Char.  An absolute abstinence from carnal thought, devout and pure of Spirit; free from Sin.

Doct.  I dare not boast my Virtues, Sir; Is there no way to try my Purity?

Char.  Are you very secret?

Doct.  ’Tis my first Principle, Sir.

Char.  And one, the most material in our Rosycrusian order.—­Please you to make a Tryal?

Doct.  As how, Sir, I beseech you?

Char.  If you be thorowly purg’d from Vice, the Opticles of your Sight will be so illuminated, that glancing through this Telescope, you may behold one of these lovely Creatures, that people the vast Region of the Air.

Doct.  Sir, you oblige profoundly.

Char.  Kneel then, and try your strength of Virtue.  Sir,—­Keep your Eye fix’d and open. [He looks in the Telescope.

[While he is looking, Charmante goes to the Door to Scaramouch, who waited on purpose without, and takes a Glass with a Picture of a Nymph on it, and a Light behind it; that as he brings it, it shews to the Audience.  Goes to the end of the Telescope.

—­Can you discern, Sir?

Doct.  Methinks, I see a kind of glorious Cloud drawn up—­and now, ’tis gone again.

Char.  Saw you no Fuger?

Doct.  None.

Char.  Then make a short Prayer to Alikin, the Spirit of the East; shake off all earthly Thoughts, and look again.

    [He prays.  Charmante puts the Glass into the Mouth
    of the Telescope.

Doct.—­Astonish’d, ravish’d with Delight, I see a Beauty young and Angel-like, leaning upon a Cloud.

Char.  Seems she on a Bed? then she’s reposing, and you must not gaze.

Doct.  Now a Cloud veils her from me.

Char.  She saw you peeping then, and drew the Curtain of the Air between.

Doct.  I am all Rapture, Sir, at this rare Vision—­is’t possible, Sir, that I may ever hope the Conversation of so divine a Beauty?

Char.  Most possible, Sir; they will court you, their whole delight is to immortalize—­Alexander was begot by a Salamander, that visited his Mother in the form of a Serpent, because he would not make King Philip jealous; and that famous Philosopher Merlin was begotten on a Vestal Nun, a certain King’s Daughter, by a most beautiful young Salamander; as indeed all the Heroes, and Men of mighty Minds are.

Doct.  Most excellent!

Char.  The Nymph Egeria, inamour’d on Numa Pompilius, came to him invisible to all Eyes else, and gave him all his Wisdom and Philosophy. Zoroaster, Trismegistus, Apuleius, Aquinius, Albertus Magnus, Socrates and Virgil had their Zilphid, which the Foolish call’d their Daemon or Devil.  But you are wise, Sir.