A decorative horizontal header consisting of two rows of repeating typographic fleurons (ornamental floral stamps).

To his special friend Mr. R. Turner, on

his wise Translation of

Corn. Agrippa.

Just like someone who has only just emerged from a trance,
Stunned by strange visions, whose secret fears
Have barely passed, but who—doubting whether he
Can trust his own eyes—remains fixed
Steadfastly upon those objects; just like him, I stand
Lost in amazement to behold a man who can,
Through the magical arts, draw near to the gods, and far surpass
The Angels who dwell in those shining heavenly spheres.
Behold Agrippa climbing the high heavens,
Conversing with the gods; and then, in an instant, he peers
Into the deep hidden treasury The original uses "cabinet," a term often used in the 17th century to describe a collection of secrets or a private room for study. of the earth. Just as they are to Mercury The Roman messenger god, associated with the Greek Hermes (Hermes Trismegistus), the legendary founder of magic and alchemy.,
All kinds of spirits are his willing subjects.
His book provides even more than this—but we
Are blind mortals, and could never be led to see
That light without a candle: therefore, to us,
You must be both a new Agrippa and an Oedipus In Greek mythology, Oedipus was the hero who solved the riddle of the Sphinx; the poet is suggesting that Turner has solved the "riddle" of Agrippa’s difficult text for the English public..
Agrippa appears once again, thanks to you,
Rescued from the ashes of ancient times.
Let squint-eyed Envy wither away, while you
Wear crowns of praise upon your deserving brow.