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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 IThe Sun Moon and Mercury · Manuscript 105v · Scan 244

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English Page · Branch 237 of 351

The Sun Moon and Mercury · Manuscript 105v · Scan 244

French

Ms. 105v

rapport aux mystères qui sont cachés dessous.

Quoique je représente ces sacrés et divins emblèmes comme plus grands et au-dessus des secrets physiques, qui empêche que nous ne les ajustions, pour pouvoir par le moyen de ceux-ci parvenir à la connaissance de ceux-là parce que la nuit indique la science à la nuit, et que la lumière éclaire le jour? Qui empêche que nous expliquions ce second œuvre de la pierre et de sa nature, par ces troupes de cavaliers? Car convient-elle mieux à quelque autre chose qu'à cette opération? Que signifient je vous le demande, ces anges mis en liberté qui étaient liés dans le grand fleuve de l'Euphrate?

Les chimistes appellent leur mer cette solution et résolution de la matière, ou la comparent à Achéloüs le plus célèbre de tous les fleuves. Il est besoin d'un grand travail et d'une grande force pour abattre ce monstre, parce qu'il se revêtit à tout instant de formes nouvelles, et qu'on ne présente la couronne qu'à celui qui combat le plus vigoureusement. Ces quatre esprits sont les

Ms. 105v

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: The Sun Moon and Mercury

Ms. 105v

regard for the mysteries hidden beneath them.

Although I represent these sacred, divine emblems as greater than and above physical secrets, what prevents us from adjusting them together, so that through the latter we may attain knowledge of the former, since night communicates knowledge to night and light illuminates day? What prevents us from explaining this second work of the stone and its nature through these troops of riders? Is it better suited to anything else than this operation? What, I ask you, do these angels set free, who had been bound in the great river Euphrates, signify?

Chemists call this dissolution and resolution of matter their sea, or compare it to Achelous, most celebrated of all rivers. Great labor and strength are needed to overthrow this monster, because it clothes itself in new forms at every moment, and the crown is offered only to whoever fights most vigorously. These four spirits are the

Ms. 105v

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.