(1) Hermes, the God who presides over language, was formerly very properly considered as common to all priests; and the power who presides over the true science concerning the Gods is one and the same in the whole of things. Hence our ancestors dedicated the inventions of their wisdom to this deity, inscribing all their own writings with the name of Hermes. If, therefore, we participate of a portion of this God, adapted and commensurate to our powers, you do well to propose your theological doubts to the priests, as friends, and to make these doubts known to them. I also very properly conceiving that the epistle sent to my disciple Anebo was written to me, shall give you a true answer to your inquiries. For it would not be becoming, that Pythagoras and Plato, Democritus and Eudoxus, and many other of the ancient Greeks, should have obtained appropriate instruction from the sacred scribes of their time, but that you who are our contemporary, and think conformably to those ancients, should be frustrated of your wish by those who are now living, and who are called common preceptors. I, therefore, thus betake myself to the present discussion; and do you, if you please, conceive that the same person to whom you sent the letter returns you an answer. Or, if it should seem fit to you, admit it to be me who discourses with you in writing, or some other prophet of the Egyptians, for this is of no consequence. Or, which I think is still better, dismiss the consideration whether the speaker is an inferior or a superior character, but direct your attention to what is said, so as readily to excite your mind to survey whether what is asserted is true or false.

(7) "This is the oath: I adjure you who will read this holy book, by heaven and earth and fire and water and seven rulers of substance and the creative spirit in them and the god not conceived and the self-conceived one and the one who has been conceived, that you guard what Hermes has communicated. God will be at one with those who keep the oath and everyone we have named, but wrath will come upon each of those who violate the oath. This is the perfect one who is, child."

(6) "I understand mind, Hermes. You cannot be known, since you stay in yourself. I am happy, father. I see you laughing. The universe is happy. No creature will lack your life, for you are the lord of the inhabitants everywhere. Your forethought keeps watch. I call you father, eternal realm of eternal realms, great divine spirit, who through spirit sends moisture on everyone. What do you tell me, father Hermes?"

(50) In concluding his exposition of the Vision, Hermes wrote: "The sleep of the body is the sober watchfulness of the Mind and the shutting of my eyes reveals the true Light. My silence is filled with budding life and hope, and is full of good. My words are the blossoms of fruit of the tree of my soul. For this is the faithful account of what I received from my true Mind, that is Poimandres, the Great Dragon, the Lord of the Word, through whom I became inspired by God with the Truth. Since that day my Mind has been ever with me and in my own soul it hath given birth to the Word: the Word is Reason, and Reason hath redeemed me. For which cause, with all my soul and all my strength, I give praise and blessing unto God the Father, the Life and the Light, and the Eternal Good.

(38) Further, Esaias the prophet is ordered to take "a new book, and write in it" certain things: the Spirit prophesying that through the exposition of the Scriptures there would come afterwards the sacred knowledge, which at that period was still unwritten, because not yet known. For it was spoken from the beginning to those only who understand. Now that the Saviour has taught the apostles, the unwritten rendering' of the written [Scripture] has been handed down also to us, inscribed by the power of God on hearts new, according to the renovation of the book. Thus those of highest repute among the Greeks, dedicate the fruit of the pomegranate to Hermes, who they say is speech, on account of its interpretation. For speech conceals much. Rightly, therefore, Jesus the son of Nave saw Moses, when taken up [to heaven], double, - one Moses with the angels, and one on the mountains, honoured with burial in their ravines. And Jesus saw this spectacle below, being elevated by the Spirit, along also with Caleb. But both do not see similarly But the one descended with greater speed, as if the weight he carried was great; while the other, on descending after him, subsequently related the glory which he beheld, being able to perceive more than the other as having grown purer; the narrative, in my opinion, showing that knowledge is not the privilege of all. Since some look at the body of the Scriptures, the expressions and the names as to the body of Moses; while others see through to the thoughts and what it is signified by the names, seeking the Moses that is with the angels.

(5) The lifework of Hermes seems to have been in the direction of planting the great Seed-Truth which has grown and blossomed in so many strange forms, rather than to establish a school of philosophy which would dominate, the world's thought. But, nevertheless, the original truths taught by him have been kept intact in their original purity by a few men each age, who, refusing great numbers of half-developed students and followers, followed the Hermetic custom and reserved their truth for the few who were ready to comprehend and master it. From lip to ear the truth has been handed down among the few. There have always been a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the earth, who kept alive the sacred flame of the Hermetic Teachings, and such have always been willing to use their lamps to re-light the lesser lamps of the outside world, when the light of truth grew dim, and clouded by reason of neglect, and when the wicks became clogged with foreign matter. There were always a few to tend faithfully the altar of the Truth, upon which was kept alight the Perpetual Lamp of Wisdom. These men devoted their lives to the labor of love which the poet has so well stated in his lines: "O, let not the flame die out! Cherished age after age in its dark cavern--in its holy temples cherished. Fed by pure ministers of love--let not the flame die out!"

