. Therefore, most curious Favourers,
and true Lovers of the Chimical Art,
accept of this little work,
as a mean Gift, or if you had rather,
peruse if only for recreation of the
mind; for in it I shall relate all things
whatsoever, that were discoursed of
between him and me, at several times:
humbly requesting, that with the same
benevolence you have received other
of my small Treatises, you would also
accept of this Novel, which I freely
dedicate, and officiously give to you,
for a motion, and increase of Admiration.
Farewel, avete, favete.

Your most humble

John Fredrick Helvetius.

CHAP.I.

Most Excellent, and Prudent Sirs.
Before I enter upon the Description
of the Philosophick PIGMY, (in
this little Theatre of Secrets) overcoming
and subduing GIANTS, I pray permit me here to use
the words of Vanhelmont, taken out of
his Book De Arbore Vitae, fol. 630.
and here Transcribed.

I compelled to believe, that
there is an Aurifick, and Argentick Stone.
But (Friend of the
Spagyrick Art) I am not ignorant,
that many have been found among
the most wise, yea among the exquisite
Chimists, who have not only
consumed their own Goods, but
the Goods of others also, in this
Great Vulanick Secret, as Experience
even at this very day sufficiently
proves. For we have seen,
the more is the pity! how unwary
Chimists, yea such as are more
worthy, than those who are called
Alchimists; how, I say, they,
labouring simply, are daily deluded
with Guile of this kind, by Diabolick,
Aurifick, and Argentick Suckgoods.
Also I know, that many
Stupid Men will rise up, and contradict
the truth of my true Experience,
touching the Philosophick
Stone. One will have it to be a
work of the Devil; another affirms
there is no such thing; a
third faith it is the Soul of Gold
only, and that with an Ounce of that
Gold, an Ounce of Lead, and no more
may be again tinged: but this is
repugnant to the Attestation of
Kifflerus, as I shall briefly commemorate;
a fourth believes the
Verity and Possibility thereof, but
faith it is so chargeable, as it will
never quit Cost; with many other
like Allegations. Yet I wonder
not at this, for according to this
Saying,

Quorum rationem non intelligimus,
miramur,
Que vero pernoscere volupe est,
rimamur.

What we cannot attain to, we admire,
But what to know is