Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2016 10:16:54 GMT
CHAP. XV.
Of the Pythagorean Chance.
NEither do I think it fitting to pass by what the Py∣thagoreans did Assert, what others thought, and what Aristotle himself did believe, That there are cer∣tain Numbers in the Elements of Letters, from whence some will undertake to tell Fortunes by the Prope• Names, the Letters whereof being added together▪ and the Names repeated as oft as there be Letters they give the day to him, whose Name comes to be last reckon'd; whether the Question be con∣cerning War, Quarrel, Marriage, Life, or any other concernment. And thus, they say, it was fore∣told that Patroclus should be kill'd by Hector, tha•
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he should be slain by Achilles. Of which, Terence makes mention in Verse, and how they made use of the Letters of their Names.
These greater Numbers, those the less require.
He that in doubtful War his Chance would know,
If the great number stop, may safely go.
But signes of Death, the lesser sums presage;
And thus Patroclus fell, by Hector's Rage.
Thus from small sums they did of old foretel
How Conquering Hector by Achilles fell.
Some will undertake to Erect Horoscopes by these kind of Computations, as one Alchandrius, an obscure Philosopher said to be the Scholar of Aristotle, hath been ready to assert. And Pliny relates, That by the •inventions of Pythagoras, there is in the Eye a peculi∣ar property to foretel Lameness and some other mis∣chances.
Of the Pythagorean Chance.
NEither do I think it fitting to pass by what the Py∣thagoreans did Assert, what others thought, and what Aristotle himself did believe, That there are cer∣tain Numbers in the Elements of Letters, from whence some will undertake to tell Fortunes by the Prope• Names, the Letters whereof being added together▪ and the Names repeated as oft as there be Letters they give the day to him, whose Name comes to be last reckon'd; whether the Question be con∣cerning War, Quarrel, Marriage, Life, or any other concernment. And thus, they say, it was fore∣told that Patroclus should be kill'd by Hector, tha•
Page 53
he should be slain by Achilles. Of which, Terence makes mention in Verse, and how they made use of the Letters of their Names.
These greater Numbers, those the less require.
He that in doubtful War his Chance would know,
If the great number stop, may safely go.
But signes of Death, the lesser sums presage;
And thus Patroclus fell, by Hector's Rage.
Thus from small sums they did of old foretel
How Conquering Hector by Achilles fell.
Some will undertake to Erect Horoscopes by these kind of Computations, as one Alchandrius, an obscure Philosopher said to be the Scholar of Aristotle, hath been ready to assert. And Pliny relates, That by the •inventions of Pythagoras, there is in the Eye a peculi∣ar property to foretel Lameness and some other mis∣chances.