Parabole
from the
‘Book of the Natural Philosophy of Metals’
by
BERNARD, COUNT OF TREVISO
translated into English
BY
MIKE DICKMAN
Now know that when I had studied to that point, that I felt myself in some small measure Clerk, I set about to seek out true Practitioners of this Science, and not those that erred: For a Man of Knowledge asks of another, savant, and not otherwise. To conclude, each asketh of his peer. As I wended my way, I passed by the town of Apuleius the which is in India, and heard it tell that there was there one of greatest Clerics in all the World in all Sciences, who had suspended for Jewel of Disputations, a pretty little book of finest Gold, its leaves, its cover, and all the said Book in its entirety. And this was hung for all comers who knew to argue. Thus, I passing by that town, sought still to achieve some thing of honour. But witting that were I not with courage to put myself forward, never should I come to praise, for all the Science I knew: Thus was it that I took courage, by the exhortation of a Valiant Man. Such that, being on my way, I set course for to go to the Disputations, where I won the said Booklet before one and all for the strength of my disputation; the which was presented me by the Faculty of Philosophy, and all persons began to look upon me right strong. I thus went on my way, musing through the fields, for that I was right tired of study.
There came a night where I was to study, for to dispute it on the morrow: I found a small Fountain, beautiful and clear, and girdled round with a goodly stone. And that stone was above an ancient hollow Oak, and all around was bordered in with walls, for fear that some Cow or other brute Beast, or Fowl, might bathe therein . I had forthwith great appetite for to sleep, and seated myself above the said Fountain, and noted it was covered above and closed.
And there passed by there an ancient Priest and of great age: And I asked of him wherefore was that Fountain shut above and below, and on all hands. And he was to me both gracious and goodly, and commenced to speak with me thus: Sirrah, true is it that this Fountain is of terrible virtue , more than any other in all this world; and 'tis solely for the King of the Land whom she knows well, and he her. For never does that King pass by here but that she draws him to her. And 'tis with her in this Fountain that he doth bathe two hundred days and eighty–two. And so much does she rejuvenate the said King that no Man might vanquish him. And it cometh to pass as follows. And thus hath this King had this said Fountain closed up and shut, first with a Stone white and round, as thou seest. And the Fountain is clear as fine Silver, and of celestial colour. Thereunto, that it might be the stronger, and that the Horses, nor other brute Beast, might walk therein, he raised up the riven Oak, split in the middle, keeping from him the Sun and the Shade . Then is she, as thou seest, girt round with a thick and well shut wall; For first is she enclosed in a fine and light coloured stone, and then within the riven Oak. And this for that this Fountain is of so terrible a nature she would penetrate all things, were she enflamed and filled with wrath. And were she to fly, then should we be lost.
I thereupon asked him if he had seen the King. And he gave me answer that he had, and that he had seen him enter: But that since that he had gone in, and his Guard had locked him in, never is he seen, until an hundred days and thirty have passed. He commenceth, then, to appear and shine forth. And the Porter, who is his guard, heats continually his Bath, for that it might keep its natural heat, the which is secret and hid within that clear Water, and heats it day and night without surcease.
I asked him thereon of what colour the King was. And he answered me, that he first was robed in Cloth of Gold. And then following had a Doublet of black Velvet, and Shirt white as snow, and the Flesh of him as sanguine, as blood . And thus I asked him ever concerning that King.
After again I asked of him whether when that King came to the Fountain, he brought with him great Company of exotic Persons, and of Lessers. And smiling to himself, he amiably answered me: Most certainly the King, when disposed to come hither, bringeth but himself, and leaveth behind him all those exotic Persons; and none but he approach this Fountain, nor dare any approach but his Guard, who is a simple Fellow; and the simplest Fellow in the World might serve for guard: In that he serveth nothing, but for to heat the Bath; yet he approacheth not the Fountain.
I then asked him if he were Ami to her, and she to him. And he gave me answer: They love one the other to a marvel, the Fountain drawing him to her and not he to him: for that she is to him like a Mother.
And I enquired of him as to the Generation of this King. And
he answered: We well wot that he is made of this Fountain here: and the Fountain
made him as he is, without other thing added
And I asked him: Keepeth he then but few Servitors? And he gave me answer: But
six Persons, who wait on him, and who, were he once to die, would have the
Kingdom just as doth he. And thus do they serve him and minister to him, for
that it is of him they expect all Profit.
I thereupon asked him if he were old. And he answered me that
he was older yet than the Fountain itself , and more mature than any one of his
Servitors, that were under him.
And I said to him: Why then do his six Companions and Subjects not slay him, and
do him to death, for that they expect of him such Profit in his dying, and for
that that he be also so aged? And he me forthwith replied: Be he never so old,
no one is there amongst these Servitors and Subjects, endureth so much the cold
and heat as he, nor the rain nor wind, nor any trial and suffering.
And I said to him: Can not they at the least slay him, and do him to death? And he replied that not all six, nor all their force conjoined, nor each on his own part, had the power to slay him.
And how then, I said, will they have the Kingdom that is his, for that they may not have it 'til he be dead, and they cannot kill him? Whereon he said: All six are of the Fountain, and from it have all Profit that is theirs, just as doth he: And thus, for the love she holds them, she taketh and draweth him to her, and slayeth him, and doeth him to death. Thereon is he resuscitated by her. And then from the Substance of his Realm, the which is of minuscule particles, each one taketh his part. And each one, be his part never so small, is as rich as he, and each one like unto the rest.
