登陆注册
4610900000050

第50章

Metals are nothing but Mercury digested by different degrees of heat."[1c] There is one difference, however, between these two writers, inasmuch as BERNARD says that "the Male and Female abide together in closed Natures; the Female truly as it were Earth and Water, the Male as Air and Fire." Mercury for him arises from the two former elements, sulphur from the two latter.[2c] And the difference is important as showing beyond question the _a priori_ nature of alchemical reasoning. The idea at the back of the alchemists'

minds was undoubtedly that of the ardour of the male in the act of coition and the alleged, or perhaps I should say apparent, passivity of the female. Consequently, sulphur, the fiery principle of combustion, and such elements as were reckoned to be active, were denominated "male," whilst mercury, the principle acted on by sulphur, and such elements as were reckoned to be passive, were denominated "female". As to the question of origin, I do not think that the palm can be denied to the mystical as distinguished from the phallic theory. And in its final form the doctrine of principles is incapable of a sexual interpretation.

Mystically understood, man is capable of analysis into two principles--since "body" may be neglected as unimportant (a false view, I think, by the way) or "soul" and "spirit" may be united under one head--OR into three; whereas the postulation of THREE principles on a sexual basis is impossible. JOANNES ISAACUS HOLLANDUS (fifteenth century)is the earliest author in whose works I have observed explicit mention of THREE principles, though he refers to them in a manner seeming to indicate that the doctrine was no new one in his day.

I have only read one little tract of his; there is nothing sexual in it, and the author's mental character may be judged from his remarks concerning "the three flying spirits"--taste, smell, and colour.

These, he writes, "are the life, soule, and quintessence of every thing, neither can these three spirits be one without the other, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one, yet three Persons, and one is not without the other."[1d]

[2a] Mr WAITE's translation, p. 79.

[1b] BERNARD, Earl of TREVISAN: _A Treatise of the Philosopher's Stone_, 1683. (See _Collectanea Chymica: A Collection of Ten Several Treatises in Chymistry_, 1684, p. 92.)[2b] _Ibid_., p. 91.

[1c] EDWARD KELLY: _The Stone of the Philosophers_.

(See _The Alchemical Writings of_ EDWARD KELLY, edited by A. E. WAITE, 1893, pp. 9 and 11 to 13.)[2c] _The Answer of_ BERNARDUS TREVISANUS, _to the Epistle of Thomas of Bononira, Physician to K. Charles the 8th_.

(See JOHN FREDERICK HOUPREGHT: _Aurifontina Chymica_, 1680, p. 208.)[1d] _One Hundred and Fourteen Experiments and Cures of the Famous Physitian_ THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS. _Whereunto is added . . . certain Secrets of_ ISAAC HOLLANDUS, _concerning the Vegetall and Animall Work_ (1652), pp.

29 and 30.

When the alchemists described an element or principle as male or female, they meant what they said, as I have already intimated, to the extent, at least, of firmly believing that seed was produced by the two metallic sexes. By their union metals were thought to be produced in the womb of the earth; and mines were shut in order that by the birth and growth of new metal the impoverished veins might be replenished.

In this way, too, was the _magnum opus_, the generation of the Philosopher's Stone--in species gold, but purer than the purest--to be accomplished. To conjoin that which Nature supplied, to foster the growth and development of that which was thereby produced;such was the task of the alchemist. "For there are Vegetables,"says BERNARD of TREVISAN in his _Answer to Thomas of Bononia_, "but Sensitives more especially, which for the most part beget their like, by the Seeds of the Male and Female for the most part concurring and conmixt by copulation; which work of Nature the Philosophick Art imitates in the generation of gold."[1]

[1] _Op. cit_., p. 216.

Mercury, as I have said, was commonly regarded as the seed of the metals, or as especially the female seed, there being two seeds, one the male, according to BERNARD, more ripe, perfect and active, the other the female.

"more immature and in a sort passive[2] ". . . our Philosophick Art,"he says in another place, following a description of the generation of man, " . . . is like this procreation of Man; for as in _Mercury_ (of which Gold is by Nature generated in Mineral Vessels) a natural conjunction [2] _Ibid_., p. 217; _cf_. p. 236 is made of both the Seeds, Male and Female, so by our artifice, an artificial and like conjunction is made of Agents and Patients."[1] "All teaching," says KELLY, "that changes Mercury is false and vain, for this is the original sperm of metals, and its moisture must not be dried up, for otherwise it will not dissolve,"[2] and quotes ARNOLD (_ob. c_. 1310) to a similar effect.[3] One wonders how far the fact that human and animal seed is fluid influenced the alchemists in their choice of mercury, the only metal liquid at ordinary temperatures, as the seed of the metals.

There are, indeed, other good reasons for this choice, but that this idea played some part in it, and, at least, was present at the back of the alchemists' minds, I have little doubt.

The most philosophic account of metallic seed is that, perhaps, of the mysterious adept "EIRENAEUS PHILALETHES," who distinguishes between it and mercury in a rather interesting manner.

He writes: "Seed is the means of generic propagation given to all perfect things here below; it is the perfection of each body;and anybody that has no seed must be regarded as imperfect.

Hence there can be no doubt that there is such a thing as metallic seed.... All metallic seed is the seed of gold;for gold is the intention of Nature in regard to all metals.

If the base metals are not gold, it is only through some accidental hindrance; they are-all potentially gold.

