Jump to content

Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/182

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Book I.
Of Occult Philoſophy.
155

CHAP. LXXI.

Of many words joined together, as in ſentences, and verſes, and of the vertues, and aſtrictions of charms.

BEſides the vertues of words, and names, there is alſo a greater vertue found in ſentences, from the truth contained in them, which hath a very great power of impreſſing, changing, binding, and eſtablishing, ſo that being uſed it doth Chine the more, and being reſiſted is more conſirmed, and conſolidated; which vertue is not in ſimple words, but in ſentences, by which any thing is aſſirmed, or denyed, of which ſort are verſes, inchantments, imprecations, deprecations, orations, invocations, obteſtations, adjurations, conjurations, and ſuch like. Therefore in compoſing verſes, and orations, for the attracting the vertue of any Star, or Deity, you muſt diligently conſider what vertues any Star contains, as alſo what effects, and operations, and to inſer them in verſes, by praiſing, extolling, amplifying, and ſetting forth thoſe things which ſuch a kind of Star is wont to cauſe by way of its inſluence, and by vilifying, and diſpraiſing thoſe things which it is wont to deſtroy, and hinder, and by ſupplicating, and begging for that which we deſire to get, and by condemning, and deteſting that which we would have deſtroyed, & hindred and aſter the ſame manner to make an elegant oration, and duly diſtinct by Articles, with competent numbers, and proportions. Moreover Magicians command that we call upon, and pray by the names of the ſame Star, or name, to them to whom ſuch a verſe belongs, by their wonderfull things, or miracles, by their courſes, and waies in their ſphear, by their light, by the dignity of their Kingdome, by the beauty, and brightneſs that is in it, by their ſtrong, and powerfull vertues, and by ſuch like as theſe. As Pſyche in Apuleius prayes to Ceres, ſaying, I beſeech thee by thy ſruitfull right hand, I intreat thee by the joyfull Ceremonies of harveſts, by the quiet ſilence of thy cheſts, by the winged Chariots of Dragons thy ſervants, by the

furrows