considered; they could therefore act in accordance with this. And they also went forth.
(The Supplications of the Learned and Famous.)
11. Immediately afterwards followed the envoys of some illustrious men. They were Theophrastus and Aristotle, and they asked for two things: firstly, that they should not be subject to the accidents of life as other men are; secondly, as they were, through God's kindness, distinguished by great wit, learning, riches, and so forth, above all others in the world (and as it would be a general loss should such men perish), they begged for this privilege above the common multitude: that they should never die. After their first request had been considered, they were told that they demanded just things; they would therefore be allowed to protect themselves against accidents as well as they could; the learned by means of their learning, the prudent by their prudence, the powerful by their power, the rich by their riches. With regard to their second demand, Queen Wisdom gave the order that all the most renowned alchemists should be assembled, and should with all diligence study the means by which immortality could be obtained. Then those who received this order withdrew. But when after a time none of them returned, and the envoys pressed for an answer, they received, pro interim, a message to the purpose that H.R.M. did not desire that such precious men should perish together with the others; but that she knew not
