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The Magician
The clues are references to some of the Tarot cards of the Major Arcana and their numerical values in respect to that of the Magician's.
"I am taken from the world to give judgment."
Subtracting one from the numerical value of "The World" (XXI) gives the numerical value of the Tarot card "Judgment" (XX).
"I could be the devil with the power of the fool."
Any non-zero number raised to the power of 0 -- the numerical value of "The Fool" (0) -- is 1. In Roman numerals, I. It almost matters not the numerical value of the trump, "The Devil" (XV).
"Together with the traitor we are death."
Adding 1 to the numerical value of "The Traitor" (also known as "The Hanged Man") (XII) gives the numerical value of "Death" (XIII).
"A difference to he and she who rule."
In the Major Arcana there are two obvious cards representing rulers, "The Empress" (III) and "The Emperor" (IV). The difference between the numerical value of these two trumps is 1. (It is also the difference between the value of each "King" to each "Queen" in the Minor Arcana.)
"Before the sign of the unknown
Mine own in front of the old man is found."
"The Old Man" (also known as "The Hermit") is designated with (IX). Before the symbol of the unknown, the "X", is found an "I", the number of "The Magician".
"As you see, to some I am I,"
"But to others I am he who will confound."
"The Magician" is the trump with a numerical value of "I" (one). |
