The First Chapter.

How Mercurius was

born.

A centered decorative planetary symbol for Mercury (☿).

As my age drew toward its end, so that I had almost traversed the world and wandered through all ends roundabout, and intended to possess rest and peace without strife, my path fell through Egypt, which is very fertile, and I crossed excellent gold-rich waters. I had much concern to contemplate the secrecy of the world, and I disputed with myself. Then the Nile opened up, and a gruesome, invincible wind came out, which made great billows at the shore and port of the water, and threw a powerful serpent onto the land. It called itself Orcades. It opened its throat wide, and the wind blew a fiery vapor and smoke