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Centiloquiums:

Annotated by Deborah Houlding Bethem

Hermes
Trismegistus

The Centiloquium of Hermes Trismegistus is known to have been translated into Latin from Arabic Ptolemy

sources by Stephen of Messina, who addressed his text to Manfred, king of Sicily between 1258 to
1266. A date of 1262 has been proposed for the compilation of this text, and a pdf reproduction of
his Latin work is available on the Bibliotheca Astrologica Numerica website.

The same website reports that this was "the most popular Hermetic treatise in the Middle Ages
after the Asclepius".

The Latin text was repeatedly reprinted: at Venice in 1492, 1493, 1501, 1519; at Basel in, 1533,
1551, and at Ulm in 1651, 1674. Henry Coley was probably the first to produce an English
translation, as part of his Clavis Astrologiae Elimata (Key to the Whole Art of Astrology), published
in London in 1676. The following is a reproduction of Coley's text.

The Centiloquium of Hermes Trismegistus.

1. The Sun and Moon next unto God, are the life of all things living: Yet many
nativities have no hyleg; yet because the Sun and Moon friendly behold their
ascendant, or be therein free from affliction, their lives shall be the longer
continued.[1]

2. All diurnal nativities are strengthened by the Sun, when well beheld by the
fortunes; nocturnal of the Moon, when she is so fortified. If this happen not, yet
if good planets be found in angles, the nativity shall be good.

3. When Mars, lord of the ascendant, shall be posited in the tenth, it confers on
the native dignity and power; which will be accompanied with injury and cruelty;
and may therefore be said, a misfortune, rather than happiness.

4. Jupiter in good aspect with the infortunes, changes their malevolency into
good. Venus cannot effect any such thing, unless assisted by Jupiter; therefore
in procuring good, and prohibiting ill, Jupiter is found much better than Venus.[2]

5. The artist cannot make a commixion of the significations of the stars, before
he know their friendships and enmities, which is threefold. First, according to
their nature. Secondly, according to their houses. Thirdly, according to their
aspects.

6. Venus is opposite to Mercury. He comprehends languages and discipline; she

delights and pleasures, Jupiter the like to Mars; this coveteth mercy and justice;
that, impiety and cruelty.[3]

7. Make the Sun, or any of the superiors to signify princes and great persons.
Scribes and rusticks,[4] [are shown by] the inferior planets, and chiefly the Moon.

8. The signification of the conjunction, is not lessened by an aspect; but the

aspect is by the conjunction; as having lesser force, than it.
9. Give not judgment, neither elect anything, while Scorpio is ascending, neither
when the angles are oblique or crooked,[5] or if Mars be in the ascendant; the
event will prove cross, and the matter come to no good end; for Scorpio is a sign
of falsity.

10. Good planets, afflicted of the infortunes from the sixth or twelfth houses,
signify ill.

11. Rumours spread when the Moon is in the first face of Scorpio are false, and
knavishly forged.

12. The judgments of astrologers are not many times true, by reason of the error
of their instruments, or querents' ignorance; or when the Sun is near the
midheaven, or when the arguments of promise and denial of the thing are equal
in the figure.

13. While the Moon shall be South descending in Scorpio or Pisces, begin not
then to build; for a fabrick then erected quickly comes to ruin.

14. Mercury being strong and in proper places of the Heavens, well configurated
of other stars or planets in nativities, denotes convenient dignity to the native
thereby; but Mercury of himself is a planet weak.

15. Whosoever contendeth with another & overcomes when the significators are
in signs bicorporeal,[6] gets a great victory; if overcome, looseth much; for then
the good or evil is doubled.

16. Give not judgment before thou knowest the intention of the querent; for
many ask they know not what, nor can they express what they intend.

17. When thou shalt be interrogated for a father, behold the fourth house; for a
brother, the third; of a son, the fifth; of a wife, the seventh: But if for a sick
person, behold the ascendant only.[7]

18. When the Moon shall come to the quadrate of the fortunes or infortunes,
and the testimonies of the helps or hinderances of the matter doubtful; it is to
be doubted that the strength of the bad planets will more impede, than the
others can assist.

