The Book of ceremonial Magic

p. 116
apparitions of blazing lamps, ministering spirits innumerable, magic suppers; above all
things there was the Black Pullet. In a word, diurnal life was illustrated throughout by the
supernatural; it was a methodised version of Aladdin with an inner meaning by Astaroth.
The sage himself proved to be the sole heir of the Magi and the makers of those Egyptian
hieroglyphics which are the "despair of the learned," while, not least, he was himself in
quest of an heir, for he felt that he was about to pass away. In fine, the French officer,
having acquired the Turkish language by means of a grammar which had its root in
sorcery, and being thus enabled to converse with his protector, which on the whole seems
superfluous, seeing that his protector possessed a talisman which communicated
immediate proficiency in all tongues, was instructed in the powers and wonders of
twenty-two talismanic figures and the rings corresponding to these, as well as in the
secret of the manufacture of the Black Pullet, which possessed more skill in gold-finding
than the divining rod in the discovery of water. After these instructions, in spite of many
prayers, and the ministries of the genius Odous, the just man expired upon a sofa, while
the fortunate kinsman in philosophy swooned at the feet of his benefactor. In due course,
accompanied by the genius who had been transferred to his service, the French officer
managed to depart from Egypt, laden with treasures, and with the ashes of the sage in a
costly urn. He took ship for Marseilles, stilled a tempest on the voyage and returned to his
native country. He made his abode in Provence, spending his days in experiments with
the Black Pullet, or in study, meditation and rambling. He undertook at length to write
this memorial of his good fortune, in which he threatens the publishers of any pirated
edition to adorn them, by means of a talisman, with ears six inches longer than those of
p. 117
Midas. But this does not seem to have prevented the publishers.
The Black Pullet disclaims all connection with Black Magic and is duly to be identified
therewith, firstly by its characters and secondly by their pretended power over evil spirits;
though it should be observed that the infernal beings mentioned in the title are not on the
surface devils but Salamanders--that is to say, elementary Spirits of Fire. But while it thus
transcends Black Magic--if it is requisite to make the distinction--it is not superior to
plagiarism and hence incorporates many pages of the Comte de Gabalis.
For the evocation of the genii who served the Old Man of the Pyramid it suffices to say:
THOMATOS, BENESSER, FLIANTER. You are then liable to be encompassed by
thirty-three several intelligences. To obtain their consideration say: LITAN, IZER,
OSNAS, and they will bow down before you, individually remarking: NANTHER. The
words SOUTRAM, UBARSINENS will cause them to transport you through the air
wheresoever you are inclined. Upon the utterance of the one word RABIAM they will
return you to your own abode. It is necessary, however, to be fortified by the talismans
and rings of the master, but they can be obtained by a cheap process. In the cabinet of the
Old Man of the Pyramid they were formed of the precious metals and were resplendent
with gems, but they are held to answer all practical purposes if the rings are composed of