Book 2

1. Introduction

The more authoritative of the matters set out beforehand in tabular form have now been treated by us, as in summary, up to this point, with a view to the examination of particular predictions. Let us now join to them, in the order that follows, the several inquiries that fall within the scope of what is possible in such prediction, holding throughout to instruction by way of the natural method.

Prognostication through astronomy is divided into two greatest and most authoritative parts. The first and more general is that taken with respect to whole nations, countries, and cities, which is called the universal; the second and more particular is that with respect to each single man, which is itself called the genethlialogical. We think it fitting to speak first of the universal, since these things are by nature changed by greater and stronger causes than the things accomplished in particulars. And since the weaker natures are always subject to the more powerful, and particulars to universals, it would be wholly necessary for those who choose to examine any single thing to have grasped, much earlier, the matters of broader scope.

Of the universal examination itself, one part again is taken with respect to whole countries, another with respect to cities. And further, one part deals with the greater and more periodic circumstances, such as wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes, floods, and the like; another with the lesser and more seasonal, such as the changes of the yearly seasons in their greater or lesser degree, the slackenings or intensifications of winters, heats, and winds, fruitfulness and barrenness, and such things. Reasonably, both of these have as their forerunner that which concerns whole countries and the greater circumstances, for the same reason as that already stated.

For the examination of these, two things especially are taken up: the kinship of the twelve signs of the zodiac, and further that of the stars, with the several climes; and the significations that occur from time to time in the regions proper to them—according to the eclipses, in the conjunctions of sun and moon, and according to the passages of the wandering stars, in their risings and stations. We shall set out beforehand the natural account of the sympathies mentioned, presenting at the same time, in a cursory way, the bodily and ethical characteristics observed, generally speaking, among whole nations, which are not foreign to the natural constitution of the stars and signs kindred to them.

2. On the characteristics of whole climes

Of the national characteristics, then, some are divided by whole parallels and whole quadrants, by their relation to the circle through the middle of the signs and to the sun. For since our inhabited world lies in one of the northern quadrants, those who live under the more southern parallels—I mean those from the equator to the summer tropic—have the sun overhead and are scorched, and so are black in body, with hair that is woolly and thick, of contracted form and stunted in size, hot in their natures and for the most part wild in their manners, on account of the unbroken heat of their dwellings. These we commonly call the Ethiopians. And not only do we see the men so disposed, but the surrounding condition of their air, and the other animals and the plants among them, display the same burning.

Those under the more northern parallels—I mean those who live under the Bears and have that region overhead—being far removed from the zodiac and from the heat of the sun, are for this reason cooled; but, partaking more abundantly of moist substance, which is most nourishing and is drawn up by no heat, they are white in color and straight-haired, large of body and well-grown in size, and somewhat cold in their natures; and they too are wild in their manners, on account of the unbroken cold of their dwellings. To these correspond the wintriness of the air that surrounds them, the great size of the plants, and the savageness of the animals. These too we generally call the Scythians.

Those between the summer tropic and the Bears, since the sun is neither overhead among them nor far removed at its meridian passages, share in the good temperature of the air—though this varies, it does not take a very great difference between heats and colds. Hence they are intermediate in color, moderate in size, well-tempered in their natures, settled in their dwellings, and gentle in their manners. Of these, those toward the south are, generally speaking, more keen of wit and inventive, and more competent in the inquiry into things divine, because the region overhead among them lies nearer the zodiac and the wandering stars about it; with which they have, fittingly, movements of soul that are quick to attain and searching, and given to traversing what are properly called the mathematical sciences. And of these again, those toward the east are more masculine and vigorous of soul and reveal all things openly, since one would reasonably suppose the risings to be of the solar nature, and that region to be diurnal and masculine and on the right—just as among living creatures we see that the right-hand parts are more apt for strength and vigor. But those toward the west are more feminine and softer of soul, and conceal most things, since this region in turn is of the moon, the moon always making her first appearances and her phases after conjunction from the west. For this reason the western clime seems nocturnal, feminine, and on the left, opposite to the eastern.

Already, too, in each of these whole parts there have followed by nature certain characteristic circumstances of manners and customs. For just as, in the conditions of the surrounding heavens, even among the regions reckoned generally as hot or cold or well-tempered, particular places and countries are distinguished in a greater or lesser degree—whether by the disposition of their situation, or by height, or by lowness, or by juxtaposition; and again, just as some are more given to horsemanship through the level character of the country, some to seafaring through the nearness of the sea, and some are gentle through the abundance of the land—so too, from the natural kinship of the particular climes with the stars according to the signs, one would find characteristic natures among each people; and these too generally rather than as present in every single individual without exception. It is necessary, then, in the cases where it may be useful for the particular examinations, to go through them summarily.

3. On the kinship of countries with the triangles and the stars

There are four triangular figures observed in the zodiac, as has been shown by us in what precedes. That which is by the Ram, the Lion, and the Archer is north-and-southwestern, and is ruled chiefly by Jupiter on account of the north, and jointly by Mars on account of the southwest. That by the Bull, the Virgin, and the Goat-horned is south-and-eastern, and is ruled again chiefly by Venus on account of the south, and jointly by Saturn on account of the east. That by the Twins, the Claws, and the Water-pourer is north-and-eastern, and is ruled chiefly by Saturn on account of the east, and jointly by Jupiter on account of the north. That by the Crab, the Scorpion, and the Fishes is south-and-southwestern, and is ruled chiefly by Mars on account of the southwest, and jointly by Venus on account of the south.

This being so, and our inhabited world being divided into four quadrants, equal in number to the triangles—in breadth by our sea, from the strait of Heracles to the gulf of Issus and the mountain ridge that follows it eastward, by which its southern and its northern parts are separated; and in length by the Arabian gulf, and by the Aegean Sea, the Pontus, and the Maeotic Lake, by which its eastern and southwestern parts are separated—there come to be four quadrants, agreeing with the position of the triangles. One lies toward the northwest of the whole inhabited world, that about Celtic Gaul, which we commonly call Europe; opposite to it, toward the south-east, is that about eastern Ethiopia, which would be called the southern part of greater Asia. Again, that toward the north-east of the whole inhabited world is that about Scythia, which is itself the northern part of greater Asia; and opposite to it, toward the south-southwest wind, is that about western Ethiopia, which we commonly call Libya.

