Thisalchymisthasleftamoredistinguishedreputation。Themostextraordinarytalesweretoldandbelievedofhispowers。Hecouldturnironintogoldbyhismereword。Allthespiritsoftheair，anddemonsoftheearth，wereunderhiscommand，andboundtoobeyhimineverything。Hecould。raisefromthedeadtheformsofthegreatmenofotherdays，andmakethemappear“intheirhabitastheylived，“tothegazeofthecuriouswhohadcourageenoughtoabidetheirpresence。
　　HewasbornatColognein1486，andbegan，atanearlyage，thestudyofchemistryandphilosophy。Bysomemeansorotherwhichhaveneverbeenveryclearlyexplained，hemanagedtoimpresshiscontemporarieswithagreatideaofhiswonderfulattainments。Attheearlyageoftwenty，sogreatwashisreputationasanalchymist，thattheprincipaladeptsofPariswrotetoCologne，invitinghimtosettleinFrance，andaidthemwithhisexperienceindiscoveringthephilosopher’sstone。Honourspoureduponhiminthicksuccession；andhewashighlyesteemedbyallthelearnedmenofhistime。Melancthonspeaksofhimwithrespectandcommendation。Erasmusalsobearstestimonyinhisfavour；andthegeneralvoiceofhisageproclaimedhimalightofliteratureandanornamenttophilosophy。Somemen，bydintofexcessiveegotism，managetopersuadetheircontemporariesthattheyareverygreatmenindeed:theypublishtheiracquirementssoloudlyinpeople’sears，andkeepuptheirownpraisessoincessantly，thattheworld’sapplauseisactuallytakenbystorm。
　　SuchseemstohavebeenthecasewithAgrippa。Hecalledhimselfasublimetheologian，anexcellentjurisconsult，anablephysician，agreatphilosopher，andasuccessfulalchymist。Theworld，atlast，tookhimathisword；andthoughtthatamanwhotalkedsobig，musthavesomemerittorecommendhim——thatitwas，indeed，agreattrumpetwhichsoundedsoobstreperousablast。HewasmadesecretarytotheEmperorMaximilian，whoconferreduponhimthetitleofChevalier，andgavehimthehonorarycommandofaregiment。HeafterwardsbecameProfessorofHebrewandthebelleslettres，attheUniversityofDole，inFrance；butquarrellingwiththeFranciscanmonksuponsomeknottypointofdivinity，hewasobligedtoquitthetown。HetookrefugeinLondon，wherehetaughtHebrewandcastnativities，foraboutayear。FromLondonheproceededtoPavia，andgavelecturesuponthewritings，realorsupposed，ofHermesTrismegistus；andmighthavelivedthereinpeaceandhonour，hadhenotagainquarrelledwiththeclergy。Bytheirmeanshispositionbecamesodisagreeable，thathewasgladtoacceptanoffermadehimbythemagistracyofMetz，tobecometheirSyndicandAdvocate-General。Here，again，hisloveofdisputationmadehimenemies:thetheologicalwiseacresofthatcityasserted，thatSt。
　　Annehadthreehusbands，inwhichopiniontheywereconfirmedbythepopularbeliefoftheday。Agrippaneedlesslyranfoulofthisopinion，orprejudiceashecalledit，andtherebylostmuchofhisinfluence。Anotherdispute，morecreditabletohischaracter，occurredsoonafter，andsankhimforeverintheestimationoftheMetzians。
　　Humanelytakingthepartofayounggirlwhowasaccusedofwitchcraft，hisenemiesasserted，thathewashimselfasorcerer，andraisedsuchastormoverhishead，thathewasforcedtoflythecity。
