Superphysics
The Parable, Or Philosophical Riddle
9 minutes • 1831 words
While I was sailing from the Artic pole to the Antartic, I was cast on the shore of a great sea. I knew and understood the passages and properties of the sea of that Coast.
But I did not know whether those Coasts has little Remora fish which men had been seeking.
I was weary with my foregoing labors and oppressed with diverse thoughts while I was listening to the sweet singing mermaids swimming up and down with the Nymphs.
I fell asleep and had a wonderful vision.
I saw Neptune a man of an honorable old age, going out of our sea with his Trident. After a friendly salute, he led me to a most pleasant Island towards the South.
It has all things respecting the necessity, and delight of man. Virgils Elisian field might scarce compare with it.
All the banks were round about beset with green Mirtles, Cypresse trees, and Rosemary. The green meadowes were covered all over with flowers of all sorts, both fair, and sweet.
The hills were set forth with Vines, Olive trees, and Cedar-trees in a most wonderfull manner.
The woods were filled with Orenge, and Lemon-trees. The high wayes were planted on both sides with Bay-trees, and Pomegranate-trees, woven most artificialy one within the other, and affording a most pleasant shadow to Travellers.
Neptune showed me 2 Mines lying under a rock, the one was of Gold, the other of Chalybs, or Steel.
Then I was brought to a Meadow in which was a peculiar Orchard with divers sorts of trees most goodly to behold, and amongst the rest, being very many he shewed to me 7 Trees marked out by speciall names.
Of the 2 main, more eminent then the rest:
- one bore fruit like the Sun most bright, and shining, and the leaves thereof were like Gold
- the other brought forth fruit that was most white, yea, whiter then the Lillies, and the leaves therof were as fine Silver
Neptune called these trees as the tree of the Sun, the other the tree of the Moon.
Although in this Iland all things were at ones pleasure, and command, yet there was one thing, and but one wanting: there was no water to be had, but with great difficulty.
There were many that partly endeavoured to bring it thither by pipes, and partly drew it out of divers things: but their endeavours were in vain, because in those places it could not bee had by any means or medium; and if it were at any time had, yet it was unprofitable, and poisonous, unlesse they fetched it (as few could doe) from the beams of the Sun, and Moone.
He which was fortunate in so doing could never get above 10 parts; and that water was most wonderful.
I saw it and felt it with my own eyes that that water was as white as the snow.
Neptune then vanished. There appeared to me a great man. On his forehead was written the name of Saturn.
He took the vessel drawing 10 parts of water putting it to the tree of the Sun.
I saw the fruit of the tree consumed, and resolved like ice in warm water.
Sir, I see a wonderfull thing, water to be as it were of nothing. I see the fruit of the tree consumed in it with a most sweet, and kindly heat, and wherefore is all this?
My Son, this is a thing to be wondered at; but doe not you wonder at it, for so it must be. This water is the Water of life, having power to better the fruit of this tree so, that afterward neither by planting, or graffing, but only by its own odour it may convert the other six trees into its own likenesse.
This water is to this fruit as it were a woman, the fruit of this tree can be putrefied in nothing but in this water, and although the fruit of it be of it self most wonderful, & a thing of great price; yet if it be putrefied in this water, it begets by this putrefaction a Salamander, abiding in the fire, whose blood is more pretious then any kind of treasure or riches in the world, being able to make those six trees, which here you seest, fruitfull, and to bring forth their fruit sweeter then the honey.
Sir, How is that done?
The fruit of that tree is living, and sweet. But whereas one is now sufficed with it, when it is boyled in this water, a thousand may then bee satisfied with it.
Sir, is it boiled with a strong fire, and how long is it in boyling?
That water has an intrinsic fire. If it be helped with a continuall heat, it burns three parts of its body with this body of the fruit, and there wil remain but a very smal part, which is scarce imaginable, but of wonderful virtue;
It is boiled by the skilfull wit of the Artificer, first 7 months, then 10, but in the mean time there appeared divers things, and always in the fiftieth day, or thereabouts.
Sir, cannot this fruit be boiled in other waters, or something be put to it?
