29 What Irade, or B'olelsiou, out/, 30 Have IciHv. or-f/ta/fv Kriejnies ? 51 v^ Absent liieuds in - ///f/A/~„ n.)^<'i<'' '"''•>''* ''^,S" ^'"' '' MlKUtXiLYrUlCAL J.'VDICATiorVS of till Pl.ATVKTS, Sha/Jmy Wife Imv,- „ Sou or ^'Dwx'^XeT THE BOOK OF FATE FORMERLY IN THE POSSESSION OF AND USED BY NAPOLEON NOV -I 1923 INDORSEMENT This is an absolutely correct and perfect copy of the authentic^ genuine and guaranteed integral edition of the most excessively rare, almost unknown and unprocurable original work published in London in the year 1822, which has been printed by me in exact fac- simile with infinite care, fidelity and accuracy, word for word and line for line from the orig- inal volume printed one hundred years, ago, which was found by me and is now in my possession. Copyright, 1923, by H. S. Nichols THE BOOK OF FATE FORMERLY IN THE POSSESSION OF AND USED BY NAPOLEON RENDERED INTO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY ; H. ICIRCHENHOFFER / ^FROM A GERMAN TRANSLATION OF AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN THE YEAR 1801 BY M. SONNINI IN ONE OF THE ROYAL TOMBS NEAR MOUNT LIBYCUS IN UPPER EGYPT NEW YORK H. S. NICHOLS MCMXXIIT Q.i^'Y*-^ ^Y v^t^ Copyright, 1923, by H. S. Nichols C1A7596 5 2 • \^ PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES CONTENTS Dedication iii Translator's Preface v Introduction xvii Oracle of Delphos .ix Oracle of Delos xxiv Oracle of Ammon xxv Oracle of Dodona xxv The Roman Augurs xxvi The Sibylline Books xxvii The Writing of Balaspis xxix How the Enquirer shall obtain True Answers to the Questions which are put to the Oracle . . . xxxi The Book of Fate 1 TO >y THE BOOK OF FATE, FORMERLY IN THE POSSESSION OF NAPOLEON, LATE EMPEROR OF FRANCE; AND NOW FIRST RENDERED INTO ENGLISH, FROM A German Cran^Iatton, OF AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MANUSCRIPT, FOUND IN THE YEAR 1801, BY M. SONNINI, IN ONE OF THE ROYAI. TOMBS, NEAR MOUNT LIBYCUS, IN UPPER EGYPT. By H. KIRCHENHOFFER, FELLOW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PAVIA; KNIGHT GRANS CBOSS ^ or THE ANKUNCIADE OF SARDINIA ; AND CHEVALIER OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR. LONDON : Prinled by J. M'Gowan, Great Windmill Street, rUBLItHCD BY MORRISON & WATT, FENCHl'RCH STREET; AND C. S. ARMOILD, 21, TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GARDEN ; And Sold by all Booksellers in the United Kingdoso. 1822. Price bs. Board*. ENTKnSD AT STATlONEnS" HALL. DEDICATION. TO HER IMPERIAL HIGHNESS MARIE LOUISE, EX-EM?EESS OF FRANCE, ARCH-DUCHESS OF PARMA, &C. &C. Madam, It is with feelings of the most devout respect and veneration, that, by your Imperial permission, I take the present opportunity of laying the following Work at your Highness's feet. According to your Imperial Highness's gracious commands, this Translation, although in some passages free, (in order to adapt it to the customs of England,) is still almost 2l facsimile of the only and original Manuscript, lately in possession of the ever-to-be-lamented Emperor and King. In adhering strictly to your Imperial commands, I hope that my endeavours to embellish the Work, ac- cording to the original Drawings, will meet with your Imperial Highness's gracious approbation. With feelings of the most profound Respect, I remain. Your Imperial Highness's Devoted Servant, HERMAN KIRCHENHOFFER. London, IslJune* 1822. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. -L H E following Work is translated from a Manuscript, in the Grer- man language, which was found among the camp equipage belonging to the late Emperor of France, when he retreated from Leipzic, after the defeat of his army, in the year 1813. It fell to the lot of a Prus- sian officer, who, ignorant of its great value, sold it for a few Napo- leons to a French general officer, then a prisoner of War in the fortress of Koningsburg. This gentleman aware of its great importance, and knowing from Napoleon's arms, which were emblazoned upon it, that it once belonged to his imperial master, was resolved on his return to France to present it at the Tuilleries ; but, alas ! he did not live to accomplish this purpose; for, although his medical attendants gave him every hope of recovery from his wounds, their efforts to restore him to health proved unavailing, for he died soon after from mortifica- tion which took place after amputation of the right arm. By will, hastily drawn up, the personal effects of this officer were transmitted to his family, who were enjoined to take the earliest op- portunity of putting the Manuscript in question into the Emperor's own hands ; but Napoleon's manifold occupations, both civil and mili- tary, from time to time, prevented this. During the early part of Napoleon's ostracism in St. Helena, means were found of conveying the Manuscript to the Empress, who unfor- tunately never had an opportunity, although she eagerly sought for it, of sending it to her husband After his death her Highness gave the Translator her imperial permission for its publication in the fngh'sh language. Regarding the purpose which Napoleon had in view in the private nerusal of this Work, it is nec^sary to inform the Reader; but, pre- VI PREFACE. vious to this, it will be proper to state the manner in which he himself became possessed uf it. It is well known that, in 1801, many French artists and literati ac- companied the First Consul in his famous expedition to I'-f^'ypt, for the purpose of exploring the antiquities of that celebrated region, where once flourished the arts and sciences, in greater perfection than in any other country in the world, the most civilized nations of Europe in the present day, not excepted. At the head of the " Commission of Arts" was M. Sonnini, whose travels have since excited so much attention. This gentleman having succeeded in perforating a passage into the interior chamber of one of the royal tombs in Mount Libycu^, near Thebes, found therein a sarcophagus, in which was a mummy of extraordinary beauty, and in fine preservation. Having examined this curiosity very minutely, he discovered, attached by a peculiar kind of gum to the left breast, a long roll of papyrus, which, having unrolled, greatly excited his curiosity on account of the hieroglyphics which were beautifully painted on it. M. Sonnini's description of these tombs, which are of the most as- tonishing structure, is as follows: •' The whole of the mountain Liby- cus, which begins at half a league to the west of the Memnonium, and ends immediately opposite to Medinet-abou, is pierced from its base to three-fourths of its elevation with a great number of sepulchral grottos. Those which are nearest the surface of llie ground are the most spacious, as well as the most decorated ; those which arc in the most elevated part of the mountain arc much more rudely contrived and executed; while such as hold the middle place, bear an adjusted proportion of space and ornament. Those wliich belong to the poor are the most interesting, because they always contain sojne n.prcsciita- tion of the arts which flourished, and the trades which were practised, at that epocha. The plan of these grottos is in a great measure the same, A door, opening towards the east, displays a gallery of about twenty feet in length, whicb is sometimes formed in a straight line, and at other times runs off from the entrance in a right angle : it is indifferently supported by columns or pilasters, of which the number varies from four to ten. At the extremity of the gallery are wells which lead to the catacombs, where the mununics are deposited, 'i'he depth of these wells varies from forty to sixty feet, and they are con- nected with long subterraneous passages, rudely shaped in the rock, rnevAcii:' vii vhich terminate In a chamber of about thirty feet s^qviare, whose sides jjre supported by pilasters, and contain large remains of the mummies. There are evident traces of numerous otlier subterraneous communjca- tions, which probably lead tp other chambers, Uiat are at present con- (X'aled. " In the upper gallery are sculptured in basso-relievo, or painted in fresco, a crowd of subjects relating to funeral ceremonies. 