Thereat the dwarf peer'd curiously up Into his master's face, and seeing naught Unusual in its kingly grace, had turn'd, But turning, caught the echo of a sigh, And knew his arrow reach'd King Arthur's heart. Thereafter fell a silence on the twain And Arthur mus'd as sadly as before On hopes that had been his in long-past days When he had plann'd the healing of the world. Slow past a morning hour until at last A momentary vagrant breeze, that thro' The high, unlatticed, open window swept, Tost aimlessly an early wither'd leaf Into the kingly lap.

(Please Note: The Celebration Edition of the Tarot of the Bohemians differs from the Jubilee Edition, in that the full color plates have been rendered in greyscale for affordability, and the cover has been changed to differentiate the two editions from each other. Otherwise, the text remains the same. ) ABSOLUTE KEY TO OCCULT SCIENCE THE TAROT OF THE BOHEMIANS The Most Ancient Book in the World. FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF INITIATES By PAPUS Gerard Anaclet Vincent Encausse, b. 1865 d. 1916 Original Title: Clef absolue de la science occulte Translated from the French By A. P. Morton Newly edited and revised by Robert L. Angus Including updated images THE Tarot pack of cards, transmitted by the Gypsies from generation. to generation, is the primitive book of ancient initiation. This has been clearly demonstrated by Guillaume Postel, Court de Gebelin, Etteila, Eliphas Levi, and J. A. Vaillant. The key to its construction and application has not yet been revealed, so far as I know. I therefore wished to fill up this deficiency by supplying Initiates, i. e. those who are acquainted with the elements of occult science, with an accurate guide, which would assist them in the pursuit of their studies. The uninitiated reader will find in it the explanation of the lofty philosophy and science of ancient Egypt; whilst ladies are enabled to practise the use of the divining Tarot, by methods which we have rendered easy in Chapter XX. The book has been so arranged that each part forms a complete whole, which can, if necessary, be studied separately. I have used every effort to be as clear as possible; the public that has warmly welcomed my other books will, I hope, forgive the imperfections inherent to a work of this kind.

I'm full of sarcastic witticisms today, most of them heartfelt jargon of a bygone era - call me a romantic. Call me an anachronism. I used to think of myself as a renaissance man, but got muscled out by the guys with better clothes and more money than I have. When asked for my resume, I challenged, "I paint, I write, I bind beautiful books, I am a jeweler, and a sculptor, I have a massive collection of rare and antique books (that I read), and enjoy sharing what I have learned with others. I study and practice philosophy and magic. I enjoy great wines and can understand the subtleties in a single malt scotch. I tend to be literary in that way - always seeking the right words for the wrong circumstances. I've overcome many of my addictions, and have drowned in the sea of vice. I have been learning to conquer myself, and fear mainly that the art of subtlety may be lost amongst the masses. I enjoy the study of humanity without taking part in it. I am a god amongst mortals, and a mortal amongst gods." They rejected my application on the grounds of my immorality.

The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses is an 18th or 19th century magical text allegedly written by Moses, and passed down as hidden (or lost) books of the Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch. A grimoire, a text of magical incantations and seals, it purports to instruct the reader in the spells used to create the miracles portrayed in the Christian Bible. The work was printed with annexes or reputed Talmudic magic names, words and incantation, many taken from Christian biblical passages. It shows diagrams of "Seals" magical drawings accompanied by incantations intended to perform tasks from controlling weather or people, to contacting the dead or Christian religious figures. Copies have been traced to 18th century German pamphlets, but an 1849 printing, aided by the appearance of the popular press in the 19th century, spread copies through Germany and Northern Europe, to German immigrants in the United States, to the African American South and Caribbean, and Anglophone West Africa. It influenced European Occult Spiritualism, as well as popular religious movements in the American South (Hoodoo), the Caribbean (Rastafarian), and West Africa.

A Lexicon of Alchemy or An Alchemical Dictionary Containing a full and plain explanation of all obscure words, Hermetic subjects, and arcane phrases of Paracelsus.