Page 7 - Scottish Alchemists

foreign countries and universities. At Padua he distinguished himself by his
essays in judicial astrology, and his predictions of future events rendered him
as well known in Italy, where they were first promulgated, as he ever
afterwards was in Scotland.

The well-known description of Scot by Dante:-

“Quell ‘altro, che ne’ fianchi è così poco,
Michele Scotto fu, che veramente
Delle magiche frode seppe il giuoco,”

“That other, round the loins
So slender of his shape, was Michael Scot,
Practised in every slight of magic wile,”

proves that his appearance, at least as described, was familiar to the great
Italian poet.

Besides the testimony of Dante there is that of a popular Italian versifier,
Theophilus Folengius, who, in his Macaronic poem, published in 1549,
describes Michael as a magician able to perform various enchantments, to
summon fiends from the four quarters of heaven, to ride on an enchanted
horse, to sail in an enchanted ship, and to wrap himself in a cloak which
rendered the wearer invisible, unless he got into the glare of the sunbeams,
when his shadow would be discovered. After speaking of Zoroaster, Medea,
Thibet, and Picatrix as celebrated magicians, Folengi introduces Michael Scot
in the following lines, which have been translated into verse by Professor
Blackie :-

“Behold the rule of Michael Scot concerning incantation,
By which six forms appear of him who reigns in hellish nation.
And first a waxen shape is made in Saturn’s mould of lead,
This in the fragrant fire is hung by vermeil silken thread,
Whereby through heart of chariest maid love’s kindly warmth is spread.
Behold this wizard Scot he stands beneath a shady tree,
And on the ground with many signs a circle draweth he,
Four spirits then with mighty voice he calls, and to his best,
One spirit from the east appears, another from the west,
From south and north a third and fourth his mighty power attest,
When by their aid he makes a rein, which rules with magic force,
Well known to all, a wondrous beast, a black, infernal horse,
Which him o’er land and sea more swift than Turkish arrow bears,
And ever and anon he burns that horse’s sacred hairs.

2