The Key of Solomon the king (Clavicula Salomonis)

1 , (CLAVICULASALOMONIS)first(^Translate* TheKabbalahUnveiled TheTarot," (z) ,saveforacurtailedandincompletecopypubli shedinFranceintheseventeenthcentury,hasn everyetbeenprinted, ,andtheoriginofmuchoftheCeremonialMagico fmediaevaltimes,the Key hasbeenevervaluedbyoccultwritersasaworko fthehighestauthority;andnotablyinourownd ayEliphazLevihastakenitforthemodelonwhic hhiscelebrated DogmeetRitueldelaHauteMagie ,thattheKeyofSolomonwashistextbookofstud y,andattheendofthisvolumeIgiveafragmento fanancientHebrewmanuscriptofthe KeyofSolomon, translatedandpublishedinthe PhilosophicOcculte, aswellasanInvocationcalledthe QabalisticalInvocationofSolomon, whichbearscloseanalogytooneintheFirstBoo k, KeyofSolomon isgivenintheIntroductions,butthereisever yreasontosupposethatthishasbeenentirelyl ost,andChristian,thepupilofLevi,saysasmu chinhis HistoiredelaMagie. Iseenoreasontodoubtthetraditionwhichassi gnstheauthorshipofthe Key toKingSolomon,foramongothersJosephus,the Jewishhistorian,especiallymentionsthemag icalworksattributedtothatmonarch; , ,however,twoworksonBlackMagic,the GrimoriumVerum, andthe ClavicoladiSalomoneridolta, whichhavebeenattributedtoSolomon,andwhic hhavebeeninsomecasesespeciallymixedupwit hthepresentwork;butwhichhavenothingreall ytodotherewith;theyarefullofevilmagic, LemegetonortheLesserKeyofSolomontheKing, whichisfullofsealsofvariousSpirits,andis notthesameasthepresentbook, ,andwhichhadevidentlybeenderivedfromthet woGoeticworksmentionedabove;Imustfurther cautionthepracticalworkeragainsttheuseof blood;theprayer,thepentacle,andtheperfum es,rightlyused,aresufficient.)

2 ,inspiteofthewarningsofthisvolume,determ inestoworkevil, ,whichalldifferfromeachotherinvariouspoi nts,somegivingwhatisomittedbytheothers,b utallunfortunatelyagreeinginonething, ,thelettersbeingsovilelyscribbledastobea ctuallyundecipherableinsomeinstances, ,whereverIcould,correctedtheHebrewoftheM agicalNamesintheConjurationsandPentacles ;andinthefewinstanceswhereitwasnotpossib letodoso,Ihaveputtheminthemostusualform; ,insomeinstancesthemattercontainedinthem beingtransposed,& : ,10,862;SloaneMSS.,1307and3091;HarleianM SS.,3981; king sMSS.,288; ; , , ;3981 Harleianisprobablyaboutthemiddleofthesev enteenthcentury; ,862iswrittenincontractedLatin,andishard toread, ,beingsimply TheKeyofSolomon,translatedfromtheHebrewl anguageintotheLatin. ;288 king sMSS.;and3091 SloaneMSS.;aresimilar,andcontainthesamem atterandnearlythesamewording; , TheKeyofSolomonKingoftheHebrews,translat edfromtheHebrewLanguageintoItalianbyAbra hamColorno,bytheorderofhismostSereneHigh nessofMantua;andrecentlyputintoFrench.

3 ThePentaclesaremuchbetterdrawn,areincolo uredinks,andinthecaseof3091 SloaneMSS., ;itsTitleis LaClavicoladiSalomoneRedottaetepilogatan ellanostramatemalinguadeldottissimoGioPe cca-trix. ItisfullofBlackMagic,andisajumbleoftheKe yofSolomonproper, ,however,givespartoftheIntroductionto10, , ,savethebeginningofanotherItalianversion whichisboundupwiththeformerMS.,andbearst hetitle Zecorbenei. TheTrueKeysofKingSolomon,byArmadel. Itisbeautifullywritten,withpaintedinitia lletters, , ,which,astheydonotbelongtothe KeyofSolomon proper, Key TheVeritableKeysofSolomontranslatedfromt heHebrewintotheLatinlanguagebytheRabbinA bognazar(?AbenEzra ).ItisinFrench,exquisitelywritteninprint ingletters, ,thearrangementisutterlydifferent;beinga llinonebook, , ,thereisaringofcopperwiththesigilsofVenu s, AlphaandOmega, ,onthebladeoftheKnifewiththeBlackHilt, ,inmanycases, ,forthebenefitofnon-Hebraists,thatHebrew iswrittenfromrighttoleft,andthatfromthec onsonantalnatureoftheHebrewAlphabet, ,October, , TheVeritableClaviclesofSolomon,translate dfromtheHebrewintotheLatinlanguagebytheR abbiAbognazar*Everyoneknowethinthepresen tdaythatfromtimeimmemorialSolomonpossess edknowledgeinspiredbythewiseteachingsofa nangel,towhichheappearedsosubmissiveando bedient,thatinadditiontothegiftofwisdom, whichhedemanded,heobtainedwithprofusiona lltheothervirtues.

