THE ASTRONOMICAL FIGURE

This part has two parts: (1) The Figure, (2) The subjects of judgment

(1) The Figure
The figure has eight circles. The outermost circle displays the twelve signs of the zodiac and the seven others display the seven planets as shown in the illustration. In the house of Aries, the letter B shows that it belongs to the fiery complexion, and the letters E F G also appear in this house to show that it contains three decans, an ascending decan signified by E, a stationary decan signified by F and a descending decan signified by G, as described earlier. And the sign of Taurus has the letters C E F G, and so on in sequence through the other houses of signs and planets, in accordance with the letters signifying their qualities.

This figure is included in this art to be used as an instrument for judgment, as for instance by placing Saturn under Aries an astronomer can know the meaning of these two houses through B C, and if Jupiter is placed under Saturn which is under Aries, another judgment is signified through B C A; and likewise with the other circles including the smallest one, and the meaning of each judgment can be known by following the doctrine given in the second part of part one, in the chapter on the mutual overcoming of the elements.

When Saturn' C is under B of Aries, it shows that C overcomes B, as we proved in the second part of part one, in the chapter on B C; and if Jupiter's A is placed under Saturn's C which is under B of Aries, this signifies that the heat of B and A overcome the cold of C while the dryness of B and C overcome the moisture of A. And thus, a person born under the combination B C A has good fortune through heat and dryness and more through dryness than through heat given that C overcomes B, and the person has bad fortune through moisture, which is overcome by two points of dryness. And we will provide a general doctrine regarding this in the third part. And the things said in this part are meant to explain the use of the figure in this science.

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