ON MERCURY

...four Likely referring to the four elements or qualities described in the preceding text., in which she performs all these works that appear and exist in shadow—for things exist in shadow rather than appearing in their true form. She changes into male and female and is likened to Mercury, because she joins herself to various places; and according to whether the locations in the earth are good or bad, she produces things—though there are no truly "bad" places in the Earth original: "Terra.", as it might seem to us.

There are, however, only four qualities qualitates: In the natural philosophy of the time, these were the primary forces of Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry. Their proportion determined the character of all physical matter., and these are present in all things; they do not exist in harmony, for one always exceeds another. Nature herself is not visible, even though she acts visibly, for she is a volatile spirit original: "spiritus volatilis." who performs her duty within physical bodies. She has her place and her seat in the Divine Will original: "voluntate Diuina.".

For our purposes in this place, she is useful for nothing else than for us to know her "places"—those that are most suitable or closest to her—that is, so that we may know how to join one thing to another according to Nature. We must not mix wood with man, nor an ox or any animal with metal; instead, let each thing act upon its own likeness, and then Nature will also fulfill her duty. The "place" of Nature is nowhere else than what was stated above: in the will of God original: "in velle Dei.".