And I asked him: How long must they needs wait? And he began to smile, and spoke thus: Know that the King entereth in alone, and no Stranger, nor none of his Servitors, enter in to the Fountain: And do the love him never so well, none enter. For they have never yet deserved it. Being which as it may, when the King has entered thereunto, he removes first his Robe of Cloth of Fine Gold, beaten to the finest leaf, and gives it to the first of his Men, whose name is Saturn. Saturn thereupon takes it and keeps it forty days or forty and two at the outside, when once that he has it. The King then removes his Doublet of fine Black Velvet, and gives it to the second Man, who is Jupiter, and he keeps it right twenty and four days.. Thereon, Jupiter, by order of the King, giveth it unto the Moon, which is the third Person, beautiful and resplendent, and keepeth it twenty days: And thus is the King in his pure Shirt, white as the snow, or the finest flower of Salt. And he putteth off his fine white Shirt, and giveth it unto Mars, who likewise keepeth it forty, and some times two and forty days. And thereafter, Mars, by the will of God, giveth it unto the yellow, and by no means radiant, Sun, which keepeth it forty days. And cometh thereinafter the right goodly and sanguine Sun, who straightway takes it. And thereon 'tis he that keeps it.
And I said to him: And what then comes of all this? Thereon, he answered me, the Fountain opens of herself, and as they have given unto her the Shirt, the Robe, and the Doublet, she, to one and all, and with a single gesture, gives them his sanguine Flesh, ruddy and high–tasting to consume. And thus do they have their desire.
And I said to him: Do they wait until that time, and may they
have no profit 'til the very end? And he said: When that they have the Shirt, if
they so whish it, four of them make of it great show: but they shall have but
half the Kingdom. And thus, for but a little more, they prefer to await the end,
that they might then be crowned with the Crown of their Lord .
And I said to him: Cometh there, then, nor Leech nor any other? Nay, saith he,
None cometh thereafter but a Guard, who above made heat continual, environing
and vaporous, and naught else.
And I said to him: That Guard of which thou speakest, hath he but small labour? And he answered me: His labour is more at the end than at the start; for the Fountain bursts into flame.
And I said: Are there Many who have seen this? And he said: All have it before their eyes, but they recognise in it naught .
And I said to him: What further thing do they after? And he said to me: If they so wish it, they six may yet, purge the King for three days within the Fountain, circuiting, and containing the place to the contents of the container containing; giving unto him the first day his Doublet, the day after his Shirt, and the day after his sanguine Flesh .
And I said to him: What purpose does this serve? And he said: God maketh one and ten, an hundred and a thousand, and an hundred thousand, and then ten times more will multiply it.
And I said to him: I understand nothing. And he said: I shall say no more, for I am tired. And I saw then that he was tired, and I also had great appetite for sleep, for the day before I had studied, and bid him good day. This Old Fellow was that wise, that all Heaven obeyed him, and all trembled before him.
And I secretly betook myself thereon back to the Fountain, and set about opening all the fastenings, the which were right shut; and I commenced to look upon my Book, which I had won, and upon its brilliance, which was so fine, (since that I wished to sleep) it slipped into the aforementioned Fountain, that I was right wroth till it were a great marvel. For I wished to keep it for praise of my honour, which I had won. I commenced thus to look within, and in it lost quite utterly my sight. And I, I commenced to bail out the said Fountain, emptying it so well and discreetly, that there remained but the tenth part of it, with the ten parts .
And I, believing I could bail out all, they held together right strong. And as I laboured to do so, there suddenly appeared some Persons, I could not draw more. But before leaving, I shut up correctly all the fastenings, that they might not espy that I had drawn off the Fountain, nor yet that I had seen it, and also that they might not filch my Book. Thereto, the heat of the Bath, which was nearabouts sufficient to the bathing of the King, heated and took flame, and I was imprisoned forty days for my misdeed. When, the forty days being over, I was freed from the prison, I came to look upon the Fountain. And saw black and obscure clouds and mists, the which persisted long time; but in fine, I saw at last all that my heart might desire, and had in this scant labour. So too, would not you, had you not blunder into this mistaken and erroneous path, doing not those things that Nature requires.
And I say unto you, by my God, that whomsoever readeth my Book, if by it he understandeth not, do what he may, never will he by any other. For in my Parabole are all things, the Practice, the Days, the Colours, the Regimen, the Path, the Disposition, and the Continuation: the best that I might do for you noble Reverence, in pity, and charity and in compassion for the poor Labourers in this precious Art.
And thus is finished my Book, by the grace of God the Creator, who giveth unto all Men good will, grace and the power of understanding. For, in the name of God, there is scant difficulty in understanding for those with good sense, who will not imagine too many fantasies nor subtilities. For many subtilities (I say unto you) are not at all my intention, nor yet those of the Wise Sages. But the full natural path or way, as I already set it out to thee and declared it in my Speculative.
Wherefore, my Children, to whom this Book hath reached, after those to whom it is addressed, pray God for my Soul. For by my Book I pray just as truly for your Body and your Good; but that you believe in it without error, and flee the Errant and their opinion, as also their company. For ye cannot imagine even the distress that would befall ye, from deviation total.
FINIS
