Header image
  HOME  :: THEURGISTS :: TEXTS :: PRAXIS :: OTHER TRADITIONS :: LINKS :: CONTACT ::
   
 
Chaldean Oracles- English and Latin Translations

 

English translation by Thomas Stanley (1701 version)

Latin translation by Francesco Patrizi

Taken from the 1701 edition of Stanley's History of the Chaldaick Philosophy

THE ORACLES OF ZOROASTER ZOROASTRI ORACULA
 
MONAD. DUAD. TRIAD. MONAS, DYAS, TRIAS. 
 
Where the Paternal Monad is. Ubi paterna Monas est.
The Monad is enlarged, which generates Two. Ampliata est Monas, quæ due generat.
For the Dyad sits by him, and glitters with Intellectual Sections. Duitas enim apud hunc sedet, & intellectualibus fulget sectionibus.
And to Govern all things, and to Order all things not Ordered, Et gubernare cuncta, & ordinare quodcunque non ordinatum.
For in the whole World shineth the Triad, over which the Monad Rules. Toto enim mundo lucet Trias, cujus Monas est princeps.
This Order is the beginning of all Section. Principium omnis sectionis hic est ordo,
For the Mind of the Father said, that all things be cut into three. In tria namque Mens dixit Patris secari omnia,
Whose Will assented, and then all things were divided. Cujus voluntas annuit, & jam omnia secta suere.
For the Mind of the Eternal Father said into three, In tria namque dixit Mens patris æterni,
Governing all things by the Mind. Mente omnia gubernans.
And there appeared in it (the Triad) Virtue and wisdom, Et apparuerunt in ipsa Virtus & Sapientia, 
And Multiscient Verity. Et Multiscia Veritas.
This way floweth the Shape of the Triad, being præ-existent. Hinc fluit Triadis vultus ante essentiam,
Not the first (Essence) but where they are measured. Non primam, sed eam quæ mensuratur.
For thou must conceive that all things serve these three Principles. Principiis tribus hisce capias servire cuncta.
The first course is Sacred, but in the middle. *   *   *   *
Another the third, aerial; which cherisheth the Earth in Fire. *   *   *   *
And Fountain of Fountains, and of all Fountains. Et fons fontium, & fontium conctorum.
The Matrix containing all things. Matrix continens cuncta.
Thence abundantly springs forth the Generation of multivarious Matter. Inde affatim exilit generatio multivariæ materiæ.
Thence extracted a prester the flower of glowing Fire, Inde tractus prester exilis ignis flos,
Flashing into the Cavities of the World: for all things from thence Mundorum indens cavitatibus. Omnia namque inde.
Begin to extend downwards their admirable Beams. Incipit deorsum tendere radios admirandos. 
 
FATHER. MIND. PATER ET MENS
 
The Father hath snatched away himself; neither Seipsum rapuit pater neque suæ
Hath he shut up his own fire in his Intellectual Power. Potentiæ mentali claudens proprium ignem.
Non enim a paterno Principio imperfectum quid rotatur. 
For the Father perfected all things Cuncta namque perfecit pater, 
and delivered them over to the second Mind, Et menti tradidit secundæ,
Which the whole Race of Men call the First. Quam primam vocat omne genus homnum. 
Light begotten of the Father; for he alone Patrogenia lux, multum namque sola
Having crop't the Flower of the Mind from the Fathers Vigour. E partis robore decrepens mentis florem.
For the Paternal self-begotten Mind understanding [his] Work, Opera enim intelligens paterna mens ese genita,
Sowed in all the fiery bond of Love, Cunctis inseminavit vinculum ignis gravis amoris.
That all things might continue loving for ever. Quo omnia meneant, tempus in interminatum amantia
Neither those things which are intellectually context in the light of the Father in all things. Neque omnibus quæ patri mentaliter contexta monstret.
That being the Elements of the World they might persist in Love. Ut in amore maneant mundi elementa manentia.
*   *   *   * Habet ipsa intelligentia paternam mentem indere omnibus fontibus & principatibus.
For it is the Bound of the paternal Depth, and the Fountain of the Intellectuals. Est enim finis paterni profundi, & fons mentalium
Neither went he forth, but abode in the paternal Depth, Nequa progressus est, sed mansit in paterno profundo,
And in the Adytum according to Divinely-nourished Silence. Et in adyto, per Deo-nutriens silentium.
For the Fire once above, shutteth not his Power Non enim in materiam, ignis trans primus
Into Matter by Actions, but by the Mind. Suam potentiam claudid operibus, sed mente.
For the paternal Mind hath sowed Symbols thro' the World Symbola enim paterna mens seminavit per mundum
Which understandeth Intelligibles, and beautifieth ineffables. Quæ intelligibilia intelligit, & ineffabilia exornat.
Wholly Division and Indivisible. Tota partitio, & impartibilis.
By Mind he contains the Intelligibles, but introduceth Sense into the Worlds. Mente quidem continet intelligibilia, sensum vero inducit mundus.
By Mind he contains the Intelligibles, but introduceth Soul into the Worlds. Mente quidem continet intelligibilia, animam vero inducit mundus.
 
