Everyone，almost，believedinmagic。Taketwocases。ReadthestorywhichBenvenutoCellini，thesculptor，tellsinhislife（everyoneshouldreadit）ofthemagicianwhomheconsultsintheColiseumatRome，andthefigurewhichheseesashewalksbackwiththemagician，jumpingfromrooftoroofalongthetilesofthehouses。
Andlistentothisstory，whichMr。Froudehasdugupinhisresearches。AChurchcommissioneratOxford，atthebeginningoftheReformation，beingunabletotrackanescapedheretic，\"causedafiguretobemadebyanexpertinastronomy;\"bywhichitwasdiscoveredthatthepoorwretchhadfledinatawnycoatandwasmakingforthesea。ConceivetherespectedheadofyourCollege——orwhoeverhemaybe——incaseyousleptoutallnightwithoutleave，goingtoawitchtodiscoverwhetheryouhadgonetoLondonortoHuntingdon，andthenwritingsolemnlytoinformtheBishopofElyofhismeritoriousexertions！
InsuchamadworldasthiswasParacelsusborn。ThesonofaSwissphysician，butofnobleblood，PhilipAureolusTheophrastuswashisChristianname，BombastvonHohenheimhissurname，whichlastwordheturned，afterthefashionofthetimes，intoParacelsus。Bornin1493atEinsiedeln（thehermitage），inSchweiz，whichisstillafamousplaceofpilgrimage，hewasoftencalledEremita——thehermit。
Erasmus，inaletterstillextant，butsuspectednottobegenuine，addressedhimbythatname。
Howhepassedthefirstthirty—threeyearsofhislifeitishardtosay。HeusedtoboastthathehadwanderedoverallEurope，beeninSweden，Italy，inConstantinople，andperhapsinthefarEast，withbarber—surgeons，alchemists，magicians，hauntingmines，andforgesofSwedenandBohemia，especiallythosewhichtherichmerchantsofthatdayhadintheTyrol。