Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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English Page · Branch 8 of 204
Preface to the Reader · 1611 · Passage 2
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1611 pp. 3–4
Latin
Cum mecum perpenderem, candide Lector, multos adulterinos libros, falsaque ut vocant Archymistarum recepta, impostorum fraude et avaritia composita, in quibus ne scintilla quidem veritatis elucet, inter naturalium occultarumque Artium Indagatores versari, quibus et quamplurimi decepti sunt, et adhuc decipiuntur, nihil me utilius facturum existimavi quam si Talentum a Patre Luminum mihi concreditum, cum filiis et haeredibus scientiae commune haberem, ut et posteri animadverterent, non solum prioribus saeculis, verum etiam hoc nostro, singularem illam Dei benedictionem Philosophicam, quibusdam hominibus non fuisse denegatam.
English
Honest reader, I considered how many counterfeit books and false so-called alchemists’ recipes circulate among investigators of natural and hidden arts. Composed through impostors’ fraud and greed, they show not even a spark of truth; very many people have been deceived by them and are still being deceived. I thought I could do nothing more useful than share the talent entrusted to me by the Father of Lights with the children and heirs of this knowledge. Posterity would then recognise that this singular philosophical blessing of God has not been denied to certain people in our own age, as well as in earlier centuries.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Preface to the Reader · 1611 · Preface to the Reader · 1611 · Passage 2
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The complete supplied Latin–English edition of the Twelve Treatises, Epilogue, Enigma, Parable, Dialogue of Mercury and Treatise of Sulphur, with original preliminaries, John French’s historical English address and its separately labelled modernisation, 101 annotations and the complete study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
The Twelve Treatises and their concluding texts follow the selected 1606 Herzog August Bibliothek witness. The Dialogue uses the 1607 Cologne printing; the author’s preface and Alsted epigram use Frankfurt 1611. Sulphur uses the 1616 Munich and Rome witnesses. John French’s 1650 address is separately identified as historical English reception.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical Latin texts and John French’s 1650 English address are in the public domain. The new translation, modernisation and editorial apparatus were prepared with AI assistance for Diotimos Editions in 2026 and are published with the site owner’s authorization.