THE OCCCLT SCIENCES. 



219 



It must not be supposed that the number of adepts to magic has CUT 

 hem very great; the majority wore never more than mere theorists; that 

 is to say, purely speculative savants, who studied in books the mysterious 

 theory of the art of magic. Those who asserted that they put the art of 

 into practice alone merited the name of magicians. But the common 



t'ig. 161. The Tiince of Darkness. After a Miniature of tho "Holy Grail. 1 ' Manuscript of 

 the Fifteenth Century. National Library, Paris. 



people, always ready to discover the marvellous side of natural things 

 (Fig. 162), and to place credence in the most mendacious illusions, invariably 

 accused of magic the eminent men who had illustrated themselves by great 

 scientific discoveries. Moreover, any alchemist who was supposed to be in 

 possession of the great work was looked upon as a magician. Thus the 



