Three books of occult philosophy written by Henry Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim ... ; translated out of the Latin into the English tongue by J.F.

CHAP. V. Of the Number of Two, and the Scale thereof.

THe first Number is of two, because it is the first Multitude, it can be measured by no number besides unity alone, the common measure of all Numbers: It is not compounded of Numbers, but of one unity only; neither is it called a num∣ber uncompounded, but more properly not compounded: The Number of three is called the first Number uncompound∣ed: But the Number of two is the first branch of unity, and the first procreation: Hence it is called generation, and Juno, and an imaginable Corporation, the proof of the first moti∣on, the first form of parity: the number of the first equali∣ty, extremity, and distance betwixt, and therefore of pecu∣liar equity, and the proper act thereof, because it consists of two equally poysed: and it is called the Number of Science, and Memory, and of light, and the number of man, who is called another, and the lesser World: it is also called the number of charity, and mutuall love, of marriage, and socie∣ty, as it is said by the Lord, Two shall be one flesh. And Solomon saith: It is better that two be together then one, for they have a benefit by their mutuall society: If one shall fall, he shall be supported by the other. Wo to him that is alone, because when he falls he hath not another to help him: and if two sleep together, they shall warm one the other; how shall one be hot alone? and if any prevaile against him, two resist him. And it is called the number of Wedlock and Sex; for there are two sexes, Masculine, and Feminine: and two Doves bring forth two Eggs, out of the first of which is hatched the Male, out of the second the Female. It is also called the midle, that is capable, that is good, and bad, partaking, and the beginning of division, of Multitude, and distinction, and signifies matter. This is also sometimes the number of dis∣cord, and confusion, of misfortune, and uncleanness, whence Saint Hierom against Jovianus saith, that therefore it was not

spoken in the second day of the creation of the world, and God said, That it was good, because the number of two is evill. Hence also it was that God commanded that all unclean Animals should go into the Ark by couples: because as I said, the number of two, is a number of unclean∣ness, and it is most unhappy in their Soothsayings, especially if those things, from whence the Soothsaying is taken, be Sa∣turnall, or Martiall, for these two are accounted by the Astro∣logers unfortunate. It is also reported, that the number of two doth cause apparitions of Ghosts, and fearfull Goblins, and bring mischiefs of evill spirits to them that travell by night. Pythagoras (as Eusebius reports) said, that Unity was God, and a good intellect; and that Duality was a Divell, and an evill intellect, in which is a materiall multitude: where∣fore the Pythagorians say, that two is not a number, but a cer∣tain confusion of unities. And Plutarke writes, that the Pytha∣gorians called unity Apollo, and two, strife, and boldness; and three, Justice, which is the highest perfection, and is notwith∣out many mysteries. Hence there were two Tables of the Law in Sina, two Cherubins looking to the Propitiatory in Moses, two Olives dropping oyle, in Zachariah, two natures in Christ, Divine, and Humane; Hence Moses saw two appearances of God, viz. his face, and back-parts, also two Testaments, two commands of Love, two first dignities, two first people, two kinds of Spirits, good, and bad, two in∣tellectuall creatures, an Angell, and soul, two great lights, two Solstia, two equinoctials, two poles, two Elements, producing a living soul, viz. Earth, and Water.

The Scale of the Number of two.

In the exemplary world.	〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Iah 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 El		The names of God ex∣pressed with two letters.
In the Intellectuall world.	An Angell.	The Soul.	Two intelligible sub∣stances.
In the Celestiall world.	The Sun.	The Moon.	Two great lights.
In the Elementary world.	The Earth.	The Water.	Two Elements produc∣ing a living soul.
In the lesser world.	The Heart.	The Brain.	Two principall seats of the soul.
In the Infernall soul.	Beemoth Weeping.	Leviathan gnashing of teeth.	Two chief of the divels. Two things which Christ threatens to the damned.