PREFACE.

...loss and detriment. Let the Sons of Hermes original: "Hermetis filij" — a traditional title for practitioners of alchemy, who considered themselves the spiritual heirs of the legendary sage Hermes Trismegistus know for certain that the extraction of such "souls," as they call them—whether from Gold or from Silver original: "Luna," or the Moon by any common alchemical method—is mere delusion. While many refuse to believe this, it is eventually verified through the heavy cost of experience, which is the one and only mistress of truth.

On the contrary, consider the man who can perform this through the Philosophical Way original: "via Philosophica" — the authentic, secret method of the true masters, contrasted with the "vulgar" or common chemical methods without fraud or deceit. If he can truly dye original: "tingat" — to "tincture" or transmute; in alchemy, a tincture is a substance that changes the color and quality of a base metal into a noble one even the smallest amount of metal with the color of the Sun Gold or the Moon Silver—and have that color remain permanent through every necessary test—then I can rightly judge that the doors of Nature stand open to him. He is prepared to investigate even further and higher secrets, and to acquire them with the blessing of GOD.

Furthermore, I offer these present Treatises, written from my own personal experience, to the sons of science. My hope is that while they are occupied with all their thoughts and mental energy in inquiring into the hidden operations of Nature, they may perceive the truth of things and Nature herself. Thus, they may come to know in what single Substance the whole of this most holy Philosophical Art... The text breaks here; "Philosophical Art" refers to the Great Work of alchemy