GEOFFREY CHAUCER AND ALCHEMY FREDERIC WALKER.PERTHAMBOY.NEWJERSEY
A descrifition of alchemy and the acti~itiesof alchemists i n the fourteenth century i s found i n one of the Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer (134L1400). The tale i s therefore a ualuable document for the student of the history of chemistry. The present pefier giwes a synopsis of Chaucer's fi'cture of alchemy asfound i n this story and an abridged translation of the tale itself. A list of the alchemical terms used by Chaucer together wdh their meanings i n modern English has been included.
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Geoffrey Chaucer has given us in "The Canon's Yeoman's Tale" of "The Canterbury Tales" an interesting picture of alchemy as seen by a contemporary in England in the fourteenth century. Such glimpses of early science recorded by great writers of long ago are replete with interest for the scholar. They give us a picture filled with local color and saturated with the attitude of the times. The student of the history of chemistry is especially fortunate in having several documents of this sort a t his disposal. A few of these literary side-lights on early chemistry have been brought to the attention of the readers of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION quite recently. In the paper, "Jean de Meun and Alchemy" ( I ) , the writer discussed an interpretation of the theories of the alchemists set forth in poetry by one of the greatest writers of early France. In Professor Jordy's playlet, "How Times Have Changed!" (Z),an interesting abridgment of Ben Jonson's "The Alchemist" was used effectively. "The Alchemist" supplies us with a stfikiug sketch of the activities of an alchemistic quack in Elizabethan England and the reception which was accorded him. The present paper has to do with a somewhat similar portrait of an equally unscrupulous representative of the hermetic art. I t should be remembered, however, that although both Jonson and Chaucer give us stories of alchemists that are scarcely complimentary to the reputation of their science, alchemists were not all mountebanks and thieves. Certainly in Chaucer's time this was not the case and in the prologue to "The Canon's Yeoman's Tale" one finds evidence that at least a somewhat more honest type of alchemist existed. Their industry and devotion to their science is certainly made plainly evident. One even 6nds a fair excuse for the uusc~pulousnessthat was occasionally displayed hy them. In his prologue, the yeoman tells us that they often consumed all they had in their researches and then, in a frenzied attempt to continue "the great work" by whatever means, borrowed right and left, always hoping that the last coin borrowed might bring them to success. "Yet is it fals," says the Canon's yeoman and the only outcome of the long research for the puzzled philosopher was that he would "empte his purs and make his wittes thinne." Chaucer's interest is not in telling us of 1378
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GEOFFREYCAAUCEX
From a manuscript in the British Museum.
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the true alchemist who was interested solely in proving by scientific experiment an hypothesis of philosophy, but rather of that lesser band of scientists, enslaved and corrupted by the love of gold, who saw in science only a means to wealth. On the subject of these men Chaucer preaches a lesson that remains as timely now as in the days when it was first written. I n the first part of "The Tale," the Canon's yeoman gives a brief sketch of alchemical theory and practice as gathered from the alchemists by an unlearned man. He names the four spirits: quicksilver, orpiment, sal ammoniac, and sulfur, and the seven bodies. The following quotation will give the latter as they are set forth in the text: Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe, Mars yren, Mercurie quik-silver we clepe, Saturnns leed, and Jupiter is tin, . And Venus caper, by my fader kin. The aim of alchemy he centralizes in the preparation of the philosopher's stone, called the elixir, with which the base metals could be turned to gold. He then describes the agents and apparatus used in the work and tells of some of the processes that they carried out. Many of the accidents and reverses endured by the alchemists are mentioned. The narrator rather amusingly describes the smell of sulfur from the smoky laboratories which clung to them so that they could always be recognized by it. And evermore w h q that ever they goon Men may hem knowe by smel of brimstoon; For a1 the world, they sdnken as a goot. In the Canon's yeoman's description of the alchemists' constant activity, one can see easily that however inadequate their theories may have been, they certainly must have uncovered a great deal of fact. One can understand how, from their repeated observations and experiments as a foundation, the science of chemistry did a t last emerge. This description of the alchemists agrees well with Paracelsus' account of the Spagiric doctors: "They pass their time in laboratories. They wear rough leather pants and a leather apron on which they wipe their hands. They are willing to put their hands in charcoal and filth. They work in the fire ceaselessly to learn the secrets of their art, the degrees of alchemy." The following translation which has been prepared by the writer is an abridgment of the tale told by the Canon's yeoman. The writer throughout has endeavored to keep his translation as literal as possible. No translation, however, can do justice to Chaucer's poetry and the reader is urged to turn to a copy of "The Canterbuty Tales" and read for himself in the original old English the whole of this interesting story. He will be well repaid for his trouble.
