THE disposition of the luminaries and the respective familiarities, exercised by the stars attending them, are to be considered as indicative of the degree of rank or dignity. 3
For example, should the two luminaries be found in masculine signs and in angles, or even if only one of them be in an angle, 4 they being at the same time specially attended by a doryphory 5 composed of all
And if the attendant stars, while the luminaries may be situated in the manner last-mentioned, should be neither actually in angles, nor bear any testimony to the angles, the persons then born, although they will still enjoy eminence, will attain only some limited dignity or distinction; such as that of a delegated governor, or commander of an army, or dignitary of the priesthood; and they will not be invested with sovereignty.
If, however, neither of the luminaries be in an angle, and it happen that most of the attendant stars be either themselves in angles, or configurated with the angles, the persons then born will not attain to any very eminent rank; yet they will take a leading part in ordinary civil and municipal affairs: but, should the attendant stars have no configuration with the angles, they will then remain altogether undistinguished and without advancement; and provided, further, that neither of the luminaries be found situated in a masculine sign, nor in an angle, nor be attended by any benefics, they will be born to complete obscurity and adversity.
The general appearance of exaltation or debasement of rank is to be contemplated as before stated, but there are many gradations intermediate to those already specified, and requiring observation of the particular interchanges and variations, incidental to the luminaries themselves and their doryphory, and also to the dominion of the planets
118:3 It seems that there have been different opinions on this point. Placidus makes the following remark on the subject: "I do not take the dignities from the horoscope, but from the Sun and Medium Cœli, according to Ptolemy and others." (Cooper's Translation, p. 121.) 118:4 The Perugio Latin, of 1646, says, "If either both luminaries, or only that one of the chief quality" (which Whalley defines to be the Sun by day, and the Moon by night) "be in an angle," &c. 118:5 Doryphory. Vide Chapter V of the 3rd Book. On the present passage, Placidus has the following words: "You are not to observe what is generally alleged by professors, respecting the satellites" (quasi doryphory) "of the luminaries, for dignities; viz. that the satellites are those planets which are found within 30°, on either side of the luminaries; but that a satellite is [also]
119:1 The angle of the mid-heaven; see the first note to this Chapter.
