PART THREE.

way this ought to be done, he does not add, sending the reader away to the seven rules that will teach this, which are most difficult to understand for the practiced, not to say the raw, novice. Since these are not understood even by one in a thousand, it is not to be wondered at why his writings are held in public contempt. He undoubtedly wished us well, believing himself to have written quite clearly, and he instituted his discourse as if he were dealing with one skilled in metallic nature, having no regard for the blindness and crudity of the vulgar, whence he entered into and reported back such extraordinary favor from all. But what is to be done or said? It is poorly agreed with ignorant and proud men, so that even if you write most clearly, because the unpracticed, if they err even once, tear the writer apart with mere insults, hence it is that many prefer to be silent, leaving their bells to the fools. But when the matter is weighed with a more accurate examination, it seems unjust to punish the innocent with the guilty. Therefore, to whom God has granted a talent above others, let him not enviously bury it because of the bad, but let him impart his sun indiscriminately to the good and the bad, expecting the reward from God, who will remunerate everyone according to their works.

Tin, if you look at its nature and property, is, among the remaining imperfect metals, a pure, immature metal, endowed with much combustible Sulfur, whence it has attained its liquefiability and corruptibility in fire, which being removed, which can be done with a gentle fire, it has lost its metallic fluidity, being most similar to an illiquefiable ash. To which if you add other Sulfur, by which that ash