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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 Defence of Magic · Original

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Original English Page · Branch 79 of 318

The Defence of Magic · Original

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Original English

with much more Content and Advantage, I think it not enough to have discover'd the Abuses and misfortunes this Science hath suffered, unless I indeavour withall to demonstrate the Antiquitie of it. For certainly it is with Arts, as it is with Men their Age and Continuance are good Arguments of their strength, and Integritie. Most apposit then was that Check of the AEgyptian to Solon: O Solon, Solon! Vos Graeci semper pueriestis, nullam habentes antiquam Opinionem, nullam Disciplinam tempore canam; You Graecians (said hee) are ever childish, having no Ancient opinion, no Discipline of any long standing. But as I confesse my self no Antiquarie, so I wish some Seldon would stand in this Breach, and make it up with those Fragments, which are so neer Dust, that Time may put them in his Glass. I know for my own part, it is an Enterprise I cannot sufficiently performe, but since my hand is already in the Bag, I will draw out those few Pebbles I have, and thus I fling them at the Mark.

Modern English

with much greater satisfaction and advantage, I think it insufficient to have exposed the abuses and misfortunes suffered by this science unless I also attempt to demonstrate its antiquity. For arts are surely like people: their age and endurance are good arguments for their strength and integrity. Most appropriate, then, was the Egyptian’s rebuke to Solon: [New translation of the Latin:] “Solon, Solon! You Greeks are always children: you possess no ancient belief, no teaching grey with age.” [Vaughan’s own English rendering:] “You Greeks are forever childish, having no ancient opinion, no discipline of any long standing.” But, as I confess myself no antiquary, I wish some Selden would stand in this breach and fill it with those fragments now so close to dust that Time may put them in his hourglass. For my own part, I know this is an undertaking I cannot adequately accomplish. But since my hand is already in the bag, I shall draw out my few pebbles and sling them at the mark.

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.