Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy

A horizontal decorative border at the top of the page composed of stylized floral and foliate ornaments (fleurons) arranged in a row.

To his friend the Author, on this his Translation.

What, is there not a Sibyl A female prophet of the ancient world. or Cassandra A Trojan priestess cursed to utter true prophecies that were never believed. left?
Has Apollo The Greek and Roman god of prophecy and the arts. ceased? Has sharp-fanged Time bereft
Us of the Oracles? Is Dodona's grove original: "Dodan's"; an ancient oracle of Zeus where the rustling of oak leaves was interpreted as divine messages.
Cut down? Does never a word proceed from Jove Jupiter/Zeus, the king of the gods.
Into the ears of mortals who inherit
Tiresias' soul A blind prophet of Thebes., or the great Calchas' spirit A powerful seer during the Trojan War.?
What has become of the Augurs Ancient Roman religious officials who observed natural signs, especially the flight of birds, to interpret the divine will. who foretold
Nature's intents? Are the Magi Wise men or magicians, originally Zoroastrian priests. dead, who could
Tell what was done in every Sphere In the Ptolemaic system, the celestial shells surrounding the Earth.? Shall we
Not know what is done in the remotest country
Without great travel? Can we not here below descry
The mind of the gods above? All this is achieved by you,
Agrippa Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486–1535), the author of the original Latin text on occult philosophy.; all their arts lie hidden within you.
The Art that before in diverse heads did lie,
Is now collected into one monopoly.
But all was in vain; we lacked an Oedipus The mythical Greek figure who solved the riddle of the Sphinx; here used to mean a brilliant interpreter.,
Who should interpret the meaning for us:
This you accomplish with such dexterity,
Adding perhaps what the Author never did see;
So that we may say, you do the Art renew:
To you the greater half of the praise is due.