PREFACE

-rant and unskilled judge. For many things seem impossible to the inexperienced which, however, are very easily accomplished by art and nature, as experience teaches everywhere in almost every kind of art. On the contrary, the skilled and experienced investigator—and, so to speak, the helper—of most-wise nature is able, through wit and diligence, to perform and accomplish even those things which seem impossible to the unskilled and ignorant, and which are beyond the grasp of the common people.

As for what concerns me, even if I have never practiced such things The printer is admitting he is a publisher, not an alchemist himself., nor am I one who can judge anything regarding such an abstruse mystery The "mystery" refers to the "Great Work" of alchemy, the hidden processes of transmutation., I nevertheless cannot bring myself to believe that so many learned philosophers In this context, "philosopher" specifically refers to alchemists, who were considered "natural philosophers." and men of great renown—indeed, even illustrious kings who were the principal writers of this art In alchemical literature, "The Art" refers to the practice of alchemy, often seen as a way to perfect or accelerate the natural processes of the earth., and whose writings we are now bringing forward—were themselves deceived, or wished to deceive others, especially since they have otherwise maintained a most excellent reputation among all the learned for so many centuries; as...