unfinisht Round Grown gray in Cares pursue the senseless strife And seeking how to Live consume a Life The more we have the meaner is our Store The unenjoying craving Wretch is Poor But Heaven is kind with bounteous Hand it grants A fit supply for Nature's sober wants She asks not much yet Men press blindly on And heap up more to be the more undone By Luxury they Rapine's Force maintain What that scrapes up flows out in Luxury again And to be squander'd or to raise debate Is the great only use of an Estate Vain Man forbear of Cares unload thy Mind Forget thy Hopes and give thy Fears to Wind For Fate rules all its stubborn Laws must sway The lower World and Man confin'd obey As we are Born we Dye our Lots are cast And our first Hour disposeth of our last Then as the influence of the Stars ordains To Empires Kings are doom'd and Slaves to Chains Then Poverty that common Fate comes down Few Stars are Regal and design a Crown What make a Wit a Knave a Saint or Dunce Are hudled then together and fixt at once The Ills that are ordain'd we must endure From not Decreed how fatally secure Prayers are too weak to check fixt Destinies And Vows too slow to catch the Fate that flies Whether with Glory rais'd or clogg'd with Scorn The State that then is setled must be born For did not Fate preside 1. The first Argument for Fate and Fortune lead Had parting Flames the good 1 Aenaeas fled Had Troy's sunk Fortune been sustain'd by 2 one And only Conquer'd then when overthrown And did not Stars the rise of States dispose Had mighty Rome from such beginnings rose Had 3 Shepherds built or Swains without controul Advanc'd their 4 Cottage to a Capitol Plac'd on whose heights our Caesars now survey The lower Earth and see the World obey From their 5 burnt Nest had Conquering Eagles flown And the World yielded to a ruin'd Town Had Jove been storm'd or 6 Mutius safe return'd From baffled Flames or vanquish'd whilst he burn'd Our Towns and Bridges guard had 6 Cocles stood Or the weak 6 Virgin swam rough Tiber's Flood Had one 6 Horatius our sunk hopes restor'd Or Three have fall'n beneath a single Sword O Glorious Victory what Arms before E're won so much none ever fought for more Rome and her hopes of Empire hung on One His o're matcht Lot was Hers a Yoke or Throne Why should I 8 Cannae's bloody Plains relate And Africk's Ensigns threatning at our Gate How Thrasymene Drown'd Flaminius's Shame And after Fabius wise Retreats o'recame The Conquer'd Carthage shone with Roman flame How Hannibal on the Campanian Plains Rome's Terror once then destin'd to our Chains Whilst waiting on his Proud Bithynian Lord Stole a base Death and scap't our Nobler Sword But turn and view the 9 Civil Wars of Rome There opens wide a various Scene of Doom See Marcus ride with Cimbrian Lawrels Crown'd Then in the Dungeon stretcht upon the groun'd Now Slave now Consul Consul Slave again His Curule Chair succeeded by a Chain Now a mean Ruin on the Lybian Sands Despis'd he lies and streight the World Commands Like Thunder from low Earth exhal'd he rose From the Minturnian Pools And scatter'd Vengeance on his haughty Foes These wondrous Changes Fate and Stars advance O mighty turns and much too great for Chance Who 10 Pompey could that saw thy Conquering Fleet Regain the Seas and Kings beneath thy Feet Proud Pontus yield fierce Tyrants make thy Train And crowding Monarchs beg thy leave to Reign That saw Victorious Lawrels Crown thy Head And Worlds in thy repeated Triumphs lead And all that Glory which thy Sword had won Fixt and supported by as great a 11 Son Have thought that Thou upon a Foreign Sand Should'st steal a Burial from a common Hand That shatter'd Planks the Sea 's dishonest spoil Should hiz beneath thy Trunk and be thy Pile That Thou the mighty Thou should'st want an Urn What Power but Fate could work so strange a turn E'en 12 Caesar sprung from Heaven and now a Star Tho' midst the dangers of the Civil War Secure He stood and careless of Repose Was ne're surpriz'd by his most watchful Foes Yet Crown'd with Peace in all his Pomp and State He fell a Victim to o're-ruling Fate No dark suspitions but bright hints were brought He knew what Cassius spoke and Brutus thought How far advanc'd how far they meant to go And saw the minute of the fatal Blow Yet dark Oblivion did his Memory blot He all his warnings and Himself forgot And in the Senate whilst his Right Hand held The faithful Bill which all the Plot reveal'd To prove that Fate will sway and Stars controul He fell and with his Blood defac'd the Scroul O mighty power of Fate and prov'd too well The Best the Wisest and the Greatest fell Why should I mention Kings 13 and Empires falls Shew Conquering 13 Cyrus on the Sardian Walls Or Croesus shrinking at the rising Flame Or 13 Priam's Trunk a thing without a Name Unhappy Prince the Beasts and Vultur's spoil His Troy was burnt but Priam wants a Pile The Wreck of 13 Xerxes who wou'd scourge the Gods A Wreck much greater than the threatned Floods Or 13 Tullus's Reign who by the power of Fate Was born a Slave yet Rul'd the Roman State Or shew 13 Metellus snatch the Vestal Fire And as he pass'd prophaner Flames retire How oft do suddain Deaths the Healthy seize II. Second Argument Without the formal warning of Disease And yet how often from the Piles retire E'en 14 fly themselves and wander thro' the Fire Thus some have from their Graves return'd and known Two Lives whilst others scarce enjoy but One. A small Disease destroys whilst greater spare Good Methods fail and Men are lost by Care Some temperate Diet with Diseases fills And Poyson 's Innocent when Physick Kills Some Children prove a mean degenerate Race III. Third Argument Some shew their Father's Mind as well as Face In One their Vertue and their Fortune rise To greater height and in Another dyes One 15 mad in Love to Troy will carry War Or swim the Flood and view the Torch from far The Other is determin'd to the Bar. A Son his Father Father kills the Son On mutual Wounds two headlong Brothers run These Combats prove the force of ruling Powers For they are too unnatural to be Ours That every Age no new Camilli's breath IV. Fourth Argument The 16 Decij dye or 16 Cato conquer Death 'T is not but that the Seed can still receive As noble Stamps but Fates refuse to give To fewer Days they do not cramp the Poor Nor brib'd by Wealth enlarg'd the Rich with more There Riches lose their force the shining Years Of glorious Tyrants must be turn'd in Tears They dig a Grave for Kings and fix the Day How great must be that Power which Crowns obey Successless Vertue sinks whilst
growing Pride From that wild Food He did to Heaven aspire Fierce Thunder throw and dart the blasting Fire Then mindfull of her Care the gratefull God Repaid her with those Skies which she bestow'd Then Pleiades and Hyades appear The Pleiades and Hyades The sad Companions of the turning Year Born by the Bull they lead they Tempests forth And close the Constellations of the North. Farewell cold North X. thy Ice benums my Muse I fly from Thee and warmer Regions chuse Betwixt the Tropicks of the Traveling Sun I 'll trace the Signs that burn the torrid Zone Then pass those bounds and view the Stars that roll Between cold Caper and the lower Pole First next the Twins Orion see great Orion rise His Armes extended stretch o'er half the Skies His stride as large and with a stately pace He marches on and measures a vast space On each broad Shoulder a bright Star's display'd And three obliquely grace his hanging Blade In his vast Head immerst in boundless spheres Three Stars less bright but yet as great he bears But farther off remov'd their Splendor's lost Thus grac'd and arm'd He leads the Starry Host Next barks the Dog The Dog-Star and from his Nature flow The most afflicting Powers that rule below Heat burns his Rise Frost chills his setting Beams And vex the World with opposite Extremes He keeps his Course nor from the Sun retreats Now bringing Frost and now encreasing Heats Those that from Taurus view this rising Star Guess thence the following state of Peace and War Health Plagues a fruitfull or a barren Year He makes shrill Trumpets sound and frightens Peace Then calms and binds up Iron War in Ease As he determines so the Causes drawn His Aspect is the World 's