CHAPTER III--MERCURIUS 72-93✦

The rank of Mercury--His occupations--His statues-- Cadueceus--The purse bearer--The sword--The cup of Hermes--The four symbols--Nebo's temple--E-Sigalia-- Pozzuoli--Its merchants--The Serapeon--Serapis--Roman villas--The temple of Mercury at Baiæ--Mercurius--His work--His parentage--His Infancy--Gifts from the gods-- Golden-leaved rod--Wings--The planet--Different cognomens--Representations--Thoth--Inventions--Priests-- Sirius--Hermes introduced by the Pelasgi--Books of Thoth--Inventor of games--Great teacher--Titles of books--Connection with cards--Their scientific arrangement.

CHAPTER IV--THOTH 94-108✦

M. Maspero's description of temple--Mr. Rawlinson's account--Psammetchas--Nebo and Thoth--Symbols--The month--Its device--Tablet of Khufu or Cheops-- Hieroglyphically described--Names of gods--Qualities and titles of Thoth--At judgment seat--Sacrifices--Books-- Colleges--Priestess of Thoth--Khufu--Thotmes--Cleopatra's needles--Generations of priests--Gypsies--Hermetic books--The ghosts--Book of knowledge--Its boxes--Magical texts--Amulets--Ritual of the dead--Hall of two truths--Osiris--Confession--Three Writings--King of Sais--The dumb children--Some of the books of Thoth--The temple--Wall pictures--Origin of Atouts.

CHAPTER V--NEBO OR NABU 109-123✦

Chaldean god--Different names--Parent--Wife--Presides at birth and death--Sword as symbol--Assyrian gods--King's temples--Protector--Hymn to Nebo--Borsippa--E-Zida--Great library--Invocations--Titles--Emblems--Stylus--God of Revelations--Nabi, Naypes or prophet--Mr. Chatto's derivation--Early cards in Italy--Planet--Assyrian gods identical with Roman gods--The Moon--The month--Dog star--Sacrifices--Card emblems--Boar--Temples--Cult-- Nebuchadnezzar--All wise--Asshurbanipal--Assyrian invasion--Mingling of cults--Highway of Egypt--Cuneiform inscriptions--Tablets--Texts--Hymn to Nabu--Origin of letters.