Two Treatises on the Nature of the Elements and the Fifth Essence

seemed to stand in the way of its easier understanding, because it was written in Dutch original: "Belgicè." In the 17th century, this often referred to the Dutch or Flemish language., a dialect which not everyone understands equally. Therefore, someone was found not so long ago who brought this little book onto the stage in a German original: "Germanicè." dress; but it was an entirely unfortunate and ridiculous attempt. For he neither captured the author's meaning—where the sinew and the very juice and spirit of the argument lay hidden—nor did he translate everything, nor did he do so with enough clarity or in proper German.

Since, however, the usefulness of that work was commonly believed to be of great value in Philosophical and Chemical These terms refer to "Natural Philosophy" (the study of nature/physics) and Alchemy or early Chemistry. matters, I began—at the request of friends, who are excellent physicians of this city—to devote myself to its translation original: "interpretationi." during one or two two-hour sessions original: "bihorium." This suggests Lauremberg worked on the translation in short, intense bursts of time.. While doing this, I found that although the work had been spread among the public in a new style and by a new author, it nevertheless possessed the native nobility of the older Philosophy.

Indeed, as for the chemical aspects, those last two chapters—in which the foundations of more hidden wisdom original: "sapientiae." are so openly uncovered—can be easily recognized, seen, and even touched by anyone whose The phrase "cold blood around the heart" is a classical allusion (from the poet Virgil) suggesting a person who lacks the wit or intellectual fire to understand deep truths. blood does not stand entirely cold around their heart. As for the Peripatetic Refers to the followers of Aristotle, whose philosophy dominated European universities at the time. matters, whatever