卷三·第六节第一至三章　求子、下死胎、割礼与洗礼

SECTION VI. Containing Rules for Electing a time for any Work, or thing appertaining to the fifth House.

第六节　包含为属于第五宫的任何工作或事情择时的规则。

THere are many curious Spirits I know which will not be a little taken with the Elections appertaining to this House, they being indeed all so necessary in the ordinary course of a mans life; I shall not in the delivering thereof in the least be covetous or desirous to keep to my self the least thing that may advantage posterity herein; for since the cause of these my undertakings was for the benefit and instruction of the illiterate in these matters, I shall be free and liberal therein according to that small Talent of knowledge God hath given me; wherefore since the getting of children is the chiefest thing appertaining to this house, I will begin with it.

我知道有许多好奇的人，会被属于这一宫的择日大大吸引，因为这些事在人一生的日常过程中确实都很必要；我在讲述时，丝毫不会吝啬，也不想把可能有益于后世的最小一点留给自己；因为既然我从事这些工作的缘由，是为了不通此道的人在这些事上得益受教，我就要照神给我的那一点小小的知识才能，在这上面慷慨大方；那么既然生儿育女是属于这一宫的最主要的事，我就从它讲起。

CHAP. I. Shewing a fit time for getting of Boys or Girls.

第一章　说明生男或生女的合宜时间。

HAve regard first to the sign ascending, the sign of the fifth, the Lords thereof, and the Moon and its Dispositor that they be in Masculine signs, and let the Moon be free from impediment, as also the Lords of the Ascendent and the fifth, and the Dispositor of the Moon; this for boys.

首先留意上升的星座、第五宫的星座、它们的主星，以及月亮及其定位星，要它们在阳性星座，并让月亮免于受阻，上升主星、第五宫主星和月亮的定位星也是；这是求男孩。

But in getting of Girls, let the aforesaid significators and places be in feminine signs.

但求女孩，就让上述征象星与位置在阴性星座。

And if you cannot observe all this, let your significators be (the major part of them) masculine for a Boy, and so the contrary for a Girl; but if the significators be equal, you must have regard to the Lord of the hour and the Planet to whom the Moon applies, and judge by the major part, viz. if most Masculine Planets, a Male may be expected; if feminine, a female; but if it so happen that yet notwithstanding the significators are equal, viz. that there is the same equal number of masculine Planets and signs that there is feminine, the conceived Infant will be an Hermophrodite; or if the Moon, the fifth and Ascendent, be in signs of double bodies, perhaps there will be Twins conceived.

若这一切你不能遵守，就让你的征象星（其中多数）为男孩取阳性，为女孩则反过来；但若征象星两边数目相等，你就必须留意时辰主星和月亮入相的行星，按多数来判断，即：若阳性行星多，可以期待男孩；若阴性多，就是女孩；但若碰巧征象星仍然相等，即阳性行星与星座的数目和阴性的恰好一样多，受孕的胎儿就会是两性人；或者若月亮、第五宫和上升在双体星座，或许会怀上双胞胎。

But moreover know, that in Electing a time for getting of Men-children it is necessary you place a fixed sign in the Ascendent and the rest of the Angles, also the Fortunes free from all impediment or affliction, let the Ascendent also be a masculine sign, and a sign of right Ascensions free from the malevolent Aspects of the Infortunes; but see that there be in no ways an Infortune in an angle or a Feminine Planet, and let the Lord of the Ascendent be fortunate, both in the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth moneths after the Conception, for that sometimes the Birth falls out in these moneths as well as in the ninth; Let the Luminaries also be fortunate or free from impediment, and let the Moon be in Sextile or Trine of the Sun.

再者要知道，在择求男孩的时间时，必须在上升以及其余诸角宫放固定星座，也让吉星免于一切受阻或受害，也让上升是阳性星座、直升星座，免于凶星的恶相位；但要看角宫里绝不要有凶星或阴性行星，并让上升主星在受孕后的第七、第八、第九和第十个月都吉利，因为有时生产落在这几个月，与落在第九个月一样；也让两光吉利或免于受阻，并让月亮与太阳成六分或三分。

Chiefly have respect to ♀ and the ☽ that they be essentially dignified, or at least free from misfortune; for if ♀ be afflicted and weak, the place of Conception or the receptacle for the seed will be deficient and weak to perform its office; and if the Moon be impedited and weak, it debilitates the seed: Some of the Ancients also have advised that this should be done in odde or uneven hours, as are the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh, for the getting of Boys, they being accounted masculine hours; but for a Girl in even, as the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth, they being feminine.

主要要留意金星和月亮，要它们有必然尊贵，或至少免于不幸；因为若金星受害而虚弱，受孕之处即容纳种子之所就会有缺陷，无力尽它的职分；若月亮受阻而虚弱，就会削弱种子：有些古人还主张，这事要在单数的时辰做，如第一、第三、第五、第七、第九和第十一时，求男孩，因为它们被算作阳性的时辰；求女孩就在双数的时辰，如第二、第四、第六、第八、第十和第十二时，它们是阴性的。

Let your Ascendent be Libra, and place the Moon therein, and Cancer on the tenth, being a fruitful sign; but place the rest of the Significators in masculine signs, and this causeth conception, and that of a Male childe; but it is to be understood then, that the woman be sound in health and nature, and of capacity for such matters: Your Significators in feminine signs cause a Girl.

