TO THE MOST REVEREND

FATHER IN CHRIST, AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE,

Hermann of Wied Hermann von Wied (1477–1552) was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. At the time of this dedication, he was a powerful prince of the Holy Roman Empire; he later became known for his attempts to reform the church along Protestant lines., by the grace of God Archbishop of the Holy Church of Cologne, Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, and Archchancellor throughout Italy, Duke of Westphalia and Angria, etc. Legate by birth to the Holy Roman Church, and Vicar General in matters pontifical, Henry Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim sends his greetings.

A large ornamental woodcut initial 'E' featuring two putti or human figures intertwined with acanthus-like foliage and strapwork.

SUCH IS THE CELEBRITY OF YOUR ILLUSTRIOUS FAME, most reverend and illustrious Prince, such is the greatness of your virtues and the splendor of your learning, your frequent practice of the finest literature, your grave speech joined with solid prudence, your elegant readiness in speaking, your knowledge of many things, your constant religion, and your most praiseworthy character—qualities with which you are endowed far beyond the common custom of others. I say nothing of the ancient portraits of your eminent nobility, or the treasures of both old and new wealth, the vastness of your domain, or the miters of your sacred dignities, whose excellence you surpass even with the becoming form and strength of your body. Although all these things are very great, I nonetheless consider you far greater than all of them because of those heroic and super-illustrious virtues of yours. By these, you have surely ensured that the more learned and the more a lover of virtue someone is, the more they desire to be introduced to your benevolence.

For this reason, I too determined that I must seek your favor—but after the manner of the Parthians original: "Parthorum more." This refers to an ancient anecdote that one should never approach a ruler without bringing a gift., which is to say, not without a gift. Indeed, we see this custom of greeting a Prince, derived from the centuries of the ancients down to our own times, observed even to this day. And as I saw all other exceptionally learned men decorating you with beautiful and great gifts of their learning, I did not dare approach your greatness with empty hands, lest I alone appear as a deserter of your honor and veneration.

Thinking it over and looking around in my library for what gift I might bestow upon so distinguished a Prince, behold! among the hidden things, there suddenly offered themselves the books Of Occult Philosophy, or Of Magic. I began to write these when I was quite young, and for many years now, as if having forgotten them, I had set them aside. Soon, out of veneration for your greatness, I hurried to complete them, as if to fulfill a vow. Surely, I persuaded myself that I could give you nothing more pleasing than a new work on the most ancient and most abstruse doctrine—a work, I say, of our curious youth, but containing the doctrine of antiquity; I might dare to say...