第3章

Buttoreturn。TothisgoodPatron——whowastheAmbassadoratVenice——thenewly—marriedRondeletdeterminedtoapplyforemployment;andtoVenicehewouldhavegone，leavinghisbridebehind，hadhenotbeenstayedbyoneofthoseangelswhosometimeswalktheearthinwomen’sshape。JeanneSandrehadaneldersister，Catharine，whohadbroughtherup。Shewasmarriedtoawealthyman，butshehadnochildrenofherown。ForfouryearssheandhergoodhusbandhadlettheRondeletslodgewiththem，andnowshewasawidow，andtopartwiththemwasmorethanshecouldbear。ShecarriedRondeletofffromthestudentswhowereseeinghimsafeoutofthecity，broughthimback，settledonhimthesamedayhalfherfortune，andsoonaftersettledonhimthewhole，onthesoleconditionthatsheshouldlivewithhimandhersister。Foryearsafterwardsshewatchedovertheprettyyoungwifeandhertwogirlsandthreeboys——thethreeboys，alas！alldiedyoung——andoverRondelethimself，who，immersedinbooksandexperiments，wasutterlycarelessaboutmoney;andwastothemallamother——

advising，guiding，managing，andregardedbyRondeletwithgenuinegratitudeashisguardianangel。

Honourandgoodfortune，inaworldlysense，nowpouredinuponthedruggist’sson。Pellicier，hisownbishop，stoodgodfathertohisfirst—borndaughter。Montluc，BishopofValence，andthatwiseandlearnedstatesman，theCardinalofTournon，stoodgodfathersafewyearslatertohistwinboys;andwhatwasofstillmoresolidworthtohim，CardinalTournontookhimtoAntwerp，Bordeaux，Bayonne，andmorethanoncetoRome;andintheseItalianjourneysofhishecollectedmanyfactsforthegreatworkofhislife，that\"HistoryofFishes\"whichhededicated，naturallyenough，tothecardinal。

Thisbookwithitsplatesis，forthetime，amasterpieceofaccuracy。Thosewhoarebestacquaintedwiththesubjectsay，thatitisuptothepresentdayakeytothewholeichthyologyoftheMediterranean。Twoothermen，BelonandSalviani，werethenatworkonthesamesubject，andpublishedtheirbooksalmostatthesametime;acircumstancewhichcaused，aswasnatural，athree—corneredduelbetweenthesupportersofthethreenaturalists，eachpartyaccusingtheotherofplagiarism。Thesimplefactseemstobethatthealmostsimultaneousappearanceofthethreebooksin1554—55isoneofthosecoincidencesinevitableatmomentswhenmanymindsarestirredinthesamedirectionbythesamegreatthoughts——

coincidenceswhichhavehappenedinourowndayonquestionsofgeology，biology，andastronomy;andwhich，whenthefactshavebeencarefullyexamined，andthefirstflushofnaturaljealousyhascooleddown，haveprovedonlythatthereweremorewisementhanoneintheworldatthesametime。

Andthissixteenthcenturywasanageinwhichthemindsofmenweresuddenlyandstrangelyturnedtoexaminethewondersofnaturewithanearnestness，withareverence，andthereforewithanaccuracy，withwhichtheyhadneverbeeninvestigatedbefore。\"Nature，\"saysProfessorPlanchon，\"longveiledinmysticismandscholasticism，wasopeningupinfinitevistas。Anewsuperstition，theexaggeratedworshipoftheancients，wasnearlyhinderingthismovementofthoughttowardsfacts。Nevertheless，Learningdidherwork。Sherediscovered，reconstructed，purified，commentedonthetextsofancientauthors。Thencameinobservation，whichshowedthatmorewastobeseeninonebladeofgrassthaninanypageofPliny。

Rondeletwasinthemiddleofthiscrisisamanoftransition，whilehewasoneofprogress。Hereflectedthepast;heopenedandpreparedthefuture。IfhecommentedonDioscorides，ifheremainedfaithfultothetheoriesofGalen，hefoundedinhis’HistoryofFishes’amonumentwhichourcenturyrespects。Heisaboveallaninspirer，aninitiator;andifhewantsonemarkoftheleaderofaschool，thefoundationofcertainscientificdoctrines，thereisinhisspeechwhatisbetterthanallsystems，thecommunicativepowerwhichurgesagenerationofdisciplesalongthepathofindependentresearch，withReasonforguide，andFaithforaim。\"

AroundRondelet，inthoseyears，sometimesindeedinhishouse——forprofessorsinthosedaystookprivatepupilsaslodgers——workedthegroupofbotanistswhomLinnaeuscalls\"theFathers，\"theauthorsofthedescriptivebotanyofthesixteenthcentury。Theirnames，andthoseoftheirdisciplesandtheirdisciplesagain，arehouseholdwordsinthemouthofeverygardener，immortalised，likegoodBishopPellicier，intheplantsthathavebeennamedafterthem。TheLobeliacommemoratesLobel，oneofRondelet’smostfamouspupils，whowrotethose\"Adversaria\"whichcontainsomanycurioussketchesofRondelet’sbotanicalexpeditions，andwhoinheritedhisbotanical（asJouberthisbiographerinheritedhisanatomical）manuscripts。

TheMagnoliacommemoratestheMagnols;theSarracenia，SarrasinofLyons;theBauhinia，JeanBauhin;theFuchsia，Bauhin’searlierGermanmaster，LeonardFuchs;andtheClusia——thereceivednameofthatterrible\"Matapalo\"or\"Scotchattorney，\"oftheWestIndies，whichkillsthehugesttree，tobecomeashugeatreeitself——

immortalisesthegreatClusius，Charlesdel’Escluse，citizenofArras，who，afterstudyingcivillawatLouvain，philosophyatMarburg，andtheologyatWittembergunderMelancthon，cametoMontpellierin1551，toliveinRondelet’sownhouse，andbecomethegreatestbotanistofhisage。

ThesewereRondelet’spalmydays。HehadgotatheatreofanatomybuiltatMontpellier，wherehehimselfdissectedpublicly。Hehad，saystradition，alittlebotanicgarden，suchaswerespringinguptheninseveraluniversities，speciallyinItaly。Hehadavillaoutsidethecity，whosetower，nearthemodernrailwaystation，stillbearsthenameofthe\"MasdeRondelet。\"There，too，maybeseentheremnantsofthegreattanks，fedwithwaterbroughtthroughearthenpipesfromtheFountainofAlbe，whereinhekeptthefishwhosehabitsheobserved。ProfessorPlanchonthinksthathehadsalt—watertankslikewise;andthushemayhavebeenthefatherofall\"Aquariums。\"Hehadalargeandhandsomehouseinthecityitself，alargepracticeasphysicianinthecountryround;moneyflowedinfasttohim，andflowedoutfastlikewise。Hespentmuchuponbuilding，pullingdown，rebuilding，andsentthebillsinseeminglytohiswifeandtohisguardianangelCatharine。Hehimselfhadneverapennyinhispurse：butearnedthemoney，andlethisladiesspendit;anequitableandpleasantdivisionoflabourwhichmostmarriedmenwoulddowelltoimitate。Agenerous，affectionate，carelesslittleman，hegaveaway，sayshispupilandbiographer，Joubert，hisvaluablespecimenstoanysavantwhobeggedforthem，orleftthemabouttobestolenbyvisitors，who，liketoomanycollectorsinallages，possessedlightfingersandlighterconsciences。Sopacificwashemeanwhile，andsobravewithalthateveninthefearfulyearsof\"TheTroubles，\"hewouldnevercarrysword，noreventuckordagger：butwentaboutonthemostlonesomejourneysasonewhoworeacharmedlife，secureinGodandinhiscalling，whichwastoheal，andnottokill。

ThesewerethegoldenyearsofRondelet’slife;buttroublewascomingonhim，andastormysunsetafterabrilliantday。Helosthissister—in—law，towhomheowedallhisfortunes，andwhohadwatchedeversinceoverhimandhiswifelikeamother;thenhelosthiswifeherselfundermostpainfulcircumstances;thenhisbest—

beloveddaughter。Thenhemarriedagain，andlostthesonwhowasborntohim;andthencame，astomanyofthebestinthosedays，evensorertrials，trialsoftheconscience，trialsoffaith。

