CHAPTER 3
1. Thirty-six are the thirds of the zodiacal signs which are called Drekanas (dekanos) by the Greeks. They have various clothes, forms, and colors; I will describe them with all their qualities beginning with their characteristic signs.
2. The first Decanate in Aries is a man garbed in red and having a red complexion, a fierce man whose limbs and hands are wounded and who attacks in anger. He bears golden mail and bright arrows, and his hand is upraised with an axe.
3. The second Decanate in Aries is a pale-hued warrior whose eyes are pitiless to his enemies. He is clothed in white. His head is like an elephant’s. He has arrows for weapons, and he knows the purposes of minerals and mercury. His limbs are heavy and hairy.
4. The third Decanate in Aries wears dark blue garments and has a dark blue body. Armed with a club, he is fierce. He has a blue garland of diadems. His body is exceedingly strong, and his eye-balls are like a bull’s He is like the Age of Discord.
5. The first Decanate in Taurus is a black woman, winning (all) hearts by a profusion of sidelong glances. Round her neck she wears a garland full of kadamba-flowers. She shines forth holding an axe in her hand. Her body is bowed down to by cow-herds.
6. The second Dean in Taurus is a red-faced woman whose arms and lower lip are also red. She is pre-eminent as she stands on one foot holding a jar. She is always intent on eating and drinking, and delights in gardens and woods.
7. The last Decanate in Taurus is a woman with a tender body. She has a bull’s hump, and wears a garland bright with campaka-flowers. Her eyebrows are fair, and her girdle hangs over the circle of her buttocks.
8. The first Decanate in the third sign carries a bow, and his hand is bright with arrows. He is adorned with a garland of many colors, and his necklace is pendant. The instruments of his craft are prepared. He knows how to use swords and missiles, and he wears a diadem and armour.
9. The second Decanate in Gemini is a black woman whose girdle is beautiful and whose garments are brightly colored. She delights in the arts, in singing, and in story-telling. Holding a lyre, she is pleased and delighted. Her brows are lovely, and she is graceful.
10. The third Decanate in Gemini wears red clothes and a red, pendant necklace. He is pale with red limbs, violent and fierce. The tip of his staff is red (with blood). He is the chief of a multitude of men. He bears a sword and missiles.
11. The first Decanate in the fourth sign is a woman whose words are beautiful and full of grace. Holding a lotus in her hand, she stands in the water. Pining with love, she is as pale and fair as a campaka-flower. She wears a single white garment.
12. The second Decanate in Cancer is a girl seated on a snake-throne, having a beautiful waist. Her heart is filled with kindness and affection. Her body, adorned with jewels, is beautiful, and her garments are of a pale hue.
13. The third Decanate in the fourth sign is set down as a woman who is the colour of a dark blue lotus and is pleasing to the eyes. Her upper-garment is of silk and (adorned with) bright jewelry. She is barren, but puffed up with pride in her beauty.
I4. The first Decanate in Leo has a belly and a body like a lion’s, He is fierce, armed with a sword, and arrogant with his mighty strength. His deeds are terrible and cruel, and he desires spicy food. He has many lingers (?).
15. The second Decanate in Leo is a bold woman with loose hair. She is on a mountain peak, proud in taking away the wealth of another. Terrible, she causes his death. Her actions are like those of a rogue.
16. The third Decanate in Leo is a woman whose actions are marvellous and who is cunning in respect to machines and to undertakings involving the arts, business, or jewels. Seated on an ivory throne, she considers (?) the murder of her enemies.
17. The first portion of Virgo is a black man who possesses a subtle knowledge of crafts and who knows the rules of calculating, cleverness, and story-telling. He is attached to beauty and skill, and is determined in his purpose.
18. The second Decanate in the sixth sign is a beautiful woman whose limbs are polluted by her menstruation. She loves a man in secret for the sake of a child. She is learned; striving on behalf of her people, she journeys to a foreign country.
19. The third Decanate in Virgo is a woman who is gracefully coquettish. Her face is smiling, her countenance moon-like. Her one braid of hair is adorned with ashoka-flowers, and her steps seem to stumble with intoxication.
20. The first Decanate in Libra is a man in the market-place with the implements of his trade prepared. His limbs are covered with silk and bright ornaments; his body is black and his eyes beautiful. His places are those where there are gold, merchandise, mines, and treasure.
21. The second Decanate in Libra is a fair-waisted woman who knows meanings and crafts. She wears bright garments and a bright, pendant necklace. She is clever in the office of an intermediary (between lovers) for the sake of the bridegroom. Her actions are like those of rogues and cheats.
22. The third Decanate in Libra is a man about to attack. The tops of his teeth are far apart, and the hair on his body is long, He is wearing a heavy cover. He carries a bow and is armed with a helmet. He engages in the tricks of rogues.
23. The first Decanate in the eighth sign is a blazing man whose staff is fierce to his enemies. His sword is drawn, his armor is of gold; his flames are fanned by anger. He sports with serpents whose poison is sharp.
24. The second Decanate in Scorpio is a woman with loose hair who is bound with snakes. She is robbed by thieves in the forest. With black body and completely naked she runs swiftly from a bandit, calling out terribly and shrilly.
25. The last Decanate in the eighth sign is a cruel man wearing a golden suit of armor. He is clever in seeking treasure in a hole. He wishes to follow a vow that is broken. He knows how to use weapons, but is tormented, having been robbed by his companions.
