OF SERPENTS. 69 



The Notion of Witches in the Days of Ignoranc6 and Super- 

 ftition, was very prevailing in this Ifland, but of late Years has un- 

 dergone a parliamentary Excommunication ; though the Lanca- 

 Jhire Witches, v^ho are conftituted of the fairer Part of the fairer 

 Sex, triumph even over our Senators, and will maintain their faf- 

 cinating Charms, while their rival Beauties, the Sun and Stars 

 endure. 



W E read of a certain King oi Egypt, who having afferabled 

 his Magical Priejis without the City Memphis, caus'd them to en- 

 ter where the People were gather'd, by Beat of Drum : All of 

 them made fome miraculous Difcovery of their Magic and Wif- 

 dom. One had his Face furrounded with a Light, like that of 

 the Sun, fo bright that none could look earneftly upon him. 



Another feem'd as ifenrob'd with precious Stones of di- 

 verfe Colours, red, green, yellow, or wrought with Gold. 



A T H I R D came mounted on a Lion, compafs'd with SerpenfSy 

 like Girdles. 



The next came in with a Pavilion^ or Canopy of Light, di- 

 flended over his Head. 



Another entered furrounded with Flames of Fire, turning 

 about him ; fo that none durfl come near him; 



After him appeared one with dreadful Birds, perching about 

 his Head, and fhaking their Wings Hke Vulturs and black Eagles. 



The laji made his Appearance with an Army in the Air,, 

 marching before him, of winged Serpents and terrible Perfo- 

 nages.— — — — In fine, every one did what was taught him by the 

 Star he ferved ; and, after all, the whole Scene was but an Ap- 

 parition and Illulion, according to their own Confeflion to the 

 King, when the Farce was over *.———— -Something analogous 

 to this are the Magick Lanthorns in our days.- 



I N antient times, the Word Magician generally fignified Men' 

 ofWifdom and Learning, i. e. of fuperior Knowledge in Things- 

 natural and divine, and more efpecially in that fort of Learning, 

 relative, to the Sun, Moon, and Stars, as we learn from Porphyry,, 



Apuleius^ 



* This PafTage is taken out of the Egyptian Hiftory of the Pyramids — by Mur- 

 tadi the Arabian, printed ittTibe, a City in Arabia, 14th of Regebe, 992 j which" 

 correfponds to Julji aad, 1584; about 156 Years ago,- tranflated into French, and; 

 iaxo Engli[h, i6y2. 



