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Chemistry and poetry both involve the mixing of components to create something new, so to find these two pursuits intertwined is not surprising. Poets and playwrights, philosophers and chemists all found alchemy and chemistry to be subjects that provided a wealth of material for their writings.
In CHF’s Neville Collection, books with publication dates ranging from 1506 to 1848 exemplify the poetry-science interplay. Works covering two of the oldest forms of chemistry, cookery and alchemy, have recipes written as poems. The mnemonic power of rhyme made it easy to memorize these recipes in a time when books were expensive and many recipe users were illiterate.
A literary masterpiece
Ben Jonson, the well-known poet and playwright of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, wrote what may be the most famous poetic work on chemistry, The Alchemist, published in 1616. Jonson’s story focuses on the charlatans who practiced alchemy for a fee, but underlying his skeptical viewpoint is a broad knowledge of alchemical theory and practice. Through alchemical metaphor he also comments on the religious battles of the 17th century. Jonson’s use of images and italics to emphasize key concepts in this first printed version of his play helped create mental pictures for the reader (as opposed to the person seeing the dramatic staged version).
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Navis Stultifera (1506) |
Alchemy—“The Ship of Fools”?
Sebastian Brant, a German poet and Catholic humanist, wrote about alchemy in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. His satirical approach to the subject can be seen in his famous Navis Stultifera, which translates as The Ship of Fools. Brant was equally concerned by alchemy and the adulteration of foodstuffs and also showed an intolerance for popular superstition. His use of poetry and imagery on the same page created small masterpieces of communication, working together to enhance both the art and the language.
An alchemical feat: turning science into poetry
Robert Hunt, who wrote The Poetry of Science in 1848, used selected poetry to enhance his basic narrative text. In one example a quote from Shakespeare’s Tempest (“Ariel’s Song,” Act 1, Scene 2) beautifully illustrates the chemical change Hunt is discussing. The metaphorical language of the great dramatist is far more compelling and evocative than the scientific text of Hunt. The Poetry of Science lacks visual art images, relying entirely on language to inspire and challenge the reader’s imagination.
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The Philosophical Epitaph
of W.C. Esquire (1673) |
William Cooper, a bookseller, publisher, and writer, as well as an alchemist, published The Philosophical Epitaph of W.C. Esquire in 1673. In this work Cooper created a rich title page by combining several rhymed poems with a display of alchemical symbols. The page conveys a large amount of information in a very small space. Several well-known lines of text appear in the book, with one of the most notable being “no man’s happy before his death.” Cooper’s knowledge of alchemy combined with his entrepreneurial skill (he was the first British book auctioneer) made him a very successful bookseller.
A rare mixture
Poetry and science are a potent mix, as can be seen in numerous texts in CHF’s Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library. The awareness of science as an integral part of life crept into the writings of so many over the centuries, including one of the greatest bards, Shakespeare, who at the turn of the 17th century wrote in King John (Act 3, Scene 1):
To solemnize this day, the glorious sun
Stays in his course and plays the alchemist,
Turning with splendour of his precious eye
The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold.
Books available in the Othmer catalogue
Other items of interest in CHF collections
Bibliography
- Drabble, Margaret, The Oxford Companion to English Literature (New York: Oxford University Press, 1985).
- McArthur, Tom, The Oxford Companion to the English Language (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992).
This online presentation has been adapted from the Poetry and Chemistry exhibit at CHF curated by Tanya Avakian.
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