Golden Fleece — Trismosin (Splendor Solis Author), 18th-Century MS

To the most learned except by the gift of the heavens

I would also begin to make more of
their good judgment if they disentangled themselves from this
onerous search, which does not let itself be easily
handled by the importunity of these abrupt
abortions of science. All those who
implore it and present their spirit to the mouth
of this Gulf do not arrive at the shore;
and most of those who sail there or
embark at this port encounter shipwreck
in the middle of the way. After a thousand labors,
the Wise Argonauts, led through the waves
by the powerful hand of long Destinies,
finally conquered alone this rich Fleece,
at the point of valor, armed and assisted by
industry, experience, and patience, true
conductors of the calm expressly required
for this divine effect.

.... A few whom impartial Jupiter
loved, or whom glowing virtue has lifted to the heavens. original Latin: "Pauci quos aequus amauit juppiter, aut ardens euexit ad æthera virtus," quoting Virgil's Aeneid

God gives it only to His favorites,
And to those whom Heaven has gently nourished.
Also, to approach this renowned island, which
is called our Colchis, one must better foresee Shipwreck,
and noting the point of natural causes, know
at the tip of the finger the most famous writings that

the best Philosophers of our past
Ages have developed, and judge the truth by the
concordance of their separate depictions; otherwise
I see them all blindfolded for a narrow defense
against even letting their books be opened to all
these ignoramuses.

Philosophers are curious to communicate
with their fellows; also they speak only
for the most learned; thus the complaint of Nature
maintains to us, If you know it, I have
told you everything, but if you do not know it, I advance
you nothing. This is why they justly censure
their books, under penalty of understanding nothing
therein but a Juice of confusion and loss of time, if they
are not more capable of gathering the sweet honey
among so many other flowers.
Rosin, in conformity with previous authors, does not
approve either of the time they employ therein,
baptizing them with the name of imbeciles of spirit, for
applying themselves so abruptly to this trial, without the
knowledge of the things that the Philosophers
have put in writing; where there is agreement, there is truth,