Lumen de Lumine, part 1 of 5

LUMEN DE LUMINE.

NOw had the Night spent her black stage, and all
Her beauteous, twinckling flames grew sick, and pale.
Her Scene of shades, and silence fled; and Day
Drest the young East in Roses: where each Ray
Falling on Sables, made the Sun and Night
Kisse in a Checquer of mixt Clouds, and Light.

I Think it were more plaine, and to some Capacities more pleasing, if I should expresse my self in this popular, low Dialect. It was about the Dawning or Day-breake, when tyr'd with a tedious solitude, and those pensive Thoughts which attend it, after much Losse and more Labour, I suddainly fell a sleep[…] Here then the Day was no sooner borne, but strangled; I was reduc'd to a night of a more deep tincture than that which I had formerly spent. My fansie placed me in a Region of inexpressible Obscuritie, and as I thought more than Naturall; but without any Terrors. I was in a firm even Temper, and though without incouragements, not only resolute, but well-pleas'd. I moved every way for Discoveries, but was still intertained with Darknesse and silence, and I thought my self translated to the Land of Desolation. Being thus troubled to no purpose, and wearied with long Indeavours, I resolved to reft my self, and seeing I could find nothing, I expected if any thing could find me. I had not long continued in this humor, but I could heare the whispers of a soft wind, that travail'd towards me, and suddainly it was in the Leaves of the Trees, so that I concluded my self to be in some Wood, or Wildernesse. With this gentle Breath came a most heavenly, odorous Ayre, much like that of sweet Briars, but not so rank and full. This perfume being blown over, there succeeded a pleasant Humming of Bees amongst Flowers, and this did somewhat discompose me, for I judged it not suitable with the Complexion of the place, which was darke and like Mid-night. Now was I somewhat troubl'd with these unexpected Occurrences, when a new Appearance diverted my Apprehensions. Not far off on my right hand, I could discover a white weake Light, not so cleare as that of a Candle, but mystie, and much resembling an Atmospheare. Towards the Center it was of a purple colour like the Elysian Sun-shine, but in the Dilatation of the Circumference, Milkie: and if we consider the joynt Tincture of the parts, it was a painted Vesper, a Figure of that Splendor, which the old Romans called Sol Mortuorum. Whiles I was taken up with this strange Scene, there appeared in the middle purple Colours, a suddain Commotion, and out of their very Center did sprout a certaine flowrie Light, as it were the flame of a Taper. Very bright it was, sparkling, and twinkling like the Day-star. The Beams of this new Planet issuing forth in small Skeins and Rivulets, look'd like Threds of Silver, which being reflected against the Trees, discover'd a Curious, green Vmbrage, and I found my self in a Grove of Bays. The Texture of the Branches was so even, the Leaves so thick, and in that conspiring order, it was not a wood, but a Building. I conceived it indeed to be the Temple of Nature, where she had joyn'd Discipline to her Doctrine. Under this shade and skreen did lodge a number of Nightingals, which I discovered by their whitish Breasts. These peeping thorough their leavie Cabinets, rejoyced at this strange Light, and having first plum'd themselves, stirr'd the still Ayre with their Musick. This I thought was very pretty, for the silence of the Night, suiting with the solitude of the place, made me judge it heavenly. The Ground both neer and far of, presented a pleasing kind of C[…]ecquer, for this new star meeting with some drops of Dew, made a M[…]ltitude of bright Refractions, as if the Earth had been paved with Diamonds. These rare, and various Accidents kept my soul busied, but to interrupt my Thoughts, as if it had been unlawfull to examine what I had seen, another more admirable Object interpos'd. I could see between me and the Light, a most exquisit, divine Beauty. Her frame neither long, nor short, but a meane decent Stature. Attir'd she was in thin loose silks, but so green, that I never saw the like, for the Colour was not Earthly. In some places it was fansied with white and Silver Ribbands, which look'd like Lilies in a field of Grasse. Her head was overcast with a