A Short Inquiry concerning the Hermetic Art

Τεληστήριον

A LOVER OF PHILALETES

A SHORT ENQUIRY CONCERNING THE HERMETIC ART

London, 1714

Edizioni Aurora Boreale

Title: A Short Enquiry concerning the Hermetic Art

Author: A Lover of Philaletes

Series: Telestérion

Editing by Nicola Bizzi

ISBN: 979-12-80130-14-3

Edizioni Aurora Boreale

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A SHORT ENQUIRY CONCERNING THE HERMETIC ART

This Art, of bringing all Imperfect Metals to Perfection, hath been asserted for Truth, by Men of almost every Degree, in most Ages of the World; many of whose Books are extant.

They have declared, that they have made and possessed this great Treasure, which not only brings all Imperfect Metals to the Perfection of Sol and Luna (according to the Quality of the Medicine), but healeth all manner of Diseases in Human Bodies, even renewing Youth and prolonging Life.

Those Authors, from Age to Age, have justified one another’s Testimony; alledging, as a farther Proof of the Art, that all that have understood it, have written most agreeingly of it, though contemporary, and unknown to one another in Person, or by Writing.

How far these Men’s Writings have obtain’d, a very little Enquiry may serve; for most men look upon these (Alchymic) Books only as Cunningly devised Fables, and the Art itself as altogether impossible.

To which the (Alchymic) Authors answer, That it is not Lawful, nor Commendable to reprobate an Art, by Judges who are ignorant of its Laws as well as the Facts; and that the Ignorant Negative of such, is by no means sufficient to set aside the Affirmative Knowledge of so many Men of Unquestionable Credit, Piety, and Virtue, supported by Arguments and Circumstances of Uncontestible Force.

From which, together with the Excellency of the Things themselves (viz., Long Life and Riches, vide the ‘Way to Bliss’), many have been induced to believe and seek after this Art.

Tis the Melancholy View that I have taken of these Men, that have occasioned the putting my own Thoughts into the Order you find them, hoping no Master will be offended, nor any Inquirer displeased.

When I compare, I say, the variety of these Men’s Fortunes, Capacities and other Qualifications, with those the Philosophers have laid down for men like to succeed, it fills me with Pity, and makes me almost tremble to rehearse the words of Norton, viz.:-

«That of a Million hardly three,

Were e’er ordain’d for Alchymy».

O sad Tidings to such Men! whose impair’d Healths, injured Fortunes and barren Practice, renders them more unfit every day than other, and instead of attaining that which should crown their Labours with success, are at length in danger of denying, if not cursing the Art itself.

I would pretty thoroughly enquire from