ForinthemeantimeRondelethadbecomeaProtestant，likemanyofthewisestmenroundhim;like，soitwouldseemfromtheevent，themajorityoftheuniversityandtheburghersofMontpellier。Itisnottobewonderedat。Montpellierwasasortofhalfwayresting—

placeforProtestantpreachers，whetherfugitiveornot，whowerepassingfromBasle，Geneva，orLyons，toMargueriteofNavarre’slittleProtestantcourtatPanoratNerac，whereallwiseandgoodmen，andnowandthensomefoolishandfanaticalones，foundshelterandhospitality。ThitherCalvinhimselfhadbeen，passingprobablythroughMontpellierandleaving——assuchamanwassuretoleave——

themarkofhisfootbehindhim。AtLyons，nogreatdistanceuptheRhone，MargueritehadhelpedtoestablishanorganisedProtestantcommunity;andwhenin1536sheherselfhadpassedthroughMontpellier，tovisitherbrotheratValence，andMontmorency’scampatAvignon，shetookwithherdoubtlessProtestantchaplainsofherown，whospokewisewords——itmaybethatshespokewisewordsherself——totheardentandinquiringstudentsofMontpellier。

Moreover，RondeletandhisdiscipleshadbeenforyearspastinconstantcommunicationwiththeProtestantsavantsofSwitzerlandandGermany，amongwhomtheknowledgeofnaturewasprogressingasitneverhadprogressedbefore。For——itisafactalwaystoberemembered——itwasonlyinthefreeairofProtestantcountriesthenaturalsciencescouldgrowandthrive。Theysprungup，indeed，inItalyaftertherestorationofGreekliteratureinthefifteenthcentury;buttheywitheredthereagainonlytoosoonundertheblightingupasshadeofsuperstition。TransplantedtothefreeairofSwitzerland，ofGermany，ofBritain，andofMontpellier，thenhalfProtestant，theydevelopedrapidlyandsurely，simplybecausetheairwasfree;tobecheckedagaininFrancebythereturnofsuperstitionwithdespotismsuper—added，untiltheeveofthegreatFrenchRevolution。

SoRondelethadbeenforsomeyearsProtestant。Hehadhiddeninhishouseforalongwhileamonkwhohadlefthismonastery。Hehadhimselfwrittentheologicaltreatises：butwhenhisBishopPellicierwasimprisonedonachargeofheresy，Rondeletburnthismanuscripts，andkepthisopinionstohimself。Stillhewasasuspectedheretic，atlastseeminglyanotoriousone;foronlytheyearbeforehisdeath，goingtovisitpatientsatPerpignan，hewaswaylaidbytheSpaniards，andhadtogethomethroughbypassesofthePyrenees，toavoidbeingthrownintotheInquisition。

Andthoseweretimesinwhichitwasnecessaryforamantobecareful，unlesshehadmadeuphismindtobeburned。FormorethanthirtyyearsofRondelet’slifetheburninghadgoneoninhisneighbourhood;intermittentlyitistrue：thespasmsofsuperstitiousfurybeingsucceeded，onemaycharitablyhope，bypityandremorse;butstilltheburningshadgoneon。TheBenedictinemonkofSt。Maur，whowritesthehistoryofLanguedoc，says，quiteenpassant，howsomeonewasburntatToulousein1553，luckilyonlyineffigy，forhehadescapedtoGeneva：butheadds，\"nextyeartheyburnedseveralheretics，\"itbeingnotworthwhiletomentiontheirnames。In1556theyburnedaliveatToulouseJeanEscalle，apoorFranciscanmonk，whohadfoundhisorderintolerable;whileonePierredeLavaur，whodaredpreachCalvinisminthestreetsofNismes，washangedandburnt。Sohadthescoreofjudicialmurdersbeenincreasingyearbyyear，tillithadtobe，asallevilscoreshavetobeinthisworld，paidoffwithinterest，andpaidoffespeciallyagainsttheignorantandfanaticmonkswhoforawholegeneration，ineveryuniversityandschoolinFrance，hadbeenhowlingdownsoundscience，aswellassoundreligion;andatMontpellierin1560—61，theirdebtwaspaidtheminaveryuglyway。

NewscamedowntothehotsouthernersofLanguedocoftheso—calledconspiracyofAmboise。——HowtheDucdeGuiseandtheCardinaldeLorrainehadbutcheredthebestbloodinFranceunderthepretenceofatreasonableplot;howtheKingofNavarreandthePrincedeCondehadbeenarrested;thenhowCondeandColignywerereadytotakeuparmsattheheadofalltheHuguenotsofFrance，andtrytostopthislife—longtorturing，bysharpshotandcoldsteel;thenhowinsixmonths’timethekingwouldassembleageneralcounciltosettlethequestionbetweenCatholicsandHuguenots。TheHuguenots，guessinghowthatwouldend，resolvedtosettlethequestionforthemselves。Theyroseinonecityafteranother，sackedthechurches，destroyedtheimages，putdownbymainforcesuperstitiousprocessionsanddances;anddidmanythingsonlytobeexcusedbytheexasperationcausedbythirtyyearsofcruelty。AtMontpelliertherewashardfighting，murders——sosaytheCatholichistorians——ofpriestsandmonks，sackofthenewcathedral，destructionofthenobleconventswhichlayinaringroundMontpellier。ThecityandtheuniversitywereinthehandsoftheHuguenots，andMontpellierbecameProtestantonthespot。

Nextyearcamethecounter—blow。TherewereheavybattleswiththeCatholicsallroundtheneighbourhood，destructionofthesuburbs，threatenedsiegeandsack，andyearsofmiseryandpovertyforMontpellierandallwhoweretherein。

HorriblewasthestateofFranceinthosetimesofthewarsofreligionwhichbeganin1562;thetimeswhicharespokenofusuallyas\"TheTroubles，\"asifmendidnotwishtoalludetothemtooopenly。Then，andafterwardsinthewarsoftheLeague，deedsweredoneforwhichlanguagehasnoname。Thepopulationdecreased。Thelandlayuntilled。ThefairfaceofFrancewasblackenedwithburnthomesteadsandruinedtowns。Ghastlycorpsesdangledinrowsuponthetrees，orfloateddowntheblood—stainedstreams。Lawandorderwereatanend。Bandsofrobbersprowledinopenday，andbandsofwolveslikewise。ButallthroughthehorrorsofthetroubleswecatchsightofthelittlefatdoctorridingallunarmedtoseehispatientsthroughoutLanguedoc;goingvastdistances，hisbiographerssay，bymeansofregularrelaysofhorses，tillhetoobrokedown。

Well，forhim，perhaps，thathebrokedownwhenhedid;forcaptureandrecapture，massacreandpestilence，werethefateofMontpellierandthesurroundingcountry，tillthebettertimesofHenryIV。andtheEdictofNantesin1598，whenlibertyofworshipwasgiventotheProtestantsforawhile。

Intheburningsummerof1566，RondeletwentalongjourneytoToulouse，seeminglyuponanerrandofcharity，tosettlesomelawaffairsforhisrelations。Thesanitarystateofthesoutherncitiesisbadenoughstill。Itmusthavebeenhorribleinthosedaysofbarbarismandmisrule。DysenterywasepidemicatToulousethen，andRondelettookit。Heknewfromthefirstthatheshoulddie。Hewaswornout，itissaid，byover—exertion;bysorrowforthemiseriesoftheland;byfruitlessstrugglestokeepthepeace，andtostriveformoderationindayswhenmenwereallimmoderate。

Butherodeawayaday’sjourney——hetooktwodaysoverit，soweakhewas——intheblazingJulysun，toafriend’ssickwifeatRealmont，andtheretooktohisbed，anddiedagoodman’sdeath。

ThedetailsofhisdeathandlastillnesswerewrittenandpublishedbyhiscousinClaudeFormy;andwellworthreadingtheyaretoanymanwhowishestoknowhowtodie。RondeletwouldhavenotidingsofhisillnesssenttoMontpellier。Hewashappy，hesaid，indyingawayfromthetearsofhishousehold，and\"safefrominsult。\"Hedreaded，onemaysuppose，lestpriestsandfriarsshouldforcetheirwaytohisbedside，andtrytoextortsomerecantationfromthegreatsavant，thehonourandgloryoftheircity。SotheysentfornopriesttoRealmont;butroundhisbedaknotofCalvinistgentlemenandministersreadtheScriptures，andsangDavid’spsalms，andprayed;andRondeletprayedwiththemthroughlongagonies，andsowenthometoGod。

TheBenedictinemonk—historianofLanguedoc，inallhisvoluminousfolios，nevermentions，asfarasIcanfind，Rondelet’sexistence。

