THE GOLD-MAKER H. MILTONWOODBURN, THE UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO, BWPALO,NEW YO=
A cursory examination of plays published for the use of chemistry clubs will show that there are many farcical skits, but few plays which combine any educational features with the entertainment. The immediate need for s w h a play, to be used in a program of the chemistry club at The Unioersity of Buffalo, prompted the writing of the following one-act sketch. The enthusiasm with which i t was receioed led to the idea that other organizations might also be able to w e i t i n their @rograms. It i s a n unfortunate fact that i w t h e crowded moments of our chemistry curricula, the history of the science i s often pushed completely out of the piclure. This oery fact p d e s a wonderful opportunity for student chemistry clubs to become more than mere social organizations, for many of the outstanding ments of chemical history can provide oery interesting bits of entertainment if presented in the proper way. A t the same time a gap in our chemical education may be @tially closed. I n writing this play a n attempt was made w use incidents as nearly authentic as possible. Credit for originulity i s claimed only for the general plot and the arrangement of these incidents. The introduction of the scene from "The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci"' i s made with the permission of the Modern Library Company. Other material comes largely from "Crucibles" by Jaffe.= The running time of the play i s approximately thirty minutes. I* nzosl cases i t would be advisable to precede it with a very short informal prologue, outlining the basic idem of alchemy and emphtlsizing the contrast brought out later in the play. The author would be happy to gioe any information desired as to costumes, property, lighting, etc. Care should be taken in collecting property to use only such articles as might reasombly belong to a fifteenth century scene.
. . . .
Time: Late fifteenth century. Place: Florence. Characters: BERNARD TREVISAN,an alchemist. MARCO, his apprentice. GALEOTTO SACROBOSCO, also an alchemist. AN ITALIAN Durn, patron of science. Setting: The alchemical laboratory of BERNARD TREVISAN.T h e general appearance i s one of disorder. The center of the stage i s occupied by a table cowered with apparatus of all kinds: jugs, flasks, mortars, a crude balance, etc. A t the left i s a table and chair. The table .is littered with books, large sheets of paper, etc. A small globe, pill pen, hour-glass, etc., are also on this 1 MER&SKOWSKI, "The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci," Random House. New York City. 1931, pp. 9&100. JBFE, "Crucibles." Simon and Schuster, N e w York City, 1930, pp. 1-17.
1781
1784
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
OCT~BER, 1932
table. The rear wall is occupied by hanging shelves which hold jars, bottles, etc. Beneath the sheeles i s a rude bench. A t the right rear i s the alchemical furnace, built somewhat like a stone forge, with a charcoal fire on top. A hand bellows lies near the fire, while close to the furnace i s a small wooden tub for water, a pair of tongs, and some broken crucibles. A n extra stool or two, water-jugs, and oU crucibles are scattered about on the floor. The only visible source of light i s a n antique lantern hanging in the center of the stage. The stage entrance i s at the right front. A s the curtain rises, the stage i s perfectly dark exce9t for a faint glow from i s asleep on the bench at the rear. the fire. MARCO
CURTAIN
( E N T E R TREVISAN, carrying aarulle a?ul roll of paper) Marco! Marco! Rogue, where art thou? Will I never have a boy hut he will run out as soon as a pretty maid passes the door? (Discovers MARCOand starts to shake him, then stops) Ah! poor lad. Was he not here all of last night tending the furnace? And I had forgot that he had no sleep. Better had he gone to Leonardo, the goldsmith. . . Marco! Marco! (Shaking him) Wake up, lad. Dost not remember, this is the night? Scarce an hour we have, before Master Sacrohosco and the Duke will he here, and the furnace not yet ready. Does it mean nothing to you that. . .. MARCO(Contritely) Oh, Master. I did not mean to sleep. But it was so still here, and I was very tired. (Yawning) TREV.