supremest Law This Power proceeds from the vast Orb He runs His Brightness equals or exceeds the Sun's â—ut far remov'd he through the distant space â—arts feeble splendour from his Azure face Yet others He excells no fairer Light Ascends the Skies none sets so clear a bright Next Procyon view Procyon view and next the nimble Hare Then Argo sailing through the liquid Air The Hare Advanc'd from all the Dangers of the Tides Argo Which first she stem'd she now securely rides Heaven is her Port and now she rules the Flouds A Goddess made for saving of the Gods Close by the Serpent spreads The Serpent whose winding Spires With order'd Stars resemble scaly Fires Next flies the Crow The Crow and next the generous Bowl Of Bacchus flows The Cup. and chears the thirsty Pole The Centaur next in double shapes exprest A Humane Body joyns a Horse's Breast The World 's great Temple next The Altar and Altar lies Grac'd with the Gifts of conquering Deities When Earth-born Giants did the Skies invade The lesser Gods implor'd the greater's Aid His Power Jove doubted when he view'd from far The threatning force of the unequal War When He inverted Nature's Frame beheld That Earth rose upward and that All rebell'd That Hills on Hills heap'd rais'd their threatning Head And frighted Stars approaching Mountains fled When impious Armies at a monstrous Birth Broke through the Bowels of the gaping Earth Of disagreeing Forms and frightfull Makes Vast Humane Bodies twisted into Snakes E'er this no Danger and no fear was known And wanton Jove sate idly in his Throne But lest some greater Power soft ease betray'd His Mind to doubt should yield the Rebels aid He rais'd this Altar and the Form appears With Incense loaded and adorn'd with Stars Next on his Belly floats the mighty Whale He twists his Back The Whale and rears his threatning Tail He spouts the Tide and cuts the foaming Way Wide gapes his Mouth as eager on his Prey Such on Andromede He rusht and bore The troubled Waves beyond their usual shore Next Swims the Southern Fish The Southern Fish which bears a Name From the South-wind and spreads a feeble Flame To him the Flouds in spacious windings turn The Flouds One Fountain flows from cold Aquarius Urn And meets the other where they joyn their Streams One Chanel keep and mix the Starry Beams Betwixt th' Eclyptick and the latent Bears Whose creaking Axis turns the rolling Spheres Those stranger Skies are painted with these Stars Which ancient Artists in their wondrous Lines Transmit to Fame and call the Southern Signs The other part lies hid the vast abode Of unknown Nations by our Feet untrod From the same Sun they take their common Light But different Shades in an inverted site Their Signs o' th' left Hand 16 set and rise o' th' right Their Skies as large their Stars as splendid run Equal i' th' rest but are excell'd by One By Caesar's Star which doth o'er us preside Earth's present joy and Heaven's future pride For that the lower Pole resemblance bears To this Above The Southern Pole and shines with equal Stars With Bears averse round which the Draco twines At once divides them and at once consines That there as many Constellations move We must believe from what we find above For Fancy which decaying Sense supplies Not onely feigns a Vertex like to This But all resembling Beauties of the Skies These are the Stars which scattered o'er the Pole In different Places fixt complete the Whole But raise thy thought from sense XI The Figures of the Constellations onely fansied nor think to find Such Figures there as are in Globes design'd Nor think that Stars set close compose the Frames Or that the Signs are all continued Flames For then we soon should see the World expire Frail Nature could not bear so great a Fire Some Places vacant conscious of her State She leaves unable for so vast a Heat For 't is her kind intent alone to show By certain Stars those Signs that rule below Such notice give and such fair hints impart As Men may take and may improve to Art The Stars mark out the Shapes the lower Beams Answer the high the middle the extremes Fansie those parts that lie obscur'd between For 't is enough that some of them are seen But chiefly then when Cynthia's beams are clear And full but few though still the same appear And whilst the vulgar fly their place possess Nor lose their Light nor mingle with the Less Yet these still keep one Course They still pursue Their constant track nor vary in a New From one fixt point they start their Course maintain Repeat their whirl and visit it again And this is strange and this doth more surprize Than all the other wonders of the Skies That such unwieldy frames their signs should draw As mov'd by Reason and confin'd by Law No change in distance nor in site appear Though great their Number long the rolling year A most convincing Reason drawn from Sense XII Providence against the Epicureans That this vast Frame is mov'd by Providence Which like the Soul doth every Whirl advance
Variety below Midst double Signs the Pious Maid may claim A place 9. Double Signs by Place not from the Figure of her Frame But ' cause in Her the Summer's Heats decay And gentler Autumn spreads a weaker Ray. But to be short the same account defines That Double still precede the Tropick Signs Because in those two Seasons mixt unite Their Powers and make them double by their Site Thus of the Twins the one the Bull requires The other feels the Crab's unruly Fires One sees the fading Flowers and Spring decline The other Boy leads on the hottest Sign But naked both for both feel scorching Rays As Summer comes or as the Spring decays Thy Face bright Centaur Autumn's Heats retain The softer Season suiting to the Man Whilst Winter's shivering Goat afflicts the Horse With Frost and makes him an uneasie Course Thus thou midst double Signs mightst doubly claim A place both from thy Seat and from thy Frame The like in Pisces is observ'd one brings The Winter's end the other leads the Springs In them Spring 's Dews with Winter's Rage combine Both moist and both agreeing to the Sign How wise and how obliging in her Grants Is Nature's Bounty suited to our Wants With Moisture she the Watry Signs supplies And they enjoy their Ocean in the Skies But there is War Sign disagrees with Sign And Three rise adverse to the other Nine Bull 's Back 10 Signs of natural or unnatural Postures Twins Feet Crab's Shell do first appear And stop the progress of the rising year Whilst others in their usual Postures rise Nor shew unnatural Figures in the Skies Since then thro' adverse Signs the Summer's Sun Makes way no wonder that he drives so slowly on How vast this Knowledge and how hard to gain The Subject still encreasing with the Pain Yet my swift Muse like Larks on towring Wings Mounts to the Skies and as she mounts she sings She sees Signs various in her Aiery Flight Some Signs of Day and other Signs of Night Not so 11 Day Signs and Night Signs distinguish'd Cause those Signs maintain Those times distinctly and then choose to reign For then as Years roul round the Circling Lights Would all be of one kind Day 's all or all the Night 's But ' cause wise Nature in her first Designs By Laws Eternal fixt them to these Times The Centaur Lion and the golden Ram Fish Crab and Scorpio with his venom'd Flame Or near in Site or in an equal space By two alike divided are the Day 's The rest the Night 's But who can hope to see Opinion's join or find the World agree Some with the Ram begin and thence convey The Five in Order following to the Day The rest from Libra are to Night confin'd Whilst others sing Male Signs affect the Light And Female safely wanton in the Night But others this is plain from common sense demand Some Signs for 12 Earth and Water Signs Sea and other Signs for Land Thus watery Pisces and the Crab retain Their proper Nature and respect the Main The Bull and Ram possess their old Command They led the Herds and still they love the Land Tho' there the Lion's Force their Rest invades And poysnous Scorpio lurks in gloomy Shades The Danger is despis'd the Ram the Bull Keep Land so powerful is the Lust of Rule The Twins the Centaur and the Scales dispose In the same Rank and join the Maid with those Of middle Nature some with Both agree One part respects the Land and one the