A New Light of Alchemy

6I asked again, “Do others use it for other things?” “Every creature uses it,” he said, “but invisibly.” “Is anything born in it?” I asked. He replied, “All things in the world are made from it and live in it; yet properly speaking there is nothing in it. Rather, it is a thing that mixes itself with every thing.” I asked, “Is it useful without this tree’s fruit?” He said, “Not in this work, since it is improved only in this fruit of the solar tree.” I began to ask again, “Sir, please name it to me by so clear a name that I can have no further doubt.” But he raised his voice and shouted so loudly that he woke me from sleep. I could ask no more, and he would answer no further; nor can I tell you more. Be content with this, and believe that it is impossible to speak more clearly. If you do not grasp these things, you will never understand the books of other philosophers.