DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

Lumen de Lumine

A New Magical Light · The Complete 1651 First Edition

Explore the Lexicon
Lumen de LumineLight From Light · Page 20 · Passage A

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

Facing Pages · Branch 63 of 200

Light From Light · Page 20 · Passage A

Original English

When she had thus said, she took out of her Bosome, two miraculous Medals, not Metalline, but such as I had never seen, neither did I conceive there was in Nature such pure, and glorious Substances. In my Judgement they were two Magicall Astrolasms, but she call'd them Saphirics of the Sun and Moone. These Miracles she commended to my perusall, excusing her self as being sleepie, otherwise she had expounded them for me. I look'd, admir'd, and wearied my self in their Contemplation. Their Complexion was so heavenly, their contrivance so mysterious, I did not well know, what to make of them. I turn'd aside to see if she was still a sleep, but she was gone, and this did not a little trouble me. I expected her Returne, till the Day was quite spent, but she did not appeare. At last fixing my Eys on that place, where shee sometimes rested, I discover'd certain peeces of Gold, which she had left behind her, and hard by a paper folded like a Letter. These I took up, and now the Night approaching, the Evening-star turn'd in the West, when taking my last survey of her flowrie pillow, I parted from it in this Verse.

Modern English

Having said this, she took two miraculous medallions from her bosom. They were not metallic, but of a kind I had never seen; I had not imagined that such pure and glorious substances existed in nature. I judged them to be two magical astrolasms, but she called them Saphirics of the Sun and Moon. She entrusted these wonders to my examination, excusing herself as sleepy; otherwise, she would have explained them. I looked, marvelled, and exhausted myself in contemplation. Their constitution was so heavenly and their construction so mysterious that I scarcely knew what to make of them. Turning to see whether she was still asleep, I found her gone, which greatly troubled me. I awaited her return until the day was entirely spent, but she did not appear. At last, looking closely at the place where she had rested, I discovered some pieces of gold she had left behind, with a paper folded like a letter beside them. I picked them up. Night was approaching, and the evening star turned in the west; taking one last look at her flowery pillow, I left it with these verses:

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.