4 ,sotospeak,nearhisend,helefttohissonRobo amaTestamentwhichshouldcontainall(theWis dom) ,whowerecarefultocultivate(thesameknowle dge)afterhim,calledthisTestamenttheClavi cleorKeyofSolomon,whichtheycausedtobeeng ravedon(piecesof)thebarkoftrees,whilethe PentacleswereinscribedinHebrewlettersonp latesofcopper, ,whotransporteditwithhimintothetownofArl esinProvence,wherebyanotablepieceofgoodf ortunetheancientHebrewClavicle,thatistos aythisprecioustranslationofit,fellintoth ehandsoftheArchbishopofArles,afterthedes tructionoftheJewsinthatcity;who,fromtheL atin,translateditintothevulgartongue,int hesametermswhichherefollow, AbenEzra. [2] , TheKeyofSolomon,translatedintoLatinfromt heHebrewidiom. Treasureup,OmysonRoboam!thewisdomofmywor ds,seeingthatI, Solomon , ,andsaid:HowhaveIdeservedtofollowtheexam pleofmyfatherSolomoninsuchthings,whohath beenfoundworthytoreceivetheknowledgeofal llivingthingsthrough(theteachingof)anAng elofGod?AndSolomonsaid:Hear,Omyson,andre ceivemysayings, ,onacertainnight,whenIlaidmedowntosleep, IcalleduponthatmostholyNameofGod,IAH,and prayedfortheIneffableWisdom,andwhenIwasb eginningtoclosemineeyes,theAngeloftheLor d,evenHomadiel,appeareduntome,spakemanyt hingscourteouslyuntome,andsaid:Listen,OS olomon!

5 ThyprayerbeforetheMostHighisnotinvain,an dsincethouhastaskedneitherforlonglife,no rformuchriches,norforthesoulsofthineenem ies, :AccordingtothywordhaveIgivenuntotheeawi seandunderstandingheart,sothatbeforethee wasnonelikeuntothee, ,Iunderstoodthatinmewastheknowledgeofall creatures,boththingswhichareintheheavens andthingswhicharebeneaththeheavens;andIs awthatallthewritingsandwisdomofthisprese ntagewerevainandfutile, ,inwhichIhavepreservedthemhidden,andIhav ealsothereinconcealedallsecretswhatsoeve rofmagicalartsofanymasters;anysecretorex periments,namely, ,sothatlikeasakeyopenethatreasure-house, sothis(Key) ,Omyson!thoumayestseeeveryexperimentofmi neorofothers,andleteverythingbeproperlyp reparedforthem,asthoushaltseeproperlyset downbyme,bothdayandhour,andallthingsnece ssary;forwithoutthistherewillbebutfalseh oodandvanityinthismywork;whereinarehidde nallsecretsandmysterieswhichcanbeperform ed; (setdown)concerningasingledivinationoras ingleexperiment,thatsameIthinkconcerning allthingswhichareintheUniverse,andwhichh avebeen, ,OmysonRoboam,Icommandtheebytheblessingw hichthouexpectestfromthyfather,thatthous hallmakeanIvoryCasket,andthereinplace,ke ep,andhidethismyKey;andwhenIshallhavepas sedawayuntomyfathers,Ientreattheetoplace thesameinmysepulchrebesideme, , ,therefore(men)hadwaitedforalongtime,the recameuntotheSepulchrecertainBabylonianP hilosophers;andwhentheyhadassembledtheya toncetookcounseltogetherthatacertainnumb erofmenshouldrenewtheSepulchreinhis(Solo mon s)honour.

