ich Bacon considered
worthy of attention in framing the precepts of a sound and just
astrology.

It was natural that the astrologers of old should regard the planetary
influences as depending in the main on the position of the celestial
bodies on the sky above the person or place whose fortunes were in
question. Thus two men at the same moment in Rome and in Persia would by
no means have the same horoscope cast for their nativities, so that
their fortunes, according to the principles of judicial astrology, would
be quite different. In fact it might happen that two men, born at the
same instant of time, would have all the principal circumstances of
their lives contrasted--planets riding high in the heavens of one being
below the horizon of the other, and _vice versa_.

The celestial sphere placed as at the moment of the native's birth was
divided into twelve parts by great circles supposed to pass through the
point overhead, and its opposite, the point vertically beneath the feet.
These twelve divisions were called 'houses.'

Their position is illustrated in the following figure, taken from
Raphael's Astrology.

[Illustration:

Particular Significations
OF THE
_Twelve Celestial Houses_,
According to various
Astrological Authors.

Sun-rise.

Cusp of the
_Ascendant_.

LIFE
and
HEALTH

Cusp of the
_Second House_.

RICHES

Cusp of the
_Third House_.

KINDRED
and
SHORT JOURNEYS

Cusp of the
_Fourth House_.

INHERITANCES

Mid-night.

Cusp of the
_Fifth House_.

CHILDREN

Cusp of the
_Sixth House_.

SICKNESS

Cusp of the
_Seventh House_.

MARRIAGE

Sun-set.

Cusp of the
_Eighth House_.

DEATH

Cusp of the
_Ninth House_.

LONG JOURNEYS

Cusp of the
_Mid-heaven_.

HONOR

Noon-day.

Cusp of the
_Eleventh House_.

FRIENDS

Cusp of the
_Twelfth House_.

ENEMIES

]

The first, called the Ascendant House, was the portion rising above the
horizon at the east. It was regarded as the House of Life, the planets
located therein at the moment of birth having most potent influence on
the life and destiny of the native. Such planets were said to rule the
ascendant, being in the ascending house; and it is from this usage that
our familiar expression that such and such an influence is 'in the
ascendant' is derived. The next house was the House of Riches, and was
one-third of