Page:True fortune teller.pdf/7

 when she was smoking, of ever being seated so that her knees almost touched her visage, her limbs became so contracted, that when she became old in years, she was almost double, which, together with her enormous length of nose and chin, her pipe, and the number of animals about her, made her cut a most hideous figure, and appear rather uncommonly terrifying to those who were not apprised of it.

Though this famous old woman had never been taught to write, yet by long practice, she had formed to herself, a kind of hieroglyphical characters, in which she deciphered her observations, knowledge, and remarks; these I found concealed within the thatch of her cave; but, as they were so unintelligible I thought it would be impossible to make head or tail of such a heap of monsters and other figures as were attempted to be drawn, and as I am rather of a studious turn, I thought as I had made it my business formerly to transcribe the Egyptian hieroglyphics, which, when they were as unintelligible to me as these, I might by perseverance get at the depth of this valuable manuscript, or at least it would serve to deposit in the British Museum, as the remains of a woman who was so famous, and whose name was so well known among mankind.

I was, therefore, determined immediately on renewing my labours with redoubled ardour and unwearied application, and at length, as perseverance and resolution will conquer difficulties, I soon found the whole mystery was opened unto me. Think of my joy—not the miser who has found a treasure he supposed lost, not a maiden who finds her lover returned after a long voyage, whom she thought perished in the waves, but finds restored to her arms with love and fidelity, not—but a truce with metaphors. It is enough to tell the reader that I was at length enabled to read this valuable work, and found by experience, that her maxims and remarks, her observations and judgment, have been extensive, are true, are strongly characteristic, and would do honour to the most experienced astrologers.

Nature sometimes in her roughest coat drops her brightest jewel, which for a long time lies hidden, till developed by some experienced adept. So we may