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The Canon's Yeoman's Tale (3) There is a Canon whom I could put down Whose wickedness would poison any town Though i t were greater far than Nineveh, Or Rome, or Troy, or Alexandria. His many tricks, his falseness infinite, I do not think that any man could write E'en though he might survive a thousand years For falsehood in this world he had no peers. Worshipful Canons, now I pray you, mind, Think not that I speak evil of your kind. Although my story of a Canon be, In every order there is one, pardee! Who errs, and God forbid that all should me The wicked things that one false man can do. . Even among the chosen twelve of Christ, Judas alone was false when sin enticed. Then why should all the remnant have the blame That guiltless were. For you I say the same; Save only this, if you will list to me, If any Judas in your church should be, Go cast him out betimes, I tell you here If shame or loss can cause you any fear. Now this false Canon came upon a day To a good priest who in his chamber lay, Beseeching him a loan in language plain Saying that he would pay i t him again. "Loan me a mark but for three days," quoth he, "And on my day I'll pay it all to tlfee." The priest gave him the mark upon his word And many oft-repeated thanks were heard. The Canon took his leave and went his way But came again upon the stated day Bringing the gold as he had said he would, At which the priest was glad and thought him good "Certes," he said, "It truly pleases me "To loan a man a noble, two or three "Or anything I have, when he like you "Is to his given word completely true, "And in no wise will fail me on his day. "To such a man I never can say nay." "What," quoth the Canon, "Should I be untrue, "For me that were a thing entirely new. "Faith is a thing that I will ever keep "Until that final day in which I creep "Into my grave. Forbid aught else. Now heed, "These words are just as certain as your creed; "And now a secret I'll impart to thee, "Since you have been so kindly unto me. "1'11 show you if you wish to learn today,
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"My hidden knowledge and the secret way "By which I work in deep philosophy. "Now take good heed, my friend, for you shall see "A master-stroke I'll do before I go." "Verily," said the priest, "Then be it so." "Sir," said the Canon, "Let your man go out, "And buy quicksilver somewhere hereabout, "And let him bring of ounces, two or three. "When he returns, then quickly shall you see "A thing you never saw beneath the sun." "Kind Canon," quoth the priest, "It shall be done." The servant of the priest was quickly sent, For a t his master's bidding forth he went, And bought the quicksilver and came again Just as the wily Canon did ordain Who then commanded coals should be brought in So that the wonder-work might soon begin. The charcoal brought, the Canon then said, "See, "Here is a crucible I brought with me." Whereon he gave it to the watching priest; "This instrument," he said, "Which that thou seest, "Take in thy hand and put thyself therein "Of quicksilver an ounce and we begin." "This quicksilver shall change before your eye "To purest finest silver. 'Tis no lie. "This silver shall be good and quite as fine "As any that is in your purse or mine. "I have a powder which has cost me dear "A powder that will work these wonders here. "Send out your man, for we mast be alone "For these be things which very few have known." The master shut the door upon his man And then their labor they a t once began. The priest now a t this cursed man's desire Did place the crucible upon the fire. Then with the bellows mightily he blew, And in the crucible the Canon threw The powder. (What it was I cannot say, Some powdered glass, a piece of chalk or clay, Or something else that was not worth a fly, To fool the priest.) The Canon now did cry That charcoal he should lightly place above The crucible. "In token of my love," The Canon said, "Thy own two hands shall do "This master work and bring it safely through." "Gramercy," quoth the priest and was full glad, And laid on charcoal as the Canon bade. Then while he was a t work this fiendish wretch (I hope his wily soul the fiend will fetch.) Out of his bosom took a hollow coal In which most cleverly through one small hole
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An ounce of silver shavings had been poured And held with wax so they were safely stored. He took this coal and held it privily While the poor priest was working busily Laying the coals as I have said e're this And cried, "My friend, you're placing them amiss. "You have not put them as they ought to be, "But I will quickly fix them," thus quoth he. "Just let me do the labor for awhile "For I have pity on you, by Saint Gyle. "You are right hot for I can see you sweat, "Just take this cloth and wipe away the wet." Then whiie the simple priest did wipe his face, He took his coal and with ill-favored grace He laid it right above the crucible And blew the furnace bellows then full well. . Thus when the fire had burnt his hollow coal The molten silver ran from out the hole. Now from the fire he took the metal clear And poured it in a mold with merry cheer, And in a water vessel cast it down, Then took the priest and caught him by the gown. "Look what is here? Put in thy hand and grope "For now thou shalt find silver as I hope." What! Devil of Hell, what else sirs could i t be? Shaving of silver, silver is, pardee! The priest put in his hand and found a bar Of finest silver, pure, without,a mar. Now when the priest perceived that this was so, Wbat pleasant joy his simple hearvdid know. "God's blessing on you without any end, "And all the saints reward you, my good friend." He said, "Will you vouchsafe to teach t o me "This noble craft and this h e subtlety." "I will," the Canon said, "for forty pounds, "The price is low hut 'tis on friendship's grounds." The priest then fetched the coins and it was done. The wily Canon took them every one And said farewell and went upon his way. The priest has never seen him to this day. Then afterwards when this poor priest, when he Tried the receipt, farewell, i t would not be. Consider, Sirs, how in each walk of life, The love of gold brings men to sin and strife That all must suffer, here, beneath the sun This money making blinds so many a one.
