Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/470



Moreover of those signs and Characters Porphyrie speaks in his book De Responsis, saying that they did signifie the gods themselves, by whom they did enjoy things, and by which they were called forth, and which were to be offered to them: And did show the figures of the images what they should be; and that he perceived these things concerning the Oracle of Proserpina. He saith moreover that Hecate commanded how images should be constituted to her, and that they were to be cirrounded with wormwood, and that domestick mice were to be painted, & the finest ornaments such as were most pleasing to her, and so many mice as her forms were to be taken; then blood, myrrhe, storax, and other things were to he burnt: Which things if they were done, she would appear, and answer the worker thereof by dreams. But we shall here under-write the Oracle of Hecate; for thus she speaks,

Marke I will teach What statue thou shalt make For me; boughs of the wood, and wormwood take, Then garnisg it, on't paint domestick mice; Let ornaments be fair, and of great price. Then frankincense, myrrh, storax mix't with blood Of mice, then sing thou words secret and good; As thou seest shapes of mine, so on it lay, As many reall mice; then take the bay,