Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/506

 from men his spirit fell upon Elisha: and elsewhere we read that God took of the spirit which was in Moses, and gave it to 70. men. Here lies a great secret, and not rashly to be revealed. Sometimes also (which yet is very rare) souls are driven with such a madness that they do enter the bodies not only of the living, but also by a certain hellish power wander into dead Carkasses, and being as it were revived commit horrid wickednesses, as we read in Saxo Grammaticus, that Asuitas and Asmundus, two certain men vowed one to the other, that he that should live longest should be buried with him that was first dead: at length Asuitus being first dead, is buried in a great vault with his dog, and horse, with whom also Asmundus by reason of his oath of friendship, suffered himself to be buried alive, (meat which he should for a long time eat, being brought to him); in processe of time Ericus King of Suecia, passing by that place with an army, breaking up the tomb of Asuitus (supposing that there was treasure) the vault being opened, brought forth Asmundus: whom, when he saw having a hideous look, being smeared over with filthy corrupt blood which flowed from a green wound (for Asuitus being revived, in the nights, took off with often struggling his right ear), he commanded him to tell him the cause of that wound: which he declares in these verses;

Why doth my visage wan you thus amaze? Since he that lives amongst the dead, the grace Of beauty needs must lose; I know not yet What daring Stygian feind of Asuit The spirit sent from hell, who there did eat A horse, and dog, and being with this meat Not as yet suffic'd, then set his claws on me, Pull'd off my cheek, mine ear, and hence you see My ugly, wounded, mangled, bloody face; This monstrous Wight returned not to his place Without receiv'd revenge; I presently His head cut off, and with a stake did I   His body thorough run -

Pausanias tels a story