Text.Figulus.1608-01.A2r
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Source: Paradisus Aureolus Hermeticus, ed. Benedictus Figulus, Frankfurt am Main: Nicolaus Stein for Wolfgang Richter, 1608, sig. A2r–A3v = pag. 3–6 [BP.Figulus.1608-01]
Summary: This poem is both a tribute and an entreaty, weaving together the themes of friendship, divine grace, and the pursuit of alchemical knowledge. Figulus expresses a deep reverence for Tancke, framing his approach as one of humility and genuine desire for connection. He touches on the philosophical and spiritual quest for the Stone of the Sages, emphasizing that true wisdom and its attainment are gifts from God, bestowed upon those who worship with sincere hearts and persistent faith. Figulus suggests that the mysteries of alchemy and the divine are accessible not through human wisdom alone but through divine favor towards the faithful and humble.
The poem also serves as an introduction to a booklet Figulus offers to Tancke, hoping it will be received as a sign of his respect and desire for friendship. He reflects on the plight of the poor and the hidden talents that go unrecognized, invoking a hopeful vision where divine intervention uplifts the needy. (generated by ChatGPT)
Text
Artis Apollineæ decus, ô Doctissime Tancki,
Ignotum ignotus nonne salute beet?
Alliquioq́ue sibi nunc consuetudinis vsum
Conciliet licitæ? fœdus amicitiæ
Atque nouæ scriptis ineat? Neu respue quæso
Ingenuæ mentis præuia signa meæ.
Dum tuus exarsit reclusos noscere fontes
Et montes animus sedibus Hesperiis,
Et desiderio Mysteria magna sequaci
Affectat Lapidis, Mvnera Diva, Sophûm.
Paucula præfabor; Non abs re nempe futura
Spero, nec à Veri calle remota procul.
Cœlica iam plures Lapidis secreta Sophorvm
Exposcunt, quærunt sumptibus vsque suis.
Hoc præstare valet nunquam Prudentia nostra,
Quamuis sit miris ingeniosa modis.
Vnivs Hoc Mvnvs Patris est super astra sedentis
Transcœleste: Datur, quos Dova mitis amat:
Sincero qui corde colunt & amore fideli
Christvm, quærentes Cœlitus hocce Bonum.
[p. 4] Assiduis feriunt precibus qui Culmen Olympi,
Et pulsant summi simplice corde fores.
Gratia de superis Cœlorum hæc montibus, Alma
Defluit in dignos, quos Deus æquus amat.
Non ideo cuiuis contingit adire Corinthum:
Pauperibus tribuit talia sæpe Deus.
Hortus hic Hermeticus præclusus ab omnibus, isthîc
Peruigil obseruat aurea poma Draco.
Te si intromittat sed in hunc vbi Ianitor hortum,
Indulgente Deo cœlituumque Duce:
Nec poteris oculos vigilis sopire Draconis:
Irrita spes, labor ac irritus omnis erit.
Non ideò ficto Christvm veneremur amore,
Pulsemus precibus sancta theatra piis.
Cœlipotentis Heri, tribuentis munera tanta:
Cœlitus Hoc Donvm, non aliunde, venit.
Mitior afflabit tandem nos Aura supremi
Numinis, & dignis præmia digna dabit.
Hæc monuisse pudet verùm doctissimè Tancki,
Ignoscas Vati. Forsitan hocce licet.
Ignosces. Tantùm non delectare Poëtæ,
Congraua verùm etiam sæpe monere solent.
Talibus ast forsan tibi nostra Camœna molesta est:
Ipse saits nosti, quæ peragenda sient.
Offero nunc Tancki sincera mente libellum,
Accipe subplacida munera parua manu.
Quæ facit eximio Vates, sub, publica, egenus.
Scripta patrocinio, præsidioq́ue tuo.
Quæ Benedictua tenent Lapidis Magnalia Magni ac
Maxima, Magnorum viuida scripta Sophûm.
Excipias hilari munuscula talia fronte:
In te sint animi ceu documenta mei
Ex imis cordis penetralibus vsque fauentis,
Quærentisq́ue tuæ vincula amicitiæ.
[p. 5] O vtinam nostros conatus vsque iuuare
Quis posset facili munificaq́ue manu.
Pavper vbique iacet: nec eum qui subleuet, vllus:
Paupere sæpe latent magna talenta casa.
Tempus adest id, vt exsurgat de stercore pauper
Confortante manu cunctipotentis Heri.
Implebitq́ue bonis inopes, saturabit egenos,
Ambrosiæ diuæ quos tenet alta fames.
Atque propinabit Diuini flammea Vatis
Esdræ, his qui sitiunt, pocula, crede mihi.
Econtrà calicem furibuno flumine plenum
Iræ diuinæ, vindice, crede, manu
Euacuandum tot furiosis hostibus Alm&Aelig;
Iova Crucis, nigra non sine fece dabit.
Impia turba Caue, Resipisce, amplectere Christi
Omnipotens Verbvm Cœligenumq́uue sonum.
Oscula submiti Cœlorum ferto Parenti
Submissa, ac humili fundito voce preces.
Hortatur Psalmo ceu te Psalmista secundo,
Oscula fer Gnato, ne peritura sies.
Tempora iam præstò sunt infœlicia, Mundum
Puniat vt gladio vindice, peste, fame,
Ira succensus. Solio surrexit ab alto,
Hostes conculcet toto vt in orbe Deus.
Ante oculos manifesta quidem spectacla videmus,
Nec tamen apparet vir probitatis amans.
Diuitiis inhiet fluxis modò totus vt Orbis?
