PREFACE TO THE KING

...the Republic of Lettersoriginal: "Resp. Literaria"; the international community of scholars and intellectuals is able to achieve. Who then, having overcome all these difficulties, might aspire to the contemplation and comprehension of the super-celestial Virtues and Metaphysical Influences? Where in the whole world (in these most deplorable times of ours) can we hope to find even ONE such high-minded HERO? Since, according to the progression of our (not rashly accepted) THOUSANDTH proportion: we ought to expect this ONE MOST HAPPY OFFSPRING from among ONE HUNDRED MYRIADS A myriad is ten thousand; thus, one million of those who sincerely practice philosophy; or rather, from among ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MYRIADS One billion of the common lot of men. We shall paint a HIEROGLYPHIC figure of this demonstrated RARITY according to the (so-called) Pythagorean letter The Greek letter Upsilon (Y), which Pythagoras used to symbolize the fork in the path between virtue and vice. Where, to your Excellency looking more closely, greater things (to be considered) [will offer themselves]