Raymond Lully's Great Elixir: A Dramatic Poem (1869)

Raymond Lully's Great Elixir: A Dramatic Poem (1869) is a literary work that tells the story of the alchemist Raymond Lully's quest to create the philosopher's stone, a mythical substance that was believed to have the power to turn base metals into gold and grant eternal life. The poem is structured as a dramatic dialogue between Lully and his assistant, and it explores themes of ambition, obsession, and the search for knowledge.The poem begins with Lully describing his vision of the philosopher's stone and his determination to create it. He is convinced that the elixir will bring him wealth, power, and immortality, and he is willing to sacrifice anything to achieve his goal. His assistant, however, is skeptical of Lully's claims and warns him of the dangers of his obsession.As Lully continues his experiments, he becomes increasingly isolated and paranoid. He begins to see conspiracies against him everywhere and suspects that his assistant is plotting against him. In the end, Lully's quest for the philosopher's stone leads to his downfall, as he is consumed by his own ambition and dies alone, having never achieved his goal.The poem is notable for its vivid descriptions of alchemical processes and its exploration of the psychological effects of obsession. It also reflects the cultural fascination with alchemy that was prevalent in the 19th century, as well as the broader human desire for knowledge and immortality. Overall, Raymond Lully's Great Elixir: A Dramatic Poem is a thought-provoking work that offers insights into both the history of alchemy and the human condition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.