The Southern Mars the Moone the Wester bindes Some hold the Zodiacks triplicities To cause in th' windes such strange diuersities 61. From East three signes of nature hot and drie That are subiected to Equator line Then from the Pole Antarctick as they lie Three other signes the Southerne assigne The hot and moyst three other then combine In Occident and in Septentrion The cold and moyst sway as the rest alone 62. These foure are windes accounted principall That haue alternate chiefe preeminence These haue againe foure windes collaterall All eight intire sway with high diligence Eight other halfe windes of lesse efficence Betweene them each an equidistant part All thirtie two which manage Nauticke art 63. These yet inconstant full of change do blow Their natures differ and their properties And alter as the part from whence they grow And place whereon they light hath qualities And moouing thus breede strange diuersities In earth and earthie bodies and the seas Which mou'd no wit nor weapons them appease 64. The water next and most contiguous Vnto the ayre hath like varieties Now calme and quiet now more impetous Wherein the ships and mightie Argosies Flote vnder sayle making the voyages That feede one countrey with anothers fruit Perill makes not the greedie gainer mute 65. Yet in his trafficke is alternate state Now golden gaine is guide vnto his ioy His ioy now alters sorrow in like rate The seas are sullen and the winds beene coy Their often combates coyners of annoy The windes and seas and element of ayre Combining bring stout hearts vnto despayre 66. The waters that the highest Powers haue set In secret celles and vallies of the deepe Suround the earth as if they had no let High powers their rage in limits fast doth keepe Taming the bellowes that do mount so steepe And suffers not the proudest waues to passe Nor to breede perill to the earthie masse 67. The seas a vniuersall powerfull band Linckt in the earth with veynes and concaue springs That serue as barres to enter-locke the land And which throughout a needfull moysture brings Wherewith refresh'd all vegitable things Do yeeld their branches buds and bloome and fruit Selfe earth to drie to decke them so in sute 68. Meere reason may admire to see the seas Raging with waues as if infirnall fire Them boyl'd or furies reft the earth of ease And by and by the tempest to retire Of selfe accord without ilke humane hyre And rest appeased calme in quiet case And as in loue the earth againe imbrace 69. Earth yeelds the seas a seat to rest them on And waters all by nature ponderous Though misty Fogges through exhalation Ascend they fall againe more humidous In droppes or mystes sometimes contagious And fill the brookes and riuers of the land Who hasten soone vnto the marine strand 70. So as the Waters in earths bowels spred And Riuers that do runne as ornaments Vpon th' earths surface are not in her bred But friendly lent the Oceans excrements Rising and falling by swayde accidents Salt from the Seas by th' ayre refresh'd againe To shew what changes earth and seas sustaine 71. The earth the waters doth support and beare The Ocean hath tryple motions From East to West from North to South arere Thirdly the ebbings and the fluctions Sixe houres rising sixe howers digressions So eke the sea term'd Mediterrany And other waters of that faculty 72. The motiue causes who so seekes to know The first that moueth from the East to West The firmament is sayd to moue it so And that the spheres are moued and adrest To volue and reuolue by the higher hest Where by the Waters take their orders gate Not of selfe nature but so destinate 73. The fall from North to South is sayd to bee For that the waters in Septentrion Are full and farre the highest in degree Engendred most in that cold Region In South the sunnes hot exhalation Abates those Seas to which the greater fall By changing courses yet perpetuall 74. The third that maketh ebbes and flowing tydes Hath beene and is the Moones volution Most changing in one state she neuer bides Full halfe full and of bicorned fashion White pale red then cleere then spotted on Sometimes apparent sometime hidden so As none perceiueth where the Moone doth go 75. Sometime shee shineth in the merkish night Sometime she riseth in the brightest day Sometimes eclipsed cleane depriu'd of light Sometimes below sometime in higher way Neuer at one but euer in estray East South and West her course vncertaine seene Artists best know how all her courses beene 76. The Moone thus changing in her mouings make Like changes in the vniuersall