卷一·第八章　诸天对万国风土人情的影响

CHAP. VIII. Shewing the Influence of the Heavens on Inferiour and Elementary Bodies.

第八章　说明诸天对下界与元素之物的影响。

IN this place then we are to treat of the Influence of the Heavens; you have already heard how for matter of plenty or scarcity they are the immediate causes next under God, and that proved and warranted both by Scripture and the Learned in former Ages; for, then that Eclipses, Revolutions of the World, Comets, Blazing-stars, and great Conjunctions treate of the Accidents general of all Nations, Kingdoms and Languages, there is nothing more true; viz. plenty, scarcity, health, plague, wars, peace, alteration of ayr, and mutations in the Laws, Customs, Rights and Priviledges of Nations, and to be short, of things appertaining to the life of man in a Natural way, &c.

那么在这里我们要讨论诸天的影响。你已经听到，就丰歉而言，它们是仅次于神的直接原因，这一点已由圣经与以往各时代的学者证明、担保；因为，交食、世界的回归、彗星、扫帚星与大会合，所论的是一切民族、王国与语族的普遍之事，这是再真不过的；即丰收、歉收、健康、瘟疫、战争、和平、空气的变化，以及各民族法律、习俗、权利与特权的变更，简短地说，就是自然而然属于人生的种种事情，等等。

And if we have regard to Ptolomy, lib. 2. cap. 2. & 3. de Quadr. we shall finde that he doth not only refer the Nature and Custom of Nations unto the general Inclination and Nature of the Triplicity they are under, but the inclinations of their minde particularly, as well as the shape and form of their bodies; as also their manners and kinde of life; as those who are inhabitants of the Torrid Zone (as hath been said) are black, having also black and crisped hair, of a mean stature, and of a hot constitution, and of a fierce and cruel spirit, propter longam & assiduam solis moram in eorum regionibus, by reason of the long and constant stay of the Sun in that Region or Climate: & nigra sunt corpora eorum quia Sol per Zenith suorum capitum currit eosque comburit; they are black over all their body, by reason the Sun constantly transites their Zenith, and so scorcheth them, that they are of that hue.

如果我们看托勒密《四书》卷二第二、三章，就会发现：他不但把各民族的本性与习俗归于他们所属三方的普遍倾向与本性，而且具体地归于他们心性的倾向，以及他们身体的形状与样貌，还有他们的风尚与生活方式；例如住在热带的人（如前所说）肤色黝黑，头发也黑而卷曲，身材中等，体质偏热，性情猛烈残忍，（拉丁文）“因为太阳在他们的地区久久不断地停留”，即因为太阳长久而恒常地停留在那个地区或气候带：（拉丁文）“他们的身体是黑的，因为太阳经过他们头顶的天顶，把他们烤焦了”；他们全身都是黑的，因为太阳不断经过他们的天顶，把他们烤成那种颜色。

And these Inhabitants of the South to be of a better and quicker wit, and more ingenious and apter to learning, especially the study of the Stars, Propter circuli signorum & stellarum erraticarum loco Zenith eorum capitum propinquitatem, because their vertigal point is neer the Zodiack in which the signs are, and under which the Planets move.

又说这些南方的居民更聪明敏捷，更有才智，更适于学问，尤其是研究星辰，（拉丁文）“因为黄道圈与游走之星离他们头顶的天顶较近”，即因为他们的天顶点靠近黄道——星座都在黄道上，行星也在它下面运行。

He also farther teacheth, that those that live further North are of stronger body, but of ruder manners and conditions, because their vertigal point being far removed from the Suns course, they more abound in cold and moisture, which for that it yieldeth plenty of nourishment, is not by the heat of those places at all exhausted, or but very little: from whence it followeth, that they are of complexion fair, long and smooth hair, their stature tall, and manners fierce and rude.

他还进一步教导说，住得更北的人身体更强壮，风尚与性格却更粗野，因为他们的天顶点离太阳的轨道很远，他们就多冷多湿；冷湿既提供丰富的养分，又完全不被、或很少被那些地方的热所耗尽，由此可知，他们肤色白皙，头发长而顺，身材高大，风尚猛烈粗野。

But it may be some cavillers and envious carpers at the truth, will object and say, That custom and good discipline, we see, doth alter this general inclination. But I answer, That though oftentimes, through the force of good discipline and custom (which is according to the opinion of Philosophers, secunda Natura, a second Nature) I must confess this is, or may be much altered; yet we see it hardly so removed, but that some, and those most evident marks thereof, will still remain in force; and this is evident in most or all Nations under the Sun, which might, but for brevities sake, be at large proved and cleared; but we shall here content our selves with the testimony of Bodin, who in his 5.

