlatanry,Boyle manifested the cautious critical temper labours Just
old
as
and
advanced
diverse
alchemy
yet, as parent
that
gave the
sustained cause
of
in aim, method,
and
was
before
and
child.
the
purpose
to
his
systematic research. and
newly-bom stated, they were
spiritwere chemistry.
the And
in the relation of
of
their
labours.
Boyle association
was
scientists
of
meetings, Society.
He
these
two
which,
after
hood. brother-
in
of
members
1668
is strange
dissimilar
so
that
think
to
societies
his
but
presidency, him retiringdisposition made It
an
holding private the Royal as
the
offered
was
honour.
the
first
incorporated
was
and
modesty
the
of
one
its
found
Rosicrucian
the
congenial expression in
most
outcome
tradition
Paracelsian
The
in the
the difference
Equally strikingwas
69
SCIENCE
TO
TRANSITION
decline
the
rise of
temporaneous practicallycon-
was
t
naturally ask how
We
doctrines did not far
crucial
when
scanty
and
facts and and the
the for the
led to
and
doubt
relied.
should
in their
into the
observations,
be
for
He
imperfect.
alchemists
himself
evidence
on
to
work
the
to
so
so
was
collect
false notions
to
clear away
the
explanations on which that speciallyanxious the part played by the
was
of
thus
calcining experiments, and
prominence
was
point
a
against
and
went
He
taken
He
transmutation.
commit
to
the
thus
was
account
air
of possibility
cautious
too
the
of the
deny
rent Boyle accepted the curHe Hermetic art. certainly
far
problem
;
brought It
of combustion.
was
problem that ultimately subverted old doctrine of the elements, and prepared the way the discovery of the really fixed elements, in sense now accepted. He has been called the true solution
of this
"
precursor
of the
eruptive
force.
Each
heralded
more
evenly
truth.
modem
Boyle
chemist. was
advances, in
line
with
a
but the
"
Paracelsus
was
an
patient investigator. was Boyle's career onward
march
of
ALCHEMY"
60
SCIENCE
ITS
Alchemy
during
this
period was class.
chemistry
brought
was
Wren
He
agreed
his
many on
famous
over
from
were
among
that
he
in
and
would
Rosicrucian
of which
room
Ashmole alchemists.
topher Strasburg ; Lock and Christhe pupils. Elias Ashmole provided for its continuance. hand
to the
perhaps
was
His
was
over
to be
the
a
less him
a
than
person
Chemicum
Britan-
for
time
extracts
many at on
Sir Isaac
atory. laborOxford
treatise,Theatrum
published in 1662, contains old Hermetic philosophers,while places the study of chemistry
well-fitted
last of these
nicum^
No
chemist
University tific, scientreasures, artistic,antiquarian, and condition that a fittingmuseum built, was
lowest
the
A
the venture
joined in
the
history of the art the establishing of an alchemical Boyle there organised a famous
Oxford.
at
centre
Oxford.
at
interesting episode
An
ROMANCE
AND
the
time
same
sound
a
from it
footing.
collaborated
Newton
in the
mutation investigationof the transdoctrine, including the question of the of some existence transmuting material. Philosopher's and ton NewWe other. Stone or regard Ashmole may eminent as examples of the class of scientists who doned alchemy a fair trial,and who reluctantlyabangave the hopes it had stimulated. The gradual undermining of belief in the principles
with
of
alchemy,
a
on
their
result of research small
not
degree
and
accelerated
pretenders. avoid being
Even
scientific
side,
was
mainly
experiment. But it was by the unmasking of the
influenced
credulous
most
by
the
in
the no
lent frauducould
atmosphere
of
TO
TRANSITION
SCIENCE
61
suspicion which had inevitably gathered round The art. suddenly, at collapse,however, came in England and rate Germany, as the result of fiascoes one tragic,and one comic.
the any two
"
Critics.
gradual undermining of belief in the principles A series of critics dealt of alchemy went on apace. trend the whole it doughty blows ; and of careful old claims. the adverse John to experiment was of an Kunkel alchemist, con^ (1680-1702), the son the lack of precision in the terminology of demned Helmont's the art, and repudiated Van teaching about himself adopted the all a lie." He the alcahest as and made experimental method, ihany valuable Nicolas discoveries. Lemery (1645-1716) wrote one The
"
of the
best
text-books
of
his time, Cours
his aims, he writes thus
"
The
de
Chimie.
fine
imaginations of other philosophersconcerning their physical elevate the spiritby their grand ideas, principles may but nothing demonstratively. And they prove as chemistry is a science of observation, it can only be " based on what is palpable and demonstrative." Boerhaave Hermann (1668-1788), one of the most the author of his day, was of a valuable learned men he traced the developtreatise on chemistry, in which ment of the art, as well as expounded its principles. As regards alchemyi he was an agnostic. On the one to set bounds to the possible hand, he woidd not venture the other in nature hand, he could not yield ; on assent. content So, like Boyle and Newton, he was to Defining
"
Quoted
:
by Thorpe, History of Chemiatry,
vol. i, p. 64.
ALCHEMY"
62
his
suspend available.
this hesitation ourselves
the may
back
And
we
be
the
beaten
paths have
again
we
But shall
an
think
if we
acknowledge
thoroughly scientific. sympathetic when we
was
more
constitution
of
of the
old
some
closed.
been
reign
theories
new
was
knowledge,
present
our
problem of the one, though open
the Scientifically, the
evidence
whole
is
with
further
days,
attitude all the
matter
end
ROMANCE
excessive.
into those
his expectant shall
light of appear
that
realise that
until
judgment
In
AND
SCIENCE
ITS
of
alchemy
of
combustion.
came
to
As
an our
need into detail not enter alchemy, we concerning the development of experimental physics and chemistry. There are a multitude of works which the it suflSce to say that this ground. Let cover of the Hermetic elements art were replaced by the
subject
is
"
"
"
elements
"
of
the
chemist.
modem
The
old
art
end
with
the
doomed.
was
Dr. "
Price.
Scientifically,'' alchemy
emergence
of
new
views
came
of
to
an
matter;
experiment
of it. It was gradually supplied explicitrefutations otherwise with what tional we distinguishas the emomay spellof the art, and the popular belief in the it was rather the claims made by adepts. Here dramatic unmasking of illusions or frauds that ruptured In England the coup the uncritical hopes of success. of Dr. Price, of de grdce was given by the tragic case Guildford, which shall be brieflyrelated. and He wrote a was wealthy and learned man, he on interesting works some chemistry. In 1781
TRANSITION
TO
SCIENCE
68
in compounding a imagined that he had succeeded would silver into or powder which change mercury gold. At first he confided his secret to a few friends, and had no thought of publicity. But the rumour of his discovery got abroad, and him to emboldened into the open. He far as to give out went come so public exhibitions of his transmutations, and even invited to his laboratory a distinguished company series of experiments calculated to see to produce a conviction. bold, he printed an Waxing yet more
truth
proceedings, and induced give their signatures as witnesses
to
persons
eminent
these
of
accoimt
the
to
of his statements.
It is
startlingto realise that such pretensionswere within twenty years of the coming seriouslyadvanced in
of
the
nineteenth
strikingproof
both
transmutation,
and
views
new
however,
of
accepted, or undermining
Price's that
had
for
the
cause
of
him
to
Price
was
honour
appear
an
thus stock
that
authoritative tested. of his its
He
be
before
himself
transmuting powder
replenishment would further undertaking. Under
Royal
at
The
stake, and
duly qualified might be submitted a
on
was
be
the
member.
refused
Price
judgment.
excused
a
to
conmiittee, in order that the claim for
nately Unfortu-
I
that
truth, it happened
concerned. Society was its Society conceived sunmioned
that
for
far
alchemist, though fortimately
belated
for the
were
were
too
think,
not
must
universally unchallenged. The
statements
they gone
We
of the
which
with
slowness
matured.
matter
that
the
a
idea
persistenceof the
of the of
affords
fact
The
century I
a
the
to
plea that the
exhausted,
long
pressure,
be
and he
and
arduous
sought
ALCHEMY"
64
to
ITS
SCIENCE
by professing that therefore not permitted
escape
and
he
was
to
of no pretexts were insistent, granted him time, but he
1788
of him. should
returned
Six
powder.
to
Rosicrucian,
a
divulge the secret. avail the Society was
These
In
ROMANCE
AND
The
passed
Society then
fixed
received
three
Only and
them,
demanded
and
fulfil his engagement.
Guildford.
.
Guildford
to
months
"
then
to
date
members
heard
was
he
which
on
invited
He
the
prepare
nothing a
test.
a
the
Society He
responded.
in their
suicide
committed
presence. Thus
tragicallyended public alchemist. Up to deluded of
When
?
how,
Nor
And
that
such
amply the
him
he had
point was
did
he
These
even
the
to
have
gained
England's
enter
really
Price on
questions
last
course
a
be
cannot
prior puzzle be solved, been originallyreally
the secret, he had
arrived
At any rate, the Royal Society in its determination to investigate. justified
conclusion.
a
dramatic
prominently the
can
supposing
convinced
was
and
of
career
what
why systematic deception ?
answered.
at
the
overthrow
features
failure,brought
notice, completed in this
into of
of the
an
already discredited
so
country
art.
Semleb. time a similar Singularlyenough, at about the same failure led to the final rejectionof the art in Germany, in the circumstances were though the attendant There was at region, not of tragedy, but of comedy. Halle a certain professorof theology,Semler by name, had been stronglyattracted who by the literature and
practiceof
the Hermetic
art.
His
own
labours
were
TRANSITION without
by
Baron
marvellous
Salt
only
not
was
for the
it in water vessel some
at
of Life.
SCIENCE
Hirschen
de
No
and
to
leave
uniform
^to
wit, also
but
it sufficed to dissolve
it for
in
days
some
Semler
temperature.
a
glass
obtained
surprised to find gold in chemist, Klaproth, analysed
of this, and
was
Another
Salt of Life," and
it to
found
a
sary neces-
was
process
a
this salt
that
substance
elaborate
discovery
a "
asserted
He
transmuting
a
65
wannly
up
production of gold ;
a
crucible. "
Leopold
medicine.
universal
he took
But
success.
made
TO
the the
of Glauber's
consist
also, was sulphate of magnesia. There evident to Klaproth however, some gold I It was that particlesof gold had the first in the been from liquidto be proved, and that the addition of the salt of supererogation. Semler was a work was perturbed, and sent a second supply of the liquid and the salt, and the analyser went to work again ^this time in of a large company. the presence Semler's position as a though scepticism professordemanded respect, even ironic denial. bordered He solemnly assured on those taking part in the experiment that he himself
salt
and
"
had
failed
once
never
obtain
to
successful
a
result.
of gold, lo ! instead testingproceeded. And I The Klaproth found a kind of brass called tombac throughout the country. joke spread from the room The explanation of the fiasco put an edge on it. It So
the
appeared attached of He
that
to him.
feeding saw
the
how
crucible, and some
Semler To
had
a
this
man
fire and
eager
was
attending
his master
being anxious gold-leafand put it
who
servant
was
entrusted to
the
much the task
apparatus.
gold in the to please him, purchased into the mixture. Being was
to
find
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
66
ROMANCE
AND
militaryservice, he entrusted the task the situation his wife, The saved to good woman by purchasing brass instead of gold, and poor Semler This was became better, however, a laughing stock. than being a disseminator of a falsity which might have delusion. given a longer lease of life to a mischievous the Of course one acknowledged professor's every the safer part of his perfect honesty. He resumed fain the art he would duties at the University. But have discredited fostered ^laughed out of court. was The general public in Germany, in England, at last as concluded that the Philosopher'sStone and the Elixir if possible, reach. even were, beyond human called away
on
"
End
The As
recognised pursuit alchemy
a
close
the
Alchemy.
of
to
came
end
an
at
of the
What remained eighteenth century. of an were merely flickerings extinguished fire. In research existed Germany, a society for alchemical as
late
into
as
the
In
1819.
nineteenth
of several persons the
art, among ecclesiastics."
yet be
France, Chevreul, who
who
transmutation
being
Benighted in
the
"
he
of the
convinced
were
them
dabble
that
century, records who
lived well knew
truth
generals,doctors,
dreamers
there
forgotten lore.
may But
of
and even
the
thing of the be resuscitated. A new never physics past, and can and a new chemistry have made clear the futilityof its traditional doctrines and methods, though they have also, under wondrously changed conditions, rekindled the hope they had extinguished. But let not forget that the old provided a basis for the new. us idea, in its old form, is
a
TRANSITION
As
vigorously
error
truth
a-breathing time
same
is
:
Doubtless
has
the
quest
of
of
substances,
for
pi:epared
kept
of
embryos
gold
soid,
its
vigorous
a
the
pursued :
67
being
at
the and
the of
body
Lavoisier
is
"
bom."
Such,
in
covered
long
a
on
the
of
orientating the
ourselves
chequered
the
in
fuller
time
story
of
origin,
detail
to
time
Middkmarchf
chap,
We
can
a
can
notions, by
development,
xlviii.
the
without
order.
decay. "
We
practices,
doctrines,
art.
from
down
chronological
from
Hermetic
scientist.
modem
study to
separately
treat
of
travelling
the
to
adherence
rigorous
history
the
period,
mystic
enter
now
is
outline,
Alexandrine
to
**
it
put
questioning
a
Chemistry
It
has
Eliot
(reorge
SCIENCE
TO
referring and
J
PART
THE
IDEA
OF
n
TBANSMUTATION
1
J
I
CHAPTER
SUGGESTIONS
LET
begin
US
that
sure
the
entirely
the
and
the
of
significance
modem
scientist
It
alters
Brought
up,
the
with
ourselves
is well
appreciate how
they
into
their
worth
were
won
purport
;
if
we we
old
For
if
conquests
our
order.
the
pulsing physics if
are
we
The
very
But
us.
shall
we
enter
study
tance. impor-
new
effort
to
yet
universe.
the
know
we
shall
deep
the
an
is strange
while.
the
of
the
into
hardly
atmosphere
requires
alchemists
the
of
language
back
is
on
characteristic it
Between
conceptions
and
an
miss
to
tremendous
a
advance
in
are,
we
chemistry,
new
think
effort
as
is
chemical
outlook
whole
our
conceptions
the
and
intervenes
own
our
story.
fundamental
is of
which
occupied
the
of
The
matter.
old, but
he
and
physical of
nature
century
to
whole
idea
phenomena
accordingly,
criticise
to
in
revolution
that
making
by
alchemist's
external
the
assume
and
standpoint,
him
To
study
the
understand and
it.
suggested
detailed
more
we
transmutation,
of
a
our
PROCESSES
NATURAL
FROM
the
the
better
something
of
thoroughly
more
which
errors
were
overthrown. Can and
the
Perhaps
the new
the
fundamental be
briefly
simplest
difference stated
in
of
way 71
a
between
preliminary
doing
this
is
the
old
fashion defme
to F
?
ALCHEMY"
72
roughly what of
was
He,
matter.
kind
of matter
in the world
when
and
us,
we
forms
how
certain
to
our
of
power
present
recognised.
are
discoveries
further numbeh
But
with
the
substance
The
modem
which
them,
fixed
diminish
is
changeable. un-
different
denied increase
or
involved principle
and
eighty
It is not, of course,
may
yawns
brought into relatively are,
than
more
us
has
process
atoms
dealing
At kinds
of
forms
substances
primary
diversified.
so
on
primarj'
a
between
the
scientist holds that the cosmic
being
assuming
gap
far
thus
are
all the different
The
ask
to
in
agree
formed.
manifest
to
of
many
of which
proceed
we
comes
idea of the behaviour
out are
ROMANCE
AND
the alchemist's
that
ground,
common
SCIENCE
ITS
that this
firmlyadhered
to.
other
Quite held
He **
that
fluid," so
to
to
say, and
strivingto develop,or
naturally from
pass
kind
assumption* substances
all the aiger5it"km3s"of
Each
another.
alchemist's
the
was
he
conceived into
grow,
to
nobler
a
be
one
are
form
actively
state.
And
what is hastening,by specialmeans, The points thus raised a natural essentially process. But will be discussed in due course. with the sharply his art
aimed
drawn
distinction
alchemist for
so
came
long a
at
to
time
A On
the
more
our
embrace his
minds,
let
the doctrine
speculationand
World
us
of
his
ask
how
the
that
governed practice.
Change.
grand scale and on the small, the universe all-pervadingand unceasing change. And closelynature's ways are examined, the more
the
manifests
in
SUGGESTIONS
FROM this
clearly emerges of these
many
in gases
and
The
evaporates.;
fuel
go to the
Foods
animals.
and
Water
smoke, leavingbut
ash, in turn, may
Moreover,
the appearance of bemg few simple examples germane
a
subject.
into water.
condenses
faet.
78
have
Take
our
PROCESSES
fundamental
changes
transmutations. to
NATURAL
are
the fire disappears
on a
vapour
dead
buildingup taken, and
ash of
; the
dead
livingplants
form
flesh
and
body decays and returns to the dust from So compelling is the evidence it sprang. that which it suggested the first philosophicalsystems of the to all the subsequent Greeks, and is thus fundamental nations. of these One philosophy of the Western that existence early thinkers, Heracleitus, concluded blood
is
;
eternal
an
in
water a
man
as
a
flux."
never
Add and
"
He
likens
river ; the current
a
can
stream.
form
the
to
it to the on
moves
ever
flow of the ;
so
that
really step twii^e into the same this conception the idea of change and
appearance,
we
have
the world
in
viewed
series of transmutations.
The
Alchemist*s
Aim.
.
Alchemists
busied
with
metallurgy
practicalchemistry. They therefore applied this reasoning with specialreference to their art. Their largely of a kind to illustrate and experiences were from strikingchanges enforce it,gathered as they were wrought by chemical reactions, and by fire. Fire not only melts substances, but often metamorphoses them. a Mercury can be heated so that it becomes colour,mobility,gleam, all vanish, bright red powder and
\
themselves
"
ALCHEMY"
/^74 to
ITS
give place
to
qualities. What knew nothing of the
the
air
and
laborious
alone
:
the
of that in
experiment to have
the
about
operations, bring change
of tin into silver,or
line
argument
of
conclusions We
it
therefore
long
times.
Fire
agent,
seemingly into
allow
Such
that
that
a
as
it led
a
to
reasoned.
were
erroneous,
simpler
?
know
We
other
or
far
gold
followed, and
was
of
oxygen
tion. startlingtransmuta-
of brass
which, though
must
opposite ? They
result of
recent
same
natural.
was
fact
of
matter
the the
not
the
was
quite
effected
could
if so,
And
almost
they to conclude part played by the
were
discovery
seemed
with
substance
a
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
the
that, under
tions condi-
prevailing,the inference from observations of external happenings to the possibility of transmutation warranted. Indeed, the supposition may be was scientific." That in the long granted the rank of then
"
run
it
the
claim.
proved
to
be
on
does
deprive
not
little of
will be
like
grounds
of
Colour.
our
not
may
it of upmately ulti-
1
degraded
early
there
which
Quality
The The
mistake
a
Otherwise
science
to-date
be
alchemists
were
in
possession
of
a
large
receiptsfor making alloysthat imitated the Their problem was, not to imitate, precious metals. number
of
but
transmute;
to
simply
**
look
change
them
course,
that
consisted
must
not
like into the be
"
to
gold the
make
baser
metals
~
or
real
silver^nSuf actuallynEo
thing.
qualitiesin which modified.
the
This the
meant,
of
difference's
SUGGESTIONS The
first of the
PROCESSES receive
to qualities
75
attention
was
Alexandrian
The
colour.
of
NATURAL
FROM
adepts conceived it to depe'nSTon'ar^process^dyeing. But must we the genuine alchemist what be careful to understand think ourselves of meant dyeing." We a by which imparts a particular dye as a colouring matter
that
"
hue
by
to
material, but
a
does
it.
with
combination
chemical
become
not
part of it
a
The
alchemist's
dye should be so intimate that'll ^liould changeTKe nature' of tlfe and complete that to which it metal, and make jt really become made lUce. According to this school of operators, was fundamental there two were dyes, answering to the of the colours two ^Xanthosis, or precious metals It dyeing yellow, and Leucosis, or dyeing white. further held that the two dyes, though differing was
idea, however,
his
that
was
"
in
And
were
appearance, it
to be
and
one
thought
the
that
substance.
same
there
dye which, if it could be discovered, would be veritablya transmuting agent. The idea developed and gradually For merged in that of the Philosopher'sStone. came
Salmon,
instance
the master
in the seventeenth thus
substance
"
colour The
dye and the It may
pass
The
into
be said that,
the
full excuse
the
region must
that
and of
medicine that
are
gives
a
nature."
coalesce.
Stone
might merit
those
impure,
greater than
brilliance
and
universal fixes
all
master
a
century, describes
The
:
imperfect metals, which volatile, purifiesthose that are
for
was
although rank
of
the
"
of imcritical
wait until
we
idea
of transmutation
scientific,"we Not
so.
to discuss
the
fantasy. come
here
philosophicalbasis of alchemy, and the doctrine of qualities."But even on the ground of observations **
ALCHEMY"
76
ITS
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
happenings^ we can see how the mistake arose. Experiences gained in the dyeing of cloth, the and misled. enamels, glass, and rest, deceived of metals the colour could Moreover, actually be Under changed by alloys,and by chemical actions. the natural circumstances, misinterpretations were external
from
and
inevitable.
Dyeing ^
Let
^
) These (
look
us
the
early alchemists
which
make
can
that
copper;
metal a
into
a
Metals.
the
matter
knew
metal
there
Httle
a
white
as
"
sulphur and yellow as golden tint to silver. Nowadays "
changes result We must keep
from
the
agents
are
whitens
mercury
which
agents
are
there
that
closely.
more
make
can
arsenic
give
can
know
we
formation
of
agents
of fire
a
that
the
compoimds. this knowledge out of sight,and join in regarding the changes as the alchemists dyeing of varying degrees of perfection. The less processes of transmutaperfectthe dye, the smaller the amoxmt tion effected. The two not examples just given were fixed regarded as dyes, for they could not resist "
the
action
of were
"
chemical
the
or
"
of
case
agents, and
was
We perfect metal. may perhaps put ourselves most easily at their point of view if we that the colour of gold, wherever suppose it occurs, of gold-nature. Then the presence argues one
it follows nearer
the
to
coIourT
marks
resist such
^the transmutations
in the
only partial. Whereas
gold itself,the colour could of
new
that
the
the
of
"
more
being gold
is the
fixed
"
the
substance
colour that
is, the
possesses
SUGGESTIONS
FROM
It thus
became
NATURAL
PROCESSES
alchemist
an
problem
77
^legitimate
"
premisses" to tint the base metals so deeply silver. to change their nature to that of gold or as attained, so would According to the degree of success the new product be gold or silver of greater or less did is to say, the genuine alchemist fineness. That
on
their
seek
not
for instance, he to
would
gold ;
becoming the
metal
on
Let
remember
us
the eye, but
to deceive
as
a
metal
whitened
copper
by
on
the
arsenic
way as
a
to becoming silver; and so on. way that he had no idea of fixed elements ;
thought in thing passing over he
of
terms
transition
by stages
of his
the
evidence
his
presuppositions.
Genuine
that
so
Qualities
Otheb
processes"
one
thmg.
And
into another
seemed
senses
art irresponsible
mad,
regard
Brass,
to transmute.
to be
all in favour
alchemy have
many
of
was
not
of
the
held it to be.
Metals.
^viouslycolour is not the only qualityof a metal. Each has its "particular weight, hardness, malleability,^nd so foirtF. Copper treated with oxide of to be turning into zinc"putson a yellow jjntand seems be distinguished gold. Yes" but the product can Coiners from the metal it imitates. are keenly alive forgetfulof it. of their colour-theory. If the scope They extended could of be made base metal to acquire the colour a gold, why should it not be possibleto devise means ? Each for similarlychanging other qualities change in the ^weight, hardness, or right direction any to
this
fact,
nor
the
were
alchemists
"
other
"
^would
mark
a
fresh
stage
on
the
road
to
78
ITS
ALCHEMY"
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
perfeetiDtty"^But^achchange must be a "SKall we recognise tEat this was argument from analogy ? Come as
the
down
herald
the
centuries
of modem
to
We
legitimate
a
who
one
science.
real transmutation.
is
find
regarded him
thus
In discussing the possibilityof transmutation. gold, for example, the following properties meet. It is yellow in colour, heavy up to a certain weight ; ductile to a certain degree of extension malleable or ; of its substance it is not volatile,and loses none by the into a liquid with a certain action of fire ; it turns degree of fluidity; it is separated and dissolved by for the other natures on so particularmeans ; and in gold. He who knows the forms which meet of yellow, weight, ductility, solution, fixity,fluidity, the methods for superinducing them, and and so on, it his care and their gradations and modes, will make joined together in some to have them body whence may of that body into gold." * follow the transformation need not of the critical knowledge It does a the general drift Baconian terminology to understand The governing idea is that men of this passage. may the means for so uniting the qualities to have come This is true. in gold as to produce the metal. found in building up metal. Chemists a yet succeed may This speculationwill be more fittinglydiscussed at the close, than at the beginning of our inquiry. "
.
.
Elements.
Fixed But note
not
the *
by
alchemist
reservation. Novum
.
It is
means.
Let
Organon, Secoad
us
return Book
of
for
important a
moment
Aphorisms,
v.
to to
SUGGESTIONS the
FROM
mentions
Aquinas "sublimated white.
that his
arsenic
;
you
will
see
79
St. Thomas white
some
the
turn
copper
If you then add some form transpure silver,you all the copper into veritable silver." It is plain
the
is
misconceives
great doctor
problem.
there
PROCESSES
with arsenic. copper it: **Add to copper
of
treatment
NATURAL
modem
The
the
chemist
conditions
will
of
explain that
tion change of copper into silver,but the formaof an alloy of the three ingredients" each being quantity throughout, and present in exactly the same each in exactly the recoverable, by suitable means, originalquantity. That is to say, the alloyed silver is not an mists imperfect form of that metal, as the alcheof fixed elements. thought, but a compound it come to flourish, The alchemy of the future, should with a wholly different set of fundamental will go to work far the atoms of the elements conceptions. How themselves are compounds will be considered remains the The later. principle involved same of conditions, not growth. throughout ^fixity no
"
Nevertheless
the
alchemists
noT suspicion llial alloys were disliuclion Ilcnce a they drew
and
**^
artificial^
metals. of
the
The
from
the
first had
a
true"transmutations.
betweeiF**
natural
latter attained
to
"
a
qualitiesof the metal to be imitated And ; but did not attain to perfectlikeness. in measuring, weighing, in proportion as accuracy and testingwas gained,so did the problem of alchemy become more complex. Superficialresults did not delicate processes so easily pass muster, and more tried. The were drawn, in this parallelhas been regard, with the increasing delicacy of present-day mixing of alloys and tempering of steel. We may ceffaiiTriumber
ALCHEMY"
80
ITS
gladly accept similar. first
gold
And
therefore
be
for
;
silver
themselves
of
source
genuinely might at
are
closer than
believed
that
alloys, and .could compounding.
were
reproduced by
ROMANCE
alchemists
the
Imperfect Another
cases
applicationis
sight appear and
the
it, because the
AND
SCIENCE
proper
Analysis. in alchemist
error
conclusions
of analysis. imperfection of their methods of the gold-making instituted Consider Pliny'saccount He caused consider* a by the Emperor Caligula.* able amount of orpiment to be calcined to get the in making excellent gold out of it,and quite succeeded in all was no gold/' There was attempt at fraud" there to start with, good faith. But the gold was chemist undetected. A modem would have explained the situation in a few minutes speedy ; his tests are was
the
"
and
We
accurate.
careful observers
hcmest
that
wonder
cannot
and
frequentlymisled into thinking in producing or augmenting that they had succeeded so gold, when they were poorly equipped for analysis were
of their materials.
Boyle
Even a
chemical
the
sorelyperplexed by
was
action.
dissolved
He
result
gold
some
in
of a
"
"
containing chloride of antimony. royal water noticeable amount To his suiprisethere appeared a ^^
of silver." a
therefore
He
did
not
know
quantity of tempted to believe had taken place.
certain
"
Given
in
that
the
chloride
this metal
;
that
sort
some
full,p. IS.
and
he
tained conwas
of transmutation
SUGGESTIONS
FROM
Receipts
Two It will be
PROCESSES
NATURAL
Gold.
hakino
for
several
interesting,on
counts, to give in
receiptsfor making gold the other more complicated. They are taken Clavicula ancient treatise entitled Mappce
this context
two
"
to
the
the
tenth
century, with
twelfth the
;
sources
from ^a
to
an
script manu-
belonging
matter
back
date
brief,
one
"
of
81
Alexandrian
again to the previousEgyptian To make period. The brief receipt is as follows : gold ^take silver, 1 lb. ; copper, J lb. ; gold, 1 lb., of plain This would to be a case seem melt, etc." title of the receiptproves that the falsification. The resultingalloywas to be passed off as gold. We must, a however, distinguish between merely empirical falsifier and The former a speculativealchemist. latter looks The merely aims at scoring wealth. the alloy as he wants an on a approach to what the mists path of transmutation. Many alchestage on times, and
behind
these
"
"
"
there
the
but
receipt;
concerned.
who
were
We
with are
would such
trying
make
to
of
use
at
not
are
we
bad
understand
present what
genuine alchemy stood for. Take thus : The longer receipt runs mercury, of gold, 4 parts ; filings of good silver, 8 parts ; filings of brass, and flower of copper 5 parts ; filings called chalcantum by the Greeks (sulphate of copper), 12 parts ; yellow orpiment (sulphuret of mercury), 6 12 parts. parts ; electrum (an alloyof gold and silver), Mix all the filingswith the mercury tence to the consisof wax. electrum Add and orpiment ; then "
add
vitriol and
alum.
Place
the
whole
in
a
dish
on
ITS
ALCHEMY"
82
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
burning charcoal ; boil it gently, sprinkling into it fused saf ran (probably an orange sulphide of arsenic) inin some (carbonate vinegar, and a little natron of soda) ; 4 parts of the saf ran to be used. are Sprinkle and little by little until it is dissolved drunk up. have it and When is solid, take the mass gold you with
You
increase.
will add
the
which
little moonstone,
a
to
preceding
is called
stances sub-
in Greek
applied to sulphate of lime, mica, and transparent felspar)." Here we have mixture which a might well defy the analysisof early chemists ! The comparative simplicityof the result be grievously disguised. Once would again we must the mere fraudulent operator who distinguishbetween would consciously take advantage of the spurious the who metal, and might speculative alchemist himself into believingthat the alloy was reason really and truly an imperfect sort of gold. Afroselinum
(selenite,a
name
Peecipitates. Evidence
of
a
like kind
furnished
was
by the study
of the
precipitatesof metali^. For example, if a filing be dipped into a solution of a silver salt, of copper the is immediately covered of with coat a copper silver ; or if an iron filing be dipped in a salt of copper, it is immediately covered with a coat of copper. adays Nowmisled by such But not we are phenomena. remember that until comparatively recent must we it
times
metals that
was
among
metals
not
known
that
their elements could
the ;
nor
exist in solution
salts often
it suspected
was
in
include
a
liquid. For
of copper
atoms
and in
oxygen the
of
for them, And
as
The
simply different
metal
salt and
the metal
of certain
states
had
is no
were"
substances.
was deposited on an iron copper solution of the salt, it^appearedjto
a
_W^"s?!y that_the atoms of are displaced by atoms something was changed into
transmutation.
a
the
in
copper
iron ;
it is dissolved, the
this.
thus, when
them
88
alchemists^ however,
The
knowing
filingplimged in of
when
and
;
solution.
means
PROCESSES
(sulphateof copper) is a salt containing with atoms in combination of sulphur
blue vitriol
us,
NATURAL
FROM
SUGGESTIONS
they
salt that
said
copper.
eaffyexample
An
in ^neas
of Gaza
subsists, while
the
matter
because it be
reasoning employed The (fifthcentury).
"
is found form
of the sort of
a
it is made statue
destroyed
to
and
its
an
irpn
of iron ; suppose
made
fragments
changes these qualities. Let undergoes
all
assume
of Achilles
"
reduced
it is
tiny morsels. If now collects this iron, purifies a workman it,and by a peculiar science changes it into gold, and gives it the figureof Achilles, this will now be a golden statue instead
of
It is in this
way
one
that
;
the
but
to
it will still be
Achilles.
in bodies
matter
that
are
and corruptible behaves, and by art becomes pure his meaning makes clearer imperishable." ^neas the change of by saying, a little further on, that into a higher condition has nothing incredible matter that those in working up learned in it. It is thus take them matter gold and tin, make apparently and disappear, colour the matter, change it into excellent vening evidently regards the intergold." He "
chemical *
actions, which
"
make
the
Quoted by Berthelot, Lea Origines de VAlchimie,
metals
p. 75.
