THE mOL'S PEOGIffiSS. 255 



During this time, on another side, other men are bruising, 

 pounding, diluting poisons, mixing them and turning them 

 over fire, till they become of the colour of mourning. 



The priests of the idol which is about to be made, then shut 

 themselves up with the paper, and trace characters upon it. 

 These characters amount to twenty-four ; but, by their 

 position, they change both their signification and their value. 



If such an one of these figures be placed with such 

 another, and between those certain others, a man a hundred 

 leagues ofi', lifts up his head, feels himself pufied up with joy 

 and pride, and others venerate and envy him. 



If, on the contrary, it be another figure which is after such 

 another figure and before such another, the same man is over- 

 whelmed with grief and shame, he dares no longer to leave 

 his house, he shuns the regards of men, everybody attacks 

 him, ridicules him, abuses him. 



The idol is folded in four, and slipped underneath doors. 



Certainly it cannot be said of him as Virgil said of the 

 goddess of beauty in half a charming verse, — 



" Et vera incessu patet Dea." 

 (Her step betrays the goddess.) 



He enters underneath doors, it is true; but, when once 

 entered, he is master of every house ; he begins by uttering 

 oracles ; then there is but one step from oracles to miracles ; 

 of a fool he makes a man of wit, and of a man of wit an 

 idiot ; of a sordid and ambitious man a virtuous and disin- 

 terested citizen ; he sends a king into exile, and crowns whom 

 he pleases. 



Then the people who regret old beliefs may experience 

 very great delight. They see them aU revive, but consider- 

 ably augmented. 



The idol announces to you miraculous waters, which 

 prevent the hair from growing grey; and blacking which 

 revivifies»old boots; and he is believed. 



The idol promises the realization of that famous cabbage, 

 which could not be cooked but in a pot as large as a church; 

 and he is believed. 



He promises men in place who shall neither corrupt nor be 



