卷首·编者致辞与致读者

THE EDITOR's ADDRESS.

编者致辞。

IT is an observation, founded on truth and experience, that the Arts and Sciences, like Kingdoms and States, have their rise and fall. ASTRONOMY has ridden triumphant, ever since it was brought to that degree of accuracy it now stands in, by the immortal Newton; yet, considered in itself, cut off from Elementary Philosophy, its most essential part, Astronomy would appear as a cabinet without a jewel; a mere idle speculation, possessed of no essential requisite to recommend itself to the studious and intelligent. But when joined to that part of the Metaphysics, called ELEMENTARY PHILOSOPHY, we shall find it replete with useful instruction, and conducive to every salutary purpose of making mankind happier and better.

艺术与科学如同王国与城邦，有兴起也有衰落，这是一条建立在真理与经验之上的观察。自从不朽的牛顿把天文学推到今天这样精确的地步，天文学一直凯歌高奏；然而就其本身而论，若割去它最本质的部分，即元素哲学，天文学看起来就像一只没有珠宝的匣子，只是一种闲散的空想，没有任何根本的长处足以向勤学而明理的人推荐自己。但若与形而上学中称为“元素哲学”的那一部分结合起来，我们就会发现它充满有益的教导，有助于一切使人类更幸福、更良善的有益目的。

It is true, men in this age have been so busy in Astronomical researches, that this sublime part of Science has been much neglected; it therefore appears absolutely necessary, for the lovers of Elementary Philosophy to rouse themselves from their supineness, and once more attempt to give Urania the honour so justly her due.

诚然，这个时代的人一心忙于天文的研究，以致这门科学里最崇高的部分备受冷落；因此，热爱元素哲学的人实在有必要从怠惰中振作起来，再一次设法把她应得的荣誉归还给乌拉尼亚。

That this purpose may be answered, we here offer the Public a Translation of that truly valuable work of PLACIDUS DE TITUS, with NOTES, ADDITIONS, &c. &c.

为了达成这个目的，我们在此向公众献上普拉西德斯·德·提图斯那部真正可贵的著作的译本，附有注释、增补等等。

This work may truly be deemed Multum in Parvo, as it will contain, in one neat pocket volume, all that is useful and necessary to form an adept in the Sideral Mysteries. In this sense it is recommended to the perusal of the impartial, by

这部书真可谓“以小容多”，因为它将在一册精致的袖珍本里，包含造就一位星辰奥秘之通家所需的一切有用而必要的东西。正是在这个意义上，谨将它推荐给公正无私的读者细读，推荐者是

Their humble servant,

诸位的谦卑仆人，

M. SIBLY.

曼诺阿·西布利。

No. 35, Goswell-street.

戈斯韦尔街三十五号。

To the READER.

致读者。

WITH regard to the revolutions of the Stars and their efficient power, no one, unless bereft of his senses, will deny, that a genuine and true science may exist, though for a man to make a full acquirement in it, must be doubtless acknowledged no very easy task; and particularly, because its object is by nature incorruptible; its properties altogether unchangeable; and the passions are concluded in an uniform manner.

关于星辰的运行及其作用之力，除非丧失理智，没有人会否认其中可以存在一门真实可靠的学问；不过，一个人要完全掌握它，无疑必须承认绝非易事；尤其因为它的对象本性不朽，它的性质全然不变，而它的种种受动也都以划一的方式归结。

By the Egyptians, Arabians, Persians, Medes, and other very extensive nations, this science was cultivated in the first place among all the natural sciences: by kings and the greatest princes it was also held in the highest honour. The truth of this is found in several places among historical annals.—Having always had an eager desire from my youth to attain it, I boldly entered upon it, with no less chearfulness of mind than hopes of acquiring it.

埃及人、阿拉伯人、波斯人、米底人以及其他许多幅员辽阔的民族，都把这门学问置于一切自然学问之首来研习；君王与最伟大的诸侯也给它以最高的尊荣。这一点在史籍的好几处都能找到实证。——我自幼就一直渴望掌握它，于是大胆投身其中，心中的欢欣不亚于学成的希望。

In this pursuit I have spent several years, labouring much; but I was greatly offended at many things the professors had lately introduced as discoveries, determining, that unless they were strictly conformable to reason and experience, and the opinions of the greatest doctors in physic and mathematics, to lay aside entirely their whole works, being likewise on the point of bidding adieu to all watchings ; therefore, after uniting all the powers of my understanding, I secretly determined to investigate the chief causes and first principles of this science, which, by arguing from reason, made pro and con, and as I found them every where to be probable, and agreeable to reason, I gladly communicated to the professors and my friends, my discoveries ; and, happily, they were not treated as chimerical, or thought contrary to reason.

我在这条路上花了好几年，用功甚勤；但从业者们新近当作发现引进的许多东西，令我大为不满，我决定：除非它们严格符合理性与经验，符合医学与数学中最伟大的博士们的见解，否则就把他们的全部著作统统放下，我甚至差点要与一切挑灯夜读告别；于是，我集中全部心智之力，暗自决心去探究这门学问的主要原因与第一原理；我从理性出发，正反两面加以论证，发现它们处处都合乎情理、合乎理性，便欣然把我的发现告诉从业者和朋友们；幸而它们没有被当作荒诞的空想，也没有被认为违背理性。

Nay, they seemed to be greatly desired: and being frequently entreated to commit them to writing, have published this short extract, or abstract, comprehending a very concise theory and praxis; to which I subjoined several examples, extracted from very eminent authors, by whom my own reasons were highly applauded; and, under the title of CELESTIAL PHILOSOPHY, I exhibited an universal series of disputations, which might represent the reasons and principles as diffusedly as possible, in proportion as time and fortune gave me liberty : wherefore, having offered to the public, and given an explanation of every thing, (some were indeed surprized the strangeness of the doctrine) none have hitherto attempted to oppose the reason and causes on which they depend.

