卷三·第三章　论释放

III. On Release.

第三章　论释放。

Since some, carried away by envy or by inexperience, treat release one-sidedly and obscurely (for they always make their pronouncement by taking the number of degrees, according to the rising times, from the releasing degree up to the side of the square), it is necessary for us to explain the distinction further. For we find nativities that have passed beyond the side of the square, especially in the signs of short ascension, although the Ancient states precisely that this is impossible; and again, others that, without any casting of rays by the malefics, have not even passed through the square. When a nativity has been set out, then, one must examine whether the nativity has a ruler or will be without a ruler, and whether the Sun, the Moon, or the Ascendant is the releaser. If the Sun or the Moon has obtained the releasing place, one must reckon how much time is gathered, according to the clime in which the native was born, from the releasing degree up to the side of the square, and having totalled it, pronounce that the native will live so many years. This happens if the ruler, being in its own terms and fittingly configured, applies to the releaser or testifies to it, and none of the destroyers, by casting its ray, subtracts from the number of the years. But if the ruler happens to be without testimony toward the predominator, yet is otherwise found well configured, for example if it is in the Ascendant or at the Midheaven and oriental, it will itself allot its complete years; and if it is in [another] of the angles, it will allot the remaining years after subtracting the portion of the interval according to the reckoning of their association [text uncertain].

既然有些人出于嫉妒或缺乏经验，片面而晦涩地处理释放（因为他们总是从释放度到四分之边，按上升时间取度数之数来作宣告），我们就必须进一步说明其中的区别。因为我们发现有些本命越过了四分之边，尤其在上升时间短的星座，虽然那位古人明确说这是不可能的；又有些本命，没有凶星投射任何光线，却连四分都没有走完。所以，排出一张本命盘之后，必须查看这个本命有主星还是将无主星，以及太阳、月亮或上升点哪一个是释放星。若太阳或月亮得到释放之位，就必须按本命者出生所在的气候带，计算从释放度到四分之边合起来有多少时间，合计之后宣告本命者会活这么多年。这种情形发生在：主星在自己的界里、格局相宜，与释放星入相或为它作见证，又没有任何杀星以投射光线从年数中减去。但若主星对主导之星没有见证，而在别的方面格局良好，例如在上升点或中天而东出，它自己就会分配它的完整年数；若在〔另一个〕角上，就会按它们关联的算法减去间隔的部分，分配其余的年数〔原文疑有讹误〕。

One must always, then, reckon the quantity of the years from the predominator and compare it with those of the ruler; and as many as are found, so many years the native will live; for the ruler allots, if the nativity happens to have a ruler, after the angular distances have been subtracted. But if the years of the releaser happen to be fewer than those of the ruler, the native will live the years of the releaser, and the nativity will be judged to be without a ruler. If the predomination happens to be fitting, each ruler too allots its own years. Some, then, again reckon the angular distance of the rulers from the Hour and the setting degree; and if they are 5 or 6 signs away, they make a corresponding subtraction. But I say that the distance of the ruler should be reckoned and subtracted from the 4 angles as well, if the nativity is found to have a ruler; for to say [lacuna] but when it is found at the Midheaven or in the Good Daemon or in some other productive place, it will allot its complete years. One will not, then, subtract the appropriate amount from the distance to the Hour or the setting. If perhaps neither the Sun nor the Moon has obtained the releasing place, but the Ascendant or the Midheaven has, one must no longer reckon the number of years from the releasing degree up to the square, but must pronounce the years after totalling them up to the angular distance, if perhaps none of the destroyers, by casting its ray, cuts down the number of the years.

所以总要从主导之星计算年数的多少，再与主星的年数比较；得出多少，本命者就活多少年；因为若本命恰好有主星，主星就在减去离角的距离之后进行分配。但若释放星的年数恰好少于主星的，本命者就活释放星的年数，本命也被判为无主星。若主导恰当，每颗主星也会分配它自己的年数。所以有些人又从「时刻」与下降的度数计算诸主星离角的距离；若它们相距五或六个星座，就作相应的减除。但我说，若本命被发现有主星，主星的距离也应从四个角来计算并减去；因为说〔此处原文有缺〕但当它被发现在中天，或在善灵之位，或在某个别的得力位置时，它会分配它的完整年数。所以人不该从到「时刻」或到下降的距离中减去相应之数。若太阳和月亮都没有得到释放之位，而是上升点或中天得到了，就不再从释放度计算到四分为止的年数，而要合计到离角的距离为止的年数再作宣告，只要没有任何杀星以投射光线削减年数。

