Agricola, Georgius - De re metallica

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6[Figure 6]

A—TWIG. B—TRENCH.
men in discovering veins. With regard to deflection of branches of trees
they say nothing and adhere to their opinion.

Since this matter remains in dispute and causes much dissention
amongst miners, I consider it ought to be examined on its own merits. The
wizards, who also make use of rings, mirrors and crystals, seek for veins
with a divining rod shaped like a fork; but its shape makes no difference
in the matter,—it might be straight or of some other form—for it is not
the form of the twig that matters, but the wizard's incantations
which it would not become me to repeat, neither do I wish to do so. The
Ancients, by means of the divining rod, not only procured those things neces
sary for a livelihood or for luxury, but they were also able to alter the forms
of things by it; as when the magicians changed the rods of the Egyptians
into serpents, as the writings of the Hebrews relate22; and as in Homer,
Minerva with a divining rod turned the aged Ulysses suddenly into a youth,
and then restored him back again to old age; Circe also changed Ulysses'
companions into beasts, but afterward gave them back again their human
form23; moreover by his rod, which was called “Caduceus,” Mercury gave

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