AMBIX,Vol.

46, Part 2, July 1999

JOHN DASTIN'S ALCHEMICAL VISION

By WILFREDTHEISEN*

TEXTANDTRANSLATIONS
AMONGJohn Dastin's** works Visio easily ranks as the most popular. The
number of surviving manuscript copies, early printed editions and English
translations provide ample witness to the interest in this mystical alchemical

account. The consistency of the attribution of Visio to Dastin leaves little doubt
about its authorship. Furthermore, there is basic agreement between the
alchemical process described in Visio and the steps of transmutation spelled
out in the Rosarius attributed to the same author.
In arriving at the edited Latin text I collated the following copies:
C
London, British Library, MS Sloane 212, fols. 21v-23v, 15th
century.
M
J. J. Manget, Bibliotheca Curiosa 2 vols. (Geneve, 1702) II, pp. 324326.
S
London, B. L., MS Sloane 2476 fols. 1r_2v, 15th.
T
Cambridge, Trinity College Library, MS 1122, fols. 158v-159r,
14th.
V
Vienna, Bib!. Nat., MS 11,347, fols. 13r-18r, 16th.
These five copies of Visio fall into two groups, T and V being very closely
related, and C, M and S having most variants in common. The latter three have
long additions not found in the first group, nor in the English translations of
Visio. I have regarded T as the most accurate text and generally chose it over
the other manuscripts, unless the English translation in MS Sloane 693
differed from it while agreeing with another manuscript. I have chosen the
classical orthography, e.g. haec for hec. For the most part the punctuation is
mine, as the Latin text rarely had sentence breaks, and never paragraph
breaks.
I have also examined the following copies to confirm that they agreed
substantially with the edited text:
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College Library, MS 99, pp. 96-98, 15th.
Cambridge, St. John's College Library, MS 182, fols. 10v-16v, 15th.
London, B. L., MS Harley 1747, fols. 43r-45v, late 15th.
London, B. L., MS Harley 3528, fols. 59r-62v, 17th.
London, B. L., MS Sloane 288, fols. 209r-210v, 17th.
Oxford, Bodleian Lib., MS Ashmole 1450, fols. 143r-144r, late 15th
[attributed to Johannes de Dumbleton]
Oxford, B.L., MS Ashmole 1480, fols. 9v-12r, 16th.

* Department of Physics; SaintJohn's

** John Dastin, a fourteenth century

University, P.O. Box 3000, Colleseville, MN 56321-3000, USA.

English alchemist, left a considerable body of alchemical literature in the form of
letters, a Rosary, a Mirror and a dream. Though calling himself a simple cleric in one of his letters, his writings show a
deep knowledge of the Bible and Aristotle.

65

WILFRED

THEISEN

I have examined most of these 15th, 16th and 17th century English
translations of Visio:
1. London, B. L., MS Sloane 693, fols. 40f-42v, 17th.
2. London, B. L., MS Sloane 2176, fols. 46f-47v, 17th.
3. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 766, pt, III, fols. 16 -19v, 16th.
4. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 1407, ff. 10v-16v, 17th.
5. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 1421, fols. 57v-61 f, 17th [a copy of #3].
6. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 1445, pte V, fols. 14v-19 17th, verses.
7. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 1480, fols. 62v-68f, 16th, verses.
8. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 1486, pt. III, fols. 74f-75f, 15th.
9. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 1492, pt. VIII, p. 126 (frag), 15th.
10. Oxford, B. L., MS Ashmole 1493, fols. 49v-51v 16th.
In addition to that of Manget, there are the following printed copies of
Visio:
Alchimistisch Sieben Gestim (Hamburg, 1675), pp. 200-208, in German.
Elias Ashmole, Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum (London, 1652), pp. 257268, in English.
Ginaeceum Chimicum seu Congeries Plurium Authorum (Lagduni, 1679), pp.
548-553.
Harmoniae Inperscrutabilis Chymico-Philosophicae (Francofurti, 1625) pp. 301308.
Tractatus aliquot chemici singulares (Geismar, 1647) pp. 101-110.
f