让你的上升是天秤，把月亮放在其中，让多产星座巨蟹在第十宫；但把其余征象星放在阳性星座，这就使人受孕，而且是男孩；但当然要理解为那女人身体健康、本性正常、有能力做这样的事：你的征象星在阴性星座，就生女孩。

All these Rules it may be are too tedious, or difficult to observe, yet at least at the time of copulation, let the Ascendent and the Moon be strong, and Jupiter upon the cusp of the mid-heaven fortunate; for this signifieth the woman shall conceive at the first bout, except she be a maid before, and then the first goes to another use but at the second it will not fail, provided the party be capable and sufficient in such an exercise: If your Ascendent be a Masculine sign, and the Moon and Jupiter in masculine signs, or the major part, it is a Boy that is conceived; if feminine, a Girl.

这一切规则也许太繁琐，或太难遵守，那么至少在交合时，让上升和月亮强，并让木星吉利地在天顶的宫头上；因为这表示女人第一次就会受孕，除非她以前是处女，那样第一次另有所用，但第二次必不落空，只要双方有能力、能胜任这件事：若你的上升是阳性星座，月亮和木星在阳性星座，或其中多数如此，受孕的就是男孩；若在阴性星座，就是女孩。

But if thou canst not place Jupiter on the cusp of the tenth, let him be on the cusp of the eleventh, or fifth, or in such a degree as that he may behold the Ascendent its Lord, or the Moon with a Sextil, or Trine, or place the Moon or Lord of the Ascendent in the fifth, within five degrees of the cusp thereof in good Aspect to the Ascendent, for this signifieth the woman then made much of shall conceive.

但若你不能把木星放在第十宫的宫头上，就让他在第十一宫或第五宫的宫头上，或在能以六分或三分照看上升、上升主星或月亮的度数上，或者把月亮或上升主星放在第五宫，在离宫头五度之内，与上升成吉相位，因为这表示那时被宠爱的女人会受孕。

CHAP. II. Of Delivering a dead Childe.

第二章　论娩出死胎。

RArely, yet sometimes doth it happen, that the childe dyes in the mothers womb, which without speedy help will also indanger the life of the mother: it is necessary therefore before we go any further, to elect you a fit time for applying remedies for this accident:

很少、但有时确实会发生胎儿死在母腹中的事，若没有迅速的救治，也会危及母亲的性命：所以在我们往下讲之前，有必要为你择一个合宜的时间，来对这种意外施用救治。

I might here set some remedies down, but I conceive it belonging no wise to our work in hand, it will be in a manner needless; and I am confident of small benefit to the Students in such matters, for that they will never be acquainted with any such thing, little expecting to finde such matters in a discourse of this nature, though I must confess to all parts of Physick this Art is a great help, and ought especially therefore to be studied by the Students of Physick; otherwise it is impossible for them to be throughly masters of their Art:

我本可以在这里写下一些救治的方子，但我想它完全不属于我们手头的工作，差不多是多余的；我也确信它对研究这些事的学生没有多少益处，因为他们永远不会熟悉这类事，也很少指望在这种性质的论述里找到这类东西，不过我必须承认，此术对医学的各个部分都大有帮助，所以尤其应当由学医的人研习；否则他们不可能彻底精通他们的技艺：

Therefore, I say, since in the Volumns of the learned in Physick, such remedies are frequently to be rancountred, I shall here pass it by, and shew you only a fit and convenient time according to the influence of the superiours to apply your remedy, &c.

所以我说，既然在医学博学之人的书卷里常常可以遇到这类救治之方，我在这里就略过不提，只给你看照上界诸星的影响来施用你的救治的合宜方便的时间，等等。

Wherefore then see that you apply your medicine when the Ascendent is a feminine sign of right ascentions, and let the Moon be decreasing in light and descending in your schem; viz. at the least six or eight degrees past the mid-heaven, and declining towards the seventh, and let her be in Sextil or Trine, if possible of the fortunes, whether she be received or no: or if she be beheld of Mars by these Aspects, so it be with reception it advantageth; neither is it amiss, if it be not with reception, provided the Moon be in a feminine sign, and the Ascendant in a feminine sign of right ascentions, as hath been said:

那么要看你施药时，上升是阴性的直升星座，并让月亮在光上亏减，在你的盘上下降；即至少过了天顶六度或八度，向第七宫沉落，若可能，让她与吉星成六分或三分，不论她是否得接纳：或者若她以这几种相位受火星照看，只要是带接纳的，就有益；若不带接纳，也不算坏，只要月亮在阴性星座，上升是阴性的直升星座，如前所说：

Moreover, have a special care that the Ascendent, its Lord, the Moon, and its Dispositor be not in signs of oblique ascentions; place also, if possible, the Lord of the Ascendent, and the Dispositor of the Moon declining towards the seventh, as you have heard of the Moon; or beholding some Planets in that part of heaven with reception.

