PREFACE.

...[that he] should learn justice, despise human things, and embrace divine things: because all human wisdom is placed in this: that he know and worship God. It is the part of the wise man, says Aristotle original: "Arist[oteles]", to order others and not to be ordered, since he possesses a more certain knowledge, which exists for its own sake and not for the sake of another, and which orders others who serve him. Hence it was excellently said by Cicero in his On Friendship original: "in sua amicitia": That man alone can be considered wise who considers all his possessions to be placed within himself, who thinks human misfortunes are beneath wisdom, and who believes nothing is better for a wise man than a modest fortune.

Boethius, in Book 4, Prose 2 of The Consolation of Philosophy, considers that saying of Plato to be true: that only the wise are able to do what they desire; whereas the wicked do what pleases them, but are unable to fulfill what they truly desire. Furthermore, republics would be blessed if either those devoted to wisdom ruled them, or if it happened that their rulers studied wisdom. For the wise man, according to Saint Augustine original: "Diuo Augustino" in his work To Simplician, is not broken by fear, nor changed by power, nor uplifted by prosperity, nor drowned by sorrows; because the fool changes like the moon, but the wise man remains like the sun. For wisdom never leaves a man unarmed or naked, nor does she allow him to be puffed up in success or crushed in adversity. Therefore, only the wise man is free, who has command over himself, whom neither poverty, nor death, nor chains terrify—in short, he who is second only to Jove A poetic reference to God or the Supreme Being, common in Renaissance Latin. He can therefore rightly be considered blessed, as the wise man says in Proverbs chapter 4, who finds wisdom and who abounds in prudence: because the acquisition of it is better than trading for gold and silver, and all things that are desired cannot be compared to it.

When I embraced these thoughts in my mind, most distinguished Prelate A high-ranking member of the church and singular glory of the Archbishops of our time, and understood that those who strive to excel other living creatures ought to strive with the greatest effort lest they pass their lives in silence; after many commentaries on the Pymander of Hermes original: "Mercurij", referring to Hermes Trismegistus. The Pymander is the first book of the Corpus Hermeticum., I turned my mind to the Asclepius, a little book by the same author, in which he speaks most wisely regarding the dignity, nobility, and celebrated nature of man. Since, in this most serious and equally useful labor (as I feel it to be), I heartily desired that some excellent patron be granted to me, who might provide both counsel and protection; under whose guardianship our diligent studies on the sixth book of Hermes might safely and successfully come into the light; your most Reverend and most Kind Dignity came to mind, whom I judged most fit to bring me aid.

For I know that your most Reverend Lordship original: "D[ominatio] Tuam" is descended from a Catholic and noble family of Greater Poland; I know that your excellent and quite remarkable education, across various academies and disciplines, was always joined with a company of the most approved and learned men. Whence, as they grew within your most Reverend Lordship...