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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 53v · Scan 134

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French Page · Branch 127 of 351

Good and Evil Angels · Manuscript 53v · Scan 134

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French

Ms. 53v

une force accidentelle et individuelle; des cinquièmes pour tirer les éléments des premiers abîmes de la matière; des sixièmes pour engendrer les métaux, des septièmes pour engendrer les végétaux, et des huitièmes pour produire les animaux, le soin des neuvièmes et des derniers est confié aux hommes; c'est pourquoi on les appelle leurs maîtres, leurs docteurs, leurs esprits défenseurs et tutélaires.

Quoique cet arrangement des anges paraisse ne pas beaucoup servir à notre sujet, puisqu'il ne nous regarde pas, et que ce n'est pas notre sentiment, nous avons voulu néanmoins l'ajouter ici, pour pouvoir connaître non seulement dans le monde intellectuel et céleste, mais aussi dans le monde inférieur naturel et élémentaire, un arrangement qui n'est pas fort différent, et qui correspond à la fin pour laquelle ils ont été créés, au moyen duquel nous puissions en suivant le chemin royal qui est tout droit, toucher aux secrets de la nature et aux mystères de la divinité.

Quoiqu'il n'y ait aucun ordre dans les enfers et qu'on ne donne aux Démons ni premières ni secondes

Ms. 53v

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

Ms. 53v

an accidental and individual power; the fifth to draw the elements from the first abysses of matter; the sixth to generate metals; the seventh to generate plants; and the eighth to produce animals. Care of the ninth and last is entrusted to human beings, which is why they are called their masters, teachers, and defending and tutelary spirits.

Although this arrangement of angels may seem of little use to our subject, since it does not concern us and is not our own opinion, we nevertheless wished to add it here. It enables us to recognize, not only in the intellectual and celestial world but also in the lower, natural and elemental world, an arrangement not greatly different and corresponding to the end for which they were created. Through it, by following the royal road that runs straight, we may touch the secrets of nature and mysteries of divinity.

Although there is no order in the underworld, and demons are assigned neither first nor second

Ms. 53v

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.