it is manifest that Manilius publish'd this Poem soon after the Varian Defeat which happened in the Year 762 of Rome it is as evident likewise that between the Youth or Adolescence of Manilius and the time wherein he wrote this piece there could not pass above one and fifty Years and consequently there is no reason to assign so great an Age to Manilius as Scaliger here doth since perhaps he was not seventy years old when he had finish'd this his Astronomical Poem As to what Scaliger subjoyns touching Manilius his wish for long life together with a cheerful old Age and the Inference he thence makes that he could not reasonably be thought to be old then who wish'd he might live to be so The Argument is but weak for Senium is one thing and Senium Annosum is another Nor doth he simply wish for Vitam Annosam but Vitam Annosam quae conjuncta sit cum molli Senecta which may be wish'd for even by those who are very old As for the name of Antiochus he seems to have taken it from the famous Philosopher Antiochus Ascalonita often mention'd by Cicero Plutarch Sextus Empiricus and others whose School not only Cicero but Varro Brutus and divers others are said to have frequented and in all probability this our Manilius also as being not only of the same Nation but happily born in the same Town Ascalon So that it may seem no wonder if after the manner of those times he took upon him the Name of his worthy Tutor and Instructor For that he was a Syrian is not only manifest from his Consanguinity with Publius Mimus but may likewise be collected from the Title or Inscription of this work which is an ancient and excellent Manuscript in the Possession of Vossius is this M. MALLII POENI ASTRONOMICON DIVO OCTAVIO QUIRINO AUG That the Phaenicians were by the Romans called POENI is manifest out of Horace Cicero apud Nonium and our Author in this very Poem he concludes therefore than this our Manilius or as he is rather pleased to call him Manlius was a Phaenician and in all probability Native of the same Town as Antiochus his Tutor whose name he assum'd From this Dedication of his Work to Augustus by the Name of Quirinus as the Inscription shews will appear the Error of those who who imagine the same to be Dedicated to Tiberius or some later Roman Emperour And the Reason of attributing the Name of Quirinus to Augustus may be made clear from the Words of Suetonius Censentibus quibusdam Romulum appellari oportere quasi et ipsum conditorem Urbis c. Dion likewise tells us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Augustus Caesar extremely desir'd to be call'd Romulus and Joannes Philadelphensis Scripto de Mensibus in Aug. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Octavianus Son of Octavius was after his great Victories honoured with divers Names for by some he was called Quirinus as another Romulus c. As to that Manilius stiled by Pliny Mathematicus he conceives that titular distinction to make no difference in the Person but that he is the same with the former further adding Omnino existimo et illum quoque de nostro Manilio accipi debere And whereas Salmasius affirms that the name Manlius or Manilius is not to be found in that place of Pliny in any ancient Manuscripts he makes it appear that Salmasius is extreamly mistaken by the testimony of several antient Manuscript Copies of Pliny in his Possession one of which was written above 8 or 900 Years agoe in all which the Word Manlius is found though with some small difference in writing of the name Nor doth he think the name of Marcus prefixd to Manilius ought to be scrupled at upon the Account that none of the Manlian Family after the 360th Year from the building of Rome could or did use that Praenomen seeing the prohibition as Cicero intimates is only to be understood of the Patrician Race Now that this Manilius or as he calls him Manlius was before his Manumission a Slave not only the place of Pliny already cited but the very Agnomen of Antiochus sufficiently demonstrates for as much as a Greek Agnomen joyn'd to a Roman Name is always a most certain Token of a Servile Condition Thus far Sir Edward Shirburn who is very much inclin'd to rest satisfied with this rational discourse of the incomparable Vossius and thinks others should be so too but upon examination it will appear that Scaliger's Objections are still in force and that Vossius's his reasonings are all to little purpose It must be granted that the Agnomen Antiochus proves that Manilius to be of Servile Condition tho' there is no need of this Argument since Pliny in very express Terms asserts that he is so T is likewise true that that Manilius was a Syrian being a near Kinsman to Publius Syrus and brought to Italy in the same Ship with him But that that Manilius the Syrian was the same with Manilius the Poet is a Question that still returns and will not I fear be determin'd by the Title of that ancient and excellent Manuscript of Vossius For if instead of M. MALLII POENI we read M. MALLII POETAE which is found in other Manuscripts and every body knows there is so little difference in the traits of the Letters of those two words in ancient Copies that they may very easily by