Apollo had another famous Oracle at Eutrefis, a Village in Baotia, feated in the Way between the Thespians and the Platean Oropaan Apollo deliver'd Oracles at Orope, a City of Eubœa, as we are inform'd by Stephanus. At Orobe in Euboea there was 'ψευδέςατον μαντείον, a moft infallible Oracle of Apollo Sellinuntius; as we find in the Beginning of Strabo's tenth Book. Another Oracle of Corypean Apollo, at Corype in Theffaly, is mention'd in Nicander's Theriaca : Μαντείας Κορυπαῖ ἐθήκατο καὶ θέμιν ἀνδρῶν. 'Tis reported by Athenæus, that the Carians on a certain time confulted Apollo's Oracle at Hybla; which Cafaubon would have to be read Aba, but for no better Reason, than that he finds no Mention of the Hyblaan Oracle in any other Author. There was an Oracle of Apollo Icbnæus at Ichnæ in Macedonia . At Tegyre, a City in Baotia, there was an Oracle facred to Tegyraan Apollo, which was frequented till the Perfian War, but after that remain'd for ever filent " Not lefs famous was Ptous, a Mountain in Baotia, for the Oracles given by Apollo, firnam'd Ptous from that Place, where was a Temple dedicated to him. This Oracle ceas'd when Thebes was demolish'd by Alexander ". Apollo, firnam'd Aaova from Daphne his beloved Mistress, or the Laurel, into which she was transform'd, had an Oracle near the Caftalian Fountain, the Waters of which were also endued with a prophetick Virtue *. Apollo was call'd Ifmenius, from Ifmenus, a River and Mountain in Baotia, in which he had a Temple, and gave Answers to those that came to enquire of him. Paufanias hath told us of another Place in Baotia where Apollo return'd Answers, viz. a Stone call'd woevisne, upon which he had an Altar, erected out of the Ashes of Victims offer'd to him; whence he was call'd Spodius from cès i. e. Afbes; whence for Eróvd in Paufanias must be read Ewód. He did not here, as in other Places, fignify his Will by infpir'd Prophets, but by xandóves, ominous Sounds, in the Obfervation of which he inftructed Perfons appointed for that purpose; for this Way of Divination was in ufe amongst the Grecians, efpecially at Smyrna, faith my Author, where was a Temple built on the Out-fide of the City-Wall for that Purpose. Thus much of the Oracles of Apollo. Rophonius, the Son of Erefinus, and Brother of Agamedes, a beTing poffefs'd with an immoderate Thirst of Glory, built himfelf a Manfion under Ground, at Lebadea a City of Baotia, into which when he enter'd, he pretended to be infpired with an extraordinary Knowledge of future Events; but at length, either out of Defign to raise in Men an Opinion, that he was tranflated to the Gods, or being Cicero giveth fome way neceffitated thereto, perifh'd in his Hole . us a very different account of his Death, when he tells us, that Trophonius and Agamedes, having built Apollo's Temple at Delphi, requefted of the God, that, as a Recompence for their Labour, he would give them the best Thing that could happen to Man; Apollo granted their Petition, and promis'd them, that it fhould be effected the third Day after; accordingly, on that Day in the Morning they were found dead. Several other Fables concerning him, and the manner of his Death, are related in the Scholiaft upon the Clouds of Ariftophanes. However that be, Trophonius had Divine Honours paid him after Death, and was worship'd by the name of Jupiter Trophonius d. Nor was it a thing unusual for Men deified to be honour'd with the name of a God, several Inftances whereof might be produc'd, but one fhall fuffice for all, viz. that of Agamemnon, who was worship'd at Sparta by the name of Jupiter Agamemnon, as Lycophron witnesseth *. Εμὸς δ' ακοίτης, δμωίδος, νύμφης ἄναξ, Then shall my Husband, whom a Captive Bride I now obey as my fuperior Lord, By fubtle crafty Spartans Jove be call'd, And worship fo, from their Pofterity E. D. Which words Caffandra fpeaks of Agamemnon, whofe Captive and Concubine she was after the Deftruction of Troy. This Oracle came firft into repute on this Account: On a time, when for the Space of two Years there had been no Rain in Baotia, all the Cities of that Country, with a joint Confent, appointed chofen Perfons to go to Delphi, there to pay their Devotions to Apollo, in the Name of their Country, and defire his Advice and Affiftance: The God accepted their Piety, but return'd them no other Anfwer, than that they fhould go home, and confult Trophonius at Lebadea. The Ambaffadors immediately obey'd, and repair'd to Lebadea, ftill • Suidas voce Τροφώνιος. Hb. ix. re Caffandr. v. 1123. maining as much in the dark, as at first; there being not the least Sign or Foot-step of any Oracle in that Place: At length, when they had fearch'd a long time to no purpose, and began to defpair of Succefs, one Saon, an Acrephian, the Senior of all the Ambassadors, espy'd a Swarm of Bees, and