MONSTERS AND SUPEllSTITIONS. 



765 



diseased minds could discover wild in tradition or terrible 

 in legend, was for many ages looked u^^on as expressing 

 occult truths. Fools gave themselves up to punishment 

 and death accusing themselves of unheard-of acts, while 

 the judges never noticed their delirium ! 



3:)4. Comet of 1528. — Facsimile taken from the Work of Ambrose Pare. 



In the middle ages magic was confounded with science; 

 it was not attacked; but in the sterner times of the Re- 

 naissance the fagots were lighted. The victims that suf- 

 fered for imaginary crimes cannot be numbered. 



But if so many and such serious errors spread through 

 the vulgar, we must with sorrow admit that they were in 



97 