VOL. 9. No. 10
THE GOLD-MAKER
1785
now, and stir up the coals. We must be TRRV. Tut, Tut-Hurry ready when they come. seats himself at left table and begins searching through (TREVISAN the Npers there, mumbling to himself. MARCOgoes to the furnace and blows on the fire with the hand bellows until the fire brightens. Then, with a candle lighted at the one on TREVISAN'S table, he lights the lantern in the center of the stage. TREVISAN brings a sheet of @per to the center table. Gathers together nrarious articles as he reads from the paper, some from the table, some from the shelves in the rear.) TREV. Prepared peadscrab's e y e s r e d coral-white amber-calcined hartshom-of each one ounce. Of the tips of crab's claws powdered, the weight of all the others. (Pouring a red powder on to the balance) I have them all. (Calls) Marco! Come, lad, the furnace will do now. Clear a place on the table here so that our visitor may have a place to work when he comes. M A R C 0 (Coming to the table) Yes, Master. TREV. But be careful, and spill nothing. MARCO (Beginning to clear the end of the table opposite from TREYISAN) Yes, Master. TREV. ( T o himself) Now to make them all into a h e powder. (Pours several things into a mortar and begins to grind ihem) Yes, Marco, this one will turn the trick. E k c 0 Yes, Master. (Stops to watch TREVISANat work) Master(Timidly) TREV. Speak, lad. One would think to hear thy timid voice that thou wer't afraid of me. MARCOMaster, why dost thou labor here so faithfully? What is it that thou seekest in all these vessels and in the furnace yonder? Why dost thou sweat here in the smoke and dirt, when thou art so learned and so wise? Even the king, they say, asks for you. TREV. Ah, lad, if I could but make you see it. If I could but make you see how much more glorious is our search than even the recognition of a king. Marco, we seek the Philosopher's Stone. (Slowly and impesszvely) MARCO(Puzzled) Philosopher's Stone? TREV. "What is below is like to that above, and that which is above, like that below." (MARCObegins to look very bewildered.) Lead and other metals would be Gold if they had time. For were it not absurd to think that Nature in the earth bred Gold perfect in the instant! Something went before. Nature doth first beget the imperfect-then proceeds She to the perfect. I shall
1780
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
OCTOBER. 1932
find the seed, Marco. I shall find the seed that will grow into great harvests of Gold. A little more work-one more experiment perhaps, and I shall have it. The Stone of the Philosophers, The Elixir of Lzfe, The Heavenly Balm. (Ecstatically) Gold, we shall have, Marco, G o l d a n d H e a l t h a n d Lzfe. We shall be perfect then-no more sickness-no more hunger. For is not the Stone a gift of God? MARCO(Becoming excited knocks a small flask to the floor) Oh! TREV. (Very much excited) Dunce! Dolt! Dost thou not see what thou hast done? Will thy hands never learn? Never did I see such a stupid fellow. A whole year of work gone in an instant. Two thousand hen's eggs burned to the whiteness of snow-a thousand distillationsall gone. (Becoming calmer) Ah, but forgive me, lad. Thou didst not mean to be wicked. And the elixir was but little good, I dare say. MARCO(Relimedl I am glad if that is so, Master. (Picks u p the broken g . w T R E ~ . Many times have I thought to possess the secret. Once, twice, a dozen times, have I dissolved and calcined alum. In herbs, flowers, and flesh-in pelicans and alembics-by decoction, ignition, elevation, and sublimation, have I sought the Stone. Thrice ten t i e s did I rectify spirits of wine till I could not find glasses strong enough to hold it. Once did I think this (Taking a jar, containing phen@hthalein p o d e r , from the shelf) would solve the mystery. For by it I did change the color of water to that of wine-but, alas, not the taste. Bring me some water, Marco, thou shalt see. (MARCO brings the water jug, actually containing a dilute NaOH adds a solution, and pours some into a glass bottle. TREVISAN little p d e r , shakes, and the color immediately turns red.) MARCO(Amazed) That i s wine, Master. TREV. Taste it, lad. (MARCOsi@ a little from the flask. Hzs face assumes a very surprised and disgusted expression. TREYISAN sighs, then brightens, and quickly goes back to his work.) But this one, Marco. This one will be better. (A tinkling bell i s heard, then noices outside) They are here. Quick, Marco, the door. ( E N T E R the DUKEfollowed by SACROBOSCO) (MARCO bows humbly. TREVISANbows respectfully.) Tmv. My Lord! DUKE Good even to you, friend Bernard. Methinks the smell today is not so bad as usual. What hast thou in the fire these days-
VOL.9, No. 10
THE GOLD-MAKER
1787
