CHAPTER X.

Enumeration of the wonders that the Thaumaturgistfi acquired the power of working, by the practice of the Occult Science.
The theatre where so many prodigies were concen- trated for the purpose of trying the courage of the ini- tiated, for sulgugating their reason, and rewarding their constancy, the temple, is about to be thrown open.
After having been for mai^ days submitted to various preparations, the design of which was hidden from him, and their nature disguised by religious cere- monies, the aspirant entered upon a course of apparent miracles, with the issue of which he was ignorant ; and from beholding which he was uncertain whether he should be permitted to emerge a victor.
At first he seemed to be placed immoveably, and, as it were, enchained in the depth of an obscurity as profound as those of the infernal regions ; and although now and then flashes of light broke for a moment the darkness which surrounded him, horrors only were revealed to him. By these transient flashes hecaught glimpses of monstrous phantoms, and awfiil spectres ; he heard near him the hissing of serpents and the howling of wild beasts ; and
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echo repeated and prolonged in the distance these noises so well calculated to excite alarm. During the calmer intervals such were the overpowering emotions awakened in his mind, that a slight rustling, or even an agreeable sound made him tremble.* The scene next be- came lighted up ; and, suddenly, he perceived a change coming over the aspect of the place and its decorations ; the earth trembled and raised itself up, almost into a mountain, and again sunk into a profound abyss. He then felt himself raised or drawn rapidly along, although unable to discover the impulse he felt constrained to obey. Under his eyes, whilst gazing upon them, the pictures and marbles became animated ; the bronzes shed tears ; unwieldy and colossal figures moved and walked ; and statues uttered harmonious sounds. He was compelled to advance forwards, whilst awful monsters, centaurs, harpies, gorgons, and serpents with a hundred heads, surrounded and menaced him, bodiless heads grinned at him, and mocked alike his fear and his courage.!
Phantoms bearing a perfect resemblance to men who had been long laid in the grave, and who, whilst alive, had been the objects of his admiration or his attachment, fluttered about him, and shrunk from embraces which they appeared to seek. Thunders rolled, lightnings flashed, water became inflamed and flowed in torrents of
* I have borrowed this sketch from the highly poetical picture, drawn by the Author of the " Livre de la Sagesse" (chap, xvii.) displaying the terrors which tormented the Egyptians during the three days of darkness.
t An exhibition similar to the Phantasmagoria. See a subse* quent note. — ^Ed.
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jSre. A dry and solid body fermented, dissolved and changed into waves of foaming blood. In one place were seen wretched beings in vain attempting to fill with water a shallow urn, the liquid they unceasingly poured into it never rose to its top; in another place the favoured of the Gods proved their right to this title by braving the influence of boiling water, of red-hot iron, melted metal, and burning wood. They commanded as masters the most ferocious beasts ; they gave the word, and veno- mous serpents came and crouched at their feet; they seized asps and vipers and tore them asunder, whilst the reptiles dared not to bite nor revenge themselves upon their tormentors. Then the aspirant heard near him the tones of a human voice ;^ calling him, and answering his questions, but the nearer he approached to the spot whence the sound proceeded, the less able was he to per- ceive the person by whom the voice was uttered. At the bottom of a narrow qavem, into which the daylight never penetrated, a light as bright as that of the sun, suddenly bursting forth, discovered to him, at an immense distance, enchanted gardens and palaces, the beauty and the magnificence of which induced him to recognise in them the abode of the immortal Gods. There the Gods appeared to him, their presence being an- noimced by the most indubitable indications. He saw and he heard them ; his mind troubled, his imagination con- fused, and his reason, overwhelmed by so many miracles, abandoned him ; and, intoxicated and transported with admiration, he worshipped the glorious proofs of super-
* This was evidently the effect of ventriloquism. — Ed.
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natural power, and bent in devotion before the certain presence of Divinity.
However dazzling these pretended miracles were, they sunk to nothing compared with the knowledge which was preserved for the initiated if his birth, his Courage, his zeal, should enable him some day to take a place amongst the highest orders of the priesthood. All that had struck him with so much admiration he Was himself to acquire the power of performing, and the secret of still more important wonders was to be revealed to him.
The minister of ^ divinity by turns beneficent and revengeful, but ever omnipotent, he was assured that both man and the elements should dbey him. He should be rendered capable of astonishing the multitude by his power of abstinence fi"om food ; and load the ignorant man with gratitude by purifying the impure beverage that excess of thitst might oblige him to accept. He was informed that he should possess the power of disturbing the minds of men, of plunging them into brutish stu- pidity or ferocious rage ; oi obliterating frbm their me- itidry the recollection of thdr sorrows, and of freeing them frbm the power of grief. In addition, he was to be able to exalt their audadty, or their docility intb fanaticism ; fulfil their most ardent desires in visions; and often, even vnthput any intermediate means, to act on their senses and govern their will. Arbiter of their disputes, he would have no necessity to interrogate witnesses or to weigh opinibnsV a simple ordeal should eilable him to distinguish the innocent and truthful man from the drimi- nal and peijurek!, who might Ite coilvicted by him to bef worthy of a dreadful and merited death. He was told
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that in their maladies men should call upon him; and, at his voice, the aid of heaven would descend and heal their diseases ; and he should even have the power of snatching from Death the prey which the grim destroys had already seized. Woe to the man who should offend him : he might be struck with leprosy, with blindness, or with death. He was farther informed that he might forbid the earth to yidd its fruits; that he might poison the atmosphere ; and the exhalations, which would thus furnish him with arms against his enemies. The most terrible of the elements, fire, should be his slave ; at his command it would spring up spontaneously, and bewil- der the eyes of the incredulous; water should not extinguish it ; it should burst forth awful as thunder against his victims, and, tearing open the bosom of the earth, compel it to engulph and devour them. The heavens even should be subject to his control, and he might predict to the anxious and fearful the variations of the weather and the convulsions of the earth. He should have power to still the thunder, and to play with the lightning ; while trembling men should beUeve him to be endowed with the power of hurling it at their heads. Such were the promised gifts of the Deity who inspired ; such the tools of conviction by which the initi- ated chained to the foot of the altar all men, whatever their rank might be, out of the temple. All were constrained to believe, to adore, and to obey.
These unbounded promises were fulfilled through the means of the Occult Science: a thousand times has the attentive eye witnessed these apparent miracles, into the causes of which enthusiasm forbade inquiry. And
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we, to whom this inquiry is permitted : (for to whom, indeed, is it now denied?) we believe these apparent miracles, and admire them for the variety of knowledge necessary to their production ; but we are not blind to the charlatanism and imposture so cleverly mixed up with these mysteries ; and, therefore, we have endea- voured to expose this shameful alliance. By purifying it from the dross that soils it, the precious ore recovers all its brilliancy and value.
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244 MECHANICAL AOBNCIBS.