PREFACE

...most [authorities]. If you will have prayed to the giver of all good things A reference to God, emphasizing that alchemical success was viewed as a divine gift (donum Dei) rather than mere chemistry., as they frequently advise, I do not doubt that you will both attain very many secrets of nature and achieve your heart's desire.

This synod they call the ASSEMBLY OF PHILOSOPHERS original: "TURBAM PHILOSOPHORUM." One of the oldest and most influential Latin alchemical texts, presented as a dramatic debate between ancient sages like Pythagoras and Anaxagoras., of which we have printed two versions, because of the differing accounts of names, maxims, and order; so that each reader may follow whichever version appeals to him more.

Following this are the Exercises original: "Exercitationes." These are supplementary commentaries intended to clarify the difficult passages in the Assembly., by which many difficulties are unraveled. To these, the Rising Dawn original: "Aurora Consurgens." A famous allegorical work that uses intense, often biblical, imagery to describe the alchemical process. is attached, which reveals the Philosophers' ways of speaking, their obscurities, riddles, and metaphors.

The remaining works we pass over for the sake of brevity; but we provide everything sourced from manuscript copies—either never published before, or in better and more expanded editions. The page following the title indicates what is contained within each individual Volume.

Now we must ask you to look kindly upon these labors of ours, such as they are; you shall perhaps receive even better things from us in the future, if you are a seeker of this art, and especially of the truth...