Historical Disputation on Abaris

Muretus (η) describes this species of magic thus:

They lied that certain admirable works of magic were accomplished, that the stars were torn from the heavens, that the courses of rivers were changed, that the souls of the dead were elicited from the underworld, that diseases were sent into some, and dispelled from others.

Xenophon (ϑ), Strabo (ι), Plutarch (κ), Lucian (λ), and Herodian (μ) are believed to testify that the Persians were addicted to this, for they had the powers and excellence of herbs, trees, gems, and other things well known and perceived, and delivered oracles, predicted future events, and for this reason were held as familiar to the Gods. Whoever wishes to see more about the Persian Magi should especially consult Xenophon (ν), Clement of Alexandria (ξ), and Jacob Perizonius (o). The other species of magic, which was called συμπάθεια sympathy and sometimes also μάγεια magic, was occupied only with the more accurate knowledge of natural things, whence it is also defined by Philo (π) as ὀπτικὴ ἐπιστήμη, ἢ τὰ Φύσεως ἔργα τερανοτέραις φαντασίαις αὐγάζεται an optical science, or one by which the works of Nature are illuminated with more wonderful appearances. Who also in another place (ρ) describes the magi in such a way that he calls them τὰ Φύσεως ἔργα διερευνούμενος those investigating the works of Nature. Whence it also happened that the Greeks called the students of this kind of magic theologians or philosophers, the Gauls Druids, the Romans Sages, the Egyptians Prophets or Priests, the Indians Gymnosophists. On which matter one may especially consult Cicero (σ), Apuleius (τ), Merula (υ), Desiderius Heraldus (φ), and Caspar Barthius (χ). Some believe that those Sages who came from the East to adore our newly born Savior also applied themselves to this magic. I trust that these things related about the various species of magic satisfy my goal. From which it happens that I gladly omit here the various divisions of magic by various authors, nor do I detain the benevolent reader any longer with a more prolix definition of it, or with the narration of the various names of magi and other things pertaining to the magical art. Whoever wishes to see more on this matter should consult Nonnus (ψ), Maimonides (ω), Tatian (α), and Martin Del-Rio in a separate book (β) written on this matter, where he primarily acts to destroy curious arts and vain superstitions with arguments. One can also see