A decorative woodcut headpiece consisting of four repeating ornate square motifs, each featuring symmetrical foliate and scroll-work designs in a late Renaissance or Baroque style.

PREFACE.

THE COMMENTATOR

to the Reader.

There are so many books on Chemistry: In this context, the term refers to Alchemy, the "Hermetic" art of transmuting metals and seeking spiritual perfection., whether printed or in manuscript, that one could say no science has ever had as many authors as that of Hermes Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary Hellenistic figure regarded as the father of alchemy and the "Hermetic" sciences.. Happy father to have had such children, glorious Master to have had such disciples; you are rightly called the Master of Masters, each of your disciples being worthy of that name. But all these books are only for—