首页 >出版文学> Warfare of Science with Theology>第91章
  Besidesthese,werelonglitaniesofbillingsgate,cursing,andthreatening。Oneofthese“scourging“exorcismsrunspartlyasfollows:
  “MayAgyosstrikethee,ashedidEgypt,withfrogs!……Mayallthedevilsthatarethyfoesrushforthuponthee,anddragtheedowntohell!……May……Tetragrammaton……drivetheeforthandstonethee,asIsraeldidtoAchan!……MaytheHolyOnetrampleontheeandhangtheeupinaninfernalfork,aswasdonetothefivekingsoftheAmorites!……MayGodsetanailtoyourskull,andpounditinwithahammer,asJaeldiduntoSisera!……
  May……Sother……breakthyheadandcutoffthyhands,aswasdonetothecursedDagon!……MayGodhangtheeinahellishyoke,assevenmenwerehangedbythesonsofSaul!”Andsoon,throughfivepagesofclose-printedLatincurses。[352]
  [352]ThesaurusExorcismorum,pp。812-817。
  Occasionallythedemonisreasonedwith,asfollows:“O
  obstinate,accursed,fly!……whydoyoustopandholdback,whenyouknowthatyourstrengthislostonChrist?Foritishardfortheetokickagainstthepricks;and,verily,thelongerittakesyoutogo,theworseitwillgowithyou。Begone,then:
  takeflight,thouvenomoushisser,thoulyingworm,thoubegetterofvipers!”[353]
  [353]Ibid。,p。859。
  ThisprocedureanditsresultswererecognisedasamongthegloriesoftheChurch。Astypical,wemaymentionanexorcismdirectedbyacertainBishopofBeauvais,whichwassoeffectivethatfivedevilsgaveuppossessionofasuffererandsignedtheirnames,eachforhimselfandhissubordinateimps,toanagreementthatthepossessedshouldbemolestednomore。So,too,theJesuitfathersatVienna,in1583,gloriedinthefactthatinsuchacontesttheyhadcastouttwelvethousandsixhundredandfifty-twolivingdevils。TheecclesiasticalannalsoftheMiddleAges,and,indeed,ofalaterperiod,aboundinboastsofsuch“mightyworks。”[354]
  [354]Inmypreviouschapters,especiallythatonmeteorology,I
  havequotedextensivelyfromtheoriginaltreatises,ofwhichaverylargecollectionisinmyposession;butinthischapterI
  havemainlyavailedmyselfofthecopioustranslationsgivenbyM。H。Dziewicki,inhisexcellentarticleinTheNineteenthCenturyforOctober,1888,entitledExorcizoTe。Forvaluablecitationsontheoriginandspreadofexorcism,seeLecky’sEuropeanMoralsthirdEnglishedition,vol。i,pp。379-385。
  Suchwastheresultofathousandyearsoftheologicalreasoning,bythestrongestmindsinEurope,upondatapartlygiveninScriptureandpartlyinheritedfrompaganism,regardingSatanandhisworkamongmen。
  Undertheguidanceoftheology,alwayssosevereagainst“sciencefalselysocalled。”theworldhadcomealongwayindeedfromthesoothingtreatmentofthepossessedbyhimwhoboreamongthenoblestofhistitlesthatof“TheGreatPhysician。”Theresultwasnatural:thetreatmentoftheinsanefellmoreandmoreintothehandsofthejailer,thetorturer,andtheexecutioner。
  Togobackforamomenttothebeginningsofthisunfortunatedevelopment。InspiteoftheearlierandmorekindlytendencyintheChurch,theSynodofAncyra,asearlyas314A。D。,commandedtheexpulsionofpossessedpersonsfromtheChurch;theVisigothicChristianswhippedthem;andCharlemagne,inspiteofsomegoodenactments,imprisonedthem。Menandwomen,whosedistemperedmindsmighthavebeenrestoredtohealthbygentlenessandskill,weredrivenintohopelessmadnessbynoxiousmedicinesandbrutality。Somefewweresavedasmerelunatics——theyweresurrenderedtogeneralcarelessness,andbecamesimplyapreytoridiculeandaimlessbrutality;butvastnumberswerepunishedastabernaclesofSatan。
  Oneoftheleastterribleofthesepunishments,andperhapsthemostcommonofall,wasthatofscourgingdemonsoutofthebodyofalunatic。ThismethodcommendeditselfeventothejudgmentofsothoughtfulandkindlyapersonageasSirThomasMore,andaslateasthesixteenthcentury。Butifthediseasecontinued,asitnaturallywouldaftersuchtreatment,theauthoritiesfrequentlyfeltjustifiedindrivingoutthedemonsbytorture。[355]
  [355]Forprescriptionofthewhipping-postbySirThomasMore,seeD。H。Tuke’sHistoryofInsanityintheBritishIsles,London,1882,p。41。
  Interestingmonumentsofthisidea,sofruitfulinevil,stillexist。InthegreatcitiesofcentralEurope,“witchtowers。”