Ignorant Transcribers be mistaken for one another then the Evidence drawn from this Inscription is lost Besides that Title is not to be regarded it not being written by the Author but affixt by some heedless Copyer of the Poem For it is Divo Octavio whereas Augustus was never stil'd Divus though often Deus before his Death and the Writer of the Astronomicon as will by and by appear dy'd before Augustus To speak out what I think will not be deny'd Manilius the Author of this Poem was young when he wrote it and dy'd young and therefore cannot be that Manilius Antiochus whom Scaliger reckons to be 120 and Vossius is forced to confess was 70 years of Age about the time Varus was defeated by the Germans The first part of this Assertion may be demonstrated from almost all the Pages of his Book in which we meet with many things that are not to be accounted for on the Hypothesis of Sixty He is too fierce and fiery for that Age and bounds every Step he takes In a Man of years when we find a Warmth we feel it to be regular he never starts his Pace is equal and seldom varies but when his Subject forces him to a more than ordinary quickness Judgment appears all thro' and a strength well govern'd When he rises he doth not affect to climb but to walk like a sober Traveller who knowing his own force seeks the easiest ascent when his Ground is uneven or he is oblig'd to take the advantage of a Prospect But 't is not so in Youth whose Fancies as well
as Passions are impetuous that pleases them most which is most daring finding they have strength they use it to the utmost and when at last they sink they seem rather worn out than tired I cannot compare the Spirit of Poetry possessing a Youth of a strong generous Imagination and vigorous Constitution to any thing better than to a Flame seizing on the Body of a Meteor the whole Mass blazes and mounts upon a sudden but its motion is all the way uneven and it quickly falls in a despicable Gelly He that looks on the Latin of Manilius will see that I do him no Injury when I compare him to this Meteor for even when he is oblig'd to give rules and is ty'd almost to a certain form of words he struggles against those necessary Fetters he reaches after the strongest Metaphors uses the boldest Catachresis and against all the rules of Decency labours after an obscure Sublime when he should endeavour to be plain intelligible and easy But as soon as he hath room to get loose how wildly doth he rove he is not free but licentious and strives to err greatly 'T is needless to produce particulars since they are so visible in the Prefaces Fables and Descriptions thro' his Books And upon the whole it may be affirm'd there are so many boldnesses scatter'd thro' his Poem and so much of Toysomness just by them that a Man may read his Youth in his writings as well as his Contemporaries could do it in his Face I would mention and enlarge upon his conspicuous Vanity and from thence endeavour to support the Judgment I have already pass'd but that I consider that fault when it hath once possess'd a Man is not to be cool'd by all the Frost and Snow of Age Yet from the Vanity of Manilius I think a particular Argument may be drawn to prove him to be young for he had a design to rival or perfect the inimitable Virgil. This is evident from the Preface to his third Book 7 Lib. 3. v. 22. Romanae Gentis Origo Totque Duces Orbis tot bella tot otia et omnis In Populi unius leges ut cesserit Orbis Differtur For here it is plain he had this mighty project in his head and after he had prepar'd himself by this Astronomical Poem rais'd his Fancy and got a good turn of Verse was resolv'd to prosecute it with his utmost vigour he saw the vastness of the design 8 Lib. 3. v. 21. Spatio majore canenda Quam si tacta loquor Yet he hop'd to live to finish it though in the beginning of this Poem he wishes for old Age that he might compleat the Work he then had in hand yet having gone through the most difficult part of it sooner and with more ease than at first he thought he should have done he sets up for new Schemes and thinks he shall have years enough before him prudently to begin and Strength succesfully to carry on so great an Undertaking In this very Preface he reckons up a great many other Subjects fit to employ a Poet but in express terms lays them all aside Colchida nec referam c. Non annosa canam c. But the Roman History is in his Thoughts tho' he will not begin to write till his greater leisure gives him opportunity to do it These two Observations perswade me that Manilius was Young when he began this Poem and that he dy'd Young and did not live to finish his design or accurately Revise what he had written will I think be very evident from what follows It cannot be deny'd that this Poet had advanc'd very far in his Work whilst Tiberius was at Rhodes for in his fourth Book he gives this Character of that Island 9 Lib. 4. v. 761. Virgine sub casta felix Terraque Marique Et Rhodos Hospitium recturi Principis Orbem Tuque domus verè solis cui tota sacrata es Cum caperes lumen magni sub Caesare Mundi Now 1 Dion Cassius p. 634. Tiberius retired to Rhodes when C. Antistius and L. Balbus were