immediately took up a Refolution to follow them; by this means he came to a Čave, into which he had no fooner enter'd, but by fome evident Tokens perceiv'd, that in that Place was the Oracle, Apollo had commanded them to enquire of. Upon this he pay'd his Devotion to Trophonius, and receiv'd from him a welcome and fatisfactory 'Anfwer, together with Inftructions, in what Manner, and with what Rites and Ceremonies he would have thofe that should come for Advice, to approach him F. The Place of this Oracle was under the Surface of the Earth, and therefore it was commonly call'd nalabaolov, and Perfons that confulted it xalacaivovs, because the way to it was a Defcent. Concerning it there are innumerable Fables, which it would not be worth the while to mention in this Place; I fhall therefore pafs them by, only giving you the Accounts Paufanias and Plutarch have left of it; the former of which confulted it in Perfon, and thereby had opportunity of being an Eye-witnefs of what he reports. His Words are thus tranflated by Mr. Abel : "Whofoe'er's Exigencies oblige him to go into the Cave, muft in "the first Place make his abode for fome fet-time in the Chapel of "Good Genius and Good Fortune; during his ftay here he abstains from "hot Baths, and employs himself in performing other forts of Atone"ment for past Offences; he is not wholly debarr'd bathing, but then "it must be only in the River Hercynna, having a fufficient Suftenance " from the Leavings of the Sacrifices. At his going down, he facrificeth "to Trophonius and his Sons, to Apollo, Saturn, and Jupiter, (who hath the Title of King) to Juno Heniocha, and Ceres, call'd Europa, reported to be Trophonius's Nurfe. There's a Priest stands confulting "the Bowels of every Sacrifice, who, according to the Victim's Afpects, prophefies whether the Deity will give an aufpicious and fatisfactory Anfwer. The Entrails of all the Sacrifices confer but little towards «the revealing of Trophonius's Answer, unless a Ram, which they offer in a Ditch, to Agamedes, with fupplication for Succefs, that Night on which they defcend, prefents the fame Omens with the former; on this depends the Ratification of all the reft, and without it their former Oblations are of none Effect: If fo be this Ram doth agree with the former, every one forthwith defcends, back'd with the eagerness of good Hopes; and thus is the Manner : Immediately they go that Night along with the Priests to the River "Hercynna, where they are anointed with Oil, and wash'd by two Citizen's Boys, aged about Thirteen Years, whom they call Epus, i. e. Mercuries: Thefe are they that are employ'd in washing whoever « hath a mind to confult; neither are they remifs in their Duty, but, as much as can be expected from Boys, carefully perform all things neceffary. Having been wafh'd, they are not straightway conducted by the Priests to the Oracle, but are brought to the River's Rifes, « which are adjacent to one another: Here they must drink a Dofe Paufanias Bæoticis, of 1 "of the Water of it, call'd Lethe, or Oblivion, to deluge with oblivion "all those things, which fo lately were the greatest part of their con 86 66 86 86 cerns. After that, they take the Water of Mnemosyne, viz. Remem"brance, to retain the remembrance of those things, that fhall be exhibited to them in their Defcent; amongst which is expos'd a Statue, adorn'd with that admirable carving, that it's fet up by the "People for Dadalus's workmanship; whereupon they never exhibit, "it, unless to Defcendants: to this therefore, after fome venerable "obeifance, having mutter'd over a Prayer or two, in a linen Habit, "fet off with Ribbands, and wearing Pantofles, agreeable with the "fashion of the Country, they approach the Oracle, which is fituated " within a Mountain near a Grove, the Foundation of which is built fpherical-wife, of white Stone, about the fize, in circumfererence, "of a very fmall Threshing-floor, but in height fcarce two Cubits, fupporting brazen Obelisks, encompafs' d round with Ligaments of Brafs, between which there are Doors that guide their Paffage into "the midst of the Floor, where there's a fort of a Cave, not the product of rude Nature, but built with the niceft accuracy of Mechanifm and Proportion; the Figure of this Workmanship is like an Oven, its breadth diametrically (as nigh as can be gueft) about nine Cubits, its depth eight, or thereabouts; for the Guidance to which "there are no Stairs, wherefore 'tis requir'd that all Comers bring a narrow and light Ladder with them, by which when they are come "down to the bottom, there's a Cave between the Roof and the Pavement, being in breadth about two dual, and in height not "above one; at the mouth of this, the Defcendant, having brought with him Cakes dipt in Honey, lies along on the Ground and "fhoves himself Feet