Again, of each of the foregoing quadrants, the parts disposed more toward the middle of the whole inhabited world take a position contrary to that of the encompassing quadrant, as that quadrant does toward the whole inhabited world. The quadrant about Europe lies toward the northwest of the whole inhabited world, yet the parts about its middle, and the opposite-cornered, are seen to hold a position toward the south-east of that same quadrant. And so likewise with the others; so that from these each of the quadrants is made kindred to two opposite triangles: the other parts of it being fitted to its general inclination, while the parts about the middle are taken up, for the kinship, with the triangle opposite to that of its own quadrant. And of the stars that hold the rulership in their proper triangles, in the other dwellings those alone again rule, while in the parts about the middle of the inhabited world those rule, and further Mercury also, on account of his being in the middle and common to the sects.

From such an arrangement, then, the other parts of the first quadrant—I mean that about Europe—lying toward the northwest of the whole inhabited world, are made kindred to the north-and-southwestern triangle, that by the Ram, the Lion, and the Archer, and are ruled, as is fitting, by the lords of the triangle, Jupiter and Mars, in their western station. These countries, taken by whole nations, are Britain, Gaul, Germany, Bastarnia, Italy, Gallia, Apulia, Sicily, Tyrrhenia, the Celtic land, and Spain. It befell the aforesaid nations, generally speaking—both through the leading character of the triangle and through the jointly ruling stars—to be unsubdued, lovers of freedom, lovers of arms, lovers of toil, most warlike, fitted for command, clean, and great-souled. Yet through the western station of Jupiter and Mars, and further through the fact that the foremost parts of the said triangle are masculine and the hinder feminine, it befell them to be indifferent toward women and contemptuous of the pleasures of love, but more sated with intercourse with males and more jealous of it; and those who submit to such usage do not reckon what is done shameful, nor do they become on this account truly unmanly and soft, since they are not affected passively, but keep their souls manly, sociable, faithful, friendly to their own, and beneficent. And of these countries themselves, Britain, Gaul, Germany, and Bastarnia are more kindred to the Ram and to Mars; whence those in them are generally wilder, more headstrong, and beast-like. Italy and Apulia, Gallia and Sicily are kindred to the Lion and to the sun; wherefore these are more fit for command, beneficent, and sociable. Tyrrhenia, the Celtic land, and Spain are kindred to the Archer and to Jupiter; whence comes their love of freedom, their simplicity, and their love of cleanliness.

The parts within this quadrant disposed about the middle of the inhabited world—Thrace, Macedonia, Illyria, Hellas, Achaea, Crete, and further the Cyclades and the coastlands of Asia Minor and of Cyprus—lying toward the south-east of the whole quadrant, take on in addition the kinship of the south-and-eastern triangle, that by the Bull, the Virgin, and the Goat-horned, and as joint rulers Venus, Saturn, and Mercury; whence those who inhabit these countries turned out more balanced and blended both in body and in soul. Being themselves fit for command, noble, and unsubdued through Mars; lovers of freedom and self-governing and democratic and lawgiving through Jupiter; lovers of the Muses and of learning, contentious and clean in their diet through Venus; sociable, hospitable, lovers of justice, lovers of letters, and most effective in discourse through Mercury; and most given to the performance of mysteries through the western station of Venus. And again, by particular regions, those about the Cyclades and the coastlands of Asia Minor and of Cyprus are more kindred to the Bull and to Venus; whence for the most part they are luxurious, clean, and given to care of the body. Those about Hellas, Achaea, and Crete are kindred to the Virgin and to Mercury; wherefore they are more rational and lovers of learning, and exercise the things of the soul before those of the body. Those about Macedonia, Thrace, and Illyria are kindred to the Goat-horned and to Saturn; wherefore they are lovers of possessions, but not so gentle, nor sociable in their laws.

Of the second quadrant, that by the southern part of greater Asia: its other parts, comprising India, Ariana, Gedrosia, Parthia, Media, Persis, Babylonia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria, and holding their position toward the south-east of the whole inhabited world, are reasonably made kindred to the south-and-eastern triangle of the Bull, the Virgin, and the Goat-horned, and are ruled by Venus and Saturn in their eastern stations. Wherefore one would find the natures of those in them following accordingly upon what is accomplished by stars that so rule. For they revere Venus, naming her Isis, and Saturn, naming him Mithras the Sun; and most of them foretell things to come. Among them, too, the generative parts are consecrated, on account of the seedlike conformation of the said stars, which is by nature generative. Further, they are hot, lustful, and prone to the pleasures of love; given to dancing and leaping and to adornment through Venus, and luxurious in life through Saturn. They conduct their intercourse with women openly and not in secret, on account of the eastern character of the configuration, but they greatly abhor intercourse with males. For these reasons it befell most of them to beget children of their own mothers, and to make their obeisances with the breast, on account of the eastern risings and the fact that the rule of the heart is fittingly disposed toward the solar power. They are, generally, in other respects—in dress and adornment and bodily habits altogether—delicate and effeminate through Venus, but in soul and purpose great-minded, noble, and warlike, through Saturn's being fittingly disposed toward the figure of the risings. By particular regions, again, Parthia, Media, and Persis are more kindred to the Bull and to Venus; whence those there use flowered garments, covering themselves wholly except the breast, and are altogether luxurious and clean. To the Virgin and to Mercury belong the parts about Babylon, Mesopotamia, and Assyria; wherefore among those there the mathematical art and the observation of the five stars came to be preeminent. To the Goat-horned and to Saturn belong the parts about India, Ariana, and Gedrosia; whence the shapelessness, uncleanness, and beast-likeness of those who dwell in those countries. The remaining parts of the quadrant, disposed about the middle of the whole inhabited world—Idumaea, Coele-Syria, Judaea, Phoenicia, the Chaldean land, Orchenia, and Arabia the Blessed—holding their position toward the northwest of the whole quadrant, take on in addition the kinship of the north-and-southwestern triangle, of the Ram, the Lion, and the Archer, and further as joint rulers Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury; wherefore these are more given to commerce and exchange than the others, but more knavish, despicably cowardly, treacherous, slavish of soul, and altogether fickle, through the conformation of the said stars. And of these again, those about Coele-Syria, Idumaea, and Judaea are more kindred to the Ram and to Mars; wherefore for the most part they are bold, godless, and treacherous. The Phoenicians, Chaldeans, and Orchenians are kindred to the Lion and to the sun, wherefore they are simpler, humane, lovers of astrology, and of all men the greatest worshippers of the sun. Those of Arabia the Blessed are kindred to the Archer and to Jupiter; whence, accordingly with its name, came the fertility of the country, the abundance of spices, and the fitness of the people for a free manner of life, for exchange, and for commerce.

