[10] 



Passover, or coming together (covenant) of the ecliptk 

 and equator, when he would be crucified that is, be 

 placed cross-wise on the two lines (ecliptic and equator). 

 After this he entered into the sign, Aries, the lamb, 

 having been shown the way by the man with the pitcher 

 of water, Aquarius, and partook of the feast in the upper 

 room or first decan, immediately after which he was- 

 crucified as the lamb of god that is, passed the cross- 

 ing of the equator and ecliptic in the sign of the lamb-. 

 For three days and three nights he struggled in the- 

 tomb, or suspense, and then ascended into heaven r 

 accompanied by the lamb, passing the signs Taurus and 

 Gemini, saying to the twins that he could stay with them 

 but a little while, and where he was going they could 

 not go (John xii.), and finally reaching the city of heaven, 

 Jerusalem, or Cancer, passing over the two asses (Aselli) 

 at the entrance to it. Here, on the top of the mount, 

 or at the height of his annual ascension, he had another 

 three days and three nights of tribulation, struggling 

 with the devil, the heavenly serpent, who had led or 

 preceded him up the mount, but who left him as soon as 

 he arrived at the top ; for Serpens, at this point, returns- 

 while the sun commences his descent towards the 

 autumnal crucifixion. Passing into Leo, he was trans- 

 figured on the mount that is, became more resplendent 

 than ever, after which he entered Virgo, where the seduc- 

 tions of the lady sorely tempted him, for being offered 

 the juice of the autumn grape he drank copiously with- 

 the damsel until none was left ; whereupon she suggested 

 that he should turn water into wine, but he resisted 

 further temptation, exclaiming, " Woman, what have I 

 to do with thee ?" and pursued his course towards the 

 autumnal equinox, where he passed into Libra and 

 crossed the equator and ecliptic again, or, in other words, 

 was crucified in Egypt as the "just man," being at length 

 separated from Aries for six months, which caused him 

 to exclaim in grief, " My ram ! my ram ! why hast thou 

 forsaken me?" After three days' and three nights' 

 struggle he descended into hell, the tomb, or the dark 

 regions, to be born again at the winter solstice as before ;, 

 after which he would reconquer the powers of evil, or 

 the winter signs, and again become the lamb of god,. 



