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Preface.

Most Gracious Reader!

The far too frequent demand for this little work by the highly famous philosopher of Naples, Baptista PortaGiambattista della Porta (1535–1615) was an Italian polymath and scholar. His "Magia Naturalis" (Natural Magic) was a landmark text covering everything from optics and botany to alchemy and cryptography., which we had translated into High German at great expense some years ago, compels us to bring it to light once again (though in a modified format). The excellent subject matters contained herein concerning all manner of sciences require no embellished eulogy, because almost everything described herein by the aforementioned authororiginal: "Auctore" himself—as a highly intelligent physicianoriginal: "Physico"; in this period, a "physicus" or physician was a scholar of "physics" or natural philosophy, the study of the physical world. and naturalistoriginal: "Naturkündiger"—has been found true through his own trialoriginal: "Experience" and experience. We can assure you that what is contained within is truthfully that which is stated on the title page, and is therefore highly useful for curious minds to read; especially since, upon close inspection, a sensible reader will find more occasion and opportunity here than in other similar books of nature to avoid the errors frequently occurring otherwise in this science.

Dioscorides of AnazarbaA Greek physician and botanist of the 1st century AD whose work "De Materia Medica" was the foundational text for European medicine for over 1,500 years. wrote many books of similar content, especially on the art of medicineoriginal: "Artzney-Kunst", yet one will find much through precise experimentation and research that by no means stands the test, serving rather as a silent reminder that not everything contained therein is to be held as divine and irreproachable. Now, it is indeed not to be denied that he himself was not the cause of many uncertainties, but rather the...