19. In the beginning of journeys, and returns therefrom, let not the Moon be in
the ascendant, fourth, or ninth houses, although she be not afflicted. In the
entering of a city, place her neither in the ascendant, second, or fourth houses.[8]

20. There are three ways of discovering the accidents proper to men; viz. from
the geniture of the native, birth of his first child, or by a question propounded,
with which the mind was solicitous and affected.

21. Every beginning when the Moon shall be joined to a Retrograde planet will
soon be destroyed, and if she shall be otherwise impedited, the mischief will
happen the sooner.

22. Make Saturn and Sun significators of kings and princes, with the planet, and
planets of the tenth; but their helpers take from the eleventh, and the assistants
of vulgar persons from the second house.

23. When a king or prince sets forth to journey, be sure reject that time when
Cancer ascends.

24. Gemini and Sagittarius obey the head and tail of the Dragon, more than
other signs: therefore do they work more mischief in those signs than they do in
any other.[9]

25. When either Taurus or Libra ascend in women's nativities, and Mars therein,
the native will be immodest and unchaste; the same if Capricorn shall ascend.

26. The virtues of the planets are received by the Sun, when he is posited either
in the ascendant or midheaven, in conjunction of them. The Moon in the night-
time receives them also, if in the aforesaid places, she be joined to them.
27. Jupiter dissolves Saturn's malice; and Venus dissolves Mars's.

28. When a question is propounded of a woman, take Venus as her natural

significatrix: but more particularly the seventh house. But if a question be asked
of an Enemy, respect the twelfth house; but, then more particularly, the seventh
also.

29. When any one goeth to war, especially a king, let the ascendant be one of
the houses of the superiour planets, or of the Sun. And let the lord of the
ascendant, and the Sun be potent in the figure; but the lord of the seventh weak
and unfortunate.

30. The Moon increasing in light and motion, and in conjunction of Saturn or
Jupiter, is generally good in all things: but if she be diminished in light, 'tis ill;
understand the contrary wholly, when she is in conjunction of Venus and Mars.

31. Let not Jupiter be under the Sun beams, or otherwise impedited, when you
either pawn or lend things; which if he shall be so, and not received of the planet
impediting, there will be little or no hopes of redemption.

32. Fortunate planets going to conjunction or aspect of one of the infortunes, in

any figure, diminish their evil influence. If the figure be good, the greater good
they do; if ill, the lesser. But the malevolents in square or opposition of the
benevolents diminish and abate of their virtues, the other aspects hinder not.

33. Saturn passing out of one sign into another, causes strange apparitions in
the heavens, which the Arabians term Assub; or certain other signs of a Fiery
nature.

34. The conjunction of Jupiter and Sun produceth temperate air, chiefly, when
celebrated in aerial signs. From the conjunction of Saturn & Sun, comes cold;
and from conjunction of the Sun & Mars, in the Spring season, proceeds a
cloudy dark air, it happening in double bodied signs, whence diseases very
frequently follow.

35. In summer, when the Sun enters the terms of Mars, heat is caused; in winter,
drought, and scarcity of rain and waters.

36. In the nativities and questions of men, make hyleg, and alchocoden, and
their directions; chiefly, in questions concerning kings and great persons, by
which their accidents are chiefly known, let them be good, or evil.

37. If the ascendant be fortunate, and the lord thereof unfortunate, it indicates a
sound and healthful body, but an afflicted mind. But if the contrary happen,
judge the contrary.

38. Always note the configurations of the stars, not by their signs, but orbs.[10]

39. Let the Moon be increasing in light, and free from the aspects of the
infortunes, when you would cure sore eyes.

40. The Part of Fortune with ill planets in the fourth, ninth, or tenth houses,
denote death to the sick.

41. When the significator of either good or evil shall be stationary, and angular, it
shall be more durable. But it shall be the more mutable and variable, if the
significator shall be cadent from angles, and retrograde.

42. The lord of the second house hath the same strength in hurting, as the lord
of the eighth; the lord of the sixth, the same with the lord of the twelfth.

43. Mars occidental in Cancer not beheld of Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, or Sun,
makes a good phlebotomist. But if Mars shall be in Capricorn, it makes a
destroyer of men, and one that delights to shed blood.

