Coelum Terrae

the flights of my verse or follows the more sober pace of their prose. First I shall cite Arnold of Villanova, a thoroughly accomplished master of the art. He describes the philosophical chaos in these plain terms. [New translation of the Latin:] “It is a stone and not a stone, spirit, soul and body. If you dissolve it, it dissolves; if you coagulate it, it coagulates; and if you make it fly, it flies. For it is volatile, white as a tear from the eye. Afterwards it becomes yellow, salty and without hairs; no one can touch it with his tongue. See: I have now shown it through its description, yet I have not named it. Now I wish to name it, and I say that if you call it water, you speak the truth; if you say it is not water, you lie. Do not therefore be deceived by numerous descriptions and operations, for it is one thing, to which nothing foreign is introduced.” [Vaughan’s own English rendering:] “It is a stone and no stone, spirit, soul and body. If you dissolve it, it will dissolve; if you coagulate it, it will coagulate; and if you make it fly, it will fly. It is volatile, or flying, and clear as a tear. Afterwards it becomes citrine, then salty, but without shoots or crystals, and no one may touch it with his tongue. See: I have truly described it to you, but have not named it. Now I will name it: if you say it is water, you speak the truth; if you say it is not water, you