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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Abraham the Jew

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures

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The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume IGood and Evil Angels · Manuscript 57v · Scan 142

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French Page · Branch 135 of 351

Good and Evil Angels · Manuscript 57v · Scan 142

French

Ms. 57v

recherchent par prières quelque part à la majesté ténébreuse et à l'empire infernal de Pluton, prince de l'obscurité; demeurent sur son siège de soufre d'où l'on dit que coulent les quatre fleuves d'enfer, qui sont les quatre plus mauvaises qualités des éléments, par le moyen desquelles, comme de quatre furies, ils sèment toutes toutes d'inimitiés, de haines, d'antipathies, de guerres, de corruptions, et la mort même au milieu des choses créées.

Parce que Pluton a voulu disputer avec l'or, qui est sans contredit le premier de tous les métaux, il a été précipité dans une prison obscure et ténébreuse comme dans un étang de soufre, et garrotté de chaînes indissolubles, il paie les peines éternelles dues au crime qu'il a commis. Sa puissance comme il est le chef de tous est si grande, qu'il s'acharne cruellement contre tous les corps qui lui sont sujets. Il glace du froid le plus horrible les plus chauds; brûle les plus froids; brise les plus durs; sèche les plus humides; condense les corps aériens, et plus cruel qu'un monstre, se jette sur son

Ms. 57v

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: Good and Evil Angels

Ms. 57v

seek through prayers some share in the dark majesty and infernal empire of Pluto, prince of darkness. They dwell upon his sulfurous seat, from which the four rivers of hell are said to flow. These are the four worst qualities of the elements, by means of which, like four furies, they sow all, all kinds of enmities, hatreds, antipathies, wars, corruptions, and death itself among created things.

Because Pluto wished to contend with gold, unquestionably the first of all metals, he was cast into a dark, shadowy prison as into a lake of sulfur. Bound with indissoluble chains, he pays the eternal penalties due to his crime. His power, as chief of them all, is so great that he rages cruelly against every body subject to him. With the most horrible cold he freezes the hottest; burns the coldest; breaks the hardest; dries the moistest; condenses aerial bodies; and, more cruel than a monster, hurls himself upon his

Ms. 57v

About This Reading Edition

The first manuscript in the Manly Palmer Hall collection at the Getty Research Institute: the Book of Hieroglyphic Figures, presented in French and English with 463 explanatory notes, 13 manuscript plates, 25 source details, an introduction, chapter outline, glossary, bibliography, and register of readings.

Historical Text and Translation

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures (Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques), attributed in the witness to Abraham the Jew. Getty Research Institute, Manly Palmer Hall collection of alchemical manuscripts, accession 950053, Box 1, Hogart manuscript 3; French witness catalogued circa 1800. Manly Palmer Hall is the collector, not the author.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The circa 1800 source manuscript is public domain. The supplied 2026 French reading transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, outline, glossary, register, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. Source photographs are credited to the Getty Research Institute and Internet Archive in the supplied edition.