Whyshouldhe？Themanwasonlyadruggist’ssonandaheretic，whohealeddiseases，andcollectedplants，andwroteabookonfish。

ButthelearnedmenofMontpellier，andofallEurope，hadaverydifferentopinionofhim。HisbodywasburiedatRealmont;butbeforetheschoolsofToulousetheysetupawhitemarbleslab，andaninscriptionthereonsettingforthhislearningandhisvirtues;

andepitaphsonhimwerecomposedbythelearnedthroughoutEurope，notonlyinFrenchandLatin，butinGreek，Hebrew，andevenChaldee。

Solivedandsodiedanobleman;morenoble，tomymind，thanmanyavictoriouswarrior，orsuccessfulstatesman，orcanonisedsaint。

Toknowfacts，andtohealdiseases，werethetwoobjectsofhislife。Forthemhetoiled，asfewmenhavetoiled;andhediedinharness，athiswork——thebestdeathanymancandie。

VESALIUSTHEANATOMIST{9}

Icannotbeginasketchofthelifeofthisgreatmanbetterthanbytryingtodescribeascenesopicturesque，sotragicintheeyesofthosewhoarewonttomournoverhumanfollies，socomicintheeyesofthosewhoprefertolaughoverthem，thatthereaderwillnotbelikelytoforgeteitheritortheactorsinit。

ItisadarkenedchamberintheCollegeofAlcala，intheyear1562，wherelies，probablyinahugefour—postbed，shroudedinstiflinghangings，theheir—apparentofthegreatestempireinthethenworld，DonCarlos，onlysonofPhilipII。andheir—apparentofSpain，theNetherlands，andalltheIndies。Ashortsicklyboyofsixteen，withabullhead，acrookedshoulder，ashortleg，andabrutaltemper，hewillnotbemissedbytheworldifheshoulddie。

Hisprofligatecareerseemstohavebroughtitsownpunishment。Tothescandalofhisfather，whotoleratednoone’svicessavehisown，aswellastothescandaloftheuniversityauthoritiesofAlcala，hehasbeenscouringthestreetsattheheadofthemostprofligatestudents，insultingwomen，evenladiesofrank，andamenableonlytohislovelyyoungstepmother，ElizabethofValois，IsabeldelaPaz，astheSpaniardscallher，thedaughterofCatherinedoMedicis，andsisteroftheKingofFrance。DonCarlosshouldhavemarriedher，hadnothisworthyfatherfounditmoreadvantageousforthecrownofSpain，aswellasmorepleasantforhim，Philip，tomarryherhimself。Whencecameheart—burnings，rage，jealousies，romances，calumnies，ofwhichtwolast——inasfaratleastastheyconcernpoorElizabeth——nowisemannowbelievesaword。

Goingonsomeerrandonwhichhehadnobusiness——therearetwostories，neitherofthemcreditablenornecessarytorepeat——DonCarloshasfallendownstairsandbrokenhishead。Hecomes，byhisPortuguesemother’sside，ofahousedeeplytaintedwithinsanity;

andsuchaninjurymayhaveseriousconsequences。However，forninedaysthewoundgoesonwell，andDonCarlos，havinghadawholesomefright，is，accordingtoDoctorOlivarez，themedicodecamara，averygoodlad，andlivesonchickenbrothanddriedplums。Butonthetenthdaycomesonnumbnessoftheleftside，acutepainsinthehead，andthengraduallyshivering，highfever，erysipelas。Hisheadandneckswelltoanenormoussize;thencomesragingdelirium，thenstupefaction，andDonCarlosliesasonedead。

Amodernsurgeonwould，probably，thankstothattrainingofwhichVesaliusmaybealmostcalledthefather，havehadlittledifficultyinfindingoutwhatwasthematterwiththelucklesslad，andlittledifficultyinremovingtheevil，ifithadnotgonetoofar。ButtheSpanishphysicianswerethen，asmanyofthemaresaidtobestill，asfarbehindtheworldinsurgeryasinotherthings;andindeedsurgeryitselfwastheninitsinfancy，becausemen，eversincetheearlyGreekschoolsofAlexandriahaddiedout，hadbeenforcenturiesfeedingtheirmindswithanythingratherthanwithfacts。ThereforethelearnedmorosophswhoweregatheredroundDonCarlos’ssickbedhadbecomeaccordingtotheirownconfession，utterlyconfused，terrified，andattheirwits’end。

Itisthe7thofMay，theeighteenthdayaftertheaccidentaccordingtoOlivarez’sstory：heandDrVegahavebeenbleedingtheunhappyprince，enlargingthewoundtwice，andtorturinghimseeminglyonmereguesses。\"Ibelieve，\"saysOlivarez，\"thatallwasdonewell：butasIhavesaid，inwoundsintheheadtherearestrangelabyrinths。\"Soonthe7ththeystandroundthebedindespair。DonGarciadeToledo，theprince’sfaithfulgovernor，issittingbyhim，wornoutwithsleeplessnights，andtryingtosupplytothepoorboythatmother’stendernesswhichhehasneverknown。

Alva，too，isthere，stern，self—compressed，mostterrible，andyetmostbeautiful。HehasaGodonearth，andthatisPhiliphismaster;andthoughhehasbornemuchfromDonCarlosalready，andwillhavetobearmore，yetthewretchedladistohimasasonofGod，aseconddeity，whowillbyrightdivinesucceedtotheinheritanceofthefirst;andhewatchesthislesserdeitystrugglingbetweenlifeanddeathwithanintensityofwhichwe，intheselessloyaldays，canformnonotion。Onewouldbegladtohaveaglimpseofwhatpassedthroughthatmind，sosubtleandsoruthless，sodisciplinedandsoloyalwithal：butAlvawasamanwhowasnotgiventospeakhismind，buttoactit。

Onewouldwish，too，foraglimpseofwhatwaspassingthroughthemindofanotherman，whohasbeendailyinthatsickchamber，accordingtoOlivarez’sstatement，sincethefirstofthemonth：

butheisonewhohashad，forsomeyearspast，evenmorereasonthanAlvafornotspeakinghismind。Whathelookedlikeweknowwell，forTitianhaspaintedhimfromthelife——atall，bold，well—

dressedman，withanoblebrain，squareandyetlofty，shortcurlinglocksandbeard，aneyewhichlooksasthoughitfearedneithermannorfiend——andithashadgoodreasontofearboth——andfeatureswhichwouldbeexceedinghandsome，butforthedefiantsnub—nose。

ThatisAndreasVesalius，ofBrussels，dreadedandhatedbythedoctorsoftheoldschool——suspect，moreover，itwouldseemtoinquisitorsandtheologians，possiblytoAlvahimself;forhehasdaredtodissecthumanbodies;hehasinsultedthemediaevalistsatParis，Padua，Bologna，Pisa，Venice，inopentheatre;hehasturnedtheheadsofalltheyoungsurgeonsinItalyandFrance;hehaswrittenagreatbook，withprintsinit，designed，somesay，byTitian——theywereactuallydonebyanotherNetherlander，JohnofCalcar，nearCleves——inwhichhehasdaredtoprovethatGalen’sanatomywasatfaultthroughout，andthathehadbeendescribingamonkey’sinsidewhenhehadpretendedtobedescribingaman’s;andthus，byimpudenceandquackery，hehaswormedhimself——thisNetherlander，ahereticatheart，asallNetherlandersare，toGodaswellastoGalen——intotheconfidenceofthelateEmperorCharlesV。，andgonecampaigningwithhimasoneofhisphysicians，anatomisinghumanbodiesevenonthebattle—field，anddefacingthelikenessofDeity;andworsethanthat，themostreligiousKingPhilipisdeceivedbyhimlikewise，andkeepshiminMadridinwealthandhonour;andnow，intheprince’sextremedanger，thekinghasactuallysentforhim，andbiddenhimtryhisskill——amanwhoknowsnothingsaveaboutbonesandmusclesandtheoutsideofthebody，andisunworthythenameofatruephysician。

OnecanconceivetherageoftheoldSpanishpedantsattheNetherlander’sappearance，andstillmoreatwhatfollowed，ifwearetobelieveHugoBloetofDelft，hiscountrymanandcontemporary。

{10}Vesalius，hesays，sawthatthesurgeonshadboundupthewoundsotightthatanabscesshadformedoutsidetheskull，whichcouldnotbreak：heassertedthattheonlyhopelayinopeningit;

anddidso，Philiphavinggivenleave，\"bytwocross—cuts。Thentheladreturnedtohimself，asifawakenedfromaprofoundsleep，affirmingthatheowedhisrestorationtolifetotheGermandoctor。\"