　　Afterthis，hebecamephysiciantoLouisadeSavoy，motherofKingFrancisI。Thisladywascurioustoknowthefuture，andrequiredherphysiciantocasthernativity。Agrippareplied，thathewouldnotencouragesuchidlecuriosity。Theresultwas，helostherconfidence，andwasforthwithdismissed。Ifithadbeenthroughhisbeliefintheworthlessnessofastrology，thathehadmadehisanswer，wemightadmirehishonestandfearlessindependence；but，whenitisknownthat，attheverysametime，hewasintheconstanthabitofdivinationandfortunetelling；andthathewaspredictingsplendidsuccess，inallhisundertakings，totheConstableofBourbon，wecanonlywonderathisthusestrangingapowerfulfriendthroughmerepetulanceandperversity。
　　Hewas，aboutthistime，invitedbothbyHenryVIII。ofEngland，andMargaretofAustria，GovernessoftheLowCountries，tofixhisresidenceintheirdominions。Hechosetheserviceofthelatter，bywhoseinfluencehewasmadehistoriographertotheEmperorCharlesV。
　　UnfortunatelyforAgrippa，heneverhadstabilityenoughtoremainlonginoneposition，andoffendedhispatronsbyhisrestlessnessandpresumption。AfterthedeathofMargaret，hewasimprisonedatBrussels，onachargeofsorcery。Hewasreleasedafterayear；and，quittingthecountry，experiencedmanyvicissitudes。Hediedingreatpovertyin1534，agedforty-eightyears。
　　WhileintheserviceofMargaretofAustria，heresidedprincipallyatLouvain，inwhichcityhewrotehisfamousworkontheVanityandNothingnessofhumanKnowledge。Healsowrote，topleasehisRoyalMistress，atreatiseupontheSuperiorityoftheFemaleSex，whichbededicatedtoher，intokenofhisgratitudeforthefavoursshehadheapeduponhim。Thereputationheleftbehindhimintheseprovinceswasanythingbutfavourable。Agreatnumberofthemarvelloustalesthataretoldofhim，relatetothisperiodofhislife。Itwassaid，thatthegoldwhichhepaidtothetraderswithwhomhedealt，alwayslookedremarkablybright，butinvariablyturnedintopiecesofslateandstoneinthecourseoffour-and-twentyhours。
　　Ofthisspuriousgoldhewasbelievedtohavemadelargequantitiesbytheaidofthedevil，who，itwouldappearfromthis，hadbutaverysuperficialknowledgeofalchymy，andmuchlessthantheMarechaldeRaysgavehimcreditfor。TheJesuitDelrio，inhisbookonMagicandSorcery，relatesastillmoreextraordinarystoryofhim。Oneday，Agrippalefthishouse，atLouvain；and，intendingtobeabsentforsometime，gavethekeyofhisstudytohiswife，withstrictordersthatnooneshouldenteritduringhisabsence。Theladyherself，strangeasitmayappear，hadnocuriositytopryintoherhusband’ssecrets，andneveroncethoughtofenteringtheforbiddenroom:butayoungstudent，whohadbeenaccommodatedwithanatticinthephilosopher’shouse，burnedwithafiercedesiretoexaminethestudy；
　　hoping，perchance，thathemightpurloinsomebookorimplementwhichwouldinstructhimintheartoftransmutingmetals。Theyouth，beinghandsome，eloquent，and，aboveall，highlycomplimentarytothecharmsofthelady，shewaspersuaded，withoutmuchdifficulty，tolendhimthekey，butgavehimstrictordersnottoremoveanything。Thestudentpromisedimplicitobedience，andenteredAgrippa’sstudy。Thefirstobjectthatcaughthisattention，wasalargegrimoire，orbookofspells，whichlayopenonthephilosopher’sdesk。Hesathimselfdownimmediately，andbegantoread。Atthefirstwordheuttered，hefanciedheheardaknockatthedoor。Helistened；butallwassilent。
