Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In 17 Books
translated formerly out of the Arabic into Greek, and thence into Latin, and Dutch,
and now out of the Original into English by that Learned Divine Doctor Everard.
Printed by Robert White in London in 1650
Judicious Reader,
This Book may justly challenge the first place for antiquity, from all of the Books in the World, being
written some hundred of years before Moses time, as I shall endeavour to make good. The Original (as
far as it is know to us) is Arabic, and several Translations thereof have been published, as Greek, Latin,
French, Dutch, etc., but never English before. It is a pity that the Learned Translator [Doctor Everard] is
not alive, and received himself, the honour, and thanks due to him from Englishmen; for his good will to,
and pains for them, in translating a Book of such infinite worth, out of the Original, into their Mothertongue.
Concerning the Author of the Book itself, Four things are considered, viz His Name, Learning, Country
and Time.
1) The name by which he was commonly titled is, Hermes Trismegistus, i.e., Mercurious Ter Maximus, or,
The thrice greatest Intelligencer. And well might he be called Hermes, for he was the first Intelligencer in
the World (as we read of) that communicated Knowledge to the sons of Men, by Writing, or Engraving.
He was called Ter Maximus, for some Reasons, which I shall afterwards mention.
2) His Learning will appear, as by his Works; so by the right understanding the Reason of his Name.
3) For his Country, he was King of Egypt.
4) For his Time, it is not without much Controversy, betwixt those that write of this Divine, ancient Author,
in what time he lived in. Some say he lived after Moses time, giving this slender Reason for it, viz.
Page 1
Page 3
Poemander
The Key
His Secret Sermon in the Mount Of Regeneration, and the Profession of Silence
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Page 4
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 10
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 18
Page 19
Page 21
Page 22
Page 28
Page 29
Page 32
Page 33
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 44
Page 45
3. Hermes. Must not that, in which a thing is moved, of necessity be greater than the thing that is moved?
4. Of necessity.
5. And that which moveth, is it not stronger than that which is moved?
6. Asclepius. It is stronger.
7. Hermes. That in which a thing is moved, must it not needs have a Nature, contrary to that of the thing
that is moved?
8. Asclepius. It must needs.
9. Hermes. Is not this great World a Body, than which there is no greater?
10. Asclepius. Yes, confessedly.
11. Hermes. And is it not solid, as filled with many great Bodies, and indeed, with all the Bodies that are
12. Asclepius. It is so.
13. Hermes. And is not the World a Body, and a Body that is moved.
14. Asclepius. It is.
15. Hermes. Then what kind of a place must it be, wherein it is moved, and of what Nature? Must it not
be much bigger, that it may receive the continuity of Motion? and lest that which is moved should for want
of room, be stayed, and hindered in the Motion ?
Page 46
Page 48
Page 49
Page 50
Page 51
Page 56
Page 58
Page 59
Page 61
Page 64
Page 65
Page 66
Page 69
Page 70
Page 71
Page 73
Page 75
Page 76
Page 77
Page 79
Page 80
Page 82
Page 83
Page 85
Page 86
Page 87
Page 89
Page 90
Page 91
Page 95