PTOLEMY’S TETRABIBLOS
OR
QUADRIPARTITE
BEING
FOUR BOOKS
OF THE
INFLUENCE OF THE STARS

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]
XXVIFaces, 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]
VIIMale 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]