DionysiusDaza，whowastherewiththeotherphysiciansandsurgeons，tellsadifferentstory：\"Themostlearned，famous，andrareBaronVesalius，\"hesays，advisedthattheskullshouldbetrepanned;buthisadvicewasnotfollowed。

Olivarez’saccountagreeswiththatofDaza。Theyhadopenedthewounds，hesays，downtotheskullbeforeVesaliuscame。Vesaliusinsistedthattheinjurylayinsidetheskull，andwishedtopierceit。OlivarezspendsmuchlabourinprovingthatVesaliushad\"nogreatfoundationforhisopinion：\"butconfessesthatheneverchangedthatopiniontothelast，thoughalltheSpanishdoctorswereagainsthim。Thenonthe6th，hesays，theBachelorTorrescamefromMadrid，andadvisedthattheskullshouldbelaidbareoncemore;andonthe7th，therebeingstilldoubtwhethertheskullwasnotinjured，theoperationwasperformed——bywhomitisnotsaid——butwithoutanygoodresult，or，accordingtoOlivarez，anydiscovery，savethatVesaliuswaswrong，andtheskulluninjured。

Whetherthissecondoperationofthe7thofMaywasperformedbyVesalius，andwhetheritwasthatofwhichBloetspeaks，isanopenquestion。Olivarez’swholerelationisapologetic，writtentojustifyhimselfandhissevenSpanishcolleagues，andtoproveVesaliusinthewrong。Publicopinion，heconfesses，hadbeenveryfierceagainsthim。ThecreditofSpanishmedicinewasatstake：

andwearenotboundtobelieveimplicitlyapaperdrawnupundersuchcircumstancesforPhilip’seye。This，atleast，wegather：

thatDonCarloswasnevertrepanned，asiscommonlysaid;andthis，also，thatwhicheverofthetwostoriesistrue，equallyputsVesaliusintodirect，andmostunpleasant，antagonismtotheSpanishdoctors。{11}

ButDonCarlosstilllaysenseless;andyieldingtopopularclamour，thedoctorscalledintheaidofacertainMoorishdoctor，fromValencia，namedPriotarete，whoseunguents，itwasreported，hadachievedmanymiraculouscures。Theunguent，however，tothehorrorofthedoctors，burnedtheskulltillthebonewasasblackasthecolourofink;andOlivarezdeclareshebelievesittohavebeenapreparationofpurecaustic。Onthemorningofthe9thofMay，theMoorandhisunguentsweresentaway，\"andwenttoMadrid，tosendtoheavenHernandodeVega，whiletheprincewentbacktoourmethodofcure。\"

Consideringwhathappenedonthemorningofthe10thofMay，weshouldnowpresumethatthesecondopeningoftheabscess，whetherbyVesaliusorsomeoneelse，relievedthepressureonthebrain;

thatacriticalperiodofexhaustionfollowed，probablyprolongedbytheMoor’sprematurecaustic，whichstoppedthesuppuration：butthatGod’sgoodhandiwork，callednature，triumphedatlast;andthatthereforeitcametopassthattheprincewasoutofdangerwithinthreedaysoftheoperation。Buthewastaught，itseems，toattributehisrecoverytoaverydifferentsourcefromthatofaGermanknife。Foronthemorningofthe9th，whentheMoorwasgone，andDonCarloslayseeminglylifeless，theredescendedintohischamberaDeusemachina，orratherawholepantheonofgreaterorlesserdeities，whoweretoeffectthatwhichmedicalskillseemednottohaveeffected。Philipsentintotheprince’schamberseveralofthepreciousrelicswhichheusuallycarriedaboutwithhim。ThemiraculousimageoftheVirginofAtocha，inembroideringgarmentsforwhom，Spanishroyalty，maleandfemale，hasspentsomanyanhourerenow，wasbroughtinsolemnprocessionandplacedonanaltaratthefootoftheprince’sbed;andintheafternoonthereentered，withaprocessionlikewise，ashrinecontainingthebonesofaholyanchorite，oneFrayDiego，\"whoselifeandmiracles，\"saysOlivarez，\"aresonotorious：\"andthebonesofSt。JustusandSt。

Pastor，thetutelarsaintsoftheuniversityofAlcala。AmidsolemnlitaniestherelicsofFrayDiegowerelaidupontheprince’spillow，andthesudarium，ormortuarycloth，whichhadcoveredhisface，wasplacedupontheprince’sforehead。

Modernsciencemightobjectthatthepresenceofsomanypersonages，howeverpiousorwellintentioned，inasickchamberonahotSpanishMayday，especiallyasthebathhadbeen，forsomegenerationspast，heldinreligioushorrorthroughoutSpain，asasignofMoorishandMussulmantendencies，mighthavesomewhatinterferedwiththechancesofthepoorboy’srecovery。

NeverthelesstheeventseemstohavesatisfiedPhilip’shighesthopes;forthatsamenight（soDonCarlosafterwardsrelated）theholymonkDiegoappearedtohiminavision，wearingthehabitofSt。Francis，andbearinginhishandacrossofreedstiedwithagreenband。TheprincestatedthathefirsttooktheapparitiontobethatoftheblessedSt。Francis;butnotseeingthestigmata，heexclaimed，\"How？Dostthounotbearthemarksofthewounds？\"WhatherepliedDonCarlosdidnotrecollect;savethatheconsoledhim，andtoldhimthatheshouldnotdieofthatmalady。

PhiliphadreturnedtoMadrid，andshuthimselfupingriefinthegreatJeronymitemonastery。Elizabethwasprayingforherstep—sonbeforethemiraculousimagesofthesamecity。Duringthenightofthe9thofMayprayerswentupforDonCarlosinallthechurchesofToledo，Alcala，andMadrid。Alvastoodallthatnightatthebed’sfoot。DonGarciadeToledosatinthearm—chair，wherehehadnowsatnightanddayformorethanafortnight。Thegoodpreceptor，HonoratoJuan，afterwardsBishopofOsma，wrestledinprayerfortheladthewholenightthrough。Hisprayerwasanswered：probablyithadbeenansweredalready，withouthisbeingawareofit。Bethatasitmay，aboutdawnDonCarlos’sheavybreathingceased;hefellintoaquietsleep;andwhenheawokeallperceivedatoncethathewassaved。

Hedidnotrecoverhissight，seeminglyonaccountoftheerysipelas，foraweekmore。HethenopenedhiseyesuponthemiraculousimageofAtocha，andvowedthat，ifherecovered，hewouldgivetotheVirgin，atfourdifferentshrinesinSpain，goldplateoffourtimeshisweight;andsilverplateofseventimeshisweight，whenheshouldrisefromhiscouch。Soonthe6thofJuneherose，andwasweighedinafurcoatandarobeofdamask，andhisweightwasthreearrobasandonepound——seventy—sixpoundsinall。

Onthe14thofJunehewenttovisithisfatherattheepiscopalpalace;thentoallthechurchesandshrinesinAlcala，andofcoursetothatofFrayDiego，whosebodyitissaidhecontemplatedforsometimewithedifyingdevotion。ThenextyearsawFrayDiegocanonisedasasaint，attheintercessionofPhilipandhisson;andthusDonCarlosre—enteredtheworld，tobeaterrorandatormenttoallaroundhim，andtodie——notbyPhilip’scruelty，ashisenemiesreportedtoohastilyindeed，yetexcusably，fortheyknewhimtobecapableofanywickedness——butsimplyofconstitutionalinsanity。

Andnowletusgobacktothehistoryof\"thatmostlearned，famous，andrareBaronVesalius，\"whohadstoodbyandseenallthesethingsdone;andtryifwecannot，afterwehavelearnedthehistoryofhisearlylife，guessatsomeofhisprobablemeditationsonthiscelebratedclinicalcase;andguessalsohowthosemeditationsmayhaveaffectedseriouslytheeventsofhisafterlife。

Vesalius（asIsaid）wasaNetherlander，bornatBrusselsin1513or1514。Hisfatherandgrandfatherhadbeenmedicalmenofthehigheststandinginaprofessionwhichthen，asnow，wascommonlyhereditary。HisrealnamewasWittag，anancientfamilyofWesel，ontheRhine，fromwhichtowneitherheorhisfatheradoptedthenameofVesalius，accordingtotheclassicisingfashionofthosedays。YoungVesaliuswassenttocollegeatLouvain，wherehelearnedrapidly。AtsixteenorseventeenheknewnotonlyLatin，butGreekenoughtocorrecttheproofsofGalen，andArabicenoughtobecomeacquaintedwiththeworksoftheMussulmanphysicians。Hewasaphysicisttoo，andamathematician，accordingtotheknowledgeofthosetimes;buthispassion——thestudytowhichhewasdestinedtodevotehislife——wasanatomy。

