Tetrabiblos and Centiloquy

the quantity of the sun: and the manifest change of the time of year: for the more the sun approaches the location of the zenith original: "çenit," the point directly overhead of our heads, the more it heats. ¶ However, the greater power of the Moon is to moisten. For it is close to the earth, from which moist vapor ascends from the depths up to it. For this reason, it changes bodies by a manifest mode of change. For it matures and putrefies many parts of those things which exist within the body. Likewise, it has a modest partnership in heat with the sun, since it receives light from it. ¶ Truly, the star of Saturn The planet Saturn, according to the greater part of its influence, cools; and by its greatest coldness, it dries out a little: these things seem to happen because of its great distance from the heat of the sun and from the moist vapors which are throughout the earth. Indeed, the knowledge of the power of this star and of the other stars proceeds from the observations of their configurations which occur in their relation with the sun and moon. For in the orders of changes which differ according to increase and decrease, we seem to see some of their qualities vary the air in one way, and others in another. ¶ Indeed, the work of the strength of the star of Jupiter is of a temperate complexion. For the location of its motion is in the middle between the coldness of Saturn and the fervor of Mars. For this reason, it simultaneously heats and moistens; and since its nature is more to heat, and it is carried above the other heavens, it exists as the author of winds and causes things to flourish. ¶ However, the star of Mars dries because of its nature, and its power is to burn; for its heat is likened to the heat of fire. And it holds a place next to the sun, whose carrying sphere is beneath it. ¶ Because the star of Venus imitates the previous ones in its works on account of the temperance of its complexion, it follows that the order of Jupiter is reflected in it: for it heats a little because it is near the sun, and it moistens as much as the moon because of the great quantity of its light; and therefore it attracts to itself the vapors which ascend from the humors surrounding the earth. ¶ Indeed, the work of the star of Mercury is for the most part to dry and equally to moisten. For in certain hours it dries humors, because it is never

too far removed from the heat of the sun. In others, however, it moistens because its place is above the lunar sphere which is close to the earth: and in both of these, its alteration is swift. It then exists here as the author of wind, for the reason that its motion around the sun is considered rapid.

Chapter 5. On Fortunes and Misfortunes.

Since, therefore, there are the aforementioned configurations as we have said, and they are of four natures: namely two, heat and moisture, which are procreative and effective—for nothing receives growth except through them—and two, namely coldness and dryness, which are destructive, for through them things diminish and cease to be. According to the authority of the men of old, they said that two of the wandering stars erraticarū: the planets, as opposed to fixed stars, namely Jupiter and Venus, and also the Moon, are "fortunes" Benefic planets, because their complexion is temperate and because much heat and moisture is in them. They testified that the works of Saturn and Mars are naturally contrary to the works of the aforementioned stars, because one of them works through intense coldness and the other through intense dryness. However, they added that the Sun and Mercury have a dryness in their nature, because they provide the effect of both: and according to the change of the other stars with which they are joined, they compel things to change more than any of the other stars.

Chapter 6. On Masculinity and Femininity.

Since likewise there are two primary kinds of the parts of nature, namely masculine and feminine, and since from the aforementioned powers the feminine power is specifically from the moist substance—because this quality is generally found in females—and the remaining quality is specifically found in males, it was harmoniously said by the ancients: that the Moon and Venus, in which there is much moisture, are feminine. However, the Sun...