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from the entrails of sacrificial victims or from the shooting stars? For the present, then, these things will suffice for the refutation of the idea that the stars are the causes of human affairs. 6.11.73 But what we have conceded—for it did not harm the argument—that men are able to comprehend the celestial configurations and the signs and 6.11.74 of what things they are signs, let us now examine whether this is true. The experts in these matters, then, say that one who intends to truly comprehend what pertains to natal astrology must know not only in what twelfth part the so-called star is, but also in what degree of the twelfth part and in what sixtieth, and the more precise ones say also in what sixtieth of the sixtieth, and they say this must be done for each of the planets, examining the relation 6.11.75 to the fixed stars. Again, they say, concerning the eastern horizon, it will be necessary to see not only which twelfth part was upon it, but also the degree and 6.11.76 the sixtieth of the degree, the first or the second sixtieth. How then, when an hour in a broad sense contains half a twelfth part, can someone grasp the sixtieth part, not having the proportion for the division of hours, so as, let's say, to know that so-and-so was born at the fourth hour and a half an hour and 6.11.77 a fourth, an eighth and a sixteenth and a thirty-second? For they say that the things signified vary greatly on account of ignorance not of the whole hour, but even <of the> fraction of it. At least in the case of twins being born, the interval is often an instant of an hour, and many variations in what happens to them and what they do are met with, as they say, on account of the cause of the relation of the stars and the part of the twelfth part that is on the horizon, which is not comprehended by those who are thought to have observed the hour. 6.11.78 For no one can say that the interval between the birth of this one and that one is a thirtieth of an hour. But let it be conceded to them that they can determine the hour. There is indeed a theory demonstrating that the zodiacal circle, like the planets, moves from west to east one degree in one hundred years, and that this, over a long time, alters the position of the twelfth parts, the intelligible twelfth part being one thing, and the quasi-form being another. <But they say the results are found not from the form>, but from the intelligible zodiacal sign, which it is not at all possible to comprehend. 6.11.79 Let this also be conceded, that the intelligible twelfth part is comprehended or that the truth can be grasped from the sensible twelfth part; but the "mixture," as it is called by them, of things found in these configurations, even they themselves will confess they are not able to preserve entirely, as what is signified, let us say the worse, is obscured by this one because it is aspected by that better one and is obscured to such and such a degree, and again, often the obscuring of the worse by the aspect of the better is hindered by another being so configured, 6.11.80 being significant of worse things. And I think that one who pays attention to these topics would despair of comprehending them, as this is in no way available to men, but, if at all, it extends only to the point of being signified. But if anyone has experience of the matters, he will know more the fallibility in the guessing of those who speak and of those who have written than what is thought to be their accuracy. 6.11.81 And Isaiah at any rate, on the grounds that these things cannot be discovered by men, says to the daughter of the Chaldeans who, more than all others, profess these things: “Let the astrologers of heaven stand and save you, let them announce to you what is about to come upon you.” For through these words we are taught that even those who are very studious in these matters cannot declare beforehand what the Lord has willed to bring upon each nation.” 6.11.82 So much also from the man indicated. But this whole discussion of ours into two most important points

