TO THE READER

utterly contrary to this excellent matter Matter (materia): in alchemy, this refers to the "Prima Materia" or the raw starting material required to begin the Great Work., having commanded them all to go to the crows original: "ἐς κόρακας" (es korakas); a Greek idiom meaning to be cast away or "be damned.". Instead, embrace at last with both arms this matter now presenting itself to you. It comes dressed in a mournful garment A reference to the "nigredo" or black stage of alchemy, where the material must "die" and turn black before it can be purified., foul in its odor, yet soft and homogeneous Homogeneous: a substance that is uniform in its composition throughout. to the touch. It is unknown to many, sought by all, and yet discovered by only a few. It greedily desires a little of its own water—its own, I say—so that it might quench its thirst; it does this not for its own sake, but so that, once satisfied and revived with regained strength, it may come to the aid of you and your loved ones. It is Sacred Scripture original: "Scriptura sacra"; the author is using a theological principle (that Scripture interprets itself) to argue that true Philosophy or Alchemy is also self-explaining to the initiated. which explains Sacred Scripture, and it is Philosophy that explains Philo-