A third came mounted on a Lion, compass’d with Serpents, like Girdles.
The next came in with a Pavilion, or Canopy of Light, distended over his Head.
Another entered surrounded with Flames of Fire, turning about him; so that none durst come near him.
After him appeared one with dreadful Birds, perching about his Head, and shaking their Wings like Vulturs and black Eagles.
The last made his Appearance with an Army in the Air, marching before him, of winged Serpents and terrible Personages.——In fine, every one did what was taught him by the Star he served; and, after all, the whole Scene was but an Apparition and Illusion, according to their own Confession to the King, when the Farce was over[[134]].——Something analogous to this are the Magick Lanthorns in our days.
[134]. This Passage is taken out of the Egyptian History of the Pyramids—by Murtadi the Arabian, printed at Tibe, a City in Arabia, 14th of Regebe, 992; which corresponds to July 22d, 1584; about 156 Years ago; translated into French, and into English, 1672.
In antient times, the Word Magician generally signified Men of Wisdom and Learning, i. e. of superior Knowledge in Things natural and divine, and more especially in that sort of Learning relative to the Sun, Moon, and Stars, as we learn from Porphyry, Apuleius, and others. And seeing the inspired Apostle gives them that Name (Magicians) not as a Mark of Infamy, but a Title of Honour, therefore does the English Translation stile them Wisemen, such as the old Greeks called σοφοι, Sages of their Time[[135]]. How, and how far this Art is degenerated, I refer to the Judgment of the Learned: We see there are Revolutions in Words, as well as in Families and Kingdoms; a Magician being formerly a Wise-man, as well as a Knave an honest one. Sed tempora mutantur.
[135]. Boerhaave’s New Theory, p. 211.
I shall only add to the Aspick Subject, the Tribute of Veneration paid to this poisonous Animal in the Land of Egypt. The Historian speaks of a certain Person, who, in digging, happened unawares to cut an Asp with his Spade, and went mad upon it,—was taken into the House of Serapis, an Egyptian Idol,—the Relatives of the Patient praying the Spectrum of that Serpent might be destroyed,——which being accordingly done by Magick Art, the Man was cured.——By this we see, how highly Asps were venerated among the Egyptians, who not only suffer’d them to live, but to live in their Houses, where they were carefully fed, as Favourites of the Family[[136]]. And Queen Cleopatra’s Case was not singular, for the Persian Kings kept an exquisite Poison by them, made of the Dung of an Indian Bird, which would kill without putting them to pain, that they might use it themselves in case of any Disaster[[137]].
[136]. Circurantur cibo, cum infantibus vivunt, & crepitum digitorum vocata ex cavi prodeunt. Jonstonus, p. 16.