Littleornothing（itmustbeunderstood）hadbeendoneinanatomysincethedaysofGalenofPergamos，inthesecondcenturyafterChrist，andverylittleevenbyhim。Dissectionwasallbutforbiddenamongtheancients。TheEgyptians，Herodotustellsus，usedtopursuewithstonesandcursestheembalmersassoonastheyhadperformedtheirunpleasantoffice;andthoughHerophilusandErasistratusaresaidtohavedissectedmanysubjectsundertheprotectionofPtolemySoterinAlexandriaitself：yetthepublicfeelingoftheGreeksaswellasoftheRomanscontinuedthesameasthatoftheancientEgyptians;andGalenwasfain——asVesaliusproved——tosupplementhisignoranceofthehumanframebydescribingthatofanape。DissectionwasequallyforbiddenamongtheMussulmans;andthegreatArabicphysicianscoulddonomorethancommentonGalen。ThesameprejudiceextendedthroughtheMiddleAge。Medicalmenwereallclerks，CLERICI，andassuchforbiddentoshedblood。Theonlydissection，asfarasIamaware，madeduringtheMiddleAgewasonebyMundinusin1306;andhissubsequentcommentariesonGalen——forhedareallowhisowneyestoseenomorethanGalenhadseenbeforehim——constitutedthebestanatomicalmanualinEuropetillthemiddleofthefifteenthcentury。

Then，inItalyatleast，theclassicRenaissancegavefreshlifetoanatomyastoallothersciences。Especiallydidtheimprovementsinpaintingandsculpturestirmenuptoacloserstudyofthehumanframe。LeonardodaVinciwroteatreatiseonmuscularanatomy。Theartistandthesculptoroftenworkedtogether，andrealisedthatsketchofMichaelAngelo’sinwhichhehimselfisassistingFallopius，Vesalius’sfamouspupil，todissect。VesaliussoonfoundthathisthirstforfactscouldnotbeslakedbythetheoriesoftheMiddleAge;soin1530hewentofftoMontpellier，whereFrancisI。

hadjustfoundedamedicalschool，andwheretheancientlawsofthecityallowedthefacultyeachyearthebodyofacriminal。Fromthence，afterbecomingthefellow—pupilandthefriendofRondelet，andprobablyalsoofRabelaisandthoseotherluminariesofMontpellier，ofwhomIspokeinmyessayonRondelet，hereturnedtoParistostudyunderoldSylvius，whoserealnamewasJacquesDubois，aliasJocko’theWood;andtolearnless——ashecomplainshimself——inananatomicaltheatrethanabutchermightlearninhisshop。

Wereitnotthatthewholequestionofdissectionisoneoverwhichitisrighttodrawareverentveil，asathingpainful，howevernecessaryandhoweverinnocent，itwouldbeeasytoraiseghastlylaughterinmanyareaderbythestorieswhichVesaliushimselftellsofhisstrugglestolearnanatomy。HowoldSylviustriedtodemonstratethehumanframefromabitofadog，fumblinginvainformuscleswhichhecouldnotfind，orwhichoughttohavebeenthere，accordingtoGalen，andwerenot;whileyoungVesalius，assoonastheoldpedant’sbackwasturned，tookhisplace，and，tothedelightofthestudents，foundforhim——provideditwerethere——

whathecouldnotfindhimself;——howhewentbody—snatchingandgibbet—robbing，oftenatthedangerofhislife，aswhenheandhisfriendwerenearlytorntopiecesbythecannibaldogswhohauntedtheButtedeMontfaucon，orplaceofpublicexecution;——howheacquired，byalonganddangerousprocess，theonlyperfectskeletonthenintheworld，andthehideousstoryoftherobbertowhomithadbelonged——allthesehorrorsthosewholistmayreadforthemselveselsewhere。Ihastenpastthemwiththisremark——thattohavegonethroughthetoils，dangers，anddisgustswhichVesaliusfaced，arguedinasuperstitiousandcruelagelikehis，nocommonphysicalandmoralcourage，andadeepconsciencethathewasdoingright，andmustdoitatallrisksinthefaceofagenerationwhich，peculiarlyrecklessofhumanlifeandhumanagony，allowedthatframewhichitcalledtheimageofGodtobetortured，maimed，desecratedineverywaywhilealive;andyet——strainingatthegnatafterhavingswallowedthecamel——forbadeittobeexaminedwhendead，thoughforthepurposeofalleviatingthemiseriesofmankind。

ThebreakingoutofwarbetweenFrancisI。andCharlesV。droveVesaliusbacktohisnativecountryandLouvain;andin1535wehearofhimasasurgeoninCharlesV。’sarmy。Hesaw，mostprobably，theEmperor’sinvasionofProvence，andthedisastrousretreatfrombeforeMontmorency’sfortifiedcampatAvignon，throughacountryinwhichthatcraftygeneralhaddestroyedeveryarticleofhumanfood，exceptthehalf—ripegrapes。Hesaw，perhaps，theSpanishsoldiers，poisonedalikebythesourfruitandbytheblazingsun，fallinginhundredsalongthewhiteroadswhichledbackintoSavoy，murderedbythepeasantrywhosehomesteadshadbeendestroyed，stifledbytheweightoftheirownarmour，ordesperatelyputtingthemselves，withtheirownhands，outofaworldwhichhadbecomeintolerable。Halfthearmyperished。TwothousandcorpseslayfesteringbetweenAixandFrejusalone。IfyoungVesaliusneeded\"subjects，\"theambitionandthecrimeofmanfoundenoughforhiminthoseblazingSeptemberdays。

HewenttoItaly，probablywiththeremnantsofthearmy。Wherecouldhehaveratherwishedtofindhimself？Hewasatlastinthecountrywherethehumanmindseemedtobegrowingyoungoncemore;

thecountryofrevivedarts，revivedsciences，learning，languages;

and——though，alas！onlyforawhileofrevivedfreethought，suchasEuropehadnotseensincethepalmydaysofGreece。Hereatleasthewouldbeappreciated;hereatleasthewouldbeallowedtothinkandspeak：andhewasappreciated。TheItaliancities，whowerethen，liketheAtheniansofold，\"spendingtheirtimeinnothingelsesavetohearortotellsomethingnew，\"welcomedthebraveyoungFlemingandhisnovelties。WithintwoyearshewasprofessorofanatomyatPadua，thenthefirstschoolintheworld;thenatBolognaandatPisaatthesametime;lastofallatVenice，whereTitianpaintedthatportraitofhimwhichremainsuntothisday。

Theseyearswereforhimacontinualtriumph;everywhere，ashedemonstratedonthehumanbody，studentscrowdedhistheatre，orhungroundhimashewalkedthestreets;professorslefttheirownchairs——theirscholarshavingdesertedthemalready——togoandlistenhumblyorenviouslytothemanwhocouldgivethemwhatallbravesoulsthroughouthalfEuropewerecravingfor，andcravinginvain——facts。Andso，yearafteryear，wasrealisedthatscenewhichstandsengravedinthefrontispieceofhisgreatbook——where，inthelittlequaintCinquecentotheatre，saucyscholars，reverenddoctors，gaygentlemen，andevencowledmonks，arecrowdingthefloor，peepingovereachother’sshoulders，hangingonthebalustrades;

whileinthecentre，overhis\"subject\"——whichoneofthosesamecowledmonksknewbuttoowell——standsyoungVesalius，upright，proud，almostdefiant，asonewhoknowshimselfsafeintheimpregnablecitadeloffact;andinhishandthelittlebladeofsteel，destined——becausewieldedinobediencetothelawsofnature，whicharethelawsofGod——toworkmorebenefitforthehumanracethanalltheswordswhichweredrawninthosedays，orperhapsinanyother，atthebiddingofmostCatholicEmperorsandmostChristianKings。