84
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
apparently disappear/'as muting
'^
of
the
idea
in
stages
many
trans-
a
of the special mention colouring,"and also the plain statement ^^into a higher that matter can pass the
Note
process.
operationof
so
ROMANCE
AND
condition." This
presents
extract
than can
did ^neas
familiar of
as
case
the forms
them
two
form
molecule
a
of the constituent
of
conjimction of still groping.
two
different
Appeal
for
borne
the must to
the
success
have resist
?
than
Is the mere
a
We
?
substances
Are
are
History.
to
class under
transmutation
laws, and
water?
modified
atoms
really something other
may
to
do we equations. But yet What really happens in such a of hydrogen uniting with atoms
water-molecule
We
them
about
more
to
by
?
to
oxygen
know
reduced
have
we
them
them
understand
one
;
calculate
We
actions.
explain chemical
early attempt
very
a
evidence
of external
the head
persuasive
force
of
the
mony testi-
by generationafter generation of adepts to of their efforts.
requireda it.
Geschichte der
As
mind
late
of as
So
great
was
in the
it
exceptionalindependence 1882,
Schmieder,
Alchimie^ actually concludes
of evidence
this that
seventeenth
in
that
his
the
and
eighteenth that it impels belief in centuries is so remarkable We well forgive, then, those transmutation. may who, in preceding epochs, honestly held alchemy to had not be a true art, even though they themselves The great secret might illude them succeeded. ; but that others, more the appeal to history satisfied them learned or more fortunate, had penetrated it. weight
*
SUGGESTIONS
PROM
When
from
take
thus
we
imperfectly
reinforced
unquestioned
testimony,
the
possibility
maintained. at
the to
causes
of
now
desire
possession
another, turn
of
and
our
not
attention.
that
belief
fostered
and
the
And
least
keep
discover
to
of
other
no
to
unbounded
work.
at
were
wonder
been
sufficed
have
never-diminishing the
amount
was
there
and
small
no
cannot
we
had
would
these
a
inferences
experiments
transmutation
of
Even
work,
chemical
by
85
natural
of
account
analysed
observations,
in
PROCESSES
NATURAL
causes
edge
an
short
a
wealth.
But
the
consideration
to
potent,
of
them,
on
cut
other
we
will
PHILOSOPHY
have
WE
the
from
and
derived
Greeks
with
thus,
though
involved
mystical they
results
of
of
theoretical
the
peculiar
We
It
thought. the
and
character
the
considered
bear
to
of
external
of
to
task
examine
the
constituted
belief its
have
We
art.
the
and
combination
that
Hermetic
aspects turn
now
the
their this
practical
which
materials
on
was
And
discovery
a
laboratory
of
brought
abstract
elements.
of
quest
the
of
doctrines
magical
in
were
they
certain
and
manipulation
apparatus,
the
fused
chemists
Alexandrian
and
Byzantine
their
philosophers.
also
were
the
of
side
practical
were
they
of
had
which
systems
But
students
were
They
that
sketch,
technical
the
Egyptians.
metallurgists.
They
historical
the
in
alchemists art
TRANSMUTATION
OF
seen,
1
II
CHAPTER
in
mutation. trans-
philosophical
bases.
A
An
subject in
the
named him
to
Passage
excellent is
introduction
provided
by
an
eleventh
century
Psellus.
The
explain
Psellus.
from
his
art.
to
from
extract
by
86
a
Xiphelin is
a
passage
of
phase letter
the
written
alchemist
Byzantine
a
Patriarch Here
this
had in
his
asked
reply.
PHILOSOPHY "
You
OF
desire
this art which
I should
that
make
in fires and
resides
the
expresses
TRANSMUTATION
destruction
of natures.
of
Some
for the initiate,held
87
known
to
furnaces, and
substances
you
which
and
mutations trans-
believe that it is a knowledge
secret, which
they have not ^a thing which attempted to reduce to a rational form I regard as an enormity. For myself, I have sought "
from
the first to know
them
rational
a
sought which
it in all
the causes,
explanation
the
of
nature
and
of
the
the
by dissolution.
facts.
four
I have
from
I
have
elements
and
by combination,
comes
draw
to
from
into which
all
in my
youth the root of an oak turned into stone while conserving its fibres and all its structures, participatingthus in the two natures (that is to say, wood and stone). After of the propertiesof quoting Strabo's account an encrusting fountain which produced the forms of inunersed In this way objects, he proceeds thus : the changes of nature take place naturally,not can returns
...
seen
"
"
in virtue
of
formula. wished You
There
is
of what
to
know
science
gold
its secret, not
philosophers.
a
of Democritus
secrets
its
substances
have
to
or
I have "
by the
and
would
as
"
.
aid fain
but
great treasures,
of nature
of Abdera;
operations. You
made.
secret
a
of transmutations.
be
can
miracle,
I will reveal to you
...
to
did the ancient
all the wisdom
I shall leave
nothing
in
sanctuary." We
note
points shines
and
art
by what
penetrate into the
the
an
or
to set forth its precepts and
wish
know
incantation,
an
of
out on
in
this
remarkable
several
statement
significance.Its scientific spirit clearly ^itsreliance on knowledge of nature great
"
observation.
There
is
the
determination, o
get down
to
moreover,
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
88
AND
the
to
ROMANCE of
causes
its
things "
there is the reference And philosophicaltemper. to Democritus, and through him to the whole field of of the whole The core Greek thought about nature. is the making of gold"transmutation. matter
Platonic sends
Psellus
specialpurpose,
our
its
with and
teaching
therefore
dialogue
known
as
the
**
eternal
in
spiritand
in substance.
has given
concerned, however,
clear
the
of
exposition
alchemists
entangling is foimd
;
troversies. con-
in
the
Timseus. he
find that
there
We
For the Alexandrian
are
steer
fullest
The
speculationwhich
interpreted by
as
Greeks
the
is obscure, and We
discussion.
can
we
of matter
theory
rise to much
lines of
the
to
to
limit ourselves, for
can
largelyPlatonic
philosophy was Plato's
we
his followers.
and
in Plato
centre
Matter.
of
the Greeks, and
to
us
Fortimately
will go.
we
Theoeies
something
to teach
seems "
which
the
existence
hardly be called and It is formless matter. indeterminate, beyond the of thought and the reach senses. Though so dimly apprehended and so hard to be explained, yet all things ; it originatesand constitutes it underlies ^the principleout of which universe all the material
of
an
can
"
things
"
"
womb
or
"
mother
that the Creator and
that
substance
water,
there so
thus
of
all
imposed
came
widely
earth, air, and
calls
Plato
formed.
are
into
declared fire.
it sometimes
becoming.
to
He
it certain
upon
being
"the
the
be
"
four
ceived con-
forms,
kinds
elements
Of these, he said, water
of " "
is
related
for
point
earth, and
to
succession
showing of
of a
value
in
curve
89 the
important thought of as a
substance,
the least to the is to
and
of
kinds
from
That
movement.
And
series is not
the
separate
progress
air.
fire to
is that
us
TRANSMUTATION
OF
PHILOSOPHY
And
dignity.
as
highest degree is an upward
there
say,
but
there
is thus
a
of transmutation strong suggestion of the possibility
change
of continuous
from
kind
one
"
of substance
to
another. Plato
himself itself and
splittingand
again the
earth
forms
can
fixed
not
are
that
nature, them
hone
and
an
guished extin-
water; that
And
water
if the
when
ever
ments ele-
tator commen-
he
conserve
a"firm
to
old
an
explains a
that
thing, rather
a
air ;
air thickened
as
sound
cannot
such
and
by
another, their properties
one
venture
can
is such
runs
It follows
is therefore
things
and
of air;
densing con-
earth;
wind
determined.
and
since
into
pass
Plato
on "
thus
and
fire condensed
form
stone."
and
water
see
stone
then
mist, and
into
changes
We
it becomes
fire ;
becomes
takes
"
:
becoming
dividing
air inflamed
thus
writes
any
than
proper of
one
something
else." Hence
a
problem.
to
form, how
from
form
man
intervene
Bacon
states
superinduce a aim he **
is
the
"
as
retard
Power." a
transformation
possible."
far, and
nature
new
of Human
gives
substances
or
by what
hasten
thus
can
methods,
the
pass can
transitions
?
problem in the first Aphorism of the On a given body to generate and
this
book.
second
and
to
If
or
in the
And
secondary work of concrete
is the
natures,
new
to
bodies,
ism Aphor-
same
be
work
undertaken so
far
as
this
ALCHEMY"
ftO
SCIENCE
ITS
Platonism
ROMANCE
Alchemy.
and
assimilated
alchemists
The
AND
this
teaching
so
"
completelythat Gebcr, the great master of the Arabian that metals canschool, goes to the lengthof asserting not until they have been reduced be transmuted to In other words, he not only their "first matter." maintained that metals are compounded out of this mother stuff,"but also that, if they are to be brought to higher states of perfection, by artificialmeans they first be decomposed into their primmust necessarily ordial condition. This teaching affords a striking example of the influence of philosophy on laboratory operations,and with various modifications,retained its hold down to the days when alchemy was decadent "
discredited.
and
typicalinstance Valentine, an adept A
is found of the
writingsof
thirteenth
is clear and
following passage
in the
the
to
The
century.
point :
"
Basil
Think
^ '
diligentlyabout this, bear it often in mind, and observe and comprehend, that all minerals metals are produced and generated in the same time most
in the
and
fashion, and
same
This
matter." principal We the
central
and
deny and
idea
teachings
other.
one
is simple and
not, however, imagine that
must
their
of
Many
fantastic. the
which
were
were
were
But
of speculations
time
the
vague we
and
i
that each
incoherent, mystical
should
not
which
to time
same
straightforward. all who developed
equally sober-minded, or always in harmony with
rational element from
and
on
that
underlay them
reasserted
the nobler sort of
account
j
all,
itself in the
'
adepts*
i
PHILOSOPHY Take
as
OF
favourable
a
TRANSMUTATION
example
of
91
attempt
an
at
a
the development of the Platonic doctrine of the Valentinus system expounded in the works above quoted. He sets out from the idea that beneath all the sensible there is an qualitiesof a substance therefore He distinguishesthe incorporeal Essence. specificbodily, or material, part from the Spirit.* In the bodily part he holds there are the four generally earth, water, air, fire. So far recognised elements he then makes there is nothing reallynew. But an
rational
"
advance.
holds
He
the
from
that
relations
between
result what he calls the three pairs of these elements air produces Sulphur; Principles. Fire acting on air acting on water produces Mercury ; water acting earth produces Salt. The on Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt thus produced are not to be thought as being of the use. ordinary sort in common They have an exalted sublimated which nature or implies special and virtues, and become a recognised Triad powers for alchemy, as distinct from the Four of philosophy. Can make the three man Principles out of the Elements
?
that;
man
can
to
go
them
able
says
has
simply
work
in various to
Valentine
No,
with
to
;
alone
God
accept
them.
But
Principlesand proportions. He
the three
ways
and
effect transmutations
of the
do
can man
mingle is thus
substances
with
he is
which
actuallydealing. The blind us strangeness of this speculationmay It is an to its merits. originalattempt at analysis. And we parallelits conclusions under our modem may conditions. not May we fairly say that the place chemical elements of Valentine's Principlesare our "
*
For
a
further consideration
of this,see
the
next
chapter, p.
'*
107.
ALCHEMY"
92
which
the he
But
ITS
SCIENCE
scientist
can
combine
them
can
neither
ROMANCE
make
in endless
the idea of
Eliminate
AND
unmake
nor
and
ways
?
tions. propor-
passing of one substance into another, substitutingthat of a building up of fixed kinds of atoms, and the kinship of the old and the
is
new
a
apparent.
regards the underlying Essence, Valentine says it is hidden and by the wrappings of Elements Principles. But though impalpable,it acts as a mystic here an Have not we uniting bond. anticipationof the modem concept of the ether of space ? Read of this mysterious, illusive,allaccount recent any phers, pervading entity postulated by our physicalphilosowill sympathise with Valentine's and you speculation. As
Mercury
The
has
What
of
was
"
called
apprehend the Mercury
reached in this Philosophers." It was applicationof the doctrine of a specialised
matter,"
adepts
composition.
due
various had
mercury was
inmost
The
reasons
attracted
be
to
however,
were
Is Ihe
between
at
was
be basis
them
impurities.
given later, the this
first
esseritiany^oT and
matters
the
metal and
it
common
Theory and practice, loggerheads. For it was
of the metals. here
all
way. **
must
exceptionalattention,
generally agreed that substance
there
which
differences
colouring
various
to
that
of substance
metals, rendering them
of ialtthe uniform
think
to
came
kind particular
some
For
of what
to
us
the
Bya
are
preceded will enable notion
the alchemist
Philosophers.
the
of
PHILOSOPHY
OF
TRANSMUTATION
93
/
could not painfullyevident that the ordinary mercury made fulfilthe excitingdemands it. The adepts upon thus. that the saved the situation They maintained is not the real thing, but that its ordinary metal essential virtues are negatived and disguisedby various qualitiesand impurities which impair its perfection* its liquidityargues the presence of the fluid Thus of the its volatility,that element, water; light element, air ; its grossness, that of the heavy element, These then be stripped away, and earth. the must refined substance first remaining would be the true metal volatile or Uquid, but not fixed," that is first metal to say, ideallystable and solid. To this of the Philosopher's name they gave the honourable of it, the Mercury." By means happy possessor metal he be able to produce artificially would any that the the rest. it was Hence liked, gold among "
"
"
"
"
**
"
alchemist's
aim
is
wonder-working mercury." "
the
Although as
it
the was
"
of
the
with
Arabians that
it, and
proportions in which
the
metals
one
differed
from
developed by their "
For
laboured
the
Metals.
a
that said
it two
was
grim jest on
to
to
"fix
regarded them all,
the
stituent. only conbe that sulphur must owing to the varying
was
combined
were
another.
successors.
was
common
it
to this
reference
He
base
generally held
not
by
Philosopher'sMercury
first metal,"
The united
substance.
Composition
The
defined
oftai
so
The A
this,see
that the
doctrine
was
typical mediaeval p. 42.
ALCHEMY"
94
SCIENCE
ITS
ROMANCE
AND Gold
into detail thus.
is
engendered associated with a clear red sulphur ; by a clear mercury and a white, or slightly silver by a clear mercury red, and a sulphur sulphur ; iron by an impure mercury and a white white and clear ; lead by a thick mercury The sulphur, thick and a little red; and so on. been dealt with as to to have question does not seem what the impurities are. Perhaps it is covered by the idea of a passingthrough stages to perfection. of it goes
fonn
further
A the
of
amoimt
of
cause
baking
the
differences
which
the mixtures
found
was
had
in
gone under-
(The notion that they another under comes head.) Gold, for grow baked a long time at a gentle heat ; example, was silver,some said, required a hundred ; years to bake metal iron was baking ; tin, if spoiltby too much down
below
in the
earth.
"
"
further baked, would
sulphur badly
become
baked.
The
silver ; lead is detestable idea
of
passing through
stages is stillfimdamental.
various
Sulphur.
why sulphur should be chosen as a ingredient in the composition of metals, necessary still keeps us in touch the answer with Greek sophy. philoThe element of mercury provided the metallic as lustre, malleability,ductility. properties, such But the fact that fire had the power of alteringmetals had to be accounted Now Plato had taught that for. fire is a substance excessivelyattenuated, indeed, bat nevertheless to be ranged with air, water, and If
we
ask
"
earth.
There
are
several kinds
of
it,he says
;
flame
PHIL#S"PHY which
gives Kght fire which
and
of
eyes
without
is extinct.
flame
their elemental
95 them
burning
in substances
remains
associate
to
the
to
enflamed, after the came
TRANSMUTATION
OF
that
have
The
alchemists the
fire with
been
sulphur
was Philosophers. To this constituent the combustibility of metals, by under the intended their alterability was
the
term
buted attri-
**
"
;
which action
of fire. The
notion
with,
of fire
shut
or
sistent.
It
as
real substance
a
in, other" substances,"
up
its last appearance
made
compounded was
very
in the
pcr-
famous
the at theory, promulgated by Stahl beginhiiig~ofthe eighteenUr century". Briefly stated this. When substance the theory was a bums,_it is losing phlogiston light are ; the flame, heat, and
FMogiston
evidence
of
the
violence
"bustible substances
of
the
All
process.
com-
contain
phlogiston as a common ~Tt is so intimately combined with them principle. be seen that it cannot until it is escaping. That wTiich is the original substance remains after combustion phlogiston. "^.^sJ!^. of them, such as Some Apply this to the metals. and be made to bum, zinc, can earthly substances remain. if
but It
Others, like lead and
exposed
was
to
heat
lose their metallic
therefore
that
of
the materials
argued phlogiston and
after
the
combustion.
metal
was
connected
do
mercury,
the
Moreover, with the amount
;
appearance.
metals
the
burn
not
were
that
pounds com-
were
colour
of
left the
of the
phlogiston heated, it yields
example, if lead is further, it litharge ^a yellow substance ; if heated yields ^ed lead. Evidently, said the champions of different this theory, there are quantities of the contained. "
For
ALCHEMY"
96
fire-substance
present* again Z.. Yes, in
back
AND
SCIENCE
ITS
Could not
a
the few
ROMANCE
phlogistonbe put Thus, if the
cases.
^the earthy substance remaining dephlogisticatedzinc after burning ^be heated with wood cTiarcoalTtlie" or metal reappears ! It has acquired a fresh stock from "
"
the
Here
have
we
dress.
wood
of the
burning
the
Substitute
in the
experimenters did metal much
alchemist for
sulphur
essential features
"
charcoal.
or
two
are
lay such
not
doctrine
in
the stress
the
upon
theory
It focussed
oxygen.
combustion,
the
their but
later "
first
theory
the
root
same.
Stahl's
Now
the
The
same.
out they worked thoroughly and logically ;
principleis
scientific
phlogiston,and
substance, and
more
a
led
to
up
attention
on
the the
discovery
phenomena
of of
brought together the scattered facts of an by means explanation which, though erroneous, enormously helped scientists to get on to the right track. Why should we be so unfair as to deny to the the merit of preparing the way alchemists for Stahl ? and
Follies and
they
had
falsities ought
in
achievingthe
Theory We
'
us
get
ultimate
Greek
development generalidea of the
of the
now
seen
set about
obscure success.
way
philosophy largely Hermetic
in which
art.
chosen
silver
or
Let
the alchemists
their task.
substance, usually a metal, SQm"4)ai"iciilar be
share
the
Practice.
and
the
a
to
how
have
/
moulded
not
s
as
^old.
likely to The
allow
^eat
of
transmutation
objectITien'was
to
would into
stripit
^
PHILOSOPHY of
be "
qualities,
those the
from
of
and
The
the
process.
A
short
Art
cut,
in
any
were
Philosophers, or, the
'discovered,
for
then
Substance,
would
same
effect the
not "
be
case
transmutation
of
its
been
were
transmuting in
aim
own
speed them possible if
be
what
it this
first matter
the
Mercury
tended
accomplished, would and
and
The
the
same
"
^those derived
chemical
air, fire.
were
The
If must
power much
time
one
in
of
the
view,
both
at
cases
matter
philosophy. simply
the
concentration
operations explains naturally the
specificsubstances.
sophers, Philo-
Mercury
Greek
triad, Mercury., Sulphur, Salt,
for the \
from
in
coalesce.
At
statement.
the
would,
of the
to
the
could to
the Mercury were won, be gained. Hence
old quartet, earth, water, on
virtues
reduced
were
be
Master
or
be the direct object precious metal would the Philosopher's Stone. But another in the underlying conceptions of the nature were
could
substance
a
up.
the
practically
was
powers
held that
methods
If the
won.
confusion
since
metals, be two
always
case
Magisterium,
unless
and
of the the
have
by
transmuted
first matter,"
the
this
duced; pro-
characteristic
Philosopher's Stone,
changes. it was commonly
Since
and
would
speak,
to
thing,
the
them
aid
be
must
hardness, malleability the
must
so
of the
Mercury
of
right weight;
Transmutations
in
tint
proper
right degree
ductility;
lustre.
97
or
forth.
so
the
and
TRANSMUTATION
properties, jn which it differed required. Lead, for instance, must its easy tin of its peculiar fusibility,
metal
stripped cry,"
OF
ence prefer-
ALCHEMY"
98
ITS
Qualities There further
arises
point
would
we
Several
which
times
it is
the
just
statements
important
the
into
enter
the
of
out
Entities,
Separate
as
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
minds
expression
if
alchemists.
the
used, "a
was
a
understand
to
of
made
substance
be
strippedof certain of its qualities." Vincent rob de Beauvais can definitelyclaims that adepts be substances of their must we qualities.*'Now prepared to interpretthis language literally.That is realise that the alchemist must to say, we imagined be the to qualitiesof substances separate things existingin their own right. We need not go deeply into the metaphysics,implied. It will be enough to the profound difference between their point of grasp must
"
and
view
liquidity,he who
man
that
Let
had
much
If_a
process.
our
of
a
liquidany
as
substances
it. of
way
condenses
man
"
fix
in his mind
idea
same
through
contrast
us
the
fish out
scattered
"
would
operator who
get rid of its volatilityand
to
would
were
and
the
determined
mercury
a
When
ours.
viewing
into
steam
some
parallel
a
water,
fr^ziTttiiwt^^^^^
then
"of "its" of any robbing the originalsubstance but merely that he is causing it to change qualities^ He is causing the mole^ call its what states." we closer and closer together. The cules of water to come he
is
*'
alchemist, when of
a
he
on
had
the
condensed
quality that
froze
the
water,
made
it
liquid.
a
other
made he
had
Two
hand, the it
he had
steam, "
an
robbed
conceive^hat
would
air
"
it of
reallyexistent
that
;
robbed when
it
he
quality that things hadlieeii a
PHILOSOPHY
abstracted off he
from
the
to
It
it.
disguising
hoped
get
a
must
aright The
the
be
subject
reason.
taken
and
will let at
well
kept
theories
Meanwhile
art,
is
its
before
best,
acknowledge was
founded
be
this if
view
receipts
come
us
in
would
that
clear
in
us
by
orilinary
from that
residue
99
that
was_thus
qualities
TiherVMeBcmyj^^It ence
TRANSMUTATION
OP
we
the
profound would
alchemical in that
on
stripping mercur^ Philoso-
differ^
interpret treatises.
another the
observation
context.
Hermetic
and
III
CHAPTER
AND
ALCHEMY
ANOTHER
of transmutation.
possibility the
first
deeply
the
world
of
metals, that
endowed
were
fundamental
the
sufficiently
is
the
interpreted the
conceived the
similar
life
to
they
speaking,
broadly of
principles
no
the
for
only
by
them
such
is known
what
persisted
other on
that
of
that
him
than
his
into
times
the
tree
of he
into ;
for
life.
could
The in
noisy
the
woods,
beast
of
Indeed all
of
when Greek
was
understand
he
knew
prey, it
relations
This
100
at
upon
practical
own.
earliest
the
or
on
looked
wills.
cracklings
presence
himself
around
things
activity
growing
he
man
him
around
;
living
the
waves,
primitive
changes
of
view
a
that
activities
the
bring
or
as
the
argued
him
and
human
roaring
than
less
known
manifestations
as
brook,
well
events
of
analogy
them
such
fact,
of
in
Animism. It
the
In
from
particularly
kind
a
the
in
growth
they
more
with
organisms.
of
adopted as
substances,
inorganic
that
of
And
last
were
processes
animals.
and
plants
the
by
impressed
belief
alchemists
The
the
in
the
enriched
and
strengthened
chapter,
strictly
less
considered
those
than,
philosophical
to, but
akin
ideas,
of
range
ANIMISM
no
with
mode
of
original tendency reflective
thought,
philosophers,
strove
ALCHEMY
ANBIISW^f'i
AND
:
'lOJ
#"""""*
to
enter
deeply
more
into
the
and
nature
of
causes
world. Mythology phenomena of the external yielded place to ideaUsms, gnosticisms,pantheisms; behef natural the in distinct beings behind mena phenoweakened or disappeared ; but the belief in And of universal life lasted on. form some alchemy, in its turn, was largelyinfluenced and moulded, from first to last, by animistic conceptions and speculations. the
Metals We the
have
nature
that
seen
of
imagined
the
metals that
was
by
HrTiT/
view
the alchemists
very
different
took
from
of
ours.
series of slow
changes imder towards* perfection. f^p pflrt.h tlipy wp^f^ p^^gfi^^^^g the more imperfect the more They were easilythey were changed by fire and chemical agents. For instance, lead and iron were imperfect because they yielded so easilyto such agents. Gold, on the contrary, ^indeed, most strongly resisted them strongly therefore held to be the perfect metal of all. It was all others were which strivingto become.
They
a
"
alchemists, however,
The this.
For
them,
went
much
further
than
the
not, as we changes were might of a purely physicalkind, but were imagined suppose, to take place by a living process. They held that "follow likeptarits.We modems me"als"~groW, can thern to some in the notion of change, and can extent understand
change are
and
how
was
found that
in some
the
ancients
came
to
think
that
the
that metals progressive. For we know of all degrees of purity or impurity, ores of
them
at
times
are
discovered
in
10$ : ALCHEMY^ITS *
mm*
k"*
their
''
*
the
w
"
native
in the "
*
4-
SCIENCE *^
It is not
state.
of the
ignorance
AND
ROMANCE
r
true
difficult to
nature
see
of what
we
how, call
elements," this varying degree of purity might
give rise
the belief in
to
the
notion
And
there
"
of
upward progression.
an
But
"
is so far removed from growth our of thought that we are present modes tempted to regard it as a flightof unbridled imagination. And at any rate, it persistseven yet, in the popular mind in this enlightened age. A in poet is warranted hewn from **the living rock." as describing stones
a
theory
vague
rocks
do
would
days be
But
that
somehow
the
(In
be little doubt
can
that
a
under
certain
metals
the into
come
coal
when
that
of
actually grow
earth
minerals
and
being and increase. being formed, there for it !) justification
was
amount
still harbour
many
^that is
"
different
a
matter.
The
alchemists, however,
put
a
yet greater strain
capacity for sympathy. Having entertained the notion of growth, they developed it with a startling thoroughness. Metals, they held, grow like plants. From How do pl^ts start their life ? seed. Since nature plan throughout, there proceeds on the same be something corresponding to seed in the^ase must this of metals. They could not define exactly what but they felt quite safe in assunung metal-seed was, on
our
determined
its existence, and that
they might
The
processes, principlewould and course
them
put
under
of the
"
discover
to
grow]"metals would
of course, be the
development
perfectmetal.
they
seed, once
conditions, would which Under
plants.
grew
be different,but
The
same.
proper
as
it in order
would the
the
\
obtained
set
out
on
a
ultimately give earth
the
growth
ALCHEMY
ANIMISM
AND
108
hindered in many indefinitelyslow, and was to the by artificial devices come ; they would ways aid of nature and speed up her operations. the train of reasoning which Such was led to these such chimerical hopes, strange conclusions, kindled endless labours. And and prompted such yet even here be too must not we hasty in condemnation. Does modem not at chemistry aim speeding up
was
divers
**
"
natural
processes
it not
Does
?
build
up
aim at invading the sphere increasingly of life itself by fabricating organic compounds ? do we of crystals ^a And not speak of the growth which think than a figureor to be more term some analogy ? Given the reasoning premisses, the alchemist's was logical. He had to meet, however, an obvious difficulty. If the seed of metals develop into the tHeHSasei metals ? perfectjnetal,gold, whence come The tion was singular. The formaexplanation advanced br these was regarded as due to a thwarting
molecules, and
**
'*
"
of
nature^s
which the
rest
Again when
could were
modern
not
be
science to
us
encountered
were
Iron, tin, lead, and
overcome.
comparedto
it describes
malformations
^ Resistances
purpose.
abortions
can
help
the
clash
us
or
to
monstrosities. seize their
of forces
which
idea cause
in
which or altogether crystallisation, preclude it. There are few of the reallyfundamental that are concepts of alchemists quite beyond the pale of such suggestive parallels although they ; and of imaginative guessing were so largelythe outcome
advances
in science
may
prove
them
to possess
pected unsus-
kernels of truth.
H
ALCHEMY"
104
ITS
SCIENCE
and
Animal
Metals
Certain
of the
alchemists
ROMANCE
AND
Bibth. not
were
with
content
referringto the plant world when they speculated on the development of the metals, but brought in notions the from derived generation and birth of animals. thoroughly their doctrine of the Applying still more unity of plan and action in nature, they likened the genesis of metals to that of the foetus. The comparison is at least
^e'
mcTudes
J
the
as
juit,in
ascribed
confidence
most an
of the
father
Arabian
old
as
time
of Geber.
of the
one
him, works
to
of
concepts
works
it out
mamage;
This with
in detail,
conception,
rearing,and education, claiming that the conditions in the case these imply aie of metals as ay necessary of human bebig?. The lead he gave was isedulously followed upTHiitilit lost itself in the mystical absurdities of the latest phases of the art. did not Some male and shrink from female distinguishingbetween in the process, afikming that there must elements be before metal-growth can a conjoining of sex-elements be initiated. At become of
this stage, the
vehement
resist
to
courage
;
protests of the enlightenedcritic and
it
requiresno
them.
small
Nevertheless
amount
it may
be
urged that, stripped of foolish accretions, the notion result of the originalanimism. is a logical Moreover, we
the
may
ask
ourselves and
nature
great upward dividing line so
many
now
whether
function curve
between
of
the how
organic far
yet fathomed
distinctions
sex
evolution.
of
assume),
have
we
If and
down
there
in
the
be
no
inorganic (as does
the
se^
ALCHEMY ?
principledescend to dogmatise.
Dying
that
of
The
ancients, before
died
He
is
as
we
modem
of
discoveries
saw,
could
it
bold
a
Reviving
and
comparison of plants involved
The
ANIMISM
AND
the
generation
another
We
must
go
behind
alchemists, and conclusion
such
metals a
dying
the
^^
and "
of
This
notion
a
metal
.was
and
Some as
a
to
their
forth.
eyes
The
tjiat, if
be in their even
it
;
fair to the
them
of them means
so
resurrection.
upon
must
be
with
process
view
a
and
would
we
forced
reviving.
killing
the
seed, there
from
grow
albumen,
death
^most
was
metals
thought that a seed actually life. The germinate to new shown how us botany have
at
involving complete
as
of
less defensible.
notion
all this if
look
ventures
Metals.
of
cotyledons, stored
of
us
who
man
imperfect, and, indeed, false, was tells
105
case
also
speak
of
to transmutation.
greatly strengthened by the the possibilityof spontaneous
prevailing belief in roused such fierce generation ^the belief which times, and which, in a controversy in quite recent far subtler form, is again assertingitself. The connection is well seen in the following passage from Basil "
Valentine
'*
:
Neither
human
nor
animal
bodies
can
multiplied or propagated without decomposition ; all vegetable seed, when the grain and cast into the decay before it can ground, must spring up again. Moreover, worms putrefactionimparts life to many other If bread animalculae. be and placed in honey and suffered to decay, ants are generated. also generated by the decay of nuts. Maggots are be
...
...
ALCHEMY"
106
AND
SCIENCE
ITS
The same thing apples,and pears. in regard to vegetable life. Nettles such seed has no spring up where This occurs only by putrefaction." is needless
It
ROMANCE be observed
may and
other
ever
been
Valentine's
that say quite other to
weeds sown.
instances
explanation; but he capable of and he makes erred in good company, plain the He establish. to proceeds to principle he wishes that in give it the alchemical application. Know metallic like manner seed can no develop or multiply without the unless the said seed by itself alone, and be reduced of any foreignsubstance, can introduction state of putrefaction." His to a practicalinference be brought to putrefy and die if is that gold must
are
*'
be
is to
there
a
it with
life for
new
increase
of its
substance.
how
Consider
experiment
puzzling this. They
as
calcine
lead, and
its well-known kind had
it in the
of cinder.
Assuming,
life of its own,
a
?
imagined a They then
seed
would
reheated
this
with
grains of
wheat.
it had
some
taking ing
its
suppose "
again
on
the
it lead
was
that
the "
was
the
calcining.
the
metal, say
natural
in the
condition
had
a
characteristics more
the and
metal resmn-
natural
than
brought
about
?
in the
wheat
which
took
it had
combined
with
in the
had
nothing
they
of
We,
to
say
which
They watched
What
to
they in the ground. crucible along
died
in
cinder
than
metal
carbon
an
it lose They watched change into a powdery they did, that the metal
life in the grain had of the
a
more
its wonted
oxygen But
as
be that
originalstate.
resurrection
that
It
take
such
air.
what
died
that
would
and
appearance
been
have
must
course,
guide
to a
know
them
from first to
ALCHEMY
AND
ANIMISM
107
explanation, and should not, therefore, be charged with follyfor arguing as they did. The blame in when of them, startingfrom this misunderstood some comes such
an
chemical
imagination, and launched and occult mystical theories and
further
the
character
rational
which
they
the
were
Metals It has
led
world
of
not
their
to
of
manner
them
further
facts.
tempt
broad
of the
These
ignore
to
us
considerations
of
perversions.
Body
have
shown
been
which
should
aberrations, however,
rein
all
into
out
the
from
away
loose
action, gave
how
Soul.
and
that
the
alchemists,setting
comparatively simple idea of a metalseed analogous to the seed of plants,introduced the with more generation complicated ideas connected world. not content to stop in the animal They were this advanced is at even stage of speculation. Man of the animal the crown world, and consists of body whether soul. similar and a They asked themselves the
from
out
does
distinction decided on
this
utmost
not
exist
in the
case
of metals, and
And
affirmative.
having ventured further analogy, they developed it with the and seriousness exploitedit in their practical in
the
work.
