The Third Dialogue, or Conference, betwixt B. and C. treating of the true Universal and particular Medicine of the ancient Philosophers, (extracted) out of such Gold as is yet fugacious, or Volatile, and immature; (and is) to be ripened by their secret Fire; which Operation is by them styled, the work of Women, and play of Children.
C.Good morrow heartily, my Friend! I wish you a good and prosperous Day.
B. I wish you the same, whence come you to us so early?
C. I have very earnestly for these several days waited for this hour, that I might see you, and have the Fruition of the most sweet Fruits of your Courteous instructions. My Brother A. sent me hither, and told me, that you had given him leave to send me unto you this day. I do therefore Friendly request you, that you would put a good Construction upon this my Boldness.
B. [My Friend!] I do not in the least take it ill, your Brother told me, that you were as yet ignorant and unskilled, in the more subtil Arcanaes and Secrets; and that you therefore needed not ought else, but some pretty easie Secret, which might be easily understood, and performed with small Expences, and yet be profitable and beneficial unto you.
C. Indeed, Sir, to tell you the plain Truth, such Arcanums as are profound ones, and to be penetrated into by a subtil Meditation, and which are of great moment, do far outreach my duller apprehension: And therefore I do not at this time desire any thing, more than this, viz. that I may obtain something that is not costly, and yet may effect so much in Medicine and Alchimy, as may serve me to live a little more commodiously and plentifully, as to Food and Raiment. And that you would be pleased, to render me a Master of this my desire, is my humble request unto you, again and again.
B. You do very prudently measure out your requests, according to your own Capacity. And indeed, sometimes, those things which are not Costly, nor are difficult in their Operation, are more profitable to a Man, than those things are, which they would fain get by the expence of a great deal of Charge, of a long time, and hard Labours: I will grant you your Request, and therefore hearken.
C. [Sir, I thank you,] and do listen.
B. Have you never read, or else heard from others, that those most ancient Philosophers, tell us that their universal Work, is not only most easie to be done, but withal no ways Chargeable. For they do openly Confess, that to the perfecting of their Work, a Man needs be at no more Expences, than two Florins, and that the Labour it self, even from the beginning to the end, is nothing else but mere Womens work, and Boys play.
C. You are pleased to offer me delicate Dainties, easie to be prepared, for I have not so much Money as is to be laid out upon those kind of chargeable and costly Labours: Neither will my Family Affairs admit thereof, viz. to spend my days in such sumptuous and chargeable Cookeries, and which are so full of most great Labours, and whose event too is oftentimes very uncertain. For I have heard some say, that the smallest Errour may destroy the whole Work, and quite spoil it, and so grievously affect such as operate about such great Secrets, with a very great loss of long time, and great Expences. And therefore such a Work, as I can attend upon without letting my taking Care of my Family, and which will need the disbursment of but a few Expences, will please me better than those other Costly ones would.