TEXT OF VISIO
Cum omnium natura certus sit effectus
generationis et augmenti ex radice earumdem
scivimus necessariam planetarum transmutationem
5 adinvicem. Unde ortum solis et lunae magno
desiderio quaerentes talem vidimus visionem,
putavimus nos raptum fuisse ante conspectum antiqui
deorum. Et ecce septem planetae venientes volente
ipsa natura fratrem suum primogenitum
praefecerunt
10 in regem ac diademate regni insignitum quasi
dominum adorantes suos pandebant defectus eidem.
Erant enim fere omnes vel lepra vel scabie
deformiter infecti.
Rex vero volens confratres suos consolari
15 dicebat, Expedit certe ut un us ex nobis absque
macula moriatur pro populo ut non tota gens pereat
ut recenti eius sanguine liniti consequamini
sanitatem. Nam secundum meritum materiae dantur
formae. Planetae autem ceteri suum audientes regem

20 dicebant, Et quis nostrorum caret macula? Quia

in iniquitatibus concepti sumus et in delictis
peperit nos mater nostra. Quis igitur potest
facere mundum de immundo conceptum semine? Non
enim invenitur in re quod in ea non est.
25
Quibus mater eorum mercurius respondit, Filii,
sex corpora genui, quorum unum est fulgidum et
immaculatum, rex et caput et optimum omnium
planetarum. Nec quid superfluum in eo est nec
diminutum. Eo quod sua complexio est temperata in
30 caliditate, frigiditate, humiditate et siccitate.
Quare res comburentes eum non comburunt nec
corrumpentes corrumpunt. Nec terra nec aqua
alterant ipsum. Ideoque ipso igitur pernceremus
omnes bene. Sed perfectus moribus mori nequibit.
35
Flebant igitur omnes fletu magno dicentes, Heu
nobis, cur nos educasti filios amaritudinis et
dol oris? Quare non in vulva mortui fuimus?
Egressi ex utero quare non statim periimus? Cur

2 post omnium add. T in/ post natura add. SCV constantium, M consistentium 3 ex om. T earumdem: etiam T 4 scivimus: sumimus M/
insinuationem M 5 ante ad invicem add. T fore 7 fuisse om. S 8 dierum SV naturae M/ planetae om. T 8-9 volente-natura: jubente deo
T10 regni: re Tll dominum: dudum S/ eidem om. C13 enormiter Tom. M14 cupiens M,S 15 aiebat CSVait M 16 post macula add. M
existens/ gens: progenies M/18 post nam add. CMS ut dicit Plato 19 ante regem add. T dominum 20 nostrorum: ex nobis S 21 in
iniquitatibus: ex semine immundo M/ in de1ictis: fragilitati subjectos M 22 concepit T 26 unum: primum CST 27 omnium om. CMS
metallorum sive V 28 ante nec add. T et in eo 29 diminutum: minus CMS/ post temperata add. MS1V et natura directa 31 comburunt:
possunt comburere T 33 post ipsum add. CSM un quam ipso ergo commiscentur spiritus et figuntur per ipsum maximo ingenio quod ad
durae cenicis artificem non pervenit/ post ideoque add. Tsi essemus profusi 34 bene: sani T/ mori: moribus T 36 educasti: constituisti
fratres M 37 vulva ... fuimus: utero suffocati sumus M 38 egressi ... non: aut antequam nasceremur Mom. CS118-40 cur ... ignis

66

JOHN

DASTIN'S

ALCHEMICAL

VISION

80 Oportet me transire per ignem et aquam et renasci.

Solum serpentis venenum timeo ne violentia nimia
me in aetate tenera perimat. Custodiam ergo mei
habetote quousque natus ad aetatem venero perfectam
et vos tunc in regnum meum transferam et de cetero
85 eritis immortales.
Virginibus autem custodiam promittentibus,
rex suum thalamum ingreditur, securus et magno
libidinis ardore succensus dormivit statim et
dormitavit cum virgine decora nimis, filia matris
90 suae. Et ecce mulier illa, amicta sole et luna sub
pedibus eius subito absorbuit suum sponsum ita

