THE
MAGUS
by Francis Barrett
London, 1801
CHAP. IV.
OF UNCTIONS, PHILTERS, POTIONS, &C.--THEIR MAGICAL VIRTUES.
UNGUENTS,
or unctions, collyries, philters, &c., conveying the virtues of things
natural to our spirits, do multiply, transform, transfigure, and transmute
it accordingly; they also transpose those virtues, which are in them, into
it, so that it not only acts upon its own body, but also upon that which
is near it, and affects that (by visible rays, charms, and by touching it)
with some agreeable quality like to itself. For, because our spirit is the
pure, subtil, lucid, airy, and unctuous vapour of the blood, nothing, therefore,
is better adapted for collyriums than the like vapour, which are more suitable
to our spirit in substance; for then, by reason of their likeness, they
do more stir up, attract, and transform the spirit. The same virtue have
other ointments, and confections. Hence, by the touch, often plague, sickness,
faintings, poisoning, and love, is induced, either by the hands or clothes
being anointed; and often by kissing, things been held in the mouth, love
is likewise excited.
Now the sight, as it perceives more purely and clearer than the other senses,
seals in us the marks of things more acutely, and does, most of all, and
before all others, agree with our fantastic spirit; as is apparent in dreams,
when things seen do more often present themselves to us than things heard,
or any thin coming under the other senses. Therefore, when collyriums transform
the visual spirits, that spirit easily affects the imagination, which, being
affected with divers species and forms, transmits the same, by the same
spirit, unto the outward sense of sight, by which there is formed in it
a perception of such species and forms, in that manner, as if it were moved
by external objects, that there appear to be seen terrible images, spirits,
and the like. There are some collyriums which make us see the of images
of spirits of the air, or elsewhere; which I can make of the gall of a man,
and the eyes of a black cat, and some other things. The same is made, likewise,
of the blood of a lapwing, bat, and a goat; and if a smooth shining piece
of steel be smeared over with the juice of mugwort, and be made to fume,
it causes invocated spirits to appear. There are some perfumes, or suffumigations
and unctions, which make men speak in their sleep, walk, and do those things
that are done by men that are awake, and often what, when awake, they cannot,
or dare not do; others, again, make men hear horrid or delightful sounds,
noises, and the like.
And, in some measure, this is the cause why mad and melancholy men believe
they hear and see things equally false and improbable, falling into most
gross and pitiful delusions, fearing where no fear is, and angry where there
is none to contend. Such passions as these we can induce by magical vapours,
confections, perfumes, collyries, unguents, potions, poisons, lamps, lights,
&c.; likewise by mirrors, images, enchantments, charms, sounds, and
music; also by divers rites, observations, ceremonies, religion, &c.
Footnotes
It is here to be particularly noticed by us, that, in forming of a charm,
or amulet, it will be of no effect except the very soul of the operator
is strongly and intensely exerted and impressed, as it were, and the image
of the idea sealed on the charm, or amulet for, without this, in vain will
be all the observation of times, hours and constellations therefore, this
I have thought fit to mention, once for all, that it may be almost always
uppermost in the mind of the operator, for, without this one thing being
observed and noticed, many who form seals, &c., do fall short of the
wished for effect.
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