但也许有些吹毛求疵、嫉妒真理的人会反驳说：我们看到习俗与良好的教化会改变这种普遍的倾向。我回答：我得承认，借着良好教化与习俗的力量（照哲学家的见解，习俗是“第二天性”），这种倾向常常会、或可能会大大改变；但我们看到它很难被除尽，总有一些、而且是最明显的痕迹仍然有力；这一点在天下大多数乃至一切民族身上都很明显，若不是为了简短，本可以详加证明、澄清；但我们在这里只以博丹的证言为满足，他在他的

Book of his Method of Histories, chap. 5. (though I might shew you what Galen, Hippocrates, Tacitus, Aristotle and others hereon say) saith, and reporteth of the Germans, that in Religion they might equal or compare with the Hebrews; in Astrologie, to match the Chaldeans; in Philosophy, to strive with the Grecians; in Geometry, to equal the Egyptians; and in Arithmetick, to exceed the very Phoenitians themselves: and yet there is no Historiographer worth a pins-head, but knows they formerly were a most savage and rude people, without either civility or humanity (as a man may say) so that they did far, in savage and rude behaviour, pass our wilde Irish: and if we farther look to their ingenuity and sharpness of wit, what Nation is there under the Sun, to be found able to match them in Handicraft and Mechanick Arts?

《历史方法》第五卷第五章（虽然我本可以给你看盖伦、希波克拉底、塔西佗、亚里士多德等人对此怎么说）讲到日耳曼人，说他们在宗教上可与希伯来人相比；在占星学上可与迦勒底人匹敌；在哲学上可与希腊人争胜；在几何上可与埃及人相等；在算术上甚至胜过腓尼基人本身：然而凡是值一个针头的史家都知道，他们从前是极野蛮粗鲁的民族，可以说毫无礼教与人道，以致在野蛮粗鲁的行为上远远超过我们那些未开化的爱尔兰人；如果我们再看他们的巧思与敏锐，天下有哪个民族在手艺与机械技艺上能与他们匹敌？

Yet, I say, notwithstanding all this, we shall finde, that neither time, custom, nor education hath been able to extinguish their old and ancient fashions, which is by the genius and nature of their Country hereditary unto them; if we but look into their form and stature of body, their immoderate inclination to tipling and homely diet, their continency, simplicity, severity, exercises and aptness to War; for notwithstanding all their other excellent indowments, we shall still finde in them a smack of these, which is unto them Natural.

然而我说，尽管如此，我们会发现：无论时间、习俗还是教育，都没能消灭他们古老的旧风，那是凭他们国土的禀性与本性世代相传给他们的；只要看看他们的体形与身材，他们过度好饮、饮食粗朴，他们的节制、单纯、严厉、操练与善战；因为尽管他们有其他种种卓越的禀赋，我们仍会在他们身上发现这些的余味，这对他们是天生的。

There is no man that ever dived into the cause of mens inclinations and dispositions, especially of the several customs and manners of Nations (which is the main scope of Philosophers labours; who are never contented to know this thing is of such and such an inclination, temper and nature, but the reason thereof) but knows the truth of this point: wherefore I shall render my self most weak longer hereon to insist, since not only the Learned, but also every ordinary Reader of Histories (if with diligence he hath observed what he hath read) can testifie the same.

凡是深究过人的倾向与性情、尤其是各民族种种习俗风尚之原因的人（这正是哲学家们用功的主要目标：他们从不满足于知道某物有如此这般的倾向、气质与本性，还要知道其原因），没有不知道这一点之真实的；所以我若再在这上面坚持下去，就显得最软弱了，因为不但学者，就是每个普通的史书读者（只要他用心观察过所读的东西）都能证明这一点。

I might also here shew you what the same Ptolomie saith of the Inhabitants of the East and West, but then I fear I should too much transgress my bounds; as also how the whole earth is divided into parts, and how governed by the fiëry, earthy, aiëry, and watry triplicities; and the reasons of the several inclinations, customs, laws, manners, and tempers of all Nations, Kingdoms, Countreys and Provinces; but I shall here, for brevities sake, refer thee to the aforesaid second and third chapter of his second Book of his Quadripartite.

