The Foundation

A decorative woodcut border at the top of the page, featuring a symmetrical, repeating motif of interlaced scrolls and stylized floral elements.

Preface to the Reader.

Our ArtephiusA legendary alchemical authority, often claimed to have lived over a thousand years through the use of an elixir; his "Secret Book" is the primary text of this volume., kind and dear reader, is among all philosophersIn this context, "philosophers" refers specifically to alchemists or "philosophers of nature" who sought to understand the hidden properties of matter. without envy, as he freely says of himself in many places below; therefore, he also explains the entire ArtThe "Great Art" (Ars Magna) or Alchemy. with plain words: He reveals and clarifies, as much as can be permitted, the lengthy and subtle speeches of the SagesThe "Wise" or "Sages" refers to the long lineage of alchemical masters whose writings were often intentionally obscure..

However, so that he does not also give the godless, ignorant, and wicked cause to be harmful to others, he has hidden the truth within an artful teaching style through his repetitions, wherein he affirms a thing at one moment and denies it the next. He thus leaves the path to virtue, truth, and the right work to the judgment and discretion of the reader; whoever is able to find this path may highly thank GOD alone. But where he sees that he is not on the right path, he must [examine] the wri-