pinions that he did avow. In his
Principles of Astrology, published in 1602, and in other works, he rails
against the vanity and worthlessness of the ordinary astrology. He
regards those who professed it as knaves and charlatans; and maintains
that the planets and stars exercise no influence whatever over human
affairs. He conceives, however, that certain harmonious configurations
of suitable planets, like the spur to a horse, or a speech to an
audience, have the power of exciting the minds of men to certain general
actions or impulses; so that the only effect of these configurations is
to operate along with the vital soul in producing results which would
not otherwise have taken place. As an example of this, he states that
those who are born when many aspects of the planets occur, _generally_
turn out busy and industrious, whether they be occupied in amassing
wealth, managing public affairs, or prosecuting scientific studies.
Kepler himself was born under a triple configuration, and hence, in his
opinion, his ardour and activity in study; and he informs us that he
knew a lady born under nearly the same configurations, "who not only
makes no progress in literature, but troubles her whole family and
occasions deplorable misery to herself." This excitement of the
faculties of sublunary natures, as he expresses it, by the colours and
aspects and conjunctions of the planets, is regarded by Kepler as a
fact, which he had deduced from observation, and which has "compelled
his unwilling belief." "I have been driven to this," says he, "not by
studying or admiring Plato, but singly and solely by observing seasons,
and noting the aspects by which they are produced. I have seen the state
of the atmosphere almost uniformly disturbed as often as the planets are
in conjunction, or in the other configurations so celebrated among
astrologers. I have noticed its tranquil state either when there are
none or few such aspects, or when they are transitory and of short
duration." Had Kepler been able to examine these hasty and erroneous
deductions by long continued observation, he would soon have found that
the coincidence which he did observe was merely accidental, and he would
have cheerfully acknowledged it. Speculations of this kind, however,
are, from their very nature, less subject to a rigorous scrutiny; and a
long series of observations is necessary either to establish or to
overturn them. The industry of modern observers has now suppl