worlde, which the agilitie of a Spirite may easelie performe: to reueale
to them the secretes of anie persons, so being they bee once spoken, for
the thought none knowes but GOD; except so far as yee may ghesse by their
countenance, as one who is doubtleslie learned, inough in the
_Physiognomie_: Yea, he will make his schollers to creepe in credite with
Princes, by fore-telling them manie greate thinges; parte true, parte
false: For if all were false, he would tyne credite at all handes; but
alwaies doubtsome, as his Oracles were. And he will also make them to
please Princes, by faire banquets and daintie dishes, carryed in short
space fra the farthest part of the worlde. For no man doubts but he is a
thiefe, and his agilitie (as I spake before) makes him to come suche
speede. Such-like, he will guard his schollers with faire armies of
horse-men and foote-men in appearance, castles and fortes: Which all are
but impressiones in the aire, easelie gathered by a spirite, drawing so
neare to that substance himselfe: As in like maner he will learne them
manie juglarie trickes at Gardes, dice, & such like, to deceiue mennes
senses thereby: and such innumerable false practicques; which are prouen
by ouer-manie in this age: As they who ar acquainted with that _Italian_
called SCOTO yet liuing, can reporte. And yet are all these thinges but
deluding of the senses, and no waies true in substance, as were the false
miracles wrought by King _Pharaoes_ Magicians, for counterfeiting
_Moyses_: For that is the difference betuixt Gods myracles and the Deuils,
God is a creator, what he makes appeare in miracle, it is so in effect. As
_Moyses_ rod being casten downe, was no doubt turned in a natural Serpent:
where as the Deuill (as Gods Ape) counterfetting that by his _Magicians_,
maid their wandes to appeare so, onelie to mennes outward senses: as
kythed in effect by their being deuoured by the other. For it is no
wonder, that the Deuill may delude our senses, since we see by common
proofe, that simple juglars will make an hundreth thinges seeme both to
our eies and eares otherwaies then they are. Now as to the _Magicians_
parte of the contract, it is in a word that thing, which I said before,
the Deuill hunts for in all men.
PHI. Surelie ye haue said much to me in this arte, if all that ye haue
said be as true as wounderfull.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account