ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 89 



stronger, or in a different manner. 5. This astrology should 

 contain all that can by any means be known or discovered of the 

 nature of the stars, both erratic and fixed, considered in their 

 own essence and activity, viz., their magnitude, color, aspect, 

 sparkling and vibrating of light ; their situation with regard to 

 the poles or equinoctial ; the constellations, which thicker set 

 and which thinner, which higher, which lower; what fixed 

 stars are in the zodiac, and what out of it ; the different veloci- 

 ties of the planets, their different latitudes, which of them are 

 retrograde, and which not; their different distances from the 

 sun ; which move swiftest in their apogee, and which in their 

 perigee; the irregularities of Mars, the excursions of Venus, 

 and the extraordinary phases, accidents, and appearances ob- 

 servable in Venus and the sun ; with other things of this kind. 

 6. Lastly, let it contain, from tradition, the particular natures 

 and alterations of the planets and fixed stars ; for as these are 

 delivered with general consent, they are not lightly to be re- 

 jected, unless they directly contradict physical reasons. And 

 of such observations let a just astrology be formed: and ac- 

 cording to these alone should schemes of the heavens be made 

 and interpreted. 



Such an astrology should be used with greater confidence in 

 prediction, but more cautiously in election, and in both cases 

 with due moderation. Thus predictions may be made of 

 comets, and all kinds of meteors, inundations, droughts, heats, 

 frosts, earthquakes, fiery eruptions, winds, great rains, the sea- 

 sons of the year, plagues, epidemic diseases, plenty, famine, 

 wars, seditions, sects, transmigrations of people, and all com- 

 motions or great innovations of things natural and civil. Pre- 

 dictions may possibly be made more particular, though with less 

 certainty, if when the general tendencies of the times are found, 

 a good philosophical or political judgment applies them to such 

 things as are most liable to this kind of accidents. For exam- 

 ple, from a foreknowledge of the seasons of any year they might 

 be apprehended more destructive to olives than grapes, more 

 hurtful in distempers of the lungs than the liver, more pernicious 

 to the inhabitants of hills than valleys, and, for want of provis- 

 ions, to monks than courtiers, etc. Or if anyone, from a knowl- 

 edge of the influence which the celestial bodies have upon the 

 spirits of mankind, should find it would affect the people more 

 than their rulers, learned and inquisitive men more than the 



