now if it be your will, METERTA (500) PHOTH (METHARTHA PHERIE, in another
place)* YEREZATH, give me over to immortal birth and, following that, to my
underlying nature, so that,** after the present need which is pressing me exceedingly,
I may gaze upon the immortal (505) beginning with the immortal spirit, ANCHREPHRENESOYPHIRIGCH,
with the immortal water, ERONOYI PARAKOYNETH, with the most steadfast air, EIOAE
PSENABOTH; that I may be born again in thought, KRAOCHRAX R OIM ENARCHOMAI,***
(510) and the sacred spirit may breathe in me, NECHTHEN APOTOY NECHTHIN ARPI
ETH; so that I may wonder at the sacred fire, KYPHE; that I may gaze upon the
unfathomable, awesome water of the dawn, NYO THESO ECHO OYCHIECHOA, and the
vivifying (515),and encircling aether may hear me, ARNOMETHPH; for today I am
about to behold, with immortal eyes--
I, born mortal from mortal womb, but transformed by tremendous power and an
incorruptible right hand (520)!--
and with immortal spirit, the immortal Aion and and master of the fiery diadems--
I, sanctified through holy consecrations!--
while there subsists within me, holy, for a short time, my human soul-might,
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* one of the several variant readings suggested by a scribe.
** Preisendanz takes the ina-clauses [iota nu alpha -- RE] as independent clauses.
*** Apparently used here as part of the magical utterance, enarchomai [eta nu
alpha rho chi omicron mu alpha iota -- RE] is Greek for "I begin."