Consuls he continu'd there Seven 2 Vell. Paterculus lib. 2. cap. 99. Years and return'd in the Consulship of P. Vinicius and P. Alfinius Varus and yet in the first Book we meet with the 3 lib. 1. v. 894. Description of the Prodigies that appeared before the defeat of Varus in Germany which hapned when Poppaeus Sabinus and Q. Sulpicius Camerinus were Consuls about eight years after the Return of Tiberius from Rhodes What shall we say then was the fourth Book written and publish'd before the first or would the Poet have strain'd for that Complement to Rhodes after the Varian Defeat with what Propriety could that Island be call'd Hospitium recturi Principis Orbem or with what Truth could it be said to contain the most glorious Luminary next to Caesar when that imagin'd Star had not for many years been in that Horizon and now shone in other quarters of the World No this had been Banter and inexplicable Riddle But if we suppose Manilius to have had this Work under his hand several years to have revis'd it and added what he thought would adorn his Poem then we can easily give an account why his fourth Book should appear to be eight years younger than his first A little before Tiberius's return from Rhodes he wrote his fourth Book after that he composs'd his fifth and sixth which is now lost then at several times revising his Work and about the time of the Varian Defeat being upon the end of his first Book he added to his discourse of Comets a short Account of those prodigious Meteors that then appeared and which Historians 4 Dion Cassius lib. 56. tell us were the most amazing that were ever seen Soon after this he dy'd before he had corrected the fourth Book as appears from the Character which in that Book he gives the Island Rhodes and which his last and finishing hand could not have left there These Observations will help us to give some tolerable account of the other difficulties relating to this Author for to any one who enquires why the first Book is more correct than the rest why the Impurities of Stile the Criticks charge upon him are for the most part pickt out of the four last Books I would answer we have only the first and rude Draughts of them and that as Poets and Painters are said to be very near ally'd so they agree in nothing more than they do in this that though in their Scetches we see the Master yet we may find something that the Finisher would correct To him who asks why there is no mention of this Poet in any of the Antients I would reply That Manilius having left an unfinisht Piece his Family was studious both of his Credit and their own they carefully preserv'd the Orphan but would not expose it In that Age when Poetry was rais'd to its greatest highth
Poem Doth he say he wrote Books of Astronomy knew the Depths of Astrology and was admitted into the Councils of the Stars Here was a large Field for that luxuriant Wit to have wanton'd in and it cannot be thought he would have conceal'd the deserts of his Patron when he study'd to commend him But instead of this he praises his Justice Integrity Clemency and Honor he extols his Eloquence and prefers the sweetness of it before all the delicate Charms of Poetry and Musick 3 De Mallii Theod. Consul v. 251. Ut quis non sitiens Sermonis Mella politi Deserat Orpheos blanda Testudine cantus And tho' all the Muses are concern'd for him and busie in his Service yet he is devoted to none of them but Uraâ—ie who assisted him in his Astronomical Diversions 4 ibid. 274. Uranie redimita comas quâ saepe Magistra Mallius igniferos radio descripserat Axes Gevartius very well observes that this Consul Mallius was an Astronomer 5 ibid. v. 126. Invenit aetherios signantem pulvere cursus Quos pia sollicito deprendit pollice Memphis Quae moveant momenta polum quam certus in Astris Error Quis tenebras Soli causisque meantem Defectum indicat numerus Quae linea Phoeben Damne et excluso pallentem fratre relinquat That he publish'd some admir'd Books 6 ibid. v. 332. Consul per populos idemque gravissimus Author Eloquij duplici vita subnixus in aevuâ— Procedat libris pariter fastisque legendus But how doth it appear that Astronomy was his Subject when Claudian himself tells us it was the Origine and Constitution of the World He represents him as well vers'd in all the several Hypotheses of the Natural and Moral Philosophers acquainted both with the Physicks and Ethicks of the Greeks and able to discourse of their Opinions very properly and very elegantly in Latin 7 ibid v. 84. Graiorum obscuras Romanis floribus Artes Irradias But when he speaks of his Writings he says he describ'd the Origine and Disposition of the World Ibid. v. 65. and gave very convincing proofs of his own Wit Capacity and Judgment by his exact account of the beautiful Order and regular Contrivance of that wonderful Machine 8 Ibid. v. 253. Qualem te legimus teneri Primordia Mundi Scribentem aut Partes Animae per Singula Talem Cernimus et similes agnoscit Pagina mores From these Verses and other passages in Claudian as 9 ibid. v. 101. Quae vis animaverit Astra Impuleritque Choros quo vivat Machina motu it may be inferr'd that this Consul Mallius was as to Natural Philosophy