MIND. INTELLIGIBLES. INTELLECTUALS. MENS, INTELLIGIBILIA & MENTALIA.
 
And of the one Mind, the intelligible (Mind)  
For the Mind is not without the intelligible; it exists not without it.  
These are Intellectuals, and Intelligibles, which being understood, understand.  
For the Intelligible is the Ailment of the Intelligent.  
Learn the Intelligible, since it exists beyond the Mind.  
And of the Mind which moves the Empyræal Heaven.  
For the Framer of the fiery World is the Mind of the Mind.  
You who know certainly the supermundane paternal Depth.  
The intelligible is predominant over all Section.  
There is something Intelligible, which it behooves thee to understand with the flower of the Mind.  
For if thou enclinest thy Mind, thou shalt understand this also;  
Yet understanding something [of it] thou shalt not understand this wholly; for it is a Power  
Of Circumlucid Strength, glittering with Intellectual Sections. (Rays).  
But it behooves not to consider this intelligible with Vehemence of Intellection,  
But with the ample flame of the ample Mind, which measureth all things  
Except this Intelligible: but it behooves to understand this.  
For if thou enclinest thy Mind, thou shalt understand this also,  
Not fixedly, but having a pure turning Eye [thou must]  
Extend the empty mind of thy Soul towards the Intelligible,  
That thou mayst learn the Intelligible, for it exists beyond the Mind.  
But every Mind understands this God; for the Mind is not  
Without the Intelligible, neither is the Intelligible without the Mind.  
To the Intellectual Presters of the Intellectual fire, all things  
By yielding are subservient to the persuasive Counsel of the Father.  
And to understand, and always to remain in a restless whirling.  
But insinuating into Worlds the Venerable Name in a sleepless Whirling,  
Fountains and Principles; to turn, and alwayes remain in a restlesse Whirling.  
By reason of the terrible menace of the Father.  
Under two Minds the Life-generating Fountain of Souls is contained;  
And the Maker, who self-operating framed the World.  
Who sprang first out of the Mind.  
Cloathing Fire with Fire, binding them together to mingle.  
The Fountainous Craters preserves the flower of his own fire.  
He glittereth with Intellectual Sections, and filled all things with Love.  
Like Swarms they are carried, being broken,  
About the Bodies of the World.  
That things unfashioned may be fashioned,  
What the Mind speaks, it speaks by understanding.  
Power is with them, Mind is from Her.  
 
JYNGES. IDÆAS. PRINCIPLES.  
 
These being many ascend into the lucid Worlds.  
Springing into them, and in which there are three Tops.  
Beneath them lies the chief of Immaterials.  
Principles which have understood the intelligible Works of the Father.  
Disclosed them in sensible Works as in Bodies;  
Being (as it were) the Ferry-men betwixt the Father and Matter.  
And producing manifest Images of unmanifest things,  
And inscribing unmanifest things in the manifest frame of the World.  
The Mind of the Father made a jarring Noise, understanding by vigorous Counsel,  
Omniform Idea's; and flying out of one Fountain  
They sprung forth; for, from the Fathers was the Counsel and End,  
By which they are connected to the Father, by alternate  
Life from several Vehicles.  
But they were divided, being by intellectual fire distributed  
Into other intellectuals: for the King did set before the multiform World  
An intellectual, incorruptable Pattern; this Print through the World he promoting, of whose form  
According to which the World appeared  
Beautified with all kinds of Idea's; of which there is one fountain,  
Out of which come rushing forth others undistributed,  
Being broken about the Bodies of the World, which through the vast Recesses,  
Like Swarms are carried round about every Way.  
Intellectual Notions from the paternal Fountain cropping the flower of Fire.  
In the point of sleepless time, of this Primigenious Idea.  
The first self-budding fountain of the Father budded.  
Intelligent Jynges do (themselves) also understand from the Father:  
By unspeakable Counsels being moved so as to understand.  
 
HECATE. SYNOCHES. TELETARCHS.