as in an humane Embryo, when it is conceived in the Womb, there remains nothing of the Father’s Seed, according to Aristotle’s opinion, but the Seed of the Man doth only coagulate the menstrual blood of the Woman:  in the same manner you say, that after Quick-silver is so coagulated, the form of Gold is perfected in it, by virtue of the Heavenly Bodies, and especially of the Sun."[1] BERNARD, however, decides against this view, holding that gold contains both mercury and sulphur, for “we must not imagine, according to their mistake who say, that the Male Agent himself approaches the Female in the coagulation, and departs afterwards; because, as is known in every generation, the conception is active and passive:  Both the active and the passive, that is, all the four Elements, must always abide together, otherwise there would be no mixture, and the hope of generating an off-spring would be extinguished."[2]

[1] Op. cit., pp. 206 and 207.

[2] Ibid., pp. 212 and 213.

In conclusion, I wish to say something of the role of sex in spiritual alchemy.  But in doing this I am venturing outside the original field of inquiry of this essay and making a by no means necessary addition to my thesis; and I am anxious that what follows should be understood as such, so that no confusion as to the issues may arise.

In the great alchemical collection of J. J. MANGET, there is a curious work (originally published in 1677), entitled Mutus Liber, which consists entirely of plates, without letterpress.  Its interest for us in our present concern is that the alchemist, from the commencement of the work until its achievement, is shown working in conjunction with a woman.  We are reminded of NICOLAS FLAMEL (1330-1418), who is reputed to have achieved the magnum opus together with his wife PERNELLE, as well as of the many other women workers in the Art of whom we read.  It would be of interest in this connection to know exactly what association of ideas was present in the mind of MICHAEL MAIER when he commanded the alchemist:  “Perform a work of women on the molten white lead, that is, cook,"[1a] and illustrated his behest with a picture of a pregnant woman watching a fire over which is suspended a cauldron and on which are three jars.  There is a cat in the background, and a tub containing two fish in the foreground, the whole forming a very curious collection of emblems.  Mr WAITE, who has dealt with some of these matters, luminously, though briefly, says:  “The evidences with which we have been dealing concern solely the physical work of alchemy and there is nothing of its mystical aspects.  The Mutus Liber is undoubtedly on the literal side of metallic transmutation; the memorials of Nicholas Flamel are also on that side,” etc.  He adds, however, that “It is on record that an unknown master testified to his possession of the mystery, but he added that