138 THE NEW KNOWLEDGE. 



The possibility of transmuting one metal into another 

 seemed entirely reasonable to medieval men, and, taking 

 their point of view, it was reasonable. They were imbued 

 with the idea of growth and change. They saw that plants 

 and animals grew from one form into another and, if so, 

 why not metals? 



Here is something of the argument between Subtle and 

 Surly in old Ben. Johnson's " Akhemist," in which Subtle 

 is endeavoring to persuade Surly of the transmutability of 

 the metals and, incidentally, to cozen him out of his money. 



Subtle: No egg but differs from a chicken more 



Than metals in themselves. 

 Surly: That cannot be. 



The egg's ordained by nature to that end, 



And is a chicken in potentia. 

 Subtle : The same we say of lead and other metals, 



Which would be gold if they had time. 



for 'twere absurd 



To think that nature in the earth bred gold, 

 Perfect in the instant; something went before. 

 There must be remote matter." 



This remote matter was of course the philosopher's stone 

 which Subtle was about to prepare at Surly' s expense. The 

 lines in which Subtle concludes his argument are interesting: 



" Besides, who doth not see in daily practice 

 Art can beget bees, hornets, beetles, wasps, 

 Out of the carcasses and dung of creatures; 

 Yea, Scorpions of an herb, being rightly placed ? 

 And these are living creatures, far more perfect 

 And excellent than metals." 



