Philosophical Dialogue between the Flying Mercury and a Common Smelter

...surely have to abandon with your supposed sciences. This completes the sentence from the previous page: "Yes... [you will] surely have to abandon [your efforts] with your supposed sciences."

Smelter. I believe this well, my dear Mercury, that you are well-versed in fire, and you may no longer shy away from it, because you have bathed in it more often than in water, and among the masters of alchemy, you have often sweated in it so much that you became anxious and fearful, as I also recently saw you in such a fiery form with my masters, that no one could bear to hold you in their hand; I'll bet, they had you right by the head Likely referring to the "head" or "neck" of a distillation vessel, such as an alembic, where mercury vapors collect. then—tell me, how did you feel at that time?

Mercury. This is precisely the right method original: Modus, which fulfills your will, but not your longing; surely greater follies could not be undertaken with me than your masters have already done: but I assure you, as long as they leave me in this great form of mine, I remain volatile Volatile: In alchemy, "volatile" (flüchtig) refers to a substance's tendency to evaporate or "fly away" when heated, rather than remaining "fixed" in the crucible. and march away.

Smelter. Ah my dear Mercury, there is certainly not much to be done with you through and through; you appear from the outside just as you wish: for I have seen you with my masters in your true form as well, you shone like a mirror, and were as clear as crystal, also you looked delicate and beautiful, yet when they rejoiced in you most, you fled from them. I for my part have seen and learned so much from you, that you are a true sorcerer Sorcerer: The original Schwartzkünstler (literally "black-artist") refers to a practitioner of the dark arts or necromancy; here it implies Mercury's behavior is deceptive and elusive like magic., and with all your antics you only confuse people; well to those who completely rid themselves of you, and [avoid] your deceitful company...