Philosophical Dialogue between the Flying Mercury and a Common Smelter

• o *

have come to a poor place, and will enjoy little rest in my hut: for here there is work early and late, day and night, as you shall see; therefore I advise you, rather turn yourself elsewhere.

Mercury. My dear Smelter, it is not to be understood that I wish to take rest with you through sleeping and laziness; I know well that nothing but wakefulness counts here. I only wish to enjoy this rest: that one does not vex original: vexire; to harass or torment. In metallurgical and alchemical contexts, "vexing" a substance refers to the aggressive manipulation of it through heat and chemicals. me in my body, and through singeing and burning, boiling and roasting, distress my soul. For I have no natural rest, and therefore cannot sleep, because I am of more spiritual than physical properties. Mercury explains that as a "philosophical" or "spiritual" substance, he does not require sleep like a human, but he seeks a reprieve from the violent processes of traditional metallurgy.

Smelter. Well, I saw right away that you must be a strange fellow, because you entered through my locked door in a completely unexpected manner; for that reason, I took you for a ghost come from the realm of the dead, and I made more than ten holy crosses The Smelter is describing making the "sign of the cross," a traditional protective gesture against spirits or demons. before you, so that you should not come too near me—yet it would not help at all.

Mercury. You are not to take me for a ghost, much less worry that I will cause you any harm; for I offend no one, but am at all times more helpful than harmful to mankind—if only they would leave me in peace, and not deal and trade with me so cruelly in all places that it might often move a stone to pity.