lizing a small Walnut;
these were Glass-like, of the colour
of pale Sulphur, to which the Interior
Scales of that Crucible did adhere,
in which this most noble
Substance was liquified, for I
suppose the Value of it might
equalize twenty Tun of Gold. But
after I had plighted my Faith, I
held that [Greek: cheimhelion], [or pretious
Treasure] of this Stone, within these
my hands for almost a quarter of an
hour, and from the Philosophick
Mouth of the Owner, I heard many
things worthy of note, touching
the Wonderful Effect of the same,
for humane and Metallick bodies.
Indeed, I, with a sad and afflictedly
afflicted Mind, restored this Treasure
of Treasures to him, the Lord
and Possessor, who gave the same
into my hand for a very short
space of time; and yet I did that (after
the manner of Men overcoming
themselves) not without the
greatest action of thanks, as was
fit in such a Case. Afterward I asked
him, how it came to pass, (since
I had otherwise read, that the
Stones of Philosophers, were endowed
with a Rubinate, or Purple Colour)
that this his Philosophick
Stone was tinged with a Sulphureous
Colour? He answered me
thus: O Sir; this is nothing to the
purpose: for the Matter is Sufficiently
mature. Moreover, when
I entreated him, that he would
give to me, for a perpetual remembrance,
one small part of the Medicine
included in his Box, although
no more in bulk than a
Coriander-Seed; he denied, answering:
O no! For this is not
lawful for me to do, although you
would give me this whole Roome
full of Gold in Duckets; and that not
by reason of the price of the Matter,
but by reason of another certain
Consequence; Yea, surely,
if it were possible, that Fire could
be burned with Fire, I would sooner
cast this whole Substance into
the devouring Flames of Vulcan,
before your Eyes. A little after
this, he also asked me, whether
I had not another Room, the
Windows of which were not to
the Street-side; I presently brought
this Phaenix, or Bird most rare to
be seen in this Land, into my best
furnished Chamber; yet he, at his
Entrance (as the manner of Hollanders
is, in their Countryes)
did not shake off his Shooes, which
were dropping wet with Snow.
I indeed, at that very time, thus
thought: perhaps he will provide,
or hath in readiness some Treasure
for me; but he dash'd my
hope all to pieces. For he immediatey
asked of me a piece of the
best Gold-mony; and in the mean
while layed off his Cloak, an