seas Whose ebbes and flouds like changes by her take And neither seemeth to haue constant ease No art or force their mouings may appease But as the Powers diuine of yore them set So they keepe course vntill that power do let 77. Till then the Moone moues with the Heauens Sphere Twentie foure howres she takes her turne to runne Two ebbes two flowes in seas she makes appeare Sixe houres shee flowes in sixe her ebbe is done In sixe doth each performe her taske begunne Increast and decreast assignd and kept aright Approue the powers that guide them of great might 78. Yet still vnlike shee doth increase and fall Alternately as time and place assigne Seu'n dayes sh'increasing to her highest wall Seu'n dayes likewise shee doth againe decline Sea-men the first Spring-tydes aptly define The latter or decreasing streames they call Nepe-tides when seas grow to the low of all 79. These tydes againe are of vnequall state That swelling high this lower ayn by farre The next more higher or of lower rate All other tydes haue like alternate Iarre Alwayes afflicted with intestine warre That makes the Mariner to sigh or sing Hurl'd downe or heau'd aloft by Neptunes wing 80. The Moone North-east doth make the sea at full South-east low water Thus the Moone doth guide Not onely humors making sharpe or dull Wittes sences bodyes as some verifide But sea and land as things vnto her tide And as she wauers and oft changeth state So do the things by her thus destinate 81. Oft doe some Riuers and some fountaines drie Oft doth the earth yeeld forth new water-springs Oft doth reuiue what seemed erst to die Oft doubtfull ginning sweetest issue brings Oft greatest comfort growes by grieuous things Nothing the same and as the same abides But God the guide nought standeth firme besides 82. Hee is that essence that beganne of nought Hee is that Moouer of the moouing skies Hee is the concord that true vnion wrought Hee is the meane by whom all destinies Turne to the ends that hee did first deuise Yet are the Heauens and the Earth maintain'd By discord excellent that hee ordain'd 83. Can discord then so much dispraysed bee The meane to keepe things by their contraries Can enmitie haue such equall degree As may make vnion in qualities Hath sad contention
such sweete faculties As may support in true tranquillitie The bodyes wherein is disvnitie 84. Then did Heraclitus conceiue it right Who did affirme the parents of all things To be good concord in a discord pight And Homer said Who blameth contendings Reprooueth Nature in distributings Empedocles did call that amitie That had and held concording enmitie 85. Yet thus this disagreement must bee set As in the discord bee no power to wrong For why supremest haue no fatall let But will preuaile as they become too strong Therefore such meane must them be set among As though things bee compact of contraryes They must by ballance haue like quantities 86. Or else sadde ruine will surprize the thing Where in the Elements are at a iarre Where eke the principles diuided bring Into the body such internall warre As striues for victorie to make or marre And sodainely the body pines or dies For that the strongest works most maladies 87. The Heauens haue their moouings contrarie But equally disposed vphold the rest Where if they mou'd one way their harmonie All of one straine of discord dispossest They soone would runne to ruine al opprest Like to a clocke whose wheeles runne all one way Rash of no vse without a counterstay 88. The Planets also in their faculties Are set by Prouidence that did foresee That if they were without their contraries Among themselues some sodain change would be A meane therefore to keepe the Heauens free From sodaine ruine Power diuine hath set As moderator termes that none may let 89. Milde Venus as a meane is placed neere Vnto fell Mars to counterchecke his ire And helping Iupiter next to the Sphere Of malignant Saturne lest they conspire And wrecke the Iurie of their fell desire Vpon the rest if they were not control'd Their wrath would worke the worlds ill manifold 90. The world inferior composed stands Of Elements which are by nature foes And each with other in his nature bands And each his force and malice doth disclose Yet are all bodies wholly fram'd of those And their due order and proportion Conserueth long discording vnion 91. None must exceede in his extreme degree For all by nature reft of mixtion Are so vnequall nothing can bee Formed of one without destruction But of the foure equall proportion Is found the fountaine whence doth flow the seede Where of all