thin floating Tiffanie, which she held up with one of her hands, and look'd as it were from under it. Her Eys were quick, fresh, and Celestiall, but had something of a start, as if she had been puzzl'd with a suddaine Occurrence. From her black Veile did her Locks breake out, like Sun-beams from a Mist; they ran dishevell'd to her Brests, and then return'd to her Cheeks in Curls and Rings of Gold. Her Haire behind her was rowl'd to a curious Globe, with a small short spir[…] flowr'd with purple, and skie-colour'd Knots. Her Rings were pure, intire Emeralds, for she valued no metall, and her Pendants of burning Carbuncles. To be short, her whole Habit was youthfull and flowrie, it smelt like the East, and was thorowly ayr'd with rich Arabian Diapasms. This and no other, was her appearance at that Time: but whiles I admir'd her perfections, and prepar'd to make my Addresses, shee prevents me with a voluntarie Approach. Here indeed I expected some Discourse from her, but she looking very seriously and silently in my face, takes me by the hand, and softly whispers, I should follow her. This I confesse sounded strange, but I thought it not amisse to obey so sweet a Command, and especially one that promised very much, but was able in my Opinion to performe more. The Light which I had formerly admir'd, proved now at last to be her Attendant, for it moved like an Vsher before her. This Service added much to her Glorie, and it was my only care to observe her, who though she wandr'd not, yet verily she followed no known path. Her walk was green, being furr'd with a fine small Grasse, which felt like plush, for it was very soft; and purl'd all the way with Daysies and Primrose. When we came out of our Arboret and Court of Bayes, I could perceive a strange Clearnesse in the Ayr, not like that of Day, neither can I affirme it was night. The stars indeed perched over us, and stood glimmering, as it were on the Tops of high Hills, for we were in a most deep Bottome, and the Earth overlook'd us, so that I conceived we were neer the Center. We had not walk'd very far, when I discovered cerraine thick, white Clouds, for such they seemed to me, which fill'd all that part of the Valley, that was before us. This indeed was an Error of mine, but it continued not long, for comming neerer, I found them to be firm solid Rocks, but shining and sparkling like Diamonds. This rare and goodly sight did not a litttle incourage me, and great desire I had to heare my Mistris speake (for so I judged her now) that if possible, I might receive some Information. How to bring this about, I did not well know, for she seem'd averse from Discourse; but having resolv'd with my self to disturb her, I […]sk'd her if she would favour me with her Name. To this she replied very familiarly, […]s if she had kown me long before. Euge[…]ius (said she) I have many Names, but my best and dearest is Thalia: for I am alwaies green, and I shall never wither. Thou doest […]here behold the mountains of the Moone, and I will shew thee the Originall of Nilus, for she springs from these Invisible Rocks. Looke up and peruse the very Tops of these pillars and Clifts of Salt, for they are the true, Philosophicall, Lunar Mountains. Didst thou ever see such a Miraculous, incredible thing? This speech made me quickly look up to those glittering Turrets of Salt, where I could see a stupendous Cataract, or Waterfall. The streame was more large than any River in her full Chanell, but notwithstanding the Height, and Violence of its Fall, it descended without any Noyse. The Waters were dash'd, and their Current distracted by those Saltish Rocks, but for all this they came down with a dead silence, like the still, soft Ayr. Some of this Liquor (for it ran by me) I took up, to see what strange wollen substance it was, that did thus steale down like Snow. When I had […]it in my hands it was no Common water, but a certaine kind of Oile of a Waterie Complex on. A viscous, fat, mineral nature it was, bright like Pearls, and transparent like Chrystall. When I had viewd and search'd it well, it appear'd somewhat spermatic, and in very Truth it was obscene to the sight, but much more to the Touch. Hereupon Thalia told me, it was the first Matter, and the very Naturall, true Sperm of the great World. It is (said she) invisible, and