Alchemy

of many good men I would have made honorable mention, unless
envy had contaminated the name of unity.

The system of method will, without doubt, produce wonderful delights—divisions, definitions, and other such things—for thorny wits. It is easy to criticize, but difficult to provide better. The former is permitted even to fools; the latter to the wise. He shall be a wise man to me who will exhibit better things. The Ramist subtleties and inept trifles with which many play the fool today, I bid depart to the Cynosarges. But not all obstacles can be prevented. If anything further shall be doubted, I will declare it more abundantly in the commentaries, if the Lord wills. I do not now present a commentary, except as far as a few brief notes are concerned, but an art equipped with precepts and method. Those things for which I can render an account (and there is a wonderful abundance of problems in this art beyond others, just as many prodigious works of nature present themselves in the same), I shall discourse upon in their proper place. You, kind reader,

A large diamond-shaped floral woodcut ornament featuring symmetrical scrolling vines and stylized leaves.