Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/18

 thee things at Herbipolis, your trancending knowledge, and learning, and your ardent adhortation put courage, and boldnes into me. There electing the opinions of Philoophers of known credit, and purging the introduction of the wicked (who diemblingly, with a counterfeited knowledge did teach, that traditions of Magicians mut be learned from very reprobate books of darknes, as from intitutions of wonderfull operations) and removing all darknes, have at lat compoed three compendious books of Magick, and titled them Of Occult Philoophy, being a title les offenive, which books I ubmit (you excelling in the knowledge of thee things) to your correction and cenure, that if I have wrote any thing which may tend either to the contumely of nature, offending God, or injury of Religion, you may condemn the error; but if the candal of impiety be diolved and purged, you may defend the tradition of truth; and that you would do o with thee books, and Magick it elf, that nothing may be concealed which may be profitable, and nothing approved of which cannot but do hurt, by which means thee three books having paed your examination with approbation, may at length be thought worthy to come forth with good ucces in publike, and may not be afraid to come under the cenure of poterity.

Farewell, and pardon thee my bold undertakings.