The derived to
the
from these
incumbrance nature.
for their notion
basis philosophical
"
the Platonists.
mystical idealists man's body the activities of a clog on
It had
before that true richest virtues
teachings of
therefore nature of the
to
could metals
be subdued show were
and
itself. to be
largely
was
ing Accordwas
his
an
true
mortified
If,then, the
free for
higher
ALCHEMY"
108
SCIENCE
ITS
ROMANCE
AND
be
destroyed. in the seventh Thus century an alchemist, Stephanus it is necessary that to deprive of Alexandria, declared out its soul." in order to draw of its qualities matter
transmutations, their material
form
must
"
declared
that
the
of
body
the
virtue."
gap
of
of the
by
to
substance
thousand
a
Yet
I
there
the
is
is
a
continuity
of the Hermetic elaborated.
philosophersa made
They
further
threefold
a
ceived con^body, soul, and spirit. Spiritwas be a primal element, not peculiarto any one but fundamental We to all. perhaps may
it
"
was essence
the
the
"
hand,
other
; that
substance
contained
perfect of even gold purity ; it
held
to
of
into
a
The
nature.
be the
substance
any
particular
or
group
of
not universal. specific, held to be more it was perfectthe more of this essence. Gold, being the most richest of all in this regard. But all,was
did
is to say, it
sublimated
spirit
was
characterised
substances
"
first matter "
universal
obscured
could
it
had be
was
exhibit
not
which properties "
years
proportion
writers
two
.
.
"
life that
"
in
.
is manifest.
some
that
soul, on
these
The
virtue.
more
in
is located
value
in the
the
Paracelsus
century
true
but
body,
Between
was
distinction
of
nothing
substance,
doctrine
refinement
A
a
nearly
But
"
"
is of the
less there
say
sixteenth
thus, too, in the
And
the
in
essence
by possessingcertain to
be
stripped off
reallyfree.
the
And
complete specific
before
the
strippingof the the it was problem which practical supreme these had It was alchemist in view. imperfections between that led the alchemists to distinguish ordinary the gold of the sages ^the latter being gold and spirit
"
"
"
the
pure
essence.
ALCHEMY This
ANIMISM
AND
109
applied to all substances ; for all contained some Mercury portion of the essence. and sulphur were speciallysingledout because of their out virtues, though gold stood supposed alchemic pre-eminent. And in every case the problem was how the specificqualities. The first step was to stripaway soul from Let to free the the body. Stephanus of Alexandria again instruct us. "Copper is like, a it has a soul and The body is a man; body. the ponderable, material, terrestrial thing, endowed doctrine, of
course,
.
.
with
shadow.
a
After .
That
gold."
metal will
be
must
bare
lay
is to
the
say,
subtler
ments, treat-
shadow
and
better
material
form
of the
without
this
in
Success
destroyed.
that
series of suitable
a
.
becomes
copper than
.
.
part of it which
attempt
lends
itself
to transmutation.
But of the
from
the of
nature
into
transmuting ^the
on
;
soul into
substances whereas
be
of
the
was
aim
that
transmute
of lead
into
to transmute
was
and
remain.
declared
would
therefore
Hoe
to be not
opus,
the
ment treat-
other
lead, and into
necessary.
nothing but
of
power
under
like that
copper
copper,
removed,
essence,
quest
substance
a
the
active
only render
stripping is
further must
substance, this first operation does
It would
Xiot suffice.
"
a
division
threefold
of the
standpoint
so
gold. The
or spirit,
hie labor est !
A
soul versal uniThe
merely long and laborious,
perilous,demanding the highest qualities character. often of intellect and was Nay, prayer judged to be a necessary condition of success. This notion in substances of a spirit contained did not wholly rest, however, on analogies borrowed of animals and doctrines from concerning the nature but
even
"
"
ALCHEMY"
110
The
man.
SCIENCE
ITS
alchemists
ROMANCE
AND
certain
impressed by
were
empirical phenomena
which
transcended
their powers
of
power
of
for
explanation. is mysterious even to
them.
More
attractingiron substances. the
The
us';much
to
magnet,
more
it
was
"
spiritual
some
invisible,pertaining
seemed "
"
of
"
virtue
to
the
inmost
example,
mysterious of
its power
especiallystrikingwas in spite of the presence
This
action
a
of
intervening
to them
to
argue
force, intangible, the
of
nature
They attractingbody, and also of that attracted. the placed in the same category of subtle essences action of poisons on organisms, supposing that the due to some force which, could permeating power was be regarded as spiritual in its nature. **
"
Introduction It
For
to
if
endow
they
possess
part of human characteristic
Ideas,
Moral
not, therefore, any
was
wards
of
considerable
step on* qualities*
substances
with
that
constitutes
the
would
possess
which
they
nature, activities
"
^the moral
moral
also among
highest
the
its rest.
Modern
It thought entirelyrejects such a notion. strives to be perfectlyobjective, assuming that the physical universe is wholly under the sway of unvarying, determinate, natural laws. Accordingly science moral raises no questions in studjdng physicalpheno* not even as regards the uses to which substances mena, less any are supposed inherent good or put, much bad The manifest. juice of a qualitiesthey may sake, plant,for instance, is studied purely for its own its composition, its effects, quite irrespectiveof the use
any
individual
may
put it
to
"
say,
to
heal
or
to
ALCHEMY Or
poison. finds
in the
place
a
chemical
for
of such
case
it in
and
its properties ; notes on livingtissues, and
powers
and its
regarding would
that
alchemists
had
not
studjdng
their
various
its
solvent, its effects it leaves
But
to
the
practical questions beings
human
by
idea
the
scorn
drug as alcohol, it interestingseries of
a
as
reformer
consumption
111
describes
forth.
so
social
a
certain
a
compounds,
moralist
ANIMISM
AND
the
intrinsically
is
drug
and
;
evil. The of
way
into
what
attained
this
to
materials.
selves them-
read
They
in their
they observed
objective
experiments,
both their theory and their unduly confused practice. It is curious to observe how traces of the of our old modes of thought survive most in some base scientific terminology. We still speak of and bad noble and ductors conmetals, of good of of electricity, imperfect perfect and moral connotation, though, ^terms of distinctly gases in such connections, their real force is now severely still ignored or completely forgotten. They may when considered, as aids in putting historically serve, ourselves at the alchemist's point of view. We saw that in supposing a spirit in substances, certain material phenomena which strengththere were ened the leadings of philosophicalspeculation. So
and
thus
'*
*'
"
"
"
"
"
"
'*
"
"
"
"
"
it
was
mind
here
of such
is allowed A
black
substance and know
to
fall in
substance is heated
the
the
experiment
an
condenses
that
Consider
also.
into
black
a
in a
effect
as
fine rain
is
"
this. to
on
produced. a
Some
mercury
melted
When
sulphur. this
black
vessel, it is volatilised
closed
beautiful
product
alchemist
the
on
red
is the
solid. same
We as
the
how
red,
ALCHEMY"
112
being
ITS
and
sulphur.
and
attributed
purifying"
the
of
composed But the
transitioxU".
moral
the
is
experiment Thus~
to
good.*
to
be
of
irresponsible
fair,
from
our
actual
the
for the
bad
from
if
we
are
the
to
which,
play
being
so
and
strange
appear
own,
of ideas
of
attribute
notions
mists alche-
symbol
that,
find
the
in
change
a
we
imagination
removed
far
as
hastily
not
Hre"as"a
association
again
once
of
comes
red
inevitable
this,
the
was
;
interpreted
must
we
Black
darkness
almost
an
here
mercury
know
not
modify And
of
of
influence
the
to
ideas.
symbol
By
did
whic^~courd
substances.
ROMANCE
quantities
alchemists
change
qualities _of
light.
AND
same
the
agency
the
SCIENCE
fantastic. whole
the
Reviewing
speculations, conclusion.
The
accumulated
round
Nevertheless
analogies
or
in
arrive
may
them
which,
inferences
we
contain in
not
scientific
rightly
are
a
a
few
solid
follies
which
speculations
reasonable
their
have
cases,
condenmed.
of
core
mistic ani-
general
be
to
these
this
at
and
exaggerations
they
of
development
of
the
sequels present
day.
*
and
This
chapter
are
taken
several from
other Muir's
examples Story
and
oj Alchemy,
quotations
in
this
IV
CHAPTER
MAGIC
idea
popular
THE
of
of
the
development
down
to
our
own
claim
to.
and
invokes
a
Let
unjust. not
popular
on
For
start.
themselves metals "
"
Greeks
various
as
as
something of
thought
toiling wonders
the in
Roman a
were
fashioned. 113
means
the
argues,
is
and
grievously founded,
and
Magic.
facts.
had
alchemy those
a
and
of
working and
magicians them.
about as
Legend workshop, The
bad
busied
who
master-smith
Vulcan.
no
estimate
supernatural
marvellous
by
little
exaggerated,
enchanters
their
be
can
historical
extraction
regarded
^Hephaestus,
him
the
occult
beings,
the
antiquity
lays
the
unseen
score
an
that
remote
with
having
as
The
from
were
on
Metallurgy
acknowledge
must
at
but
opinion,
Early
We
arrive
to
try
us
in
Figuier
this
on
and
who
are
greatly
condemnation
wholesale
idea as
is very
magic
of
stages
art,
man
There
Nevertheless,
by
played
role
aid
this
for
a
skilled
sort.
grounds
inconsiderable.
of
is
the
the
all
Hermetic
that
who
undesirable
the
that
doubt
is
in
the
of
powers,
who
the
of
chiefly
alchemist
an
times,
magical
sciences,
ASTROLOGY
AND
a
god
pictured in
Cretans
which had
SCIENCE
114
ALCHEMY"
their
Telchines, reputed the
ITS
and
of ill-fame
the
Due^'gars of
natiural
in metals,
first workers
with So it was spitefulenchanters. Teutonic myth, malicious beings who
as
Daktuloi
So, too, with
mines.
in northern
wrought
ROMANCE
AND
Ida
of Mount
in
the
Phrygia,
superwhom
to
^
attributed, and the art of discovery of iron was Saga, we have our treating it by fire. In Teutonic Wayland the Smith, a kind of demi-god, the hero of Nor be surprised we can excitingadventures. many that with magic should thus widely be associated metallurgy. The discovery of metals, and the art of working them, meant much in those early days the
I
" i
"
in
power
employed
processes seemed
they and
advance
war,
were
in
civilisation.
so
little understood
the limits of human
to surpass
And
made
was
knowledge
the
a
bad
by
worse
And
start.
the
that
fact
position alchemy was the
engaged, not with ordinarymetallurgy, but into gold, and transmuting of base metals wealth. opened up prospects of boundless of
decoction
for
seldom powers
an
elixir which
of human
term
only
the
held must
would
life,and
we
be enlisted
if
of
attempt
indeed,
were
at transmutation
for
the
Church.
as
an
Add
it the
| i
belief
not
not
attained.
frequently roused Christian theologians. regard
encroachment
I
j
arts
to
'
supernatural
to be
were
inclined
the
that
reasons,
the
that
success
reputation for magical suspicion and hostilityof
Some,
ample
see
The
with
indefinitelyprolong
popular view, but by adepts themselves
Attitude
the
that
skill.
Yes, alchemy had
the
the
the
very on
the
| i
MAGIC
prerogatives.
divine
instance,
attributed
teaching
of
Genesis,
with
temptation, of cities,and
often
The
of
from
life that
was
arts
the
and been
these
the
founding
crafts.
children
of
who
in those
The
sons
of is
men
shared
and of
as
demoniac
the
name
passed
old
that
adopted
for the
to
as
its
and
others
the
bears
is
of
asserts
among
TertuUian
that
alchemy
knowledge,
which
story had
Tertnllian,
notion
attendant
this book
patriarch whose
The
of
tree
of their
book
the
origin
its condemnation
and
quoted by
views. in
its
wives
took
God
the
115
and
Zosimiis
angels.
bad
from
passage
ASTROLOGY
AND
his
expanded Enoch
fateful
"
^the
times.
"
sinfid
angels dwelt with and mortals sorceries, enchantments, taught them and the propertiesof roots trees, magical signs,and the of observing stars." art They betrayed the how of worldly pleasures, showed to obtain secret of them, and taught gold and silver and things made the combination the art of dyeing fleeces. We note of the making of gold, the observing of stars, and the The practice of magical incantations. applicationof obvious. this to alchemy was In the Middle intensified Ages the suspicion was There
rather
we
find
than
removed.
For
in
those
times
of
dark
superstitions,every fact that transcended ordinary attributed to supernatural agents, experience was And who exhibited unusual man good or bad. any made unfamiliar branded or experiments was powers of sorcerer. The with the dangerous name tendency unfavourable increased to such judgments was by the of many of the adepts themselves. attitude and behaviour Some who knew that they were of the guiltless could not resist the temptation charge against them
ALCHEMY"ITS
116
of
SCIENCE if
leaving uncontradicted,
foster, the
which
rumours
air of mystery
and
saw
drew
distinction
a
actually
not
them
with
reputations.
an
Others
the
popular ignorance. How paid for the advantage we
historical
the
in
their
ROMANCE
did
they
shrouded
enhanced
on consciously traded dearly they sometimes
AND
also
sketch;
between
white
how and
the black
Church
magic,
by virtue of this distinction, even Popes ardently practised alchemy. Speaking freely and take it that in this mediaeval we period generally, may much talked in of, but were magic and sorcery were there and an reality little practised. Here adept might dabble in the dark lore. The great majority, and
how,
themselves
confined
however,
arduous
to
labours
in
their laboratories.
Magic
Alchemist
Philosophy.
and
of magic are Though the varied forms mainly cate sought to vindiproducts of imagination, alchemists their acceptance of them by referringto the teachings of philosophers. Plato, Pythagoras, Demoother
critus, and been
great authorities, were
magicians. True, they
of this role in their
shelter The
was
fourth
celebrated
lamblicus,
the
century.
He
although of quite
his a
evidence
names.
of these
philosopher-magicians
Alexandrine, was
teaching
different
left any
have
writings; but tradition deficiency,and enthusiastic which they published under
of their venerated
most
not
to
authentic
generously supplied the adepts composed treatises the
had
held
was
trend
accounted in many More
who a
lived
in
the
Neo-Platonist,
important points especiallyhe held
MAGIC that not
117
communicate
could
man
ASTROLOGY
AND
directlywith the Deity spiritualintuitions, but also
his
only through
of magic rites. He studied the through the medium of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and "mysteries" he wrote of his one Assyrians, conceniing which His great reputation did much to longest treatises. between alchemy and superstrengthen the bond stition, his influence lasted down and to the period of decadence.
connection
Another and
philosophy
it.
A
sort
and
Stoic
One
of the
is found
where
of alliance
was
thinkers.
It
Stoic
alchemical
between
might little expect adepts up between
we
struck
about
came
doctrines
magic
in
this
way.
the
emphasised
reign of a of constant law Watch change in nature. (says all things change continually, Marcus Aurelius) how and accustom yourselfto realise that Nature's prime delight is in changing things that are and making All that is,is as it were new things in their likeness. "
the
seed
of
which
that
shall
issue
from
it."
Such
eminently congenial to Hermetic teaching was philo* belief in the possibility of transmutation sophers, whose was
of
based,
as
we
have
on
seen,
this very
tion concep-
substance
passing from form to form ; and they gladly took advantage of the reasoned proofs by it was which doctrine of the supported. Another that behind all the changes is the divine Stoics was, all things in the universe partake Substance, of which in varying degrees. The stars, and sun, moon, be looked to God, may planets,being speciallynear upon to
lean
as
prove upon
divinities. this
The
doctrine,
sages
whose
Stoics, in their were
in
their
endeavour
turn
practices dealt
glad with
to
the
ALCHEMY"
118
ITS
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
became ardent they therefore The of magicy astrology, and defenders alchemy. interdependence thus established was far-reachingand lastingin its results. and
supernatural;
Astrology alchemists
Most
Alchemy.
And
believed
that
the
planets had
the
maturing metals, and so could influence the aimed their transmutation. at operations which Concerning the pseudo-science,or art, of astrology, of
power
is
there
need
no
of
influence
affairs, and and
to
aspects
himself
heavenly bodies by foretellingevents
with
substances
common
to
and
both
alchemist
the their
was
that
that
the
For
the
loger, astro-
generally to judging
the
whereas
;
detail.
into
enter
such, confined
as
the
to
human
upon their
position concerned
was
changes. The the planets were
ground active
agents. It
natural
was
of Eastern
star-lore
should
as
well
believe
the
Arabians, under of Alexandrian
as
astral
in
influences.
sway
sophy, philoGeber,
example, held that the planets,arrived at a certain point of the sky, aided the forming and perfectingof under the earth, or when the metals, whether lated manipuin the laboratory. He denied, however, that for
man
had
power
saved
himself
time.
Kalid
to
direct the
from went
so
far
or
use
cruder as
to
this influence, and
so
superstitionsof
his
say
that
the
action
ties planets constituted one of the greatest difficulin regulating chemical operations. The ruling the subject were ideas on mainly derived from that of heterogeneous materials, the strange store-house of the
MAGIC Hebrew the
Kabala,
strangest Some
adepts. that
"
the
planets direct
and
Sabsean
to the
ancient, and Geber
asserts
of the
seven
signs (of the zodiac)
the
them
elements, make
four
their
in
Rosierucian
and
the revolution
and
of
developed
Babylonians.
of the
allow
and
more
are
spheres of
mutations
119
mediaeval ideas
the
the
across
adopted
by
ways
back
ASTROLOGY
were
conjunction
the
vary,
and
of
be traced
can
AND
being predicted."
The
plain,though it is presented as coming from Pythagoras and Aristotle. A passage from Basil Valentine century) (fifteenth will show how such notions took root and developed. origin of
"Matter
is
extracted
stars, which
from
by
or
a
other the
a
is which vapour, earth by the superior
mere
infusion, with
certain
and
power
The
macrocosm
;
airy sulphurous
an
and acts inferiors, so upon is implanted spirituallyand
there
minerals."
in those
virtue
is vague,
statement
metals
logy the termino-
Still the intentionallytechnical and obscure. purport is plain" a ponderous attempt to give
fuller detail to the
The
A
than
descending
invisiblya
main
is
siderial distillation of the
that
operates
idea
elementary
siderial hot
property,
and
no
the
Arabian
Metals
prominent
the
assigning of the planets. The always the same; Chanoun's
accepted
alchemist
of
chief
the
metals
individual but
Pi4ANETS,
the
and
feature
Yemannes
doctrine.
the
sun
assignments
Chaucer's
Tale
to
astrology is
gives
quaint those
are
list in
most
and not
his
usually
: I
ALCHEMY"
120
**
The Sol
ITS bodies
Luna
silver
ROMANCE
AND
eke, lo ! hem
seven
gold is,and
SCIENCE
heer
anoon
;
thripe, Mara we clipe" yien, Merouiy quik-silver Satonras leed, and Jupiter is tin.
/^
And
Venus
by
oopper,
my
we
"ader khi."
is probably due to the mystical connection but knowledge of it was Babylonians; widely disseminated. the Pindar, for example, mentions relation between The scholium gold and the sun.*
This
on
the
is also
passage
"
full of interest.
each
To
of
is attached. substance the To planets some Sun silver,to Ceres iron, to Kronos gold, to the Moon lead, to Zeus electrum,t to Hermes tin, to Aphrodite
the
A condensed
bronze." The in
account, from
a
treatise entitled
Open Entrance^ will furnish an example of how later alchemy these bined comastrologicalideas were with chemistry. The author is describingthe
various
stages in the
Stone.
I quote from
Muir.J
heating
of
mercury
gold
with
the
perfectingof "
The
Philosopher's beginning of the
is likened
to
the
King
his
off
and golden garments descending into the fountain ; this is the regimen of (the planet) Mercury. As the heating is continued, all becomes black ; this is the regimen of Saturn. is noticed Then colours; this is the regimen of a plan of many Jupiter ; if the heat is not regulated properly, the
stripping
*
ones
young
About
the the
sign
of
this
is the
"
Isthmian
t Electnim
of
end
the of the
crow
fourth
back
month
waxing moon,' and regimen of the Moon.
you
to
the
'
will
see
all becomes The
nest.' the
white
white
;
colour
Odes, IV, 1-3. was
originally an
p. 182.
X The
will go
Story of Alchemy, p. 72.
alloy
of
gold
and
silver.
See
MAGIC
ASTROLOGY
AND
121
in the gives place to purple and green ; you are now all the colours After that, appear regimen of Venus. of the rainbow, or of a peacock's tail ; this is the regimen of Mars. Finally the colour becomes orange and golden ; this is the regimen of the Sim."
Signs It
only
was
planets should metals,
seven
natural
that
"
tions. transforma-
seven
figures,also, were
the
of
service
mystical signsfor the metals ^seven planets,
colours, and
seven
Mathematical the
the
for the
used
be
Symbols.
and
art, and
used
pressed
with
into
specialised
circle a mystical significance.The sign for fire was with a centre point; thaFfor air a triang:le ; that for that earth for two water a equilateral square; star. trianglesinterlaced to form a regularpolyjgonal Tt Is evident how the use of such signs,carrying with rich
the
them
and
varied
associations
mediaeval
star-lore,lent themselves
of endless
fantasies
and
A
of shorthand
the
symbol is the
art
of
to
the
of
the
these
better
must sort
not
among
accessories,save
for
statement.
great importance in the **
famous
and
invention
superstitions. We
forget, however, that few adepts paid serious heed to convenience
of ancient
history of
Phflosopher's Egg."
An
egg
therefore
was naturallySuggests life,"and" widely used the source to designate the principleof fecundityon
of Ttr
The
"
"
primitive
egg
was
adopted
Chaldeans, the Persians, the Hindus, and
Egypt
had
enclosed
its egg
two
good things
white
with
of
Osiris
in which
among
the the
Chinese.
god pyramidal figures,symbols of which
he
would
dower
the
had the
mankind.
ALCHEMY"
122
ITS
SCIENCE
AND
brother, Typhon, introduced
His
ROMANCE
twelve
black
pyramids, aflSict and
to symbols of the ills which w^e destroy. Another Egyptian legend tells how Khoum, the egg desiringto create, put forth from his mouth of the universe. He is often represented as fashioning a on potter'swheel the mysterious oval from which to
were
the human
come
The
alchemist's
notions
but
;
and
race
the whole
symbolised this
egg
it
in addition
taken
was
of the Hermetic special work manuscript it is thus described : of copper, the the Egg the Stone Others call the Stone of Egypt. Its shell is of copper,
world.
of nature.
lead, the alloy of iron and
the
to
In
art. "
The
it the
signifythe an early
ancients
Stone
of
The
call
Armenia, of the
Image
alloyof
copper.
of
range
copper calcined
and
shell
chalk, arsenic, sandarac, Chian earth, etc. signifies The liquidparts of the Egg are the rust of copper, the The white of the Egg is of green water copper. called gum, juice of the fig,juice of the euphorbia. The yellow of it is called mineral of solid copper. Thus did imaginaAttic ochre, Cilician safran." * tion, when given free rein, elaborate fancies intended to invest the art with tion high mysteries. The applicaof the symbol in laboratory operations will find .
.
.
.
mention
.
.
later.
symbol of prime importance is the tail. mystic serpent, or dragon, which bites its own in the ancient world, and This too was widely known Yet
^
connected
was
is
another
a
with
constant
the
round
doctrine of
applied it "
\ \
Quoted
in nature
there
changes. The originalsignificance,
reciurent
I I
retaining its with specialreference
alchemists, while
that
to their
own
by Berthelot, Lea Origenea de VAlchimie, p.
work, 24.
MAGIC
[ \
which
N '
it
128
larger aspect, to have tained, as ^imitating, they mainnatural They also used process. the "moist" principle,without
they conceived, in neither beginning nor end a
/
ASTROLOGY
AND
universal
its
"
symbol for which exist : of the soul of the world nothing can which gives birth to, and envelops all that has being ^the starry sky which the surrounds planets,the The symbolism beauty and harmony of the universe. thus with that of the Philo* practicallycoincides three it is pictured with sopher's Egg. Sometimes as
a
"
ears
which
four
feet
represent the which
can
represent
the
vapours
four
metals, lead, copper,
or
last
three
details
recall
;
and
fundamental
tin, and
iron.
stances subThese which
mysterious salamander
the
with
live in the fire.
Magic
Many symbols
and
will
out
Formulas.
the formulas and interesting,are found in the ancient manuscripts. of the One oldest is the Mappce Clavicular* containingvery varied material. By the use of a certain figure(not preserved in the manuscript, but probably that distinctive of the metal, lead) you work You wonders. can can make or a well run stop running ; a cup will hold or lose its liquid; a cask will empty itself ; and so on. By its virtue appliedto a lantern and its oil,a phantom will come and enter it again ; soldiers out of the house come
Then
Cardan
comes
in
of
their
descriptionof which a suspended a
"
See
without
camp
p.
the vase
178.
their
concentric will
never
lances.
circles of
upset.
ALCHEMY"
124
In
ITS
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
Greek
manuscript which is very ancient we find the formula of the Scorpion, the Labyrinth of Solomon (a Kabalistic design),an astrological sphere, teachings of Nicephorus on the art of interpreting dreams, the prognostics of the four seasons, magical alphabets, the Philosopher'sEgg. In another ancient chemical treatise, mixed receipts,are tables up with a
calculate
to
for
the
bringing
to
death
or
the
about
wife, another dies
life
of
a
sick man,
separation of insomnia
cause
a
and
his
until
he
man
a
to
formula
a
man
friendship,composed of plants, minerals, and magic letters. Thus closely were astrology, magic, and chemistry uncritically intermingled in the same treatises, and regarded as being reallyconnected. of it, a
Varying
formulas
in *
Psellus
We
of
mingled number
of
with the
as
matter
Greek
the
must
make
magical they practical. But art develops. Michal
that
have
the
adepts
destructions
natural
and by incantations allowance, however,
influenced
not
Element.
Magical
the
definitelyaffirms
transformations are
of
treatises are
decrease
excite
Strength
the
In
philtreto
causes
secret
for the
and and
formulas. fact
that
things which offended the were prevailing sentiment purged out of the old therefore magical element manuscripts. The may have been greater than it appears. Broadly speaking, the Arabians dominated were by a scientific spirit which kept magic in the background. Quotations in the
Middle
Ages
many
"
See
p. 86.
MAGIC
given
in the
ASTROLOGY
AND
historical section
125
will afford
evidence
of
this subordination.* the
Though older
and
of the Ages purged out many acceptable formulas, they eagerly and sought for magic of their own,
Middle
less
developed
new
a
hallowed
means,
unhallowed,
or
to
wills of
the
coerce
and
demons
art an angels. Alchemy became the black magic of the sorcerer hovered between such men Even the white magic of the Church. Basil Arnold of Villeneuve Valentine f and
that and as
took
astrology and magic seriously,and prepared the way for the extravagances of Paracelsus. Arnold, in his of formulas treatise De Sigillisygives a number astically against demons, and Valentine threw himself enthusiinto the cult of Hermetic mysticism. It remained
for Paracelsus the
with
art
"
:
Unless
Cabalists
of the
and
Rosicrucians
the
the
absurdities.
In
commits
himself
Physicorum Paracelsus statement
and
thou of the
De
created
thee
for the
spagyric % art, and
has
not
chosen
thee
for the
Work
An told "
of
extraordinary, but Albertus Magnus
usages
astrologers,God
not
Animated
Tindura
the
has
An
whelm over-
to this drastic
understandest ancient
to
Nature
of Vulcan."
Statue. characteristic his
and
story
is
pupil, Thomas
See p. 29. See
t p. 119. of for the Chemistry X Spagyrism is a Paracelsian synonym of substances. separating and combining the principal constituents of the compounding to It was specially applied by this school and The the ancdysis of metals art included, of course, medicines. the securch for the Philosopher's Stone. .
ALCHEMY"
126
Aquinas. sion he
of
It
succeeded
under
proper
with
immense
animating conjunctions of
it to
and
It
other.
of
useful
most
of
power
speech unduly
became
Aquinas he
remedies,
of
sorts
was
seized
so
irritated
a
hammer him
to
work
such him
reproved no
attempt
no
more
outburst.
fact
could
alchemy
to
it
that
the
then
able
is shown
to
by
his
allowed
;
It
temper
severely
Albertus
at
he
pieces.
to
they
It appears
statue
was
the
tale.
invented
and
lengths
his
which
to
the
flourished. throw
such
idle
reveals
and
go,
it
and
that
imagine
mere
of
the
problem,
rate
any
made it
was
of.
countenance
the
repair
had
he
for the to
ing its chatter-
mathematical
pounded
that
its
!)
untimely garrulity that
mischief,
their
not
and
cannot
evidence
its
by
defect
some
adepts tried all One day while
two
a
proved
influence
vain.
dire
heard
We
The
in
to
itself,and
asserted
but
sorely
owing
planetary
struggling with
was
repented
But
nuisance.
a
duties, domestic
excellentlyand
itself
it
and
speech,
of
faculty
various
(wrong
which,
statue
planets, he had made completed Aquinas
the
servant.
construction
this
With
the
undertake
acquitted
got posses**
of Life.
brazen
a
and
it with
condemned
a
He
toil.
had
master
Elixir
in
together, endowed
itself
of the
portion
some
the
said that
was
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
ITS
overboard distinction
See
p.
34.
is
credence
popular credulity
all belief
black.* "
found
in himself
Aquinas
between
the
Nevertheless
atmosphere
But
lend
would
men
in
the
which was
magic, white
as
and
MAGIC
ASTROLOGY
AND
127
Palliation. That
Philosopher's Stone was always accompanied in greater or less degree by a belief in magic cannot be denied, though, as was before not urged, the place it filled was nearly so shall be said large as is generally thought. What the
this
on
the
in
coimt
the
answering to
quest
question,
thinkers.
alchemists
charlatans
In
inquirersand
honest
were
?
ourselves
confine
must
we
who and
Rogues
the
of
defence
of those
case
the
of
do
merit
not
apologies,in whatever age they may appear. The that the fact outstanding palliation was during the whole development of the art (save for the reaction in the last stage) the pseudo-sciencesof almost astrologyand magic were universallyaccepted without criticism. If alchemy is to be condemned because it did not rise superior to their prestige,it share
must
itself.
This
without have
the
blame
consideration
further
been
which
with
would
call
Christian
the
Why
Church the
meet
to
seems
pleading.
case
prestige should
matter lastingis another The fact special treatment.
great and
so
the
so
for
remains. let
Further,
position in expansion has
this of
altered
our
our
ask
ourselves
regard.
It is true
us
knowledge
outlook, and
that
of nature has
is
what
the and
liberated
us
our
own
enormous
her from
ways the
sway
of many
foolish
fears
and
harmless a imaginings. Magic is now and used by conjurers to amuse in our enlightened Western yet, even
thing "
vain
^the
mystify.
means
And
or
harmful
creations
of men's
AND
SCIENCE
ALCHEMY-ITS
128
ROMANCE
I how
civilisation, the
of not
only
the
educated
to
the of
the
edge
not
who
had
of
who
blazed and
wider
^and
the
track
to
must to
the
for
others
the load
the
adventurous of
destined
first
yielded
ruling keep
of
twentieth
cast
we
that, but
knowledge,
conceptions
off
liberty.
dim
the
No,
right
of
ages
gratitude
a
tion fascina-
thinkers, !
the
Rather
throw
to
the
retains
untrained
won
in
who,
our
which
occult
scientific
yet
thought. of
of
the
pressure
world
truth
minds
and
those
at
stone
hold
"
the
has
century
the
the
and
uncanny on
is
strong
in
their
undulled
"
pioneers
superstitions,
and
enjoy
fuller
to
PART
THE
OBJECTS
III
OF
THE
QUEST
CHAPTER
philosopher's
THE
gained HAVING alchemy,
are
in
now
definite
the shall
first
Elixir
of
aims
and
properties discovered
them.
Wanted
of, and
idea
The
have
preceding and
of
into
gold
?
made
matter" in
from
this
out
the
how the
can
existence
that
there'
of
methods
the
which
were
constructed.
must
be 131
be
the
be
doctrine various
They fundamental
the
effected
alchemists,
all
some
original
metals
baser
the
Given
plain. it
mutation trans-
in
alchemist's
can
earliest
of
expounded
'^^^"_-A?!i-?^-?P*?^-*'?^^philosophical "first
have
to
possibility
sufficiently
The
supposed
Agent.
and
render
how
their
and
in, the
transmutation,
particularly,
the
Stone,
consideration.
explained
They
We^
adepts.
claims
Transmuting
problem
master
the
we
with
quarters
the
Solvent,
materials
belief
been
part.
possibility More
A
of
of
sophical philo-
based,
was
Philosopher's
separate
"
art
closer
to
and
The
will Tiave
employed
the
Universal
history
conceptions,
practices
powers,
the
of
main
come
_the
the
Life,
to
and
consider
idea
which
on
position
a
the
of
other,
STONE
general
a
and
and
I
?
muted transas
we
of
a
stances sub-
argued form
ITS
ALCHEMY"
182
which
substance
of
of
therefore
and
of
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
is
possessed of perfect qualities, to it They gave special virtues. less vague
or
more
connotation
many
names
Grand
Magisterium, the Elixir,the Tincture
Quintessence, and~ others yet more fan^fuE This, they held, when combined the
"
^^the
(theDyer), strange and with
other
them in the powerfully upon ; of the purify and case imperfect metals, it would vivifythem, and change them into the perfectmetal,
bodies~"WOuld
act
1
gold. this
To
of
idea
a
that generally added action was regarded as
which
being
sets a
going here
Its seed
development, and as the genesisof the perfect explanation of the term
to
have
was
of
process
means
necessary
We
metai.
a
transmuting substance of its generating power. being akin to that of a
an
in which egg," used of the fmnace philosophical the fecundation was supposed to be effected, the symbolism of which has been adequately described "
the
above.
