The Sequel to the Count of Gabalis, or New Discourses on the Secret Sciences

On the Secret Sciences

—further than I wished, and who went astray. He wanted to adjust his speculations to mine and to those of my Great-great-grandfather original: "Trifayeul." An archaic term for a trisaïeul, the father of a great-grandfather., and he spoiled everything. If you have little esteem for him, you are right; and if you do not understand him, I esteem you no less, for he is unintelligible. The Philosophy he had learned from us was clear and pure, solid and sensible; no vision made it ridiculous or suspect, and everything in it was suited to reforming morals. I will not fail to explain all this to you, and even to see that you are admitted among those who claim, with the help of Grace In this context, "Grace" refers to divine assistance or a supernatural gift from God to help human beings achieve salvation or moral reform., to reform the morals of these times by the principles I have imagined. I must, however, go and consult God on the matter. I pray you, meanwhile, Sir, to forget the abruptness I showed you upon entering; I shall be more polite when I have the honor of seeing you again.

He wished to depart, but I was careful not to let him escape. All these Visionaries The term "visionary" here is likely used with a hint of irony or skepticism by the narrator, referring to people who believe they have direct spiritual revelations or utopian schemes. who set themselves up as Reformers, and who pass their lives meditating on new Laws, a new Politics, a new Theology, a new Morality, a new Philosophy, have al—