The Foundation

[writers] so long and repeatedly, until he may thoroughly understand its sense and meaning. Thus did the highly learned Johannes PontanusGiovanni Pontano (1429–1503), an Italian humanist and scholar whose "Epistle on the Philosopher's Stone" became a famous alchemical text. do, who says thus in one of his letters, which can be found printed in the Theatrum ChemicumLatin: "Chemical Theater"; a massive and influential compendium of alchemical writings first published in the early 17th century. (Chemical Theater):

They err (he speaks of those who work in the ArtThe "Great Art" (Ars Magna) or alchemy.); they have erred until now, and will err further, for this reason: because the Philosophers have not set down the actual agent of the work in their books, except for one, who is named Artephius.

And regarding his own person, he speaks thus:

Had I not read Artephius, and taken note of his words, I would never have come to the completion of the Work (namely, the Philosopher's StoneThe legendary "materia prima" or substance sought by alchemists to transmute base metals and achieve physical perfection.).

Therefore, you should read this writer, and reread him often, until you may understand his words and reach the desired goal.

It is unnecessary for me to speak many words about our author; let it be enough for you that he [lived] nearly a thousand yearsRefers to the legend that Artephius lived for over a millennium by using the alchemical elixir of life.