The Heaven of the Philosophers, or the Book of Vexations

easily admit, because it requires no small amount of disputation over these Canons.

17 There are many haughty Spirits who have persuaded themselves that they understand all these things that this little book contains, and that they will be futile; they think they have better things, and they are accustomed to despise these as well.

First Canon.

Of the nature and property of Mercury.

18 All things are hidden in all things. One is the Concealer of all of them themselves, and the vessel of bodies, containing, external, visible, and mobile: all liquefactions are contained in this one; for the bonds of this container and the Spirit of bodies exists: Therefore all coagulations or congelations are contained and comprehended within it, acquired indeed with liquefaction, surrounded, and not otherwise contained. No name can be given to this liquefaction, nor to its origin, by which it may be called: and because no heat is so vehement that it can be equaled to this, the heat of tartarean fire a reference to an intense, hellish, or alchemical furnace heat must be compared to it.

19 A liquefaction of this kind has absolutely nothing in common with other liquefactions made by the heat of natural fire; and freezing or coagulating by natural cold: which congelations, due to their weakness, cannot act in Mercury, and for this reason, he despises those liquefactions.