De alchimia opuscula complura veterum philosophorum, quorum catalogum sequens pagella indicabit

For every worse thing laboring in any art strives to destroy the better, and every better thing laboring in any art attempts to perfect the worse. And therefore, for every artisan wishing to imitate nature, it is necessary to know the nature of that thing whose nature his art imitates, otherwise, he will be recognized as a fool through his false art.

ON THE UTILITY OF STUDY.

Study removes ignorance, and leads the human intellect to true knowledge and to the understanding of any given thing. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to acquire knowledge of this sweet work through study, and to sharpen one's ingenuity through physical referring to natural science or physica sayings, since in them is the knowledge of truth. If, therefore, those who labor do not despise study, they will sweetly taste the fruit arriving therefrom. But those who abhor studying, and yet wish to labor, let them see whether the art of nature itself is an imitation, which art ought to improve. For it is impossible for them to prepare the secrets of the philosophers to a perfect end. Concerning these, the wise say that they pass to practice like an ass to supper, not knowing to what they reach out their snout, except insofar as the exterior senses, without intellect, through sight and taste, lead them to fodder. Thus, these asses, without good true principles and fruitful studies, and