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impostures of colportage; but in what respect, it may be asked, are these processes
superior to the chapbooks of colporteurs?
The highest ambition of the Clavicles is identical with that of the Grimoires--to become
master of a treasure possessed by spirits. It should also be observed that experiments
which have for their object an interference with the freewill of another person, such as
that of seeking favour and love, are essentially evil experiments.
I have now enumerated all the processes which are set forth in this "fountainhead and
storehouse of Kabalistical Magic"; it is for such trumpery purposes that the Magus is
directed to undertake his laborious preparation, and for such also to put in motion the
powers believed to be inherent in Divine Names, in long pages of pretentious prayers and
in "stronger and more powerful" conjurations. However much the justice of the critic may
be tempered by the mercy of the familiar explorer towards a memorial of occult science
which has been unduly honoured--that is, honoured otherwise than as a literary curiosity-
-it must be concluded that the
p. 64
Key of Solomon is a grotesque combination of the pompous and ridiculous; it is, in fact,
the old story of the mountain and the mouse, but so great is the travail that, in this case,
the mouse is brought forth dead.
Footnotes
59:1 "The Key of Solomon the King (Clavicula Salomonis), now first translated. and
edited from ancient MSS. in the British Museum." By S. Liddell Macgregor Mathers.
With plates. George Redway. 1889. It has been reprinted of recent years.
59:2 As regards the Arsénal, they are all of the eighteenth century. Les Clavicules de
Rabbi Salomon, 2346 (72 S.A.F.), claims to be literally translated from the Hebrew text
into French. 2348 (75 S.A.F.) is entitled Livre de la Clavicule de Salomon, Roy des
Hébreux; it is said to have been translated from the Hebrew into Italian by Abraham
Colorno, and thence into French. 2349 (77 S.A.F.) reads, Les Vraies Clavicules du Roy
Salomon, traduitte (sic) de l'Hébreux par Armadel. 2350 (78 S.A.F.) is entitled Le Secret
des Secrets, autrement La Clavicule de Salomon, ou le véritable Grimoire. Finally, there
is the Livre Second de la Clavicule de Salomon, 2791 (76 S.A.F.).
60:1 Christian's reference is, however, a mere travesty of some information found in the
Nouveaux Mémoires d'Histoire, do Critique, et de Littérature, par M. l'Abbé d'Artigny, 7
vols., Paris, 1749-1756. The fourth article in the first volume is entitled, "Concerning
some pretended Books of Magic, with an Extract from the Clavicles of Solomon." It
enumerates three works which, under this title, were current at the time in the French
language, and a fourth in Latin, Clavicula Salomonis ad Filium Roboam. A Liber
Pentaculorum is also mentioned in a way which leaves it to he inferred that it is the Key