Of the third quadrant, that by the northern part of greater Asia: its other parts, comprising Hyrcania, Armenia, Matiana, Bactriana, Casperia, Serica, Sauromatica, Oxiana, and Sogdiana, lying toward the north-east of the whole inhabited world, are made kindred to the north-and-eastern triangle of the Twins, the Scales, and the Water-pourer, and are ruled, as is fitting, by Saturn and Jupiter in their eastern figures. Wherefore those who hold these countries revere Jupiter and Saturn, are most wealthy and full of gold, clean in their diet and elegant in their way of life, wise in things divine, magi, just in their manners, free, great and noble of soul, haters of wickedness and tender in affection, ready to die for their nearest for the sake of what is noble and holy; dignified and clean in their use of the pleasures of love, lavish in dress, generous and great-minded—all of which, generally speaking, the eastern conformation of Saturn and Jupiter brings about. And of these nations again, the parts about Hyrcania, Armenia, and Matiana are more kindred to the Twins and to Mercury; wherefore they are more nimble and somewhat knavish. The parts about Bactriana, Casperia, and Serica are kindred to the Scales and to Venus; whence those who possess these countries are most wealthy, lovers of the Muses, and more luxurious. The parts about Sauromatica, Oxiana, and Sogdiana are kindred to the Water-pourer and to Saturn; wherefore these nations too are more savage, austere, and beast-like. The remaining parts of this quadrant, lying about the middle of the whole inhabited world—Bithynia, Phrygia, Colchica, Syria, Commagene, Cappadocia, Lydia, Lycia, Cilicia, and Pamphylia—holding their position toward the south-southwest of the quadrant itself, take on in addition the kinship of the south-and-southwestern quadrant of the Crab, the Scorpion, and the Fishes, and as joint rulers Mars, Venus, and Mercury; wherefore those about these countries generally revere Venus as the mother of the gods, addressing her by various local names, and Mars as Adonis or by some other name again, and render to them certain mysteries with lamentations. They are exceedingly wretched and slavish of soul, laborious, wicked, given to mercenary service, plunder, and captivity, enslaving themselves and falling into ruin by wars. And through Mars and Venus in their eastern conjunction—because in the Goat-horned, the triangular sign of Venus, Mars is exalted, while in the Fishes, the triangular sign of Mars, Venus is exalted—it came about that the women show all goodwill toward their husbands, being tender in affection, keepers of the house, industrious, serviceable, and altogether laborious and submissive. And of these again, those about Bithynia, Phrygia, and Colchica are more kindred to the Crab and to the moon; wherefore the men generally are cautious and submissive, while most of the women, through the eastern and masculinized figure of the moon, are manly, fit for rule, and warlike, like the Amazons—shunning intercourse with men, lovers of arms, and masculinizing all female children from infancy by cutting off the right breasts for the sake of soldierly needs, and laying bare these parts in their array, to display the unfeminine character of their nature. Those about Syria, Commagene, and Cappadocia are kindred to the Scorpion and to Mars; wherefore among them there is much boldness, wickedness, treachery, and toil. Those about Lydia, Cilicia, and Pamphylia are kindred to the Fishes and to Jupiter; whence these are more possessing of property, given to commerce, sociable, free, and faithful in their dealings.

