192 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



his appetite for food and drink, and ren- 

 ders him incapable of exercising prudent 

 forethought with regard to the future ; it 

 makes him forget his calling, vocation, 

 study, prayer. If the lover does not ob- 

 tain what he desires, or if his wishes are 

 not immediately fulfilled, by what melan- 

 choly, sorrow, and anguish is he tor- 

 mented ! How soon he wastes away to 

 a mere shadow ! How often does he 

 not die of a broken heart! In short, 

 such persons think very slightly either of 

 this life or of the life to come, until they 

 have been satisfied with the enjoyment 

 of the loved object. 



But I, as a monk, must not dilate 

 any further upon the symptoms of this 

 unholy and consuming passion. I have 

 kept myself pure from it all my life, and 

 pray God that He may preserve me 

 faithful to my holy spouse, the Church, 

 even to the end. Even what I have 

 said was only mentioned for the purpose 

 of shewing by what passionate love the 

 tinctures should be violently attracted 

 towards their metals, in order that they 



