Instruction on Natural Magic and its Medical Use

of Archytas of Tarentum, the wooden talking head of Albertus Magnus, (h) and the pillar of Boethius the Ravennese, which turned itself with the sun from morning until evening? The wooden eagle of Regiomontanus is truly remarkable, (i) which, when Emperor Maximilian arrived,

other, the elements scattered in the sphere appeared distinct and clear. Soon a part of an even purer and lighter liquid grew together above the surrounding elements, which was adorned with the sun, moon, and stars. Which, driven around in a wonderful and constant vortex not by any external instrument used for it, but by a spirit passing through internally, represented the motion of the heavens in an almost supernatural way, as Petr. Servius relates in Diss. de Ungv. Armar. §. 53.

(h) Which Thomas Aquinas, Albertus's student, is said to have broken out of a vain opinion that it was sorcery. See Lans. in Consult. p. 49. Athanasius Kircher made a figure when the Queen of Sweden came to Rome in 1655, which not only greeted the Queen but also answered her questions. Schott, Phys. Curios. L. I. in Append. c. I. p. 155. Rhodiginus relates more talking figures in L. 29. L. R. c. 16. To this, one should add the book by Frigelius de Statuis illustr. Roman. c. 38. p. 203 and 322, as well as M. Schwimmer's Dissert. de Locutione portentosa.

(i) Others believe that this eagle was made of bronze. See Paulini, Zeitf. erbaul. Lust. Part III. p. 29.