a Stoick and built his World according to the Hypothesis of that Sect and therefore wrote something very like what we find at large in the first Book and hinted at in several passages of the other Books of Manilius But this being the least part of our Author and subservient to his greater and general design it must not be suppos'd that Claudian should enlarge only upon this and leave his whole Astrology untoucht unless we think Claudian as ridiculous as that Painter would be who being to fill his Canvas with a noble Family should draw a single Servant or paint only a Finger or a Nail when he had a large beautiful Body to represent I have been the more particular in this matter because Gevartius pretends to demonstration tho' to confute his conjecture it had been sufficient only to observe that it is the most ridiculous thing in the World to imagine that Mallius a Man well known both for his personal Endowments and publick Employments who had been Governour of several Provinces and at last Consul should publish a Treatise under his own Name and yet in almost every Page of the Book endeavour to perswade his Readers it was written four hundred years before For it must be granted that the Prince whom he 1 Lib. 1. v. 7. invokes in the beginning of his Poem who is stiled Patriae Princepsque Paterque who is deify'd whilst 2 lib. 1. v. 9. et 924. alive and not to repeat the other particulars I have already reckon'd up whose 3 lib. 2. v. 509. Horoscope was Capricorn was the first Great Augustus and therefore there is no need of calling in the Authorities of 4 Car. lib. 1. Od. 2. Hic ames dici Pater atque Princeps Horace 5 Virg. Ec. 1. et Georg. 1. and 6 〈…〉 Aug. cap. 94. Suetonius to prove it This last Character puts me in mind of another Objection that may be drawn from F. Harduin's 7 de Num. Herod p. 9. Observation for he says that Suetonius was himself deceiv'd and hath deceiv'd all those who have thought Capricorn was concern'd in the Nativity of Augustus For if this be true all the Pretences of Manilius are ruin'd but since that Writer doth not back his Assertion with any Reasons I shall not submit to his bare Authority nor wast my time in guessing what Arguments he may rely on being not bold enough to conjecture what the daring Author may produce Having thus fixt the Age of this Author and prov'd him to have liv'd in the time of Augustus Caesar I shall venture farther to affirm that he was born under the Reign of that Emperour not only a Roman but of illustrious Extraction being a branch of that noble Family the Manilij who so often fill'd the Consul's Chair and supply'd the best and greatest Offices in the Roman Commonwealth And here I must oppose many of the Criticks and be unassisted by the rest For 8 Proleg in Manil. p. 2. Scaliger confesses that from his own Writings it cannot be known what Countryman he was and no other Authors give us any Information Bonincontrius and Gyraldus endeavour to prove from the Medal already mention'd that he was no Roman the Learned 9 Vid. Sir Edward Shirburn's Preface to the Sphere of Manilius Isaac Vossius thinks he was a Syrian and all who look upon him to be the same with that Manilius mention'd by Pliny Nat. Hist lib. 35. cap. 17. say he was a Slave Only Petrus Crinitus 1 De Poet. Lat. affirms he was Nobly Born and Mr. Tristan will 2 Hist Com. Tom. 1. have him to be that Manilius of whom Pliny gives a very Honourable Character in the Tenth Book and Second Chapter of his Natural History where he says He was of Senatorian Dignity an excellent Scholar and If we believe Mr. Tristan a very good Astronomer But since Crinitus doth not prove what he says and Mr. Tristan but conjectures at best and upon Examination will be found to be very much mistaken in his Conjectures therefore I cannot expect any assistance from either of these Authors Now it is not certain that the Gentleman whom Pliny speaks of in the Second Chapter of his Tenth Book was Nam'd Manilius Copies differ and in the M. SS of Salmasius 3
and now on the other so that some of them should be always up in the Air And this feat of Activity Manilius Describes 19. The Story of Meleager runs thus At his Birth his Mother heard one of the Destinies say the Child should live till the stick that then lay in the Fire was burnt The Mother snatch'd the stick out of the Fire and perserv'd it When Meleager was grown a Man he with a great many others went to hunt a Wild Bore at the same time Atalante a Nymph of extraordinary Beauty came into the Field and had the good Fortune to wound the Bore first Meleager fell in Love with Atalante and having kill'd the Bore presented the Head to her His two Uncles who were present at the Hunting thought themselves injur'd and would not suffer a Woman to carry off their Spoil Meleager in defence of Atalante kills his two Uncles Meleager's Mother to revenge the Death of her two Brothers puts the stick into the Fire as that burnt Meleager wasted 20. Formidine Mortis Huetius Reads Formidine Pennae For when they Hunted they us'd to see stakes in the ground to which they ty'd Feathers which frighted the Deer and made them keep within that compass or take that way the