THEIR MYSTICISM. 221 



but unstable minds of the later philosophical schools of Alexandria, 

 Athens, and Rome. We have a treatise on astrology by Proclus, 

 which will serve to exemplify the mystical principle in this form. It 

 appears as a commentary on a work on the same subject called 

 " Tetrabiblos," ascribed to Ptolemy ; though we may reasonably doubt 

 whether the author of the " Megale Syntaxis" was also the writer of 

 the astrological work. A few notices of the commentary of Proclus 

 will suffice. 18 The science is defended by urging how powerful we 

 know the physical effects of the heavenly bodies to be. " The sun 

 regulates all things on earth ; — the birth of animals, the growth of 

 fruits, the flowing of waters, the change of health, according to the 

 seasons : he produces heat, moisture, dryness, cold, according to his 

 approach to our zenith. The moon, which is the nearest of all bodies 

 to the earth, gives out much influence ; and all things, animate and 

 inanimate, sympathize with her: rivers increase and diminish accord- 

 ing to her light ; the advance of the sea, and its recess, are regulated 

 by her rising and setting ; and along with her, fruits and animals wax 

 and wane, either wholly or in part." It is easy to see that by pursuing 

 this train of associations (some real and some imaginary) very vaguely 

 and very enthusiastically, the connections which astrology supposes 

 would receive a kind of countenance. Proclus then proceeds to state' a 

 the doctrines of the science. "The sun," he says, "is productive of 

 heat and dryness ; this power is moderate in its nature, but is more 

 perceived than that of the other luminaries, from his magnitude, and 

 from the change of seasons. The nature of the moon is for the most 

 part moist ; for being the nearest to the earth, she receives the vapors 

 which rise from moist bodies, and thus she causes bodies to soften and 

 rot. But by the illumination she receives from the sun, she partakes 

 in a moderate degree of heat. Saturn is cold and dry, being most 

 distant both from the heating power of the sun, and the moist vapors 

 of the earth. His cold, however, is most prevalent, his dryness is 

 more moderate. Both he and the rest receive additional powers from 

 the configurations which they make with respect to the sun and 

 moon." In the same manner it is remarked that Mars is dry and 

 caustic, from his fiery nature, which, indeed, his color shows. Jupiter 

 is well compounded of warm and moist, as is Venus. Mercury is 

 variable in his character. From these notions were derived others 

 concerning the beneficial or hurtful effect of these stars. Heat and 



w I. 2. " I. 4. 



