PREFACE TO THE READER.

...I cannot yet determine. Aristotle and Theophrastus wrote about these matters, both undoubtedly with exactness (for it is right to believe so). If their works still existed, there would perhaps be no need for students of Philosophy to stoop to this class of authors. But since those ancient writings are now missing, nothing else remains from which we may draw a certain and exact knowledge of these things.

If anyone is offended by the impurity of language or the unrefined barbarism Renaissance scholars often called Medieval Latin "barbaric" because it did not follow the elegant rules of Cicero or Virgil. found in this kind of writing, he should consider that very few men have existed in such a long age who combined a remarkable knowledge of things with eloquence. One must not neglect or discard such a precious treasure because of the shortcomings of the speech. It is indeed worthwhile to listen to most ingenious men—some relying on the principles of Philosophy, some on the evidence of experience, and some on both—as they debate this art and the whole nature of metals.

They discuss what the primary and immediate matter of metals is, what their efficient cause is, and how they differ from one another—whether by some substantial form or only by accidental qualities. They also discuss what affinities they have, whether one can be transformed into another, and how they ought to be led to the highest perfection In alchemy, "perfection" usually refers to the transformation of base metals like lead into "perfect" gold.. While they inquire into all these things and many others of this kind, or assert with great consistency and authority that they have already discovered them, they bring so much light and knowledge that I would not hesitate to wonder whether even Aristotle or Theophrastus could have provided as much.

Therefore, this remarkable addition to Philosophy should not be neglected or despised by scholars, even if it must be gathered here and there from a "barbaric" class of writers, like collecting gold from dung original: "aurum e stercoribus". This was a popular phrase used by scholars to describe finding valuable wisdom in poorly written texts..

There is also another significant reason why you should wish to know these authors. Since the fame of this art has already filled the world, many scoundrels nebulones: worthless or deceptive people wander everywhere professing it. Although they know nothing of the art, they prey upon simple people who are greedy for profit and this admirable knowledge. They entice them with empty hope and rob them through theft or fraud. No one can more quickly detect or more effectively expose their wickedness, deceit, and trickery than someone who has penetrated into the inner secrets of this art. For this art, without the knowledge of Philosophy...