Hermes Trismegistus's True Ancient Way of Nature

An ornate woodcut headpiece featuring a central basket of flowers surrounded by elaborate rococo scrolls and foliate motifs. On the far left, a stylized plant sits in an urn-like pedestal.

Preface.

The ancient philosophers and magi original: "Philosophi und Magi" have found no creature among all living beings original: "Animalibus" in the whole world that could be preferred over man (Wisdom 10:2), original: "Sapient. X. 2." refers to the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon, which describes how God gave humanity the power to rule all things through wisdom. because God the almighty Creator has not only endowed him above all other animals with a clever reason and high understanding—wherefore he is also called a rational animal original: "Animal rationale"—but chief-