Hunters thought most convenient for their sport 21. Philoctetes was Servant to Hercules and when Hercules burnt himself he left his Bow and Arrows to Philoctetes Without these Arrows Troy could not be taken Now it happened that Philoctetes either by a contrivance of Vlysses or because being wounded by one of the Poisoned Arrows he became offensive to the Grecian Camp was sent away to Lemnos But the Siege going on slowly he was fetcht back again With his Arrows he killed the chiefest of the Remaining Commanders and so Troy was taken 22. Teucer was Brother to Ajax and he with his Bow beat back Hector when he came to burn the Grecian Navy 23. The following Verses relate to Alcon the Cretan who shot a Snake that lay twisted round the Head of his Son and did not touch the Boy 24. This Goat or Hoedus Scaliger could not find but Huetius says the Single Hoedus is put by Manilius for those two Haedi that are in the left hand of Heniochus or the Driver Thus Horace Archeri cadentis Impetus aut orientis Hoedi and Propertius Purus Orion purus Hoedus erit 25. The Poets fancy'd Orpheus went down to Hell charm'd Pluto and the Destinies and brought back his Wife Eurydice 26. Alluding to the Fable which says Jupiter Courted Leda in the shape of a Swan 27. Several Feats of Activity amongst the Romans in which they equall'd if not excell'd all the following Ages 28. The common Subjects upon which Sophocles Euripides and other Tragaedians amongst the Ancients wrote their Plays 29. A fam'd Comedian who flourish'd in the hundred and fourteenth Olympiad 30. Pompey having conquered Mithridates brought to Rome more valuable Jewels than ever had been seen there And from that time as Pliny in the first Chapter of his 37th Book complains the Romans began to value and admire Jewels 31. The Romans did not only put Notorious Malefactors in Chains but likewise chained them to their Keepers and this Custom the Poet hints at 32. Vossius out of his Ancient Manuscript reads Et Coeli meditatus iter vestigia perdet Et Perna pendens populum suspendet ab ipsa 33. These were the several Orders in the Roman Common-Wealth FINIS INDEX A. AStronomy its rise and progress part 1. p. 3. Axis of the World part 1. p. 13. Plague of Athens part 1. p. 34. Aspects part 1. p. 60. Aspects friendly and unfriendly part 1. p. 74. Aries's Influence part 2. p. 9. et 24. Aquarius's Influence part 2. p. 15. et 27. Astronomy to be studied part 2. p. 39. Aries's Influence when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 56. Aquarius's Influence when joyn'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 72. The Fable of Andromeda part 2. p. 76. C. Northern Constellations part 1. p. 14. Southern Constellations part 1. p. 17. Figures of the Constellations not real part 1. p. 20. Northern Polar Circle part 1. p. 24. Tropical Circle of Cancer part 1. p. 24. Equinoctial Circle part 1. p. 24. Tropick of Capricorn part 1. p. 24. Southern Polar Circle part 1. p. 25. The Colures part 1. p. 25. Comets presage part 1. p. 34. Chaldeans refuted part 1. p. 106. and 110. Cancer's Influence part 2. p. 11 et 25. Capricorn's Influence part 2. p. 14. et 27. Countries govern'd by particular Signs part 2. p. 36. The Influence of Cancer join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 61. Capricorn's Influence when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 70. D Dodecatemorion part 1. p. 76. Dodecatemoria of the Planets part 1. p. 77. Day Births part 1. p. 104. Bad and good Degrees of Signs part 2. p. 21. E. Earth the Center of the Vniverse part 1. p. 9. Earth round part 1. p. 10. Geographical description of the Earth part 2. p. 28. Eccliptick Signs part 2. p. 38. F. Friendship part 1. p. 72. Fortune's Lot part 1. p. 103. Fate part 2. p. 4. G. Guardians of the Signs part 1. p. 66. Gemini's Influence part 2. p. 10. et 25. The Influence of Gemini when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 60. H. Horizon part 1. p. 26. Influence of the Heavens part 1. p. 51. Signs hear and see love and hate each other part 1. p. 67. The Celestial Houses part 1. p. 80. Horoscope part 1. p. 105. Hours various part 1. p. 106. L. Twelve Lots of the twelve Signs part 1. p. 99. Leo's Influence part 2. p. 11. et 26. Libra's Influence part 2. p. 13. et 26. Leo's Influence when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 63. Libra's Influence when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 66. M. Meridian part 1. p. 26. Milky way part 1. p. 27. Various Opinions about the milky way part 1. pag. 29. Meteors part 1. p. 32. The several Magnitudes of the Stars p. 2. p. 82. N. Night Births part 1. p. 104. P. Southern Pole like the Northern part 1. pag. 19. Providence asserted against Epicurus part 1. pag. 21. Planets part 1. pag. 32. Pisces's Influence part 2. p. 15. 27. Pisces Influence joyn'd with other Constellations part 2. pag. 76. Q. Quadrates part 1. pag. 61. S. Soul of the World part 1. p. 12. 