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There were other charms practiced by moonshine； with drawings on the ground； and figures of wax or bronze； which doubtless represented the lover； and were treated according to circumstances。
These things were so customary that a woman who； without youth and beauty； nevertheless exercised a powerful charm on men； naturally became suspected of witchcraft。 The mother of Sanga； secretary to Clement VII； poisoned her son's mistress； who was a woman of this kind。 Unfortunately the son died too； as well as a party of friends who had eaten of the poisoned salad。
Next comes； not as helper； but as competitor to the witch； the magician or enchanter'incantatore'who was still more familiar with the most perilous business of the craft。 Sometimes he was as much or more of an astrologer than of a magician； he probably often gave himself out as an astrologer in order not to be prosecuted as a magician； and a certain astrology was essential in order to find out the favourable hour for a magical process。 But since many spirits are good or indifferent； the magician could sometimes maintain a very tolerable reputation； and Sixtus IV； in the year 1474； had to proceed expressly against some Bolognese Carmelites； who asserted in the pulpit that there was no harm in seeking information from the demons。 Very many people believed in the possibility of the thing itself； an indirect proof of this lies in the fact that the most pious men believed that by prayer they could obtain visions of good spirits。 Savonarola's mind was filled with these things； the Florentine Platonists speak of a mystic union with God； and Marcellus Palingenius gives us to understand clearly enough that he had to do with consecrated spirits。 The same writer is convinced of the existence of a whole hierarchy of bad demons； who have their seat from the moon downwards； and are ever on the watch to do some mischief to nature and human life。 He even tells of his own personal acquaintance with some of them； and as the scope of the present work does not allow of a systematic exposition of the then prevalent belief in spirits； the narrative of Palingenius may be given as one instance out of many。
At San Silvestro； on Soracte； he had been receiving instruction from a pious hermit on the nothingness of earthly things and the worthlessness of human life； and when the night drew near he set out on his way back to home。 On the road； in the full light of the moon； he was joined by three men； one of whom called him by name； and asked him whence he came。 Palingenius made answer： 'From the wise man on the mountain。' 'O fool；' replied the stranger； 'dost thou in truth believe that anyone on earth is wise？ Only higher beings （Divi） have wisdom； and such are we three； although we wear the shapes of men。 I am named Saracil； and these two Sathiel and Jana。 Our kingdom lies near the moon； where dwell that multitude of intermediate beings who have sway over earth and sea。' Palingenius then asked； not without an inward tremor； what they were going to do at Rome。 The answer was： 'One of our comrades； Ammon； is kept in servitude by the magic arts of a youth from Narni； one of the attendants of Cardinal Orsini； for mark it； O men； there is proof of your own immortality therein； that you can control one of us： I myself shut up in crystal； was once forced to serve a German； till a bearded monk set me free。 This is the service which we wish to render at Rome to our friend； and he shall also take the opportunity of sending one or two distinguished Romans to the nether world。' At these words a light breeze arose； and Sathiel said： 'Listen； our messenger is coming back from Rome； and this wind announces him。' And then another being appeared； whom they greeted joyfully and then asked about Rome。 His utterances are strongly anti…papal： Clement VII was again allied with the Spaniards and hoped to root out Luther's doctrines； not with arguments； but by the Spanish sword。 This is wholly in the interest of the demons； whom the impending bloodshed would enable to carry away the souls of thousands into hell。 At the close of this conversation； in which Rome with all its guilt is represented as wholly given over to the Evil One； the apparitions vanish； and leave the poet sorrowfully to pursue his way alone。
Those who would form a conception of the extent of the belief in those relations to the demons which could be openly avowed in spite of the penalties attaching to witchcraft； may be referred to the much…read work of Agrippa of Nettesheim 'On secret Philosophy。' He seems originally to have written it before he was in Italy； but in the dedication to Trithemius he mentions Italian authorities among others； if only by way of disparagement。 In the case of equivocal persons like Agrippa； or of the knaves and fools into whom the majority of the rest may be divided； there is little that is interesting in the system they profess； with its formula； fumigations； ointments； and the rest of it。 But this system was filled with quotations from the superstitions of antiquity； the influence of which on the life and the passions of Italians is at times most remarkable and fruitful。 We might think that a great mind must be thoroughly ruined； before it surrendered itself to such influences； but the violence of hope and desire led even vigorous and original men of all classes to have recourse to the magician； and the belief that the thing was feasible at all weakened to some extent the faith； even of those who kept at a distance； in the moral order of the world。 At the cost of a little money and danger it seemed possible to defy with impunity the universal reason and morality of mankind； and to spare oneself the intermediate steps which otherwise lie between a man and his lawful or unlawful ends。
Let us here glance for a moment at an older and now decaying form of superstition。 From the darkest period of the Middle Ages； or even from the days of antiquity； many cities of Italy had kept the remembrance of the connection of their fate with certain buildings； statues； or other material objects。 The ancients had left records of consecrating priests or Telestae； who were present at the solemn foundation of cities； and magically guaranteed their prosperity by erecting certain monuments or by burying certain objects （Telesmata）。 Traditions of this sort were more likely than anything else to live on in the form of popular； unwritten legend； but in the course of centuries the priest naturally became transformed into the magician； since the religious side of his function was no longer understood。 In some of the Virgilian miracles at Naples； the ancient remembrance of one of these Telestae is clearly preserved； his name being in course of time supplanted by that of Virgil。 The enclosing of the mysterious picture of the city in a vessel is neither more nor less than a genuine ancient Telesma； and Virgil； as founder of Naples； is but the officiating priest who took part in the ceremony； presented in another dress。 The popular imagination went on working at these themes； till Virgil became also responsible for the brazen horse； for the heads at t