210 
Pliny's natueal histoet. 
[Book VII. 
CHAP. 53. (52.) — PEESOKS WHO HAYE COME TO LIFE AGAIN 
AFTEE BEING LAID OUT FOE BUEIAL. 
Aviola,^^ a man of consular rank, came to life again when 
on the funeral pile ; but, by reason of the Yiolence of the flames, 
no assistance could be rendered him, in consequence of which 
he was burnt alive. The same thing is said to have happened 
to L. Lamia, a man of praetorian rank. Messala, Eufus,^^ and 
many other authors, inform us, that C. ^lius Tubero, who had 
filled the office of prsetor, was also rescued from the funeral pile. 
Such then is the condition of us mortals : to these and the like 
vicissitudes of fortune are we born ; so much so, that we cannot 
be sure of any thing, no, not even that a person is dead. "With 
reference to the soul of man, we find, among other instances, 
that the soul of Hermotinus of Clazomenae was in the habit of 
leaving his body, and wandering into distant countries, whence 
it brought back numerous accounts of various things, which 
could not have been obtained by any one but a person who was 
present. The body, in the meantime, was left apparently life- 
less. At last, however, his enemies, the Cantharidae,^^ as they 
were called, burned the body, so that the soul, on its return, was 
deprived of its sheath, as it were. It is stated also, that in Pro- 
9^ We have an account of the death of Aviola, in Valerius Maximus, 
B. i. c. 8. This name occurs in the Consular Fasti, a.u.c. 806 ; but it 
could not be that of the person referred to by Valerius Maximus, as his 
work was published under the reign of Tiberius, who died a,u.c. 789. "We 
have also an account of the death of Lamia in Valerius Maximus, as oc- 
curring under the same circumstances with that of Aviola. — B. 
Poinsinet, vol. iii. pp. 251, 252, supposes, that Messala and Bufus are 
the names of two writers, and not, as usually supposed, of one only. The 
conjecture appears not improbable. — B. 
9^ Plutarch, " De Deo Socratis," gives us the same account of Hermo- 
tinus. Ajasson has remarked, not inaptly, that this story is very similar 
to the modern statements as to the effect of animal magnetism, Lemaire, iii. 
207. — B. Apuleius, in his " Defence," has a passage which is remarkable 
as clearly bearing reference to the doctrines inculcated by the mesmerists of 
modern times ; he says, " Quin et illud mecum reputo, posse animum hama- 
num, proesertim puerilemet simplicem seu carminum avocamento, sine odo- 
rum delenimento, soporari et ad oblivionem praesentium externari ; et pau- 
lisper remota corporis memoria, redigi et redire ad naturam suam quae est 
immortalis scilicet et divina ; atque ita veluti quodam sopore fatura rerum 
praesagire." 
We have no notice of any people, under this appellation, in Greece ; 
Cantharus, however, occurs as the name of an individual, and possibly 
these may have been his descendants, or the members of his family, — B, 
