The Sacred Magic
of
Abramelin the Mage
Introduction and Book I
Translated by
S.L. Mac Gregor Mathers
The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage
Introduction and Book I
This Adobe Acrobat edition contains the complete and unaltered text of the
corresponding sections in the second (1900) edition published by John M. Watkins,
London.
Prepared and typeset by Benjamin Rowe, December 6, 1998.
i
INTRODUCTION,
BY
S.L. MAC GREGOR MATHERS.
WING perhaps to the circumstance that the indispensable “Baedecker”
accords only a three or four line notice to the “Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal” –
but few English or American visitors to Paris are acquainted with its name,
situation, or contents, though nearly all know at least by sight the “Bibliothèque
Nationale” and the “Bibliothèque Mazarin”.
This “Library of the Arsenal,” as it is now called, was founded as a private
collection by Antoine René Voyer D'Argenson, Marquis de Paulny; and was first
opened to the public on the th Floréal, in the fifth year of the French Republic
(that is to say, on th April, ), or just a century ago. This Marquis de Paulny
was born in the year , died in , and was successively Minister of War, and
Ambassador to Switzerland, to Poland, and to the Venetian Republic. His later
years were devoted to the formation of this Library, said to be one of the richest
private collections known. It was acquired in by the Comte D'Artois, and
today belongs to the State. It is situated on the right bank of the Seine, in the Rue
de Sully, near the river, and not far from the Place de la Bastille, and is known as
the “Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal”. In round numbers it now possesses , printed
books, and about manuscripts, many of them being of considerable value.
Among the latter is this Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin, as delivered
by Abraham the Jew unto his son Lamech; which I now give to the public in
printed form for the first time.
Many years ago I heard of the existence of this manuscript from a celebrated
occultist, since dead; and more r