of alchemical writing extant; and may be regarded as an exposition in epitome of the whole Art.

Mystical and disorderly as this relic is, and must especially appear at first to any one unaccustomed to the antique style, we trust that the short pains may not be grudged that it will cost in passing on with us to the discovery of its idea. The treatise has been held in high esteem by the alchemists, and the Scholia given in part may assist in the perusal. Whoever the author may have been (for, though it bears the name of Hermes, the true origin is doubtful), it wears the impress of very great antiquity, and claims better than to be frivolously judged of by those who are uninitiated in science and ignorant of the kind of wisdom it unfolds. Prudence, patience, and penetration, the author owns, are required to understand him, and more than these for the discovery of his Great Art. Books were not written in those days for the information of the illiterate, as though any vulgar distiller or mechanic might carry away the golden fleece; or in such a guise that the covetous, who made gold their only idol, should readily, without research or the due Herculean labor, gather the apples of the Hesperides: not yet that any, though learned, as the adept adds, should by once or twice overly and slightly reading, as the dogs lap the waters of Nilus, straightway be made a philosopher. No, the magistery of this science forbids so great a sacrilege: our books are made for those who have been or intend to become conversant about the search of nature (50). For this is the first step towards the recovery of truth, to be diligent in the investigation; other requirements there are and reasons for the extraordinary caution that has been used to keep the Art concealed, which may in the sequel be appreciated when it is intimately understood. And ye may trust me tis no small inginn, To know all the secrets pertaining to this myne, For it is most profound philosophy, This subtill science of holy Alkimy... (51). References ~ (1) See Roger Bacon, Radix Mundi et Speculum Alchemiae (2) Adverte carissime... Rosar. Abbrev., Tract ii. De Lapide in Thet. Chem., vol iii (3) Species metallorum... Liber Perfect. Magist., sub initio. (4) Speculum Alchymiae Arnoldi, Octava Dispositio. (5) Sciant Artifices Alchimiae, Lib. ii, Tractat. i, Cap. iv, De Operat.Med. Sing. (6) Metalla autem omnia... Metoer lib. iii cap. iv (7) Epistle to King Edward, stanza 10 (8) De Arto Magna, part ix (9) See Vaughans Anima Magia Abscondita, p. 30 (10) Lucerna Salis, from the Latin verse (11) Rosar., Abbrev. Tract. iii and iv (12) Investigation of Perfection, cap. xi (13) Roasrium Abbrev. Tract. iii and v (14) Aenid, lib. vi 724 (15) De Nat. Deor., lib. ii (16) Euripides. See Blackwellss Letters on Mythology (17) Lullii Theorica et Practica in Theat. Chem., vol. iv (18) Arnoldi Speculum, Octava Dispositio, etc. (19) See Bacon, De Sapientia Veterum, Fable of Proteus (20) See the Sylva Sylvarum, in two places; and the History of Rarity and Density. (21) To the Athenians, book i, text 9 (22) Speculum Alchimiae, Octava Dispositio (23) Medulla Alchimiae, cap. i (24) To the Athenians, book ii, text 2 and 5 (25) Tractatus Aureus, cap. i, prop. 4 See also Lullii Theoriea et Practica, c. iii (26) Orpheus Hymni (27) Mercurius Sapeintum est elementum... -- De Mineralibus, cap. ii et Breve Compendium in That. Chem. vol. ii