excepti genibus lactati uberibus nati in

40 combustionem et cibum ignis? Et antiquus
respondit, Omnia in sapientia creavi et mensura.
Qui dedit consilium ferat auxilium. Nam bonus
pastor animam suam dat pro ovibus suis. Oportet
ergo te, 0 rex, nasci denuo, quia alias mori non
45 poteris nec tuos perficere fratres. Et rex in
risum dissolutus sic ait, Quomodo potest homo
nasci cum sit senex? Numquid potest iterum matris
suae uterum ingredi et renasci, quia dicitis quod
oportet me nasci denuo? Cui antiquus respondit, Tu
50 etiam es magister in Israel et haec ignoras? Nonne
scis quod nihil demergitur in mercurio nisi sol?
Te igitur matri et suo pectori iuncto nihil
est melius, quia sic suam quiescere fugam et tuam
continere substantiam tunc incipies eo quod non
55 possunt gravia nisi levium consortio superius,
neque levia nisi gravium consortio inferius
detrudi. Nihil ergo creavi sine causa et ingeniis
qui bus medetur. Ideo qui amat animam suam perdet
earn et qui perdiderit animam suam in hoc
60 mundo in vitam aeternam custodiet earn. Et unde
videbatur perdidisse quod erat inde incipit
apparere quod non erat quia devastantia ipsa et
emendantia et un de corruptio procedit, inde
emandatio apparet et utrumque est signum artis. Rex
65 ergo respondit, Domine, si fieri potest, transeat a
me calix iste. Verumtamen, si transire non poterit
nisi bibam illum, fiat voluntas tua quia qui non
tristatur non laetatur. Nec est dignus imperio qui
negligit certare pro eo. Lunam igitur plenam
70 libenter assumam in matrem ut fiam albus nigri et
rubeus albi et citrinus rubei, filius veredicus et
non mentiens. Fratribus igitur gaudentibus de
promissis nuptiis sui regis illi pararunt cubiculum
grande stratum rotundum lucidum rore circumdatum
75 bene clausum quod et novem virgines ad servitium
tanti regis decenter munientes praestolabantur
cum
timore salvato rem suum. Igitur dum medium
silentium tenerent omnia lux lucis valde rutilans
regalibus sedibus veniens virginibus novem dixit,

quod de eo nequiveram

95

100

105

110

115

videre quicquam.

Virgines autem mortuum regem penitus

estimantes, desperatae de vita illius similiter
dormierunt. Quod sentiens, serpens callidus
antiquas inimititias erga mulierem recognitans sub
dicto ingreditur thalamo, venenum suum paulatim et
paulatim effundens ne forte excitaret a somno
dormientes. Et toxicum illud parum et parum
ascendens corpus regis infecit dormientis. Hoc
autem totum fiebat prima luce Octobris.
Sed mulier virum suum diligens in intimis
suis visceribus eum recollegit ne laederetur,
volens venenum expellere. Sed aemulatio antiqui
serpentis magis ac magis venenum suum effundens
nusquam ab inceptis destitit mulierem cum foetu
perdere elaborans. Verumtamen quanto magis toxico
serpentis foetus infestatur, tanto magis maternis
visceribus occultatur ne sui calore aborsum
patiatur. Luna namque plena humiditate propria
solem obumbravit et ignis flammam ab eo expulit.
Interim affuit mulieri tempus pariendi et
peperit filium suum primogenitum. Et ne
inficeretur a serpente, praecavens in futurum
assumptis alis ad superiorem illum portavit
thalamum, requiem quaerens et non invenit. Rediens
ergo ad nidulum unde exierat nec invenit requiem
quam quaere bat. Iterum atque iterum expansis alis
superius evolabat sed obserato exitu retroire

