CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| [PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION] | v |
| [INTRODUCTION] | |
| False definition of Magic—It is not to be defined at hazard—Explanationof the Blazing Star—Existence of the absolute—Absolute nature ofmagical science—Errors of Dupuis—Profanation of the science—Predictionof Count Joseph de Maistre—Extent and import of the science—TheDivine Justice—Power of the adept—The devil and science—Existenceof demons—False idea of the devil—Conception of theManicheans—Crimes of sorcerers—The Astral Light—The so-calledImagination of Nature—Of what is to be understood hereby—Theeffects hereof—Definition of magnetism—Agreement between reasonand faith—Jachin and Boaz—Principle of the hierarchy—Religion ofKabalists—Images of God—Theory of the light—Mysteries of sexuallove—Antagonism of forces—The mythical Pope Joan—The Kabalahas an explanation and reconciliation of all—Why the Church condemnsMagic—Dogmatic Magic an explanation of the philosophy of history—Culpablecuriosity regarding Magic—Plan of the present work—Theauthor’s submission to the established order | 1 |
| [BOOK I] | |
| THE DERIVATIONS OF MAGIC | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| FABULOUS SOURCES | |
| The Book of Enoch concerning the Fall of the Angels—Meaning of theLegend—The Book of the Penitence of Adam—The Personality ofEnoch—The Apocalypse of St. Methodius—Children of Seth and ofCain—Rationale of occultism—Error of Rousseau—Traditions of Jewry—Theglory of Christianity—The Sepher Yetzirah, Zohar and Apocalypse—Openingof the Zohar | 39 |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| MAGIC OF THE MAGI | |
| The true and false Zoroaster—Doctrines of the true Zoroaster—Transcendentalfire-philosophy—Electrical secrets of Numa—A transcript fromZoroaster on demons and sacrifices—Important revelations on magnetism—Initiationin Assyria—Wonders performed by the Assyrians—DuPotet in accord with Zoroaster—Danger incurred by the unwary—Powerof man over animals—Downfall of the priesthood in Assyria—Magicaldeath of Sardanapalus | 53 |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| MAGIC IN INDIA | |
| The Indians as descendants of Cain—India the mother of idolatry—Doctrineof the Gymnosophists—Indian origin of Gnosticism—Some wise fablesof India—Black Magic of the Oupnek’hat—Citation from J. M. Ragon—IndianGrand Secrets—The English and Indian insurrections | 64 |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| HERMETIC MAGIC | |
| The Emerald Table—Other writings of Hermes—Magical interpretation ofthe geography of Ancient Egypt—Ministry of Joseph—Sacred alphabet—TheIsiac Tablet of Cardinal Bembo—The Tarot explained by theSepher Yetzirah—The Tarot of Charles VII—Magical science of Moses | 73 |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| MAGIC IN GREECE | |
| Fable of the Golden Fleece—Medea and Jason—The five magical epics—Aeschylusa profaner of the Mysteries—The Orpheus of legend—OrphicMysteries—Göetia—The sorcerers of Thessaly—Medea and Circe | 82 |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| MATHEMATICAL MAGIC OF PYTHAGORAS | |
| Pythagoras an heir of the traditions of Numa—Identity of Pythagoras—Hisdoctrine concerning God—A fine utterance against anarchy—GoldenVerses—Symbols of Pythagoras—His chastity—His divination—Hisexplanation of miracles—Secret of the interpretation of dreams—Thebelief of Pythagoras | 92 |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| THE HOLY KABALAH | |
| Origin of the Kabalah—The horror of idolatry in Kabalism—Kabalisticdefinition of God—Principles of the Kabalah—The Divine Names—Fourforms of Tetragrammaton—The word which accomplishes alltransmutations—The Keys of Solomon—The chain of spirits—Whetherhuman spirits return—The world of spirits according to the Zohar—Ofspirits which manifest—Fluidic larvæ—The Great Magical Agent—Obscureorigin of larvæ | 101 |
| [BOOK II] | |
| FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF DOGMAS | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| PRIMITIVE SYMBOLISM OF HISTORY | |
| Allegory of the Earthly Paradise—The Edenic Pantacle—The Cherub—Follyof a great mind—Mysteries of Genesis—Children of Cain—Magicalsecrets of the Tower of Babel—Belphegor—The mediævalSabbath—Decadence of the hierarchy—Philosophy of chance—Doctrineof Plato—An oracle of Apollo—Rationalism of Aristotle—The CubicStone—Summary of Neoplatonism | 115 |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| MYSTICISM | |
