Chapter Ill. The Degree ascending

THERE frequently arises some uncertainty as to the precise time of birth, and some apprehension lest it should not be accurately noted. In most cases, the actual minute of the

hour, at which the birth happens, can only be ascertained by making a scientific observation, at the time, with an horoscopical astrolabe* ; for all othet instruments, employed

in ascertaining the hour, are almost always fallacious, although used by many persons with much care and attention.

The clepsydra ¢, for instance, is subject to error, because

the flow of the water will, from various causes, proceed irregularly : and the sun-dial is often incorrectly placed, and

its gnomon often distorted from the true meridian line. To

obviate the difficulty arising from the inaccuracy of these

instruments, it seems highly necessary to present some

method by which the actually ascending degree of the zodiac may, be easily ascertained, in a natural and consistent

And in order to attain this essential point, it 18 necessary first to set down the ordinary degree which, by the Doctrine of Ascensions{, is found near the ascendant at the presumed hour. After this has been done, the new or full Moon, whichever it may be, that may take place next before the time of parturition, must be obeerved: and, if a new Moon, it ‘will be necessary to mark exactly the degree of the conjunction of the two luminaries ; but, if a full Moon, the degree of that luminary only which may be above the earth during the parturition. After this, it must be observed what planets have dominion over the -said degree ; and their dominion depends always on the five following prerogatives,

* It is, perhaps, needless to remark that modern improvements in science have superseded the use of this,,and other antient mstruments here mentioned.

+ Although the “clepsydra,” or watewclock, was commonly used among the antients for various purposes, it appears, from Martian (a Latin writer, who lived about A. D. 490,) that there was also a clepsydra in special ase as an astrological engine.

} “ The Doctrine of Ascensions,”—in allusion to the method of calculating the actual position of the ecliptic.

viz. on triplicity, house, exaltation, terms, and phase or | configuration* ; that is to say, a planet, eligible to dominion, must be connected with the degree in question either by one, or more, or all of these prerogatives.

If, therefore, there.may be found any one planet properly qualified in all or most of these prerogatives, the exact degree, which it occupies in that sign in which it may be posited during the parturition, is to be remarked; and it is then to be inferred that a degree of the same numerical denomination was actually ascending, at the precise time .of birth, in that sign which appears, by the Doctrine of Ascensions, to be nearest to the ascendantf.

But when two planets, or more, may be equally qualified in the manner prescribed, it must be seen which of them may transit, during the parturition, a degree nearest in number to the ordinary degree shewn by the Doctrine of Ascensions to be then ascending ; and that said degree, nearest in number, is to be considered as pointing out the numerical denomination of the degree actually ascending. And when the degrees of two planets, or more, may closely and equally approximate in numerical denomination to the ordinary degree

found by the Doctrine of Ascensions, the degree of that

planet which possesses further claims, by connection with

_ the angles and by its own condition, i is to regulate the number

of the actually ascending degree. It must however be observed, that if the actual distance of

the degree, in which the ruling planet may be posited, from.

the ordinary degree ascending, be found to exceed its distance from the ordinary degree of the mid-heaven ; the numerical denomination, found in the way above mentioned, is then to be considered ' as applicable to the actual. degree in culmina-

® « Phase -or configuration.” Or, holding some authorized aspect

Chap. IV.] PTOLEMY’S TETRABIBLOS, 1] tion ; and the other angles are to be arranged in conformity therewith*. |