(7) Among the fragmentary writings believed to have come from the stylus of Hermes are two famous works. The first is the Emerald Table, and the second is the Divine Pymander, or, as it is more commonly called, The Shepherd of Men, a discussion of which follows. One outstanding point in connection with Hermes is that he was one of the few philosopher-priests of pagandom upon whom the early Christians did not vent their spleen. Some Church Fathers went so far as to declare that Hermes exhibited many symptoms of intelligence, and that if he had only been born in a more enlightened age so that he might have benefited by their instructions he would have been a really great man!

(63) 44 [To say: Osiris N., present thyself to thy son, Horus]; 44 put him in thyself (lit. thy body). A mhn-club; an 'isr-club. 44 -------------------- One r--club. 63 45a-i (Nt. 309). To say: Osiris N., make thyself great over him.

(49) Some who heard mocked and scoffed and went their way, delivering themselves to the Second Death from which there is no salvation. But others, casting themselves before the feet of Hermes, besought him to teach them the Way of Life. He lifted them gently, receiving no approbation for himself, and staff in hand, went forth teaching and guiding mankind, and showing them how they might be saved. In the worlds of men, Hermes sowed the seeds of wisdom and nourished the seeds with the Immortal Waters. And at last came the evening of his life, and as the brightness of the light of earth was beginning to go down, Hermes commanded his disciples to preserve his doctrines inviolate throughout all ages. The Vision of Poimandres he committed to writing that all men desiring immortality might therein find the way.

(6) These men have never sought popular approval, nor numbers of followers. They are indifferent to these things, for they know how few there are in each generation who are ready for the truth, or who would recognize it if it were presented to them. They reserve the "strong meat for men," while others furnish the "milk for babes." They reserve their pearls of wisdom for the few elect, who recognize their value and who wear them in their crowns, instead of casting them before the materialistic vulgar swine, who would trample them in the mud and mix them with their disgusting mental food. But still these men have never forgotten or overlooked the original teachings of Hermes, regarding the passing on of the words of truth to those ready to receive it, which teaching is stated in The Kybalion as follows: "Where fall the footsteps of the Master, the ears of those ready for his Teaching open wide." And again: "When the ears of the student are ready to hear, then cometh the lips to fill them with wisdom." But their customary attitude has always been strictly in accordance with the other Hermetic aphorism, also in The Kybalion: "The lips of Wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding."

(3) In his Biographia Antiqua, Francis Barrett says of Hermes: "* * * if God ever appeared in man, he appeared in him, as is evident both from his books and his Pymander; in which works he has communicated the sum of the Abyss, and the divine knowledge to all posterity; by which he has demonstrated himself to have been not only an inspired divine, but also a deep philosopher, obtaining his wisdom from God and heavenly things, and not from man."

(1) Prior to truly existing beings and total principles [or principles that rank as wholes], there is one God, prior to [that deity who is generally believed to be] the first God and king, immoveable, and abiding in the solitude of his own unity. For neither is the intelligible connected with him, nor any thing else; but he is established as the paradigm of the God who is the father of himself, is self begotten, is father alone, and is truly good. For he is something even greater and prior to this, is the fountain of all things, and the root of the first intelligible forms. But from this one deity, the God who is sufficient to himself unfolds himself, into light. For this divinity, also, is the principle and God of Gods, a monad from the one , prior to essence, and the principle of essence. For from him entity and essence are derived; and hence, also, he is denominated the principle of intelligibles. These, therefore, are the most ancient principles of all things, which Hermes arranges prior to the etherial, empyrean, and celestial Gods. He likewise delivered to us the history of the empyrean Gods in one hundred books; of the etherial in an equal number; and of the celestial in a thousand books.

