Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/83

Rh of fate, we read it chiefly for the facts, and leave the philosophy alone. Of this I will say nothing, except that it is often poetical and sometimes fine; but will briefly recount the points which interest the members of this Society, adding a word as to the translation.

Some information is given about the oracles of Colophon, Delphi, and Branchidae (not Brandchids, as Taylor writes it, perhaps for some such occult reason as made Madame Blavatsky write of the Agathodaimon and the Kakothodaimon). Most of Book III. is taken up with Divination: its origin (112), processes (as through dreams 115, water or vapour 140, 153, odour 205, standing on diagrams or cabalistic signs 147, viscera of birds 156), the things used (190): the conditions, as abstinence from sexual intercourse (218), animal food (228), and touching a dead body (275); threats used by the invoker (279), and mystical names without meaning (289). The condition is described of those possessed or inspired: fire and pain hurts them no whit (122), and they can pass through the air (124); inspiration by certain strains of music is alluded to (129). Phantasms are produced by sorcery (221). Sacred animals are touched upon (277) and the properties of certain animals (222, 234 ff.); and mystical numbers (234 ff.). Astrology comes in very often. Of phalli we are told that their exhibition has a purifying effect (53).

The translation as a whole reads well, but two faults are to be found in it. First, the author is too fond of simply Anglicizing Greek words. On p. 93 we read: "that which purifies souls is perfect in the Gods, but in archangels it is anagogic;" where the meaning is that it uplifts or attracts. P. 94 the words, "generative combinations of spiritual natures," is translated "genesiurgic compositions of pneumatic substances," which to modern ears conveys other suggestions. This fault runs through the book. The second is more serious; there are not a few inaccuracies. I have not compared the whole of the translation with the Greek, but have done so where I could not understand it, and all through the more interesting parts of Book III., and I add a few examples. P. 134, where a word used is ("they alleged"), the translation paraphrases it the "much celebrated" inspiration. Then we have words which are really not intelligible; as "la-