SOME REFLECTIONS On a late BOOK, CALLED, The GOLDEN AGE, &c.  
Directed to the BOOKSELLER, in New-Inn, in Witch-street, without war, for R. G.  
By Eugenius Philalethes Jun r.  
LONDON, Printed for the Author, and are to be sold by A. Baldwin, at the Oxford-Arms, in Warwick-Lane. 1698.   

SIR,  
SInce I have no other way to make my acknowledgements to Mr. R. G. for his Publishing the Book, called, The Golden Age, or the Reign of Saturn reviewed, I have taken this Occasion to sand to you in print. First, desiring that on the behalf of all the true Sons of Hermes, you will return him Thanks for his Exposing it to the capricious Humours of this inconstant World, as he rightly has it in his Epistle to the Reader. And next that I may freely give my Opinion of the Book its self, and intimate to you how it is at present looked upon by others. This, I think, is necessary to be known by you, since I find there are some who are not willing it should be much dispersed, and because R. G. hints that the Author is not, and himself pretends not thoroughly to understand this sort of Learning; I have taken upon me to argue a little on this Subject, and to throw my Mite into the Philosophical Treasury. In sending thus to you, I shall, I hope, both oblige you and others; and it may be provoke some of the Brotherhood mighty in dead and Word, to stand up for or against the Cause; if he be pro we shall be obliged, if con we know how to be even with him. And so I leave you to the following Discourse. I am  
Your Servant, Eugenius Philalethes Jun r.   

