Page:Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, 1655.djvu/143

 Of the Nature of Spirits 1 1 p

■fpaeious houfe at A thens, which no body would inhabit by reafon of the noUurnal incur pons of Spirit s^which were fo formidable to the inhabitants, that fometimes it; the day-time , and when they were watching, they would caft them into dreams , fo alwajes, that the fbapes r^r forms which they then faw^were ever prefent in their me- mory, y/here at length a certain Philofopher named A nthenodo- rus happened to pur chafe that houfe, and prepared and furnifhed the fame for him felf to dwell in ; and because all men had an evil fufpition of that houfe, he forthwith commanded hisfervants to provide him a bed and tables , that after he had compleated andfi- nifhed hisftudy he might go to bed. He therefore((&ith Pliny when he went in ( in the evening ) and applied himfelf to hit ftudy ', fuddenly heard the locks tofoake opcn,and the chains to be moved ; never the le(? he did not lift up hit eyes, nor Jlirred from his boo^ but flopped his cars with his fingers t left that furious tumult might workji vain fear upon him ; but the noife ft ill approaching iiecrcr unto him, at length he looked up , and faw an effigies like unto a finger beckoning and calling unto him-, which he little re" garded-y until it had touched hint three times , and the noife drew neer unto the table ; and then he looked up-, and tool^a light., and beheld the Spirit^ as it were an old wan-, worn away with withered leattnefi and deformitj^his beard hanging down long, horrible and deformed hair , hu legs and feet were as it were laden with chains- and fetters : he went towards a gate which was bolted^ and there left the Thilofopher, and vanifheiaway.

Caftor. What fearful things thou zehtcftyPoRux f but what was the event of this fad fpe£tade ?

Pol. The next day he related the whole matter to the Ma- giftrares in order, as he had feen the fame,admonifhing them that they fhould dig diligently about the threfhold of the door ; for there it was probable they might finde fomething, which might caufe the houfe to be quiet and habitable.

Caftor. What did they finde ?

To/. Having digged up the earth, Tliny faith, They found a dead carcafi, bound and intangled in chains and fetters , hit fiefh being confumed with devouring time, which without delay they can fed to be buried, according to the Chriftian ceremonies.

Caftor.

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