Opus Astrologicum
OR,
An Astrological WORK Left to POSTERITY
ByNicholas CulpeperYear: 1654
The Authour To The Reader [INTRODUCTION]
Courteour Reader,
I have here collected and publish the most choice and principal Astrological Aphorisms used in the Resolution of Horary Questions; with Elections and Considerations of great use in going to War, taking journeys, erecting buildings, making Marriages, &c. and reduced them into such a plain and easie Language and Method, as will suit with a very mean capacity: not for Gain, Profit, nor Vain-glory, (for those things I never desired, nor sought after) but out of an earnest desire to benefit my own Country-men, (who do very much want English Tracts of this nature) to advance this kinde of Learning, to serve and assist those that are Learners and Students in this so admirable, so excellent an Art and Mystery, and to stir up more active pens to a publishing things of this nature, at this time, now this kinde of Learning is so much vilified and reproached (by a company of men that are both ignorant and malicious, who like the Fox in the Fable that discommended the Grapes because he could not reach them, so these despise Learning because they cannot attain unto it.
But the Reproaches of the Ignorant I shall not value, nor shall I doubt but that the Ingenious will make a good construction of these my Labours, (which will very much encourage me to proceed in my intended works in this kind) but if not, I had rather have the Reproofs of the Wise, then the Applause of Fools.
N.C
The Stationers To The Readers [INTRODUCTION 2]
Gentlemen, &c.
We suppose you are not ignorant of the (praiseworthy) Labours which this Author (of deserved Memory) hath (heretofore) published; therefore it would be a needless Task for us to undertake the Praise of him, (who is so generally known, and whose Parts are so highly approved of, and commended by the most Ingenious of this Age) or the true worth of the Work itself, which a short time and experience will give you to understand.
All we shall trouble you (or ourselves) with herein, is, onely to assure you that this Tract is certainly his, (under whose name it goes) and no abuse fathered upon him: which plainly appears by the testimony of his own hand-writing, in the Original Manuscript: for he had completely perfected it, with a full intent to publish it, long before his death: but some urgent occasion frustrating his then-resolution, it rested for a time; in which space death suddenly snatching him away, he could not see it printed; But having committed it to the custody of a friend, he choicely kept it, and hath now permitted it to be published, to the honour of his dear friend, though dead, yet living; and for the perpetual good of all those who truly love Arts and Science.
Richard Moon,
Stephen Chatfield.
Aphorisms For Resolving Horary Questions (1 – 20)
LONDON,
Printed for R. Moone & S. Chatfield. 1654
Aphorisms.
1.
Under Aries are born men of thick hair, white or yellowish, curling, long visage, crooked nose, hazle eyes, little ears, short legs, little feet; the first 15 degrees give a more gross body then the later.
2.
Under Taurus are born men of a short and thick stature, big, broad men, high forehead, wide nose, great mouth, fat short neck, dark ruddy colour, short arms, thick hands, thick black hair, big buttocks, short legs, slowe to anger; but if once angered, hardly ever pleased again.
3.
Gemini gives a delicate, strait, well-composed, and well-set body, good colour, bright clear eyes, good sight, and piercing; long arms, long hands and feet, large brest, brown hair, good wit, fluent tongue, and apt discourse; yet a man of no great fidelity.
4.
Cancer gives but a little short stature; yet the later fifteen degrees give a more full body then the former: you know one Sprat may be something bigger then another: the upper parts of the body are more thick then the lower; disorder in the teeth, little eyes, blackish hair, a lowe whining voice.
5.
Leo arising, gives great head and eyes, quick sight, a large, lusty, strong body; full of metal, courageous, stout-hearted; thick, broad shoulders, yellowish or flaxen hair; a big great voice, resolute spirit, aspiring brain, of a generous, free-hearted, and courteous disposition.
6.
Virgo arising at a Nativity, gives a spare body, yet well composed; a mean stature, lovely brown complexion, great eyes, thick black hair, subtil wit, no great fidelity, aiming at self-ends.
7.
Scorpio gives but short stature, yet a big-limbed, full, and well-set body, strong and active, willful, malicious, false, and deceitful; sad-brown hair, dark sallow complexion, a short neck; quick in motion of body, but of reserved thoughts.
8.
‘Twere pity to have missed Libra, the comeliest of person, and uprightest in condition of all the Zodiack.
Libra gives a delicate, comely, strait body; a round, fair, and well-favoured face, hair for the most part flaxen or light-brown, but sometimes black: a cheerful well-spoken creature; red lips, cherry-cheeks; a tall slender body; courteous, impartial, just and upright in all their dealings.
9.
Under Sagittarius are born strait, well-proportioned-bodies, strong and well-set; of a loving cheerful countenance, high colour, oval visages, good horse-men, and great shooters; stout hearts, brown hair; and quickly bald.
10.
Capricorn gives a very slender weakly man, dry and mean, the face lean and thin; blackish hair, and is exceeding [thick] [missing word/s] pale; man as big about the middle as about the brests; long neck, a disproportioned body; witty, cholerick, and [missing word].
11.
Under Aquarius are born men of a middle stature, well shaped, clear skin, fair visage, yet more lovely than beautiful or curious, yet a handsome composed body, a whitish-bright hair, and sometimes yellow.
12.
And lastly, Pisces gives a short, ill-composed body, yet a good face of clean complexion and colour; thick shoulders, brown hair, fat and plump in all parts; an idle body, else no way hurtful.
13.
In general descriptions of the Planets, consider, The Sun presents one of a brown or yellowish colour, and forehead, great hazle eyes, sharp and piercing, quick-sighted; of no great stature, yet fleshie, and full-boned: he hath a long beard, and is quickly bald, a generous creature, high-minded, aiming at no base or mean things.
14.
The Moon declares one with a pale and whitely face, mixed with but a little redness, if any: of mean stature, proud, of an auburn hair, flowe of speech, fat and flegmatick; short arms, fleshly hands of a mutable condition, often removing from place to place; a wearish peevish creature, seldom contented; neither delighting much in action nor idleness.
15.
Saturn signifies a man with a black swarthy colour, big and large eye-brows, black and little eyes, thin beard, and sometimes none at all; thick shoulders, and sometimes crooked; heavie impish looks, tall stature: he goes with his head stooping forward: lean face, thick lips: he delights to be alone, and is always musing: he hits one leg against the other as he goes: he can hide his anger, and his tongue will tell no tales of his heart: willful, envious, malicious, fearful, proud, and slovenly; covetous, aiming wholly at his own ends.