The Hermetic Museum, Vol. I — trans. A. E. Waite (1893)

THE MOST LEARNED AND HUMANE OF PHYSICIANS, THE
TRUEST, SINCEREST, NOBLEST, AND MOST

ACCOMPLISHED OF HIS KIND,

JO N UPARTNMUANON OEYJIERA
M.D.,
A RENOWNED PHYSICIAN AND COUNCILLOR OF THE IMPERIAL

FREE CITY, FRANCFORT-ON-THE-MAIN,

bY IMEINGOEISAUBUD MCAGY BURG

M.D., PH.D; COUNT PALATINE, KNIGHT, AND FORMERLY

COURT PHYSICIAN TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY.

Being placed in the thick of the struggle between the followers of Dogmatic and Hermetic Medicine, I thought it would throw great and unexpected light on the subject of this controversy, if I published in the Latin tongue the three great classical Tracts bearing upon the matter, viz., that of the Benedictine Monk BASILIUS VALENTINUS, and those of the two great English Sages NORTON and CREMER. This Triad of Tracts

Quo IHE HERMETIC MUSEUM.
I have ventured to call the GOLDEN TRIPOD, and the name

suggests to me, as appropriate to our controversy, the answer returned to the enquiring Ionians by the priestess of Delphi :

*'l'he feud between the Meropes and the Ionians " "will not cease until the Golden Tripod, which" * Vulcan cast into the sea, be brought into the" *house of the man who knows the things that " * are, that were, and that are to come."

Thus I believe our controversy, too, may be determined, if I dedicate zzy golden Tripod to the most learned of modern physicians. For, as Homer says, * A physician is worth many ordinary men," and if I searched through the whole of Germany, nay, Europe, I could not find a fitter person than him who is set upon the lofty tower of world-wide celebrity, and whose skill is admired and courted far and wide by princes and nobles. Accept, then, this GOLDEN TRIPOD, forged by the hands of the Hermetic Vulcan. Value it as a token of affection and esteem, as well as because of its inward worth. I firmly trust that it will assuage the feud between the adherents of Dogmatic and of Hermetic Medicine, as its namesake of old did that between the Meropes and Ionians ; and that it will establish amity and concord among physicians of both schools. In order that its beneficial influence might be as widely spread as possible, I have set it forth in the common language of European scholars. In conclusion, let me pray you to love me, even as I love you—as I also know that you do.

Written at Francfort-on-the-Main in the month of
January, 1618.

IIT)

Fue RC

WITH TWELVE KEYS, AND AN APPENDIX THERETO,

CONCERNING

"A^EILE GREAT STONE Ob IPmE
ANCIENT SAGES.

BY
BASSINS "VOAJTLISN DIN S;

A MONK OF THE BENEDICTINE ORDER.

PIRST TRACI.

AN EPIGRAM

UPON

STO TRES IAS A OTIO AEN) SEIS P ANS TENTI E

BY

TVIBIK OU ETIPASISSIPESVIOASIBEISISSS

• * Pactolus contains not such great treasures ; " *nor does gold-bearing Hebrus roll down such "
• * precious things in its golden sand, as Valentine " *scatters abroad in this one book. Here is" *greater wealth than all the riches of the Inds."
• * For he bore away the golden fruit from the"
• * Hesperian garden, and blessed with them fair" "Germany's fields. | He bore away the golden "
• * fleece from Colchis, and gave it to us by mighty " *toi. | And when at length he sank into the" *tomb, he left us his royal Treasure to enjoy."
• * Here is something for you to admire and" "imitate. Only seek it at the bottom of the"
• * vessel,or you will wander astray. All things "
• * are one, though they be described under various " *names. Let this suffice thee; seek not many " *utensils for thy labour. If thou knowest the" *substance and the method, it is enough, and " *thou knowest all."

e cf IN

THES PREFASCE

OF
BASILIUS VALENTINUS, THE BENEDICTINE,

CONCERNING

TUUS (GURIDAT. STONE OP TEE
ZUNCUE NA -- SIANGUBIS:

7 HEN I had emptied to the dregs the cup of human

/ suffering, I was led to consider the wretchedness n of this world, and the fearful consequences of our first parents' disobedience. Then I saw that there was no hope of repentance for mankind, that they were getting worse day by day, and that for their impenitence God's ever-lasting punishment was hanging over them ; and I made haste to withdraw myself from the evil world, to bid farewell to it, and to devote myself to the service of God.