(691) 2120a (Nt. XXXII 819). To say: O my father, O R`, concerning these things which thou hast said: 2120b (Nt. 819). "O that I had a son who is glorified, who dawns, who is a soul, is honoured, is mighty, 2120c (Nt. 820). whose arm is stretched out, whose stride is wide." 2121a (Nt. 820). Behold me, I am thy son, behold I am N.; 2121b (Nt. 820-821). I am glorified, I dawn (or, am crowned), I am a soul, I am honoured, I am mighty; 2121c (Nt. 821). mine arm is stretched out, my stride is wide. 2122 O N., he is purified; 2122b (Nt. 821-822). I take the rudder, I am glad of my seat on the shoulder of the sky; 2122 N. voyages on the shoulder of the sky; 2122 N. directs his rudder on the shoulder of the sky. 2123 O my father, O R`, concerning these things which thou hast said: 2123 "O that I had a son who is glorified, who dawns, who is a soul, is honoured, is mighty, 2123 whose arm is stretched out, whose stride is wide." 2124 Behold me, I am thy son, behold I am N. 2124 I am glorified, I dawn (or, am crowned), I am a soul, I am honoured, I am mighty; 2125 I am purified; 2125b (Nt. 825). I take my rudder, I am glad of my seat in company with the Ennead; 2125c (Nt. 826). I voyage with the Ennead; 2125d (Nt. 826). I direct my rudder in company with the Ennead. Utterance 691 A. 2126a-1 (Nt. J�quier, XXXII 826). To say: The two reed-floats of heaven are placed for R`; 2126a-2 (Nt. 826-827). the two reed-floats of heaven are placed for R`, 212 6a-3 (Nt. 827). that he may be high from east to west at the side of his brothers, the gods. 212 6a-4 (Nt. 827-828). His, brother is , his sister is Sothis; 2126a-5 (Nt. 828). he is seated between them above (lit. in) this earth for ever. 212 6a-6 (Nt. 828). The two reed-floats of heaven are placed for this N.; 2126a (Nt. 828-829). the two reed-floats of heaven are placed for this N.; 212 6b (Nt. 829). that she (lit. he) may be high from east to west at the side of her (lit. his) brothers, the gods. 2126b + 1 (Nt. 829). Her (lit. his) brother is her (lit. his) sister is Sothis; 212 6b + 2 (Nt. 830). she (lit. he) is seated between them above (lit. in) this earth for ever. Utterance 691 B. 2127a-1 (Nt. J�quier, XXXII 830). Awake, awake, father Osiris, 2127a-2 (Nt. 83 0). I am thy son, who loves thee, I am thy son, who loves thee. 2127a (Nt. 831). Behold me, enter, I am come, I have brought to thee that which he carried off belonging to thee. 2127b (Nt. SP). He rejoiced over thee; he exulted (?) over thee. 2127b + 1 (Nt. 832). Set exulted over thee, at the side of thy two mourning sisters, 2127b + 2 (Nt. 83 2 ). the two sisters who love thee, Isis and Nephthys; they are pleasing to thee. 2127b + 3 (Nt. 883). Thou shalt not pass me by, for I am entrusting myself to thee; 2127b + 4 (Nt. 833). thou shalt not pass by the bread of judgment; thou shalt be satisfied with r-'imi-pr.f. 2128a-1 (Nt. 833-834). I have rowed (thee) as Set, like Geb; 212 8a, (Nt. 834). like the remains (of a corpse) (in) jars of viscera; 2128b (Nt. 834). thy forepart being like that of a jackal, thy hinderpart like b.wt. 2128b + 1 (Nt. 834). It is clear that thou receivest a man of god. 212 8b + 2 (Nt. 83 5). 1 have ploughed barley; I have reaped the spelt, 2128b + 3 (Nt. 835). which I have done (given) for thy years (festivals?). 212 8b + 4 (Nt. 83 5). Awake, awake, father, for this thy bread. Utterance 691 C. 2129-1 (N. J�quier, XI 1011) -------- N. he 2129-2 (N. 1011) -------------- `m --- --2129 (N. 1011-1012) ------ the might of N. ----------------2129 + 1 (N. 1012) ----------- they see (?) ------2129 + 2 (N. 1012) ----------------------------------2129 + 3 (N. 1012). the throne of N. m ----2129 + 4 (N. 1012). --- this N. on the head of R` dm ----2129 + 5 (N. 1012) ------- m (?) --------2130 (N. 1012-1013) ------- in heaven strong --------------2130+ 1 (N. 1013) --------------- m(?) 2130 + 2 (N. 1013). N --------------------------------2130 + 3 (N. 1013). he smote (?) with the `b-sceptre; he led with the 'i.t-sceptre 2130+4 (N. 1013). this N -------- with (?) a voice 2130+ 5 (N. 1013). not -------2131 (N. 1013-1014). ----------- his? names 2131 + 1 (N. 1014). ---------------------------------2131 + 2 (N. 1014). ----------- rw ------------------2131 + 3 (N. 1014). ----------------- with braids of hair 2131 +4 (N. 1014). ------------2131 + 5 (N. 1014). praise was given, rejoicing -----2132 (N. 1014-1015). ------------- Geb ------------2132 + 1 (N. J�quier, XI 1015). ------------2132 + 2 (N. 1015). --------- his two arms guarded before N. 2132 + 3 (N. 1015). ---------------------------------2132 + 4 (N. 1015). --------------------------- r 2132 + 5 (N. 1015). N. shines -------------------------2133 (N. 1015-1016). --------------------------------2133 + 1 (N. 1016). ----------2133 + 2 (N. 1016). N. purified --------------- 'in -2133 + 3 (N. 1016). comes as his soul 'inw ------------2133 + 4 (N. 1016) ------ N., he withdraws by it 2134 (N. 1016). the hand of N. took ----------------2135 (N. 1016 + 1). ------------2136 (N. 1016 + 1). ------- N. the northern way of the boat of the morning sun --2136 + 1 (N. 1016 + 1). Harachte commanded thee, N -------- pw.t ntr 2136 + 2 (N. 1016 + 1). Khepri --- gods, clothes laid aside 2136+ 3 (N. 1016 + 2). ------------2136+4 (N. 1016 + 2) ------------- lake of the jackals 2136 + 5 (N. J�quier, XI 1016 + 2). N. sat ------------[Dw]-mw.tf. 2136+ 6 (N. 1016 + 2). Dw-mw.tf -----------------

