Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy

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To the Author, on his Translation of Cornelius Agrippa.

You are the Pallas Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war of Learning, if named a Goddess;
Your knowledge has explained that original model;
Which Nature, also striving to combine
Science and Learning in this form of yours,
Does not show to us darkly, but clearly reveals
The knowledge of mysteries as if enshrined in you.
It is by your permission that we have access
Into Geomancy original: "Geomancy"; a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks, or sand; which, unless
You had unmasked it, would have remained a mystery,
A task too hard for mortals to explain.
Since you have preserved this from the Lethean floods original: "Lethæan floods"; referring to Lethe, the river of forgetfulness in the underworld, implying the translator saved this knowledge from being forgotten,
We will consecrate the laurel buds
To you: (dismissing Phoebus Apollo, the god of prophecy and the sun) yours shall be
The Oracle to which all people shall flee
In times of danger; your predictions shall
Enthrall our willing hearts to whatever
You command; yes, you shall be
Our sole Prophet, and we shall be obedient to you.

A decorative horizontal woodcut border identical to the one at the top of the page, composed of repeating stylized floral fleurons.

To the Author, on this his ingenious Translation of Cornelius Agrippa.

What is it I see? Agrippa made to wear
An English habit original: "habit"; meaning clothing or style? Surely this is something rare.
Or are his Roman original: "Romane"; referring to the Latin language in which Agrippa originally wrote garments, by your wit,
Translated into an English style so fit
To illustrate him? For we see that you have
Enlightened his obscure philosophy;
And that which remained so intricate,
You have exposed to every common original: "vulgar"; meaning the general public or those who do not read Latin brain.
If your beams shine so clearly through such dark works,
How splendid will they appear in your own!
Then go on, brave soul, to spread such rays
Of learning through the world as may speak your praise,
And fear no critics: for you, by a spell,
Can force their tongues to stay behind their teeth.