152 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



But we receive astrology as a part of physics, without 

 attributing more to it than reason and the evidence of 

 things allow, and strip it of its superstition and conceits. 

 Thus we banish that empty notion about the horary reign 

 of the planets, as if each resumed the throne thrice in 

 twenty -four hours, so as to leave three hours supernumer 

 ary: and yet this fiction produced the division of the 

 week, a thing so ancient and so universally received. Thus 

 likewise we reject, as an idle figment, the doctrine of horo 

 scopes, and the distribution of the houses, though these are 

 the darling inventions of astrology, which have kept revel, 

 as it were, in the heavens. And we are surprised that some 

 eminent authors in astrology should rest upon so slender 

 an argument for erecting them, as because it appears by 

 experience that the solstices, the equinoxes, the new and 

 full moon, etc., have a manifest operation upon natural 

 bodies, therefore the more curious and subtile positions of 

 the stars must produce more exquisite and secret effects: 

 whereas, laying aside those operations of the sun, which are 

 owing to manifest heat, and a certain attractive virtue of 

 the moon, which causes the spring tide; the other effects 

 of the planets upon natural bodies are, so far as experience 

 reaches, exceeding small, weak, and latent. Therefore the 

 argument should run thus: since these greater revolutions 

 are able to effect so little, those more nice and trifling differ 

 ences of positions will have no force at all. And lastly, for 

 the calculation of nativities, fortunes, good or bad hours of 

 business, and the like fatalities, they are mere levities that 

 have little in them of certainty and solidity, and may be 

 plainly confuted by physical reasons. 



And here we judge it proper to lay down some rules for 

 the examination of astrological matters, in order to retain 

 what is useful therein, and reject what is insignificant. 

 Thus, 1. Let the greater revolutions be retained, but the 

 lesser of horoscopes and houses be rejected the former 

 being like ordnance, which shoot to a great distance, while 

 the other are but like small bows, that do no execution. 