(383) Your thoughts, he said, are the reflection of my own. You agree with me then, I said, that this is the second type or form in which we should write and speak about divine things. The gods are not magicians who transform themselves, neither do they deceive mankind in any way. I grant that. Then, although we are admirers of Homer, we do not admire the lying dream which Zeus sends to Agamemnon; neither will we praise the verses of Aeschylus in which Thetis says that Apollo at her nuptials ‘Was celebrating in song her fair progeny whose days were to be long, and to know no sickness. And when he had spoken of my lot as in all things blessed of heaven he raised a note of triumph and cheered my soul. And I thought that the word of Phoebus, being divine and full of prophecy, would not fail. And now he himself who uttered the strain, he who was present at the banquet, and who said this—he it is who has slain my son 15 .’ These are the kind of sentiments about the gods which will arouse our anger; and he who utters them shall be refused a chorus; neither shall we allow teachers to make use of them in the instruction of the young, meaning, as we do, that our guardians, as far as men can be, should be true worshippers of the gods and like them. I entirely agree, he said, in these principles, and promise to make them my laws.

(16) We ought not to surrender our ears to all who speak and write rashly. For cups also, which are taken hold of by many by the ears, are dirtied, and lose the ears; and besides, when they fall they are broken. In the same way also, those, who have polluted the pure hearing of faith by many trifles, at last becoming deaf to the truth, become useless and fall to the earth. It is not, then, without reason that we commanded boys to kiss their relations, holding them by the ears; indicating this, that the feeling of love is engendered by hearing. And "God," who is known to those who love, "is love," as "God," who by instruction is communicated to the faithful, "is faithful; " and we must be allied to Him by divine love: so that by like we may see like, hearing the word of truth guilelessly and purely, as children who obey us. And this was what he, whoever he was, indicated who wrote on the entrance to the temple at Epidaurus the inscription: "Pure he must be who goes within The incense-perfumed fane."

(7) Thou hast handed over to thy son Horus all the gods of Heaven and the gods of earth, they are his servants at his gates, and all that he has commanded is before them; they fulfil it at once; thy heart is satisfied, thy heart, lord of the gods, is overjoyed because of it

