University of Virginia Library

CHYMISTRY

A Sottish Chymist in Dispight of Nature
Think's to make Gold by Penetrating Matter:
And, like a Spirit, Transubstantiate
Brass-Pots, and Kettles, into Silver Plate
Of which the greater Dose must be allowd,
To keep th' Alloy from being understood:
And therefore Ignorantly take Occasion,
To pass it for as vaine Multiplication.
In which th' Appeare as Idle and Absurd
In Sottishly Mischanging of a word.
For he that has but puzzl'd his Criss-cross-over
Is learnd enough to make a Stone-Philosopher
Who, when they undertake to Teach the Stone,
Make Solemne vows t' impart the Truth to None;
Which 'tis no Miracle but they may do,
And yet sweare only what's exactly tru.
The Ablest of their Spagirists are made,
Of Hot-braind Bank-rupts, of some other Trade.
For if but one, had got th' Hermetique Stone,
All others had for ever been undon.
The Meanest had Disdaind t' have Bought, or sold,
But turnd their Tin, and Lead, and Irn to Gold.
While all Professions else, had only serv'd
For want of Necessarys, to be stervd.
The Prices of all things had grown so Great
That None but Chymists could afford to Eate.
And when there were no other Men to Rob
Had beene Reducd to th' Indigence of Job;
And no men Held more wretchedly undon,
Then those who Newly had found the Stone:
Beside, if Fire cannot Distroy (as th' hold),
By consequence it never can make Gold,
For Art and Nature nere found out a way
To make that, which it self Cannot Destroy.