am. T 41 creavi: creata sunt M 42-43 bonus pastor: princeps M 43 ovibus: subditis M 44 nasci: mori T 45 post perficere add. Met curare/
post fratres add. CMS quia qui quartum converterit in sextum poterit tunc ipsum in septimum convertere et in quartum 45-56 in ...
dissolutus: subridens M, am. T46 ait: insit CSinquit Mintulit V/ homo: corpus senile M 48 uterum: ventrem T48-49 quia ... denuo am.
SMT 49 antiquus: natura M/ post respondit add. C nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua et spiritu non intrabit in regnum vitae 50 magister in
Israel: caput familiae tuae M 52 et suo pectori am. T/ iuncto: iungere C iunctus S 53 post suam add. Tfacis/ compescere C 53-54 tuam
continere substantiam: tua contineri substantia M 54 incipies: facis CMS post incipies add. Tperficere
55 consortio: additione M, am. CS/
post superius add. M e1evari 57 deturbari T/ creatum est M 57-60 et ... earn am. CMS 58 qui bus am. T/ est medendum CS/ post am at add.
TVin hoc mundo 62 post erat add. C quoniam qui perdiderit animam suam in hoc mundo propter me in vitam aeternam cutodit earn
62-63 devastant ipsam et emendant CMST 64 et ... artis am. MS, perfectionis C 65 post ergo add. MS gemens, C insuper gemens 65-66
domine ... iste: domina transferatur quaeso a me onus istud M 66-67 transire ... tua: transferri non potest nisi portem illud parebo
sententiae tuae M 67-68 quia ... laetatur om. MS 69 post plenam add. S pro ipso, add. T et purissimam 70 suscipiam S, accipiam C 73
illi: sibi CSTV 75 quod et: in quo T/virginibus CMSV/ post virgines add. CMSpulchrarum facierum 77 suum salutarem V, liberationem
suam M/ post suum add. T dominum 80 et renasci am. M/ post renasci add. T denuo 83 habetote: estote M/ natus am. CMS 84 et vos
tunc: si vos nunc mortales T/ transferentes CMST 85 erimus CMSV/ post erimus add. C simul 86 post custodiam add. CMST optimam/
pollicentibus M 88 post ardore add. CMS ex improviso/ accensus V89 virgine ... nimis am. T90 post suae add. CMS et quia indigestus
nimium incaluit omnino discrasiatus virtute deficit 91-92 ita ... nequiveram: eo quod nihil de eo videri potest T/ 92 possem M, post
nequiveram add. CMS nam furiosa effecta essentiam to tam suis basiis regis exhausit 94 existimentes M 95 sciens TV96-97 sub dicto:
subito T97-98 et paulatim am. T99 parum et parum: sensim V/ 100 effundens Tinfecit: interficiendo comminuit C, sensim comminuit
MS/ post dormientis add. CMS mulier ... laborat (efr. finem textus) 102 post mulier add. CMS more materno/ diligens: diligenter M, am.
V 103 post eum add. T humiliter (?) / post ne add. CMS amplius/ post laederetur add. Ta serpente 104 post volens add. Teius/
post
venenum add. Tab eo/ repellere MS/ 104-107 sed ... e1aborans am. CMS 106 post destitit add. TV festinare 107 perdere am. T/
verumtamen: et CMS/ post magis add. Cfetus 108 conceptus CS/ maternis am. S109 sui: nimio CMSI09-110
aborsum patiatur: fugaretur
Till
solem: praegnanti CS, foetum M, soli T/ ab eo: eminus CMS 112 repellit T/ post expulit add. CMSverum ... vestimentum (dr.
fin em textus) 114 interficeretur TV/ in futurum am. T115 illum am. CMSV115 illum portavit: superiorem conscendit CMS116 cameram
M/ requiem: exitum CMSV/ inveniens M 117 nidulum: do mum TV/ requiem: regem V 119 post sed add. T dum et firmiter

67

WILFRED

THEISEN

120 coactus est. Erant autem plumae alarum suarum

nigrae ut corvus, eo quod in ortu suo sol erat
obscuratus. Nam principium operis est caput corvi.
Qui evolat et cadit in nidulo unde exiit prius.
Et dum per hunc modum certabat evolare filius
125 noster genitus tres virgines ablactabat ita quod
illarum alis deplumatis secum a fuga penitus
privarentur. Quod videntes ceterae sex virgines
valde timuerunt cursu moderato aerem petentes.
Ipse autem desiccans se ad solem, de nigro in album
130 versus est colorem. Facta autem sunt ista pridie
kalendas Maii.
Serpens vere cum hoc videsset iratus valde
ipsum incineravit calore fortiori. At ille magis
ac magis hauriens aquam de fontibus salvatoris unam
135 post aliam de sex virginibus singulas devoravit
semper cum ipsis secundum consuetudinem
cum aliis
coagulans se ad ignem. Ita quod infra spatium
quadraginta dierum totaliter versus est in terram.
Et tandem post alios quadraginta dies in equo
140 calore iugiter perseverans ultimo induit albissimum
vestimentum. Multotociens tunc in diversos colores
mutavit suos vultus, quandoque nigram quandoque
rubeam quandoque citrinam et albam emittens
effigiem. Ita ut dicerem, Quomodo teneam
145 mutantem Prothea vultus, diruit, aedificat,
mutat, quadrata rotundis. Quia res, cuius caput

