Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Facing Pages · Branch 13 of 204
Preface to the Reader · 1611 · Passage 7
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1611 pp. 6–7
Latin
Consideret Sophorum hanc esse scientiam, non imperitorum: et longe alium esse Philosophorum sensum, quam ut eum percipiant vel Thrasones gloriosi, vel literati irrisores, aut contra conscientiam vitiosi, qui dum virtutibus emergere non possunt, sceleribus et honestorum virorum calumniis id moliuntur, vel imperiti circumforanei, qui suis dealbationibus et rubefactionibus, cum indignissima laudatissimae scientiae Chymicae diffamatione, universum fere mundum deceperunt. Huius farinae homines sanctissima illa scientia nunquam in penetralia sua intromittet. Dei enim donum est. Siquidem ad eam non nisi sola Dei intellectum illuminantis gratia, per patientem et religiosam humilitatem perveniri possit, aut per ocularem experti Praeceptoris demonstrationem: quapropter a Deo alienos merito a secretis suis procul abigit.
English
Let the reader consider that this is the knowledge of the wise, not of the unskilled. The philosophers’ meaning is quite beyond the grasp of boastful braggarts, learned scoffers, or people who offend against their conscience and, unable to rise through virtue, try to do so through crimes and slanders against honourable men. It is equally beyond unskilled itinerant charlatans who have deceived almost the entire world with their whitenings and reddenings, bringing disgraceful disrepute upon the highly praised knowledge of chymistry. This most sacred knowledge will never admit people of that stamp to its inner chambers, for it is God’s gift. It can be reached only through the grace of God who enlightens the understanding, through patient and religious humility, or through a demonstration seen with one’s own eyes from an experienced teacher. It therefore rightly drives those estranged from God far from its secrets.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Preface to the Reader · 1611 · Preface to the Reader · 1611 · Passage 7
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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.