My LORD’s BibleThe Key of Solomon, Book II 1
Continues Mathers's 1889 translation of the same grimoire tradition (see Book I's intro). Covers the practical preparations for magical operation in detail: fasting and purity, the magic circle, the instruments and materials of the art (knife, wand, robes, parchment, incense), and the conjurations and license to depart addressed to the spirits invoked, closing with instructions on sacrifice. The pentacles, circles and other figures Mathers's edition prints are not reproduced here, so passages that refer to a figure describe something you cannot see on this site.
1AT WHAT HOUR AFTER THE PREPARATION OF ALL THINGS NECESSARY, WE SHOULD BRING THE EXERCISE OF THE ART TO PERFECTION
2The days and hours have already been treated of, in general, in the First Book. It is now necessary to notice in particular at what hour accomplishment and perfection should be given to the arts, all things necessary having been previously prepared.
3Should it then happen that thou hast undertaken any secret operation for conversing with or conjuring spirits, in which the day and the hour are not marked, thou shalt put it in execution on the days and hours of Mercury, at the sixteenth or twenty-third hour, but it will be still better at the eighth, which is the third of the same night, which is called and means before the morning, for then thou shalt be able to put in practice all the arts and operations which should be performed, according as it shall please thee by day or by night, provided that they have been prepared at the hours suitable to them, as hath been already said. But when neither hour nor time of operation or invocation is specified, it is then much better to perform these experiments at night, seeing that it is more easy to the spirits to appear in the peaceful silence of night than during the day. And thou shouldst inviolably observe, that wishing to invoke the spirits, either by day or by night, it is necessary that it should be done in a place hidden, removed, secret, convenient, and proper for such art, where no man frequenteth or inhabiteth, as we shall relate more fully in its place.
4If then thou shouldst operate touching anything which hath been stolen, in whatever way it be performed and whatever way it may have been prepared, it is necessary to practice it on the days and hours of the Moon, being if possible in her increase, and from the first unto the eighth hour of the day.
5But if it be by night, then it should be at the fifth or at the third hour; but it is better by day than by the night, for the light justifieth them, and maketh them much more fit for publication.
6But if the operations be regarding invisibility, they should be put in practice at the first, second, and third hours of Mars by day. But if by night, until the third hour.
8As for operations of destruction and desolation, we should practice and put them into execution on the day of Saturn at the first hour, or rather at the eighth or fifteenth of the day; and from the first until the eighth hour of the night.
9Experiments of games, raillery, deceit, illusion, and invisibility, ought to be done at the first hour of Venus, and at the eighth hour of the day; but by night at the third and at the seventh.
10Extraordinary experiments, depending on the situation, should be prepared and completed in the first hour of Jupiter, and the eighth of the night, and the thirteenth of the day.
11At all times of practicing and putting into execution magical arts, the Moon should be increasing in light, and in an equal number of degrees with the Sun; and it is much better from the first quarter to the opposition, and the Moon should be in a fiery sign, and notably in that of the Ram or of the Lion.
12Therefore, to execute these experiments in any manner whatsoever, it should be done when the Moon is clear, and when she is increasing in light.
13In order to put in execution those of invisibility after everything is properly prepared, the Moon should be in the sign of the Fishes, in the hours proper and fitting, and she should be increasing in light.
14For experiments of seeking love and favor, in whatever way it may be desired, they will succeed, provided that they have been prepared at the proper hours. and that the Moon be increasing in light and in the Sign of the Twins.
15To complete extraordinary experiments, having completed all other preparations, the Moon should be in Aquarius or Leo, and in the increase.
16Indeed it is impossible, or at least difficult, to test the truth of any of the aforesaid experiments with the days and hours specified, it will be suitable to observe the following.
17So exact a preparation of days and hours is not necessary for those who are adepts in the art, but it is extremely necessary for apprentices and beginners, seeing that those who have been little or not at all instructed herein, and who only begin to apply themselves to this art, do not have as much faith in the experiments as those who are adepts therein, and who have practiced them. But as regards beginners, they should always have the days and hours well disposed and appropriate unto the art. And the wise should only observe the precepts of the art which are necessary, and in observing the other solemnities necessary they will operate with a perfect assurance.
18It is, nevertheless, necessary to take care that when thou shalt have prepared any experiment thyself for the days and hours ordained, that it should be performed in clear, serene, mild, and pleasant weather, without any great tempest or agitation of the air, which should not be troubled by winds. For when thou shalt have conjured any spirits in any art or experiment, they will not come when the air is troubled or agitated by winds, seeing that spirits have neither flesh nor bones, and are created of different substances.
21When the spirits which are created of clouds are invoked, they come with great deformity, in a horrible form, to strike fear into the invocator, and with an exceeding great noise.
22Others which are formed from wind appear like thereunto and with exceeding swift motion, and whensoever those which are created from Beauty appear, they will show themselves in a fair and agreeable form; moreover, whensoever thou shalt call the spirits created from air, they will come with a kind of gentle breeze.
23When the spirits which are created from the vapours of the Sun are invoked, they come under a very beautiful and excellent form, but filled with pride, vanity, and conceit. They are clever, whence it comes that these last are all specified by Solomon in his Book of Ornament, or of Beauty. They show great ostentation and vainglory in their dress, and they rejoice in many ornaments; the boast of possessing mundane beauty, and all sorts of ornaments and decorations. Thou shalt only invoke them in serene, mild, and pleasant weather.
25Note then that it will be much better to perform the experiments or operations in the direction of the east, putting everything necessary in practice towards that point.
26But for all other operations or extraordinary experiments, and for those of love, they will be much more efficacious directed towards the North. Take heed further, that every time that thou performest any experiment, to reduce it unto perfection with the requisite solemnities, thou shalt recommence the former experiment if interrupted therein, without the preparation of hours or other solemnities. If by chance it should happen that having performed an experiment with due observance of days, hours, and requisite solemnities, thou shalt find it unsuccessful, it must be in some manner false, ill-arranged and defective, and thou must assuredly have failed in some matter; for if thou doest ill in one single point, these experiments or these Arts will not be verified. Thus upon this chapter dependeth this whole key of arts, experiments, and operations, and although every solemnity be rightly observed, no experiment will be verified, unless thou canst penetrate the meaning of this chapter.