PTOLEMY’S TETRABIBLOS OR QUADRIPARTITE BEING FOUR BOOKS OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE STARS
J. M. Ashmand translation
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
By J. M. ASHMAND
NEW EDITION
“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
Made and Printed in Great Britain
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
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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