ThosewereindeeddaysoftriumphforVesalius;oftriumphdeserved，becauseearnedbypatientandaccuratetoilinagoodcause：butVesalius，beingbutamortalman，mayhavecontractedinthosesamedaysatemperofimperiousnessandself—conceit，suchasheshowedafterwardswhenhispupilFallopiusdaredtoaddfreshdiscoveriestothoseofhismaster。Andyet，inspiteofallVesaliusknew，howlittleheknew！Howhumblingtohisprideitwouldhavebeenhadheknownthen——perhapshedoesknownow——thathehadactuallyagainandagainwalked，asitwere，roundandroundthetruetheoryofthecirculationoftheblood，andyetneverseenit;thatthatdiscoverywhich，oncemade，isintelligible，asfarasanyphenomenonisintelligible，tothemerestpeasant，wasreservedforanothercentury，andforoneofthoseEnglishmenonwhomVesaliuswouldhavelookedassemi—barbarians。

Tomakealongstoryshort：threeyearsafterthepublicationofhisfamousbook，\"DeCorporisHumaniFabrica，\"heleftVenicetocureCharlesV。，atRegensburg，andbecameoneofthegreatEmperor’sphysicians。

ThiswasthecrisisofVesalius’slife。ThemedicinewithwhichhehadworkedthecurewasChina——Sarsaparilla，aswecallitnow——

broughthomefromthethennewly—discoveredbanksoftheParaguayandUruguay，whereitsbedsoftangledvine，theysay，tingetheclearwatersadark—brownlikethatofpeat，andconvertwholestreamsintoahealthfulandpleasanttonic。OnthevirtuesofthisChina（thensupposedtobearoot）Vesaliuswroteafamouslittlebook，intowhichhecontrivedtointerweavehisopinionsonthingsingeneral，asgoodBishopBerkeleydidafterwardsintohisessayonthevirtuesoftar—water。Intothisbook，however，Vesaliusintroduced——asBishopBerkeleydidnot——much，andperhapstoomuch，abouthimself;andmuch，thoughperhapsnottoomuch，aboutpooroldGalen，andhissubstitutionofanape’sinsideforthatofahumanbeing。Thestormwhichhadbeenlonggatheringburstuponhim。Theoldschool，tremblingfortheirtime—honouredreign，bespattered，withallthatpedantry，ignorance，andenvycouldsuggest，themanwhodarednotonlytorevolutionisesurgery，buttointerferewiththeprivilegedmysteriesofmedicine;and，overandabove，tobecomeagreaterfavouriteatthecourtofthegreatestofmonarchs。WhilesuchasEustachius，himselfanablediscoverer，couldjoininthecry，itisnowonderifalowersoul，likethatofSylvius，leditopen—mouthed。Hewasamean，covetous，badman，asGeorgeBachananwellknew;and，accordingtohisnature，hewroteafuriousbook——

\"AdVesanicalumniasdepulsandas。\"ThepunningchangeofVesaliusintoVesanus（madman）wasbutafairandgentlestrokeforapolemic，indaysinwhichthosewhocouldnotkilltheirenemieswithsteelorpowder，heldthemselvesjustifiedindoingso，ifpossible，byvituperation，calumny，andeveryengineofmoraltorture。Butafarmoreterribleweapon，andonewhichmadeVesaliusrage，anditmaybeforonceinhislifetremble，wasthechargeofimpietyandheresy。TheInquisitionwasaveryuglyplace。Itwasveryeasytogetintoit，especiallyforaNetherlander：butnotsoeasytogetout。IndeedVesaliusmusthavetrembled，whenhesawhismaster，CharlesV。，himselftakefright，andactuallycallonthetheologiansofSalamancatodecidewhetheritwaslawfultodissectahumanbody。Themonks，totheirhonour，usedtheircommonsense，andansweredYes。Thedeedwassoplainlyusefulthatitmustbelawfullikewise。ButVesaliusdidnotfeelthathehadtriumphed。Hedreaded，possibly，lestthestormshouldonlyhaveblownoverforatime。Hefell，possibly，intohastydisgustatthefollyofmankind，anddespairofarousingthemtousetheircommonsense，andacknowledgetheirtrueinterestandtheirtruebenefactors。Atallevents，hethrewintothefire——

soitissaid——allhisunpublishedmanuscripts，therecordsoflongyearsofobservation，andrenouncedsciencethenceforth。

WehearofhimafterthisatBrussels，andatBaslelikewise——inwhichlattercity，inthecompanyofphysicians，naturalists，andGrecians，hemusthavebreathedawhileafreerair。ButheseemstohavereturnedthencetohisoldmasterCharlesV。，andtohavefinallysettledatMadridasacourtsurgeontoPhilipII。，whosenthim，buttoolate，toextractthelancesplintersfromtheeyeofthedyingHenryII。

HewasnowmarriedtoaladyofrankfromBrussels，AnnevanHammebyname;andtheirdaughtermarriedintimePhilipII。’sgrandfalconer，whowasdoubtlessapersonageofnosmallsocialrank。

Vesaliuswaswelloffinworldlythings;somewhatfond，itissaid，ofgoodlivingandofluxury;inclined，itmaybe，tosay，\"Letuseatanddrink，forto—morrowwedie，\"andtosinkmoreandmoreintothemereworldling，unlesssomeshockshouldawakehimfromhislethargy。

Andtheawakeningshockdidcome。Aftereightyearsofcourtlife，heresolved，earlyintheyear1564，togoonapilgrimagetoJerusalem。

Thereasonsforsostrangeadeterminationarewrappedinmysteryandcontradiction。Thecommonstorywasthathehadopenedacorpsetoascertainthecauseofdeath，andthat，tothehorrorofthebystanders，theheartwasstillseentobeat;thathisenemiesaccusedhimtotheInquisition，andthathewascondemnedtodeath，asentencewhichwascommutedtothatofgoingonpilgrimage。Buthere，attheveryoutset，accountsdiffer。Onesaysthatthevictimwasanobleman，namenotgiven;anotherthatitwasalady’smaid，namenotgiven。Itismostimprobable，ifnotimpossible，thatVesalius，ofallmen，shouldhavemistakenalivingbodyforadeadone;whileitismostprobable，ontheotherhand，thathismedicalenemieswouldgladlyraisesuchacalumnyagainsthim，whenhewasnolongerinSpaintocontradictit。MeanwhileLlorente，thehistorianoftheInquisition，makesnomentionofVesaliushavingbeenbroughtbeforeitstribunal，whilehedoesmentionVesalius’sresidenceatMadrid。Anotherstoryis，thathewentabroadtoescapethebadtemperofhiswife;anotherthathewantedtoenrichhimself。Anotherstory——andthatnotanunlikelyone——is，thathewasjealousoftherisingreputationofhispupilFallopius，thenprofessorofanatomyatVenice。Thisdistinguishedsurgeon，asI

saidbefore，hadwrittenabook，inwhichheaddedtoVesalius’sdiscoveries，andcorrectedcertainofhiserrors。Vesaliushadansweredhimhastilyandangrily，quotinghisanatomyfrommemory;

for，ashehimselfcomplained，hecouldnotinSpainobtainasubjectfordissection;noteven，hesaid，asingleskull。HehadsenthisbooktoVenicetobepublished，andhadheard，seemingly，nothingofit。Hemayhavefeltthathewasfallingbehindintheraceofscience，andthatitwasimpossibleforhimtocarryonhisstudiesinMadrid;andso，angrywithhisownlazinessandluxury，hemayhavefelttheoldsacredfireflashupinhim，andhavedeterminedtogotoItalyandbecomeastudentandaworkeroncemore。

Theverydaythathesetout，ClusiusofArras，thenprobablythebestbotanistintheworld，arrivedatMadrid;and，askingthereasonofVesalius’sdeparture，wastoldbytheirfellow—countryman，CharlesdeTisnacq，procuratorfortheaffairsoftheNetherlands，thatVesaliushadgoneofhisownfreewill，andwithallfacilitieswhichPhilipcouldgranthim，inperformanceofavowwhichhehadmadeduringadangerousillness。Here，atleast，wehaveadropofinformation，whichseemstakenfromthestreamsufficientlyneartothefountain—head：butitmustberecollectedthatDeTisnacqlivedindangeroustimes，andmayhavefounditnecessarytowalkwarilyinthem;thatthroughhimhadbeensent，onlytheyearbefore，thatfamousletterfromWilliamofOrange，Horn，andEgmont，thefatewhereofmaybereadinMr。Motley’sfourthchapter;thatthecrisisoftheNetherlandswhichsprungoutofthatletterwascomingfast;andthat，asDeTisnacqwasonfriendlytermswithEgmont，hemayhavefelthisheadattimessomewhatlooseonhisshoulders;especiallyifhehadheardAlvasay，ashewrote，\"thateverytimehesawthedespatchesofthosethreesenors，theymovedhischolerso，thatifhedidnottakemuchcaretotemperit，hewouldseemafrenziedman。\"Insuchtimes，DeTisnacqmayhavethoughtgoodtoreturnadiplomaticanswertoafellow—countrymanconcerningathirdfellow—countryman，especiallywhenthatcountryman，asaformerpupilofMelancthonatWittemberg，mighthimselfbeundersuspicionofheresy，andthereforeofpossibletreason。

