Tetrabiblos

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PTOLEMY’S TETRABIBLOS OR QUADRIPARTITE BEING FOUR BOOKS OF THE _INFLUENCE OF THE STARS_

NEWLY TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK PARAPHRASE OF PROCLUS WITH A PREFACE, EXPLANATORY NOTES AND _AN APPENDIX_ CONTAINING EXTRACTS FROM THE ALMAGEST OF PTOLEMY AND THE WHOLE OF HIS CENTILOQUY TOGETHER WITH _A Short Notice of Mr. Ranger’s Zodiacal Planisphere_ AND AN EXPLANATORY PLATE

“Ye stars, which are the poetry of Heaven! If, in your bright leaves, we would read the fate Of men and empires,—’tis to be forgiven.” LORD BYRON.

LONDON: _PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. FOULSHAM & CO., Ltd._ DEALERS IN SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 10/11 RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET, LONDON, E.C.4

TO THE _AUTHOR OF “WAVERLEY”_ THIS TRANSLATION OF A WORK CONTAINING THE BEST ACCREDITED PRINCIPLES OF _ASTROLOGY_ IS DEDICATED _With the most profound admiration of his unrivalled Talents_ WHICH COULD ALONE HAVE RESTORED INTEREST TO THE SPECULATIONS OF AN _ANTIQUATED SCIENCE_

The use recently made of Astrology in the poetical machinery of certain works of genius (which are of the highest popularity, and above all praise), seems to have excited in the world at large a desire to learn something of the mysteries of that science which has, in all former ages, if not in these days, more or less engaged reverence and usurped belief. The apparent existence of such a general desire has caused the completion of the following Translation, and its presentation to the public; although it was originally undertaken only in part, and merely to satisfy two or three individuals of the grounds on which the now neglected doctrines of Astrology had so long and so fully maintained credit.

CHAP. PAGE BOOK I I. Proem 1 II. Knowledge may be acquired by Astronomy to a certain Extent 2 III. That Prescience is useful 8 IV. The Influences of the Planetary Orbs 13 V. Benefics and Malefics 14 VI. Masculine and Feminine 14 VII. Diurnal and Nocturnal 15 VIII. The Influence of Position with regard to the Sun 16 IX. The Influence of the fixed Stars 16 X. Constellations North of the Zodiac 19 XI. Constellations South of the Zodiac 20 XII. The Annual Seasons 21 XIII. The Influence of the Four Angles 21 XIV. Tropical, Equinoctial, Fixed, and Bicorporeal Signs 23 XV. Masculine and Feminine Signs 23 XVI. Mutual Configurations of the Signs 24 XVII. Signs commanding and obeying 26 XVIII. Signs beholding each other, and of equal Power 26 XIX. Signs Inconjunct 27 XX. Houses of the Planets 28 XXI. The Triplicities 29 XXII. Exaltations 31 XXIII. The Disposition of the Terms 32 XXIV. The Terms (according to Ptolemy) 35 XXV. The Places and Degrees of every Planet 36 XXVI. Faces, Chariots, and other similar Attributes of the Planets 37 XXVII. Application, Separation, and other Faculties 38

BOOK II I. General Division of the Subject 40 II. Peculiarities observable throughout every entire Climate 41 III. The Familiarity of the Regions of the Earth with the Triplicities and the Planets 43 IV. The Familiarity of the Regions of the Earth with the Fixed Stars 52 V. Mode of Particular Prediction in Eclipses 52 VI. The Regions or Countries to be considered as liable to be comprehended in the Event 53 VII. The Time and Period of the Event 54 VIII. The Genus, Class, or Kind, liable to be affected 55 IX. The Quality and Nature of the Effect 58 X. Colours in Eclipses, Comets, and Similar Phenomena 62 XI. The New Moon of the Year 63 XII. The particular Natures of the Signs by which the different Constitutions of the Atmosphere are Produced 64 XIII. Mode of Consideration for particular Constitutions of the Atmosphere 66 XIV. The Signification of Meteors 68

BOOK III I. Proem 71 II. The Conception, and the Parturition, or Birth; by which latter Event the Animal quits the Womb, and assumes another State of Existence 72 III. The Degree Ascending 74 IV. Distribution of the Doctrine of Nativities 75 V. The Parents 77 VI. Brothers and Sisters 81 VII. Male or Female 82 VIII. Twins 83 IX. Monstrous or Defective Births 85 X. Children not Reared 86 XI. The Duration of Life 88 XII. The Prorogatory Places 88 XIII. The Number of Prorogators, and also the Part of Fortune 89 XIV. Number of the Modes of Prorogation 91 XV. Exemplification 96 XVI. The Form and Temperament of the Body 100 XVII. The Hurts, Injuries, and Diseases of the Body 106 XVIII. The Quality of the Mind 107 XIX. The Diseases of the Mind 114

BOOK IV I. Proem 117 II. The Fortune of Wealth 117 III. The Fortune of Rank 118 IV. The Quality of Employment 120 V. Marriage 124 VI. Children 128 VII. Friends and Enemies 130 VIII. Travelling 132 IX. The Kind of Death 134 X. The Periodical Divisions of Time 137

APPENDIX NO. I. Almagest, Book viii, Chap. 4 144 II. Extract from the Almagest, Book II, Chap. 9 147 Table of Latitudes, from the Almagest 151 Extract from the Table of Ascensions, in the Almagest 152 III. Ptolemy’s Centiloquy 153 IV. The Zodiacal Planisphere, and plate 161