Introduction to the Divine Art of Chemistry

PETRUS BONUS OF FERRARA, ON HIS INTRODUCTION
TO THE ART OF ALCHEMY.

PREFACE.

A large decorative woodcut initial 'I' features a stylized bird on the left and a dragon-like creature on the right, intertwined with foliate ornamentation.

Bonus of Ferrara, Physician, says: Real beings are in a triple grade, according to the Philosopher in the sixth book of the Metaphysics: because they are either joined to motion and matter, and of these is Natural Science; or they are joined to matter and separated from motion, and of these is Mathematics; or they are separated from motion and matter, and of these is Metaphysics, that is, Divine. But there is no science of things separated from matter and joined to motion, since such a real being is altogether impossible to exist. Since, therefore, the science of Alchemy is about a real being, it will necessarily be under one of those parts of philosophy: but not under mathematics, because the science of Alchemy is about a real being, joined to motion and matter; nor under metaphysics, that is, divine, because it is not about a real being separated from motion and matter, as are the intelligences. It is necessary, therefore, that it be placed under natural philosophy, since it is about a real being, joined to motion and matter. Likewise, natural beings conceive for themselves a determined matter, as snub-nosedness does the nose, and sight the eye. And therefore, they cannot be understood without their matter or subject.