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τῶν σπλάγχνων τῶν θυομένων ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν διᾳττόντων ἀστέρων; ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος ἀρκέσει εἰς ἀναίρεσιν τοῦ ποιητικοὺς εἶναι τοὺς ἀστέρας τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων. 6.11.73 Ὅπερ δὲ συγκεχωρήκαμεν οὐ γὰρ ἐλύπει τὸν λόγον, ὡς τῶν ἀνθρώπων δυναμένων καταλαμβάνειν τοὺς οὐρανίους σχηματισμοὺς καὶ τὰ σημεῖα καὶ 6.11.74 ὧν ἐστι σημεῖα, τοῦτο φέρε νῦν ἐξετάσωμεν εἰ ἀληθές ἐστι. φασὶ τοίνυν οἱ περὶ ταῦτα δεινοὶ τὸν μέλλοντα τὰ κατὰ τὴν γενεθλιαλογίαν ἀληθῶς καταλαμβάνειν εἰδέναι οὐ μόνον τὸ κατὰ πόστου δωδεκατημορίου ἐστὶν ὁ καλούμενος ἀστήρ, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ ποίας μοίρας τοῦ δωδεκατημορίου καὶ κατὰ ποίου ἑξηκοστοῦ, οἱ δὲ ἀκριβέστεροι καὶ κατὰ ποίου ἑξηκοστοῦ τοῦ ἑξηκοστοῦ, καὶ τοῦτό φασι δεῖν ποιεῖν ἐφ' ἑκάστου τῶν πλανωμένων, ἐξετάζοντα τὴν σχέσιν 6.11.75 τὴν πρὸς τοὺς ἀπλανεῖς. πάλιν αὖ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀνατολικοῦ ὁρίζοντος δεήσει, φασίν, ἰδεῖν οὐ μόνον τὸ δωδεκατημόριον ποῖον ἦν ἐπ' αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν μοῖραν καὶ 6.11.76 τὸ ἑξηκοστὸν τῆς μοίρας, τὸ πρῶτον ἢ τὸ δεύτερον ἑξηκοστόν. πῶς τοίνυν τῆς ὥρας πλατεῖ λόγῳ ἥμισυ δωδεκατημορίου περιεχούσης δύναταί τις λαβεῖν τὸ ἑξηκοστόν, μὴ ἔχων τὴν ἀναλογίαν τῆς διαιρέσεως τῶν ὡρῶν, ὥστε φέρε εἰπεῖν εἰδέναι ὅτι γεγέννηται ὁ δεῖνα ὥρᾳ τετάρτῃ καὶ ἡμίσει ὥρας καὶ 6.11.77 τετάρτῳ, ὀγδόῳ καὶ ἑκκαιδεκάτῳ καὶ δυοτριακοστῷ; παρὰ πολὺ γάρ φασι παραλλάττειν τὰ σημαινόμενα παρὰ τὴν ἀγνωσίαν οὐ τῆς ὅλης ὥρας, ἀλλὰ καὶ <τοῦ> ποστημορίου αὐτῆς. ἐν γοῦν τοῖς διδύμοις γεννωμένοις πολλάκις τὸ μεταξὺ ἀκαριαῖον ὥρας ἐστί, καὶ πολλαὶ παραλλαγαὶ τῶν συμβαινόντων καὶ τῶν πραττομένων ἐπ' αὐτῶν ἀπαντῶσιν, ὥς φασιν ἐκεῖνοι, παρὰ τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς σχέσεως τῶν ἀστέρων καὶ τὸ μόριον τοῦ δωδεκατημορίου τὸ παρὰ τὸν ὁρίζοντα, οὐ καταλαμβανόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν νομιζομένων τὴν ὥραν τετηρηκέναι. 6.11.78 οὐδεὶς γὰρ δύναται λέγειν ὅτι τὸ μεταξὺ τοῦδε τῆς γενέσεως πρὸς τὴν τοῦδέ ἐστιν ὥρας τριακοστόν. ἀλλ' ἔστω συγκεχωρημένον αὐτοῖς τὸ κατὰ τὸ ἐκλαβεῖν τὴν ὥραν. φέρεται δὴ θεώρημα ἀποδεικνύον τὸν ζῳδιακὸν κύκλον ὁμοίως τοῖς πλανωμένοις φέρεσθαι ἀπὸ δυσμῶν ἐπὶ ἀνατολὰς δι' ἑκατὸν ἐτῶν μοῖραν μίαν, καὶ τοῦτο τῷ πολλῷ χρόνῳ ἐναλλάττειν τὴν θέσιν τῶν δωδεκατημορίων, ἑτέρου μὲν τυγχάνοντος τοῦ νοητοῦ δωδεκατημορίου, ἑτέρου δὲ τοῦ ὡσανεὶ μορφώματος. <τὰ δὲ ἀποτελέσματα φασὶν εὑρίσκεσθαι οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ μορφώματος>, ἀλλ' ἐκ τοῦ νοητοῦ ζῳδίου, ὅπερ οὐ πάνυ τι δυνατὸν καταλαμβά6.11.79 νεσθαι. ἔστω δὴ καὶ τοῦτο συγκεχωρημένον, τὸ καταλαμβάνεσθαι τὸ νοητὸν δωδεκατημόριον ἢ δύνασθαι ἐκ τοῦ αἰσθητοῦ δωδεκατημορίου λαμβάνεσθαι τὸ ἀληθές· ἀλλὰ τήν γε σύγκρασιν παρ' αὐτοῖς καλουμένην τῶν ἐν τοῖσδε τοῖς σχηματισμοῖς τυγχανόντων καὶ αὐτοὶ ὁμολογήσουσιν οὐχ οἷοί τε σῶσαι κατὰ πᾶν, ἀμαυρουμένου τοῦ δηλουμένου φέρε εἰπεῖν χείρονος ἀπὸ τοῦδε διὰ τὸ ἐπιβλέπεσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τοῦδε τοῦ κρείττονος καὶ ἐπὶ τοσόνδε ἢ τοσόνδε ἀμαυρουμένου, πολλάκις πάλιν τῆς ἀμαυρώσεως τῆς τοῦ χείρονος ὑπὸ τῆς ἐπιβλέψεως τῆς τοῦ κρείττονος ἐμποδιζομένης ἐκ τοῦ ἕτερον οὑτωσὶ ἐσχη6.11.80 ματίσθαι, χειρόνων ὄντα σημαντικόν. καὶ οἶμαι ἐπιστήσαντά τινα τοῖς τόποις ἀπογνῶναι τὴν περὶ τούτων κατάληψιν, οὐδαμῶς ἀνθρώποις ἐκκειμένην, ἀλλ', εἰ ἄρα, μέχρι τοῦ σημανθῆναι μόνον φθάνουσαν. εἰ δέ τις ἐν πείρᾳ γεγένηται τῶν πραγμάτων, μᾶλλον εἴσεται τὸ ἐν τῷ στοχάζεσθαι ἀποπτωτικὸν τῶν λεγόντων καὶ αὐτῶν τῶν συγγραψαμένων ἤπερ νομιζόμενον ἐπιτευκτικόν. 6.11.81 καὶ Ἡσαΐας γοῦν, ὡς οὐ δυναμένων τούτων εὑρίσκεσθαι ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπων, φησὶ πρὸς τὴν θυγατέρα τῶν Χαλδαίων τῶν ταῦτα μάλιστα παρὰ πάντας ἐπαγγελλομένων· «Στήτωσαν δὴ καὶ σωσάτωσάν σε οἱ ἀστρολόγοι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ἀναγγειλάτωσάν σοι τί μέλλει ἐπὶ σὲ ἔρχεσθαι.» διὰ γὰρ τούτων διδασκόμεθα μὴ δύνασθαι τοὺς πάνυ περὶ ταῦτα φιλομαθεῖς προδηλοῦν ἃ βεβούληται κύριος ἑκάστῳ ἔθνει ἐπαγαγεῖν.» 6.11.82 Τοσαῦτα καὶ ὁ δηλωθεὶς ἀνήρ. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ὁ πᾶς ἡμῖν οὗτος εἰς δύο τὰ μέγιστα