28 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



putrefaction and corruption. The same 

 thing is observable in the transmutations 

 of all fragrant substances. Hence the 

 Sage should enquire what an odour is, 

 whence it derives its properties, and how 

 those properties can be turned to good 

 account. For the earth is nourished 

 with stinking dung, and precious fruits 

 are produced thereby. To account for 

 this phenomenon there is a multiplicity 

 of causes which it would take a whole 

 book to explain, if we attempted to des- 

 cribe, even briefly, all natural mutations 

 and generations. But digestion and 

 putrefaction are the Master Keys of the 

 process. Fire and air produce a kind 

 of maturity, by which a change can take 

 place out of water and earth. This is 

 the kind of transmutation by which fra- 

 grant balsam becomes stinking dung, 

 and stinking dung fragrant balsam. But 

 you will ask me why I quote such simple 

 and absurd examples. The example, I 

 confess, smacks of the stables rather than 

 of the drawing-room ; but the careful 

 student of Nature will understand me all 



