On Occult Philosophy or the Secret Miraculous Birth of the Seven Planets and Metals

you may even be counted yourself. Therefore, I did not want to fail to dedicate this short little book to you as one who understands more in this matter than the common person, to whom such secreta secrets are hidden, and I wish to publish it under your name. I trust that you will consider this for the best and accept it from me in good faith, with the appended request to everyone that they read this little book with discernment and understanding, and take care that no superstitiones superstitions are mixed in, nor that it be pulled toward any other unseemly understanding. Compare these allegories and poetic poems with nature, force nothing foreign into them, but rather understand them simply and plainly according to the philosophical manner, and let them be and remain a poetic speculation. I leave further judgment on this to you as a more learned man to decide.