Of the remaining quadrant, that about what is commonly called Libya: its other parts, comprising Numidia, Carthaginia, Africa, Phazania, Nasamonitis, Garamantica, Mauritania, Gaetulia, and Metagonitis, holding their position toward the south-southwest of the whole inhabited world, are made kindred to the south-and-southwestern triangle of the Crab, the Scorpion, and the Fishes, and are ruled, as is fitting, by Mars and Venus in their western figure. Wherefore it befell most of them, on account of the said conjunction of the stars, to be ruled by a man and a woman, brother and sister of the same mother—the man ruling the men, the woman the women—and such succession being maintained. They are exceedingly hot and prone to intercourse with women, so that they even make their marriages by seizure, and in many places the kings are first to lie with the brides; and among some the women are common to all. They are lovers of finery, and gird on women's adornments, through Venus; yet manly in soul, somewhat knavish, and given to magic; and counterfeiters, reckless, and headstrong through Mars. And of these again, those about Numidia, Carthage, and Africa are more kindred to the Crab and to the moon; wherefore these are sociable, given to commerce, and pass their lives in all abundance. Those about Metagonitis, Mauritania, and Gaetulia are kindred to the Scorpion and to Mars; whence these are more beast-like, most warlike, eaters of flesh, exceedingly reckless, and contemptuous of life, so that they do not even spare one another. Those about Phazania, Nasamonitis, and Garamantica are kindred to the Fishes and to Jupiter; wherefore they are free, simple in manners, lovers of work, fair-minded, clean, and generally unsubdued, and they worship Jupiter as Ammon. The remaining parts of the quadrant, disposed toward the middle of the whole inhabited world—Cyrenaica, Marmarica, Egypt, the Thebaid, the Oasis, the Troglodyte land, Arabia, Azania, and central Ethiopia—turned toward the north-east of the whole quadrant, take on in addition the kinship of the north-and-eastern triangle of the Twins, the Scales, and the Water-pourer, and on this account as joint rulers Saturn, Jupiter, and further Mercury. Whence those throughout these countries, having shared in the western rulership of nearly the five planets, have become lovers of the gods, god-fearing, devoted to the divine, lovers of lamentation, and burying and hiding their dead in the earth on account of the western figure; using all manner of customs and usages and worships of all manner of gods. In subjection they are humble, timid, mean-spirited, and patient of toil; in command, high of spirit and great-minded. They take many wives and many husbands, are prone to lust, and unite with their sisters; and the men are prolific in seed, the women easily conceiving, in keeping with the fruitfulness of the country. Many of the males, too, are unsound and effeminate in soul, and some hold even the generative parts in contempt, through the western conformation of the maleficent stars together with Venus. And of these, those about Cyrenaica and Marmarica, and especially those about lower Egypt, are more kindred to the Twins and to Mercury; wherefore these are thoughtful and intelligent and quick to attain in all things, and especially in the discovery of things wise and divine; given to magic, performers of hidden mysteries, and altogether competent in the mathematical sciences. Those about the Thebaid, the Oasis, and the Troglodyte land are kindred to the Scales and to Venus; whence these too are hotter in their natures, more lively, and pass their lives in fruitfulness. Those about Arabia, Azania, and central Ethiopia are kindred to the Water-pourer and to Saturn; wherefore these too are eaters of flesh and eaters of fish, and are nomads, living a wild and beast-like life.

The kinships, then, of the stars and the signs with the several nations, and their characteristics in general, have been sketched by us in this summary fashion. And for the convenience of use, we shall set out, under each of the signs, by bare juxtaposition, the several nations kindred to it, in keeping with what has been said of them before, in this manner.

Ram: Britain, Gaul, Germany, Bastarnia; about the middle, Coele-Syria, Palestine, Idumaea, Judaea.

Bull: Parthia, Media, Persis; about the middle, the Cyclades islands, Cyprus, the coastlands of Asia Minor.

Twins: Hyrcania, Armenia, Matiana; about the middle, Cyrenaica, Marmarica, lower Egypt.

Crab: Numidia, Carthaginia, Africa; about the middle, Bithynia, Phrygia, Colchica.

Lion: Italy, Gallia, Sicily, Apulia; about the middle, Phoenicia, Chaldea, Orchenia.

Virgin: Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Assyria; about the middle, Hellas, Achaea, Crete.

Scales: Bactriana, Casperia, Serica; about the middle, the Thebaid, the Oasis, the Troglodyte land.

Scorpion: Metagonitis, Mauritania, Gaetulia; about the middle, Syria, Commagene, Cappadocia.

Archer: Tyrrhenia, the Celtic land, Spain; about the middle, Arabia the Blessed.

Goat-horned: India, Ariana, Gedrosia; about the middle, Thrace, Macedonia, Illyria.

Water-pourer: Sauromatica, Oxiana, Sogdiana; about the middle, Arabia, Azania, central Ethiopia.

Fishes: Phazania, Nasamonitis, Garamantica; about the middle, Lydia, Cilicia, Pamphylia.

These being set out, it is reasonable to add this too to the present part: that each of the fixed stars also is kindred to as many countries as the parts of the zodiac with which the fixed stars share their inclinations on the circle drawn through its poles are seen to make their sympathy; and that, in the case of metropolises, those places of the zodiac are most in sympathy through which the sun and moon happened to be passing, as at a nativity, at the inceptions of their foundings, and especially the horoscopic point of the angles; and where the times of the foundings are not found, the places upon which falls the midheaven in the nativities of those who at the time were rulers or kings.

4. Approach to particular predictions

These things having thus been examined beforehand, it would be consistent next to go through, in summary, the approaches to the predictions, and first of those taken with respect to whole countries or cities under general circumstances. The manner of examination will be of this kind. The first and strongest cause of such events arises in the eclipse-bearing conjunctions of sun and moon, and in the passages of the stars at those times. Of the prediction itself, one part is local, by which one must foreknow upon what countries or cities the particular eclipses, or also the seasonal fixed stations of the wandering stars, will fall—these being of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, when they make their stations; for they then produce their significations. Another part is temporal, by which one must foreknow the time of the significations and the amount of their duration. Another part is generic, by which it is fitting to grasp upon what kinds of things the event will fall. And last is the specific, by which we shall observe the quality of the very thing to be accomplished.

5. On the examination of the countries affected

Concerning the first and local part, then, we shall make our determination thus. At the eclipse-bearing conjunctions of sun and moon that occur, and especially the more perceptible ones, we shall examine the eclipse-bearing place of the zodiac and the countries kindred to the triangles upon it; and likewise which of the cities, whether from the horoscope and the position of the lights at their founding, or from the midheaven of those then ruling, have sympathy with the sign of the eclipse. For as many countries or cities as we find with the said kinship, in all of them generally one must suppose that some event will occur, but most of all in those that have a relation to the very sign of the eclipse, and in which the eclipse appeared above the earth.

