The Key of Solomon, Book II 11

1OF THE WATER, AND OF THE HYSSOP If it be necessary to sprinkle with water anything required in the art it should be done with a sprinkler.

2Prepare a censer in the day and hour of Mercury, with the odoriferous spices of the art. After this thou shalt take a vessel of tin or earth, which thou shalt fill with most clear spring water, and thou shalt have salt. and say these words over the salt:—

3TZABAOTH, MESSIACH, NGHIMANUEL, ELOYN GIBOR, JEHOVAH; O God, who art the Truth and the Life, deign to bless and sanctify this creature of salt, to serve unto us for help, protection, and assistance in this art, experiment and operation, and may it be a succor unto us.

4After this cast the salt into the vessel wherein is the water, and say the following Psalms: [Ps101=KJV102] Domine exaudi orationem meam et clamor meus (Hear my prayer, O Lord: and let my cry come unto thee.) [Ps53=KJV54] Deus in nomine tuo saluum (Save me, O God, by thy name) [Ps6=KJV6] Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira (O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me) [Ps50=KJV51] Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam misericordiam (Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness)

5Thou shalt then make unto thyself a sprinkler of vervain, fennel, provinca, sage, valerian, mint, marjoram, garden-basil, and rosemary, gathered in the day and hour of Mercury, the moon being in her increase. Then cut a handle with a single stroke from a virgin branch of hazel; the length should be three spans. Bind together these herbs with a thread spun by a young maiden, and engrave upon the handle on the one side the characters shown in Figure 82, and on the other side those given in Figure 83.

6After this thou mayest use the water, using the sprinkler whenever it is necessary; and know that wheresoever thou shalt sprinkle this water, it will chase away all phantoms, and they shall be unable to hinder or annoy any. With this same water thou shalt make all the preparations of the art.