The count of Gabalis, or the extravagant mysteries of the cabalists

your Prince, to any ambitious person, or to one who was incontinent incontinent: lacking self-control, particularly in sexual matters; three types of people excluded original: "Excommunicated" in all ages by the wise.

Fortunately, I am no prince; I have little ambition; and by the rest original: "Sequel" of this discourse, it may be seen that I have a little more chastity than a sage sage: a wise person or master of esoteric knowledge needs to have. I am endowed with a teachable mind original: "Docible Wit", curious for knowledge, and bold enough.

I lack original: "want" only a little melancholy melancholy: in the humoral theory of the time, a "melancholic" temperament was believed to be essential for deep philosophical study and spiritual insight to make all those who would blame the Count of Gabalis confess that he did not need to conceal anything from me, because I was a person well-suited original: "Subject proper enough" for the Secret Sciences. It is true that without melancholy, no great progress can be made in them; but this small amount of it that I have was enough to ensure that I was not rejected by them.

"You," (he has said a hundred times...