48 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony, 



and as this is a very profound and 

 abstruse speculation, it is useful to pre- 

 pare the way by throwing upon my 

 subject all the light which can be gained 

 from common and familiar things ; other- 

 wise, you might be in danger of losing 

 your road at the very outset of your 

 journey. Antimony is also likened to a 

 bird which is borne through the air on 

 the wings of the wind, and turns whither 

 it will. The wind, or air, here repre- 

 sents the Artist, who can move and 

 impel Antimony whither it pleases him, 

 and place it wherever he likes. He can 

 colour it red or yellow, white or black, 

 according to the way in which he regu- 

 lates the fire, since Antimony, like 

 Mercury, contains within itself all colours. 

 If a book be placed before an 

 illiterate person, he does not know what 

 the letters mean ; he stands staring 

 stupidly at the characters, like a cow at 

 a new gate. But if that person were 

 taught to read, were shewn the significa- 

 tion of the letters, and instructed in the 

 meaning of the work, he would no longer 



