The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 71 



wrong medicine, he does more harm than 

 good. For instance, if, while iron is 

 being dissolved in aqua fortis, you sup- 

 denly pour into it oil of tartar, you will 

 burst the glass vessel : for contrary quali- 

 ties, when brought into collision, generate 

 a consuming fire. Of these things our 

 solemn, begowned doctors know nothing, 

 and can conceal their ignorance only by 

 judicious silence. To you I speak, ye 

 solemn titular physicians, and to you, 

 apothecaries, who fill with your concoc- 

 tions dire pots as large as those which 

 are used to cook soup for a hundred 

 persons ye that are stoneblind, pray 

 that your eyes may be anointed with 

 eyesalve, and that the thick scales of 

 darkness may fall from your mind ! 

 Then you may perhaps see the truth as 

 in a bright mirror. Pray that you may 

 find the medicine which God has im- 

 planted in the noblest and most precious 

 of created things for the good of the 

 human race, whereby we may obtain 

 help at need, and health when laid low 

 with sickness ! Why are you, wretched 



