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must go back and think a little over these same occult sciences which were
believed in by thousands during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries。
The reverence for classic antiquity； you must understand； which sprang
up at the renaissance in the fifteenth century； was as indiscriminating as it
was earnest。 Men caught the trash as well as the jewels。 They put the
dreams of the Neoplatonists； Iamblicus； Porphyry； or Plotinus； or Proclus；
on the same level as the sound dialectic philosophy of Plato himself。
And these Neoplatonists were all； more or less； believers in magic
Theurgy； as it was calledin the power of charms and spells； in the occult
virtues of herbs and gems； in the power of adepts to evoke and mand
spirits； in the significance of dreams； in the influence of the stars upon
men's characters and destinies。 If the great and wise philosopher
Iamblicus believed such things； why might not the men of the sixteenth
century？
And so grew up again in Europe a passion for what were called the
Occult sciences。 It had always been haunting the European imagination。
Mediaeval monks had long ago transformed the poet Virgil into a great
necromancer。 And there were immense excuses for such a belief。 There
was a mass of collateral evidence that the occult sciences were true； which
it was impossible then to resist。 Races far more ancient； learned； civilised；
than any Frenchman； German； Englishman； or even Italian； in the fifteenth
century had believed in these things。 The Moors； the best physicians of
the Middle Ages； had their heads full； as the 〃Arabian Nights〃 prove； of
enchanters； genii； peris； and what not？ The Jewish rabbis had their
Cabala； which sprang up in Alexandria； a system of philosophy founded
on the mystic meaning of the words and the actual letters of the text of
Scripture； which some said was given by the angel Ragiel to Adam in
Paradise； by which Adam talked with angels； the sun and moon；
summoned spirits； interpreted dreams； healed and destroyed； and by that
book of Ragiel； as it was called； Solomon became the great magician and
master of all the spirits and their hoarded treasures。
So strong； indeed； was the belief in the mysteries of the Cabala； that
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Reuchlin； the restorer of Hebrew learning in Germany； and Pico di
Mirandola； the greatest of Italian savants； accepted them； and not only
Pope Leo X。 himself； but even statesmen and warriors received with
delight Reuchlin's cabalistic treatise； 〃De Verbo Mirifico；〃 on the mystic
word 〃Schemhamphorash〃that hidden name of God； which whosoever
can pronounce aright is； for the moment； lord of nature and of all
daemons。
Amulets； too； and talismans； the faith in them was exceeding ancient。
Solomon had his seal； by which he manded all daemons； and there is a
whole literature of curious nonsense； which you may read if you will；
about the Abraxas and other talismans of the Gnostics in Syria； and
another； of the secret virtues which were supposed to reside in gems：
especially in the old Roman and Greek gems； carved into intaglios with
figures of heathen gods and goddesses。 Lapidaria； or lists of these gems
and their magical virtues； were not unmon in the Middle Ages。 You
may read a great deal that is interesting about them at the end of Mr。
King's book on gems。
Astrology too； though Pico di Mirandola might set himself against the
rest of the world； few were found daring enough to deny so ancient a
science。 Luther and Melancthon merely followed the regular tradition of
public opinion when they admitted its truth。 It sprang probably from the
worship of the Seven Planets by the old Chaldees。 It was brought back
from Babylon by the Jews after the Captivity； and spread over all Europe
perhaps all Asia likewise。
The rich and mighty of the earth must needs have their nativities cast；
and consult the stars； and Cornelius Agrippa gave mortal offence to the
Queen…Dowager of France （mother of Francis I。） because； when she
pelled him to consult the stars about Francis's chance of getting out of
his captivity in Spain after the battle of Pavia； he wrote and spoke his
mind honestly about such nonsense。
Even Newton seems to have hankered after it when young。 Among
his MSS。 in Lord Portsmouth's library at Hurstbourne are whole folios of
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astrologic calculations。 It went on till the end of the seventeenth century；
and died out only when men had begun to test it； and all other occult
sciences； by experience； and induction founded thereon。
Countless students busied themselves over the transmutation of metals。
As for magic； necromancy； pyromancy； geomancy； coscinomancy； and all
the other manciesthere was then a whole literature about them。 And the
witch…burning inquisitors like Sprenger； Bodin； Delrio； and the rest；
believed as firmly in the magic powers of the poor wretches whom they
tortured to death； as did； in many cases； the poor wretches themselves。
Everyone； almost； believed in magic。 Take two cases。 Read the
story which Benvenuto Cellini； the sculptor； tells in his life （everyone
should read it） of the magician whom he consults in the Coliseum at Rome；
and the figure which he sees as he walks back with the magician； jumping
from roof to roof along the tiles of the houses。
And listen to this story； which Mr。 Froude has dug up in his researches。
A Church missioner at Oxford； at the beginning of the Reformation；
being unable to track an escaped heretic； 〃caused a figure to be made by
an expert in astronomy；〃 by which it was discovered that the poor wretch
had fled in a tawny coat and was making for the sea。 Conceive the
respected