some of the Greeks and Romans, who were successively Masters of Egypt, would have mentioned it at least, before Zosimus's Time. Such a Notice whether with Approbation, or Contempt, had been sufficient to ascertain the Reality of such a Tradition. Tacitus (l)(l) Annal. Lib. XVI. tells us that Nero sent into Africa to find some Gold, that was pretended to be hid under Ground: This would have been an excellent Opportunity for him to have examined into this Tradition, or to have punished those, who either falsly pretended to an Art which they had not, or would not discover the true Secret; which in his Opinion would have been equally criminal; and had Nero done it, Pliny would have told us of it, who was very inquisitive to collect all the Stories he could find of every thing that he treats about, whereof Gold (m)(m) Nat. Hist. Lib. XXXIII. cap. 1, 2, 3, 4. is one that is not slightly passed over; and besides, he never omits a Story because it appears strange, and incredible, if we may judge of what he has left out, by what he has put in, but often ranges the wonderful Qualities of natural Bodies under distinct Heads, that they might be the more observed.
To evade the Force of this Argument, Borrichius (n)(n) Herm. Ægypt. says that the Egyptians were afraid of their Conquerours, and soindustriously
