...to restore This continues the thought from the previous page: Agrippa intends to restore the art of magic. [magic], rescued from the errors of impiety, purged, and adorned with its own reasoning, and to vindicate it from the injury of those who slander it. Although I have long deliberated upon this myself, I never dared to descend into this arena until now; but after the conversation we had at Würzburg original Latin: "Herbipoli." Würzburg was a major center of learning where Agrippa met Trithemius in 1509/1510. regarding these matters, your excellent skill and learning, and your burning encouragement, added boldness and spirit to me.

Therefore, having selected opinions from philosophers of proven faith, and having purged the introductions of malicious men—who, lying with feigned knowledge, taught that the traditions of the magi Wise practitioners of natural and divine secrets. were to be sought from the very condemned books of darkness, as if from the inner sanctuaries of miracles—and having dispelled the darkness, I have composed in these recent days three books concerning Magic, encompassed in a brief summary. I have inscribed them with the less offensive title Of Occult Philosophy.

These I now submit to your examination—you who possess the fullest expertise in these things—to be corrected, appraised, and judged; so that if anything has been written in them by me which might tend toward an insult to nature, an offense to the heavenly beings, or an injury to religion, you may condemn the error. But if, on the other hand, the scandals of impiety are dissolved and purged, you may defend the tradition of truth. And so may you be willing to deal with these books of ours, and with magic itself, so that nothing which can be useful is hidden, nor anything approved which can do nothing but harm; so that at last these books, approved by your examination, may be worthy to go forth into public one day under happy auspices, and not fear to undergo the judgment of posterity. Farewell, and be indulgent toward these bold undertakings.

JOHANNES TRITHEMIUS

ABBOT OF SAINT JAMES AT WÜRZBURG,

A large decorative woodcut initial 'O' featuring floral and leafy patterns within a square frame.

OUR most distinguished Agrippa, with what great pleasure we have received your work entitled On the More Occult Philosophy, which you have presented to us for examination via the bearer of these presents, neither the tongue of a mortal can ever express, nor the [pen] of a writer...