54 



if Mercury is a morning star, he is delighted by 

 day with the Sun, but if an evening star, by night 

 with the Moon. All that we have here said, these 

 men were of opinion ought to be observed in the 

 genitures of men*, and thought that they could 

 not discover the destiny of man, except those 

 radiations were collected by a sagacious investiga- 



* It may not be altogether foreign to the purpose to adduce in 

 this place, what is said by Hermes in his Treatise de Revolut. 

 Nativit. lib. i. p. 215. A Latin translation only is extant of 

 this work, and it is uncertain whether the author of it was the 

 celebrated Hermes Trismegistus, or a Hermes of more modern 

 times. This author says, that " the dominion of the planets over 

 the ages of man is as follows : The Moon governs the first age, 

 which consists of four years. Mercury governs the second, which 

 consists of ten years. Venus the third, and this extends to eight 

 years. The Sun the fourth, and this age consists of nineteen 

 years. Mars the fifth, and this consists of fifteen years. Jupiter, 

 the sixth, consists of twelve years : and Saturn governs the seventh 

 age, and this extends to the remaining years of human life." 



Proclus, also, in his admirable Commentary on the First Alci- 

 biades of Plato, observes, that the different ages of our life on the 

 earth, correspond to the order of the universe. " For our first 

 age (says he)"partakes in an eminent degree of the Lunar energies, 

 as we then live according to a nutritive and physical power. But 

 our second age participates of Mercurial prerogatives, because we 

 then apply ourselves to letters, music, and wrestling. The third 

 age is governed by Venus, because then we begin to produce seed, 

 and the generative powers of nature are put in motion. The fourth 

 age is Solar, for then our youth is in its vigour and full perfection, 

 subsisting as a medium between generation and decay ; for such is 

 the order which vigour is allotted. But the fifth age is governed 

 by Mars, in which we principally aspire after power and superio- 

 rity over others. The sixth age is governed by Jupiter, for in this we 

 give ourselves up to prudence, and pursue an active and political 



