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Short Preface

by Friar Basilius Valentinus

on the secret miraculous birth

of the seven planets and

metals.

I have indeed intended to describe, according to God's order of Philosophia philosophy and the art of the true Cabala tradition/mystical knowledge, simply and according to the limited understanding of my mind, how the seven Planeten planets and Metallen metals were originally born, just as other poets before me have done. But it is not my intention to interpret the same as sorcery or in a godless, unchristian sense, but rather to the end that wisdom upon wisdom, and worldly understanding might look upon it, reflect, and sharpen themselves, to learn and fathom something through Speculation contemplation and their own investigation, so that what the world had not previously noted or not understood at all might be made manifest. But so that I may make a beginning of the work through this preface, the rest has been divided into Capita chapters. Thus our Redeemer and Savior Christ himself says in the 6th chapter of John: The words that I speak are spirit. Item: The flesh is of no use, etc. And further: It is the spirit that gives life. From this