Sea The double Goat is such whose wild Command Now Sea affects and now enjoys the Land And young Aquarius pouring out his Stream Here spreads a watry there an Earthy Beam How shall these things yet they reward thy pain Reason's in All and nothing's fram'd in vain The Crab 13 Fruitful and Barren Signs is fruitful and a numerous Brood Pierce Scorpio yields and Pisces fill the Flood The Lion's barren and no Vows can gain The Maid Aquarius spends his Youth in vain Ah too remov'd too far disjoyn'd to prove The fruitful Pleasures of encreasing Love 'Twixt these two kinds a Third nor fruitful Beams Nor Barren spreads but joyns the two Extreams The Goat all Beast above and Fish below The Centaur glorious in his Cretian Bow The Scales that Autumn's Equinoctial rule The Twins and Ram to whom we join the Bull. Nor must you think it undesign'd a Cast Of busie Nature as she wrought in haste That some shew running 14 Signs of different Postures Postures in their frame The Lion Centaur and the turning Ram Erected some Aquarius rears his Head The Twins are upright and the pious Maid Some crouching Signs a lazy Posture show Thus Taurus bends as wearied by the Plough The Scales press'd down appear and Caper lies By his own Frost contracted in the Skies The Crab and Scorpio flat are found they show The Postures there which they maintain below Whilst watry Pisces low and gently glide In Streams divided always on their side But search minutely and you find a 15 Maimed and intire Signs Maim In many Signs the mighty Bull is lame His Leg turns under Scorpio's Claws are lost In Libra's Scales nor can the Centaur boast A Form compleat tho' we distinctly find One Eye the other 's lost and Cancer's blind Thus Heaven to wretched Mortals sends Relief By these Examples it corrects our Grief Since Signs on which our Fates depend do share The like Misfortunes which we grieve to bear The different 16 Season Signs Seasons likewise share the Signs From Pisces Spring and Summer from the Twins From Centaur Winter Autumn from the Maid begins Each hath three Signs and as the Seasons fight In the Years Round so these lie opposite Nor is' t sufficient that my Muse defines The Kinds and Figures of the Single Signs They work by Compact they their Beams unite To mutual Aid determin'd by their site From Aries rightways draw a Line to end In the same Round and let that Line subtend An equal Triangle now since the Lines Must three times touch the Round and meet three Signs Where e're they meet in Angles those are 17 The various Configurations or Aspects Trines See Fig. 1. Because they are at equal distance seen On either side and leave three Signs between Thus Aries sees on either side below The Lion roar and Centaur draw his Bow The Bull with Caper and the Maid are found In Trine Thus fix the others of the Round Signs Left and 18 Trines Right are in the Trines agreed The Left still follow and the Right precede The Maid is Left and Caper to the Bull Is Right Thus fix the others by this Rule Tr 1. ♈ ♠♌ Tr 2. ♉ ♑ ♠Tr 3. ♊ ♒ ♎ Tr 4. ♋ ♓ ♠Q 1 ♈ ♑ ♎ ♋ Q 2 ♉ ♒ ♠♌ Q 3 ♊ ♓ ♠♠But more in Quadrates not in Trines alone Signs Right and Left are
culminate Or set send down a different sort of Fate To Hatred Signs oppos'd in Site incline The Quadrates Kinsmen aid and Friends the Trine The Reason's obvious The Celestial Round Observe See Fig. 1. there Signs of the same kind are found In each fourth place In each fourth Sign appear The several Seasons that command the Year Thus Aries gives the Spring flat Cancer glows With Summer's Heat the generous Bowl o'reflows In Libra Caper scatters Winter's Snows Besides by Signs in double Forms exprest Each fourth Celestial place is found possest Two Fishes glide two smiling Boys embrace A double Figure we in Virgo trace The Centaur's double with a single Face Next Simple Signs with their refulgent Stars Fill each fourth space and still are found in Squares Without a Rival Taurus fills his Throne The dreadful Lion shakes his Mane alone Th' 26 unbodied Scorpion no Companion fears And still the Vrn a simple Sign appears Therefore to each fourth place the Stars assign'd In Time agree in Number or in Kind This makes them Kindred Signs and these preside O're Kinsmen's Minds and their Affections guide But those four Signs on which the Hinges move Belong to Neighbours and direct their Love The other Square with all its Stars attends On Guests Acquaintance and remoter Friends Thus all the Signs as they are plac't obtain Their Rule and with unequal Vigor reign For tho' the Site and Form of Squares they bear They work not like the other Signs in Square For whilst the Cardinals more Force confess The rest which we from Number nam'd express Double or Simple Signs still work with less The Line extended thro' the larger space With Trines determines Trines See Fig. 1. and makes out their place Presides o're Friends whose mutual Faiths supply The room of Blood and draw a closer Tie For as it measures a long space to joyn The distant stretching out from Sign to Sign So those whom Nature doth in spight remove It brings together and knits in Bands of Love And these before the others most commend For tho' the nearest Kinsmen oft pretend Deluding Kindness who deceives a Friend No Sign nor Planet serves it self alone Each blends the others Vertues with its own Mixing their Force and interchang'd they reign Signs Planets bound and Planets Signs again All this my Muse shall orderly reveal And keep the Method she begun so well She 'll sing what Parts the several Signs require In what the Planets spread commanding Fire This must be shown if in your search for Fate The Signs of Love you 'd know from those of Hate Now with expanded Thought go on to know A Secret great in Use 31. Dedecatemorion tho' small in show For which our scanty Language poor in words No single fit expressive Term affords But Greek supplies a Language born to frame Fit Words and show their Reason in the Name 'T is Dodecatemorion 27 thus describ'd Thrice ten Degrees with every Sign contains Let Twelve exhaust that not one part remains It follows streight that every Twelfth confines Two whole and one half Portion of the Signs These Twelfths in Number as the Signs are Twelve And these the wise contriver of the Frame Plac't in each Sign that all may be the same The World may be alike each Star may guide And every Sign in every Sign preside That all may govern by agreeing Laws And friendly Aids be mutual as their Cause And therefore Births o're which one Sign aspires In Powers are various different in Desires Males follow Females and from Man deprest Weak Nature sinks and errs into a Beast For all on Signs depend in which succeed The different Twelfths and vary in the Breed Now whose and how dispos'd the Muse must sing And draw deep Knowledge from its secret Spring Lest this unknown you should from Truth decline Mistaking the chang'd Influence of the Sign Each Sign 's first Twelfths is by its self possest The others shar'd in Order by the rest Each hath its Twelfth they take their equal Shares Ambition is a Vice too mean for Stars Thus every Sign hath for its proper Throne Two whole and one half Portion of its own Of other Signs that rowl in order on Each takes as much till all the thirty parts are gone But there are many sorts to find the true Wise Nature orders we must all pursue This is her Will Tho partial Search may fail Yet He 's secure of Truth who seeks for All. For Instance 32. The Dodecatemoria of the Planets grant it were thy great Concern To know the 28 Planet's Twelfths securely learn I 'll shew the Method As you count the Signs First mark that Sign 's Degree where Phoebe shine And views the new-born Child that multiply By Twelve because Twelve Signs adorn the Sky Observe the Product and from thence assign To those gay Stars where Phaebe's found to shine Thrice ten Degrees Then go in Order on Assigning Thirty till the Number 's done And where the Number ends there fix the Moon That is her Twelfth The following Planets lie In following Twelfths and there enjoy the Sky Another Method claims my next Essay Another differing from the former way This too I must explain its Rules impart And fix the subtle Niceties of Art First take the 29 Sun 's true place and that confest Observe the Portion by the Moon