therefore few are they that find it; but many believe it is not to be found. They believe indeed that the world is a dead Figure, like a Body which hath been sometimes made, and fashion'd by that spirit, which dwelt in it, but retaines that very shape and fashion, for some short time, after that the Spirit hath forsaken it. They should rather consider, that every Frame when the Soule hath left it, doth discompose, and can no longer retaine its former figure, for the Agent that held and kept the parts together is gone. Most excellent then is that speech, which I heard sometimes from one of my own Pupils. Mundus hic ex tam diversis contrariisque partibus in unam formam minimè conven[…]sset, nisi unus esset, qui tam Diversa conjungeret; Conjuncta vero Naturarum ipsa Diversitas invicem discors, dissociaret, atque divelleret, nisi unus esset, qui quod nexuit, contineret, Non tam vero certus naturae ordo procederet, nec tam dispositosmotus Locis, temporibus, efficientiâ, Qualitatibus explicaret, nisi unus esset, qui has Mutationum varietates manens ipse disponeret. Hoc quicquid est, quo Condita manent, atque gubernantur, usitato cunctis Vocabulo Deum nomino. This world (saith he) of such divers and contrarie parts had never been made one thing, Had not there been one, who did joyn together such contrary things. But being joyn'd together, the very Diversitie of the Natures joyned, fighting one with another, had Discompos'd and separated them, unlesse there had been one to hold and keep those parts together, which he at first did joyn. Verily the order of Nature could not proceed with such certaintie, neither could she move so regularly in severall places, times, effects and qualities, unlesse there were some one, who dispos'd, and order'd these Varieties of Motions. This, whatsoever it is, by which the world is preserved and govern'd, I call by that usuall name, God. Thou most therefore Eugenius (said she) understand, that all Compositionsare made by an active, intelligent life; for what was done in the Composure of the great world in generall, the same is perform'd in the Generation of every creature, and its sperm in particular. I suppose thou doest know, that water cannot be contained but in some Vessell. The naturall Vessell which God hath appointed for it, is Earth. In Earth water may be thickned; and brought to a figure, but of it self, and without Earth, it hath an indefinit flux, and is subject to no certaine figure whatsoever, Ayre also is a fleeting indeterminat substance, but water is his Vessell: for water being figured by means of Earth, the Ayr also is thickned, and figur'd in the Water. To ascend higher, the Ayr coagulats the liquid fire, and fire incorporated involves and confines the thin Light. These are the Means by which God unites, and compounds the Elements into a Sperm, for the Earth alters the Complexion of the water, and makes it viscous and slimie. Such a water must they look, who would produce any Magicall extraordinary Effects; for this Spermatic water coagulats with the least heat, so that nature concocts, and hardens it into metals. Thou seest the whites of Egs will thicken assoon as they feel the fire, for their moysture is temper'd with a pure subtill Earth, and this subtill, animated Earth, is that which binds their water. Take water then my Eugenius, from the Mountains of the Moon, which is water, and no water: Boyl it in the fire of Nature, to a two fold Earth, white and red, then feed those Earths with Ayr of Fire, and Fire of Ayr, and thou hast the two Magicall Luminaries. But because thou hast been a servant of mine for a long time and that thy patience hath manifested the Truth of thy Love, I will bring thee to my Schoole, and there will I shew thee what the world is not capable of. This was no sooner spoken, but she past by those Diamond-like, rockie salts, and brought me to a Rock of Adamant figur'd to a just, intire Cube: It was the Basis to a firie Pyramid, a Trigon of pure Pyrope, whose imprison'd flames did stretch, and strive for Heaven. To the Fore-square or Frontlet of this Rock was annex'd a little portall. and in that hung a Tablet. It was a painted Hedge-Hog, so rowl'd and wrapt up in his Bag, he could not easily be discompos'd. Over this stood a Dog snarling, and hard by him this Instruction.

