OMEN. 
ei experience of the paft will fill the mind with 
vain expeCtations, or with groundlefs alarms, concerning the 
future. This difpofition to confound together accidental and 
permanent conneétions, is one great fource of popular fu- 
perftitions. Hence the regard which is paid to unlucky 
days; to unlucky colours; and to the influence of the 
planets: apprehenfions which render human life, to many, 
a continued feries of abfurd terrors. Lucretius compares 
them to thofe which children feel, from an idea of the exift- 
ence of fpirits in the dark. 
* Ac veluti pueri trepitants pe omnia cecis 
In tenebris metuun » 1n luce tim emus 
Interdum nihilo, que rae actin magis.’ 
uch {peétres can be fica by the light of philofophy 
ftablifhed 
con- 
by giving a proper direCtion to that bias of the mind which 
is the foundation of fuperftition, prevents it from leading us 
altray.’ 
The belief in omens was particularly ftrong and general 
among the Greeks and Romans; and there is good reafon 
to believe that even the moft celebrated philofophers among 
philofopher, to the i ahaa and credulity of the times in 
which he a forte which muft have dale in fome de- 
ind and sehen perhaps we fhall be dif- 
pofed to eet many of the fymbols (as ia are called) 
ry 
y fe- 
veral of the following fymbols wear greatly this appearance. 
Adore the found of a whifpering wind. Stir not the . 
with a fword. Turn afide from an can tool. Pafs n 
over a balance. 
for the furies will return with you. 
crooked talons. eceive not w into your houfe. 
ook not in a mirror by the light of a candle. a fa- 
crifice pare not your nail t t or brain 
Tafte not that which hath fallen from the table. Break 
not bread. t at noo thunders, touch 
the earth. Pluck not a crown. Roaft not that which has 
Sail not on the ground. Plant net a palm. 
Breed a cock, but do not facrifice it, for it is facred to the 
fun. and moon. Plant mallows in thy garden, but eat them 
Rss from beans 
the Greeks there were omens connected 
with shee facrifices : 1f the beaft, inrenaed for this purpofe, 
efcaped the ftroke, leaped up after it was given, did not 
fall flat on the ground, or kicked’and ftamped after its 
fall; or if it did not bleed freely, or appeared to expire 
with pain or difficu'ty ; thefe were confidered as unlucky 
omens. It was alfo deemed unlucky, if the vidtim went 
unwillisgly to the altar; and every method, likely to anfwer 
he purpote, was followed, in order that it might be induced 
to nod its head, which was regarded as a fol a of affent: 
when this could be effected by no other means, it was cuf- 
tomary water into its ear. The wagying of its 
tail, interpreted as anther mark of affent, was always re- 
arded as a lucky om 
"On ens were drawn on every a of the viétim, but 
efpecially from the liver; next to the liver, the heart was 
moft obferved: if this were {mall, or wrinkled, or if it 
palpitated much, it was ge ; ~~ if the Meare proved 
to be deftitute of a heart, oft dea omen, 
After the heart, omens were drawn “from the gall, ae lungs, 
the fpleen, and the membranes, in whi ch the bowels were 
enclofed. 
at omens were drawn, not oul from the vitims ain 
felves, but alfo from the things that were made ufe of a 
en was propitiou 
ut cke uncial and moft numerous omens of the Greeks 
o muc 
other kinds were pafled by or little regarded, if not con- 
firme 
the Grecian augurs, who were employed for the 
made t 
the ee 
his pearance in that quarter: ontr. 
were CO pea unlucky, becaufe ie fun 
leaves the world in that qua 
But though both the Greeks ‘and Romans regarded thofe 
omens which were feen in the ea!t as lucky, and thofe 
which appeared in the weft as unfortunate, yet as the au- 
gurs among the former made their obfervations with their 
faces towards the north, while the Roman augurs made their 
obfervations with their fates towards the fouth; the figns 
that were-prefented on the’ right-hand were regarded by the 
Greeks as fortunate, and thofe on the left as unlucky: but 
Sometimes, 
however, the Latin authors followed the Greek cuftom in 
their ufe of the word fmiffre, and apply it to unlucky 
events. 
Birds were confidered as fortunate, or unfortunate, either 
from aaa own nature, or according to the place and man- 
ner of their appearance : e fame birds, at differ- 
ent ae were fuppofed to fall different and | oa 
events, 
se ae of birds of different ay The came flying about 
an it was an excellent omen. 
j ey 
its iguana it flew from the rig 
it was one of the beft omens which the gods could give. 
both amon 
Refpedting alae there are different opinions 
the Greek a man authors : they epre- 
fented as birds of lucky omen, while Ariftotle and Pliny 
reckon them among the unlucky birds. If the hawk was 
feen feizing and devouring her prey, it portended death ; 
but 1f the prey efcaped, deliverance from danger was por- 
tended. Swallows, wherever, and un hatever circum- 
ftances they were feen, were unlucky piaa : before the de- 
feat of Pyrrhus and Antony they appeared on the tent of 
the former, and the fhip of the latter, and by difpiriting 
the minds, probably prepared the way for their feed 
difalter. 
In every part of aes aay Athens, owls were re- 
garded as unlucky bir t Athens, beirg facred to 
Rivera they were eae, aioe as omens of v eS ay 
8 
S. 
