Natural Magic

It was the custom of the Persians that no one would gain the kingdom who had not first mastered Magic. original: "Magiam"; in this context, the term refers to "Natural Magic"—the study of the hidden secrets of nature and experimental science—rather than modern stage magic or sorcery. Plato indeed says this in his Alcibiades: the sons of the Persian Kings are so steeped in it that they might learn to administer and organize their own Commonwealth according to the pattern of the world's Commonwealth. Why should I mention Pythagoras, Democritus, Empedocles, and Plato, the most famous men in nearly the whole world? They burned with such a desire to learn this science that they traveled the world in their voyages, undertaking what were more like exiles than voyages; then, having returned, they preached it and kept it among their secrets. Why should I speak of the Magi Kings The "Wise Men" from the biblical Nativity story, often cited by Renaissance authors to prove that magic was a holy and royal pursuit. coming to adore Christ, and many others famous in this art, with whose names the monuments of the ancients are filled?

In these matters, you will surely consider with how much labor and how many sleepless nights I have been occupied—not merely by searching through books, but by testing through experiment, and not without the The following phrase is underlined in the original: loss of my own family's wealth original: "familiaris rei iactura"; Della Porta spent a significant portion of his personal fortune on scientific instruments, rare materials, and experiments.—so that I might one day be able to honor you with some worthy gift. I have drawn much from the fountains of the ancients, and I myself have added some things from the small streams of my own wit. Therefore, I dedicate these books on Natural Magic (although they may not be a sufficient return to you, for I am not of such great worth, yet it will be enough to have wished it) to you alone, King PHILIP, as they were begun under your auspices. I do this both so that this science of ours, cultivated by ancient Kings, may receive splendor and orna-

FAREWELL.