MAXIMILIAN.

Out of myriads of those who practice philosophy—yet out of the common lot of human destiny, numbering a hundred million—we ought to expect this single, most blessed offspring original: "foetum". Dee refers to the rare "adept" or perhaps the fruit of his own work as a spiritual "birth.". To this demonstrated RARITY, we shall attach a HIEROGLYPHIC In the 16th century, a "hieroglyphic" was seen as a sacred, symbolic image that communicated hidden truths directly to the mind. Symbol, based on the so-called Pythagorean letter The letter "Y." Pythagoras used it to symbolize the fork in the road of life: the narrow path of virtue and the broad path of vice.. There, to your Excellency looking more attentively, greater Mysteries will seem to offer themselves for consideration: described by us in this way in our COSMOPOLITAN From "Cosmopoliticis." This refers to theories concerning the laws of the entire universe rather than local or earthly concerns. Theories.

A complex diagram of the Pythagorean letter "Y," labeled "THE TREE OF RARITY." At the top, two divergent paths are identified: "TYRANT" (originally the Greek "TYRANNOΣ") on the left and "SPIRITUAL MAN" (originally the Greek "ΠNEYMATIKOΣ") on the right.

The left path, representing worldly power or a descent into the material, includes the terms "ABYSS," "Force," "Fraud," "Anxiety," and "EARTH." It is marked by escalating powers of ten: 1,000, 1,000,000, and 10,000,000,000, representing the masses of common people.

The right path, representing the philosophical or spiritual ascent, includes the terms "Adeptive" Referring to an "Adept," one who has mastered the secrets of nature., "FIRE," "Sage" (Wise Man), "AIR," "Philosopher," and "WATER."

The central stem of the letter represents the stages of human life: "INFANCY," "CHILDHOOD," and "ADOLESCENCE." At the fork where the paths diverge is the word "CHOICE" (originally "OPTIO"). Along the left side of the stem, the numbers 1, 3, 7, 11, and 25 are inscribed.

In what level of that explained triple Philosophical Rarity (Most Merciful KING) I would indeed wish this work of mine to be, and to be reckoned as a gift: even you, who excel in the knowledge of the greatest Arts and most secret things...