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THE SECOND BOOKE 307
let, that the contagion of this venome [shall neither
offend you nor your assistance. The liberty then, and
the jollity of their ancient spirits brought forth many
different Sects of opinions, in Philosophy and humane
Sciences : every one undertaking to judge and chuse,
so he might raise a faction. But now that men walke
all one way: Qui certis quibusdam destinatisque sententiis
addicti et consecrati sunt, ut etiam qux non probant,
cogantur defendere;¹ 'Who are addicted and consecrated
to certaine set and fore-decreed opinions, so
as they are enforced to maintaine those things which
they prove or approve not:' And that wee receive Arts
by civill authority and appointment: so that Schooles
have but one patterne, alike circumscribed discipline
and institution; no man regardeth more what coines
weigh and are worth ; but every man in his turne receiveth
them according to the value that common
approbation and succession allotteth them: Men dispute
no longer of the alloy, but of the use. So are all
things spent and vented alike. Physike is received as
Geometry : and jugling tricks, enchantments, bonds,
the commerce of deceased spirits, prognostications,,
domifications, yea even this ridiculous wit and wealthconsuming
pursuite of the Philosophers stone, all is
emploied and uttered without contradiction. It sufficeth
to Know that Mars his place lodgeth in the middle of
the hands triangle ; that of Venus in the thumme ; and
Mercuries in the little finger: and when the table-line
cutteth the fore-finger's rising, it is a signe of cruelty:
when it faileth under the middle finger, and that the
naturall median-line makes an angle with the vitall,
under the same side, it is a signe of a miserable death :
and when a womans naturall line is open, and closes
not its angle with the vitall, it evidentlv denotes that
she will not be very chast. I call your selfe to witnesse,
if with this Science onely, a man may not passe with
reputation and favour among all companies. Theophrastus
was wont to say that mans knowledge, directed
by the sense, might judge of the causes of things unto
1 CIC. Tusc. Qu. 1, ii.