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The Dedication · Modern English
Original English
Having in our Travels fortun'd to meet with some Persons of true Principles in Philosophy and Religion, we could not but embrace them, and instruct them towards its farther Perfection, which cannot be attai'd without the true knowledg of our Celestial Art, by which comprehending all the Mystery of Mysteries, we learn also how to serve God in Faith and Truth. And since we have no Obligation to any living Soul for the knowledg, we possess, having attain'd it all by the only Blessing of Almighty God on our Industry and Expences: being therefore at more liberty than those, who receive such a Favor from us, or some other Adept, 'tis our Determination, whenever we meet with Persons so qualified, always to do the same. Wherefore being at present in England, thô we are no Native of this Kingdom, we think it necessary to set forth these our Aphorisms in the English Tongue, not in the least doubting, but that the Knowing, minding only the Sense, will easily pardon any Impropriety, they may find in our Expressions: and when Providence shall carry us into any other Country, we, having attain'd to some competent knowledg of most European Languages, shall again take care to publish them in the Speech of the Place, where we shall be, that we may the sooner obtain the effect of our Desires, which aim at nothing, but the undeceiving of the World by setting down certain and evident Marks, distinguishing the Worthy from the Unworthy, and at the bringing of Men to leave their unnecessary Forms, by instructing them in the true way of Serving God, being the only means to render them happy both in this World, and the next.
Modern English
In our travels we happened to meet people with true principles in philosophy and religion. We could not help embracing them and instructing them towards its further perfection, which cannot be attained without true knowledge of our celestial art. Through that art we comprehend the mystery of mysteries and also learn to serve God in faith and truth. Since we owe our knowledge to no living soul, having attained it entirely through Almighty God’s blessing upon our industry and expense, we are freer than those who receive such a favour from us or another adept. We have therefore resolved always to do the same whenever we meet people so qualified. Being now in England, although we are not native to this kingdom, we think it necessary to publish our aphorisms in English. We do not doubt that knowledgeable readers, attending only to the meaning, will readily pardon any impropriety they find in our expressions. When Providence carries us to another country, since we have acquired a competent knowledge of most European languages, we shall again take care to publish them in the language of the place where we are. We may thus sooner accomplish our desires, which aim only to undeceive the world by setting down certain, evident marks distinguishing the worthy from the unworthy, and to bring people to abandon their unnecessary forms by instructing them in the true way of serving God, the only means of making them happy both in this world and the next.
Socrates
Reading Aphorismi Urbigerani · The Dedication · Dedication · Passage 2
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The complete 1690 Aphorismi Urbigerani: historical frontispiece and Latin inscriptions, title and licence, dedication, all 101 grand-elixir aphorisms, the complete Circulatum Minus with its title, address and 31 vegetable aphorisms, and the full explanatory postscript with both printed endings. Original and modern English readings, fresh Latin translations, 115 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
Baro Urbigerus, Aphorismi Urbigerani, London: Henry Faithorne, 1690; with Circulatum Minus Urbigeranum and the concluding postscript. The Getty Research Institute copy supplies the governing images; EEBO-TCP A25684 supplies the structured transcription witness, corrected against those images. The frontispiece signed W. F. is attributed in library catalogues to William Faithorne.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical text and engraving are public domain. The EEBO-TCP Phase 2 transcription is released under CC0; that waiver does not cover associated images. The engraving is credited to the Getty Research Institute copy digitised by Internet Archive. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.
- Governing image witness and historical engravingGetty Research Institute: governing 1690 copy
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