150

155

160

165

170

est rubeum, pedes albi, oculi nigri est totum

magisterium. Cum ergo in meram praestaret
albedinem sororis suae lunae coniugio scivimus
ipsum indigere. Maritantes ergo illum cum luna,
super caetera corpora fecimus proiectionem. Et
ecce una pars sui mille millia partes aliorum
planetarum in purissimam vertebat lunam.
Igitur cum serpens vidisset se conteri tactus
dolore cordis intrinsecus toto suo posse regem albo
indutum perdere elaborabat. At rex, ossibus
confortatis, fortiter resistens magis ac magis
serpentem concu1cavit. Et tandem post tempora ipso
interfecto null urn prorsus venenum de cetero
metuebat. Verum ex ira motus et duello nimium
calefactus de albo in sanguineum versus est
colorem. Et sic imperium resumens de omnibus
triumphavit nullius culpam relinquens impunitam.
lungentes igitur solem cum sole, super alia corpora
proiecimus. Et ecce una pars sui mille
millia aliorum corporum in verissimum transmutavit
solem. Expergefacti igitur visionem, conscribentes
gaudio magno gavisi sumus ita quod paupertate
exulata proprias domos de cetero inhabitare
recusavimus. Unde domino nostro Jesu Christo
gratias referentes arborem conscendimus, poma
colligimus, maria timemus.

120 cogitur CMS, cogebatur VI erant: nati V120-123 erant ... prius am. CMS/ alarum suarum am. V123 ante qui add. Tnota bene quod
est principium operis quia est solutio corporum per mercurium/
medio T 125 devorabat CMS 126 alis am. T/ post deplumatis add. V
manentes 127 post quod add. CMScautius/ virgines am V131 martii CMS132 hoc: ista CMSV/ didicesset CMSV/ iratusvalde: nimio furore
repletus CMS 133 regem CMS, am. V134 de ... salvatoris am. M, de fontibus salutaribus V 135 postvirginibus
add. Tsic quoque 136-138
secundum ... dierum am. T136 secundum consuetidinem: ut priusfecerat CMS137 postignem add. Ccompetentem
138 totus MSV, am.
C 139 equo: illo TV 140 persistens CSv, consistens M 141 vestimentum: colorem T/ post tunc add. CTVante/
in ... colores: pluribus
coloribus T, am. CMS 142 post nigram add. CMS et fuscam 143 post rubeam add. CMS et croceam 144 post ut add. CMS cum Horatio/ quo
nodo CMSI45 ... 148 diruit ... magisterium am. M145 postvultus add. CSquod petiitspernit reperit quod nuperomisit 146 postrotundis
add. CS naturalia naturaliter efficiuntur extra naturam neutralia proiciuntur ars non temptetur naturam nee commitetur quod natura
negat nemo feliciter audet 147 totum am. T148 postmagisterium
add. Thuius operis/ in meram: lunam T150 cum luna: am. T, luna:
illa CMS 151 ante et add. Tcum eo 152 sui: illius T/ partes am. T 153 verissimum CMS/ lunam: argentum CMS 154 perpendisset CS 155
tuto M/ suo: pro V 156 post indutum add. M vestimentis/ post elaborabat add. CMSV ut quod prius neglexerat vel sero saltern sibi
provideret 157 confortatis: laborat T 160 formidabat C/ postmetuebat
add. Timo de cetero magis ac magis congaudebat/
motu CMS 161
albo: lacte C163 reliquit CMST/ postreliquit add. CMScum ergo purpuram vestisset iam regalem 164 iungentes ... sole: solem cum sole
copulantes CMS/ post sole add. Tmodo
predicto 165 fecimus projectionem T 166 post millia add. Tpartes omnium, add. Vomnium/
corporum am. CMSVmutavit CMS, mutat V/ 167 solem: aurum CMSV170 recusamus CMS 170-172 un de ... timemus am. T

ADDITIONS TO THE LATIN TEXT NOT PART OF ENGLISH TEXT:

After dicentes, line 35, the five collated texts add:

pro dolor ut quid nos immundos et ipsum ita perfectum genuisti
mater
After dormientis, line 100, C, M, S add:
Mulier vero, de tanto sanguinis calore nimium calefacta, cum suis
virginibus effugiens cameram ascendit altiorem. Iterum atque iterum
septies in lavacro purgatorii peccatum suum diluens ut nihil de regis
corpore sed solum animam secum conservaret, ne forte pro eius
morte si quid ipsius corporis secum haberet suspendio damnaretur.

