(213) 134 O N., thou didst not depart dead; thou didst depart living, 134 (so) thou sittest upon the throne of Osiris, thy `b-sceptre in thy hand, thou commandest the living; 134 (thy) mk-sceptre and thy nb.t-sceptre in thy hand, commanding those of secret places. 135 Thine arm is like that of Atum; thy shoulders are like those of Atum; thy body is like that of Atum; thy back is like that of Atum; 135 thy seat is like that of Atum; thy legs are like those of Atum; thy face is like that of Anubis. 135 Thou travelest over the regions of Horus; thou travelest over the regions of Set (or, the regions of Horus serve thee; the regions of Set serve thee).

(Pages 1 to 6 of the manuscript, containing chapters 1 - 3, are lost. The extant text starts on page 7...)

(16) The essay published in French by Alexandre Lenoir in 1809, while curious and original, contains little real information on the Tablet, which the author seeks to prove was an Egyptian calendar or astrological chart. As both Montfaucon and Lenoir--in fact all writers on the subject since 1651--either have based their work upon that of Kircher or have been influenced considerably by him, a careful translation has been made of the latter's original article (eighty pages of seventeenth century Latin). The double-page plate at the beginning of this chapter is a faithful reproduction made by Kircher from the engraving in the Museum of Hieroglyphics. The small letters and numbers used to designate the figures were added by him to clarify his commentary and will be used for the same purpose in this work.

(42) Evidence points to the existence of a group of wise and illustrious Fratres who assumed the responsibility of publishing and preserving for future generations the choicest of the secret books of the ancients, together with certain other documents which they themselves had prepared. That future members of their fraternity might not only identify these volumes bur also immediately note the significant passages, words, chapters, or sections therein, they created a symbolic alphabet of hieroglyphic designs. By means of a certain key and order, the discerning few were thus enabled to find that wisdom by which a man is "raised" to an illumined life.

(17) Like nearly all religious and philosophical antiquities, the Bembine Table of Isis has been the subject of much controversy. In a footnote, A. E. Waite--unable to differentiate between the true and the purported nature or origin of the Tablet--echoes the sentiments of J.G. Wilkinson, another eminent exotericus: "The original [Table] is exceedingly late and is roughly termed a forgery." On the other hand, Eduard Winkelmann, a man of profound learning, defends the genuineness and antiquity of the Tablet. A sincere consideration of the Mensa Isiaca discloses one fact of paramount importance: that although whoever fashioned the Table was not necessarily an Egyptian, he was an initiate of the highest order, conversant with the most arcane tenets of Hermetic esotericism.

(18) The following necessarily brief elucidation of the Bembine Table is based upon a digest of the writings of Kircher supplemented by other information gleaned by the present author from the mystical writings of the Chaldeans, Hebrews, Egyptians, and Greeks. The temples of the Egyptians were so designed that the arrangement of chambers, decorations, and utensils was all of symbolic significance, as shown by the hieroglyphics that covered them. Beside the altar, which usually was in the center of each room, was the cistern of Nile water which flowed in and out through unseen pipes. Here also were images of the gods in concatenated series, accompanied by magical inscriptions. In these temples, by use of symbols and hieroglyphics, neophytes were instructed in the secrets of the sacerdotal caste.

(42) Leaf 26. This page, which concludes that part of the Hermetic manuscript bearing the symbols of the Secret Work, contains a number of emblems not directly correlated. At the top is the head of the King--the most common of alchemical figures. To the right of the King is an alchemical vessel designated the Hermetic Seal. Below is the head of a ferocious bird, here designated a griffon. To the left of the King is a headless figure elevating a Sun, or spiritual face. This figure is the world, which must be headless, since its spiritual and rational part is not material and consequently, is invisible. Below is a circle unaccompanied by descriptive matter. Directly under the King's head is a vase of flowers, in which rises the golden plant of the Philosophers. At the bottom of the page is additional alchemical equipment, this also being termed a Hermetic Seal.

(1) Now onward goes, along a narrow path Between the torments and the city wall, My Master, and I follow at his back. "O power supreme, that through these impious circles Turnest me," I began, "as pleases thee, Speak to me, and my longings satisfy; The people who are lying in these tombs, Might they be seen? already are uplifted The covers all, and no one keepeth guard." And he to me: "They all will be closed up When from Jehoshaphat they shall return Here with the bodies they have left above. Their cemetery have upon this side With Epicurus all his followers, Who with the body mortal make the soul; But in the question thou dost put to me, Within here shalt thou soon be satisfied, And likewise in the wish thou keepest silent." And I: "Good Leader, I but keep concealed From thee my heart, that I may speak the less, Nor only now hast thou thereto disposed me." "O Tuscan, thou who through the city of fire Goest alive, thus speaking modestly, Be pleased to stay thy footsteps in this place.