Descbiptigns
Early The what
early alchemists had this substance might to find
methods
They even
did
made
not use
it,and
regard of
and
as
organic
blood, hair, egg, and Greek
looked it
Arabian
so
the
of
clear
no
be.
or
They
settled idea used
various
for it in various
places. exclusively mineral, but
bodies
forth.
authors
Agent.
in its
The
preparation majority of the
contented
"
themselves
the fact of transmutation establishingtheoretically without venturing to specify any particular an was agent for effectingit. Geber exception,an4
with
'
PHILOSOPHER'S
THE himself
set
is
work
to
treatise
the
called
Seekers, that it is in
buried
the
in
is found
which
which
is fired
; it is
used
as
"
would
ensure
Another same
water
"
water
grows
on
man
bom
The
which
who
is
It
seeks
O
is found
red
a
peaks Egypt
in
Arab
finds buried
countries
the
an
"Know,
in Andalusia. in the
Here
of
one
Chadjer;
it.
for
brilliant a
liquid
of Persia
of the ; it is
the
;
tains mouna
prince
torment
last of these
descriptionswould the truest, if these mystical phrases are to guides to discovery ; for certainlythey
to be
seem
black
Andalusia
seekers."
of the
the
young
from
coming
be
a
which
stones
which
tree
a
by
make Book
water
of
coimtry
water
it is
a
;
188
of Ostanes.
white
a
and
the Third
Book
soil of India
the
discover
to
it from
descriptionof
a
STONE
the
of the
torment
curious
seekers." of
descriptionsfrom treatise. The master substance is running ^the fire which ^water of eternity ^burningfire yet
more
set
"
thickens
"
earth
^the dead
"
^the hard
"
stone
"
^the soft
^the generous ^the fugitive-*-thefixed rapid ^that which puts to flight ^that which fights against fire ^that which kills by fire ^that which has has been taken killed unjustly been ^that which by ^the precious object ^the object without violence ^the dominant value vile. glory ^the infamy made that the imagination of the author It would seem riot in pilingup oppositionsand antitheses. ran May take his meaning^ to be that the Quintessence is at we and yet potentially devoid of all specific qualities, once stone
^the
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
possesses
them is
all ?
Looked
at
from
this point
of
something Hegelian in the rhapsody* what Or be interpret from again, we may may called the subjectivestandpoint. For instance, the
view, there
ALCHEMY"
184
ITS
uses
and
specificfor
the
other.
it,vile
himself
the
In
had
him
to
it is
case
any
discovered
not
about
it, keenly determined
create
an
us
add
to
it is mercury" that
common
highly
can
the
make
it,and
degree
of
metals
into
this
fire which
has
we
your
needs,
not
name."
been
digestion
perfect than
more
are
is
that
gold
As told
brought
a
of
sort
that
to the
if the
highest
it will
there ^the
"
times
that
of
only change the common into gold. Others advanced
silver, not
agent
as
it
artificial
and
distinction, we
purity,
opinion that the
thousand
a
metal
common
careful
are
metals
of these
inward
natural
as
transmuting agent
of
they
mind,
of
Supplement (says one)
the
and
its virtues
get rid of its superfluous dross."
soon
matured
corollary to
the
merely writing
agent is gold (says another), but
The
as
will
you
"
with
mercury
but
think
not
them.
*
"
is
exalt
gold ;
or
must
we
ordinarily have and
He
to
for
author
the
that
atmosphere of mystery. adepts, of a more positivistturn
Other tell
plain
it.
it ; finite
indeterminate
infinite and
one,
it
knows
gloriousto him who who is ignorant of
Quintessence is dear and and
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
reallytwo Magistry
were
Grand
kinds
different and
the
Little
Magistry ; the former being needed for the production of gold, the latter only capable of ennobling a metal as
far
as
the
stage
are
necessarilyvague
try
to
harmonise
them
silver.
of
and
All
such
statements
illusive,especiallywhen
with
the
^that is to say,
doctrine
that
we
metals
develop continuously from stage to stage. Nevertheless we recognise throughout the influence of philosophical presuppositions which supply basis for even the most rational a rhapsodical and grow
"
mystical
of these
speculations.
PHILOSOPHER'S
THE
of the
famous
most
substance
heard
of in the
must
not
be
"
^the
giv^n to the Philosopher'sStone
muting trans-
names
is first
"
twelfth century.
taken
135
Stone,
The
The
STONE
The
''
word
in its strict sense,
but
Stone/^
rather
as "
"
abstract substratum term equivalentto the more underlies and ^the something which supports. It was powder, liquid,solid applied to any substance ^that was supposed to have the magisterialpower of "
"
"
transmuting.
The
of
emergence
this
definite
name
implies that purely theoretical descriptions were practicalattempts to define the giving place to more worker. and propertiesof the much-sought-for wondernature oldest
the
Zosimus,
author
extant
on
alchemy, keeps to the early stylein his descriptionof it. In speaking of the Philosopher'sStone, receive this stone which is not a stone, a preciousthing which has no has no value, a thing of many shapes which which is known of all." And shapes, this unknown again, Its kind is one, its species multiple. All "
"
from
comes
is
the
the
One, and
Mithriatic
all returns
the
Stone
has been
seen
mentions
it under
presents it
the as
a
Here .
with
.
.
this
thetical anti-
that
assurances
express
handled.
6t
usually described
it.
incommunicable
contrast
and
Descriptions
It is
the
mystery,
mystery." But in strong have rigmarole,we
to
Stone.
the
a
as
red
name
"of Carbunculus.
solid
body -
LuUy
powder.
of the
celsus Para-
colour
-
j^
of
a
ALCHEMY"
186
SCIENCE
ITS
ruby, transparent, flexible,and like
glass.
handled
Helmont
Van
the
Stone.
it
nevertheless "
writes
It had
ROMANCE
AND
I have
:
the
colour
breaking and
seen
in
of saffron
heavy, and brilliant as glass broken into bits." it in the saw Berigard de Pisa, who transmutation which unknown an adept effected for him, is very precise,tellingus it is the colour of a Helvetius and smelling like burnt sea-salt.* poppy gives it the colour of sulphur. In short, the descripdiverse tions One are as as nimierous. they are to be author, Kalid, is determined comprehensive, powder
and
;
was
reconcile
to
contradictions.
in itself all the
unites
stone
the
colours,
He
f
the
says
It would
seem
such
specificexperiences as these, the and Stone should have been a real object with known such proved properties. And yet, after all, no that, after
substance As
this from
The
:
or
will be, known
ever
longer descriptions we
Philalethes
"
Ruby
of
specimen
a
been,
has
ever
in his
Guide
Brief
Philosopher's Stone
I
take
may
to the Celestial
is a certain
heavenly,
fixed substance, which spiritual,penetrative, and brings all metals to the perfectionof gold or silver (according to the quality of the medicine), and that
by
methods, which
natural
Nature. .
because
it is like
its fixed
of
Know
.
.
piu*e than *
**
tnarinum
f
Colore
then a
the non
adustum
any
In
stone.
it is
;
al^similis flore
stone, not
a
only because, by the
it resists
purest
action
species it
fixe4
and
of
is
virtue fire
as
gold, more
incombustible
papaveris sylvestris,odore
vero
sal
referentis."
*/ Lapis iste habet
rubicundissimus, by Figuier, from
it is called
that
stone, but
nature,
successfullyas
yet in their effects transcend
in
se
omnes
colores.
Est
enim
albus, rubens,
citrinus, citrissimus, celestinus, viridis." whom
most
of the
above
references
are
Quoted
derived.
THE
PHILOSOPHER'S
like
a
fine
powder,
stone, but
STONE
its appearance
137
is that
of
a
very
impalpable to the touch, sweet to the taste, fragrant to the smell, in potency a most trative peneand spirit,apparently dry, and yet unctuous, If we easilycapable of tinging a plate of metal. it would be no is spiritual, more say that its nature than the truth ; if we described it as corporeal, the find in this We expression would be equally correct." curious a blending of the old antithetical passage the with details which author mystical statements "
had
somehow
the
world
described
other
persuaded
material
facts.
or
of is
as
unreal
as
the
It is difficult to guess what of adepts who could be thus
Measure
of
himself Yet
"
.
belonged
the
to
substance
mysticism is impalpable. was actuallyin the minds circumstantial.
Potency.
did, that the Stone Assuming, as these alchemists actuallyexisted, and that it possessedthe transmuting attributed to it, a question naturally arose as power to
the
metal
of
extent
could of the
be
How
its potency.
changed
into
?
wonder-worker
gold by We
much any
given
tity quan-
the
last of
how
saw
common
English adepts. Dr. Price, sheltered himself from being put to the test by declaring that his stock of had that it the transmuting material run out, and would require a long time to prepare more. Clearly, our
then, in the latest stages of the modest not regard were sphere of scientific experience. so. Figuier provides us with
this
"
art the
claims
too
remote
But
it was
a
beautiful
made from
not
in the
always
crescendo.
ALCHEMY"
188 He
tells
declared
that
times
its
own
times
;
the
weight the
Isaac
not
He
held
change mercury give to the gold thus rdle of that
which
is not
quite
beside
think.
For
the
the
Stone
would
be
could
be
if, as
fulfilled of
in
as
"
objection,of
course,
because
that
final the
he
step, and
Stone
was
was
at
this
would
gold.
A
than
virtue
of
also
playing
This
it.
the
view to
of
conditions
necessary of
case
continued
the
theories, by the
"
the
Stone
could
not
be
a
exist.
the
ocean,
that
the
were
took
alchemist, Salmon, transmuting
power
it the of
Powers.
expected that an agent of sucli should be thought capable of doing be
transmuting
simple extension "
it could
infinite.
only to
more
t!ie
ferment, its effects
a
transmute
asserted
mystic potency much
could
Lully, however, claimed boldly exconclusion, and
not
Healing It
of
the
is that
Another
mercury.*
mond Ray-
again in solvingproblems physics !) The really fatal
it did
arrived
not
times.
into fashion
biology and
had
thousand
as
(" Ferment
yeast.
a
Figuier seems supposed, the action
nature
of advanced
ferment
mark
often
was
but
converted
the
hundred
only
not
the
unending provided
coming
are
had
a
this last estimate,
gold,
formed
of the
was
production way,
so
million
that
into
Stone
said
with
content
was.
convert
a
Villeneuve
de
Bacon
Roger
;
Dutchman,
was
it
as
generous
could
pretensions
the
Ages
Amauld
Stone
ROMANCE
AND
Middle
ambitious.
more
Lully
SCIENCE
in the
that
us
far
were
ITS
"Mare
tingerem
of
metals
common
this
si mercurius
most esset."
into
prominent
THE virtue
PHILOSOPHER'S that
the
precious stones,
such
was
trees.
wider
in the Middle
Wealth
health. belief
universal
We
of life. elements Matter
artificially, A pearls,rubies.
it could
which
And that
it
the
here
in
touch
We
*'
held
was
to
dead
new
and
a
flourished
exceedingly stages of the art. longing ^but so "
be
to
came
could
Stone
upon
alchemy.
revive
naturally to
us
bodily ills,and
for
panacea
that
139
make,
Ages, and in the later an object of anxious
was was
could
diamonds,
as
of notions
range
also
Stone
singular claim was And this brings
more
STONE
could one
be, in its
be
used
extend
the
of the
recall how
almost
an
a
term
philosophical
that
essence,
as
the the
'*
First
soul
of
^the
spiritconstitutingthe ultimate reality and existences in nature, including of all substances Small wonder, then, that the Philosopher's man. Stone, so akin to this spirit,if not the spirititself, with life-giving should virtues. to be credited come Boerhaave has suggested a further explanation of of this development. Geber, the Arabian, in one his works, speaks thus : Bring me six lepersthat I He means, heal them." Bring me six common may them into gold." Now transmute metals that I may of chemistry suspects that the the judicioushistorian had its origin in a misunderstan idea of a universal medicine of these words. They were interpreted this may However be, the healingpower thus literally. for the Stone. It attributed opened out a wider career
the
world
"
"
"
first receives
notice
and
in the thirteenth
fifteenth
centuries, it
century.
In the
gravely prescribed the of sovereign efficacy ^taken interiorly, as Let Denis Zachary set most preciousof all medicines. To use our of its u^e ; forth the mamier grand king
fourteenth
"
"
was
ITS
ALCHEMY"
140
SCIENCE
(the Stone) for the recovery to take a grain-weight and with
vessel the
colour
of
white
malady
is
a
month
to
dissolve
let the
it in
turn
to
drink
patient in
a
day
a
if
if the
malady is a year days ; if the malady
in twelve
longer standing, he
silver
a
it will
he will be healed old ;
old, he will be healed is of
health, it is necessary
Then
citron.
ROMANCE
of
wine, which
midnight, and
little after his
good
AND
will be
in
healed
a
month
by using it each night as above prescribed. And to it to take keep always in good faith, it is necessary and the beginning of at the beginning of the autumn of a syrup. And by this spring after the manner will live always in perfect health to the man means shall have granted him, the end of the days that God the philosophershave written." as the end the last clause of the days Note "to shall have This is modest. that God granted him." doubt And faith in the remedy would no go far to Isaac of Holland and Basil justifythe statement. the same Valentine say pretty much thingsas Zachary, with But others not were subsidiary variations. so cautious. Artephius, for instance, put the limit of "
life,thus
human
adepts brought the
fortified,at in
as
a
evidence
Patriarchs, assigning as
Stone.
As
especiallya children
mentioned
in his old
Mental But
medical
the
in
an
in this
favourite
thousand the a
Other
years.
prolonged lives
cause
the
of
use
early chapter, Noah regard because
he
of
the was
begat
age.
and
keener
properties.
Moral
Properties.
spiritsdemanded If the Stone
was
more
than
the
akin essentially
\
to
the
soul
virtues. as
as
it must
world,
of the
It must
well
STONE
PHILOSOPHER'S
THE
have
his body.
on
The
still
possess
influence
an
141
higher
man's
on
fortunate
mind could
user
understanding, heightening of all his faculties, strengthening of his As it moral nature, acquisitionof positive virtues. wisdom,
secure
ennobled
the
of
enlightenment
metals,
Salmon
higher plane. happy enough to
have
however
and
a
wicked
whole
it lifted the
so
''
writes
:
are
treasure,
rare
have
may
to
on
who
Those
this
possessionof vicious they
man
been,
and become good people ; changed in their manners that no so longer deeming anything on earth worthy of their affection,and having nothing to desire in this world, they sigh for nothing but God and for eternal The writes : Philosopher's happiness." Norton in his needs ; it rids man Stone brings to each succour of fear ; it takes of vain glory, of hope and away are
"
ambition, violence, and the
saints
adepts of our art." concluding sentences
introduce
to
shall be
treated
have
gone,
much
that
search
for
us
we
further
a
of in the may
appears the
worthy that
Granted the
place
of
"
His
among
of
set
speculations which
to
us
So
chapter.
next
quotations
two
far
as
we
that, in spite of
eccentric
absurd,
or
the
Philosopher's Stone presents aspects admiration. our approval, if not our
the
^there
in these
fairly conclude
desire
dominating motive,
motive
will
the
The
well
God
adversities.
hardest
of desires ; it sweetens
excess
were
cases
for wealth it
by
was
not
a
was
no
few
in most means
where
it
cases
the
only
was
the
The noble sort of adepts aimed subsidiary motive. at satisfyingman's intellectual,moral, and religious aspirations. One of this nobler sort exclaims, in the
ALCHEMY"
142
spirit to
Moses
of
SCIENCE
ITS
God
or
all
men
of
a
might
ROMANCE
AND
Christian become
Would
"
Apostle
"
in
adepts
art
our
;
...
for lose
then its
scientific
gold, value,
the and
teaching."
idol
common
we
should
of
prize
mankind, it
only
would for
its
CHAPTER
STONE
THE
aimed
be
may
us
broadly the
During
mind
find
is
It
to
bridle.
him
allows the
he
looses
it
an
ordinary
has
bridle.
deals
from
its
bonds "
bonds he
^so
it
makes
completely 143
the has
it
a
to
blows.
that
Stone
:
and He
it
it
poor
desired
stratagem and
of
saddle
conquers
grievous
and
of
"
vein
succeed.
clever
Then
he
on
far
allegories
man
cannot
solid
which
creature
put
more
in
treatises,
example,
description
and a
it
keep
and
with
tries
trying
to to
saddle
whip,
he
Vainly reduced
then
and
it
matters
for
A
crete. con-
call
decided
a
forest.
a
should
^fanciful
"
"
this
in
mount
a
fact
the
Arabian
of OstaneSy
with
reared
lion
it for
use
Book
is credited a
of
abstract
to
contain
statements
the
In
mystery.
that
prominent.
close
the
what
aspects.
itself to
we
in
"
not
lend
keep
to
and
concerning
were
easily
not
world
the
obscure
purposely
"
these
passages
from
Aristotle
period,
Philosopher's
mystical
terminology,
many
removed
"
objects
properties
detail
its
the
the
for
further
prefers
of
supposed
Nevertheless
positivist."
view
called
modem
In
we
search
does
but
speculations,
**
the
its
Arabian
Semitic
The
general
into
go
MYSTICISM
a
considered
let
powers,
in
at
and
Stone,
AND
taken
HAVING
II
march one
is
which
put
on
with
a
Later
like would
it has
affirm
What
fire.
is the
O
you,
say
"
is this the
are
ROMANCE
singleday.'*
a
savage
comment
bonds
the
lion ;
AND
SCIENCE
been
never
author's
Arabian the
ITS
ALCHEMY"
144
The
:
The is
stone
preparations; the whip seeker (he triimiphantly "
The readers of descriptionso close ? with not treatises are these a always favoured key with the key, things are ! Even to these a allegories But little vague. we gain a good idea of the anthropomorphising, emotional, and mystical spiritin which the alchemist Nature, for prosecuted his researches. the alive; and him, was properties of substances were regarded as beings with wills which had to be
asks), to
a
subjugated. The following manifests The "
O
of
troop
of
If he
clearlythis characteristic the search apostrophises the seekers, take slay me. me, burn
slain me, him
enrich
shall endure
me
me
have
night, even
me completely and enchains still alive). O marvel (I am ? ill-treatment I bear By
I
until
and
then
done
to
with
watered
am
I my
shall
no
slain
in !
poison longer know
Then,
all revive, burnt
if he
sublimes
absolute
me.
If I me
fashion,
being alive,can
How,
a
seekers.
alive.
I
an
heaven
and
attitude.
am
fire,then
with
it all the
for I will after
;
shall
who
near
comes
treatise
same
more
object
having and
yet
the
from
passage
! which what
I will
bear
it
will kill me, the
fire has
body."
with a collection brought allegories of A Brief Guide to the Celestial the author the art was when treatise written entering a Ruby its decadence. (The Essence) is our door-keeper, on may-dew, mother, balm, our honey, our oil our true fire,venomous dragon. egg, secret furnace, oven,
Compare togetherby
these
"
"
.
.
.
Theriac, ardent Goose
our
Mineral,
magic
vessel, and
secret
which
any
Cion, Bird
wine, Green
Hermogenes, two-edged sword of Cherub that guards the Tree
true
our
in
145
of
of the is
MYSTICISM
AND
STONE
THE
our
rod
of
and
...
is
It
sets.
likes."
We
Sages Royal
our
that
how
note
It
Life.
triumphant vegetable Satumia, he of which Hermes by means
he
shape
rises
sun
hand
in the
of the
Garden
the
Hermes,
of
and
the
assiunes
the
old
simple intensity has degenerated into a wayward, author almost artificial,play of imagination. The flogshimself into mystical contortions ; and, save for minds to his own, lamentably similarlyconstituted Rosifails in producing the effect he aims The at. crucians earned this development to such a height of by its own absurdity that the system toppled over weight.
Religion the
Between
Arabian
Middle
period
and
the
decadence
Ages ^the times in which mysticism took of its a highly peculiar form, as a consequence to fit in with a specialset of theological being moulded ideas and standards. It was taught, by many by God adepts, that the Stone was given to Adam came
the
Alchemy.
and
Himself
"
that
;
Patriarchs,
the
;
promised
in
and the
overcometh."
Book
That
incorporate their
promulgated by very
bold
that
"
:
it of
is to
doctrines
the Church.
Know,
it
was
other
and
Solomon,
personages
of
secret
is
"
the
Revelation
known Old
say,
alchemists
into
the
Arnold
then, my
dear
Testament
white "to
body
the
to
stone
him
that
tried of
to
beliefs
of Villeneuve son,
'*
that
is
this
ITS
ALCHEMY"
146
science
is
SCIENCE
less than
nothing
ROMANCE
AND
the
perfectinspirationof
God,"
alchemy with religionwas, as has in earlier chapters,in itself no been shown new thing. : Geber, for example, exclaims Courage, then, sons shall infallibly find this of science. Seek, and you is reserved which for you excellent gift of God most alone." The connection, however, is comparatively in the sense that simple; and, indeed, superficial, not mingled with science, except as religion was in the Middle inspiring and guiding it. Whereas ideas were Ages, little by littlethe prevailingreligious alliance of
The
"
practice.
and
very
illustrate the extent
To
and
Christian
Dear
in
Stone
brilliant
a
is
the Father
God
the
under same
form
such
as
and
a
as
man,
a
man
and
God, and
but
He
died
without
brethren;
them,
and
He
voluntarily,and
eternallywith Him Thus sin. gold is without able to undergo all tests ;
them
For
appeared, however, in Genesis
is at the
sin.
live
renders
Philosopher's manner!
is told
Christ, the Son, Who
Jesus
delivers
He
art, oh I
in
;
ought to regard the Philosopher's the Father is body spirit. Of God
bom
sick
the
marvellous
Spirit,and
a
of
created
blessed
we
way
Mercury
;
of the
amateur
Holy Trinity has
the
how
and
which
to
"
"
us
doctrine
develop, take the following passage Basil Valentine's Allegory of the Holy Trinity the Philosopher'sStone :
from
die
of alchemical
texture
could
alliance
the
the
into
worked
rose
His
as
had
time
same no
again
brethren
need to
to
make
without
stain, fixed, glorious,and but
and colours
perfectin the
it dies for its
soon,
them state
imperfect rising glorious, it
for
life eternal
of pure
gold."
;
it
In
judging
careful
to
author.
'AND
STONE
THE
such
MYSTICISM
statement
a
ourselves
put
this, we
as
the
at
147 be
must
of
standpoint
its
the first
In
remember place, we must that, for him, "the in its essence, perfect metal" was, the soul of the world, the Spirit that underlies all modes of existence. of the earnest Again, the more wont to adepts, especiallyin religioushouses, were their operations with enter on thus giving prayer, them a definitely religious atmosphere and significance. We realise,therefore,that the object of so many can of so much hopes and vows, mystical exaltation, should be regarded as to come sacred and divine. doctrines certain Attempts to read into alchemical
fundamentals natural
of Christian
thus
are
We
in
saw,
soul
and
resurrection.
itself to
of
This
analogies with
71st
on
Metals.
of
to
notions
of their
death
line of
speculationeasilylent find We religiousdoctrines.
even
in the
section
of that
connection
in the
led
ditions, con-
philosophicalbasis of between the body and
distinctions
metals
the
of
be
the
dealing with
that
alchemy,
Resuriiection
and
to
seen
products of a peculiar combination and we judge them accordingly.
Death
the
belief
Arabian named
treatises. The
Thus,
Book
of Pity (ofmetals), 9
we
read
as
follows
"
:
The
souls and
bodies
become to a they unite and are transformed be divided, have homogeneous whole which cannot been compared to the dead which God will raise on Souls the day of the last judgment. are joined to
when
subtilised
bodies
which
will
never
more
die, and
that
ALCHEMY"
148
SCIENCE
ITS
AND
ROMANCE
because
light spiritsare joined to bodies equally light. Moreover, their place will be fixed, either in eternal will an happiness which endlessly renew which will increase them, or in a grievous chastisement without ceasing. Alter this, the spiritswill be no in this more separated from the bodies, as they were world, where spirits are simply in contact with bodies, It without them. with being intimately combined is this contact of neighbourhood that, in the current mixture.' speech, is called "
'
This to
the
death
the
unexpected It
Luther. this
to
score
stage when of
told
of
Ages.
that
it
notion
It
was
it
men's
was
advanced
was
assumed bodies
by
would
became
men
some
is
the
Grand
and
which
art,
and
enthusiastic
to
yet higher
a
that
change, a transmutation Thus order. whole-heartedly did strive to give their art a universal bearing. The
curious
the
tion resurrec-
itself be,
alchemical
"^
quite
highly pleasing to
gained his support for he praised in strong
The
terms.
be
Middle
of metals
transmutation
resurrection
and
in
common
on
of the
assimilation
an literally, of a superior
the and
alchemists cosmical
Secret.
in no art maintained pursuit of the Hermetic small by the jealous degree its mystical character sopher's of the Philoit guarded the secret with which care had its origin in the This Stone. secrecy receipts for making Egyptian workshops, where The
alloysand down
who
from
handed the precious metals were falsifying generation to generation of the operators, close of generallypriestsand so members '*
were
THE
STONE
corporations." of which
date
Hide
this
back
disclosed The
sacred
to
would
warning
caution that
and
149
ought
given be
to
tents con-
century, gives adds, gold," and
which
nor
the
tenth
"excellent
seem
alchemic
it had
the
to
secret
one,
any
MYSTICISM
early manuscript,
very
receipt for making
a "
A
AND
to a
mysticism.
any
not
to
be
prophet." *
mixture
of
Berthelot
trade
shows
have several Egyptian origin. We times that even the ordinary working of metals seen of the was thought to savour commonly natural. supertherefore It was that be the to expected metal excellence would art par gradually be invested with a mystic halo. A remarkable of Byzantine passage duces origin,dating back to the eighth century, introGnostic element. The a philosophers,being of Mary, said to gathered together in the presence her : Happy art thou, Mary, for the divine secret has been revealed to thee.' f We here have a germ which thought from developments might be many the Secret Stone is frequently anticipated. The term an
"
'
"
"
and
in these
with
met
by
even
"
ancient
itself contains
alchemical a
world
ments, docuof
ficance. signi-
given to alchemical operations is expressly recognised in one of the Leyden Aristotle. to manuscripts in a treatise attributed This art speaks of occult philosophy. To succeed in it there must be a knowledge of interior and hidden The
occult
turn
thus
"
natures." works
% which
*
MappcB
In
the
were
seventeenth
definitelyentitled
Chimie
The
there Book
14.
Clavicula, Section
t See Berthelot, La t Op.cit.,^. 312.
century
au
Moyen
6ge, vol. i, p. 243.
were
of
ALCHEMY"
150
Secrets.
How
elements
need
been
said
another
shall
in
puts
out
who
one
This
is
words,
made
truth
another,
one
another,
one
and
and
have
loves
for
God,"
These
men
have
the
point
of the
at
"
"
.
;
another,
.
.
.
the
sword, and
species for this
That of
have
the
the
secret
for
sense
one
one
another.*
defended
etc.
changed the language
misrepresentation of the teaching Ostanes is proved by this passage from "
(Ostanes)
He
to alter his books
substituted
for
passage
vision
"
prescribesthat his words known He to the vulgar. in order that be they may it be to a worthy person, or
philosophers have
why
their
in
the
seeks
from
quotation
:
in
were
and
one
unless
none,
in this
shall dare
terrible oaths to
has
after what
sketch.
manuscripts
one
every wise be
no
revealed
no
described
the early alchemists
Leyden
that
developed the occult
is shown
secrets
of the
commands
historical
in earnest
these
commands
further
be
ROMANCE
AND
Rosicrucians
not
much
guarding
he
the
in the
How
SCIENCE
ITS
*
is
Book
no
of
book
itself
of the
Stone
abstained
:
from
given it a name the crowd under which know.it. They have may disguisedit under the veil of enigmas, so that it has escaped even penetrating spirits,and so that the able to comhave not been most prehend livelyintelligences it, and hearts and souls have despaired of knowing its description. There are only those whose understanding God has opened who have understood giving it
a
name,
been
or
at
any
rate
able to make
it and
have
these
obscurantists
succeeded
have
it known.** in
their
How
well
endeavours
abundantly proved in a later chapter when we the interpretationof their formulas to consider
will be come *
Berthelot, JLa Chimie
au
Moyen
dge, vol. iii"pp. 326-7.
THE and
receipts! Their difficult as it might secret
no
hide
to
conceal
the fact
was
There
appear. rate
any Philosopher'sStone.
the
151
task, however,
at
"
MYSTICISM
AND
STONE
What
of their
failure
to
see we object. Nevertheless revelled in the sphere of the mystical and
the
of
\
Characters has
Putting together what precedingchapter,we
points.
\
Chief
the
The
ancient
whole
are
doctrines
/
and
the life that
/
the
known
said
been
really to
attain
their
how
they
the occult.
in this
founded
concerning
instrument led to be
an
looked
for
on
virtues
occult
"
provided
the
First
Matter
as
It
faculties, ennoble
of its
a
area
universal
could the
"
of action. panacea
"
composing
attributed
effectingtransmutation
extension
and
basis
all the substances
pervades
The
"
a
on
world.
gold.
Stone.
the
They can thus claim to rational. The primary object of the art acquisitionof wealth by transmuting common into
making
emphasise the following may series of notions concerning the
Philosopher'sStone
1 by
of
so
reality,
for
had
they
supreme
Summary
in
was,
secret
no
not
was
be
so
the
was
metals to
^the Stone It
far
came
for human
the "
to
perfectio im-
give health, heighten the character, prolong life. It
could
into touch with the soul of the world, bring men and with thereby enable them to hold communion spiritualbeings and live on a higher plane of being. Its modes of working could be compared to, or connected with, the mysteries of the Christian religion. indeed These were adequate grounds for naming it the Grand of Magisterium, and for holding the means procuring it to be the Grand Secret. L
III
CHAPTER
has
trated chieflybeen concenbeliefs,aims, and practicesof
attention
HITHERTO
the
on
honest, though
often
undignified
undefinable
which
and
should
IMPOSTURE
AND
CREDULITY
substance,
fulfil their
large
that
for
searchers
deluded,
essence,
or
comprehensive
and
has been to hopes. There no attempt, however, disguisethe fact that the art has been continuously turned into follyby credulity, debased by superstition, and degraded by impostors. Let a chapter be devoted to this shady side of our then can subject. We
enter, without
follies, on
further
the
Jonson "
He
Secret
the Flower
once
The
perfectruby
Can
confer
Give To
whioh
we
speak
of the
thus
:
Sun,
call Elixir,
"
.
.
honour, love, respect, long life,
safety,valour, yea, and victory, he wilL bi eight-and-twenty days
whoim
I'llmake
Here
has
Elixir.
his alchemist
makes
that
and
aberrations
of
of its scientific aspects.
study
The Ben
mention
is the
help knowing
an
old
language that
of fourscore
man
of
a
child."
charlatan, who
his claims 162
a
were
vain
could and
not
foolish.
So,
with
too,
Scott's
Donsterswivel's
the
In
of such
make
we
a
case
is strange, form
elements
humid
and
cold
humid, then with the
gives directions that
away
which
corporeal and material to mingle itself with the
it is subtle
portionsunless
subtle
Take
able
be
But
are.
its
away
.
.
for it will not
;
the
take .
we
in
this ?
as
writer
"
concocting the Elixir.
for
where
the
of Geber,
Book
168
rhodomontades
know
We
Aniiquary. do
what
IMPOSTURE
AND
CREDULITY
itself.
.
"
first with
at
Combine
.
the
warm
and
dry, and you will the Imam have (the Elixir). Keep it in a vase in gold or in silver,as glass may of rock-crystal, be and
warm
"
be
speaking
Reward
done.
the
on
of
best
the claim
Yet
them.
piety
the
Did
sincere.
the
of
to
of
the
period
will repay
doubt, his of
the
case
alchemic
we
might art.
and
make
you is my
anything
it?"
or
seemingly
long
to
grant him be
he
was
of that of
a
strange
and
believe the
paralleledin Before
of
is clear, and
sentences
mean
If
tribute Dis-
gratuitously
succeeded
concluding
facts.
are
modem
puzzling. The given are so vague
Perhaps he is a member class of people who, in consequence at last come willing and reflecting, their fancies
"I
plain
prayers.
?
charlatan
fuses con-
very
are
have
writer
or
name
could
one
no
ancient
suffices me,
directions
symbolicalthat
and
the
the
made
God
is
may
which
have
your
in my
protectors." This
in which
terms
no
Who
It is He
behalf.
my
I
you,
miserable.
the
and
poor
Elixir
writer
proceeds thus:
with
me
of the
part
a
to
he
that
way
a
the
of mind
frame
fancy. But nothing from
in all difficulties,
"
suppose
mixed
in that
hidden
has
may
we
with
fact have
far
Thus
broken."
