The provided text is an excerpt from Éliphas Lévi's "History of Magic," a 19th-century work exploring the history and nature of magic, occultism, and esoteric traditions. The excerpt presents a wide-ranging analysis of various magical practices and beliefs, encompassing themes like Kabalism, Hermetic magic, Greek mythology, and the French Revolution. The text juxtaposes traditional, occult, and religious perspectives on magic, often contrasting what Lévi views as "true" magic, grounded in knowledge and reason, with "black magic" and superstitious beliefs.