The Preface.
vehementem: et hoc fit multis modis, quibus Civitas, aut Exercitus deſtruatur. Mira ſunt hæc, ſi quis ſciret uti ad plenum in debitâ quantitate & materiâ. Thus he. But let us return to Apollonius, for now he trots like a Novice to the River Hyphaſis, and carries with him a Commendatory Letter to the Brachmans, having requeſted the Prince to tell them he was a good Boy. Here theſe admirable Eaſtern Magicians preſent him with ſuch Rarities as in very truth he was not capable of. Firſt of all they ſhew him (as Philoſtratus deſcribes it) a certain Azure, or Sky-colour’d Water, and this Tincture was extreamly predominant in it, but with much Light and Brightneſs. This ſtrange Liquor (the Sun ſhining on it at Noon) attracted the Beams or Splendor to it ſelf, and did ſink downwards, as if coagulated with the Heat, but reflected to the Eyes of the Beholders a moſt beautiful Rain-bow. Here we have a perfect Deſcription of the Philoſophers Mercury, but there is ſomthing more behind. Apollonius confeſſeth how the Brachmans told him afterwards, that this Water was ὂπὸῤῥητον τὸ ὕδας, a certain
ſecret
