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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan

Magia Adamica

The Antiquity of Magic · With the Complete Coelum Terrae

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Magia AdamicaFrom Antiquity to the Art · Page 79 · Passage A

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Facing Pages · Branch 186 of 318

From Antiquity to the Art · Page 79 · Passage A

Original English

in this my Olla (for I care not much what I shall call it) observe this Composition. First, I shall speake of that One only Thing, which is the Subject of this Art, and the Mother of all Things. Secondly, I will discourse of that most admirable, and more than naturall Medicine, which is generated out of this one Thing. Lastly, though with some disorder. I will discover the means how, and by which this Art works upon the Subject; but these being the Keyes which lead to the very Estrado of Nature. where she sits in full Solemnitie, and receives the Visits of the Philosophers, I must scatter them in severall parts of the Discourse. This is all, and here thou must not consider how long, or short I shall be, but how full the Discoverie: and truly it shall be such, and so much, that Thou canst not in modestie expect more. Now then you that would be what the Ancient Physicians were, Manus Deorum salutares, not Quacks and Salvos of the Pipkin; you that would performe what you publickly professe, and make your Callings honest and Conscionable, attend to the Truth without spleen. Remember that Praejudice is no Religion, and by Consequence hath no Reward. If this Art were damnable, you might safely studie it notwithstanding for you have a praecept to prove all Things, but to hold fast

Modern English

arrange this miscellany of mine—for I care little what I call it—as follows. First I shall speak of the one and only thing that is the subject of this art and the mother of all things. Second, I shall discuss the most wonderful and more than natural medicine generated from this one thing. Last, though with some disorder, I shall disclose the means by which the art works upon its subject. But these are the keys that lead into Nature's very chamber of state, where she sits in full ceremony and receives the philosophers' visits; I must therefore scatter them throughout the discourse. This is all. Consider here how complete the disclosure is, rather than how long or short my account may be. It will truly be such, and so much, that you cannot reasonably expect more. Now, you who would become what the ancient physicians were—the healing hands of the gods—instead of quacks and peddlers of pot remedies; you who would accomplish what you publicly profess, and make your callings honest and conscientious: attend to the truth without resentment. Remember that prejudice is no religion and consequently earns no reward. Even if this art were damnable, you could still safely study it, for you have a command to test all things and hold fast

About This Reading Edition

Thomas Vaughan’s complete 1650 Magia Adamica publication, with all historical preliminaries and the complete appended Coelum Terrae, original and modern English, fresh translations of Latin, Greek and Hebrew, full poems, eight historical marginal notes, the complete recovered printed corrections, 312 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Magia Adamica: or The Antiquitie of Magic, with Coelum Terrae. London: T. W. for H. Blunden, 1650. Governing transcription: EEBO-TCP A64768.0001.001. The Getty Research Institute copy supplies surviving first-edition page images; the 1656 issue supplies explicitly disclosed missing or defective material. The complete shared 1650 errata are recovered from the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica copy of The Man-Mouse.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

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.