Book IV.
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Chapter I.—System of the
Astrologers; Sidereal Influence; Configuration of the Stars.
But
in each zodiacal sign
they call limits of the stars those in which each of the stars, from
any one quarter to another, can exert the greatest amount of influence;
in regard of which there is among them, according to their writings, no
mere casual divergency of opinion. But they say that the stars
are attended as if by satellites when they are in the midst of other
stars, in continuity with the signs of the Zodiac; as if, when any
particular star may have occupied the first portions of the same sign
of the Zodiac, and another the last, and another those portions in the
middle, that which is in the middle is said to be guarded by those
holding the portions at the extremities. And they are said to
look upon one another, and to be in conjunction with one another, as if
appearing in a triangular or quadrangular figure. They assume,
therefore, the figure of a triangle, and look upon one another, which
have an intervening distance
147
extending for three zodiacal signs; and they assume the figure of a
square those which have an interval extending for two signs. But
as the underlying parts sympathize with the head, and the head with the
underlying parts,
148
so also things
terrestrial with superlunar objects.
149
But there is of these a certain
difference and want of sympathy, so that they do not involve one and
the same point of juncture.
147
Or,
“interval.”
148
Hippolytus gives the substance of Sextus Empiricus’
remarks, omitting, however, a portion of the passage followed.
(See Sextus Empiricus’
Mathem
., v. 44.)
149
Or,
“celestial.”