To the Reader.

my opponents original: "Adversaries" provide me with:
I would advance the Truth, because
they would suppress it. Indeed I have
been poorly original: "scurvily" rewarded, but the suc-
cess of this Art likely referring to alchemy or natural philosophy grows from its op-
position, and this I believe our late
slanderers original: "Libellers" have observed; for they quit
attacking the Science itself to quash the pro-
fessors who teach it.

It is not enough for them to abuse and mis-
interpret our writings: with studied
slanders original: "Calumnies" they disparage our per-
sons, whom they never saw, and per-
haps never will see. They force us to
a bitterness beyond our own dis-
positions, and provoke men to sin, as if
they were pursuing the same goals as the
Devil.

For my own part, I will no more
risk original: "hazard" my soul by such uncivil dis-
putes; I know I must give an account
for every idle word. This subject original: "Theme"
has restricted my passions original: "reduc'd my passions to a Diet"—meaning he has placed his emotions under strict control; I have
resolved for the future to endure original: "suffer": for