According to the decreta issued by the archbishop of Utrecht in 1372-75, the word phylactery pertained either to amulets on separate sheets or to entire books.

... while political science at Western had received a sharp rap across its knuckles.

this ethereous mould whereon we stand

In the Wu Ch’eng section of the ancient Book of Documents, it is stated that the blood that flowed at the decisive battle of Mu-yeh, when King Wu of Chou destroyed the army of the Shang King ca. 1045 B.C. (Legge, Shoo King, p. 315) was deep enough to float pestles.