A decorative horizontal woodcut border strip at the top of the page, featuring symmetrical scrolled foliage and floral motifs.

BY THEOPHILUS ARETIUS A pseudonym meaning "Virtuous Lover of God."

FOR THAT GREAT AND

WONDERFUL AMPHITHEATER

OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED MAN, LORD

HEINRICH KHUNRATH OF LEIPZIG, DOCTOR

of both MEDICINES, Referring to both physical (bodily) and spiritual (alchemical/divine) healing. and restorer

of true WISDOM and its

study,

A POEM OF PRAISE.

A decorative ornamental woodcut initial 'A' depicting foliage and a small human figure, beginning the first word of the poem 'HIDDEN'.
HIDDEN original: "ABDITA" mysteries of the Divine word, if anyone
Should look into them more deeply, and hide himself in the inner sanctuaries,
He will see nothing but the commerce of men with the powers above.
Happy are the souls, whom such great grace has blessed
To hear Angelic tongues within a mortal body,
And to feel the voice of GOD within a human breast!
Where has that day fled? Where now lies hidden the golden ladder
Of Heaven, by which the celestial ones descend? Or who will unlock
The sacred entrances? And lead us to the pious Divinities?
Believe me, he who strives for such things enters
A difficult path; for the Divinities dwelling in the starry lights
Of the gods are not manifest to everyone.
Yet if we believe that Angelic minds once
Delighted in human company, I think there is a
Hidden art: the ancient Fathers knew it.
It has set: just as the Sun sinks into the deep Ocean,
Soon shapeless darkness and incurable error
Prevailed: and the liar Referring to the Devil or false teachers. raised his head from the underworld.
The fountain of WISDOM original: "SOPHIÆ" is clear: Divine KABBALAH
And that which the MAGI The wise men or practitioners of high natural magic. hold, the Sabaeans smelling of frankincense,
And to which he gave the name GREEN, and silent molten SALT.
No one shall possess this triple Wisdom of GOD without Divine power,
The Theological, the Astronomical, and the Healing Diana, The Roman goddess Diana is used here as a metaphor for Medicine or the "light" of nature.
No one is great and lofty without Divine inspiration.
From one blessed fountain flows Triple Wisdom
From the ethereal Spirit, and the mind poured through all things,
Which gives life to the lands, and fills the sea, stars, and air.
The King of Peace Referring to King Solomon. will be my witness, who once
Held in his breast as many gems of Wisdom as there are sands on the shores,
In whose heart Wisdom had built a high fortress.