It will not be so with the Sylphs, the Gnomes and the Nymphs, for they living a less time, have more need of us, and so their familiarity is more easie to obtain. You need but shut up a glass filled with conglobated air, water or earth, and expose it to the sun for a month; then separate the element according to art, which is very easie to do, if it be earth or water. 'Tis a marvellous thing to see, what a vertue any one of these purified elements have to attract the Nymphs, Sylphs, and Gnomes. In taking but never so little every day, for about a month together, one shall see in the air the volant republique of the Sylphs; the Nymphs come in shoals up the rivers, and the guardians of treasures, presenting you with their riches. Thus, without characters, without ceremonies, without barbarous words you become absolute master over all these people. They require no worship of the Sages, since they know well enough that he is nobler than they. Thus venerable nature teaches her children how to repair the elements by the elements. Thus is harmony re-established. Thus man recovers his natural empire, and can do all things in the elements, without demons, or unlawful art. Thus you see, my son, that the Sages are more innocent than you thought. You say nothing to me----. I admire sir (said I), and I begin to fear that you will make me to become a Chymist. Ah! God preserve thee from that, my child (cried he). 'Tis not to these fooleries that your nativity designs you, I will warrant you on the contrary, from being troubled about that: I told you already, that the Sages shew not these things, but to those whom they will not admit into their society. You shall have all these advantages, and others infinitely more glorious, and more pleasant, by ways clearly more philosophical. I had not described those methods to you, but to let you see the innocence of this Philosophy, and to take you out of these panic fears. I thank God, sir (answered I), I am not at present, in any such fear as I was even now. And although I do not yet resolve upon the accommodation which you propose to me with the Salamanders; I cannot refrain from having the curiosity to learn how you have discovered that these Nymphs and these Sylphs die. Truly (replied he) they tell us so, and we see them die. How (said I) can you see them die, and yet your commerce renders them immortal? That would be well (pursued he) if the number of the Sages equalled the number of these people: besides that, there are many amongst them, who rather choose to die, than hazard by becoming immortal, the being so unhappy as they see the devils are. And 'tis the devil, who inspired with these opinions: for there is no mischief, which he doth not do to hinder the poor creatures from becoming immortal by our alliance. Insomuch that I look upon it (and so ought you my son) as a most pernicious temptation, and a motion of very little charity, to have this aversion which you show to it.