INTRODUCTORY PREFACE

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Michael Psellus, who flourished in the eleventh century and authored this little treatise on the operation of daemons, was an eminent philologist, philosopher, and scholar. He served as tutor to the young Prince Michael, son of Constantine Ducas, with great credit to himself, as appears from the eulogy passed on him by Anna Comnena, daughter of the Emperor Alexios (Alexiad, book 5). original: "Alexiados, lib. v." Beside other works, he wrote an exposition of Aristotle’s philosophy, and commentaries on the Book of Psalms and the Song of Solomon. Mosheim, the ecclesiastical historian, pays the following tribute to his worth:

“But the greatest ornament of the Republic of Letters in the eleventh century was Michael Psellus, a man illustrious in every respect, and deeply versed in all the various kinds of erudition known in his age. This great man warmly recommended the study of philosophy to his countrymen, and particularly the system of Aristotle, which he embellished and illustrated in several learned and ingenious productions.”

This work (now published in English for the first time) was written around 1050 A.D. and was distinguished by the learned Barthius with the honorable title, “The Little Golden Book.” It is interesting as a literary curiosity—being now exceedingly rare—as well as for its subject matter, concerning which mankind has generally shown itself very inquisitive. It is further interesting because it details most minutely the extraordinary secret proceedings of the Euchites, Euchites: A historical sect, sometimes called "Messalians," often accused by their contemporaries of heresy and occult practices. otherwise