creatures in the earth do breede 92. For in this worldes great masse are found to lie Earth Water Ayre and Fire Sunne Moone and Starres Matter and forme substance and quantitie Simple compound actiue and passiue warres These of themselues haue such diurnall iarres As trie the body yet preserue it so As discord seemes a friend and not a foe 93. In humane bodies is a discord set Choler and bloud fleame and melancholie These foure the foure complections beget Among them Nature hath sent enmitie Yet stands the bodie of this contrarie Which could not liue if one alone did raigne One too too strong the other three complaine 94. All other bodies are compos'd as this Not of a like but of vnlike in kind As praysed body Oeconomick is Of husband wife and children them assign'd Lord and slaue master and seruant wee find To liue vnlike yet in good harmonie If true concording discord beautifie 95. A body politike or publike state Hath like dissents which yet assenting stands The King the subiect and the magistrate Noble and base rich poore peace and warlike bands Law religion idle working handes Old yong weake strong good men and euill bee Dislike in parts yet in consort agree 96. All Arts haue discord yet in vnitie Concording as in musicke high and low Long and short these compose the harmonie The paynter doth by contraries forth show By liuely hand what Nature doth bestow By colours white blacke red and greene and blew These contraries depaynt right Natures hew 97. Nothing appeares or can bee sayd the thing Without the contrarie darke from the light Sicknesse from health cold winter from the spring True peace from warre sweete loue from foule despight Iust from vniust truth from the thing vnright None can distinguish but by qualities That are discouer'd by their contraries 98. Who can discourse of griefe that neuer grieu'd Who speakes of colours that could neuer see Who preacheth ioyes that is of ioy bereau'd Who thinkes of freedome that was neuer free Some contraries accord some disagree Yet perfit is Dame Natures art in things For by dissent she true assenting brings 99. Yet hath not Nature made that earthly thing But made to it some thing the contrarie And each to each extends a fatall sting Birdes beasts and plants haue all antipathy Tweene God and good men onely sympathie Whose sacred spirit by his sweete inspire Seasons our soules with sacred sweete desire 100. Yet man is not free from his fatall foe That first supplanted Adam antique sire And works to wrecke on Adams line like woe Beleeuers onely make this foe retire Sacred Messiah payde that deathfull hire Whereby wee liue and haue eternitie Though here beclowded with the contrary 101. What passionate inconstancie haue men Which shew affections so contrarie No creature to a creature worse hath ben Then man to man who in hot enmitie Hath wrought each other deadly destinie Yea some that deerely lou'd before comes foes And foes come friends some work themselues their woes 102. Nay man within himselfe hath selfe debate His soule and body are at deadly feede Yet man himselfe is as a publike state And reason Prince seemes so to sway that steede As foule concupiscence that sowes her seed In fleshie furrowes to corrupt the soule Should not preuaile but haue her due controule 103. No maruaile then if brutish creatures beene In priuate warre the Millet and the Pike The Cocke and Foxe the Eagle and the Wren The Kite and Crow the Tode and Spider like That doe each other of selfe-nature strike Which makes each sect to stand in feare to fall Sith each hath foes and foes are full of gall 104. What makes a Kingdome to continue long But feare of foes that breedes preuenting mindes And mindes forbidding to do neighbours wrong Lest Iustice punish where deseruing binds Nought but securitie a kingdome blindes But when it sees apparent enemies It then takes heede they are her contraries 105. The Lacedemons made stout Athens feare The Romanes rouzed Carthage then secure The Saxon furies did the Brytens weare All states haue foes and yet they may endure Though peace to pietie should best allure Yet is it seene where is no feare of thrall That state soone stumbles and hath sorest fall 106. For pride pricks people that are free from foes And riches rauish mindes dip'd in desires To clime aloft And pleasantly hee rowes That hath no winde nor tyde to checke aspires When he but seemes to rowe indeede retires All haue their ends and all are borne to change Cros'd or at quiet all like race doe range 107. And though the