68

JOHN

DASTIN'S

ALCHEMICAL

VISION

Uxor autem regem cum arc ius diligeret et in eius animam exhaustam
possideret, visa est quibus modis mortuum suscitaret. Et cum ex
scientia naturali diligenter cognovisset quod absque alterationibus
multis nullum reviviscet primo corpus regis mortuum ne inficeret
aerem combuscit in cinerem. Et regis exequiis magnifice celebratis se
cum combusto cinere gratanter sepelivit. Nusquam ab inceptis
desistens festinare fetus mulieris laborabat.
Mter expulit, line Ill,

C, M, S add:

Verum ex labore conf1ictu femina et onere fatigata, efficitur

turpissima, facie denigrata et toto corpore prostrata super terram nec
oculos erigere nec manus extendere poterat prae languore. Nam artis
principium est caput corvi nigrum parum et parum desiccans se ad
ignem, ut album post fuscum induat vestimentum.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF VISIO

This is a transcription of the English text in MS Sloane 693, fols. 40r-42v. In

many places the translator has provided an alternative translation, and these
have been placed in square brackets. On folio 39v the scribe writes that he had
completed that section of the manuscript February 19, 1627.
TEXT

That nature is the surest effect of all kind, and increasing [or augmenting] of
the root of them we have known by the necessary transmutation of the planets
together. And therefore we seeking with great desire the rising [or birth] of the
sun and the moon have seen such a vision, we thought that were ravished
before the sight of the old god. And there beholding the 7 planets coming,
they have chosen by nature their elder brother unto their king and crowned
him with a diadem and also did worship him as a god, unto whom they did
show all their imperfections. For they were almost all infected with the leper
scab with great deformity.
The king willing to comfort his brethren said to us, It is expedient surely
that one of us being without spot [or default] die for the people so that all the
people perish not and you anointed with the new warm blood of him get
remedy and healing of your diseases. For after the merit [or goodness] of the
matter the form is made. Note this sentence well. The other planets hearing
their king said, And which of us is without spot? For we be born in sin and in
sin our mother conceived us. Who is he then that can make one clean
conceived of unclean seed? Nothing can be found in the thing that is not in the
thing itself.
Unto whom mercury their mother answered saying, Children, I have
brought forth 6 bodies, of which one is clean, clear, shining and immaculate
king and head and best of all the planets. Nothing is superfluous in him nor
nothing lacking. He is all perfect whose complexion is temperate in heat, cold,
moist and dry. Wherefore in fire be burneth not, nor by corruption corrupteth
not. Neither fire or water altereth him. Therefore by him we shall all be made

69

WILFRED

THEISEN

perfect. But perfect he himself in manner cannot die.

Then all the brethren wept and wailed saying, Alas, why hast thou brought
us up children of sorrow? Why died we not in our mother's belly? When we
were born, alas, why did we not perish? Why did we sit upon our mother's
knees, nourished with her milk, born to be burnt and meat for the fire? Then
the old god said, I have created all things in wisdom and measure. He that hath
given thee counsel he must find you remedies. For a good shepherd will die for
his sheep. Therefore, thou king, it behooveth thee to be born again for
otherwise thou canst not die nor make perfect the brethren. And the king
broke out a laughing and thus said, How can a man be born when he is old?
Can a man enter into his mother's womb again and be born anew, because
thou sayest I must be born again? And the old god answered, Art thou a master
in Israel and knoweth not thou these things? Knowest thou not that nothing is
drowned in mercury but sol? Therefore nothing is better than thyselfjoined to
thy mother's breast for so thou shalt begin to keep thy mother still and also to
hold thine own substance, and because heavy things cannot be thrust down but
by help and fellowship of light things above, likewise light things cannot from
above be put down but by help of heavy things. Nothing have I created without
cause and high wit whereby remedy is found and profitable unto man. And
therefore he that loveth his life must lose his life and he that loseth his life in
this world doth keep his life ever. And when it was thought that thing to be lost
that was, the thing began that before was not, that is both the waster and
amender that where corruption is, amendment doth appear and both is the
token of the craft [or science]. The king answered, If it be possible, let this
death pass me. Let me not die but if it be so that there is no remedy but I must
die, let thy will be done, for he that is not sad will not be merry. Nor is he worth
an empire that will not fight for it. I will therefore gladly take the full moon for
my mother, that I may be made the very true white son of black, red of white,
citron of red, and not deceiving. The brethren rejoicing the marriage of their
king, they prepared for him a large chamber and round bed, clear,
becompassed with dew, closed well, which was garnished with 9 virgins [or
maidens] ordained to the service of such a king and with great fear they did
look for health and savior. Then at midnight when all things were at rest, the
light of lights, clear shining, coming from the regal seat above said to the 9
virgins, It behooveth me to pass through fire and water and again to be born.
But I fear only the venom of the serpent lest he slay [or destroy] me by great
violence and in my tender age. Therefore take you the charge and keeping of
me after I am born until I come to perfect age and then I shall transfer you into
my kingdom and after that you shall be immortal.
The virgins promising the keeping of him, the king entered into his
chamber surely and he kindled with ardor and ferventness of desire fell asleep
and slept with a marvelous fair virgin, the daughter of his mother. And that
woman, clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, suddenly did
swallow in her spouse, so that I could nothing of him see.
The virgins therefore, supposing the king utterly dead, despaired of his life,

