Introduction. 39 
I would liken you to ‘“ Ananias,” the deacon, 
in Ben Jonson’s play of the “ Alchymist”; I 
would expatiate to you on the “ Ars Sacra,” 
and name to you the “vexations and mar- 
tyrisations” of the metals; I would ask you, 
Can you sublime and dulcifie? calcine? Do 
you comprehend putrefaction, solution, ab- 
lution, sublimation, cahabation, calcination, 
ceration, fixation? Are you aware that caha- 
bation is the “pouring on your Aqua regis” 
and “then drawing him off to the Tvine 
circle of the seven Spheres”? Know you that 
Mercury is known by his Vescoszty, Oleosity, 
and Suscitabzlity ? that “he is a very fugitive 
Sir,” “he will be gone!” and that you may 
sublime him with the calce of egg-shells, 
white marble, or chalk ? 
You look perplexed at my simple ques- 
tions, and reply with Ananias the Deacon,— 
That this is all “Heathen Greek” to you. 
Believe me, my dear unsentimental, sceptical 
friend, ‘there are more things in heaven 
