Wild Muse Notes

In all fables we are told that the Salamander is born in fire…. It dwells in a great mountain which is encompassed by many flames. And as one of these is ever smaller than another — herein the Salamander bathes. The third is greater, the fourth brighter than the rest. In all these the Salamander washes, and is purified. Then he ties him to his cave, but on the way is caught and pierced so that it dies, and yields up its life with its blood. But this, too, happens for its good: For from its blood it wins immortal life, and then death has no more power over it. Its blood is the most precious Medicine upon earth, the same has not its like in the world. For this blood drives away all disease…. From it the Sages derive their science, and through it they attain the Heavenly Gift, which is called the Philosopher’s Stone . — The Book of Lambspring