t 20 ] 



fadtors ; imagining that they, who in 

 Knowledge and Goodnefs fo much fur- 

 paffed the reft of Mankind, could not 

 polTibly be of the fame Nature with them. 



Many have been the Suggeftions with 

 refped to the Symbols they bear, but they 

 are all arbitrary, and may be varioufly in- 

 terpreted. 



Ofiris^ Ifis^ and Orus^ or Harpocrates^ 

 held the firft Rank among the Gods of 

 the Egyptians^ but IJis was in the greateft 

 ^Efteem ; for the Worfhip they paid her 

 was much more frequent, and her Feafts 

 more folemn than thofe of the others. 

 The G7'eeks and Romans^ it is imagined, 

 facrificed to the fame Gods, under diffe- 

 rent Names. 



The Egyptians had the greateft Vene- 

 ration imaginable for Cats, infomuch that 

 they inflidled moft fevere Punifhments on 

 thofe who were unfortunate enough to 

 kill one of them, whether on Purpofe, or 

 by Accident. They often reprefented 



Ailurus^ 