44. The best artist in the world may chance to err, when he mistakes a true
significator for a false one.
45. When Saturn shall be elevated above Venus, and in square of her, it makes
the native shameless, and a perfect woman-hater. But if Venus be elevated
above Saturn, he shall be a great friend unto women.

46. If in any nativity Mercury shall be in the ascendant, oriental, and swift; the
native will be eloquent, and learned in the liberal sciences: the same happeneth,
if he shall be in Sagittarius in his proper terms.

47. The first of the angles is the ascendant: the second, the M.C., the third, the
seventh house, the fourth Imum Coeli. But of the rest of the places, the eleventh
is first, then the second; after that, the fifth; then the ninth, and third; but the
sixth, eighth, and twelfth, are accounted the worst.

48. Mars's influence is never abated, unless by the interposure of a benevolent

planet.

49. Let your significator agree with his, whom you intend to supplicate.

50. The ascendant, or a planet found in the last degree, the signification must be
taken from the following sign; but if in 29 deg. in the same sign, the strength of
a planet is considered three ways, viz. in the degree where he is found, and next
preceding and succeeding.

51. We should consider of future contingents from the conjunctions of the

planets, but things past or present from their separations.

52. When Jupiter shall be in Cancer removed from the ascendant, and no way
impedited of any other star, the native will be rational, and very expert in science;
but delighting to lead a recluse life, and shall not have the due applause of his
learning.

53. In the world many evils will happen, when in one month there shall happen
an eclipse of both luminaries; chiefly in those places subject to the sign in which
they happen.

54. When the Moon shall be in the combust way, or peregrine, in the beginning
of a journey, the person will either fall sick in his journey, or shall be otherwise
grievously troubled and molested.

55. It behooves the astrologer to consider the time in directions of the planets;
but in the fixed stars it is not so needful.

56. The father's estate shall pass to the son, if Saturn shall be fortunate, and in
friendly aspect of the lord of the ascendant: but this more freely, if Saturn shall
be lord of the fourth.

57. Fortunate planets being in signs wherein they have no dignity, their benignity
is translated another way.

58. Mars almuten of a nativity, and not joined to good planets, signifieth the
native to suffer by envy and hatred.

59. The fortunate stars confer great felicity, when they shall be received of each
other in their proper houses; and when the evil planets are so received, they
refrain from doing much mischief.

60. The native will be sickly and weak, when Saturn is elevated above Mars; but
if Mars shall be elevated above Saturn, he shall be fat and lusty.

61. In men's nativities, if the part of marriage shall fall in signs obedient; and in
women's in signs imperant, the woman shall rule the man, and the man shall
obey; sin autem contra, dic contra.[11]

62. If the lords of the triplicity of the conjunction of the lights shall friendly
respect each other, the first to the second, the second to the third, it shows
eminent prosperity, and a freedom from sorrows.[12]

63. Mercury in Pisces, in deep or pitted degrees,[13] makes the native foolish and
slow of speech; and if Jupiter shall be in the houses of Mars, in pitted degrees,
he will be sordid and needy, and receive hurt from soldiers; but if in the houses
of Saturn, chiefly Capricorn, and in such degrees, he will be morose, rigid, and
odious to all men.

64. Mercury in reception of Mars by houses, or if he shall be in aspect of him

falling from an angle, the native will be a lover of hunting, and to play at dice and
tables: but if they shall not be cadent, he shall prove an excellent soldier.

65. Planets under the Sun's beams, or within twelve degrees thereof, are
unfortunate, unless in the same degree with him, but when passed 12 degrees
from him (existentes orientales)[14] they are fortunate.

66. The North Node with the infortunes denotes terrible mischiefs, for he
increases their malice; but with the fortunes he works good, and augments their
benignity. But the significations of the Dragon's tail are to be noted the contrary
way.

67. Mercury in the sixth house of a nativity, the native shall change from one
religion to another, & will have his felicity in part impedited by reason of his
inconstancy.

68. The first sign hath pre-eminence in signification, when there be two signs
have to do with the thing.[15]

69. Accept the beginning of every thing from the Moon, but the end from her
dispositor.

70. If Jupiter in the revolution of the world shall be in his house, exaltation, or
oriental in an angle, and otherwise freed from evil, he signifies plenty, [my author
says penury, if time and ill handling have not abused him] of all things.

