and it is not to be wondered at that, when philosophers themselves
pretended to discover an elixir for conferring immortality, or a red
stone which was to create boundless wealth, that popular opinion
should have enhanced upon their pretensions, and have endowed them
with powers still more miraculous. It was believed of Albertus Magnus
that he could even change the course of the seasons; a feat which the
many thought less difficult than the discovery of the grand elixir.
Albertus was desirous of obtaining a piece of ground on which to build
a monastery, in the neighbourhood of Cologne. The ground belonged to
William, Count of Holland and King of the Romans, who, for some reason
or other, did not wish to part with it. Albertus is reported to have
gained it by the following extraordinary method: -- He invited the
Prince, as he was passing through Cologne, to a magnificent
entertainment prepared for him and all his court. The Prince accepted
it, and repaired with a lordly retinue to the residence of the sage.
It was in the midst of winter; the Rhine was frozen over, and the cold
was so bitter that the knights could not sit on horseback without
running the risk of losing their toes by the frost. Great, therefore,
was their surprise, on arriving at Albert's house, to find that the
repast was spread in his garden, in which the snow had drifted to the
depth of several feet. The Earl, in high dudgeon, remounted his steed;
but Albert at last prevailed upon him to take his seat at the table.
He had no sooner done so, than the dark clouds rolled away from the
sky -- a warm sun shone forth -- the cold north wind veered suddenly
round, and blew a mild breeze from the south -- the snows melted away
-- the ice was unbound upon the streams, and the trees put forth their
green leaves and their fruit -- flowers sprang up beneath their feet,
while larks, nightingales, blackbirds, cuckoos, thrushes, and every
sweet song-bird, sang hymns from every tree. The Earl and his
attendants wondered greatly; but they ate their dinner, and in