around him. His works on alchymy have been translated into French, and
were published in Paris in 1609 or 1610.

ALAIN DE LISLE.

Contemporary with Albertus Magnus was Alain de Lisle, of Flanders,
who was named, from his great learning, the "universal doctor." He was
thought to possess a knowledge of all the sciences, and, like
Artephius, to have discovered the elixir vitae. He became one of the
friars of the abbey of Citeaux, and died in 1298, aged about one
hundred and ten years. It was said of him, that he was at the point of
death when in his fiftieth year; but that the fortunate discovery of
the elixir enabled him to add sixty years to his existence. He wrote a
commentary on the prophecies of Merlin.

ARNOLD DE VILLENEUVE.

This philosopher has left a much greater reputation. He was born
in the year 1245, and studied medicine with great success in the
University of Paris. He afterwards travelled for twenty years in Italy
and Germany, where he made acquaintance with Pietro d'Apone; a man of
a character akin to his own, and addicted to the same pursuits. As a
physician, he was thought, in his own lifetime, to be the most able
the world had ever seen. Like all the learned men of that day, he
dabbled in astrology and alchymy, and was thought to have made immense
quantities of gold from lead and copper. When Pietro d'Apone was
arrested in Italy, and brought to trial as a sorcerer, a similar
accusation was made against Arnold; but he managed to leave the
country in time and escape the fate of his unfortunate friend. He lost
some credit by predicting the end of the world, but afterwards