Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
3. Very right, said Patrocles, and you reason well as to changes
wrought upon the body; but as to the soul, which in some measure exerts
the power of witchcraft, how can this give any disturbance by the eye?
Sir, I replied, do not you consider, that the soul, when affected,
works upon the body? Thoughts of love excite lust, and rage often
blinds dogs as they fight with wild beasts. Sorrow, covetousness, or
jealousy makes us change color, and destroys the habit of the body;
and envy more than any passion, when fixed in the soul, fills the body
full of ill humors, and makes it pale and ugly; which deformities good
painters in their pictures of envy endeavor to represent. Now, when men
thus perverted by envy fix their eyes upon another, and these, being
nearest to the soul, easily draw the venom from it, and send out as it
were poisoned darts, it is no wonder, in my mind, if he that is looked
upon is hurt. Thus the biting of a dog when mad is most dangerous; and
then the seed of a man is most prolific, when he embraces one that
he loves; and in general the affections of the mind strengthen and
invigorate the powers of the body. And therefore people imagine that
those amulets that are preservative against witchcraft are likewise
good and efficacious against envy; the sight by the strangeness of
the spectacle being diverted, so that it cannot make so strong an
impression upon the patient. This, Florus, is what I can say; and pray,
sir, accept it as my club for this entertainment.
4. Well, said Soclarus, but let us try whether the money be all good
or no; for, in my mind, some of it seems brass. For if we admit the
general report about these matters to be true, you know very well that
it is commonly supposed that some have friends, acquaintance, and
even fathers, that have such evil eyes; so that the mothers will not
show their children to them, nor for a long time suffer them to be
looked upon by such; and how can the effects wrought by these proceed
from envy? But what, for God’s sake, wilt thou say to those that are
reported to bewitch themselves?—-for I am sure you have heard of such,
or at least read these lines:
Curls once on Eutel’s head in order stood;
But when he viewed his figure in a flood,
He overlooked himself, and now disease....
For they say that this Eutelidas, appearing very delicate and beauteous
to himself, was affected with that sight and grew sick upon it, and
lost his beauty and his health. Now, pray sir, what reason can you find
for these wonderful effects?
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