Page:Commentaries of Ishodad of Merv, volume 1.djvu/62

16 notables of their lands; and the king of the Persians who sent the Magians was called Pirshabour; and these came by the guidance of the likeness of a star. Lo, we saw his star in the east, because in the midst of the star was shewn the likeness of a Virgin embracing her son; and it is evident from many things that it was not a real star, nor an imagination, nor a fantasy, nor an automaton, but an Angel who shone like a star from Persia to Bethlehem; first, because it shone equally by night and by day; second, that it was seen only by the Magians and not by others; third, that it shone alone, without burning, although it came down so low from the region of the ether, to shew the way to the Magians, as by a finger, even the house; fourth, it shone so much at midday that it surpassed the rays of the sun in their eyes; fifth, because all the lights of the zodiac move, as fixed, from east to west, but according to Astronomers and Astrologers, seven of them which are called planets move from west to east; but of the rest all the signs of the zodiac, fixed in the body of the firmament, move from east to west with the revolution of the heavens. This moved in the opposite way, that is to say, from south-east to north and from this to west; for thus is the road from Persia to Palestine; sixth, because it did not shine continuously, but when they had gone into each of the cities and villages by the way, until they came out, it was hid, in order that by question and answer the birth of King Messiah should be made known to everyone; as it was hid from them in their entering Jerusalem; and when that cunning fox Herod sent spies after them many times, the star was not seen until they knew that it was the finger of God; and Herod planned to destroy the child in another way. So it is clear from all these things, that it was not a natural star, but a starry likeness. Astronomers may not raise a wing here, as if it were evident that the teaching of Chaldaism is true, from this, that the birth of our Lord also was disclosed by means of a star; but they must know from this that it was not a natural star, as we have shewn at length. Also this [is clear], the art of Chaldaism does not establish a nativity from one star, but from seven, these which they call Planets, because they are not adherent to the body of the heavens, that is to say, the Sun, and the Moon; Ares; Hermes; Bel, who is Zeus; Beltis, Aphrodite, and they also call her, and Ashteroth, and Dosti; and Kronos, who is Saturn. And of the twelve signs of the zodiac that are adherent in the heavens, that is to