The Preface.
Hæc dedit Argenti Rivos, Æriſque Metalla
Oſtendit venis, atque Auro plurima fluxit.
Hæc Genus acre Virûm: Marſos, Pubemque, Sabellâ,
Aſſuetumque; Malo Ligurem, Volſcoſque, verutos
Extulit: Hæc Decios, Marios, magnoſque, Camillos.
Pulvê magna parents frugum, Saturnia Tellus,
Magna Virûm!
Thus Reader have I endeavor’d to produce ſome Reaſons for thoſe ſtrange Effects, whereof this Society hath made a public Profeſſion. I did it not as a Kindneſs to them, for I pen no Plots, neither do I deſire their Familiarity. I am indeed of the ſame Faith with them, and I have thus Prefac’d, becauſe I had the Impudence to think it concern’d me as much as them. And verily it is true, that whereſoever I meet my own Poſitions, there have I an Intereſt, and I am as much bound to the Defence of that Author, as I am to my own. Now for the Ground here layd, it is the Art of Water, the Philoſophers Clavis humida, and this Societies Parergon. I dare not ſpeak any thing of their Metaphyſical Myſtery, but I can tell thee it is
not