'ITie most interesting pictures which are seen there, offer a detail of circumstances connected with the ancient inhabitants of the country. There, arc re- presented their tirst occupations, such as the chase and the fishery ; thence we may trace the progress of civilization, in the employments of the sadler, the cartwright, the potter, the money-changer, the hus- bandman, and in the duties and punishments of military life. Each grotto is adorned with a cieling painted with subjects of fancy, and whose design is exactly the same as that of the paper-hangings which were fashionable in France about thirty years ago, *' The tombs of the kings are about six thousand four hundred paces from the river. They have been formed in a narrow valley, jn the centre of the mountain Libycus. The ancient way thither is not known, and the spot is now gained by an artificial passage. Those sc- pulchres occupy a large ravine, which is flanked by the bed of a tor- rent. The plan of one of these tombs will be suflicient to explain the general disposition of the rest. Every grotto communicates with tlic valley by a large gate, which opens to a gallery hollowed in the rock: its breadth and height arc generally about twelve feet, and its length is twenty paces to the second gate, which opens to another gallery of the same breadth, and twenty-four feet in length. To the right and left of this gallery are chambers of five ftet in breadth and ten feet long. — There, are found paintings of arms; such as hatchets, poignards, cui vatcd sabres, straight swords, lance?, javelins, bows, arrows, quivers, coats of mail, shields*, implements ol' husbandry, vases, and trinkets of every kind. The detail of preparing iiiod is also represented. ** A third gallery succeeds, of the same dimensions as the former, and leads to a chamber above the level of the other apartments, which is eighteen feet tquare. From this chamber is the entrance to a gal lery of thirty four paces in length ; ihcie is also an inclining gallery, whose length is twenty-eight paces. At it.s extrenily is a corridor of VIU PBKFACE. sixteen paces, leading to a chamber of eleven paces square, which is connected with another of the same size by a gallery of six paces. A s(juare saloon then succeeds, supported by eight pillars ; its length is twenty paces, and its breadth twenty. Here is the sarcophagus which contained the mummy of the king. The Romans made some at- tempts to carry away this sarcophagus from the grotto where it is de- posited ; they had even tried to level the ground, in order to facilitate its removal, but they very soon renounced the impracticable enterprise. '' To the saloon of the sarcophagus, another apartment succeeds, of twenty-five paces in breadth, and forty in length. The height of the tomb is seven feet, its length eight, and its breadth six : the total length of the gallery is two hundred and twenty-five paces. The tombs of the kings throughout their whole extent are covered with pictures and hieroglyphics ;* but the greater part are painted in fresco, and represent the most fantastic subjects that can be conceived. Here it was that the Romans caught that idea of the grotesque, which formed a principal subject of their compositions during the second and third ages of the empire. The researches into Herculaneum have discovered a great number of paintings executed in a similar taste. " One of the most ii lerestlng of these grottos contains a sarcopha- gus that is still entire and in its place. Its length is sixteen feet, its height twelve, and its breadth six. It still preserves the lid, adorned with the effigy of the king, which is a single block of granite. The astonishment that is felt, on reflecting that this enormous mass was transported to the extremity of a subterraneous passage two hundred ))accs in length, exceeds all bounds, when it is considered that it was worked upon the place where it remains. What difficulties must have been surmounted, in order to transport a weight of many hundred milicrs, across the almost impracticable roads of the mount£un! — Here it was that we found the famous mummy and papyrus roll. Human sacrifices are continually represented, as well as a diversity of curious Hicroglyphical Figures, one of which represents Isis walk- ing on the Earth, and Flowers springing forth from under her Feet. * The Egyptian priests, to keep the mysteries of their religion from the knowledge of tht aimmon people, used Hieroglyphics, or sacred characters, as the word itself imports, being • Creek compound, signifying " sa<:Ted " and '♦ to eneravi. or carj< ' PKKFACS. IX ** From the time of Strabo, there were reckoned seventeen tombs of kings : and we shall still find the same number, if we may comprehend in this enumeration a superb grotto, whose plan is equally large and beautiful with that of the sepulchres of the Theban sovereigns. This grotto is half a league to the north of the Memnonium, and is scooped out at the bottom of a mountain, whose inclosures contain many other tombs : the entrance of several of them is closed, and the greater part of them have been violated. It appears that those, of the ancient Egyptians, who had remained faithful to their worship, endeavoured, from respect to the memory of their princes, to conceal the knowledge of their sepulchres, either from their conquerors, or the professors of other reli^ons. " The ancient Egyptians, from the king to the lowest of his sub- jects, were very attentive to the construction of their burying-places, in the firm belief that, after several thousand years, the soul would re- turn to inhabit the body, if, during that time, it should have remained undisturbed. Hence proceeded the custom of embalming, and the po- sition of sepulchres in places inaccessible to the inundation of the river. *• In the neighbourhood of the Memnonium, and among the grottos of private individuals, many are found which are still filled with the fragments of mummies. When the Arabs, who consider the grottos an the property of each family, apprehend that they may be visited by strangers, they set fire to the mummies which they contain, in order to turn the curious from the research. There are some of these car- verns still untouched ; as the persevering traveller has not yet dis- covered them. ** The sepulchres of the rich are exhausted. None of the mummies which are sold by the people of the country are dressed in the enve- lope, upon which the figure of Death was painted. A few fragments of these envelopes are all which now appear. It is indeed very extra- ordinary, that, except in the present instance, no traveller has found the manuscripts on the papyrus, which the mummies of distinguished persons never fail to enclose. These manuscripts are, without con- tradiction the most ancient that have been preserved, and appear to contain the prayers made for the dead, and also the mysterious books used by the f riests. They are written in hieroglyphics or characters. X FUEFACS. and are decorated with drawings that resemble the pictures which cover the walls of the sepulchres. Many of the mummies have the nails both of their hands and feet, gilt. Two rolls of the papyrus are some- times found with them, which are often placed under the arm-pits, though they are also deposited in the division of the thighs, and near the organs of generation.** M. Sonnini hastened to the First Consul, whose curiosity, hkewise, being much excited by viewing this hieroglyphical treasure, sent for a learned Copt, who, after an attentive perusali discovered a key where- by he was enabled to decypher the characters. After great labour, he accomplished this task, and dictated its contents to Napoleon's se- cretary, who, in order to preserve the matter secret, translated and wrote them down in the German language. The First Consul, having consulted the German translation of the roll regarding some transactions in his own life, was amazed to find that the answers, given, corresponded strictly with what had actually occurred. He accordingly secured the original and translated Manuscripts, in his private cabinet, which ever after accompanied him, until the fatal day of Leipzic above mentioned. They were held by him as a sacred treasure, and are said to have been a stimu- lus to many of his grandest speculations, he being known to consult them on all occasions. Before each campaign, and on the eve of every battle or treaty. Napoleon consulted his favourite Oracle. His grief for the loss of this companion of his private hours, was exces- sive ; and it is said that, at Leipzic, he even ran the risk of being taken, in his eagerness to preserve the cabinet, containing it, from destruction. In a list, drawn up in Napoleon's own hand-writing, on a blank leaf prefixed to the translated Manuscript, are to be seen the following Questions, as put to the Oracle, with their Answers, as received, by that illustrious man. They are here selected, from among many others, on account of the very strong analogy, I might say identity, which exists between them and some of the most important actions of his life. Question 15. What is the aspect of the SeasonS) and what Peh- tical Changes arc likely to take place 9 PREFACE. XI Amswsk. (Hierogli/phic of Cross Keys.) " A conqueror, of noble mind and mighty power, shall spring from low condition ; he will break the chains of the oppressed* and will give liberty to the nations." Qdsstiom 12. WiU my Name be immortalized^ and will posterity applaud it f Answer. (Hieroglyphic of Pyramid.) " Thy name will be handed down, with the memory of thy deeds, to the most distant posterity.'* Question. 8. Shall I be eminenit and meet with Preferment in my pursuits ? Answer. (Hieroglyphic of Pyramid.) *• Thou shalt meet with many obstacles, but at length thou shalt attain the highest earthly power and honour." Question 12. Will my Name be immortalised, and will posterity applaud it? Answer. (Hieroglyphic of Castellated Mansion.) " Abuse not the power which the Lord givcth thee, and thy name will be hailed with rapture in future ages." Question 30. Have I any, or many Enemies ? Answer. (Hieroglyphic of Hand and Dagger.) " Thou hast enemies, who, if not restrained by the laws, would plunge a dagger in thy heart.* Question 15. What is the aspect of the Seasons, and what Poli' tical Changes are likely to take place ? A NswER. (Hieroglyphic of Castellated Mansion.) ** The wings of the eagle of the north will be clipped, and his talons blunted.'