1l6 OF THE PROLONGATION 



low us to build any philofophical argument upon them. 

 An anecdote, however, of this land, has lately eome 

 to my hands, which feems to deferve fome attention. 

 As it is extremely furpriling, and very little known, I 

 will here relate it, and afterwards add fome remarks 

 upon it. This anecdote relates to the celebrated alchy- 

 mift Flamel ; and is as amuling as any of thofe which 

 the famous Shah-Riar caufed to be related by the peer- 

 lefs Sheherazade. 



Nicholas Flamel was born, about the beginning of 

 the fourteenth century, of poor parents, at Pontoife. 

 He went to Paris, and there, as a fcrivener, painfully 

 earnt his bread. Towards the year 1357. & bought 

 of one of his acquaintance an old book, that was very 

 fairly wrote on tree-bark, in the latin language, and 

 ornamented with very beautiful allegorical pictures. 

 The book was compofed by a jew rabbi of the name of 

 Abraham. This Abraham therein comforts his nation 

 concerning the perfecutions that were fallen on them, 

 and teaches them the myftery of making gold, and at 

 the fame time of preparing a medicine for prolonging 

 the human life quite to its ultimate term. Flamel 

 worked with perfevering patience for one and twenty 

 . years, according to thefe prescriptions, and at the end 

 of that period, as is generally the cafe with gold- 

 makers, was not a whit the wifer, but a great deal 

 poorer, than he was before. At length, perceiving 

 that he could make nothing of it, and feeing that the 

 book was the work of a jew, he determined to make a 

 journey into Spain, and endeavour to rind out fome 

 rabbi there who probably might explain to him thefe 



hieroglyphics.— 



