CHAPTER XII
THE PILGRIM STUDIES ALCHEMY
And Impudence said: "Now at least come here; I will lead thee there where can be found the summit of human wit, and such delightful labours that he who once applies himself to it cannot abandon it as long as he lives, because of the noble pleasure that it gives to the mind." And I begged him not to tarry, but to directly show this to me. And then he led me into what appeared to be a cellar; and behold, there were there several rows of hearths, small ovens, kettles, and divers glass-work, so that everything glittered; men hurried about carrying brushwood and spreading it out; then they blew on it, lighted it, and then again extinguished it, pouring out some substance and mixing it in various fashions. And I asked: "Who are these men, and what are they doing?" Impudence answered: "They are the most subtle philosophers, who accomplish that which the heavenly sun, with its heat, cannot in many years effect in the bowels of the earth; that is, to raise divers metals to their highest degree—to wit, to gold." "But wherefore is this?" I said; "for surely more iron and other metal is used than gold?"
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