Collected Works (Vol. II)

216 AMBROSII MAGI HORTUS ROSARUM Dona Virginis. Puella Urget Sophiam Sod- alibus. The Sophic Suggler. The first day, a camel ; The second day, a kiss ; The third day, a star-glass ; The fourth day, a bectle’s wing; The fifth day, a crab ; The sixth day, a bow ; The seventh day, a quiver; The eighth day, a stag; The ninth day, an horn; The tenth day, a sandal of silver ; The eleventh day, a silver box of white sandal wood ; The twelfth day, a whisper ; The thirteenth day, a black cat; The fourteenth day, a phial of white gold ; The fifteenth day, an egg-shell cut in two ; The sixteenth day, a glance ; The seventeenth day, an honeycomb; The eighteenth day, a dream; The nineteenth day, a nightmare ; The twentieth day, a wolf, black-muzzled; The twenty-first day, a SOrrOW ; The twenty-second day, a bundle of herbs ; The twenty-third day, a piece of camphor ; The twenty-fourth day, a moonstone ; The twenty-fifth day, a sigh; The twenty-sixth day, a refusal; ‘The twenty-seventh day, a consent ; and the last night she gave him all herself, so that the moon was eclipsed and earth was utterly darkened. And the marriage of that virgin was on this wise: She had three arrows, yet but two flanks, and the wise men said that who knew two was three,! should know three was cight,” if the circle were but squared; and this also one day shall ye know, my Brethren! And she gave him the great and perfect gift of Magic, so that he fared forth right comely and well-provided. Now at that great wedding was a Suggler,® a riddler: for he said, ‘‘ Thou hast beasts: I will give thee weapons one for one.” For the Lion did our Father win a little fiery wand like a flame, and for his Eagle a cup of ever flowing water : for his Man the Suggler gave him a golden-hilted dagger (yet this was the worst of all his bargains, for it could not strike other, but him- self only), while for a curious coin he bartered his good Bul]. Alas for our Father! Now the Suggler mocks him and cries: ‘‘ Four fool’s bargains hast thou made, and thou art fit to go forth and meet a fool for thy mate.” But our Father counted thrice seven and cried: ‘‘ One for the fool,” seeing 1 3, the number of 3. 2, the number of the card 4. 2 The equality of three and eight is attributed to Binah, a high grade of Theurgic attainment, . 3 Scil. Juggler, the 1st Key. The magical weapons correspond to the Kerubim. + The Key marked O and applied to Aleph, 1.