Histories of Visions Apparitions Prophecies Spirits Divinations, Part 1 · Section 1 – Section 2
1. Of the fabulous erections and appellations of Starres, and Celeſtial Signes; ſuch as the Mag-aſtro-mancers do make uſe of, in their erecting of Theames, or Scheames; for their divining prognoſtications and predictions.
PHrixus had a Golden ſheep, or a Ramme with a Golden Fleece, given him by his father, or elſe by his mother; this Ramme nouriſhed him; and ſpeaking with mans voyce, adviſed him of ſundry perils; and to help him in his flight, flew with him in the ayre, carrying him over Helleſpout, to Colchos: then was this Ramme ſacrificed to Jupiter, to Mars, or to Mercury; and the skin or fleece hang'd upon an Oake or an Elme; in the Wood, Grove, or Temple of Jupiter, or of Mercury: And in memoriall of all this, it was by prayer obtained of Jupiter, that the Sign Aries, or the Ramme, ſhould be placed among the Stars. All that can here be credible, is; that this Phrixus was an Aſtrologer; now the Aſtrologer gave an occaſion to the Fable; and the Fable to the ſetting up of the firſt ſign of the Zodiack.
Jupiter infinitely taken with the excellent beauty of Europa, turn'd himſelf into a dainty white Bull, and was ſeeding by the Sea ſide, where Europa, with her fellow Virgins, uſed to walk, ſhe obſerving and admiring the unuſual comelineſs of this beaſt, went aſide to behold it, fell more freely to ſtroke it, gat upon the back of it; and by this wile was carried over Sea into Grete, and there raviſhed. Then for an everlaſting memoriall of this fact, Jupiter placed the image of Taurus among the Stars: and Europa obtained that one part of the world might be called after her name.
Orion arrogantly boaſting of his cunning and power to kill any beaſt, Tellus, Latona, Diana, indigning this inſolency, raiſed up a Scorpion that ſlew him. Scorpius for this memorable fact, was taken up, and ſet among the Starres: and (in pitty) Orion was thither referred alſo, and placed next to Taurus.
Ganymedes a beautiful Boy, inordinately loved by Jupiter, he cauſed an Eagle to ſnatch him up into heaven; and ſo tranſlated him among the Starres; to make that Signe which they call Aquarius.
Such ſtories of Star-making there are in the Poeticall Fables of the Pleiades, the Hyades, the Dolphin, the Eagle, the Swan, the Goat, of Caſtor and Pollux, of Caſſiope and Andromeda, of Ariadnes crown, of Orpheus his Harp, of the Argonants ſhip, of Silenus his Aſſe, and the Aſſes Cribbe, &c.
2. Of the Mythologicall ſignifications of Planets; which are not onelyonly made to ſignifie mens morals, or their manners; but their fatals alſo, or their lives and fortunes.
SAturne was the ſonne of Coelus and Rhea; which ſignifies, that Time began with the agitation and motion of beames and the Starres. Saturne cut off his fathers genitals: This ſignifies time conſuming her ſelfe, or forgetting her own beginning rather. Iupiter cuts off Saturnes genitals; becauſe he tempers his malice, or maligne influence. Saturne covenants with his brother Titan to ſlay all his ſonnes; to note, that it is conſpired betweed the Sunne and Time, that all that are born ſhall haſte to an end. Saturne devoures his own ſonnes; to note, that few live, who when they are born, have Saturne dominant in their horoſcope. But Saturne did onelyonly eate up his male-children, not his females: is he therefore not ſo malignant in the birth of women, as of men? And Saturne was couzened by his wives ſhifts, who kept ſome of his male children from his greedy tooth; yea and was made to devoure a ſtone inſtead of a man: does not this ſignifie, that a Planet may be prevented by that which is no Planet? Saturne vomited up again all that he did eate: ſhewing that nature repaires that by generation, which ſhe impaires by corruption. Saturne turn'd himſelfe into a horſe, to obtaine his love, or indeed his luſt: which ſhews what furious luſt they are prone to, that are borne under this cold and dull Planet. Saturne is old; becauſe of his ſlow motion, and want of heat. He hath a Sythe in his hand, and a Serpent by him; becauſe he is a retrograde Planet. Jupiter binds him, depoſes him caſts him into hell: and all this is but a figure of a conjunction depreſſing, infringing, or tempering his malignant influence. But Iupiter does no ſuch thing, but rather frees, and reſtores him: and does that ſignifie nothing? was not this benigne Planet now a meanes to help and forward his malignity? But Saturne was foretold by an Oracle that his own ſonne ſhould depoſe him from his Kingdom. What? were divining Oracles before the Planets? Or indeed, are there not over the Starres that can foretell their fates; as well as they can the fates of others? In ſhort, the Golden age was under Saturnes raigne: why then is he made ſo maleficall a Planet whereſoever he is predominant? It would be long to note the like of Iupiter, Mars, Sol, &c. and after all ſuch obſervation, the queſtion at laſt would return to this: whether Mythology or Aſtrology (the poeticall, or the ſpeculatory Fable) ſerves moſt, to make one another good, or more ſignificant?