51. The several kinds or sorts of Signs part 1. p. 55. Sextiles part 1. p. 63. Stadia part 1. p. 108 The several positions of the Sphere part 1. p. 110. Scorpio's Influence part 2. p. 13. et 26. Sagittarius Influence part 2. p. 14. et 27. Sagittarius Influence when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 69. Scorpio's Influence when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 68. T. Trines part 1. p. 60. Taurus's Influence part 2. p 10. et 25. Tenths or Lords of the Signs part 2. p. 16. The Influence of Taurus join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 60. V. Virgo's Influence part 2. p. 12. et 26. Virgo's Influence when join'd with other Constellations part 2. p. 65. W. Different Opinions about the Beginning of the World part 1. p. 7. The order of the World part 1. p. 8. The bigness of the World part 1. p. 23. The World animate part 1. p. 51. Winds cardinal and collateral part 2. p. 28. Z. Signs of the Zodiack part 1. p. 13. Zodiack part 1. p. 27. ERRATA Part I. PAg. 5. lin 7. read lookt pag. 12. l. 2. r. feet p. 15. l. 27. r. stretch p. 16. l. 33. r. the Tempests p. 19. l. 15. r. their starry p. 24 l. 15. r. Light l. 18. r. Summer's Solstice l. 22. r. sees p. 46. l. 19. r. Fayus p. 47. last line r. World p. 49. l. 6. r. preside p. 51. l. 22. r. Purle p. 53. l. 2. r. draws p. 59. l. 13. r. Cretan p. 65. l. 31. r. Times p. 66. l. 17. r. to more p. 70. l. 16. r. then p. 75. l. 26. r. which and marks p. 76. l. 21. r. which p. 77. l. 10. r. Twelfth p. 82. l. 32. r. point p. 83. l. 6. r. Influence p. 84. l. 6. read Typhoeus l. 16. r. t is p. 86. l. 17. r. the. p. 97. l. 9. r. sells p. 100. l. 27. r. speeds p. 104. l. 4. r. unfold p. 107. l. 23. r. Carr. p. 109. l. 8. r. do equal p. 110. l. 26. r. site p. 114. in the margin blot out the Trine l. 24. r. regularly p. 116. l. 13. r. longest p. 119. l. 15. r. she p. 121. l. 28. r. fails p. 124. l. 8. r. is Part II. PAg. 4. lin 24. read Marius p. 8. l. 10. r. enlarge l. 19. r. Successes p. 10. l. 18. r. wasts p. 16. l. 28. r. o're-spread p. 17. l. 2. r. in a Disguise p. 26. l. 3. r. averse p. 31. l. 2. r. stood p. 32. l. 7. r. which p. 33. l. 21. r. manly l. 28. r. flats p. 39. l. 7. r. Pairs p. 55. l. 9. r. Carr. l. 30. r. Carrs p. 59. l. 6. r. makes p. 67. l. 18. r. growing p. 70. l. 18. r. kiss p. 72. l. 33. r. who p. 83. l. 22. r. nor
tottering Throne Redeem'd his honour and secur'd his Son Usurping Woers felt his thundring Sword And willing Nations knew their Native Lord. His Subjects these and from his boundless Spring MANILIUS The Second Book Manilius takes care frequently to tell his Reader that He is the first who ventur'd on an Astrological Poem He seems mightily pleas'd with his Vndertaking hugs it as his First-born and the Son of his Strength He at large acquaints us with the Pains which He suffer'd in bringing it to Perfection and then reckons up the Beauty of the Child and what great Hopes He conceives of it ' If ever he deserves Scaliger's Character That he knew not when to leave off it must be principally then when He speaks of himself and his own Performance We need look no further than the Beginning of this Book to be satisfied in this matter He spends about Sixty Verses in reckoning up the chief Subjects of Homer Hesiod Theocritus and other Poets all which being laid aside He declares his Design to be wholly new and then begins 1. To assert that the whole Word is Animate and God the Soul of it 2. The Influence of the Heavens 3. He reckons up the several kinds or sorts of Signs as 4. Male and Female Signs 5. Human and Brute Signs 6. Single and Double Signs 7. Pairs 8. Double Signs made up of different Species 9. Signs Double by Place viz. Those that immediately precede the Four Tropick Signs 10. Signs of Natural or Unnatural Postures 11. Day and Night Signs 12. Earth and Water Signs 13. Fruitful and Barren Signs 14. Signs of different Postures 15. Maim'd and intire Signs 16. Season Signs 17. He sings the various Configurations or Aspects of the Signs As 18. Trines 19. Quadrates or Squares shews what are to be accounted Right and what Left in these Figures And 20. Adds several Cautions concerning Squares and Trines 21. He describes the Intercourse or Agreement of Trines and Quadrates 22. Of Hexagons or Sextiles of which he gives a particular Account 23. Of Contiguous Signs 24. Of Unequal Signs 25. Of Opposites 26. He shews what Gods are the Guardians of each Sign 27. The Signs for the several parts of the Body 28. What Signs See Hear Love or Hate each other 29. He makes a short Digression about Friendship 30. He treats of the Friendly and Unfriendly Aspects 31. Of the Dodecatemoria or Twelfths 32. Of the Dodecatemoria of the Planets and proposes two ways to find them 33. He describes the Celestial Houses assigning them their Proper Charges and their Titles together with the Planets which presided in them and then concludes this Second Book THE mighty Bard in lasting Numbers sings Ilium's long Wars Homer the King of fifty Kings Brave Hector's Brand the bloody dreadful Field And Troy secure behind the Hero's Shield He sings Vlysses and his wandring Years â—n Time and Glory equal to his Wars He sings how twice He conquering plough'd the Main Whilst Scylla roar'd and Neptune rag'd in vain And how at Home He fixt his tottering Throne Redeem'd his Honour and secur'd his Son Usurping Woers felt his thundering Sword And