The Five BOOKS OF M. MANILIUS, Containing a SYSTEM OF THE Ancient Astronomy AND ASTROLOGY: Together with The Philosophy of the STOICS.  
Done into English Verse with Notes. By Mr. THO. CREECH.  
Nunc autem quid est sine his cur vivere volimus? Mihi vero cum his ipsis vix: His autem detractis, ne vix quidem.  Cicero ad Var. 
LONDON, Printed, and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster. 1700.   

  

AN ACCOUNT OF MANILIUS.  
SIR,  
THE Campaign being over, and Councils not yet begun, the World is very much at quiet; nor can I find News enough to fill a Letter: But to keep up our usual Correspondence, I send you an Account of an old Latin Poet, very little known, tho' as worthy your Acquaintance, as many of those who are in Credit. He lay buried in the Germane Libraries, not heard of in the World, till Poggius' Published him from some old Manuscripts found there; and tho' 
1 Vid. Not. ad Lucianum.  Bird Cotzus, thinks Lucian consulted this Poet when he wrote his little Treatise of Astrology; tho' Julius Firmizus is 
2 By Scaliger and Huetius.  accused as an ungrateful Plagiary, for not acknowledging from whom he Transcribed the chiefest parts of his Books; yet there is no good Evidence, that any one Writer mentioned this Author before Poggius. Pliny is supposed to speak of him as a 
3 Nat. Hist. lib. 36. cap. 10.  Mathematician, and Gerbertus, as an 
4 Gerbertus Rhemensis Bishop of Ravenna, and afterward Pope of Rome, Epist. 130. Age verò, Te solo conscio, ex tuis sumptibus fac mihi scribantur Marcus Manilius de Astrologia, Victorinus de Rhetorica, etc.  ginger; but concerning the Poet, there is as dead a silence as if he had never been; nor can his greatest Admirers find any Character of him in old Writers.  
Yet it must be owned, that he is an Author of some considerable Age; for the Manuscripts which Poggius, Bonincontrius, Scaliger, and Franciscus Junius used, were ancient: Tanaquil Faber, Spanhemius, and the severest Critics allow him to be as old as Theodosius the Great, and pretend to find some particular Phrases in him, which are certain Characters of that Time.  
Others, who believe they have very good Reasons to place him higher, find it very difficult to account for this universal silence: What they offer, is either bare May-be and Shift, and scarce ever amounts to a tolerable Reason: 'Tis true, they say, he is not mentioned by Ovid in his 
5 De Ponto, lib. 4. Ep. 16.  Catalogue of Poets, and no wonder, since he did not begin to write before the 
6 This Huetius affirms, but is undoubtedly mistaken.  Banishment of Ovid, and Published nothing before his Death; Perhaps he was one of those Young Men, 
— 
7 Ovid. ibid.  Quorum quod inedita cura est  
Appellandorum nil mihi juris adest.  or his Fame did not reach so far as Pontus: Otherwise they are confident there are too many Graces in his Poem to be neglected; at least, the singularity of his Subject would have deserved to be taken notice of, as well as that of 
8 Aptaque venanti Gratius arma dedit. Ovid. ibid.  Gratius. But why Quintilian doth not propose him to his Orator, tho' he encourages him to 
9 Instit. lib. 10. Cap. 1.  read Macer and Lucretius, and 
1 Instit. lib. 1. cap. 10.  affirms, that a competent skill in Astronomy is necessary to make him perfect in his Profession? Why the following Philologers never use his Authority, tho' it might very often have been pertinently cited by Gellius and Macrobius? Why the Grammarians and Mythologists, seem to be altogether unacquainted with his Writings? They confess these are Questions not easy to be answered.  
Of this Poet, who is acknowledged by all Parties to have lain very long unknown, and about whom, since he first appeared in the World, so many Controversies have risen, I am now to give you an account.  
His Name is commonly said to be Marcus Manilius, which in some Copies of his Poem is shortened into Manlius, in others softened into Mallius: This variation is inconsiderable, and the common fault of unaccurate Transcribers; but 
2 Praef.  Bonincontrius affirms, that the Title of his very Ancient Copies was, C. Manilii Poetae illustris Astronomicon; and that he had seen a Medal, in which was the Figure of a Man, but in a Foreign Habit, with a Sphere placed near his Head, and this Inscription, C. MANILI. 
3 Lib. de Poet. Hist. dial. 4.  Lilius Gyraldus mentions another of the same stamp; But that these Medals belonged to this Poet, may be as easily denied, as 'tis affirmed, or rather, as 'tis conjectured: However all Parties agree, that the most Ancient Copies constantly bear the Title of Manilius; but whether the Books of Poggius and Bonincontrius, which call him Caius, or those of Scaliger and others, in which we find Marcus written, are to be followed, is submitted to every Man's Discretion; the Matter is not of any Consequence, nor a fit Subject for Dispute, because impossible to be determined: Tho' if Conjecture may be admitted, I should fancy that it is more probable a Transcriber may err, when he puts M. before Manilius, than when he writes a C. because in the former case, the Sound of the following Word, which is the most considerable in the Title, and consequently the chiefest in his Thoughts, may pervert him; but in the latter, He hath no temptation to mistake. This M. or C. Manilius, was born a Roman, and lived in Rome when Rome was in her Glory; commanding the biggest part of the known World, and full of the greatest Men that ever any time produced: For the same Age that saw Manilius enjoyed Varro, Lucretius, Cicero, Caesar, Virgil, Varius, Horace, and (to close the Catalogue) Augustus. In the beginning of this Astronomical Poem that Emperor is 
4 Lib. 1. v. 7.  invoked, that very Emperor who was the 
5 Lib. 1. v. 10.  adopted Son of Julius Caesar, who 
6 Lib. 1. v. 906.  beat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi, 
7 Lib. 1. v. 918.  overthrew Pompey the Great's Son, 
8 Lib. 4. v. 763.  who sent Tiberius to Rhodes, 
9 Lib. 1. v. 896.  who lost three Legions in Germany under the Command of Varus; who 
1 Lib. 1. v. 912.  routed Anthony and Cleopatra at Actium, and saved the Roman Empire by turning that overgrown dissolute Republic into a well regulated Monarchy. Here are so many Characters, that the Person cannot be mistaken, not one of them agreeing to any but the first Great Augustus. So that this Author lived in that Age to which He pretends by so many very particular Circumstances, or else He is a most notorious Cheat, and one of the greatest Impostors in the World.  
It seems 
2 Not. in Lib. 6. Lucretij.  Tanaquil Faber thought him to be so, since without giving any Reason He brings him down as low as the time of Theodosius: 
3 De Arte Gram. lib. 2. cap. 26.  Vossius was once of the same Opinion, having observed, as He then thought, some Measures, Words and Phrases peculiar to that Age, and therefore He concludes against Scaliger, that Julius Firmicus did not follow Manilius, but Manilius wrote in Verse what Firmicus had published in Prose under the Reign of Constantine the Great: But upon second Reading this 
4 Lib. de Poet. Lat.  Critic altered his first Sentiments, and allows him to be as ancient as the Poet himself desires to be thought. 
5 Phys. Sect. 2. lib. 6. cap. 2. Ptolomaeus, Firmicus, Manilius primarij hujus Artis Scriptures. vid. etiam p. 717. & pag. 740.  Gassendus often quotes him, and always sets him after Firmicus, as may be seen in many places of his Writings; but gives no reason why he constantly observes that order: But Gevartius, who had studied and designed to publish Notes upon this Author, says in a Letter to Mr. Cambden, 
6 vid. Cambd. Epist. p. 260.  I have been long acquainted with this Writer, and know him well, but cannot, with Scaliger and other learned Critics, allow him to be as ancient as Augustus, for in my Notes I will demonstrate that he lived in the Age of Theodosius and his Sons Arcadius and Honorius, and that he was the same with Manlius Theodorus, upon whose Consulship Claudian writes a Panegyric, in which he mentions his Astronomicon. The same thing he asserts in his Comments upon 
7 Vid. Not. in Statij. lib. 3. Syl. Carm. 3.  Statius, and promises to do Wonders in his 
8 His Electa were almost finished A. D. 1618. vid. Cambd. Epist. p. 259.  Electa upon this Subject; what his performance was I do not find taken notice of by any of the Critics, nor am I concerned for it, being certain that he failed in his Attempt, because it was ridiculous and rash: Yet the learned Ezechiel Spanhemius endeavours to support this Conjecture of Gevartius, 
9 De praestantia & Vsu Numismatum. pag. 643.  and tells us, that sub Armis, a Phrase familiar to Manilius, as lib. 1. v. 795.  
— Matrisque sub Armis  
Miles Agrippa suae—  
Lib. 4. v. 656.  — Regnum sortita sub Armis. 
And in another place, 
— Quumque ipsa sub Armis  
Pax agitur—  was used in the time of Theodosius, as appears by the following passage in that emperor's Code, 
1 Cod. Theod. l. 38. t. 1. de Decur.  Quicunque sub Armis Militiae munus Comitatense subierunt. Scaliger himself unwarily gave a very great advantage to this Opinion, when he 
2 Not. ad Manil.  affirmed, that the word Decanus, which Manilius uses, was brought from the Camp, and that a Sign which governed ten Degrees was called Decanus, because an Officer who commanded ten Men in the Army had the same Title: But 
3 Sal. de An. Climact. p. 560.  Salmatius, who discovered the Mistake, (for Decanus was not heard of in the Roman Camp before the time of Constantine the Great) hath so well corrected it, or rather 
4 Not. ad lib. 4. v. 298.  Huetius hath given so good an Account of that Word, that tho' an Argument drawn from it may be strong against the Critic, it will never be of any force against the Author. It is almost needless to mention the Exceptions of those Critics who think his Style impure, or, as they please to speak, too barbarous for the Age he pretends to; Indeed 
5 Lib. de Poet. 3. Dial. 4.  Gyraldus endeavours by this very Argument to prove he was no Roman born: But 
6 Scal. Proleg. in Manilium. p. 3.  Scaliger laughs at him for his Attempt, tells him that he does not distinguish between Idiotisms and Barbarisms, and that Vitruvius (to whom he should have added Lucretius) might be called barbarous as well as he: 
7 Praef. ad Not.  Franciscus Junius commends the propriety of his Language, 
8 Not. ad Aug. script.  Salmatius and 
9 Vid. Not. in Manil.  Huetius have approved many passages which lesser Critics thought to be impure; And the accurate Vossius, 
1 De Poet. Lat.  after he had studied and considered him well, found nothing in him inconsistent with the Age of Augustus, and the Politeness of his Court. Indeed most of the Instances that are produced upon this head, do not fasten on the Author himself, but on the Transcribers and Publishers of his Writings. There aught to be a new Edition of his Astronomicon, and I do not despair of seeing one which will have a pure genuine Text, and free that Text from many of his Interpreters Comments, especially from the Notes of the miserable wretched 
2 The Editor of Manilius in usum Delphini.  Fayus.  
You see, Sir, I have brought this diffused Controversy within a very narrow Compass; Tanaquil Faber and Gassendus keep their (if they had any) Reasons to themselves. Their Authority I confess had been persuasive, had they considered, and after a fair hearing determined the Controversy; but an incident declaration, and an unweighed Sentence concerning the Age of any Writer ought not to be submitted to, but appealed from: And therefore if I can show the Observation of Spanhemius to be unconcluding, and refute the bold Conjectures of Gevartius, I shall leave Manilius in possession of that Age, which he so often, and with so much assurance claims. And here I am sure we should not have been troubled with Spanhemius' Observation, had he been pleased to consider, that sub Armis, and sub Armis Militiae, being very different from one another, might be used in very different Ages of the Empire; and that he argues very ill, who says, the one was known in the Time of Theodosius, and therefore the other was not common in the Court of Augustus: 'Tis certain that it was, for Virgil (whom Manilius often imitates) hath 
— Sedet circum castella sub Armis,  
— Equitem docuere sub Armis  
Insultare solo—  And in another place, — Ludunt Belli simulachra sub Armis. And this Virgil himself borrowed from Ennius, who says, Ter me sub Armis malim vitam cernere. I could produce more Authorities, were not these sufficient to secure Manilius from Spanhemius' Observation.  
But Gevartius, as he is bolder, so he is much more unhappy in his Conjectures; he fixes upon the Man, and says this Manilius is Mallius Theodorus, celebrated by the Poet Claudian; for the Author of this Astronomicon, is in many of the old Copies called Mallius, and this Mallius Theodorus, was a good Astronomer, and a Writer of great Industry and Reputation: But did Gevartius ever meet with the Astronomicon, under the Title of Fl. Mallius Theodorus? Or of Fl. Mallius and not always of C. or M. Manlius, Mallius or Manilius? Doth Claudian commend the Poetry of his Consul, or mention his Acquaintance with the Muses? or could a Poet forget, or not celebrate that Talon which he himself must look upon as a very great Perfection, and the Age would have highly valued, had he been the Author of this Poem? Doth he say he wrote Books of Astronomy, knew the Depths of Astrology, and was admitted into the Councils of the Stars? Here was a large Field for that luxuriant Wit to have wantoned in, and it cannot be thought he would have concealed the deserts of his Patron when he studied to commend him: But instead of this he praises his Justice, Integrity, Clemency and Honour; he extols his Eloquence, and prefers the sweetness of it before all the delicate Charms of Poetry and Music.  

3 De Mallii Theod. Consul. v. 251.  Ut quis non sitiens Sermonis Mella politi  
Deserat Orpheos blanda Testudine cantus?  
And tho' all the Muses are concerned for him, and busy in his Service, yet he is devoted to none of them but Ura●ie, who assisted him in his Astronomical Diversions.  

4 ibid. 274.  Uranie redimita comas, quâ saepe Magistra  
Mallius igniferos radio descripserat Axes.  
Gevartius very well observes that this Consul Mallius was an Astronomer.  

5 ibid. v. 126.  Invenit aetherios signantem pulvere cursus,  
Quos pia sollicito deprendit policy Memphis:  
Quae moveant momenta polum, quam certus in Astris  
Error: Quis tenebras Soli causisque meantem  
Defectum indicat numerus. Quae linea Phoeben  
Damn, et excluso pallentem fratre relinquat  
That he published some admired Books 

6 ibid. v. 332.  Consul per populos, idemque gravissimus Author  
Eloquij, duplici vita subnixus in aevu●  
Procedat, libris pariter, fastisque legendus.  But how doth it appear that Astronomy was his Subject, when Claudian himself tells us it was the Origine and Constitution of the World? He represents him as well versed in all the several Hypotheses of the Natural and Moral Philosophers, acquainted both with the Physics and Ethics of the Greeks, and able to discourse of their Opinions very properly, and very elegantly in Latin.  
7 ibid.! v. 84.  Graiorum obscuras Romanis floribus Arts Irradias'— 
But when he speaks of his Writings he says he described the Origine and Disposition of the World, 
Ibid. v. 65.  and gave very convincing proofs of his own Wit, Capacity, and Judgement, by his exact account of the beautiful Order, and regular Contrivance of that wonderful Machine.  

