INTRODUCTION. xviii

The style of the French used in the text of the manuscript is somewhat vague and obscure. These two qualities are unfortunately made worse by the almost total lack of punctuation and the rarity of paragraph breaks. Even the period at the end of a sentence is usually omitted, and the start of a new sentence is not marked with a capital letter. The following example is taken from near the end of the Third Book:

"This is why the first thing you must primarily do with your familiar spirits will be to command them never to say anything of their own accord unless you question them, unless it is to warn you of things concerning your benefit or your harm. This is because if you do not limit their talking, they will tell you so many and such great things that they will cloud your understanding, and you will not know what to believe; so that in the confusion of things they could cause you to stumble and fall into irreparable errors. Never wait to be asked for anything where you can help and assist your neighbor; do not wait until he asks you, but try to know thoroughly," etc. original: “Cest pourquoy la premiere chose que tu dois faire principalement ates esprits familiers sera de leur commander de ne tedire jamais aucune chose deuxmemes que lorsque tu les interrogeras amoins queles fut pour tavertir des choses qui concerne ton utilite outon prejudice parceque situ ne leur limite pas leparler ils tediront tant etdesi grandes choses quils tofusquiront lentendement et tu ne scaurois aquoy tentenir desorte que dans la confusion des choses ils pourroient te faire prevariquer ettefaire tomber dans des erreurs irreparables ne te fais jamais prier en aucune chose ou tu pourras aider et seccourir tonprochain et nattends pas quil tele demande mais tache descavoir afond,” etc.

This extract gives a fair idea of the average quality of the French. However, the style of the First Book is much more conversational than that of the Second and Third Books, as it is specifically addressed by Abraham to his son, Lamech, and uses the second person singular throughout. Since some English readers may not know, it is perhaps worth noting here that in French, "tu" (thou) is only used between very intimate friends and relations, such as between husband and wife or lovers. Meanwhile, "vous" (you) is the more common way to address people in general. Furthermore, in sacred books and prayers, "vous" is used where we would use "thou" thouIn older English, "thou" was the informal or singular "you," but it eventually became associated specifically with formal religious prayer. to create a more solemn tone than "tu." Because of this, the French verb "tutoyer" means "to be very familiar with," "to be on extremely friendly terms with someone," or even "to be insolently familiar." This First Book contains advice regarding Magic, a description of Abraham’s travels and experiences, and mentions of many