Chapter XXVII.—Futility of This Theory of Stellar Influence.
Since, therefore, we have explained the astonishing wisdom of these men, and have not concealed their overwrought art of divination by means of contemplation, neither shall I be silent as regards (undertakings) in the case of which those that are deceived act foolishly. For, comparing the forms and dispositions of men with names of stars, how impotent their system is! For we know that those originally conversant with such investigations have called the stars by names given in reference to propriety of signification and facility for future recognition. For what similarity is there of these (heavenly bodies) with the likeness of animals, or what community of nature as regards conduct and energy (is there in the two cases), that one should allege that a person born in Leo should be irascible, and one born in Virgo moderate, or one born in Cancer wicked, but that those born in…
[27] Ἐπεὶ καὶ τούτων τὴν θαυμαστὴν σοφίαν ἐξεθέμεθα τήν τε πολυμέριμνον αὐτῶν δι' ἐπινοίας μαντικὴν οὐκ ἀπεκρύψαμεν, οὐδ' ἐν οἷς σφαλλόμενοι ματαιάζουσι σιωπήσομεν: ἄστρων γὰρ ὀνόμασιν εἴδη καὶ φύσεις ἀνθρώπων παραβάλλοντες πῶς [οὐκ] ἠσθένησαν; τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἄστρα ἴσμεν τοὺς ἀπ' ἀρχῆς, νομίσαντας εἰδ[ώλ]ων [σχήματα] κατανοεῖν, ὀνόμασι κεκληκέναι πρὸς τὸ εὔσημα καὶ εὐεπίγνωστα τυγχάνειν: τίς γὰρ τούτων ὁμοιότης πρὸς τὴν τῶν ζῳδίων εἰκόνα ἢ τίς ὁμοία φύσις πράξεώς τε καὶ ἐνεργείας, ἵνα τις τὸν [μὲν] ἐν Λέοντι φάσκῃ θυμικόν, τὸν δὲ ἐν Παρθένῳ μέτριον, ἢ [τὸν μὲν] ἐν Καρκίνῳ κακόν, τὸν δὲ ἐν [**]