possest Count those Degrees the middle Space contains Take all the Thirtys thence and what remains Dividing into Twelfths from thence assign To those gay Stars in which the Moon does shine One Twelfth To Signs that orderly come on Apply their Twelfths till all the Number 's done And where the number ends there fix the Moon That is her Twelfth The following Planets lie In following Twelfths and there enjoy the Sky The Task 's not done The Muse must next unfold A nicer thing in fewer Numbers told Which less in show and in extent appears Yet than the Greater more of Force it bears In every 30 Twelfth a Twelfth the Planets claim The Thing is different though we use the Name 'T is thus describ'd Five half Degrees do lie In every Twelfth Five Planets grace the Sky And every Planet in its proper Course One half Degree possessing there exerts its Force 'T is useful therefore to observe the Sign And mark the Twelfth in which the Planets shine For where the Planets as they rowl their Course A Twelfth possess they there exert their Force These must be jointly sung yet these belong To future Thoughts and claim another Song 'T is now enough that I have clearly shown Things hid before and made their Vses known Let it suffice that I have brought the Muse Materials proper and prepar'd for Use When all is ready let her build the Frame And raise a lasting Monument of Fame The single Elements distinctly known Thee sees her Way and may go safely on And all the Parts describ'd the Verse will roul With freer Force
be From Heaven's supreme Command and Guidance free On Man the chiefest Object of her Cares Long time she thought then hung his Fates on Stars Those Stars which plac'd i' th' Heart of Heaven display The brightest Beams and share the greatest sway Which keep a constant Course and now restrain The Planets Power now yield to them again Thus sometimes ruling sometimes rul'd create The strange and various Intercourse of Fate To these her Powers wise Nature's Laws dispense Submitting all things to their Influence 2. The twelve Lots of the twelve Signs But then as Emperours their Realms divide And every Province hath its proper Guide So 't is in Signs they have not equal Shares Of common Power each Fortune claims its Stars Our Studies Poverty Wealth Joy and Grief With all the other Accidents of Life She parcels out to proper Stars confines The Lots in number equal to the Signs These grac'd with proper Names and Place contain The various Fortunes incident to Man Yet so contriv'd that they are always found In the same 6 Order in the fatal Round Yet are not Lots thus fixt to Signs to lie Possessing the same 7 Station in the Sky And from one place directing down to Earth An equal Influence work on every Birth But still the Time of every Birth confines These Lots to Seats and makes them change their Signs That every Lot from every Sign may flow And vary the Nativity below But lest Confusion too much Change produce And make the Art too intricate for Vse 'T is order'd thus That when the Birth 's first Minute hath decreed The first Lot's Station then the rest succeed In following Signs each Fortune takes its Seat In proper Order till the Round's compleat Take these short Rules till flowing Verse dilate Unfolding all the Mysteries of Fate These Lots which thus decreed to Signs contain The various Fortunes incident to Man As Planets joyn with a malignant Ray Or Kind or as the rolling Skies convey To different Hinges so the Fortune spreads And well or ill the whole Design succeeds Their Names and Kinds obliging Muse reherse 3. And sing their Titles in no vulgar Verse That late Posterity with Joy may throng To Themes unknown and crowd to learn my Song Fortune 's the first First Lot This Name our Art bestows And what it signifies the Title shows Here House is found with all that may conduce To House Vid. Fig. 11 either for Ornament or Use What train of Servants what extent of Field Shall aid the Birth or give him room to build When large Foundations may be safely laid Or Houses roof'd if Friendly Planets aid Warfare's the next Second Lot And 't is in This decreed How every Native shall in Arms succeed What Dangers wait them when abroad they roam To pick up Follies which they miss at home Civil Employments in the Third we find Third Lot Tho those too justly may be styl'd a kind Of Warfare when two different Interests jarr Oppos'd in sides and make a sort of War Here 's Patronage and here our Art descries What breaks its bands what draws the closer ties Shows what Rewards our Services may gain And how too often we may court in vain All this as Planets friendly Aids conspire Or temper Signs with their unlucky Fire Proceed my Muse Fourth Lot for in the next appear The Court Concerns and Fortunes of the Bar The pleading Patron with the fearful Throng Of trembling Clients hanging on his Tongue The smooth Perswader who shall teach the Laws And settle Right whilst Truth supports the Cause For from this Lot the Planets Rays dispense The various Powers of winning Eloquence The Fifth to Marriage Sacred yet pretends To Guests Fifth Lot Acquaintance Company and Friends Here we discern the Common League that binds The Equal Souls and joyns agreeing Minds But in the sixth Sixth Lot rich Plenty takes her Throne With Preservation And from this 't is known What stores of Wealth shall come how long their stay As Planets tamper with their ruling Ray The Seventh in horrid Dangers shall engage The Birth Seventh Lot if Planets not correct its Rage The Eighth Nobility pretends to claim Eighth Lot Where Honour sits with her attendant Fame Where Family erect maintains her Place And smiling Favour with her winning Face The Ninth the doubtful Lot of Children bears With all the Pious Parents hopes and Fears Ninth Lot The Tutor's Industry and Guardian 's Cares The next to this the Act of Life contains Tenth Lot And shews how far a good Example reigns How by their Masters form'd Slaves take their way To Tasks assign'd and chearfully Obey The following is a Lot of high concern Eleventh Lot For hence the state of strength and Health we learn When griev'd we live obnoxious to Disease Or free from Sickness and consign'd to Ease Let none who value Health this Lot refuse When they would time for wholsome Physick choose For hence we are with most exactness taught To gather Drugs or mix the saving Draught The Last Twelfth Lot and which the Round concludes contains The End of all our Wishes and our Pains Shews if to what our several Aims address Obtain'd shall crown our Studies with Success Whether with fauning Arts we court the Great Or shunning Crouds to Privacy retreat Whether we Plead at the Contentious Barr Or Plough the Sea and gather Wealth from far Or tear the Earth to crowd our stores with Grain Or bring unruly Bacchus to the Press again For these if Planets prosper the Effect You may fit moments and fit Days expect From this one Lot and all the rest neglect These Planets 8 Powers and how their Rays infuse Or Good or Bad shall then engage my Muse When their Effects she Sings But now lest hudled things confusedly wrought Distract thy Mind and discompose thy Thought Let Verse in Method orderly impart The single naked Elements of Art And since my ventrous Muse hath bound in Rhime The various Labours of the Round of Time What Greece calls Athla happy Greece in Song Are now call'd Labours in a meaner Tongue Which to Twelve Lots conveniently assign'd Determine all the Fortune of Mankind Her Theme pursuing IV. How the Lots are to be suited to the Signs she will next comprise The several Signs with which the Labours rise For to one Seat they are not always ty'd Nor from one Sign at every Birth preside They change their station as the Round they move Yet still their Order is the same above But lest you should imperfect Schemes compleat Nor justly suit each Labour to its Seat First find the place by Fortune's Lot possest Fortune the first and Leader of the rest That done to following Signs in order join The Lots and give each Labour to its Sign And to secure thy search for Fortune's place Two Rules shall guide thee and enfold the Maze The moment known when first the