6 AndwhentheSepulchrewasdugoutandrepairedt heIvoryCasketwasdiscovered,andthereinwas theKeyofSecrets,whichtheytookwithjoyfulm ind,andwhentheyhadopeneditnoneamongthemc ouldunderstanditonaccountoftheobscurityo fthewordsandtheiroccultarrangement,andth ehiddencharacterofthesenseandknowledge, ,therefore,aroseoneamongthem,moreworthy( thantheothers),bothinthesightofthegods,a ndbyreasonofhisage,whowascalledIoheGrevi s,*andsaiduntotheothers:Unlessweshallcom eandasktheinterpre-tationfromtheLord,wit htearsandentreaties, ,wheneachofthemhadretiredtohisbed,Iohein deedfallinguponhisfaceontheearth,beganto weep,andstrikinghisbreast,said:WhathaveI deserved(aboveothers),seeingthatsomanyme ncanneitherunderstandnorinterpretthiskno wledge,eventhoughtherewerenosecretthingi nnaturewhichtheLordhathhiddenfromme1 Whereforearethesewordssoobscure?Wherefor eamIsoignorant?Andthenonhisbendedknees,s tretchinghishandstoHeaven,hesaid:OGod,th eCreatorofall,ThouWhoknowestallthings,Wh ogavestsogreatWisdomuntoSolomontheSonofD avidtheKing;grantuntome,IbeseechThee,OHo lyOmnipotentandIneffableFather,toreceive thevirtueofthatwisdom, ,ttheAngeloftheLord,saying:Dothouremembe rifthesecretsofSolomonappearhiddenandobs cureuntothee,thattheLordhathwishedit,sot hatsuchwisdommaynotfallintothehandsofwic kedmen;whereforedothoupromiseuntome,that thouartnotwillingthatsogreatwisdomshould evercometoanylivingcreature,and*Ithinkth isiscorrect,butthenameisveryindistinctly writtenintheMS.

7 , , Mihi inMS.,probablyaslipfor untohim, ei/ ,otherwisethesecretsareprofanedandnoeffe ctcanfollow?AndIoheanswered:Ipromiseunto theethattononewillIreveal(them),savetoth ehonouroftheLord,andwithmuchdiscipline,u ntopenitent,secret,andfaithful(persons). ThenansweredtheAngel:GoandreadtheKey, ,andlabouringwithaclearmind,understoodth atwhichtheAngeloftheLordhadsaid,andhesaw thattheKeyofSolomonwaschanged, ,andhesaid:Iconjurehimintowhosehandsthis secretmaycome,bythePoweroftheCreator,and HisWisdom,thatinallthingshemay,desire,in tendandperform,thatthisTreasuremaycomeun tonounworthy(person),normayhemanifestitu ntoanywhoisunwise, , ,whichSolomonpreserved, ,dividedintotwobooks,andshowninorder.[5] , TheVeritableClaviclesofSolomontranslated fromtheHebrewintotheLatinlanguagebytheRa bbiAbognazar. OmySonRoboam!seeingthatofallSciencesther eisnonemoreusefulthantheknowledgeofCeles tialMovements,Ihavethoughtitmyduty,being atthepointofdeath, (ofwisdom),itisnecessarytotelltheethaton eday,whenIwasmeditatinguponthepowerofthe SupremeBeing,theAngelofthegreatGodappear edbeforemeasIwassaying,Ohowwonderfularet heworksofGod!

8 Isuddenlybeheld,attheendofathickly-shade dvistaoftrees,aLightintheformofablazingS tar,whichsaiduntomewithavoiceofthunder:S olomon, Solomon ,benotdismayed; ,recoveringfrommysurprise,Ianswereduntot heAngel,thataccordingtotheWilloftheLord, IonlydesiredtheGiftofWisdom, ,mySon,thatIpossessallthevirtuesandriche sofwhichthounowseestmeintheenjoyment,and inorderthatthoumayestbewillingtobeattent ivetoallwhichIamabouttorelatetothee,andt hatthoumayestretainwithcareallthatIamabo uttotellthee,IassuretheethattheGracesoft heGreatGodwillbefamiliaruntothee,andthat theCelestialandTerrestrialCreatureswillb eobedientuntothee,andasciencewhichonlywo rksbythestrengthandpowerofnaturalthings, ,theirexercisesandparticularemploymentst owhichtheyaredestined,togetherwiththeday soverwhichtheyparticularlypreside,inorde rthatthoumayestarriveattheaccomplishment ofall, ,providedthatallthyworksonlytenduntotheh onourofGod,Whohathgivenmethepowertorule, notonlyoverTerrestrialbutalsooverCelesti althings,thatistosay,overtheAngels,ofwho mIamabletodisposeaccordingtomywill, ,havingmadeallthings,inorderthattheymayb esubmitteduntoHim,hathwishedtobringHiswo rkstoperfection.

