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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 AdamicaTo the Reader · Unnumbered Preliminary 19 · Passage A

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Facing Pages · Branch 46 of 318

To the Reader · Unnumbered Preliminary 19 · Passage A

Original English

of this durty Reare be very nauseous, and able to spoile a stronger stomach than mine. It hath been said of old, Non est Planta veritatis super terram, Trueth is an herb, that grows not here below: and can I expect that these few seeds, which I scatter thus in the storm and tempest, should thrive to their full eares, and Harvest? But Reader, let it not trouble thee to see the Truth come thus behind, it may be there is more of a Chase in it, than of Attendance, and her Condition not altogether so bad, as her Station. If thou art one of those, who draw up to the Chariot, pause here a little in the Reare, and before thou dost addresse thy self to Aristotel and his Lady Lie, think not thy Courtship lost, if thou doest kisse the lips of poor Truth. It is not my Intention to jest with thee, in what I shall write, wherefore read thou with a good Faith, what I will tell thee with a good Conscience. God, when hee first made

Modern English

of this filthy rear is nauseating enough to spoil a stronger stomach than mine. It was said long ago: [New translation of the Latin:] “There is no plant of truth upon the earth.” [Vaughan’s own English rendering:] “Truth is an herb that does not grow here below.” Can I expect these few seeds, scattered in such storm and tempest, to thrive to their full ears and harvest? But, reader, do not be troubled to see Truth coming behind like this. There may be more pursuit than attendance in it, and her condition may not be altogether as bad as her position. If you are one of those drawing up to the chariot, pause a little here at the rear. Before addressing yourself to Aristotle and his Lady Lie, do not think your courtship wasted if you kiss poor Truth’s lips. I do not intend to jest with you in what I shall write. Read, therefore, in good faith what I shall tell you in good conscience. When God first made

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.