"
hard that
benefit every
indulging
in
154
ALCHEMY"
condemnations, for
the
SCIENCE
ITS
influences
make
must
we
of
ANt"
ROMANCE allowance
generous
environment
the
and
vagaries
of temperament.
The Van
Helmont's
belief
in
the
discovery
Solvent, called by Paracelsus
Universal affords
Alkahest.
the
of
the
Alkahest,
another
of over-credulity. striking instance took up the idea that this solvent He enthusiastically kind a liquidform, and could give to bodies of every that he gravely retails all the absurdities in his works had charlatans promulgated concerning its powers. This treasure, he tells us, was committed to him by able not adept. Unfortunately he was he assures in the most gorical cateto keep it long ; but us fashion, that he had actuallyproved its efficacy. oak charcoal and alkahest, in "'Having put some equal parts, into a glass vessel sealed hermetically,I caused this mixture to digest for a period of three At the end of this time days at the heat of a bath. all is behind the solution was completed," etc. What this ? Certainly not the Alkahest I And yet Van his Helmont honest. was Perhaps we may compare who have savants experienceto that of certain modem which borne were testimony to occult phenomena shown afterwards to be due to trickery. have this may However been. Alkahest, in the an
unknown
seventeenth
century, and
for
a
considerable
part of the
Boerhaave eighteenth,had a considerable vogue. says that a librarycould be formed of the treatises written that about it. Many boasted they had discovered there is no tellinghow it. And it, or obtained long it
CREDULITY
might critic solvent
156
reputation,had
not
pointed out the simple reflection that reallyexisted, it could not be stored or
contained
the
dissolve
it would
for
its
maintamed
have
not
IMPOSTURE
AND
vessels
in
which
a
if the used
it
;
was
!
Rejuvenation.
Johnson's
Ben
Masque, Mercury Vindicated They will from the Alchemists^ Mercury loquitur: it might be the mother calcine you a grave as matron, of the maids, and spring up a young virgin out of old fresh as a phoenix; lay you her ashes, as an the coals, like a sausage courtier or on bloat-herring, and, after they have boiled him enough, blow a soul This is hardly a into him with a pair of bellows." travesty of what had been popularly believed of the certain of the greater adepts ; nor of were powers slack in stimulating such these adepts themselves delusions. Artephius, for example, who lived early In
"
in the famous
name,
treatise in
by
on
the
art
thousand
the
Many
made century, and who affirmed that, when
twelfth
the
prolonging human and twenty-fifth year
skill with
which
what
happened
had
he
of
accepted his statement, he
and
him
life,he of
a
his
wrote
was
his
age.
confirmed
were
answered to
himself
for
cerning questions con-
at
various
times
in which
such
in this
prolonged span. have a glimpse of the We be suggested, and ideas may of Alain
de
contemporary friar of the
Lisle. with
abbey
He
was
Albertus of
manner
take
a
root, in the of great
man
Magnus,
Citeaux.
He
and
died
story
learning, became
in
1298
a
at
ITS
ALCHEMY"
156
the
about
a
was
reputed
severe
medicine. or
know.
he
to
have
AND
and in
was
ten
his
he
which
illness,from
had
was
hundred
a
when
that
happened
recovery
of
age
SCIENCE
discovered
the
ROMANCE it
Now
years.
fiftieth year,
he
recovered. Elixir
He
and
;
the
straightway attributed to this marvellous far the sage acquiesced in this conHow clusion, far he do how not encouraged it, we
But
at
least
trace, in this
can
we
instance,
ground of the fallacy.* Akin that of palinto the rejuvenation idea was genesis ^the art of making plants spring afresh from their ashes. Figuier suggests t that this probably its origin in a natural had the phenomenon. When of certain ashes plants are dissolved in water, the solution, left to itself,depositscrystalsof which some originand
the
"
the
take
may
readilyaccept
form the
of
arborescence.
an
suggestion.
it does
But
We not
may excuse
and impostures that in the seventeenth into the eighteenthcenturies, were based the on upon the Indian experience. It is not inappositeto compare
the bare-faced
of the
trick
mango-tree,
if the
plant produced by
the
alchemist
at all speedy in its growth. conjurors were If the development were slow, by sprouting from seed, the trick becomes absurdly easy.
False We
I
Popular
have
that
seen
of the
work
metal *
have
Transmutations.
taken
the
alchemy had its origin in the 55ti3r^fhat Egyptians, andhave
two
Delueions, in which
racilytold. t UAlchimie,
p. 66.
stories the
from
lives
of
Mackay's the
chief
Extraordinary alchemists
are
CREDULITY the
gold
were
times.
false
of
uttering
common
The
rise and
of transmutation for
AND
frauds
gave
which
IMPOSTURE
157
coinage and the debasing of ancient practices dating from development of a distinct art peculiarlyfavourable openings
would
in any
flourished
have
case
full of lustily.The story of alchemy is, of course, impostures of this kind. new Moreover, there was a had proalchemist an spur to deception. For when fessed to be able to make gold, and was put to the test by some scientific,he was or authority,political in his it. Chaucer, tempted to pretend to make
CanorCs
date, tale
YeomarCs the
gained
worth
a
gives of mediaeval alchemists false.
and
The
how,
us
in
even
his
reputation. The careful reading for the picture it
had
art
is well
Tale, shows
bad
their methods,
and the
false is to
The
fore.
true
impostor
canon **
Out
of his bosom
In whioh And An
ful
took
a
subtillywas
beechen maad
cole. an
hole.
therein pot was of silver lymale and stopped was withonte f ayle ance"
This hole with
wez,
to
kepe the lymailin."
silver slipped into the croslet in which the quickis heated. The nothing of priest knows poor that the trick being played upon him, and concludes of the powder the silver is the result of the action the quicksilver. Chaucer's on indignationis hot : This
is
Ever For
when shame
I
speke of
of him
my
his falshede, cheekes
wezen
reede.'
principleto this of the false Canon were though requiring more conmion, very in a careful preparation. The gold might be found Methods
similar
in
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
1.58
ROMANCE
AND
large iron nails had been fused ; but the nails had been bination partly made of gold, and the commight be skilfullydisguised. Or chemicals the metal in unrecognisable employed which contained crucible
in which
forms.
Double-bottomed
of
or
iron
the
copper,
gold packed
in
between
;
originalmetal
the
The the
credulity on the
when the
one,
lure of and
holes
the ;
of knaves
resources
of
upper
lead, gold inserted, and with
are
coloured drilled
and
endless
So possessed by the other. it is still. Alchemy so enjoys regard.
and
this
Dyer
and
"
it no
with
lumps
of
again
devices.
like as
is also
peculiarly so the
little of calmer
be
may
in
inexhaustible,
they impose gain puts an edge on what
wax,
filled up
opening
which
blunts
surface
crucibles, the under
ever
cunning
of
judgment has
been,
monopoly
in
Kelley.
in his amusing dialogue is recounted by Bacon and Old (262), which gives a lively Apothegms New credulityand criticism. pictureof the conflict between Sir Edward Dyer, a grave and wise gentleman, believe in Kelley the alchymist ; that did much he the work, and made did indeed he as gold : insomuch himself into Germany, where went Kelley then was, himself his return After to inform he fullythereof. dined Lord of Canterbury, where with at that my time was the physician. They at the table Dr. Browne, fell in talk of Kelley. Sir Edward Dyer, turning to the Archbishop, said : / do assure your grace^ that that I shall tell you is truth. I am an eye-witnessthereof^ and if I had not seen it, I should not have believed it. An
"
I
Master
saw
crucible^ and
IMPOSTURE
AND
CREDULITY
Kelley pvi of afterit was set a
the
base
159
into
metal
little upon
the
fire^and
the
qiumtityof the medicine pvi in and stirred with a stick of woody it came forth in great proportion perfectgoldj to the touchy to the hammer^ to the test. had need take heed what Said the Bishop : You you at the board. Dyery for here is an infidel sayy Sir Edward Sir Edward Dyer said again pleasantly: / would have in any place than at your looked for an infidelsooner a
small
very
Grace*
s
Bishop.
table. Dr.
What
say
Browne
Dr.
yoUy
answered,
Browne after
? his
saith blunt
the and
The Gentleman hath spoken enough huddling manner, Why (saiththe Bishop), what hath he said ? for me. Marry (saith Dr. Browne), he said he would not have
believed it except he had
Alchemy The
fraudulent
seen
and
it ;
and
no
more
will I."
Spiritualism.
exploitation of alchemy
all stages of its
was
so
historythat it has preponderant the coloured of its popular estimate We value. perhaps draw a profitableparallel may the old art and modem between spiritualism. Upholders of the with possibilityof commimication faced with discamate the spirits,when they are mediums, acknowledged frauds of many protest that should such not cases against prejudice our minds the larger claims made, or render us unwilling to undertake a dispassionateinvestigationof untainted ever experiences. They have right on their side. Whatconclusions be, they should be founded our may on an impartial weighing of the available evidence. common
at
ITS
ALCHEMY"
160
such
of
study
this
suppose
of
side
is
there
Society
residuum
which
attention
list
discoveries
of
our
we
charletans,
adepts.
;
it
shall,
a
future
while acclaim
art
serious
be
for
alchemy
has
laughing successes
to
;
at
won
centrate con-
is
we
its
are
condemning by
much
a
long
considerable
a
of If
or
To
credit
many
them.
the
unreasonable
its
to
that
study^
would
a
the
on
allowing
neglected.
nature
before
the
for
advanced
has of
knowledge
have
case
to
Now
itself of
be
The
this.
than
extent
it,
The
unscientific.
stronger
calls
them
on
declared extent
would
deceits
and
and
the
to
itself
phenomena.
have
to
ROMANCE
devotes
understood
spiritualism a
frauds
little
AND
Research
Psychical
of
Society
The
SCIENCE
the
tions speculafair
to
the
genuine
CHAPTER
LIFE
old
AN
^'
estimate
spirit had
the
to
art
an
this.
of
its
actions,
its end
and
We it
as
middle
in
the
birth
in
have
break
space
the
estimate, in
related
life
in of
the
Ught
from
superstition. facts
are
common
evil
the
of
Delusions
to
results
standpoint
Our
Vol.
after
i, pp. 101
119
facts,
in
save
Let
his
of
for
in
be
Treves.
Mackay's extracted
and
sets
purpose,
of
over-credulity
is
different
ff.
us
shall
Mackay
own
far
ordinance.
Bernard
J^
so
sympathetic
more
found
property. "
it
;
of chemical
causes
autobiography,
favourable
most
illustrating
an
nature
alchemist
be
to
are
Popular
chiefly
and
^that
"
a
chemistry.
remarkable
a
used
Extraordinary them
of
devoted
self-denying
higher
the
was
of
biography
this
end
alchemy
groping
modem
its
such
subject-matter.
our
detail
fuller
materials
The
of
its
some
was
the
toilsome
through of
justification
Li
on
which
on
abjured
bore
directly
brief
far
so
best,
runs
has
toil, and
knowledge
reflection
in
which
art,
its
at
the
art
substitute
of
prosecution
beginning
its
it
for
Hennetic
in
rather
Taking
enthusiasm
the
middle
its
may
TREVES
without
art
an
We
as
OF
of
falsehood,
in
poverty."
in
is
It
:
beginning
BERNARD
estimate
Latin
thus
a
OF
IV
"
^but
them that and
the
ALCHEMY"
162
Bernard
the
was
shall see,
as
we
at
Treves,
SCIENCE
ITS
wealthy importance.
son
of central
man
a
in 1406,
Padua,
or
of
ROMANCE
AND
time
a
He
fact,
^a
"
bom
was
the
when
search
Philosopher'sStone was in full swing ; and at of fourteen he came under the early age the spell. had read, in the original, treatises certain Arabian He the art, and they had fired his youthful imagination. on these authors, Rhazes From more especially among
for the
his
secured
certain that he had and to
intense
He
incomplete or
would
secret,
be
able
He
ardour
his conclusions
to
put
at
once
laboratory, and
a
in
All
ceeded pro-
hard
for
four
less than
no
to
conducting
vain
800
^the secret
"
toiled for two
various
With
with
who
this
enthusiastic "
^and
as
time
he
His He
himself
struck
up
chanced ^a
monk
with
him
"
the
to
this
were
master
guide,
new
in the
faith
concluded
not equal to the equipment was he therefore his authority,and wider range of study.
About
Rhazes
cluded con-
aid of
only too delighted them they spent
Among
result.
no
merely
called
were
disturbed.
not
was
and
more,
wealthy.
so
man
crowns,
however,
years
alchemists
brother
join a
all
at
alchemists, Geber.
of Arabian
Order
was
grand
discouraged. He the directions given by imperfect,and he turned
not
was
that
a
he
He
him.
eluded
on
the
directions
researches.
his
on
crowns
own
him
from
worked experiments. He and, during that time, spent
years,
2000
confidence.
*
hundredfold.
test, setting up
endless
to
his
guided by gold a augment with
he
gained
that
the
and
adherence
upon of a
task
in
Geber, that
of
preting inter-
launched
a
the
his
student
out
as
Franciscan
friendshipof
the
LIFE closest
kind.
or
Solvent
facilitate
the
therefore,
now
rectified
They vessels.
was
?
the
he
as
success
The
quest His
taken
friend, the
Stone
resolved
put
"
and
Still
year even
no
He and
to
laboratoryto a
would
try
others,
long
containing
the
fruitless thing Somematerial
the
shrinking
not
the
years
^largerand
"
larger
ments experiof
sums
won.
had
monk,
magistrate
a
transmuting
than
mistaken
never
enthusiastic, who
his
in
labours.
expended.
were
twelve
This,
that, expended. So earnest was Bernard night and morning us, he prayed to God in vain. might be his. And yet all was was
by
the
they
For
hest, Alka-
would
their
of
Had
continued
tells
that
crowns
more
the
Stone.
burst
spent
that
which
the
object
were
years
filthiest.
were
money
of
making till it
They
were
substance
a
"
alcohol
wrong.
required
ings teach-
maintained
constituted
the
800
"
wine
became
Three
enterprise
from
spiritsof
Universal
greatly
168
TREVES
authors, who
obscure
rectified
OP
pair explored together the
The
of certain
highly
BERNARD
OP
was
could the
of
died.
the
His
city,
place
man
no
firmly persuaded
that
be found
notion
the shores
a
in sea-salt. the
to
it for the
the
transported
test,
of the Baltic, and
sake of other
less
Bernard
for
calcined sublimated, crystallised, drank
was
more
sea-salt
experiments.
encouragement. was
now
nearly fifty. Life
goal seemed as be done ? Might it not possessed the secret and the
to
far off be
as
that
would
try his fortune, and
hasting
was
What
ever.
was
on, to
adepts in impart it ?
other
set
his travels,
out
on
journeying in Italy, Germany, France, and everywhere searching out alchemists
He
and
lands mined deter-
Spain making trial "
ALCHEMY"
164
the
of
heart his
suggestions he is proved by his
for five years.
that
the
had
confessor
discovered
with
last
At
his
him
III., Master
went,
alchemists.
dependent
Not
rewarded.
be
would
Henry, he
off to Vienna
So
perseverance
settled
country, he heard
in that
five
relieve
to
he
France
Frederick
to
of
goodness
readiness
In
the Stone.
taking along
His
constant
While
ROMANCE
AND
obtained.
fellow-students.
poorer
down
SCIENCE
ITS
Henry honestly confessed that, though been toilingall his life,the secret had eluded time but at the same stoutly declared that he till he died. keep up the search, if necessary
Master
so.
had
he
him
;
would Here
was
came
the
a
gave
and
the
Bernard's
should
two
curious
a
Bernard
partner
after
man
that
natural Then
a
present, stimulated
eternal
swear
episode. grand banquet
alchemists
by
the
of
heart.
own
to
the
promise
his
It
was
friendship. found
newly
Those
district. of Master
Henry
gold subscribed, The clubbed together and collected forty-two marks. metal was put into the crucible together with other chemicals and rubbish, and the grand experiment was made. Three days the furnace decocted the mixture, but no Ah, well, transmuting could be discovered. the temperature had been too high or too low, some had ingredient was missing, some necessary process that
he
been
omitted.
made.
The
result
was,
crucible marks
The
would
increase
fivefold
Further
trials must
curious
that
was
the
part, however,
when
examined,
the
amount
it had
in due
course
be
particular gold in the
of this of
decreased
to
sixteen
1 fiasco
for proved too much even long-suffering spirit. He abjured further
Bernard's efforts
to
LIFE discover
the
He
his
kept
fascination
OP
BERNARD
OF
the
Stone;
case
valiantly
vow
"
of the
quest
^f or
165
really hopeless.
was
strong
chance
the
;
The
I
months
two
too
was
TREVES
of
too retrieving his fortunes insistentlyalluring. So off again he started on his journeys of exploration, taking this time quite a different route, visiting Cyprus, Greece, Constantinople, and extending his tour into Egypt, Palestine, and Persia a wide enough and been if success had worthy of success range, attainable ! Returning from the East, he revisited Four to England. France, and crossed more over "
years
gone,
He
was
and now
still unvaryii\gfailure.
well
nigh melted away. at Treves, only to
sixty ;
over
wandered
He
that
had
back
his
to
wellhome
family scorned him and deemed him a madman. Disconsolate, poor, and friendless, he sought refuge in the island of Rhodes, livingthere in retirement, and prosecuting his studies far as his circumstances It was allowed. not as long before he gained another strenuous opening for more monk the scene, came on as operations. Another keen The
as new
Bernard 8000
the
was
find
his fortune
first,and
partnership had induced
florins ; and
a
joined him in hardly lasted a
merchant
for three
his
in the island more
years
he
his studies. year when to lend him
struggledon
Such an enjoyment of the wealth he thus secured. fitness,but was ending undoubtedly has a dramatic the to save clearly invented prestige of the craft. Human life does not always fulfil the dramatic prieties. proPerhaps, however, we ought not to moralise thus himself relates pessimistically.For Bernard in
that of
at
the
close
contentment.
he We
attained
one
recall the
great
secret
charming
"
essay
that of
166
ITS
ALCHEMY"
Addison,
borrowed
in
should and
later
a
him
enamels. for
exhausted
His
that
sixteen
children
cried
what
and
other
one
merely visionary, as
convinced
Stone fair
as
to
the
had
of
Palissy
him
of
like
what
?
the the the
difference
range
is
answer
the
of
making
alchemists.
^.
one
that
of
plish. accom-
and
him
succeeded the
quest other
Bernard
was
the
discovering
enamel.
a
as
up
practical, the
simple.
possibility
him
between
His
grimly
may
urged
of the
house.
his
he
hold
Only this, that
fuel,
him.
Still
Smiles,
it be
of
mocked
perseverance
If
devoted
buy
to
flooring food.
make
to
experimenting,
money
wife,
for
is the
was
not
led
cup
pursuits,
tireless
the
French
the
how
discover
to
another
of
story
enamelled
an
other
his
failed.
within
was
all
Moralists,
of Treves
of
up
and
to
Bernard the
would
even
shining example Yet
Palissy,
years
furniture
persevered.
^Bernard
he
reflection
Deeper the
of
Mackay,
with
Compare
resources,
neighbours,
Addison
that
indulge,
life.
sight
gave
his the
"
chance
He
himself
burnt
them.
resolve
to
under
were
Bernard
to
wasted
a
Bernard
The
potter.
tempting
on
restrain
Rosierucians
?
and
reflections
ROMANCE
AND
it from
Was
his climax
It is easy
the
when
quoted
consideration.
our
SCIENCE
Let
us
be
IV
PART
ALCHEMY
AND
SCIENCE
""".
M
I
CHAPTER
DIFFICULTIES
HAVING should
what
elements
however, will
to
which
the
obscurity
from
the
intentional
much
of
of
the
or
recording what
and
the
to
Before
entering,
of
subject,
our
difficulties alchemist
many
to
turn
contributed
division
concluding
the
of
in
large
us
it embodies,
have
recognise
let
the
to
so
task
chemistry.
from
their
loom
art,
science
modem
well
be
which
congenial
solid
this
on
recognition
Hermetic
more
made
of
founding
the
the of
it
due
impostures of
be
discoveries
it
and
development
what
INTEBPBETATION
accorded
now
follies the
OF
which
arise
authors,
and
looseness
inevitable
of
terminology,
Obscubities.
of
Many
will
chapters that
the
revelled
formulas,
frequently
their Terms
natural
meanings;
it
statement
of
expositions
in
frequently magical
of
given
rendered
have
clearness
virtue
quotations
in and
use
of
meaningless
definite were
Hermetic
the
intention
violently strange 169
the
abundantly
was
the
in
terms
manifest
held
not
preceding
to
Adepts
art.
be
a
too
allegories, symbols, vapourings. was
wrenched were
to
be
from invented
Too telligible. unin-
their to
ALCHEMY"
170
ITS
those
entangle
undertaking
who
not
seldom fact of
central
and
nothing
not
exist.
I
How
did that
expected
high-sounding dwelt
they
society ad
would
Sometimes
of the
secret, and
ness
the
it to
ignorant that
only to
the
sheer
honest
though
and
of the
their
themselves
that
We
must
make
human.
unveil
higher gence, intellithen
it, and
unreservedly
attribute
in
that,
failed, others
For
thinking
mixed.
In
was
ceeded. suc-
in
the
confused
short,
strangely puzzling,
even
had and
transmutation
Their were
still
himian
reallyconvinced had
Stone.
by revealing
it
singular subterfuges.
were
believed
gold sacred-
the
taking
passed
great
property
profane
could not
these
were were
the
known
all would
Or
it
alone
motives
circumstances
to
of
manner
common
vulgar.
themselves
They existence
it became
refused
alchemists
they
making
and
Sometimes
reticence.
they emphasised
and
deception
all
be
to
ignorance
invented
of
difficult
a
not
was
their
pieces, for
Gk"d
elect.
to the
truly It
avow
they
if
possessed it;
was
it ?
meet
declared
ground, they and
position
danger
libitum.
and
great
never
^they
for their
to
go
the
tell
so
that
alleging
secret,
pseudo-mysticism.
a
Philosopher's Stone,
they
the
on
aSumptio
an
regards
"
excuses
the
disguised
quest, the
Their
And
selves them-
writers
in
of
as
they. would
failure.
their
The
for
these
of
cause
ideas, and
language
to
directions
real
vagueness
chiefly,
it did one
their
of their
object had
The
clear
any
the
and
pose
Moreover,
they
had
ROMANCE
extract
to
mistaken.
be
to
shrouding
by
the
strove
experiments.
perversitiesis
AND
SCIENCE
and
their
they
DIFFICULTIES
INTERPRETATION
OF
Examples
171
Obscurity.
of
Intentional
carried extremes to obscurity was thus which both amazing and are amusing. Rhazes Take alcohol. begins a descriptionof how to make of something unknown the quantity that you wish.** Take.'* Figuier tells us it is not rare to find simply in In the days when such directions set down were "
"
treatises,it would
grave
examination
pass
Basil
from
that which to
be
to be below
invisible ; that
which
let that
which
let the
have
been is
Here
example
an
is
palpable
is below
be
to
pable. impal-
that
become
Cause
"
is visible
that which
;
which the
visible, and
invisible become
to
easy
(fourteenth century) :
is above
above;
rate
chemistry !
Valentine
Again is
in
at any
the see impalpable become palpable. Here you tion.** perfectionof our art, without any defect or diminuroundabout This might be taken of as a way in a glassflask until it water tellingus to heat some all turned into steam, then and was cooling it until the
steam
evidently had
into
say
water
much
something shall
Who
mind.
condensed
was
recondite
more
?
what
the
but
;
And
yet
sage in his
the
same
places reproaches himself bitterly having spoken too plainly in his writings, and
author for
lest he has
trembles At
several
in
later
a
definite
too
there
is the
period
statement,
but
an
The
Twelve
Gates
of Alchemy gives
style:
"
when
the
united
in the
following
work
husband,
spiritof
must
be
Red,
and
I avoidance
same
infusion
symbolism. The
much
revealed
of
a
from
good
idea
undertaken
the
fantastic
more
passage
Ripley's of the at
new
sunset,
wife. White,
life to live in love and
of
are
tranquillity.
ALCHEMY"
172
in
the
the
south
advance
dissolve and
winter
colours
towards
itself.
After
the
night. The air, the
the
shadows
the
husband
when
East
it is
radiant;
and
water
the
purgation, the
the
earth
darkness
ROMANCE
AND
earth.
after
summer
and
water
the
the
and
full
sun
From
towards
spring ; change the raise thyself across
earth, and
black
and
across
and
alter
;
between a
proportion of
exact
west
SCIENCE
ITS
wife into
water
the
varied shows
moon
white
appears,
winter, day after transformed
are
into
is
the dispersed,light is made; is the beginning of practicalwork, and the east west the beginning of the theory ; the principleof destruction is comprised between the east and the west." into the spiritof such directions If we to enter are and must remember that descriptionsas these we of the sense alchemy was not a science in the modem of science, philosophy,theosophy, word, but a mixture and mysticism. It was only gradually that the more thinkers and trained balanced separated facts from fancies.
Not
until the sixteenth
century did alchemists
drop the veil from their speculations and in try to set down straightforward practices,and And language what they reallysaw and discovered. begin
even
to
the
then
in this direction
advance
slow
was
and
partial. A highly curious example of affected precision is To fix quicksilver. Of several given by Thorpe.* things take 2, 8, and 8, 1 ; 1 to 8 is 4 ; 8, 2 and 1. "
Between 1 and
there
4
and
1, 8 and
8 4 ;
is 1, between
2, 2, and
1, 1 and "
there
is 1 ;
1 from 8 and 1 to
2.
8 2
from
8
is 2.
is 1 ;
Between
there is 1. Then
4
2
then and
1, 1, 1, and
1 is 1.
History of CTiemistrp, vol. i, p. 39.
I have
8
1,
told
DIFFICULTIES all."
INTERPRETATION
OF
178
enigmaticalenunciation reminds us of riddle once well known Two to youth. a legs was off four legs; four legs ran eating one leg ; in came with one leg, and two legs threw three legs at four of But while there is a fair chance legs; and so on. guessing the riddle, the alchemist formula passes the wit of man to interpret. you
This
Vagueness Even
when
the
formulas
genuine experiences and used
Tebbonolggy.
of
is often
vague
receiptsare
and
observed in the
based
on
logy facts, the terminoMuch
extreme.
of it
is
of animals are symbolic. For instance, the names mineral substances, and frequently used to denote animal The actions. to represent chemical allegories Lion the alchemical Yellow was symbol for yellow that for cinnabar; the Lion sulphides; the Red Green Lion for salts of iron and the eagle copper; the for black or crow sulphides. Muir gives this example of a descriptionof a process. If black sulphide of mercury is strongly heated, a red sublimate is has the same formed which composition as the black If the temperature is not kept very high, compound. there is only a little of the red sulphide produced. The operator, therefore, is directed to urge the fire, "
else
The
the
black
is
expression
would
be found
Further, terms
are
is seldom
by them
picturesque, but
in the
^such
"
safe to what
back
to
is not
the
nest."
that
one
in Roscoe.
even
used
will go
crows
we
as
assume
should
cases
where
seemingly plain
sulphur,mercury, that
the
arsenic
alchemists
naturallyunderstand.
^it
"
mean
For
ALCHEMY"
174
sometimes
SCIENCE
ITS
AND
they intentionallytwist
terms, in their determination with
the because
precision
substitute times, Some-
world, they fail in
will in the
best
and
abstruse.
be
to
ROMANCE
their
of
necessarily imperfect Sometimes analysis of their materials. they are rendered careless of finer distinctions by their theory that
all
these
substances
and
always
other
be
We
ourselves
of all
use
word
"
touch
the
our
Not
so we
long ago say,
state,or
that we
The
fire is
the
should house
"
mean,
thinking of
are
if
imply, even have is
there
Stop
say,
have
we
case
the
use
the
Do
not
in
not
our
thingsa substance. called it phlogiston.*' a
"
If
From little
it is in
mean "
we
the process
action.
is in this
we
fire," we
on
in
may
we
"
If
effort
far between.
clearness
example,
condition, of burning.
the fire,*' we we
senses.
idea
"
If
in
three
few and
are
the
where
cases
reached
not
For
fire,*' we
minds, the
the
terms.* *'
fire
interpretationis impossible. Moreover,
seldom
the while have
For
essence.
accurate
that
confessed
interpretis worth
to
"
not
common
a
reasons,
difficult and
it must
a
have
say,
Put
of combustion
out "
point, practicalstand-
a
danger
of real
fusion con-
enable it should us thought. Nevertheless to when, in similar sympathise with the alchemists in conthemselves failures to be precise,they land fusion. When cold," they spoke of soft," hard," the states of softness, hot," they did not simply mean hardness, coldness, hotness, in which thingsare found, exist apart from but imagined that these qualities can such things the things ; that is to say, that there are And as softness, hardness, and the rest. although we of
"
"
"
"
may
not
even "
Both
yet have Muir
and
cleared Thorpe
use
ourselves
of this error,
this illustration.
DIFFICULTIES at
rate
any
Hence
terms.
what
we
axiom,
If you
do
state, and
not
had
if you
do
are
we
find
it hard
away not
Hermes,
to
from
bodies
transform
to
For
in their minds.
attributed
take
philcNSophical using abstract" "
know
frequently
we
175
with
speddng
are
we
the alchemists
famous
a "
when
scientific accuracy,
or
INTERPRETATION
OF
them
instance,
runs
their
seize
thus
:
corporeal
into
things
want." corporeal, you will not get what you The idea is, as explained in a previous chapter^ that the metals be stripped,or robbed, of the qualities must of substances which metals make them by means which have those not now qualities. We express ideas of this kind are by saying that substances to various changed in their qualitieswhen submitted think of a We never physical or chemical processes. metal-quality as something separate from a metal, it like colour and from capable of being taken away not
"
"
"
out
"
of
a
cloth.
Receipts.
Straightfoeward It is alchemists
only
fair to
note
that
all the
receiptsof the
the When character. crjrptic Philosopher's Stone is the subject, obscurity could not be avoided sought or described ; for the substance did not But exist. when ordinary chemical actions, the making of alloys,are dealt with, the directions or are frequently straightforwardenough, and the chief the meanings difficulties are to the to be attached In the following chapters, various terms. examples will be given of quite intelligible tions. receiptsand direcA good average specimen of the earlier period is this,taken from the Book of Democritus (Arabian): are
not
of
a
"
ALCHEMY"
176
"An One
Elixir
pound
Break
up
mercury in
them into
;
a
until
a
copperas
add
of
basin
the
and
open
and
become
of Persian
well, and
throw
adjust the of the the
When
"
copperas. it
the
on
stir
pints ; incorporated.
all is well
the noise
gold.
salt thirteen
dulcified
until
fire.
silver into
pound
; two
the
ROMANCE
AND
transforms
of mercury
hear
you
away
which
boiler and
new
SCIENCE
ITS
retort
; heat
it below
Take
cracklingsalt.
vessel
is
Put
it
cooled, take
from product which has mounted knead the boiler into the receivingvessel gather and with juice of the round aristolochus,coloquint (lit. in a glass hellebore. Put white serpent vine) and of this phial. Plaster the opening and the bottom mixed mud with with horsehair, and leave until quite dry; then bring a lump of cow-dung; place let it the phial in the middle, light the fire, and there for a night. The will harden substance remain it.
acid
Throw
vinegar;
sulphur, of
whitened
product
like stone. it
over
pour
The
each
add
dram.
like mastic.
soft
becomes
a
it into
boiler, and
a
flaky Boil
alum
and
it until the
Project
of
this
pound of gold, and you will see will not lose its lustre. brilliant gold which a appear This has been plicated comtried, and is true." Sufficiently I and mysticism or fanciful yet free from
Elixir
a
dram
on
a
allegory. A
little further
in
on
the
same
work
there
is
a
receipt for making an Elixir of Eggs which is still more complicated. It prescribes no less than twelve different operationsbefore the final product is obtained of them ^some taking days to complete, and one of in the shade, not in sunlight." them to be carried out is no But in this lengthy experiment there even "
"
DIFFICULTIES
time It
that the
they and Geber
when
remember than
how
have
they
of real
the
and
what
be
We
can
that
given
on
sympathise
substances.
stress
or
skill
in
more
with
was
than the
laid
has
silver), testing Indeed,
confidence.
naive
followers
assume
which
(gold
want
Increasing
this
the
authors
product
a
they
thing.
his
the
easily
obtained
overthrew
himself
we
will
examples
Other
noticed
be
analyses
truth.
177
time.
appearance
have
INTERPRETATION
obscure.
to
will
the
rather
be
to
attempt from
OP
suspected errors
on
when
qualities
CHAPTER THE
most
THEmaking
II
MATERIALS
vital aim
of the
Hermetic
art
was
the
gold. It therefore busied itself with a particularkind of metallurgy,callingto its aid all of chemistry. What the the known resources were materials were employed by the alchemist ? What of their nature and his notions properties? These their own on questions present themselves, both estimate and also as preliminary to an of the account and
amount
of
value
of the
discoveries
which
added
t6
the existing stock.
