Lyly, John · published 1592 · first performed or written 1585 [1583-1585] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) (?) · before the Court unassigned nearest T56 Magic, spells and conjuring · 464 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T56: magic, faustus, charms, charm, conjure, spirits, skill, ho, power, spells.
What a life do I lead with my Master nothing but blowing of bellows, beating of spirits, & scraping of crosslets? it is a very secret Science, for none almost can understand the language of it. Sublimation, Amalgamation, Calcination, Rubification, incorporation, Circination, Sementation, Albification, and fermentation. With as many terms unpossible to be uttered, as the Art to be compassed. Let me cross myself, I never heard so many great devils in a little monkeys mouth. Then our instruments, crosslets, Sublivatories, Cucurbits, Limbecks, Decensores, viols, manual and mural, for imbibing and conbibing, Bellows, mollificative and endurative. What language is this? do they speak so? Then our Mettles, Saltpetre, Vitriol, Sal tartar, Sal perperat, Argon, Resagar, Sal Armonic, Egrimony, Lumany, Brimstone, Valerian, Tartar alum, breemwort, Glass, unsleeked lime, Chalk, Ashes, hair; and what not, to make I know not what. My hair beginneth to stand upright, would the boy would make an end. And yet such a beggarly Science it is, and so strong on multiplication, that the end is to have neither gold, wit, nor honesty. Then am I just of thy occupation. What fellow, well met. Fellow, upon what acquaintance? Why thou sayst, the end of thy occupation is to have neither wit, money, nor honesty: & methinks at a blush, thou shouldest be one of my occupation. Thou art deceived, my Master is an alchemist. What's that, a man? A little more than a man, and a hairs breadth less than a God. He can make of thy cap gold, and by multiplication of one groat, three old Angels. I have known him of the tag of a point, to make a silver bowl of a pint. That makes thee have never a point, they be all turned to pots: but if he can do this, he shall be a god altogether. If thou have any gold to work on, thou art then made for ever: for with one pound of gold, he will go near to pave ten acres of ground. how might a man serve him and learn his cunning? Easily. First seem to understand the terms, and specially mark these points. In our Art there are four Spirits. Nay I have done if you work with devils. Thou art gross; we call those Spirits that are the grounds of our Art, & as it were the mettles more incorporative for domination. The first Spirit is Quicksilver. That is my Spirit, for my silver is so quick; that I have much ado to catch it, and when I have it, it is so nimble that I cannot hold it; I thought there was a devil in it. The second, orpiment. That's no Spirit, but a word to conjure a Spirit. The third, Sal ammoniac. A proper word. The fourth, Brimstone.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What a life doe I leade with my Maister nothing but blowing of bellows, beating of spirits, & scraping of Croslets? it is a very secrete Science, for none almost can vnderstand the language of it. Sublimation, Almigation, Calcination, Rubification, Encorporation, Circination, Sementation, Albification, and Frementation. With as many termes vnpossible to be vttered, as the Arte to be compassed. Let me crosse my selfe, I neuer heard so many great deuils in a little Monkies mouth. Then our instruments, Croslets, Subliuatories, Cucurbits, Limbecks, Decensores, Violes, manuall and murall, for enbibing and conbibing, Bellowes, molificatiue and enduratiue. What language is this? doe they speake so? Then our Mettles, Saltpeeter, Vitrioll, Sal tartar, Sal perperat, Argon, Resagar, Sal Armonick, Egrimony, Lumany, Brimstone, Valerian, Tartar Alam, Breeme-worte, Glasse, Vnsleked lyme, Chalke, Ashes, hayre; and what not, to make I know not what. My haire beginneth to stande vpright, would the boy would make an end. And yet such a beggerly Science it is, and so strong on multiplication, that the ende is to haue neyther gold, wit, nor honestie. Then am I iust of thy occupation. What fellow, well met. Felow, vpon what acquaintance? Why thou saist, the end of thy occupation is to haue neither wit, money, nor honestie: & me thinks at a blush, thou shouldest be one of my occupation. Thou art deceiued, my Master is an Alcumist. Whats that, a man? A little more then a man, and a hayres bredth lesse then a God. He can make of thy cap gold, and by multiplication of one grote, three old Angels. I haue knowne him of the tagge of a poynt, to make a siluer boole of a pint. That makes thee haue neuer a point, they be al turned to pots: but if he can doe thys, he shall be a god altogether. Yf thou haue any gold to worke on, thou art then made for euer: for with one pound of golde, hee will goe neere to paue tenne Akers of ground. Howe might a man serue him and learne hys cunning? Easilie. First seeme to vnderstand the termes, and speciallie marke these points. In our Arte there are foure Spirits. Nay I haue doone if you worke with deuils. Thou art grosse; we call those Spirits that are the grounds of our Arte, & as it were the mettles more incorporatiue for domination. The first Spirit is Quick-siluer. That is my Spirit, for my siluer is so quicke; that I haue much a doe to catch it, and when I haue it, it is so nimble that I cannot holde it; I thought there was a deuill in it. The second, Orpyment. Thats no Spirit, but a worde to coniure a Spirit. The third, Sal Armoniack. A propper word. The fourth, Brimstone.