8 Ibid. v. 253.  Qualem te legimus teneri Primordia Mundi.  
Scribentem, aut Partes Animae per Singula, Talem  
Cernimus, et similes agnoscit Pagina mores.  
From these Verses and other passages in Claudian, as 
— 
9 ibid. v. 101.  Quae vis animaverit Astra,  
Impuleritque Choros, quo vivat Machina motu;  it may be inferred that this Consul Mallius, was as to Natural Philosophy a Stoic, and built his World according to the Hypothesis of that Sect, and therefore wrote something very like what we find at large in the first Book, and hinted at in several passages of the other Books of Manilius. But this being the least part of our Author, and subservient to his greater and general design, it must not be supposed that Claudian should enlarge only upon this, and leave his whole Astrology untouched; unless we think Claudian as ridiculous as that Painter would be, who being to fill his Canvas with a noble Family should draw a single Servant, or paint only a Finger or a Nail when he had a large beautiful Body to represent.  
I have been the more particular in this matter, because Gevartius pretends to demonstration, tho' to confute his conjecture it had been sufficient only to observe, that it is the most ridiculous thing in the World to imagine that Mallius a Man well known both for his personal Endowments and public Employments, who had been Governor of several Provinces, and at last Consul should publish a Treatise under his own Name, and yet in almost every Page of the Book endeavour to persuade his Readers it was written four hundred years before. For it must be granted that the Prince whom he 
1 Lib. 1. v. 7.  invokes in the beginning of his Poem, who is styled Patriae Princepsque Paterque, who is deified whilst 
2 lib. 1. v. 9 et 924.  alive, and (not to repeat the other particulars I have already reckoned up) whose 
3 lib. 2. v. 509.  Horoscope was Capricorn, was the first Great Augustus, and therefore there is no need of calling in the Authorities of 
4 Car. lib. 1. Od. 2. Hic ames dici Pater atque Princeps.  Horace, 
5 Virg. Ec. 1. et Georg. 1.  and 
6 〈…〉 Aug. cap. 94.  Suetonius to prove it.  
This last Character puts me in mind of another Objection that may be drawn from F. Harduin's 
7 de Num. Herod. p. 9  Observation, for he says that Suetonius was himself deceived, and hath deceived all those who have thought Capricorn was concerned in the Nativity of Augustus: For if this be true all the Pretences of Manilius are ruined; but since that Writer doth not back his Assertion with any Reasons, I shall not submit to his bare Authority, nor waste my time in guessing what Arguments he may rely on, being not bold enough to conjecture what the daring Author may produce. Having thus fixed the Age of this Author, and proved him to have lived in the time of Augustus Caesar, I shall venture farther to affirm that he was born under the Reign of that Emperor, not only a Roman, but of illustrious Extraction, being a branch of that noble Family the Manilij, who so often filled the Consul's Chair, and supplied the best and greatest Offices in the Roman Commonwealth. And here I must oppose many of the Critics, and be unassisted by the rest: For 
8 Proleg. in Manil. p. 2.  Scaliger confesses, that from his own Writings, it cannot be known what Countryman he was, and no other Authors give us any Information. Bonincontrius and Gyraldus endeavour to prove from the Medal already mentioned, that he was no Roman; the Learned 
9 Vid. Sir Edward Shirburn's Preface to the Sphere of Manilius.  Isaac Vossius thinks he was a Syrian, and all who look upon him to be the same with that Manilius mentioned by Pliny, Nat. Hist. lib. 35. cap. 17. say he was a Slave: Only Petrus Crinitus 
1 De Poet. Lat.  affirms, he was Nobly Born, and Mr. Tristan will 
2 Hist. Com. Tom. 1.  have him to be that Manilius, of whom Pliny gives a very Honourable Character, in the Tenth Book and Second Chapter of his Natural History; where he says, He was of Senatorian Dignity, an excellent Scholar, and (If we believe Mr. Tristan) a very good Astronomer. But since Crinitus doth not prove what he says, and Mr. Tristan but conjectures at best, and upon Examination, will be found to be very much mistaken in his Conjectures, therefore I cannot expect any assistance from either of these Authors. Now it is not certain that the Gentleman whom Pliny speaks of in the Second Chapter of his Tenth Book was Named Manilius. Copies differ, and in the M. SS. of Salmasius 
3 Vid Salmatium ad Solinum, p.  he is called Mamilius: Pliny doth not say one word of his skill in Astronomy; he only 
4 Vid Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 10. cap. 2.  affirms, That he was the first of all the Romans who wrote concerning the Phoenix, that never any Man saw it feed, that in Arabia it is Sacred to the Sun, that it lives 660 Years, and that with the Life of this Bird is consummated the Conversion of the Great Year, in which the Stars return again to their first points, and give significations of the same Seasons as at the beginning: And all this any one may write who is in an entire Ignorance of the Courses and Influence of the Stars: But when Mr. Tristan farther observes that Pliny insinuates, besides a particular respect, a kind of Intimacy and Acquaintance between this Manilius and himself, he gives us a very convincing Argument against his own conjecture: for there is good reason to believe this Manilius the Poet died before Augustus, and therefore could not be intimate with Pliny.  
To set this whole matter in its due light, I shall, as the learned and ingenious Sr. Edward Shirburn hath already done in his Preface to the Sphere of Manilius take a view of those, who have been by the name of Manilius delivered down to Posterity as Men of Letters, and then consider which of all those, or whether any one of them was this Manilius the Poet.  
Of that Manilius whom Pliny mentions in the second Chapter of his tenth Book I have already said enough; and about that Manilius, whom Varro 
5 De Ling. Lat. lib. 4. et 6.  citys, I shall not be concerned, there being no ground to think he was the Author of this Poem. 
6 Sir Edward Shirburn's pref.  Pliny lib. 35. cap. 17. tells us of one Manilius surnamed Antiochus, who with Publius Syrus, and Staberius Eros were brought to Rome, all three of Servile Condition, but persons of good Literature. His words are these, Pedes Venalium trans mare advectorum [Creta] denotare instituerunt Majores; Talemque Publium [Syrum] mimicae Scenae conditorem, et Astrologiae consobrinum ejus Manilium Antiochum, item Grammaticae Staberium Erotem, eadem navi advectos videre Proavi. Our Ancestors used to mark with Chalk the Feet of those Slaves who were brought over from beyond Sea to be sold; And such an one was Publius [Syrus] the Founder of the Mimic Scene, and his Cousin German Manilius Antiochus of Astrology, and Staberius Eros of Grammar; whom our great Grandfathers saw in that manner brought over in one and the same Ship: This Manilius Laurentius Bonincontrius (who near two ages ago commented on our Author) conceives the same with Manilius who wrote this Astronomical Poem, to confirm which opinion he produces the evidence of a Silver Medal in his possession whereon was the figure of a Man, in an Exotic Habit with a Sphere placed near his Head, and this Inscription MANILI: The same is affirmed says Lilius Gyraldus by Stephanus Dulcinus, and the said Gyraldus farther assures us that a familiar Friend of his, one Nicolaus Trapolinus, had another Medal of the like Stamp and Inscription.  
But against this opinion of Bonincontrius and Gyraldus, Scaliger opposes a double Argument, one drawn from the seeming inveracity of that supposed Evidence; no such Medal being at this day to be found in the Cabinets of any, no not the most curious Antiquaries; the other from the reason of Time, for Manilius Antiochus being brought to Rome in the beginning of Sylla's days (for he was brought in the same Ship with Staberius Eros, who opened his Grammar School in Rome whilst Sylla was alive) must needs, if he were the Author of this Poem have been 120 Years old when he began to write, this piece being written in the latter years of Augustus. Besides, the Author in the Proem of this work wishes for long life to complete his intended Poem, and therefore certainly he was not of that Age, it being ridiculous for a Man to wish for long life, when he is at the Extreme already.  
The same Pliny, lib. 36. cap. 10. speaks of one Manilius a Mathematician, who when the Obelisk which Augustus erected in the Campus Martius for finding out the Hours of the day by the Shadow of the Sun, with the Increase or Decrease of the Days and Nights, placed a guilded Ball, Cujus Vertice Umbra colligeretur in semetipsam, alia atque alia incrementa jaculantem Apice, ratione (ut ferunt) à capite hominis intellecta, says Pliny, who commends the design.  
To this Person Scaliger conceives this work may with fairer probability be ascribed than to the former; which Opinion is by divers other judicious Men embraced.  
The excellently learned Isaac Vossius conceives yet, that the Manilius Antiochus, and the Manilius Mathematicus before mentioned are not two distinct Persons, but one and the same under different Titles and Appellations, and the very Author of the Poem we now publish, whose particular Sentiments upon this Subject, and Arguments confirming the same, he was pleased not long since to impart to me, by his most obliging Letter, in answer to some Queries by me propounded in one of mine to him upon occasion of my intended publication of this piece, which for the Readers satisfaction, I shall here make public, tho' not in his own words, yet as near as may be in his own Sense.  
And first in answer to Scaliger's Argument drawn from Reason to Time, against Manilius Antiochus, upon the supposition of Staberius Eros (one of the Three before mentioned) set open his Grammar School in the time of Sylla ninety five years before the death of Augustus; and that therefore Manilius could not probably be (according to Scaliger's Computation) less than 120 Years old at the time when this Poem was written; he urges by way of reply, that Suetonius (from whom Scaliger takes the ground of his Argument) doth not say that Staberius Eros opened his School in Sylla's time, but that he taught gratis the Children of those who in Sylla's time were proscribed. The Words of Suetonius are these, Sunt qui tradunt tanta eum (Staberium) honestate praeditum, ut temporibus Syllanis Proscriptorum liberos gratis, et sine mercede ulla in Disciplina receperit. How long that was after the times of Proscription will be needless here to declare; and that Manilius was not so old as Scaliger conceives, when this piece was written, may be made out from this, that he was the Cousin German of Publius Syrus, who that he was brought a young Boy to his Patron, Macrobius affirms, from whom likewise, and from the Verses of Laberius it may be collected, that he was but a Youth when he came upon the Stage against Laberius, which was but a little before the death of Julius Caesar and Laberius also; to whom he succeeded on the Mimic Stage in the second year of 184 Olympiad, that is in the Year of Rome 711, as Eusebius testifies. And therefore seeing it is, manifest that Manilius published this Poem soon after the Varian Defeat, which happened in the Year 762 of Rome, it is as evident likewise that between the Youth or Adolescence of Manilius, and the time wherein he wrote this piece, there could not pass above one and fifty Years, and consequently there is no reason to assign so great an Age to Manilius, as Scaliger here doth, since perhaps he was not seventy years old when he had finished this his Astronomical Poem.  
As to what Scaliger subjoins touching Manilius his wish for long life together with a cheerful old Age, and the Inference he thence makes that he could not reasonably be thought to be old then, who wished he might live to be so. The Argument is but weak, for Senium is one thing, and Senium Annosum is another; Nor doth he simply wish for Vitam Annosam, but Vitam Annosam quae conjuncta sit cum molli Senecta, which may be wished for even by those who are very old.  
As for the name of Antiochus, he seems to have taken it from the famous Philosopher Antiochus Ascalonita, often mentioned by Cicero, Plutarch, Sextus Empiricus, and others, whose School not only Cicero, but Varro, Brutus, and diverse others are said to have frequented, and in all probability this our Manilius also, as being not only of the same Nation, but happily born in the same Town (Ascalon.) So that it may seem no wonder if after the manner of those times, he took upon him the Name of his worthy Tutor and Instructor. For that he was a Syrian is not only manifest from his Consanguinity with Publius Mimus, but may likewise be collected from the Title or Inscription of this work, which is an ancient and excellent Manuscript in the Possession of Vossius is this M. MALLII POENI ASTRONOMICON DIVO OCTAVIO QUIRINO AUG. That the Phaenicians were by the Romans called POENI is manifest out of Horace, Cicero apud Nonium, and our Author in this very Poem; he concludes therefore than this our Manilius, or (as he is rather pleased to call him) Manlius was a Phaenician, and in all probability Native of the same Town as Antiochus his Tutor, whose name he assumed.  
From this Dedication of his Work to Augustus, by the Name of Quirinus, as the Inscription shows, will appear the Error of those, who who imagine the same to be Dedicated to Tiberius, or some later Roman Emperor: And the Reason of attributing the Name of Quirinus to Augustus, may be made clear from the Words of Suetonius, Censentibus quibusdam Romulum appellari oportere quasi et ipsum conditorem Urbis, etc. Dion likewise tells us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, That Augustus Caesar extremely desired to be called Romulus: and Joannes Philadelphensis (Scripto de Mensibus in Aug.) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Octavianus Son of Octavius was after his great Victories honoured with divers Names, for by some he was called Quirinus, as another Romulus, etc.  
As to that Manilius styled by Pliny Mathematicus, he conceives that titular distinction to make no difference in the Person, but that he is the same with the former, further adding, Omnino existimo et illum quoque de nostro Manilio accipi debere. And whereas Salmasius affirms that the name Manlius or Manilius is not to be found in that place of Pliny in any ancient Manuscripts, he makes it appear that Salmasius is extremely mistaken by the testimony of several ancient Manuscript Copies of Pliny in his Possession, one of which was written above 8 or 900 Years ago, in all which the Word Manlius is found, though with some small difference in writing of the name. Nor doth he think the name of Marcus prefixd to Manilius ought to be scrupled at, upon the Account that none of the Manlian Family after the 360th Year from the building of Rome could or did use that Praenomen, seeing the prohibition as Cicero intimates is only to be understood of the Patrician Race, Now that this Manilius, or (as he calls him) Manlius was before his Manumission a Slave, not only the place of Pliny already cited, but the very Agnomen of Antiochus sufficiently demonstrates, for as much as a Greek Agnomen joined to a Roman Name is always a most certain Token of a Servile Condition.  
Thus far Sir Edward Shirburn, who is very much inclined to rest satisfied with this rational discourse of the incomparable Vossius, and thinks others should be so too; but upon examination it will appear that Scaliger's Objections are still in force, and that Vossius' his reasonings are all to little purpose. It must be granted that the Agnomen Antiochus proves that Manilius to be of Servile Condition, tho' there is no need of this Argument, since Pliny in very express Terms asserts that he is so: 'tis likewise true that that Manilius was a Syrian, being a near Kinsman to Publius Syrus, and brought to Italy in the same Ship with him: But that that Manilius the Syrian was the same with Manilius the Poet, is a Question that still returns, and will not, I fear, be determined by the Title of that ancient and excellent Manuscript of Vossius: For if instead of M. MALLII POENI, we read M. MALLII POETAE, which is found in other Manuscripts, (and every body knows there is so little difference in the traits of the Letters of those two words in ancient Copies, that they may very easily by Ignorant Transcribers be mistaken for one another) than the Evidence drawn from this Inscription is lost: Besides that Title is not to be regarded, it not being written by the Author but affixed by some heedless Copyer of the Poem: For it is Divo Octavio, whereas Augustus was never styled Divus though often Deus before his Death, and the Writer of the Astronomicon, as will by and by appear, died before Augustus.  
To speak out what I think will not be denied, Manilius the Author of this Poem was young when he wrote it, and died young; and therefore cannot be that Manilius Antiochus whom Scaliger reckons to be 120, and Vossius is forced to confess was 70 years of Age about the time Varus was defeated by the Germans. The first part of this Assertion may be demonstrated from almost all the Pages of his Book, in which we meet with many things that are not to be accounted for on the Hypothesis of Sixty: He is too fierce and fiery for that Age, and bounds every Step he takes: In a Man of years when we find a Warmth we feel it to be regular, he never starts, his Pace is equal, and seldom varies but when his Subject forces him to a more than ordinary quickness.  
Judgement appears all through, and a strength well governed: When he rises he doth not affect to climb but to walk, like a sober Traveller, who knowing his own force seeks the easiest ascent, when his Ground is uneven, or he is obliged to take the advantage of a Prospect. But 'tis not so in Youth whose Fancies as well as Passions are impetuous; that pleases them most which is most daring, finding they have strength they use it to the utmost, and when at last they sink they seem rather worn out, than tired. I cannot compare the Spirit of Poetry possessing a Youth, of a strong generous Imagination and vigorous Constitution, to any thing better than to a Flame seizing on the Body of a Meteor, the whole Mass blazes, and mounts upon a sudden; but its motion is all the way uneven, and it quickly falls in a despicable Jelly: He that looks on the Latin of Manilius will see that I do him no Injury when I compare him to this Meteor, for even when he is obliged to give rules, and is tied almost to a certain form of words, he struggles against those necessary Fetters, he reaches after the strongest Metaphors, uses the boldest Catachresis, and against all the rules of Decency labours after an obscure Sublime, when he should endeavour to be plain, intelligible and easy: But as soon as he hath room to get lose, how wildly doth he rove? he is not free but licentious, and strives to err greatly. 'Tis needless to produce particulars, since they are so visible in the Prefaces, Fables, and Descriptions through his Books: And upon the whole it may be affirmed, there are so many boldnesses scattered through his Poem, and so much of Toysomness just by them, that a Man may read his Youth in his writings, as well as his Contemporaries could do it in his Face.  
I would mention and enlarge upon his conspicuous Vanity, and from thence endeavour to support the Judgement I have already passed; but that I consider that fault when it hath once possessed a Man is not to be cooled by all the Frost and Snow of Age: Yet from the Vanity of Manilius I think a particular Argument may be drawn to prove him to be young, for he had a design to rival or perfect the inimitable Virgil. This is evident from the Preface to his third Book: 
— 
7 Lib. 3. v. 22.  Romanae Gentis Origo,  
Totque Deuces Orbis, tot bella, tot otia, et omnis  
In Populi unius leges ut cesserit Orbis  
Differtur—  For here it is plain he had this mighty project in his head, and after he had prepared himself by this Astronomical Poem, raised his Fancy and got a good turn of Verse, was resolved to prosecute it with his utmost vigour; he saw the vastness of the design 
— 
8 Lib. 3. v. 21.  Spatio majore canenda  
Quam si tacta loquor—  Yet he hoped to live to finish it, though in the beginning of this Poem he wishes for old Age that he might complete the Work he then had in hand; yet having gone through the most difficult part of it sooner, and with more ease than at first he thought he should have done; he sets up for new Schemes and thinks he shall have years enough before him prudently to begin, and Strength successfully to carry on so great an Undertaking. In this very Preface he reckons up a great many other Subjects fit to employ a Poet, but in express terms lays them all aside. 
Colchida nec referam, etc.  
Non annosa canam, etc.  But the Roman History is in his Thoughts tho' he will not begin to write, till his greater leisure gives him opportunity to do it.  
These two Observations persuade me, that Manilius was Young when he began this Poem, and that he died Young, and did not live to finish his design, or accurately Revise what he had written, will I think be very evident from what follows: It cannot be denied, that this Poet had advanced very far in his Work, whilst Tiberius was at Rhodes, for in his fourth Book, he gives this Character of that Island: 

9 Lib. 4. v. 761.  Virgin sub casta felix Terraque Marique,  
Et Rhodos, Hospitium recturi Principis Orbem,  
Tuque domus verè solis, cui tota sacrata es,  
Cum caperes lumen magni sub Caesare Mundi.   
Now 
1 Dion Cassius, p. 634.  Tiberius retired to Rhodes, when C. Antistius and L. Balbus, were Consuls; he continued there Seven 
2 Vell. Paterculus, lib. 2. cap. 99  Years, and returned in the Consulship of P. Vinicius and P. Alfinius Varus; and yet in the first Book we meet with the 
3 lib. 1. v. 894.  Description of the Prodigies that appeared before the defeat of Varus in Germany which happened when Poppaeus Sabinus and Q. Sulpicius Camerinus were Consuls, about eight years after the Return of Tiberius from Rhodes: What shall we say then? was the fourth Book written and published before the first? or would the Poet have strained for that Compliment to Rhodes after the Varian Defeat? with what Propriety could that Island be called Hospitium recturi Principis Orbem, or with what Truth could it be said to contain the most glorious Luminary next to Caesar, when that imagined Star had not for many years been in that Horizon, and now shone in other quarters of the World? No, this had been Banter and inexplicable Riddle: But if we suppose Manilius to have had this Work under his hand several years, to have revised it, and added what he thought would adorn his Poem, than we can easily give an account why his fourth Book should appear to be eight years younger than his first: A little before Tiberius' return from Rhodes he wrote his fourth Book, after that he compossed his fifth, and sixth which is now lost; then at several times revising his Work, and about the time of the Varian Defeat being upon the end of his first Book, he added to his discourse of Comets a short Account of those prodigious Meteors that then appeared, and which Historians 
4 Dion Cassius, lib. 56.  tell us were the most amazing that were ever seen: Soon after this he died before he had corrected the fourth Book, as appears from the Character which in that Book he gives the Island Rhodes, and which his last and finishing hand could not have left there.  
These Observations will help us to give some tolerable account of the other difficulties relating to this Author, for to any one who inquires why the first Book is more correct than the rest? why the Impurities of Style the Critics charge upon him are for the most part picked out of the four last Books? I would answer, we have only the first and rude Draughts of them; and that as Poets and Painters are said to be very near allied, so they agree in nothing more than they do in this, that though in their Scetches we see the Master, yet we may find something that the Finisher would correct: To him who asks why there is no mention of this Poet in any of the Ancients, I would reply, That Manilius having left an unfinished Piece, his Family was studious both of his Credit and their own, they carefully preserved the Orphan, but would not expose it: In that Age when Poetry was raised to its greatest height, it had argued the utmost Fondness or the extremest Folly in a Noble Family to have published a crude uncorrect Poem, and thereby engage their Honours to defend it.  
Besides, Augustus who was infinitely jealous of his reputation (— Si palpere recalcitrat undique tutus, says Horace who knew his Temper very well) would not have born the too officious Compliment of being invoked, unless the Poem had been as correct as Virgil's Georgics, and fit for his Genius to inspire. Lucan afterward suffered for the like Compliment, though indeed upon a far different account: He lost his Life for pretending to be inspired by Nero, when he made better Verses than the Emperor himself; his Flattery to Nero was too great, as this of Manilius to Augustus had been too little, and a Defect in such Addresses was as dangerous under the wise, as an Excess in them was under the vain Emperors of Rome.  
You are sufficiently tired, I fear, with this long Discourse about Manilius full of guesses and conjectures, yet I cannot dismiss this Subject without adding something concerning his Quality, and place of Birth. His Quality he carries in his name, the Manilij being one of the best Families in Rome, which so often filled the Consul's Chair, and was employed in the greatest Offices of that Commonwealth. Indeed some have affirmed that he was of Servile Condition, and being made free, according to Custom, took the name of his Patron: But since I have already proved, that he was not the Manilius Antiochus in Pliny, there is no reason left for any one to say he was a Slave; he himself very expressly, I think, declares himself to be a Roman born, for in his fourth Book he shows a Concern for the Interests of the Roman Commonwealth down as low as the Age of Hannibal. 
5 Lib. 4. v. 40.  Speratum Hannibalem nostris cecidisse catenis: which he could not with any Propriety have done, had his relation to that State commenced so lately, or had his Ancestors had no Interest in the then Losses or Victories of Rome. And seeing he was born a Roman, and of the Family of the Manilij, we may farther from some other Evidences conclude that he sprung from a very considerable, if not one of the noblest Branches of it; for if we reflect that tho' he died young, yet he had been well instructed in the several Hypotheses of the Ancient Philosophers, accurately taught the Doctrine of the Stoics, led through all the intricate mazes and Subtleties of Astrology, that he was acquainted with the Mathematics, knew all the Mythology of the Ancients, and had run through the Greek Poets, we shall find in him all the signs of a very liberal and costly Education, and consequently of a considerable Quality, or at least a great Fortune. But if we reflect farther that he was conversant at Court, and acquainted with the modish, and nicest Flattery of the Palace, that he made his Compliments in the same Phrase that the most intimate and finished Courtier ever used, we may raise another probable Argument that his Quality was great: Now this reflection may be supported by one observation made on the Compliment he pays Tiberius when at Rhodes: He styles him 
6 Lib. 4. v. 764.  Magni Mundi Lumen, using the very same Word, which we meet with in Velleius Paterculus, who wrote all Court Language, upon the very same occasion. 
7 Lib. 2. cap. 99  Alterum Reipublicae Lumen is Tiberius, and he retired to Rhodes, ne Fulgor suus orientium Juvenum, C. et L. Caes. obstaret initiis, says that Historian.  
As to his place of Birth, since we find him at Rome when he wrote this Poem, 
8 Lib. 4. v. 7●5.  Qua genitus cum fratre Remus hanc condidit Urbem: and no Author settles him any where else, it may with some show of Probability be concluded, that he was born in that City, in which we are certain he both studeid, and led his life: But if we consider farther that he takes all occasions to show his respect for Rome, that with Zeal he mentions those extravagant Honours which the Flattery 
9 Italia summà, quam rerum maxima Roma Imposuit terris, Coeloque adjungitur Ipsa. Lib. 4. v. 692.  of Asia, and the Vanity of her own Citizens had put upon her, we shall find so much Veneration in his Writings, that it could not well rise from any other Spring than that Piety which Men of generous Sense and Spirit always retain for the Places of their Birth.  
To close this Discourse, I have proved this Author was not the Manilius Antiochus mentioned by Pliny, Nat. Hist. lib. 35. cap. 17. Nor that Manilius lib. 10. cap. 2. and that both Vossius and Mr. Tristan are very much mistaken in their Conjectures. There remains another Manilius whom the same 
1 Lib. 36. cap. 10.  Pliny, commends for his Skill in Mathematics; this Mathematician Scaliger thinks to be the same with the Poet, because he lived in the time of Augustus, and was conversant in the same Studies with our Author; These I must own are not convincing proofs; but as there are no good Arguments for, so there are no Objections against his pretences, and therefore he still stands fairest for the Person.  
This Manilius of a Noble Family, born in Rome, and living in the Age of Augustus, had a liberal Education suitable to his Quality and the time in which he lived: his Writings show him to be well acquainted with the Principles of the several Sects of Philosophers, but addicted to the Stoics, whose Hypothesis in all its out-lines bears a very near resemblance to some of the Theories that are now in Fashion. The Modern Philosophers build Worlds according to the Models of the Ancient Heathens, and Zeno is the Architect.  
The Stoics Principles were in short these: They say there is one Infinite, Eternal, Almighty Mind, which being diffused through the whole Universe of well ordered and regularly disposed Matter, actuates every part of it, and is as it were, the Soul of this vast Body: The Parts of this Body they say are of two Sorts, the Celestial, viz. the Planets and the fixed Stars, and the Terrestrial, viz. the Earth, and all the other Elements about it: The Celestial continue still the same without any Change or Variation; but the whole Sublunary World is not only liable to Dissolution, but often hath been, and shall again be dissolved by Fire: From this Chaos which, because it is made by Fire, they call Fire, they say another System would arise, the several particles of it settling according to their respective Weights: Thus the Earth would sink lowest, the Water would be above that, the Air next, and the Fire encompass the other Three: But because all the Earthy parts are not equally rigid, nor equally dispersed through the Chaos, therefore there would be Cavities and Hollows in some places fit to receive the Water, and to be Channels for Rivers: In other places Hills and Mountains would rise, and the whole System appear in that very form and figure which it now bears. They farther add, that this Infinite Mind hath made one general decree concerning the Government of the lower World, and executes it by giving such and such Powers to the Celestial Bodies, as are sufficient and proper to produce the designed Effects: This Decree thus executed they call Fate, and upon this Principle their whole System of Astrology depends: That some things happened in the World which were very unaccountable every days Experience taught them; they learned also or pretended to have learned from very many accurate, and often repeated Observations, that there was a constant Agreement between those odd unaccountable Accidents and such and such Positions of the Heavenly Bodies, and therefore concluded that those Bodies were concerned in those Effects: Hence they began to settle Rules, and to draw their scattered Observations into an Art; And this was the State of the Hypothesis and Astrology of the Stoics, (I must call it so for distinction sake, tho', neither the Hypothesis itself, nor the Astrology built upon it was invented by Zeno, but delivered down to him and his Scholars by the Chaldeans and other Philosophers of the East) till the Greeks ambitious of making it appear their own, endeavoured to establish support and adorn it with their Fables, and by that means made that which before seemed only precarious, (as all Arts which are drawn from bare Observation and not from any settled Principles in Nature must appear to be) ridiculous Fancies, and wild Imaginations: But I do not design an Account, nor a defence of the Astrology of the Ancients: You know, Sir, it hath been spoken against and derided on the one Hand, and supported and applauded on the other by Men of great Wit, Judgement, Piety, and Worth: and he who shall take a View of it, will always find enough in it to divert his leisure, if not to satisfy his Curiosity, and raise his Admiration.  
This is the Hypothesis which Manilius endeavoured to explain in Latin Verse: Had he lived to revise it, we had now had a more beautiful and correct piece; he had a Genius equal to his Undertaking, his Fancy was bold and daring, his Skill in the Mathematics great enough for his Design, his Knowledge of the History, and Acquaintance with the Mythology of the Ancients general: As he is now, some of the Critics place him amongst the Judicious and Elegant, and all allow him to be one of the useful, instructive, profitable Poets: He hints at some Opinions which later Ages have thought fit to glory in as their own Discoveries. Thus he defends the Fluidity of the Heavens against the Hypothesis of Aristotle.  
He asserts that the fixed Stars are not all in the same concave Superficies of the Heavens, and equally distant from the Centre of the World: He maintains that they are all of the same Nature and Substance with the Sun, and that each of them hath a particular Vortex of his own; and lastly he affirms that the Milky Way is only the undistinguished Lustre of a great many small Stars, which the Moderns now see to be such, through the Glass of Galileo: In short, we do not give him too great a Character, when we say he is one of the most discerning Philosophers that Antiquity can show.  
In my Version I have endeavoured to render this Author intelligible and easy, and therefore have been sometimes forced to take a larger Compass than a strict Translation would allow; and have added some Notes to make him ●ess obscure: Amongst those Notes y●u will find one relating to the Theory of the Earth, which I must desire you to lay aside, it being written and printed several years ago, and before I had well considered the weak unphilosophical Principles, and pernicious Consequences of that vain Hypothesis.  
And now, Sir, you are near the End of this long Letter, give me ●eave to tell you, that I have not tired ●ou half so much, as at first I designed to do; having left unsaid a great many things relating both to the Author and his Writings: Those perhaps will appear at the Head of a Latin Edition of his Works, which I shall think myself obliged to undertake, unless a very learned Gentleman, from whom I have long expected it, frees me from that trouble, and obliges the World with his own Observations.  
I am Your Humble Servant, T. C. All-Souls, Octo. 10●● 96.   

