Introduction to True Physics

...mercenary authors The fragment "teurs" is the conclusion of the word "auteurs" (authors) from the previous page. to derive profit from it, so that from all this confusion of writings, nothing results but thick darkness and the corruption of sound Doctrine.

All these difficulties piqued my emulation and excited me to make greater efforts to more easily succeed in acquiring that so highly-vaunted golden bough original: "rameau d'or"; a classical reference to the branch that allowed Aeneas to enter the underworld, used by alchemists to represent the secret key to nature's mysteries..

I began with Chemistry; the Art of Medicine, which I practice, was of great help to me: I soon believed myself with confidence to be on the right path.

But, O vanity of vanities! I was waiting for light from darkness, and the wisdom of the world; I was beginning to walk with assurance, when suddenly, against my expectation, I saw myself fallen from all my hopes.

For my Sulphur & my Mercury, the Agent & the Patient These refer to the active and passive principles in Aristotelian physics and alchemy., Water & Fire, such as I imagined them, with their assistants Air & Salt, though they might tickle my ears To "tickle the ears" (chatouiller les oreilles) is a period idiom meaning to sound pleasing or persuasive without offering real truth., they could satisfy neither my mind nor my heart.

It was in vain that I employed all the syl- The text cuts off here, likely beginning the word "syllogismes" (syllogisms), the formal logical arguments used in scholastic philosophy.