The Heaven of the Philosophers

or

The Book of Vexations

by Theophrastus Paracelsus.

Circular library stamp from the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève.

Preface of D. Theophrastus Paracelsus

1. Because Alchemy $\odot$ gold bestows treasures, as many as you might also promise yourselves the greatest riches, or ardently desire to extract from $\odot$ gold and $\leftmoon$ silver; Alchemy promises and teaches this in various ways.

2. Likewise, you who willingly endure the labors and vexations of Alchemy, but are unwilling to abstain from it until its rewards and promises are known to you: experience indicates that not even one in a thousand achieves their wish. I do not say that this occurs due to a defect of nature or of the Art, but rather due to fate and encountered obstacles.

3. Therefore, I did not wish to describe this little book as other common, vulgar alchemists are accustomed to do, for those arts and processes they teach are extremely lengthy and burdensome to them.

4. Take this Antimony, allow it to liquefy with Saltpeter and Tartar. Take half an ounce of this, the same amount of $\odot$ gold, two or three drachms of ♃ Jupiter/tin, to which add one drachm of Sulfur and one ounce of Vitriol.