卷三·第二章　论上升点的度数

Difficulty often arises with regard to the first and most important fact, that is, the fraction of the hour of the birth; for in general only observation by means of horoscopic astrolabes at the time of birth can for scientific observers give the minute of the hour, while practically all other horoscopic instruments on which the majority of the more careful practitioners rely are frequently capable of error, the solar instruments by the occasional shifting of their positions or of their gnomons, and the water clocks by stoppages and irregularities in the flow of the water from different causes and by mere chance.

困难常出在最首要、最重要的一件事上，也就是出生时刻在那一小时里的零头；因为一般说来，只有在出生之时用测定上升点的星盘仪观测，才能为讲究科学的观测者给出精确到分的时刻，而多数较为细心的从业者所依赖的几乎所有其他测时仪器，都常常可能出错：日晷会因位置或晷针偶尔移动而出错，漏壶则会因种种原因造成的水流停滞与不匀，以及纯属偶然的事故而出错。

It would therefore be necessary that an account first be given how one might, by natural and consistent reasoning, discover the degree of the zodiac which should be rising, given the degree of the known hour nearest the event, which is discovered by the method of ascensions.

因此，有必要先说明：已知最接近这一事件的那个时刻所对应的度数——这是用上升时间之法求出的——怎样才能凭自然而一贯的推理，找出理应正在上升的黄道度数。

We must, then, take the syzygy most recently preceding the birth, whether it be a new moon or a full moon; and, likewise having ascertained the degree accurately, of both the luminaries if it is a new moon, and if it is a full moon that of the one of them that is above the earth, we must see what stars rule it at the time of the birth.

那么，我们须取出生之前最近的一次朔望，无论是新月还是满月；同样，精确地查明其度数——若是新月，就取两光的度数；若是满月，就取两光中位于地平之上那一个的度数——再看出生之时，哪些星主宰这个度数。

In general the mode of domination is considered as falling under these five forms: when it is trine, house, exaltation, term, and phase or aspect; that is, whenever the place in question is related in one or several or all of these ways to the star that is to be the ruler.

一般说来，主宰的方式被认为分为这五种：三方、庙、旺、界，以及相态或相位；也就是说，只要所论之位以其中一种、几种或全部方式，与将成为主星的那颗星相关联。

If, then, we discover that one star is familiar with the degree in all or most of these respects, whatever degree this star by accurate reasoning occupies in the sign through which it is passing, we shall judge that the corresponding degree is rising at the time of the nativity in the sign which is found to be closest by the method of ascensions.

那么，如果我们发现某一颗星在这几方面的全部或大多数上与该度相亲，那么这颗星经精确推算位于它所经过的星座的第几度，我们就判定：出生之时，在用上升时间之法求得最接近的那个星座里，相同的度数正在上升。

But if we discover two or more co‑rulers, we shall use the number of degrees shown by whichever of them is, at the time of birth, passing through the degree that is closer to that which is rising according to the ascensions. But if two or more are close in the number of degrees, we shall follow the one which is most nearly related to the centres and the sect.

但如果我们发现有两颗或更多颗共主，就采用其中那一颗所示的度数：它在出生时所经过的度数，更接近按上升时间之法所得的上升度数。如果有两颗或更多颗在度数上相近，就依从与四角及昼夜之分关系最密切的那一颗。

If, however, the distance of the degree occupied by the ruler from that of the general horoscope is greater than its distance from that of the corresponding mid‑heaven, we shall use this same number to constitute the mid‑heaven and thereby establish the other angles.

不过，如果主星所在的度数离约略上升点的度数，比离相应中天的度数更远，我们就用这同一个数来定中天，再由此定出其余各角。