On the Governance of the Lower World

The leadership over the occurrences of the lower world is pursued partly through frequent experiments and partly through natural speculation. Indeed, from the fact that the various paths of the stars follow the diverse alterations of the elements in physical things by a law that is usually certain, it seems a necessary argument that this does not happen without some natural motion of those stars within these things. There is, therefore, a part of this science which, standing by itself, pursues a less manifest part of the reasoning of nature by a certain guidance; so that those who devote themselves to this science are known to be neither lacking in much experience of these things nor ignorant of the affairs of the world.

¶ Therefore, the lights of the manifest part The "manifest part" refers to observable physical astrology, as opposed to hidden or "occult" influences. carry certain signs, principally where the more notable of all the swift bodies are found; and in the first place is the Sun $\odot$. Indeed, no one is ignorant that the lawful successions of the seasons of the year, affecting the elements of the world with their accustomed alterations, follow the orderly journeys and returns of the Sun $\odot$ through the quadrants of the circle. Furthermore, through each individual day and hour, we see that no small amount of new and varied motion in the occurrences of things follows the Sun $\odot$.

A woodcut illustration depicting celestial and astrological figures. In the center is the Sun with a face radiating light. To the left, a figure rides a horse toward the sun. To the right, a crowned male figure sits on a throne, holding a scepter; below his hand is a circular medallion containing a lion (the zodiac sign Leo).

Indeed, as it rises, it gives assent; as it descends, it sets. For living creatures, grasses, and metals, through its individual motions, it alters the air, earth, and water, and their natures and states, between the alterations of generation and corruption, and of increase and decrease, by means of cold, heat, dryness, and moisture.

¶ To such an extent, indeed, do the motions of both humans and other animals primarily follow the path of the Sun $\odot$. For when the Sun $\odot$ rises, they get up; they move forward as its course ascends; they slow down as it descends; and they return as it sets. And as if their motion rests while their leader is absent, they are ready to go out again upon its reappearance. In grasses also, the power of the Sun $\odot$ is manifest, whose generations, increments, and maturity most greatly accompany the Sun $\odot$. This appears more clearly in certain plants, such as in the obsequium likely a reference to the heliotrope or "sun-follower" and the elmosar herb, which the Arabs call the thelancianila herb and the Latins call necesse apium likely a type of wild celery or parsley associated with solar influence. Nor do the natures of metals escape this influence. For some are congealed in the absence of the Sun $\odot$, while others are strengthened by its rays, the power of which is manifest in the heliotrope gem a bloodstone, believed to turn the reflection of the sun red when placed in water, as well as in certain unions and pearls. In these things, therefore, this kind of solar force and effect is most manifest.

¶ After the Sun, the testimony of the Moon $\unicode{x263D}$ follows. For even to many of the common people, there is no doubt that the lunar approaches to and retreats from the Sun $\odot$—namely its rising and setting, and the increases and decreases of the Moon $\unicode{x263D}$—accompany the motions of the winds, the seas, and the qualities and quantities in animals, grasses, and metals. It underlies the menstrual cycles of animals and the daily increases and decreases of the humors and the sea; whether through...

A woodcut illustration showing the Sun and a crescent Moon in the center. To the left, two standing figures (representing Gemini). To the right, a crowned figure holding a vertical arrow; below is a circular medallion containing a crab (the zodiac sign Cancer).