Mappje The
treatise
said, belongs form, but
to
Mappce Clavicula^as
to
the
the
twef th
tenth
tenth-century matter, and
Clavicula,
in
has
century in
regard
to
again, carries
already been regard to its The
its matter. us
back
to
zantine By-
Egyptian days. A glance at its will thus give us a good general idea of the contents kind of chemistry practised in the early days of the for making various find directions We art. drugs, for the preparation of colours, starch, sugar; soap, white, dark blue, and azure moulding ; for cuttingand various are glass. There receipts with a military even
178
MATERIALS
THE reference
"
lead
a
to
arrow
set
179
fire that
on
which
it
of poison the arrows mddng ; the resins, oils,and naphthas, for incendiary purposes famous the most petre being the Greek Fire, of which saltOne is the fundamental constituent. receipt thus : runs By mixing a pure and very strong wine with three parts of salt,and by warming it in suitable hits ;
poison
to
"
"
vessels, an
inflammable
itself without
water
burning
is obtained the
matter
While spread." This is alcohol. fermentic liquors is of extremely have
with
it.
a
determinate,
The
body without of these A
gold
of
burning
settingit
on
fire has
date, of
the
dealing
surface
arrested
we
the
of
a
tion atten-
observers,
few of the
receiptsfor making in
given
are
ancient
on
it
discovery of
scientific way
property
sumes con-
which
on
the
is
here
which
mentioned
other
contexts.*
in them
and
for
The
will be dealt
augmenting chief
stances sub-
with
directly. receiptsfor writing
of large number in letters of gold, or silver, on stone, or papyrus, for is one Here metal. making powdered gold. and alum. Beat together Minium, sand, gold filings, and vessel." heat with vinegar in a copper This, skill in the though brief, proves a very considerable named. How manipulation of the materials many continued had through how many experiments years In the third to the rendering of it possibleI gone part of the work are articles treatingof the working of copper, iron, lead, and tin; of the colouring of glass,the making of pearls. In the fourth part come of formulas, miscellaneous set including those a the Of mentioned at beginning of this section. There
are
also
a
^'
"
See
p. 81.
ALCHEMY"
180
ITS
the
specialnote is alloys of gold There
methods
divided
has
It
character of
manual
;
due
are
into four
the we
the
to
be
may
it is safe
materials
used
Their
the
to
say
the
that
the
technical
from
the
proves
had
chemical
of them
were
broad
a
view, of the
great bulk
adopted, laboratories of Egypt. that they belong to a
learned
the period when metallurgicaland
few
a
adepts. Taking
variety
very
the
to
that not
sure
and
transmitted
were
architecture
Even
of
labours
however,
on
classes.
excessivelymixed contents, to assign dates to the dis" named in this singular compounds
of the
covery
ROMANCE
"
place 1 is impossible,owing
a
AND
hydrostatic balance for analysing silver ^the problem which Hiero directions for solderingmetals by
and
solved.
SCIENCE
processes
concentrated
not
activities
so
exclusively
great quest.
one
Gold. Let
And
rest
to
a
chosen
be
there
was
ever
beginning of the being described, gold of that land discovered.
alchemist's it that
was
materials
vidually, indi-
point of view. this particular
place it did in the the perfect form
It
was
It
Bodk we
time
a
honour
distinctive
fascinate.
as
chief
Hermetic
which
all
strivingto attain ?
were
Well, have
the
to occupy
came
art, and
of the
some
keeping to the of gold. Why
first
metal
the
consider
us
of
read
and
when
gold
repute ?
Genesis, when of
a
certain
did
not
At
the
Paradise
country,
"
is the
good." Its brilliance and beauty be to probably the first metal has remarkable qualities; it is is
MATERIALS
THE
181
exceptional degree,ductile,resistant the of tarnishing agents. It could effects to be and fashioned easilyinto ornaments, employed for all, it was, from gilding and ioiaying. Above an wealth unknown ^itcould be antiquity,concentrated malleable
to
an
"
moulded, The for
coined, into money. alchemists, then, simply took or
granted. They had of
store
certain
it.
when
And
their
keen
they seemed
which
processes
of
a
desire, they
set
its pre-eminence
desire to increase found to to
that
there
promise work
their were
tion gratifica-
a
learn
to
and
the theoretical On side, however, practise them. doctrine of its they developed the characteristic of defying physical ^itspre-eminent power fixity chemical actions. and Judged by this standard, it since nature, as And the perfect metal. was they be this held, is always strivingtowards a goal,it must perfectmetal into which all else was being transmuted. They would hasten the process. "
"
"
Silver.
occupied the second
Silver and
for
reasons
of
gold, though white
similar
very
colour;
lessened
takes
place in general esteem to
force.
those
which
It has
high polish; malleable, lending itself to the making Moreover, could
was
coined
be is
it
a
a
form
into
explained by
chronicles
of the great
Its lower a
phrase
as
exalted beautiful
is ductile
of concentrated
money. such
a
;
and
of ornaments. wealth
and
ever, status, howoccurs
in the
reign in the Bible, silver was of in the. days of Solomon." nothing accounted It and therefore of less value. plentiful^ Still, lyas more "
it
ITS
ALCHEMY"
182
SCIENCE
AND
ROMANCE
wealth, especiallyin countries
was
which
did
not
enjoy the opulence of Solomon's glory ; and it thus became labours. a subsidiary object of alchemical The moon (said Zosimus) is pure and divine when "
see
you
the
shine
sun
silver attains
say,
the
when
molten
its
metal
its surface."
on
shines
like the
after all only the moon, that, as Shakespeare has it.
^not
"
Taming The
One
alchemist
with
meager
is to
highest perfection in refining
it is
C(
That
"
Yes, but
sun.
the
Plays the alohymist.
splendour of his preciouseye gold." cloddy earth to glittering
of the
imperfections of silver, estimated philosophy, is its comparative lack
fixity." It does, indeed, resist chemical atmosphere and of many in the readily tarnishes presence solution of a hydrogen, and even
the
"
its surface
'*
glorioussun
into
a
chloride
;
action
agents of
;
by of
of
the
but
it
sulphuretted salt
common
it is also
verts con-
dissolved
In these respects it is sulphuricacids. /Uearlyinferior to gold,which only yieldsto "the royal In alchemic water." language, it has progressed the metal-seed it far in its development from ; but has not attained to perfection.
by
nitric and
Electrum.
speciallyimportant alloy which for long ranked It electrum. that known as as a separate metal, was its similarityto amber its name from derived (Lat. A
electrum^ the "
usual
electricity ").
term
Some
for
"
amber
of the oldest
"
;
whence
our
coins in existence
THE
are
of this
that the
it
was
be
of silver from
smelted
natural
originis explains much. and
metals
the
minerals
there
would
gold. This of great significance for alchemy, and likeness The of the alloy to gold out
silver tended
to
188
alloy of gold and silver. It is probable not always artificially produced ; for in
extraction
often
MATERIALS
to
of
percentage
a
obscure
the
fact
that
these
tempted to the conclusion that they could be produced by suitable mixtures and operations. Electrum would be regarded intermediate as an development. stage in a continuous We honest thus see how can theory and intentional fraud could For a certain another. glide into one be added of silver could to gold without amount definite
are
detriment
to
the
and
substances,
fundamental
nature
could
be
nobler
the
of "
multiplied." this consideration apply to proEspecially would cesses of colouring impure silver which, alchemically viewed, was alreadyapproaching the state of complete
metal.
That
is to
say,
gold
transmutation.
analysing and separatinggold and be gradually led silver increased, alchemists would of electrum, and the real nature to understand they As
their skill in
neglect it. In spite of this, however, its still appeared in the list of alchemic name signs. Jupiterbeing the planet associated with it * ^affording a good example of the difficulties of interpreting formulas. Later, the name was applied to various bronzes brass. brilliant alloys,particularly and The ground for the transfer was evidently the analogy of came
to
"
colour. *
See
p. 120. N
ALCHEMY"
184
ITS
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
Copper. We the
by
to the
come
alchemists, their
to
means
metals
It possesses
not
end.
of
as
The
fine rich
"
known
direct
these
likest to
one
a
colour, takes
as
is copper.
gold
brilliant
a
"
there
;
is not
reason
gold, but its of alloys. Pure
is in
frequently
find
is too
nature,
an
how
it the
was
admixture
to
be
made
the
that tin.
the
bronze
was
by
nature
Later, artificial
manufactured
started, the
Once
and
;
mines.
metal
historic pre-
associated
that
in different
modify
some
hardness
necessary
into
unalloyed.
are
contain
discovered
thus of
which
often
ores
differs much
It
mixtures.
laetal to
a
found
are
copper
give
copper
learnt
not
"
soft
primitive metfd-workers men
of
art
attained to alloying it made rapid strides and notable degree of efficiency. See how readily all this played into the hands the
alchemists.
alloys, natural there
Moreover, another
Given and
stages
were
these
by
.
the
And
formulas.
cutting instruments, though
which
of the
more
appears
only its similarityto frequent employment in the manufacture to
implements metals
which
substance
no
hard
and
in
"
transmutation
copper
weapons
by
value, but
polish, and is highly malleable ductile. In spite of advantages, its comparative plentifulnessprecluded theless Neverits ranking as a precious metal. its use in alchemy was of the highest importance
and
But
base," regarded
as
all
variety
artificial,it of
increasing
stages could
insensible
the
be
made
gradations.
of
likeness
to
to pass
There
was
of
copper that
evident
was
a
gold.
into
one
thus
a
MATERIALS
THE
strong suggestion
185
continuity of development. The qualitiesof the mettd, particularlyits colour, marked it out as a hopeful substance for experiment. It seemed needed effect to as though so little were the great change. It is therefore not surprisingthat material in the transmuting art. a favourite copper was
the
a
Brass,
Bronze,
Among
of
alloys of
Aurichalcum. certain
copper,
were
given
Bronze is an alloy with tin, brass an specialnames. alloy with zinc. (This is the distinction commonly made, though not strictlymaintained.) Along with times, was these, in olden ranged aurichalcum, or inwhich to nave ^a term golden copper appears the Greeks, all the yellow alloyswhich cluded, among resemble gold by their brilliance. In Pliny's day, it made was by heating together copper, cadmia mine), (cala"
charcoal.
and As
be
can
of these
use
well
names
imagined,
they
were
confusion
and
extreme,
was
of formulas, when or
the
renders is
exactness
in
the
pretation inter-
sought,
carious pre-
impossible. The alchemists thought that dealing with simple differences of development.
We,
quantitiesof
in these
days,
have
to
know
the
definite
employed.
fixed substances
Mercury. After
what
has
been
said about
Philosophers,*insistence
pf this
metal
on
is unnecessary. ^
See
the
Mercury of the alchemical importance
And p. 92.
the
even
were
evidence
ALCHEMY"
186
characteristics
earliest
be
should
lacking, we
names
It
it had
AgeSywhen
substance
with
fail
have
not
to
of
speculation. One
"living silver" called
not
was
a
could
and
was
ROMANCE
AND
that
sure
marked
so
research
stimulated
SCIENCE
ITS
the
become
Middle
the
imtil
mercury
silver." "quick-
our
"
its
substance
Hermetic
and the extreme mobility par excellence. Its liquidity, it seem which makes alive, always produced a pro-
impression upon those who reflected on natural phenomena ; hardly less so, its corrosive and poisonous rerum propertieswhich led Pliny to call it vevunum of its amalgamating author knew The same omnium. foimd
of the
and
powers,
with
readiness
it dissolves
which
ield. /
/
It
dissolves
calculated
excite
to
f
expectation ?
V
most
gold He
!
Could
concentrated
and his
meted
this
on
more
wonder
alchemist's
an
be
anything
from absent hardly ever KTs thoughts or his experiments. Ben Jonson, in his Masque, Mercury Vindicated from the Alchymists, it
presents
as
and
their male
"I
:
their
;
is
tortured
a
expostulate thus sublimate
It
study.
earnest
am
their
precipitate and
their
their
and
crude
unctions
their
female, sometimes
it
makes
He
victim.
;
aphrodite herm-
their
See, they style me. their forces again, and draw they begin to muster I The genius of the place defend me out againstme. find to the earlydays of the art, we If we go back in the following Zosimus giving vent to his emotions "
^what
they
list
.
.
.
"
rhapsody :
"
Concerning
the
divine
water
(that is. the thing
is the grand mystery, Mercury). Here most chieflysought. It is everything. Two of them draws one single essence ; for one
natures, on
and
THE controls sexes
the
other.
and
;
is
understand
to nor
a
It has
this Its
Eroytle." * magic *'
All
is
Serpent is one poison." Below the
surmounted
ordinary
metal
the
essence
by
was
It
gold
and
in
also
are
axioms
mystic
in it is all.
The
and
the
signs
silver and
gold,
the cosmic
and
in view
was
:
alchemic
the
are
the
tion descrip-
emblems
two
more
egg.
than
the
the
Philosopher's Mercury, said it could be things. Some
distillations ;
others
said
said
it
was
out
be
It
was
substance, but
an
to
at
once
substance
a
intangibleEssence ; bodily spiritand a spiritualbody. If we stumble do us these contradictions, it may good to read modem ether ! descriptionof the luminif erous not
a
Mercury With
*
A
Democritus
was
mercury also
which
had
fabulous
of
liquid, yet not volatile,yet negativing the volatility was
substances.
other
and
it
of all
wetting things ; of
that
"
reach.
human
again
who
to his
There
it is all, and the
He
it resides
the
with
for
tamed,
both
formulas.
of the world
that
remember
must
obtained
this
by
be
water,
it breathes.
metals, lead, mercury,
four
inner
and
it has
;
nor
fittingly appends
by
;
mettd,
possesses
circles
one
is difficult
is hidden;
figures
concentric
The
mystery
Zosimus
three
life and
power
...
a
divine
nature
It cannot
(metallic)substance.
silver.
We
for it is neither
;
understands
for
Its
knows.
it is of both
;
It is the
in movement.
none
it is all in all.
187
liquid silver
It is
always
of which
water
MATERIALS
a
stone, for exalted
and
associated
use
divining.
of
at a
Sulphur. another
peculiar fascination the
a
which
substance
for
(as said
alchemists
the
alchemists)
188
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
have
^sulphur. We
*
ROMANCE
AND
how
it
supposed to of the metals, supplying the fierybe a constituent in them. element wonderingly as they They watched saw dissolvinggold. They also wondered mercury stick of sulphur, when when a placed on they saw red-hot iron, penetrate the metal like a spirit,and it in a of molten dissolve stream drops. They that by the contact of the two observed, too, how formed. A substances one a new mysterious was change had taken place. Evidentlyr they concluded, the metal and over sulphur has a peculiar power and qualities. controls its form Some unknown alchemist, impressed by the and sulphur, coupled peculiarpropertiesof mercury of all the metals. them The together as components ability, was supposed to supply the lustre, mallemercury ductility,fusibility in short, the metallic sulphursuppliedcombustibility(and colour ?). qualities; remarkable This by Geber, and theory is mentioned
"
seen
was
"
he
himself
accepted and
the
ancients.
of the
sixteenth
to
characteristic
a so
it middle
the
to
up
forms
Thorpe,
attributes
far
from
part of alchemist condemning it, hails
of scientific
first manifestation
It
century, doctrine. it
in this
thought
was
the
as
ment depart-
of research.
Tin.
Tin
is another
alchemists, silver.
not
The
silvery white
so
metal much
in
qualitiesthat colour, and "
which
See
had
its
reference attracted
the p. 94.
to
them
brilliant
appeal gold
as
were
lustre
for to
its
it has
MATERIALS
THE
when and
cleaned.
or
new
and
water;
It
acids
189
resists
the
action
(save nitric)do
of
air
attack
not
it
with the aid of heat. It thus vigorouslyunless virtue of "fixity.'* Its possessed the alchemical between intermediate properties are in some ways those of lead and silver. This fact suggested its use as a starting-pointin attempts to produce silver. It was regarded as a sort of lead ; and, indeed, was called "
black
"white" "
lead.
crackling sound bent.
This
"silver"
or
It "
has
^when
is due
to
a
lead,
peculiar
slender
a
bar
opposed
as
cry
"
curious
^a
of the
to
metal
is
of
its
the
crushing together the crystallineparticles. This **cry'? was quality that adepts stripped off." *
first
"
Lead. The colour
bluish-white when
newly
colour cut
or
of
lead, and
melted,
led
its to
bright its being
the notion would with silver. And closelyconnected be confirmed by the fact that silver is often extracted from ancient lead by refining processes known to the Romans metallurgists. A common alloy among of lead and tin which mixture was a they called argentarium. the According to the Greek alchemists, lead was More especiallythey held generator of other metals. that it served to produce the three kindred metals, of its of one tin, and iron, by the mediation copper, to derivatives, the protean magnesia. It is curious bring together this idea and the modem discovery *
See
p. 98.
160
ALCHEMY"
that
lead is one
down
ITS
Of
this, more
Iron These do
to be
came
almost
ance, prime importspecialdescription. The latter
a
Materials.
were
in quest of
they began with the metals in The Cosmopolite says make
metal, take
a
but
engendered of
their
substances.
In
failure
selected
metal
a
later
Stone.
metal.
"
If
:
;
as
Naturally
efforts to
for
a
But them
is
dog to
the
startling as
mute. transto
want
you
the
stages of
sometimes
are
a
their
by a dog." experiments led the
of
for the
synonym
Other
alchemists
The
breaking
Magnesia.
and
call for
not
the
by
anon.
substances, though
two
ROMANCE
AND
products formed
of the
of radium.
SCIENCE
never
continued
try other art,
those
they
are
disgusting. Arsenic
was
tried, and
be
of
power
of the
one
for
first less usual
long inspired great
bleaching
copper
silver.
Mercury
and
into
fashion
only
be
discarded
out
all the
Roger that
Bacon
they If not
a
was
too
metals, what
test
in
Its
in its turn. metals
on
the
Then score
generate gold.
to
poor
next
?
The
salts
were
given
remember how especially sea-salt. We moved his laboratory to the Baltic of Treves of sea-salt.* the possibilities Saltpetre also great requisition ^then vitriol. Still the great
chance,
Bernard to
were
ruled
confidence.
to
suggested transmutation tin failed. Antimony came
into
to
metals
"
"
See
p. 163.
MATERIALS
THE
was
unsolved.
found
wanting.
secret was
minerals, what
If not
world.
vegetable
of
formulas
their
celandine
the
reliance
other
many
and
of
the
colour
plants.
Still
the
Greek
might be hope ? Accordingly juices
^rhubarb,
no
the
was
there
primrose
"
minerals
tried, in
were
and
honesty,
success.
animal
higher than the vegetable ; and its materials, are they not richer ? Let those be tried, said the adepts. So to work they derived animals from went on organic matters Ah
But
I
the
of
some
extended.
be
of
Well, there
not
here
their
on
?
had
And
realm
whole
next
suggested that
alchemists Let
The
191
is not
world
"
bones,
flesh, blood, saliva, hair, and
always
not
fit to
in such
that
life, which
be
mentioned.
substances
The resided
there
food
transmute
can
other
into
materials
rulingidea was the principleof tissues.
Very
of the arguments for holding used one singular was There that this principlecould even produce metals. testimony, they said, that children had grown was gold teeth I And with all this, unceasing failure. last venture. Was the One not Philosopher's ? in realitythe soul of the world mundi Stone spirittis "
in nature
What so,
of the
action
which
air would
spiritualessence
the snow, an
substances
those
and
adept on
It
dew. submitted
the
dew
akin
most
was
"
of the
are
most
The
air.
exposed
to
If the
be
of likelyto absorb most ^such as, freshly fallen rain,
is hard to
this ?
to
the month
to
believe
that
in
1665
"
Royal
tions Society observaof May." Others took matter, that of falling
yet wider flight. Meteoric stars," would absorb the spiritin traversing the "
a
Others
tried
to
side-track
the
sphere. atmo-
problem.
ALCHEMY"
192
They
Must
of this
the
fast,
the
So
?
track,
Solvuntur
lye
And
Would
And
yet,
these
up could
solid be
when
what
they of
touch
a
o'
broths,
Your
and
of
made
strange out
set
occult
the
on
and
head,
of
bones,
burst
after
of a
basis reared.
of
soalings other man
all,
strange to
blood. and
merds,
clay.
glass.
ingredients.
name."
as
and
on
chalky iron,
materials^
man's
terms,
clout,
Ben
"
and
menstraes,
women's
burnt
in
Surley,
may
disdainfully
your
egg-shells,
the
moulds
Well
exclaim
eccentricities
a
be
air.
on
were
To
go
risu.
tdbulfB
"
Powder
creatures
can
there
time
condensation
distilled!
men
Alchymisiy
Of
long
a
if
serpents,
1
mystic
Hair
for
and
considerable
then
if
lizards,
wretched
clever
ROMANCE
AND
live
a
these
were
even
Jonson's
crabs,
involve
and
wrong
SCIENCE
could
food,
not
spirit
lengths a
that
reflected
deprived
to
ITS
which
we
shall
follies, the
see,
there science
all
underneath
being
was
of
the
built future
CHAPTER
THE
furniture
appealed
for
to
the
say,
the
light
and
devotional
of
what
of
the
Hermetic
first. direction to
are
follows, prayer is
in
in
Even like recite in here
the
this
:
that
alluded
conformity
the
of
is hard
mystery
this
the
fact
strength
gold
to
is of
with
the 193
the
there
of Gold.
may
"
a
and
the
occurs
^Prayer
or
the
be
formed."
incantation
ancient
from
present
Clavicula
operation,
the
in
was
Making
the
during order
emotion
The
That
Feeling.
Mappce "
offer
art.
of
of
atmosphere
would
in
once
A
which
from
sage
have
at
Intrusion This
exercises.
atmosphere
We was
Not
experiments.
an
that
emotions.
altar the
its
;
symbols
imdertaken
in
fervour. of
weakness
but
science,
manifestation the
his
not
was
the
for
much
was
mystery
and
an
it
of
success
of
place
a
it
religious
be
before
;
labour
clear
for
might
rising
was
and
place
a
air
signs
imagination
was
But
an
with
object
prayers
had
It
also
was
prominent incense
the
to
it
certain.
decked
was
laboratory
is
That
this.
than
seldom
LABOBATOBIES
mediaeval
ATYPICAL work. more
III
a
you
that
fusion
The
class, and
practice
of
the
Egjrptians and
the
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
194
alchemists.
Greek
the
At
start,
magic which was always associated with industrial and medical operations. In mediaeval times, the magic jdeldedplace to a dependence on God. some Among fragments of Arabian treatises occurs After is highly characteristic. which a passage author curious questions, the discussing certain suggests a prayer which will keep the adept in a proper
it is
of the
matter
a
mind
of
frame
:
"Our the
to give intelligence
which
Father of
eyes
in
art
Thy
heaven, that
servant,
he
participatein Thy pure light which dwells in heaven. (Thus far the petitionsare plainlyChristian.) holdest the keys of the world ; Thou Thou art the dwellest in the midst beginning and the end ; Thou may
fire
of the and
the
make
sea,
dark
the
from
is fire,Thine of
earth. Thou
on
flame.
Thy
and
stars.
in
magic.)
Abandon
.
.
ancient
The
.
are
Egypt
and
my
in my
let it dwell
with
fill me
being.
It is Thou
envy.
.
"
.
Who
good and mysteries." Such
is the
Christian
and
is
what
ancient
prayers
Egypt,
the
of the kind
the
of
connected
are
form
with
but
God,
of
spiritand
Thy person brightening
air is the
Thy right hand and the God, deign to enter quickly my
wisdom
water
land, recall the dead
invocations
not, O
me
on
inflame
canst
Tartarus.
open
(These
common
O
fish to dwell
abyss
eyes
alone
aid of
give me Thy people.
heart.
Penetrate
.
the
flame
Chase
from
givestthe
.
.
of true my
science
soul evil and
heart
to
produce
divulge hidden extraordinary mingling of
tongue
to
invocations common
borrowed
among
from
thegnostics.
the author of how by a bizarre account fought against personifiedenvy, which he overcame It is followed
with
a
hatchet.
;
THE But
this
alchemists
play
idle
of
scenes
LABORATORIES emotion
of
dreamers.
genuine
hard
from point, a passage given to idleness,nor or
velvet
fingers,or hilts, or
fine
and
work.
in
Muir
on
this
are
not
quotes, "
They
:
were
proud habit, or plush, showing their rings on their
go
a
sides
their
at
gloves
gay
the
render
not
laboratories
Paracelsus
swords
wearing
did
Their
often
garments,
195
hands
their
on
with
silver ;
but
diligentlyfollow their labours, sweating whole days and nights at their furnaces. They do not spend their time abroad for recreation, but take delight in their laboratories. coals, They put their fingers among into clay and filth,not into gold and rings. They arc sooty and
black, like smiths
pride themselves
clean
upon
and
miners, and
and
beautiful
do
not
dress."
Appakatus.
The of
for
course
the
with
Hermetic
of Jonson's
*'
art,
The
reference of
manner
to
work
our
the
; the
argent-vive,the dragon
our
The
alembic,
And
thence
some
and
sow'd
then
sublimed
so
of the Arabian
thirteenth
Medea's
furnace,
bulls,our
And
That
in Ben
"
sublimate, dragon's teeth, mercury hardness and the whiteness, keeps they are gathered into Jason's helm.
The
sphere atmo-
an
Mammon, mystic and occult. Alchymist^declares that the fable of
Still breathing fire ;
In
with
invested
was
the
had
charms
primarily devised alchemy was practicaluses ; but, like all else connected of
apparatus
century,
the
:
biting;
his
field. often, till they'refix'd." in Mars
treatises,and there
are
in others
of
simple outline
ALCHEMY"
196
pictures aludels, made
fit into
each
other
and
in beds
of hot
small
athanors,
constructed
;
a
arms
and
;
specialkind
of bath
In the
midst
of the
alphabet
of
a
certain ;
"
reports
P
is
oome
the
heat
;
vessels or pellicans, beside.
denoted
helm
A
Marioe.
Balneum
by
to Mammon
over
of
degree
series of processes
Subtle
specially
furnaces
or
that named
was
furnaces
;
quaint device
a
many
for
cinders
or
cucurbits, or gourd-likealembics with
ends, and
distilling, sublimating ; flasks,
sand
maintain
to
both
alembics
;
find
there
We
at
open
for heating and stills,
burying
ROMANCE
AND
vessels.*
of
pear-shaped pots
and
great
kinds
many
or
to
retorts
for
of
SCIENCE
ITS
letters
"
too,
Maker, in S. Mary's bath, my shows lac virginis. Blessed be heaven
I thank
And
It is mentioned
older treatises,and
in the
Mary the Jewess who is supposed of her. Nothing definite is known
with it.
seventh
century affirms that
sacred
art
makes
her the sister
in the
their
of
regard
It also look
to
detail
it is well
retain
their
modem
our
*
which
to
writer
of the
initiated into the
was
effort to to
under note
this head
that
places,even
as
many
the
preserve
their
incidentallyillustrates the Egypt.
Further But
in
even
invented
of
typicalof the way legend, and fancy in mystery,
she
connected
to have
A
"
Another Memphis. legend instance This particular of Moses. alchemists in which mingled fact,
temple
is
!
familiar
constant
sense
utensils.
backward
.
is liot of the
necessary.
vessels
still
forms, regards specific
in
laboratories.
Berthelot, in his La Ohimie au Moyen dge, vol. i. oh. vi., reproduces of these, and is generallyable to determine the use tq many they were put.
LABORATORIES
THE
gives
Geber
list of
a
He
in his time.
vogue
Jonson's
"Ben
Processes
distillation
197
the
in
principal processes
mentions
sation, sublimation, volatili-
by simple filtration, calcination, solution, coagulation, which includes fixation, coupellation, crystallisationand softeningof save
by
List.
evaporation
bodies, and
hard
so
or
Most
forth.
modifications, date
for technical
again, to
them
back
of these, to
Greeks,
the
Egyptians. They are, indeed, simply adaptationsof quite familiar processes ; but settings and specialised they were given new for philosophy, as means by the alchemist purpose of various substances towards hastening the advance perfection. This point is well brought out by Ben and, behind
Sirrah, my
Sub. Like Name
the
Of metals Face,
in the
answer
vexations, and in the
:
yarlet,stand you forth and speak to him
philosopher:
a
his servant
addresses
Subtle
Jonson.
the
language. martyrisations
work.
Sir, putrefaction.
Solution, ablution, sublimation, Cohobation, calcination,ceration, and Fixation. 8ub. Face, Sub, Face,
(toAnanias). This is heathen comes {to Face). And when After
Greek to you, vivification 7
mortification*
What's
cohobation
7
'Tis the
pouring on and then drawing him off aqua regis, To the trine circle of the seven spheres. the proper passion of metals Sub, What's
Your
Face, Sub. Face, Sv^, Face,
now
,
7
Malleation. What's
your Antimonium.
uUimum
suppHctum auri
(to Ananus). This is heathen Greek {fo Face). And what's your mercury A very
fugitive,he will
be gone,
sir.
?
to you. 7
! "
ALCHEMY"
198
Sub,
How
Face, His
ITS know his
By
and oleosity,
Sub.
the
With
him
ANB
ROMANCE
7
viscosity. his suscitability.
do you
How
Face,
you
SCIENCE
sublime
oaloe
of
him
7
egg-shells.
marble, talc.
White
Your
Sub. What's
magisterium,
that
Face,
now.
7
Shifting,sir,your
Dry
into
elements, cold, cold into moist, moist into hot.
Hot
into
dry.
Sub.
{toAnanias). This is heathen Greek to you (to Faob). Your lapisphUosophicus f 'Tisastone
Face, And
not
a
stone
a
;
a soul,and spirit,
Which
if you
If you If you
coagulate,it is coagulated ;
This
passage
make
do
brings
Gates^
which
on
out
earlier in the processes
the
the
from
Processes
in
George processes
of the
Philosopher's Ripley a little
examine
alchemist's
on
successive
mentions us
interest,
separate things.
founded
Paradise
Let
scene.
be
twelve
or
of
points
many
to
Jonson
Indeed,
Stone.
;
qualitiesare
seems
Ripley's Twelve open
out
that
drift
".
flieth.
fly,it
idea
its main
body
a
dissolve,it is dissolved
it to
especiallythe But
still !
a
few
of these
standpoint.
Detail.
rendering fixed ; that is to_say, for robbing them metals more unlike gold or silver. them which made of the qualities of its thus robbed cry," lead was Tin, for exaiii|)le, Calcination
employed by
was
for
Geber
"
fusibility.The some reality,generfiJly of
result
its
Sublimation, meant
much
the
so same
as
as
the
process
was,
in
of oxidation.
form
far
of
the
with
process
ourselves.
is concerned,
A
substance
LABOftATORIES
THE
is sublimated
199
it is distilled
when
volatilised
or
and
in solid form" condense or crystallise It is therefore a purifying process, and it is on this result that the alchemist lays the stress in relation to his_jioctrine of qualities _as separable things. The When the of these had to be stripped away. grosser substance, on cooling,takes again a corporeal form, it was more spiritual," supposed to have become
allowed
then
to
"
"
"
and
It the
by
was
substance
a
idea
the
element
an
of
theory stand
and
a
animistic for
and
are
aspect of been
death
of
(C
view
we
can
and
of
the processes As
known
of the
feeding
with
"
a
how of
his
xmder-
actions
metal-seed
doctrine
fresh
fire,as
is
if there
it
the
basis
examples of ^the killing "
is to
new
of
Another a
process
of
feeding
still a
be
formation
in
We were
this
such.
found
material.
though
the
cation Mortifi-
seen,
was
^the process
"
of
range
as
have
we
chemical
by Ripley, Cibation
crucible
;
organic growth.
allegories,several given in other contexts
animistic
mentioned the
in
another
scene
growth. The reference is reallyto not new recognised as compoimds trace
error
matter
fantastic
have the
the
Resurrection.
many
which
But
in
was
no
development,
"metal-seed
it
Correlative with and
he
by
metal
reformings, a
treated.
brings on
^those of
"
that
supposes
know
in
comes
him.
excuse
Putrefaction ideas
also,
unchanged
continuous
a
alchemist
now
remains
it is thus
times
many
We
fection. per-
highest,power)
Here,
and volatilisings
of
morefixed.
becomes for
The
to
way
that spiritualisings
last and
obtained.
of Fixation.
the
on
series of such
a
was
succession
stage
a
(the fifth,or
quintessence
of
a
advanced
have
to
so
speak of livingthing.
ALCHEMY"
200
With a
ITS
AND
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
this strong
down to be expression has worn mere figureof speech ; but it was not always so. !' 4)rocess .-rr_B"ai_jQnspn's ^ieher!a L'-softening us
which *^dulcifying."-TrWas
causes
become
It would
one
flow like
soft and
wax.
a
substance
to
involve
often
specialmixtures or infusions^ as well as the application tion* of the rightdegree of heat. Ripley calls it Fermentahad usually a more But this term fundamental silver, being meaning. It implied that gold and be reproduced and multiplied by develop^ alleysr^^iuld tion a change analogous to fermentaing in their mixtures ~
in the modem
Feaching
sense
IdeA Of which is
Cohobation
a^
we
of the have
term". not
yet
Tiiis
heard
repeated distillingin
liquor is poured back upon the vessel, the object being
theltnatter to
increase
is
a
the
which
last. the
in
remammg the
far-
amoimt
of
virtues desired in the finaTproduct. ^rinciplesjor^ is probably of Arabic~origm ; arid the The word operation itself is still at times employed. Ceration in wax implies the wrapping of a substance ; but the included under it any alchemists preparation of a substance, especially a metal, for fusionor liquefaction. do not need and Ablution Solution explanation,save in so far as to note the mystical character assigned to other these and similarlysimple operations in the the
Hermetic
art.
already been explained.* Another with an equallyspecialised term meaning is Projection. Originally this signifiedthe throwing of any kind of It came to l)e appUed, material into the crucible. ^that supreme"^ tFrowihg on'' however^ to the one of the powder ofjrojection/' or theT?Kilosophe?" Fixation
has
"
'^
"
Seep
181,
THE Stone.
