Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Fables and the Philosophical Work · Manuscript 21v · Scan 62
French
Ms. 21vde si dangereux ennemis, se sert d’une pique, d’une massue, si au lieu de casque, de cuirasse, et d’autres armes il se sert des dépouilles du lion rouge dont il s’est couvert, ce qui n’attribuera plutôt de si grandes victoires à ses forces et à son courage qu’à ses armes, et ne les rapportera pas à la vérité de la physique chimique cachée sous l’écorce de la fable.
Quoiqu’il ne se présente pas devant Persée un si grand nombre d’ennemis à combattre et à terrasser, cependant, il est tout cuirassé, chargé du poids de ses armes, il se sert d’un cheval ailé et de brodequins ailés, d’une épée empoisonnée et d’un miroir enchanté pour combattre un dragon vomi par les flots de la mer.
Jason, au contraire, n’a point recours aux armes, mais à l’artifice, aux avis et à la prudence, et au cas qu’il arrive qu’il soit blessé à mort, il consulte la médecine de l’enchanteresse Médée, et a recours aux prestiges et aux enchantements s’il est besoin.
C’est de ces sortes de choses dont abusent et ne se servent point les Rois et les Souverains qui ont des troupes innombrables à terrasser et à mettre en pièces ;
The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: Fables and the Philosophical Work
Ms. 21vsuch dangerous enemies, uses a pike and a club, and if, instead of a helmet, breastplate, and other weapons, he uses the spoils of the red lion with which he has clothed himself, who would not attribute such great victories to his strength and courage rather than to his weapons, and refer them to the truth of chemical physics hidden beneath the bark of fable?
Although Perseus does not face so great a number of enemies to combat and overthrow, he is nevertheless fully armored, burdened by the weight of his weapons; he uses a winged horse and winged buskins, a poisoned sword, and an enchanted mirror to combat a dragon spewed up by the waves of the sea.
Jason, on the contrary, has no recourse to weapons but to stratagem, advice, and prudence; and should he happen to be mortally wounded, he consults the medicine of the enchantress Medea and has recourse to magical illusions and enchantments if needed.
These are the sorts of things that kings and sovereigns abuse and do not use, though they have countless troops to overthrow and tear to pieces;
Socrates
Reading The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I · Fables and the Philosophical Work · Manuscript 21v · Scan 62
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
- Manuscript collection and Box 1 identificationGetty Research Institute: Hall collection finding aid
- Underlying manuscript photographsInternet Archive: Hall collection, Box 1
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