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177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
81
"I
brought
him
the
garment,
and
it
fitted
him
so
closely,
that
it
looked
like
an
iron
skin
securing
him
against
all
the
assaults
of
Vulcan.
'Let
us
proceed,'
he
then
said,
and
straightway
sped
across
the
open
field,
while
I
boldly
strove
to
keep
up
with
my
guide.
"Thus
we
reached
his
bride,
whose
virtue
and
constancy
were
equal
to
his
own.
There
I
beheld
their
marvellous
conjugal
union
and
nuptial
consummation,
whence
was
born
the
son
crowned
with
the
royal
diadem.
When
I
was
about
to
salute
him
as
King
of
Kings
and
Lord
of
Lords,
my
Genius
stood
by
me
and
warned
me
not
to
be
deceived,
since
this
was
only
the
King's
forerunner,
but
not
the
King
himself
whom
I
sought.
"When
I
heard
the
admonition,
I
did
not
know
whether
to
be
sad
or
joyful.
'Depart,'
then
said
Mercury,
'with
this
bridal
gift,
and
when
you
come
to
those
disciples
who
have
seen
the
Lord
himself,
show
them
this
sign.'
And
therewith
he
gave
me
a
gold
ring
from
his
son's
finger.
'They
know
the
golden
branch
which
must
be
consecrated
to
Proserpina
before
you
can
enter
the
palace
of
Pluto.
When
he
sees
this
ring,
perhaps
one
will
open
to
you
with
a
word
the
door
of
that
chamber,
where
sits
enthroned
in
his
magnificence
the
Desire
of
all
Nations,
who
is
known
only
to
the
Sages.'
"When
he
had
thus
spoken,
the
vision
vanished,
but
the
bridal
gift
which
I
still
held
in
my
hand
shewed
me
that
it
had
not
been
a
mere
dream.
It
was
of
gold,
but
to
me
more
precious
than
the
most
prized
of
all
metals.
Unto
you
I
will
shew
it
when
I
am
permitted
to
see
your
faces,
and
to
converse
with
you
freely.
Till
that
earnestly
wished-for
time,
I
bid
you
farewell."
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