more salt from the Mediterranean--or hast thou turned again to vitriol, in thy search for the Stone? Sir, thou mak'st sport of me. Bernard, thou knowst I would not jest with thee. But we forget our mission. (Impressierely) Master Trevisan, mayhap thy search is ended. Here is Galeotto Sacrobosco, alchemist supreme, transmuter of metals, restorer of health. He has but lately come to Florence, and only a t my earnest request has he consented to reveal his method. No one knows of our presence here-I trust that thou wilt be discreet. (Addressing SACROBOSCO) Master, it does me honor to receive a visit from such a man as thou. Would that my humble quarters might more often be graced by two such eminent guests as my Lord (Bouring to the DUKE) and thyself. 'Tis indeed a most slovenly hole to work in. Had I foreseen this, oh Duke, I should not have consented so easily. (Shurply, with a gesture toward MARCO)This boy--can he be trusted? Oh, most assuredly, Master Sacrobosco. He has been with me for many months, and came from my own village. And besides, he is a most stupid lad. Why only this morning, he. . Tut, tut, my friend. Thy prattling tongue annoys me. Have him stir up the fire there. Ofttimes these stupid fellows have marvelously sharp wits. And nbw with your permission, most illustrious Duke, I begin the experimenPof Dinn'ne Metamorphosis. ( T h r m s off his outer cloak and deposits a crucible, some sheet lead, a knife, and two black rods3 on the table.) (Slowly and impessierely) Gold is the most perfect of all metals. In Gold God has completed His work with the stones and rocks of the earth. And, since Man is Nature's noblest creature, out of Man must come the secret of Gold. Therefore, have I worked on the blood and bile of Man and have discovered the Essence. But that thou may'st not doubt the genuineness of the experiment, examine the crucible, and the lead which I shall use. (Hands crucible to DUKE who examines i t and passes it to TREY.) For know'st thou well, there are many who use tricks when their knowledge faileth. Do thou look closely and tap the bottom, that thou may'st see it is not false. What mean'st thou "false"?
.
8 The rods are prepared from glass tubes about 15 mm. in diameter and 40 cm. in length. One end is dosed with a rubber stopper, the tube partially filled with coarsely powdered brass, and the other end then dosed in the same way. Finally, the whole tube is coated with black lacquer. The method to be used in "breaking" the end off the rod is obvious.
178R
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
O C T ~ B E 1932 R,
Oft when these impostors doubt the potency of their preparation, they secrete gold between the double bottoms of a crucible, of which the upper one, made of wax, vanishes in the heat of the furnace, and the gold is revealed. TREV. The crucible is whole. SAC. Examine now the lead which I cut into pieces and put into the crucible. (Hands Lhe lead to the DUKE) Or better, Master Trevisan, do thou supply the lead. There can be no doubt of thy honesty. TREV. Marco, wilt thou bring me some lead? MARCO(Half scared and hesitating) Master, we did use all the lead these two days ago and thou hast bought no more. We shall accept thy lead, DUKE (Handing the lead back to SACROEOSCO) Master Sacrobosco. (Motioning to the sticks lying on the table withoul giving them to SAC. the DUKE)The sticks with which I shall stir the melt. DUKE Thou art the most cautious and painstaking fellow I have yet seen. Come, boy. Take this quickly to the furnace and cease not to SAC. blow else thou spoil the transmutation. (MARCOburies the crucible in the coals4and blows on thefire which becomes very bright.) DUKE Is it true, as they do say, that we shall see the Devil in the fire when the lead is turning to gold? What think you, Trevisan, is it not sinful to witness such thimgs? TREY. Thou need'st have no fear ofFthe devil in the fire, my Lord. Fear rather the devil thou may'st meet in the flesh. DUKE (Spilling some mercury from a dish on the table) Look, look, Sacrobosco. Here is a miracle! Liquid silver, running about as though alive. 'Tis but quicksilver, my Lord. Be not stirred. But methinks SAC. may have something of our wise friend (looking at TREVISAN) interest to show us. ( T o TREVISAN)Good sir, what rare gem hast thou found whilst playing with thy choice toys here? Or is thy play a thing too precious for any but the gods to view? (Politely sarcustic) TREY. My work is but poor compared to thine, Master Sacrobosco, but now and again I do uncover something. Indeed, it has been but a fortnight now, since I did first make frozen fire. SAC.
'The fire is best made of coke, since this reflects light well, and is arranged in such a way that a avcible exactly similar to the one used by SACROBOSCO, but containing a lump of yellow material, is hidden behind the pile. When MARCO"buries" the crucible in the coals, therefore, he simply places it heside the one already there, and at the end of the transmutation the prepared avcible is taken out. The change in brightness of the fire is easily made by the use of two or three red bulbs hidden in the coke and controlled by a "dimalite" socket.
VOL.9, NO. 10
THE GOLD-MAKER
1789
SAC.
