II. _Cicero’s Attack upon Divination_: In a way an attack upon magic as a whole 93 Form and arrangement of _De Divinatione_ 94 Its relations to the past and to the future 94 Appeal of Quintus to antiquity and to tradition 94 Cicero’s reply; condemnation of reliance on tradition 95 Divination declared quite distinct from science 95 Divination declared quite contrary to the laws of science 96 Idea of magical sympathy rejected 97 Cicero’s attitude very unusual for his time 98 Question as to his consistency 98 CHAPTER VII THE LAST CENTURY OF THE EMPIRE Intellectual characteristics of the period 99 Marcellus of Bordeaux 99 Ammianus Marcellinus 99 His description of the state of learning at Alexandria 100 His justification of divination as a science 101 His extraordinary misquoting of Cicero 102 Synesius 103 His belief that all parts of the universe are in magic sympathy 103 Further instances of his trust in magic 104 Macrobius 106 CHAPTER VIII CONCLUSION 108 ERRATA Page 21, line 19, instead of _verbe_ read _verbo_. Page 49, lines 9 and 10, instead of _marvelour_ read _marvelous_. Page 58, at close of first foot-note, instead of 66 read 67. Page 71, line 10 of foot-note, instead of άλλὰ read ἀλλὰ. Page 101, line 8 of foot-note, instead of _factorum_ read _fatorum_. Page 105, line 2 of second foot-note, instead of εἷναι read εἶναι. CHAPTER I ILLUSTRATIONS OF BELIEF IN MAGIC IN MEDIÆVAL AND IN EARLY MODERN TIMES Even a slight acquaintance with European history reveals the existence of a number of curious and apparently unreasonable beliefs prevalent throughout a period extending from early mediæval to comparatively recent times. There is the belief in witchcraft, for instance. From the canons of synods in the early Middle Ages down to the pitiless executions during the witchcraft delusion, there is abundant evidence of its prominence. It played its part not only in humble life, but in court intrigues and in the accusations brought at state trials.