Northern mythology

242 EPITOME OF GERMAN MYTHOLOGY.
earth, cause sickness to man and beast— is of remote antiquit}^
It is found in the East and among- the Greeks
and Romans; it was known also to the Germans and
Slaves in the time of their paganism, without their having
borrowed it from the Romans. In it there is nothing to
be sought for beyond what appears on the surface, viz.
tliat low degree of religious feeling, at which belief supposes
effects from unknown causes to proceed from supernatural
agency, as from persons by means of spells, from
herbs, and even from an evil glance— a degree which can
subsist simultaneously with the progressing religion, and,
therefore, after the introduction of Christianity, could long
j)revail, and in part prevails down to the present day.
Even in the time of heathenism it was, no doubt, a belief
that these sorceresses on certain days and in certain places
met to talk over their arts and the application of them, to
boil magical herbs, and for other evil purposes. For as
the sorcerer, in consequence of his occult knowledge and
of his superiority over the great mass of human beings,
became, as it were, isolated from them, and often harboured
hostile feelings towards them, he was consequently
compelled to associate with those who were possessed of
similar power. It must, however, be evident that the
points of contact are too few to justify our seeing the
ground of German belief in witch-meetings in the old
heathen sacrificial festivals and assemblies. And Avhy
should we be at the pains of seeking an historic basis for
a belief that rests principally on an impure, confused
deisidaimonia, which finds the supernatural where it does
cauculatores and coclearii, diviners by offering-cups (comp. Du Fresne sub
voce, and Indie. Superst. c. 22) ; haruspices, consulters of entrails (Capitul.
vxi. 370, Legg. Liutprandi vi. 30; comp. Indie, c. 16, and the divining
from human sacrifices. Procop. de B. G. 2. 25) ; auspices (Ammian. Marcel.
14. 9) ; ohligatores, tiers of strings or ligatures (for the cure of diseases)
; tempestarii, or imynissores tempesiatum, raisers of storms.