Natural Magic

BOOK ONE.

...as we have described. Indeed, I would first desire that one who ought to possess such great majesty be precise and perfected in Philosophy, and most eloquent in the matters of Nature. For such a person explores the causes, principles, and elements of things; they bring forth their marvelous gifts and the mutual connection and combination of the elements—from which the origin and destruction of all mixed things arise. They must understand meteorology original: "meteoriam"; the study of atmospheric phenomena like clouds, wind, and lightning, the tides of the sea, and the hidden tremors that shake the earth. They must know the natures, locations, and names of living creatures—namely quadrupeds, those that wander the air, those of the water, and all things enjoying life—as well as the nature of metals. In these matters, it is necessary to be very well-practiced, as will become clear to the reader. For we have labored long and intensely over certain works due to the diversity, similarity, and ambiguity of names. Indeed, it would be no more appropriate for a craftsman to be ignorant of the tools with which he works than for a magician to be ignorant of these things.

He should also be not ignorant of Medicine, for this is very much akin and most similar to this art. They say that medicine crept in under the guise of magic and thus enticed the minds of men. It also provides many defenses: for it teaches mixtures, temperaments original: "temperies"; the balance of the four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—which was thought to determine health, and how to compose and apply them in a similar way to achieve desired results. From this flows the knowledge of plants, so that foreign and native herbs may be diligently inspected—a very necessary thing, as everything depends upon this. It is also necessary to know the Mathematical disciplines. For through stellar heat and the wandering paths and conditions of the heavens, which Astrology In the Renaissance, "Astrologia" often encompassed both astronomy (the study of stars) and astrology (their influence on Earth) teaches, there are many things that extend the power of acting and being acted upon, and from which the hidden properties and virtues of things flow. Magic also contains the faculty of Optics, pertaining to the eyes: how it repeatedly deceives the sight, creating visions in water, at a distance, and in mirrors—whether they be gathered into a sphere, concave, extended, or formed in various other ways...