There is but this one water that is usefull in this Country, or Island.
There is no other water can penetrate the pores of this apple, but this: and know also that the Tree of the Sun hath its originall from this water, which is extracted out of the beams of the Sun, and Moone by a magnetick virtue: Besides they have a great correspondency betwixt themselves, but if any strange thing be added to it, it cannot performe that which it can do of it self.
It must therefore be left by it self, and nothing added to it but this apple: This fruit after boiling becomes to bee immortall, having life, and blood, which blood makes all the trees bring forth fruit of the same nature with the Apple.
Sir, is this Water drawn any other way, or to be had every where?
It is in every place, and no man can live without it; it is drawn divers ways, but that is the best, which is extracted by virtue of our Chalybs, which is found in the belly of Aries.
To what use is it?
Before its due boiling it is the greatest poison, but after a convenient boiling it is the greatest medicine, and yeelds nine and twenty graines of blood; and every grain will yeeld to thee the fruit of the Tree of the Sun in 864 fold.
Can it not be made yet better?
The Philosophical Scripture being witnesse (saith he ) it may bee exalted first to ten, then to a hundred, then to a thousand, and ten thousand.
Sir, Doe many know that Water, and hath it any proper name?
Few know it, but all have seen it, and doe see it, and love it: it hath many and various names, but its proper name is the Water of our Sea, the Water of life not wetting the hands.
Do any use it to any other things?
Every creature uses it, but invisibly.
Does any thing grow in it?
Of it are made all things in the world, and in it they live: but in it nothing properly is, but it is that thing which mixeth it self to every thing.
Is it usefull for any thing without the fruit of this tree?
Not in this work; because it is not bettered, but in the fruit of the Tree of the Sun alone.
Sir, name it to me that I may have no further doubt about it.
But he cryed with a loud voice, so as that he awakened me from sleep. Therefore I could ask him no further.
For if you dost not understand these things, you wilt never be able to comprehend the books of other Philosophers.
After Saturn’s unexpected and sudden departure a new sleep came upon me. Then appeared Neptune.
He congratulated my present happinesse in the gardens of the Hesperides, shewing to me a Looking-glasse, in which I saw all Nature discovered.
After the changing of divers words betwixt us, I gave him thanks for his courtesies shewed to me; because I not only entred into this garden, but also came into Saturn’s most desired discourse.
But because by reason of Saturn’s unexpected departure some difficulties did yet remain to be inquired after, and searched into, I earnestly besought him, that by means of this happy opportunity he would resolve mee my doubts.
I importuned him with these words, Sir I have read the books of Philosophers, and they say, that all generation is done by Male, and Female, yet I saw in my dream Saturn put the fruit alone of the Tree of the Sun into our Mercury; I beleeve also thee as the Master of this Sea, that you knowest these things; answer my Question I pray thee.
All generation is done in Male, and Female. But by reason of the distinguishing of the 3 Kingdomes of Nature, a 4-footed Animal is brought forth one way, and a worme another.
Worms have sight, hearing, and other senses. Yet they are brought forth by putrefaction. Their place, or earth, in which they are putrefied, is the Female.
So in this Philosophicall work the mother of this thing is that Water of thine so often repeated, & whatsoever is produced of that, is produced as worms by putrefaction. Therfore the Philosophers have created a Phenix, & Salamander.
For if it were done by the conception of two bodies, it would be a thing subject to death; but because it revives it self alone, the former body being destroyed, it riseth up another body incorruptible. Seeing the death of things is nothing else but the separation of the one from the other.
And so it is in this Phenix, because the life separates it self by its self from a corruptible body.
Sir, are there divers things, or is there a composition of things in this work?
There is only one thing, with which there is mixed nothing else but the Philosophicall Water shewed to thee oftentimes in thy sleep, of which there must be ten parts to one of the body.
And strongly, and undoubtedly beleeve, My son, that those things which are by me and Saturn shewed thee by way of dreams, according to the custom, in this Iland, are not dreams, but the very truth, which Experience the only Mistris of things will by the assistance of God discover to thee.
I asked him more questions but he did not answer. He then departed and I awoke into my desired region of Europe.
