204                           OF PROPHECIES.
 

XXXV.

OF PROPHECIES.

I MEAN not to speak of Divine prophecies, nor of
heathen oracles, nor of natural predictions ; but only
of prophecies that have been of certain memory, and
from hidden causes. Saith the Pythonissa to Saul:
" To-morrow thou and thy son shall be with me."
Homer hath these verses :

" At domus ^nese cunctis dominabitur oris,
Et nati natorum, et qui nascentur ab illis :"

a  prophecy,  as   it   seems,   of  the  Roman   empire.

Seneca, the tragedian, hath these verses :

" Venient annis
Secula seris, quibus Oceanus
Vincula rerum laxet, et ingens
Pateat Tellus, Typhisque novos
Dctegat orbes ; nee sit terris
Ultima Thule -P

a prophecy of the discovery of America. The
daughter of Polycrates dreamed that Jupiter bathed
her father, and Apollo anointed him. And it came
to pass that he was crucified in an open place, where