244 Symbola Aurecc Mmsa, S^c, [Oct. 



1 have not the means of referring to the original tract, but from 

 this mention of the Stoics, should apprehend it to be, if not 

 among the earliest alchemical forgeries, subsequent to the 

 revival of literature.* To what particular notion of the Stoics 

 the author refers, I am not aware ; the passage, however, if the 

 tract be of any antiquity, is a curious one. Other Hebrews are 

 enumerated as eminent in the art, among whom Solomon, as 

 might be supposed, is not overlooked ; somewhat less plausible 

 is the insertion (on the authority of Avicenna, Vincent of Beau- 

 vais, and the Per?e Ecclesiasticae) of St. John the Evangelist. 

 The notion seems to have had its rise in the misconception of a 

 legend which represents St. John as having converted stones 

 into gems, and wood into gold, for some eleemosynary puqjose. 

 This section is, for the most part, very dull and uninteresting. 

 I will add nothing more, therefore, than a specimen of the argu- 

 ments with which it concludes. *^ To that which is perfect (says 

 the adversary), nothing can be added; but the inferior metals, as 

 lead, ^c. are pe feet, therefore nothing can be added to them," It is 

 answered that that which is natnralli/ perfect in its kind may be 

 yet further perfected by art, as corn which is perfect in se is yet 

 further perfected by being made into bread, &c. 



Book III. Greeks. — These are headed by Democritus the 

 Abderite, for whose existence, philosophy, and merriment, suffi- 

 cient authority is given ; for his alchemy, that of Psellus and 

 Picus Mirandulae. Maier hints that the atomic theory might 

 still have its supporters, if the Aristotelians did not cry it down, 

 but objects strongly to the notion of a plurality of worlds. The 

 catalogue of Greek alchemists includes Orpheus, Homer, the 

 authors of the mysteries, and even of the Olympic and other 

 games, Pythagoras, and nearly all the Greek physiologists ; 

 among th^ rest, Euclid, and Seneca, Hamech, and Abugazaly the 

 master of Plato. Apollonius ofTyanais made, with somewhat 

 more of plausibiht}^, to occupy a prominent station among these 

 gentry. Into the probable sources of the extraordinary halluci- 

 nation which would convert nearly the whole learning of Gre- 

 cian antiquity into a mere vehicle for the dreams of alchemy, I 

 shall endeavour to inquire shortly. Here then I will add only a 

 further specimen of alchemical dialectics. P. " From two 

 elementary substances {entibus per se) one ens per se cannot be 

 made. But the alchemist who affirms that gold (an ens per se), 

 may be made by the union of lead, and the tincture assumes this. 

 This assertion is, therefore, false." Answer. "We constantly 

 see " unum quid " made " ex duobus entibus," as bread of 



• It is probably an early Greek forgery. G. Syncellus (A. D. 780), mentions one 

 Maria, a Hebrew, as contemporary with Democritus of Abtlera, and liaving written in 

 language purposely obscure on subjects of the same kind, namely, gold, silver, stones, 

 and purple. '*^ Miriam and the Jewish writin^rs," are also referred to in a Greek MS. 

 entitled *' The Sacred Art," in the Royal Library of France." — (Fabricii Cod, Apo- 

 cryph. Vet. Te«t. voU i. p. 869.) 



