It is strange, but instructive, to observe how variously different minds make use of the same materials. What greater contrast can we have than The Rape of the Lock and Undine?—the one redolent of the petit-maître and the Cockney; the other a work sui generis, of human conceptions the most exquisite and spirit-fragrant. Wieland's Idris and Zenide, Bulwer's Zanoni, and Mackay's Salamandrine, are also based on Rosicrucian principles. Mention of the Rosicrucians occurs in Izaak Walton's Angler and Butler's Hudibras—see Zachary Grey's note and authorities referred to by him. See also two interesting papers on the subject in Chambers's Edinb. Journal, ed. 1846, vol. vi. pp. 298. 316.
Eirionnach.
July 20, 1853.
P. S.—I may as well notice here a very curious book of Rosicrucian emblems, as I have it beside me:
"Atalanta Fugiens, hoc est, Emblemata Nova de Secretis Naturæ Chymica. Accommodata partim oculis et intellectui, figuris cupro incisis, adjectisque sententiis, Epigrammatis et notis, partim auribus et recreationi animi plus minus 50 Fugis Musicalibus trium vocum, quarum duæ ad unam simplicem melodiam distichis canendis peraptam correspondeant, non absq; singulari jucunditate videnda, legenda, meditanda, intelligenda, dijudicanda, canenda, et audienda. Authore Michaele Majero, Imperial. Consistorii Comite, Med. D. Eq. Ex. etc.: Oppenheimii, ex Typographia Hieronymi Galleri, sumptibus Joh. Theodori de Bry, MDCXVIII." Small 4to. pp. 211.
The title-page is adorned with emblematical figures. The work contains a portrait of the author, and fifty emblems executed with much spirit. Amongst others we have a Salamander in the fire, a green lion, a hermaphrodite, a dragon, &c. Every right page has a motto, an emblem, and an epigram under the emblem in Latin. The left page gives the same in German, with the Latin words set to music. After each emblem we have a "Discursus."
The following remarks on the title occur in the preface:
"Atalanta Poëtis celebrata est propter fugam, qua omnes procos in certamine antevertit, ideoque ipsis victis pro Virgine, præmio Victoriæ proposito, mors obtigit, donec ab Hippomene, Juvene audaciore et provido, superata et obtenta sit trium malorum aureorum per Vices inter currendum objectu, quæ dum illa tolleret, præventa est ab eo, metam jam attingente: Hæc Atalanta ut fugit, sic una vox musicalis semper fugit ante aliam et altera insequitur, ut Hippomenes: In tertia tamen stabiliuntur et firmantur, quæ simplex est et unius valoris, tanquam malo aureo: Hæc eadem virgo merè chymica est, nempe Mercurius philosophicus a sulfure aureo in fuga fixatus et retentus, quem si quis sistere noverit, sponsam, quam ambit, habebit, sin minus, perditionem suarum rerum est interitum," &c.—Page 9.
Footnote 4:[(return)]
The Jewish speculations on the subject of elemental spirits and angels (especially those that assumed corporeal forms, and united themselves with the daughters of men) were largely drawn on by the Rosicrucians. (See the famous Liber Zohar, Sulzbaci, 1684, fol.; and Philo, Lib. de Gigantibus. See also Hoornbeek, Lib. pro Convert. Jud., Lug. Bat., 1665, 4to.)