Vice prevails V. Fifth Argument And Folly wins the Prize when Prudence fails He argues ill that from the Fortune draws The goodness or the badness of a Cause Success or Merit do not always Crown Midst good and bad Men they are blindly thrown Without Respect sixt fatally on One. For some superior Power 's impetuous force Marks out our way and still directs the Course The Years that we must run the length the pace And all the various turnings of the Race Besides VI. Sixth Argument what Monstrous Births the Nurses fear And Mother's shame half Man half Beast appear Such wondrous Creatures ne're from Seed began For what hath Beast that 's common to a Man And what mean Soul would with his Lust comply And Sin on purpose for a Prodigy No Stars dispose they Counterfeit a Rape And mix a Monster of amazing shape Besides VII Seventh Argument were not Events by Fates enrol'd How can their certain Order be foretold How can the Prophets Sing of future Doom And in the present read the Age to come To this there 's one Objection VIII An Objection answer'd Fate denies Rewards to Vertue and must plead for Vice Absurd for who less hates a Poysonous Weed Because 't is bred from Necessary Seed Or who loves Corn the less who hates the Vine Because by Nature rais'd and not Design Thus Virtuous Minds deserve the greater Love Since Heaven consents and all the Stars approve And we should hate those more whom Fates have sent To commit Crimes and suffer Punishment For how or whence these noxious faults begin No matter since each is certainly a Sin Nay this Opinion's settled by Debate 'T is Fate that we should thus dispute of Fate This settled IX The Influence of the Signs I must now attempt to climb Celestial steps and run the Round of Time The Zodiack travel go through every Sign Their Powers rehearse and sing how all incline First Aries shines X. Of Aries and as he oft doth lose His Fleece and then as frequently renews 'Twixt sudden Ruin and a fair Estate He fixes the variety of Fate He gets then loseth then returns to Gain Then Loss steals in and empties all his pain He rears new Lambs he doth encrease the Fold And makes the Rams to shine in native Gold Betters the Wool and whilst the Subject grows He forms Mens Minds to use what he bestows To Pick to Card to Spin and Weave to deal In Cloath with gain to Buy Exchange and sell All useful Arts whose constant Works supply Mens real Wants not only Luxury This 17 Pallas owns nor doth disdain to claim Arachne's conquest as her greatest Fame These are the manners these the various Arts Which Aries Rays and secret force imparts To anxious fears he troubled Minds betrays And strong Desires to venture all for Praise Dull Honest Plowmen to manure the Field Strong Taurus bears XI Of Taurus by him the Grounds are till'd No gaudy things he breeds no Prize for worth But Blesseth Earth and brings her Labour forth He takes the Yoke nor doth the Plough disdain And teacheth Farmers to manure the Plain He 's their Example when he bears the Sun In his bright Horns the noble toyl's begun The useful Plowshare he retrieves from Rust Nor lies at ease and wants his strength in Dust To him the 18 Curij and to him we owe The brave Serrani he i' th' Fields did Rods bestow And sent a great Dictator from his Plow Reserv'd aspiring Minds Limbs slow to move But strong in Bulk his powerful Rays improve And on his 19 Curled Front sits wanton Love Soft Gemini to easier Arts incline For softer Studies fit an Infant Sign XII Of Gemini They tune rough Words or they incline to Sing To stop the Pipe or strike the speaking String Through Reeds they blow the Natural Sound in Measure Gay their delight and e'en their Pains are Pleasure Wars they avoid Old Age they chace with Song And when late Death o'retakes them they are Young Sometimes to Heaven they mount and trace the Stars Then fix in Globes or turn the Signs in Spheres Their Wit reigns o're their Nature and refines Its Powers This is the Influence of the Twins But glowing Cancer where the Summer Sun With fiery Chariots bounds the Torrid Zone XIII Of Cancer Drives fiercely up then with a bending Rein Sinks down and runs in lower Rounds again As close in 's Shell he lies affords his Aid To greedy Merchants and inclines to Trade His Births shall sail through Seas and Dangers tost To reap the Riches of a Foreign Coast What thrifty Nature hath but thinly sown In Many Countries they shall bring to One Intent on gain ne're heed the Poors complaint But thrive on Scarcity and live on Want For Wealth undaunted gather every Wind Out-sail good Fame and leave Repute behind And when their greedy Hands have seiz'd the Store Of this search other Worlds and seek for more Or else at home prove griping Vsurers Complaining at the slowness of the Years Wish swifter Suns and set too vast a rate On Time it self to raise a quick Estate Their Bodies shall be Strong inur'd to Pain Their Wits Contriving and intent on gain What Inclinations Leo's Rays dispense Is quickly known XIV Of Leo. 't is plain to Common Sense He gives his Own for he the Woods infests The mighty Terror of the meaner Beasts He lives on Rapine ranges all the Day And sullenly at Night groans o're his Prey Hence he inclines Mens Minds to Hunt and fills Our Nobles spacious Halls with grinning spoyls There Skins and Horns do spread a dismal grace And stand as certain Heraulds of their Race This Beast was mine and that my Father's Game They cry these are the Annals of their Fame That generous Youth which France and Spain did fear Now prove the Humble Terror of a Deer Nay some in 20 Towns pursue this wild delight There barbarous grow and breed up Beasts to fight Then bring them out for sight in Theaters And feast their Luxury with Bruitish Wars Cruel in Sport Their Posts are grac't with Spoyl And they get shameful Honour without Toyl He makes Men warm their Passions quickly rais'd Like Boys soon angry and as soon appeas'd But Plain and Honest all their Thoughts sincere Pure as the Sun and like the Water clear But modest Virgo's Rays give polisht parts XV. Of Virgo And fill Mens Breasts with Honesty and Arts No tricks for Gain nor love of Wealth dispense But piercing Thoughts and winning Eloquence With words persuasive and with Rhetorick strong They rule and are e'en Monarchs by their Tongue Through Nature's Secrets too they boldly press Tho' deeply hid and meet a just success In Short-Hand skill'd where little Marks comprise Whole words a Sentence in a Letter lies And whilst Obedient hands their Aid afford Prevent the Tongue and Fix the falling Word But bashful Modesty casts down their
affect neatness in their Habit. 15. The Sheaf riseth with the tenth Degree of Virgo and inclines Men to look after Corn to build Barns to Grind and Bake Grain and make it useful 16. With the eighth Degree of Libra the Arrow rises and then are Born expert Darters and good Bow-Men such as Philoctetes Teucer and Alcon 17. The Goat or Hoedus riseth with some part of Libra and produceth Tempers quick and active fit for Business and covetous of Employment somewhat loose but honest to their Country and Enemies to Knaves 18. The Harp rising with some part of Libra breeds Songsters and Musicians such as affect to Sing in Company and are always humming to themselves 19. The Altar rising with the eighth Degree of Scorpio breeds Priests Servants in Temples and such as take care of and consult Oracles 20. The Southern Centaur rising with the twelfth Degree of Scorpio breeds Horse-Men Charioteers and Farriers 21. With the fifth Degree of Sagittarius Arcturus appears and breeds Collectors of Customs Treasurers for Kings or Stewards for private Mens Estates 22. With the thirtieth Degree of Sagittarius the Swan rises and then are Born all kinds of Fowlers such as Teach Birds to speak to sing or to decoy c. all their Employments shall be about Birds 23. With some part of Capricon Ophieuchus or the Snake-holder riseth and produceth such as are skill'd in during poison'd Persons and such as cannot be poison'd themselves 24. With the last Degrees of Capricorn the Southern Fish rising breeds Anglers Divers Fishers for Pearls c. or at least Traders for Fish and Pearls 25. With some part of Capricorn the Harp or rather the Strings of it for of the Shell Manilius hath already spoken riseth and produceth subtle Accusers Justices that shall examine nicely and determine justly or such as shall torture and force the Guilty to Confession 