Now then, from one desiring this thing another that, there can’t arise ought else but confused actions and operations, which are so far from forwarding the work, as that they retard and obstruct the same. Many Work-men disagreeing amongst themselves, can never build an House agreeable to the right dimensions of building. And therefore it is far better for every one to apply himself single and alone to the performing of so great a work, and quietly to attend upon the same, and invoke God’s help alone, and leave off his expectations from man, amongst whom fidelity and love, are like the rare Bird in the Earth, and as scarce as a black Swan! Nay even the friendship of brethren is wondrous rare, and (which is worst of all) the bond of friendship is too often broken asunder betwixt Parents and Children. The golden Alphabet doth likewise in its beginning teach us the very same, saying, trust in God onely, and in him place thy hope, give not any credit to the promises of man, God onely is faithfull, fidelity is banished out of the World.
’Tis sufficiently evident, what kind of doings there is in the Courts of great men, you’l there find 2, 3, 4, or more Chymical Operatours busily imployed about making the Philosophers Stone, for they seek after nothing less, but yet by reason of their ignorance, they effect but very little or nothing at all, for the main thing that they mind is to strut it bravely out in their Silks and gay Apparel, and to have their Tables furnished with plenty of various Dishes, and generous Wines and Drinks, whereby they may stuff their Bellies; and this is clearly testified by daily experience: and as for taking to ones self an Operatour, that is more hazardous than the other, where the work is attempted by a confederacy, at their common mutual Expences and Labour. For seeing you cannot make an inspection into any man’s heart, whereby to know what Monster he there cherisheth, and what good or evil he has hidden in the inside of his heart, you cannot possibly promise your self any certainty of his taciturnity or fidelity, and therefore plainly ignorant must you needs be whether the man you would take to assist you be faithfull and no tatler. Verily even the common Labour cannot be committed to such men without hurt and damage, but great Arcana’s cannot be left to their care without assured loss of all. ’Tis wondrous rare to find a Servant so faithfull, who (after he hath slily gotten the knowledge of one or two Secrets though but trifling ones too) does not presently perswade himself, that now he’s a skilfull Artist enough, and no longer needs the instructions and manuductions of any other. These kind of perverse men being by thus (evilly perswading themselves) seduced, are presently wont secretly to withdraw themselves, or if haply they do stay yet longer with their Master, they behave themselves so malepertly and unmannerly, as that they spoil the things committed to their Charge merely to accomplish this end that their Master may dismiss them. If therefore you will not wink at and suffer them to spoil and destroy, by their saucy regardless Labours the things they have under their hands, but are constrained to put away these most ungratefull and plainly unmindfull men of the benefits they have received, yet will they not acquiesce here with an honest dismission and parting, but will every where gnaw and wound thy good name by abundance of reproachfull Stories, as being now thus opiniated that they far excel you, their Master in Wisdom, Skill and Knowledge. But yet I except in this place those Servants that are honest, pious and diligent, and that love vertue, and make a conscience of their ways. For the Devil has not got the possession of all men’s hearts, for there are some Chymical Operatours to be found who are so faithfull unto their Masters, as that could they of a farthing make a Florin for their Masters, they would most cheerfully do it. But yet these men are so very rare, that scarce one in ten can be found that you may give credit to, and trust. And my own thirty years experience hath taught me, and therefore I tell you no more than what my self have to my own detriment experienced. Read but what Paracelsus hath written of these perfidious Knaves, amongst other things he confesseth, that thirteen of his Servants came under the Hangman’s lash, and that of them all he found but one faithfull, (and that was Operinus) and yet he (after Paracelsus his death) did manifestly enough bewray his dissimulation and unfaithfulness; for he did not onely load him with reproaches, but also published slanderous Writings of him. This is the thankfulness the World is wont to repay for the good that is done it, shun therefore such as these the most you can, for they neither fearing God nor reverencing men, make no matter at all of either opposing the most apparent truths, or of defending it by most manifest and evident Lies. And although the malicious wickedness of a man, be not presently known, yet notwithstanding it bewrays it self by the slanderous reproachfull lies, with which it requites the good turns done him by his Neighbour.
Thus much I judg’d worth while to communicate to all the Disciples of the Hermetick Art, that so they may learn to beware of these kind of Harpies.