MANILIUS. The First Book.  
After a short Account of his Design, and a complimental Address to Augustus, he gins, 1. With the Rise and Progress of Astronomy, and other Arts: 2. Discourseth of the several Opinions concerning the Beginning of the World: 3. Describes the Order of it: 4. Proves the Earth to be the Centre of the World: 5. Proves it to be round: 6. Asserts the Soul of the World: 7. Reckons up the Signs of the Zodiac: 8. Describes the Axis: 9 The Northern Constellations: 10. The Constellations between the Tropics and the South-pole: 11. Explains the Figures of the Constellations: 12. Asserts Providence against Epicurus: 13. Discovers the Bigness of the World: 14. Treats of the movable and immovable Circles: 15. Makes a long description of the Milky-way: 16. Reckons up the Planets: 17. Discourseth of Comets and Meteors, and concludes that they presage.  
STars conscious of our Fates and Arts ¹ Divine, 
The Subject of the Poem.   

The wondrous work of Heaven's first wise design,  
In numerous Verse I boldly first enclose;  
Too high a Subject, and too great for Prose.  
At what the Ancients with a wild amaze  
And ignorant wonder were content to gaze,  
My Verse brings down from Heaven, designed to show  
Celestial secrets to the World below:  
What yet the Muse's Groves ne'er heard, I sing,  
And bring unusual offerings to their spring.  
Rome's Prince and Father, 
The Invocation.  Thou whose wide command  
With awful sway is stretched o'er Sea and Land,  
Who dost deserve that Heaven thy Love bestowed  
On thy great Father, Thou thyself a God,  
Now give me Courage, make my Fancy strong,  
And yield me vigour for so great a Song.  
Nor doth the World this curious search refuse,  
It kindly courts the daring of my Muse,  
And will be known; whilst You serenely reign,  
Instruct our Labour, and reward our Pain.  
Wings raise my Feet, I'm pleased to mount on high  
Trace all the Mazes of the liquid Sky,  
Their various turn, and their whirls declare,  
And live in the vast regions of the Air:  
I'll know the Stars, which yet alone to gain  
Is knowledge mean, unequal to the Pain;  
For doubts resolved it no delight affords,  
But fills soft empty heads with rattling words:  
I'll search the Depths, the most remote recess,  
And flying Nature to Confession press;  
I'll find what Sign and Constellation rule,  
And make the difference 'twixt the Wise and Fool;  
My Verse shall sing what various Aspect reigns  
When Kings are doomed to Crowns and Slaves to Chains.  
I'll turn Fate's Books, there read proud Parthia's doom,  
And see the sure Eternity of Rome.  
Two Temples raised with sacred Incense shine, 
The Difficulty.   
I bow at Nature's and the Muse's shrine;  
Both aids I need, for double Cares do throng,  
And fill my Thought; the Subject and the Song:  
And whilst I'm bound to Verse with Orbs immense  
The World rolls round me, and distracts my sense;  
Vast is my Theme, yet unconceived, and brings  
Untoward words scarce loosened from the Things.  
Who first below these wondrous secrets knew?  
Who stole that knowledge which the World withdrew?  
Whose soaring mind those Airy mazes trod  
And spite of Heaven desired to seem a God  
Open the Skies, and teach how Stars obey,  
And run their race as Nature marks the way,  
Their Power and Influence, what directs their Course  
What whirls them round, and what confines their force.  
First Mercury disclosed these mysteries, 
I. The Rise and Progress of Astronomy,   
By Him we view the Inside of the Skies,  
And know the Stars, and now Mankind admires  
The Power, not only Lustre of their Fires:  
By Him all know how great, how just and wise,  
And good is the Contriver of the Skies;  
At whose Command the Stars in order met,  
Who times appointed when to rise and set;  
That HeavensHeavens great secrets may lie hid no more,  
And Man instructed gratefully Adore.  
Nature disclosed herself, and from her Springs  
Pure streams derived o'erslowed the Minds of Kings,  
King's next to Heaven, who o'er the East did sway,  
Where swift Euphrates cuts his rapid way,  
Where ² Nile overflows, and whence the Whirl restores  
The Day to Us, and passing burns the Moors.  
And next o'er Priests, whose constant Cares employed  
In public service did oblige the God,  
His Presence did their holy minds inspire  
With sacred flames, and raised their fancies higher,  
Till by degrees to due perfection wrought  
He made himself the Object of their thought:  
Such were those wondrous Men who first from far  
Looked up, and saw Fates hanging at each Star:  
Their thoughts extended did at once comprise  
Ten thousand revolutions of the Skies,  
They marked the Influence, and observed the Power  
Of every Sign, and every fatal Hour;  
What Tempers they bestowed, what Fortunes gave,  
And who was doomed a King, who born a Slave;  
How Aspects vary, and their change creates,  
Though little, great variety in Fates.  
Thus when the Stars their mighty Round had run,  
And all were fixed whence first their Race begun,  
What Hints Experience did to search impart  
They joined, and Observation grew to Art;  
Thus Rules were framed, for by Example shown  
They knew what would be, from what had been done;  
They saw the Stars their constant Round maintain  
Perform their Course, and then return again;  
They on their Aspects saw the Fates attend,  
Their change on their Variety depend;  
And thence they fixed unalterable Laws,  
Settling the same Effect on the same Cause.  
Before that time Life was an artless State  
Of Reason void, and thoughtless in debate:  
Nature lay hid in deepest Night below,  
None knew her wonders, and none cared to know:  
Upward men look, they saw the circling light,  
Pleased with the Fires, and wondered at the sight:  
The Sun, when Night came on, withdrawn, they grieved,  
As dead, and joyed next Morn when he revived;  
But why the Nights grow long or short, the Day  
Is changed, and the Shades vary with the Ray,  
Shorter at his approach, and longer grown  
At his remove, the Causes were unknown:  
For Wit lay unimproved, the desert plains  
Were unmanured, nor fed the idle Swains:  
Even Gold dwelled safe in Hills, and none resigned  
Their lives to Seas or wishes to the Wind;  
Consigned their search, they knew themselves alone,  
And thought that only worthy to be known:  
But when long time the Wretch's thoughts refin'd,  
When Want had set an edge upon their Mind;  
When Men increased, and Want did boldly press,  
And forced them to be witty for redress;  
Then various Cares their working thoughts employed,  
And that which each invented all enjoyed.  
Then Corn first grew, than Fruit enriched the grounds,  
And barbarous noise was first confined to sounds:  
Through Seas unknown the Sailer than was hurled,  
And gainful Traffic joined the distant World:  
Then Arts of War were found, and Arts of Peace,  
For Use is always fruitful in increase.  
New hints from settled Arts Experience gains,  
Instructs our Labour, and rewards our Pains:  
Thus into many Streams one Spring divides,  
And through the Valleys rolls refreshing Tides.  
But these were little things compared, they knew  
The voice of Birds, in Entrails Fates could view;  
Burst Snakes with charms, and in a Bullock's blood,  
See Rage appeased, or fear an angry God.  
They called up Ghosts, moved deepest Hell, the Sun  
Can stop, and force a Night upon his Noon;  
Then make him rise at Night, for all submit  
To constant Industry, and piercing Wit.  
Nor stopped they here, unwearied Industry  
Risen boldly up and mounted through the Sky,  
Saw all that could be seen, viewed Nature's Laws,  
And young Effects still lying in their Cause.  
What wings the Lightning, why from watery Clouds  
The Thunder breaks, and roars the wrath of Gods.  
What raiseth Storms, what makes the Winds to blow,  
Why Summer Hails more stiff than Winter's Snow:  
What fires Earth's Entrails, what doth shake the Ball,  
Why Tempests rattle, and why Rain doth fall:  
All this she viewed, and did their modes explain,  
And taught us to admire no more in vain.  
Heaven was disarmed, mad Whirlwinds ruled above  
And Clouds and Vapours thundered instead of Jove.  
These things explained, their hidden Cause known,  
The Mind grew strong, and ventured boldly on;  
For raised so high, from that convenient rise  
She took her flight, and quickly reached the Skies;  
To every Constellation Shapes and Names  
Assigned, and marked them out their proper frames  
Then viewed their Course, and saw the Orbs were moved  
As Heaven did guide, and as the World approved;  
That Chance was baffled whilst their Whirls create  
The interchanged Variety of Fate.   

