Chapter XIV. Number of the’ Modes of Prorogation

WHEN the prorogator has been determined as above directed, it 1s also necessary to take into consideration the two modes ’ .of prorogation ; one into succeeding signs, under the projection of rays, as it is called; and, when the prorogator _ may be in an oriental place, that is to say, in any place between the mid-heaven and the ascendant, this mode only is to be used. The other mode extends into signs preceding the prorogator, according to what is called horary proportiont ; and, in cases when the prorogator may be situated in any place receding from the mid-heaven, or, in other words, between the mid-heaven and_ the angle of the west, both modes of prorogation are to be adopted. *

It is next to be observed, that certain degrees are anretic ;

* Placidug, in remarking on the nativity of Jobn di Colonna, after stating his opinion that it is an error to suppose that a malign influence to the horoscope (when the horoscope has not the primary signification of life) is anzretic, says, that “the order and method which .“ Ptolemy lays down for the election of a prorogator are quite ab- «¢ surd, unless life be at the disposal. of a sole prime significator only.” He proves by other arguments also, and by instances of the fact, that ‘“‘ one only signifies life, elected according to Ptolemy's method.” (Cooper’s translation, p. 184.)

. S Horary proportion.” So the Perugio Latin of 1646; the Greek word, however, is sgiaay, which seems to be compounded of ae. and see; and, if so, the literal signification would be “ extraction “. of hours.”

Chap. XIV.] | PTOLEMY’s TETRABIBLOS. | 135

though, in the prorogation made into signs preceding, the only degree which is strictly anzretic is that of the western horizon ;—and it becomes so because it obscures the lord of life ;—while other degrees, of stars meeting with or. testifying to the prorogator, both take away, from and add to the aggregate amount of the prorogation, which would otherwise continue until the descension or setting of the prorogator. Of these last-mentioned degrees, however, there are none properly aneretic ; since they are not borne to the prorogatory place, but, on the contrary, that place is carried to their positions*. In this manner the benefics increase the prorogation, but the malefics diminish it; and Mercury assists the influence of either party with which he may be configurated. The amount of the increase or diminution is indicated by the degree, in which each star, so operating, is exactly situated ; for the number of years will depend

. By the apparent motion of the planetary system. On this pas- |

sage, Placidus has the following observations : “ In directing the sig- “‘ nificator to the west, you must consider what stars or mundane “‘ rays are intercepted between the significator and the west; if for-

“ tunate, add their arc to the significator’s are of direction to the |

“west; if unfortunate, subtract it from the same, and it will give “ the arc of direction, augmented or diminished according to Ptole- “ my.—How largely and differently authors have spoken of this “« direction of the significator'to the west, putting various construc- “ tions on the words of Ptolemy, is known to every one. See Car- ‘¢ dan in his Commentaries, Maginus in Prim. Mob. and the Use of “* Legal Astrology in Physic, c. viii, where he delivers the sentiments “of Naibod. Argol censures wholly this doctrine of Ptolemy’s, of -“ directing the. moderator of life to the west, as vain and useless ;

“but. say it is worthy of remark, and‘ altogether conformable ‘to '

“ trath; because then the rays and jntermediate stars of the malign “ only lessen the arc of direction to the west, and do not destroy * life, when, by a right direction, the moderator of life. does not re- “ main at the same time with the malignant planet: for, should this “ happen, they kill, without any manner of doubt.” (Cooper's translation, pp. 106 and 108.) .

‘36 | PTOLEMY’S TETRABIBLOS. (Book Tit. upon, and correspond with, the horary times* proper to_ each degree; and if the birth be by day, care must be taken to calculate the diurnal horary times ; if by night, the nocturnal. These directions are to be understood as applicable to instances wherein the degrees in question may be inthe ° ascendant ; if farther advanced, a deduction proportionate to the distance is to be made, unless they should be on the ~ occidental horizon, in which - there can be no remainder.

But, m the prorogation made into succeeding signs, the places of the malefics, Saturn and Mars, are aneretic, whether meeting the prorogator bodily, or by emission of rays in quartile, from either side, or in opposition : they are also sometimes aneeretic, by a sextile ray, if in a sign of equal power, obeying or beholding the sign of the prorogator. And even the mere degree, in signs following, in quartile with the prorogatory place, as also the degree in sextile, if badly afflicted, which ie sometimes the case in signs of long ascension, and, still further, the degree in trine, if in signs of short ascension, are all anzretic: so also is the . Sun’s place, should the Moon be prorogatory. But, although the meetings, which occur in the course of prorogation thus made, have, respectively, some of them an aneretic, and others a preservative, power, in consequence of their occurring by means of an actual transmission to the prorogatory placef ; yet their aneeretic tendency is not always | effectual, but only in cases where the places, so. brought to the prorogatory place, may be badly afflicted. For should those places be situated within the terms of a benefic, the operation of their anseretic degree becomes impeded ; and it will likewise be impeded, if either of the benefics should cast

| © Forary times.” These are the number of equaforial degrees which any degree of the zodiac may appear, in a certain latitude on the carth, to transit ia an equatorial hour.

t By the apparent motion of the planetary system.

Chap. XIV.] - PFOLRMY’3 TETRARFBLOS, 137 '@ ray in quartile, trine, or opposition®, to the said anzretic degree itself, or to some other degree near in succession, and not farther distant from it than twelve degrees, if the benefic be Jupiter ; nor than eight, if Venus: the like impediment will also subsist, if both the prorogator and its opponent} should be bodies{, and not have the same latitude. Therefore, whenever there may be found two or more conflicting configurations, auxiliary on the one hand, and hostile on the other, due observation must be made to ascertain which party surpasses the other, in power as well as in number. The pre-eminence in number. will be, of course, obvious, ‘from the greater number§ on one side than on the other; but, for pre-eminence in power, it must be seen whether the stars, auxiliary or hostile as the case may be, are, on the one side, in places appropriate to themselves, while they are not so on the other ; and especially whether those on the one side may be oriental, and those on the other occidental. It is also to be observed, in all cases, that not any one of such stars, whether hostile or auxiliary, is to be left out of the present calculation, on account of its casual position under

* In reference to this passage, Placidus, in speaking of the death

of Octavian Vestrius of Rome, has these words: “ the Moon is found

. “in £ parallel declination of Mars, and Saturn with the opposition of “Mars; the sextile of Jupiter to the Sun could give no assistance,

‘“ because Jupiter is cadent, and the ray soxtile is very weak, espe- - |

“ gially when it is the principal ray: for which reason, Ptolemy, in the “ chapter of Life, when he mentions the planets that are able to save “in the occourses of the infortunes, does not name the sextile, but ‘the quartile, trine, and opposition; because the sextile ray is feeble, “ narticularly when it is less than 60°: neither could Venus assist, as “she was cadent from the house, and in a sign inimical to the Sun,” &c. (Cooper’s Translation, p. 86.)