Cœlestes negligens alittonantis opes;
Ipse vides mecum Tancki lectissime, abundè.
Ludicra Mundus amat, diuitiasq́ue colit.
Thesauros quærit: Thesaurum Cœlitem, Iesvm
Respuit: Humana en Vox magè Voce Dei
Iam cordi est, qui nos ad sese inuitat amanter,
A semet Solo Discere nosq́ue iubet.
[p. 6] Vox Tua, Diue, Tuum, Iesv, Venerabile Verbvm
Infixum cordi sit maneatque meo.
Sum licet indignus peccator, inopsque: Beabis
Meq́ue meosq́ue polo: Sim famulusq́ue tuus.
Optime iam Tancki, mea pectoris intima sensa
Prolata ignoscas, non dubitante fide:
Intus agente Deo: nobis dictante Magistro
Flamine sacrato. Simplicitatis opus
Hoc nostræ reputes. Hæc nostra fluentia vena
Paupere consulito carmina quæso boni.
Interea sospes viuas, videamus vtrinque
Donec nos fortsan commoditate breui.
Colloquioq́ue frui detur, quoque iungere Dextras
Dextris optatas. Viue valeq́ue diu.
Modern English Raw Translation
Oh, most learned Tanck, ornament of Apollo's art, does not an unknown person greet you with health? Might he now acquire for himself some use of acquaintance by permitted means? A pact of friendship and enter into new writings? And do not, I pray, reject the signs of my sincere mind. While your desire has kindled to know the hidden springs and mountains in the Hesperian lands, and with eager longing, seeks the great mysteries of the Stone, the Divine gifts of the Sages. I shall speak a few words; not irrelevant, I hope, nor far removed from the path of Truth. Many now seek the heavenly secrets of the Stone of the Sages, inquiring at their own expense. Our wisdom can never achieve this, though it be ingeniously devised in wondrous ways. This Gift is the province of the Father who sits above the stars, transcendent: given to those whom gentle God loves: who with sincere heart and faithful love worship Christ, seeking this Good from Heaven. Those who with persistent prayers strike the heights of Olympus, and knock on the highest gates with a simple heart. This Grace flows down from the heavenly mountains to the worthy, whom just God loves. Not everyone is granted to reach Corinth: often, God gives such things to the poor. This Hermetic garden is closed to all, where a vigilant Dragon watches over the golden apples. If the Keeper lets you into this garden, by God's grace and celestial guidance: you cannot lull the watchful Dragon's eyes to sleep: all hope and effort will be in vain. Thus, let us not worship Christ with feigned love, let us knock on the holy theaters with pious prayers. Of the Almighty Lord, who grants such gifts: This Gift comes from Heaven, not elsewhere. At last, a gentler breeze of the supreme Deity will blow upon us, and will give worthy rewards to the worthy. It shames me to admonish, oh most learned Tanck, forgive the poet. Perhaps this is permissible. You will forgive. Poets not only delight but also often advise appropriately. Yet perhaps our Muse annoys you; you yourself know best what needs to be done. I now offer this booklet to Tanck with a sincere heart, accept these small gifts with a gracious hand. What the poet does, in public, in need, are writings under your patronage and protection. Which contain the magnificent and greatest wonders of the Great Stone, the lively writings of the Great Sages. Accept such small gifts with a cheerful face: let them be as signs of my spirit towards you, from the very depths of a favoring heart, seeking the bonds of your friendship. Oh, if only someone could always support our endeavors with a generous and easy hand. The poor lie everywhere; and no one to lift them up: great talents often lie hidden in a poor house. The time is now for the poor to rise from the mire with the comforting hand of the Almighty Lord. And He will fill the needy with goods, satisfy the poor, whom deep hunger for divine Ambrosia holds. And He will offer the fiery cups of the Divine Poet Ezra, to those who thirst, believe me. Conversely, a cup full of the raging river of divine wrath, believe, by a punishing hand, will be emptied on all the furious enemies of the Almighty Jehovah of the Cross, not without dark dregs. Beware, impious crowd, Repent, embrace Christ's Almighty Word and heavenly sound. Submit kisses to the Heavenly Father, with submission, and pour out prayers with a humble voice. As the Psalmist in the second Psalm urges you, kiss the Son, lest you perish. Unhappy times are already at hand, to punish the world with avenging sword, plague, famine, as He is inflamed with wrath. He has risen from His high throne, so that God may trample enemies throughout the earth. Before our eyes, indeed, we see manifest spectacles, yet no lover of honesty appears. Does the whole world now only yearn for fleeting riches? Neglecting the heavenly treasures of the Almighty; You see with me, most select Tanck, abundantly. The world loves frivolities and worships wealth. It seeks treasures: rejects the Heavenly Treasure, Jesus: Behold, the human voice is more to the heart than the Voice of God, who lovingly invites us to Himself, and commands us to learn from Him alone. Your Voice, Divine, Your Venerable Word, Jesus, be fixed and remain in my heart. Though I am an unworthy sinner, and needy: You will bless me and mine in heaven: let me be Your servant. Best Tanck, forgive the deepest feelings of my heart expressed, without doubting faith: with God moving within, with our Teacher dictating by the sacred Spirit. Consider this work of our simplicity. I pray, consider these flowing verses of our poor poet kindly. Meanwhile, live safely, may we see each other from both sides perhaps soon at convenience. And may it be granted to enjoy conversation, and to join desired right hands with right hands. Live long and farewell.
Your Humanity and Excellence's Most Devoted, Benedictus Figulus, Utenhovius the Frank, Crowned Laureate Poet, Theologian, Theosophist, Philosopher, Physician, Hermit, etc.