Suaviter aut Pungit.

IN we went, and having entred the Rock, the interior parts were of a heavenly Smaragdine Colour. Somewhere they shin'd like Leaves of pure Gold, and then appear'd a third inexpressible purple tincture. We had not gone very far, but we came to an Ancient Majestic Altar; On the Offertorie, or very top of it, was figur'd the Trunck of an old rotten tree, pluck'd up by the Roots. Out of this crept a Snake, of colour white and Green, Slow of Motion like a Snayle, and very weake, having but newly felt the Sun, that overlook'd her. Towards the Foot, or Basis of this Altar was an Inscription in old Egyptian Hieroglyphics, which Thalia expounded, and this is it.

Diis Beatis.
In Caelo Subterraneo.
N. L.
[non-Latin script]

FRom this place we moved straight forward, till we came to a Cave of Earth. It was very obscure, and withall dankish, giving a heavy odour like that of graves. Here we stay'd not long, but passing this Church-yard, wee came at last to the Sanctuarie, where Thalia turning to mee, made this her short, and last speech.

Eugenius! This is the place, which many have desired to see, but saw it not. The Praeparatives to their Admission here, were wanting: They did not love Mee, but Mine. They coveted indeed the Riches of Nature, but Nature her self they did both neglect, and corrupt. Som Advantages they had in point of Assault, had they but studied their Opportunities. I was expos'd to their hands, but they knew mee not. I was subject in som measure to their Violence, but Hee that made mee, would not suffer mee to bee rifi'd. In a word, the Ruine of these men was built on their Disposition. In their Addresses to mee, they resembl'd those pittifull things, which som call Courtiers. These have their Antics and Raunts, as if they had been train'd amongst Apes. They scrape (as one hath well exprest it) proportions Mathematicall: make strange Legs and faces, and in that phrase of the same Poet;

Varie their Mouths as 'twere by Magic spell,
To figures ovall, square, and Triangle.

So these impudent Sophisters assaulted mee with Vain-glorious Humors. When I look'd into their hearts, there was no Room for mee; they were full of proud Thoughts, and dream'd of a certain Riotous Happiness, which must bee maintain'd by my Expences, and Treasures. In the interim they did not consider that I was plam and simple, One that did not love Noise, but a privat, Sweet Content. I have Eugenius found thee much of my own Humor. I have withall found thy Expectations patient, thou canst easily believe, where thou hast Reason to thy Faith. Thou hast all this while served without Wages, now is the time com to reward Thee. My love, I freely give Thee, and with it these tokens, my Key, and Seale. The one opens, the other shutts, bee sure to use both with Discretion. As for the Mysteries of this my Schoole, thou hast the Libertie to peruse them all, there is not any thing here, but I will gladly reveale it to thee. I have one Praecept I shall commend to thee, and this it is, You must bee Silent. You shall not in your writings exceed my Allowances: Remember that I am your Love, and you will not make mee a Prostitute. But because I wish you Serviceable to those of your own Disposition, I here give you an Emblematicall Type of my Sanctuarie, with a full Priviledge to publish it. This is all, and now I am going to that Invisible Region, [non-Latin script]. Let not that Proverb take place with you, Out of Sight, out of Mind: Remember mee, and bee Happy.

These were her Instructions, which were no sooner delivered, but shee brought mee to a cleare, large Light, and here I saw those Things, which I must not speak of. Having thus discovered all the parts of that glorious Labyri[…]th, shee did lead me out again with her Clew of Sun-beam […] her Light that went Shining before us. When wee were past the Rocks of Nilus, shee shewed mee a Secret Staire-Case, by which wee ascended from that deep and flowrie Vale, to the face of this our Common Earth. Here Thalia stopt in a mute Ceremonie, for I was to bee left all alone. Shee look'd upon mee in silent smiles, mixt with a pretty kind of Sadness, for wee were unwilling to part. But her Houre of […]ra[…]lation was come, and taking (as I thought) our last leave, shee past before my Eyes, [non-Latin script], into the AEther of Nature.

