CHAPTER VII.
The Hermetick Romance; or Chymical Wedding.
A remarkable work was published at Strasbourg, in the year 1616, entitled, “The Hermetick Romance: or the Chymical Wedding. Written in High Dutch by Christian Rosencreutz.” This book though not given out to the world until the above year, is said to have existed in manuscript for some time previously, as far back in fact as 1601, thus making it the oldest Rosicrucian book extant. A modern writer says: The whole Rosicrucian controversy centres in this publication, which Buhle describes as a comic romance of extraordinary talent.
Owing to its importance, we shall have to make some lengthy extracts from the translation made in 1690, by E. Foxcroft of King’s College, Cambridge. It is arranged in chapters, denominated days, marked from one to seven.
The First Day.
On an evening before Easter Day, I sate at a Table, and having (as my custom was) in my humble prayer sufficiently conversed with my Creator, and considered many great mysteries (whereof the Father of Lights his Majesty had shewn me not a few) and being now ready to prepare in my heart, together with my dear Paschal Lamb, a small unleavened, undefiled cake; all on a sudden ariseth so horrible a tempest, that I imagined no other but that through its mighty force, the hill whereon my little house was founded, would fly in pieces. But in as much as this, and the like from the devil (who had done me many a spite) was no new thing to me; I took courage and persisted in my meditation, till somebody (after an unusual manner) touched me on the back; whereupon I was so highly terrified, that I durst hardly look about me; yet I shewed myself as cheerful as (in the like occurrences) human frailty would permit. Now the same thing still twitching me several times by the coat, I looked back, and behold it was a fair and glorious lady whose garments were all skye colour, and curiously (like Heaven) bespangled with golden stars. In her right hand she bare a trumpet of beaten gold, whereon a name was engraven (which I could well read in) but am as yet forbidden to reveal it. In her left hand she had a great bundle of letters of all languages, which she (as I afterwards understood) was to carry into all countries. She had also large and beautiful wings, full of eyes throughout, wherewith she could mount aloft and fly swifter than any eagle. I might perhaps have taken further notice of her, but because she staid so small a time with me, and terror and amasement still possessed me, I was fain to be content. For as soon as I turned about, she turned her letters over and over, and at length drew out a small one, which with great reverence she laid down upon the table, and without giving one word departed from me. But in her mounting upwards, she gave so mighty a blast on her gallant trumpet, that the whole hill echoed thereof, and for a full quarter of an hour after, I could hardly hear my own words.
In so unlooked-for an adventure, I was at loss, how either to advise or assist my poor self, and therefore fell upon my knees, and besought my Creator to permit nothing contrary to my eternal happiness to befall me; whereupon with fear and trembling I went to the letter which was now so heavy, as had it been mere gold, it could hardly have been so weighty. Now as I was diligently viewing it, I found a little Seal, whereupon a curious cross with this inscription, IN HOC SIGNO VINCES, was engraven.
Now as soon as I espied this sign I was the more comforted, as not being ignorant that such a Seal was little acceptable, and much less useful to the Devil. Whereupon I tenderly opened the letter and within it, in an Azure Field, in Golden Letters, found the following verses written—
This day, this day, this, this
The Royal wedding is.
Art thou thereto by birth inclin’d
And unto joy of God design’d,
Then mayst thou to the mountain tend
Whereon three stately Temples stand,
And there see all from end to end.
Keep watch and ward,
Thyself regard;
Unless with diligence thou bathe,
The Wedding can’t thee harmless save:
He’ll damage have that here delays,
Let him beware, too light that weighs.