By way of example, let someone have the Ascendant in the 2nd clime at Gemini 8°, and the Midheaven at Aquarius 22°. When the release is from the degree in the Ascendant, the ending of the years is not in every case at the side of the square, Virgo 8°, but at the IC, Leo 22°, and one must pronounce the number of years thus totalled, provided no destroyer casts its ray. For if a destroyer is present at the 20th degree of Gemini or at any degree whatever of Cancer, or casts its ray there, the native will live as many years as are gathered from the releasing degree to the destroying degree. Likewise, if we make the release from the Midheaven, Aquarius 22°, we shall have the completion of the years no longer at the side of the square, Taurus 22°, but at the 8th degree of Gemini. It is plain, then, that by sign the release has passed beyond the side of the square, but by angle it has not. Sometimes, then, this method will suit the Sun and the Moon as well, namely for passing beyond the square, if they are helped by the rulers, that is, when they receive testimony from them while these are well placed and able to allot their complete years. Likewise, if we make the release from the setting, that is, from Sagittarius 8°, we shall find the end at Aquarius 22°. Always, then, having found the releasing degree, one must examine where the angular interval reaches, and make the release up to that degree, provided no destroyer cuts it off.

举例来说，设某人在第二气候带上升于双子八度，中天在水瓶二十二度。当释放从上升点的度数起算时，年数的终止并不一定在四分之边处女八度，而在天底狮子二十二度，所合计的年数就必须这样宣告，只要没有杀星投射光线。因为若有杀星在双子二十度，或在巨蟹的任何一度，或在那里投射光线，本命者活的年数就是从释放度到杀度所合计的年数。同样，若我们从中天水瓶二十二度起算释放，年数的完结就不再在四分之边金牛二十二度，而在双子八度。所以很明显，按星座算，释放越过了四分之边，按角来算却没有。所以这个方法有时也适用于太阳与月亮，即用于越过四分，只要它们得到主星的帮助，也就是当它们受到位置良好、能分配完整年数的主星的见证时。同样，若我们从下降点，即射手八度起算释放，就会发现终点在水瓶二十二度。所以总要在找到释放度之后，查看离角的间隔到达何处，并把释放算到那一度，只要没有杀星截断它。

More mystical, however, let be this method, which has been tested and unfolded by us: to reckon the releasing degree as if it were at the Midheaven. With it at the Midheaven, one must examine, for whatever clime one is inquiring, which degree can be in the Ascendant, and having learned this, make the release up to that degree. For example, let the releasing degree be Scorpio 12° in the 2nd clime. If we reckon it as the degree in the Ascendant, the release will be up to Aquarius 13°, where the IC ended. But if, as we said before, we reckon it as at the Midheaven, we shall find in the table of rising times the Ascendant at Capricorn 28°, and the release will be from the 12th degree of Scorpio up to the 28th of Capricorn. We shall find the same by doing this for other nativities or signs as well. Likewise one should also reckon the destroying, or rather the releasing, degree as being in the Ascendant, and, with it in the Ascendant, which degree of whatever sign can be at the Midheaven, and make the release up to that degree or to its opposite; and with respect to the reckoning of the ruler, proceed as we said before, examining the angular distance, the configuration, and the comparison with the releaser.

但让这个方法更神秘些，它经我们检验并展开：把释放度当作在中天来计算。当它在中天时，就必须查看，就所问的任何气候带而言，哪一度能在上升点，得知之后，就把释放算到那一度。例如，设释放度在第二气候带的天蝎十二度。若我们把它当作上升点的度数，释放就会到水瓶十三度，天底在那里终止。但若如我们前面所说，把它当作在中天，我们就会在上升时间表中找到上升点在摩羯二十八度，释放将从天蝎十二度到摩羯二十八度。在别的本命或星座上这样做，也会得到同样的结果。同样也应把杀度，或者毋宁说释放度，当作在上升点来计算，当它在上升点时，看任何星座的哪一度能在中天，就把释放算到那一度或它的对面；至于主星的计算，就照我们前面所说进行，查看离角的距离、格局以及与释放星的比较。

Let the Ascendant be Sagittarius 18°, the Midheaven Libra 4°, and let Mercury be ruler and be in Virgo at 13°. I reckon the interval from him up to the degree in the Ascendant: it comes to 35 degrees, which are 2 hours and a third part of an hour. Since, then, he allots 76 as his complete years, divide these by 12: to each hour, then, there fall 6 years 4 months. For the two hours this makes 12 years 8 months, and for the third, 2 years 1 month 10 days; together it makes 14 years 9 months 10 days. These I subtracted from the 76: there remain 61 years 2 months 20 days. One must reckon in the same way if you take the distance from the other angles. This being so, let the Moon be releaser in Libra at about 8°. I took for the remaining 22 degrees 29 years 4 months, for Scorpio 36, and for the 17 degrees of Sagittarius 18 years 1 month 18 days; altogether, from the release, it comes to 83 years 5 months 18 days. Since, then, the years of the releaser were found to be more than those of the ruler, the nativity will live as many years as the ruler Mercury allotted, 61 years 2 months 20 days; but if the years of the releaser, cut short by a destroying ray, had been fewer than those of the ruler, say 53 years, it would have come about that the nativity in question lived only the 53 years. If, however, the ruler is found angular and oriental, or happens to be in the productive degrees, when the release yields more years, he too will allot his complete years. For when the ruler is well placed, the destroyers that are present or that cast their rays will no longer become takers-away of the periods. But if perhaps the nativity is found to be without a ruler while there is a release, one must then examine the co-presences of the destroyers, or their testimonies by sextile, trine, square, and opposition.