我在这里也可以给你说明同一位托勒密关于东方与西方居民说了什么，但那样我怕太越出我的界限；还有整个大地如何分为几部分，如何由火象、土象、风象、水象诸三方统治；以及一切民族、王国、国家与省份种种倾向、习俗、法律、风尚与气质的原因；但为简短起见，我在这里请你去看前面说的他《四书》卷二第二、三章。

For there he doth not only shew thee under what sign of the Zodiack every Nation and Countrey is: but also, that those who are under the fiery triplicity, viz. Europe, are (by reason of the triplicity they are under, being in the North-west part of the earth, and by reason of the Planets ruling the triplicity) of magnanimous spirits, given to exploits and feats of War (and truly no disparagement to other Nations, this our Iland of Britany may compare with the greatest Conquerors, if not far transcend them) Anglia Ariete & Marte assimulantur, ideoque bellicosi:

因为他在那里不但向你说明每个民族与国家在黄道的哪个星座之下，还说明属于火象三方的人，即欧罗巴（由于他们所属的三方，位于大地的西北部分，又由于主宰这一三方的行星），心志宏大，喜好征战与武功（说实话，并非贬低别的民族，我们这不列颠岛可与最伟大的征服者相比，即使不远远超过他们的话）；（拉丁文）“英格兰与白羊、火星相似，所以好战”：

England is under Aries and Mars, and therefore are the Inhabitants and Natives thereof addicted to be expert in War or feats of Arms. I omit here to insist on every particular Region in this part of the world, as he there declareth it, particularly naming every Region under each sign of the Zodiack, but refer you thereunto; only in this place we desire but to satisfie our Reader with some particulars, that he may be assured of the verity of the strong influences and manifest operations of the Celestial Signs, Stars and Planets over all Kingdoms, Nations, &c.

英格兰属白羊与火星，所以它的居民与本地人都倾向于精于战争或武艺。我在这里略去不谈世界这一部分的每个具体地区——他在那里一一说明，具体指出每个星座之下的每个地区——只请你去看那里；我们在这里只想用一些具体的例子使读者满意，好让他确信天上的星座、诸星与行星对一切王国、民族等等有强大的影响与显明的作用。

Again, in the second part of the World, viz. Southern, which he nominates to be Asia the greater, being under the earthy triplicity, he sheweth that (among the rest of the Regions and places subject to that triplicity) those who are governed by Taurus (being the house of Venus) are generally effeminate and delicate; given to their pleasure, especially to the games and sports of Venus; wherefore they go still open breasted: likewise those under the sign Virgo (being the house, exaltation and joy of Mercury) are exquisite in all kinds of good learning, and observers of the motions of the Stars: and those ruled by Capricorn (being the proper house of Saturn) are of form and shape commonly deformed, of condition sordid, and of inclination fierce; but this I conceive, by reason it is the exaltation of Mars.

再者，在世界的第二部分，即南方，他称之为大亚细亚，属土象三方，他说明（在属于这一三方的其他地区与地方之中）受金牛（金星之庙）主宰的人，一般柔弱娇贵，耽于享乐，尤其是金星的游戏娱乐，所以他们总是敞着胸口；同样，属处女座（水星的庙、旺与喜乐之位）的人，精于各种良好的学问，并观测诸星的运动；而受摩羯（土星的本庙）主宰的人，体形通常不端正，境况卑污，性情猛烈；但我认为，这是因为摩羯是火星的旺。

And if we have regard to the third part of the World, viz. Northern, or betwixt the North and East, assigned to the Aiery Triplicity; as also to that part under the watry; we shall abundantly be satisfied of the undeniable truth of the influence of the Coelestial Planets and Constellations in the signs; wherefore in this place, because (as I have often said) I desire not to be too tedious, I shall refer thee to that learned Ptolomie himself, and now proceed.

如果我们看世界的第三部分，即北方，或北与东之间，分配给风象三方的那一部分；以及属于水象三方的那一部分，我们就会充分相信，天上的行星与星座中的星群确有无可否认的影响；所以在这里，因为（如我常说的）我不愿太冗长，就请你去看那位博学的托勒密本人，现在往下讲。