Magia Adamica

Name: Magia Adamica
Author: Thomas Vaughan

The Antiquity of Magic · With the Complete Coelum Terrae

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Magia AdamicaTo the Reader · Original

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To the Reader · Original

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Original English

This is Advertisement enough: And now Reader, I must tell thee, I have met with some late Attempts on my two former Discourses, but truth is Proof, and I am so far from being overcome, that I am no where understood. When I first ey'd the Libell, and its Addresse to Philalethes, I judg d the Author serious, and that his Design was not to abuse mee, but to informe Himselfe. This Conceit quickly vanish'd, for perusing his forepart, his Eares shot out of his skin, and presented him a perfect Asse. His Observations are one continued κώαξ and the Oyster-Whores read the same Philosophie every day. 'Tis a Scurril, senselesse Piece, and as he well stiles himself, a Chip of a Block-head.

Modern English

This is sufficient notice. Now, reader, I must tell you that I have encountered some recent attacks on my two former discourses; but truth is proof against attack, and, far from being overcome, I have nowhere even been understood. When I first saw the libel and its address to Philalethes, I judged the author serious, intending to inform himself rather than abuse me. This notion quickly vanished: as I read his opening part, his ears shot out of his skin and displayed him as a perfect ass. His observations are one continuous croak, and the oyster-whores expound the same philosophy every day. It is a scurrilous, senseless piece; and, as he aptly styles himself, he is a chip of a blockhead.

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.