71. When the Moon and lord of the ascendant shall be impedited by the lord of
the 8th, the sick person hath cause to fear.

72. 'Tis ill to begin any lawsuits or other controversies when the Moon is ill
dignified: the plaintiff without doubt will be overcome.

73. All rebellions breaking out at the beginning of the year, are not easily
suppressed.

74. The Moon in ruminating signs joined to retrograde planets, it is not then
good to purge; the potion will work upward to the patients injury.

75. Oriental planets signifying either good or evil, perform their work speedily;
occidental, more slowly.

76. The middle stay of a solar eclipse is by the degree of the conjunction of the
lights.

77. There will many wars and difficulties happen, when in a revolutional figure of
the world, Saturn and Jupiter shall be in their exaltations.

78. Be wary and circumspect in your judgment, when a fortune is with a

malevolent; nor be you overconfident that the malice of the infortune shall be
averted.

79. There are twelve signs, one of which is constantly ascending: the ascendant
signifies the body, and the lord thereof the mind. Let not that sign ascend for
your purpose, whose lord is impedited.

80. Planets in fixed signs show the matter durable; in bicorporeal signs,
doubtful; in movable, convertible to good or evil.

81. In matters of secrecy, let not the Moon be combust, but going from
combustion.

82. When the Moon is in a fixed sign, neither cut out, or put on any new
garments, chiefly in Leo, for 'tis extreme dangerous: 'tis the same if she be in
conjunction or opposition of the Sun, or impedited of the infortunes.[16]
83. The Moon hath great power in all questions, except when Leo, Capricorn, or
Sagittarius ascend: for either of those signs abate of her significations; chiefly
Leo or Aquarius.

84. Saturn is under the Sun beams until he be 15 degrees distant from him.
Understand the same of Jupiter.

85. Refuse the Moon in Cancer or Scorpio for marriages, unless it be in marrying
of widows.

86. An infortune in his own house or exaltation, and oriental, is better than a
fortune retrograde, or impedited.

87. There will be some impediment about that part of the body represented by
that sign which was afflicted at birth.

88. Immense prosperity is portended, when the lords of the triplicity of the
luminaries shall have virtue in an angle or succedent house, and be in their
proper places, remote from the aspects of the infortunes; and if the lord of the
ascendant shall be well seated also, the happiness shall be the more and the
greater.

89. The aspects of the sextile or trine have the same quality: but the sextile is
less forcible than the trine, either in good or evil.

90. Saturn performs evil slowly, but Mars swift; and therefore Mars is reputed to
hurt more than Saturn.

91. When the three superiour planets shall be conjoined in regal signs, it is
termed a great conjunction; and when the Sun beholds them, they make most
potent and flourishing kingdoms.

92. Those doubts are soon resolved, that are propounded when the Moon and
the planet to whom she applies are in signs, having voice, and in the first or third
houses, or in opposition of them.

93. The infortunes in the eighth house have their malice increased; but the
benevolents being there, portend neither good nor evil.

94. There will neither good or evil be performed, but when the good or bad
planets in a nativity or revolution shall aspect the Moon by a quadrate.

95. If Mercury be afflicted in the sixth house, the native shall die in prison: if
Saturn shall be in the twelfth, and Venus in the eighth, he shall end his days by
precipitation.

96. When the Sun in the daytime, and the Moon in the night, in the beginning of
any sickness, is impedited, the person is to be feared.

97. The significations of the stars are always varied, as they vary in their
configurations and latitudes.

98. The Moon in the fourth, seventh, ninth or twelfth houses shows the true
cause of the question propounded: the same is known by her separation from
Mercury. And if the ascendant and Moon shall be in double-bodied signs, the
cause of the question is confirmed.

99. An infortune in his house or exaltation denotes the matter by him signified
to come to a good end, but with delays: but if he shall be impedited in the
ascendant, though in his house or exaltation, the matter will be obstructed, and
come to an ill end.

100. The event of every enterprise that is doubtful, is terminated by these

significators, viz., by the fourth house and his lord, and the planet strong in the
same; also by the light of the time and the lord thereof; and by the planet, and
his dispositor to whom the said light of the time is conjoined.

