CHAPTER XII. 



FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES. 



"Que la chimie est admirable 

 Dans ses effets prodigieux, 

 Elle nous rend e*gaux aux Dieux 

 Par 1'elixir et 1'or potable. 



Que 1'art chimique est admirable, 

 Que son pouvoir est merveilleux. 

 La pauvrete" si mesprisable, 

 L' infirmite* la moins curable, 



La veillesse qui nous accable, 

 Meme la Parque inexorable, 

 Sentent 1'effet miraculeux 

 De notre Pierre incomparable." 



Chilliat, Les Souffleurs. 



N 1603, the official alchemists of Rudolph's court 

 and the residents of Gold Alley were much excited 

 by rumors of successful transmutations at Strass- 

 burg, and when the news reached the Emperor, 



who just then was in great need of gold to replenish his 

 treasury and was always ready 



"To seek by alkimy greate ryches to winn," 

 he sent Johann Franke and two other trustworthy messengers 

 to make inquiries, and to fetch to Prague this valuable adept. 

 The story they learned was to this effect: An humble citizen 

 of Strassburg named Gossenhauer (Giistenhover in low 

 German) while engaged in his trade as goldsmith was waited 



120 