of Egypt gazing on the starres Are sayd to see the Worlds sad ruines past That had beted by fire and waters iarres And how the World inconstant and vnchast Assaylde by these cannot alike stand fast Earthquakes and warres famine hate and pest Bring perils to the earth and mans vnrest 38. We at the present see Times changing state And Natures fearefull alterations As if Time now did preach the Heauens debate And starres to band in dismall factions Strange signes are seene diuine probations That some effect will follow of admire Too late when come to say it will retire 39. The Sunne and Moone eclipsed ne're so much Comets and strange impressions in the ayre The tydes and swelling flouds were neuer such The earth doth tremble Nature doth impayre Hid'ous monsters now possesse the chayre Where erst dame Natures true begotten seede Sate truely graced in her proper weede 40. Such changes neuer haue beene seene of yore In Countries and in Kingdomes as of late Manners and Lawes and Religions lore Neuer were prized at so meane a rate Such are the changes of this earthes estate It may bee sayd Times wings beginne to frie Now couching low that erst did soare so hie 41. Yea now is proou'd the progresse of the Sunne To differ farre from pristine gredience The Solstices and Equinoxes run As in pretended disobedience The Sunne obserued by Artes diligence Is found in foureteene hundred yeeres to fall Neere twelue Degrees towards the Center ball 42. The Zodiack and all her partes and signes Alter the course that first they were assign'd And all the orbe of Heauen so combines As she vnto her Period inclin'd Time past farre greater then that is behind Doth prooue the Heauens in their greatest Pride Subiect to changes and to waue aside 43. Some eke affirme the earthly Sphere to erre First set the Center of the concaue Spheres Now start aside supposed not to sterre If so the Power that Earth and Heauen steres By it foreshowes the purpose that he beares That all the Creatures that he made so fast Shall by Degrees alter weare and wast 44. Yet all the Changes that succeed below Proceed of Mouing Mouing double is The first and chiefe moues yet not moued so The other mouers mooue by force of this But to moue rightly or to moue amis Without the first high Prouidence diuine They are vnable of their owne incline 45. Guy ded they yeeld such influence of force As notwithstanding alteration They seeme to shew by fatall course remorce To creatures in their generation And by successiue propagation Corrupted things renew grow and decay Vncessantly by natures fatall way 46. The changes which successiuely accrew Vnto the creatures of this lower part And bodies which the Elements endew With habite and which cunning Natures art Contriues with ornaments that in her mars Are had proceede of contraries That in them breede such strange varieties 47. For things compounded of the Elements Partake the like compounded faculties Themselues vnlike in vertue and contents Make all their subiects contraries And mut ' all discord in their offices Producing fruits and in them enmitie Whereby they change by fatall destinie 48. The water thicked doth resemble stone Or earthie matter vaporating ayre The ayre enlightened and her vertue gone Resembles fire the fire extinct comes ayre Ayre thicked and by grosse impayre Gets cloudes and mistie vaporation All haue alternate variation 49. So these that wee call Elements are not But onely like and not indeede the same As each partaketh of the others lot Hath not selfe nature but the fayned ' name Yet is it seene from whence each of them came Like to the thing that each resembles most From these corrupt comes al the earthly host 50. Yet so prepared as the Power aboue Doth first decree to shape the lowest things Discrepant and diuers as it list approue Voyde of all forme Hence formall bodie springs In couert order with concealed wings Nature her selfe flies to and fro vnseene Till things haue life none sees where she hath beene 51. Then viuall each thing wrayes his faculties And what in it hath chiefe Predominance Hot cold drie or moyst meerely contraries All in one body haue like penetrance But farre vnlike in supreme gouernance The chiefe in force subdue the feeble sort And foyle in fine the body they support 52. The Elements repugnant each to each Yet seeme they all each other to imbrace But each on other makes alternate breach As one growes potent th' other in disgrace Their Powers vnequall not their natures base Doth winne or lose and gaines contempt or prayse None seemes a coward weakest giues essayes 53. As when a Sparke that most partakes of Fire Contendes