设上升点在射手十八度，中天在天秤四度，设水星为主星，在处女十三度。我计算从他到上升点度数的间隔：合三十五度，即二小时又三分之一小时。既然他分配七十六作为他的完整年数，就把这些除以十二：于是每小时分得六年四个月。两小时合十二年八个月，三分之一小时合二年一个月十日；共计十四年九个月十日。我把这些从七十六中减去：余六十一年二个月二十日。若你取从其他角起的距离，也必须同样计算。既然如此，设月亮为释放星，在天秤约八度。我为剩余的二十二度取二十九年四个月，天蝎取三十六，射手的十七度取十八年一个月十八日；从释放起总共合八十三年五个月十八日。既然释放星的年数被发现多于主星的年数，本命者就活主星水星所分配的年数，六十一年二个月二十日；但若释放星的年数被杀星的光线削减而少于主星的年数，比如五十三年，那么所说的本命者就只会活五十三年。然而，若主星被发现居角而东出，或恰在得力的度数上，当释放给出更多年数时，他也会分配他的完整年数。因为当主星位置良好时，在场或投射光线的杀星就不再成为时期的夺取者。但若本命被发现无主星而有释放，那时就必须查看杀星的同在，或它们以六分、三分、四分与对冲所作的见证。

The destroyers are Saturn, Mars, the Sun, and the Moon when moving toward a phase. There are also destroying places in each sign, namely the releasing terms and the terms of the malefics; and the destroying degrees will be judged to be the 3 on either side of the release, because every three-degree span, preceding and following, has the power of co-presence, that is, of equality of degree, as does the perpendicular degree itself, so that there are 7 in all. Malefics casting their rays into these will become destroyers, while benefics will be preventers of the destruction. For example, let someone have the Ascendant at Aries 12°; this, then, will be the middle of the span from the 9th up to the 15th degree of Aries. If, then, a malefic casts its ray anywhere from the 9th to the 15th, it destroys, not only in the very sign of the release, but also in the other signs up to the side of the square. For example, if, with Aries in the Ascendant, Saturn or Mars is found in Taurus or Gemini at about the 15th degree, the releasing degree advancing in the sequence of the periods, the destruction will be at the 12th or 13th degree of Taurus or Gemini. Destroyers, then, that are angular or succedent become stronger, while those outside the angles will be weakened. Let this reckoning too be counted as powerful in respect of the angular degrees. For example, if, with Aries in the Ascendant as set out above, Saturn happens to be in Sagittarius at 13°, or 12°, or 20°, by sign he is cadent; but since he cast his ray by trine into angular and productive degrees in Aries, he will be judged a destroyer. But if he is found in Sagittarius at 3° or 7°, he will in this way be cadent in both respects, by degree and by sign, and is not a destroyer. It also happens that destroyers cast their rays from angular places into unproductive and cadent degrees and do not destroy; and let the same be understood of the benefics.

杀星是土星、火星、太阳，以及趋向某一相的月亮。每个星座里也有杀位，即释放之界与凶星之界；释放度两侧各三度将被判为杀度，因为前后每一个三度的范围都有同在的力量，即等度的力量，垂直的那一度本身也是，所以一共是七度。凶星在这些度数上投射光线就成为杀星，而吉星则是杀害的阻止者。例如，设某人上升于白羊十二度；这一度就是白羊九度到十五度这一范围的中点。所以若有凶星在九度到十五度之间任何一处投射光线，它就会杀害，不只在释放所在的星座本身，也在直到四分之边的其他星座。例如，若白羊上升，而土星或火星被发现在金牛或双子约十五度，释放度按时期的次序推进，杀害就会在金牛或双子的十二度或十三度。所以居角或在续宫的杀星变得更强，离开四角的则会衰弱。让这一算法在居角的度数上也算有力。例如，若如上所设白羊上升，土星恰在射手十三度、十二度或二十度，按星座他落在果宫；但因为他以三分把光线投进白羊居角而得力的度数，他就会被判为杀星。但若他被发现在射手三度或七度，这样他按度数与按星座两方面都落在果宫，就不是杀星。也会发生杀星从居角的位置把光线投进不得力而落果的度数，却不杀害的情形；吉星也应如此理解。