Putrefaction was followed by _Congelation_ and _Citation_.

The passage through the next gate, called _Sublimation_, caused the body to become spiritual, and the spiritual to be made corporal.

_Fermentation_ followed, whereby the substance became soft and flowed like wax.

Finally, by _Exaltation_, the Stone was perfected.
[Illustration: Here are two birds, great and strong--the body and spirit; one devours the other.
Let the body be placed in horse-dung, or a warm bath, the spirit having been extracted from it.

The body has become white by the process, the spirit red by our art.
All that exists tends towards perfection, and thus is the Philosopher's Stone prepared.
FIG.