The latter, in fact, often failed to reach these classes.
The first result of his book was that the astrologers ceased to publish
their doctrines, and those who had already printed them were more or
less ashamed of what they had done. Gioviano Pontano, for example, in
his book on Fate, had recognized the science, and in a great work of
his had expounded the whole theory of it in the style of the old
Firmicus, ascribing to the stars the growth of every bodily and
spiritual quality. He now in his dialogue 'Aegidius' surrendered, if
not astrology, at least certain astrologers) and sounded the praises of
free will, by which man is enabled to know God. Astrology remained more
or less in fashion, but seems not to have governed human life in the
way it formerly had done. The art of painting, which in the fifteenth
century had done its best to foster the delusion now expressed the
altered tone of thought. Raphael, in the cupola of the Capella Chigi,
represents the gods of the different planets and the starry firmament,
watched, however, and guided by beautiful angel-figures, and receiving
from above the blessing of the eternal Father. There was also another
cause which now began to tell against astrology in Italy. The Spaniards
took no interest in it, not even the generals, and those who wished to
gain their favour declared open war against the half-heretical, half-
Mohammedan science.
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