  wherewitchesanddemoniacsweretortured,and“fooltowers。”
  wherethemoregentlelunaticswereimprisoned,maystillbeseen。
  Inthecathedralswestillseethisideafossilized。Devilsandimps,struckintostone,clamberupontowers,prowlundercornices,peeroutfrombossesoffoliage,perchuponcapitals,nestleunderbenches,flameinwindows。Abovethegreatmainentrance,themostcommonofallrepresentationsstillshowsSatanandhisimpsscowling,jeering,grinning,whiletakingpossessionofthesoulsofmenandscourgingthemwithserpents,ordrivingthemwithtridents,ordraggingthemwithchainsintotheflamingmouthofhell。EveninthemosthiddenandsacredplacesofthemedievalcathedralwestillfindrepresentationsofSatanicpowerinwhichprofanityandobscenityrunriot。Intheserepresentationsthepainterandtheglass-stainerviedwiththesculptor。Amongtheearlypaintingsoncanvasawell-knownexamplerepresentsthedevilintheshapeofadragon,perchedneartheheadofadyingman,eagertoseizehissoulasitissuesfromhismouth,andonlykeptoffbytheeffortsoftheattendantpriest。TypicalarethecolossalportraitofSatan,andthevividpictureofthedevilscastoutofthepossessedandenteringintotheswine,asshowninthecathedral-windowsofStrasburg。So,too,inthewindowsofChartresCathedralweseeasainthealingalunatic:thesaint,withalongdevil-scaringformulainLatinissuingfromhismouth;andthelunatic,withalittledetestablehobgoblin,horned,hoofed,andtailed,issuingfromHISmouth。TheseexamplesarebuttypicalofmyriadsincathedralsandabbeysandparishchurchesthroughoutEurope;andallservedtoimpressuponthepopularmindahorrorofeverythingcalleddiabolic,andahatredofthosechargedwithit。Thesesermonsinstonesprecededtheprintedbook;theywereasculpturedBible,whichprecededLuther’spictorialBible。[356]
  [356]IcitetheseinstancesoutofavastnumberwhichIhavepersonallynotedinvisitstovariouscathedrals。Forstrikingexamplesofmediaevalgrotesques,seeWright’sHistoryofCaricatureandtheGrotesque,London,1875;Langlois’sStallesdelaCathedraledeRouen,1838;Adeline’sLesSculpturesGrotesquesetSymboliques,Rouen,1878;ViolletleDuc,Dictionnairedel’Architecture;Gailhabaud,Surl’Architecture,etc。Forareproductionofanilluminatedmanuscriptinwhichdevilsflyoutofthemouthsofthepossessedundertheinfluenceofexorcisms,seeCahierandMartin,NouveauxMelangesd’Archeologiefor1874,p。136;andforademonemergingfromavictim’smouthinapuffofsmokeatthecommandofSt。FrancisXavier,seeLaDevotiondeDixVendredis,etc。,Platexxxii。
  Satanandhisimpswereamongtheprincipalpersonagesineverypopulardrama,and“Hell’sMouth“wasapieceofstagesceneryconstantlybroughtintorequisition。Amiracle-playwithoutafulldisplayofthediabolicelementinitwouldhavestoodafairchanceofbeingpeltedfromthestage。[357]
  [357]SeeWright,HistoryofCaricatureandtheGrotesque;F。J。
  Mone,SchauspieledesMittelalters,Carlsruhe,1846;Dr。KarlHase,Miracle-PlaysandSacredDramas,Boston,1880translationfromtheGerman。Examplesofthemiracle-playsmaybefoundinMarriott’sCollectionofEnglishMiracle-Plays,1838;inHone’sAncientMysteries;inT。Sharpe’sDissertaiononthePageants……ancientlyperformedatCoventry,Coventry,1828;inthepublicationsoftheShakespeareanandothersocieties。SeeespeciallyTheHarrowingofHell,amiracle-play,editedfromtheoriginalnowintheBritishMuseum,byT。O。Halliwell,London,1840。Oneoftheitemsstillpreservedisasumofmoneypaidforkeepingafireburninginhell’smouth。SaysHaseasabove,p。42:“Inwonderfulsatyrlikemasquerade,inwhichneitherhorns,tails,norhoofswereever……wanting,thedevilprosecutedonthestagehisbusinessoffetchingsouls。”whichleftthemouthsofthedying“intheformofsmallimages。”
  Notonlythepopularartbutthepopularlegendsembodiedtheseideas。Thechroniclersdelightedinthem;theLivesoftheSaintsaboundedinthem;sermonsenforcedthemfromeverypulpit。Whatwonder,then,thatmenandwomenhadvividdreamsofSatanicinfluence,thatdreadofitwaslikedreadoftheplague,andthatthisterrorspreadthediseaseenormously,untilwehearofconvents,villages,andevenlargedistricts,ravagedbyepidemicsofdiabolicalpossession![358]
