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To the Author, on his Translation of

Cornelius Agrippa.

You are the Pallas Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, crafts, and strategic war. of Learning, if a Goddess may be named;
Whose knowledge has explained the original prototype;
Which Nature also, striving to combine
Science and Learning in this form of yours,
Shows to us not darkly, but quite clearly:
The knowledge of Mysteries is enshrined in you.
By your permission, we have access
To Geomancy A method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed 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 Lethæan Referring to the Lethe, the river of forgetfulness in the Greek underworld; used here to mean the depths of oblivion. floods,
We will consecrate the laurel buds
To you: (dismissing Phœbus An epithet for Apollo, the god of prophecy and the sun.) yours shall be
The Oracle A person or place through which divine advice or prophecy was sought., to which all men shall flee
In times of danger; your predictions shall
Enthrall our willing hearts to whatever you command;
Yes, you shall be the
Sole Prophet A teacher or proclaimer of the will of God or the gods., and we shall be obedient to you.

A decorative horizontal row of ornate fleurons or printer's ornaments.

To his friend the Author, on this his

Translation.

What, is there not a Sibyl Prophetesses in ancient Greece and Rome who were believed to possess divine knowledge of the future. or Cassandra A figure in Greek mythology cursed to utter true prophecies that were never believed. left?
Has Apollo The Greek and Roman god of prophecy, music, and healing. ceased? Has sharp-fanged Time bereft
Us of the Oracles? Is Dodona's grove The grove of Dodona, the oldest oracle in ancient Greece, where priests interpreted the rustling of oak leaves to understand the will of Zeus.
Cut down? Does never a word proceed from Jove Another name for Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods.
Into the ears of mortals who inherit
Tiresias' A famous blind prophet of Thebes in Greek mythology. soul, or the great Calchas' A powerful seer for the Greek fleet during the Trojan War. spirit?
What has become of the Augurs Ancient Roman religious officials who interpreted the will of the gods by observing the flight of birds. who foretold
Nature's intents? Are the Magi Originally Zoroastrian priests from ancient Persia, later associated with wisdom and astrological knowledge. dead, who could
Tell what was done in every Sphere? Shall we
Not know what is done in the remotest country
Without great travel? Can'...