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ANIMAL MAGNETISM AND MAGIC. 333
have been equally convinced throughout all ages. The
Twelve Tables of the Eomans, 1
the Books of Moses, and
even Plato s Eleventh Book on Laws, already made its
practice punishable by death, and Apuleius beautiful
speech 2
before the court of justice, when defending himself
against the charge of practising magic by which his life
this matter was taken
was menaced, proves how seriously
even in the most enlightened Roman period, under the
Antouines; since he merely tries to clear himself person
ally from the charge in question, but by no means contests
the possibility
of witchcraft and even enters into a host of
absurd details such as are wont to figure in all the me-
diseval trials for witchcraft. The eighteenth century
makes an exception as regards this belief in Magic, and this
is mainly because Balthasar Becker, Thorn asius and some
others, with the good intention of putting an end once for
all to the cruel trials for witchcraft, declared all magic to
be impossible. Favoured by the philosophy of the age,
this opinion soon gained the upper hand, although only
the learned and educated classes. The common
among
people have never ceased to believe in witchcraft, even in
England; though here the educated classes contrive to
unite a degrading religious bigotry with the firm incredu
lity of a Saint Thomas (or of a Thomasius) as to all facts
transcending the laws of impact and counter-impact, acids
and alkalis, and refuse to lend an ear to their great coun
tryman, when he tells them that there are more things in
heaven and earth than are dreamt of in their philosophy/
One branch of Magic is still notoriously preserved and prac
tised among the lower orders, being tolerated on account
of its beneficent purpose. This is curing by charms (sym-
pathetische Kuren, as they are called in German), the reality
of which can hardly be doubted. Charming away warts,
1 Plin. hist. nat. L. 30, c. 3. [Add. to 3rd ed.]
2
Apuleius,
"
Oratio cle Magia," p. 104. Bip.