9 BymakingonewhichparticipatesoftheDivinea ndoftheTerrestrial,thatistosay,Man;whose bodyisgrossandterrestrial,whilehissoulis spiritualandcelestial,untowhomHehathmade subjectthewholeearthanditsinhabitants,an dhathgivenuntoHimmeansbywhichHemayrender theAngelsfamiliar,asIcallthoseCelestialc reatureswhoaredestined:sometoregulatethe motionoftheStars, ,otherstoaidanddirectmen, ,bytheuseoftheirsealsandcharacters,rende rthemfamiliaruntothee,providedthatthouab usestnotthisprivilegebydemandingfromthem thingswhicharecontrarytotheirnature;fora ccursedbehewhowilltaketheNameofGodinvain , ,mySon,tocarefullyengraveinthymemoryallt hatTsayuntothee, ,IcommandtheerathertocastthisTestamentin tothefire,thantoabusethepowerthouwilthav eofconstrainingtheSpirits,forIwarntheeth atthebeneficentAngels,weariedandfatigued bythineillicitdemands,wouldtothysorrowex ecutethecommandsofGod,aswellastothatofal lsuchwho,withevilintent, ,however,OmySon,thatitwouldnotbepermitte dtheetoprofitbythegoodfortuneandhappines swhichtheDivineSpiritscanbringthee;onthe contrary,itgivesthemgreatpleasuretorende rservicetoManforwhommanyoftheseSpiritsha vegreatlikingandaffinity, ,accordingtothethingsoverwhichtheypresid e,someofthemgoverntheEmpyreanHeaven,othe rsthePrimumMobile,otherstheFirstandSecon dCrystalline,otherstheStarryHeaven;there arealsoSpiritsoftheHeavenofSaturn,whichI callSaturnites;thereareJovial,Martial,So lar,Venerean,Mercurial,andLunarSpirits.

10 Therearealso(Spirits)intheElementsaswell asintheHeavens,therearesomeintheFieryReg ion,othersintheAir,othersintheWater,ando thersupontheEarth,whichcanallrenderservi cetothatmanwhoshallhavethegoodfortunetou nderstandtheirnature, ,IwishtomaketheeunderstandthatGodhathdes tinedtoeachoneofusaSpirit,whichwatchesov erusandtakescareofourpreserva-tion;these arecalledGenii,whoareelementarylikeus,an dwhoaremorereadytorenderservicetothosewh osetemperamentisconformedtotheElementwhi chtheseGeniiinhabit;forexample,shouldest thoubeofafierytemperament,thatistosaysan guine, ,therearespecialtimesreservedfortheinvoc ationoftheseSpirits, ,togetherwiththeColourswhichbelonguntoth em,theMetals,Herbs,Plants,Aquatic,Aerial ,andTerrestrialAnimals,andIncense,whicha repropertoeachofthem, ,theConjurations,Seals,Characters,andDiv ineLetters,whichbelongtothem,bymeansofwh ichwereceivethepowertosympathisewiththes eSpirits.[7] , ,andoftheAngelswhorulethem,commencingcut thefirsthourafterMidnightofeachday, .. [8]TableoftheArchangels,Angels,Metals,Da ysoftheWeek, : Supposingthestudentwishestodiscoverthepr opertiesofthehourfrom12toio ,lethimlookinthe TableofthePlanetaryHours, andhavingfoundthehourmarked1inthecolumnh eaded HoursfromMidnighttoMidnight, hewillseeinthecolumnheaded HoursfromSunsettoSunset, onthesamelinethefigure8,showingittobethe eighthhouroftheday;andinthecolumnheadedT uesday,thenameMars, TableoftheMagicalNamesoftheHours, &c.