海外文化:英美民俗 魔法
【英文原文】
摘要：魔法指試圖用某些超自然的力量控制自然或他人的行爲。現代科學已爲很多神祕現象的原因提供了科學的解釋，但仍然有人迷信星相和算命之類的魔法。
Magic is the practice of trying to control human actions or natural events by using powers that are supposed to be unnatural or superhuman. Now science has provided an increasingly greater understanding of the true caused of natural events, but many people still trust in such forms of magic as astrology and fortunetelling. Many people who believe in magic may carry magic objects called amulets or charms to protect themselves from harm. Amulets or charms may be stones or rings engraved with magic symbols.
To work most magic, the magician, who is supposed to have supernatural powers, sings or speaks special words in a certain order. These words are called incantations or spells. Some spells are prayers to demons, spirits, or other supernatural forces. Other magic words have no meaning, though they are supposed to have power when spoken by a magician. The magician may combine words with actions to form a ceremony called a rite or ritual.
Some people believe they can cause an event to happen by imitating what whey want to happen in a small scale. This magic is based on the belief that like produces like. For example, a magician trying to make rain fall may sprinkle water on the ground. Some people also believe a person can injure an enemy by damaging a lock of hair or a piece of clothing from the enemy. A magician can even cripple an enemy by putting a sharp object in that person’s footprint. People who believe in this kind of magic fear that an enemy can gain power over them by obtaining parts of their body. Therefore, they carefully dispose of their nails, hair, teeth, and even their body wastes. And for the same reason, witches and magicians may make a doll or some other likeness of an enemy, and try to harm the enemy by sticking pins into the doll or injuring it in some other way. The doll may have on it a lock of hair or a piece of clothing from the enemy.
During the Middle Ages, nearly all Europeans believed in magic. The so-called science of alchemy included much magic. Alchemists hoped to discover the philosopher's stone, a magic substance that could change iron, lead, and other metals into gold. They also tried to find the elixir of life, a miraculous substance that they believed could cure disease and lengthen life.
Some people divide magic into black magic and white magic. Black magic harms people, but white magic helps them. Witches usually practice black magic. But a saint may cure a sick person suing white magic. Some people believe magicians must inherit their powers. Others think any person may become a magician by studying the magical arts.
【中文譯文】
魔法指試圖用某些超自然的力量控制自然或他人的行爲。現代科學已爲很多神祕現象的原因提供了科學的解釋，但仍然有人迷信星相和算命之類的魔法。許多信魔法的人帶護身符，以驅邪避災。護身符常是刻有特殊符號的戒指、寶石之類的東西。
魔法師作法時，要念咒語。有的咒語是對神靈的祈禱，有的咒語則沒有意義，但從魔法師口中說出就有了魔力。有人相信，用模型或象徵物模擬大事件，可以引起大事件真的發生。例如，求雨時，魔法師往往會在地上噴水。有人認爲，找到某人的頭髮或衣物，將它們粉碎或焚燒，就能達到傷害其人的目的。魔法師在人的足跡裏放上尖銳的東西，就能使人變跛。相信這種魔法的人對自己剪下的指甲和頭髮、脫落和牙齒乃至糞便都小心處置，以免落入敵手，留下把柄。出於同一理由，魔法師和女巫常製作敵人的模擬像，然後用針刺或其他方法損壞它。如模擬像上常有敵人的頭髮或衣服碎片之類的東西，魔法則更靈驗。
在歐洲中世紀，魔法的迷信非常流行。鍊金術裏就有不少魔法的成分。煉金術士設法找到“哲人之石”（或稱“魔法石”），利用它能使鐵和鉛一類的賤金屬變成黃金。他們也試圖發現使人長生不老的藥方。
有人將魔法分爲黑白兩類。黑魔法害人，白魔法助人。巫術可視爲黑魔法。聖徒利用白魔法。有人認爲魔法世代遺傳，局外人難以掌握；也有人認爲魔法可以通過學習掌握。