Bethisasitmay，onecannotbutsuspectsomestrainoftruthinthestoryabouttheInquisition;for，whetherornotVesaliusoperatedonDonCarlos，hehadseenwithhisowneyesthatmiraculousVirginofAtochaatthebed’sfootoftheprince。Hehadheardhisrecoveryattributed，nottotheoperation，buttotheintercessionofFray，nowSaintDiego;{12}andhemusthavehadhisthoughtsthereon，andmay，inanunguardedmoment，havespokenthem。

Forhewas，beitalwaysremembered，aNetherlander。Thecrisisofhiscountrywasjustathand。Rebellionwasinevitable，and，withrebellion，horrorsunutterable;and，meanwhile，DonCarloshadsethismadbrainonhavingthecommandoftheNetherlands。Inhisrage，atnothavingit，asalltheworldknows，henearlykilledAlvawithhisownhands，sometwoyearsafter。IfitbetruethatDonCarlosfeltadebtofgratitudetoVesalius，hemay（afterhiswont）havepouredouttohimsomewildconfidenceabouttheNetherlands，tohaveevenheardwhichwouldbeacrimeinPhilip’seyes。Andifthisbebutafancy，stillVesaliuswas，asIjustsaid，aNetherlander，andoneofabrainandaspirittowhichPhilip’sdoings，andtheairoftheSpanishcourt，musthavebeengrowingevermoreandmoreintolerable。Hundredsofhiscountryfolk，perhapsmenandwomenwhomhehadknown，werebeingracked，burntalive，buriedalive，atthebiddingofajocularruffian，PeterTitelmann，thechiefinquisitor。The\"dayoftheMAUBRULEZ，\"

andthewholesalemassacrewhichfollowedit，hadhappenedbuttwoyearsbefore;and，byallthesignsofthetimes，thesemurdersandmiserieswerecertaintoincrease。Andwhywereallthesepoorwretchessufferingtheextremityofhorror，butbecausetheywouldnotbelieveinmiraculousimages，andbonesofdeadfriars，andtherestofthatscienceofunreasonandunfact，againstwhichVesaliushadbeenfightingallhislife，consciouslyornot，byusingreasonandobservingfact？Whatwonderif，insomeburstofnobleindignationandjustcontempt，heforgotamomentthathehadsoldhissoul，andhisloveofsciencelikewise，tobealuxurious，yetuneasy，hanger—onatthetyrant’scourt;andspokeunadvisedlysomewordworthyofaGermanman？

Astothestoryofhisunhappyquarrelswithhiswife，theremaybeagrainoftruthinitlikewise。Vesalius’sreligionmusthavesatverylightlyonhim。Themanwhohadrobbedchurchyardsandgibbetsfromhisyouthwasnotlikelytobemuchafraidofapparitionsanddemons。Hehadhandledtoomanyhumanbonestocaremuchforthoseofsaints。Hewasprobably，likehisfriendsofBasle，Montpellier，andParis，somewhatofahereticatheart，probablysomewhatofapagan，whilehislady，AnnevanHamme，wasprobablyastrictCatholic，asherfather，beingacouncillorandmasteroftheexchequeratBrussels，wasboundtobe;andfreethinkinginthehusband，crossedbysuperstitioninthewife，mayhavecausedinthemthatwretchedvieepart，thatwantofanytruecommunionofsoul，toocommontothisdayinCatholiccountries。

Bethesethingsastheymay——andtheexacttruthofthemwillnowbeneverknown——VesaliussetouttoJerusaleminthespringof1564。

OnhiswayhevisitedhisoldfriendsatVenicetoseeabouthisbookagainstFallopius。TheVenetianrepublicreceivedthegreatphilosopherwithopenarms。Fallopiuswasjustdead;andthesenateofferedtheirguestthevacantchairofanatomy。Heacceptedit：

butwentontotheEast。

Heneveroccupiedthatchair;wreckedupontheIsleofZante，ashewassailingbackfromPalestine，hediedmiserablyoffeverandwant，asthousandsofpilgrimsreturningfromtheHolyLandhaddiedbeforehim。Agoldsmithrecognisedhim;buriedhiminachapeloftheVirgin;andputupoverhimasimplestone，whichremainedtilllateyears;andmayremain，foraughtIknow，evennow。

Soperished，intheprimeoflife，\"amartyrtohisloveofscience，\"toquotethewordsofM。BurggraeveofGhent，hisablebiographerandcommentator，\"theprodigiousman，whocreatedascienceatanepochwheneverythingwasstillanobstacletohisprogress;amanwhosewholelifewasalongstruggleofknowledgeagainstignorance，oftruthagainstlies。\"

Plaudite：Exeat：withRondeletandBuchanan。Andwhensoeverthispoorfoolishworldneedsthreesuchmen，mayGodofHisgreatmercysendthem。

PARACELSUS{13}

ItoldyouofVesaliusandRondeletasspecimensofthemenwhothreehundredyearsagowerefoundingthephysicalscienceofthepresentday，bypatientinvestigationoffacts。Butsuchanageasthiswouldnaturallyproducemenofaverydifferentstamp，menwhocouldnotimitatetheirpatienceandhumility;whoweretryingforroyalroadstoknowledge，andtothefameandwealthwhichmightbegotoutofknowledge;whomeddledwithvaindreamsabouttheoccultsciences，alchemy，astrology，magic，thecabala，andsoforth，whowerereputedmagicians，courtedandfearedforawhile，andthen，toooften，diedsaddeaths。

Suchhadbeen，inthecenturybefore，thefamousDr。Faust——Faustus，whowassaidtohavemadeacompactwithSatan——actuallyoneoftheinventorsofprinting——immortalisedinGoethe’smarvellouspoem。

Such，inthefirsthalfofthesixteenthcentury，wasCorneliusAgrippa——adoctorofdivinityandaknight—at—arms;secret—servicediplomatisttotheEmperorMaximilianinAustria;astrologer，thoughunwilling，tohisdaughterMargaret，RegentoftheLowCountries;

writerontheoccultsciencesandofthefamous\"DeVanitateScientiarum，\"andwhatnot？whodiedmiserablyattheageofforty—

nine，accusedofmagicbytheDominicanmonksfromwhomhehadrescuedapoorgirl，whotheyweretorturingonachargeofwitchcraft;andbythemhuntedtodeath;nortodeathonly，fortheyspreadthefable——suchasyoumayfindinDelriotheJesuit’s\"DisquisitionsonMagic\"{14}——thathislittlepetblackdogwasafamiliarspirit，asButlerhasitin\"Hudibras\"：

AgrippakeptaStygianpugI’thegarbandhabitofadog—

Thatwashistaste;andthecurReadtoth’occultphilosopher，AndtaughthimsubtlytomaintainAllothersciencesarevain。

SuchalsowasJeromeCardan，theItalianscholarandphysician，thefatherofalgebraicscience（youallrecollectCardan’srule，）

believerindreams，prognostics，astrology;whodied，too，miserablyenough，inoldage。

Cardan’ssadlife，andthatofCorneliusAgrippa，youcan，andoughttoreadforyourselves，intwoadmirablebiographies，asamusingastheyarelearned，byProfessorMorley，oftheLondonUniversity。I

havenotchoseneitherofthemasasubjectforthislecture，becauseMr。Morleyhassoexhaustedwhatistobeknownaboutthem，thatIcouldtellyounothingwhichIhadnotstolenfromhim。

ButwhatshallIsayofthemostfamousofthesemen——Paracelsus？

whosenameyousurelyknow。Hetoohasbeenimmortalisedinapoemwhichyoualloughttohaveread，oneofRobertBrowning’searliestandoneofhisbestcreations。

