The Hieroglyphic Monad (1564 Antwerp)

TO THE PRINTER.

...worthy, indeed, of so great a King; but truly unworthy of the studies and greatest labors of those philosophizing, who wish to invest themselves most deeply and frequently in examining it. Yet I seem to have sufficiently guarded against that misfortune by choosing you as the Typographic Parent Parentem Typographicum: Dee views the printer not just as a technician, but as the one who "gives birth" to the physical body of the author's ideas. of this newly-born work: you who are able, by your care, to send it forth polished and well-composed in all its members.

THE SECOND thing which I would wish to be performed by you is by no means light: namely, that you in no way give these little books into the hands of the common sort of men. It is not because I grudge them these things, or even better ones, but because I suspect the evil that would arise from it. Not only because those wretched ones can never extricate themselves from that Labyrinth The "Labyrinth" is a common Renaissance metaphor for complex esoteric systems where the uninitiated get lost. (meanwhile tormenting their minds in incredible ways and looking most poorly after their own family business Rei familiaris negotijs: Private domestic affairs or financial responsibilities. Dee warns that the "unworthy" will ruin themselves financially by neglecting their work to pursue alchemy or magic.), but also because they will persuade others to enter a path that is impassable to them; or they will most wickedly lie about its certainty, as if it had been explored by them—these impostors and shadows of men! Or finally, they will dare to deny that such GREAT WORKS OF GOD original: "DEI MAGNALIA" exist, or they will most rabidly accuse my sincerity. They will then at last become desperate, just as they first, as rash men Temerarij: Those who act without proper preparation, caution, or divine permission., approached these Mysteries with the greatest presumption. But in this business of such great moment, if I have known you well for many years (both on account of our friendship...