But whatever man destroys man can restore, and break again when restored." Things which had been mortified by man's device were considered by Paracelsus not to be really dead.

He gives this extraordinary illustration of his meaning: "You see this is the case with lions, which are all born dead, and are first vitalised by the horrible noise of their parents, just as a sleeping person is awakened by a shout." The mortification of metals is represented in alchemical books by various images and allegories.Fig.

I.is reduced from a cut in a 16th century work, _The Book of Lambspring, a noble ancient Philosopher, concerning the Philosophical Stone_.
[Illustration: Here the father devours the son; The soul and spirit flow forth from the body.
FIG.

I.] The image used to set forth the mortification of metals is a king swallowing his son.Figs.II.and III.

are reduced from Basil Valentine's _Twelve Keys_.