Page 35 - Charnock alchemical letter

and bring again the old river, from Southampton
that litters and boats, may go and come
with any kind of merchandise, fuel or wares
and for all these charges, of gold they had no care
and then a cross in that city, they would upset
the pattern whereof, in Cheapside should be set
wherein their Images should stand both together
well gilded with good gold, a memorial forever
And thus I heard their folly, all in my bed
until a dead sleep, took me in the head
but in the morning, at the day breaking
then I spoke to my kinsman saying
All with a loud voice, I began to tell
because these philosophers, should hear me well
O Lord cousin, what two cunning men be here
In faith, I think you never hear their peer
how they in their mother tongue, did talk yester night
and it we never a word, conceived aright
then said my kinsman, so God that made me
I think better clerks, can never none be
no quoth I, they are two of Geber’s cooks14, the truth to tell
and not so wise in books, I knew them by their smell
they told you yester night, what they had in their pack
good stuff I warrant you, to heal a galled horse back
if it be otherwise good, I marvel wherefore
without their oils might hap, to supple an old sore
then one of them spoke to me, and that very snappishly
and said sir, you speak of that, which passeth your capacity
and why should you find fault, with that which we did say
seeing of our talk, one word you could not bear away
I would have gentlemen’s tongues, not to roam at large
but to meddle with matters pertaining to their charge
and to talk on such things, as to them appertain
and not to despise that, which will never enter their brain.
In faith ye say truth, good master philosopher
your science will soon help empty your coffer
if you apply well, your imbibation
no doubt you will bring it to a good perfection
you are learned men indeed, where fools be in place
I pray you how long have you run in this race

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