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Secrecy and the Divine Source · Page 109 · Passage B
Original English
Now for my part I have alwayes honoured the Magicians, their Philosophie being both rational, and Majestic, dwelling not upon Notions, but Effects, and those such as confirme both the Wisdome and the power of the Creator. When I was a meer Errant in their Books, and understood them not, I did believe them. Time rewarded my Faith, and payd my Credulitie with Knowledge. In the Interim I suffer'd many bitter Calumnies, and this by some envious Adversaries, who had nothing of a Scholar, but their Gownes, and a little Language for Vent to their Non-sense. But these could not remove mee, with a Spartan patience I concocted my Injuries, and found at last that Nature was Magicall, not Peripateticall. I have no Reason then to distrust them in Spirituall Things, whom I have found so orthodox and faithfull even in Naturall
Modern English
For my part I have always honoured the magicians. Their philosophy is both rational and majestic: it dwells upon effects rather than mere notions, effects confirming the Creator's wisdom and power alike. When I was a mere wanderer in their books and did not understand them, I believed them. Time rewarded my faith and repaid my trust with knowledge. Meanwhile I suffered many bitter slanders from envious opponents who had nothing scholarly about them except their gowns and a little language through which to vent their nonsense. But they could not move me. With Spartan patience I digested my injuries, and finally discovered that Nature was magical, rather than Peripatetic. I have no reason, then, to distrust in spiritual things those I have found so sound and faithful even in natural
Socrates
Reading Coelum Terrae · Secrecy and the Divine Source · Page 109 · Passage B
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Thomas Vaughan’s complete Coelum Terrae discourse from the 1650 Magia Adamica, with original and modern English, fresh translations of foreign quotations, the complete Hyanthe and closing poems, eight historical marginal notes, the work-specific printed corrections, 91 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Coelum Terrae, included in Magia Adamica. London: T. W. for H. Blunden, 1650, pp. 78–140 and the work-specific unnumbered errata. Governing textual basis: EEBO-TCP A64768, Wing V151, ESTC R203905, British Library Thomason witness 174:E1299[1]. First-edition image comparison: Getty Research Institute copy 372004, Internet Archive magiaadamicaoran00vaug. The Getty copy lacks the opening page 78 and final errata; these are taken from the TCP/BL witness.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
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The historical text is public domain; the EEBO-TCP Phase I transcription is released under CC0. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.
- Governing historical text and transcriptionEEBO-TCP: governing 1650 textual witness
- First-edition image witness with stated lacunaeGetty Research Institute: surviving 1650 comparison copy
- Later comparison; not the governing editionWellcome Collection: later 1888 comparison
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