Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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English Page · Branch 90 of 204
Dialogue of Mercury, the Alchemist and Nature · Passage 7
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1607, Google scan PA13, PA14 · image locators
Latin
Alchymista clamat et loquitur, sed nemo respondet illi. Et cogitans inter se dicit: Vere ego sum vir optimus, mecum locutus est Mercurius, certe me amat. Et incepit iterum laborare diligenter, coepit Mercurium sublimare, distillare, calcinare, turbisare, praecipitare, solvere miris modis et aquis variis, sed ut prius frustra conatus est, inaniter consumit sumptus et tempus. Quapropter tandem incipit maledicere Mercurio et Naturam blasphemare quod creaverit illum. Natura vero cum audivit ista vocavit Mercurium ad se et dixit illi: Quid tu fecisti huic? Quid mihi maledicit propter te et blasphemat me? Cur non praestas quod debes? Sed Mercurius modeste se excusat. At Natura iubet ut sit obediens filiis doctrinae quaerentibus se. Mercurius promisit se id praestiturum aitque: Mater Natura, sed stultis quis satisfaciet? Natura subridens discessit: Mercurius vero iratus Alchymistae etiam ad suum locum vadit.
English
The alchemist shouted and spoke, but no one answered. He thought to himself, “I really am an excellent man. Mercury has spoken to me: he certainly loves me.” He began working diligently again, subliming, distilling, calcining, turbiting, precipitating and dissolving Mercury in extraordinary ways and with various waters. But, as before, he attempted it in vain, uselessly spending money and time. Eventually he began cursing Mercury and blaspheming Nature for having created him. When Nature heard this, she summoned Mercury and said, “What have you done to this man? Why does he curse and blaspheme me on your account? Why do you not perform your duty?” Mercury modestly excused himself. Nature ordered him to obey the children of learning who sought her. Mercury promised to do so and said, “Mother Nature, but who can satisfy fools?” Nature departed with a smile. Mercury, angry with the alchemist, also returned to his own place.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Dialogue of Mercury, the Alchemist and Nature · Dialogue of Mercury, the Alchemist and Nature · Passage 7
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The complete supplied Latin–English edition of the Twelve Treatises, Epilogue, Enigma, Parable, Dialogue of Mercury and Treatise of Sulphur, with original preliminaries, John French’s historical English address and its separately labelled modernisation, 101 annotations and the complete study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
The Twelve Treatises and their concluding texts follow the selected 1606 Herzog August Bibliothek witness. The Dialogue uses the 1607 Cologne printing; the author’s preface and Alsted epigram use Frankfurt 1611. Sulphur uses the 1616 Munich and Rome witnesses. John French’s 1650 address is separately identified as historical English reception.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical Latin texts and John French’s 1650 English address are in the public domain. The new translation, modernisation and editorial apparatus were prepared with AI assistance for Diotimos Editions in 2026 and are published with the site owner’s authorization.