^ I shall forbear further quotation, as the rest of the answers in the list wc either obscure, or relative to matters of inferior or domestic import. xu preface: Regarding the personal application of the above answers (except the last, of which I shall speak presently,) to the late Emperor, there ean be no difference of opinion : this is too obvious to admit of a mo- ment's discussion ; indeed, I have been confidently informed, that when he aspired to the imperial throne, he was actually transported with rapture and amazement, when he read the words contamed in the Answer to Question 8, viz. ** Thou shalt meet with many ob- stacles, but at length thou shalt attain the highest earthly power and honour." In the second Answer to Question 15, that is, the last which I have quoted from the Emperor's list, the reader will perceive that the Autocrat of Russia is indicated ; but whether the words have any direct reference to what passed before the treaty of Tilsii, or to any fu- ture boundaries wliich have been, or may be, opposed to Russian aggran- disement, is not equally certain. At all events, it must be allowed, that Napoleon's invasion of the Russian territory clearly proves that his own sentiments were in entire accordance with the latter sug- gestion. It had been a happy circumstance for Napoleon, had he unifonnlj abided, or been ruled by answers to many other questions, which he was in the habit of putting to the Oracle, and which, doubtless, fore- warned him of danger, and, most probably, of his downfall : but he was so accustomed, from a long series of success in almost every pur- suit which he undertook, to look on the bright side of every cir- cumstance, that, to a mind like his, such forewarnings were not likely to be productive of that salutary restraint which some of his specula- tions required. As instances of the lamentable effects of this want of confidence in the oracular counsels contmned in the following Work, I may adduce the battle of Leipzic itself, and the fatal consequences of the Russian campaign, viz. the conflagration of Moscow, the destruction of his brave army, and, finally, the abdication of a sceptre which he was long accustomed to wave over the heads of those very monarchs who now compelled him to relinquish it. To return to the subject of the Manuscripts themselves : — What became of the toriginal Papyrus is not known, but it is supposed PREFACE. JCm that from the frailness of its texture, it was destroyed In the general pillage. If, however, it should be in existence, the present proprietor is hereby earnestly entreated to communicate thereupon with the Secretary of Her Imperial Highness, making whatever demand for its restoration which he may deem requisite ; or he may, if more con- venient, deposit it in the Imperial Museum at Vienna, where he shall obtain a receipt 'for the same in due form. In the care of the administrators of the Museum, he is required to leave a sealed letter, addressed to Her Imperial Highnesses Secretary, containing the de- mand of money, which he feels himself entitled to, in the way of remuneration. It remains now for the Translator to say something respecting the nature and quality of the Answers wMch are contained in the Book of Fate. In the first place, then, respecting the nature of the Answers, it will appear that some of these seem to have so di> rect a reference to the manners and customs of the present age, as almost to deprive them of the same just claims to antiquity which it will be allowed the others undoubtedly possess. But this impression will speedily vanish, when we call to mind, that among the ancient Egyptians the same arts were cultivated, as are now car- ried on in England and other countries at the present day. Do not the paintings in the tombs, which are still in preservation in Egypt, prove this ? It is likewise necessary to take into account, that the work has already passed through two successive translations, conse- quently, in some passages there must be a considerable deterioration from the original sense ; but more particularly, as in phrases of a do- mestic or professional application, it is sometimes impos^ble to pre- serve the real idiom of a translated language. In my own case, I have to state, that from a long residence in this country, I have been enabled to attain a knowledge of many of the peculiarities both of customs and language among the English people. This knowledge has been of great use in my recent labours, *and it will account for those slight deviations which I have some- times found necessary, in adapting an ancient Egyptian work to modern eyes and ears. These deviations, however, are few, and, I may add, slight ; but they will be more certainly appreciated when the Reader has had an opportunity of perusing the present trans- lation, and then comparing it with the German and French ones, xiv phekace. which I Intend to have published Immediately on my return to the ConUnentk In the second place, regarding tlie quality of the Answers, I have to observe, that they are of five kinds, vix. positive, mandatory, pre- sumptive^ admonitoryi and conditionaL As examples, I shall select fivf, (that is, one of each quality,) from among seventeen, which have been returtied to various persons wlio consulted the Oracle since it has been in my possession. First, then, of the positive. It was asked (Question 17,^ by a gentleman, " Will my beloved prove true in my absence?" The Answer returned was, (Hieroglyphic of the Plough,) ** The affec- tions of the being whom thou lovest, will be placed on none dther but thyself." Example of the mandatory; It was asked (Question 6,) " Shall I make, or mat, my fortune by gambling ?** The Answer was, (Hiero- glyphie of Cross Bones^) " Be warned ! from henceforth, never play for money, nor money's worth." As an example of the presumptive, it was asked, (Question 9.S,) ** Shall I ever find a treasure?" The answer was such as to leave no doubt on the consulter's mind that he sliould find a treasure ; but at the same time it contained such good counsel, as to the application of it, as was absolutely required by a man of his circumstances and dis- position. It was, (Hieroglyphic of Fasces,) " When thou findest a treasure, teach thy tongue to be silent ; and see that thou makest good use of thy riches." To exemplify the admonitory, I may give an instance of a lady who consulted the Oracle in the following words, (Question 24i,) " Inform me of all particulars relating to my future husband." The Answer was, (Hieroglyphic of the Bow and Arrow,) *' Consider well whether thou oughtest, at present, to change thy condition in life." Lastly, as an example of the conditional Answers, I select the fol- lowing. It was asked, YQufs^ion 19, J by the mother of a large family, " After my deatl/'will my children be virtuous and happy ? The Answer was, (Hieroglyphic of the Ladder,) " In the tiaining of thy PREFACS. XV offspring, let thy discipline be strict, but not severe; lose no opportu- nity of improving their understandings, and, in the plenitude of their happiness, they will bless thee." Another quality which pertains to a few of these Answers, is the close affinity which seems to exist between them and some of ihe most favourite moral axioms in use among the civilized nations of antiquity : but is this to be wondered at, when we consider that Egypt had long been the residence of the Hebrews, and that it had been overrun both by the Greeks and Romans, who afterwards formed settlements there ? It cannot be doubted, therefore, that the Hebrews not only retained the arts which they saw cultivated, and learned, in Egypt, but also that their priests became possessors of copies of books which were in use in the temples. That the Greeks and Romans did so, is beyond speculation ; for it is well known (being asserted by Herodotus and other historians) that all the Oracles, afterwards established in the states of Greece, and elsewhere, owed their origin to books found in the Egyptian temples, which were pillaged and plundered upwards of 8000 years ago. That these books were mere transcripts of the origi- nal copy of the work now given to the world, there can likewise be no doubt ; consequently, the inference is a fair one, that, the moral axioms, above spoken of, were borrowed from these books, and that, being greatly admired by the literati of those days, such passages were after- wards transplanted into their own works, as original. This explanation of the apparent identity will be perfectly satisfac- tory to every candid reader ; but, in order to throw as much light on the subject as possible, I have prefixed to the present work an au- thentic and interesting account of the Obacles which bore so famous a part in the histories of ancient Egypt and Greece. The Translator, in taking his leave of the British Public, haa now merely to state that the BOOK OF FATE, in its English diess, is adapted to all conditions of life ; and persons of every rank and ca- pacity will now have an opportunity of consulting it, and of regulating their future conduct according to its obaculak counsels, H. KIRCHENHOFFER. London, June \, I82i, INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF Ancient ©racIeS. No institution is more famous than the ancient Oracles of "Egypt, Greece, and Rome. They were said to be the will of the gods themselves, and they were consulted, not only upon every important matter, but even in the affairs of private life. To make peace or war, to introduce a change of government, to plant a colony, to enact laws, to raise an edifice, or to marry, were all sufficient reasons to consult the will of the gods. Mankind, in consulting them, showed that they wished to pay implicit obedience to the command of the divinity, and, when they had been favoured with an answer, they acted with more spirit, and with more vigour, conscious that the undertaking had met with the sanction and approbation of heaven. In this, therefore, it will not appear wonderful that so many places were sacred to oracular purposes. The small province of Boeotia could once boast of her 25 oracles, and Peloponnesus of the same number. Not only the chief of the gods gave oracles, but, in process of time, heroes were admitted to enjoy the same privileges ; and the oracles of a Trophonius and an Antinoiis, were soon able to rival the fame of Apollo and of Jupiter. The most celebrated oracles of antiquity were those of Dodona, Delphi, Jupiter Ammon, &c. The temple of Delphi seemed to claim a superiority over the other temples ; its fame was once more extended, and its riches were so great, that not only private persons, but even kings and numerous armies, made it an object of plunder and of rapine. XVlll INTRODUCTION. The manner of delivering oracles was different A priestess at Delphi was permitted to pronounce the oracles of the god, and her delivery of the answers was always attended with acts of apparent madness and desperate fury. Not only women, but even doves, were the ministers of the temple of Dodona ; and the suppliant votary was often startled to hear his questions readily answered by die decayed trunk, or the spreading branches of a neighbouring oak. Ammon conveyed his answers in a plain and open manner ; but Amphiarius required many ablutions and preparatory ceremonies, and he generally communicated his oracles to his suppliants in dreams and visions. Sometimes the first words that were heard, after issuing from the tem- ple, were deemed the answers of the oracles, and sometimes the nod- ding or shaking of the head of the statue, the motions of fishes in a neighbouring lake, or their reluctance in accepting the food which was offered to them, were as strong and valid as the most express and most minute explanations. It is a question among the learned, whether the oracles were given by the inspiration of evil spirits, or whether they proceeded from the imposture of the priests. Imposture, however, and forgery, cannot long flourish, and falsehood becomes its own destroyer; and on the contrary, it is well known how much confidence the people, even o£ an enlightened age, place upon dreams, prophecies, and unaccount* able incidents. Some have strongly believed that all the oracles of the earth ceased at the birth of Christ, but the supposition is false. It was, indeed, the beginning of their decline ; but they remained in repute, and were consulted, though perhaps not so frequently, till the fourth century, when Christianity began to triumph over paganism. The oracles often suffered themselves to be bribed. Alexander did it, but it is well known that Lysander failed in the attempt. Herodotus, who first mentioned the corruption which often prevailed in the oracular temples of Greece and Egypt, has been severely treated for his remarks, by the historian Plutarch. Demosthenes is also a witness of the corruption, and he observed, that the oracles of Greece were servilely subservient to the will and pleasure of Philip king of Macedon, as he beautifully expresses it by the word Philipidkein. When in a state of inspiration, the eyes of the Priestess suddenly sparkled, her hair stood on, end, and a shivering ran over all her body. In this convulsive state she spoke the ortKsles of the god, often with loud bowlings and cries, and her articulationa were taken down by the iKTRoDTTcrxDir. xix priest, and set in order. Sometimes the spirit of inspiration was more gentle, and not always violent ; yet Plutarch mentions one of the pnetesses who was thrown into such an excessive fury, that not only those that consulted the oracle, but also the priests that conducted her to the sacred tripod, and attended her during the inspiration, were terrified and forsook the temple ; and so violent was the fit, that she continued for some days in the most agonizing situation, and at last died. At Delphos, the Py thia, before she placed herself on the tripod, used to wash her whole body, and particularly her hair, in the waters of the fountain Castalis, at the foot of mount Parnassus. She also shook a laurel tree that grew near the place, and sometimes ate the leaves, with which she crowned herself. The Prie^ess always appeared dressed in the garments of virgins to intimate tlieir purity and modesty, and they were solemnly bound to ob- serve the strictest laws of temperance and chastity, that neither fantastical dresses nor lascivious behaviour might bring the office, the religion, or the sanctity o£ the place into contempt. There was originally but one Pythia, besides subordinate priests, but afterwards two were chosen, and sometimes more. The most celebrated of all these is Phemonoe. who is supposed by some to have been the first who gave oracles at Delphi. The oracles were always delivered in hexameter verses, a custom which was some time after discontinued. The Pythia was con- sulted only one month in the year, about the spring. It was always required, that those who consulted the oracle should make large presents to Apollo, and from thence arose the opulence, splendour, and the magnificence of the celebrated temple of Delphi. Sacrifice* were also offered to the divinity, and if the omens proved unfavorable, the priestess refused^ to give an answer. There were generally five priests who assisted at the offering of the sacrifices, and there was also another who attended the Pythia, and assisted her in receiving the oracle. We shall now proce^ to describe some of the most celebrated of the ancient Oracles : Oracle of Mtlj^io^* Delhpos, now called Castri^ the capital of Phocis, in Greece, was ancientiy much celebrated for its Temple and Oracle of Apollo. It was also called Pythoy by the poets ;. from the serpent Python, which Apollo killed in this place. Pausania?, however, says that this name XX INTRODUCTION. Pytho was given to the city of Delphos, by Pythis, son of Delphus, and grandson of Lycorus. The Greek historians gave to this city the name of DeJphos, which some suppose to have been so called^ from Adelphoif brethren, because Apollo and his brother Bacchus were both worshipped there ; and others, with greater probability, derive the name from Delphos, single, or solitary, referring to the retired situation of the city among the mountains. Justin questions, which was the most worthy of admiration, the forti- fication of the place, or the majesty of the god, who here delivered his oracles. The Temple of Apollo occupied a large space, and many streets opened to it. The first discovery which laid the foundation of the extraordinary veneration in which the Oracle of Delphos was held, and of the riches accumulated in the temple, is said to have been occasioned by some goats which were feeding on mount Par- nassus, near a deep and large cavern, with a narrow entrance. These goats having been observed by the goat-herd, Coretas, to frisk and leap after a strange manner, and to utter unusual sounds immediately upon their approach to the mouth of the cavern, he had the curiosity to view it, and found himself seized with the hke fit of madness, skip- ping, dancing, and fortelling things to come. At the news of this discovery, multitudes flocked thither, many of whom were possessed with such frantic enthusiasm, that they threw themselves headlong into the opening of the cavern ; insomuch, that it was necessary to issue an edict, forbidding all persons to approach it. This surprising place was treated with singular veneration, and was soon covered with a kind of chapel, which was originally made of laurel boughs, and resembled a large hut. This, according to the Phocian tradition, was surrounded by one of wax, raised up by bees. After this a third was built of soUd copper, said to have been the workmanship of Vulcan. This last was destroyed, by an earthquake, or, according to some authors, by fire, which melted the copper ; and then a sumptuous Temple, altogether of stone, was erected by two excellent architects, Trophimus and Agamedes. This edifice was destroyed by fire in the 58th Olympiad, or 548 years B. C. The Amphictyons proposed to be at the charge of building another ; but the Alcmeonides, a rich family of Athens, came to Delphos, obtained the honor of executing the building, and made it more magnificent than they had at first pro- posed. The riches of this Temple, amassed by the donations of those INTRODUCTION. XXI wlio frequented it and consulted the Oracle, exposed it to various depredations. At length the