Thaumaturgike, 2
Original
(2.)
But, much more, ought they to beware of forging, deuising, and imagining monstrous feates, and wonderfull workes, when and where, no such were done: no, not any sparke or likelihode, of such, as they, without all shame, do report.
(3.)
And (to conclude) most of all, let them be ashamed of Man, and afraide of the dreadfull and Iuste Iudge: both Folishly or Maliciously to deuise: and then, deuilishly to father their new fond Monsters on me: Innocent, in hand and hart: for trespacing either against the lawe of God, or Man, in any my Studies or Exercises, Philosophicall, or Mathematicall: As in due time, I hope, will be more manifest.
Musean translation
Modern machine-assisted Musean edition by Mouseia, from Dee's 1570 Praeface. Latin quotations and titles are translated into English, using Dee's own English glosses where provided. Printer's type-size markup is normalized; marginal notes are kept as asides. Billingsley's separate address is omitted. Uncertain readings are marked.
(2.)
But much more ought they to beware of forging, devising, and imagining monstrous feats and wonderful works when and where none such were done: not even a spark or likelihood of such as they report without any shame.
(3.)
And, to conclude, most of all let them be ashamed before men and afraid of the dreadful and just Judge: both for foolishly or maliciously devising such things, and then devilishly fathering their newly contrived monsters on me, though I am innocent in hand and heart, as though I had trespassed against the law of God or of man in any of my studies or exercises, philosophical or mathematical—which I hope will in due time be more manifest.
Plain English translation
Modern machine-assisted Plain English edition by Mouseia, from Dee's 1570 Praeface. Latin quotations and titles are translated into English, using Dee's own English glosses where provided. Printer's type-size markup is normalized; marginal notes are kept as asides. Billingsley's separate address is omitted. Uncertain readings are marked.
(2.)
But much more ought they to beware of forging, devising, and imagining monstrous feats and wonderful works where and when no such were done: not even any spark or likelihood of such things as they, without any shame, report.
(3.)
And to conclude, most of all let them be ashamed before humankind, and afraid of the dreadful and just judge: both to devise foolishly or maliciously, and then devilishly to father their new-fangled monsters on me, innocent in hand and heart, for trespassing against the law of God or of humankind in any of my studies or exercises, philosophical or mathematical, as in due time I hope will be more evident.
About this section
Thaumaturgike, 2 is part of The Mathematicall Praeface to the Elements of Geometrie by John Dee. This page sets the 16th-century English original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 32 of 34 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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