Now verily was I much troubled, and somewhat disordered, but composing my self as well as I could I came to a Cop of M[…]rtles, where resting my self on a Flowrie Bank. I began to consider those Things which I had seen. This Solitude, and Melancholie, studie continued not long, for it met with a very gratefull Interruption. I could see Thalia as it were at the end of a Landskip, somwhat far off, as wee see stars newly risen: but in a moment shee was in the Myrtles, where seating her self hard by mee, I received from her this Discourse. I would not Eugenius, have thee ignorant of the Unitie, and Concentration of Sciences. In the past, and more Knowing years of the world, when Magic was better, and more generally understood, the Professors of this Art divided it into three parts, Elementall, Coelestiall, and Spirituall. The Elementall part contained all the Secrets of Physic, the Coelestiall those of Astrologie, and the Spirituall those of Divinitie. Every one of these by it self was but a Branch or Lim, but being united all Three, […]hey were the Pandects of the Science. Now in these thy dayes there is no man can shew thee any reall Physic, or Astrologie, neither have they any more, than a Tong-and-Book Divinitie. The reason of it is this; In Process of time these three Sciences (which work no wonders without a mutuall essentiall Union) were by mis-interpretation dismembred, and set apart, so that every one of them was held to be a Facultie by it self. Now God had vnited these Three in one Naturall Subject, but man bee separated them, and placed them in no Subject, but in his own Brain, there they remained in words and fansie, not in Substantiall Elements, and Veritie. In this state the Sciences were dead and Ineffectuall: they […]eelded nothing but Noyse, for they were separated; As if thou should'st dismember a Man, and then expect some one part of him should performe those Actions, which the whole did, when he was alive. Thou doest know by very naturall Experience, that out of one Specificall Root there grow severall different Substances, as Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, and Seed; So out of one Universall Root, namely the Chaos, grow all Specificall Natures, and their Individualls. Now there is no true Science or Knowledge, but what is grounded upon Sensible, particular Substances, or upon that Sensible Universall Substance, out of which all Particulars are made. As for Universals in the Abstract, there are no such things, they are empty imaginarie Whymzies, for Abstractions are but so many Phantastic Suppositions. Consider now Eugenius, that all Individuals, even Man himself, hath nothing in him Ma[…]erially, but what he received from the materiall Universall Nature. Consider again, that the same Individuals are Reducible to their first Physicall Universall Matter, and by Consequence this Universall matter hath in it self the Secrets and Mysteries of all Particulars; for whatsoever includes the Subject it self, includes also the Science of that subject. To conclude: In the first Matter, the Divine Wisdome is collected in a Generall Chaodicall Center, but in the particulars made of the first Matter it is dispersed, and spread out as it were to a Circumference. It remains the[…] that the Chaos is the Center of all Sciences, to which they may, and ought to be reduc'd, for it is the sensible naturall Mysterium Magnum, and under God the Secondary Temple of Wisdome. Search therefore, and examine the parts of this Chaos, by the Rules and Instructions received, when I was with thee in the mineral Region. Dwell not altogether on the practice, for that is not the way to improve it: be sure to adde reason to thy Experience, and to imploy thy mind aswell as thy hands. Labour to know all Causes and their Effects[…] doe not only study the Receipt, like that broyling frying Company, who call themselves Chimists, but are indeed no Philosophers. This is all which I thinke fit to adde to my former Prescriptions, but that which made me returne, was something else, and now thou shall receive it. Thou hast heard sometimes I suppose of the Beryllistic part of Magic: have a care to apprehend me, and I will shew the[…] the Foundation. Thou must know the stars can impresse no new Influx in perfect compleat Bodies, they only dispose, and in some measure stir up that influence, which hath been formerly impressed. It is most certain Eugenius, that no Astrobolism takes place without some previous Corruption, and Alteration in the Patient, for Nature works not but in loose, moyst, discomposed Elements. This Distemper proceeds not from the stars, but from the Contrarietie of the Elements amongst themselves: whensoever they fall out, and work their own Dissolution, then the Celestiall Fire puts in to reconcile them againe, and generats some new Forme, seeing the old one could consist no longer. Observe then that the Genuine Time of Impressions is, when the Principles are Spermatic and callow, but being once coagulated to a perfect Body, the Time of Stellification is past. Now the Ancient Magi in their Books speake of strange Astrologicall Lamps, Images, Rings, and Plates, which being us'd at certaine Hours, would produce incredible, extraordinarie Effects. The common Astrologer, he takes a stone, or some peece of Metall, figures it with ridiculous Characters, and then exposeth it to the Planets, not in an Alkemusi, but as he dreams himself, he knows not how. When this is done, all is to no purpose, but though they faile in their practice, you they believe they understand the Books of the Magi well enough. Now Eugenius that thou mayst know what to doe, I will teach thee by Example. Take a […]ipe graine of Corne, that is hard, and drie, expose it to the Sun-beams in a Glasse, or any other vessell, and it will be a drie graine for ever. But if thou doest bury it in the Earth, that the nitrous Saltish moysture of that Element may dissolve it, then the Sun will worke upon it, and make it spring and sprout to a new Body. It is just thus with the common Astrologer, he exposeth to the Planets a perfect compacted Body, and by this means thinks to performe the Magician's Gamaaea, and marry the Inferior and Superior Worlds. It must be a Body reduc'd into Sperm, that the Heavenly Feminine moysture, which receives and retains the Impresse of the Astrall Agent, may be at Liberty, and immediatly expos'd to the Masculine Fire of Nature. This is the ground of the Beryl, but you must remember that nothing can be stellified without the joynt Magnetism of three Heavens; what they are I have told you elsewhere, and I will not trouble you with Repetitions. When she had thus said, she took out of her Bosome, two miraculous Medals, not Metalline, but such as I had never seen, neither did I conceive there was in Nature […]ch pure, and glorious Substances. In my […]udgement they were two Magicall Astro[…]asms, but she call'd them Saphirics of the Sun and Moone. These Miracles she com[…]ended to my perusall, excusing her self as […]eing sleepie, otherwise she had expounded […]hem for me. I look'd admir'd, and wea[…]ied my self in their Contemplation. Their Complexion was so heavenly, their contri[…]ance so mysterious, I did not well know, what to make of them. I turn'd aside to see […]f she was still a sleep, but she was gone, and […]his did not a little trouble me. I expected […]er Returne, till the Day was quite spent, but […]he did not appeare. At last fixing my Eys on […]hat place, where shee sometimes rested. I […]iscover'd certain peeces of Gold, which she […]ad left behind her, and hard by a paper […]lded like a Letter. These I took up, and […]ow the Night approaching, the Evening-[…]ar tinn'd in the West, when taking my last […]rvey of her flowrie pillow, I parted from it […] this Verse.

