THEIR MYSTICISM. 315 



inanimate, sympathize with her; rivers increase 

 and diminish according 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 connexions which astro- 

 logy supposes would receive a kind of countenance. 

 Proclus then proceeds to state 19 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 vapours 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 

 vapours 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 colour shows. Jupiter is well 



19 t. 4. 