(219) 167 To say: Atum, this thy son is this one here, Osiris, whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 167 He lives, N. (also) lives; he dies not, N. (also) dies not; 167 he perishes not, N. (also) perishes not, he is not judged, N. (also) is not judged; 167 he judges, N. (also) judges. 168 Shu, this thy son is this one here, Osiris, whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 168b-168d = 167b- 167 169 Tefnut, this thy son is this one here, Osiris, whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 169b-169d = 167b- 167 170 Geb, this thy son is this one here, Osiris, whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 170b-170d = 167b- 167 171 Nut, this thy son is this one here, Osiris, whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 171b-171d = 07b- 167 172 Isis, this thy brother is this one here, Osiris, whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 172b-172d = 167b- 07 173 Set, this thy brother is this one here, Osiris, who is made to endure and to live, that he may punish thee. 173b-173d = 167b- 167 174 Nephthys, this thy brother is this one here, Osiris, whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 174b-174d = 167b- 167 175 Thot, this thy brother is this one here, Osiris, who is made to endure and to live, that he may punish thee. 175b-175d = 167b- 167 176 Horus, this thy father is this one here, Osiris., whom thou hast made to endure and to live. 176b-176d = 167b- 167 177 Great Ennead, this one here is Osiris, whom ye have made to endure and to live. 177b-177d = 167b- 167 178 Little Ennead, this one here is Osiris, whom ye have made to endure and to live. 178b-178d = 167b- 167 179 Nut, this thy son is this one here, Osiris, of whom thou hast said: "One born to your father." 179 Thou hast wiped for him his mouth; his mouth was opened by his son, Horus, whom he loves; 179 his limbs are counted by the gods. 180a-180c = 167b- 167 181 In thy name, "He who is in Heliopolis, while he remains everlastingly in his necropolis": 181b-181d = 167b- 167 182 In thy name, "He who is in Busiris, chief of his nomes": 182b-182d = 167b- 167 183 In thy name, "He who is in the House of eret, the satisfied ka": 183b-183d = 167b- 167 184 In thy name, "He who is in the Divine Hall, who is in fumigation, 184 (who is in the) chest, (who is in the) portable chest, (who is in the) sack": 184c-184e = 167b- 167 185 In thy name, "He who is in the White Chapel of p`r-wood": 185b-185d = 167b- 167 186 In thy name, "He who is in ": Thou sojournest in heaven; thou sojournest on earth. 186 Osiris, turn thy face around, that thou mayest see N., 186 thy seed which came forth from thee, the pointed (pd.t). 187a-187c = 167b- 167 188 In thy name, "He who is in Buto": 188 Let thine arms be about "provisions", thy daughter; equip thyself with her. 188c-188e = 167b- 167 189 In thy name, "He who is in the House of the Great Ox": 189 Let thine arms be about "provisions", thy daughter; equip thyself with her. 189c-189e = 167b- 167 190 In thy name, "He who is in Hermopolis of the South": 190 Let thine arms be about "provisions", thy daughter; equip thyself with her. 190c-190e = 167b- 167 191 In thy name, "He who is in Hermopolis of the North": 191 Let thine arms be about "provisions", thy daughter, equip thyself with her. 191c-191d = 167b- 167 192 In thy name, "He who is in the City of Waters": 192 That which thou hast eaten is an eye; thy body is full of it; thy son, Horus, parts with it for thee, that thou mayest live by it. 192c-192d = 167b- 167 193 Thy body is the body of N.; thy flesh is the flesh of N.; 193 thy bones are the bones of N. 193 Thou goest, N. goes; N. goes, thou goest.

(43) "Although I had resolved never to give in writing to any person the secret of the Ancient Sages, yet notwithstanding out of peculiar affection and love to you, I have taken it upon me, to which the nearness of our relation obliges me, and especially because this temporal life is short, and Art is very dark and you may therefore not attain the wished for end;--but my Son because so precious a jewel belongs not to swine; and also this so great a gift of God may be treated carefully and Christianlike, in consideration thereof I do so largely declare myself to thee.

(18) In conclusion, it may be of interest to our students to learn that while some of the ancient, and modern, Hermetic Teachers have rather inclined in the direction of applying the Principle of Correspondence to the question, with the result of the "Inner Nature" conclusion,--still the legends have it that HERMES, the Great, when asked this question by his advanced students, answered them by PRESSING HIS LIPS TIGHTLY TOGETHER and saying not a word, indicating that there WAS NO ANSWER. But, then, he may have intended to apply the axiom of his philosophy, that: "The lips of Wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding," believing that even his advanced students did not possess the Understanding which entitled them to the Teaching. At any rate, if Hermes possessed the Secret, he failed to impart it, and so far as the world is concerned THE LIPS OF HERMES ARE CLOSED regarding it. And where the Great Hermes hesitated to speak, what mortal may dare to teach?

(9) This ancient text continues—“Come thou to me, glorified and purified; let thy hands [ here the text is obliterated ], shine thou with thine head . Give me my mouth that I may speak with it, and guide me on the glorious roads which are in heaven.”