Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/258



Now there are some which do not use those finall letters, but instead of them write thus.

And by those simple figures by the joyning them together they desfribe all other compound numbers, as eleven, twelve, a hundred and ten, a hundred and eleven, by adding to the number ten, those which are of unites; and in like manner to the rest after their manner; yet they describe the fifteenth number not by ten, and five, but by nine, and six, viz. thus טו and that out of honor to the divine name יה which imports fifteen, lest it should happen that the sacred name should be abused to prophane things. Also the Egyptians, Æthiopians, Caldeans, and Arabians, have their marks of numbers, which also often times happen amongst Magicall Characters. He therefore that would know them, must seek them, of them that are skilful of these letters. For the Caldeans mark the numbers with the letters of their Alphabet after the manner of the Hebrews. We have set down their Alphabet in the end of the first book. Moreover I found in two most ancient books of Astrologers, and Magicians, certain most elegant marks of numbers, which I thought good to set down in this place; Now they were in both Volums such.