Preface.

in this furnace charging original: "Beschickung," the specific mixture of ore and additives prepared for the furnace some still want to
show their skill, as they then use
various ingredients original: "Ingredientien" for the enrichment
of such ores, and yet they arrive
much too late, because all these
efforts are now completely in vain
and lost, which then means nothing
else than if one were to come with
medicine to a sick person
only when he has already
passed away, and his spirit has
departed from him; then such things
can no longer help him; but before the
subtle and volatile spirits in such
ores are destroyed or killed (that is,
burnt in your destructive roasting-fire),
you can, in their bodily illnesses—
provided you are physicians experienced
in the ways of nature and well
recognize their weakness—come to their
aid with heart-strengthening original: "Herzstärckenden," a metaphor for additives intended to fortify the "vital" essence or core of the metal means,
which will be entirely useful and
profitable for them, which, however, [happens...]