4 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



and lord Mercury do not forbid me to 

 shew forth, since, in the words of 

 Basilius, I have already gained a place 

 in a higher class. To speak to you in 

 your own phraseology, Mercury appeared 

 to me in a dream, and brought me back 

 from my devious courses to the one way. 

 " Behold me clad not in the garb of the 

 vulgar, but in the philosopher's mantle ! "" 

 so he said, and straightway began to 

 leap along the road in headlong bounds. 

 Then, when he was tired, he sat down, 

 and, turning to me, who had followed 

 him in the spirit, bade me mark that he 

 no longer possessed that youthful vigour 

 with which he would at the first have 

 overcome every obstacle, if he had not 

 been allowed a free course. Encouraged 

 by his friendly salutation, I addressed 

 him in the following terms : " Mercury, 

 eloquent Scion of Atlas, and father of all 

 Alchemists, since thou hast guided me 

 hitherto, shew me, I pray thee, the way 

 to those Blessed Isles, which thou hast 

 promised to reveal to all thine elect 

 children." " Dost thou remember," he 