26. With some Degree of Capricon the Dolphin riseth and breeds all sorts of Swimmers such as are nimble and active and perform feats of activity either in the Water or on Land 27. Cepheus rising with some Degree of Aquarius breeds Men of Morose Tempers such as are design'd for Guardians or Tutors Tragick Poets and sometimes Comedians Stage-Players Pantomimes and all sorts of Actors 28. With the twelfth Degree of Aquarius the Eagle riseth and breeds Men of the most violent Tempers head-strong and bloody greedy of spoyl and destroying every thing that opposeth them under-Officers in an Army and Armor-bearers to a General 29. Cassiopeia rising with the twentieth Degree of Aquarius breeds Founders in Metals Goldsmiths Jewellers c. 30. With the twelfth Degree of Pisces Andromeda riseth and breeds Goalers and all sorts of Exceutioners cruel pitiless and bloody 31. With the twenty-first Degree of Pisces the Horse riseth and breeds strong vigorous active Men excellent Horsemen either for the Race or War Farriers and Physitians 32. With the thirtieth Degree of Pisces the kneeling Constellation or Hercules appears and his Births are Lewd Treacherous Villains given to no useful Arts at best Juglers and Rope-dancers 33. With the same Degree of Pisces the Whale riseth and produceth Fishers Fishmongers makers of Salt c. 34. The Bears Manilius tells us what he means by their rising are joyn'd with Leo and Scorpio and breed such as are employ'd in breeding Beasts and particularly Bears 35. There follows a fragment in which the Poet Treats of the several magnitudes or sizes of the Stars that make up the several Constellations It is confess'd that Manilius shews no great exactness in the Astronomical part of this Book but the Astrology is perfect and may for the most part be apply'd to the most correct Astronomy HEre at the Signs The design of the Fifth Book those Paths of yearly light Weak Minds would stop nor dare a farther flight But through the Planets Orbs would take their Course At one full stoop from Heaven and mark their force What Mercury design'd what Mars did dare Or Luna thought on in her Gloomy care What Sol would work how Saturn look'd on Jove And Venus manag'd her Intriegue of Love No farther would their feeble Thoughts aspire And other Stars had roul'd unheeded Fire But since I 'm once on wing and rais'd on high I 'll boldly soar and compass all the Sky I 'll visit every Star and strive to know Their proper Powers and how they Rule below Avoid no labour and no toyl refuse Whilst constant Industry can aid my Muse Here vast Orion Heaven's great part The Southern Constellations the Streams Whose Spacious Windings mix agreeing Beams The Hero's Ship which now midst Stars doth Sail The frightful Centaur and the gaping Whale The Dog whose Fires o're all the World are rould The watchful Keeper of the growing Gold And Heaven 's high Altar grac't with Gifts invite My eager Muse to take a larger flight There where the Serpent twines betwixt the Bears The Northern Constellations Where rouls the Driver and still minds his Cares Where slow Bootes drives his lingring Teams Or Ariadne's Crown spreads Heavenly Beams Where Perseus soars with Gorgon's Spoyls above And weilds his Fauchion to secure his Love Where wretched Cepheus and his Wife beside The fair Andromeda still Curse their Pride Or where 1 oppos'd the scaly Dolphin lies To the swift Shaft or where the Eagle flies Or Starry Horse still runs my Muse must move And boldly visit every Star above These I must Sing their proper Powers explain How when they rise how when they set they Reign And what Degrees they claim from every Sign And what extend their force and what confine For when the World was Fram'd the Mighty Cause These Powers bestow'd and did Enact these Laws How Signs should singly work how Stars agree And settled all things by a firm Decree First Golden Aries Shines II. What Constellations rise with Aries who whilst he swam Lost part of 's Freight and gave the Sea a Name Whose 2 Skin destroy'd himself whose Golden Spoyl Forc't fierce Medea from her Native Soyl Then Magick Arts to Cholchis Shores confin'd First Sail'd abroad and Poyson swell'd the Wind And now as Victor o're the Conquer'd Deep He keeps his Power The Ship and still Commands the Ship For when the 3 Northern Rudder rears its Flame And in the fourth Degree first joyns the Ram Who ever 's born shall be to Sail inclin'd He 'll Plow the Ocean and he 'll tempt the Wind He o're the Seas shall Love or Fame pursue And other Months another 4 Phasis view Fixt to the Rudder he shall boldly Steer And pass those Rocks which 5 Tiphys us'd to fear Had no such Births been born Troy's Walls had stood No 6 Wind-bound Navy bought a Gale with Blood No 7 Xerxes Persia o're the Ocean roul'd Dug a new Sea nor yet confin'd an old No Athens sunk by 8 Syracusian Shores Nor Lybia's Seas been choakt with Punick Oars Nor had the World in doubt at Actium
attone Her wretched Brothers Slaughter by thy own Half bury'd whilst alive Whom Love betray'd To give the Hero's Honors to the Maid To rob thy jealous Uncles of their Fame And by their Death secure the Beauty's claim Then Atalante rose who prest for Fame Through thickest Woods and saw and overcame Her Dart first reacht the Boar and wan the Prize She Conquer'd with her Arrow and her Eyes The Monster groan'd and Meleager found As much disquiet and as deep a Wound Some pitch strong Nets and some the Woods surround With 20 fear of Death or slip the faithful Hound Some dig the treacherous Pits some spread the Toyls Or hunt with Spears and Grace their House with Spoyls Another puts to Sea infests the Lakes Draws monstrous Fish and starts at what he Takes Whilst some through Nets the wandring Waters strein Their Game they follow thro' the pathless Main Where no Scent lies yet seldom Hunt in vain As if the Earth were not profusely stor'd They fly to Seas they search what Floods afford And Nereus from his Waves supplies the Glutton's Board XI Procyon or the little Dog But when the Crab hath doubled Tèn Degrees And rear'd seven more bright Procyon leaves the Seas His Influence mean But tho' his feeble Flame No Hunters breeds yet it supports the Game Inclines to Weave strong Nets to Train the Hound To know the Breed and to improve the Sound To shave the Spear and follow every Trade That Love of Sport and Hope of Gain persuade But when the Lion's gaping Jaws aspire XII What Constellations rise with the Lion The Dog appears and foams unruly Fire In Caves scorcht Neptune mourns contracted Floods Herbs dye The great Dog and Beauteous Greenness leaves the Woods To other Climates Beasts and Birds retire And Feverish Nature burns in her own Fire So vast the Heat such Flames increase the Sun As if all Heaven 's great Fires were joyn'd in one Air 's turn'd to Dust the Earth's low Entrails burn And dying Nature fears one common Urn. When this appears his rising Beams presage Ungovern'd Fury and unruly Rage A flaming Anger universal Hate With Jealousie make up his Births unhappy Fate Each little Cause doth scorching Thoughts inspire Their Soul 's inflam'd and Words break out in Fire Yet crowd so fast they justle as they rise And part flies out in Sparkles through their Eyes Their Tongue 's on Foam and with their Teeth they break Their Words and Bark when they design to Speak Besides excess in Wine inflames their Fire And Bacchus makes their Fury blaze the higher They fear no Rocks nor Woods but love to Gore The furious Lion and the Foaming Boar They dread no Beasts but with blind Warmth engage And to their natural strength infuse their Rage Nor is it strange that from his Beams should rise Such Tempers for above through yielding Skies Averse to Peace he cuts his furious way And hunts the Hare intent upon his Prey The Lion mounts XIII The Bowl and with his last the Bowl Studded with Stars comes up and cheers the Pole And then who e're are born their Minds incline To water Meadows and to dress the Vine To Hills Lakes Rivers To what e're produce The generous Liquor and improve the Juice Now Bridegroom Elms they shall in order place And bring the blushing Brides to their embrace Entwine their Boughs Or when the Stock 's display'd Without support nor needs a Foreign Aid In Branches lead it and uncurious grown Trust reeling