Gauls, under the conduct of Brennus, came hither for the same purpose, about 278 years B. C. ; but they were repulsed with great slaughter. Last of all, Nero robbed it of 500 of its most precious brazen and golden statues. It has not been ascertained at what time this Oracle was founded. It is certain, however, that Apollo was not the first who was consulted here. ^Eschylus, in his tragedy of the Eumenides, says, Terra was the first who issued oracles at Delphi : after her Themis, then Phoebe, another daughter of Terra, and, as it is said, mother of Latona, and grandmother to ApoHo. Pausanias says, that before Themis, Terra and Neptune had delivered oracles in this place, and some say that Saturn had also been consulted here. At length the Oracle of ApoUo became established and permanent; and such was its reputation, and such were the multitudes from all parts that came to consult it, that the riches which were thus brought into the temple and city, became so considerable as to be compared with those of the Persian kings. About the time when this Oracle was first discovered, the whole mystery requisite for obtaining the prophetic gift, is said to have been merely to approach the cavern and inhale the vapour that -issued from it ; and then the god inspired all persons indiscriminately ; but at length several enthusiasts, in the excess of their fury, having thrown them- selves headlong into the cavern, it was thought expedient to contrive a prevention of this accident^ which frequently occurred. Accordingly, the Priests placed over the hole, whence the vapour issued, a machine which they called " a tripod," because it had three feet, and commis* sioncd a woman to seat herself in it, where she might inhale the va- pour without danger, because the three feet of the machine stood firmly upon the rock. This Priestess was named Pythia, from the serpent Python, slain by Apollo, or from the Greek puthesthai. signifying to inquire, because people came to Delphi to consult this deity. The females, first employed, were virgins selected with great precaution • but the only qualification necessary was to be able to speak and repeat what the god dictated. This was done by placing her ear close to one of the horns of the altar, and listening to the voic^ of one of Apollo's priests, to whom the question had been communicated. This Priest, who stood near the altar, in the interior of the Temple, having been assisted by his brethren in the necessary devotions and sacrifices, opened the BOOK QF FATE, which was deposited in the Temple, and atter many XXU IKTRODUCTIOK. prayers, worked the required problems. The Answeb, which from the nature o( the case in hand, was often conditional, being commu- nicated to the Priestess on the tripod, was, after various ceremonies, delivered to the enquiring multitude, or to the individual who came privately to consult the Oracle. The custom of choosing young virgins continued for a long time, tUl one of them, who was extremely beautiful, was dishonoured by a young Thessalian. An express law was then enacted, that none should be chosen but women above fifty years old. At first there was only one Priestess ; but afterwards, there were two or three. The oracles were not delivered every day ; but gifts and sacrifices were in some cases presented for a long time, and even for a whole year ; and it was cmly once a year in the month bosion, which answered to the beginning of spring, that Apollo inspired the Priestess. £xcept on this day, she was forbidden, under pain of death, to go into the sanctuary to consult Apollo. Alexander, before his expedition into Asia, came to Delphi on one of those days when the sanctuary was shut, and intreated the Priestess to mount the tripod, which she steadily refused, alleging the law which forbade her. The prince,' naturally impetuous, became impatient, and drew the Priestess by force from her cell, and whilst he was conducting her to the sanctuary, she took occasion to exclaim, " My son, thoit ART invincible!'." As soon as these wcnrds were pronounced, Alexander cried out that he was satisfied, and would have no other oracle. It is here to be observed, however, that great but unnecessary pre- parations were often made for ^ving mysteriousness to the oracle, and for commanding the respect that was paid to it. Among other circum- stances relating to the sacrifices that were offered, the Priestess herself fasted three days, and before she ascended the tripod, she bathed her- self in the fountain of Castalia. She drank water from that fountain, and chewed laurel-leaves gathered near it. She was then led into the sanctuary by the priests, who placed her upon the tripod. As soon as she began to be agitated by the divine exhalation, said to arise from the cavern, but which was merely the vapour of incense burnt there, in order to give more mystery to the afiair, her hair stood on end, her aspect became wild and ghastly, her mouth began to foam, and her whole body was suddenly seized with violent trem- blings. In this condition she attempted to escape from the Priests, who detained her by force, while her shrieks and bowlings made INTRODUCTION. XXIU the whole temple resound, and filled the by-standers with a sacred horro'- At length, unable to resist the impulse of the god, she surrendered herself up to him, and at certain intervals uttered from the bottom of her stomach, or belly, by the faculty or power of ventriloquism, some unconnected words, vehich the Priests ranged in order, and, put in form of verse, giving them a connection which they had not when they were delivered by the Priestess. The oracle being pronounced, the Priestess was taken off the tripod, and conducted back to her cell, where she continued several days to recover herself. Lucan tells us, that speedy death was frequently the consequence of her enthusiasm. The- oracles pronounced by the Priestess being generally delivered to the poets, who attended on the occasion, and being put by them into wretched verse, gave occasion to the raillery > that ^Apollo the Prince of the muses, was the worst of poets. The Priests asd Priestesses, to whose conduct the responses of the Oracle were committed, were, however, frequently guilty of fraud and imposture. And many instances might be mentioned, in which the Delphic Priestess was not superior to corruption. Hence she per- suaded the Lacedaemonians to assist the people of Athens in the expul- sion of the 30 tyrants. Hence, also, she caused Demaratus to be divested of the royal dignity to make way for Cleomenes ; and sup- ported the impostor Lysander, when he endeavoured to change the succession to the throne of Sparta. It is not improbable, that The- mistocles, who well knew the importance of acting against the Persians by sea, inspired the god with the answer he gave, " to defend themselves with walls oj wood."" These answers were likewise, on many occasions equivocal. Thus, when Croesus was about to invade the Modes, he consulted this Oracle upon the success of the war, and received for answer, that by passing the river Halys, he should win a great empire. But he was left to conjecture, or to determine by the event, whether this empire was his own or that of his enemies. Such was also the same Oracle's answer to Pyrrhus. "^ Aio fe, JEacida, Romaitos vincere posse." which meant, " I say unto thee O Greek, thou canst overcome the Romans." or. "1 say unto thee, the Romans ma y overcome the Greeks." XXIV INTUODUCTION. ©tacU of Mtlofi* The Oracle of Apollo, in Delos, was one of the most famous Oracles in the world, not only for its antiquity, but for the richness of the sacred presents dedicated to the god, and the numbers of persons that resorted hither from all parts for advice ; in which respect it surpassed not only all the Oracles of other gods, but even those of Apollo, him- self, — that of Delphos alone excepted. Some writers say, that the island had the name of Delos, from the clear and simple terms in which the answers were here given by the Oracle, contrary to the ambiguity ob- served in other places ; but it was consulted only while Apollo made Delos his summer residence, for his winter abode was at Patara, a city of Lycia. The presents offered by the votaries to Apollo, were laid on the altar, which, as some say, was erected by A polio himself, when he was only four years old, and form ed of the horns of goats, killed by Diana, on mount Cynthus. It was preserved pure from blood and every kind of pollution, as offensive to Apollo. The whole island was an asylum, which extended to all living creatures, dogs excepted, which were not suffered to be brought on shore. The native deities, Apollo and Diana, had three very magnificent temples erected for them in this island. That of Apollo, was, accord- ing to Strabo, (lib. x.) begun by Erysiapthus, the son of Cecrops, who is said to have possessed this island 1558 years B. C. ; but it was afterwards much enlarged and embellished at the general charge of all the Grecian states. But Plutarch says, that it was one of tlie most stately buildings in the universe, and describes its altar, as deserving a place among the seven wonders of the world. The inscription in this temple, as Aristotle informs us, (Ethic. 