40 



BOOK II. 



A — Twig. B — Trench. 



men in discovering veins. With regard to deflection of branches of trees 

 they sa}^ nothing and adhere to their opinion. 



Since this matter remains in dispute and causes much dissention 

 amongst miners, I consider it ought to be examined on its own merits. The 

 wizards, who also make use of rings, mirrors and crystals, seek for veins 

 with a divining rod shaped like a fork ; but its shape makes no difference 

 in the matter, — it might be straight or of some other form— for it is not 

 the form of the twig that matters, but the wizard's incantations 

 which it would not become me to repeat, neither do I wish to do so. The 

 Ancients, by means of the divining rod, not only procured those things neces- 

 sary for a livehhood or for luxurj'^, but they were also able to alter the forms 

 of things by it ; as when the magicians changed the rods of the Egyptians 

 into serpents, as the writings of the Hebrews relate^^ ; and as in Homer, 

 Minerva with a divining rod turned the aged Ulysses suddenly into a youth, 

 and then restored him back again to old age ; Circe also changed Ulysses' 

 companions into beasts, but afterward gave them back again their human 

 form^^ ; moreover by his rod, which was called " Caduceus," Mercury gave 



22ExoduS VH., 10, II, 12. 



"Odyssey xvi., 172, and x., 238. 



