Page 12 - Book of Composition

The speech of Morienus

The Roman Hermit of Jerusalem.

The divine mind of Hermes has fully attained unto all the parts of
philosophy, and when he had studied many years in the finding and
educting of the superior Magistery; and the length he found out and set
forth the Magistery; and compiled a book of it which he kept proper unto
himself, and after his death left it to his disciples as an inheritance. After
his death his disciples studied a long time in this book and in his precepts
to attain unto the true effect of them. Therefore after they had obtained
their desire they gave divers and innumerable precepts concerning the
same matter. This they did to the intent that those which should be
partakers of the science after them should not make it common to the
unlearned and ignorant. But a long time after the passion of our Lord
Jesus Christ, there rose up a certain holy man, endued with spiritual gifts,
who after he had spent much time in the study of divinity, at length
among others of his divine books he found by chance this book. This
man was born at Alexandria from whence he took his name Adfar
Alexandrius. But this man after he had found this aforesaid book ceased
not to study therein with great industry and watchfulness of mind, but
after he had spent much time and travail in the study thereof, at length he
fully attained the depth of that science. And of this science this divine
gave likewise many, sundry and innumerable precepts, which when had
been made common and vulgar through all parts of our region, the fame
of this man's name, and of this science, came unto me being at that time
in the city of Rome, where I was born.

I was then but young, whose chin was utterly destitute of hairs, being
given to study, and by doctrine a Christian, being so brought up by both
my parents from the first degree of my age, and perfectly instructed in
the Latin tongue. Therefore the name and fame of this man being heard,
in haste I forsook both parents and country and took but small rest, till
such time as I came to Alexandria. I entered into the city, and went from
street to street, till I came to the house of this man. At length I found out

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