SOME REFLECTIONS, &c.  
FIRST as to the Book itself: The Author modestly calls it an Essay, tending to set forth a True and Natural Way to prepare and fix common Mercury into Silver and Gold, intermixed with a Discourse, Vindicating and Explaining that famous universal Medicine of the Ancients, vulgarly called the Philosopher's ston, built upon four Natural Principles. This, say some, is a notable Title, did the Book make it out, but they cannot find it to be so; yet( without their good leave) notwithstanding their short sightedness, others can plainly red that he hath fully made it out, beyond what any Man could reasonably expect; for he hath shown that in order to fix common Mercury, the Artist must acuate, or impregnate it with a true Mineral Sulphur or Fire; and that the whole Preparation is made by four Metalline Principles; viz. Metalline Fire, Air, Earth and Water, and perfected by three Works, or Operations. This, I dare affirm, is plainer than any Book yet extant hath set forth; but this is nothing, in comparison, of what follows; for further he shows us, That the two first Principles must be purged, purified and joined by a strong Fire; which being done, he says, is the first Operation, or Medicine of the first Order, called Radix Artis; and also directs us to a true Receipt for doing it, tells us it is commonly made to be sold, tho' not always for this purpose; and to put the matter out of doubt, has described its Character, Colour, Quality and Quantity, so plain, as a Man that runs may red it, and reading may easily name it. And he hath backed and proved this part of his Position, by the concurrent Testimony of several eminent Philosophers, both Ancient and Modern; and hath further been so exact as to direct us to the very Pages and Sentences, &c. If he hath committed any Fault, in this Point, it is certainly none other, but that of being too open and sincere: For hereby he hath explained that for good Will, which some others would not have done for many Pounds. And except he had learned this from the Worthy and Generous Adeptist Aeyrenaeus, we had not yet( I think) known what Geber meant by his Medicine of the first Order, nor have understood that Sendivogius, Norton, Valentine, &c. were all of one Mind, though we had poured upon them many Years longer; for their Books have been a considerable time extant; And who amongst us hath from them so plainly shown us this thing?  
Next, he tells us, That the Water will not join with this prepared Fire and Air, without the Principle of the Earth which is a Medium, and must be accommodated to both, and is of a Metalline Substance; and he has plainly described it, with the Quantity, Colour and Quality; and further directed the ingenuous where they may have full Satisfaction of this Principle of Earth. This cannot be possibly be found fault with, but through Ignorance or Envy; nay, on the contrary, it requires the greatest Commendation; for we may easily perceive that other Men, and those Learned, have not been able to find out the Doves of Diana, nor why so called; they seem to have been reserved only for his Discovery.  
Next, as to the fourth Element or Principle of Water, It is plainly said and proved to be common Mercury, and to excel the rest in Quantity; which mixing with the other Principles or Elements, they join and purge each other to that degree, that the Mercury is made clean, sulphu●eous, and tending to fixation, and that then all is in Mercury which the wise Men seek, because this prepared Mercury may now be digested into Sol and Luna; upon which Sol or Luna, and the prepared Mercury depends the Grand Medicine, or Elixir of the Ancient Philosophers, and the whole Art of Transmutation of Metals. This, I say, he has not only written, but proved from sufficient Authorities, has referred us to those Books, which more fully show the manner of Sublimation and true Regimens of the Fire; and further he hath shown the Reasons why so great a Medicine is only to be found in Metals, and what that Divine Form, Instrument, or Agent is, which animates the whole Work, and is the true Author of all Transmutation. And now what does there remain to be discovered? Or what can any reasonable or ingenuous Man desire more? Surely nothing but Time, Place and Opportunity, with a due Qualification for so great an Undertaking. In which last thing, to advice us, the Author has been very Industrious, and that in a Religious Manner; but not to swell or stuff his Book with Quotations, as some loosely, or rather foolishly imagine.  
He hath said himself, that the World is more beholden to that famous Adeptist Aeyrenaeus, than to all his Predecessors. This doubtless is true; for before him we red of none, that could ever attain the Knowledge of this high Art without a Master; and had he been silent, the Matter had yet remained under great Obscurity. Notwithstanding Hortolanus( as I may say) is an Explainer both of Aeyrenaeus, Sendivogius, Norton, and others, who in their life time were the very Flower of alchemy; but most of them writ only to show themselves to their Fellows; and although Aeyrenaeus far excels the rest, yet he was not willing to reduce the Matter to a certain Number and Order, or to pursue his Discourse in a linear Method more than he has done in his Introitus Apertus, which the dull Readers cannot yet understand.  
But notwithstanding all this Care and Exactness; to open our Eyes, the blind World cannot yet see, Men still stumble at Straws in the very Noon Day. The Books of Aeyrenaeus, tho' worth their weight in Gold, are but little valued, Men would have a great Knowledge but little Pains, a high Art but small Labour.  
Obj. 1. Says one to me I expected the Book had shown us readily how to fix common Quicksilver into Gold; but looking into it I saw no such thing. Whereupon, Sir, I asked him if he had seriously perused it as the matter required? I only looked into it, replied he; and had it been so, I must needs have seen it.  
By this I perceived the Man was huge big in Conceit with a quick Apprehension.  
Ans. What, Sir, said I, do you think it such an easy matter, as to see that with a Glance, which hundreds have not been able to get Sight of in many Ages? Perhaps you expected some Receipt of Baking, boiling, or Frying it into a Malleableness; some Vinegar and Pepper to constringe it. Alas! Sir, 'tis no such thing; there is a great deal of Pains and Skill required to introduce a Metalline Sulphur into it, in order to its fixation; and if you cannot discover it in Hortolan, you will never be able to find it in Paracelsus, nor elsewhere that I know of, except in those elaborate Works of Aeyrenaeus: Nay, Sir, says he, if it be so he might have kept his Receipt to himself: Do you think Gentlemen will trouble themselves with Fire and smoke to try his Whim? I think they have something else to do, says he; and away he flung.  
