[103] “_Before._” Although I have thus Englished the word, προ, I think it properly requires to be here rendered, by “_at_” or “_near to_” rather than “_before_.” Firstly, because my author (in speaking of the commencement of each quarter of the year, in the 11th Chapter, p. 93), has expressly stated that “the spring is to be dated from the new or full Moon taking place when the Sun is _nearest_ (εγγιζα) to the first point of Aries; the summer from that, when he is _nearest_ the first point of Cancer,” &c., &c.; and (in p. 94) he states that certain general effects are brought about by the new or full Moon occurring _at_ (κατα) the aforesaid points. Secondly, because, in a few lines further on, in speaking of the monthly consideration, p. 98, he again uses only εγγιζα, in reference to the present passage, in which, however, he has used only προ. Thirdly, it is a proper inference that he meant to point out here the new or full Moon which may happen _nearest_ to the tropical or equinoctial points, because he has previously and explicitly taught that the principal variation of all things depends upon those points. Lastly, Allatius has here rendered the word by no other than _proximé_, which is also the word given in the Perugio Latin of 1646. On the other hand, Whalley, in his note on the present chapter, says, that “according to this Prince of Astrologers” (meaning Ptolemy), “we are to observe the new or full Moon preceding the ingress, only, for our judgment on the succeeding quarter, and not the lunation succeeding: and the reason I conceive to be, because the lunation, which immediately precedes the ingress, carries its influence to the very position of the ingress itself, but not so that which follows the ingress.” Wing, in his Introduction to the Ephemerides (London, 1652) also says, that “for the knowledge of the weather, it is requisite to observe the conjunction or opposition of the luminaries next _preceding_ the Sun’s ingress into the first point of Aries.” Now, if a new or full Moon happen _immediately after_ the Sun’s transit or ingress, the previous full or new Moon must have happened _a fortnight before_ the said transit or ingress; and, after considering the other parts of Ptolemy’s doctrine, I do not conceive, that he intended to teach, in this chapter, that a _previous_ lunation, when at so great a distance before the important ingress, would have a greater influence over the ensuing quarter of the year, than a _subsequent_ lunation taking place so closely after the said ingress.