Harmony or Consensus of the Chemical Philosophers

EPISTOLA

...(as they commonly say) so that I might snatch and shake a myriad [of errors] from their very hands; I have deemed it worthwhile to bring to light this Harmony, or the common concord and consensus of all those truly practicing philosophy. Indeed, I wished for it to go forth under the auspices of your most distinguished name, most Illustrious Man, for this reason: First, because your home is not only the oracle of our entire city—where you send those who were uncertain of their affairs away as certain and well-advised—but it also truly stands as an "inn for all kinds of wisdom" original: "παντοδαπῆς σοφίας πανδοχεῖον" (pantodapēs sophias pandocheion). A Greek phrase describing a place that welcomes and houses every branch of knowledge. and a "sanctuary of all virtue" original: "πάσης ἀρετῆς σεμνεῖον" (pasēs aretēs semneion). A Greek expression for a holy or venerable place of moral excellence.. This is so true that you alone have been considered worthy to have our Achilles This likely refers to a specific young noble or student of great potential entrusted to the dedicatee's education. entrusted to your care, vigilance, industry, and singular integrity, as if to a second Chiron In Greek mythology, Chiron was the wisest and most just of the Centaurs, famous for tutoring great heroes, most notably Achilles..