OR

ELUCIDATIONS OF THE MARVELLOUS.

BY

ΑΝ ΟΧΟΝΙΑΝ.

* Bombastes kept the devil's bird,
Shut in the pommel of his sword,
And taught him all the cunning pranks,
Of past and future mountebanks."

Hudibras

LONDON:

EDWARD CHURTON, 26, HOLLES STREET.

MDCCCXXXV.

LONDON:

SCHULZE AND CO. 13 POLAND STREET.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Demonology-The Devil, a most unaccountable person-

age-Who is he?-His predilection for old women-

Traditions concerning evil spirits &c.

CHAPTER II.

Magic and Magical rites.

Jewish magi.

CHAPTER III.

Page

1

14

On the several kinds of magic.

Augury, or divinations drawn from the flight and feed-

ing of birds.

Aruspices, or divinations drawn from brute or human

sacrifices.

Divisions of divination by the ancients-prodigies, etc.

CHAPTER IV.

49

51

History of Oracles-The principal oracles of antiquity. 54

The oracle of Jupiter Hammon.

6487

899

55

The oracle of Delphos, or Pythian Apollo.

Ceremonies practised on consulting oracles.

Oracles often equivocal and obscure.

Urim and Thummim.

Reputation of oracles, how lost.

Cessation of oracles

Had demons any share in the oracles?

Of oracles, the artifices of priests of false divinities

CHAPTER V.

The British Druids, or magi-Origin of fairies-Ancient

superstitions-Their skill in medicine, etc.

The British magi.

75

84

Inferior deities attending mankind from their birth to

their decease.

CHAPTER VIII.

. 96

Judicial astrology-Its chemical application to the

prolongation of life and health-Alchymical delu-

sions.

102

The Fated Parricide; an oriental tale of the stars.

. 132

Page

Application of astrology to the prolongation of life, etc. 137

Oneirocritical presentiment, illustrating the cause, effects,

principal phenomena, and definition of dreams, etc.

Cause of Dreams..

Poetical illustrations of the effects of the imagination

154

157

158

. 162

. 170

CHAPTER XI.

Principal phenomena in dreaming.

Definition of dreams.

On Incubation, or the art of healing by visionary divi-

nation.

СНАРТER XII.

. 178

On amulets, charms, talismans-Philters, their origin

and imaginary efficacy, etc.

Amulets used by the common people.

197

. 200

Eccentricities, caprices, and effects, of the imagination. 203

Doctrine of Effluvia-Miraculous cures by means of

charms, amulets, etc.

CHAPTER XIII.

. 207

On talismans-some curious natural

ones, etc.

. 214