(4) Next in order advances the sacred Scribe, with wings on his head, and in his hand a book and rule, in which were writing ink and the reed, with which they write. And he must be acquainted with what are called hieroglyphics, and know about cosmography and geography, the position of the sun and moon, and about the five planets; also the description of Egypt, and the chart of the Nile; and the description of the equipment of the priests and of the places consecrated to them, and about the measures and the things in use in the sacred rites. Then the Stole-keeper follows those previously mentioned, with the cubit of justice and the cup for libations. He is acquainted with all points called Paedeutic (relating to training) and Moschophatic (sacrificial). There are also ten books which relate to the honour paid by them to their gods, and containing the Egyptian worship; as that relating to sacrifices, first-fruits, hymns, prayers, processions, festivals, and the like. And behind all walks the Prophet, with the water-vase carried openly in his arms; who is followed by those who carry the issue of loaves.

(522) 1227 To say: Sees-behind-him, His-face-behind-him, 1227 behold thou, N. is come to life. 1227 He has brought to thee this eye of Horus, bound in the field of wrestlers. 1227d, Bring it to N., namely, the "work of Khnum." 1228 O pi, 'Im.ti, Dw-mut.f, b-n.w.f, 1228 bring it to N., namely, the "work of Khnum," 1228 which is in the Winding Watercourse. 1229 O devourer, open the way to N.; 1229 O rr-serpent, open the way to N.; 1229 O Nekhbet, open the way to N. 1230 Greetings to thee, good one, (come) in peace. 1230 Love N. as N. loves thee. 1230 Unwanted (?) art thou, evil one; 1230 if thou avoidest N., N. will avoid thee. 25. MISCELLANEOUS TEXTS CHIEFLY ABOUT THE DECEASED KING'S RECEPTION AND LIFE IN HEAVEN,

(1) NUMEROUS volumes have been written as commentaries upon the secret systems of philosophy existing in the ancient world, but the ageless truths of life, like many of the earth's greatest thinkers, have usually been clothed in shabby garments. The present work is an attempt to supply a tome worthy of those seers and sages whose thoughts are the substance of its pages. To bring about this coalescence of Beauty and Truth has proved most costly, but I believe that the result will produce an effect upon the mind of the reader which will more than justify the expenditure.

(2) No better way can be found of introducing to the "Royal Art" a seeker after the mysteries of symbolical philosophy than to place at his disposal an actual example of alchemical writing. The text of this manuscript is as enigmatic as are its diagrams; but to him who will meditate upon the profound significance of both, the deeper issues of mysticism in due time will be made clear. An unknown person through whose hands this manuscript passed wrote thus of it:

(4) Now follow me, and mind thou do not place As yet thy feet upon the burning sand, But always keep them close unto the wood." Speaking no word, we came to where there gushes Forth from the wood a little rivulet, Whose redness makes my hair still stand on end. As from the Bulicame springs the brooklet, The sinful women later share among them, So downward through the sand it went its way. The bottom of it, and both sloping banks, Were made of stone, and the margins at the side; Whence I perceived that there the passage was. "In all the rest which I have shown to thee Since we have entered in within the gate Whose threshold unto no one is denied, Nothing has been discovered by thine eyes So notable as is the present river, Which all the little flames above it quenches." These words were of my Leader; whence I prayed him That he would give me largess of the food, For which he had given me largess of desire. "In the mid-sea there sits a wasted land," Said he thereafterward, "whose name is Crete, Under whose king the world of old was chaste.

(674) 1994 To say: I have come to thee, I am thy son; I have come to thee, I am Horus; 1994 I give to thee thy mdw-staff before the spirits and thy nb.tsceptre before the imperishable stars. 1995 [I have found thee assembled], [thy (lit. his) face] like (that of) a jackal, thy (lit. his) seat like (that of) b.wt; 1995 she refreshes thy heart in thy body, in the house of her (lit. thy) father Anubis. 1996 Be pure and sit at the head of those greater than thou. 1996 Thou art seated on thy firm throne, on the throne of the First of the Westerners; 1996 thy tis.w, they are young. 1997. mnt.t salutes thee, like Isis; Hn.t acclaims thee like Nephthys. 1998 Thou standest at the head of the n.wt, of the double palace, like Min; 1998 thou standest at the head of Egyptians (km.tiw), like api; 1998 thou standest at Pdw-s, like Seker. 1999 Thou standest before the Rd-wr-lake. 1999 Thou hast thy 'b-sceptre, thy wire, thy fingernails; which are at hand (lit. "at thy fingers"); 1999 those who are before Thot are slain with the knife, coming from Set. 1999 Thou givest thine arm to the dead, to the spirits, who will take thine arm to the First of the Westerners.