6. On the time of the events accomplished

The second, the temporal chapter, by which it is fitting to determine the times of the significations and the amount of their duration, we shall examine in the following way. Since the eclipses that occur at the same time are not accomplished in all dwellings at the same seasonal hours, and since the solar eclipses, even of the same kind, do not everywhere take an equal magnitude of obscuration nor an equal time of duration, first, according to the eclipse hour in each of the dwellings that have a relation, and the elevation of the pole, we shall dispose the angles as at a nativity; then we shall determine for how many equinoctial hours in each the shadowing of the eclipse extends. For when these have been examined, however many equinoctial hours we find, in a solar eclipse we shall suppose that the event remains for that number of years, and in a lunar for that number of months; the inceptions, however, and the more comprehensive intensifications being observed from the relation of the eclipse-bearing place to the angles. For if the place fall toward the eastern horizon, it signifies the inception of the event within the first four-month period from the time of the eclipse, and the comprehensive intensifications about the first third of the whole time of duration; if toward the midheaven, in the second four-month period and the middle third; if toward the western horizon, in the third four-month period and the last third. The particular slackenings and intensifications are observed from the intervening conjunctions, when they fall upon the places that produce the cause or upon the places configured with them, and from the other passages, when the stars that produce the prediction make their risings or settings or stations or acronychal phases, being configured with the signs that hold the cause; since, when they rise or make their stations, they produce intensifications of the events, but when they set, or are under the sun's rays, or make acronychal precedings, they produce a slackening of what is accomplished.

7. On the kind of things affected

The third chapter being the generic, by which one must determine upon what kinds of things the event will fall, this too is taken through the characteristic and form of the signs upon which the places of the eclipses happen to be, and the stars that take the rulership—both the wandering and the fixed—and the sign of the eclipse and that at the angle before the eclipse. The rulership of these is taken, in the case of the wandering stars, thus: that one which has the most relations to both the places set out—both that of the eclipse and that of the angle following it—according to the nearest and visible applications or separations and the relations of the configurations, and further according to lordship of the houses, triangles, exaltations, and terms, will alone take the rulership. But if the same star is not found lord both of the eclipse and of the angle, two stars are to be taken up together—those that have the more kinships to each of the places, as set out—the lord of the eclipse being preferred. And if more are found of equal claim with respect to each, we shall prefer for the rulership the one that is more at an angle, or more effective, or more of the sect. As for the fixed stars, we shall take up together the one among the bright stars that has been first effective at the very eclipse hour at the foregoing angle-position, according to the visible configurations defined by us in the first treatise among the nine modes, and the one which, in the configuration appearing at the eclipse hour, either rose together with, or culminated together with, the angle that follows the place of the eclipse.

The stars taken up for the cause of the event having thus been observed, let us examine together the forms of the signs in which the eclipse and the stars that take the lordship happened to be, since from their characteristic the quality also of the kinds of things affected is generally taken. For the human-formed signs, both those about the circle through the middle of the signs and those among the fixed stars, make the event fall upon the human race. Of the other land animals, the four-footed signs concern the like among the irrational animals, and the creeping signs concern serpents and the like. And again, the beast-like signs concern the savage animals harmful to the human race, and the gentle signs concern the useful and tame animals that assist toward prosperity, analogously to the several forms—such as horses or oxen or sheep and the like. Further, of the land signs, those more toward the Bears concern sudden movements of the earth, and those toward the south the unexpected outpourings from the air. Again, when the ruling places are in the forms of the winged creatures—such as the Virgin, the Archer, the Bird, the Eagle, and the like—they make the event fall upon birds, and especially those used for human food; and when in the swimming creatures, upon water creatures and fishes. And of these, when in the sea creatures—such as the Crab, the Goat-horned, the Dolphin—upon things of the sea, and also upon the conveyance of fleets; and when in the river creatures—such as the Water-pourer and the Fishes—upon things of rivers and springs; and according to the Argo, upon both kinds. Likewise, when in the tropical or equinoctial signs, they generally accomplish their significations upon the conditions of the air and upon the seasons proper to each of them, and particularly upon the spring and the things that grow from the earth. For when in the spring equinox, they concern the buds of the tree fruits, such as the vine and the fig and the things that ripen with them; when in the summer solstice, the gathering and storing of the fruits already borne, and in Egypt particularly the rising of the Nile; when in the autumn equinox, the sowing and the fodder and such things; when in the winter solstice, the vegetables and the kinds of birds or fishes that abound at that season. Further, the equinoctial signs signify upon things sacred and upon the worships of the gods; the tropical, upon the changes of the air and of the accustomed civil usages; the fixed, upon foundations and buildings; the bicorporeal, upon both men and kings. Likewise, those that have their position more toward the risings at the time of the eclipse signify what shall be concerning the fruits, the young in age, and foundations; those toward the midheaven above the earth, concerning things sacred and kings and the middle age; those toward the settings, concerning the changes of laws, the old in age, and the departed.

And concerning what portion of the underlying kind the disposition will reach, both the magnitude of the obscuration of the eclipses suggests it, and the relations of the stars that produce the cause to the eclipse-bearing place. For when configured western with respect to solar eclipses, or eastern with respect to lunar, they generally dispose toward the lesser; when in opposition, toward the half; but when configured eastern with respect to solar eclipses, or western with respect to lunar, toward the greater.

8. On the quality of the event itself

The fourth chapter is that concerning the quality of the event itself—that is, whether it is productive of goods or of their opposites, and of what kind in each direction, according to the characteristic of its species. This is grasped from the productive nature of the stars that ruled the dominant places, and from the blending both with one another and with the places in which they happen to be. For the sun and the moon are the marshals and, as it were, the leaders of the rest, being themselves the cause of the whole working, and of the rulership of the stars, and further of the strength or feebleness of those that rule. And the conjoint view of those that have taken the lordship shows the quality of the events.

We shall begin with the productive characteristic of each of the wandering stars, premising this in common, for the sake of summary recollection: that whenever we speak generally of the blending of one of the five stars, the productive power of the like nature is also to be understood, whether the star itself be in its own condition, or one of the fixed stars or of the places of the zodiac be observed according to its own blending; just as if the appellations were of the natures and qualities themselves and not of the stars. And in the blendings, again, one must consider not only the mixture of the wandering stars with one another, but also that with the fixed stars or places of the zodiac that share the same nature, according to their demonstrated kinships with the planets.