a while as farre as Power permits To dry a Floud Force fayleth not Desire Likewise a Drop contendeth where it hittes To quench a Flame that quenchles is by Wittes Such Feede they foster not of equall Force That which preuayleth yeeldeth no Remorce 54. The Earth a massie Lumpe is lowest set The Water it surrounds and lies diffuz'd Through and about this Orbe as friendly met Yet do they striue as if eche were abuz'd Ballanced they pend mut'ally confuz'd The Fire and Ayre light are surmounted hie Yet ech polluted with his Neighbour by 55. The Fire though highest and in purest place Betweene the Heauens and the ayrie Sphere Seemes not yet hath more then the Ayres disgrace For when she volueth and reuolues arere She comes deformed by her often stere And forced downeward to the ayry cell Fals to the Earth and so her Forces quell 56. The Ayre that swayes the region next to Fire Is in the vpper part most absolute Most thin and pure most like her first inspire Her lowest grosse the middle meane acute She thus vnequall in her tryple sute Stands most corrupted here with vs beneath Corrupting bodies that by her do breath 57. And most inconstant of the rest she fares Most variable in her best estate Turn'd as the Place whereon she lights prepares And as the Starres aspect and haue their Gate So she comes pure or of a grosser rate With Exhallations and with Vapors thicke That rise and fall and in her Lymit sticke 58. Whence grow the Clowdes the Thunder the Windes Hayles Frost and Snowe and Changes manifold Which do afflict the Earth and earthy kinds With Natures striuings oft tweene Hot and Cold. Descent oft forced and Ascent controld Mooues Warres aboue in ayrie firmament Tweene water-clouds and others discontent 59. Then fals the Rayne erst raysed by the Sunne Of watry vapors flying from below Forc'd downe againe like twist arere vnspun And thus the Clowdes by course do come and goe The Ayre now calme forthwith fell winds do blow What more inconstant then the Ayre can be Whereby all Bodies breathe and change we see 60. And if Astrologers aucthority May passe for proofe of th' issue of the winds The Sunne doth rayse the winds cal'd Easterly And Iupiter the Northern in their kinds
the bodies that Nature vpreares Prouing their temper and their temper steres Mong all the creatures that are earthly built Best temper'd stand distemper'd soonest spilt 14. Nay mindes inclines and manners good and bad Proceede some say by moouings and aspects Of Heauens Spheres and Plannets wherewith clad That giue and take and worke the sole effects In Men and Beasts and in all earthly sects All which beginne and end by influence That doth proceede by Heauens concurrence 15. Vertues and vices health and sicknesse too Long and short life force feeblenesse and wit Yea well and ill the Heauens egge to doo All earthly bodies subiect vnto it Humane affayres prayse-worthie and vnfit Depend on these that of themselues are not But stand created to their proper lot 16. Though some prerogatiue aboue the rest They haue An instrumentall meane onely And not the cause efficient confest A fatall Law or of necossitie None holds it so that hath fidelitie Let sacred Wisedome be our studies guide To stay on him that is and will abide 17. The pleasing Sunne with sweete resplending rayes Doth rise and set and yeeldes such influence As earthly creatures glorie in the dayes Not in sad nights that come by consequence The sunnie beames that comfort passed hence Men birds and beasts trees and the hearbes in field Bemone the lacke of what the day did yeeld 18. Whereby wee see the Sunne is held a ghest That with his rayes filles all the fields with glee The plants the hearbs the blossoms and the rest Vnfolde in token of gratuitie Preaching to men the Sunnes benignitie That ayne reuiues their members late neere dead All creatures ioy to see her beames espred 19. The Sunnes ascent and her descent renewes The yeere with change as she comes farre or neere Her course oblique depriues againe endewes The earthly bodies and their powers arere The Solstices and Equinoxes bere As on the wings of th' Zodiackes twelue signes They yeeres foure parts diuided by their lines 20. The Winter with his siluer hayres beginnes When Capricorne receiues declining Sunne As she returnes from Autumne where she lins And with his cold and moysture now begunne Depriues the bodyes of their pride late wonne And all the creatures that of yore grew gay By like degrees doe wither and decay 21. The louely Spring which liuely lends her skill To re'install these creatures in their pride