PREFACE

Pyrgopolynices, the common enemy of Chemistry and a deputy for others. Pyrgopolynices is a character from the Roman playwright Plautus; his name literally means "Tower-town-taker." Maier uses him to represent the arrogant, loud-mouthed critic of alchemy.
...fame held by them, which is most true, though it is considered cheap; most noble, though it is treated as a prostitute by the common crowd; most chaste, though it is cast down; and that she truly exists as the Queen of all arts. Before the entrance of her court, we have prepared this Golden Table The "Mensa Aurea" of the title, a symbolic gathering place for the greatest alchemical authorities. for the twelve Peers. We presuppose that a skirmish was initiated by them against the enemy Pyrgopolynices (who, at one and the same time—as is clear from Plautine Comedy—has, if the gods please, beheaded with a single stroke all the chemical craftsmen living until now across three thousand years in Europe, Asia, and Africa, scattered across a hundred different provinces and separated by such vast distances of time and space). This skirmish was begun for the reason that an enemy is no more permitted to enter the approaches of Chemistry than is a stranger.

Since that excellent man, Bonus of Ferrara Petrus Bonus (14th century), an influential alchemist and author of the "Precious New Pearl.", proves that the Chemical art can neither be sufficiently proven by logic, nor undermined by arguments; and that almost all arguments brought against it proceed from nothing other than ignorance of those things which are done in the art:

The insults of the adversary.

The Adversary denies she is a virgin; these men demonstrate she is. He asserts she is stained by every vice of nature and character; they assert she is pure and chaste. He declares her poor; they declare her rich. He says she is defenseless, powerless, and deceptive; they contradict him. In short? The lawsuit is conducted on both sides, uncertain and varied, not with swords but with tongues, not with a dagger but with reason; nor does an Arbiter intervene to settle it. The Adversary calls for an eyewitness demonstration, so that Chemistry might show herself publicly—what and how great she is—and offer herself naked to be handled by everyone, making known her power, riches, and other gifts. He demands she not hide the manner in which she obtained and possesses these things, but reveal each of her goods and gifts. And indeed, this would be the most convenient way to shut the mouth original: "rostrum" — literally "beak" or "snout," used here derisively for the critic's mouth. of Pyrgopolynices (as once happened to Lully Ramon Llull, a legendary figure in alchemy. by Arnold Arnald of Villanova, a famous physician and alchemist.),

by manual experience often repeated and by adding the clearest reasons for such a great operation,

The reason why the maiden Chemistry is not to be met in public or prostituted.

were it not for the most serious reasons which forbid the maiden Chemistry from making herself public and prostituting herself to the common crowd. For first, consideration must be given to the weakness of her sex and her virginal chastity; second, it is not safe enough for a Queen to descend from her otherwise inaccessible citadel...