The purpose of this astrological passage is plainly to show why Hypermnestra was doomed to die in prison. The qualities given her by the planets, as shown by her horoscope, were such that she was unable to violate a wife's duty and kill her husband in order to save her own life.[154] Venus gave her great beauty and was also influential in repressing the influence of Mars who would have given her fighting qualities if his influence had been strong. The myth of the amour between Venus and Mars, which Chaucer makes the basis of his poem the _Compleynt of Mars_, would explain why Venus was able to influence Mars in this way. The feeble influence of Mars at Hypermnestra's nativity is accounted for also in another way. His influence is feeble because of the time of year and through the "oppressioun of houses" both of which amount to the same thing, namely, a position in the zodiac in which his power is at a minimum.[155] The influence of Jupiter, we are told, was to give Hypermnestra conscience, truth, and wifely loyalty. That of Saturn was evil and the cause of her death in prison. The specific influences of Saturn are mentioned in detail in the _Knightes Tale_. Almost all the ills imaginable are attributable to his power: "'My dere doghter Venus,' quod Saturne, 'My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne, Hath more power than wot any man. Myn is the drenching in the see so wan; Myn is the prison in the derke cote; Myn is the strangling and hanging by the throte; The murmure, and the cherles rebelling, The groyning, and the pryvee empoysoning; I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun Whyl I dwelle in the signe of the leoun. Myn is the ruine of the hye halles, The falling of the toures and of the walles Up-on the mynour or the carpenter. I slow Sampsoun in shaking the piler; And myne be the maladyes colde, The derke tresons, and the castes olde; My loking is the fader of pestilence.'"[156] In the line, "Myn is the prison in the derke cote;" imprisonment is for the second time attributed to Saturn's influence. In an earlier passage in the _Knightes Tale_[157], (see p. 59) it is suggested when Palamon and Arcite's imprisonment is said to be due to 'some wicked aspect or disposition of Saturn' at the time of their birth. Later in the story Palamon specifically states that his imprisonment is through Saturn: "But I mot been in prison thurgh Saturne,"[158] That Mars and Saturn were generally regarded as planets of evil influence is shown by a passage in the _Astrolabe_. Chaucer has just explained what the 'ascendant', means in astrology. It is that degree of the zodiac that at the given time is seen upon the eastern horizon. Now, Chaucer says, the ascendant may be 'fortunate or unfortunate,' thus: