Chapter IX. The Quality and Nature of the Effect（续 1）

Each of the planets, when fully exercising its.own separate and distinct influence, will properly produce the peculiar effects above ascribed to it ; but should it be combined with others, whether by configuration, by familiarity arising from

Chap. 1X.) PTOLEMY’S TETRABJBLOS. 89 from the sign in which it may be posited*, or by its position towards the Sun, the coming event will then happen agreeably to the admixture and compound temperament which arise from the whole communion actually subsisting among the influencing powers. It would, however, be a business of infinite labour and innumerable combinations, quite. beyond the limits of this treatise, to set forth fully every contemperament and all configurations, in every mode in which they can possibly exist; and the knowledge of them must therefore be acquired by particular discrimination in every instance, under the guidance of the precepts of science,— Yet the following additional remark must not be here omitted. | | ,

The nature of the familiarities, subsisting between the stars, lords of the coming event, and the countries or cities over which the event will extend, requires to be observed-; for, should the stars.be benefic, and their familiarity with the countries liable to sustain the effect be unimpeded by any opposing influence, they will then exercise the favour " able energies of their own nature in a greater degree. And, — on the other hand, when any obstacle may intervene to obstruct their familiarity, or when they themselves may be overpowered by some opposing influence, the advantages of their operation will be diminished. Again, should the stars, lords of the coming event, not be benefic, but injurious, their effect will be less severe, provided they may either have familiarity with the countries on which the event will fall, or be restrained by some opposing influence. If, however, they should have no such familiarity, and not be subjected to restraint by any others, endowed with a nature contrary to their own and’ possessing. a familiarity with the

* That is to say, (technically speaking,) by reception, or by being posited in a sign in which another planet has a certain dignity or — prerogative.

‘countries 4n. question, the evils which they produce will. . thea be more violent and intense. And all these general ‘afections, of whatever kind, whether pood of evil, will be ptiwelbally felt by those persons in whose individual natiwittes there may be found the sathe disposition of the lutninaries; (which ate the most essential significators,) or the . vattre angles, as those existing during the eclipse which ‘operates the getreral affection. The same remark equally applies to other persons, in whose nativities the dispésition of the luminaries and of the angles may be in opposition to that existing during the eclipse. With respect té these tvincidences, the partile agreement, or opposition, of the ecliptical place of the luminaries to the place of either fuminary in a nativity, produces an effect least capable of being guarded against*. |

' % In conformity to the rule laid down in Chap. 6 of this Book, those individwals whose nativities may thus resemble the position of the heavens at the tine ef an eclipse, and who are hore stated te be chiefly liable to the effects of the eclipse, wi be more affected by it, if it should be visible to them. | To the precepts contained in this chapter, Placidus makes the following allusion, in his remarks on the nativity of Cardinal Pancirole. ~—* Any significator whatever, together with the other stars, whilst “ they are moved by a converse universal motion, change the aspect “ alternately, and consequently the mowdane rays, a3 it likewise “ happeas when thoy acquire parallels t—the rays thus acquired are “ af along continuance, arid denote a certain universal disposition “ of the things signified, either good or bad, according to the nature “* of the aspeécting stars; as it happened to this Cardinal, who some “ years before his denth was always sickly: and this observation {3 “ wonderful in the changes of the Yimes and weather ; for this prin- “ eiple Ptolemy adhered to in the Almagest, lib. VIII, cap..4; and “ this doctrine he also mentions in the 2d Book of Judgments, in

cf = ne on the Natare of Events.”—(Cooper’s Translation, pave) ,

| Colours in, Eclipses; Comets, and semilar Phenomena.

In investigating general events, it is necessary further to observe the colours or haes displayed during an eclipse, either in the luminaries, or around them ; in the shape af rods or rays, or in other similar forms. For, if these colours or hues should be black, or greenish, they portend ef- ‘fects similar to those produced by Saturn’s nature ; if white, to those operated by Jupiter; if.reddish, to those by Mars ; if. yellow, to those by Venus; and if of variqus colours, to those by Mercury,

And, if the entire bedies of the luminaries be thus coloured, or should the hues extend over all the parts immediately circumjacent to the luminaries, it is an indication that the effects will attach to most parts of the region, or counr tries, with which the eclipse and its ruling places may be in familiarity. If, however, the colouring should not spread over the whole surface of the luminaries, nor over all] the parts around them, but be limited to some particular quarter, then only such a portion of the said countries, as may be indicated by the situation of the visible hues, will be com~ prehended in the event.

It is also requisite to notice, with respeet to general events, — the risings or first appearances of those celestial phenomena called comets, whether presenting themselves at ecliptical times or at any other periods,. They are displayed in the shape of beams, trumpets, pipes, and in other similar figures, and operate effects- like those of Mars and Mercury; exciting wars, heated and turbulent dispositions in. the atmosphere, and in the constitutions of men, with all their evil consequences. The parts of the zodiac* in which they

* When a cemet appears out of the zodiac, a line should be drawn from one zodiacal pole to the othes, through the spet where it ap-

may be posited when they first appear, and the direction and inclination of their trains, point out the regions or places liable to be affected by the events which they threaten ; and their form indicates the quality and nature of those events, as well as the genus, class, or kind, on which the effect will fall. The time of their continuance shews the duration of their effect ; and their position, with regard to the Sun, the period when it will commence; as, if they first appear matutine, they denote an early commencement ; but, if vespertine, that it will be late and tardy.

The general and more comprehensive parts of the consideration regarding regions, countries, and cities, having now been explained, it becomes necessary to discuss certain particular points of the same consideration ; that is to say, the annual occurrences which take place at certain fixed seasons, and the chief of which is that called the New Moon of the