CHAPTER IX 
Of Silence and Secrecy : 
AND OF 
The Barbarous names of Evocation 
It is found by expérience (confirming the statement of Zoro- 
aster) that the most potent conjurations are those in an ancient 
and perhaps forgotten language, or even those couched in a corrupt 
and possibly always meaningless jargon. Of these there are several 
main types. The “preliminary invocation” in the “Goetia” consists 
principally of corruptions of Greek and Egyptian names. For 
example, we find “Osorronnophris” for “Asor Un-Nefer”.1 The 
conjurations given by Dr. Dee (vide Equinox I, VIII) are an a 
language called Angelic, or Enochian. Its source has hnherto 
baffled research, but it is a language and not a jargon, for it 
possesses a structure of its own, and there are traces or grammar 
and syntax. 
However this may be, it works. Even the beginner finds that 
“things happen” when he uses it: and this is an advantage or 
disadvantage ! —shared by no other type of language. The rest 
need skill. This needs Prudence! 
The Egyptian Invocations are much purer, but their meaning 
has not been sufficiently studied by persons magically competent. 
We possess a number of Invocations in Greek of every degree of 
excellence ; in Latin but few, and those of inferioi quality. It will 
be noticed that in every case the conjurations are very sonorous, 
I.. See appendix 4, Liber Samekh; this is an édition of this Invoca¬ 
tion, with an elaborate Rubric, translation, scholia, and instruction. 
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