The _last_ made his Appearance with an Army in the Air, marching before him, of winged Serpents and terrible Personages.——In fine, every one did what was taught him by the Star he served; and, after all, the whole Scene was but an Apparition and Illusion, according to their own Confession to the King, when the Farce was over[134].——Something analogous to this are the Magick Lanthorns in our days. Footnote 134: This Passage is taken out of the _Egyptian_ History of the Pyramids—by _Murtadi_ the _Arabian_, printed at _Tibe_, a City in _Arabia_, 14th of _Regebe_, 992; which corresponds to _July_ 22d, 1584; about 156 Years ago; translated into _French_, and into _English_, 1672. In antient times, the Word _Magician_ generally signified _Men of Wisdom and Learning_, i. e. of superior Knowledge in Things natural and divine, and more especially in that sort of Learning relative to the Sun, Moon, and Stars, as we learn from _Porphyry_, _Apuleius_, and others. And seeing the inspired Apostle gives them that Name (_Magicians_) not as a Mark of Infamy, but a Title of Honour, therefore does the _English_ Translation stile them _Wisemen_, such as the old _Greeks_ called σοφοι, _Sages of their Time_[135]. How, and how far this Art is degenerated, I refer to the Judgment of the Learned: We see there are Revolutions in Words, as well as in Families and Kingdoms; a _Magician_ being formerly a _Wise-man_, as well as a Knave an honest one. _Sed tempora mutantur._ Footnote 135: _Boerhaave_’s New Theory, p. 211. I shall only add to the _Aspick Subject_, the Tribute of Veneration paid to this poisonous Animal in the Land of _Egypt_. The Historian speaks of a certain Person, who, in digging, happened unawares to cut an Asp with his Spade, and went mad upon it,—was taken into the House of _Serapis_, an _Egyptian_ Idol,—the Relatives of the Patient praying the _Spectrum_ of that Serpent might be destroyed,——which being accordingly done by Magick Art, the Man was cured.——By this we see, how highly _Asps_ were venerated among the _Egyptians_, who not only suffer’d them to live, but to live in their Houses, where they were carefully fed, as Favourites of the Family[136]. And Queen _Cleopatra_’s Case was not singular, for the _Persian_ Kings kept an exquisite Poison by them, made of the Dung of an _Indian_ Bird, which would kill without putting them to pain, that they might use it themselves in case of any Disaster[137]. Footnote 136: _Circurantur cibo, cum infantibus vivunt, & crepitum digitorum vocata ex cavi prodeunt._ Jonstonus, p. 16. Footnote 137: _Atlas, Asia._ _DEMOSTHENES_, who slew his Soldier, when he was asleep, was a merciful Executioner; a kind of Punishment the Mildness of no Law has yet invented. It is strange that _Lucan_ and _Seneca_ made no discovery of it. Sleep is a kind of _Death_, by which we may literally be said to _die daily_; and in this Sense, _Adam_ may be said to die before his final Exit.