The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
upon Yah in my distress.’ From the part where the beard beginneth to extend, which is from the more remote part (is one), before the ears, beneath the hair (is the second ). And therefore is it twice said, IH, IH.
816. u But in that place wherein the beard is expanded, and descendeth before the ears, in wider extension, the name of ADM, Adam , Man, hath place (that is to say, the complete Tetragrammaton). Also this expansion was necessary to David when he wished to subject to himself the kings and nations through the dignity of this beard. (Otherwise, when therefore he saith, c Tetragrammaton is on my side, I will not fear ; ’ for this is such a one who spareth not the wicked, and this was altogether necessary, &c.)
817. “ Also we have learned this in the c Book of Concealed Mystery ’ * : Whosoever seeth in his sleep that he toucheth the beard or moustache of the supernal man with his hand, or extendeth his hand unto it, let him know that he is at peace with the supernals, and that those who afflict him are about to be subjected unto him.” f
818. “We have learned that the supernal beard is disposed in nine conformations, and that it is the beard of Microprosopus.
* See ante , “Book of Concealed Mystery,” ch. iii. § 17.
+ This is apparently the end of Rabbi Yehudah’s short interpolation regarding the duplicated IH. Rabbi Eleazar now apparently resumes the discourse.
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
CHAPTER XXXV.
CONCERNING THE FIRST PART OF THE BEARD OF
MICROPROSOPUS.
819. “In the first conformation the hair is disposed from above, and goeth forth before the opening of the ears, beneath the locks which hang down over the ears ; and the hairs descend, hairs above hairs, even unto the beginning of the mouth.
820. “ This have we learned. All those hairs which are in the beard are harder than all the hairs of the locks of the hair of the head. But the hair of the head is longer and bendeth more easily, while these hairs (of the heard) are not so long.
821. “Of the hairs of the head some are hard and some are soft.
822. u And whensoever the white locks of the Ancient of Days reach forward into Microprosopus, it is written that, Prov. i. 20 : ‘ Wisdom crieth without.’
823. “What is this (word) c without ’ ? In this (instance) in Microprosopus, wherein are conjoined the two ( forms of the) brain. Two forms of the brain, sayest thou ? But it should rather be said, four forms of the brain.
824. (Assuredly) “there are three (forms of the) brain in Microprosopus, and they are found in the three cavities of the skull of His head.
825. “And there is one calm and tranquil brain residing in its own clear brilliancy, which comprehendeth all the three (forms of the) brain, and from it are brought forth the productions of the hairs which are produced and continued in equilibrium in the white hair into that part of Microprosopus, into His three (forms of) brain (namely), so that therein in Him are found four (forms of the) brain.
KABBALAH.
826. “And lienee are perfected tlie four texts wliicli are written on the phylacteries, because in them is contained the Holy Name of the Ancient of Hays, the Ancient of the Ancient Ones, and that of Microprosopus.
827. “For this is the perfection of the Holy Name, concerning which it is written, Heut. xxviii. 1 o : c And all the people of the earth shall see that the name of Tetragrammaton hath been invoked over thee, and they shall be afraid of thee.’
828. “ The Name of the Lord is this very Name of Tetragrammaton, which formeth the canals and hollows of the phylacteries.
829. “And therefore is it said: c Wisdom crieth without,’ Prov. i. 20, because it is herein found ( i.e ., in
Microprosopus).
830. “ For truly the Ancient of the Ancient Ones, even He who is concealed with all concealments, is not found, neither doth His wisdom come forth ( openly ) ; seeing that His wisdom is concealed in all, and doth not make itself manifest.
831. “ And since there are four ( forms of the) brain associated together, and that herefrom, even from Microprosopus, there flow down four fountains in four directions, and that they are all distributed from one fountain, which proceedeth from them all, therefore are there four.*
832. “ Also we have learned : From the Wisdom which is comprehended in the Quaternaiy the hairs flow down,