The Hermetic Museum, Vol. II — trans. A. E. Waite (1893)

Jorm which you see you have nothing to do. My centre is the - fixed heart of all things, immortal and all-pervading. I am a faithful servant to my master, and a faithful friend to my companions, whom I do not desert, and with whom I perish. I am an immortal body. I die when I am slain, but rise to stand before the judgment seat of a discriminating judge. — A/czemzst - Are you then the Philosophers Stone? /Zercury: My mother is such, and of her is born artificially some one thing—but my brother who lives in the citadel has in his gift that which the Sage desires. /ckemust: Tell me, isyouragegreat? Zercury : My mother bore me, yet I am older than my mother. A/ceuzst : How in all the world am I to understand you, if you answer my questions in dark parables? ^ Tell me in one word, are you that fountain concerning which Bernard, Count of Trevisan, has written? J«Mercury: l am no fountain, but I am water, and the fountain surrounds me. A/cAezzzst: Since you are water, is gold dissolved in you? /«7ercury : Whatever is with me, I love ; and to that which is born with me, I impart nourishment. That which is naked I cover with my wings. cems£: Isee plainly that it is impossible to talk to you. Whatever I ask you, your reply is foreign to the point. If you do not answer my questions better, I will torment you again. ZZercury: Have pity on me, Master, I will gladly tell you all I know. AZcemzsz: Tell me, are you afraid ofthe fire? JZercury : I myself am fire. Aelemist : Why then do you seek to escape from the fire? Mercury :

ATE NUR, OEC RC SUL. dE TET. 123

Because my spirit loves the spirit of the fire, and accompanies it whereverit goes. .A/ckemist: Where do you go when you ascend with the fire? 7ercury: Every pilgrim looks anxiously towards his country and his home. When he has returned unto these he reposes, and he always comes back wiser than he left. A/czezuzst : Do you return, then? ZZereury: Yes, but in another form. Alchemist: Ydo not understand what you mean, nor yet about the fire. Aercury: lf any one knows the fire of my heart, he has seen that fire (proper heat) is my food ; and the longer the spirit of my heart feeds on fire, the fatter will it be: its death is afterwards the life of all things belonging to my kingdom. lchemist : Are you great? /«Mercury : My body, as you must know, can become one drop out of a thousand drops, and, though I am always one, you can divide my body as often as you like. But my spirit, or heart, always produces many thousands of parts out of one part. Z/ckemzst ; How is this to be brought about? After what manner should my operation be performed on you? Jerceury: l1 am fire within; fire is my food and my life ; but the life of fire is air, for without air fire is extinguished. Fire is stronger tban air ; hence [ know not any repose, and crude air can neither coagulate nor restrain me. Add air to air, so that both become one in even balance ; combine them with fire, and leave the whole to time. AZeemzst : What will happen then? Jercury: Everything superfluous will be removed. "The residue you burn in fire, place in water, " cook," and when it is cooked you give as a medicine, and have no fear. JAuemist: You do not answer my questions. Wife, bring the excrements of swine, and we will see whether we can get the better of his stubbornness.

In his utmost extremity, Mercury called in the help of Nature, amidst much lamentation and mourning over these threats of our admirable Alchemist. He impeaches the thankless operator; Nature trusts her son, Mercury, whom she knows to be true and faithful, and comes full of wrath to the Alchemist, calling him imperiously before her. —A/ckemist: Who calls me? . Nature: What are you doing to my son, arch-fool that you are? Why do you torment him? He is willing to give you every blessing, if you can understand him. AZeemst: Who dares to rebuke so great a philosopher, and a man withal so