Chapter XIX.—Refutation of Astrology.

“There are, in every country or kingdom, laws imposed by men, enduring either by writing or simply through custom, which no one easily transgresses.  In short, the first Seres, who dwell at the beginning of the world,⁸⁴⁵⁸⁴⁵    That is, the farthest east, not, as some of the annotators suppose, from the beginning of the world. have a law not to know murder, nor adultery, nor whoredom, and not to commit theft, and not to worship idols; and in all that country, which is very large, there is neither temple, nor image, nor harlot, nor adulteress, nor is any thief brought to trial.  But neither is any man ever slain there; and no man’s liberty of will is compelled, according to your doctrine, by the fiery star of Mars, to use the sword for the murder of man; nor does Venus in conjunction with Mars compel to adultery, although of course with them Mars occupies the middle circle of heaven every day.  But amongst the Seres the fear of laws is more powerful than the configuration of Genesis.