　　Thinkingthathisimaginationhaddeceivedhim，hereadon，whenimmediatelyalouderknockwasheard，whichsoterrifiedhim，thathestartedtohisfeet。Hetriedtosay，“comein；“buthistonguerefuseditsoffice，andhecouldnotarticulateasound。Hefixedhiseyesuponthedoor，which，slowlyopening，disclosedastrangerofmajesticform，butscowlingfeatures，whodemandedsternly，whyhewassummoned？“Ididnotsummonyou，“saidthetremblingstudent。“Youdid！“saidthestranger，advancing，angrily；“andthedemonsarenottobeinvokedinvain。“Thestudentcouldmakenoreply；andthedemon，enragedthatoneoftheuninitiatedshouldhavesummonedhimoutofmerepresumption，seizedhimbythethroatandstrangledhim。WhenAgrippareturned，afewdaysafterwards，hefoundhishousebesetwithdevils。Someofthemweresittingonthechimneypots，kickinguptheirlegsintheair；whileotherswereplayingatleapfrog，ontheveryedgeoftheparapet。Hisstudywassofilledwiththemthathefounditdifficulttomakehiswaytohisdesk。When，atlast，hehadelbowedhiswaythroughthem，hefoundhisbookopen，andthestudentlyingdeaduponthefloor。Hesawimmediatelyhowthemischiefhadbeendone；and，dismissingalltheinferiorimps，askedtheprincipaldemonhowhecouldhavebeensorashastokilltheyoungman。Thedemonreplied，thathehadbeenneedlesslyinvokedbyaninsultingyouth，andcoulddonolessthankillhimforhispresumption。Agrippareprimandedhimseverely，andorderedhimimmediatelytoreanimatethedeadbody，andwalkaboutwithitinthemarket-placeforthewholeoftheafternoon。Thedemondidso:thestudentrevived；and，puttinghisarmthroughthatofhisunearthlymurderer，walkedverylovinglywithhim，insightofallthepeople。Atsunset，thebodyfelldownagain，coldandlifelessasbefore，andwascarriedbythecrowdtothehospital，itbeingthegeneralopinionthathehadexpiredinafitofapoplexy。Hisconductorimmediatelydisappeared。Whenthebodywasexamined，marksofstrangulationwerefoundontheneck，andprintsofthelongclawsofthedemononvariouspartsofit。Theseappearances，togetherwithastory，whichsoonobtainedcurrency，thatthecompanionoftheyoungmanhadvanishedinacloudofflameandsmoke，openedpeople’seyestothetruth。ThemagistratesofLouvaininstitutedinquiries；andtheresultwas，thatAgrippawasobligedtoquitthetown。
　　OtherauthorsbesidesDelriorelatesimilarstoriesofthisphilosopher。Theworldinthosedayswasalwayswillingenoughtobelieveintalesofmagicandsorcery；andwhen，asinAgrippa’scase，theallegedmagiciangavehimselfoutforsuch，andclaimedcreditforthewondersheworked，itisnotsurprisingthattheageshouldhaveallowedhispretensions。Itwasdangerousboasting，whichsometimesledtothestakeorthegallows，andthereforewasthoughttobenotwithoutfoundation。PaulusJovius，inhis“EulogiaDoctorumVirorum，“
　　says，thatthedevil，intheshapeofalargeblackdog，attendedAgrippawhereverhewent。ThomasNash，inhisadventuresofJackWilton，relates，thatattherequestofLordSurrey，Erasmus，andsomeotherlearnedmen，Agrippacalledupfromthegravemanyofthegreatphilosophersofantiquity；amongothers，Tully，whomhecausedtore-deliverhiscelebratedorationforRoscius。HealsoshowedLordSurrey，wheninGermany，anexactresemblanceinaglassofhismistressthefairGeraldine。Shewasrepresentedonhercouchweepingfortheabsenceofherlover。LordSurreymadeanoteoftheexacttimeatwhichhesawthisvision，andascertainedafterwardsthathismistresswasactuallysoemployedattheveryminute。ToThomasLordCromwell，AgripparepresentedKingHenryVIII。huntinginWindsorPark，withtheprincipallordsofhiscourt；andtopleasetheEmperorCharlesV。hesummonedKingDavidandKingSolomonfromthetomb。
