Amphitheater of Eternal Wisdom

She Referring to Wisdom, personified as a woman. anticipates those who desire her, so that she might show herself to them first. He who watches for her from the Dawn shall not labor, for he will find her SITTING at his doors. Furthermore, she is not occupied with so many troubles. For her conversation has no bitterness, nor her company any weariness, but rather gladness and joy. Therefore, this Wisdom of ours is very easy and spontaneous. Such are all the TRUE GIFTS OF GOD. But the frauds of the world, the Illusions, Phantasms, and the Devil’s Sophistry, are built upon much labor and great expense.

Finally, you must be discouraged from holding this Work in contempt. It is the mark of a foolish and inept man to judge a matter not yet read, or to despise what is not understood. I ask you, are the stars to be despised simply because you do not recognize them? Or are the plants, which fruitful mother Earth offers us, to be cast away and trampled because you do not perceive their signature The "Doctrine of Signatures" held that the physical shape or color of a plant revealed its divinely intended medicinal use. and hidden powers? How many useless and fatuous offspring does human Ingenuity give birth to? Yet you often give those works the primary place in your Library, and they take the seats of honor at your Philosophical table. Remember, therefore, that this AMPHITHEATER Used here both as a title and a metaphor for a place where all knowledge is "staged" for the viewer. does not set before your eyes some painted or fatuous Philosophy to be looked upon: but rather the contemplation of ETERNAL WISDOM, THE ONLY TRUE ONE, which you neglect and despise only to your own great harm and destruction. FAREWELL, and enjoy this Amphitheater, for the Recognition of GOD, the Knowledge of yourself, the discerning of Nature, for the illumination of the Soul, the purity of the Spirit, and the health of the Body. Given at Wernigerode in the illustrious County of Stolberg near the Brocken original: "ad Bructerum," referring to the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, a site steeped in German folklore and mysticism. on the Ides of March March 15th., in the year 1609 of the health-bringing Virgin birth.