卷二·第八十一章　能否炼成哲人石

If attaine the Philosopher's Stone?

能否炼成哲人石？

AN ingenious man with much seriousnes propounded the Question above, viz. Whether he should obtain the Philosopher's Stone? or, that Elixar by which such wonders are performed? that there is such a thing in being I verily believe; that it may be attained I am as confident: but as it is a blessing beyond all blessings upon earth, so I hold, that it is given but to very few, and to those few rather by revelation of the good Angels of God, then the proper industry of man. This Question must admit of this manner of proposall; Whether the Knowledge of the querent is so able, or he so cunning, as to produce to effect by his Art what he desires?

一位聪明人十分认真地提出上面的问题，即：他能否得到哲人石？或那种能成就许多奇迹的灵药？我确信世上有这样的东西；我也同样确信它可以得到：但它既是地上一切福分之上的福分，我认为它只赐给极少数人，而且给这少数人多半是靠上帝的善天使启示，而不是靠人自己的勤勉。这个问题必须照这样的方式提出：问卜者的学识是否足够，或他是否足够精巧，能凭他的技艺做出他想要的东西？

The querent is signified by the ascendant, and ☿ Lord thereof; his knowledge by ♂ Lord of the ninth, and the aspects which may be cast unto him from other Planets.

问卜者由上升及其主星水星代表；他的学识由第九宫主星火星，以及其他行星可能投给他的相位代表。

I find ♂ Lord of the Querent's Science in a cadent house, but in his owne Terme and Face.

我发现问卜者学问的主星火星在果宫，但在他自己的界与面。

♂ is in a □ aspect both of ☿ and ♄, and they and he in fixed Signes, they in the Terms of ♄, falling into the ninth house; I find ☿ lately Retrograde, and in □ of ♂, now moving slowly in his direct motion, and applying againe to a second □ of ♂:

火星与水星、土星都成四分，他与它们都在固定星座，它们在土星的界里，落在第九宫；我发现水星不久前逆行，与火星成四分，现在以顺行缓缓而行，又在入相火星的第二次四分：

From hence I judged, the querent had formerly spent some time in the search of this admirable Jewell the Elixar, but in vaine and to no purpose; his second application by □ happening not long after, while ☿ was in ♊, and in his owne Terms, intimated a stronger desire, greater hopes and resolution to endeavour once more the attaining of the Philosophers Stone, but I advis'd the querent to decline his further progresse upon that subject; and in regard of the former reasons, advertised him how incapable he was, and the improbability of the thing he intended, according to naturall causes, and advised him to desist:

由此我判断，问卜者先前已花了些时间寻找这件奇妙的珍宝，即灵药，却是徒劳，毫无结果；他的第二次四分入相，在不久之后发生，那时水星在双子、在他自己的界里，这表示他会有更强的愿望、更大的希望与决心，要再一次努力去得到哲人石，但我劝问卜者放弃在这件事上继续前进；并鉴于前述的理由，告诉他他是多么无能为力，以及按自然的原因，他所打算的事多么难以成功，劝他停手：

I also said, that he erred in his materials or composition, working upon things terrene or of too grosse and heavy a substance; part of which judgment I collected by ♄ his □ unto ♂, part by the affliction of ☿, his intellective part by the proximity of ♄, both cohabiting in an earthly Signe, for in any operation where ☿ is corrupted, there the fancy or imaginative part is imbecill; but where the Lord of the Work it selfe is unfortunate (as here ♂ Lord of the ninth is,) there the groundwork or matter it selfe of the principall part of the operation is defective, as here it was: and that the Gentleman should think I spoke not in vaine, I acquainted him, he had more necessity to cure himselfe of a Consumption, he was entring into (nay entred) then of advancing his paines further in the scrutiny of this Laborinth.

我还说，他在材料或配方上出了错，用的是土质的、或质地太粗太重的东西；这一部分判断，我一部分从土星对火星的四分得出，一部分从水星受损得出，他的智性部分受损是因为与土星靠近，两者同处一个土象星座，因为在任何作业中，凡是水星受损之处，想象或构思的部分就虚弱；但凡是这项作业本身的主星不吉之处（如这里第九宫主星火星），作业主体部分的根基或材料本身就有缺陷，这里正是如此：为了让这位绅士认为我所说并非空话，我告诉他，他更需要的是医治自己正开始染上（不，已经染上）的痨病，而不是在这座迷宫的探求上再下功夫。

For seeing ☿ Lord of the ascendant, and ♄ in ☌ in ♉, ♄ being Lord of the sixt, of evill iufluence naturally, and finding ♂ afflicting ☿ out of the twelft, and ☿ not receded from, but applying to a further evill □ of ♂, no Fortune interjecting his benevolent aspect betwixt ☿ and the two Infortunes, but that he stood single of himselfe without any assistance, and thereby was incapable of resisting their malevolent influence. I advised to have a care of his health speedily, &c.

因为我看到上升主星水星与土星在金牛会合，土星是第六宫之主，天性带有恶劣的影响，又发现火星从第十二宫侵害水星，而水星并未离开、反而在入相火星又一次凶恶的四分，没有吉星把它仁慈的相位插在水星与两颗凶星之间，他孤立无援，因而无力抵挡它们的恶意影响。我劝他赶快留意自己的健康，等等。