Preface.

This translation of the FIRST BOOK of the “Lemegeton” Also known as the Lesser Key of Solomon, a famous book of demonology and magic. which is now for the first time made accessible to students of TALISMANIC MAGIC Magic involving the creation and charging of physical objects or symbols to produce a desired effect. was done, after careful collation and edition, from numerous Ancient Manuscripts in Hebrew, Latin, and French, by G. H. Fra. Abbreviation for the Latin Frater, meaning "Brother." D.D.C.F. The magical initials for S.L. MacGregor Mathers, standing for the Latin Deo Duce Comite Ferro, meaning "With God as my leader and the sword as my companion.", by the order of the Secret Chief of the Rosicrucian Order.* The G. H. Fra., having succumbed unhappily to the assaults of the Four Great Princes The four primary demons often cited as ruling the cardinal points: Lucifer, Leviathan, Satan, and Belial. (acting notably under Martial Relating to the planet Mars, signifying aggression, conflict, or war. influences), it seemed expedient that the work should be brought to its conclusion by another hand. The investigation of a competent Skryer A practitioner of "scrying" or crystal-gazing, who perceives visions in reflective surfaces. into the house of our unhappy Fra., confirmed this divination; neither our Fra. nor his Hermetic Mul. Abbreviation for the Latin Mulier, meaning "Woman" or "Wife." This refers to Moina Mathers. were there seen; but only the terrible shapes of the evil Adepts S.V.A.† and H., whose original bodies having

*Mr. A. E. Waite writes (“Real History Of The Rosicrucians,” p. 426): “I beg leave to warn my readers that all persons who proclaim themselves to be Rosicrucians are simply members of pseudo-fraternities, and that there is that difference between their assertion and the fact of the case in which the essence of a lie consists!” It is within the Editor’s The editor here is Aleister Crowley. personal knowledge that Mr. Waite was (and still is probably) a member of a society claiming to be the R.C. Rosicrucian fraternity. As Mr. Waite constantly hints in his writing that he is in touch with initiated centres, I think the syllogism A form of logical reasoning where a conclusion is drawn from two premises., whose premises are given above, is fair, if not quite formal.—ED.

†It was owing to our Fra. receiving this S.V.A. The magical motto Sapere Velle Abstine ("To know, to will, to refrain"), belonging to a rival occultist. as his Superior, and giving up the Arcana Latin for "secrets" or "mysteries." of our Fraternity into so unhallowed a power, that We decided no longer to leave Our dignity and authority in the hands of one who could be thus easily imposed upon. (For by a childish and easy magical trick did S.V.A. persuade D.D.C.F. of that lie.)