A decorative rectangular woodcut header featuring elaborate floral scrolls and central foliage motifs.

TO THE READERS

P R E F A C E.

An ornamental drop-cap letter 'E' within a square frame decorated with floral patterns and scrolls.

BEHOLD, fair-minded readers, a work on Magic original: "Magiæ." In this context, Natural Magic refers to the study of the hidden powers of nature (science), rather than sorcery. nearly completed. If, when it was first printed by a youth barely fifteen years old Porta published the first version of Natural Magic in 1558; while he claims to have been fifteen, records suggest he may have been in his early twenties., having just left childhood behind, it was received with such great applause and eagerness that it was translated into many languages—namely Italian, French, Spanish, and Arabic—and frequently printed in those same places, flying through the hands and mouths of many; then now, coming forth from a fifty-year-old man, I hope it will be received even more dearly and with greater favor. For indeed, when I saw the first fruits of the work received with such gratitude, I was moved by these favorable omens original: "auspiciis." A metaphor from Roman divination, meaning a lucky start or sign of success. to strive that it might be printed in an enlarged, richer, and more noble form. From that time when it was first published (now thirty-five years ago), if any man has ever felt a heavier burden of care to reveal the secrets of nature, I can plainly profess that I am that man. With my whole mind and all my strength, I have pored over the monuments of our ancestors referring to the classic texts of ancient Greek and Roman scientists., and if they wrote anything secret or hidden, I have gathered the choice parts original: "defloraui," literally 'to pluck the flowers,' meaning to select the finest or most important excerpts.. Then, when I had traveled through Italy, France, and Spain, I visited libraries and all the most learned men. I even met with craftsmen original: "artifices." Porta famously sought practical knowledge from artisans, alchemists, and laborers to verify scientific theories. so that I might learn if they had discovered anything new or curious, and recognize what things they had proven to be most true and useful through long experience—