An Anonymous Oracle Concerning Dæmons

Double are the daemons in man—and double are their
tribes: they wander over the ever-flourishing earth
to stand with human beings, by Zeus' rule.
Zeus indeed is the giver of all things, both good and bad—
he defines too the time of life for those being born,
mingling mortal bodies with things both foul and fair.​
Those daemons—whoever should associate with them by his wisdom,
and achieve an understanding of what deeds they take delight in—
he would surpass everyone in intelligence and noble deeds,
winning noble gifts from a noble giver and fleeing from the foul.

[John Lydus, De Mensibus IV ci, as translated by Mischa Hooker. Lydus attributes this verse to "the oracle," usually assumed to the Chaldean Oracles [cf. 215 in Majercik], but this is doubtful as the Chaldean Oracles are stylistically different; never call Zeus bad; and further call good dæmons, "angels," and bad dæmons, "dæmons."]