III. _Illustrations of Pliny’s Fundamental Belief in Magic_: Inconsistency of his declared scepticism 44 His belief that animals possess magic properties 45 His belief that plants have similar occult virtues 45 Strange qualities of minerals 46 Magical powers of man 47 Efficacy of magical ceremonial 48 Pliny’s belief unmistakable 49 Though probably limited 49 Question as to extent of his belief in astrology 50 His account of the heavenly bodies 50 Influence of the stars upon our planet 51 Influence of the stars upon man 52 Belief of Pliny in portents 53 Attitude of Pliny towards various popular superstitious observances 53 Pliny not esoteric 54 Conclusions to be drawn from the _Natural History_ 54 CHAPTER IV SOME ANTECEDENTS OF THE BELIEF IN MAGIC IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE Derivative and cosmopolitan character of intellectual life during the imperial period 56 Extent of our discussion of its antecedents 56 Question as to freedom of Greek thought from magic 57 Some evidence to the contrary 57 Doctrines of the Stoics favorable to magic 59 Pythagorean theory of numbers 59 Attitude of Plato towards “magic,” as he understood the word 60 Plato’s fantastic view of nature 60 Aristotle’s acceptance of astrology 61 Aristotle’s _History of Animals_ 62 Cato’s _De Re Rustica_ 63 CHAPTER V BELIEF IN MAGIC IN THE EMPIRE Outline of contents of this chapter 65 I. _General Attitude_: Prejudice against “magic” and condemnation of Magi 65 Views of Apuleius and of Philostratus 66 In reality a widespread belief in magic 67 Explanation of apparent opposition to astrology 68 Galen 69 Neo-Platonism 70 Philosophy confounded with magic 71