And they, measuring the letters up [and] down, have wandered into trifling. For if they fail, they say, in putting forward the difficulty. Perhaps this name was not a family one, but imposed, as also lighting in the instance they argue in the case of [the names] Ulysses and Ajax. Who, taking occasion from this astonishing philosophy, and desirous of being styled "Heresiarch," will not be extolled?
But since, also, there is another more profound art among the all-wise speculators of the Greeks (to whom heretical individuals boast that they attach themselves as disciples, on account of their employing the opinions of these [ancient philosophers] in reference to the doctrines attempted [to be established] by themselves, as shall a little afterwards be proved); but this is an art of divination, by examination of the forehead,[1] or rather, I should say, it is madness: yet we shall not be silent as regards this [system]. There are some who ascribe to the stars fibres that mould the ideas[2] and dispositions of men, assigning the reason of this to births [that have taken place] under particular stars; they thus express themselves: Those who[3] are born under Aries will be of the following kind: long head, red hair, contracted eyebrows, pointed forehead, eyes grey and lively,[4] drawn cheeks, long-nosed, expanded nostrils, thin lips, tapering chin, wide mouth. These, he says, will partake of the following nature: cautious, subtle, perspicuous,[5] prudent, indulgent, gentle, over-anxious, persons of secret resolves, fitted for every undertaking, pre-
- ↑ In the margin of the ms. is the note, "Opinion of the Metopiscopists."
- ↑ These words are out of place. See next note.
- ↑ There is evidently some displacement of words here. Miller and Schneidewin suggest: "There are some who ascribe to the influence of the stars the natures of men; since, in computing the births of individuals, they thus express themselves as if they were moulding the species of men." The Abbe Cruice would leave the text as it is, altering only τυποῦντες ἰδέας into τύπων τε ἰδέας.
- ↑ Literally, "jumping;" others read "blackish," or "expressive" (literally, "talking"). The vulgar reading, ὑπὸ ἄλλοις, is evidently untenable.
- ↑ Or "cowardly," or "cowards at heart;" or some read, καροποιοὶ i.e. "causative of gladness."
