at
an end ! Yet, surely to Alchemy this right is due ; that it may be
truly compared to the husbandman whereof iEsop makes the fable, that
when he died told his sons that he had left unto them a great mass of
Gold buried underground in his vineyard ; but could not remember the
particular spot in which it was hidden ; who, when they had with spades
turned up all the vineyard, Gold, indeed, they found none : but, by
reason of their stirring, and digging the mould about the roots of
their vines, they had a great vintage the year following. So, the
painful search, and stir of alchemists to make Gold, hath brought to
light a great number of good, and fruitful experiments, as well for the
disclosing of Nature as the use of man's life."
From
the earliest times, Gold, and a great greed for this metal, have served
in text, fable, and verse, for preaching wisdom and warning.
Ancient
Roman mythology tells the fable of Midas, King of Phrygia, who was
opulent from infancy, when ants deposited their stored treasures in his
mouth as a place of security for the same. Midas rescued Silenus from
danger, and restored him to Bacchus, who rewarded Midas by permitting
him to choose whatever recompense he pleased. Midas had the impudence,
and avarice, to demand of the god that whatever he touched might be
turned into Gold. His prayer was granted; but its supreme folly soon
brought its penalty. And when the very meats which he attempted to eat
became Gold in his mouth, he besought Bacchus to take back this
ruthless power, which would speedily prove fatal to its possessor. He
was therefore ordered to wash himself in the river Pactolus ; the sands
of which were fabled to have been turned into Gold by the touch of
Midas.
