Chapter L.—Folly
of Astrology.
Employing these accounts, (the heretics) think to
deceive as many of these as devote themselves over-sedulously to the
astrologers, from thence striving to construct a system of religion
that is widely divergent from the thoughts of these
(speculators). Wherefore, beloved, let us avoid the habit of
admiring trifles, secured by which the bird (styled) the owl (is
captured). For these and other such speculations are, (as it
were), dancing, and not Truth. For neither do the stars yield
these points of information; but men of their own accord, for the
designation of certain stars, thus called them by names, in order that
they might become to them easily distinguishable. For what similarity with
a bear or lion, or kid, or waterman, or Cepheus, or Andromeda, or the
spectres that have names given them in Hades, have the stars that are
scattered over the firmament—for we must remember that these men, and the titles themselves, came into existence long after the origin of man,—(what, I say, is in common between the two), that the heretics, astonished at the marvel, should thus strive by means of such discourses to strengthen their own opinions?