This is my Theme, ne'er yet in Numbers wrought,  
Assist me, Fortune, and improve my thought;  
Equal my Mind to my vast task; prolong  
My life in ease, smooth as my flowing Song;  
That while my Muse is working o'er the Heap,  
And forms this Chaos to a pleasing shape,  
I may with equal care, and equal heat,  
Declare the Little and disclose the Great.  
But now since Fate and Verse do jointly flow  
From Heaven, and both rule equally below.  
First let my Muse whole Nature's Face design,  
Its Figure draw, and finish every Line.  
Whether from Seed it ne'er ³ began to be, 
II. Different Opinions about the beginning of the World.   
Secure from Fate, and from Corruption free;  
Knew no Beginning, and no Ending fears,  
But was, and will be, as it now appears.  
Or huddled ⁴ Chaos by a wondrous Birth  
Arched the vast Sky and fixed the solid Earth;  
And when this shining World once raised its Head  
To Shades Infernal banished Darkness fled.  
Or whether unseen ⁵ Atoms blindly thrown  
Composed it, and as Years whirl nimbly on,  
It must dissolve, and as it first was wrought  
From almost Nothing, fall to almost Nought.  
Or risen from working ⁶ Fire's enlivening Rays,  
Which form Heaven's Eyes, and live in every Mass.  
In Thunder roar, and in the Lightning blaze.  
Or whether ⁷ Water which combines the Frame  
Composed, and keeps it from the loosning Flame.  
Or whether ⁸ Water, Air, and Flame and Earth  
Knew no beginning, no first seeds of Birth;  
But first in Being from themselves arose,  
And as four Members the vast God compose;  
In which Thin, Thick, Hot, Cold, and Moist and Dry,  
For mutual Actions mutual parts supply.  
From whose agreeing disagreement springs,  
The numerous odd Variety of Things.  
These Qualities to act provoke the Seed,  
Make Vital Elements and Bodies breed.  
What 'twas at first, 
III. The Order of the Frame.  and whence the All began  
Is doubted, and the Doubt too deep for Man;  
And let it be, but whencesoe'er it came  
Its Face is certain, 'tis an ordered Frame.  
Upward the ⁹ Flame on active Pinions fled,  
To Heaven's high Arch it raised its shining Head,  
There stopped as weary grown, and round the Frame  
For Nature's Bulwark rolled a Wall of Flame.  
Then liquid Air spread through the empty space  
Less light and active took the second place.  
But next the Flame the lightest parts aspire  
To waste themselves, and feed the greedy Fire.  
The heavyer Water makes an humbler Claim,  
And lies the third in order in the Frame;  
That Vapours rising may, like Seed, repair  
What Fire destroys, and feed decaying Air:  
Weight sank round Earth to the remotest place,  
And floating Sand in clinging Muds embrace  
Stuck fast, whilst Seas squeezed out flowed o'er the Mass:  
As those grew limpid, and diffused the Waves,  
Through spacious Hollows and descending Caves  
Rocks started forth, their Heads the Mountains reared,  
And Earth surrounded by the Flood appeared.  
Lowest of all, and in the midst it lies  
Compassed by Seas, and covered by the Skies.  
The Place doth fix it, for still rising higher  
The other Elements equally retire,  
And that by falling stops its farther fall,  
And hangs the midst and lowest of them all,  
Its parts to one fixed point press jointly down,  
And meet, and stop each other from moving on.  
For did not Earth hang midst the airy space, 
iv The Earth lies in the midst of the World.   
How could the Sun perform his constant race?  
Drive on the Day, fall headlong down the West,  
Force up the Stars, and rise again at East?  
How could the Moon her usual Round maintain,  
Rise, set, and rise near the same point again?  
Or He that leads the Stars at Night return  
To East again, and usher forth the Morn?  
But since Earth did not to a Bottom fall,  
But hangs, and yielding Air surrounds the Ball,  
The way is open, and no stop to force  
The Stars return, or to impede their course.  
For who can think that when the ¹⁰ Sun doth rise  
He's born anew, or when He sets He dies?  
That when one Day He hath displayed his Light  
His Race is finished, and goes out at Night?  
Since He the same doth every Morn appear,  
And as He drives a Day He whirls a Year.  
From the same East He comes with equal pace,  
To the same West He still directs his Race;  
And not one Change is seen in Nature's Face.  
The same Moon shines, and at a certain Day,  
Her light increases, and Her Horns decay.  
The tract she made Nature doth still pursue,  
Nor like a Novice wanders in a new.  
Phoebus still warms those signs where first he shone,  
And Day goes round with one eternal Sun.  
Thus proved: because by just Degrees the Hours  
In different Countries are the same with Ours.  
The Eastern Nations view the rising Fires  
Whilst Night shades us, and lazily retires.  
And as to distant West we nimbly run,  
That still removes, nor can we reach the Sun.  
No East gins, no West his race doth bound,  
But he drives on in one continued Round.  
Nor is it wondrous that one single Ball  
Should hang, since 'tis the Nature of the All.  
No prop supports, but as their motions prove,  
The whole World hangs, and all that whirls above.  
The Sun doth drive his Race through yielding Skies,  
Wheel round the liquid Bound, and set and rise.  
Through Aether, Moon and Stars direct their Race,  
Like these Earth unsupported keeps its place,  
Though not fixed Bottom props the weighty Mass.  
Well then, 
V The Earth is round.  the Earth hangs midst the yielding Air  
Not stretched into a Plain, but every where  
It rises and declines into a Sphere.  
In other Parts this Figure Nature drew,  
The Sun and Stars, if we exactly view,  
Seem round, the Moon is varied every Night,  
Nor with an equal Face receives her Brother's Light.  
This proves her round since different rays adorn,  
Now shape, now bend, now fill her borrowed Horn,  
This Forms Eternal and may justly claim  
A Godlike Nature, all its parts the same;  
Alike and equal to its self 'tis found,  
No End's and no Beginning in a Round.  
Nought can molest its Being nought control,  
And this ennobles and confines the Whole.  
Hence every Country sees not every Sign, 
First Argument.   
What Sailer views the bright ¹¹ Canopus shine  
O'er Egypt's Shores, and when its Rays appear  
Who sees the little Circles of the Bear?  
For Earth still rising to a Round denies,  
A larger Scene, and bounds our feeble Eyes.  
This Truth the ¹² Moon confirms when deep in Night  
Earth interposes, 
Second Argument.  and diverts her Light,  
She doth not all the World at once surprise,  
But now seems dark to these, now other Eyes.  
The Eastern Parts first view her darkened Face,  
Then o'er the South she rolls her broken Rays;  
And then still pressed by the obscuring shade,  
She hears the Western Brass resounding to her Aid.  
Now if the Earth were flat the darkened Moon  
Would seem to all Eclypst as well as one.  
At once presenting to the common view  
Her gloomy looks, and prove this fancy true.  
But since its Figure's round, dim Cynthia's beams  
By just degrees must visit the Extremes;  
Not all at once; she must divide the Skies,  
And while she sets to some, to others rise.  
For in the mighty Concave whirled above  
She rising must, and must declining move;  
Now climb this rising, and her Glories show,  
Then sink again, and scatter Beams below.  
This proves (nor shall the subtlest Wits escape  
These twining Reasons) the disputed Shape.  
By various Animals this Globe's possessed,  
The Common House of Man, of Bird, and Beast;  
The Northern ¹³ parts rise high, the Southern fall  
Beneath our Fee, the Adverse of the Ball.  
Yet as it lies its surface a Flat,  
Though false, its bigness doth improve the Cheat,  
And take the Roundness off, though every where  
It riseth and declines into a Sphere.  
Hence when with setting Beams the Sun withdrawn  
Beholds our East, they see the Morning dawn;  
And when their Toils He with his Light restores,  
Sleep sits on Us, and gently easeth Ours.  
The Sea ¹⁴ runs round, 
VI God the Soul of the World.  and with its circling Waves  
The Flood at once divides, and joins the Halves.  
To that vast Frame in which four parts conspire  
Of different form, Air, Water, Earth and Fire,  
United ¹⁵ God the World's Almighty Soul  
By secret methods rules and guides the Whole;  
By unseen passes He himself conveys  
Through all the Mass, and every part obeys.  
To proper Patients He kind Agents brings  
In various Leagues binds disagreeing Things.  
Makes some Powers act, and some receive their Force;  
And thus whilst Nature keeps her Vital Course,  
Though different Powers the several Things divide,  
The World seems One, and all its parts allied.  
Now Constellations, 
VII. The Signs of the Zodiac.  Muse, and Signs rehearse,  
In order, let them sparkle in thy Verse.  
Those which obliquely bound the burning Zone,  
And bear the Summer and the Winter Sun,  
Those first: then those which roll a different way  
From West: nor Heaven's Diurnal whirl obey:  
Which Nights serene disclose, and which create  
The steady Rules, and six the Laws of Fate.  
First Aries, glorious in his Golden Wool,  
Looks back, and wonders at the mighty Bull,  
Whose backparts first appear: He bending lies  
With threatening Head, and calls the Twins to rise,  
They clasp for fear, and mutually embrace;  
And next the Twins with an unsteady pace  
Bright Cancer rolls: Then Leo shakes his Mane:  
And following Virgo calms his Rage again:  
Then Day and Night are weighed in Libra's Scales,  
Equal a while, at last the Night prevails,  
And longer grown the heavyer Scale inclines  
And draws bright Scorpio from the Winter Signs:  
Him Centaur follows with an aiming Eye  
His Bow full drawn and ready to let fly:  
Next narrow Horns the twisted Caper shows,  
And from Aquarius Urn a flood overflows.  
Near their loved Waves cold Pisces take their Seat,  
With Aries join and make the Round complete.  
Now view the point where turn the shining Bears, 
VIII. The Axis.   
And from their height look down on other Stars.  
Which never set but only change their Sites  
To the same point; and whirl the meaner Lights;  
Thither the Axis runs, whose adverse Poles  
Bears the poised World, and Heaven about it rolls;  
No solid substance that the weight might bear  
But an imagined Line stretched through the Air;  
Begun from either Pole the Line extends  
Earth's Centre through, and in the other ends.  
For since the frame turns round, that fancied Line  
Which cuts the middle, too minutely thin  
By turning round itself to measure space,  
But still confined to one imagined place,  
Is called the Axis; cause unapt to move  
It sees Stars whirl, the shining Planets rove,  
And swiftly measure the vast space above.  
Fixed near the Pole appear those friendly Stars  
Well known to wretched greedy Mariners; 
IX. The great Bear.   
Which guide their Sails, and which direct their Oars,  
When mad for gain they fly to foreign Shores.  
(Whilst Heaven itself befriends their Avarice,  
What Pleas may wretched Mortals make for Vice?)  
Seven equal Stars adorn the greater Bear,  
Which measure larger Circles of the Sphere,  
And teach the Grecian Sailors how to steer.  
The smaller Bear, 
The little Bear.  though less in size and light  
In narrower Circles she commands the Night,  
Yet Tyre prefers, for through the Ocean tossed  
They sail by her and find the foreign Coast;  
These stand not front to front, but each doth view  
The others Tail, pursued as they pursue.  
Betwixt and round these two the Serpent twines, 
The Serpent.   
At once divides, and to their place confines;  
Secure from meeting they're distinctly rolled,  
Nor leave their Seats, and pass the dreadful fold:  
These keep the Vertex, but betwixt the Bear  
And shining Zodiac where the Planets Err,  
A Thousand Figured Constellations roll,  
Some near the Zodiac, some placed near the Pole:  
Whose differing Powers by tempering Skies combined  
Make Seasons fruitful, and refresh Mankind.  
First near the North, 
Hercules.  as conscious of his shame  
A Constellation knelt without a Name;  
And next Boötes comes, 
Bootes.  whose ordered Beams  
Present a Figure driving of his Teams.  
Below his Girdle, near his Knees, He bears  
The bright Arcturus, 
Arcturus.  fairest of the Stars.  
Behind his Back the radiant Crown is viewed, 
The Crown.   
And shines with Stars of different magnitude;  
One placed i'th' front above the rest displays  
A vigorous light, and darts surprising rays.  
This shone since Theseus first his faith betrayed,  
The Monument of the forsaken Maid.  
Nor far from these distended Lyra lies, 
The Harp.   
Well strung, the sounding glory of the Skies.  
This Orpheus struck when with his wondrous Song  
He charmed the Woods, and drew the Rocks along;  
When Hell obeyed, when Death resigned her Chain,  
And loosed his dear Eurydice again;  
This gained it Heaven, and still its force appears,  
As then the Rocks it now draws on the Stars.  
The Planets dance, and to the tuneful sound  
The Heaven consents, and moves the fatal Round.  
Next Ophiuchus strides the mighty Snake, 
Ophiuchus.   
Untwists his winding Folds, and smooths his Back,  
Extends its Bulk, and o'er the slippery Scale  
His wide stretched Hands on either side prevail:  
The Snake turns back his Head, and seems to rage,  
That War must last where equal Powers engage.  
Next view the Swan, 
The Swan.  whom Jove advanced above,  
That Forms reward by which He caught his Love.  
When shrouded in the fair deceitful shape,  
He cheated trusting Leda to a Rape:  
Now graced with Stars his Wings stretched o'er the Skies.  
And next the Swan the shining Arrow flies: 
The Arrow.   
The towering Eagle next doth boldly soar, 
The Eagle.   
As if the thunder in his Claws he bore:  
He's worthy Jove, since He, a Bird, supplies  
The Heaven with sacred Bolts, and arms the Skies.  
Next raised from Seas the Dolphin's Tail appears, 
The Dolphin.   
The Glory of the Flood and of the Stars.  
Whom while the Horse (one radiant Star doth grace  
His generous Breast) pursues with eager pace, 
The Horse.   
His Legs before, as running, He extends,  
But closed in fair Andromeda he ends. 
Andromeda.   
Her Perseus joins, her Foot his Shoulder bears  
Proud of the weight, 
Perseus.  and mixes with her Stars.  
Five splendid Stars in its unequal Frame  
Deltoton bears, 
The Triangle.  and from the shape a Name;  
But those that grace the sides dim Light display  
And yield unto the Basis brighter Ray.  
Next with her Cepheus Cassiopeia shines, 
Cepheus and Cassiopcia.   
Her posture sad, and mourns amongst the Signs;  
She sees her Daughter chained, the rolling Tide  
The Monster spout, and curses her old Pride:  
She fears that Perseus will inconstant prove,  
And now in Heaven forget his former Love;  
But He attends, and bears the Gorgon's head,  
His Spoil, and witness of a coming aid.  
Near the bend Bull a seat the Driver claims, 
Heniochus.   
Whose skill conferred his Honour and his Names,  
His Art great Jove admired, when first he drove  
His rattling Carr, and fixed the Youth above.  
Next stormy Hoedi shine which shut the Main, 
The Hoedi.   
And stop the Sailors hot pursuit of gain.  
Then shines the Goat, 
The Goat.  whose Brutish Duggs supplied  
The Infant Jove, and nursed his growing Pride.  
From that wild Food He did to Heaven aspire,  
Fierce Thunder throw, and dart the blasting Fire.  
Then mindful of her Care the grateful God  
Repaid her with those Skies which she bestowed.  
Then Pleiades and Hyadeses appear, 
The Pleyades and Hyadeses.   
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 benumbs my Muse,  
I fly from Thee, and warmer Regions choose;  
Betwixt the Tropics of the Travelling 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 Arms 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 displayed,  
And three obliquely grace his hanging Blade.  
In his vast Head immersed in boundless spheres  
Three Stars less bright, but yet as great, he bears.  
But farther off removed, their Splendor's lost,  
Thus graced and armed 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 increasing Heats:  
Those that from Taurus view this rising Star,  
Guess thence the following state of Peace and War,  
Health, Plagues, a fruitful 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.  
●ut far removed he through the distant space  
●arts feeble splendour from his Azure face.  
Yet others He excels, no fairer Light  
Ascends the Skies, none sets so clear a bright.  
Next protion view, 
protion.  view, and next the nimble Hare,  
Then Argo sailing through the liquid Air; 
The Hare.   
Advanced from all the Dangers of the Tides, 
Argo.   
Which first she stemmed, she now securely rides.  
Heaven is her Port, and now she rules the Floods,  
A Goddess made for saving of the Gods.  
Close by the Serpent spreads; 
The Serpent.  whose winding Spires  
With ordered Stars resemble scaly Fires.  
Next flies the Crow, 
The Crow.  and next the generous Bowl  
Of Bacchus flows, 
The Cup.  and cheers the thirsty Pole.  
The Centaur next in double shapes expressed,  
A Humane Body joins a Horse's Breast.  
The World's great Temple next, 
The Altar.  and Altar lies  
Graced with the Gifts of conquering Deities,  
When Earthborn Giants did the Skies invade,  
The lesser Gods implored the greater's Aid;  
His Power Jove doubted when he viewed from far  
The threatening force of the unequal War.  
When He inverted Nature's Frame beheld,  
That Earth risen upward, and that All rebelled.  
That Hills on Hills heaped, raised their threatening 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 frightful Makes,  
Vast Humane Bodies twisted into Snakes.  
E'er this no Danger and no fear was known,  
And wanton Jove sat idly in his Throne.  
But lest some greater Power (soft ease betrayed  
His Mind to doubt) should yield the Rebel's aid,  
He raised this Altar, and the Form appears  
With Incense loaded, and adorned with Stars.  
Next on his Belly floats the mighty Whale  
He twists his Back, 
The Whale.  and rears his threatening Tail;  
He spouts the Tide, and cuts the foaming Way,  
Wide gapes his Mouth, as eager on his Prey;  
Such on Andromede He rushed, and bore  
The troubled Waves beyond their usual shore.  
Next Swims the Southern Fish, 
The Southern Fish.  which bears a Name  
From the Southwind, and spreads a feeble Flame.  
To him the Floods in spacious windings turn, 
The Floods.   
One Fountain flows from cold Aquarius Urn;  
And meets the other where they join their Streams  
One Channel keep, and mix the Starry Beams.  
Betwixt th' Eclipctic 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 excelled 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 confines,  
That there as many Constellations move,  
We must believe from what we find above.  
For Fancy, which decaying Sense supplies,  
Not only 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 fixed complete the Whole;  
But raise thy thought from sense, 
XI. The Figures of the Constellations only fancied.  nor think to find  
Such Figures there, as are in Globes designed;  
Nor think that Stars set close compose the Frames,  
Or that the Signs are all continued Flames.  
For than 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 'tis 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.  
Fancy those parts that lie obscured between,  
For 'tis enough that some of them are seen:  
But chief 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 tract nor vary in a New.  
From one fixed point they start, their Course maintain  
Repeat their whirl, and visit it again:  
And this is strange, and this doth more surprise  
Than all the other wonders of the Skies,  
That such unwieldy frames their signs should draw,  
As moved by Reason, and confined 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 moved by Providence.  
Which like the Soul doth every Whirl advance;  
It must be God, nor was it made by Chance;  
As Epicurus dreamt, He madly thought  
This beauteous Frame of heedless Atoms wrought,  
That Seas and Earth, the Stars and spacious Air  
Which forms New Worlds, or doth the Old repair,  
First risen from these, and still supplied remain,  
And All must be, when Chance shall break the Chain,  
Dissolved to these wild Principles again.  
Absurd and Nonsense! Atheist use thine Eyes,  
And having viewed the order of the Skies,  
Think, if Thou canst, that Matter blindly hurled,  
Without a Guide should frame this wondrous World.  
But did Chance make, and Chance still rule the Whole  
Why do the Signs in constant order roll?  
Observe set Times to shut and open Day,  
Nor meet, and justle, and mistake their Way?  
Perform their Course as if by Laws confined,  
None hasten on, and leave the rest behind.  
Why every Day doth the discovering Flame,  
Show the same World, and leave it still the same?  
Even then when ¹⁷ Troy was by the Greeks overthrown,  
The Bear opposed to bright Orion shone;  
She near the Pole in narrow Rounds did move,  
He faced her then, and measured the vast space above.  
And even at Night when Time in secret flies,  
And veils himself in Shades from humane Eyes;  
They by the Signs could know how fast He fled,  
And in the Skies the hasty Minutes read.  
How many Towns have fallen, what well-built States,  
Since Troy, have sunk below oppressing Fates?  
How many Times hath sporting Fortune hurled  
The Chance of Rule and Slavery through the World?  
How hath she now reversed Troy's ancient Doom,  
And built her Relics greater up in Rome?  
Revived old Ilium doth new Spoils enjoy,  
And Greece now bends beneath the Fate of Troy.  
Why should I count how oft the Earth hath mourned  
The Sun's retreat, and smiled when he returned?  
How oft he doth his various Course divide  
'Twixt Winter's Nakedness and Summer's Pride?  
All Mortal Things must change. The fruit full Plain,  
As Seasons turn, scarce knows herself again;  
Such various forms she bears: large Empires too  
Put off their former Fance, and take a new.  
Yet safe the World, and free from Change doth last,  
No Years increase it, and no Years can waste;  
Its Course it urges on, and keeps its Frame,  
And still will be, because 'twas still the same.  
It stands secure from Time's devouring Rage,  
For 'tis a God, nor can it change with Age.  
And that the Sun ne'er drives the rising Day  
From North to South, nor leaves the beaten way;  
That weary grown He still falls down the West  
At Night, nor turns his Horses to the East;  
That Light by just Degrees the Moon adorns,  
First shows, then bends, then fills her borrowed Horns,  
And that the Stars in constant order roll,  
Hang there, nor fall, and leave the liquid Pole;  
'Tis not from Chance; The Motion speaks aloud  
The wise and steady conduct of the God.  
These equally disposed in Order lie,  
Make various Shapes, and chequer all the Sky.  
Above them nought; To the World's Top they risen,  
Painting the Roof of Nature's Common House;  
Which in a wide Embrace doth all contain,  
The spacious Air, the Earth, and raging Main;  
These Set in order, and in order Rise,  
As West drives down, or East brings up the Skies.  
But now how vast the Arch, 
XIII. The bigness of the World.  how next immense  
The Zodiack's Round, though far removed from Sense,  
Plain Reason shows; whose Active Force can pierce,  
The deep Recesses of the Universe.  
No Bars can stop it, through the World it flies,  
And Heaven itself lies open to its Eyes.  
As great a space as Earth, and humble Seas  
From Heaven divide, so great two Signs possess.  
The World's ¹⁸ Diameter by Art is found,  
Almost the third Division of the Round.  
Therefore as far as four bright Signs comprise,  
The distant Zenith from the Nadir lies.  
And two thirds more almost surround the Pole,  
The Twelve Signs measure, and complete the Whole.  
But since the Earth hangs midst the spacious All,  
The Solid Centre of the Liquid Ball,  
Therefore as far as e'er our Eyes can pass  
Upward, or downward, could they pierce the Mass,  
Till bounding Sky the wearied Sight confines,  
Is equal to the distance of two Signs.  
And six such spaces the vast Round complete  
Where All the Signs their constant Whirls repeat,  
And each lies distant in an equal Seat.  
Nor must you wonder such Varieties  
Of different Fates from the same Stars should rise.  
Since great their Empire, and unlike their force,  
Their Seats so large▪ and so immense their Course.  
Thus far advanced my towering Muse must rise, 
XIV.   
And sing the Circles that confine the Skies,  
Describe the tract, and mark the shining Way,  
Where Planets Err, and Phoebus bears the Day.  
One towards the North sustains the Shining Bear  
And lies divided from the Polar Star; 
The Northern Polar Circle.   
Exactly ¹⁹ six divisions of the Sphere.  
Another drawn through Cancer's Claws confines, 
The Tropical Circle of Cancer, or Summer Solstice.   
The utmost Limits of the Fatal Signs;  
There when the Sun ascends his greatest height  
In largest Rounds He whirls the lazy Night.  
Pleased with his Station there He seems to stay,  
And neither lengthens nor contracts the Day.  
The Summer's Tropic called.—  
It lies the fiery Sun's remotest Bound,  
Just five Divisions from the other Round.  
A third twines round, 
The Equinoctial.  and in the midst divides  
The Sphere, and see the Pole on both its sides.  
And there when Phoebus drives, He spreads his Light,  
On all alike, and equals Day and Night.  
For in the midst, He doth the Skies divide,  
And cheers the Spring, and warms the Autumn's Pride.  
And this large Circle drawn from Cancer's Flame,  
Just four Divisions parts the Starry Frame.  
Another Southward drawn exactly sets  
The Utmost Limits to the Sun's retreats; 
The Tropic of Capricorn.   
When hoary Winter calls his Beams away,  
Obliquely warms us with a feeble Ray,  
And whirls in narrow Rounds the freezing Day.  
To Us his Journey's short, but where He stands  
With Rays direct, He burns the barren Sands.  
To wished-for Night he scarce resigns the Day,  
But in vast Heats extends his hated Sway.  
The last drawn round the Southern point confines  
Those Bears, 
The Southern Polar Circle.  and lies the Utmost of the Lines.  
Wise Nature constant in her Work is found:  
As five Divisions part the Northern ●ound;  
From the North point, This Southern Round appears  
Just five Divisions distant from its Bears.  
Thus Heaven's divided, and from Pole to Pole  
Four Quadrants are the Measure of the Whole.  
The Circles five, by these are justly shown,  
The Frigid, Temperate and the Torrid Zone.  
All these move Parallel, they set, they rise,  
At equal Distance moving with the Skies;  
Turned with the Orbs the common Whirl repeat,  
Are fixed, nor vary their allotted Seat.  
From Pole all round to Pole two Lines expressed, 
The Colour.   
Adversely drawn, which intersect the rest  
And one another; They surround the Whole,  
And crossing make right Angles at each Pole:  
These into four just parts, by Signs, the Sphere  
Divide, and mark the Seasons of the Year.  
One drawn from Heaven's high top descends from far, 
The Aequinoctial Colour.   
And cuts the Serpent's Tail, and the dry Bear:  
The Equinoctial Scales, the Snake's Extremes,  
And next the Southern Centaur's middle Beams;  
Then thwarts the Adverse Pole, and next divides  
The mighty Whale, and parts its scaly sides;  
Bright Aries point, and splendid Trigon passed,  
The fair Andromeda below the Waste,  
And next her Mother's Head it cuts, and then  
The Pole, and closeth in itself again.  
Cross this, 
The Solsticial Colour.  and from the Pole doth first appear  
The Other, through the forefeet of the Bear,  
And through its Neck; (which when the Sun retires  
First shines, and spreads black Night with feeble Fires)  
Then parts the Twins and Crab, the Dog divides,  
And Argo's keel that broke the frothy tides.  
And then the Pole and other Circle crossed  
To Caper turns contracted in his Frost:  
The Eagle cuts, and the inverted Lyre,  
Black Dracoes folds—  
The hinder Paws o'th' Bear, and near the Pole  
It's Tail, and closing there completes the Whole.  
These Rounds immovable, their site the same,  
Here Seasons fix, nor vary in the frame.  
Two more are movable: 
The Meridian.  one from the Bear  
Described surrounds the middle of the Sphere,  
Divides the Day, and marks exactly Noon  
Betwixt the rising and the setting Sun:  
The Signs it changes as we move below,  
Run East or West, it varies as You go;  
For 'tis that Line, which way soever we tread,  
That cuts the Heaven exactly o'er our head,  
And marks the Vertex; which doth plainly prove  
That it must change as often as we move.  
Not one Meridian can the World suffice,  
It passes through each portion of the Skies;  
Thus when the Sun is dawning o'er the East  
'Tis their sixth hour, and sets their sixth at West:  
Though those two hours we count our days extremes,  
Which feebly warm us with their distant Beams.  
To find the other Line cast round thine Eyes, 
The Horizon.   
And where the Earth's high surface joins the Skies,  
Where Stars first set, and first begin to shine,  
There draw the fancied Image of this Line:  
Which way soever you move 'twill still be new,  
Another Circle opening to the view;  
For now this half, and now that half of Sky  
It shows, its Bounds still varying with the Eye.  
This Round's Terrestrial, for it bounds contains  
That Globe, and cut the middle with a Plain;  
'Tis called the Horizon, the Round's design,  
(For 'tis to bond) gives title to the Line.  
Two more Obliqne, 
The Zodiac.  and which in adverse Lines  
Surround the Globe, Observe: One bears the Signs  
Where Phoebus drives and guides his fiery Horse  
And varying Luna follows in her Course.  
Where Planets err as Nature leads the Dance,  
Keep various measures undisturbed by Chance;  
It's highest Arch with Cancer's beams do glow,  
Whilst Caper lies, and freezes in the low:  
Twice it divides the Equinoctial line,  
Where fleecy Aries, and where Libra shine.  
Three Lines compose it, and th' Eclypticks found  
Ith' midst; and all decline into a Round.  
Nor is it hid, nor is it hard to find,  
Like others open only to the Mind;  
For like a Belt with studs of Stars the Skies  
It girds and graces; and invites the Eyes:  
To twelve Degrees its Breadth, to thrice sixscore  
Its Length extends, and comprehends no more:  
Within these bounds the wand'ring Planets rove,  
Make Seasons here, and settle Fate above.  
The other Round from Bears opposed begun  
Runs adverse to the Chariot of the Sun, 
XV. The Milky way.   
It leaves the Pole, and from its Round retires,  
And cuts inverted Casiopeia's Fires:  
Thence still descending and obliquely drawn  
It passes through the Body of the Swan,  
Then Cancer's fires, the headlong Bird of Jove,  
The Line and Zodiac where the Planets rove:  
And thence in various wind turns to meet  
The other Centaur, and entwines his feet:  
And thence to mount through Argo's Sails gins,  
The Line, and lowest portion of the Twins;  
Then joins the Driver, and from thence ascends  
O'er Perseus, and to Cassiopeia tends,  
There 'tis received in her inverted Chair,  
In her the Round gins, and ends in Her.  
Twice cuts the Tropics, Zodiac and the Line,  
And is as often cut by those again.  
Nor need we with a prying Eye survey  
The distant Skies to find the Milky way,  
It must be seen by All, for every night  
It forcibly intrudes upon our sight,  
And will be marked for shining streaks adorn  
The Skies as opening to let forth the Morn.  
And as a beaten Path that spreads between  
A trodden Meadow, and divides the Green.  
Or as when Seas are ploughed behind the Ship,  
Foam curls on the green surface of the Deep.  
In Heaven's dark surface such this Circle lies,  
And parts with various Light the Azure Skies.  
Or as when Iris draws her radiant Bow  
Such seems this Circle to the World below.  
It all surpriseth, our enquiring sight  
It upward draws, when through the Shades of Night  
It spreads its Rays, and darts amazing Light.  
Fond Men the sacred Causes strive to find,  
And vainly measure with a feeble Mind:  
And yet they strive, they madly whirl about  
Through various Causes, still condemned to Doubt.  
Whether the Skies ²⁰ grown old, 
Various Opinions about the Milky way.  here shrink their Frame,  
And through the Chinks admit an upper Flame.  
Or whether here the Heavens two Halves are joined  
But oddly closed, still leave a Seam behind:  
Or here the parts in ²¹ Wedges closely pressed,  
To fix the Frame, are thicker than the Rest,  
Like Clouds condensed appear, and bound the Sight,  
The Azure being thickened into White.  
Or whether that old ²² Tale deserves our Faith,  
Which boldly says, that this was once the Path  
Where Phoebus drove; and that in length of Years  
The heated tract took Fire and burnt the Stars.  
The Colour changed, the Ashes strewed the Way,  
And still preserve the marks of the Decay:  
Besides, Fame tells, by Age Fame reverend grown,  
That Phoebus gave his Chariot to his Son,  
And whilst the Youngster from the Path declines  
Admiring the strange Beauty of the Signs;  
Proud of his Charge, He drove the fiery Horse,  
And would outdo his Father in his Course.  
The North grew warm, and the unusual Fire  
Dissolved its Snow, and made the Bears retire;  
Nor was the Earth secure, each Country mourned  
The Common Fate, and in its City's burned.  
Then from the scattered Chariot Lightning came,  
And the whole Skies were one continued Flame.  
The World took Fire, and in new kindled Stars  
The bright remembrance of its Fate it bears.  
Thus Fame, nor must the softer Fable die  
That Juno's Breast overflowing stained the Sky,  
And made that Milky way, which justly draws  
Its Name, the Milky Circle from its Cause.  
Or is the spacious bend serenely bright  
From little Stars, which there their Beams unite,  
And make one solid and continued Light?  
Or Souls which loosed from the ignoble Chain  
Of Clay, and sent to their own Heaven again,  
Purged from all dross by Virtue, nobly rise  
In Aether wanton, and enjoy the Skies.  
Great Atreus Sons, Tydides' fixed above,  
And stout Achilles equal to our Jove;  
With three-aged Nestor: He that bravely stood  
The Dangers of the Land and of the Flood.  
Ulysses, Nature's Conqueror, enjoy  
The Skies deserv●d; with all the Chiefs at Troy.  
Jove's Son Sarpedon, He that Lycia swayed:  
The black Merione, the Martial Maid,  
Had Fate stood Neuter, Troy's securest Aid.  
With all those Kings that Greece or Asia bore,  
Or Pella ²³ greatest in her Conqueror.  
Next these the grave and prudent Heroes rise,  
Whose solid Riches lay in being Wise;  
There good Zeleucus, stout Lycurgus shine,  
Solon the just, and Plato the Divine.  
His Master next, whose Blood unjustly spilt  
On Athens still reflects a real Gild.  
Next Persia's Scourge who strewed the joyful Flood  
With Xerxes' fleet, and checked the growing God:  
Who broke his Force, when Neptune bore the chain,  
And proved his juster Title o'er the Main.  
Here Romans joined, the greatest Crowd, reside,  
The Kings, e'er Tarquin stained the Throne with Pride.  
The Horace's our Army in our Wars,  
The Town which he defended, Cocles bears;  
Next Clelia rides, the brightest Maid in Fame,  
And Scevola more glorious by his Maim.  
Then He on whom the Helping Crow bestowed  
A Name, and in the Figure brought a God.  
Camillus who the Stars deserved to gain  
For saving Jove, when Thunder roared in vain;  
Patient of wrongs, and whilst alive adored,  
The Founder of that Rome that He restored.  
Next Brutus sits, and next, unlearned in Fear,  
The fierce Revenger of the Pyrrick War,  
Papyrius shines; The Decii, o'er their Foes  
In Triumphs Equal, Rivals in their Vows.  
Fabritius, Curius, for their Country bold,  
Alike in Courage, and too great for Gold.  
Marcellus, Sword of Rome, the third that bore  
A Royal spoil, and Cossus graced before:  
Next Fabius sits, who left the Common way  
To Victory, and Conquered by Delay.  
Livy and Nero glorious for the fall  
Of haughty Carthage in her Asdrubal.  
The Scipio's Africks' Fate both joined in One,  
The latter ending what the first begun.  
Pompey by Thrice the Conquered World adored,  
Before God Caesar stooped to be our Lord:  
The famed Metelli; Tully, Rome's defence,  
Deserving Heaven for precious Eloquence.  
The Claudian Race, and the Emilian Line  
With Fortune's Conqueror great Cato shine.  
But Venus Julian race, who drew their rise  
From Heaven▪ return again and fill the Skies;  
Where great Augustus, with his partner Jove  
Presides, and views his Father fixed above.  
Quirinus joins him, and is pleased to see  
The Caesars grow Rome's Founders more than Herald  
The highest Arch contains the greater Gods,  
The Godlike Heroes fill these next Abodes;  
Those generous Souls, that ran an equal race  
In Virtue's Paths, and claim a second place.  
Thus far my Muse hath with success been crowned,  
Or sound no stops, or vanquished those she found.  
And thus encouraged now she boldly dares  
To sing the Fatal compacts of the Stars.  
But stop thy flight, sing all the Fires that shine  
And influence too, and finish thy design.  
Seven Fires refuse the World's Diurnal force, 
XVI. The Planets.   
From West to East they roll their proper Course.  
Cold Saturn, Jove, fierce Mars, the fiery Sun,  
With Mercury 'twixt Venus and the Moon.  
Some swift▪ some slow, they measure different Years,  
And make the wondrous Music of the Spheres.  
But these are constant, 
XVII. Meteors.  these adorn the Night,  
Whilst Others seldom shine and then affright.  
For few have viewed a Comet's dreadful train,  
Which Wars foretells, and never shines in vain,  
Soon catch on Fire, and die as soon again.  
The Reason's this; when days serenely fair  
Have chased the Clouds, and cleansed the lower Air,  
And mists breathed out from Earth rise through the Sky,  
The moister parts are conquered by the Dry.  
And Fire enticed by the Convenient Mass  
Descends, and lights it with a sudden blaze:  
But since the Body's thin, the Parts are rare  
And Mists, like smoke, lie scattered through the Air;  
As soon as e'er begun, the feeble fire  
Must waste, and with the blazing Mass expire.  
For did they long exist, their constant Light  
Would seem to bring new Day upon the Night;  
Whole Nature's Course would change, and from the Deep  
The Sun would rise, and find the World a-sleep.  
But since in various Forms the Mists must rise, 
Several sorts of Meteors.   
And shine in the same Figures o'er the Skies,  
These sudden Flames thus born by Chance at Night,  
Must show as much variety of Light.  
Some equally diffused, 
Stella Crinita.  like flaming Hair,  
Draw fiery Tresses through the Liquid Air.  
And straight the Mass that fiery Locks appeared  
Grows short, 
Barbara▪  and is contracted to a Beard.  
Whilst some in even and continued streams,  
Are round like Pillars, 
Trabs.  or are squared like Beams.  
And some with Bellied Flames large Tuns present, 
Pithetes.   
Alike in shape, and equal in extent.  
Some tied in knots like hairy Curls are spread, 
Bostruchias.   
A narrow Covering o'er the Comets Head.  
The Meteor Lamp in parted Flames appears, 
Lampadias'.   
The Sheaf uneven shakes her bended Ears.  
But still when wand'ring Stars adorn the Night, 
Stipulae ardentes.   
The falling Meteors draw long trains of Light. 
Stella cadens.   
Like Arrows shot from the Celestial Bow,  
They cut the Air, 
Acontiae.  and strike our Eyes below:  
Fire lies in every thing, in Clouds it forms  
The frightful Thunder, and descends in storms.  
●t passes through the Earth, in Aetna raves,  
And imitates Heaven's Thunder in its Caves.  
●n hollow vales it boils the rising Floods,  
●n Flints 'tis found, and lodges in the Woods,  
●or tossed by storms, the Trees in Flames expire,  
●o warm are Nature's parts, so filled with Fire.  
Therefore when Mists, which wand'ring Flames retain,  
pursue and catch, and leave as soon again,  
Blaze o'er the Skies when through the parted Frame  
The Meteors break in one continued Flame,  
Or when midst Rain, or through a Watery Cloud  
Quick Lightning flies, or Thunder roars aloud,  
Wonder no more; for o'er the spacious All  
Is fire diffused, and must consume the Ball.  
When eating Time shall waste confining Clay,  
And fret the feeble Body to decay.  
Thus far through paths untrod my Muse has gone,  
Found different Causes, but not fixed on One,  
Such various Flowers in Nature's field invite  
Her gathering Hand, and tempt her greedy sight;  
That drawn by many she scarce one enjoys,  
Lost in the great Variety of Choice.  
For Earthy Mists involving Seeds of Flame  
May rise on high, 
Different Opinions about Meteors.  and fiery Comets frame;  
Or little Stars by Nature joined in One  
May shine, though undiscovered when alone.  
Or they are constant Stars, whose Natural Course  
The Sun o'er powers by his prevailing Force,  
Draws from their Orbs, and shadows by his Light,  
Then frees again, and opens to our sight.  
Thus Mercury, thus Venus disappears,  
Then shines again, and leads the Evening Stars.  
Or God in pity to our Mortal state  
Hangs out these Lights to show approaching Fate; 
Comets presage.   
They never idly blaze, but still presage  
Some coming Plague on the unhappy Age.  
No Crop rewards the cheated Farmer's toil,  
He mourns, and curses the ungrateful Soil;  
The meager Ox to the successless Blow  
He yokes, and scarce dares make another Vow.  
Or wasting Plagues their deadly Poisons spread,  
Increasing the large Empire of the Dead.  
Men die by Numbers, and by heaps they fall,  
And mighty Cities make one Funeral.  
On groaning Piles whole huddled Nations burn,  
And Towns lie blended in one Common Urn.  
Such Plagues Achaia felt, 
The Plague of Athens.  the fierce Disease  
Laid Athens waste, and spoiled the Town in Peace.  
It bore the helpless Nation to the Grave,  
No Physic could assist, no Vows could save;  
Heaps fell on Heaps, and whilst they gasped for Breath,  
Heaps fell on those, and finished half their Death.  
None nursed the Sick, the nearest Kinsmen fled;  
None stayed to bury, or to mourn the Dead.  
The Fires grown weary died beneath their Spoils,  
And heaped-up Limbs supplied the place of Piles.  
Vast Emptiness and Desolation reigned,  
And to so great a People scarce one Heir remained.  
Such are the Plagues that blazing Stars proclaim,  
They light to Funerals their unlucky Flame.  
They show not only private Plagues to come,  
But threaten Mortals with the Day of Doom.  
When Piles Eternal Heaven and Earth shall burn,  
And sickly Nature fall into her Urn.  
They sudden Tumults, 
Wars.  and strange Arms declare,  
And when close Treach'ry shall start up to War.  
When faithless Germans did of late rebel,  
And tempt their Fate, when Generous Varus fell,  
And three brave Legions blood the Plains did drown,  
O'er all the Skies the threatening Comets shone.  
Even Nature seemed at War, and Fire was hurled  
At Fire, and Ruin threatened to the World.  
These things▪ are strange, but why should these surprise,  
The Fault is Ours, since we with heedless Eyes  
View Heaven, and want the Faith to trust the Skies.  
They Civil-Wars foretell, and Brother's rage,  
The Curse and the disgraces of an Age.  
Never more Comets drew their dreadful Hair  
Than when Philippi saw the World at War.  
Scarce had the Plains drunk up the former Blood,  
On scattered Bones and Limbs the Romans stood  
And fought again; disdaining meaner Foes,  
(A wretched Conquest where the Victors lose)  
Our Empire's power did its own self oppose;  
And great Augustus o'er the slaughtered Heaps  
Pursued bright Victory in his Father's steps.  
Nor did the Rage end here, the Actium fight,  
That bloody dowry of a wanton Night,  
Remained, and raised by Cleopatra's Charms  
The headlong Nations ran again to Arms.  
The Chance for the whole World was thrown again,  
And the Skies Ruler sought upon the Main,  
Then War obeyed a Woman, Timbrels strove  
With Thunder, Isis with the Roman Jove.  
Nor stopped it here, but the degenerate Son  
Stained all the Glory that his Father won.  
The Seas great Pompey freed He seized again,  
His Pirates lay like Tempests on the Main.  
The Relics of the Wars, the Impious Slaves  
Were armed for fight, and ravaged o'er the Waves.  
Till the torn fleet died all the Seas with Blood,  
And Asia's Chains revenged the injured Flood.  
Let this, O Fates! suffice; Let Discord cease,  
And raging Tumults be confined by Peace.  
Let Caesar triumph, let the World obey,  
And long let Rome be happy in his Sway.  
Long have him here, and when she shall bestow  
A God on Heaven enjoy his Aid below.   
The End of the First Book.   

