Preface.

I will gladly allow them to dip their learned pen into the vitriol water original: "Vitriolwasser"; vitriol (sulfuric acid) here implies bitter or caustic writing, to write everything imaginable against me, and to send such things under seal to the publisher of these pages, but with the sole condition original: "Condition" that they first examine themselves to see whether they are true Brothers of the Rosy Cross original: "fratres Roseae Crucis"; members of a legendary secret society of mystics and alchemists, Adepts original: "Adepti"; those believed to have mastered the secrets of alchemy, and sons original: "filii" of the fourth and fifth class. However, I would almost claim with certainty that no one will practically convince me otherwise or overturn my arguments original: "Argumenta". The reader will thus find more light and truth in this small space than in many hundreds of other alchemical authors original: "chymischen Autoribus" who have written so much either for money, or to fool the world, or to hatch their mental fantasies original: "Hirn-Insecten," literally "brain-insects," referring to eccentric whims or delusional ideas. I see, moreover, in advance that many are nonetheless so absorbed, and rush with the greatest desire toward the pit referring either to a literal mine or the metaphorical "pit" of financial and spiritual ruin to plunge themselves into the greatest misfortune; well then, so be it, let them work on, yet I recommend original: "recommendire" metallurgy original: "Metallurgie" to them; through it, they may somewhat quiet their passion original: "Passion" and can create benefit for the fatherland, [be-]

A 5