the same. But shee weeping in lamentable
wise, did swear by all the gods, that shee was not culpable of this
crime. No quoth the old man, here is one sent by the providence of
God to try out the matter, even Zachlas an Egypptian, who is the most
principall Prophecier in all this countrey, and who was hired of me for
money to reduce the soule of this man from hell, and to revive his body
for the triall hereof. And therewithall he brought forth a certaine
young man cloathed in linnen rayment, having on his feet a paire of
pantofiles, and his crowne shaven, who kissed his hands and knees,
saying, O priest have mercy, have mercy I pray thee by the Celestiall
Planets, by the Powers infernall, by the vertue of the naturall
elements, by the silences of the night, by the building of Swallows nigh
unto the towne Copton, by the increase of the floud Nilus, by the secret
mysteries of Memphis, and by the instruments and trumpets of the Isle
Pharos, have mercy I say, and call to life this dead body, and make that
his eyes which he closed and shut, may be open and see. Howbeit we meane
not to strive against the law of death, neither intend we to deprive the
earth of his right, but to the end this fact may be knowne, we crave
but a small time and space of life. Whereat this Prophet was mooved, and
took a certaine herb and layd it three times against the mouth of the
dead, and he took another and laid upon his breast in like sort. Thus
when hee had done hee turned himself into the East, and made certaine
orisons unto the Sunne, which caused all the people to marvell greatly,
and to looke for this strange miracle that should happen. Then I pressed
in amongst them nigh unto the biere, and got upon a stone to see this
mysterie, and behold incontinently the dead body began to receive
spirit, his principall veines did moove, his life came again and he held
up his head and spake in this sort: Why doe you call mee backe againe to
this transitorie life, that have already tasted of the water of Lethe,
and likewise been in the deadly den of Styx? Leave off, I pray, leave
off, and let me lie in quiet rest. When these words were uttered by the
dead corps, the Prophet drew nigh unto the Biere and sayd, I charge
thee to tell before the face of all the people here the occasion of thy
death: What, dost thou thinke that I cannot by my conjurations call up
the dead, and by my puissance torment thy body? Then the corps moved
his head again, and made rever