The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy

5I offer you this little work, written for your benefit, students of Hermetic philosophy, so that it may be dedicated to the same people for whom it was composed. If you should wish to bring a complaint against me, or summon me to trial as one guilty of breaking silence because secrets have been sent out to the public by a pen that was, however imperfectly, eager to write, you have before you a defendant who confesses to excessive goodwill towards you. Condemn him if you wish, provided that my offence serves you as a benefit. I promise you that the transgression will not be unwelcome to me, and the punishment will be sweet, if I feel that I have erred in this one thing so that you may hereafter bring your wandering to an end.