NOTES.  
1 Whether Divinas is to be rendered Divining or Divine is not yet agreed by the Interpreters of the Poet; by rendering it Divine, Manilius is freed from a redundancy of Words, and the Origine of Astronomy, which he so often inculcates in other places, is hinted at: beside, Divinus seldom signifies Divining, but when a Substantive follows which determines it to that sense, as Divina imbrium, and the like, and in that case I find Milton venturing at it in his Poem: — Divine of future Woe.  
2 It seems very plain that this whole description respects only the Eastern Kings, and therefore Manilius must be reckoned amongst those who believed the head of Nile to be in the East; and lest he might be thought to have forgotten the Egyptians, I am inclined to think he includes them under the Priests, to whose care Astronomical Observations were peculiarly committed.  
3 This was the Opinion of Xenophanes, Melissus, Aristotle and others; and Pliny thus concludes in the second Book cap. 1. of his Natural History: 'Tis reasonable to believe that the World is a Deity, eternal and immense, that never had a beginning, and never shall have an end. As absurd an Opinion as ever was proposed, and repugnant to all the Appearances of Nature; look upon the Rocks on the Sea shore, and having observed their continual wearing, consider how few thousands of years they must have stood: direct thy eye to Heaven, and view the several changes in that which was thought impassable; and in short, reflect on the essential vileness of matter, and its impotence to conserve its own being; and then I believe you will find reason to put this Opinion amongst those absurdities which Tully hath allotted to one or other of the Philosophers to defend.  
4 This blind fancy we own to the Phoenicians, who (if Philo Biblius' Sancuniathon may be trusted) taught that the Principles of the Universe were a Spirit of dark Air, and a confused Chaos; this Spirit at last began to Love, and joining with the Chaos, produced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or slime, and thence fashioned the World. And hence likely the more sober part of the Greek Philosophers, (for they were but borrowers of Learning) who required two eternal principles, the one active and the other passive, such as Plato, Anaxagoras, etc. took their notions, and having added some few new ornaments, vented them for their own.  
5 The Philosophy of Epicurus is too well known to need any explication.  
6 The Opinion of Heraclitus, concerning which see the first Book of Lucretius.  
7 Thales the Milesian endeavoured to establish this by Arguments drawn from the Origine and Continuation of most things: The seminal Principle of Animals is humid, Plants are nourished by mere Water; Fire itself cannot live without Air, which is only water rarefied, and the Sun and Stars draw up vapours for their own nourishment and support. These were the considerations upon which he grounded his Opinion; and hence 'tis easy to guests that he kept up the credit of his School rather by those riches which he gained by his lucky conjecture at the scarcity of Olives, than by the strength of argument and reason.  
8 The Assertion of Empedocles, agreeable to which Ovid sings, 
Quatuor aeternus genitalia Corpora Mundus  
Continet—.   
9 There is something in this scheme of Manilius so like the ingenious conjecture of the excellent Author of the Theory of the Earth, that what reflects on the one must have an influence on the other, and when the fiction is confuted the serious discourse will find itself concerned: The Stoics held the material part of their Deity to be changeable, and that too as often as the fatal Fire prevailed, and reduced the Elements into one Chaos; in such a confusion the Poet supposeth the first matter of his World, and then makes the different parts separate, and take proper places, according as they were light or heavy: agreeable to this Opinion the Theory of the Earth supposeth a Chaos, which he defines to be a Mass of Matter, fluid, consisting of parts of different sorts and sizes, blended together without any union or connexion. The solid and heavyer parts of this Chaos descend to the Centre, by their own weight, and there fixing and growing hard, compose the inward Body of the Earth; the lighter parts fly upward, and being continually agitated, make that Body which we call Air; the middle sort being somewhat heavyer, and not so much agitated, cover-over the solid interior Body of the Earth; and its fat and oily parts rising, and swimming on the surface, stop and detain those heavyer particles which upon the first separation were carried up by the Air, and afterward according to their several degrees of Gravity fell back again toward the Centre: These particles sticking in this oily matter, made a soft crust, which in time being hardened by the Sun and those breezes which always attend its motion, became the habitable Earth. This Earth thus formed was solid, and without Caverns, nor had it any inequalities on its surface; as to its site, its Axis was parallel to the Axis of the Ecliptic, both its Poles being equally inclined to the Sun; and as to its figure it was Oval. These are the few easy principal parts of that excellent Hypothesis, settled on the obvious notions of Gravity and Levity, and on the acknowledged Nature, and allowed Motion of a Fluid. And from these so many curious propositions are naturally deduced, so many difficulties concerning Paradise and the Flood happily explained, and all set off with that neatness and aptness of expression, and that variety of curious thought, that I am very much inclined to believe that Nature was never so well dressed before, nor so artificially recommended. And it is pity that the first acknowledged Principles of Philosophy will not allow it to be true. Inherent Qualities are now generally exploded, as unphilosophical, not to be understood, and unfit to explain the Phaenomena of Nature. The Acceleration of a heavy Body in its descent (beside a thousand other Arguments) quite overthrows Gravity both as an accident of Aristotle, and as essential to Matter, according to the fancy of Epicurus; so that this motion proceeds only from external impulse, and depends upon the present order of the World. So that Philosophy will not allow the supposition of Gravity or Levity in a confused Chaos, since it can sufficiently demonstrate that they are neither inherent qualities, nor essential to matter, and that it is in vain to look after them, before the system of the World was settled in the present order. From this hint it is easy to infer that the supposed Chaos would have still continued such, the solid Parts would have been agitated this or that way indifferently by the restless particles of the Fluid, but there could have been no orderly separation, because no Principle of it.  
But suppose such a separation, why must the outward Crust of the Globe be without Caverns in its Body, and Inequalities on its Surface? What Law of Nature doth necessarily prove that in such a confusion the solid parts must be equally dispersed through the Body of the Air? If we trust our Eyes, and look upon a Dust raised by the ruin of a House, or only consider what Confusion is, it will be very hard to find such a regular and orderly disposition. And since these solid Bodies may be unequally dispersed, and every one of them tends to the Centre by a direct Line, whenever they settle, the Body which they compose must be unequal in its surface.  
Yet to let this Difficulty pass, its Figure according to this Hypothesis will be much more Oval than common observation will allow, for since it is said to be Oval because the Motion of the Aequator is swifter than that of the Polar Circles, the figure must be almost as much Oval, as the Circle of the Aequator is bigger than the Circle of the Pole; there being nothing to hinder the utmost effect of this motion but the weight of the Fluid endeavouring to reduce itself to a Level, which of what moment it will be in this Case I leave to be considered.  
And as for its site, that renders the torrid and the frigid Zones unhabitable; intolerable Heats still burning the former, and the continual gathering and dropping of the vapours making the others too cold and moist to entertain either Man or Beast. And this one concession, I am afraid, spoils most part of the Contrivance; for these portions of the Crust could never grow hard, being continually moistened by the Vapours, and so little exposed to the Sun, or that breeze which attends its motion: And therefore, whenever Vapours were drawn from the Abyss in the Torrid Zone, these parts of the Arch being not firm enough to sustain themselves, must sink in; and those Vapours that were imprisoned between the surface of the Abyss and the solid part of the Crust of the Earth, might have found an easy passage through this soft portion of the Crust, and therefore could not contribute to the general dissolution of the Frame. Besides, from such a muddy Fountain what could be expected but streams unwholesome and corrupted, and unfit for that end for which they were designed, and for that use, to which sacred Scripture tells us they were employed?  
A great many other inconveniences in Nature may be observed to follow this Contrivance; but because this Hypothesis was not set up for its own sake, but to give an intelligible account of Noah's Flood; I shall close these reflections with a few considerations upon that.  
And first the Author pleads for an universal Flood, it being inconsistent with the demonstrated Nature of a Fluid, that Water should stand up in Heaps fifteen Cubits above the tops of the highest Mountains. This I am willing to admit, though there is no reason why Omnipotence might not be immediately concerned in this, since he himself confesseth, that the forty days Rain cannot according to his Hypothesis be explained by any Natural Cause that he can find out.  
Secondly, He compares the height of the Mountains and the Depth of the Sea, and having as to both made allowable suppositions (though the Course of the longest River, even the Nile itself, will not prove its head to be above three foot higher than its mouth) he infers that eight Oceans will be little enough to make an universal Deluge: The Waters above the Firmament are exploded; the Rain would afford but the hundredth part of such a Mass of Water, unless the showers were continual, and over the face of the whole Earth, and the Drops came down ninety times faster than usually they do. (Though here a Man would be apt to think from the expressions in Genesis, The Windows of Heaven were opened, that there was somewhat very extraordinary in this Rain, and that all those required conditions were observed.) The Caverns of the Earth, if they threw out all the Water they contained, could afford but little in comparison of the great store that was required; And if the whole middle region of the Air had been condensed, still there had not been enough, because Air being turned into Water filleth only the hundredth part of that space which it formerly possessed. Though all the other ways by which some have endeavoured to explain the Flood, were demonstrably insufficient, yet this last which gives an account of it from so natural and easy a Cause as the condensation of the Air deserved to be considered a little more; but it is the Art of a Disputer to touch that lest which presseth most on that Opinion which he would advance. For it being allowed that Air by natural Causes may be changed into Water, and a Vacuum in this very Chapter being excluded, it necessarily follows, that as much Air as riseth fifteen Cubits higher than the tops of the Mountains is sufficient to make such a Deluge as is described to have been in Noah's time. Because where there is no Vacuum, there can be no contraction into a less space, and every particle of Matter, whatever form or schematism it puts on, must in all conditions be equally extended, and therefore take up the same Room. But suppose a Vacuum, or (as it happens in our imperfect condensations) that a hundred cubical feet of Air would make but one foot of Water, yet sure the Region is large enough to make amends for this disproportion: Now since Nature is sufficient for condensation, and since its powers may be considerably invigorated for the execution of the Almighty's wrath; why must it be thought so difficult to explain a Deluge? and why should an excellent Wit waste itself in fashioning a new World, only to bring that about which the old one would permit easily to be done? It is above the Province of Philosophy to make a World, let that be supposed to have been formed as it is revealed, it is enough for us to search by what Laws it is preserved; and a system erected on this foundation will be agreeable both to Reason and to Religion.  
10 He explodes the Opinion of Xenophanes, and the Fancy of Epicurus. Vid. Lucretius' fifth Book.  
11 Canopus is a Star in the Southern Keel of the Ship Argo, of the first magnitude: These particulars as to the Appearance of the two Stars are not mathematically true, yet serve well enough for the Poet's design, sufficiently proving the roundness of the Earth.  
12 This Argument being taken from the Eclipse and not from the increase or decrease of the Moon, the Poet must be understood, not as to divers moments of Time, for the Moon at the same instant is seen Eclipsed by all to whom she appears above the Horizon, but as to the diversity of Hours at which the Eastern or Western People reckon the Eclipse to begin or end.  
13 This is to be understood in respect of those who inhabit the Northern Hemisphere, to whom the North Pole is still elevated.  
14 It was the Opinion of the ancient Poets, and some others, that the Sea was as a Girdle to the Earth, that it ran round it as an Horizon, and divided the upper Hemisphere from the lower.  
15 Release this Soul from that union which the Stoics foolishly assigned, and then to hold a Soul of the World and Providence is all one.  
16 Manilius is not constant in his Position; most commonly as a Poet he turns his face to the West, and then the North is on his right hand, and the South on the left: sometimes as an Astronomer he turns his face to the South, and this is the position in this place.  
17 Alluding to the two Verses in Homer's sixth Iliad, 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   
18 Demonstrated by Archimedes in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Prop. 3. That the Circumference of every Circle exceeds three times the Diameter thereof by a part that is less than 1/7th, and greater than 10/70.  
19 Eudoxus divided the Sphere into sixty parts, and this division Manilius follows, and according to that describes the Position of the Celestial Circles.  
20 The Opinion of Diodorus.  
21 Macrobius reports Theophrastus to be the Author of this Fancy.  
22 From Plutarch we learn that Metrodorus and others asserted this, and Achilles Tacius fixes this foolish Opinion on Oenopides Chius.  
23 The learned Mr. Hayns dislikes Scaliger's reading, which I have followed, and thinks that he meant that Pella was a Woman; a more solemn foppery was never met with, and this Note, beside a great many others, may serve to credit the Dauphin Editions of the Classic Authors.   