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ALCHEMICAL

VISION

likewise did sleep. And that seeing, the old serpent remembering his old
displeasure against the woman, entered under the said chamber, casting out a
little and a little his venom softly lest he should awake those that slept. And that
poison little and little ascending into the body of the king infected all that were
asleep. All this was done the first day of October.
But the woman loving her spouse gathered him into her inward bowels lest
he should be hurt willing to expel the venom. But the old enemy the serpent
casting out more and more his poison, never leaving to destroy the woman and
her seed [or child]. Yet nevertheless the more the venom did hurt the young
thing so much more it was hid [or closed] in the mother's womb lest it should
be born before time, by heat of himself. The moon surely with the full moisture
did shadow the sun and repelled [or put away] from him the heat of the
fire.
In the mean season the time of the birth came and the woman brought
forth her first begotten son. And lest it should be infected of the serpent,
taking heed for what should come after, with wings flew unto the upper
chamber bearing her child with her. Then seeking issewe but she could none
find turned again from whence she came from and could find no rest. And
often with wings spread flew up but the waybeing stopped, she was constrained
to turn again. And the feathers of her wings were made black as a raven
insomuch that at her rising the sun was dimmed and made dark. The
beginning of this craft is the raven's head. It flyeth and falleth in the nest that
he came from. And whilst in this manner she labored and toiled to flyaway her
son was born and did suckle three virgins, so that their wings were plucked that
they should not go from him but nourish him and tend him. And that seeing,
the other 6 virgins were greatly afraid and softly flew into the air. This child
then drying himself at the sun was turned from black into a white color. These
things were done p. die kalendis Mai.
The serpent, when he perceived this, was greatly angered and did burn this
young thing into ashes by great heat. But he more and more drawing out water
from the wells of the savior hath devoured the six virgins one after another,
congealing himself at the fire with them after his custom. So that within the
space of 40 days was wholly turned into earth again. After other 40 days
containing in the same heat, at the last he put over a white garment. Then he
changed into diverse colors and casting out sometime a red figure [or
likeness], sometime a black, then soon a citron and after a white. So that I may
say if it was ever changeable like Prothea whereof cometh these verses: Quo
teneam modo mutantem Prothea vultus. Diruit, edificat, mutat quadrata
rotundis. For the thing whose head is red, feet white, eyes black is the whole
mastery. Therefore when he standeth [or continueth] in mere [or very]
whiteness of his sister he needeth [or lacketh] then the light of his wife. Then
marrying him therefore with the moon we have made projection upon other
bodies. And for one part of him did change 100,000 parts of other planets into
perfect lune.
Then when the serpent saw himself to be trodden down, he sorrowful of

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THEISEN

heart labored with all his power to destroy the king clothed with white. But the
king, his bones comforted, more and more hath trodden under the serpent.

And he so slain, the king feared never after the venom of nothing. But of anger
moved and fighting, he was so chased that from a white color he was turned
into red. And so had he victory upon all, leaving the offences of none
unpunished. And we joining the sun with the sun, we have cast them upon
other bodies. And one part of him did change 100,000 of other planets into
most purest sol. We awaking from this vision writing with great joy and
gladness, so that poverty is exiled [or outlawed] we have not refused to dwell
in our own house hereafter. Then upon giving thanks to almighty god and we
ascending up into a tree have gathered apples and for fail of a pannyer [or
basket] we have laid them aside and therefore take who may and thank God
and for brusing of them pray unto Almighty God, that we may come and be set
in the orchard of him qui sine fine vivit et regnat. Amen.

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