The
toil. date
to
was
to
be
that
was
to
reward
a
powder
The
"
the
in
We
:
of
the
to
For thus
idea
back
201
result
multiplication
^is
LABORATORIES
days early
an
the
all
for
adept
of transmutation
seems
lurgy. Egyptian metal-
ancient
of
or
it finds
document
mention
places of the Thebaid prepared." There follows
in what
know
must
transmutation
the
is
mysterious powder
Egyptian cities and districts in which of some sought, evidencing the existence
list of the
a
be
might
pre-alchemist The
female
tradition.
with
seeds
the
tEs
accomplishing in
sealed.
Thus
an
is to
gold
oval was
formed "
or
Athanor.
be
carried
or
the
of the
male
and
generated.
For
and
what
tells
were
hermetically called
was
house
the
of the
pulletof the this operation
how
us
is the
"Here
out.
seed-materials
mud,
or
the
Salmon
be
to
was
purpose of paste
Philosopher'sEgg,* wise,"
century were^reatly
bringing together
which
by
enclosed
sixteenth
of the
adepts
concerned
it
which
in
way
philosophersmake sure that the thing is accomplished. The Philosopher'sMercury being joined and amalgamated with gold of great purity, and in leaves or the female), is filings(gold being the male, mercury This Egg is placed put into the Philosopher'sEgg. in
a
dish
full of charcoal
which
the mercury, by the heat excited by the fire kindled
is
necessary
gold without the
which "
The
end
of
Salmon
"
months, calls
m3rsticaldoctrine
the
^this mercury,
"
the
black
a
crow's
of the Egg
was
fire,and
degree
it to
from
and
portion pro-
dissolves atoms."
powder head," or discussed
sulphur
operator
I say,
reduces
violence, and six
the
by
continually in
fed
the
on
of its internal
then
without, and
put
the At
is obtained
Saturn,
before, sae
p. 121
or
.
ITS
ALCHEMY"
202
Cimmerian
darkness.
prolonged,
the
the
white
is red
colouring
silver
and
and
on
find,
We considerable
of
the
the
melts
and
changes
Philosopher's
veritable it
metal,
common
devoted
modem
that
then, set
towards
way
a
is
if
Lastly,
pearls.
is
This
is
sopher's Philometals
ordinary
convert
heat
fire
the into
changes
immediately
of to
the
alchemists and
experiments an
bringing laboratory.
unattainable into
existence
devised
operations, end,
went
the
a
very
which, a
a
!
Stone
gold.
into
though
produce
Little
the
or
to
the
of
white.
substance,
substance
It
powder.
action
the
able
ROMANCE
AND
becomes
is
to
the
increased,
Projected it
If
substance
Stone, into
SCIENCE
long
apparatus
CHAPTER
ADVANCES
was
L
good
for
condemns mild
the
failings
but
he
of
prosecutions
vanity
such
other
And
yet
may
be
impostures. that
it
whereof
that
sons
the year
make
roots
and
ground, of
reason
their of
gold
the
hath
:
vineyard
gold
vines, so
left
assuredly to m
them and
had
the
light
gold
buried
but
mould
great search a
died
digged
none,
the
a
is
right
he
they
foimd
digging
they
brought
;
of
husbandman when
that
ditions, tra-
credit
this
the
unto
they
and
the
save
to
fable,
had
stirring
their
following
he his
in
underground the
compared
have
auricular
to
alchemy
to
and
error
enigmatical
by
to
surely
makes
^sop his
devices
of
the
in
themselves
themselves
referring
and
both
full
are
conceal
and
over
the
mitigated
ends,
professors
great
;
derivations
these
to
practices,
the
and and
over
the
veil
to
writings,
told
writes)
which
;
sought
due,
(he
realised
methods
and
The
not
was
fully
aims
"
sentence.
in
and
seen
judgment
Bacon
substantially
and
secret
already
worthless.
criticisms,
his
and
have
superficial
alchemists'
judicial,
severity
theories
the
grand
"
we
the
as
his
its
quest
But
art
in
of
was
its
rejecting the
be
to
wont
in
solved.
never
reasons
which
DISCOVERIES
AND
failed
ALCHEMY
IV
great
by
about
vintage and
all
stir
number
the to
of
good
fruitful
and
the
for
ITS
ALCHEMY"
204
life."
*
these
"
inventions
disclosingof Let
good
us
and
experiments
the
Theory
first great merit
as
well
of man's
use
important of experiments."
more
fruitful inventions
of
ROMANCE
for the
as
review
Combining
The
and
nature
now
AND
SCIENCE
and
Pbactice.
and
of
alchemy was that it brought together philosophicalspeculation and the practical The Egyptian metallurgistsand chemists, even arts. who neither scientists those of them were were priests, nor philosophers. No doubt there would be among them a certain spiritof inquiry concerning the nature materials but of the they employed; they never evolved system of speculative thought which any of a philosophy of nature. the name deserves Why been is an this ^should have so interestingproblem, The
the solution
of which
SuflSce it to
note
the
from
technical On
the
Egyptians receiptsand
the
would
tempt
fact.
The
from
us
alchemists
little but
an
track.
our
inherited
accumulation
of
directions.
contrary, the Greek
who
thinkers
supplied
of
skilled in not alchemy were the were they, in any strict sense, natural scientists. foster even They did not a scientific spirit; for they despised all handh'ng of of manufacture materials for purposes or experiment, leaving such tasks to slaves and ignorant wc^kmen. thus debarred And from gaining any factual they were the
speculativeideas practicalarts, nor
basis for then- reasonmgs. Now
by
happy
a "
concurrence
Advancement
of
of Learning,
circumstances, the Bk.
i.
AND
ADVANCES
DISCOVERIES
205
philosophy, had himself become the to an operative, and actually handled he employed. materials The gain was great. Theories had perforceto be submitted And to the test of facts. it was gradually realised that facts are decisive when is the object in nature knowledge of, or power over, made A view. start on new was principles not the less revolutionary definitelyrecognised,but none Novum ^principlesrendered explicit in Bacon's alchemist, while
interested
in
"
The
Organon.
rate
of
advance, however,
ably lament-
was
slow.
Theory, though no longer in a solitary throne, was menters unduly despotic,and blinded the experiof nearly all they saw. to the real significance forlorn when a maze They lost themselves in many they might have been expatiating on Nature's highways. Hence so
it
scanty
which
the
was
that
their scientific achievements
were
compared with the lengthy period during art was prosecuted.
as
Dawn
of
the
Scientific
Spirit^ r
Alchemy, then, heralded the dawn spiritin the sphere of chemistry and The A
rigidityof passage
from
of the the
the
subjective attitude
the
Arabian
scientific
kindred was
treatise. The
arts.
relaxed. Little Book
"
Wise of Clemency^ will illustrate this point. men do not pride themselves the quantity of materials, on but on the perfectionof their operations. I urge you "to act with precaution, to go to work slowly, and to follow the example of Nature in all that you desire do^ when to dealing with natural things." There is here manifested an incipienttendency to look without
ALCHEMY"
206
rather
than
much
ITS
within.
stress
We
the
on
Nature," for ancient "
far from
was
of the term.
A
AND
SCIENCE
not, however,
must
"
in
to it
a
turn
Nevertheless, the effort towards
is full of
promise.
passage
from
The
Booh
which
scientific
modem
our
lay too example of
the
phrase "follow philosophy gave
natural
ROMANCE
of Ostanes
sense
ment detach-
shows
an
insight into the possibiUtiesof natural processes. Science brings it about that things the most precious made out of the most are common. See, for example, "
the
loveliest garments
silk
eat
we
is the and
from
comes
a
in the
world
The
worm.
of silk ;
are
finest
the
of
and
things
is
from a fly. Musk honey ; and honey comes product of an animal, ambergris that of a fish,
pearlthat
the
stone
;
it
of
from
comes
that
matter
this marvellous
in eyes
of the
Though the object aimed at is chimerical, the reasoning is in the spirit modem of science, and could be supported by many parallels. Yet more strikingis this from The Book of Pity ignorant
is of the
with
So
oyster.
an
commonest."
9
describes
which **
There
was
a
founded
observation
an
magnetic
which
stone
lifted
on
fact.
piece of for a long a
kept it time, and we tried it on another piece of iron which it was not able to lift. We thought that the weight exceed of this piece of iron must 100 drachmes, the weight which the magnetic stone before lifted. But that it weighed found to weigh it,we when came we iron
weighing
less
than
then, had remained the
modem
100
100
drachmes.
drachmes.
We
The
diminished, although its the
same
manner,
as
at
the
of
power
first."
particularlythe
the
stone,
weight had This is quite in weighing of the
own
ADVANCES
magnetic had
decreased This
in
itself to
stone
the
DISCOVERIES
AND
if the
see
207
in power
diminution
its substance.
spiritof Arabian
detachment
went
period, to
allow
enough,
far of
doubts
of
even
the
these doubts possibilityof transmutation were ; and groimded, not always on the fact of failure or the of scientific frequent occurrence fraud, but on
Avicenna,
argument.
for
instance, opposed the
idea
of transmutation
by urging that the metals differ in their specificproperties,each of them forming a definite species with real characteristics of its own. He
concludes
that
there
bringing the metals followed by Nature. such to
as
to
their
from
time
to
died ;
and
this, that
declare
itself in
it was but
it
never
be
cannot
shorter
of way than that
a
perfect state It is plain,then, from evidence the scientific spiritwas beginning quently, Subsethe early days of the art. time
obscured,
in the
minds
of
or
crushed,
a
series
of
it steadilygained in strength independent thinkers and the art which clearness,until it at last overthrew had the development came to How given it birth. will
pass
method
be
rendered
which
is its most
The
apparent
if
we
characteristic
consider
the
ally.
Method.
Experimental
hypotheses Speaking broadly, alchemists framed with them. to bring facts into harmony and strove scientist also frames The true hypotheses ; but he of the facts, and holds brings them to the touchstone to them only so long as the difficulties raised are not too
or
numerous
experiment
was
For
formidable. an
attempt
to
the
realise
alchemist, the
truth
an
of
a
Nature
question put to theory or throw
a
his
The
postulate two until
science
could
had
been
advance
will support
outlooks.
It
not
was
consciously adopted that and rapid strides. sure
with
RooEB
if she
see
different
widely
experiment
his problem. light upon sharply opposed, and
thus
are
latter
the
to
further
methods
two
ROMANCE
AND
the scientist,an
For
foregone conclusion. is
SCIENCE
ITS
ALCHEMY"
208
Bacon.
Bacon
of the first to one (1214r-1294)was realise the importance of the distinction just drawn. His remarkable giftsenabled him to break away from
Roger
the
long
a
of the
he
time
he
late years appreciate him at But
of
to
this
was
success
In
Nature.
noble
statement
than
possible revealed what the
a
the
the "
later
interests the invented
!
man
had
Both
Its
work is able
nature
covers
are
He
the
and
we
of
secret
his
put questions find
we
this
chemistry is rather mysteries are only and tenacity. But to
!"
Julian
raise
Rhazes
hungry
the
corrected
sorcerer.
of
larger outlook varied penetration. How
sage
of
power
hard
to
a
own,
Rhazes,
secret
impossible.
alchemist
an
The
how
learnt
routes*
new
as
his
value.
Arabian, The
:
as
branded to
great
many
out
open
come
^he had
"
join hands.
Bacon
has
so
upon
even
his true
by dint of triumph when
veil which
looked
was
kind, and
orthodox
enslaved
territory,and
minds, explore new For
had
which
traditions
of
comer
a
Friar
and
for facts ; and
the
were
Kalendar
but
deeper Bacon's ;
lysed ana-
glasses; properties of lenses and convex spectaclesfor the short-sighted; propounded
ADVANCES
DISCOVERIES
AND
209
them theory of telescopes,if he did not make prepared the way for the discovery of gmipowder and of the air-pump ; and, most significantof aU, drew
the
attention of
to
combustion.
think
rdle of the air in the
the chemical
Truly
of the times
he
in which
though exceeding the bounds in its main tendency redound And
how
it attained
was
lived of
?
was
experimental method. in spite of achieved
alchemist had
traditions
the
By
the
largely
The
credit
provided by the Boyle was destroy. And been
destined
to
successor
of the alchemist
which,
adoption it is true,
success,
means
we
fairly may of that art*
definite
shackles
the
still,the
;
record
alchemy,
to
of the
^a
"
process
when
record
splendid
a
;
imposed by the
to art a
success
they were legitimate
Friar.
Aristotle. It his
way
the
way
to
stated
was
through to
depend
Aristotle
" "
a
progress. on
the the
that
just above mass
The
of traditions bulk
authorityof Master
Bacon
of
of these
that
those
had which
to
force
blocked
supposed pre-eminent thinker, who
were
know."
How
grievouslythat gloriouslyfree and originalgenius has suffered in the house of those who imagined themselves be his friends ! It is certain that to his authority in Europe for nearly twenty was centuries, supreme and that his influence, even in the historyof chemistry, be traced down into the eighteenth century. But can the appeal to the real Aristotle ? So far was this was from being the case that it was often than not more he had to teachings quite opposed to those which promulgated. Dialecticians had robbed his arguments
ALCHEMY"
210
of their
twisted
livingforce, or had
Commentators under
mountains
Wh^t
wonder,
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
ITS
them
alien
to
his doctrine
tortured
issues.
buried
or
it
of
uninspireddisquisitions. Spurious his name, had treatises, published under sented misrepreand supplemented it out of all recognition.
blamed
and
As
when
abjured of
matter
a
emphasised his only be advanced Nature.
He
comes
made
it
its
interest
defects
that
he
was
instead
in
indeed of
of
the
science
of
who
one
spirit,and fate
of
irony
an
can
knowledge
aim,
dogmatism a
strongly
ancients, the
modems
was
had
natural of
all the
repudiation over,
himself
increase
the
And
triumph The
of
to
the
fact, Aristotle
by
was,
that
came,
!
conviction
nearest
method.
liberation
the
that be
to
seem
a
of, his work.
continuance
practicalchemistry which, despite all
in and
aberrations, the
Hermetic
had
art
of the scientific spiritwhich sustained, the flickerings it had fostered, the experiments it had suggested "
these
the
were
otherwise
true
upon
Discoveries.
attempt to enumerate which, in the course
in detail of
so
discoveries
the
centuries, the
many
Philosopher'sStone had more tedious. be accidentally happed would apology for alchemy would be deprived of
seekers
for the
vindication notable
an
fruitless quest.
Arabian An
in
elements
Aristotelian
were
additions It
neither few
is nor
an
it not made easy
to to
task
record the
store
to
show
unimportant.
some
or
But
that
an
its chief
of the
of human
less
more
ledge. know-
they
were
DISCOVERIES
AND
ADVANCES
211
and fused conperiod is too nebulous under to allow of any trustworthy statements it is also almost this head, especially as impossibleto the amount of their debt to the Egyptians. estimate hard in this field of inquiry Berthelot has laboured ;
The
but
Alexandrian
conclusions
his
general
earliest
this
stage
when
Even hold
on
we
any For
discoveries.
high admiration no
clear
means
tendency
of
had
also with
that
to
savoured
the
of
to
easy
the
the
East
of the
ascribed
exhaustive
an
with
for
mystic
uncertaintythat hangs
treatises
evidence, reaches credit
reckon
look to
to
which
Berthelot, after available
have
We
authenticityof
the
the
that
specificfacts in regard to particular alchemists had though mediaeval for their Muslim predecessors,it is by how far we safely lean on the may
Westerns
the
occult ; and
sages.
a
barren
the Arabs, it is not
to
come
that especially
wisdom,
over
of
however,
sure,
altogether
not
was
bear.
testimony they
and
be
may
allow
to
results.
valuable
lay
We
summary.
technical
too
are
the
Eastern
examination cautious
Arabians
the
to
clusion con-
with
making in medicine, dyeing, enamelling, considerable progress of coloured the making glass, as well as in the the peculiarprovince of metallurgy which constituted alchemy, as such. The
we
famous
sulphuricacid, chemicals
which
may
Geber
is
said
nitric acid, and retain
a
to
nitrate
foremost
have
discovered
of silver
place
in
"
^three
modem
with his name is Specially associated of nitric and the liquidaqua regia,a mixture chloric hydrodissolves acids which gold ^so called because the The of its power royal metal. over resulting
laboratories.
"
"
"
ALCHEMY"
212
SCIENCE
ITS
AND
ROMANCE
he regarded as the Elixir of Life. regalisy administered as potable gold.'* In this view told His followed by Roger Bacon, who IV. a story concerning its Pope Nicholas
solution, aqua
'*
It
was
he
was
Holiness
marvellous
virtues.
An
old man,
yellow liquor(the solution while ploughing one day dew, he drank
be
into
know
not
if he did, what
or,
these
However is
in certain
given
and
century,
whether
that
the
of the and
he
metals
his constitution.
mercury,
Of Geber
therefore
must
himself
have
safely first to give precisedescriptions and silver,lead, copper gold ;
he first noted
that
effect upon
discoveries
the
was
the
have been, the record things may Latin manuscripts of the thirteenth
preceded this period. aver
yellow) in a golden phi"l in Sicily. Supposing it to was thereupon transformed highly accomplished youth. the Pope tried the Elixir ;
He
was
some
is
hale, robust, and
a
do
We
it.
he said, found
the
uses
we
may
of corrosive
sublimate,
precipitate,and flowers and milk of sulphur. Rhazes prepared brandy and employed alcohol as a solvent in several pharmaceutical preparations. He the propertiesof orpiment, realgar(" powder examined mine various of the "), borax, and compounds of school as a whole The sulphur with iron and copper. red
valuable
made a
fine
spirit of
directions.
though
advances
not
There
in medicine, and
scientific can
capable
be
no
research doubt
of detailed
in that
manifested
other
many our
debt
to
it,
determination, is very
considerable. Medieval It is not work
of
until the
individual
Discoveries. time
adepts
of
Roger
stands
out
Bacon
with
that
the
sufficient
ADVANCES
prominence
AND render
to
discoveries, and we
in the
saw
substance
the
possiblethe "
218
of
dating
of the
honouring
chapter on
makes
DISCOVERIES
specific
discoverers.
Materials," substance in the
its appearance
As after
early mediaeval
of
of particulars. alchemy, but without mention The the less there None store simply accumulates. ^"imilar,we was steady, if slow, advance fairly may historical evidence is to that of the days when assume,
period
"
abundant.
more
Roger Bacon the his the
for the
way
suggestionsabout
Magnus,
Albertus
in respect of chemical
of lead, with caustic
the
No the the idea
even
famous
Not
only metals by of alum,
uses
chemist al-
successful
more
purificationof
he
was means
and
with
the
determined
of lead
of acetates
times
in
and
first to
copper,
the
noted
on
this, when
achievement
mean
and
sulphur, and utilised the action of separating alloys of gold and silver.
of heat fortis
aqua
was
discoveries.
he
his preparing
"
composition of of mercury) by forming it wholly (an ore metal and sulphur, described accuratelythe
preparation effects
Another
chemical
various
alkali, but
cinnabar
from
the
with
acquainted
above
discovery of gunpowder, and the part played by the air in
combination.
of
process
considered
have
we
the
speak
we
of the
affinities
"
of
account
Moreover,
opportunities! "
take
he
of substances
was "
^an
importance in modem chemistry. His pupil,Aquinas, employed the term amalgam," connected probably with the Greek malagma^ softness. he treated those of The were amalgams of which of fundamental
"
with
mercury
Medallists
alloy;
then
another
came
the
to
metal the
use
idea
of
"
or
combination
word
softness
of any "
of metals. kind
fell fiway,
of soft
leaving
ITS
ALCHEMY"
214
that
merely
the
t"mino4-d
ROMANCE
This
mixture.
of intimate illustrates
admirably
AND
SCIENCE
in
way
development
which
alchemist
be quietly absorbed pn""ca m.y with but little recogmtion of the source. another LuUy was Raymond genius who took the field of knowledge for his province. In the whole of potash sphere of chemistry, he prepared carbonate and of tartar discovered wood-ash, and by means several essential oils. He was especiallyinterested in would which "spirit of wine," the art of distilling then been but have He to seem recently learnt.
bestowed
of
name
declared
vUce
aqiui
it to be the very
of Life*
Elixir
Basil
To
Valentine
been
it has
Johann
certain
century, and the
bearing
his
that
Tholde,
discoveries in mind
under
to
or
a
seventeenth
matter
to
later date.
by
by
of the
say
But
alchemists
for critical
need his
easy
made
were
the
no
assumed
was
name
author
an
it is therefore him
triumphs.
assigned many
were
shown
reallybelongs to case
honourable
in his enthusiasm
ardenSy and
But
it the
on
a
what
in any
and,
;
caution, let
us
prepared metals methods. For wet by what are called example, he transformed pyritesinto sulphate of copper through the action of humid air, and then plunged a plate of of the sulphate, thus iron into a solution obtaining He prepared sulphide of potash, copper. pure He wrote a fulminating gold, and sulphuric ether. ment salts,*'with particulartreatcomplete treatise on of (hydrochloric acid) ^an spirits of salt obtained the of great significance.He achievement them
group
"
He
name. "
"
"
"
"
acid
(as now)
devoted
much
from
sea-salt
attention
to
or
oil
antimony,
of
vitriol.
and
He
examined
ADVANCES
DISCOVERIES
AND
215
of its many rediscovered
have been of which compounds, some tions. acquisirecentlyand thought to be new experimented with the air of mines, and its fitness for respiration. Most striking
He
determined of "
all
his
were
conclusions
spiritof mercury."
than
air
an
flyinghere
after it has been to the
returns
air from
This, he
chased
it had
said, is nothing else without
then
from its home, (fire) expands to pass into the What
derived.
been
wings, which,
Vulcan
by
chaos, and
which
there
and
called
he
what
about
is this but the
gas liberated
oxide ? Hof er, in his by heating mercury HistoryofChemi^ry^ holds that this is an earlydiscovery of oxygen and Lavoisier. of Priestley ^an anticipation The instances above given are but a selection from much a Granting that most of them largernumber. stumbled were on by-products by accident, and were to (so to speak) of the art, they nevertheless serve the chemistry of the Middle that alchemy was prove Ages." Let the object of the quest have been as chimerical as you will,the guiding theories mistaken methods or fantastic, the unsystematic, still the discoveries and made were provided a basis for the "
"
rise of the
science.
modem
Medicine. The
object of for Stone Philosopher's have
main
that
seen
this the idea of was
always and
a
from an
the
alchemist's
the
winning
first there
the
Elixir of Life.
close alliance the
art
especiallyin
of
of
earliest
we
with
is to say, there
the
and
But
united
art
healing. Adepts
the
the
was
gold.
was
That
between
quest
of transmuting were
in the p
quently, frelatest
ITS
ALCHEMY"
216
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
fold. periods,professionalphysicians. The result was twosophers, Chemistry which had been despised by philoof became a subject of serious study by men distinction. Medicine brought was learning and within the range of physicalexperiment. It is to the
Hermetic
art
that
gains,since, but of tradition
must
we
for the
would
have
credit of
hope
these
two
enormous
transmuting,
lain yet
the hand these
heavily on
more
sciences.
nascent
has alchemy and medicine been adequately dealt with in previous chapters, more the with teachings of particularly in connection alliance
The
Paracelsus
need
and
further
tyranny
burst
the
not to
its
Rosicrucians, and
emphasis.
of blind
inquiry,and most ready who
between
Those
authority least
in any
in the
not
here
reahse
the
does
who branch
of human
healing art, will
acknowledge our indebtedness and helped to give us a bonds
to
be
the
those
science
of
medicine.
Classification. It is
generallyacknowledged that classification is essential to the development of science. The manifold objectsof our experiencemust be grouped into ordered classes, each characterised by certain definite marks, selected, as far as may be, according to the real nature of the the Linnsean things classified. Think what in advance what system effected for Botany, and in the deeper knowledge of plant-lifeis secured natural system." What can alchemy say for itself in this regard ? It has been art freelygranted that the Hermetic *'
Even
tmsystematic.
was
century, Kunkel, a that I I, old man for
sixty
their
discover
of
have
years,
217
the
as
eighteenth
art, could
the
have
who
am,
late
as
critic
'*
chemistry
DISCOVERIES
AND
ADVANCES
been
write
occupied
with able
yet been
never
:
fixed
not sulphur. They are of themselves agreed among respecting the kind sulphur. The sulphur of one is not the sulphur of the other. To that one reply that each is at liberty may You to baptise his child as he likes. I agree. may if you are disposed,call an ass a cow ; but you even, to
will
.
make
never
believe
one
any
.
.
that
your
is
cow
an
ass." And
yet there
must
there
earliest times
were
be
reservations.
efforts made
to
From
the
classify. We
philosophy of the art was based on thinkers the fourfold divisions proposed by Greek Metals earth, water, air, fire dry, moist, cold, hot. non-metals, distinguished from were though the marks of separation were Here imperfectlyselected. is a curious example of attempts to classifyin fuller The Book from The It is taken detail. of Pity. and is animal between distinction earthy substances substances follows : Animal are as gold, mercury, iron. substances are silver, lead, copper, Earthy divided into two categories,livingand dead. Among the livingare sulphur,arsenic,sal-ammoniac, and everything the
how
remember
"
"
"
which
bums
melts, and
or
spiritto depart. The dead things, comprehends bum, or give off vapours ; The substances." ground the
the
presence
to the
action
or
absence
of heat
"
of
of which
second all that for
fire
cause
category, that of does not melt, or
example,
of distinction
chalk is
combustibility,or
^fireis taken
can
to
be the
and
like
evidently response
principle
ALCHEMY"
218
of life.
ITS
result is crude, but
The
though in
natural,
save
between
elements
more
far
so
and
ROMANCE
full of
promise. The triad, Elements, Principles, less subtle, is really much
alchemist
characteristic
Essence,
AKD
SCIENCE
it led
as
the
to
up
distinction
compounds.
Byzantine example is full of interest, not only the score of its astrological flavour, but also, and on of the singular medley of hits and chiefly,because With misses. one are exception, the substances the metals. Under lead grouped \mder (Saturn) A
tin
stones
similar
of the
is the
the
emerald
but
honour;
merely a silver (Luna)
it is
that under The
reasons
but
the
attracted
for most
appear
Under
carbon, and
incense.
metal
the
gold most
of these
plain
variety
a
emerald
mastic.
(This place of
in the as
metal,
a
so
precedence.) Lastly, glass and white eartlius.
appear
heads
Under
of
matter
is
is not
regarded
was
intention
groupings
^to group
"
of
are
under
substances
obscure, hensive compre-
which
had
attention
Paracelsus harmonies
white
(Mars)
quicksilver, amber,
appear
in which
case
iron
pyrites. (A good hit.)
(Venus) appear honey, myrrh, sal-ammoniac, (Mercury)
materials.
(The conjunction of precious stones. is strikingI) Under carbon copper pearls, amethyst, bitumen, sugar,
and
diamond
Under
hyacinth, diamond,
(Sol)appear
like
coal, sulphur and
enamel.
to
and
magnet
brilliant
other
(Jupiter)appear
Under
the
and
litharge, agate,
appear
which Soul
by specialqualitiesor activities. three-fold set a propounded secured
wide
acceptance
Body
Mercury
Spirit Sulphur
Water
Air
Earth
Salt
:
"
of
ADVANCES
This
was
reversion
a
Fortimately
to
of
speak
with
alkalies,
special to
being build.
building modem
treatise
was
a
found
us
came
chemistry.
which
now
the in
about
the how
"
of
next
A
chapter
alchemy
in
actual
a
regard method,
and
the
rest,
wrote
that
is,
advance.
science
of
saw,
experiment slow,
though
the
data
we
fact
learning
and
the
as
The
with
as
real, on
Let
salts.
on
and
metals, for
respect
and
quietly
were
acids,
Valentine,
classification,
there
to
Basil
experience.
mysticism.
distinctions,
salts,
approach
some
adepts
sounder
making
219
obscurantist
to
sober
more
gradually
DISCOVERIES
AND
basis
could
future
see
developed
was
how
this into
V V
CHAPTER
TRANSITION
is
the
^
under
the
At the break
slew
me,
after
to
me
am
of
with
crushes
with
my calcined
spiritis bom
that
I
his teeth
Seized with terror, I
in the
me
'
?
the
;
While
mutilate
and awoke, reflected,
fire,
body.
blood, and
fall to
and
seized
head, he mixed
like
him
saw
me.
into morsels
with me
oppresses his eyes became
who
me
skin from
flesh and
all his flesh.
himself
a
was
sword, divided
that the
me
saw
having
cup,
of the power which there came a workman
a
the
priestspoke thus, tear
a
I
approached. The priest the priestof the sanctuary, and I
day
is the power
vomited
of
weight
with
teach
That
it
"
alchemy.
altar in form
an
havmg lifted the
bones
my
I
:
Zosimus, the oldest of
a
prieststandingbefore several stepsby which am
CHEMISTRY
from passage writers on known
HERE answered
MODERN
TO
the he
himself,
the
ground. asked myself
I And reallythe composition of water. congratulatedmyself on having divined rightly." Compare this symbolicaljargonwith the directions of chemistry. Can there manual given in a modem if this
be
a
is
from
passage
undertaken
a
one
tempted
to
the
other ?
sympathetic study
aims, doctrines,and be
to
answer
methods, in the 220
we
Had
of the should
negative.
we
not
alchemists'
assuredly But
we
are
TRANSITION in
now
position to
a
from
passage
"
the
CHEMISTRY
iinderstand
that
Zosimus
there
221
in the
strange
allusions
are
real
to
calcinations, fermentations, dissolutions^
operations and
MODERN
TO
It
rest.
these
was
underlying experiences
of their cleared gradually seized upon, obscurities, and given a place in an ordered scheme. The For long drawn out, but inevitable. process was
that
were
Nature
men's
differences
and so
on
presses
attention her
among
suggests larger inductions
and
phenomena, and wider tions. generalisawayward strivings
presuppositions and and of gradually corrected inquirers are modem Facts chemistry carry the day, and The
nesses like-
fundamental
curbed. to
comes
the birth.
Difficulty
When
a
in
scientist
modem
alchemy, it may adequately realised old the
chemists brilliant
Elements.
discovebino
is
surmised
be the
laboured. discoveries
chemists, Lavoisier, there
that
he
difficulties under
Right down made by not
were
of
contemptuous
to
not
which
the
the
the any
has
days
of
greatest of known
fixed
starting-pointsfor synthesis or as goals for analysis. It was thought that all matter and is endlesslytransformable, backwards forwards. tail was The serpent bitingits own a legitimate symbol of the doctrine imiversallyaccepted. Hence problems for that the to us are quite straightforward were and complex. alchemists hopelesslybaffling mentioned I Take a simple case by Berthelot. elements
quote his iron, say
to
serve
as
own
statement
one
of the
of it. oxides
so
"I
have
widely
mineral
of
distributed
in
a
I treat
nature.
metallic
SCIENCE
it with
iron.
of fire and of
ITS
ALCHEMY"
222
But
with,
Where
judge by
and
with
start
is the
easily?
so
in
product
resistance
great chemist who
had
the
not
and
who
atmosphere changes.
of the the
Or sound
take
the
pr
the
for the
weighing
5 lbs. into
and
the
slow
action
the
of
state
an
iron
which
appears dis-
ma
k
con-
kr
not
concerned
which
to account
action
of d
did
Van
growth 200
watered
in
explanation of
an
puzzled and
investigatoras
an
a
means
was
case
quick
realises h
Berthelot
element,
an
en
it
as
give
can
the
o
the
seem
far
to
it the
agents of every
to
tyro nowadays those
at
would so
Is
is it the
is found
elementary body last
? Or
I obtain
analogous to, the primitive primordial element, if we
or
appearances
by by
back
passes
ROMANCE
chalk, and
air, or
with
atmospheric agents,
generator.
and
carbon
this in its turn,
in contact
oxide, identical
AND
of
misled when
Helmont, a
He
plant.
lbs. of earth
so
even
he
put
a
tried
willow
previously
dried
regularly. At the end of five years he found the plant weighed 169 lbs.,whereas the earth, after redrying, had lost only 2 ozs. in weight. in
an
What
oven,
was
knowing dioxide
he the
it
to conclude
?
real nature
of water,
absorbed
therefore, seemed
from to
the be
He
had
the
not nor
of the
atmosphere.
irrefutable
that
of
means
carbon
His
answer,
the
164
lbs.
woody matter, leaves, roots, and so forth, were That is to say, the water to produced by the water. all appearance had been changed into a variety of of
*
Lea
de I'Alchimir,p. 283. OrigiTtea
TRANSITION solid substances to
alchemical
which
the
with
modem
scientist
and
facts.
modest
A
realise
to
Discovery It will between
of
now
be
the
old
of the
doctrine
be
a
be
to
Elements
the
the
in
view
sounder of
ease
gained
a
accumulation
Boyle
*
doctrine. were
For
of matter.
the
basis
the
the
was
old, matter
the
the
new,
ultimates. advance
Let to
in almost
As
elements
four
and
three of
"
school
had
had
decided
substituted
conception from
these
both
for
of
"
an
element
"
which
was
old
these the was
duced intronot
accepted. The alchemists as compoimds ; he inclined to the simple. He adopted the theory
that
regarded the metals belief that they were
and classifications,
the
how
Boyle, on original experiments,
and
many
not
there
air, fire,and
^salt,sulphur, mercury.
his
far removed
Greeks
earth, water,
"
his
dissatisfied with a
the
how
saw
the
every
discovery,the final result was boimd, but by successive steps, and by of guiding experiences. of the first to question the one was
We
Paracelsus the
difference
scientific at
or
alchemist
an
chemistry
brought about.
was
proud
crucial
the
new
outline, how
broad
of
^Boyle.
