220 PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



said, that when an opponent of the art urged as an objection the dif- 

 ferent fates of persons born in two successive instants, Nigidius bade 

 him make two contiguous marks on a potter's wheel, which was 

 revolving rapidly near them. On stopping the wheel, the two marks 

 were found to be really far removed from each other ; and Nigidius is 

 said to have received the name of Figulus (the potter), in remembrance 

 of this story. His argument, says St. Augustine, who gives us the 

 narrative, was as fragile as the ware which the wheel manufactured. 



As the darkening times of the Roman empire advanced, even the 

 stronger minds seem to have lost the clear energy which was requisite 

 to throw off this delusion. Seneca appears to take the influence of 

 the planets for granted ; and even Tacitus 17 seems to hesitate. " For 

 my own part," says he, " I doubt ; but certainly the majority of mankind 

 cannot be weaned from the opinion, that, at the birth of each man, his 

 future destiny is fixed ; though some things may fall out differently 

 from the predictions, by the ignorance of those who profess the art ; 

 and that thus the art is unjustly blamed, confirmed as it is by noted ex- 

 amples in all ages." The occasion which gives rise to these reflections 

 of the historian is the mention of Thrasyllus, the favorite astrologer of 

 the Emperor Tiberius, whose skill is exemplified in the following nar- 

 rative. Those who were brought to Tiberius on any important matter, 

 were admitted to an interview in an apartment situated on a lofty cliff 

 in the island of Caprese. They reached this place by a narrow path, 

 accompanied by a single freedman of great bodily strength ; and on 

 their return, if the emperor had conceived any doubts of their trust- 

 worthiness, a single blow buried the secret and its victim in the ocean 

 below. After Thrasyllus had, in this retreat, stated the results of his 

 art as they concerned the emperor, Tiberius asked him whether he 

 had calculated how long he himself had to live. The astrologer ex- 

 amined the aspect of the stars, and while he did this, as the narrative 

 states, showed hesitation, alarm, increasing terror, and at last declared 

 that, " the present hour was for him critical, perhaps fatal." Tiberius 

 embraced him, and told him " he was right in supposing he had been 

 in danger, but that he should escape it ;" and made him thenceforth 

 his confidential counsellor. 



The belief in the power of astrological prediction which thus obtained 

 dominion over the minds of men of literary cultivation and practical 

 energy, naturally had a more complete sway among the speculative 



17 Ann. vi. 22. 



