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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

Lumen de Lumine

A New Magical Light · The Complete 1651 First Edition

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Lumen de LumineLight From Light · Original

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Original English Page · Branch 64 of 200

Light From Light · Original

Original English

PRetty green Bank farewell! and mayst thou weare Sun beams, and Rose, and Lilies all the yeare! She slept on Thee: but needed not to shed Her Gold, 'twas pay enough to be her Bed. Thy Flow'rs are Favo'rits; for this lov'd Day They were my Rivals, and with Her did play. They found their Heav'n at hand, and in her Eys Injoy'd a Copie of their absent skies. Their weaker paint did with true Glories trade, And mingl'd with her Cheeks, one Posie made. And did not her soft skin confine their pride, And with a skreen of Silk both Flow'rs divide, They had suck'd life from thence, and from her Heat Borrow'd a Soul to make themselves compleat. O happy Pillow! Though thou art Laid even With Dust, she made thee up almost a Heaven. Her Breath rain'd Spices, and each Amber ring Of her bright locks strew'd Bracelets o'r thy spring. That Earth's not poor, did such a Treasure hold, But thrice inrich'd, with Amber, Spice, and Gold.

Modern English

Farewell, fair green bank! May you wear Sunbeams, roses and lilies all the year! She slept on you: she need not have shed Her gold; enough reward to be her bed. Your flowers are favourites: this beloved day They were my rivals, and with her could play. They found their heaven near; within her eyes Enjoyed an image of their absent skies. Their weaker colours dealt with true glories, And, mingled with her cheeks, made one bouquet. Had her soft skin not bounded their ambition, And a screen of silk divided flower from flower, They would have drawn life from her, and from her heat Borrowed a soul to make themselves complete. O happy pillow! Though you lie level With dust, she made you almost into heaven. Her breath rained spices; each amber ring Of her bright locks strewed bracelets over your spring. Earth that held such treasure is not poor, But threefold enriched with amber, spice and gold.

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.