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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 · Modern English

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Light From Light · Modern English

Original English

This Fire or Light is no where to be found in such abundance and puritie, as in that subject, which the Arabians call Halicali, from Hali summum, and Calop Bonum: but the Latine Authors corruptly write it Sal Alkali. This substance is the Catholick Receptacle of spirits, it is blessed and impregnated with Light from above, and was therefore styl'd by the Magicians, Domus signata, plena Luminis & Divinitatis.

Modern English

Nowhere is this fire or light found in such abundance and purity as in the subject the Arabians call Halicali, from Hali, “highest,” and Calop, “good”; Latin authors, however, corruptly write it Sal Alkali. This substance is the universal receptacle of spirits, blessed and impregnated with light from above. The magicians therefore called it “a sealed house, full of light and divinity.”

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.