TO THE READER.

from two bodies, and with a solvent solvent; original: "dissoluente", a substance used to break down solids, often the "secret fire" or philosophical mercury extracting the sulfur In alchemy, sulfur represents the active, combustible, and "masculine" principle of matter from them; and once its nourishment, whitening whitening; original: "dealbatione", the Albedo stage where the matter is purified, yellowing yellowing; original: "citrinatione", a stage signaling the transition toward maturity, reddening redding; original: "rubificatione", the final Rubedo stage signifying the completion of the Stone, fixation The process of making a volatile substance stable so it no longer evaporates when heated, and ceration original: "ceratione", the process of softening the substance to a wax-like consistency have been clearly perceived; let none of you fear to approach the practice original: "praxim"; the actual laboratory work freely or even with the slightest labor. And by this reasoning, you will notice the ignorance and impudence of those who have quite boldly asserted that nothing certain or true is to be found among the Chemical Philosophers A term for the true masters of alchemy who understood the deep secrets of nature, such as that charcoal-waster charcoal-waster; original: "carboniperda", a mocking term for "puffers" or false alchemists who wasted vast amounts of fuel on failed experiments in his Apology—a work he commends in a marvelous way, but which ought rather to be called an accusation.

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