　　Naude，inhis“ApologyfortheGreatMenwhohavebeenfalselysuspectedofMagic，“takesagreatdealofpainstoclearAgrippafromtheimputationscastuponhimbyDelrio，PaulusJovius，andothersuchignorantandprejudicedscribblers。SuchstoriesdemandedrefutationinthedaysofNaude，buttheymaynowbesafelylefttodecayintheirownabsurdity。Thattheyshouldhaveattached，however，tothememoryofaman，whoclaimedthepowerofmakingironobeyhimwhenhetoldittobecomegold，andwhowrotesuchaworkasthatuponmagic，whichgoesbyhisname，isnotatallsurprising。
　　Thisphilosopher，calledbyNaude，“thezenithandrisingsunofallthealchymists，“wasbornatEinsiedeln，nearZurich，intheyear1493。HistruenamewasHohenheim；towhich，ashehimselfinformsus，wereprefixedthebaptismalnamesofAureolusTheophrastusBombastesParacelsus。Thelastofthesehechoseforhiscommondesignationwhilehewasyetaboy；andrenderedit，beforehedied，oneofthemostfamousintheannalsofhistime。Hisfather，whowasaphysician，educatedhissonforthesamepursuit。Thelatterwasanaptscholar，andmadegreatprogress。BychancetheworkofIsaacHollandusfellintohishands，andfromthattimehebecamesmittenwiththemaniaofthephilosopher’sstone。Allhisthoughtshenceforthweredevotedtometallurgy；andhetravelledintoSwedenthathemightvisittheminesofthatcountry，andexaminetheoreswhiletheyyetlayinthebowelsoftheearth。HealsovisitedTrithemiusatthemonasteryofSpannheim，andobtainedinstructionsfromhiminthescienceofalchymy。Continuinghistravels，heproceededthroughPrussiaandAustriaintoTurkey，Egypt，andTatary，andthencereturningtoConstantinople，learned，asheboasted，theartoftransmutation，andbecamepossessedoftheelixirvitae。HethenestablishedhimselfasaphysicianinhisnativeSwitzerlandatZurich，andcommencedwritingworksuponalchymyandmedicine，whichimmediatelyfixedtheattentionofEurope。Theirgreatobscuritywasnoimpedimenttotheirfame；forthelesstheauthorwasunderstood，themorethedemonologists，fanatics，andphilosopher’s-stone-huntersseemedtoappreciatehim。Hisfameasaphysiciankeptpacewiththatwhichheenjoyedasanalchymist，owingtohishavingeffectedsomehappycuresbymeansofmercuryandopium；drugsunceremoniouslycondemnedbyhisprofessionalbrethren。Intheyear1526，hewaschosenProfessorofPhysicsandNaturalPhilosophyintheUniversityofBasle，wherehislecturesattractedvastnumbersofstudents。Hedenouncedthewritingsofallformerphysiciansastendingtomislead；
　　andpubliclyburnedtheworksofGalenandAvicenna，asquacksandimpostors。Heexclaimed，inpresenceoftheadmiringandhalf-bewilderedcrowd，whoassembledtowitnesstheceremony，thattherewasmoreknowledgeinhisshoestringsthaninthewritingsofthesephysicians。Continuinginthesamestrain，hesaidalltheuniversitiesintheworldwerefullofignorantquacks；butthathe，Paracelsus，overflowedwithwisdom。“Youwillallfollowmynewsystem，“saidhe，withfuriousgesticulations，“Avicenna，Galen，Rhazis，Montagnana，Meme——youwillallfollowme，yeprofessorsofParis，Montpellier，Germany，Cologne，andVienna！andallyethatdwellontheRhineandtheDanube——yethatinhabittheislesofthesea；andyealso，Italians，Dalmatians，Athenians，Arabians，Jews——
　　yewillallfollowmydoctrines，forIamthemonarchofmedicine！“