foremost into the Cave; then he thrufts in his Knees, after which the reft of his Body is roll'd along, by a Force not unlike that of a great and rapid River, which over-powering a * Man with its Vortex, tumbles him over Head and Ears. All that come within the Approach of the Oracle, have not their Answers "reveal'd the fame Way: Some gather their Refolves from outward Appearances, others by word of Mouth; they all return the fame way back, with their Feet foremost. Among all that have defcended, 'twas never known that any was loft, except one of the Lifeguard of Demetrius; and befides, 'tis credible the Reafon proceed"ed from the Neglect of the Rituals in his Defcent, and his ill Defign, "for he went not out of neceffity to confult, but out of an avarici"ous Humour, for the facrilegious Conveyance back of the Gold and "Silver, which was there religioufly beitow'd; wherefore 'tis faid, "that his Carcafe was thrown out fome other way, and not at the Entrance of the facred Shrine. Among the various Reports that fly "abroad concerning this Man, I've deliver'd to Pofterity the most "" remarkable. The Priefts, as foon as the Confultant is return'd, place him on Mnemofyne's Throne, which is not very far from "the Shrine; here they enquire of him, what he had feen or heard; "which when he hath related, they deliver him to others, who (as appointed for that Office) carry him ftupify'd with Amazement, and forgetful of himself, and thofe about him, to the Chapel "of Good Genius and Good Fortune, where he had made his former 66 66 68 66 "ftay at his going down; here, after fome time, he's reftor'd to his "former Senfes, and the chearfulness of his Vifage returns again. What "I here relate, was not receiv'd at fecond-hand, but either as by ocular "Demonftration I have perceiv'd in others; or what I've prov'd true "by my own Experience; for all Confultants are oblig'd to hang up, "engraven on a Tablet, what they have seen or heard. Thus far Paufanias. Plutarch's Relation concerns the Appearances exhibited to Confultants; which tho' they were various, and feldom the fame, being it is a remarkable Story, I will give it you, as it is tranfla ted by the fame Hand: 66 66 "Timarchus, being a Youth of Liberal Education, and just initi"ated in the Rudiments of Philofophy, was greatly defirous of know"ing the Nature and Efficacy of Socrates's Damon; wherefore commu"nicating his Project to no Mortal Body but Me and Cebes, after the "Performance of all the Rituals requifite for Confultation, He de"fcended Trophonius's Cave; where having ftay'd two Nights and one "Day, his return was wholly defpair'd of, infomuch that his Friends "bewail'd Him as dead: In the Morning He came up very brisk, and "in the first Place paid fome venerable Acknowledgments to the God; "after that having efcap'd the flaring Rout, He laid open to us a prodigious Relation of what he had feen or heard, to this Purpofe: In his Defcent, he was befet with a caliginous Mift, upon "which he pray'd, lying proftrate for a long time, and not having Senfe enough to know whether he was awake or in a Dream, He fur"mifes, that he receiv'd a Blow on his Head, with fuch an ecchoing Violence, as diffever'd the Sutures of his Skull, thro' which his Soul migrated; and being difunited from the Body, and mixt with bright "and refin'd Air, with a feeming Contentment, began to breathe "for a long time, and being dilated like a full Sail, was wider than "before. After this, having heard a fmall Noife, whiftling in "his Ears a delightfome found; he look'd up, but faw not a Spot of Earth, only Islands reflecting a glimmering Flame, interchangeably "receiving different Colours, according to the various Degrees of Light. They feem'd to be of an infinite Number, and of a stupendous "fize, not bearing an equal Parity betwixt one another in this, tho' "they were all alike, viz. Globular: it may be conjectur'd, that the "Circumrotation of these mov'd the Ether, which occafion'd that Whistling, the gentle Pleasantnefs of which bore an adequate Agreement with their well-tim'd Motion. Between these there was a Sea, or Lake, which fpread out a Surface glittering with many "Colours, intermixt with an azure; fome of the Islands floated in its "Stream, by which they were driven on the other fide of the Torrent; many others were carried to and fro, fo that they were wellnigh funk. This Sea, for the most part, was very fhallow and ford"able, except towards the South, where 'twas of a great Depth; it very often ebb'd and flow'd, but not with a high Tide; some part "of it had a natural Sea-colour, untainted with any other, as miry "and muddy as any Lake: The Rapidnefs. of the Torrent carry'd "back thofe Islands from whence they had grounded, not fituating them in the fame Place as at firft, or bringing them about with a 66 66 66 "Circum |