Chapter IX. Monstrous or defective Births

Tm same places, as those pointed out in the two chapters last preceding, are again to be considered, in inquiring into the probability of a monstrous or defective birth. For it will be found that, at a birth of this description, the luminaries are either cadent from the ascendant, or else not in any manner configurated with it; while, at the same time, the angles * are occupied by the malefics. :

It therefore becomes necessary, when such a position of the heavens may occur at the time of birth, to observe forthwith the preceding new or full Moon F and its ruler; as well as the rylers of the Juminaries at the said time of birth. _ For, if all the places, in which the rulers of the luminaries, . and in which the Moon herself and Mercury may be situated, at the birth, or, if most of those places should be totally inconjunct and unconnected with the places of the said. preceding new or full Moon and its ruler, the birth will then be monstrous. And if it should be further found, in addition to this absence of connection, that the luminaries may be also posited in quadrupedal or bestia] signs, and the two malefics in angles, the birth will in that case not be human. And should the luminaries, when so circumstanced, be not at all supported by any benefic planet, but only by malefics, the creature born will be wholly indocile,’ wild, and of evil nature: if, however, they should receive support from Jupiter or Venus, the offspring will then be like that of dogs or cats, or other creatures held in religious veneration and used in worship f: but, if Mercury support the luminaries, it will

* Whalley says here, “chiefly the ascendant and mid-heaven.” + Whichever might have been nearer in time. _ 1 It is perhaps superfluous to mention that the two kinds of animals here named, (as well as many others) were venerated by the ct Si

resemble that of fowls, oxen, or swine, or, of other-animals adapted to the service of mankind.

When the luminaries may he in signs of human shape, while other circumstances in the scheme of the nativity may exist. as before described, the creature born wil] then be - human, or will partake of human nature, although, it will still be defective in some peculiar quality. And, in order to ascertain the nature of that defect, the shape and form of the signs found on the angles occupied by the malefics, as well as. of those wherein the luminaries are situated, must be taken into consideration: and, if in this instance also, no benefic planet should lend support to any one of the prescribed places, the offspring produced will be utterly void of reason, and indeed indefinable*. If, however, it should happen, that Jupiter or Venus give support, the defect will be veiled by a specious outward appearance, similar to that of hermaphrodites, and of those persons called Harpocratiacit, or others of like imperfections. And should Mercury also give support, in addition to that of Jupiter or — Venus, the offspring will then become an interpreter of oracles and divinations ; but, if Mercury support alone, it will be deaf and dumbf, although clever and angenious in its

intellect. Chapter X. : Children not reared,

TH question which now remains to be considered, in order to complete the investigation of circumstances taking place

+ One Latin translation has rendered this word “ stammereps ;” and, as Harpocrates was the god of silence, Ptolemy has probably used the epithet to signify defect of speech.

~ J“ Dumb.” The Greek is cdoyrey scapapgevoy, “ deprived of teeth,” and Allatius bas so translated it: but other translations render these wards by dumb, which, considering the nature of Mercury, seems their preferable signification.

Chap, %.} PTOLEMY’S TETRABIBLOS, 127 simultaneously with the nativity, or immediately consequent thereon, is, whether the child, then born, will or will not be reared,

This inquiry is to be handled distinctly from that regarding the duration of life, although there ts an apparent cotnection between them. The questions themeelves are, indeed, similar; for it is much the same thing to inquire whether the child will be nurtured, or how long it will live ; and the only distiggtion, between these two questions, arises frotn the differens"4smodes in which they are treated. For instance, the inquiry into the duration of life is to be pursued: only in cases wherein there is allotted to the native some space of time, not less in duration than a solar period; that is to say,a year. Therefore, since time ts also measured by smaller portions, such as months, days, and hours, and since the question, whether the native will or will not be reared, belongs to cases wherein some exuberance of evil _ Influence threatens speedy destruction, arid where life is not likely to endure throughout a whole year, the inquiry into the duration of life must consequently involve a more multifarious consideration, than that which relates to rearing; which may be at once disposed of, in a more general and ‘summary manner. ,

Thus, if either of the two luminaries be in an angle, and one of the malefics be either in coajunction with that luminary, or else distant in longitude from each luminary, in an exactly equal space; so as to form the point of junction of two equal sides of a triangle, of which sides the two luminartes form the extremities, while, at the same time, no denefic star may partake in the configuration, and while the rulers of the luminaries ary be also posited in places belonging to, or controuled by, the malefics ; the child, then born, will not be susceptible of nurture, but will immediately | perish,

Should the configuration, made between the malefic planet |

and the luminaries, not exist precisely in the mode just mentioned ; that is to say, should the said planet not be equally

distant from both luminaries, so as to form the point of junction of two equal sides of a triangle ; yet should it then

happen that the rays of two malefics may nearly approach the

places of the.two Juminaries, casting an injurious influence

either on both, or only one of them, and if both the said | . malefics be together succedent, or in opposition, to the luminaries, or if one of them be succedent, and the other in opposition, or even if only one may particularly afflict one of

the luminaries, then, in any such case, no duration of life

will be allotted to the child: for the supremacy of the power — of the malefics extinguishes the influence favourable to human nature, and tending to prolong existence.

Mars is exceedingly pernicious when succedent to the Sun, and Saturn- when succedent to the Moon. ‘But a converse effect takes place when either of these planets may be in Opposition to the Sun or Moon, or in elevation above them ; for the Sun will then be afflicted by Saturn, ‘and the Moon by Mars ; and especially so, provided the said planets should have local prerogatives in the signs containing the luminaries, or in the sign on the ascendant. And, should a double Opposition exist, by the circumstance of the luminaries being placed in two opposite angles, and by the two malefics being each so posited as to be equally distant from each luminary, the child will be born almost, if not quite, dead. Neverthe- _” Jess, if the luminaries should be separating from, or be otherwise configurated with benefic planets, whose rays may be projected to parts preceding the said luminaries, the ‘child will then live.as many days, or hours, as there are’ degrees, numbered between the prorogator* and the nearest: malefic. a

* A prorogator is either a luminary, planet, or a certain degree of the zodiac, which determines the duration of life, or the time of the accomplishment of any event: it is hereafter fally treated‘ of in the

If malefics should cast their rays to parts preceding the luminaries, and benefics to parts following them, the child will be abandoned at its birth ; but will afterwards meet with adoption, and will live. Yet, if the malefics should be ia elevation above those benefics which are thus configurated, the child, so adopted, will lead a life of misery and servitude : if, on the contrary, the benefics should be in elevation, then whoever may adopt the deserted child will supply the place of its parents. And, provided a benefic planet should either ascend with, or near in succession to the Moon, or be applying to her, and one of the malefics be occidental, the child’s own parents will, in that case, take it again under their pro+ tection. .

Rules similar to the foregoing are to be observed, when more than one child is born ; for, if any one of those planets, which may be configurated towards the production of two, or even more, children, should be. under the west, the children will be born half dead, or deformed, and imperfect in body. And, if the planet so situated should also be beneath the malefics, the children will not be susceptible of - nurture, or their life will be of the shortest span.