In the intervals
of study and chemical experiment he came to her flushed and exhausted,
but seemed invigorated by her presence, and spoke in glowing language
of the resources of his art. He gave a history of the long dynasty of
the alchemists, who spent so many ages in quest of the universal solvent
by which the golden principle might be elicited from all things vile
and base. Aylmer appeared to believe that, by the plainest scientific
logic, it was altogether within the limits of possibility to discover
this long-sought medium. "But," he added, "a philosopher who should
go deep enough to acquire the power would attain too lofty a wisdom
to stoop to the exercise of it." Not less singular were his opinions
in regard to the elixir vitae. He more than intimated that it was at
his option to concoct a liquid that should prolong life for years,
perhaps interminably; but that it would produce a discord in Nature
which all the world, and chiefly the quaffer of the immortal nostrom,
would find cause to curse.
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