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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 AdamicaThe Address to the Book · Page 139 · Passage A

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Facing Pages · Branch 293 of 318

The Address to the Book · Page 139 · Passage A

Original English

ANd now my Book, let it not stop thy Flight, That thy just Author, is not Lord, or Knight. I can define my self: and have the Art Still to present one face, and still one Heart. But for nine years some Great ones cannot see What they have been, nor know they what to bee. What though I have no Rattles to my name, Do'st hold a simple Honestie no Fame? Or art thou such a stranger to the Times, Thou canst not know my Fortunes from my Crimes. Goe forth, and fear not: some will gladly bee Thy learned friends, whom I did never see. Nor shouldst thou fear thy welcom: thy small Price Cannot undo'em, though they pay Excise. Thy Bulk's not great: it will not much distresse Their emptie Pockets, but their Studies lesse. Th'art no Galeon, as Books of Burthen bee, Which can not ride but in a Librarie. Th'art a fine Thing and little: it may Chance Ladies will buy thee for a new Romance. Oh how I'le envy Thee! when thou art spread In the bright Sun-shine of their Eyes, and read With Breath of Amber, Lips of Rose, that lend Perfumes vnto thy Leaves, shal never spend: When from their white hands they shall let thee fall Into their Bosomes, which I may not call Ought of Misfortune, Thou do'st drop to rest In a more pleasing place, and art more blest.

Modern English

And now, my book, do not let this stop your flight: Your rightful author is no lord or knight. I can define myself, and have the art To show one constant face, one constant heart. Yet for nine years some great ones cannot see What they have been, nor know what they should be. What if no rattles decorate my name? Do you think simple honesty no fame? Or are you such a stranger to these times You cannot tell my fortunes from my crimes? Go out, and fear not: some will gladly be Your learned friends, though never seen by me. Do not fear your welcome: your small price Cannot undo them, though they pay excise. Your bulk is small: it will not much distress Their empty pockets, and their studies less. You are no galleon, like books of burden, That cannot berth except within a library. You are a fine and little thing: by chance Ladies may buy you as a new romance. How I shall envy you when you are spread In the bright sunshine of their eyes and read With amber breath and lips of rose, which lend Perfumes to your leaves that shall never end; When from their white hands they shall let you fall Into their bosoms, which I cannot call A stroke of ill fortune: you fall to rest In a more pleasing place, and are more blessed.

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.