Preface

[google xvii / book v] The life of one man has been for 47 years almost always wrapped in an enigma and a mystery. He is regarded by many as a model of heroism, religion, and morality. But he is considered by others to be the product of unbelief, imposture, and impiety. He was held pending trial during which most of the time he filled all the world with stupendous stories that spread his fame. And the ultimate crisis drew universal attentive looks and expectation. It is this life we discuss. He will become the subject [book vi] of a serious and useful meditation which adorable Divine Providence may be pleased to conduct us to a point where one is able to judge without doubt that we have discovered material which will make an unbeliever recognize his error; for the Catholic to know the wiles of hell; for the educated to realize the fallacy of knowledge where there is no religion at the foundation; for the ignorant to hold onto their humbleness without attempting to escape. And that one should not permit their strength to suffer weakness. That man should tremble from appropriate sorrow. And that the World might doubly admire the triumph of Faith and Truth.

We intend to speak of the life of Giuseppe Balsamo, known under the name of Count Alessandro Cagliostro. His life can be summarized in two words: [vii] famous imposter. Many scoff and scorn those of past ages who came to believe, applaud and give credit to similar men -- those who treated them as almost demigods. Justly, however, the avid admirerers (of Cagliostro) -- those who belong to the 18th century - and who arrogate to themselves the title of enlightened, and who claim freedom from prejudice, and who are such lovers of philosophy, claiming all the while a superiority which has freed them from the stains of the past, now find themselves thrown into a healthy confusion [by learning of these truths about Cagliostro].

However, some will ask, how did an imposter acquire such celebrity, receive such approval among nations belonging to the scientific age, and among persons of talent? It is irrelegion that has been his foundation, his guide, and his everything. Once one finds himself frequently among men who lack regular studies, and who have a certain kind of knowledge which promotes a certain simplicity, --- you might even say a certain stupidity which easily could [viii] carry one away with a novel sound, then you can make them embrace the most incoherent and ridiculous systems, as long as they do not truly understand rather than being among the brightest. Now we ought to deplore the inundation of Scioli, each of whom is going beyond the proper limits of knowledge, making each one more attentive to himself, and breaking any hold to the laws of nature, and instead trusting individual strength and power to overwhelm those of the Sanctuary, to ascend up to heaven, to calculate what the eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, and man has not been able to comprehend, and sometimes even to blaspheme, saying: There is No God. This is the major reason why many have said that ignorance of the ancients was far less pernicious and more helpful than the science of modern man.

[ix] In fact where ever have we seen before Europe so flooded as in our age? From London devils, to Vampires, to Zilfi, to Rosecrucions, to Convulsionists, to Magnetizers, to the Kabbalists? And the Freemasons who multiply with a fury, and those called the Illuminati who have something as an objective in their plots, secrets, invocations and ridiculous rites? There are those who research the philosopher's stone, and the first causes who would deny those irrevocable condemnations in sudore vultus tui vesceris pane : morte morie ris, and the evil are anxious to have the knowledge of hidden things, and the future. There are those who feel pleasure with the voice of the enemy trying to say: cur pracepit vobis Deus, ut non comederetis de omni Ugnò? And they thereby quietly abandon themselves into the arms of gluttony and lust.

[x] Finally to be seduced by the promise you shall be as gods -- erit sicut Dii -- shaking off the yoke of subordination, and obedience, and trying to make themselves equal to the most sublime places of the all Powerful achieved by all sedition and tumult. These are the authors of the deviant progress of reason, in the mouth of which we do not hear any other sound than humanity, economy, social freedom, equality, public welfare, religion, and morality purified. Here among so many, these seductive names are used to try to justify every crime: the blood flows in torrents of the citizens. They rob with impunity, destroying their property rights. It destroys the graduation of orders, which is a bond of the strongest Society. Everything breathes confusion, and rebellion. A bad costume forms the head of glory - and vice is carried to triumph. Here so many multitudes of men are forgetful of true religion [xi] that would make them happy in this life, and blessed eternity. Instead, they bend their necks to look into the shadows. Their spirits are subject to the strangest superstitions which lend blind faith to every crafty story, trusting words which persuade them to adopt absurd and ridiculous systems, flattering his inclinations, making him hope for the fulfillment of his desires.

So it is a well-established observation that such imposters acquire credit, fame, and wealth where there is less religion whle philosophy is more fashionable.