Bacchus to himself alone Or from the Stock the hopeful Tendrils tear Plant them anew and teach the Twigs to bear Use all improving ways that Art hath sought By long Experience or wise Nature taught When ripe their Bowls the generous Wine shall Crown Soften their Cares and all their Wishes drown They largely shall enjoy their Fruits nor spare The pleasing Recompences of their Care Happy this State but Stars still force them on And urge their greedy Minds to be undone For Corn and Foreign Stores which moisture yields They 'll Plow the Ocean and forsake their Fields Till tost by Storms they midst the Waves resign Their baffled Hopes And thus the Bowl inclines Next Shines the Maid XIV What Constellations rise with Virgo and when the Maid ascends Thrice Five Degrees the glorious Crown attends The Crown since Theseus first his Faith betray'd The Monument of the forsaken Maid The Crown◠They give Soft Arts for here the Virgin Shines And there the Virgin 's Crown and each combines Soft Beams agreeing in the same Designs Births influenc'd then shall raise fine Beds of Flowers And twine their creeping Jasmine round their Bowers The Lillies Violets in Banks dispose The Purple Poppy and the blushing Rose For Pleasure shades their rising Mounts shall yield And real Figures paint the gawdy Field Or they shall wreath their Flowers their Sweets entwine To Grace their Mistress or to Crown their Wine The Odors fair Arabia's Groves dispense Sovereign for Health or grateful to the Sense Shall bath these Wreaths for when the Sweets unite The new Adultery heightens the delight Besides they 'll study Neatness learn to dress Affected grow and think it Art to please The present Pleasures Court and gay desires For this the Virgin 's Age and this the Crown requires When with her Tenth Degree XV. The Sheaf the Sheaf appears Shews her full Corn and shakes her loaden Ears The Fields may fear for those that shall be born Shall Plough the Ground and be intent on Corn They 'll trust their Seed to Clods whose large produce Shall yield the Sum and give increase by Vse Build Barns for Grain for Nature those contrives And in the Ear it self a Pattern gives In that the Corn lies safe her Laws ordain A proper different Cell for every Grain How blest the World had this been only known Had Gold lain hid and Corn been born alone Then Men were rich when they could Want suffice And knew no Baits for Lust and Avarice Yet had they still employ'd their Cares on Corn Alone those Arts would have been slowly born Which make Grain useful and for Common good Grind Mould and Bake and work it up to Food Now Southward bend XVI What Constellations rise with Libra and see in Southern Skies With Libra's Eighth Degree the Arrow rise Their Beams are strong They curious Arts bestow To dart the Javelin and to draw the Bow Or sling the Bullet from the lofty Clouds Swift Birds shall drop nor shall the deepest Floods Secure their Fish But both shall surely feel The fatal force of the unerring Steel What powerful Stars but these drew here below Brave 21 Philoctete's and sure 22 Teucer's Bow One Hector's Flames repell'd the angry Fire Did fear his Shafts and sullenly retire The other bore Troy's Fate more dreadful far He sate Exil'd than all the Greeks in War He own'd those Stars 23 who when the Serpent lay Twin'd round his Child and
Suckt the Bleeding Prey Ventur'd to shoot The pious Arrow fled As sent by Fate and pierc'd the Dragon's Head To be a Father then was Art and Love By Stars unaided had but vainly strove They drew the Bow restor'd the flying Breath To the lost Boy and wak'd the Youth from Death But when the heedless Goat 24 Exalts his Beard XVII The Goat Alone as stragling from the other Herd Then Tempers quick and piercing Minds are wrought With Cares unweary'd and of active Thought They scorn that Rest which private Minds enjoy But fawn upon the Crowd and Court Employ That 's their delight and they 're enlarg'd by Fate To serve the Many and be Slaves of State Whilst they survive smooth Knaves shall fear to Cheat In hopes of scapeing or of grownig Great They shall espouse their injur'd Country's Cause And be severe yet not exceed the Laws Imprison Cheats or else with rigorous Fines Break their Estates and curb their lewd Designs Happy this Temper would they still pursue These useful Pleasures and affect the True But they 'll from Business and from Court retire Loose are their Words and looser their Desire Lewd Love and Wine indulge and wast their Age In Mimick Dancing or affect the Stage Next shines the Harp XVIII The Harp and through the Liquid Skies The Shell as lightest first begins to rise This when sweet Orpheus struck to listning Rocks He Senses gave and Ears to wither'd Oaks Parch'd Pluto's 25 Cheeks grew moist and Death resign'd Her Spoil and unrelenting Fates grew kind These skill in Musick and in Songs impart How Sound is vary'd into Notes by Art Their Births shall know Their Mouths shall Pipes inspire With voice Their Hands shall strike the speaking Lyre At merry Feasts they shall the Guests delight Smooth Wine with Songs and stay the flying Night Nay e'en when Troubles and when Cares oppress Their Mournful Lays shall give their Sorrows Ease Low Murmurs shall employ their warbling Tongue And their own Ears shall always hear a Song Below fierce Scorpio XIX What Constellations rise with Scorpio when his Eighth Degree Appears the Altar riseth from the Sea No Lightning arm'd Jove's Hand no Thunder roard Till here as Priest he stood The Altar and first ador'd Then Powers unknown assisted Clouds did swell With Fire and the Devoted Giants fell And who should then be born but those that wait On Sacred Temples and converse with Fate That Hymn in Holy Quires know what 's to come Are almost Gods and can dispose of Doom With Twelve Degrees the Centaur's Form appears XX. The Centaur And gives a Temper from the shape he bears For he that then is born and feels his force Shall harness Mules or he shall drive the Horse Or he shall proudly mount the ratling Car Or Arm the Steed and lead him forth to War Or he shall study what Disease infests And Ease apply to uncomplaining Beasts Or he shall keep them sound his Art be shown In sure Prevention nor expect a Groan Next Sagittarius mounts with threatning Bow XXI What Constellations rise with Sagittarius Whose Fifth Degree doth bright Arcturus show And he that then is born shall ne're be Poor To him rich Fortune shall entrust her Store King's Treasures he shall keep and Reign alone Whilst those sit only higher in the Throne Arcturus Or if a Private House confine his Care Blest he shall live and see the thriving Heir In Wealth increast Or he shall still defend The People's Right and be a Common Friend But when this Centaur hath advanc'd his Fire Thrice Ten Degrees XXII The Swan and shews his Horse entire The Swan displays his Wings And then by Fate The Birds for an Enployment and Estate Are given to every Birth Nor can the Skies Make better claim to every Fowl that flies And hence to seize their own they oft declare Against the Sky it self an open War They take them flying or they set their Toyls On Boughs or Fields and catch the Feather'd Spoils Sometimes besiege their Nestswith treach'rous Reed Or draw the Net and take them whilst they feed Thus Luxury toyls bold Luxury ventures far To Foreign Lands and Travels more than War Numidia's Plains and Cholcos Woods afford Delicious Tribute to the Glutton's Board Or Nature's stubborn Laws their Art shall break Enlarge Converse and teach the Birds to speak The 26 Swan still shrouds a God 't is more than Fowl The Feather'd part confines a noble Soul And when cold Death comes on the God dilates His Powers and softly murmurs o're his Fates Or they on Doves shall all their Cares employ To make them Thrive or teach them to decoy Or carry Messages the Birds convey Their Masters Orders nor mistake their way They know this Star and they this Influence own Who carry sportive Birds about the Town Who with one Sparrow wretched Life maintain These are his Powers and thus inclines the Swan When Ophieuchus mounts XXIII With Capricorn riseth Ophieuchus and joyns the Goat Those that are born shall live an Antidote To strongest Poyson they may safely take The frightful Serpent and the Venom'd Snake Into their Bosom Whilst