Lumen de Lumine

Name: Lumen de Lumine
Author: Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

A New Magical Light · The Complete 1651 First Edition

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Lumen de LumineTo the Reader · Passage 5

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Facing Pages · Branch 23 of 200

To the Reader · Passage 5

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Original English

This, Reader, I thought fit to Preface, that if any Discourse of mine be traduc’d hereafter, thou maist not expect my Vindication. I have referr’d my Quarrell to the God of Nature, it is involv’d in the Concernments of his Truth. I am satisfi’d with the Peace and Test of a good Conscience: I have written nothing but what God hath verified before my Eyes in particular, and is able to justifie before the world in generall. I have known his secret Light, his Candle is my School-master: I testifie those things, which I have seen under his very Beams, in the bright Circumference of his Glory.

Modern English

Reader, I thought it fitting to say this first, so that if any discourse of mine is slandered hereafter, you will not expect me to defend it. I have referred my quarrel to the God of Nature: it is bound up with the concerns of his truth. I am content with the peace and testimony of a good conscience. I have written only what God has verified before my own eyes and can justify before the whole world. I have known his secret light; his candle is my schoolmaster. I testify to what I have seen beneath his own beams, within the bright circumference of his glory.

About This Reading Edition

The complete 1651 Lumen de Lumine, or A New Magical Light, by Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), with original and modern English, fresh translations of the Latin, Greek and Hebrew passages, the historical emblem and its inscriptions, all twelve Magical Aphorisms, 105 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Lumen de Lumine, or A New Magicall Light. London: H. Blunden, 1651. Governing witness: Wellcome Collection EPB/A/69096.4, digitisation b30340160, Wing V150, ESTC R146. Source credit: Wellcome Collection; Public Domain Mark.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text and emblem are public domain. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.