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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 ISaint John and the Apocalyptic Figures · Manuscript 76r · Scan 181

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Saint John and the Apocalyptic Figures · Manuscript 76r · Scan 181

French

Ms. 76r

vêtu d’une robe qui lui descendait jusqu’aux pieds, ceint d’une ceinture d’or sur le sein. Sa tête et ses cheveux étaient blancs comme la laine blanche et comme la neige, et ses yeux comme la flamme du feu, et ses pieds semblables à du clinquant comme dans un fourneau ardent, et sa voix ressemblait à celle de plusieurs eaux, et il portait en sa main droite sept étoiles, et de sa bouche sortait un glaive tranchant des deux côtés, et sa face brillante comme le soleil. Sa vertu fera paraître en plein jour non seulement les secrets les plus cachés de la nature, mais encore les mystères de notre religion qui sont cachés sous les ombres de la nature ; non pas afin que nous les discutions ou que nous prenions peine à y trouver de la différence, mais en dissipant leurs ombres nous écarterons ce qui cause leur obscurité ou ce qui leur donne une ombre trop forte par le moyen des voiles obscurs des figures. Y aura-t-il donc quelqu’un assez osé pour dire que je leur donne le sens ou l’explication qu’il me plaît, puisque leurs caractères et leur explication

Ms. 76r

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: Saint John and the Apocalyptic Figures

Ms. 76r

clothed in a robe descending to his feet, girded across the breast with a golden belt. His head and hair were white as white wool and snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire; his feet like glittering metal within a burning furnace; and his voice resembled the sound of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth issued a sword sharp on both edges; his face shone like the Sun. His power will bring into full daylight not only nature’s most hidden secrets, but also the mysteries of our religion concealed beneath nature’s shadows. The purpose is not to dispute them or labor to find differences within them. By dispelling their shadows we shall remove what causes their obscurity, or casts too deep a shade upon them through the figures’ dark veils. Will anyone therefore be bold enough to say that I give them whatever meaning or explanation pleases me, since their characters and their explanation

Ms. 76r

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.