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Appendix I n "The Canon's Yeoman's Tale," Chaucer makes use of a considerable number of alchemical terms and since these terms as used by Chaucer should be of interest to the student of history of chemistry, the following
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glossary has been added to the present article. In it will be found all the alchemical words used in Chaucer's tale as they appear in the original text. Most of these words come from the Canon's yeoman's dissertation on alchemy in the first part of the tale. The meanings of the terms have in general been taken from the glossary of Skeat's edition of Chaucer (3) but where these meanings did not seem to be adequate, various chemical authorities were sought. The glossary of alchemical terms in Holmyard's edition of the works of Geber (4) was found to be especially useful. ALCKEMI~ALREAGENTS ,
alkaly: alkali alum: alum argoile: argol, crnde tartar, crude potassium tartrate arscnik: arsenic nsshes: ashes berm: barn, i. e., yeast bole armoniak: a pale red, soft Armenian clay, greasy t o the touch boles galle: bull's gall borax borax b r a t bones: b w n t honer brimrtoon: brimstone, sulfur chalk: chalk ckdkstoon: a piece of chalk cley; clay cley m a d with hors or m n n e s hen: clay made with the hair of horses or men caper: copper dong: dung egremoine: agrimony (an herb) eli%ir: the Philosopher's stone; Arabic al-iksir eyr: air, gas f y r : fire glas: glass gleyre ( o f a n e y ) : white (of an egg) gold: gold herbes: herbs l e d : lead limaille, lymail2e: filings of any metal litarge: litharge, lead oxide (PbO) lunerie: lunary, moon-wort (an herb) magnesia: included manganese dioxide and magnetite, as well as (possibly) our present-day magnesia mercuric: mercury m e t d fusible: some fusible metal or alloy oile: oil
oile of tartre: oil of tartar, deliquesced potassium arbanate orfi'mat: arsenious sulfide, orpiment papeer: paper phdosphrcs stoon:. the Philosopher's stone +se: urine puik-drier: quicksilver, mercury resalgar: realgar, native arsenic disulfide sal armoniak: sal ammoniac, ammonium chloride sal peter: saltpeter, potassium nitrate sal preparat: prepared salt, salt from sea water sal tartre: salt of tartar, potassium carbonate salt: salt saver: silver tin: tin t i t a n p : calx, the product of calcination unslekked lym: unslaked lime, quick-lime verdegrces: verdigris, basic cupric acetate vitriole: vitriol, a sulfate, sometimes ferrous sulfate watres corosif: adds watres rubif$%g: reddening waters, perhaps nitric acid we%: wax wort: unfermented beer, wort yren s p u m e s : iron scales, rust (?) y r a : iron
A L C H E ~ C AAPPARATUS L alembyke: alembic; the alembic was the upper portion of the vessel used by the alchemists for distillations croslet: crucible cucurbitc: c u m b i t ; the lower part of the distillation vessel, below the alembic desccnsories: special vessels used for the reduction of a metallic calx in which the fused metal flowed down into a
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receiver a t a lower level (Holmyard); vessels used for extracting oils p n descensum (Tyrwhitt, quoted in Skeat's glossary) Journeys: furnace ingottes: molds for pouring metal porphurie: a slab of porphyry used as a mortar sublimtories: vessels used for sublimation tesrer; vessels for assaying metals leyne: a thin plate of metal winales: flasks uioles: vials
allnficacioun: albefactiou, whitening amalgaming: amalgamation zsmncioun: ascension, vaporizing assaye, assay: test, assay mlcening calcinacioun calcination, the conversion
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of a metal into a powder or an ash by combustion cmnting: cementation dtrinacioun: citrinizing, the process of turning t o a yellow color coagulat: clotted, implies the alchemical process of coagulation enbibing: absorption encorporing: incorporation enluting: securing with "lute." daubing with day, etc., to exclude air, luting Jnmenfocioun: fermentation fize: fixed; when a volatile substance was made non-volatile i t was said to be fixed; the process was known as fixation induracioun: hardening mollificacioun: softening mortifye: to kill, t o produce change by chemical action multipicecioun: multiplying, i. e., the art of alchemy sublyming: sublimation
Literature Cited "Jean de Meun and Alchemy," J. CHEM.Eouc.,7,2863-74 (Dec., 1930). ( I ) WALKER, ( 2 ) JORDY,"HOWTimes Have Changed! A Playlet in Two Acts," ibid., 8, 2 5 6 6 9 (Feb., 1931). (3) SKEAT.Editor, "Chaucer's Poetical Works." Clatendon Press, Oxford, 1927, pp. 657-68. P 4 E. J. HOLMYARD, Edifor, ' T h e Works of Geber." E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., New York. 1928, pp. 2 6 2 4 .
