The Hermetic Visions
Clovis Hesteau of Nuysement
1620
Rightly considered Nuysement's masterpiece , we see in this text the influence of the symbols of The Philosopher's Stone.
Albert-Marie Schmidt noted in the conclusion of his introduction to Visions : When reading Hermetic Visions , one should take care never to distinguish the alchemical order from the mystical order, thus fully coinciding with the genius of the ancient hermeticists, who, members of a universe constantly informed by moving cosmic currents, lived and suffered their philosophy.
1. — Although our Art consists of only one thing;
And that in a vile habit our King is hidden:
See how he changes, and metamorphoses,
Before he can be torn from the sepulchre.
2. — I see by a strong eagle a venerable old man
In the bosom of a large cloud carried up to the Heavens.
Then turning in a globe in a frightful manner,
To become very clear water, and very precious salt.
3. — I see in our sea two admirable fishes
Which without flesh and without bones cooked in their own water.
And from their juices swelled the delectable waves
Which put their being to sleep, and which are their tomb.
4. — I saw in a quagmire a wild mother,
Vileer than a boar sleeping in its mud;
Who, changing little by little her hair and bodice,
At last transformed herself into a white doe.
5. — I see in the depths of our dark forest,
Near a Unicorn, a bold stag;
Followed by a hundred Hunters, of whom only one, full of glory,
Makes a delicious dish of their golden flesh.
6. — In a shady valley of this very forest
I saw two proud Lions, one on top of the other,
who, taken by this Hunter with extreme labor,
were able to be brought in triumph under a single jockey.
7. — I see a superb dog, and a wolf full of rage,
Grappling with each other; and both strangling each other,
Converting their blood and their carnage into venom:
Then this venom is dissolved into precious balm.
8. — I see beneath a cave a great horrible dragon,
Vomiting its venom in the rays of the Sun.
To any other fearsome and harmful animal,
For there is no Basilisk in cruelty like it.
9. — I see him soon after surprised in the rope
of the cautious hunter; or worse than enraged
he devoured his tail; and by his own outrage
his blood was changed into a fine Theriaque.
10. — In the same forest my sight was led
To a nest, where lay the two birds of Hermes,
One was trying to fly, the other was preventing its escape;
Thus one holds the other, and never leaves.
11. — Above this nest, I see on a branch
Two birds plundering and killing each other.
One of blood color, the other of white color;
And both in dying take a happier fate.
12. — I see them transmuted into white doves,
Then both change into a single phoenix.
Which, like the Sun, on its brilliant wings
Freed from the Fate, went to range itself in Heaven,
13. — I see a proud Monarch in his royal pomp,
Coming out of those forests of which he called himself King;
To the four parts of the world to the loud sound of a trumpet
Calling his vassalages to receive his law.
14. — On his head shone a triple crown,
Where many a large carbuncle was sparkling.
And in his right hand blazed a beautiful scepter, where shines
With precious gold an excellent enamel.
15. — Of a wax purple adorned with embroidery,
His Imperial robe with wide and long lays
Over a harness rich in goldwork
Hung from the shoulder to below the heels.
16. — Pompous with majesty, with a severe and grave brow,
He said to a thousand Kings prostrated at his feet,
The most powerful of you is now only a slave;
For all are predestined for my trophy.
17. — Over all my enemies I have gained victory;
And braved death itself by breaking my tomb.
I am incomparable in power and glory;
Richer than Pluto, and more beautiful than Apollo.
18. — I elevate the poorest to royal dignity;
I give all perfection to the imperfect.
And those whom I gave to myself I equal,
giving them the effects of the same action.
19. — He satisfies with treasures the most avaricious souls;
he fills with health the most dejected bodies;
he exalts the crystal over the rarest gems:
Universal in strength, and unique in virtues.
20. — Who would not consider such a strange progress as a fable?
Seeing that a vile thing, despised by everyone,
Without work, without expense, is changed from oneself
Into a triple treasure without equal and without price.
21. — I am therefore the Phoenix which is reborn from its ashes:
The grain which rots in order to produce in the earth:
I am this Pellican; & this Salemander,
Which is born in fire & is nourished by fire.
22. — I am, as long as the earth in its flanks conceals me,
In Unique Trinity, or Triune in unity.
And would come of myself in great authority,
If the envious miser did not separate me from it.
23. — Everyone buys me at a low price and passes me on:
But it is after my death and when I am alone;
Whoever takes me alive, and knows what I can do,
Can say that he succeeds to the treasures of the chosen ones.