XVII.—Of Their Images.

A few wicked and empty poets delude you; while they seek with difficulty to procure their living, they adorn falsehood to be for others under the guise of mystery.  Thence feigning to be smitten by some deity, they sing of his majesty, and weary themselves under his form.  Ye have often seen the Dindymarii, with what a din they enter upon luxuries while they seek to feign the furies, or when they strike their backs with the filthy axe, although with their teaching they keep what they heal by their blood.  Behold in what name they do not compel those who first of all unite themselves to them with a sound mind.  But that they may take away a gift, they seek such minds.  Thence see how all things are feigned.  They cast a shadow over a simple people, lest they should believe, while they perish, the thing once for all proceeded in vanity from antiquity, that a prophet who uttered false things might be believed; but their majesty has spoken nought.

XVII.---DE SIMULACRIS EORUM.

0213B Deludunt vos pauci scelerati vates inanes. 0214A Extricare suam dum quaerunt vitam; Subornant aliis esse sub mysteria falsum. Inde simulantes concuti numine quodam, Majestatemque canunt, et se sub figura fatigant. Vidistis saepe Dindymarios, quali fragore Luxurias ineunt dum furias fingere quaerunt, Aut cum dorsa sua allidunt spurca bipenne: Cum doctrina sua servant quod cruore sanant. Respicite quo non illos nomine cogunt, Ipsis qui se primum compununt integra mente. Sed stipem ut tollant, ingenia talia quaerunt. Ex eo videte, quoniam sunt omnia ficta. Obumbrant populum simplicem, perituri ni credant. Res semel in vano de vetustate processit, Ut vaticinanti credatur prodenti falsa. 0214B Majestas autem illorum nulla locuta est.