Manetho Astrologus, Apotelesmatica

μάντιες ἀστρονόμοι τʼ οἰωνοπόλοι τʼ ἐγένοντο

they became seers, astronomers and augurs,

ἐκ σπλάγχνων τε βροτοῖς θυέων τʼ ἄπο θεσπίζοντες,

prophesying to mortals from entrails and from burnt offerings,

ἢ μάγοι ἀρρήτοισι θεοὺς καλέοντες ἀοιδαῖς.

or magi, calling the gods with unspeakable songs.

εἰ δʼ Ἑρμῆς μὲν ὅροις Ζηνὸς πέλοι, ἔμπαλι δʼ Ἑρμοῦ

But if Hermes should be in the terms of Zeus, and in turn in those of Hermes

κεῖνος, ἰδ’ ἀλλήλους φιλίαις ἀκτῖσιν ὁρῷεν,

that one [Zeus], and they look upon each other with friendly rays,

ἀράμενοι παλάμαις ὑπὸ τύμπανα φάσγανον ὀξὺ

lifting a sharp sword in their palms to the sound of drums,

μιμοῦνται δυσαγῆ Κυβελήιον ἔνθεον Ἄττιν.

they imitate the accursed, god-possessed Attis of Cybele.

ἢν δʼ Ἄρης ζώοις ἐπὶ φωλεύουσι τὰ κέντρα

But if Ares, having the angles in the lurking signs

ξυνὰ Ζηνὶ λαχὼν κατίδῃ Κρόνον ὄνθʼ ὑπόγειον,

shared with Zeus, should look upon Cronus when he is below the earth,

ῥιζοτόμους τεύχει, παραβαλλομένους, ἐπαοιδούς,

he makes root-cutters, men who court danger, enchanters,

ζητοῦντας θάνατον κακοδαίμονα καὶ μόρον αὔτως

seeking an ill-starred death, and likewise the doom

ἀσπίδος αἰνομανοῦς πλατυαύχενος, ἡδʼ ἄῤ ἐχίδνης

of the dread-raging, broad-necked asp, and of the viper,

διψάδος αἱμοβόρου φοβερὸν θάνατον προκαλοῦντος,

the blood-devouring dipsas [thirst-snake], which summons a fearful death

Τανταλικῇ κολάσει ὑπὸ γαμφηλῇσιν ὀδοῦσιν

with a Tantalean punishment, as beneath its jaws, with its teeth,

ἰὸν ἐρευγομένης ἐπιδίψιον ἄσθματι δεινῷ.

it belches out thirst-bringing venom with a terrible breath.