不仅如此，它们似乎还很受欢迎：我屡屡被恳请写成文字，于是出版了这部简短的摘要或纲要，包含一套极其简明的理论与实践；我又附上若干例子，摘自几位非常杰出的作者，他们对我自己的道理大加赞许；我还以“天的哲学”为题，发表了一整套论辩，在时间与境遇所容许的范围内，尽可能详尽地阐明那些道理与原理；因此，既已公之于众，并对一切都作了解释（确实有些人对这学说的新奇感到惊讶），至今还没有人尝试反驳它们所依据的道理与原因。

Some, with their applauses, mingled no small degree of pleasure, by reason that the principles of this most noble science, which were formerly natural, and aptly suited to reason, were now clearly explained, which the senses plainly discover ; and it is evidently certain, that they wonderfully agree with the very nature of things, and correspond with the accidental effects ; and among the philosophical sciences, that of the stars may, and ought, with very good reason, claim the pre-eminence; but because of the difficulty of the calculations, which I have there explained very copiously, intended for the learned, students are greatly discouraged, I thought of giving another explanation for general use, more copious and perspicuous, of all and each of the rules, together with the tables that are necessary, premising what related to the knowledge of the theory, in very short thesis, that those who had not gone through the labour attending disputations, might comprehend, in very few words, the causes and principles which I have laid down, and from which is derived all this construction of numbers.

有些人在赞许之外，还颇感欣喜，因为这门最高贵学问的原理，原本就是自然的、恰合理性的，如今被讲清楚了，感官也能明白察觉；而且显然确定无疑，它们与事物的本性奇妙相合，又与偶然的效应相应；在诸哲学学问之中，星辰之学可以、也应当有充分的理由占据首位；但因为计算繁难——我在那部书里讲得很详尽，是为学者写的——学生们大受挫折，我于是想为一般用途另作一番讲解，把每一条规则逐一讲得更充分、更明白，连同必需的表格一起，并先以极短的论题交代有关理论知识的部分，好让没有经历过论辩之劳的人，也能用极少的话理解我所立下的原因与原理，而这一整套数字的构造正是由它们推出来的。

Lastly. I have added, as well to facilitate calculations, as to confirm the truth of things, the examples of thirty famous men*, which I have extracted, only from the most learned authors. Yet let every one remember, that nature in her means and effects, conducteth herself so secretly, that a man's understanding cannot trace her footsteps without the greatest labour and industry, which the many differences of opinion maintained among the professors of Philosophy, who disagree among themselves concerning the things of nature, must evince: and do not her changes and mighty effects, in this vast construction of the world, appear wonderful, and altogether unsearchable!

最后，为了便于计算，也为了证实事理，我加上了三十位名人的例子＊，都只取自最博学的作者。然而人人都应记得，自然在她的手段与效应中行事如此隐秘，人的心智若不付出最大的辛劳与勤勉，就追不上她的足迹；哲学的从业者们对自然之事各执一词、彼此不合，种种意见分歧就足以证明这一点：难道她的变化与巨大的效应，在这广大的世界构造之中，不显得奇妙而全然不可测度吗？

Without doubt it must be confessed that the mind of man is too weak to comprehend them; so that no one can be surprized if the method of calculating should be attended with some difficulty. The work of the Efficient Infinite Power and Fitness, is the concord and harmony of nature; but if it concerns any infinity, at least as to the variety of effects, I have comprised a division, or a calculating of numbers, &c.

毫无疑问必须承认，人的心智太弱，无法领会它们；所以计算方法若带来某些困难，谁也不必惊讶。那无限的作用之力与适切之力所成就的，就是自然的和谐与协调；但若涉及任何无限——至少就效应的多样而言——我已把它归纳成一种划分，或一种数字的计算，等等。

In a work, the power and wisdom of the artist is ever perspicuous; what wonder then, if the understanding of man is utterly unable, fully to comprehend the works of God! For who will endeavour to empty with a cup the waters of the deep, which is as a drop of a bucket compared with the Omnipotence of the Creator ! And shall we, with our confined power of understanding, presume to comprehend, in any shape whatever, the prodigious extent of the heavens, from an idea of the immensity of the surrounding space? The utmost stretch of human thought cannot attain the least notion of it ! Admire the rest, which is almost infinite.

在一件作品里，匠人的能力与智慧总是显而易见；那么人的心智全然不能透彻领会上帝的作品，又有什么奇怪呢！谁会想用一只杯子舀干深渊之水？那深渊比起造物主的全能，也不过像桶中的一滴！我们以有限的领悟之力，凭着对周遭空间之广大的一点观念，竟敢以任何方式去领会诸天那惊人的广袤吗？人类思想伸展到极限，也得不到它丝毫的概念！其余几乎无穷，只能赞叹。

[注] * These thirty Nativities are intended to be given in another Volume, speedily to be published.

［注］＊这三十个本命盘拟收入另一卷，不日出版。

Learn, friendly Reader, to experience that you may comprehend the sweet influence of the PLEIADES, and what is meant by the Bands of Orion, Job xxxviii. 31. then you will have a true enjoyment in the wonderful works of the MOST HIGH.

友善的读者，请从经验中学习，好让你领会昴星团的甜美影响，以及猎户的带是什么意思（《约伯记》第三十八章第三十一节）；那时你就会真正欣赏至高者的奇妙作品。