Obj. 2. Another hearing this Discourse, comes flily up to me, and leering in my Face, thus accosted me; Sir, says he, I am apt to think there is something in it: But, pray, what was this Hortolanus Jun r. a rich Man or a poor Man, a Clerk or a lay-man, and how far did he go in this Art? For, says he, till this be known, 'tis dangerous to fall upon Practise; but by the Circumstances of the man we may easily guess at the Truth of the matter. I answered him thus.  
Ans. nile habet infaelix paupertas durius in se quàm quòd ridiculos homines facit. He tells you plainly, Sir, quoth I, that for Satisfaction sake he tried the joining of the four Elements, and the purging and distilling of his Mercury, according to the Principles laid down, and that they so far answered his Expectation, tho he did it by Guess only, and not by Weight or Measure: But that being no chemist, nor having acquaintance with any, he digested not his Mercury, by reason a convenient Athanor, or Furnace is altogether necessary. He further tells you, that he is allotted to serve others; and therefore, as I suppose, set about this thing immediately, that after having served the World, he might, perhaps, endeavour to serve himself. O generous, and unparalleled Temper! And as for his being a Clerk, I think, his Work will sufficiently prove it.  
There are also, Sir, said I, other Reasons very likely to induce him to this Publication before he made further trial.  
First, That he might set all men upon the same bottom with himself, and thereby prevent impertinent Questions.  
Secondly, That he might try the Temper of the Age, and possibly hear of the Accomplishment of this great Work from his Instructions, by some other Hand more at leisure to attend it than himself; for I cannot think he did Envy that any other should attain it before him.  
And lastly, This consideration might prevail, that if he should afterwards haply have the Opportunity, or rather Blessing to perfect this Work, he would be then, as it were, under a Philosophical Necessity of Silence. Having said thus, Sir, my Gentleman modestly composing his Countenance, very gravely sat down.  
Obj. 3. But contrary to all Expectation, as if it had been on purpose to provoke Laughter and Ridicule, up starts a third man: Hold, Sir, says he, I have an invincible Objection against the Golden Age, and it is this. The Book( says he) for I have seen it, is composed all, or the greatest part of Quotations and Sentences from other mens Works; and therefore I do not approve of it.—  
Ans. Ha, ha, ha, ha, Risum teneatis amici, a notable Objection I assure you; such another as was made against an eminent Lawyer for backing his Argument with half a dozen topping Authorities home to the Point. After a little silence was made; Sir( said I) was this slur found out before, or after you asked the price of the Book? Afterwards, Sir, says he, I'll assure you; for I thought to have had the Book for Sixpence. At this all the Company were provoked to Laughter; but least I should seem to give Offence, in the mean time I took Pen and Ink, and drew the Character as underneath: 
Omnia mea mecum Porto,  
Nihil hic nisi Carmina desunt.  By this time the Noise being pretty well over, I returned to my Gentleman again, in this manner. Sir, said I, since reducing a long and difficult Incertainty to a plain and regular Certainty don't please you, since an orderly Collection of good substantial Authorities to open and confirm the most Mystical, yet highest piece of Philosophy that is in Nature don't please you, since to know the dark Sayings and passages of the Ancients, and that they were all to one and the same purpose, don't please you; Pray, Sir, What is it that will? Let me know your mind, I shall endeavour to please you, if possible?  
Obj. 4. Sir, replies he, I am altogether for something that's Florid and Lofty, some new Strain that's Diverting, something that may be peculiarly called a man's own, and the like; or else what is so plain, in this Art, that it may admit of no further Objection.  
Ans. With your leave, good Sir, said I, that can neither be reasonable nor commendable in this Art; for should a man, in a lofty Style, tell you that he has attained the Art, and perfected the great Elixir, to say no more, you have but his bare Word for it; and it would be to you unprofitable, should he openly tell you his Principles, and the exact manner of preparing them, with the true degree of Fire, through every Regimen, and thereby save you abundance of Thought and Inquiry; he might perhaps have this Answer that you knew it before, and then his Advice would retort upon him as unnecessary and idle:( Not here to mention any thing of the heavy Anathemas laid on him for this very thing by many Philosophers, both Ancient and Modern;) And for him to lay open the whole Secret, and thereby displease the Ingenuous and true Sons of Art, for the sake of the Dull and Conceited, would be altogether unpardonable. And lastly, for him to broach a new airy System of Philosophy contrary to Truth, and against natural Principles, Orders and Authorities, would, at best, be but a Romance, something like a new Hypothesis of the Earth, which departing from the True, Ancient, and Mosaical Text, would show forth the old Spirit of Contradiction( to say no worse of it) Clothed with a new Mantle of Self-conceited Invention.  
But in short, Sir, I am of Opinion that whatsoever of this nature may be offered contradicting those Principles laid down by Hortolanus, it will in the trial prove fallacious; yet if any Man is desirous to show forth his Metal, I think we have now a sure Touch-stone whereby to try his alloy.  
Obj. 5. I know not, Sir, says another, who was but lately come in, what to make of your Discourse; you seem sometimes in earnest, and other times in jest; however I say this that The Golden Age is only a Collection, and considering the many Hundreds of printed Books relating to the Philosopher's ston, I cannot think it any difficult matter to pick out of them all so small a Volume as this.  