willing Nations knew their Native Lord. His Subjects these from whose 1 abundant Spring â—ucceeding Poets draw the Songs they sing â—rom Him they take from Him adorn their Themes â—nd into little Channels cut his Streams â—ich in his store Next Hesiod sings the Gods Immortal Race Hesiod â—e sings how Chaos bore the Earthy Mass â—ow Light from Darkness struck did Beams display â—nd Infant-Stars first stagger'd in their way â—ow Name 2 of Brother vail'd an Husband's Love â—nd Juno bore unaided by her Jove â—ow twice-born Baccbus burst the Thunderer's Thigh â—nd all the Gods that wander through the Sky Hence He to Fields descends manures the Soil Instructs the Plowman and rewards his Toil He sings how Corn in Plains how Vines in Hills Delight how Both with vast Encrease the Olive fills How Foreign Graffs th' Adulterous Stock receives Bears stranger Fruit and wonders at her Leaves An useful Work when Peace and Plenty reign And Art joyns Nature to improve the Plain The Constellation 's Shapes 3 some make their Themes Eratosthenes Sing whence they came and how adorn'd with Beams Andromeda enjoys kind Perseu's Aid The Sire unbinds the Mother mourns the Maid Callisto ravisht now the Pole surveys Nor grieves to change her Honor for her Rays The Little Bear that rock'd the mighty Jove The Swan whose borrow'd Shape conceal'd his Love Are grac'd with Light the Nursing Goat's repaid With Heaven and Duty rais'd the Pious Maid The Lion for the Honors of his Skin The squeezing Crab and stinging Scorpion shine For aiding Heaven when Giants dar'd to brave The threatned Stars and Thunder fail'd to save And now the Fish ignoble Fates escape Since Venus ow'd her Safety to their Shape The Ram having pass'd the Sea serenely shines And leads the Year the Prince of all the Signs Thus whilst by Fables They the Stars advance They vainly make the Heaven one large Romance Earth fills the Sky the Mass ignobly reigns And Heaven 's upheld by that which it sustains Fables absurd which Nature's Laws reject To make the Cause depend on the Effect The sweet Theocritus with softest Strains Makes piping Pan delight Sicilian Swains Theocritus Thro' his smooth Reed no Rustick Numbers move But all is Tenderness and all is Love As if the Muses sate in every Vale Inspir'd the Song and told the melting Tale. Some Birds Macer some Wars of Beasts or Serpents write Snakes in their Poems hiss and Lions sight Some Fate in Herbs describe Nicander some Sovereign Roots Or see gay Health spring up in saving Fruits One breaks thro' Nature's stubborn Bars Some old Poet who describ'd Hell invades The rest and sacred Silence of the Shades Turns up the inside of the World and Night And brings Eternal Darkness into Light Of every Subject now the Muses sing And Floods confus'd come tumbling from their Spring Yet dry as fast nor can Parnassian Streams Suffice the Throngs that crowd to common Themes I seek new Springs which roul refreshing Waves Thro' Plains untrod and Purls in hidden Caves Kept pure for Me which Birds did ne'er profane And thirsty Phoebus oft hath sought in vain My Verse shall be my Own not stoln but wrought Mine not the Labor of Another's Thought My Vessel 's trimm'd tho' never launch'd before I spread my Sails and boldly leave the Shore I 'll sing how God the World's Almighty Mind Thro' All infus'd 1. The World an Animal and God the Soul of it and to that All confin'd Directs the Parts and with an equal Hand Supports the whole enjoying his Command How All agree and how the Parts have made Strict Leagues subsisting by each others Aid How All by Reason move because one soul Lives in the Parts diffusing thro' the whole For did not all the Friendly Parts conspire To make one Whole
by Ovid in the Sixth Book of his Metamorphosis 18 M. Curius Dentatus and Serranus were both fetcht from the Plough to Command the Roman Armies fought bravely and Triumpht 19 For this the Poets fancy'd to be the Bull that carry'd Europa into Crete 20 Scaliger thinks Manilius means such as keep Beasts for publick Shews and to fight in the Theaters and this Interpretation I rather follow than that of Huetius who fancies the Poet means by this pompous Description no more than innocent honest Butchers 21 Palamedes is said to be the first Man amongst the Greeks who invented Cyphers and taught Men to cast Account I have enlarg'd his Character and taken notice of his invention of Letters 22 Servius Sulpitius the Great Lawyer and Acquaintance of Cicero 23 Of the Docility of Elephants we meet with numerous Examples Seneca mentions one that play'd at Ball Another that would Dance on a Rope c. The Travellers in the East are full of strange Stories concerning those Animals and Lipsius in his Epistles will furnish any Man with more Stories than he will readily believe 24. If Alchymy was more Antient than Manilius as Huetius himself grants I see no Reason why the Poet might not speak of the Alchymists The Interpretation I have given I am sure sounds better than that of Huetius 25 The Tenths This is a new word but answers to Decanica in Manilius Decanica signifies Ten Degrees and the Decanus is Lord of Ten Degrees The several Lords are these In Aries Aries Taurus Gemini In Taurus Cancer Leo Virgo In Gemini Libra Scorpius Sagittar In Cancer Capricor Aquarius Pisces In Leo Aries Taurus Gemini In Virgo Cancer Leo Virgo In Libra Libra Scorpius Sagittar In Scorpius Capricor Aquarius Pisces In Sagittar Aries Taurus Gemini In Capricor Cancer Leo Virgo In Aquarius Libra Scorpius Sagittar In Pisces Aries Taurus Pisces 26 Quantum est quo veniat Omne I have follow'd the Interpretation of Scaliger but do not reject the Opinion of Huetius Though of less force than Scaliger's 27 The Hurtful Degrees In Aries 4. 