Frozen fire? Ice that will burn? Show us this miracle, Sir. If thou canst do this, thou art indeed a fit rival. TREV. Thou may'st be the judge. (Taking a flask from the shelf) By distilling lime and vinegar till the acid was clean spent, I did recover this liquor. Thou see'st it looks not like ice. But observe closely as I add to it spirits of wine, ten times rectified. (Adds the alcohol and inverts the jar to show the solid5 conlents) DUKE (Astonished and delighted) Truly, thou art clever, Trevisan. Sacrobosco, wilt thy Stone do this? SAC. 'Tis but a small matter compared to transmutation. DUKE But thou didst promise that it would bum, Sir. TREV. Patience, my Lord. (Takes a smell piece of the solid and places . i t on a n iron dish. Tha lights i t from the candle) DUKE It burns! It bums! Frozen fire indeed! Trevisan, thou art marvelous. (Playfully) Rogue, thou hast been hiding thy talents in this dark and smelly hovel. MARCO(Calling meekly) Master, the lead is melted. SAC. 'Tis time for the transmutation. (All galher near the furnace. SACROBOSCO unfolds a piece of paper containing a powder) Behold the Stone! With the point of a knife I take the smallest grain and sift it into the melt. Now to stir i t four times round. (Stirs with one of the sticks as he counts slowly and evenly. TREVISAN meanwhile picks the other stick from the table and secretes it i n c his cloak.) One-TwvThree-Four-'Tis done. Quick, the water. brings the small tub of water to the furnace and SACRO(MARCO ~ o s c oquenches the crucible in it, then brings i t to the table i n the center and empties out a yellow lump. Expressions of amazement from the D m and MARCO.) (Handing the lump to the DUB) My Lord! SAC. DUKE Marvelous. 'Tis unheard of! 'Tis unbelievable, Trevisan. TREV. (Receiving the lump from the D m ) It hath the color of gold, and the weight. SAC. Test it, my friend. Tmv. (Rubbing the lump on a fi'ece of broken flattery) It hath the softness of gold. Galeotto, wilt thou stay in Florence and serve Dmm (TOSACROBOSCO) me faithfully? SAC. Would that there were something more precious than gold with which I might serve thee. A mixture of 10 CC. of saturated calcium acetate solution and 90 cc. of 95% alcohol will give a rapid and almost complete solidification. The volumes should he measured out previous to the opening of the play. Best results are obtained by adding the alcohol to the acetate rather quickly, and with a circular motion.
1790
1
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
OCTOBER,1932
DUKE See to it then that none of my brothers find out the secret. SAC. May I be sent to the gallows if they do. (Slowly) If only-I might have a few ducatsDUKE (Enthwiastically) Of course, of course, my friend. (Hands over a leather pouch of money) And now, Master Trevisan, fare thee well. I shall not forget that thou also hast aided me tonight. Here, lad. (Tosses a coin to MARCO)Come, Sacrobosco. (EXIT DUKEand SACROBOSCO) MARC^ Master, why didst thou not inquire of the alchemist how he made the Stone? Perhaps he would have even given thee a portion. (Ruminating) What a great man-gold out of lead-a great man indeed. (Thoughtfully) And yet withal, I like thee better. TREV. (Seating himself wearily in the chair) Come here, my son. (MARCO seats himself on the floor near TREVISAN) Three-score years have I sought the Stone. Three-score years have I toiled in smoke and dirt, in poisons and poverty. Oft have I had success in my hands, only to see it slip away. But Marco, in all my struggles, I have kept ever free from deceit. MARCOMaster, I understand thee not. TREV. (Slowly) The gold that Master Saaohosco made was in the rod with which he stirred the melt. MARCOIn the rod? But Master, thou didst look at it thyself. TREV. NO, Marco. The rods he gave us not. But here is one--one which I picked from the tahleJwhilst the D m and thou wert exclaiming over the gold. Let us see. Hold out thy hands, son. (Breaks the end off the rod and pours out a pile of yellow dust into MARCO'S hands.) Dost thou see? MARCO(Jumps up resentfully) Master, why didst thou not denounce him to the Duke? SurelyTREY. Some day, Marco, the Duke will h d him out. As for me, I have more vital things to do. I am old, lad, and my years are growing short. Still I shall seek, for the Stone must be found. I shall seek again in blood, in shells and plants, in salt and sulfur, and in mercury. (Rising) I shall seek-and I shall find. "Grant me another year, God of my spirit, but a day, to win Something to satisfy this thirst within I would know something here. Break for me but one seal that is unbroken, Speak for me but one word that is unspoken,"' I shall he content. (CURTAIR) "Cntdbles" (see footnote 2). p. 9.