The star of Saturn, then, taking the rulership alone, is in general the cause of destruction through cold; and, in particular, when the event concerns men, it produces long sicknesses, consumptions, wastings, troubles of the humors, fluxes, quartan attacks, exiles, poverty, imprisonments, mournings, fears, and deaths—especially of those advanced in age. Of the irrational animals, it concerns the useful ones generally, producing scarcity and bodily and sickness-bringing destructions of those that exist, by which the men who use them are also affected together and perish. As to the condition of the air, it produces fearful, freezing colds, mists, and pestilence, foul air, cloudiness, and gloom; further, a multitude of snows, not good but destructive, from which also the things that harm human nature among the creeping creatures are bred. As to rivers or seas, in general winters and shipwrecks of fleets and difficult sailing and scarcity and destruction of fishes; in particular, in seas, ebbs and back-flows, and in rivers excessive flooding and the worsening of the river waters. As to the fruits of the earth, want and scarcity and loss, especially of those that serve necessary needs, whether through caterpillar or locust, or floods of waters, or downpours of rain, or hail, or the like, so as even to reach famine and such destruction of men.

The star of Jupiter, obtaining the lordship alone, is in general productive of increase; and, in particular, when the event concerns men, it accomplishes glories, prosperity, abundance, peaceful conditions, and increases of the necessities of life, good states both of body and of soul; further, benefactions and gifts from those in power, and increases, greatness, and magnanimity of those rulers themselves. In general it is the cause of happiness. As to the irrational animals, it makes those for human use plentiful and numerous, and brings destruction and loss to those of the contrary sort. It makes the condition of the air well-tempered, healthful, breezy, moist, and nourishing to the things on earth, and produces good sailing of fleets, moderate floodings of rivers, abundance of fruits, and such things as are like these.

The star of Mars, taking the rulership alone, is in general the cause of destruction through dryness; and, in particular, when the event concerns men, it produces wars, civil discords, captivities, enslavements, uprisings, the wrath of rulers, and the sudden deaths that come through such things; further, fevers and tertian attacks, raisings of blood, and swift violent deaths, especially of those in their prime; likewise acts of violence, insolences, and lawless deeds, conflagrations, murders, robberies, and plunderings. As to the condition of the air, burning heats, hot pestilential and consuming winds, the discharges of thunderbolts and whirlwinds, and droughts. As to the sea, sudden shipwrecks of fleets through disordered winds or thunderbolts or the like; and as to rivers, failures of water, dryings-up of springs, and the spoiling of the drinking waters. As to the things on earth serviceable for human use, of both the irrational animals and the things that grow from the earth, scarcity and destruction of fruits, arising either from the burnings of heat, or from blight, or from the shaking of the winds, or from the burning-up that occurs in the storehouses.

The star of Venus, becoming lord alone of what happens, in general accomplishes things like those of Jupiter, with a certain charm; and, in particular, as to men, glories, honors, joys, prosperity, good marriages, abundance of children, and contentment in every union, increases of possessions, clean and well-ordered ways of life, and reverence toward sacred things; further, good states of body, and kinships with those in power, and the favor of rulers. As to the winds of the air, well-temperings, and moist and most nourishing conditions, good air and clear skies, and abundant rains of fertile waters, good sailing of fleets, successes and gains, and full floodings of rivers; further, it produces especially the abundance, fruitfulness, and benefit of the useful animals and of the fruits of the earth.

The star of Mercury, taking the rulership, in general, according as it is blended with each of the others, is made kindred to their natures; in particular, it is more than all stirring, and in human events it is sharp and most effective and inventive toward the matter at hand; productive of robberies, thefts, piratical raids and assaults, and further of difficult sailing, in its configurations with the maleficent stars; the cause of dry sicknesses, quotidian attacks, coughings, raisings, and consumptions; and effective also of the things that happen concerning the sacred discourse and the worships of the gods, and the royal revenues, and the change of customs or laws from time to time, fittingly to the blending of the stars with them on each occasion. As to the surrounding heavens, being rather dry and easily moved through its nearness to the sun and the swiftness of its return, it is most of all stirring of disordered, sharp, and easily changing winds, and is reasonably productive of thunders, whirlwinds, chasms, earthquakes, and lightnings; and through these it is sometimes productive of the destruction of the useful among animals and plants, and depriving of waters and rivers at its settings, but filling them at its risings.

Particularly, then, each star, when it meets with its own nature, accomplishes such things; but when blended one with another, according to the configurations and the changes of the signs and the phases with respect to the sun, it takes its blending in its workings analogously also, and produces the characteristic concerning the event, varied as it is, mixed from the natures that have shared in it. But since it is boundless and impossible to set down in memoranda the particular event of each blending, and to go through, in such manifold conception, all the configurations of whatsoever kind, this sort of thing would reasonably be left to the application and ingenuity of the mathematician with respect to particular distinctions.

One must observe also how the stars that have taken the lordship of the prediction are disposed in kinship toward the very countries or cities upon which the event is signified. For when they are beneficent stars and kindred to the things affected, and not overcome by stars of the opposite sect, they accomplish still more of what is, by their own nature, useful; just as, when not kindred, or when overcome by the opposing stars, they are of less benefit. And when they are of the harmful blending and have taken the lordship of the prediction, if they happen to be kindred to the things affected, or are overcome by stars of the opposite sect, they harm less; but if they neither have the rulership of the countries nor are overcome by those fittingly disposed toward them, they bring down the destructiveness of their blending more violently. Generally, however, those men fall together into the universal sufferings who, in their own nativities, happen to have the most necessary places—I mean those bearing the lights, or those of the angles—the same as the stars that produced the cause of the universal events, that is, the same as the eclipse-bearing places or their diameters. And of these, the most perilous and hard to guard against are the degree-by-degree holdings or diametrical oppositions of the eclipse-bearing places with respect to either of the lights.

9. On the colors of eclipses and comets and such things

For the universal circumstances one must observe also the colors at the eclipses, whether of the lights themselves or of the formations that occur about them, such as rods or halos or the like. For when they appear black or somewhat livid, they are significant of the things said of the nature of Saturn; white, of those of Jupiter; somewhat tawny, of those of Mars; yellow, of those of Venus; varicolored, of those of Mercury. And if the characteristic of color that occurs appears over the whole bodies of the lights, or over the whole regions about them, the event will be over the most parts of the countries; but if over any single part, over that part alone, toward which the inclination of the characteristic is directed.