MANILIUS. The Second Book.  
Manilius takes care frequently to tell his Reader that he is the first that ever ventured on an Astrological Poem; He seems mightily pleased with his undertaking, hugs it as his Firstborn, and the Son of his strength, and is very troublesome in acquainting us with the pains which he suffered at its Birth; and then reckons up the Beauties of the Child, and what great hopes he conceives of it: If ever he deserved Scaliger's Character, that he knew not when to leave off, it must be acknowledged that this is the Case in which it may be chief applied: We need look no farther than the beginning of this Book to be satisfied in this matter; He spends about sixty Verses in reckoning up the chief Subjects of Homer, Hesiod, Theocritus and others; all which being laid aside, he declares his design to be wholly new; and then gins, 1. To prove the World to be one Animal: 2. The Influence of the Heavens: 3. He Describes the several species of the Signs. 4. The various configurations or aspects of the Signs; and tells us what are Trines, what Quadrates or Squares; what Hexagons or Sextiles; and what are Right and Left in each of these. 5. What Signs are said to be conjoined, what not, and what opposed; to what Sign each part of Man's body is appropriate; what Signs are said to hear, what to see one another; what are friendly, and what not. 6. The friendly and unfriendly aspects of the Signs, and the various aspects of the Planets in the Signs. 7. The Twelfths or Dodecatemoria of the Signs and Planets. 8. The twelve Celestial Houses, and assigns to each its proper Planet.  
IN lasting Verse the mighty Homer sings  
The Trojan Wars, 
Homer.  the King of fifty Kings,  
Stout Hector's brand, the bloody dreadful Field,  
And Troy secure behind the Hero's Shield:  
Ulysses' wander, and his travelling years,  
In time and glory equal to his Wars:  
How twice with conquering Fleets he ploughed the Main,  
Whilst Scylla roared, and Neptune raged in vain.  
And how at Home he fixed his tottering Throne,  
Redeemed his honour, and secured his Son:  
Usurping Wooers felt his thundering Sword,  
And willing Nations knew their Native Lord.  
His Subjects these, and from his boundless Spring  
MANILIUS. The Second Book.  
Manilius takes care frequently to tell his Reader, that He is the first who ventured on an Astrological Poem: He seems mightily pleased with his Undertaking, hugs it as his Firstborn, and the Son of his Strength: He at large acquaints us with the Pains which He suffered in bringing it to Perfection, and then reckons up the Beauty of the Child, and what great Hopes He conceives of it: ' If ever he deserves Scaliger's Character, That he knew not when to leave off, it must be principally then when He speaks of himself and his own Performance. We need look no further than the Beginning of this Book to be satisfied in this matter: He spends about Sixty Verses in reckoning up the chief Subjects of Homer, Hesiod, Theocritus, and other Poets, all which being laid aside. He declares his Design to be wholly new, and then gins, 1. To assert, that the whole Word is Animate, and God the Soul of it 2. The Influence of the Heavens. 3. He reckons up the several kinds or sorts of Signs, as, 4. Male and Female Signs: 5. Human and Brute Signs. 6. Single and Double Signs. 7. Pairs. 8. Double Signs made up of different Species. 9 Signs Double by Place, viz. Those that immediately precede the Four Tropic Signs. 10. Signs of Natural or Unnatural Postures. 11. Day and Night Signs. 12. Earth and Water Signs. 13. Fruitful and Barren Signs. 14. Signs of different Postures. 15. Maimed and entire Signs. 16. Season Signs. 17. He sings the various Configurations or Aspects of the Signs: As, 18. Trines. 19 Quadrates or Squares; shows what are to be accounted Right and what Left in these Figures: And, 20. Adds several Cautions concerning Squares and Trines. 21. He describes the Intercourse or Agreement of Trines and Quadrates. 22. Of Hexagons or Sextiles, of which he gives a particular Account. 23. Of Contiguous Signs. 24. Of Unequal Signs. 25. Of Opposites. 26. He shows what Gods are the Guardians of each Sign. 27. The Signs for the several parts of the Body. 28. What Signs See, Hear, Love, or Hate each other. 29. He makes a short Digression about Friendship. 30. He treats of the Friendly and Unfriendly Aspects. 31. Of the Dodecatemoria, or Twelfths. 32. Of the Dodecatemoria of the Planets, and proposes two ways to find them. 33. He describes the Celestial Houses, assigning them their Proper Charges and their Titles, together with the Planets which presided in them; and then concludes this Second Book.  
THE mighty Bard in lasting Numbers sings  
Ilium's long Wars, 
Homer.  the King of fifty Kings;  
Brave Hector's Brand, the bloody dreadful Field,  
And Troy secure behind the Hero's Shield.  
He sings Ulysses, and his wand'ring Years  
●n Time and Glory equal to his Wars:  
He sings how twice He conquering ploughed the Main  
Whilst Scylla roared, and Neptune raged in vain,  
And how at Home He fixed his tottering Throne,  
Redeemed his Honour, and secured his Son:  
Usurping Wooers felt his thundering Sword,  
And willing Nations knew their Native Lord.  
His Subjects these, from whose ¹ abundant Spring  
●ucceeding Poets draw the Songs they sing;  
●rom Him they take, from Him adorn their Themes,  
●nd into little Channels cut his Streams, ●ich in his store—  
Next Hesiod sings the God's Immortal Race, 
Hesiod.   
●e sings how Chaos bore the Earthy Mass;  
●ow Light from Darkness struck did Beams display,  
●nd Infant-Stars first staggered in their way:  
●ow Name ² of Brother veiled an Husband's Love,  
●nd Juno bore unaided by her Jove:  
●ow twice-born Baccbus burst the Thunderer's Thigh,  
●nd all the Gods that wander through the Sky.  
Hence He to Fields descends, manures the Soil,  
Instructs the Ploughman, and rewards his Toil:  
He sings how Corn in Plains, how Vines in Hills  
Delight, how Both with vast Increase the Olive fills:  
How Foreign Graffs th'Adulterous Stock receives,  
Bears stranger Fruit, and wonders at her Leaves:  
An useful Work, when Peace and Plenty reign,  
And Art joins Nature to improve the Plain.  
The Constellation's Shapes ³ some make their Themes, 
Eratosthenes.   
Sing whence they came, and how adorned with Beams,  
Andromeda enjoys kind Perseu's Aid,  
The Sire unbinds, the Mother mourns the Maid:  
calisto ravished now the Pole surveys,  
Nor grieves to change her Honour for her Rays:  
The Little Bear that rocked the mighty Jove,  
The Swan whose borrowed Shape concealed his Love  
Are graced with Light, the Nursing Goat's repaid  
With Heaven, and Duty raised the Pious Maid;  
The Lion for the Honours of his Skin,  
The squeezing Crab, and stinging Scorpion shine  
For aiding Heaven, when Giants dared to brave,  
The threatened Stars; and Thunder failed to save:  
And now the Fish ignoble Fates escape  
Since Venus owed her Safety to their Shape:  
The Ram having passed the Sea, serenely shines,  
And leads the Year, the Prince of all the Signs.  
Thus whilst by Fables They the Stars advance,  
They vainly make the Heaven one large Romance;  
Earth fills the Sky, the Mass ignobly reigns,  
And Heaven's upheld by that which it sustains:  
Fables absurd, which Nature's Laws reject,  
To make the Cause depend on the Effect.  
The sweet Theocritus with softest Strains  
Makes piping Pan delight Sicilian Swains; 
Theocritus.   
Through his smooth Reed no Rustic Numbers move,  
But all is Tenderness, and all is Love;  
As if the Muses sat in every Vale,  
Inspired the Song, and told the melting Tale.  
Some Birds, 
Macer.  some Wars of Beasts, or Serpents write,  
Snakes in their Poems hiss, and Lion's sight:  
Some Fate in Herbs describe, 
Nicander.  some Sovereign Roots,  
Or see gay Health spring up in saving Fruits:  
One breaks through Nature's stubborn Bars, 
Some old Poet who described Hell.  invades  
The rest, and sacred Silence of the Shades,  
Turns up the inside of the World, and Night,  
And brings Eternal Darkness into Light.  
Of every Subject now the Muses sing,  
And Floods confused come tumbling from their Spring,  
Yet dry as fast, nor can Parnassian Streams  
Suffice the Throngs that crowd to common Themes.  
I seek new Springs which roll refreshing Waves  
Through Plains untrod, and Purls in hidden Caves,  
Kept pure for Me, which Birds did ne'er profane,  
And thirsty Phoebus oft hath sought in vain:  
My Verse shall be my Own, not stolen, but wrought;  
Mine, not the Labour of Another's Thought.  
My Vessel's trimmed, tho' never launched before,  
I spread my Sails, and boldly leave the Shore:  
I'll sing how God the World's Almighty Mind  
Through All infused, 
1. The World an Animal, and God the Soul of it.  and to that All confined,  
Directs the Parts, and with an equal Hand  
Supports the whole, enjoying his Command:  
How All agree, and how the Parts have made  
Strict Leagues, subsisting by each others Aid;  
How All by Reason move, because one soul  
Lives in the Parts, diffusing through the whole.  
For did not all the Friendly Parts conspire  
To make one Whole, and keep the Frame entire;  
And did not Reason guide, and Sense control  
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 Vapours to the Sky;  
Seas would not fill the Springs, nor Springs return  
Their grateful Tribute from their flowing Urn:  
Nor would the All, unless contrived by Art,  
So justly be proportioned 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  
Through all diffused so turns, and guides the whole,  
That nothing from its settled Station swerves,  
And Motion altars 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 removed, tho' hid in Shades of Night,  
And scarce to be descried by their own Light;  
Yet Nations own, and Men their Influence feel;  
They rule the Public, and the Private Will:  
The Proofs are plain. Thus from a different Star  
We find a fruitful, or a barren Year;  
Now Grains increase, 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 chief swells the Streams,  
When opposite she views her Brother's Beams;  
Or when she near in close Conjunction rides  
She rears the Flood, and swells the flowing Tides;  
Or when attending on his yearly Race  
The Equinoctial sees her borrowed 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 borrowed 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 show 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 ● rise to distant Shore's  
Retires, his Body sprinkles, and adores:  
Some see Storms gathering, or Sereneses foretell,  
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 allied?  
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 fixed, nor can its Laws decay,  
'Tis Heaven's to rule, and Matter's Essence to obey.  
Who could know Heaven, unless that Heaven bestowed  
The Knowledge? or find God, but part of God?  
How could the Space immense be e'er confined  
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  
Proportioned 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 through the Maze above;  
Discover Nature, show 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 itself, the Art is plain;  
For Art well grounded forces to believe,  
It cannot be deceived, nor can deceive;  
Events foretold fulfil the Prophecy,  
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'er beat before;  
Where none will meet, none guide my first Essay,  
Partake my Labours, or direct my way,  
I rise above the Crowd, I leave the Rude,  
Nor are my Poems for the Multitude.  
Heaven shall rejoice, nor shall my Praise refuse,  
But see the Subject equalled by the Muse;  
At least those favoured 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 itself is Fate.  
My Subject this, and I must this pursue,  
This wondrous Theme, 
3.  though read, and praised 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 intermixed they fall  
In order turned, ⁶ one Female, and one Male.  
Some Signs bear ⁷ Humane Shapes, 
5. Humane and Brute Signs.  some Signs expressed  
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 expressed combines,  
No Single Influence flows from Double Signs.  
What Powers, or good or bad, one Part displays,  
They may be altered 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, though both Pair Signs, possess,  
Because their Parts Position disagrees;  
For tender Gemini in strict embrace  
Stand closed, and smiling in each others Face:  
Whilst Pisces glide in two divided Streams,  
Nor friendly seem, nor mix agreeing Beams.  
Thus though 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 mixed, no parts are lost  
From their due Form; whilst other Pairs are joined  
Of Nature's 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  
Whether the Signs are framed of different parts,  
Or only Pairs, it much imports to know,  
For hence comes great 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 Tropic Signs,  
Because in those two Seasons mixed 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 uneasy Course.  
Thus thou midst double Signs mightst doubly claim  
A place, both from thy Seat, and from thy Frame:  
The like in Pisces is observed, 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 Watery 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 show unnatural Figures in the Skies:  
Since then through 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 increasing with the Pain;  
Yet my swift Muse, like Larks on towering Wings  
Mounts to the Skies, and as she mounts she sings:  
She sees Signs various in her Airy Flight  
Some Signs of Day, and other Signs of Night:  
Not so 
11 Day Signs and Night Signs.  distinguished Cause those Signs maintain  
Those times distinctly, and then choose to reign:  
For then as Years roll 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 fixed them to these Times:  
The Centaur, Lion, and the golden Ram,  
Fish, Crab, and Scorpio with his venomed 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 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 confined:  
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 poisonous Scorpio lurks in gloomy Shades;  
The Danger is despised, 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 watery, there an Earthy Beam.  
How shall these things, yet they reward thy pain,  
Reason's in All, and nothing's framed 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 removed, too far disjoined to prove  
The fruitful Pleasures of increasing Love!  
'Twixt these two kinds a Third nor fruitful Beams  
Nor Barren spreads, but joins the two Extremes:  
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 undesigned, a Cast  
Of busy Nature as she wrought in haste;  
That some show 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 pressed 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 watery Pisces low, and gently glide  
In Streams divided, always on their side.  
But search minutely, and you find a 
15 Maimed and entire 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 complete, 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 gins:  
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 Kind's, and Figures of the Single Signs,  
They work by Compact, they their Beams unite  
To mutual Aid determined 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'er 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 by Position shown;  
In 
19 Quadrates.  Quadrates: 
See Fig. 2.  which to know, the Round divide  
By Squares exactly equal on each side;  
Where Angles close the Perpendiculars  
There lie the Signs agreeing in the Squares.  
To give an Instance then, observe the Site,  
The narrow Goat sees Libra on the Right,  
Oth' Left the Ram, at equal distance lies  
The Crab, and on the Left sees Libra rise,  
To make a Square agreeing in the Skies.  
This single Instance all the rest declares,  
And shows that twice six Signs compose three Squares.  
But now should any 
20 Cautions concerning Squares and Trines.  think their Skill designs  
The Squares aright, and well describes the Trines,  
And that they hit the Rule when ere they ' give  
Four Signs to Squares, to Trines allotting Five;  
And thence presume to guests what mutual Aid  
The Signs afford, they'll find their Work betrayed:  
For though on every side five Signs are found  
To make the several Trines that fill the Round,  
Yet Births in each Fifth Sign no Fates design  
To share th'united Influence of the Trine.  
They lose the Thing, though they preserve the Name,  
For Place and Number still oppose their Claim:  
For since the Round where Phoebus guides his Reins  
Three hundred, and thrice twenty parts contains,  
One third of those, as we the Round divide  
By Trines, to every Trine must make one side;  
But Sign apply to Sign, not Part to Part,  
This Number's lost; and therefore false the Art.  
For though Three Signs appear to interpose  
Between the Two in which the Angles close;  
Yet take the Scheme as 'tis exposed to sight,  
And join the utmost parts of Left and Right;  
Then count the number; on the slightest view  
You'll quickly find it much exceeds the true:  
Thrice fifty parts it holds, and thus one Line  
Defrauds the other, and destroys the Trine;  
And therefore though the several Signs retain  
The Name of Trines, they claim the Parts in vain.  
The like Mistake, when you design a Square,  
Thy Art may baffle, and elude thy Care;  
For as the Round we by Degrees divide  
To every Quadrate Ninety make one side:  
Now from the first from which gins the Line,  
Tothth' last degree of the succeeding Sign  
If you count on, twice sixty parts prepare  
To crowd upon thee, and deform the Square:  
Or from preceding Signs last parts descend  
To Signs succeeding, let the Reckoning end  
I'th' first Degree of those: the space confines  
But sixty parts, the number of Two Signs;  
Thus count from Fourth to Fourth, Degrees too few,  
Or else too many will thy Work pursue,  
Elude thy Skill, and prove the Scheme untrue.  
Then take Advice, nor from my Rules departed  
Nor think thy Figures well designed by Art,  
' Cause Four in Squares, Three equal Lines in Trines  
In Angles meeting there divide the Signs;  
For in all Trines the single sides require  
Sixscore Degrees to make the Scheme entire  
Squares ninety ask: but more or less proclaim  
The Figure, faulty, and destroy the Frame.  
And where the several Lines in Angles close,  
They there the Trines, or else the Squares dispose▪  
 

Sext: 1: ♈ ♊ ♌ ♎ ♐ ♒ sixth: 1: ♉ ♋ ♍ ♏ ♑ ♓   
These mutual Aid by Nature's Laws convey,  
And jointly act with an agreeing Ray.  
And therefore every Birth, that Squares or Trines  
Enjoys, not always carries all the Lines;  
And tho' the Signs the name of Squares may gain,  
Or Trines, they never shall their Force obtain:  
They cannot jointly act, their Rays unite,  
Tho Trines they seem, and show like Squares to sight:  
For wide the difference, whether those Degrees,  
The Line takes up, which to it Art decrees;  
Or from the Numbers, which the Circle fill,  
Detracting somewhat, it eludes thy Skill:  
For then of Signs too many or too few  
It will possess; and make the Scheme untrue.  
Thus far of these: 
21. The Intercourse of Trines and Squares.  But now expect to share  
More vigorous Influence from the Trine than Square;  
For Lines that measure Squares remotely tend,  
And almost close with the Celestial Bend;  
But those that make up Trines to Earth repair,  
Downwards they shoot, 
See Fig. 3.  from Signs the Influence bear,  
And with a nearer Ray infect our Air.  
From Signs Alternate little Friendship's due, 
22. Of Sentiles   
Asquint they look, and with a partial view;  
The Line that measures them obliquely drawn,  
Through various Angles goes not freely on; 
See Fig. 4.   
Many its stops, in every other Sign  
The Angle closing still diverts the Line;  
Forward it darts, but soon it meets a Bound,  
And six times broke, it leisurely creeps round:  
From Taurus stretched to Cancer, thence it bends  
To Virgo's Sign, and thence to Scorpio tends;  
Cold Caper meets it next, and thence it goes  
To Aries, upward then to Taurus flows,  
Where, whence it first began, we find the Figure close.  
The Other, for the Round contains no more,  
Meets all the Signs the Second missed before;  
Then passing those already sung, go on,  
To all the Others let the Lines be drawn,  
And equal Angles make the other Hexagon.  
You see their Site, and thus Obliqne they lie,  
And view each other with a squinting Eye,  
Too near, because thus placed, for mutual Aid,  
Which freely flows in Lines direct conveyed.  
High in the Concave Signs Alternate lie,  
The Lines that mark them almost touch the Sky  
And therefore far from Earth through distant way  
They dart their Influence with a feeble Ray.  
And yet some Intercourse in these we find,  
For Signs Alternate are alike in Kind;  
In the first Hexagon six Males are found,  
With Females only is the Second crowned:  
Thus Nature works, and, when the Place denies,  
Sex makes Agreement, and unites the Skies.  
In Concord no Contiguous Signs agree, 
23. Of Contiguous Signs.   
For what can love when 'tis denied to see?  
They to themselves, which they behold alone,  
Their Passion bend, and all their Love's their own  
Alternately of different Kind's they lie,  
One Male one Female fill the Round of Sky. 
24. Of Unequal Signs.   
From Signs unequal any way remove  
All Thoughts of Union, they're averse to Love:  
Thus never think between the Sixths to find  
An Intercourse, nor hope to see them kind;  
Because the Lines, by which we mark their place,  
In length unlike stretch through unequal space.  
For take the Zodiac, 
See Fig. 4.  from the Ram begin,  
And thence on either side extend the Line  
To meet the Sixth from Aries, then dispose  
A Third, and let the Three in Angles close;  
Between the Two first Lines Four Signs are found,  
The Third includes but One, for that fills up the Round.  
But more, 
25. Of Opposites.  the Signs opposed in Site, that lie  
With Beams directly darting through the Sky;  
Tho' much removed they seem, yet mix from far  
Their friendly Influence, or declare for War;  
As the Sun's Aspect and the Planet's Fire  
For Peace determine, or to Rage inspire.  
These Signs ²¹ adverse would you distinctly note?  
Let Summer's Crab oppose the Winter's Goat.  
The Scales the Ram where Day and Night appear  
Equal in adverse Seasons of the Year: 
See Fig. 4.   
The Fish oppose the Maid, the watery Urn  
With adverse Fires sees raging Leo burn.  
When Scorpio fills the highest Arch of Skies,  
Then bending Taurus in the lowest lies,  
And when the Centaur sets the Twins arise.  
Yet though in Site opposed these roll above,  
Yet joined by Nature or by Sex they love:  
Thus Males to Males strict Leagues of Friendship bind,  
And Female Signs to their own Sex are kind.  
The Fish and Maid opposed are friendly Signs,  
For Nature couples what the Place disjoins:  
But Nature sometimes yields, the Trines prevail,  
And Females Females fight, and Males the Male:  
Tho' Female both the Goat the Crab defies  
Winter in this, in that the Summer lies;  
Here Snow makes white, and Frost binds up the Fields;  
There Sweat overflows and Winter's Rigour yields;  
Here Day exults, there Night extends her Sway,  
And Winter's Darkness equals Summer's Day:  
Thus Nature sights, nor must we hope to find  
The Signs of disagreeing Seasons kind.  
Tho' differing Seasons hold the Scales and Ram,  
They are half Friends, and mix agreeing Flame:  
In this gay Flowers the painted Beds adorn,  
This fills the Plains, and stores the Barns with Corn▪  
Their Days and Nights in equal Balance meet,  
Not vexed with too much Cold, nor too much Heat:  
They Summer's Wars and Winter's Rage compose,  
Nor will these Seasons let their Signs be Foes.  
Thus are the several Aspects taught—  
These things considered, 
26. The Guardians of the Signs.  press no more Divine▪  
And know the Gods the Guardians of each Sign  
Whom Nature ordered to control their Course,  
Direct their Influence, and assist their Force:  
Great Powers are Godlike, we at least assign  
Gods to great Powers, to make them seem Divine  
For where Things want, high Titles there bestow  
Admired Worth, and makes them great in show.  
Pallas the Ram 2●, and Venus guides the Bull,  
The Twins share Phoebus, and enjoy his Rule;  
The Crab is Mercury's, and Jove divides  
His Mother's Servant, and the Lion guides:  
Ceres the Maid, for this her Sheaf declares,  
And fight Scorpio owns the God of Wars:  
Juno pours out the Urn, and Vulcan claims  
The Scales, as the just Product of his Flames:  
The frozen Goat kind Vesta's Aid requires,  
She cheers his cold, and warms him with her Fire▪  
Diana draws the hunting Centaur's Bow,  
And mighty Neptune now is proved to know  
The Fish above, which He had fed below.  
And now that Reason guides, that Gods do move  
The various Orbs, and govern all above,  
Must needs erect thy Mind, it must impart  
Strong Inclinations to pursue the Art;  
Since Man securely may his Thoughts advance,  
And hope to find, when undisturbed by Chance.  
Now learn what Signs the several Limbs obey, 
27. Signs for the several parts of the Body.   
Whose Powers they feel, and where Obedience pay.  
The Ram defends the Head, the Neck the Bull,  
The Arms, bright Twins, are subject to your Rule:  
I'th' Shoulders Leo, and the Crab's obeyed  
I'th' Breast, and in the Guts the modest Maid:  
I'th' Buttocks Libra, Scorpio warms Desires  
In Secret Parts, and spreads unruly Fires:  
The Thighs the Centaur, and the Goat commands  
The Knees, and binds them up with double Bands.  
The parted Legs in moist Aquarius meet,  
And Pisces gives Protection to the Feet.  
But Stars have proper Laws, 
28. Signs that See, Hear, Love, or Hate.  and Signs maintain  
An Intercourse, and Compact in their Reign;  
Some Hear each other, some each other See,  
Some fight and Hate, whilst some in Leagues agree:  
Some Foreign Passions cautiously remove,  
But make Themselves the Object of their Love.  
Thus Signs in Sex by Nature closely joined  
Are Foes, whilst Signs in Sex opposed are kind;  
And Signs, whose opposite Position tends  
To Disagreement, breed the greatest Friends.  
When God ordained this mighty Frame to rise,  
He settled these Affections in the Skies,  
That some might Hear, and some each other See,  
Some Hate and fight, and some in Leagues agree;  
Some Love themselves alone; All this appears  
In Men, who take their Tempers from the Stars.  
The Ram, as it becomes the Prince of Stars,  
Is his own Council, 
See Fig. 5. 6, 7, and 8.  and Himself he hears;  
He Libra sees, but unsuccessful proves  
In loving Taurus, for in vain he Loves;  
Taurus (for Aries finds but cold returns  
For all those Fires with which he freely burns;  
Nay more, by Treachery all his Love's repaid)  
Sees, Hears the Fishes, and adores the Maid:  
Thus from the Tyrian Pastures lined with Jove  
He bore Europa, and still keeps his Love:  
The Twins see Leo, and they hear the Urn  
Pouring out his Streams, but for the Fishes burn.  
The Crab (as Caper adverse in the Skies)  
First makes himself the Object of his Eyes;  
He loves Aquarius Urn, and then repays  
The friendly Goat by harkening to his Rays.  
The Lion sees the Twins embracing Fires,  
He hears the Centaur, and the Goat admires:  
Mischief the Maid for Sagittarius brews,  
She hears the Scorpion, and the Bull she views.  
But Libra hears herself, her Mind applies  
To following Scorpio, to the Ram her Eyes:  
The Scorpion sees the Fish, the Maid he hears;  
To Leo Sagittarius bends his Ears;  
To young Aquarius he his Eyes resigns,  
His Love prefers the Maid to other Signs.  
The Goat admires, and loves himself alone,  
(For since at ²³ Caesar's Birth Serene he shone;  
What Glory can be greater than his own?  