同类推荐
  • 南华真经拾遗

    南华真经拾遗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大方广佛华严经金师子章

    大方广佛华严经金师子章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四教颂

    四教颂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 平山冷燕

    平山冷燕

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Trail of the White Mule

    The Trail of the White Mule

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 快穿之系统嫌我太凶残

    快穿之系统嫌我太凶残

    遇到夏娅前,系统C-137的心愿是——绑定一个善良聪明的宿主,下副本、刷任务、虐渣、装逼打脸,没事升升级、点点技能,携手共创美好明天!遇到夏娅后,系统C-137的心愿变成了——妈妈呀,这个宿主好可怕,强行绑定我也就算了,居然还能切断我和母系统的联网?还有,这一个个副本还能更凶残点吗?不是见鬼就是末日什么的,哭唧唧~人家不要做单机系统,更不想掺和进宿主和母系统的隔空叫阵,人家只想回母星养老啦,嘤嘤嘤~~副本1:宿主每天都在见鬼副本2:宿主每天都在逃婚副本3:宿主每天都在打麻将副本4:宿主每天都在下毒副本5:宿主每天都在修仙……划重点:无cp!新坑已开,欢迎收藏养肥~《重生后我开起了黑店》拿了炮灰女配剧本的司甜死了一回,表示自己已经大彻大悟、看破红尘,无心掺和男女主甜甜的恋爱,整个人只想搞钱!然而,事情的发展似乎慢慢脱离了她设想的轨道……司甜百思不得其解:不是,我就是个开黑店的,对对对,就是那种心狠手辣、雁过拔毛、人过挨宰的黑店老板娘,你到底喜欢我什么?某人笑得志得意满:当然是喜欢时时刻刻都能制造惊喜的你(家的系统)啦!
  • 重生之毒妃风华

    重生之毒妃风华

    金陵山上。四周种满了白色的风铃草,微风拂过,仿佛在奏响一首优美的旋律。那山中一条蜿蜒的路仿佛一条盘踞的龙。金陵王朝每一位要登基的皇帝都会步行上金陵山,为百姓祈福,给自己正名。柳金祥身着明黄的龙袍,心情愉快的向着山上而去,不让人在周围跟着。司徒之妙一袭洁白的宫装,突然出现在刘金祥前面,挡住他的去路。只听见她声音沙哑的问:“陛下这是准备为自己正名了吗?”柳金祥没有想……
  • 勇士谷诺干:蒙古族英雄史诗(中华大国学经典文库)

    勇士谷诺干:蒙古族英雄史诗(中华大国学经典文库)

    本书反映了掠夺战争的缩影。把氏族公社解体前后的经济形态、思想意识、道德观念、宗教信仰和人情风俗等,做了形象的记录,真实的写照。故事情节单纯朴素,从容舒缓,中间穿插着大段的祝赞、浓笔重彩的铺写和诗意的描绘,大刀阔斧地塑造焕发着神异色彩的英雄形象。来自民间语言艺术融汇了诗歌凝炼、响亮的音乐美和散文质朴自然的特色,其独特的风格散发着浓郁的草原生活气息。
  • 男孩战争(2)

    男孩战争(2)

    《男孩战争》以回忆录的形式,讲述了四个70年代末出生的男孩在青春期的故事。王海洋,张跃扬,潘晓松和陈雅文是省重点中学初中的学生。学校里沉闷压抑的气氛让他们无所适从。张跃扬屡次带领他们做出种种“反叛”的行为,并遭到了古板的班主任的压制和班级里学生干部的陷害。后来张跃扬和同班的女生李梦婷恋爱,被班主任和学生家长拆散。张决定带着李梦婷离家出走。同时班级里收上来的钱丢失,老师怀疑是张偷走。
  • 佛说称扬诸佛功德经

    佛说称扬诸佛功德经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 二〇〇九年的招生

    二〇〇九年的招生

    候鸟来了。候鸟每年都来,且每年必定比上一年来得早。这不是因为全球气候变暖,也不是繁殖期延长或缩短,而是生计所迫。当然,候鸟也不是鸟。他们是人,是平时龟缩在大城市或小城市叫做大学或学院里的有身份的人。一到招生季节,他们就忘掉身份,脱下马甲,变成鸟,单独或成群,坐车或开车,到我们乡下来讨生活。如果春风得意,一路顺利,当然满载而归,依旧套上马甲,重新做人。万一败走麦城,两手空空,有些就变不回人形,仍然是鸟,直接飞到别处去另攀高枝。我们知道,任何物种都不是亘古就有的。这种因招生而繁衍出来的新物种,大约始于2003年。当然,鸟是分等级的,正如人一样。
  • 每天都在演正派

    每天都在演正派

    她认为自己是个成功的反派,并且是一条道走到黑的那类。然而,一切都在她多管闲事的那天发生改变。原本只有黑暗的人生,变得画风清奇。温柔哥哥日常关心:“好好学习,不要主动惹事。(略微无奈)”甜美萝莉纠缠不断:“来嘛,一起买新衣服,\(//?//)\,去吃好吃的(^~^),然后出任务~”高冷御姐不忘提醒:“翻窗记得把窗帘拉好,出门顺便把垃圾丢掉。”她:“……”这是恶毒反派该干的事?!(ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻【有男主,暑假まえ(前)完结,冲鸭!】
  • 过眼录

    过眼录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上金书玉谍宝章仪

    太上金书玉谍宝章仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 御制题絜斋毛诗经筵讲义

    御制题絜斋毛诗经筵讲义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。