One must observe further also the appearances of comets that are formed, whether at the eclipse seasons or at any time whatever, with a view to the universal circumstances—such as those called beams or trumpets or jars and the like—as being by nature productive of the characteristics of Mars and Mercury, and of wars and burning or disturbed conditions, and of the things that accompany these. And they declare, through the parts of the zodiac in which their formations appear, and through the inclinations of their tails according to their figures, the places upon which the events fall; through the formations, as it were, of the formation itself, the species of the event and the kind of thing upon which the suffering will fall; through the time of their continuance, the duration of the events; and through their relation to the sun, the inception also—since when they appear eastern for a long time they signify more quickly, but western more slowly.

10. On the new moon of the year

The approach for the universal circumstances of countries and cities having been shown, it would remain to set down memoranda also concerning the more particular matters—I mean those accomplished yearly with respect to the seasons—for which examination it would be fitting to determine beforehand also concerning what is called the new moon of the year. That it is fitting for this to be the beginning of the restoration of the sun in each of its revolutions is plain at once both from its power and from its name. But what beginning one would lay down—in a mere circle simply one could not even conceive; but in the circle through the middle of the signs, one would reasonably take as the only beginnings the points marked off by the equator and the tropics, that is, the two equinoctial and the two tropical points. Here, however, one might already be at a loss which of the four to use as the leading one. By the simple and circular nature, none of them is leading, as upon a single beginning; but those who have written of these matters have used, laying down one thing in different ways, each of the four as a beginning, led by certain proper reasonings and natural sympathies. For each of these parts has something distinctive from which a beginning and a new year would reasonably be reckoned: the spring equinox, because then for the first time the day begins to become greater than the night, and because it is of the moist season, which nature, as we said before, is most present at the beginnings of nativities; the summer solstice, because in it the longest day is accomplished, and among the Egyptians it signifies also the rising of the Nile and the rising of the Dog Star; the autumn equinox, because then the gathering of all the fruits has already taken place, and from another beginning the sowing of the things to come is then cast down; the winter solstice, because then for the first time the magnitude of the day begins to take increase from its diminution. It seems to me more fitting and more natural, for the yearly examinations, to use the four beginnings, observing the conjunctions of sun and moon, whether conjunctive or full-moon, that occur nearest before them, and again, of these, especially the eclipse-bearing ones—so that from the beginning about the Ram we may consider what the spring will be, from that about the Crab the summer, from that about the Claws the autumn, and from that about the Goat-horned the winter. For the general qualities and conditions of the seasons the sun produces, by which even those wholly unskilled in the sciences have a foreknowledge of what is to come.

Further, one must take up also the characteristics of the signs for the signification of winds and of the more comprehensive natures. But the changes from time to time in their greater or lesser degree are shown, in general, by the conjunctions that occur about the points already mentioned and the configurations of the planets with them; and, in particular, by the conjunctions and full moons in each sign and the passages of the stars, which one would call the monthly examination.

Since there ought to be set out beforehand for this purpose also the natural characteristics, part by part, by sign, with respect to the yearly conditions, and further those of each star—the kinship of the planets and of the fixed stars of like blending with the airs and the winds, and further that of the whole signs with the winds and the seasons—we have shown each of these in what precedes. It would remain to speak also of the nature of the signs part by part.

11. On the particular nature of the signs with respect to the conditions

The sign of the Ram, then, is in general, through the equinoctial signification, productive of thunder or hail; and in particular, in greater or lesser degree, from the property of the fixed stars upon it, its leading parts are rainy and windy, its middle well-tempered, its following parts burning and pestilential, its northern parts scorching and destructive, its southern parts icy and somewhat cold.

The sign of the Bull is in general significant of both blendings and somewhat hot; and in particular, its leading parts, and especially those about the Pleiades, are earthquake-bearing, windy, and misty; its middle parts moistening and cold; its following parts, about the Hyades, fiery, thunderbolt-bearing, and productive of lightnings; its northern parts well-tempered, its southern parts disturbing and disordered.

The sign of the Twins is in general productive of good temperature; and in particular, its leading parts are moist and destructive, its middle well-tempered, its following parts mixed and disordered; its northern parts windy and earthquake-bearing, its southern parts dry and burning.

The sign of the Crab is in general fair and hot; and in particular, its leading parts, and those about the Manger, are stifling, earthquake-bearing, and gloomy; its middle well-tempered, its following parts windy; its northern and its southern parts fiery and burning.

The sign of the Lion is in general scorching and stifling; and in particular, its leading parts are stifling and pestilential, its middle well-tempered, its following parts moist and destructive; its northern parts disturbing and fiery, its southern parts moist.

The sign of the Virgin is in general moist and thunder-bearing; and in particular, its leading parts are hotter and destructive, its middle well-tempered, its following parts watery; its northern parts windy, its southern parts well-tempered.

The sign of the Claws is in general changeable and given to alteration; and in particular, its leading and middle parts are well-tempered, its following parts watery; its northern parts windy, its southern parts moist and pestilential.

The sign of the Scorpion is in general thunder-bearing and fiery; and in particular, its leading parts are snowy, its middle well-tempered, its following parts earthquake-bearing; its northern parts burning, its southern parts moist.

The sign of the Archer is in general windy; and in particular, its leading parts are moist, its middle well-tempered, its following parts fiery; its northern parts windy, its southern parts very moist and changeable.

The sign of the Goat-horned is in general very moist; and in particular, its leading parts are burning and destructive, its middle well-tempered, its following parts stirring of rains; its northern and its southern parts very moist and destructive.

The sign of the Water-pourer is in general cold and watery; and in particular, its leading parts are very moist, its middle well-tempered, its following parts windy; its northern parts burning, its southern parts snowy.