♈ Loves ♉ ♉ ♍ ♊ ♓ ♋ ♒ ♌ ♑ ♍  ♎ ♏ ♏  ♐ ♍ ♑  ♒ ♋ ♓    
 
He hears the Crab: Aquarius hears the Twins,  
And sees the Centaur, and amidst the Signs  
The towering Crab alone his Mind can move,  
And is the only Object of his Love.  
Whilst Pisces to the Bull their Ears apply,  
And view the Scorpion with a longing Eye.  
These Powers the Tempers of their Births define,  
Each carries the Affection of his Sign;  
These love to See and love to Hear create,  
And all the Intercourse of Love and Hate:  
Hence some embrace, and some as oddly fly  
Each other; Love and Hate, but know not why.  
Thus far of single Signs: But Trines engage  
With Trines, and all the Heaven is full of Rage:  
Signs War in Bodies, and in Parties fight,  
As adverse in their Manners, as in Site:  
The Ram, Lion, Centaur joined in Trine oppose  
The Heavenly Scales, and to their Trine are Foes.  
And this on two Accounts; Three Signs to Three  
Shine opposite, and who can hope to see  
Two differing Natures, ²⁴ Man and Beast agree?  
For he that holds the Scales Celestial, bears  
A Humane Shape, a Brute the Lion wears,  
And therefore yields, for Reason's Force controls  
Brute Strength, and Bodies still submit to Souls.  
The Lion conquered to the Skies was thrown,  
And fleecy Aries flayed before he shone;  
The Centaur's Forepart still commands the rest,  
So much the Humane Form exceeds the Beast.  
No wonder therefore that with great Success  
The Scales fight Aries, and his Trine oppress.  
But this we may in one short rule comprise,  
For view the Signs that fill the round of Skies,  
And those that are in Humane Forms expressed  
Are conquering Foes to all the shapes of Beast.  
But yet their Hate not equally extends,  
Signs have their proper Foes, as well as Friends;  
The Ram's Productions Friendly Leagues refuse  
To all the Fishes, Maid, or Scales produce:  
What Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces, Scales create  
Are Foes to Taurus, and his Births they hate:  
Whilst those Productions that the Twins design  
Are Enemies to Aries, and his Trine.  
Against the Crab and Bull the Goat declares,  
And Virgo too, and Libra feels his Wars:  
Nor shall (could I write curious Verse, my Muse  
To show her Art in Precepts would refuse;  
I teach an Art, and 'tis by all confessed  
Instruction when 'tis plainest than 'tis best:)  
The furious Lion roused with desperate Rage  
With fewer Enemies than the Ram engage.  
The double Centaur with his threatening Bow  
Affrights the Maid, the Bull that bends his Brow,  
With Caper, and with Pisces is her Foe.  
O'er Libra's Sign a Crowd of Foes prevails,  
The Icy Goat, the Crab which square the Scales,  
With those of Aries Trine consent to hate  
The Scales of Libra, and her Rays rebate.  
Nor doth the Sign of fiery Scorpio find  
Foes less in number, or of better Mind;  
The Urn, Twins, Lion, Bull, the Scales, the Maid  
He frights; and they of him are equally afraid:  
Nor can the Centaur's Bow his Peace defend,  
The Twins, Urn, Virgin force his Sign to bend  
By Nature's Law, nor are the Scales his Friend.  
The same oppress thy Sign with equal Hate  
Contracted Caper, and thy Force rebate.  
Whilst those that are in Brutal Forms expressed  
Afflict the Urn, and all his Trine molest.  
The neighbouring Fish the Urn with Hate pursues,  
And those the Maid, and those the Twins produce.  
And those that own the Centaur's angry Star  
He treats as Foes, and still afflicts with War.  
These Rules are true, but somewhat else defines  
The Friendship and the Enmity of Signs:  
Thus Thirds are Foes, for with a squinting Ray  
They view each other, and their Hate convey:  
Signs opposite, whatever place they fill  
Averse to Peace, and are unfriendly still:  
Thus Sevenths their adverse Sevenths are doomed to loath,  
And Thirds from both, and which are Trines to both:  
Nor is it strange that Trines unfriendly prove  
When Kin to Signs that are averse to Love.  
So many sorts of differing Signs dispose  
men's Tempers, 
29. A short digression concerning Friendship.  and produce such Crowds of Foes;  
Look o'er the World, see Force and Fraud increase,  
Rapine in War, and Treachery in Peace;  
But look for Truth and Faith, the Search were vain,  
No Mind is Honest, and no Thoughts are plain:  
What bulky Villainies bestride the Age!  
What Envy pusheth on Mankind to rage!  
Envy not to be dispossessed, her Throne  
Is firmly fixed, and all the World's her own!  
Friends kill their Friends, a Husband stabs his Wife,  
Sons sell their Father's and their Mother's Life;  
Bold Atreus feasts, and at the barbarous sight  
The Sun retires, and leaves the World to night.  
Whilst Brother's poison, with a smiling Face  
They mix the Cup, and kill where they embrace:  
No place is safe, no Temple yields Defence  
Against secret Stabs, or open Violence;  
And many a slaughtered Priest profanely dies  
On the same Altar with his Sacrifice.  
Those most betray who kindness most pretend,  
And Crowds of Villains skulk behind the Name of Friend.  
The World's infected, Wrong and Fraud prevails,  
Whilst Honesty retires, and Justice fails;  
Nay Laws support those Crimes they checked before,  
And Executions now affright no more.  
For disagreeing Stars that Men produce,  
Their Tempers fashion, and their own infuse:  
Hence Peace is lost, pure Faith we seldom find,  
Kind Leagues are rare, and then but feebly bind;  
For as the Signs above, so Things below  
Do differing Minds and Inclinations show;  
They form Men's Thoughts, and the obedient Clay  
Takes disagreeing Tempers from their Ray.  
Hence 'tis that Friendship is so thinly sown,  
It thrives but ill, nor can it last when grown;  
Rare its Production: and the World pretends  
To boast but one poor single pair of Friends:  
One Pylades and one ²⁵ Orestes name,  
And you have all the Instances of Fame;  
Once Death was striven for, 'twas a generous Strife,  
Not who should keep, but who should lose a Life  
Was their Dispute, contending to deny  
Each other the great Privilege to die.  
The Surety feared his guilty Friend's return,  
The Guilty Friend did his own Absence mourn;  
Careless of Life, impatient of Delay,  
He broke through hindering Friends that choked his way,  
And ran to Danger: Here they disagreed,  
One hoped to free, One feared to be so freed.  
But now if you would know what Signs dispose  
To Leagues, and Peace, and friendly Thoughts disclose;  
The Ram's bright Births you may securely join  
As Friends to the Productions of his Trine:  
But the Ram's Births are more sincerely plain,  
They give more Love than they receive again  
From thine fierce Leo, or than his can show  
That strides through Heaven, and draws the Cretan Bow:  
For 'tis a Sign of thoughtless Innocence,  
Exposed to Harms, unpractised in Defence;  
Unused to Fraud or Wrong, but gentle, kind,  
And not more soft in Body than in Mind.  
The others carry Fierceness in their Ray,  
Their Nature's brutish, and intent on Prey;  
Ungrateful still, nor can they long retain  
A sense of Kindness, and unjust for Gain:  
But tho' by Nature these are both inclined  
To frequent Quarrels, yet expect to find  
More Force in that which is of double kind,  
Than in the Single Lion: Hence increase  
Some sudden Heats, but intermixed with Peace.  
The Bull and Goat are equally inclined  
To mutual Friendship, both alike are kind;  
The Bull's Productions love fair Virgo's Race,  
Yet frequent Jars disjoin their close Embrace.  
The Scales and Urn one friendly Soul inspire,  
Their Love is settled, and their Faith entire;  
To both their Births the Twins productions prove  
The surest Friends, and meet an equal Love.  
The Crab and Scorpion to their Births impart  
A friendly Temper, and an open Heart;  
Yet Scorpio's (Fraud amongst the Stars is found)  
Tho' Friends they seem, yet give a secret Wound.  
But those whom Pisces watery Rays create,  
Are constant neither in their Love, nor Hate;  
They change their Minds, now quarrel, now embrace,  
And Treachery lurks behind their fawning Face.  
Thus Signs or Love, or Hate: and These bestow  
Their differing Tempers on their Births below.  
Nor is't enough to know the Signs alone,  
The Planets Stations must be justly known, 
30. The friendly and unfriendly Aspects.   
And all Heaven's parts, because the Site and Line  
And Aspect change the Influence of the Sign:  
Thus when Opposed the Signs this Influence bear,  
In Trine a different they are known to share,  
In Sextile this, another when in Square.  
And thus the Sky now gives, now takes away  
The Influence, now it points, now blunts the Ray  
Here Hate infects them, when they thence remove;  
They lose that Hate, or change the Rage to Love.  
For Signs, or when they rise, or culminate,  
Or set, send down a different sort of Fate.  
To Hatred Signs opposed 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 overflows  
In Libra, Caper scatters Winter's Snows.  
Besides, by Signs in double Forms expressed  
Each fourth Celestial place is found possessed,  
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 Urn a simple Sign appears.  
Therefore to each fourth place the Stars assigned  
In Time agree, in Number, or in Kind;  
This makes them Kindred Signs, and these preside  
O'er Kinsman'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 placed obtain  
Their Rule, and with unequal Vigour 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 named express  
Double or Simple Signs, still work with less.  
The Line extended through the larger space  
With Trines determines, 
Trines. See Fig. 1.  and makes out their place,  
Presides o'er Friends, whose mutual Faiths supply  
The room of Blood, and draw a closer Tie:  
For as it measures a long space, to join  
The distant, stretching out from Sign to Sign.  
So those, whom Nature doth in spite 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 itself alone,  
Each blends the others Virtues with its own.  
Mixing their Force, and interchanged 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.  
'Tis Dodecatemorion ²⁷, thus described—  
Thrice ten Degrees with every Sign contains  
Let Twelve exhaust, that not one part remains;  
It follows straight 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  
Placed 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'er which one Sign aspires,  
In Powers are various, different in Desires;  
Males follow Females, and from Man depressed  
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 disposed, the Muse must sing,  
And draw deep Knowledge from its secret Spring;  
Lest this unknown you should from Truth decline,  
Mistaking the changed Influence of the Sign:  
Each Sign's first Twelfths is by its self possessed,  
The others shared 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 roll 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 show the Method: As you count the Signs,  
First mark that Sign's Degree where Phoebe shine  
And views the newborn 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 confessed,  
Observe the Portion by the Moon possessed:  
Count those Degrees the middle Space contains,  
Take all the Thirties 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;  
'Tis thus described. 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.  
'Tis useful therefore to observe the Sign,  
And mark the Twelfth in which the Planets shine;  
For where the Planets, as they roll 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:  
'Tis now enough that I have clearly shown  
Things hid before, and made their Uses known;  
Let it suffice, that I have brought the Muse  
Materials proper, and prepared 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 described the Verse will roll  
With freer Force, and orderly erect the whole.  
For as to Boys at School we first propound  
The Letters, show their Form, and teach their Sound,  
And then go on, instruct them how to Spell,  
And join their Letters in a Syllable;  
Then to frame Words, and thence their Fancies raise,  
To bind these words in Verse, and reach the Bays.  
And as the Boys proceed, they find their past,  
And first Acquirements useful to their last;  
For Precepts without Method got by pain,  
Prove empty, and the labour is in vain:  
So since my Songs Fate's dark Intrigues rehearse,  
Their Influence show, and bind the Stars in Verse;  
Since they mount high, and from the Signs above,  
Bring down the God, and open hidden Jove:  
All must be taugth, and I must first impart  
The Elements peculiar to this Art;  
That thence, as she proceeds, my labouring Muse  
May draw Materials, and go on to Use.  
And as wise Builders, who design a Town,  
First clear the Field, and cut the Forest down,  
And straight new Stars behold as new a Sun:  
From Ancient Seats, and Hospitable Glades  
The Beasts are forced, and Birds forsake their Shades.  
Some Stones for Walls, some Marble square for Shrines,  
And suit Materials to their great Designs;  
And when they have provided sit Supplies  
For future Art, the Piles begin to rise;  
Nor doth the interrupted work disgraced  
By any stop, accuse their foolish haste:  
So I, that raise this mighty Work, must choose  
Materials proper to employ my Muse,  
Bare fit Materials; and not build one part  
Till all lies ready to complete the Art;  
Lest whilst my Thoughts the noble work pursue,  
As all Materials lay exposed to view,  
They start surprised, and stop amazed with new.  
Be careful then, 
XXXIII. The Celestial Houses.  and with a curious Eye,  
Observe the ³¹ four fixed Hinges of the Sky;  
One constant point their settled place defines,  
Although they vary in their moving Signs:  
One fixed i'th' East, 
The Hinges. See Fig. 10.  where with a gentle Ray  
The Sun views half the Earth on either way,  
And here brings on, and there bears off the Day.  
One in the West, from whose declining steep  
The Sun falls headlong, and enjoys the Deep:  
The Third in Heaven's high point, where midst the Course  
Bright Phoebus' stops, and breathes his weary Horse;  
He stands a while, and with an equal Ray,  
Views East and West, and then drives down the Day.  
Opposed to this, the Fourth securely lies,  
The immovable Foundation of the Skies;  
The lowest point, to which with steady Rein  
The Stars descend, and whence they mount again:  
These Points in Fate the greatest Interest claim,  
Because they settle, and support the Frame;  
In these fixed Points were not the Quarters tied.  
Oth' Top, o'th' Bottom, and on either side,  
The Ball would cleave, the whirls would dissipate  
The agitated parts; and break strong Fate.  
Now different Powers these several Hinges grace  
And vary with the dignity of Place; 
The Medium Coeli.   
The chiefest that which on the Top doth lie,  
And with a narrow limit parts the Sky,  
There Glory sits in all her Pomp and state,  
The highest place requires the highest Fate;  
Thence Places, Dignities, Preferments flow,  
And all that Men admire and wish below;  
High Honours, Offices, in Suits success,  
Right to make Laws, and Power to give Peace;  
Thence Sceptres, and supreme Command accrne,  
And Power to give them, where Rewards are due.  
The next, 
The Imum Coeli.  (tho' lowest and contemned it lies)  
The fixed, and sure Foundation of the Skies,  
Great in effect, altho' it seems but small;  
It governs Wealth, and Wealth's the stay of all:  
It rules Estates, it shows what Mines contain,  
What secret Treasures we may hope to gain,  
Without this Power the other Fates were vain.  
As great in Power is that where Beams display  
Their rising lustre, 
The Horoscope. or Eastern Point.  and renew the Day;  
The Greek (no other scanty Tongues afford  
A single proper and expressive Word)  
Names this the Horoscope.  
This governs, Life, and this marks out our Parts,  
Our Humours, Manners, Qualities, and Arts;  
This when and where the Birth is born declares  
And guides the various Virtues of the Stars:  
By this they are settled, and as this defines  
The Birth, enjoys the influence of the Signs.  
The Last, 
The Western Point.  the Point, whence Stars descending fall,  
And view the lower surface of the Ball;  
This rules the Ends of things, this Point declare  
The Period, and Result of all Affairs;  
This governs Marriage, and on this depends  
Religion, Recreation, Death, and Friends.  
These Points considered, Their Powers distinctly seen,  
Observe the Spaces that are placed between;  
The Points are little, but the Spaces large,  
And every space has a proportioned Charge.  
First then the Space that rising from the East 
The intermediate Spacers.   
Mounts upward, is by Infancy possessed,  
There Childhood plays: From thence the Western space  
Gay Youth demands, and fills the second place.  
Next from the Western Point a space descends, 
See Fig. 9   
Through under Heaven, and in the Lowest ends;  
There Manhood, having past the various Maze  
Of Infancy and Youth, completes its Race:  
To finish this; The space that upward tends,  
And creeping slowly o'er the steep Ascends  
To join the Round at East, is made the way  
Of feeble Age and flitting Life's decay.  
But more all Signs, whatever Form they bear,  
The several Virtues of their Stations wear;  
With good or hurtful Powers those points their Ray,  
The Places govern, and the Signs obey:  
♈ Hates ♍ ♎ ♒ ♉ ♋ ♎ ♏ ♓ ♊ ♈ ♌ ♐ ♋ ♑ ♎ ♍ ♉ ♌ ♍ ♎ ♒ ♍ ♈ ♐ ♓ ♑ ♎ ♈ ♉ ♋ ♌ ♑ ♏ ♈ ♌ ♐ ♒ ♊ ♉ ♍ ♎ ♐ ♊ ♎ ♍ ♒ ♑ ♊ ♎ ♍ ♒ ♒ ♈ ♉ ♋ ♌ ♏ ♑ ♓ ♓ ♒ ♊ ♍ ♐  
 
They turn the Round, and as they wheel their Course,  
The Place now gives, and now takes off their Force;  
For as the Planets through the stations Err,  
Those Places their own Ifluence transfer;  
And force them, whilst within their bounds, to take  
Their ruling Virtues, and their own forsake.  
Hence now they smile, and now severely frown  
With Foreign Influence that Commands their own:  
Here sovereign send, there shower malignant Rays,  
And spread the fatal Venom of their Place.  
That station which above the East doth lie, 
The Twelfth and Sixth Houses.   
The Third in order from the middle Sky,  
●s an unhappy Seat; destructive still  
To all Events, and too replete with iii.  
Nor is this bad alone, the Seat that lies  
Below the Western Hinge opposed to this,  
●s like it: Nor doth this that Seat surpass,  
〈◊〉 Virtue of its Dignity of Place,  
●s near the nobler Hinge: 
See fig 9th.  But both decline,  
●●om both begin a wretched Round of time,  
●f Labour full, for here you fall, and there you climb.  
Nor is the World with better stations blest 
The Second and Eighth Houses.   
Above the West, nor yet below the East,  
●hat hangs above, this downward seems to bend,  
●his in the neighbouring Hinge still fears an end,  
●hat unsustained is eager to descend. 
See fig. 9th.   
Unhappy Seats! Here Typho rules alone  
And fills a dark inhospitable Throne:  
●his Typho Earth produced, when Giants strove  
●o Conquer Heaven, and shook the Throne of Jove.  
When Monsters risen, and at a wondrous Birth  
In bigness equal to their Mother Earth,  
Vast Sons broke forth: But Thunder stopped their Course,  
And tumbling Mountains dashed the Rebel's Force.  
Typhorus fell: Earth was too weak to save,  
And War and He lay buried in one Grave;  
Yet now he heaves in his Aetnean T●●●b,  
And Earth still fears new struggle in her Womb  
That next Heaven's topmost point, 
The Eleventh house  which riseth high,  
Almost it's equal in the middle Sky  
With fairer Hopes, and better Fortune blest,  
Erects its Head, and much excels the rest;  
Placed near the highest Hinge, it riseth higher,  
This Empire's Seat, and almost fills desire:  
It's Title, the exalted Place may claim  
A glorious Patron, and as great a Name,  
Is Happy; Happy, if that word can fill  
The Greek Expression and commend my skill.  
Here Jove presides in all his Pomp and State, 
See fig. 9th.   
And to this ruling Fortune trust thy Fate.  
Opposed, and next the bottom of the Ball  
There lies a Seat as wearied with its fall; 
The fifth House. See fig. 9th.   
And yet prepared, tho' with a world of Pain  
For other Labour, and to mount again:  
About to bear, and destined to obey  
The Hinge's Power, submitting to its sway;  
Yet pressed not by the World, it gives a Scope  
To haughty Thoughts, and still permits to hop●  
In Greek Demonie: But our scanty Tongue  
Affords no proper word to grace my Song:  
Yet mind this station, it thy Thoughts may clai●  
Observe its Patron, nor forget the Name:  
Tho' troublesome it seems, no toil refuse  
The Labour's great, but equalled by the Use.  
Ith' Ninth, 
The third and ninth Houses.  and Third gay strength and health Delight,  
Or Sickness arms its venomed Darts for fight;  
Why Contraries should thus these Seats possess  
'Tis hard to find, but Phoebus' aids my guess;  
The mighty Patrons, whom these Seats obey, 
See fig. 9   
In one determined time bear different sway  
And Day succeeds the Night, and Night the Day.  
That Seat which next the Highest Hinge doth lie  
The first declining from the middle Sky  
The Sun possesses: 
The ninth House.  From his Rays we draw  
Our state of Health, He gives our Body's Law:  
Its Title God.  
Opposed to this, 
The third House.  which first gins to rise  
From Heaven's low bottom, and brings up Skies,  
A Seat appears just tipped with Light, and guides  
The Starry Night, in this the Moon presides.  
The Moon that sees her Brother's adverse Ray,  
That looks up to him as he guides the Day.  
And imitates his Influence the wrong way:  
She rules our Bodies, but her Face derives  
Moist rotting Powers, and wastes the Health He gives.  
It's Title Goddess: But how mean these words  
Compared with those, expressive Greece affords?  
But as for Heaven's high top, 
The tenth House.  the utmost point  
Of Rising, and beginning of Descent,  
Where 'twixt the Eastern rise, 
See fig. 9  and Western fall  
Jove hangs the Beam at which He weighs the Ball;  
This Venus graceth, here she seats her Throne,  
And in the World's high Face erects her own;  
That Face, whose awful force Mankind admires,  
And yields Obedience to her pleasing Fires:  
Her Charge is Marriage, for what else can prove  
The Office of the beauteous Queen of Love?  
Pleasure's her aim, yet she forgets her Ease,  
And puts on Providence on design to please.  
FortunesFortunes the station's Name; observe the Place;  
My Muse grows weary, and contracts her pace,  
Refusing to expatiate in her Race.  
But now go on, 
The fourth House.  the lowest point of all  
The fixed Foundation of the solid Ball,  
Which looking upward, sees the circling Light,  
And lies itself immersed in deepest Night,  
Is Saturn's Seat; 
See fig. 9  tho' once he ruled above,  
Enjoyed that Power, and filled the Throne of Jove;  
But thence thrown down, he makes his last retreat  
To this low place, and fills this humble Seat:  
Himself a Father, He pretends to bear  
Respect to Fathers, and makes Age his care:  
This only station double Cares enlarge,  
For Sons and Father's Fortune are its charge:  
Severe and thrifty; This the Greeks proclaim  
Demonium, its power expressing in its Name,  
Now turn thine Eye, 
The first House.  and view the Eastern Plain,  
The space whence Stars renew their Course again;  
Where moistened Phoebus from the Floods retires,  
Climbs up, and shakes the Water from his Fires,  
Then gathers Beauties, whose enlivening Heat  
First strike thee, 
See fig. 9  Mercury, and refresh thy Seat.  
O happy Seat, on whom the Art that sways  
O'er Heaven itself, bestows its ³² Authors rays!  
The Fates of Children this is doomed to bear,  
And all the Hopes of Parents are its care.  
One Seat remains, 
The seventh House.  from whose declining steep,  
The Stars fall headlong, and enjoy the Deep,  
Which turns the World, and now can only trace  
The back of Phoebus, that once viewed his Face:  
No wonder Nature doth this Seat bequeath  
To Pluto, and inexorable Death;  
For here the Day expires, this draws the light  
From all the World, and buries Day in Night,  
Nor is this all its care, on this depends,  
Faith, solid Constancy, and Friends,  
So great that Place's power, which waste the Ray,  
Which takes in Phoebus, and puts out the Day.  
The stations these, to which in constant Course  
The Stars arriving give and take new Force,  
Where Planets touching as they wheel their round,  
Mix foreign Powers, and with their own confound:  
Admitted once they make the Seat their own,  
And turn Usurpers in another's Throne.  
But this, if Fate my Life and Health prolong,  
Shall make the ³² subject of a future Song:  
Now ends the Book, which hath described at large  
The Heavenly Houses, Guardians, and their Charge;  
For which the Masters of the Art have found  
A proper Name, but of a foreign Sound;  
'Tis Octotopos.  
With mighty labour I these Rules prepare,  
Forgetting Pleasure, and possessed with Care:  
So hard it is in numerous Verse to close  
Unwieldy Words, and smooth uneven Prose.  
The End of the Second Book.   