6. 12. 14. 17. 18. 21. 25. 27. In Taurus 9. 13. 17. 22. 24. 26. 28. 30. In Gemini 1. 3. 7. 15. 19. 21. 25. 27. 29. In Cancer 1. 3. 6. 8. 11. 15. 17. 20. 25. 27. 29. In Leo 1. 4. 10. 15. 22. 25. 28. 30. In Virgo 1. 6. 11. 14. 18. 21. 24. 30. In Libra 5. 7. 13. 18. 24. 27. 29. 30. In Scorpio 1. 3. 6. 10. 15. 22. 25. 28. 29. In Sagittar 4. 8. 12. 16. 20. 24. 26. 28. 30. In Capric 7. 9. 13. 17. 19. 25. 26. In Aquarius 11. 13. 15. 19. 21. 25. 29. In Pisces 3. 5. 17. 11. 17. 25. 27. 28 Alluding to the Custom of the Romans who when they design'd to build a City took a Plow and made Furrow a where the Walls were to stand 29 Vossius In his Observations on Catullus P. 204. Reads Taurumque minantem Fluctibus 30 Pyrrhus made use both of Elephants and Snakes in his Wars against the Romans 31 Germany which comprehends all the Northern tract of Land beyond Thrace 32 Rome had Temples Dedicated to her and was look'd upon to be a Goddess 33 The Poets feign'd that Cybele the Mother of the Gods rode in a Chariot drawn by two Lions 34 Tiberius being under the displeasure of Augustus was sent to the Island Rhodes and liv'd there some time 35 Vossius out of his Ancient Manuscript Reads Qua genitus Caesarque meus qui hanc condidit urbem 36 I know Donata Regna may bear another Sense but this will do as well 37 Whom in the time of Agustus the Germans destroy'd and cut off all the Legions he Commanded 38 Thus when Aries and Libra are Eccliptick the two next Eccliptick are Pisces and Virgo 39 Alluding to Julius Caesar Deify'd by Augustus MANILIUS The Fifth Book Having explain'd the general influence of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiack and given a particular account of their interchanges with one another and how they incline when they rise after a short Preface in which he magnifies his own Industry and unweary'd diligence in this Subject He goes on 1. To shew what Constellations rise with the several Degrees of the Twelve Signs and then what Tempers they bestow and to what Studies they incline For instance 2. The Northern Rudder of the Ship riseth with the fourth Degree of Aries and those that are then Born shall be inclin'd to Sail and prove good Pilots 3. Orion riseth with the same Degree of Aries and those that are Born under his Influence shall be Men of busie active Tempers Solicitors cringing Parasites and Flatterers 4. Heniochus or the Driver riseth with the fifteenth Degree of Aries and makes Charioteers Horse-Racers and Men skill'd in all sorts of Horseman-ship 5. With the Twentieth Degree of Aries the Hoedi or the Kids rise and those being wanton Stars produce nothing that is Vertuous or Noble Their Births are wanton light and lustful and never Couragious but in pursuit of some shameful lewd Pleasure some of their Births are peculiarly delighted in feeding and keeping Goats 7. With the Twenty-seventh Degree of Aries rise the Hyades And their Births are always turbulent and Seditious prone to Factions restless Phanaticks or else they give their Minds to Country Affairs feed Cattle or turn Waggoners 7. With the Thirtieth Degree of Aries the Goat riseth and those that are Born under that influence shall be fearful jealous suspicious and inconstant or else inclin'd to Travel 8. He says the Pleiades rise with the sixth Degree of Taurus and the Men that are then Born shall be gay and humorous witty but too effeminate and soft minding nothing but Dress Gate and Love 9. The Hare riseth with the seventh Degree of Gemini or the Twins and her Births are active and nimble fit for all sports all feats of activity and slight of hand 10. The Asses rise with the first Degree of Cancer and those that are Born under their influence shall be employ'd in all sorts of Hunting and Fishing 11. With the twenty-seventh Degree of Cancer Procyon or the little Dog rises and that produceth such as weave Nets make Spears and all other Instruments of Huntsmen 12. The Great Dog riseth with Leo and being himself a Constellation of excessive heat those that are Born under his influence shall be full of Passion Hate Jealousie and ungovernable suspicion and given to excess in Wine their Heat shall lead them on to to dangers and engage them to hunt wild Beasts 13. With the last Degree of Leo the Bowl appears and inclines to plant and dress Vines the Births shall be somewhat intemperate inclin'd to Merchandise and to trade in those Commodities which cannot be brought to perfection without moisture 14. With the fifteenth Degree of Virgo the Crown of Ariadne riseth and then the Births shall be Florists they shall delight in making and perfuming Garlands be Gay Amorous and