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- 5568
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:09.927Z
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- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 5494
- text
- of them were as ready to undertake the perdition of one man as another;
good, bad, or indifferent, it made little matter.
What wonder, then, that such abominable mercenaries should cause a
mighty deal of mischief in Minda; privately going about, inciting
peaceable folks to enmities with their neighbors; and with marvelous
alacrity, proposing themselves as the very sorcerers to rid them of the
annoyances suggested as existing.
Indeed, it even happened that a sorcerer would be secretly retained to
work spells upon a victim, who, from his bodily sensations, suspecting
something wrong, but knowing not what, would repair to that self-same
sorcerer, engaging him to counteract any mischief that might be
brewing. And this worthy would at once undertake the business; when,
having both parties in his hands, he kept them forever in suspense;
meanwhile seeing to it well, that they failed not in handsomely
remunerating him for his pains.
At one time, there was a prodigious excitement about these sorcerers,
growing out of some alarming revelations concerning their practices. In
several villages of Minda, they were sought to be put down. But
fruitless the attempt; it was soon discovered that already their spells
were so spread abroad, and they themselves so mixed up with the
everyday affairs of the isle, that it was better to let their vocation
alone, than, by endeavoring to suppress it, breed additional troubles.
Ah! they were a knowing and a cunning set, those sorcerers; very hard
to overcome, cajole, or circumvent.
But in the name of the Magi, what were these spells of theirs, so
potent and occult? On all hands it was agreed, that they derived their
greatest virtue from the fumes of certain compounds, whose
ingredients—horrible to tell—were mostly obtained from the human heart;
and that by variously mixing these ingredients, they adapted their
multifarious enchantments.
They were a vain and arrogant race. Upon the strength of their dealing
in the dark, they affected even more mystery than belonged to them;
when interrogated concerning their science, would confound the inquirer
by answers couched in an extraordinary jargon, employing words almost
as long as anacondas. But all this greatly prevailed with the common
people.
Nor was it one of the least remarkable things, that oftentimes two
sorcerers, contrarily employed upon a Mindarian,—one to attack, the
other to defend,—would nevertheless be upon the most friendly terms
with each other; which curious circumstance never begat the slightest
suspicions in the mind of the victim.
Another phenomenon: If from any cause, two sorcerers fell out, they
seldom exercised their spells upon each other; ascribable to this,
perhaps,—that both being versed in the art, neither could hope to get
the advantage.
But for all the opprobrium cast upon these sorcerers, part of which
they deserved, the evils imputed to them were mainly, though
indirectly, ascribable to the very persons who abused them; nay, to the
very persons who employed them; the latter being by far the loudest in
their vilifyings; for which, indeed, they had excellent reason.
Nor was it to be denied, that in certain respects, the sorcerers were
productive of considerable good. The nature of their pursuits leading
them deep into the arcana of mind, they often lighted upon important
discoveries; along with much that was cumbersome, accumulated valuable
examples concerning the inner working of the hearts of the Mindarians;
and often waxed eloquent in elucidating the mysteries of iniquity.
Yet was all this their lore graven upon so uncouth, outlandish, and
antiquated tablets, that it was all but lost to the mass of their
countrymen; and some old sachem of a wise man is quoted as having said,
that their treasures were locked up after such a fashion, that for old
iron, the key was worth more than the chest and its contents.
- title
- Chunk 2