PRetty green Bank farewell! and mayst thou we are
Sun beams, and Rose, and Lilies all the yeare!
She slept on Thee: but needed not to shed
[…] Gold, 'twas pay enough to be her Bed.
[…] Flow'rs are Favorits: for this lov'd Day
[…]ey were my Rivals, and with Her did play.
They found their Heav'n at hand, and in her Eys
Injoy'd a Copie of their absent skies.
Their weaker paint did with true Glories trade,
And mingl'd with her Cheeks, one Posie made.
And did not her soft skin confine their pride,
And with a skreen of Silk both Flowr's divide,
They had suck'd life from thence, and from her Heat
Borrow'd a Soul to make themselves compleat.

O happy Pillow! Though thou art layd even
With Dust, she made thee up almost a Heaven.
Her Breath rain'd Spices, and each Amber ring
Of her bright locks strew'd Bracelets o'r thy spring.
That Earth's not poor, did such a Treasure hold,
But thrice inrich'd, with Amber, Spice, and Gold.

[Figure: SCHOLAE MAGICAE TYPVS.]

THis is that Emblematicall Magicall Type, which Thalia delivered to me in the invisible Guiana. The first and Superior part of it represents the Mountains of the Moon. The Philosophers commonly call them the Mountains of India, on whose Tops grows their secret and famous Lunaria. It is an Herb easie to be found but that men are blind, for it discovers it self, and shines after night like Pearle. The Earth of these Mountains is very red and s[…]ft beyond all Expression. It is full of Chrystalline Rocks, which the Phil[…]phers call their Glase, and their Stone: Birds and Fish (say they) bring it to them. Of these Mountains speaks Hali the Arabian, a most excellent judicious Author. Vade fili ad Montes Indiae, & ad Cavernas suas, & accipe ex eis lapides honoratos qui liqu[…]fiunt in Aquâ, quando commiscentur ei. Goe my son to the Mountains of India, and to their Quarries or Caverns and take thence our precious stones, which dissolve or melt in water, when they are mingl'd therewith. Much indeed might be spoken concerning these Mountains, if it were lawfull to publish their Mysteries, but one thing I shall not forbeare to tell you. They are very dangerous places after Night, for they are haunted with Fires, and other strange Apparitions, occasion'd (as I am told by the Magi) by certaine spirits, which dabble lasciviously with the sperm of the world, and imprint their Imaginations in it, producing many times fantastic, and monstrous Generations. The Accesse and Pilgrimage to this place, with the Difficulties which attend them, are faithfully, and magisterially described by the Brothers of R. C. Their Language indeed is very simple, and with most men perhaps contemptible: But to speake finely was no part of their Designe, their Learning lyes not in the Phrase, but in the Sense, and that is it, which I propose to the Consideration of the Reader.