A New Light of Alchemy

3Taking a vessel, he drew ten parts of water, then immediately took some fruit from the solar tree and put it in. I saw the fruit being consumed and dissolved like ice in warm water. I asked him, “Sir, I see a marvellous thing: water made almost from nothing, and the tree’s fruit being consumed in it with such gentle heat. What is this for?” He answered graciously, “My son, it is true that this is marvellous, but do not wonder: it must be so. This is the water of life, possessing the power to improve the fruit of this tree so greatly that afterwards, by its scent alone, without planting or grafting, it makes the other six trees like itself. Furthermore, this water is like a female to this fruit. The fruit of this tree cannot putrefy in anything except this water. Although the fruit in itself is marvellous and precious, if it putrefies in this water it generates from that putrefaction a salamander enduring in fire. Its blood is more precious than every treasure, having the power to make the six trees you see here fruitful and to bring forth their fruit sweeter than honey.” I asked, “Sir, how does this happen?” “I told you,” he said, “that the solar tree’s fruits are living and sweet. Where now only one person is satisfied from it, after it is cooked in this water a thousand can be satisfied from it.”