Natural Magic

The text begins mid-sentence, continuing the author's defense against his critics. ...considers me a poisoner, and thinks this book of mine, printed long ago, is worthy of the fire, because I wrote about the ointment of witches original: "lamiarum vnguentum." Porta famously investigated recipes for "flying ointments" used by suspected witches, arguing they were actually pharmacological hallucinogens rather than magical substances., which I had brought forward to expose the detestable deceits of demons and hags; so that those things which occur by nature itself should not be misused in superstitions; which I had excerpted from the books of highly praised theologians. In this, how have I sinned, or why have I deserved the name of a poisoner veneficum In the 16th century, "veneficus" referred to someone who used potions for harmful magic; it translates to both "poisoner" and "sorcerer."?

But when I asked many noble and learned Frenchmen, who deign to meet with me with great honor, "Who is this man?" they responded that he is a heretic, and one who, on the feast of Saint Bartholomew Referring to the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572, a targeted group of assassinations followed by a wave of Catholic mob violence directed against the Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants).—on which day a slaughter was declared against all such impious men—escaped danger by throwing himself headlong from a lookout point.

Meanwhile, I shall pray to God Most High (as becomes a noble and Christian man) that, having been converted to the Roman Catholic faith, he himself might not be condemned to be burned alive. Another Frenchman, while unworthily condemning all the learned men of his age, attaches me to them: he thinks only three physicians, his friends, are worthy of praise as if they were the most learned of our time; among whom he includes himself, even though his own book is circulated without the author's name.

Oh, immortal God, what sort of trick to seize praise has this man devised? He who, since he has no one to praise him, nor is judged worthy of being praised, praises himself. I pass over others of that same sort, who also consider me a sorcerous magician Magum veneficum; whereas nothing has ever been treated by me here or elsewhere that is not contained within the boundaries of nature Naturæ promœria Porta uses "pomoeria" (or "promœria"), a term for the sacred boundary of a city, to define the limits of natural science vs. forbidden magic.. Receive...