Michaelis Maieri viatorium, hoc est, de montibus planetarum septem, seu metallorum

EPISTLE OF DEDICATION.

This page continues the sentence from page 14: "...nevertheless, I have not ceased to publish a few small works, which I have long since conceived within myself from long experience and observation, as being less doubtful and especially pertaining to the advantage and no small utility of others; since the Art is long, life is short, and judgment is difficult; but Experiment is dangerous, truly, it is said, as much by reason of Chemistry as of Medicine. From these works, since this TREATISE on the MOUNTAINS of the seven Planets, that is, on the ores and substances of the earth or of metals sought from the mountains, would be no less useful than desired by very many, I did not hesitate to dedicate and offer it to Your Highness, out of gratitude, not unmindful of such great generosity once bestowed upon me by you, not as if I would instruct your Highness, who is of yourself most perceptive, with these things, but so that I might provide to others, less exercised, under your patronage, a kind of chemical Ariadne, by the leading of whose thread they might escape safely from incredible errors.