From Metamorphoses (The Golden Ass), Book IX (Loeb translation), on the topic of divination:
(Editorial) Latin
Pauculis ibi diebus commorati et munificentia publica saginati vaticinationisque crebris mercedibus suffarcinati, purissimi illi sacerdotes novum quaestus genus sibi comminiscuntur. Sorte unica pro casibus pluribus enotata consulentes de rebus variis plurimos ad hunc modum cavillantur. Sors haec erat:
Ideo coniuncti terram proscindunt boves,
ut in futurum laeta germinent sata.
Tum si qui matrimonium forte coaptantes interrogarent, rem ipsam responderi aiebant: iungendos conubio et satis liberum procreandis. Si possessiones praestinaturus quaereret, merito “boves” [ut] et iugum et arva sementis florentia pronuntiari. Si qui de profectione sollicitus divinum caperet auspicium, iunctos iam paratosque quadripedum cunctorum mansuetissimos et lucrum promitti de glebae germine. Si proelium capessiturus vel latronum factionem persecuturus utiles necne processus sciscitaretur, addictam victoriam forti praesagio contendebant, quippe cervices hostium iugo subactum iri et praedam de rapinis uberrimam fructuosamque captum iri.
Ad istum modum divinationis astu captioso corraserant non parvas pecunias.
English (1989)
After they had stayed there just a few days, fattened at public expense and stuffed with the many profits of their soothsaying, those chaste and holy priests devised for themselves a new sort of business venture. They wrote out a single prophecy that would fit many circumstances and used it to fool the many people who came to consult them about various matters. The prophecy read as follows:
[Ideo coniuncti terram proscindunt boves,
ut in futurum laeta germinent sata.]
Together yoked do cattle cleave the earth,
To bring the fertile seeds to future birth.
If, for example, people who were planning a marriage alliance consulted them, they would say that this event was clearly recommended by the oracle: they ought to be “yoked” in marriage with “seeds” of children to be begotten. If someone enquired about buying property, the oracle logically prophesied “cattle”, as well as a “yoke” of land and flourishing fields of “seedlings”. If anyone sought divine auspices when he was worried about starting out on a trip, they said that the tamest of all quadrupeds were now “yoked” and ready, and that profit was foretold by the “fertility” of the sod. If someone were about to undertake a battle or pursue a band of robbers and wanted to know whether or not the results would be worthwhile, they would argue that victory was guaranteed by this encouraging prophecy: the enemies’ necks would be driven under the “yoke,” and a very rich and fruitful booty would be taken from their plunderings.
In this manner they had raked together no little cash with the cunning sophistry of their prognistication.
This passage describes galli, the eunuch priests of the Phrygian goddess Cybele and her consort Attis. They are similar or identical to the Greek Korybantes.
Cybele was adopted as a Roman state goddess in 204 BCE (549 AUC), but Metamorphoses is set in first-century Greece, specifically in Thessalia.
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