Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/368

 Rh in Cymmerian'' darknes even to this day. We preent therefore now to you, a compleat and perfect work in thee three books of Occult Philoophy or Magick, Which we have perfected with diligent care, and very great labor and pains both of mind and body; and though it be untrimmed in repect of words, yet its mot elaborate truly in repect of the matter: Wherefore I deire this one favor, that you would not expect the grace of an Oration, or the elegancy of peech in thee books, which we long ince wrote in our youth when our peech was as yet rough, and our language rude; and now we have repect, not to the tile of an Oration, but only to the eries or order of entences; We have tudyed the les elegancy of peech, abundance of matter ucceeding in the place thereof; and we uppose we have ufficiently atisfied our duty, if we hall to the utmost of our power perform thoe things we have promied to declare concerning the ecrets of Magick, and have freed our concience from a due debt. But eeing without doubt, many coffing Sophisters will conpire againt me, epecially of thoe who boat themelves to be allyed to God, and fully replenihed with Divinity, and presum to cenure the leaves of the Sibilles, and will undertake to judge and condemn to the fire thee our works even before they have read or rightly undertood any thing of them (becaue uch lettice agrees not with their lips, and uch weet oyntment with their noe and alo by reaon of that parke of hatred long ince conceived againt me, and carce containing it elf under the ahes.) Therefore (mot Illustrious Prince and wie Prelate) we further ubmit this work acribed by me to the merits of your vertue, and now made yours, to your cenure, and commend it to your protection, That, if the bae and perfidious Sophiters would defame it, by the groe madnes of their envy and malice, you would by the prepicacy of your dicretion and candor of judgement, happily protect and defend it.''

Farewell and proper. Rh