[xi] Rome is not the country for them because in the capital and the center of the true faith, error will not be permitted to sink in its roots. The life of Count Cagliostro is proof of the luminous proof of these verifiable truths. Therefore this is what caused this present Compendio, extracted faithfully from the objective ("incriticabili") monuments of the process [xii] recently compiled at Rome against the same. The Sovereign Pontifical authorities deigned to dispense with the laws that, with as much justice as produce, protect inviolable the secrets that forms a good foundation of justice, and prudence which always accompanies the procedures of the Court of the Inquisition.

Comparison to Unauthorized English Translation by Cagliostro's Friends

One should not be surprised if the friends of Cagliostro were not scrupulous in their translation, and toned down the factual aspect of negative statements while exaggerating non-factual portions to sound more vitriolic and unbalanced than they were. The English version is the first modern effort at psychological warfare by subtly recasting one's opponent through translation of their words. The English version is found at this link. Here is a page by page analysis:

Page v.

1. "almost always" (quasi sempre) - rendered incorrectly as "continually"

2. "product" (risultato") - rendered incorrectly as "tissue of"

3. "unbelief" (miscredenza) -- rendered incorrectly as "baseness"

4. "He was held pending trial during which most of the time he filled all the world with stupendous stories that spread his fame. And the ultimate crisis drew universal attentive looks and expectation. It is this life we discuss" -- is rendered in far fewer words and incorrectly as: "[he]hitherto has kept the judgment of a large portion of Europe in suspense" -- cutting out clearly "stupendous stories," etc" and "universal looks and expectation," etc.

Page vi

1. "adorable Divine Providence" - omitted altogether

2. "one is able to judge without doubt" (equivico) - rendered "incorrectly as "since the character of Cagliostro is no longer equivocal." The latter is particularly egregious as Cagliostro's name is not mentioned, and there is no reference to "character" in the sentence. This shows possibly ignorance of Italian.

3. "unbeliever" (miscredente) = incorrectly translated as "sinner."

4. "Catholic" = incorrectly rendered as "good" Catholic

5. "to know the wiles of hell" = incorrectly rendered as "perceive the necessity of being constantly on guard against the snares of hell" -- a bit too much liberty to add lots of extra words.

6. "for the ignorant to hold onto their humbleness without attempting to escape" is unduly shortened and made to sound condescending -- "the ignorant will be taught to be humble."

7. "that one should not permit their strength to suffer weakness; for man to tremble from appropriate sorrow;" -- simply omitted.

8. added "pretended title" before Count's name.

Page vii

1. Incorrectly says "irreligion" was the "cause of all his triumphs." Nothing like that in the text.

2. The following is cut completely: "Once one finds himself frequently among men who lack regular studies, and who have a certain kind of knowledge which promotes a certain simplicity, --- you might even say a certain stupidity which easily could [viii] carry one away with a novel sound, then you can make them embrace the most incoherent and ridiculous systems, as long as they do not understand or you find yourself among the brightest." And omitted entirely is: "Now we ought to deplore the inundation of Scioli, each of whom is going beyond the proper limits of knowledge, making each one more attentive to himself, and breaking any hold to the laws of nature, and instead trusting individual strength and power to overwhelm those of the Sanctuary, to ascend up to heaven, to calculate what the eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, and man has not been able to comprehend, and sometimes even to blaspheme: There is No God. This is the major reason why many have said that ignorance was far less pernicious than modern science has been helpful."

Page ix

1. Rendered "Illuminati" as "Illuminated," when had more specific meaning.

Page xii

The Italian reads most likely: "The Sovereign Pontifical authorities deigned to dispense with the laws that, with as much justice as produce, protect inviolable the secrets that forms a good foundation of justice, and prudence which always accompanies the procedures of the Court of the Inquisition."

But the English edition makes it sound like the Inquisition ran the investigation:

""The authority of the Sovereign Pontiff has on this occassion been employed in dispensing with the law that, with as much justice as prudence, enjoins enviolable secrecy respecting all procedures of the Holy Inquisition."

The original Italian says: "Al qual effetto la Sovrana Pontificia autorità si è degnata dispensare alle leggi di quell'inviolabil segreto y che a buon fondamento di giustizia, e di prudenza accompagna sempre le procedure del tribunale delia S. Inquisizione."

Italian vocabulary:

vincolo = bond vizio = vice

quindi = then, so

percio = so

constante observazione = well-established observation

ove travano = where they find

tutte queste verita == all these truths

medesimo = same

Translation Notes on Italian expressions and how I translated:

in cui potendosi giudicare senza tema di equivico = where being able to judge without fear of doubt

per conservarsi nella sua umilta senza attentar un volo = to keep his humility without attempting flight / escape