| Inviolability of magical science—Profane and mystic schools—The Bacchantes—Materialisticreformers and anarchic mystics—Imbecilevisionaries—Their horror of sages—Tolerance of the true Church—Falsemiracles—Rites of Black Magic—Barbarous words and unknownsigns—Cause of visions—A theory of hallucinations | 125 |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| INITIATIONS AND ORDEALS | |
| The Great Work—The four aspects of the Sphinx and the Shield of Achilles—Allegoriesof Hercules and Œdipus—The Secret Doctrine of Plato—OfPlato as Kabalist—Difference between Plato and St. John—Platonictheosophy—Fatal experiences—Homœpathy practised by the Greeks—Thecavern of Trophonius—Science of Egyptian priests—Lactantiusand the antipodes—The Greek hell—Ministry of suffering—The Tableof Cebes and the poem of Dante—Doctrines of the Phædron—Theburial of the dead—Necromancy | 133 |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| THE MAGIC OF PUBLIC WORSHIP | |
| Magnificence of the true Cultus—Orthodox traditions—Dissent of theprofane—Their calumnies against initiates—An allegory concerningBacchus—Tyresias and Calchas—The priesthood according to Homer—Oraclesof sibyls—Origin of geomancy and cartomancy | 145 |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| MYSTERIES OF VIRGINITY | |
| Of Hellenism at Rome—Institution of Vestals—Traditional virtue of virginblood—Symbolism of Sacred Fire—Religious aspect of the history ofLucretia—Honour among Roman women—Mysteries of the Bona Dea—Numaas a hierophant—Ingenious notions of Voltaire on divination—Propheticinstinct of the masses—Erroneous opinions of Fontenelleand Kircher on oracles—Religious Calendar of Numa | 152 |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| SUPERSTITIONS | |
| Their origin and persistence—Beautiful thought of the Roman pontiff, St.Gregory—Observation of numbers and of days—Abstinence of themagi—Opinions of Porphyry—Greek and Roman superstitions—Mythologicaldata on the secret properties of animals—A passage fromEuripides—Reasons of Pythagorean abstinence—Singular excerpt fromHomer—Presages, dreams, enchantments and fascinations—Magicalwhirlpools—Modern phenomena—Olympius and Plotinus | 158 |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| MAGICAL MONUMENTS | |
| The Seven Wonders of the world and the seven magical planets—ThePyramids—Thebes and its seven gates—The pantacle of the sun—Thepantacle of the moon—The pantacle of the conjugal Venus—The pantaclesof Mercury, Jupiter and Mars—The Temple of Solomon—Philosophicalsummary of ancient wisdom | 166 |
| [BOOK III] | |
| DIVINE SYNTHESIS AND REALISATION OF MAGIABY THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| CHRIST ACCUSED OF MAGIC BY THE JEWS | |
| The beginning of the Gospel according to St. John and its profound meaning—Ezekiela Kabalist—Special character of Christianity—Accusationsof the Jews against the Saviour—The Sepher Toldos Jeshu—A beautifullegend from the apocryphal gospels—The Johannites—Burning ofmagical books at Ephesus—Cessation of oracles—The great Pan isdead—Transfiguration of natural prodigy into miracle and of divinationinto prophecy | 171 |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| THE WITNESS OF MAGIC TO CHRISTIANITY | |
| Absolute existence of religion—Essential distinction between science andfaith—Puerile objections—Christianity proved by charity—Condemnationof Magic by the Christian priesthood—Simon the Magician—Hishistory—His doctrine—His conference with SS. Peter and Paul—Hisdownfall—His sect continued by Menander | 176 |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| THE DEVIL | |
| The question considered in the light of faith and science—Satan and Lucifer—Wisdomof the Church—The devil according to the initiates of occultscience—Of possessions in the gospel—Opinions of Torreblanca-Astralperversities—The Sabbatic goat—The false Lucifer | 187 |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| THE LAST PAGANS | |
| The eternal miracle of God—Civilising influence of Christianity—Apolloniusof Tyana—His allegorical legend—Julian the apostate—His evocations—Jamblichusand Maximus of Tyre—Birth of Secret Societies for theforbidden practices of Magic | 193 |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| LEGENDS | |
| The legend of St. Cyprian and St. Justin—Magical prayer of St. Cyprian—TheGolden Legend—Apuleius and the Golden Ass—The fable ofPsyche—Curious subtlety of St. Augustine—Philosophy of the Fathersof the Church | 200 |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| SOME KABALISTIC PAINTINGS AND SACRED EMBLEMS | |
| Gnosticism and the primitive Church—Emblems of the catacombs—Trueand false Gnostics—Profanation of the Gnosis—Impure and sacrilegiousRites—Eucharistic sacrilege—The Arch-heretic Marcos—Women andthe priesthood—Montanus and his female prophets—Tertullian—Thedualism of Manes—Danger of evocations—Divagations of Kabalism—Lossof the Kabalistic Keys | 208 |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| PHILOSOPHERS OF THE ALEXANDRIAN SCHOOL | |
| Ammonius Saccas—Plotinus—Porphyry—Hypatia—Incautious admissionsof Synesius—Writings of this initiate—More especially his tract onDreams—The commentary of Jerome Cardan thereon—Attribution ofthe works of St Dionysius to Synesius—Their orthodoxy and theirvalue | 215 |
| [BOOK IV] | |
| MAGIC AND CIVILISATION | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| MAGIC AMONG BARBARIANS | |
| Rome conquered by the Cross—History of Philinnium and Machates—TheBride of Corinth—Philosophical considerations thereon—Germanic andDruidic theology—College of the Druids at Autun—Druidic transmigrationof souls—Some Druidic practices | 223 |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| INFLUENCE of WOMEN | |
| Female influence in early France—Velleda slandered by Chateaubriand—Bertheau grand pied—The fairy Melusine—Saint Clothilde—Thesorceress Fredegonde—The story of Klodswinthe—Fredegonde andClovis—Further concerning her history | 232 |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| THE SALIC LAWS AGAINST SORCERERS | |
| Laws attributed to Pharamond—Explanation of a Talmudic passage byRabbi Jechiel—Belief in the immortality of the soul among the Jews—Anecclesiastical council on sorcery—The rise of Mohammed—Thereligious history of Charles Martel—The Reign of Pepin the Short—TheKabalist Zedekias—His fables concerning elementary spirits—Anepidemic of visions | 238 |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| LEGENDS OF THE REIGN OF CHARLEMAGNE | |
| Charlemagne a prince of faerie—Charlemagne and Roland—The enchantedsword and magic horn—The Enchiridion of Leo III—The traditiontherein—The pantacles—The Sabbath—The Free Judges—Theirfoundation and purpose—Power of this Tribunal—The fate of Frederickof Brunswick—Code of the Free Judges—Laws of Charlemagne—Knighterrantry—The cultus of the Blessed Virgin | 246 |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| MAGICIANS | |
| The pope and empire—The penalty of excommunication—Further concerningRabbi Jechiel—The automaton of Albertus Magnus—Albertusand St. Thomas Aquinas—The legend of the automaton interpreted—Scholasticismand Aristotelian philosophy—The philosophical stoneand the quintessence | 256 |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| SOME FAMOUS PROSECUTIONS | |
| The great religious orders and their power—The Knights Templar—Theirorigin—Their secret design—The Christian sect of Johannites—Theirprofanation of the history of Christ—Pontiffs of the Johannite sect—TheJohannites and the Templars—Further concerning Templar secretdoctrine—Development of the chivalry—Their projects discovered—Theirsuppression—The case of Joan of Arc—The history of Gilles deLaval | 264 |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| SUPERSTITIONS RELATING TO THE DEVIL | |
| Apparitions of Satan—Possessions—A philosophy of superstitions—Thecrime of Black Magic—Pathological states—The soul of the world—Modernphenomena—Fourier and M. de Mirville—Baron de Guldenstubbé | 281 |
| [BOOK V] | |
| THE ADEPTS AND THE PRIESTHOOD | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| PRIESTS AND POPES ACCUSED OF MAGIC | |
| Inviolable sanctity of the priesthood—Accusations of false adepts—Groundlesscharges against Pope Sylvester II—Scandalous story of Polonusreproduced by Platina—The legend of Pope Joan—Its derivation fromancient Tarot cards representing Isis crowned with a tiara—Furtherconcerning Sylvester II—Opinion of Gabriel Naudé—The Grimoireattributed to Pope Honorius III—The anti-pope Honorius II as itspossible author—An excursus on the content and character of thework | 291 |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| APPEARANCE OF THE BOHEMIAN NOMADS | |
| Their entrance into Europe early in the fifteenth century—Their name ofBohemians or Egyptians—An account of their encampment near Paris,drawn from an ancient chronicle—A citation from George Borrow—Researchesof M. Vaillant—The Gipsies and the Tarot—A conclusionon this subject—Communistic Experiment in 1840 | 306 |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| LEGEND AND HISTORY OF RAYMUND LULLY | |
| Story of the Doctor Illuminatus on its mythical side—Raymond Lully andthe Lady Ambrosia—His immortality and liberation therefrom—Thehistorical personage—Lully as an alchemist—The Rose Nobles—Hisphilosophical testament—Colleges for the study of languages foundedby his efforts—The Great Art—He appears at the Council of Vienna—Lullya disciple of the Kabalists—But the tradition in his hands hadbecome Christian | 319 |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| ON CERTAIN ALCHEMISTS | |
| Nicholas Flamel and the book of Abraham the Jew—Mysterious figures ofthe work—A tradition concerning Flamel—Bernard Trevisan—BasilValentine—John Trithemius—Cornelius Agrippa—The pantacle ofTrithemius—William Postel—Illustrations of his teaching—The storyof Mother Jeanne—The renewal of Postel—An opinion of FatherDesbillons—Paracelsus—His doctrines of occult medicine—Mysteriesof blood—Narrative of Tavernier—The Philosophia sagax of Paracelsus | 331 |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| SOME FAMOUS SORCERERS AND MAGICIANS | |
| The Divine Comedy of Dante and its Kabalistic analysis—The Romance ofthe Rose—Luther and anarchical theology—His disputes with the devil—Hissacrilegious marriage—Sorcerers during the reign Of Henry III—-Visionsof Jacques Clément—Mystic symbolism of the rose—Union of therose and the cross—The Rosicrucians—Henry Khunrath—His AmphitheatrumSapientiæ Æternæ—It’s pantacles—Oswaldus Crollius—Alchemistsof the early seventeenth century—A Rosicrucian manifesto | 345 |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| SOME MAGICAL PROSECUTIONS | |
| Introductory remarks—Real crime of sorcerers—Some deplorablecondemnations—The case of Louis Gaufridi—The case of UrbainGrandier—The nuns of Louviers and some other processes—Interpretation of certainphenomena—Story of an apparition | 360 |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| THE MAGICAL ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY | |
| Its appearance in Europe—Its allegorical and real end—The Legendof Hiram—Its meaning—Mission of the Rites of Masonry—Itsprofanations | 382 |
| [BOOK VI] | |
| MAGIC AND THE REVOLUTION | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| REMARKABLE AUTHORS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY | |
| Important discoveries in China—The Y-Kim of Fo-hi—Legend of its origin—Connectionwith the Zohar—An example of absolute philosophy—Opinionof Leibnitz—Emmanuel Swedenborg—His system and itsKabalistic derivation—The discovery of Mesmer—Its theory and itsgreat importance—A comparison between Voltaire and Mesmer | 391 |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| THAUMATURGIC PERSONALITIES OF THE EIGHTEENTHCENTURY | |
| The Comte de Saint-Germain—Unpublished particulars of his life—Thereport of Madame de Genlis—The Order of Saint Jakin—A pretendedinitiation—Further concerning the Rosicrucians—An appreciation ofSaint-Germain—His alleged identity with the mysterious Althotas—Thealchemist Lascaris—Count Cagliostro—An agent of the Templars—Asuccessor of Mesmer—Explanation of his seal and Kabalistic name—Hissecret of physical regeneration—His trial by the Inquisition—Heis said to be still alive | 400 |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| PROPHECIES OF CAZOTTE | |
| The school of Martinists—The supper of Cazotte—The romance of Le DiableAmoureux—Its interpretation according to the Kabalah—Lilith andNehamah—Initiation of Cazotte—The Mystic Mountain—Cazotte andthe Revolutionary Tribunal | 416 |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| THE FRENCH REVOLUTION | |
| The reveries of Rousseau and their fatal consequences—The tomb of Jacquesde Molay—The Lodge in Rue Platrière—The doom of Louis XVI—Agenius of massacre—Mademoiselle de Sombreuil—Madame Elizabeth—TheChurch of the Jacobins—Vengeance of the Templars—Furtherconcerning the Apocalypse of St. Methodius—The prophecies of AbbéJoachim | 422 |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| PHENOMENA OF MEDIOMANIA | |
