Three books of occult philosophy or magic
 |
| von Nettesheim Agrippa |
In the last half of 1509 and the first months of 1510, Cornelius A^jrippa, known in his day as a Magician, gathered together all the Mystic lore he had obtained by the energy and ardour of youth and compiled it into the elaborate system of Magic, in three books, known as Occult Philosophy, the first book of which — Natural Magic— constitutes the present volume. Agrippa published his Occult Philosophy, with additional chapters, in 1533.
The only English translation appeared in London in 1651. It is a thoroughly edited and revised edition of this latter work that we produce.
Some translating has been done and missing parts supplied. The reader is assured that while we have modified some of the very broad English of the seventeenth century, he has a thoroughly valid work. Due care has been taken to preserve all the quaintness of the English text as far as consistent with plain reading. We have endeavoured to do full justice to our author, the demands of those purely mystical, and the natural conservatism of the antiquary and collector. In this, we believe we have fully succeeded.
The life of Agrippa, up to the time of writing his Occult Philosophy, is also given, drawn mostly from Henry Morley's excellent life of Cornelius Agrippa.
That part of the volume credited to Mr Morley may be designated as an honest sceptic's contribution to Mysticism, and his chapters are produced entirely, as justice to both him and Agrippa cannot be done otherwise, and they are an especially valuable part of Mystic literature.
Download Three books of occult philosophy PDF book