BESOURCE3 OF THE ANCIENT MAGIC. 91 



of chemistry, and the influence of drugs and soporific 

 embrocations on the human frame, the ancient magicians 

 found their most available resources. 



The secret use which was thus made of scientific dis- 

 coveries and of remarkable inventions,- has no doubt 

 prevented many of them from reaching the present times ; 

 but though we are very ill informed respecting the 

 progress of the ancients in various departments of the 

 physical sciences, yet we have sufficient evidence that 

 almost every branch of knowledge had contributed its 

 wonders to the magician's budget, and we may even 

 obtain some insight into the scientific acquirements of 

 former ages, by a diligent study of their fables and their 

 miracles. 



The science of Acoustics furnished the ancient sorcerers 

 with some of their best deceptions. The imitation of 

 thunder in their subterranean temples could not fail to 

 indicate the presence of a supernatural agent. The 

 golden virgins whose ravishing voices resounded through 

 the temple of Delphos ; the stone from the river Pac- 

 tolus, whose trumpet notes scared the robber from the 

 treasure which it guarded ; the speaking head which 

 uttered its oracular responses at Lesbos ; and the vocal 

 statue of Memnon, which began at the break of day to 

 accost the rising sun, were all deceptions derived from 

 science, and from a diligent observation of the phenomena 

 of nature. 



The principles of Hydrostatics were equally available 

 in the work of deception. The marvellous fountain 

 which Pliny describes in the Island of Andros as dis- 

 charging wine for seven days, and water during the rest 

 of the year, the spring of oil which broke out in Eome 

 to welcome the return of Augustus from the Sicilian war, 

 the three empty urns which filled themselves with wine 

 at the annual feast of Bacchus in the city of Elis, the 



