Preface

...to make gold and silver. Also, the Blessed Philosophers' Stone original Latin: Lapis Philosophorum Benedictus; the legendary substance capable of turning base metals into gold and acting as a universal medicine is nothing to them; they do not hold it in high regard because it requires much labor. Instead, they claim to possess particular processes original Latin: Particularia; in alchemy, these were specific, shortened methods or "recipes" that claimed to produce gold or medicine without the long, difficult process of creating the universal Stone that do the very same thing, and with much less effort. They claim they can prepare the most precious medicinal remedies original Latin: Medicinalia, but when it comes down to it, it is absolutely nothing; one will always hear that it all vanishes into a deceptive phantom original German: daß es auf eine Lami aufgehet; likely referring to a "Lamia," a mythical creature used here as a metaphor for a vanishing illusion or a trick that leaves the victim empty-handed.

Every honest man should consider how to guard himself against such people and be more cautious. Just think: anyone who has actually labored on such a work and, through God’s grace-filled help and blessing, has brought it to completion, would not run about like a peddler at a fair to sell it for money (which he would not even value, given the flowing and rich abundance this art provides). Nor would he beg others for a livelihood for God’s sake. To this end, the reading of this little old rhyme can be very helpful and useful: