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Hidden Truth brought forth by Time
Woodblock emblem on title-page of Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis, published together with and as an appendix to Sylva Sylvarum, 1st edition 1626 and 2nd edition 1627, printed in London by J. Haviland for W. Lee. The emblem depicts Time, in the form of Saturn (Cronos) or Pan, drawing forth Truth, in the form of a naked woman, from a cave. Time holds a scythe in his right hand, whilst he grasps Truth’s left wrist with his left hand. At his feet, and standing upright between them, is an hour-glass. A four-petalled rose is at the 6 o’clock position, beneath Time’s left foot. The Latin motto in the circular border reads ‘Tempore Patet Occulta Veritas’, translated as ‘Time brings forth Hidden Truth’. The illustration is constructed on a hidden geometric template that is a clock face, divided into twelve equal segments or time periods. The clock face is that of the zodiac rather than of the normal 12-hour clock, in the way the divisions are orientated. The long straight handle of Time’s scythe marks a diameter of the circle and the border of two of the zodiacal divisions. The upper part of his left arm indicates another border which, continued down meets the circle of the clock-face by the toe of Time’s left foot (hoof). In this way two zodiacal divisions are marked, the highest and the lowest of the time cycle. A key to understanding the contents is if one considers the highest segment to mark the zodiacal sign of Capricorn and the lowest one to mark that of Cancer, associated with north and south respectively. In this picture heaven (the zodiac) and earth (nature) are ‘married’, symbolically expressing the Hermetic teaching. It is most true, it is without error, it is the sum of verity: That which is beneath is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below, for the performance of the wonders of one thing. As all things were created from the Mind of One, so all things arose by modification of this One Thing. It is so with our Substance. Its father is the Sun, its mother the Moon. The Wind bore it in its belly. The earth is its nurse. The father of all, the Thelema of the whole world, is here. Its strength is undiminished if it is changed into earth. Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, gently, but with great skill. It rises from earth to heaven, and again descends to the earth, and receives the strength of things above and of things below. Thus you have the glory of the whole world, and all darkness will flee way from you. This is the strength of every strong thing; it overcomes every subtle thing, and penetrates all solids. In this way was the world created. These are the wonderful modifications, the manner of which I have described. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts of the wisdom of the whole world. I have now said all I have to say concerning the operation of the Sun. Hermes Trismegistus, The Emerald Tablet. © Peter Dawkins, FBRT, 1999 |