"
for indefinitelytransmutable ; fixed and imchangeable elements were see,
with
then, of
amount,
was
us
forced
fool.
apparent that
nature
thus
was
enable
that
the
and
228
quite in harmony yet grievously out
was
necessarilyto
not
CHEMISTRY
imagination should
historical
cynical
clever
A
doctrine,
harmony
was
1
conclusion
a
MODERN
TO
*
now
See
p. 58.
ALCHEMY"
224
of
ITS
which
atoms,
he
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
regarded
particlesof small parcels
small
as
"
^^
different
shapes and sizes,imited into that the alchemist not easilyseparated,and contended elements not are simple bodies, but are built up of In this way particlesmore simple than themselves. he came and element to distinguishbetween a an compound in a manner quite opposed to the older doctrine conception, and in line with the chemical of the present day. He also realised that a true compound must
involves "
confused
"
between
been
with
intimate
peculiarand
a
affinities
he gave
be
not
kind
substances.
followed
the
mixture, since it
a
of action
Had
the
due
to
fine lead
period might much curtailed. have been The phlogiston theory, however, intervened, and, though by no means wholly in this particular mischievous, retarded progress up,
transition
direction.
Discovery One
of the greatest bars
all gaseous
that
ancient
the
to
way
degrees
doctrine
of the part combustion.
The
belief
the
essentiallyalike, purity. That is to say,
as
of gases
played by men,
was
were
of
of air
knowledge
a
to progress
substances
in
differingonly
Gases.
of
element
an
blocked
generally,and, oxygen
the
quently, conse-
in the process
therefore, who
of
first solved
problems presented by the constituents of the atmosphere occupy on places of specialhonour the scientists' roll of fame, and have the fullest right the
to
difficult
be
called the
of modem
chemistrv.
truth
not
gained
all at
much-neglected pioneer,John
Mayow,
bom
Needless once.
A
founders
to
say,
the
was
TRANSITION in
TO
1645, advanced
mentioned
CHEMISTRY
MODERN far
on
the
road.
He
225
is not
even
in
Encyclopcediasor ordinary Biographical Dictionaries, and yet he was evidently a genius who accomplished some strikingresults. He firmlygrasped substance the fact that the atmosphere contained some concerned in combustion, in or principlewhich was the of calcining of metals, and in the conversion into arterial blood. He called it spiritus venous ignO' and also, by virtue of having found it in saltpetre, aereus^ It is singularthat his discoveries nitro-aereus. did attention. not rouse more Perhaps his early not death, at the age of thirty-four, only put an end to further of observations, but precluded the chance his work A
becoming known.
later
for years
scientist,Stephen Hales
held
the
of
cure
(1677-1761),who nate fortumore Teddington, was
in
able to conmiunigaining attention, for he was cate his results to the Royal Society. His papers make it evident that he must have prepared a considerable number of gaseous substances ^hydrogen, carbonic acid, carbonic oxide, sulphur dioxide, marsh gas, and others but he did not break through the charmed circle of the traditional teaching. He thought that the differences between these gases were caused by the which were tincturing of air with substances more "
"
"
or
"
less accidental.
fact that
there
until towards
are
The
various
first clear kinds
recognition
of gases
did not
of the come
the close of the
eighteenthcentury, when Joseph Black, a professor of chemistry in Glasgow and carbonic acid, and Edinburgh, studied definitely separated
it from
the
protean element,
this advance, discoveries that
eccentric
"
air."
After
dish, quickly. Cavengenius, distinguishedhimself by came
more
ALCHEMY"
226
his accurate on
observations
hydrogen.
His
his
was
two
!
gases
dethroned
SCIENCE
ITS
ROMANCE
same
also
and
gas,
brilliant achievement, that
discovery
of the
blow
another
"
this
on
most
Another
AND
is
water "
ancient
ever, howof
composed "
elements
was
levelled at the alchemist
was
ideas of matter.
Priestley
Joseph still
(1733-1804).
scored was revolutionary success by the famous Joseph Priestley. The title of his chief Observations is Experiments and work on Different Kinds His chief attention devoted at first was of Air. A
to
more
adid
carbonic and
by him, It is
"
of
is not
he
He
oxygen.
experiment
endeavoured se
to
and
;
lens, air
I
was
the
as
is
"
:
the
On
extract
thus
1st
of
air from
more
than
in this was
I
by
it.
well express
can
air with
utterlyat
the
with with
our
the
describes
I
August, 1774,
mercuritis
caldnattis
of this presentlyfoimd that, by means expelled from it very readily. Having
imbibed
not
was
credited
He
mercury.
air
believed
experimenting
was
the
that
alchemists
now
got about three or four times as water materials, I admitted my it
detected
were
establish
first to
all, he
friend, oxidised
fateful
per
the
was
Above
be.
discovery of old
gases
of
simple substance,
a
it to
methods
new
that
asserts
other
many
examining them devised. generallyacknowledged that he merits the the father of pneumatic chemistry." Thorpe
now
name
but
;
a a
much to
But was,
as
it,and what
that
to
account
foimd
of
that
surprised me a
remarkably vigorous
loss how
the bulk
candle
burned
flame.
for it."
I ...
TRANSITION
MODERN
TO
Priestleyhimself, in spiteof independence of mind, did
CHEMISTRY his marked
227
originality
quite escape from ideas. He of alchemistic the influence thought of built up, so to speak, of propertieswhich matter as He could be stripped off or added. was, moreover, by his sorely hindered in arriving at sound deductions unquestioning acceptance of the phlogiston theory. notable a Nevertheless, his work impulse to a gave to and reformed expanded chemistry which was soon Let us again observe, banish the old ideas for ever. of alchemy in passing, how largely the overthrow the investigationof gases, more turned on especially As of oxygen. Thorpe puts it, the discovery of and the recognition of the part it plays in the oxygen, to explain, which phlogistonwas invoked phenomena in chemical of one the termination mark era history This seems to be a the beginning of another." and than Muir's when of putting the case he sounder way that destined to was Priestley'sdiscovery says change Alchemy into Chemistry." For there were contributing influences,as we have seen above many the spirit infused greatest being, perhaps, the new by Boyle which led to the study of chemical affinity, of the balance, and careful analysis,the use to more of generally. Nevertheless, quantitative methods than pardonable. is more enthusiasm Muir's and
not
"
"
"
Lavoisier
Priestley,then, existence grasp
of oxygen
(1748-1794). the
was as
a
first
separate gas
of his great the full significance
to ;
recognise the but
he did not
discovery.
The
ALCHEMY"
228
ITS
SCIENCE is due
theory of combustion chemist^ Lavoisier, who true
communists
in the
Revolution. he
adopted,
not
enter;
the
to
murdered
was
reign of
great French first French
details of the methods
of combustion process belong rather to the
of the
or
they
French
the
by
of the
terror
the technical
Into
ROMANCE
AND
need
we
of
history
far with them so chemistry,and we are only concerned of alchemy. The central as they led to the overthrow fact is this. the of burning are AU ordinary cases of the burning substance results of the union with the of the atmosphere. Calcination is thus a kind oxygen of combustion
and
gas,
it takes
the
metal
thereby increases up. main
The time
in that
point to be chemistry
onwards
its
the
weight by
seized
science
a
amount
From
is this.
became
this
with
combines
of
his exact
not True, Lavoisier was quantUative measurements. the originator of the use of the balance in chemical his teaching that gave it an investigations ; but it was An method. indispensableplace in soimd example
his
from
own
also to show
value, and an
idea
Greek
was
condensed that
water
we
to
as
in the
is
did
not
put
it to
be
can
obtained
evaporated to
the
test
distilled water
in
when in
into
a
"
air
can
be
fallingdew,"
solid,as
in Van
the
growing willow, or in even carefully distilled
glass vessels.
this doctrine. of
of
of
century.
that
seen, case
changed from
argument
assent
have
its
rejectionof
earliest times
nineteenth
to the
as
residue
the
prevailed from
water,
illustrate
to
it led to the
believed, water
Helmont's the
had
that
both
serve
how
philosophy down
It
and
of it will
use
He
Now
Lavoisier
determined
to
experiment. So he hermetically sealed glass vessels a
decisive
TRANSITION which
and
before
weighed
were
steps of his argument
The
CHEMISTRY
MODERN
TO
after
the
operation.
typical of
so
are
229
the
new
given seriatim. solid residue (theearth)does not come from 1. The outside the vessel ; for the total weight of the vessel and its contents is unchanged.
methods
that
The
2.
the
they
does
earth
weight of the experiment.
the
The
8.
earth
vessel loses in The
4.
the
weight
of the
earth
that
vessel
separated from
core
solution
or
gas
But
is an there are
names
"
is
is
a
mere
the
practicallyequal
"
it follows
only
be
can a
is not
by evaporation,
given to
the
vessels in which
elements
water
to
of which
the
very is
water
anything but themselves become True, liquidwater can turned
in the a
these
Elements.
change
alteration
from
be
never
"
to
evaporated."
hydrogen. solid
a
this
there but
can
and
oxygen a
is
rain-water
of the
The
matter.
constituted
after
vessel, because
the
experiment just given brings us
of the
and
greater part, possiblythe whole
the
Unchanging The
for
;
formed.
concludes,
collected and
been
has
of the
Lavoisier
to the
water
vessel, because
wholly from
comes
weight
is due
the before
same
the
from
comes
loss in
of the earth
from
come
is the
water
the
experiments
not
weight.
earth
Hence,
be
may
into
ice.
of substance
propertiesof
the substance,
three
accident, due
or
of states not
substance.
new
the
into steam
"
states to
"
That
;
different
^ice, water,
their-^commonness
steam
in
ALCHEMY"
280
Thus
nature.
"molten"
form^ similar
"
"
iron
elements
we
untU
it
of
it is in
vaporised
that
be
cannot "
words,
own
the
"
as
the
iron, or is
substance
If
better
the
apply
we
than
stated
in
term
principlesto bodies to express our idea of point which analysisis capable of reaching,we
admit, able
are
as
to
elements, all substances reduce
consider
we
bodies
entitled
are
we
which
know
We
name.
"
call it
speak
we
heated
ROMANCE
or
last
that
should
doctrine
new
Lavoisier's
must
melted
be
if it be
we
AND
throughout.
The
the
SCffiNCE
if iron
iron;
gaseous some
ITS
to
which
by decomposition. Not
affirm
simple
as
into
that may
these not
substances
themselves
be
of a greater number of compounded of two, or even more simple principles; but since these principles be separated, or have not cannot rather, since we of separating them, they the means hitherto discovered ought are, with regard to us, simple substances, and we them to suppose never compounded until experiment have proved them and observation to be so." Lavoisier this in 1789, but it remains wrote substantiallytrue. Mellor, in his Modem Inorganic Chemistry^quotes the with complete approval, and summarises it passage "
thus
:
know,
element
contains
Thus chemical was
An
it
is
only
composition a
for
the
held
by
clear
really involves certain quantitiesof
substance kind
one
that
was
substituted
a
notion
which,
so
far
as
we
of matter." vague,
fluid
the
chemists
old
of what
such
ideas
of
there
tion composi-
peculiarlyintimate union of different and unchanging kinds The fact that the proportionsin which the of matter. take combinations can place are not haphazard, but definite, is a discovery of fundamental importance "
a
CHEMISTRY
MODERN
TO
TRANSITION
281
actions to represent chemical possible need equations. But we by mathematically exact It is not here inquireinto this further development. the general refinement on a generalprinciple. And a science its complete for the new won principle, by itself, and lastingvictory.
which
renders
it
Alchemist Atoms
are
Transmutation for
now
abandoned.
ultimates,
the
us
And practicalchemistry is concerned. composed of definite unchangeable kinds far as our manipulation of them can be is insistence
of
fabrication
early days been
the
between
difference the
this truth
on
transmutation
Hermetic who
had
had
little influence
It
the radical and
From
onwards,
so
the
there
had
the
possibility intuitive sceptisicm,
Such
transmutation.
of
effective.
of metals
doubts
cast
are
of matter,
substances. art
as
atoms
constitutes
compound
of the
individuals
that
far
so
on
the
theory or the It was the gradual accumulation practiceof alchemists. of facts, culminating in the work of Lavoisier, that at last bore all before it. No longer do adepts substances their labour to strip from supposed or desired. superinducethose more separablequalities, No virtues and longer do they search for hidden essences by the commingling of which they may speed perfection and procure up a natural growth towards The modem the perfect metal. adept goes to work however,
in very
different that
Jle examines
fashion.
certain the
of
his
He
on
starts
materials
propertiesof
these
with
the
ledge know-
are
unalterable.
with
unwearying Q
ALCHEMY"
282
exactness
of
and
glamour his
see
gold. to
be
alchemists
learns
;
them^
no
tin But
SCIENCE
ITS
how
how to
build
lures
longer
he
discovered could
into
knows than
ever
silver,
there
that
He
on.
even
imagine.
are
the
compounds The
ones.
new
up him
transmuted
existing
analyse
to
ROMANCE
AND
expects
never
or
far most
ancient
his
into
copper
greater
daring
to
marvels of
the
CHAPTER
VI
OUTLOOK
THE
old
THE
natural
it
be
may
conclude
clearly.
"It
who
knoweth
well
superinduce
form
of
that
of
grains of
through of
of
the
thing
any
transmuting form
?
been and
An
several
it is
raised
point
fitting should
*
AdvancemerU
its
knowledge the
With
233
will and
p.
75.
that a
be
the of
few
other
or
is
the
to
among
future,
a
triumph
of Learning,
and
in
therefore,
problem
rest,
than
should
has
of
the
quicksilver
alchemy
solving
apparatus.
of
he
Colour,
nature
rehearsed,
Bacon,
that
of
belongeth
projected sea
that
hammer,
the as
the
puts
fire, and
the
afore
a
of
the
of
mechanique
*
Weight,
metal
some
medicine
growth
of
of
time,
probable,
respect
natures
his
more
regard
turn
of
of
nature
in
in
gold."
chances the
;
the
conceive
who the
the
time
into
those
preceded
a
such
the
of
production
material
there
defensible
has
upon
gold by
moments
is
Fixed
and
may
some
of
hope
has
Fragile
and
Volatile
the
standpoint
the
from
Pliant
Are
of
course
a
study.
case
of
dead.
question
consideration
our
Bacon,
by
this
what
in
matter
more
some
to
answer
fuller
a
in
revived
suggested
that
is that
anticipating
affirmative times
perfecting
development
for
grounds
of
idea
and
increased
ment improvethe
atomic
ALCHEMY"
284
ITS
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
AND
came a theory of matter period of eclipse. Scientists decided the enthusiasticallyconcluded they had question in the negative. Further discoveiy and been reflection proved them to have too hasty ; and find no less an authority than Faraday writing as we "
follows
There
:
doctrine
of the
number
of atoms
was
time
a
this fundamental
when
alchemists
(that of transmutation) was no longer so analogies. It is now opposed to known opposed to them, only some stages beyond their brilliant of most This present development." * modem discoverers deliberatelyranges himself on the transmutationists. side of the Has anything since the belief ? would to light that come again weaken Rather is the contrary to be emphatically asserted. The in its favour. The trend of discovery is distinctly of the atomic theory is rigidityof the older form rapidly disappearing,if it has not quite disappeared ; and scientists are feelingtheir way out into worlds existence of which the very not was suspected by had those who to a system comfortably settled down the unalterable of physics which was going to coimt
The At
so
are
the present time
far
as
elements
hold
be
to
There
would is the "
are,
on
some
different of
eighty elements kinds
of matter,
distinguishingthem
however,
last word
Lectures
are
maintain
now
Ultimates.
not
there
existingmeans
determine. who
universe.
Elements
chemists
which
in the
few, if any,
that
of science
Non-Metallic
the on
can
ties authori-
recognition of the
Elements, p. lOG.
tdtimatc
OUTLOOK
THE nature
of
against
such
Tilden, for
matter.
"
conclusion.
a
235
example^
The
us
warns
molecular
(atomic)
theory has been adopted in a somewhat rigid form, not of any of my by reason own specialconviction scientific truth, but as a regarding its permanence because I am satisfied by long experience that, whatever form it may it is even a now ultimately assume, almost most important and indispensable aid to More teaching chemistry." * recently Soddy, who strongly emphasises the persistenceof the elements, the atoms without have Ireason not affirming that "
been
termed
the
nevertheless to
a
foundation
looks
time
when
forward,
science
"
has
forms
"
place ; fact
f
been
imagined
and
contents
"
that
far,
so
available
rendered
of
indications
no
a
the constancy
then the
able
He
to
at use
be
the
out
and
sun
to
that, the
at
hot
into
simpler be taking and may with recording the highest temperature
of the
electric furnace,
of the writes
of the chemical
directly,
pull them
to
elements
transmutation Whetham
see
points
the
in
universe,"
"
:
elements Some
elements
was,
is
years in the
knowledge, a law of Nature. Latterly, phenomena of radioactivityhave forced us to of
state
that
believe
.
.
occur."
.
Recent
%
inimical to
be
the
the
shall
we
himself
even
by
yet forthcoming." ago
of
dissociation
as
may
them. pieces and construct the dazzling temperatures
stars,
of the
stones
true
transmutations
of
science, then, is far
from
matter
being
hope that the elements may be reduced And simpler kind, or kinds, of substance.
to
some
*
t
the
Introd. Matter
J Recent
to
Chemical
Philosophy (1876),p. vii
and
Energy, p. 143. Development of Physical Science
(1904), p. 36.
ITS
ALCHEMY"
286
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
of transmutation possibility ? Lord Kelvin, indeed, in 1907, challenged the inferences then being drawn from radioactivity; but his objectionswere countered in the course effectively of the proceedings at which his pronouncement was made subsequent discoveries have overthrown ; and
what
is this but
to allow
the
them.
Isomerism The
idea
the
of
separable things,to was
truth.
two
united, there a
substance
until
element. was
Now
what
into
action
But
atoms
into
recent
one
from
taken
different
so
quite
character
be
comes
that
alchemists
erroneous.
When
Allotbopism.
and
times The of the
quaUties added
or
it has
its
of
chemically
hydrogen are being a molecule it
of water
held
to
be
a
"
that
its constituents
was
stances, sub-
measure
of
from
to
are
mental funda-
discovery of its compound science. triumphs of the new
combination the chemical happens when takes atoms place ? Do the hydrogen and oxygen gain or lose certain qualitieswhich are separablefrom them? certain Not at all. They merely manifest qualitieswhich they all along possessed, but could exercise until they were not brought into this particular relation. So a man all the qualities have may of a good general ; but they cannot, such, be put as unless
fact leads
This
he
is in relation
us
to
to
realise that,
an even
themselves
army.
absolutely unchangeable, their be altered qualitiesmay by bringing them relations
"
say, there
:new
is
a
substances kind
may
of transmutation
appear.
atoms
were
apparent into
That
new
is to
possibleby giving
OUTLOOK
THE forms
new
set
to what
bomids
shall
how
say
elements of
These Chemists demonstrate
not
the
who
accomplished substances
?
shall
Who called
now
be, in reality, exceptionallystable
? simpler constituents not merely academic. questions are do of cases which actually know clearly of grouping alters properties, that form the
when
even
of
And
atoms.
be thus
may
many
may
groups
groupings of
to the
287
substances
contain
the
atoms
same
qualities. They have concluded of a molecule that the atoms are so arranged definitely that of them two no can change places without When two alteringthe propertiesof the substance. or more compounds are identical in their percentage composition but differ in their properties,they are isomeric said to be (" composed of equal parts "). Mellor Ammonium gives the following example : nitrate and hydroxylamine nitrite are two different substances with the same ultimate composition, the furnish nitrous molecular both same weight, and oxide and heated. the similarity There when water almost ends. salts The general propertiesof the two in the
relative
same
"
are
so
that
very the
different
that
constitution
there
of the
is little room
molecules
for doubt
must
be
quite
different." But alone
;
this
principledoes
it is foimd Certain
forms
with
of
to
be
them
not
refer
true
of the
may
exist
to.
compounds
elements in
two
selves. themor
more
distinctly different properties. Such forms said to be aUotropic. Carbon furnishes are a notable example. There is the amorphous form such is obtained from there and as are burning wood; two crystallineforms, graphite or black lead, and
ALCHEMY"
238 the
ITS
diamond.
different
than
diamond And
Could
and
yet their ultimate
And
the
diamond
mass." and
and
that
the
and
electric
swells up
well-known
same.
into
instances
a
are
of
out
arc,
like coke-
oxygen
differingforms of phosphorus and of sulphur, it would case seem even
number
of
allotropicforms the
in the
?
two
the
the
In
sulphur.
of the other
absolutelythe
are
heated
Other
ozone,
atoms
air, blackens
with
contact
blackness
opaque
"
ROMANCE
AND
anything be more startlingly liquid, glancing, transparent
the the
SCIENCE
"
atoms
in
the
molecules
of
the
amorphous, plastic,crystalline "
is
!
same
Now
these
facts
suggest wider
applications. May it not be possibleto modify simple bodies which are physicallyalien (so to speak) in such fashion that one Oxygen and sulphur might may pass into the other ? fall into
such
mutual
have
the
same
atomic
alike
in
most
of
their
relations.
nickel
and
weights (within a fraction),are properties, and
produce two So, also, gold, platinum
of
parallelseries
Cobalt
compounds. and iridium are remarkably alike, and suggest that fimdamental matter by the same they are constituted different
with would
arrangements be
of atoms.
outlook
The
altogetherhopeless. It must be granted, however, that such reciprocal genesis have to be accomplished by some would operation of order than in our to now quite another any power to
seem
not
execute.
Natural
The
Families
considerations
question on
a
grander
last scale.
of
Elements.
adduced All the
raise
known
a
larger
elements
OUTLOOK
THE have which
fitted
been
now
themselves
are
symmetrical anomalies
a
series
of
by
close
miited
relations.
what
with
The
the
groups
and
almost
interference
of
outstanding
fact
is in accordance
Periodic
exceptions, which
the
family
classification
called
is
and
evidence
into
289
The
Law.
serious,
not
are
secondary perturbation the general plan not yet discovered ; but is clear, and profoundly suggestive. It is even of definite enough to allow of predictingthe existence unknown elements, and describing their chief properties. Now
the
some
all this
in
is that
of
united into find atoms gradated relationship. We substances of compound with closelyrelated groups that the result is due to the properties,and we know in definite proportions. building up of these atoms And
when
that
see
we
the
fall into
themselves
atoms
possessing likewise closely related pulsory, properties,it is eminently reasonable, if not comthat to assume they are built up of subThat is to say, they are decompo not atoms. ultimate, innot things, but composite ; they were have into but come always what they now are, The inference is being by a constructive process. In the obvious. they great laboratory of Nature similar
groups,
be
made
discover
the
can
and
unmade
;
and
conditions
and tmmake they too can make as Soddy says, difficultymay, And the possibilityis there. thrown is and
a
upon
second
the
old alchemist
nature,
compendiously
and
and the
scientists
means
be thus
The
prodigious; but a new light is
dictum
nature
can
necessary,
elements.
the
imitateth
which
if
that
that
"
Vulcan
dexterously worketh
by
240
ALCHEMY"
ambages for
a
and
length alchemy.
new
ROMANCE
AND
SCIENCE
ITS
*
of time."
is
There
goal
a
Radioactivity.
Even the
at
were
close of last century,
claimingthat in
a
opening
century in consequence
of the
The
by what
radium
is familiar to most
retold.
Nor
radical
need
modifications
doctrines
of matter
the
present bodies.
radioactive
the
of us,
the
enormously
of
discovered
Curie need
and in
detail
the
scientific
into
the
which
conclusions
be
here
not
any
introduced
by
be
astoimding phenomena
consider
we
could
term,
years
Madame
and
tion, transmuta-
was
case
called
are
M.
story of how
the
But
in justified
be
of that
sense
known
was
of possibility
rationallydefended. strengthened in the manifested
should
we
belief in the
modernised
a
to what
to limit ourselves
we
fact
of
radioactivity compels. Let us simply try to grasp the main facts in so far as they bear on our specialsubject. In the first place,let it be clear that chemists have not given up their eighty elements ; they still rightly hold to them But their working ultimates. they as mental. no can longer point to their science as being fundaFor the
from Certain eyes,
The
of
atoms
cannot
in the process
of slow
familiar
most
"
element
pour "
considered,
has
no
forth
a
is
no
is that
true
under
of
Its
Bacon, Advancement
atoms
into
of Learning, p.
very
radium, which
simpler never-ceasing stream
down
our
disintegration.
element, then
meaning.
even
unchangeable.
spontaneous
instance
breaking They
be
practicalstandpoint, to be them be actuallyseen, can
(as Soddy says) if it "
now
69.
the are
word tinuously con-
substances. of
energy
OUTLOOK
THE
241
and its pace, relaxes quickens nor able to unaffected are by any agents we is And since the composition of these atoms
which
neither
which
is
employ. the Between is in process. changing, transmutation the last of the products there and originalradium some are thirty transitional forms, each with its own dejftnite characteristics But
last for to
us
I
this is not
all.
Radium
than
2000
years.
more
a
with
the
there
are
long time, of
age any
be
of
is
the
a
mere
earth.
these
atoms
atoms,
the average,
on
This, though relatively
nothing
comparison
is it, then,
How in
in
existence
?
that There
Scientists is it ? supply-source. What in another are practicallyagreed that this is found radioactive Radium itself is a body, uranium. ! Other product of transmutation products of the serial disintegrationare inert gas, and helium, an Without further (almost certainly)lead. explication, have here four recognised elements therefore, we not uranium, radium, helium, lead" which are only of groups members periodically related to each connected of other, but are by a known process All this is strangely in agreement transmutation. must
a
"
"
the alchemists
what
with
prophesy what not physics may to
after
us
This the
mind
"
aimed
at.
Who
triumphs of structural be won by those who
shall venture
chemistry are
to
or
come
?
question of
is not
a
rhetorical
one,
occurring to
simply reflects on what others have accomplished, and gives rein to his imagination. he is a man Professor is who Soddy puts it. And activity distinguishedfor first-hand practicalstudy of radioand for solid discovery. He writes thus: one
who
ALCHEMY"
242 "
Let
the
consider
us
of
problem of the
attempt of
oimce
element
a
in the
and
energy
the
the
involved.
element
of the
On
light of persent knowledge
alchemist
heavy
oimce
other
ROMANCE
AND
transmutation,
that
coal, so
bought.
SCIENCE
like silver would
expenditure of
ITS
like
gold
requirein of
all
hand,
from
gold if
an
lighter probabilitythe
would it
up
a
hundreds
some
of
build
To
the
what
see
of tons be
were
dearly possible
element to disintegratean with a heavier artificially than gold and produce gold from atom it, so great an of energy amoimt would probably be evolved that the The be of little account. gold in comparison would would be far more valuable than gold. Although energy of how mutation, transto set about we are as ignorant as ever it cannot that the knowledge be denied recentlygained constitutes a very great help towards its a understanding of the problem and proper ultimate tude accomplishment. We see clearlythe magnithe most of the task and the unsufficiency of even at our powerful of the means disposal in a way not before appreciated, and we have npw a clear perception of the tremendous issues at stake. wards Looking backhas already accomat the great things science plished, and at the steady growth in power and fruitf ulof scientific method, it can ness scarcelybe doubted that one and build to break down day we shall come in the laboratory as we break down now up elements and build up compounds, and the pulses of the world throb of strength as will then with source a new from at we immeasurably removed present any control as they in turn the natural from resources are of the human savage." * "
The
Interpretation of Radium,
pp.
237, 238.
OUTLOOK
THE
Elixir
The
an
not .an
the
the
of
what
But
which
Elixir
in
outlook
in the
of
hope
give health
and
discoverincr
longevity,if
That
be dismissed as surely must be acknowledged that Well, it must this regard is not nearly so hopeful as
for
case
Life.
of
alchemist's
should
immortality idle dream.
243
?
The
transmutation.
advances
made
healing art are wonderful, and have secured for life. But there is little expectation a longer average like the wholly new discovering some panacea
in the us
of
^then
they
of
results
is not
disease.
the
causes
old
inherent
processes
in
If
they
of
that
the
forth
so
general
death
and
age
an
are
organism,
the and
inevitable.
therefore
point of view together the
another
But
linked
alchemists
and
Stone
give
authorities
death
to
trace
can
is that
opinion, however,
one
it is due
few
a
atrophy, sclerosis of the arteries,and be forthcoming. The the remedy may
disease" "
if
right, and
not
that
contend
that
fate, but
inevitable
indeed,
are,
physicians who
among
are
There
Elixir.
famed
be
would the
power
to to
of the
ideas
other.
transmute,
of
The
and
taken.
The
the
sopher's Philo-
held that to find
Elixir, and
the
find
be
may
so
Stone
would
would
put
men
possessionof virtues and influences exceeding those this into of normal modem experience. Translate find a key to unlock terminology. If scientists can of the atom, they will be in possession of the structure
in
supplies
boimdless knows found
that
but "
the whole
the
in
of
of these
some
life-force
forms
new
"
which
upward impulse
of
of forms
has
Who
energy. there
rendered
organic evolution
may
be
possible ?
The
ALCHEMY"
244
ITS
speculationis than
more
a
in it that
SCIENCE
ROMANCE
It must
daring one. speculation. a
is contrary
AND
And
claim
not
yet there
is
to
be
nothing
^nothing,even, that of harmony is out with positive science. And thus once again we acknowledge that Hermetic may which philosophers had glimpses of possibilities may For if the primal mysterious lifeyet be realised. force can be brought under fail to be control, it cannot exploited for the healing of disease and the warding off of decay. to
reason
"
Conclusion.
The
long story has
future
the final
verdict
seize
on
its
to mercy,
of
not
?
he will temper
on
of
false
The
its
be
by
an
devotion useless
The
simplicityin subject matter of the phenomena studied this fact be kept in mind,
Would
in the issued
of
with
have he
If not,
alchemist
rested
expression
should
art.
advantage
inclined
man
a
astrology? astrologerissued
chemistry.
our
its follies and
his sentence
lore of the
be
into
will
If he
and
shall
of
case
lore of the
of astronomy. science
a
glance
superficialjudge
errors,
a
A
What
A
fanatical
so
in the
thus The
ventured.
will condenm.
wasted
decide
unfolded.
alchemy? superstitionsand
regret that
been
been
been
on
He
frauds.
has
why
science in the
comparative the
men
who
the
Let spangled heavens. and a justerverdict will be quences errors were mostly the consepronoimced. The of the extraordinarycomplexity and subtlety of chemical a
actions, and
of adherence
to the
misleading philosophy. and large-minded judge A generous
the
follies,will thrust
aside
will
tenets
of
disregard
the. charlatans, to fix his
OUTLOOK
THE
attention
dijBScult times thus
These
They
science;
with
catches
realised and
a
devices
ingenious which
basis
a
host
of
to
modest
work
who
have
of human
human
of
It is
be
must
that
by
assessed.
conjoining of
insight
of
which
genuine
discoveries
and
Nature
into
of the
alchemists
aright
the
in
the
on
fail
blazed
the
apply
to the
words
of its most
in
more
meed
our
trail
through
Hermetic
that
of
the
ft
dose Will
for
puts
also most
to my
tiemendous a
time
breast
debt
sea
the
into
set so
them.
to
those
who Let
mouth
of "
stoop
of oloud.
piercethe gloom."
END
lamp soon
or
us
reference,
erring,professors
; I press God's ; its splendour,
THE
to
broader
itself,with
Browning
dark
It is but
to
us
low-lyii^jungle.
"HI Into
our
gratitude
of
art
gifted,but
structive con-
passed through and beyond preconceived opinions, and have mountain slopes. But let open
narrow
emerged
will enable
of
large perspective,and
amount
the
valleys of
and
sympathy
imagination
ourselves, indeed, have
the
who
possibilitiesonly to be gained fuller knowledge
of
glimpses
dower
estimate
not
art
valuable that
We
us
stock
development
with
historical the
and
adequate equipment.
more
A
the
by workers
and
laboratory practice
for
;
dark
alchemists.
with
and
speculative thought furnished
of the
value credited
be
to
are
true
in
observed, the
to
the
were
the
that
work
and
added
and
on
knowledge.
inquirers who
experimented
handed
their
nobler
those
on
245
late.
one
BY
PBINTBD
WILLIAM
CLOWXS
BONDOH
AND
AND
LIMfnCD,
SOUS* BSCCLBS*
V .
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