  [358]Ishalldiscusstheseepidemicsofpossession,whichformasomewhatdistinctclassofphenomena,inthenextchapter。
  Andthisterrornaturallybrednotonlyactivecrueltytowardthosesupposedtobepossessed,butindifferencetothesufferingsofthoseacknowledgedtobelunatics。Aswehavealreadyseen,whileampleandbeautifulprovisionwasmadeforeveryotherformofhumansuffering,forthistherewascomparativelylittle;and,indeed,eventhislittlewasgenerallyworsethannone。OfthisindifferenceandcrueltywehaveastrikingmonumentinasingleEnglishword——awordoriginallysignificantofgentlenessandmercy,butwhichbecamesignificantofwildriot,brutality,andconfusion——BethlehemHospitalbecame“Bedlam。”
  Modernarthasalsodweltuponthistheme,andperhapsthemosttouchingofallitsexhibitionsisthepicturebyagreatFrenchmaster,representingatenderwomanboundtoacolumnandexposedtothejeers,insults,andmissilesofstreetruffians。[359]
  [359]Thetypicalpicturerepresentingapriest’sstrugglewiththedevilisinthecitygalleryofRouen。ThemodernpictureisRobertFleury’spaintingintheLuxembourgGalleryatParis。
  Hereandthere,evenintheworstoftimes,menarosewhoattemptedtopromoteamorehumaneview,butwithlittleeffect。
  OneexpositorofSt。Matthew,havingventuredtorecallthefactthatsomeoftheinsanewerespokenofintheNewTestamentaslunaticsandtosuggestthattheirmadnessmightbecausedbythemoon,wasansweredthattheirmadnesswasnotcausedbythemoon,butbythedevil,whoavailshimselfofthemoonlightforhiswork。[360]
  [360]SeeGeraldusCambrensis,citedbyTuke,asabove,pp。8,9。
  Oneresultofthisideawasamodeofcurewhichespeciallyaggravatedandspreadmentaldisease:thepromotionofgreatreligiousprocessions。Troopsofmenandwomen,crying,howling,imploringsaints,andbeatingthemselveswithwhips,visitedvarioussacredshrines,images,andplacesinthehopeofdrivingoffthepowersofevil。Theonlyresultwasanincreaseinthenumbersofthediseased。
  Forhundredsofyearsthisideaofdiabolicpossessionwassteadilydeveloped。Itwasbelievedthatdevilsenteredintoanimals,andanimalswereaccordinglyexorcised,tried,tortured,convicted,andexecuted。ThegreatSt。Ambrosetellsusthatapriest,whilesayingmass,wastroubledbythecroakingoffrogsinaneighbouringmarsh;thatheexorcisedthem,andsostoppedtheirnoise。St。Bernard,asthemonkishchroniclerstellus,mountingthepulpittopreachinhisabbey,wasinterruptedbyacloudofflies;straightwaythesaintutteredthesacredformulaofexcommunication,whenthefliesfelldeaduponthepavementinheaps,andwerecastoutwithshovels!Aformulaofexorcismattributedtoasaintoftheninthcentury,whichremainedinusedowntoarecentperiod,especiallydeclaresinsectsinjurioustocropstobepossessedofevilspirits,andnames,amongtheanimalstobeexcommunicatedorexorcised,mice,moles,andserpents。Theuseofexorcismagainstcaterpillarsandgrasshopperswasalsocommon。InthethirteenthcenturyaBishopofLausanne,findingthattheeelsinLakeLemantroubledthefishermen,attemptedtoremovethedifficultybyexorcism,andtwocenturieslateroneofhissuccessorsexcommunicatedalltheMay-bugsinthediocese。Aslateas1731thereappearsanentryontheMunicipalRegisterofThononasfollows:“RESOLVED,ThatthistownjoinwithotherparishesofthisprovinceinobtainingfromRomeanexcommunicationagainsttheinsects,andthatitwillcontributeproratatotheexpensesofthesame。”
  DidanyoneventuretodenythatanimalscouldbepossessedbySatan,hewasatoncesilencedbyreferencetotheentranceofSatanintotheserpentintheGardenofEden,andtothecastingofdevilsintoswinebytheFounderofChristianityhimself。[361]
  [361]SeeMenabrea,ProcesauMoyenAgecontrelesAnimaux,Chambery,1846,pp。31andfollowing;alsoDesmazes,Supplices,PrisonsetGraceenFrance,pp。89,90,and385-395。Foraformulaandceremoniesusedinexcommunicatinginsects,seeRydberg,pp。75andfollowing。
  Onepartofthissuperstitionmosttenaciouslyheldwasthebeliefthatahumanbeingcouldbetransformedintooneoftheloweranimals。Thisbecameafundamentalpoint。ThemostdreadedofpredatoryanimalsintheMiddleAgeswerethewolves。