Question 22.
Seeing it is not good to enter into friendship or consortship with others, in order to the attempting so great a work: And seeing a man runs a greater hazard in taking to himself an unknown Operatour, haply it would be the best way to seek after some particular Medicament which may be serviceable for the benefit of both high and low, and which may not onely prove helpfull unto the poor, but also by which a necessary Sustenance may be found even amongst the rich, and so by this means may a man lead a quiet life.
Answer.
This advice or determination I confess seems far better and more safe than the two former, but even this too needs a provident wariness, viz. if a man should haply (by his sedulous search) acquire the knowledge of some eminent and excellent Medicaments, he must take heed lest by presently making every one partaker of the same, he pulls damage on his own head. For ’tis an usual custom amongst wicked men to endeavour (assoon as they find any one gifted by God with such a blessing) to get it our of the breast of the Possessour of the same, by most cunning Subtilties, and promise even golden Mountains, and such as they are never able to perform. And if once thou let’st the Art pass but out of thy hands and come within the Clutches of other men, thou may’st well fear in the first place lest it should be made publick, and so thy self be deprived of the benefit of the same, though they whom thou hast trusted with the same have bound their credit with the firmest obligations imaginable, and this now is to be understood of such men from whom such bonds as they call them may be demanded. But as for the great ones that are wont to give onely their words (and stand upon that) when they have got any Arcanum, they are wont to deliver it to their Chymical Operatours to make, for themselves are partly ignorant of Chymical Operations, and partly let not their own hands to work; if their Operatours be skilfull in Chymical Operations and bring the same to the expected end, you shall be presented with some small reward, and even of this too will he (whose charge the presenting of it is committed unto) keep to himself the better half. This now is done unwittingly to their Masters, and who dares inform them of such deceitfull Servants, and purchase to himself the envy and hatred of the Courtiers? And so those who are commanded to bring thee good sweet Milk, do themselves first take away the sweet fat Cream, and then bring thee the sour Whey. But if for the more surety, thou sendest any Servant that may be there at the perfecting of the Operations, he will (if faithfull satisfie thee; if not, he will present thee with as much of the reward as himself pleaseth. Thus hath it hapned unto me, for ’mongst other Servants I have had such, that in their Cups have impudently boasted of such kind of theft, and have prevented me of a present or two that belonged unto me, and have made themselves merry therewithall.
These and other such like inconvencies are wont to happen upon the revealing of Arcanums, though they should fully answer the expectation of those whom they are revealed unto. But if it should happen that those Chymical Operatours should by reason of their ignorance commit some Errour in their Labour, or should have no mind to the work as being a little more troublesome than ordinary, fearing lest the Sparks of the Coals should light upon their Silken Garments, and that their hands should be defiled with the blackness of the Coals, they presently perswade their Lords, that the Arcanum which was thus revealed is false, and that you are a cheat and a mere vapour, and so they do not onely rob thee of thy good name, but do likewise by their fraudulent and lying tricks deceive their Masters affirming those things to be false, which notwithstanding are most certainly true. Several Letters I have by me, written unto me from such Court Operatours, in which they confess that they have wrought up (or made) those Arcanums (which were sent them) not without good Success, and that therefore they would desire yet greater ones than those: but yet they have afterwards spread obroad a false report, and said that they never could receive any benefit by them at all. And that fruit or reward which was due unto me for my discovery, themselves intercepted, some got them fat Offices, others were gifted with Nobility and Money. And so indeed is it an usual thing for those that dress the Vines, and press the Grapes and make the Wine, to be (by a forc’t put) content with the Husks, whilst the idle and such as work not, drink up the Wine. Far better is it therefore, for every one to press out his own Grapes. By this means will a man know what is his, what he has, and what he does, whereby he may use his own things as best likes him. Now then well may the man that knows many Secrets be deterred by the so many and such adverse Chances, from making others partakers also of the same, and well may he esteem it much better to enjoy the few things God hath bestowed on him, with a quiet mind, than to expect many things (but with a great deal of danger) from others.
And thus much shall suffice to have been premised by way of Questions and Answers. Now follows the use of some eminent Arcanums and incomparable Medicaments, which have been mentioned in the Books I last published, one of which treats of occult Fires, and the other contains three Dialogues.