while one pursues his loves. In the second book, he has cut it quite short and clear. This is testimony that when one has arrived at enjoyment, one no longer employs much time, because the pleasure is consumed.

Now, I do not wish for anyone to think that I want to take credit for this work in any way. I do not wish to imitate those who have taken entire pieces from me to enlarge their own works without saying so. I sing the glory everywhere to whom it belongs. What I claim here is the pleasure I have in thinking that some people whose souls are sincere will take recreation in what I have delighted to restore to them. Seeing this steganographique hidden or encoded discourse, they will give a few moments of time to consider the agreement of spirits. Thus, they will feed their curiosity on our labors. These labors, God willing, will soon produce new inventions for you that will satisfy a part of your desires.

In reward for this, I pray you that when you hear those insolent and barbarian tongues who will accuse my works of impudicity because they see love breathing in them, tell them to judge sanely. Tell them that by lifting the bark meaning the outer surface or literal meaning, they may learn not to say that colors make the forms of portraits. By this means, they will be obliged to you. By admonishing them, you will cause them to hide their ignorance, which they would otherwise make appear thicker than the shadows of midnight by giving impudent sentences on what they cannot know nor understand.

A horizontal decorative headpiece featuring a symmetrical repeating pattern of floral scrollwork and stylized fleurons.

STEGANOGRAPHIC COLLECTION,

containing the understanding of the frontispiece of this book.

A decorative initial 'I' within a square frame decorated with foliage and floral motifs.It is not unpleasant to good spirits to represent to them what they already know. There is no wish that solicits the heart as much as the desire to know. For this reason, we will tell you of our past fortunes and what crosses have come upon us while we have been transported by the delights of our affections. These tend toward satiating our heart with profitable science. We do this so that you, who have furnished your soul with perfections, may be joyful to see that there are those who follow your paths leading to blessings. We also wish that those who sigh for Philosophical encounters may have their fantasy enticed by perfect contentment.

Our Druydes Druids, here meaning ancient sages have left us, by a happy cabale secret oral tradition or Kabbalah, a small ray of truth. This truth has remained in the order of memory practiced in a certain place. Having heard this from the learned Hamuel likely an allegorical figure representing a source of ancient wisdom, we ventured to go there. We went above all for the love of the excellent Olocliree meaning "Total Inheritance" or "Wholeness" in Greek. She is so beautiful that love has always triumphed through her eyes. She is the very loves of Love Cupid, who too many times has forgotten his Psyché Psyche, representing the Soul to live in search of this one. This was not to commit adultery, but to recognize in the excesses of perfection how much chaste affection is excellent compared to the desires of lascivious greed.

This beauty, while still a child, easily carries away hearts. As a youth, she ravishes them gently. As an old woman, she possesses them chastely. Always modest, she satisfies the souls that strive for her sake. Even when absent, she goads them with vehement desires to see her. When present, she consumes them happily. When disdainful, she has always amiably consoled them. When favorable, she has totally placed them at the sovereign degree of perfect beatitude. She has never caused jealousy among those who have sought her. Rather, by moving them through the impression of just and faithful thoughts of dilectiõ dilection or spiritual love, she makes them united in their wills to seek her good graces.

A prophetic truth is found from the mouth of the wise oracle itself. It is engraved in a iaspe meridional southern jasper stone seen in her dwelling, on which are these words: Olocliree, the universal object of love, filling the world with her name, will have so many excellences that even after she is taken from mortals, she will still be well loved by them. So much so that many will come to this cave, at least to have the happiness of breathing the air in which this miracle of Nature and wonder of the World lived while passing through. Now our souls, passionate for her subject and ignited by the report of this venerable wise old man, who was preferred for being true