An exceedingly powerful, delicate, and refined agent was needed; and the mastery of the agent was to be acquired by bitter experience, and, probably, after many disappointments.
"Gold," an alchemist tells us, "does not easily give up its nature, and will fight for its life; but our agent is strong enough to overcome and kill it, and then it also has the power to restore it to life, and to change the lifeless remains into a new and pure body." Thomas Norton, the author of _The Ordinal of Alchemy_, writing in the 15th century, says the worker in transmutations is often tempted to be in a hurry, or to despair, and he is often deceived.

His servants will be either stupid and faithful, or quick-witted and false.

He may be robbed of everything when his work is almost finished.

The only remedies are infinite patience, a sense of virtue, and sound reason.
"In the pursuit of our Art," he says, "you should take care, from time to time, to unbend your mind from its sterner employments with some convenient recreation." The choice of workmen to aid in the mechanical parts of the quest was a great trouble to the alchemists.

On this subject Norton says--"If you would be free from all fear over the gross work, follow my counsel, and never engage married men; for they soon give in and pretend they are tired out....