| An obscure sect of Johannite mystics—Visions of Loiseaut—Dom Gerle andCatherine Théot—A visit from Robespierre—The prophecy of Catherine—Herfate and that of Dom Gerle—The Saviours of Louis XVII—Martinde Gallardon—Eugène Vintras—Naündorff | 427 |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| THE GERMAN ILLUMINATI | |
| The adept Steinert—An account of Eckartshausen—Schroepfer and Lavater—Thespirit Gablidone—His prophecies—Stabs and Napoleon—CarlSand and Kotzebue—The Mopses and their mysteries—The magicaldrama of Faust | 435 |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| EMPIRE AND RESTORATION | |
| Predictions relative to Napoleon—Mademoiselle Lenormand—Etteilla andcartomancy—Madame Bouche and the Czar Alexander—Madame deKrudener—Further concerning the Saviours of Louis XVII—Visionsof Martin de Gallardon | 443 |
| [BOOK VII] | |
| MAGIC IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| MAGNETIC MYSTICS AND MATERIALISTS | |
| Infectious follies of Fourier—The dogma of hell—An evocation in theChurch of Notre Dame—Lesser prophets and divinities—Ganneau,Auguste Comte and Wronski—Sale of the Absolute | 453 |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| HALLUCINATIONS | |
| Yet again concerning the Saviours of Louis XVII—Singular hallucinationof Eugène Vintras—His prophecies and pretended miracles—The sectof Vintras—Its condemnation by Gregory XVI—Pontificate of Vintras—Hisdreams and visions | 461 |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| MESMERISTS AND SOMNAMBULISTS | |
| The Church and the abuse of somnambulism—Baron Du Potet—His secretwork on Magic—Table-turning—A table burnt for heresy—Experiencesof Victor Hennequin—A magical melodrama | 471 |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| THE FANTASTIC SIDE OF MAGICAL LITERATURE | |
| Alphonse Esquiros invents a romanesque Magic—Henri Delaage continuesthe work—His gifts of enchantment—His orthodoxy—Le ComteD’Ourches—Baron de Guldenstubbé—His miraculous writings—Theirexplanation—Exhumation of a fakir—History of a vampire—Thecartomancist Edmond | 477 |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| SOME PRIVATE RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WRITER | |
| The author is presented by the magician Alphonse Esquiros to the divinityGanneau—Eccentric doctrines of the Mapah—Another Louis XVII—Afatal result of this visit—Secret cause of the Revolution of 1848—Thewife of Ganneau | 495 |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| THE OCCULT SCIENCES | |
| A synthesis in summary—Recapitulation of principles—The search afterthe absolute | 500 |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION | |
| The enigma of the sphinx and its solution—Paradoxical questions and theiranswers—Knowledge and faith—The communion of faith—Thetemporal power of the pope—The science of moral equilibrium—Consequencesof its recognition—A citation from the Blessed Vincent deLerins—Another from Comte Joseph de Maistre—An axiom of St.Thomas Aquinas—The liberation of Magic—Purpose of this work | 503 |
| [APPENDIX] | 526 |
| [INDEX] | 529 |
ILLUSTRATIONS
| PLATE | ||
| [I.] | Portrait of Éliphas Lévi in the Robe of a Magus | Frontispiece |
| FACING PAGE | ||
| [II.] | Portrait of Éliphas Lévi taken after death | xxii |
| [III.] | The Pentagram of the Absolute | 2 |
| [IV.] | The Great Symbol of Solomon, reconstructed according to the Zohar | 20 |
| [V.] | The Magical Head of the Zohar | 40 |
| [VI.] | The Great Kabalistic Symbol of the Zohar | 50 |
| [VII.] | The Mystery of Universal Equilibrium, according to Indian and Japanese Mythology, together with the Pantomorphic lynx, or Twenty-First Primitive Egyptian Tarot Key | 64 |
| [VIII.] | The Bembine Tablet | 78 |
| [IX.] | Pantacle of Kabalistic Letters, being the Key of the Tarot, Sepher Yetzirah and the Zohar | 102 |
| [X.] | The Seal of Cagliostro, Seal of the Samian Juno, Apocalyptic Seal, Twelve Seals of the Cubic Stone in Masonry, with the Twenty-First Tarot Key in the centre of all | 120 |
| [XI.] | Egyptian Symbols of Typhon, illustrating Göetia and Necromancy. Typhon is depicted performing the renewal of the empire of darkness. From the Temple of Hermoutis. The smaller figures are from the Zodiac of Esne and the top is a bas relief in the same temple | 128 |
| [XII.] | The Seven Wonders of the World | 166 |
| [XIII.] | A Public Disputation between St. Peter and St. Paul on the one side and Simon the Magician on the other. Ascent and fall of Simon. From an engraving of the fifteenth century | 184 |
| [XIV.] | Hermetic Magic. Reproduced from an ancient Manuscript | 224 [pg. xxxvi] |
