PREFACE TO THE KING

8. Similarly, Those who have most diligently examined the Principles of the FULL and the EMPTY The concepts of plenum and vacuum, a central debate in natural philosophy regarding whether a total void can exist in nature. (an argument dating back to the very Cradle of Philosophy | Philosophiae Incunabulis) have seen that by that Law, and by a (virtually indissoluble) bond of Nature (established by God Most High), the surfaces of adjacent elements are coordinated, connected, and joined together. Thus, in Fire, Air, and Water—moving them up and down, hither and thither (according to their own judgment)—they can most confidently display Wonders to men. (And indeed, they are useful to the State through various inventions, as the whole craft of Hydraulics demonstrates, along with the rest of Heron’s Wonder-working | Heronis Thaumopoetica Heron of Alexandria (c. 10–70 AD) was a mathematician and engineer famous for creating mechanical devices, steam engines, and theatrical "miracles."; for that is what it pleases me to name them now.) But that any machine could pump the element of Earth upward, into Fire, through Water: no one from that profession will claim for himself. Yet the theories of our MONAD demonstrate that this can be done. O most wise King, may you store these things in the most secret treasuries of your mind and memory.

9. I come now to the Hebrew CABALIST: Who, when he sees his (so-called) Gematria | Gemetriam, Notarikon | Notariacon, and Tziruph | Tzyruph The three primary methods of the "Literal Kabbalah": Gematria (calculating numerical values of words), Notarikon (using words as acronyms), and Tziruph (the permutation and scrambling of letters). (the three primary keys, as it were, of his Art) being exercised beyond the boundaries of that language called Holy; indeed, when he sees the signs and characters of this mystical tradition (received from God) gathered from every direction—from all things obvious, visible and invisible—he will either then call this art also HOLY (compelled by truth, if he understands); or he will realize that without favoritism | προσωποληψία original: prosopolepsia. A Greek New Testament term meaning "respect of persons" or partiality; the idea that God does not favor one nation over another., the same God is the Blessed...