1. i. c. 9.) was as follows: '• Of all things the most beautiful is Justice ; the most useful is ftealth ; and the most agreeable is the possession of the beloved object.'" Round the temple were magnificent porticoes, built at the charge of various prince?, as appears from the still legible inscriptions. To this temple the neighbouring islands sent yearly a company of virgins to celebrate with dancing the festival of Apollo, and his sister Dianai and to make offerings in the pame of their respective cities. Delos was held in such reverence by most nations, that even the Persians, after having laid waste the other islands, and every where destroyed the temples of the gods, spared Delos ; and Datis, the Per* sian admiral, forebore to anchor in the harbour. XMTBODUCXION. XXV ^tacle of ^mmon. The Temple oi Jupiter Ammon was in the deserts of Libya, nine days journey from Alexandria. It had a famous Oracle, which, according to ancient tradition, was established about 18 centuries before the time of Augustus, by two doves which flew away from Thebais in Egypt, and came, one to Dodona, and the other to Libya, where the people were soon informed of their divine mission. The Oracle of Ammon was consulted by Hercules, Perseus, and others ; but when it pronounced Alexander to be the son of Jupiter, such flattery de- stroyed its long established reputation, and in the age of Plutarch it was scarcely known. The situation of the temple was pleasant ; and there was near it a fountain whose waters were cold at noon and mid- night, and warm in the morning and evening. There were above 100 priests in the temple, but the elders only delivered oracles. There was also an Oracle of Jupiter Ammon in ^Ethiopia. (f^racU of iiotrona* Dodona was a town of Thresprotia in Epirus. There was in its neighbourhood, upon a small hill called Tmarus, a celebrated Oracle of Jupiter. The town and temple of the god were first built by Deu- calion, after the universal deluge. It was supposed to be the most ancient Oracle of all Greece, and according to the traditions of the Egyptians mentioned by Herodotus, it was founded by a dove. Two black doves, as he relates, took their flight from the city of Thebes, in Egypt, one of which flew to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, and the other to Dodona, where with a human voice th ey acquainted the inha- bitants of the country that Jupiter had consecrated the ground, which in future would ^ve oracles. The extensive grove which surrounded Jupiter's temple was endowed with the gift of prophecy, and oracles were frequently delivered by the sacred oaks, and the doves which in- habited the place. This fabulous tradition o£ the oracular power of the doves, is explained by Herodotus, who observes that some Phoeni- cians carried away two priestesses from Egypt, one of which went to fix her residence at Dodona, where the Oracle was established. It may further be observed, that the fable might have been founded upon the doublemeaning of the word pekiaif which signifies doves in most parts XXV» INTRODUCTION; of Greece, while in the dialect of the Epirots, it impUes old zaomen. In ancient times the oracles were delivered by the uiurmuring of a neighbouring fountain, but the custom was afterwards changed. Large kettles were suspended in the air near a brazen statue, which held a lash in its hand. When the wind blew strong, the statue was agitated and struck ag^nst one of the kettles, which communicated the motion to all the rest, and raised that clattering and discordant din which con- tinued for a while, and from which the priests drew their predictions. Some suppose that the noise was occasioned by the shaking of the leaves and boughs of an old oak, which the people frequently consulted^, and from which they pretended to receive the oracles. It may be ob- served with more probability that the oracles were delivered by the priests, .who, by concealing themselves behind the oaks, gave occasion to the multitude to believe that the trees were endowed with the power of prophecy. As the ship Argo was built with some of the oaks of the forest of Dodona, there were some beams in the vessel which gave oracles to the Argonauts, and warned them against the approach of calamity. Within the forest of Dodona there was a stream with a fountain of cool water, which had the power of lighting a torch as soon as it touched it. This fountain was totally dry at noon day, and was restored to its full course at midnight, from which time till the following noon it began to decrease, and at the usual hour was again deprived of its waters. The oracles of Dodona were originally deli- vered by men, but afterwards by women. €6e 3Uomatt ^uguriaf, The Augurs were certain Priests at Rome who foretold future events, whence their name, ab avium garritu. They were first created by Romulus to the number of three. Servius TuUius added a fourth, and the tribunes of the people A. U. C, 454, increased the number to nine ; and Sylla added six more, during his dictatorship. They had a particular college, and the chief amongst them was called Magister Collegii. Their office was honourable ; and if any one of them was convicted of any crime, he could not be deprived of his pri- vilege ; an indulgence granted to no other sacerdotal body at Rome, The argur generally sat on a high tower, to make his observations. His face w^ turned towards the east, and he had the north to his «ft, and the south at his right. With a crooked staff he divided tl^ INTRODUCTION. XXVU face of the heavens into four different parts, and afterwards sacrificed to the gods, covering his head with his vestment. There were gene- rally five things from which the augurs drew omens : the first consisted in observing the phenomena of the heavens, such as thunder, lightning, comets, &c. The second kind of omen was drawn from the chirping or flying of birds. The third was from the sacred chickens, whose eagerness or indifference in eating the bread which was thrown to them, was looked upon as lucky or unlucky. The fourth was from quad- rupeds, from their crossing or appearing in some unaccustomed place. The fifth was from different casualties, Avhich were called Dira^ such as spilling salt upon a table, or wine upon one's clothes, hearing strange noises, stumbling or sneezing, meeting a wolf, hare, fox, or pregnant bitch. Thus did the Romans draw their prophecies ; the sight of birds on the left hand was always deemed a lucky object, and the worda .timster 4* Icevus, though generally supposed to be terms of ill luck, were always used by the augurs in an auspicious sense. A strange old woman came once to Tarquinius Supei-bus, king of Rome, with nine books, copies of the following work, which she said were the oeacles of the sibyls, and proffered to sell them. But the king making some scruple about the price, she went away and burnt three of them ; and returning with the six, asked the same sum as be- fore. Tarquin only laughed at the humour ; upon which the old wo- man left him once more ; and after she had burnt three others, came again with those that were left, but still kept to her old terms. The king began now to wcmder at her obstinacy, and thinking there might be something more than ordinary in the business, sent for the Augurs to consult what was to be done. They, when their divinations were performed, soon acquainted him what a piece of impiety he had been guilty of, by refusing a treasure sent to him from heaven, and com- manded him to give whatever she demanded for the books that re- mained. The woman received her money, and delivered the writings, arid only charging them by all means to keep them sacred, immediately vanished. Two of the nobility were presently after chosen to be the keepers of these oracles, which were laid up with all imaginable care in the capitol, in a chest under ground. They could not be consulted XXvin INTRODUCTION. without a special order of the senate, which was never granted, unlets upon the receiving some notable defeat, upon the rising of any con- •iderable mutiny or sedition in the state, or upon some other extraor- dinary occasion. The number of priests, in this, as in most other orders, was several times altered. The Duumviri continued till about the year of the city 388, when the tribunes of the people preferred a law, that there should be ten men elected for this service, part out of the nobility, and part out of the commons. We meet with the D/ecemviri all along from hence, till about the time of Sylla the dictator, when the Quindecemviri occur It were needless to give any farther account of the Sibyls, than that they are generally agreed to have been ten in number ; for which we have the authority of Varro ; though some make them nine, some four, some three, and some only one. They all lived in different ages and countries, were all prophetesses ; and, according to common opi- nion, foretold the coming of our Saviour. As to the writing, Dempster tell us, it was on linen. Solinus acquaints us, that the books which Tarquin bought, were burnt in the conflagration of the capitol, the year before Sylla's dicta- torship. Yet there were others of their inspired writings, or at least copies or extracts of them, 'gathered up in Greece and other parts, upon a special search made by order of the senate ; which were kept with the same care as the former, till about the time of Theodosius the Great, when, the greatest part of the senate having embraced the Chris- tian faith, they began to grow out of fashion; till at last Stilicho burnt them all^ under Honorius, for which he is severely censured by the poet Hutilius. THE Wlxitins of 33ala^i^> BY COMMAND OF HERMES TRISMEGISTUS, UNTO THE PRIESTS OF THE GREAT TLMPLE. Peiests of Thebais ! Servants in the great temple of Hsca- TOMPYLos ! Ye who in the sacred city Diospolis, have dedicated your lives to the service of the King of the Gods and of men ! Hermes,* the interpreter of the will of Osiris, greets you ! It is the will of the Gods, in grand assembly convened, that ye pre- serve your lives free from stain and pollution. It is their will that ye continue to instruct the nations, as.far as they may be permitted to know. It is the pleasure of Osims, sitting on his throne of clouds, and sur- rounded by the inferior deities, that ye make known to his subjects, his children upon earth, whatever may concern their destiny, and what matters ye shall find written in the book of books :— THE WRITTEN ROLL OF MAN'S FATE, now committed to your * To Hermes Trismegistus, a sage as highly revered among them, as Zoroaster was among the Persians, the Egyptians ascribed the inventions of chief use to human life ; and like every people who are unable to settle the antiquity of their origin, they represented his woiks to have outstood the shock even of the universal deluge. They otherwise called him Thoth ; and their priests constantly maintained that from the hieroglyphical characters upon the pillars he erected, and the sacred books, an the philosophy and learning of the world has been derived, and all th» oracular intelligence has been drawn. XXX THE WBITINO OF BALASPIS. safe keeping: — that ye do this strictly and truly, without fear of danger, or hope of reward, according to all questions that may be asked, by individual persons, by tribes, by rulers of states, and by conquerors of nations. Osiris commandeth the servants in his favoured sanctuary to shew favour unto none, in the answers which it will be their duty to give from this book. Let sacrifices and gifts and invocations be made ; let the question be asked in all humility and strong faith, and when the DiriNEB, hath consulted the windings and intricacies of the problem, according to tne instructions hereunto appended, let the result be written and handed to the chief Prophet or Prophetess, (seated on a siool having three legs;) who shall read and interpret the writing of Hermes unto the enquirer, in the face of all the assembled people. And the Prophet or Prophetess shall read no writing but what hath been truly given to her by the priest who doth officiate in the sacrifice ; and the priest shall not add to, nor diminish from, what he findeth to be the true answer to the question asked, as in this ROLL OF MAN'S FATE contained : neither shall he substitute one answer for another, but in all things he shall do according to the instructions herein given. The highest among the Gods, in like way, ordaineth, that no bribe, nor private gift, shall be offered or taken, either by the individual who enquireth, or by the priest who maketh answer to the consulta- tion : let the gift, which is to be offered, be of free will, and let it be put upon the altar after the sacrifice hath been consumed, m the face of all tlie people. If herein the priests offend, they shall, on the instant, be struck down and pinioned to the earth by the piercing and fiery arrows which the great Osibis in his anger, speaking from the clouds, hurleth at offending mortals. — Look to it.that, in this, ye offend not. It is further enjoined that ye take strict charge of this book ; that no one but the priests do touch it with their hands, and that it be pre- served in a chest of alabaster, to be placed under tlie altar in the midst of the temple. It is in like way commanded that copies of the book be written as occasion requireth, and that ihcy be transmitted unto the priests of the other temples throughout the earth : also that they be deposited in the tombs of the Kings and of the High Priests, as followeth : — When the body hath been embalmed and sufficiently swathed in fine cloth, let the roll of writing be placed under the left breast, and tTNTO THE PRrrSTS OF THE TEMPLE. XXXt let tlie vestment be bound over it, so that it shall be covered close arid hid from view. T he body shall then be attended by the princes and priests and people to tlie place of sepulture, where it is to be interred with honour ; — a strong and durable building being raised on the top thereof. HOW THE ENQUIRER SHALL OBTAIN A TRUE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHICH HE PUTTETH TO THE ORACLE. When a man or woman doth come to enquire ought of you, O Priests ! let the gifts be made and the sacrifices offered up ; and let the invocations of the servants of the temple be chaunted. When silence hath been restored, the Diviner shall direct tlie stranger who hath come to enquire of the Oracle, to trace, with a reed dipped in the blood of the sacrifice, in the midst of a circle contain- ing the twelve Signs of the Zodiac,* five rows of upright or inclined lines, in the manner following i | | | f I | | I I | i I | } , taking care that each be readily seen to contain more than twelve lines, in respect of the number of the Signs of the Zodiac, but he must by no means do this studiously, or count the number he hath marked. Hut guide the reed quickly, so that the number, while it be more than twelve, shall be entirely of chance, as far as he knoweth. The Diviner shall now reckon from the left unto the right hand line of each row, which the inquirer hatn written, marking ofT twelve, thus : I I I I I I I I I II I » I I I and keeping count of the remainder, so that he may know whether the remaining number of each be odd or even If the number of a row be odd, the Diviner shall attach to the right hand side thereof one small star, and if it be even, he shall attach two * The translator feels it incumbent on him, here to notice (from the experience of himself and others in consulting the Oracle,) that he considers some of the above mentioned formalities may, on most occasions, be dispensed with. He has found that for all ordinary consultations the circle and signs may be omitted ; and instead of a reed dipped in blood, he and his friends have, invariably and without the least detriment, used a pen dipped in common ink. As to the gifts, sacrifices, and invo- cations, he considers them in a Christian land to be entirely superfluous ; but in their steed it is doubtless requisite that the consulter should hare a firm reliance on the jroodness aad jwovidence of the Creator of all things. « (odd) ik « (even) « (odd) « « (even) * «? (even) XXXli THE WRITING OF BALASPIS, stars ; and in the same manner with the other rows, as herein set down: — I I I I I I i I I 1 I M I I i M I M I M I I I'M I I 1 I i I I I I I I M I I I 1 I I I 1 I I i I I M hi I I I I I I I f i i I I M i I I This double column of stars shall be, to the Diviner, for a Sign wheteby he shall be enabled to discover the fale of the Enquirer. Let the Enquirer now consult his own breast what he requireth to know ; and whether the matter cometh within compass of the ques- tions herein writ, and set down in order, as followeth.* — If it doth, the Enquirer shall straightway pronounce the question, audibly, as it is written, without adding to, or diminishing therefrom, and shall, while he uttereth the words, point to the number of the question with the forefinger of his left hand. The Diviner, in his proper vestments, having invoked Osibis, shall now place the forefinger of his right hand on the spot whereon the Enquirer had previously placed the same finger of his left. He shall then search out among the Signs, or columns of stars, placed above the hieroglyphics, for that individual Sign, or column^ which shall answer in every respect to the one which hath been cast up, by the addition of the lines previously traced by the Enquirer. When the Diviner hath found the corresponding Sign, or column of stars, he must place thereon the forefinger of his lefi hand ; he shall now move this finger, and likewise the same finger of the right hand, from the points whereon they have been placed, so that Uiey may approximate, or meet each other, at right angles. The Hieroglyphic whereat the fingers meet, must now be noted ; and the Diviner, having looked into the roll, is therein to search out the counterpart of the same^HiEROGLTPHic. Having found it, he is to search further on the left hand side of the matter, or answers, appended unto this hieroglyphic, for the coun- terpart of the Sign, or column of stars, which, in the commencemenc of the consultation, had incidentally, or by the Ordination of Fate, been produced by the enumeration of the surplus over twelve, of the lines traced by the Enquirer within the circle. • See the Frontispiece, containing the questions, their hieroglyphics and signs. UNTO THE PRIESTS OF THE TEMPLE. XXXIH The words attached to the Sign, or column of stars, will be the just and true answer to the question put ; which see no one do pervert to any false purpose of deceit, enmity or wickedness. No further ceremony now remaineth, but that the Priest who hatii acted in the divination, do write down the answer truly, and, with his finger placed upon his lips, hand it unto the Prophet or Prophetess, who shall in a loud voice proclaim its contents unto the person who came to enquire.