Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/159

 the Egyptians understood Nature, at least that of Metals, in a very high Degree. This is an Application of Agents to Patients (k), which, if made good, will go farther than any Assertion commonly brought to prove the extent of Egyptian Knowledge: And therefore, I presume, I shall not be thought tedious if I enlarge more particularly upon this Question, than I have done upon the rest; especially since there has not been, that I know of, any direct Answer ever Printed to Borrichius's Book upon this Argument, which he wrote against the forementioned Discourse of Conringius.

One may justly wonder that there should have been so noble an Art as that of turning baser Metals into Gold and Silver so long in the World, and yet that there should be so very little, if any thing, said of it in the Writings of the Ancients. To remove this Prejudice therefore, all the fabulous Stories of the Greeks have, by Men of fertile Inventions, been given out to be disguised Chymical Arcana. Jason's Golden Fleece, which he brought from Colchis was only a Receipt to make the Philosopher's Stone, and Medea restored her Father-in-Law, Æson, to his Youth again by the Grand ''Elixir. Borrichius is very confident that the Egyptian'' Kings