146 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [XI. 2. 



and elevation (which the ancients noted by fury), and not 

 with a repose and quiet, as it is in the other. 



3. Fascination is the power and act of imagination 

 intensive upon other bodies than the body of the imagin- 

 ant, for of that we spake in the proper place. Wherein 

 the school of Paracelsus, and the disciples of pretended 

 natural magic have been so intemperate, as they have 

 exalted the power of the imagination to be much one 

 with the power of miracle-working faith. Others, that 

 draw nearer to probability, calling to their view the secret 

 passages of things, and specially of the contagion that 

 passeth from body to body, do conceive it should like 

 wise be agreeable to nature, that there should be some 

 transmissions and operations from spirit to spirit without 

 the mediation of the senses ; whence the conceits have 

 grown (now almost made civil) of the mastering spirit, 

 and the force of confidence and the like. Incident unto 

 this is the inquiry how to raise and fortify the imagin 

 ation : for if the imagination fortified have power, then 

 it is material to know how to fortify and exalt it. And 

 herein comes in crookedly and dangerously a palliation 

 of a great part of ceremonial magic. For it may be 

 pretended that ceremonies, characters, and charms do 

 work, not by any tacit or sacramental contract with evil 

 spirits, but serve only to strengthen the imagination of him 

 that useth it ; as images are said by the Roman church 

 to fix the cogitations and raise the devotions of them that 

 pray before them. But for mine own judgement, if it 

 be admitted that imagination hath power, and that cere 

 monies fortify imagination, and that they be used sin 

 cerely and intentionally for that purpose; yet I should 

 hold them unlawful, as opposing to that first edict which 

 God gave unto man, /;/ sudore vultus comedes panem luum. 



