The wisdom of the Persian Magi was (besides other things proper to them) conversant in prediction:  they foretold the cruelty of Ochus towards his subjects, and his bloody disposition, which they collected from some secret signs.  For when Ochus, upon the death of his father Artaxerxes, came to the crown, the Magi charged one of the Eunuchs that were next him, to observe upon what things, when the table was set before him, he first laid hands; who watching intentively, Ochus reached forth both his hands, and with his right, laid hold of a knife that lay by, with the other, took a great loaf, which he laid upon the meat, and did cut and eat greedily.  The Magi, hearing this, foretold that there would be plenty during his reign, and much blood shed.  In which they erred not.

It is observed, that on the sixth day of the month Thargelion, many good fortunes have befallen not only the Athenians, but divers others.  Socrates was born on this day, the Persians vanquished on this day, and the Athenians sacrifice three hundred goats to Agrotera upon this day in pursuit of Miltiades’s Vow:  on the same day of this month was the fight of Plataea, in which the Grecians had the better; for the former fight which I mentioned was at Artemisium, neither was the victory which the Greeks obtained at Mycale on any other day; seeing that the victory at Plataea and Mycale happened on the self-same day.  Likewise Alexander the Macedonian, Son of Philip, vanquished many myriads of the Barbarians on the sixth day, when he took Darius prisoner.  All which is observed to have happened on this month.  It is likewise reported that Alexander was born and died on the same day.

Some Pythian relations affirm, that Hercules, son of Jupiter and Alcmena, was at his birth, named Heraclides; but that afterwards coming to Delphi to consult the oracle about some business, he obtained that for which he came, and received farther privately from the God, this oracle concerning himself.

      Thee Hercules doth Phoebus name,
      For thou shalt gain immortal fame.

The Peripateticks assert, that the soul in the day-time is inslaved and involved in the body, so that she cannot behold truth; but in the night, being freed from this servitude, and gathered together, as it were, in a round about the parts that are in the breast, she is more prophetick, whence proceed dreams.

Socrates said of his daemon to Theages Demodocus, and many others, that he many times perceived a voice warning him by divine instinct, which, saith he, when it comes, signifieth a dissuasion from that which I am going to do, but never persuades to do any thing.  And when any of my friends, (saith he) impart their business to me, if this voice happens, it dissuades also, giving me the like counsel:  whereupon, I dehort him who adviseth with me, and suffer him not to proceed in what he is about, following the divine admonition.  He alledged as witness here of Charmides son of Glauco, who asking his advice, whether he should exercise at the Nemean games; as soon as he began to speak, the voice gave the accustomed sigh.  Whereupon Socrates endeavoured to divert Charmides from this purpose, telling him the reason.  But he not following the advice, it succeeded ill with him.