The Hermetic Museum, Restored and Enlarged

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[A row of decorative printer's ornaments]

THE AUTHOR TO THE TECHNOPHILE
Reader

PREFACE.

[Large decorative initial N]o not wonder, kind Reader, and true seeker of natural
secrets, why in this old age of the world,
where it already has one foot in Charon's boat,
I have been led to write this little treatise,
since almost all libraries are filled with books
written on this subject, of which, however, the greater part
is filled with false and counterfeit philosophy, and recipes of the same kind.
Not for my own sake, but for your benefit, I have written
this, whatever it may be, so that by demonstrating the basis of truth, I may lead you
back from erroneous paths into the true path; in which, indeed,
your interest is not small. As far as I am concerned, I have long since known
whatever I ought to know in this business, nor do I need a multitude of books,
since within twenty-two years I have read, thoroughly read, and re-read
as many books as came into my hands; among which number,
which was indeed large, there were many both manuscript
and printed.
In this treatise of mine, I have outlined the matter with its theoretical
solution, as well as the practical part, allegorically delineated, in clear and plain
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