Chapter XXXVI.—Mode of Managing an Apparition.

And while speaking these words, fire is seen borne through the air; but the (spectators) being horrified at the strange apparition, (and) covering their eyes, fling themselves speechless to earth. But the success of the artifice is enhanced by the following contrivance. The accomplice whom I have spoken of as being concealed, when he hears the incantation ceasing, holding a kite or hawk enveloped with tow, sets fire to it and releases it. The bird, however, frightened by the flame, is borne aloft, and makes a (proportionably) quicker flight, which these deluded persons beholding, conceal themselves, as if they had seen something divine. The winged creature, however, being whirled round by the fire, is borne whithersoever chance may have it, and burns now the houses, and now the courtyards. Such is the divination of the sorcerers.

[36] Ταῦτ' εἰπόντος αὐτοῦ πῦρ δι' ἀέρος βλέπεται φερόμενον, οἱ δὲ φρίξαντες τὸ παράδοξον τῆς θέας, καλύψαντες τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπὶ γῆς ῥιπτοῦνται ἄναυδοι. τὸ δὲ τῆς τέχνης μέγεθος τοῦτον ἔχει τὸν τρόπον: ὁ συμπαίκτης, ὃν ἔφην κεκρυμμένον [μένειν], ἡνίκα ἀκούσῃ παυσαμένης τῆς ἐπαοιδῆς, ἔχων ἰκτῖν' ἢ γῦπα περιειλημ[μ]ένον στυπείῳ, ἀνάψας ἀπολύει. ὁ δὲ ὑπὸ τῆς φλογὸς ταρασσόμενος εἰς ὕψος ἐπαίρεται καὶ ὀξυτέραν τὴν πτῆσιν ποιεῖται: ὃ ἰδόντες οἱ μάταιοι ὥς τι θεῖον ἑωρακότες κρύπτονται. τὸ δὲ πτηνὸν περιδινούμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ πυρός, οὗ ἂν φθάσῃ καταφέρεται, καὶ ποτὲ μὲν οἰκίας καταφλέγει, ποτὲ δὲ καὶ αὐλάς: τοιαύτη ἡ μάγων πρόγνωσις.