The Hieroglyphic Monad

TO MAXIMILIAN

...and they are accustomed to condemn these Studies indiscriminately, based only on a Similarity of names; this often occurs alongside the most deplorable destruction (at times) of the Best books. It can be most clearly established that both of these actions have brought a great deal of harm to the Christian Commonwealth original: "Reipub. Christianæ." Dee refers to the collective body of European Christian nations. at various times. Indeed, a Mind fit for handling and undertaking such great matters is either terrified by the former reason [the fear of being associated with bad names], or else—even when it has made no small Progress—its study is condemned rudely and arrogantly by Unskilled Judges, despite the study being so noble and so divine a Mystery.

But it is for another place to compare the Honorable Sciences original: "Scientijs Honestis," referring to legitimate fields of study like mathematics or true alchemy. to their rivals: those sciences which are false, Shadowy original: "Umbratiles," meaning something that exists only in the shadows or is a mere imitation of reality., hateful, troublesome, and useless to human society. We admit that these alone—and because they are practiced by those who captivate the common people—should be exploded and condemned, not only by the common person but by the Judgment of every wise man; and we, too, urge that this be done most diligently.

But as for those who do not know those BODIES original: "CORPORA." Dee uses a Platonic metaphor where true reality consists of "Bodies" and false versions are merely their "Shadows."—neither that they exist, nor where they are, nor of what kind they are—OF WHICH those [false sciences] are but the thinnest shadows: how do they dare, or how can they by right, condemn the extraordinary Studies of extraordinary men? LET JUSTICE BE DONE, and let that which belongs to each person be so assigned: to those Common Pseudo-scholars original: "Sciolis," meaning those with a superficial or "smattering" of knowledge who pretend to be experts., who do not merely pursue the shadows of the Great Arts but also most wickedly fabricate and adulterate them, let us ascribe Trifles, Error, and every kind of Impiety. But in those Good and Solid studies of the More Advanced original: "Prouectioribus", which are confirmed by honorable morals and are most famous for their integrity: either...