Music from 'Atalanta fugiens' emblem 8
Michael Maier's alchemical emblem book Atalanta fugiens was first published in Latin in 1617. It was a most amazing book as it incorporated 50 emblems with a motto, an epigram and a discourse, but extended the concept of an emblem book by incorporating 50 pieces of music the 'fugues' or canons. In this sense it was an early example of multimedia.
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Atalanta Fugiens
Emblem 8
Take the egg and pierce it with a fiery sword.
Epigram 8
There is a bird in the world, more sublime than all,
Let it be your only care to find its egg.
The albumen softly surrounds the golden yolk,
Attack it cautiously with a fiery sword, (as is the custom);
Let Mars assist Vulcan; the bird arising from it,
Will be a conqueror of iron and fire.
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