[Omail-devel] , as BOSTOCK has suggeste

[Kotrys W. <pro...@he...>]

Uld be no mixture, and the hope of generating an off-spring would be
extinguished."(2) (1) _Op. cit_., pp. 206 and 207. (2) _Ibid_., pp. 212
and 213. In conclusion, I wish to say something of the role of sex in
spiritual alchemy. But in doing this I am venturing outside the original
field of inquiry of this essay and making a by no means necessary
addition to my thesis; and I am anxious that what follows should be
understood as such, so that no confusion as to the issues may arise. In
the great alchemical collection of J. J. MANGET, there is a curious work
(originally published in 1677), entitled _Mutus Liber_, which consists
entirely of plates, without letterpress. Its interest for us in our
present concern is that the alchemist, from the commencement of the work
until its achievement, is shown working in conjunction with a woman. We
are reminded of NICOLAS FLAMEL (1330-1418), who is reputed to have
achieved the _magnum opus_ together with his wife PERNELLE, as well as
of the many other women workers in the Art of whom we read. It would be
of interest in this connection to know exactly what association of ideas
was present in the mind of MICHAEL MAIER when he commanded the
alchemist: "Perform a work of women on the molten white lead, that is,
cook,"(1a) and illustrated his behest with a picture of a pregnant woman
watching a fire over which is suspended a cauldron and on which are
three jars. There is a cat in the background, and a tub containing two
fish in the foreground, the whole forming a very curious collection of
emblems. Mr WAITE, who has dealt with some of these matters, luminously,
though briefly, says: "The evidences with which we have been dealing
concern solely the physical work of alchemy and there is nothing of its
mystical aspects. The _Mutus Liber_ is undoubtedly on the literal side
of metallic transmutation; the memorials of Nicholas Flamel are also on
that side," _etc_. He adds, however, that "It is on record that an
unknown master testified to his posse