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magic； the cabala； and so forth； who were reputed magicians； courted and
feared for awhile； and then； too often； died sad deaths。
Such had been； in the century before； the famous Dr。 FaustFaustus；
who was said to have made a pact with Satanactually one of the
inventors of printingimmortalised in Goethe's marvellous poem。
Such； in the first half of the sixteenth century； was Cornelius Agrippa
a doctor of divinity and a knight…at…arms； secret…service diplomatist to the
Emperor Maximilian in Austria； astrologer； though unwilling； to his
daughter Margaret； Regent of the Low Countries； writer on the occult
sciences and of the famous 〃De Vanitate Scientiarum；〃 and what not？ who
died miserably at the age of forty… nine； accused of magic by the
Dominican monks from whom he had rescued a poor girl； who they were
torturing on a charge of witchcraft； and by them hunted to death； nor to
death only； for they spread the fablesuch as you may find in Delrio the
Jesuit's 〃Disquisitions on Magic〃 ｛14｝that his little pet black dog was a
familiar spirit； as Butler has it in 〃Hudibras〃：
Agrippa kept a Stygian pug I' the garb and habit of a dog … That was
his taste； and the cur Read to th' occult philosopher； And taught him subtly
to maintain All other sciences are vain。
Such also was Jerome Cardan； the Italian scholar and physician； the
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father of algebraic science （you all recollect Cardan's rule；） believer in
dreams； prognostics； astrology； who died； too； miserably enough； in old
age。
Cardan's sad life； and that of Cornelius Agrippa； you can； and ought to
read for yourselves； in two admirable biographies； as amusing as they are
learned； by Professor Morley； of the London University。 I have not
chosen either of them as a subject for this lecture； because Mr。 Morley has
so exhausted what is to be known about them； that I could tell you nothing
which I had not stolen from him。
But what shall I say of the most famous of these menParacelsus？
whose name you surely know。 He too has been immortalised in a poem
which you all ought to have read； one of Robert Browning's earliest and
one of his best creations。
I think we must accept as true Mr。 Browning's interpretation of
Paracelsus's character。 We must believe that he was at first an honest and
high…minded； as he was certainly a most gifted； man； that he went forth
into the world； with an intense sense of the worthlessness of the sham
knowledge of the pedants and quacks of the schools； an intense belief that
some higher and truer science might be discovered； by which diseases
might be actually cured； and health； long life； happiness； all but
immortality； be conferred on man； an intense belief that he； Paracelsus；
was called and chosen by God to find out that great mystery； and be a
benefactor to all future ages。 That fixed idea might degeneratedid； alas！
degenerateinto wild self…conceit； rash contempt of the ancients； violent
abuse of his opponents。 But there was more than this in Paracelsus。 He
had one idea to which； if he had kept true； his life would have been a
happier onethe firm belief that all pure science was a revelation from
God； that it was not to be obtained at second or third hand； by blindly
adhering to the words of Galen or Hippocrates or Aristotle； and putting
them （as the scholastic philosophers round him did） in the place of God：
but by going straight to nature at first hand； and listening to what Bacon
calls 〃the voice of God revealed in facts。〃 True and noble is the passage
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with which he begins his 〃Labyrinthus Medicorum；〃 one of his attacks on
the false science of his day；
〃The first and highest book of all healing；〃 he says； 〃is called wisdom；
and without that book no man will carry out anything good or useful 。 。 。
And that book is God Himself。 For in Him alone who hath created all
things； the knowledge and principle of all things dwells 。 。 。 without Him
all is folly。 As the sun shines on us from above； so He must pour into us
from above all arts whatsoever。 Therefore the root of all learning and
cognition is； that we should seek first the kingdom of Godthe kingdom
of God in which all sciences are founded 。 。 。 If any man think that nature
is not founded on the kingdom of God； he knows nothing about it。 All
gifts；〃 he repeats again and again； confused and clumsily （as is his wont）；
but with a true earnestness； 〃are from God。〃
The true man of science； with Paracelsus； is he who seeks first the
kingdom of God in facts； investigating nature reverently； patiently； in faith
believing that God； who understands His own work best； will make him
understand it likewise。 The false man of science is he who seeks the
kingdom of this world； who cares nothing about the real interpretation of
facts： but is content with such an interpretation as will earn him the
good things of this worldthe red hat and gown； the ambling mule； the
silk clothes； the partridges； capons； and pheasants； the gold florins
chinking in his palm。 At such pretenders Paracelsus sneered； at last only
too fiercely； not only as men whose knowledge consisted chiefly in
wearing white gloves； but as rogues； liars； villains； and every epithet
which his very racy vocabulary； quickened （it is to be feared） by wine and
laudanum； could suggest。 With these he contrasts the true men of science。
It is difficult for us now to understand how a man setting out in life with
such pure and noble views should descend at last （if indeed he did descend）
to be a quack and a conjurorand die under the imputation that
Bombastes kept a devil's bird Hid in the pommel of his sword；
and have； indeed； his very name； Bombast； used to this day as a
synonym of loud； violent； and empty talk。 To understand it at all； we