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177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
97
"From
the
middle
of
this
age
the
Monarchy
of
all
the
Arts
has
been
at
length
derived
and
conferred
on
me,
Theophrastus
Paracelsus,
Prince
of
Philosophy
and
Medicine.
For
this
purpose
I
have
been
chosen
by
God
to
extinguish
and
blot
out
all
the
phantasies
of
elaborate
and
false
works,
of
delusive
and
presumptuous
words,
be
they
the
words
of
Aristotle,
Galen,
Avicenna,
Mesva,
or
the
dogmas
of
any
among
their
followers.
My
theory,
proceeding
as
it
does
from
the
light
of
Nature,
can
never,
through
its
consistency,
pass
away
or
be
changed;
but
in
the
fifty-eighth
year
after
its
millennium
and
a
half
it
will
then
begin
to
flourish.
The
practice
at
the
same
time
following
upon
the
theory
will
be
proved
by
wonderful
and
incredible
signs,
so
as
to
be
open
to
mechanics
and
common
people,
and
they
will
thoroughly
understand
how
firm
and
immovable
is
that
Paracelsic
Art
against
the
triflings
of
the
Sophists;
though
meanwhile
that
sophistical
science
has
to
have
its
ineptitude
propped
up
and
fortified
by
papal
and
imperial
privileges....
So
then,
you
wormy
and
lousy
Sophist,
since
you
deem
the
monarch
of
Arcana
a
mere
ignorant,
fatuous,
and
prodigal
quack,
now,
in
this
mid
age,
I
determine
in
my
present
treatise
to
disclose
the
honourable
course
of
procedure
in
these
matters,
the
virtues
and
preparation
of
the
celebrated
Tincture
of
the
Philosophers
for
the
use
and
honour
of
all
who
love
the
truth,
and
in
order
that
all
who
despise
the
true
arts
may
be
reduced
to
poverty."
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