the Monster 's Cling About their Bodies kils their fiercest Sting When the South Fish doth leave the Floods XXIV The South Fish and rise To Airy Seats and swims in Liquid Skies Those that are born in every Shore shall lay Their Lines and Hooks and catch the hanging Prey No Fish in their own Shells shall safely live By Nature fortify'd whilst these can dive All shall be dar'd and they immerst shall rove Thro' Depths despair'd and lost to those above Till with their dancing Prey they mount again So small is the reward of all this Pain Or Fish for Pearls for Avarice cheats the Mind By valuing Things not for their Worth but Kind Vile Shells which Nature midst the Floods hath laid Asham'd of the mean work that she hath made When drawn up hither equal Provinces Nor can the Land now bear the Riches of the Seas Such are the Tempers and Success that waits On these Stars Influence and compleats their Fates Or free from danger they incline to gain By Merchandise what others get by Pain Before I sung the Harp's Commanding Powers XXV The Strings of the Harp And taught the Influence of its fatal Hours Back to the same my Muse doth now retire Pleas'd with the sounding Vertues of the Lyre For when its gay Harmonious Strings appear Let Sin grow Pale and Villains learn to fear For subtle Judges whose Demands shall draw Pale sculking Guilt within the reach of Law Shall then be born or else the Births shall dare To screw the Rack and make the Wretch his Sin declare Steel'd against Pity and averse to Spare All Pains inflict be Cruel without Hate And make stern Justice wield the Sword of Fate Or if soft Methods can prevail the Cause They gravely shall determine by the Laws
and keep the Frame intire And did not Reason guide and Sense controul The vast stupendous Machine of the whole Earth would not keep its place the Skies would fall And universal Stiffness deaden All Stars would not wheel their Round nor Day nor Night Their Course perform be put and put to flight Rains would not feed the Fields and Earth deny Mists to the Clouds and Vapors to the Sky Seas would not fill the Springs nor Springs return Their grateful Tribute from their flowing Urn Nor would the All unless contriv'd by Art So justly be proportion'd in each part That neither Seas nor Skies nor Stars exceed Our Wants nor are too scanty for our Need Thus stands the Frame and the Almighty Soul Thro' all diffus'd so turns and guides the whole That nothing from its setled Station swerves And Motion alters not the Frame but still preserves This God or Reason 2. The Influence of the Heavens which the Orbs doth move Makes Things below depend on Signs above Tho' far remov'd tho' hid in Shades of Night And scarce to be descry'd by their own Light Yet Nations own and Men their Influence feel They rule the Publick and the Private Will The Proofs are plain Thus from a different Star We find a fruitful or a barren Year Now Grains encrease and now refuse to grow Now quickly ripen now their growth is slow The Moon commands the Seas she drives the Main To pass the Shores then drives it back again And this Sedition chiefly swells the Streams When opposite she views her Brother's Beams Or when she neer in close Conjunction rides She rears the Flood and swells the flowing Tides Or when attending on his yearly Race The Equinoctial sees her borrow'd Face Her Power sinks deep it searches all the Main Testaceous 4 Fish as she her Light regains Increase and still diminish in her Wain For as the Moon in deepest Darkness mourns Then Rays receives and points her borrow'd Horns Then turns her Face and with a Smile invites The full Effusions of her Brother's Lights They to her Changes due proportion keep And shew her various Phases in the Deep So Brutes whom Nature did in sport create Ignorant both of themselves and of their Fate A secret Instinct still erects their Eyes To Parent Heaven and seems to make them wise One at the New Moons â— rise to distant Shores Retires his Body sprinkles and adores Some see Storms gathering or Serenes foretel And scarce our Reason guides us half so well Then who can doubt that Man the glorious Pride Of All is nearer to the Skies ally'd Nature in Man capacious Souls hath wrought And given them Voice expressive of their Thought In Man the God descends and joys to find The narrow Image of his greater Mind But why should all the other Arts be shown Too various for Productions of our own Why should I sing how different Tempers fall And Inequality is seen in All How many strive with equal Care to gain The highest Prize and yet how few obtain Which proves not Matter sways but Wisdom rules And measures out the Bigness of our Souls Sure Fate stands fixt nor can its Laws decay 'T is Heaven's to rule and Matter 's Essence to obey Who could know Heaven unless that Heaven bestow'd The Knowledge or find God but part of God How could the Space immense be e're confin'd Within the compass of a narrow Mind How could the Skies the Dances of the Stars Their Motions adverse and eternal Wars Unless kind Nature in our Breasts had wrought Proportion'd Souls be subject to our Thought Were Heaven not interessed to advance our Mind To know Fate 's Laws and teach the way to find Did not the Skies their kindred Souls improve Direct and lead them thro' the Maze above Discover Nature shew its secret Springs And tell the Sacred Intercourse of things How impious were our Search how bold our Course Thus to assault and take the Skies by force But to insist on tedious Proofs in vain The Art defends it self the Art is plain For Art well grounded forces to believe It cannot be deceived nor can deceive Events foretold fulfil the Prophesie What Fortune seconds how can Man deny The Proofs are Sacred and to doubt would be Not Reason's Action but Impiety Whilst on these Themes my Songs sublimely soar And take their Flight where Wing ne're beat before Where none will meet none guide my first Essay Partake my Labors or direct my way I rise above the Crowd I leave the Rude Nor are my Poems for the Multitude Heaven shall rejoyce nor shall my Praise refuse But see the Subject equall'd by the Muse At least those favour'd few whose Minds it shows The Sacred Maze but ah how few are Those Gold Power soft Luxury vain Sports and Ease Possess the World and have the luck to please Few study Heaven unmindful of their state Vain stupid Man but this it self is Fate My Subject this and I must this pursue This wondrous Theme 3. tho read and prais'd by few And first the Signs in various Ranks dispose As Nature prompts or their Position shows Six Male from Aries 4. Male and Female Signs from the Bull comprise See how he rises backward in the Skies Six Female Signs but intermixt they fall In order turn'd 6 one Female and one Male Some Signs bear 7 Humane Shapes 5. Humane and Brute Signs some Signs exprest In single Figures bear the Form of Beast These Shapes direct us and from those we know How each inclines what Tempers Signs bestow Their Figures will not let their Force escape Their Tempers are agreeing to their Shape These Signs are Single 6. Single and Double Signs now observe the 8 Pairs Double Shapes confess a double Force in Stars And each Companion still in each creates A Change and vast Variety in Fates Ambiguous Force from both exprest combines No Single Influence flows from Double Signs What Powers or good or bad one Part displays They may be alter'd by the others Rays 7. Pairs Two of this kind in all the round of Sky Appear the Pisces and the naked Gemini These different Powers tho both Pair Signs possess Because their Parts Position disagrees For tender Gemini in strict embrace Stand clos'd and smiling in each others Face Whilst Pisces glide in two divided Streams Nor friendly seem nor mix agreeing Beams Thus tho in Both two parts compose the Frame In Form alike their Nature 's not the same These Pairs alone an equal Frame can boast 8. Double Signs of different Species No stranger parts are mixt no parts are lost From their due Form whilst other Pairs are join'd Of Natures disagreeing in their kind Such is the Goat he twists a Scaly Train The Centaur such half Horse and half a Man Observe this well in these Mysterious Arts VVhether the Signs are fram'd of different parts Or only Pairs it much imports to know For hence comes great