THE THREE BOOKS OF THE NOBLE MAN

HENRY CORNELIUS AGRIPPA, GOLDEN KNIGHT,

and Doctor of both Laws, Councilor to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and

judge of the archives, Concerning Occult Philosophy, or Concerning Magic.

Three Books.

Decorative initial letter 'C' set within a square woodcut border. Inside the letter 'C' is a figure of a scholar or magus sitting at a desk, surrounded by objects including a globe and books.Since there is a TRIPLE WORLD Agrippa refers to the Neoplatonic division of the universe into the physical, the celestial/astrological, and the spiritual/divine—elemental, celestial, and intellectual—and since each lower world is governed by the one above it and receives the influx of its powers, it follows that the Archetype Archetype: the original divine "blueprint" or God himself and supreme Creator, through angels, heavens, stars, elements, animals, plants, metals, and stones, pours out the virtues of his omnipotence into us. For our service he established and created all these things. Therefore, the Magi original: "Magi"; here referring to wise men or practitioners of high natural philosophy do not think it unreasonable that we can ascend through these same degrees, through each individual world, to that very same Archetype, the maker of all things and the First Cause, from whom all things exist and all things proceed. They believe we can not only enjoy these virtues original: "virtutibus"; in this context, "virtue" means an inherent power or medicinal/spiritual quality which already exist in the more noble things, but can also attract new ones from above. Hence, they hunt for the powers of the elemental world through various mixtures of natural things via medicine and natural philosophy; then, they connect celestial virtues to those mixtures by the rays and influences of the celestial world, according to the rules of astrologers and the disciplines of mathematicians; furthermore, they strengthen and confirm all these things by the powers of various Intelligences spiritual beings or angels that govern the spheres through the sacred ceremonies of religions. I will now attempt to pass down the order and process of all these things in these three books: of which the first shall contain Natural Magic, the second Celestial Magic, and the third Ceremonial Magic. But I do not know if I am quite worthy of pardon—being a man of minor talent and learning—for having so freely undertaken such a difficult, arduous, and intricate business in my very youth original: "adolescentia"; Agrippa began this work around age 23. For this reason, regarding whatever has been said by me here and will be said below, I do not wish anyone to agree with me, nor do I agree with myself, any further than they have not been rejected by the Catholic Church and the assembly of the faithful.

Decorative initial letter 'M' inside a square frame, featuring a floral and foliate design.The magical faculty, possessing the greatest power and full of the highest mysteries, embraces the most profound contemplation of the most secret things: their nature, power, quality, substance, and virtue, as well as the knowledge of all nature. It teaches us how things [relate] among themselves...