[ - The End of Hermes his 100 Aphorisms- ]

Notes & References:

1] A planet that qualifies as the hyleg is considered to have

the greatest influence upon the length of life. Such a planet
would need to be in one of the qualifying places, as
detailed in the glossary item of Hyleg. This aphorism is
suggesting that where there is no hyleg, we look for signs
of support from the Sun or Moon.
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2] It is a traditional principle that superior planets are

resistant to the effects of inferior planets, but inferiors are
very impressionable to the influence of superiors. Since
Venus is an inferior planet, and the two traditional malefics
(Mars and Saturn) superior, Venus cannot hope to produce
the moderation of effect that Jupiter can.
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3] This aphorism demonstrates how many of these short

comments were extracted from lengthier discussions in
older texts without conveying the full philosophical
principles. We find a more informative source to these
comments, for example, in chap 7 of the 2nd century
Thesaurus of Antiochus: "Concerning exaltations and
depressions".

Venus is said to be exalted in the place that Mercury

experiences fall (Pisces), and Mercury is exalted where
Venus experiences fall (Virgo), because Mercury "is the
master of arguments" while Venus "is the overseer of
desire and intercourse". So "where the intellectual
increases, there the desire and pleasure in intercourse is
depressed. And where the appetitive and pleasurable is
exalted, there the intellectual is depressed".

Mars is exalted where Jupiter experiences fall (Capricorn),

and Jupiter is exalted where Mars experiences fall
(Cancer), because Jupiter "is the overseer of the life-breath
and abundance" whilst Mars "is the overseer of death".
Hence "where the life-breath increases, there the bringer of
death is depressed; and where death increases, there life
is depressed".

Antiochus gives similar treatment to the Sun and Saturn

because the Sun is the master of heat and day, whilst
Saturn signifies dark and cold. The Sun is exalted in Aries
where Saturn experiences its fall, and Saturn is exalted in
Libra where the Sun experiences fall. Antiochus adds that
the Moon is the "fortune of all" and so "whom fortunes
exalts, no one may depress; while he whom fortune
depresses, no one is able to exalt".

So the source of this aphorism is clearly very ancient, but

we should also note how little of the original philosophy
remains in the celebrated aphorism.

Antiochus, The Thesaurus, trans. R. Schmidt, ed. R. Hand. Project

Hindsight Greek Track Vol. II-B. Berkeley Springs: Golden Hind Press,
1993.
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4] Rustics = ordinary, country people.

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 5] The signs of short ascension: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces,
Aries, Taurus and Gemini.
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6] The double-bodied signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and

Pisces.
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7] In other words, treat the chart as a decumbiture, where the

health and body of the sick person is represented by the
first house.
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8] The feminine, nocturnal qualities of the Moon, and her

propensity for quick changes, gives the Moon a sense of
wandering without purpose. So it was often sought to
avoid the Moon being too powerful in important matters,
or journeys where someone could get lost. For the same
reason aphorism 23 rejects Cancer on the ascendant.
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9] According to the most common representation of the table

of essential dignities, the north node is exalted in the 3rd
degree of Gemini; the south node in the 3rd degree of
Sagittarius.
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10 ] A pertinent aphorism for those who maintain that in

ancient astrology, aspects were principally calculated
according to sign relationships.
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11 ] Imperant (or commanding) signs are: Aries, Taurus,

Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo

Obedient signs are: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn,

Aquarius and Pisces.

sin autem contra, dic contra = in other cases, the opposite.

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12 ] This is referrring to the older triplicity rulership scheme,

which considers three planetary rulers for each triplicity.
For more information see The Classical Use of Triplicities
by Deborah Houlding.
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13 ] Deep or pitted degrees (which are the same) are shown in

the table of traditional degree influences.
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14 ] Becoming oriental.
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15 ] Ie, when signification is taken from a house, and the house

contains more than one sign, priority is given to the sign on
the cusp.
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16 ] It's not clear why it should be so dangerous to put on new

garments when the Moon is in Leo, but this rule is also
contained in Ptolemy's Centiloquium, as aphorism 22.
Back to text

© December, 2006. The transcription of this text was generously provided by a site
supporter who prefers to remain anonymous. Mark up and annotations are by Deborah
 Houlding.

http://www.skyscript.co.uk

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