Preface.

so few have obtained a true foundation
from it, but instead it has had an adverse
effect on the greatest multitude,
as some have driven their senses toward
things far too high and sought supernatural
subjects In alchemy, "Subjecta" or subjects refers to the raw materials or substances chosen to begin the Great Work., while others, through
their fantasies, have fallen upon things far
too low, and have sought to take the
transmuting Sulphur and Mercury Sulphur and Mercury are the two central principles of alchemy; Sulphur represents the active, masculine, combustible principle (the soul), while Mercury represents the passive, feminine, fluid principle (the spirit).
from vegetable things. Still others
followed nature better and have
taken their subjects from the mineral kingdom,
but became quite confused because of the
many colors found there; nonetheless,
they were not in agreement among themselves,
as one chose this color and another
that color, according to their own ideas,
and yet there was not one among them
all who grasped the right mineral there.
It seemed to them so simple and absurd
that they should believe the great God
had placed such glorious and rich gifts
within it; still others fell into such an
extreme that, since they were unable
to discover the truth, they began