Ans. That it is a Collection, Sir,( I replied) none denies; but that it has been so easily put together, non sequitur, on the contrary it was rather a most difficult Labour and Study, attended with a natural Disposition, or Genius to trace it out through such crooked Meanders and intricate Labyrinths, in which the Ancients have so Mystically and Metaphorically placed it. It requires great Learning and Skill, especially in this Art, to distinguish every Sentence well, and to know to what Work it doth appertain; a Skill which few( as Aeyrenaeus testifies) by all their Reading could e'er attain, and yet of Theory this is the main. And, in truth, Sir, I do not find that any man can give us a tolerable satisfaction in the matter, other than by an ocular Demonstration, or else a true natural Prospect, backed by sufficient Reason and Authority; the first is not to be expected, the latter is now sufficiently done to our Hands.  
Obj. 6. Let it be so then( says he) yet I do not by this Book, in the least perceive the third Principle of Earth, the Doves of Diana. The two first, and last Elements, I must confess, seem to be Natural and Real; but the other, I presume, is only fictitious, and imaginary.  
Ans. To this I replied; there have, Sir, been several who seemed desirous of knowing the Name of the Publisher of Hortolanus his Book; and tho' it was plainly written before their Eyes, yet they could not perceive it. No wonder then, Sir, that you do not presently find cut the Doves of Diana: Pray look upon that Character, that Omnia mea mecum Porto; Has it not the complexion of the four Philosophical Elements in its Face?  
complexion of Philosophical Elements, say you? I can compare it to nothing fitter than a Mathematical Engine, a battering Ram to beat down a Bulwark, or some such thing. If you can show us no nearer resemblance, says he, I shall be wholly out of Conceit with this Figure casting too?  
Hereupon, to please the Company, I took my Pen, and first I made a Figure of the Globe of the World; next I fixed two Characters of the Planet Mars to the sides of my Globe; I made both their Circles to answer, in proportion, one half of the other, as near as I could guess, then I partly enclosed them with a Quadrangle divided in the half, or rather two half Moons, which being joined might take up twice the compass of the other three; after this I surrounded the whole with a large common circled, lightly flowing, as it were forward and backward, as the Figure seems to demonstrate; 
Look about if you can find  
Plainly written which makes Men blind.  
War begets Poverty.  
Poverty Peace, &c.  Afterwards I writ on one side thereof, War begets Poverty, Poverty Peace, &c. as Men use to do in their almanacs. Having finished it I shewed it to the next Gentleman to pause upon; he, Sir, no sooner looked upon it, but desired I might presently be secured, for he avouched I was no other than a Conjurer, and had learnt these Tricks from friar Bacon; and to confirm his Suggestion, said Hortolan had also cited his Name in the Book: And hereupon they  told me, unless I would plainly show them what the Doves of Diana were, and also where to be found, they would inform against me for practising the Black Art, &c.  
Alas, Gentlemen said I! you may as well quarrel at the learned Gentleman who writ the Book, called, Mysterium Sigillorum Herbarum & Lapidum, price 5 s. or thereabouts, in which are described many stranger Characters than these: Nay Paracelsus himself has stuffed a large Volume almost full of them, and such like Cunning Devices, to teach Men far stranger things than the Philosopher's ston; yet neither of these were accounted Conjurers or Witches, but on the contrary great and learned Men. Moreover( continued I) there is an old Book, newly Reprinted, will teach you to beget wise and witty Children, either Sons or Daughters, as to your Worships shall seem meet; and if your Honours like not the knack of making the Powder of Pimper le Pimp, you may be pleased to practise these other more commendable Operations.  
Come, come, Sir( said they) this shall not serve your turn; What you think to shift us off with a Banter, do you? To the Question, Sir. The Doves of Diana quickly, if you desire to save your hid from Tar, and your Eyes and Ears from Feathers; speak quickly.  
Then perceiving the great Danger, that was at hand, I readily bethought myself of some Sentences in Hortolan; and presently, though confusedly, with a loud Voice, cried out, vulture supra montem existens magna voice clamat inquiens Sol meus & radii mei sunt in me; Luna vero mihi propria est ac lumen meum omne lumen superat, seminate aurum vestrum in terra alba fo— fo— fo— foliata. And there I stopped.  
A pretty Fellow, says one, he is also for his Quotations, but the Plagiary has not the Wit to city them aright; besides, Sophister, What is this to the Doves of Diana? Is Earth and Birds of a like Nature, ha? Pray, Sir, hold( says another) do not interrupt the Gentleman, he is not so much besides the Mark as you imagine; the Doves of Diana are said to be the third Principle, and the third Principle is said to be Philosophical Earth, and Philosophical Earth is said to be Terra alba foliata; and this perhaps may be no hard matter to come by▪ pray, Gentlemen, be civil, let the Man alone.  
I know not well( replied another) what to say; I think the matter is all a Jest. I wish we could persuade the Man to sing us one of his Philosophical Songs, by way of further Divertisement; for, I think, he has given us his Dance and a half already. Agreed, cried the rest, What say you to't, Spark? Are you prepared with one in your Budget? I have heard, says he, that the Dangerous Voyage for the Golden Fleece, the Encountering the Dragon that kept the Golden apple in the Gardens of the Hesperides, the Sowing of the Serpent's Teeth by Cadmus, and the Fable of Hermaphroditus flying from the wanton Nymph, with that of St. George and the Dragon, are all Philosophical, yea and Hermetical too; What say you to it, Sir? Can you oblige us?  
Gentlemen, said I, since you are so merrily Disposed, I will, for your Civilities sake, endeavour to sing or say something to that purpose: For as concerning these Doves of Diana, I must ingenuously confess, Mr. Aeyrenaeus has cooped them up in his Ripley Revived, &c. And Hortolan was not willing to put them on the Wing, but only pointed at them; so that there is no other way lest, but to buy Aeyrenaeus his Works; itis true they will cost you a George or two; but after you have bought them, I know not, but you may come to wear a Garter.  
Now for my Song( said I) but first let me sound my Trumpet of Glass. Tarra tantarra— tarra tantarra— tarra tantarra—, murmur; two Dances and one Song, or two Songs and one Dance for a halfpenny, any thing for an honest livelihood: Hold, Sirs, next by way of preamble, give me leave to tell you, that once upon a time Diana invited the Seven Planets to a Hunting Match of Wild Beasts, and Fiery Dragons. The Song begins thus.  

