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' * *#' m f THERE is no work on Astrology so often quoted, and so seldom understood, as this of Ptolemy, through the want of a translation sufficiently intelligible to assist the Student in forming an opinion of his own ; which would prevent the exclusion of real genius, in favour of the mere Linguist who has no genius at all. It requires but little argument to shew that a Trans lator should not only be familiar with the language, but also with the Science of his author, so as not to be reduced to the miserable shift 'of endeavouring to ' explain it from the opinions of others whose works themselves want explaining, and whose systems are anything but that of Ptolemy,. The esteem they pro fess, and the epithet they have, given him of "Prince of Astrologers/" must not be taken as proofs that they are at all acquainted with bis system. The additional aspects, the Zodiacal directions, the direct cosmical motion, the subterrene direction by the Crepusculine and obscure Arcs, Directions to Terms, of Prorogators to Anaretas, of the Luminaries to their own Squares, and to the Lunar-Nodes, with a number of other in novations, are convincing proofs they must have been ignorant of every part of the Science as laid d«wn in the Quadripartite, except the name. I have but very lately had an opportunity of in specting the Original, and I can assure the reader, that my ideas of the work are very different to what they were when I perused it through the medium of IT PREFACE. what is called a Translation. Nevertheless, there are still some difficulties remaining as the Student will perceive when be examines the notes. Local circum stances, Phraseology, Allusions to Ancient Customs, Manners, and Habits; and to a state of Society which has long ceased to exist, with the nature of whose knowledge and opinions we are nearly unac quainted, and whose Technicalities, however familiar to themselves, arc in many instances obsolete to us : These are obstacles which cannot fail to throw a veil of uncertainty over any Translation; and when to all this we add, the blunders and omissions of Trans cribers, and the interpolations of ignorant or design ing persons, I will leave the reader to determine on the prospect of success to one who has probably never assiduously applied himself to investigate the science he is employed to translate, except through the me dium of other men's opinions, and who is consequently unprovided with the only probable clue to guide biui through such a labyrinth. Considered in the Abstract merely as a Science, this Treatise exhibits a masterly specimen of human, ingenuity, and compared with any other Astrological System, ancient or modern, may be truly deemed " Hyperion to a Satyr." Its truth or falsehood forms a distinct consideration. One thing, however, is certain, that although its truth may be disputed, it cannot be disproved, as I believe there is no instance on record, since the time it was wrote, wherein it has . been brought to the test in the manner here laid down, and although an attempt to decide this question may easily be made by any individual, he would find him self so much at a loss for want of sufficient materials, as to render it impossible to arrive at any thing; like certainty. Those, indeed, who are ignorant of lUe PREFACE. V matter, and have read Partridge's Opus Reformatum, where he speaks of his own experience in " a hundred Nativitiet," may suppose they are to be picked up as plentifully as mushrooms, and in as good condi tion. It should, however, be remembered, that Par tridge was a man of such extensive genius, as to be able to make his own Nativities to his own taste, as be did in the case of Oliver Cromwell, whereby he gained a considerable advantage in his predictions. Those however, who -are compelled to take Nature as they find her, will- very soon perceive, that to procure a geniture that can be relied on with an equally correet life of the native annexed to it, though the experiment may not be attended with so much danger as one of the labours of Hercules, it will be attended with nearly as much difficulty. Whoever is inclined to pursue this Science, should particularly -observe, that it has very little resem blance to any present system of Astrology. It con tains no Zodiacal direction whatever, nor any mem- dane or Rapt parallels; a Prorogator is never directed except to the west angle, for according to the Actino- bolia, the Prorogatory place is that point of the horary circle in which the Prorogator is found at the moment of birth, and which always maintains the same relative position with the Meridian and Equator. It is consequently immovable, and exposed to the bodies or rays of Promitors, whether good or evil, as they arrive by Mundane Converse Motion. The term Latitude, has in this case, been greatly mis understood. It is entirely used in a cosmical sense, and means declination or the distance of any Point, from the Equator. Thus in Book i. Chap. xiv. we read of the Sun's Latitude, which can only relate to its Mundane position, declination on the Celestial a 3 Globe being latitude on the Terrestial. In bodiiy" conjunctions or Transits, both the Significator and Promittor must have the same declination, or what is here termed Latitude, else they would impress the earth at different angles, and with different powers; whereas, in aspects measured by right or oblique distance, declination cannot alter the effect, for, as the author remarks, their rays are all directed to the same point, the earth's centre. Application and Separation are nothing but Arcs of Direction, within certain limits, measured in the same way by the Semi-arcs. The passage where they are mentioned, is certainly very equivocal, as it does not state whether the preceding and succeedingplaces are taken in the Horary or Zodiacal Circle. The former has been the most general opinion, I have accordingly given it in a note to Chap, xxvii. of the First Book, but on farther consideration, I am con vinced it is a wrong opinion, and have accordingly corrected it in a note to Chapter xv. of the Third Book. There have been many disputes about direct ing the part of Fortune, which never would have been, had the disputants understood either Polemy's system or their own. Even according to the latter it may be directed Zodiacaly, as the part of Fortune has a Zodiacal motion whereby it preserves the same distance from the Horoscope as the Moon has from the Son. It cannot indeed be directed to the west angle as it is not carried away by the Rapt motion as Placidus would call -it, but its Genethliacal point in the horary circle, is equally liable with that of any other Significator to be affected by the rays of a Pro mittor in the Actinobolia prorogation. 1 have gene, rally found the simple rule of Ptolemy, which allows a year to a degree, more correct than the Equations PREFACE. vH of either Naibod, or Placidus, and they are evidently of great antiquity, as we find them mentioned in Judges, chap. v, verse 20. The "Stars which in their eourses fought against Sisera," were the anaretic periods which terminated his existence. It is almost superfluous to remark, that as in Na tivities, the directions are all Mundane, the aspects must necessarily be the same ; and this alone is the reason why Sextiles from signs of long ascension, and Trines from those of short ascension, are liable to be anaretic, because they often form Mundane squares.