The sign of the Fishes is in general cold and windy; and in particular, its leading parts are well-tempered, its middle very moist, its following parts burning; its northern parts windy, its southern parts watery.

12. On the examination of the conditions part by part

These things having thus been set out beforehand, the particular approaches to the significations comprise the following manner. One is that conceived more comprehensively with respect to the quadrants, by which it will be necessary, as we said, to observe the conjunctions or full moons that occur nearest before the tropical and equinoctial points, and according to the degree, whether conjunctive or full-moon, in each of the climes inquired into, to dispose the angles as at a nativity; then to take the lords of the conjunctive or full-moon place and of the angle that follows it, in the manner shown by us before concerning the eclipses; and so to observe the general from the property of the quadrants, and the greater or lesser degree of intensifications and slackenings from the nature of the ruling stars, determining of what quality they are and of what conditions they are productive.

The second approach is the monthly, by which it will be necessary to examine, in the same manner, the conjunctions or full moons that occur in each sign, observing only this: that, if a conjunction has fallen nearest to the past tropical or equinoctial point, we use the conjunctions up to the next quadrant, but if a full moon, the full moons. And one must observe likewise the angles and the lords of both places, and especially the nearest phases, applications, and separations of the wandering stars, and their characteristics and those of the places, and what winds they are productive of, both they themselves and the parts of the signs in which they happen to be; and further, toward which wind the latitude of the moon inclines, according to the obliquity of the circle through the middle—so that from all these, according to the prevailing one, we may foreknow the general conditions and winds of the months.

The third is to observe the still more particular significations of slackenings and intensifications. This too is observed both through the particular configurations of sun and moon—not only the conjunctive or full-moon ones, but also those at the half-moons—the alteration of the signification generally beginning three days before, and sometimes also three days after, the passage at equal balance with respect to the sun; and through the configuration, at each of such stations, or of the others, such as the triangles and sextiles, also with the planets. For accordingly with their nature the characteristic of the alteration too is grasped, in agreement with the natural kinships of the beholding stars and of the signs with the surrounding heavens and the winds.

Of these particular qualities themselves the daily intensifications are accomplished, especially when the brighter and more active of the fixed stars make their eastern or western, rising or setting, phases with respect to the sun; for they generally turn the particular conditions toward their own natures; and no less so when the lights pass over one of the angles. For with respect to such relations of theirs the hourly slackenings and intensifications of the conditions change, just as, with respect to the relations of the moon, the ebbs and back-flows of the sea; and the turnings of the winds are accomplished especially about such culminations of the lights, toward whichever of the winds the latitude of the moon is grasped making its inclinations in the same direction. Everywhere, however, it is fitting to determine that the general and first underlying cause is leading, while the cause of the particular accompaniments follows; and that the working is most confirmed and strengthened when the stars that have ruled the general natures happen to be configured also with the particular ones.

13. On the signification of things in the upper air

Useful also for the predictions of the particular significations would be the observations of the signs that occur about the sun and the moon and the stars.

The sun, then, must be observed, for the daily conditions at its rising, for the nightly at its setting, and for those that extend further according to its configurations with the moon, since each figure generally foreshows the condition up to the next. For when it rises or sets clean, unshadowed, steady, and unclouded, it is indicative of a fair condition; but when it has a varicolored disk, or is somewhat fiery, or sends out red rays either outward or as though circling upon itself, or has on one side what are called parhelial clouds, or has the formations of somewhat tawny clouds and stretches out, as it were, long rays, it is significant of violent winds, and of such winds as correspond to the angles at which the aforesaid signs occur. But when it rises or sets black or somewhat livid with cloudiness, or has halos about it on one side or on both, and parhelial clouds and rays either livid or black, it is indicative of storms and rains.

The moon must be observed in its passages three days before or three days after the conjunctions and full moons and half-moons. For when it appears thin and clean and has nothing about it, it is indicative of a fair condition; but when thin and red, and has the whole circle of the unlit part shining through and somewhat stirred, it is significant of winds, toward whatever quarter it especially makes its inclination; and when seen black or greenish and thick, it is indicative of storms and rains. One must observe also the halos that occur about it. For if there be one, and it be itself clean and gently fading, it signifies fair weather; but if there be two or even three, they signify storms—somewhat tawny and as if breaking up, storms through violent winds; misty and thick, storms through snows; livid or black and breaking up, storms through both; and the more there are, the greater. And the halos that form about the stars, both the wandering and the bright among the fixed, signify the things proper to them, both by their own colors and by the natures of those they enclose.

And of the fixed stars that are near one another in some cluster, one must observe the colors and the magnitudes. For when seen brighter and larger than their usual appearances, in whatsoever quarter, they signify winds from their own region. Moreover, of the properly cloud-like clusters—such as the Manger and the like—when, the sky being clear, their formations are seen dim and as it were invisible, or thickened, they are indicative of an onset of waters; but clean and continually quivering, of violent winds. And when, of the stars on either side of the Manger called the Asses, the northern becomes invisible, it signifies that the north wind will blow, and the southern that the south wind will blow.

And of the things that occur from time to time in the upper air, the clusters of comets generally foreshow droughts and winds, and the greater in proportion as the formation is made from more parts and over a wider extent. The shootings and dartings of the stars, if they occur from one quarter, declare the wind from that quarter; if from opposite quarters, an unsettling of the winds; if from the four, all manner of storms even to thunders and lightnings and the like. Likewise the clouds resembling fleeces of wool become sometimes foreshowers of storms. And the rainbows that form from time to time foreshow storms out of fair weather, and fair weather out of storms; and, to speak comprehensively in one word, the distinctively colored appearances that occur over the whole air signify the like to the things accomplished by their own corresponding events, according to what has been declared in what precedes.

The examination, then, of the universal matters, both of the more comprehensive things observed and of the particular, has been set down by us in memoranda, in summary, up to this point. The practices of the prognostication of the genethlialogical kind we shall go through in what follows, in the order that is fitting.