IthinkwemustacceptastrueMr。Browning’sinterpretationofParacelsus’scharacter。Wemustbelievethathewasatfirstanhonestandhigh—minded，ashewascertainlyamostgifted，man;thathewentforthintotheworld，withanintensesenseoftheworthlessnessoftheshamknowledgeofthepedantsandquacksoftheschools;anintensebeliefthatsomehigherandtruersciencemightbediscovered，bywhichdiseasesmightbeactuallycured，andhealth，longlife，happiness，allbutimmortality，beconferredonman;anintensebeliefthathe，Paracelsus，wascalledandchosenbyGodtofindoutthatgreatmystery，andbeabenefactortoallfutureages。Thatfixedideamightdegenerate——did，alas！

degenerate——intowildself—conceit，rashcontemptoftheancients，violentabuseofhisopponents。ButtherewasmorethanthisinParacelsus。Hehadoneideatowhich，ifhehadkepttrue，hislifewouldhavebeenahappierone——thefirmbeliefthatallpuresciencewasarevelationfromGod;thatitwasnottobeobtainedatsecondorthirdhand，byblindlyadheringtothewordsofGalenorHippocratesorAristotle，andputtingthem（asthescholasticphilosophersroundhimdid）intheplaceofGod：butbygoingstraighttonatureatfirsthand，andlisteningtowhatBaconcalls\"thevoiceofGodrevealedinfacts。\"Trueandnobleisthepassagewithwhichhebeginshis\"LabyrinthusMedicorum，\"oneofhisattacksonthefalsescienceofhisday，\"Thefirstandhighestbookofallhealing，\"hesays，\"iscalledwisdom，andwithoutthatbooknomanwillcarryoutanythinggoodoruseful……AndthatbookisGodHimself。ForinHimalonewhohathcreatedallthings，theknowledgeandprincipleofallthingsdwells……withoutHimallisfolly。Asthesunshinesonusfromabove，soHemustpourintousfromaboveallartswhatsoever。

Thereforetherootofalllearningandcognitionis，thatweshouldseekfirstthekingdomofGod——thekingdomofGodinwhichallsciencesarefounded……IfanymanthinkthatnatureisnotfoundedonthekingdomofGod，heknowsnothingaboutit。Allgifts，\"herepeatsagainandagain，confusedandclumsily（asishiswont），butwithatrueearnestness，\"arefromGod。\"

Thetruemanofscience，withParacelsus，ishewhoseeksfirstthekingdomofGodinfacts，investigatingnaturereverently，patiently，infaithbelievingthatGod，whounderstandsHisownworkbest，willmakehimunderstanditlikewise。Thefalsemanofscienceishewhoseeksthekingdomofthisworld，whocaresnothingabouttherealinterpretationoffacts：butiscontentwithsuchaninterpretationaswillearnhimthegoodthingsofthisworld——theredhatandgown，theamblingmule，thesilkclothes，thepartridges，capons，andpheasants，thegoldflorinschinkinginhispalm。AtsuchpretendersParacelsussneered，atlastonlytoofiercely，notonlyasmenwhoseknowledgeconsistedchieflyinwearingwhitegloves，butasrogues，liars，villains，andeveryepithetwhichhisveryracyvocabulary，quickened（itistobefeared）bywineandlaudanum，couldsuggest。Withthesehecontraststhetruemenofscience。Itisdifficultforusnowtounderstandhowamansettingoutinlifewithsuchpureandnobleviewsshoulddescendatlast（ifindeedhediddescend）tobeaquackandaconjuror——anddieundertheimputationthatBombasteskeptadevil’sbirdHidinthepommelofhissword，andhave，indeed，hisveryname，Bombast，usedtothisdayasasynonymofloud，violent，andemptytalk。Tounderstanditatall，wemustgobackandthinkalittleoverthesesameoccultscienceswhichwerebelievedinbythousandsduringthefifteenthandsixteenthcenturies。

Thereverenceforclassicantiquity，youmustunderstand，whichsprangupattherenaissanceinthefifteenthcentury，wasasindiscriminatingasitwasearnest。Mencaughtthetrashaswellasthejewels。TheyputthedreamsoftheNeoplatonists，Iamblicus，Porphyry，orPlotinus，orProclus，onthesamelevelasthesounddialecticphilosophyofPlatohimself。AndtheseNeoplatonistswereall，moreorless，believersinmagic——Theurgy，asitwascalled——inthepowerofcharmsandspells，intheoccultvirtuesofherbsandgems，inthepowerofadeptstoevokeandcommandspirits，inthesignificanceofdreams，intheinfluenceofthestarsuponmen’scharactersanddestinies。IfthegreatandwisephilosopherIamblicusbelievedsuchthings，whymightnotthemenofthesixteenthcentury？

AndsogrewupagaininEuropeapassionforwhatwerecalledtheOccultsciences。IthadalwaysbeenhauntingtheEuropeanimagination。MediaevalmonkshadlongagotransformedthepoetVirgilintoagreatnecromancer。Andtherewereimmenseexcusesforsuchabelief。Therewasamassofcollateralevidencethattheoccultsciencesweretrue，whichitwasimpossiblethentoresist。

Racesfarmoreancient，learned，civilised，thananyFrenchman，German，Englishman，orevenItalian，inthefifteenthcenturyhadbelievedinthesethings。TheMoors，thebestphysiciansoftheMiddleAges，hadtheirheadsfull，asthe\"ArabianNights\"prove，ofenchanters，genii，peris，andwhatnot？TheJewishrabbishadtheirCabala，whichsprangupinAlexandria，asystemofphilosophyfoundedonthemysticmeaningofthewordsandtheactuallettersofthetextofScripture，whichsomesaidwasgivenbytheangelRagieltoAdaminParadise，bywhichAdamtalkedwithangels，thesunandmoon，summonedspirits，interpreteddreams，healedanddestroyed;

andbythatbookofRagiel，asitwascalled，Solomonbecamethegreatmagicianandmasterofallthespiritsandtheirhoardedtreasures。

Sostrong，indeed，wasthebeliefinthemysteriesoftheCabala，thatReuchlin，therestorerofHebrewlearninginGermany，andPicodiMirandola，thegreatestofItaliansavants，acceptedthem;andnotonlyPopeLeoX。himself，butevenstatesmenandwarriorsreceivedwithdelightReuchlin’scabalistictreatise，\"DeVerboMirifico，\"onthemysticword\"Schemhamphorash\"——thathiddennameofGod，whichwhosoevercanpronouncearightis，forthemoment，lordofnatureandofalldaemons。

Amulets，too，andtalismans;thefaithinthemwasexceedingancient。Solomonhadhisseal，bywhichhecommandedalldaemons;

andthereisawholeliteratureofcuriousnonsense，whichyoumayreadifyouwill，abouttheAbraxasandothertalismansoftheGnosticsinSyria;andanother，ofthesecretvirtueswhichweresupposedtoresideingems：especiallyintheoldRomanandGreekgems，carvedintointaglioswithfiguresofheathengodsandgoddesses。Lapidaria，orlistsofthesegemsandtheirmagicalvirtues，werenotuncommonintheMiddleAges。YoumayreadagreatdealthatisinterestingaboutthemattheendofMr。King’sbookongems。

Astrologytoo;thoughPicodiMirandolamightsethimselfagainsttherestoftheworld，fewwerefounddaringenoughtodenysoancientascience。LutherandMelancthonmerelyfollowedtheregulartraditionofpublicopinionwhentheyadmitteditstruth。

ItsprangprobablyfromtheworshipoftheSevenPlanetsbytheoldChaldees。ItwasbroughtbackfromBabylonbytheJewsaftertheCaptivity，andspreadoverallEurope——perhapsallAsialikewise。

Therichandmightyoftheearthmustneedshavetheirnativitiescast，andconsultthestars;andCorneliusAgrippagavemortaloffencetotheQueen—DowagerofFrance（motherofFrancisI。）

because，whenshecompelledhimtoconsultthestarsaboutFrancis’schanceofgettingoutofhiscaptivityinSpainafterthebattleofPavia，hewroteandspokehismindhonestlyaboutsuchnonsense。

EvenNewtonseemstohavehankeredafteritwhenyoung。AmonghisMSS。inLordPortsmouth’slibraryatHurstbournearewholefoliosofastrologiccalculations。Itwentontilltheendoftheseventeenthcentury，anddiedoutonlywhenmenhadbeguntotestit，andallotheroccultsciences，byexperience，andinductionfoundedthereon。

Countlessstudentsbusiedthemselvesoverthetransmutationofmetals。Asformagic，necromancy，pyromancy，geomancy，coscinomancy，andalltheothermancies——therewasthenawholeliteratureaboutthem。Andthewitch—burninginquisitorslikeSprenger，Bodin，Delrio，andtherest，believedasfirmlyinthemagicpowersofthepoorwretcheswhomtheytorturedtodeath，asdid，inmanycases，thepoorwretchesthemselves。