再者，要特别留意上升、其主星、月亮及其定位星不在斜升星座；若可能，也把上升主星和月亮的定位星放在向第七宫沉落之处，如你听过的月亮那样；或让它们带接纳照看天上那一部分的某些行星。

CHAP. III. Of Christening or Circumcising of Children.

第三章　论为孩子施洗或行割礼。

ARabians and others have delivered rules for electing such a time, especially for that oftentimes through negligence or ignorance the childe hath been almost spoil'd, in that the place sometimes did gangreen or fester, &c. but since we have that Ceremony in no use, it being abolished by the death of our Lord JESUS, it may seem here to be needless; but since the rules may (if observed) tend to some other benefit; and for that I would not willingly omit any thing that might be beneficial to posterity in these my weak endeavors, I thought I would however spare one side of Paper for them.

阿拉伯人等传下了为此择时的规则，尤其因为常常由于疏忽或无知，孩子几乎被弄坏，那地方有时生了坏疽或化脓，等等；但既然这个仪式在我们这里已不施行，它已因我们的主耶稣之死而废止，这里似乎是多余的；但既然这些规则（若加遵守）可能有别的益处；又因为我不愿在我这些微薄的努力中略去任何可能有益于后世的东西，我想无论如何为它们留出一面纸的篇幅。

See then that Venus be exalted above Mars, and applying to the benevolent Aspect of Jupiter; also let the Ascendent, its Lord and Venus, and the Moon be free from the Aspect of Saturn, for that he causeth putrefication and corruption to the generating of a Gangreen, and perhaps the indangering of the life of the childe.

那么要看金星高踞火星之上，并入相于木星的吉相位；也让上升、其主星、金星和月亮免于土星的相位，因为他会引起腐烂与败坏，以至于生出坏疽，或许还危及孩子的性命。

Let the Lord of the Ascendent also be ascending in latitude, and the Moon and its Dispositor in septentrional signs and in succedent houses of heaven, and look that the Moon be not in Scorpio, nor Mars in the Ascendent or any other Angle.

也让上升主星在纬度上上升，月亮及其定位星在北方星座、在天上的续宫，并看月亮不在天蝎，火星也不在上升或任何别的角宫。

These rules might serve also for Christening; but since the Ancients were not so well acquainted with the use of Christening as we in this latter age, they have been herein somewhat deficient, and have not delivered the rules of Astrology thereon as is requisite; many, nay most of them, wholly omitting it; wherefore (though Astrology medleth not with Divine matters, nor causeth or procureth grace (this Ceremony being a sign and seal of our admittance into the Church of Christ, and number of the Elect, if we live accordingly) yet they act and incline, though not compel or force) I will give you here some directions concerning this matter.

这些规则也可以用于洗礼；但既然古人不像我们这后来的时代那样熟悉洗礼的用法，他们在这上面就有些欠缺，没有照所需要的那样传下关于它的占星规则；许多人，不，他们中的大多数，完全略去不提；所以（虽然占星学不干预神圣之事，也不引起或获致恩典（这个仪式是我们被接纳进基督的教会、列入选民之数的记号与印证，只要我们照此而活），但星辰确实作用、确实使人倾向，只是不强迫、不逼使）我要在这里给你一些关于这件事的指导。

Know then that your Ascendent, and its Lord, the Moon also and its Dispositor, ought to be fortunate, and if possible, let the Ascendent be a fixed sign, and Jupiter herein well dignified, or in the ninth, or in good configuration with the Planets therein, or with the cusps of those houses: and let the Planets either in the Ascendent or ninth be fortunes, or at the least well dignified; but let Saturn and Mars be in no wise either therein placed, or in configuration with them, or their Lords, or the Planets therein placed; and let the sign of the ninth be fortunate, as also its Lord, and place Venus and the Moon in a good Aspect of Jupiter; and if possible, with reception, or let them be all in conjunction in the ninth or ascendent.

那么要知道，你的上升及其主星，月亮及其定位星，都应当吉利，若可能，让上升是固定星座，木星在其中有良好的尊贵，或在第九宫，或与其中的行星、或与这些宫的宫头成良好的格局：并让在上升或第九宫中的行星是吉星，或至少有良好的尊贵；但无论如何不要让土星和火星在其中，或与它们、它们的主星、或其中的行星成格局；也让第九宫的星座吉利，其主星也是，并把金星和月亮放在与木星的吉相位中；若可能，带接纳，或让它们都在第九宫或上升会合。

But if you cannot fully follow all these directions yet let the ascendent, the ninth house, the Planets therein posited, the Moon, its Dispositor, and the Lords of the Ascendent and ninth, be well dignified, and in Sextil or Trine of Jupiter or Mercury.

但若你不能完全遵守这一切指导，也要让上升、第九宫、其中的行星、月亮、其定位星以及上升和第九宫的主星，都有良好的尊贵，并与木星或水星成六分或三分。

And thus much of Christenings and Circumcisions; let us now proceed to electing a fit time for giving of Gifts or Presents.

关于洗礼与割礼就讲这么多；现在让我们接着为送礼或收礼择一个合宜的时间。