| [XV.] | The Philosophical Cross, or plan of the Third Temple, as prophesied by Ezekiel and planned in the building scheme of the Knights Templar | 264 |
| [XVI.] | Two occult Seals are shewn in the left compartment; the first represents the Great Work; the second is that of Black Magic. Both are from the Grimoire of Honorius. The right hand compartment contains primitive Egyptian Tarots—the 2 of Cups at the top and beneath this, specimens of the Ace of Cups | 298 |
| [XVII.] | The Seven Planets and their Genii, according to the Magic of Paracelsus | 340 |
| [XVIII.] | The Great Hermetic Arcanum, according to Basil Valentine | 394 |
| [XIX.] | A general plan of Kabalistic Doctrine | 454 |
| [XX.] | Apocalyptic Key: the Seven Seals of St. John | 502 |
THE HISTORY OF MAGIC
INTRODUCTION
Magic has been confounded too long with the jugglery of mountebanks, the hallucinations of disordered minds and the crimes of certain unusual malefactors. There are otherwise many who would promptly explain Magic as the art of producing effects in the absence of causes; and on the strength of such a definition it will be said by ordinary people—with the good sense which characterises the ordinary, in the midst of much injustice—that Magic is an absurdity. But it can have no analogy in fact with the descriptions of those who know nothing of the subject; furthermore, it is not to be represented as this or that by any person whomsoever: it is that which it is, drawing from itself only, even as mathematics do, for it is the exact and absolute science of Nature and her laws.
Magic is the science of the ancient magi; and the Christian religion, which silenced the counterfeit oracles and put a stop to the illusions of false gods, does, this notwithstanding, revere those mystic kings who came from the East, led by a star, to adore the Saviour of the world in His cradle. They are elevated by tradition to the rank of kings, because magical initiation constitutes a true royalty; because also the great art of the magi is characterised by all adepts as the Royal Art, as the Holy Kingdom—Sanctum Regnum. The star which conducted the pilgrims is the same Burning Star which is met with in all initiations. For alchemists it is the sign of the quintessence, for magicians it is the Great Arcanum, for Kabalists the sacred pentagram. Our design is to prove that the study of this pentagram did itself lead the magi to a knowledge of that New Name which was to be exalted above all names and to bend the knees of all beings who were capable of adoration. Magic, therefore, combines in a single science that which is most certain in philosophy, which is eternal and infallible in religion. It reconciles perfectly and incontestably those two terms, so opposed on the first view—faith and reason, science and belief, authority and liberty. It furnishes the human mind with an instrument of philosophical and religious certitude as exact as mathematics, and even accounting for the infallibility of mathematics themselves.
An Absolute exists therefore in the realms of understanding and faith. The lights of human intelligence have not been left by the Supreme Reason to waver at hazard. There is an incontestable truth; there is an infallible method of knowing that truth; while those who attain this knowledge, and adopt it as a rule of life, can endow their will with a sovereign power which can make them masters of all inferior things, all wandering spirits, or, in other words, arbiters and kings of the world.
If such be the case, how comes it that so exalted a science is still unrecognised? How is it possible to assume that so bright a sun is hidden in a sky so dark? The transcendental science has been known always, but only to the flowers of intelligence, who have understood the necessity of silence and patience. Should a skilful surgeon open at midnight the eyes of a man born blind, it would still be impossible to make him realise the nature or existence of daylight till morning came. Science has its nights and its mornings, because the life which it communicates to the world of mind is characterised by regular modes of motion and progressive phases. It is the same with truths as it is with radiations of light. Nothing which is hidden is lost, but at the same time nothing that is found is absolutely new. The seal of eternity is affixed by God to that science which is the reflection of His glory.