ng.  DIana being disposed a Hunting for to go,  
Unto her Nymphs disclosed what she intends to do;  
When the one had made it known to the other, as it seemed,  
With Quiver and with Bow they did attend their Queen.  
The next part, Gentlemen( said I) goes in another Tune; therefore I must change my Note to what follows.  

WHen fair Diana a Hunting we●t, 
An Hermetical Song.   
With Venus in her Company;  
Saturn wore Robes of Parliament  
Of Velvet Black, as Black may be;  
And Jupiter in Purple State  
Did on his Father Saturn wait:  
Mars the Captain of the band,  
His Amorous Venus did attend,  
With fiery Face and Sword in Hand,  
Until her Pastime had an end;  
And Mercury in Coat of Mail,  
On him not usual to be seen,  
At this great Hunting did not fail,  
To wait upon the Princely Queen:  
Luna, pale Goddess of the Night,  
Threw off her Mask, and changed her Dress,  
Put on her Robes of shining Light,  
That she all splendour might express:  
Then Sol whose Brightness doth excel,  
At this great Congress did appear;  
For as he's wise, he knew full well  
They're not complete till he be there:  
Upon his Royal Head he wore  
A Crown of glittering Gold;  
And on the Top thereof he bore  
The Figure of the World. 
♁ 1.   
Vulcan with Spears and lances did attend,  
And other Tools their armor for to mend;  
And thus a Hunting they did go,  
Those Men were blessed that did it see;  
Yet few or none were e'er blessed so,  
But such as true Adeptists be.  
A Son of Hermes present at the Fact,  
Hath since been pleased to writ this noble Act;  
Which for your sakes is put in English Verse,  
And plainly to you shall the Sport rehearse:  
In Lemnos Isle, near unto Vulcan's Shop,  
Between a valley and a Mountain's Top,  

