Volume I Part 28 (1/2)
”Now he is writing,” continued the seer. ”He showeth me a roll of parchment. But the gla.s.s becometh dim, and I think that evil spirits are troubling us, for the whole seems to waver, like the glowing air over the furnace.”
The Doctor now fell to his prayers, when Bartholomew a.s.sured him the gla.s.s grew brighter, gradually becoming still, like the subsiding of waves after some accidental disturbance. He could now see the writing distinctly, and the veil was also removed.
”Give me the words to the very letter,” said Dee earnestly, as he prepared to write.
”It runs thus:--'The most n.o.ble and divine magister; the beginning and continuation of life. Watch well, and gather him so at the highest; for in one hour he descendeth or ascendeth from the purpose.
”'_Take common Audcal, purge and work it by Rlodnr, of four divers digestions, continuing the last digestion for fourteen days in one and a swift proportion, until it be Dlasod fixed, a most red and luminous body, the image of resurrection. Take also Lulo of Red Roxtan, and work him through the four fiery degrees, until thou have his Audcal, and then gather him. Then double every degree of your Rlodnr, and by the law of mixture and conjunction work them diligently together. Notwithstanding backward through every degree, multiply the lower and last Rlodnr, his due office finished by one degree more than the highest. So doth it become Darr, the thing you seek for; a holy, just, glorious, red, and dignified Dlasod_.'”
”Methinks I have heard this before,” said Dee, ”and understood it not. I am truly in great perplexity for want of money; but still I understand not the purport of these symbols, the which, I beseech thee, now vouchsafe to thine unworthy servant.”
”'See thou take the season,'” said the voice, ”'and get her while it is yet time. If ye let the harvest pa.s.s, ye shall desire to gather and shall not be able.'”
”Take pity on mine infirmities, and make it plain,” supplicated the Doctor, who now began to fear the usual evasions and disappointments.
”'Before I go,'” replied the vision, ”'I will not be hidden from thee.
Read thy lesson.'”
”I read, '_Take common Audcal_' and so on.”
”'What is Audcal?' inquireth the spirit.”
”Alas! I know not; but thou knowest.”
”'It is gold, and Dlasod is sulphur.'”
”Take also, it says, Lulo of Red Roxtan.”
”'Roxtan is pure and simple wine in herself, and Lulo is her mother.'”
”There is yet in these words no slight ambiguity.”
”'Lulo is tartar of red wine, and Audcal is his mercury. Darr, in the angelical tongue, is the true name of the stone.'”
”He said before that Audcal was gold,” said Dee, addressing the seer.
”Be thankful,” replied Bartholomew, ”and keep what thou hast received.”
The Doctor was for the present satisfied; but a little reflection afterwards, and another trial, left him as ignorant and as poor as ever.
He now returned thanks in the Latin tongue, it being his general custom at the end of each revelation, or motion, as it was called.
”_Deo nostro omnipotenti sit omnis Laus, Honor, Gloria, et Jubilatio.”_ Unto which the seer responded, ”Amen.”
”Now for the third question.”
”He goeth to one side,” said Bartholomew, ”and the curtain hideth him.
Now he returneth, leading an old man blindfolded, who answereth him in manner following, as though to questions put by the first:--'It is within, and by a garden belonging to the new lodge in Aldport Park. It is in three parts or places.' He now seems to pause. Again he speaks--'Many roots and trees do hinder the gathering of it; but if he be wise, and understand these things, he may obtain his pleasure. One part was laid by Sir James Stanley, the warden, an hundred years ago.
Another portion was hidden by an aged nun. The remainder was left by the Romans, and may be found under the foundations of the castle in the park. The time is short, and the treasure guarded; but he shall overcome. Listen:--'_Nine with twice seven northerly, and_ ACER _shall disappear. The mystical number added to the number enfolding itself; this shall be added to its own towards the rising sun. Then turn half-round, and note well thy right foot. What thou seest gather, and it shall lead thee on to perfection_'”