Enters the Ram and equalize she will The Nights and Dayes A moyst and hotter tyde Restoring greene what Winter had vndi'de And yeelds them vigor that were erst decayde All sects reioyce to bee thus re'arrayde 22. Then comes the Summer with her gloornie rayes Imbracing Cancer parching hote and drie Making short nights and the longest dayes The Summer Solstice heaues the Sunne so hie That forthwith she falles and alters by and by The surface of the Earth and all earthly things Thus Time turnes the worlds glasse with silent wings 23. Friendlesse Autumne vnclothes againe apace All that the Spring had clad so fayre before The Sunne in Libra with beclouded face Affords sad nights longer then of yore Depriuing sap and withers by her lore All vegitables and transformes the rest A necessarie but vnwelcome ghest 24. The Yeere thus parted in her qualities Yeeldes great effects vnto the Earths creatures Compounded termed Elementaries As of elementall temperatures Grosse soone decay the purest best endures Exceeding in one qualitie it dies Nought hath true meane that is below the skies 25. The Moone hath secrets in her times effects She swayes the humors ouer which she raignes Increasing decreasing full in aspects Still she disposeth Bodyes and their Vaines In her some mysterie no doubt remaines That worketh wonders by the meane of her Which some affirme so farre in it they erre 26. For shee a creature can yeeld no Euent Compact as other elementall things Her vertue in Decrease and Increment But purer and pure qualities she brings Soring her circuite by diuiner wings And through the force of her high qualities She works in Bodies sundrie faculties 27. As in the Ebbes and flowing of the Deepe By course and by reciprocall retreat Moou'd by the Moone as she her course doth keepe The Ebbe makes emptie Floud againe repleate The Moone in Forme the Sea vnlike in Seate Their like concurrence and like changes shew The Moone and Sea alike to wane and grow 28. The Starres that wander and that fix'd remaine Do cause in ayre great changes Cold and Heate Windes Thunder Tempests and great gusts of Raine And their Aspects and Oppositions met Some strange presages of Euents beget Of Warre of Death of Famine Drought and Pest. Yet nought befalles but by supernall hest 29. Though some affirme that these mutations Of changes and of strange and rare euents Proceede of such like innouations As heauenly bodies and their concurrents Worke in the like compounded Elements And giue them moouing issue and successe As if effects proceeded of the lesse 30. The lesse yet great lesse in respect of one Who mooues the Moouer of these Moouers all He he the swayer of euents alone And sinne the cause that moues these to our thrall That moue and change and cause men rise or fall Not as these will but as the Powers aboue Make them the meanes to checke for change of loue 31. The greatest changes and most rare euents In States in Kingdomes and in greatest sects Are sayd to issue of the Spheres dissents The eight and ninth not by their ioynt aspects Their awkward moouings breede rarest effects Not by their natures inclination But by their motiue trepedation 32. Besides coniunction of triplicities Of Saturne Iupiter and Mars aspecting Are held most powerfull principalities Greatest alterations effecting Their triplicities duely respecting Fierie or ayrie watrie or earthly Th' euent corresponds the triplicity 33 Of such some count seu'n since the world begunne Fiue thousand fiue hundred sixtie two yeeres The eight shall be when foure yeeres more are come By testie of the best Astrologers Presaged thus it may well summon teares That he that rules may moderate his ire Lest World consume with fearefull gusts of fire 34. Seneca reports Belus to foresee The vniuersall deluge e're it came And when the conflagration should be To burne the masse as water drown'd the same When of the Starres such opposition came As one right line might pierce their circles all In Cancer signe this last effect should fall 35. The antique Poets in their Poems tel'd Vnder their fondest Fables mysteries By Phaeton how heauens powers rebel'd In fires force and by the histories Of Pirrha and Deucalion there lies The like of waters impetuitie In part concurring with diuinitie 36. Which hath reueyl'd the Worlds destruction By water past her future fall by fire But holds the cause sinne not coniunction Of fire or waters selfe-reuenging ire The Powers diuine commoue them to conspire To make the earth and earthly bodies nought That doe defile what he so pure hath wrought 37. The Priests