And he replied:
“It must be admitted nevertheless that these signs are obscure. But while I study them I forget Balkis, and that is a great boon.”
And among truths most useful to know, the mage taught that the stars are fixed like nails in the arch of the sky, and that there are five planets, namely: Bel, Merodach, and Nebo, which are male, while Sin and Mylitta are female.
“Silver,” he further explained, “corresponds to Sin, which is the moon, iron to Merodach, and tin to Bel.”
And the worthy Balthasar answered: “Such is the kind of knowledge I wish to acquire. While I study astronomy I think neither of Balkis nor anything else on earth. The sciences are benificent; they keep men from thinking. Teach me the knowledge, Sembobitis, which destroys all feeling in men and I will raise you to great honour among my people.”
This was the reason that Sembobitis taught the king wisdom.
He taught him the power of incantation, according to the principles of Astrampsychos, Gobryas and Pazatas. And the more Balthasar studied the twelve houses of the sun, the less he thought of Balkis, and Menkera, observing this, was filled with a great joy.
“Acknowledge, my lord, that Queen Balkis under her golden robes has little cloven feet like a goat’s.”
“Who ever told you such nonsense?” asked the King.
“My lord, it is the common report both in Sheba and Ethiopia,” replied the eunuch. “It is universally said that Queen Balkis has a shaggy leg and a foot made of two black horns.”