Others say a Green Dragon, and a read lion.  They first espied a lion Green,  
encountering with a Dragon read,  
Rare Sport, believe me, to be seen;  
Quoth Saturn we are richly sped,  
A gentle Hault now let us make,  
That we a view of them may take,  
And bid one of the sophis writ,  
Th' Atcheiv'ments of this bloody Fight.   

With Rage the fiery Dragon 'gan to swell,  
And at his Foe great Floods of Venom spit;  
The lion stout and strong resisted well,  
And to the Dragon yielded near a bit,  
till, at the length, the Dragon reared on high,  
And in his rising stung the Lyon's Thigh.   

Hideous roaring then lion made,  
So soon as he had felt the Dragon's Sting,  
And with Revenge this Mischief doubly paid,  
Striking his Paw under the Dragon's Wing;  
Great Streams of Blood then on the ground did lie,  
Stench, Steam, and poison darkened all the sky.   

Thrice more the Dragon pierced the Lyon's Jaws,  
With Sting and talons tearing off hi● Skin:  
As oft the lion with his mighty Paws  
endeavoured for to break the Dragon's Wing;  
Thus by great Force did bear him to the Ground,  
And with his Weapons gave him many a Wound.   

Then being greedy of the Dragon's Blood,  
Did drink thereof as if he meant to burst,  
Thinking the same would prove the only good  
To heal the Wound he had received at first;  
But in his watching he did greatly fail,  
For there the Dragon quiter bit off his Tail.   

Then from this Wound fresh Streams of Blood did flow;  
The Dragon now betook himself to flight;  
Diana seeing this, streight way let go,  
Two lucky Birds, a pair of Turtles bright;  
Which soaring high aloft attacked their Game,  
And with their Charms made him descend again.   

A wonder strange that Doves should have such force,  
To stop a Dragon in his hasty flight;  
Yet not so strange, considering the course  
They took to do't, if you'll conceive't aright;  
For down his Throat they ventured, at pale Death,  
And with their Feathers took away his Breath.   

The lion watchful, at this lucky hit,  
Snap'd at the Dragon with his greedy Jaws,  
And in an instant tore him bit from bit,  
And soon disbowel'd him with his crooked Claws,  
Devouring him so fast, that all did think  
He had been choked, and streight they called for Drink.   

hast, hast, quick Mercury, noble Sol did say,  
Some liquour fetch to save the Lyon's life,  
To Hermes Well dispatch without delay;  
Dispatch, dispatch, pray make no further strife;  
Up went his Heels, abroad his Arms did fly,  
He went, he stayed, he came back instantly.   

Yet in that time a Council was essayed  
To know how much the lion he should take;  
Saturn advised his Body might be weighed,  
And that a due Proportion they should make:  
They gave him Drink, he drank such mighty store,  
That it excelled his Body three times o'er.   

This caused him greatly for to stretch and purge,  
To foam and fret, his Colour went and came,  
Great quantities of poison to disgorge,  
As black as any Ink appeared the same;  
After a while he strangely changed his hue,  
And all his Strength and Vitals did renew.   

Vulcan, said Saturn, to thy Forge him take,  
Let him be warmed, and give him gentle Heat;  
And when that he Digestion well can make,  
See that thou feed him with his natura● Meat;  
He had no sooner said, but it was done;  
From hence 'twas called the lion of th Sun.   

Take these my Doves, Diana to him said,  
They're dead to sight, rifled, pale and wan;  
Give them a heat, and be not thou dismayed,  
They'll come to life again, never fear it Man:  
This said, they all took Horse, away did ride;  
My first Part's done, no more then at this Tide.   
Gentlemen, said I,  
If you will have the Second Part to the same Tune, I must beg your Patience till a more convenient Season, for now the time will not permit. Agreed, say they, for we begin to like your Sport and Pastime; so each Man gave me a halfpenny. I scraped my Leg, set my Trumpet to my Mouth, gave them a Dance and a half, and away I trip'd. ' Slife, says one, this is ●he Fellow that cries Singing-glasses, and Cock-spurs about the Town; I know him by his Trumpet, and triple Cap of Maintenance; an arch Knave, I warrant him. Having gotten a distance from them▪ I turned about, and lifting up my Voice, made this Proclamation: Gentlemen, said I, when I come again, I expect you to have longer Ears and a shorter Tongue; however I intend to bring Mr. Mastix along with me, together with a Mallet and Punch; you may well know what I mean, unless you be Numbskuls; but I hope you'll give us no occasion to make use of them. So at present farewell.  
Thus, Sir, I have given you a Relation of my bold Adventure. Pray present my Service to Mr. R. G. I hope this will not be displeasing. I remain, Sir, his and your Servant unknown, Eugenius Philalethes Junr  
FINIS,