Preface.

A decorative historiated initial 'A' features elaborate scrollwork and foliate ornaments. Alphidius, one of the
ancient wise men,
speaks: whoever
cannot demonstrate
to himself the art
of the Philosophers' Stone the goal of alchemy,
it is more
useful that he not
practice it at all, than that he
attempt something. Rasis speaks
the same in the book Lumen Luminum original: "Light of Lights".
It is to be guarded against with diligence.
I also admonish you hereby
most highly that no one presume
to undertake the unknown mixing