* In conclusion, I am commanded to write unto you, that it is the duty of the Priests to instruct all t'^ose who consult the Oracle, that it behoveth them to be contented with whatever Answer, they may, through Fate, receive; and to follow implicitly, and without reservation, whatever the Oracle, in its Answers, may happen to dictate. If the instructions of Hermes be not obeyed, what booteth it toenquire .''—If theCoxsuLTER be herein disobedient to the will of Osiris, the evil be upon his own head. Further, O Priests I be warned to make no divination, nor to ad- n)it of any gift, sacrifice or consultation, save during the night season, * In order to make the English reader, as much as possible, acquainted with the proper mode of finding answers to the questions of those who consult the Oracle, it will be necessary here to state one example. I shall take the same rows' of lines, and the same Sign, or double column of stars, as are set down hi the original in- structions for consullation, ss above. We shall suppose, then, that the Question asked is No. 27, as marked in the Frontispiece or Table, viz : — Shall my intended journey be prosperous or unlucky f By looking at the column of stars, or Sign, corresponding with that cast up, we shall find it numbered 20, and the consequent HiERor.LYPHic produced by the combination of this Sign and the Question asked, will be that of the Cross Bones. Now by reference to this HitRooLVPHic and its subservient Sign, or column of stars, in the Book of Fate, (folio 14) we find that the Answer given by the Oracle is " When thou hast arrived at thy place of destinalioti, lose no time in executing thy errand, and return without delay." which Answer, whilst it suggests a necessary caution, wherel y evil ordanger is avoided, perfectly corresponds with the Questiok asked. In a snr.ilar way, apinopriaty Answers will be given to all the other Questiona in the Table ; that is, by paying attention to their particular Hieroglyphic* and Siaxs. N. B. The Traiislator considers it proper to state, that in order to facilitata the search for the Hit roglyphio (resulting from the combination of the Question and Sign,) in the Book op Fate, it will be proper for the Consulted to cast his eye over the highest line ol Ilieroglypliios in the Frontispiece, and to note the NTrMBStt which lies immediately ci/er it. This number will be found to correspond with tl)at ioJio of the Book of Fate, over whicli presides llie Hieroglyphic in question. XXxiv THE WRITING OF liALASPIS, &C. and that, too, only whilst Isis shinelh in tlie fuhiess of her heaiily.* Neither shall ye give Answers on those days or nights in which v'ithor Osiris who ruleth the h.eavens hy da}^ or the Queen of" his love, who ruleth by night, do veil the comeliness and majesty of tlieir counte- nances from the eyes of mortals, and whilst they do retire from the labours of their celestial course, within the chambers of their sanctuary of rest.-|- These are the words which I, Ealaspis, have been ooniniandea, by my great master Ukrmes TRrsMECisTirs, to write unto you, O Priests of Thkbais. * I presums that lierc the meauiiig^ of Baiaspis, is, that the Oracle should not be consulted but when the I\Ioo\ is ;it the full. Among the ancient Egyptians Isis typified the Moon, whilst the name of Osiris was always given to the Sun. t By this mode of expression, it is evident that eclipses of the Sun and ]Moon are meant : But it is necessary to notice, that, as far as the experience of the translatot and his friends has enabled them to judge, there is no apparent reason or necessity for confining the coiiiultation of the Oracle to any particular time or season. One thing, however, the t'onsulter should be aware of, which i^, that it would be im- proper for him to ask fu/o questions on the same day ; or even to atk the same^qaQS- tions, with reference to the same subject, twice within one calendar month. THE BOOK OF FATE. THE BOOK As the glorious the stars, so will be accounted the * OF FATB. * * * * * * * sun eclipseth the light of the partner of thy bed fairest among women. She shall have sons and daughters. Thy friend is in good health ; his thoughts are, at present, bent on thee. Thou hast no enemies, who can in any degree injure thee. * * I Choose that for which thy genius is best adapted. * * Set not thy mind on searching after that which hath been hidden ; but attend diligently to the duties »f thy calling. * Choose right ti-usty companions for thy intended journey; and no ill can beftil th'ee. •5!? Despair not : thy love will meet its due return. * * Take not tlie advice of ignorant pretenders to the art of heal- ing, but apply, at once, to the fountain head of knowledge. Thy husband will follow arms. -V-. Look fc^r the approbation of the virtuous, and heed not the evil report of the wicked. * if:- ( ) man ! be prcj)ared for any change of fortune which may happen. It signifieth a speedy marriage. Though fortune now turn her back uiion thee; thine own exertions will soon enable thee to triunvpn over her capricious humour. * it:- iff Hf Bestow careful culture on tlie ,sapling:, and when the tree arriveth at maturity, it will jiroduce good I'ruit. it.' Let not busy and meddling persons, who call themselves friends, disturb the ha})i)ini.ss of the married pair. THE BOOS Take heed that Hf for thy beloved to * or FATS. thou givest no just cause prove inconstant to thee. No impediment will be thrown in the way of the stranger's quick return. * The sceptre of power will be wrested from the conqueror. * * s * * The recovery of thy goods will be unexpected. * * When thou hast proved thy friend, thou mayest truly trust and value him. How expectest thou to live in the remembrance of thy fel- low-mortals, seeing thy deeds are evil ? Let not caprice mar thy happiness. Be not buoyed up by hopes of inheriting property which thou hast not earned. Be prudent, and success will attend thee. » * * * Be contented with thy present fortune. Fortune favours the brave and enterprising. Thy adversary will cheat thee, on the first opportunity. Justice is blind, but not always deaf: for in many parts, she loveth to listen to the sweet ringing of gold and silver. Avoid entering into the land of strangers. As thy youth may have been virtuous, so will thine old age prove respected and happy. The captive will speedily cease to breathe the foul air of a dungeon ; let him use his freedom wisely. THB BOOK H^ ^ni OX' FATB. The door of the HbL \^i^Bi dungeon^ will speedily be unlocked. * * * * Consult thy present condition, whether it be right in thee to marry ! * She shall have a son, who will gain much wealth and honour. * * s * Thy friends arc well ; and are now occupied in promoting thy welfare. * » * * Thou hast, and thou oughtest to be on thy guard. * * * Choose that of thy richest relative. 1^ % Disappointment and vexation will attend thee, if thou neg- « lectest thy calling, to look afler that which is not within thy * power to find. * H * Implore the aid of Providence, ere thou settest thy foot * without the threshold of thy house. » * The heart of thy beloved yearneth toward thee. Let proper medicines be prescribed for the patient, and cer- tain recovery will be the consequence. * ^ t * * * Thy husband will have many virtues, but also some faultsj « * teach him to correct the latter, and fortune will attend vou * * both. * Thy character will be proof against every ill report. * * * Let thy heart be cheered under thy misfortunes, for pros- es perity will return to thee in due season. * * I * * The signification is increase of riches. * * * Recovery from thy misfortunes will be gradual, but neglect ^ 1^ no opportunity of honestly advancing thine own interests. * * ^ If thou wishest thy children to be happy, let thy precef)ts * and practice be both in favour of virtue. TBS BOOS * If inl.-;tur[unes titude, and happi- issue. OF WS^Mn occur. Sear them with for- ness will be the certain Be thou constant, and fear A'ot. * *• * * Matters which cor '^em the absentee's future happiness, pre- vent his immediate return. * A conqueror of noble mmd and mighty power, shall sprino^ from low condition; he will break the chains of the oppressed, and will give liberty to the nations. * The thief will be detected in the midst of his career. at * * If thy friend hath in one circumstance proved decleitful, trust him not a second time. * The deeds of the evil-doer will be held in execrati(l)n by posterity. •8 Take heed that avarice prove not the bmie of thy l^ppipess. Jt The will of a stranger may be written in thy favour. * * Be not discouraged by adverse circumstances. Be judt in thy deaUngs, .and trust to Providence for advance- ment. « Ik Nothing venture, nothing wini Bet nothing on the result of a game played by others. ^ * God will support thee in a good cause. * * Thy wealth will not be gained in a strange land. ^1 1 The end of dissipation is speedy death:— «V(nd this and live I