(221) 196 To say: O N.t (Crown of Lower Egypt), O 'Inw (Crown of Lower Egypt), O Great One (Crown of Lower Egypt), 196 O Great-in-magic (Crown of Lower Egypt), O Nsr.t (Uraeus), 197 make thou the terror of N. to be like the terror of thee; 197 make thou the awe of N. to be like the awe of thee; 197 make thou the respect for N. to be like the respect for thee; 197 make thou the love for N. to be like the love for thee; 197 make thou that his `b-sceptre be at the head of the living; make thou that his m-sceptre be at the head of the spirits; 197 make thou that his blade be firm against his enemies. 198 O 'Inw-Crown, thou has come forth from him as he came forth from thee. 198 The great 'I.t has given birth to thee, the 'I.t-wt.t has adorned thee; 198 the 'I.t-wt.t has given birth to thee, the great 'I.t has adorned thee, 198 for as for thee, thou art like Horus, who fought in protection of his eye.

(581) 1551 To say: This thy cavern there is the broad-hall of Osiris N.. 1551 which brings the wind. The north wind refreshes; 1551 it raises thee as Osiris N. 1552 Ssm.w comes to thee, bearing water and wine; 1552 nti-mnwt.f (comes) bearing the vases which are before the two 'itr.t-palaces. 1552 Thou standest, thou sittest like Anubis, chief of the necropolis. 1553 Aker stands up for thee; Shu dries (lit. something like. "lies down," Wb. V 366) for thee. 1553 They tremble who see the inundation (when) it tosses; 1554 (but) the marshes laugh; the shores are become green; 1554 the divine offerings descend; the face of men brightens; the heart of the gods rejoices. 1555 "Deliver N. from his bandages, which restrain (?) the living, O gods," 1555 (is) in the mouth of those who run to them on the good day of running (while running is good). 1556 "Set is guilty; Osiris is justified," 1556 (is) in the mouth of the gods, on the good day of the going upon the mountain. 1557 (When) inundations are upon the land, 1557 he who hastens with his soul goes to his cave; 1557 (but) thou marchest behind thy spirit towards Knm-'iwnw, 1557 like the successor of Hrti, chief of [Ns].t.

(537) 11298a. To say: O N., arise, sit thou on the throne of Osiris; 1298 thy flesh is complete like (that of) Atum; thy face like (that of) a jackal. 1299 Give thou thy mouth to R`. 1299 He congratulates thee on what thou hast said; he praises thy words. 1299 Arise; thou ceasest not to be; thou perishest not. 1300 Live, N., thy mother Nut lays hold of thee, she unites her. self with thee; 1300 Geb seizes thine arm. "Thou comest in peace," say thy fathers. 1300 Thou art possessed of thy body; thou art clothed in thy body. 1301 Thou ascendest like Horus of the D.t, chief of the imperishable stars; 1301 thou sittest upon thy firm throne at the head of thy canal of b.w; 1301 thou livest as the coleoptera (lives); thou endurest as the dd, eternally.

(11) Leaf 1. The top line reads: "Our earliest medicine was made of natural objects." About the king and queen appears the statement that to them a son shall be born "in two trees of the vine," resembling his father and without equal in all the world. About the vase is written: "Green and white." "The vase flame color, the flowers green." "Our water, our silver." The lines below read: "The material of the Philosopher's Stone is that thick, viscous water, which either heat or cold congeals. It is Mercury boiled down and thickened, cooked in neutral earth with sulphurous heat and is called the Prime Material of the metals. In caverns yet dark, and forbidding mountains, if a Stone be found which a thousand years ago Nature made out of her fruits, it will bring him that has it out of trouble. * * * Listen carefully to all my verses; I speak them without veil and without deception.

(6) All of their coverings uplifted were, And from them issued forth such dire laments, Sooth seemed they of the wretched and tormented. And I: "My Master, what are all those people Who, having sepulture within those tombs, Make themselves audible by doleful sighs?" And he to me: "Here are the Heresiarchs, With their disciples of all sects, and much More than thou thinkest laden are the tombs. Here like together with its like is buried; And more and less the monuments are heated." And when he to the right had turned, we passed Between the torments and high parapets.

(1) And now we shall tell of their stay and abode there on the mountain, where the four called Balam-Quitzé, Balam-Acab, Mahucutah, and Iqui-Balam were together. Their hearts mourned for Tohil, Avilix, and Hacavitz, whom they had placed among the air-plants and the moss. We shall tell now how they made the sacrifices at the foot of the place where they had carried Tohil, when they arrived in the presence of Tohil and Avilix. They went to see them, to greet them, and also to give them thanks for the arrival of the dawn. They were in the thicket amidst the stones, there in the woods. And only by magic art did they speak when the priests and sacrificers came before Tohil. They did not bring great gifts, only resin, the remains of the gum, called noh, and pericón, they burned before their gods.