Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/16

 Philoophers crep in, and thee under the name of Magicians, heaping together through various orts of errors and factions of fale Religions, many cured upertitions and dangerous Rites, and many wicked Sacriledges, out of Orthodox Religion, even to the perfection of nature, and detruction of men, and injury of God, et forth very many wicked, and unlawfull books, uch as we ee carryed about in thee dayes, to which they have by tealth prefixed the most honet name, and title of Magick. They therefore by this acred title of Magick, hoped to gain credit to their cured and detetable fooleries. Hence it is that this name of Magick, formerly honorable, is now in thee dayes become mot odious to good and honet men, and accounted a Capital crime, if any one dare profes himelf to be a Magician, either in Doctrine or works, unles haply ome certain old doting woman, dwelling in the Country, would be believed to be skilful, and have a Divine power, that (as aith Apuleius he can throw down the Heaven, lift up the earth, harden fountains, wah away mountains, raie up Ghots, cat down the Gods, extinguih the Stars, illumnate hel, or as Virgil ings,

She'l promise by her charms to cat great cares, Or ease the minds of men, and make the Stars For to go back, and rivers to tand till, And raie the nightly ghots even at her will, To make the earth to groan, and trees to fall From the mountains —