A decorative horizontal band of fleur-de-lis printer's ornaments runs across the top of the page.

This book may teach the greatest scholars original: "Clearkes" — meaning the highly educated or literate class.,
But it is beyond the grasp of the common people original: "Vulgar-Reach":
A book that gains renown through wealth,
And recoils original: "Boggles" at a threadbare gown original: "thred-bare-Gowne" — a symbol of poverty.:
A reliable book of faithful matters;
Instructing priests, advising kings:
A book that is suited for the understanding
Of a man who lives without sin:
A book of secrets given by God;
To the chosen elect, it is a well-worn path:
Helping those who are constant
In faith, and hope, and in trusting me.
Good men and bad, even countless in number,
(The latter group, however, without success)
Desire the art: but still (alas!)
They are so prone to greed original: "Avarice",
That out of a million, hardly three
Were ever ordained for alchemy.
Yet many are called every hour,
The learned and unlearned, the rich, and the poor;
Who will neither pay attention, nor take the pains;
And therefore they labor original: "Trudge" without the profits.
Those upon whom God bestows this art,
Her "sons" A traditional term for dedicated practitioners of alchemy who have been initiated into its secrets. may fully know it through this book:
By these four lines you may believe—

Heaven gives all things for free. original: "gratis"

You find this art only in such people
As love justice, with a spotless mind:
But it is denied to deceitful men;

For sin withholds original: "protracts" the gifts of heaven.