NOTES.  
1. Manilius having mentioned the chief Arguments of Homer's Poems, concludes with a high Character, styling him the Fountain of all Poetry. Ovid. Amor. lib. 3. El. 8. to the same purpose, 
A quo, ceu Fonte perenni,  
Vatum Pieriis ora rigantur Aquis▪  And Longinus (de sublim. Sect. 13) says not only Stesichorus and Archilocus, but Herodotus the Historian, and Plato the Philosopher, own their chiefest Beauties to that Poet.  
2. Several Poems of Hesoid are lost, and Scaliger with other Critics conjecture, That Manilius refers us to those lost Poems: But I think this and the preceding Verse ought to be Corrected, (of this Correction perhaps I may give an account in a Latin Edition of this Author) and then they will be found in those pieces of Hesiod that are now extant.  
3. Eratosthenes a Greek Poet, flourished in the time of Ptolemy Euergetes, about the 138 Olymp. He wrote of the Stars and Constellations, and gave an account of all the Fables relating to them: I have not time to explain all these Fables and therefore shall only direct where they may be found. Concerning Perseus, Andromeda, her Father Cepheus, and her Mother Cassiopeia, vid. Ovid. Metam, lib. 4. ver. 665. Concerning calisto, or the great Bear, Ovid. lib. 2. ver. 405. The Fable of the Little Bear may be found in Diodorus Siculus, lib. 4. Of the Swan in the First Book of Manilius. Of the Goat in the First Book of Manilius, and in Casaubon's Animadversions on Athenaeus: The Maid or Erigone, is said to be the Daughter of Icarus, who upon the Death of her Father, hanged herself. The Nemean Lion being slain by Hercules, was placed amongst the Stars for his shining Skin. The Crab for pinching Hercules when he fought the Hydra: The Scorpion for Killing Orion, or rather, for assisting the Gods against the Giants. The Stories of Venus taking the shape of a Fish when she fled from the Giant Typho, and of the Ram who swum over the Hellespont with Phryxus and Helle on his Back, are well known, and may be found in Manilius, and Selden de Diis Syris.  
4. This was a Fancy of the Ancients, which some are not ashamed, after Experience hath so often Confuted it, to maintain still.  
5. The Elephants do so, if we believe Pliny: Nat. Hist. lib. 8. cap. 1.  

6. Aries is Male.  
Gemini M.  
Leo M.  
Libra M.  
Sagittarius M.  
Aquarius M.  
Taurus' Female.  
Cancer F.  
Virgo F.  
Scorpius F.  
Capricornus F.  
Pisces F.   
7. The Humane Signs are Gemini, Libra, Virgo, Aquarius. The Brute, Aries, Taurus, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Leo, Cancer, Scorpius, Pisces.  
8. Of Double Signs some are Pairs, as Gemini, and Pisces: Others are made up of two different Species, such as Sagittarius and Capricornus.  
9 The Tropic Signs are Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn.  
10. Their Position is unnatural; but this, as well as the foregoing Differences, will be easily understood upon view of the Signs upon a Globe.  
11. Concerning Day and Night Signs, there are different Opinions: Some fancy that Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, are the Days, and the other six the Nights. Others teach that the Male and Female are the same with the Day and Night Signs. But the Opinion that Manilius follows is this. Aries is a Day Sign, Taurus, Gemini, Night. Cancer, Leo, Day. Virgo, Libra, Night. Scorpius, Sagittarius, Day. Caper, Aquarius, Night. Pisces Day. So that begin with Pisces, and then you find two Day Signs together, and then two Night Signs, and so in Order.  
12. The Water Signs are Pisces and Cancer. The Earth Aries, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Gemini, Sagittarius, Libra, Virgo: Capricornus and Aquarius belong to both Earth and Water.  
13. The fruitful Signs are Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. The Barren are Leo, Virgo, Aquarius. The remaining six are partly Barren, partly Fruitful.  
14. The Running Signs are Leo, Sagittarius, Aries: The standing or Erected Signs, Aquarius, Gemini, Virgo. The Crouching Signs, Taurus, Cancer, Libra, Scorpius, Caper, Pisces.  
15. The Maimed signs, Taurus, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Cancer.  
16. The Season signs are Pisces, belonging to the Spring. Gemini to Summer. Virgo to Autumn; and Sagittarius to Winter.  
17. Suppose in the Zodiac Circle Twelve Signs, and in every Circle 360 Parts or Degrees, and 30 of these Degrees to belong to each of the Twelve Signs. Begin at any of the Signs, for instance, Aries; and in this Circle inscribe a Triangle, all whose sides are equal; it is evident that the Arch of the Circle which each of these sides subtends, contains 120 Parts or Degrees; and therefore between that Sign from which you begin to draw each side of this Triangle, and that to which you draw it, there must be Three Signs. But see Fig. 1st.  
18. To show what Signs are to be accounted Right, and what Left, the Poet mentions only the Trine of Taurus: Yet it is sufficient, upon View of Fig. 1st. direction for all the rest.  
19 To know the Quadrate, begin from any sign, and in the Circle inscribe a Square, all whose sides are equal; the Angles show the Signs, and what are Right or Left, you may find that in Quadrates, as you did in Trines.  
20. The meaning of all these Cautions concerning Trines and Quadrates, is in short, this, You must reckon by Degrees, and not by Signs; for if you reckon by Signs, the Figures, as Manilius shows at large in each particular, will not be equilateral. See Fig. 1st. and 2d.  
21. The Signs which have an Opposite aspect are, 

Aries.  
Taurus.  
Gemini.  
Cancer.  
Leo.  
Virgo.  
Libra.  
Scorpius.  
Sagittarius.  
Capricornus.  
Aquarius.  
Pisces.    
22. The Guardians of the Signs. 

Of Aries.  
Taurus.  
Gemini.  
Cancer.  
Leo.  
Virgo.  
Libra.  
Scorpius.  
Sagittarius.  
Capricornus.  
Aquarius.  
Pisces  
Pallas.  
Venus.  
Phoebus.  
Mercurius.  
Jupiter.  
Ceres.  
Vulcan.  
Mars.  
Diana.  
Vesta.  
Juno.  
Neptune.    
The Reasons of this Assignment are to be taken out of the Old Fables.  
23. Whether Capricorn was in the Horoscope of Augustus, when he was Born, or when he was Conceived, Is disputed: However 'tis certain, Augustus took Capricorn for his Sign, and many times its Figure is found upon his Coins. vid. Sueton. vit. Aug. cap. 94. and Spanhemius de Nummis. p. 210.  
24. See the Figures of these Signs on a Globe.  
25. Pylades and Orestes being taken Prisoners, Orestes was condemned to Die, but was allowed to go and settle some Affairs, upon Condition that Pylades would stay behind, and engage his Life for his return: Pylades becomes Surety: Orestes goes, settles his Affairs, and returns at the Day appointed.  
26. So called, because in the Sign Scorpius we see nothing but the Claws.  
27. The Dodecatemorion is the Twelfth part, or two Degrees and an half of a Sign. Every Sign containing Thirty Degrees; for Twelve times two and an half make Thirty. Scaliger gives this Instance. Let the proposed Degree be the Thirteenth Degree of Gemini, multiply Thirteen by Twelve, the Product is one hundred fifty six: Of these give Thirty to Gemini the proposed Sign, Thirty to Cancer, Thirty to Leo, to Virgo Thirty, and Thirty to Libra: There remain Six, and therefore the Dodecatimorion of Gemini is in the Sixth Degree of Scorpius: But this instance doth not seem to agree with the Doctrine of Manilius.  
28. Scaliger affirms, that Manilius proposeth two ways to find the Dodecatemoria or Twelfths of the Planets; Huctius says he gives but one: This Dispute will be best determined by observing the Poet himself, and illustrating his Doctrine by two Instances: Let the Moon be in the Sixth Degree of Aries, multiply six by Twelve, the Product ●s Seventy two: Out of this Seventy two give the first Thirty to Aries, the second to Taurus, and ●hen there remain Twelve; and therefore the Dodecatemorion of the Moon is in the Twelfth Degree of Gemini, that is, in the Second of the Five half Degrees of the Dodecatemorion of Gemini.  
29. To this Method Scaliger applies this Example: Let the Sun be in the Thirteenth of Gemini, the Moon in the Twenty Third of Scorpius, the Arch of the Zodiac between the two Planets, contains one Hundred and Sixty Degrees: In this Number there are five Thirty, which being taken away there remain Ten; divide these Ten by Twelfths, or two and an half, the Quotient is four Twelfths, or Dodecatemoria; of which give one to Scorpius, another to Sagittarius, a third to Capricorn, and the fourth falling in Aquarius, shows the Moon's Dodecatemorion to be in the twenty third Degree of that Sign.  
30. The third sort of Dodecatemorion is this. In every Dodecatemorion or Twelfth, there are five half Degrees, and the Planets (which the Ancient Astrologers counted but five, not reckoning the Sun and Moon amongst the Planets) have in each Dodecatemorion or Twelfth, one half Degree assigned to every one of them.  
31. From this Verse to the end of this Book, Manilius treats of the Twelve Celestial Houses, which he divides into the Four Cardines or Hinges, and the Eight Spaces that lie between these Hinges: The Hinges are the Eastern Point, the Middle Point, the Western Point and the lowest point of Heaven: The Spaces, etc. but see Fig. 10.  
32. Manilius in the beginning of his first Book tells us Mercury was the Inventor of that Art, which he intended for the Subject of his Astrological Poem.  
33. Either the Poet never finished this Part which he here promises, or it is now lost.   

MANILIUS. The Third Book.  
Manilius gins this Third Book as he did the Second, reckoning up and slighting the several Subjects which have employed other Poets, and declaring his Design to be new and difficult: Then he proceeds to show, 1. That the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac are the chief Disposers, and principal Governors of Fortunes. 2. That there are Twelve Lots belonging to these Twelve Signs. 3. He names and describes these Lots: The first is Fortune: The Second Warfare and Travelling: The Third, Civil Employments: The Fourth, Plead, and all the concerns of the Bar: The Fifth, Marriage Acquaintance, Guests: The Sixth, Plenty, Wealth, and the means of preserving it. The Seventh, Dangers: The Eighth, Nobility, Honour, Reputation: The Ninth, Children, Education. The Tenth, Manners, Institution, Family. The Eleventh, state of Health, Physic: The Twelfth, Wishes, and the ends of them. 4. He teaches how to suit these Lots, Labours, or Athla to the several Signs, when the Birth belongs either to Day, or Night. 5. He proposeth Rules how to find the Horoscope. 6. Refuting the Method prescribed by the Chaldaeans. 7. And showing how to find the different lengths of Days and Nights, together with the several Rise and Setting of the Signs in order to find the Horoscope. 8. He resumes the Dispute against the Chaldaeans, and subjoins an Account of the several lengths of Days and Nights, in the three different Positions of the Sphere, Direct, Obliqne, and Parallel. 9 He proposes another way to find the time of the Signs Rising and Setting. 10. He particularly Discourses of the Days Increase from Capricorn to Cancer. 11. He shows what are the proper Years, Months, Days, and Hours of the Signs, and Confutes the Opinion of some Astrologers concerning them. 12. He sings how many Years belong to each Sign, and station. 13. And Concludes the Book with an Account of the Tropic Signs.  
I am not to Answer for the Astronomy, it is enough if I have made the Poet speak intelligible English.  
Whilst I new ways attempt my grovelling Name  
To raise from Earth, and wing my Flight for Fame;  
Through Woods untrodden whilst I take my way,  
Ye Muses lead; for I extend your Sway  
To larger Bounds, and make the World obey.  
No Heaven's besieged, no Thunder thrown from far  
Entombs the Giants, and concludes the War:  
No fierce Achilles tells brave Hector's Spoil,  
Nor Priam bears the Hero to his Pile.  
No barbarous ¹ Maid betrays her Father's trust,  
Nor tears her Brother to secure her Lust.  
No Bulls breath Fire, no Dragons guard the Prize,  
Nor from the poisonous seed Armed Harvests rise:  
No Youth returning here renews the Old,  
Nor treacherous Presents carry Flame in Gold.  
Nor will I sing the Babes Medea bore,  
Got by much Gild, but ah! destroyed by more.  
The Theban Siege, the highest Pride of Fame,  
Nor how the Town by Thunder saved from Flame  
Lost whilst it ² conquered; nor how Spartans fought  
Round old Messana, shall enlarge my thought.  
No Sons ³ and Brothers shall be joined in one,  
Nor Mother bear a Granchild in a Son;  
No Murdered Babes ⁴ shall feast their injured Sire,  
Nor Days break off, and frighted Suns retire.  
None shall defy the Sea, the Floods enslave,  
Sail o'er the Mountains ⁵, and walk o'er the Wave:  
No Asian Kings. And thee, O mighty Rome,  
Thy Arms, thy Conquests, and thy World o'ercome  
Thy Laws, thy Wars, thy Leagues my Verse refuse,  
Those claim the leisure of a greater Muse.  
Smooth Seas the Artless Sailer safely tries,  
And Flowers undressed in fruitful Gardens rise;  
He works securely, who in Gold designs,  
When even the rude unpolisht Metal Shines;  
On specious Subjects common Wits compose,  
For where the Matter takes, the Fancy flows;  
And every vulgar Author writes with ease,  
Secure of Credit, where the Themes can please.  
This way some take to Fame: Through Words unknown,  
And things abstruse my Muse goes boldly on,  
Observes all Interchange of Times, compares  
The fatal turns, and views the Leagues of Stars,  
Things so remote, so intermixed, and wrought  
With Parts in Parts; they are too fine for thought.  
To know them is too much, but to explain  
How great! to bind in Verse shows more than Man.  
Then come, who e'er thou art that bring'st a Mind  
To know high Truth, and patiented Thoughts to find;  
Hear solid Reason, and go on to gain  
True serious Knowledge, but neglect the vain:  
No Kings at Aulis sworn, no tales of Troy  
With Priam's tears, or Helen's fatal Joy,  
Nor hope sweet Verse, and curious turns to find,  
I'll leave thy Passions, and instruct thy Mind:  
And tho' some Words of foreign Stamp appear,  
Seem harsh, untuned, uneasy to thy Ear;  
This is the Subjects not the Writer's fault,  
Some things are stiff, and will not yield to thought;  
I must be plain: And if our Art hath found  
Expressions proper, it neglects the Sound.  
Thy Mind well purged from vainer Cares compose,  
For now my Muse is eager to disclose,  
The nicest Secrets; which observed, impart  
Fate's Laws, and prove the surest Guides to Art.  
When Nature ordered this vast Frame to rise, 
1.   
Nature, the Guardian of these Mysteries,  
And scattered Lucid Bodies o'er the Skies;  
When she the Concave, whence directly fall  
Straight Lines of Influence round the solid Ball,  
Had filled with Stars; and made Earth, Water, Air,  
And Fire, each other mutually repair;  
That Concord might these differing parts control,  
And Leagues of mutual Aid support the whole;  
That nothing which the Skies embrace might 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 placed i'th' Heart of Heaven, display  
The brightest Beams, and share the greatest sway;  
Which keep a constant Course, and now restrain  
The Planet's Power, now yield to them again;  
Thus sometimes ruling, sometimes ruled, 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 Emperors their Realms divide,  
And every Province hath its proper Guide,  
So 'tis 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 graced with proper Names and Place contain  
The various Fortune's incident to Man,  
Yet so contrived, that they are always found  
In the same ⁶ Order, in the fatal Round.  
Yet are not Lots thus fixed 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 Use;  
'Tis ordered thus:—  
That when the Birth's first Minute hath decreed  
The first Lot's Station, than the rest succeed  
In following Signs; each Fortune takes its Seat  
In proper Order, till the Round's complete:  
Take these short Rules till flowing Verse dilate,  
Unfolding all the Mysteries of Fate.  
These Lots which thus decreed to Signs contain  
The various Fortune's incident to Man;  
As Planets join 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 Kind's obliging Muse rehearse, 
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.  
FortunesFortunes 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 roofed; if Friendly Planets aid.  
Warfare's the next: 
Second Lot.  And 'tis 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 styled a kind  
Of Warfare; when two different Interests jar,  
Opposed 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 Persuader 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 joins agreeing Minds.  
But in the sixth, 
Sixth Lot.  rich Plenty takes her Throne,  
With Preservation: And from this 'tis 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 Parent's 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 shows how far a good Example reigns:  
How by their Masters formed Slaves take their way  
To Tasks assigned, and cheerfully Obey.  
The following is a Lot of high concern, 
Eleventh Lot.   
For hence the state of strength and Health we learn,  
When grieved, we live obnoxious to Disease,  
Or free from Sickness, and consigned to Ease:  
Let none who value Health, this Lot refuse,  
When they would time for wholesome Physic 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,  
Shows if to what our several Aims address  
Obtained, shall crown our Studies with Success;  
Whether with fawning Arts we court the Great,  
Or shunning Crowds, to Privacy retreat;  
Whether we Plead at the Contentious Bar,  
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 huddled 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 venturous Muse hath bound in Rhyme,  
The various Labours of the Round of Time,  
(What Greece calls Athla, happy Greece in Song,  
Are now called Labours in a meaner Tongue)  
Which to Twelve Lots conveniently assigned  
Determine all the Fortune of Mankind:  
Her Theme pursuing, 
IU. 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 tied,  
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 complete,  
Nor justly suit each Labour to its Seat;  
First find the place by Fortune's Lot possessed,  
(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 Birth began, 
When the Birth belongs to Day.   
The Planets joined to Signs to form the Plan,  
And Scheme erected for the future Man;  
If then the Sun with an exalted Ray  
Above the East and West commands his way,  
Then safely fix, and give the Birth to Day:  
But if through lower Skies he wheels the Light,  
The Day resigns, and yields the Birth to Night.  
This settled, if the Birth belongs to Day,  
The Rule is short, and not obscure the Way;  
From that Degree, where then the ⁹ Sun presides,  
To that Degree where gloomy Luna rides:  
Count through the following signs, and as you pass,  
Exactly mark what Numbers fill the space:  
Thence from the Eastern point, which artful Greece  
Hath styled the Horoscope, an equal number of Degrees,  
Following the circling Zodiac as it bends,  
Count through the Signs; and where the Number ends,  
There fix the Seat of Fortune; thence confine  
In order, every Labour to its Sign.  
But if when Night her sable Wings hath spread,  
The Birth starts forward from his Genial Bed; 
When to Night.   
In different manner, than thy Numbers range,  
With Nature's Order, let thy ¹⁰ Method change;  
The Moon, who imitates her Brother's Light,  
And governs in her own Dominion, Night,  
Observe: Thence through the Signs in order run,  
To find how far she's distant from the Sun.  
The Native's Horoscope be next thy Care,  
And from that Point, begin to count as far  
As those Degrees permit thy Thoughts to pass;  
And where they stop, there settle Fortune's place.  
And then to following Signs the rest confine  
In order, every Labour to its Sign.  
Perhaps these Precepts may appear too nice, 
V How to find the Horoscope   
For who can find the Horoscope in Skies  
Immense, still circling with impetuous force,  
In Motion restless, and so swift in Course?  
Yet this not rightly fixed, our Art can boast  
No certainty, and all our LaboursLabours lost:  
As wretched Travellers are doomed to stray,  
When those mistake, who should direct the Way.  
Because the Points which all the rest control,  
Misplaced at first, must influence the whole,  
And since the rolling Skies move swiftly on,  
A different Face is every moment shown,  
The Scheme must be uncertain, and the Birth unknown.  
Yet tho' of greatest Use, 'tis hard to gain  
This Knowledge; and our Search is oft in vain:  
For who can in his narrow Breast comprise  
The World immense, and who observe the Skies,  
Which with eternal Revolutions move,  
And Circling, measure the vast Orb above?  
What Diligence can e'er describe its Face,  
What Art can fix in so immense a space?  
Those Points where East and West exactly fall,  
Which Crowns the Top, and which supports the Ball? 
VI The Chaldaeans refuted.   
I know the Method, the ¹¹ Chaldaean Schools  
Prescribe, but who can safely trust their Rules?  
To each ascending Sign, to find their Powers,  
They equal time allow, that time two Hours:  
And then from that Degree, from which the Sun  
Gins to start, his daily Course to run,  
Two Hours to each succeeding Sign they give,  
Still thus allowing, till their search arrive  
At the Degree and Sign they seek, for where  
The Number ends, the Horoscope is there.  
But false the Rule; Obliqne the Zodiac lies,  
And Signs as near, 
The first Argument against the Chaldaeans.  or far removed in Skies,  
Obliquely mount, or else directly rise:  
In Cancer, so immense his Round, the Ray  
Continues long, and slowly ends the Day;  
Whilst Winter's Caper in a shorter Track  
Soon wheels it round, and hardly brings it back:  
Aries and Libra, equal Day with Night,  
Thus middle ¹² Signs to the Extremes are opposite  
And Signs Extreme too, vary in their Light.  
Nor are the Night's less various than the Days  
Equal their measure, only Darkness sways,  
In Signs ¹³ adverse to those that bore the Rays:  
Then who can think when Days and Nights are found,  
In length so differing through the Yearly Round,  
There should be given to every Sign in Skies,  
An equal Space, an equal Time to rise?  
But more than this: The ¹⁴ Hours no certain space  
Of time contain, 
The Second Argument.  but vary with the Days:  
Yet every Day in what e'er Sign begun,  
Beholds six Signs above the Horizon,  
Leaves six below; and therefore Rules despise,  
Because the Hours no equal time comprise,  
Which give two Hours to every Sign to rise.  
The Hours in number Twelve divide the Day,  
And yet the Sun with an unequal Ray  
Now makes a shorter, now a longer stay.  
Nay farther, tho' you many ways pursue  
To find their length you'll never meet the true, 
VII. How to find the different lengths of Days and Nights, and to find the Horoscope.   
But thus: Take all that space of time the Sun  
Meets out, when every daily Round is Run,  
Let equal Portions next that time divide;  
And then those Portions orderly applied  
To Days, will show their length, from thence appears  
Their varying Measures through the rolling Years.  
The Standard this, by which our Art Essays  
Winter's slow Nights, and tries the Summer's Days.  
This must be fixed, when from th' Autumnal Scales,  
The Day declines, and Winter's Night prevails:  
Or in the Ram whence Winter's Nights retire  
The Hours restoring to the Summer's Fire:  
In those two Points, the Day and Night contain  
Twelve equal Hours. For with an even rein  
The Sun than guides, and whilst his Care doth roll  
Through Heaven's mid Line, he leans to neither Pole:  
But when removed, he to the South declines,  
And in the ¹⁵ Eighth Degree of Caper shines,  
The WintersWinters hasty Day moves nimbly on,  
Nine ¹⁶ Hours and half; so soon the Light is gone.  
But Night drives slowly in her gloomy Carr,  
Takes fourteen Hours and half for her unequal share;  
Thus twice twelve Hours in Day and Night are found,  
To fill the natural Measure of the daily Round.  
Thence Light increases still, as Night's decay,  
Till Cancer meets her in the Fiery way,  
And sets sure bounds to her encroaching sway.  
Then turns the Scene, and Summer's day descends  
Through Winter's Hours, still losing as it bends:  
And then the Days of equal length appear,  
With Nights, ' th' adverse Season of the Year,  
And Nights with Days: For by the same Degrees  
That once they lengthened, now the Times decrease,  
These Times our Art can show, but these belong  
To future Rhimes, and claim another Song.  
Thus measure those, who live where fruitful Nile,  
With Summer Torrents swollen overflows the Soil;  
Whose seven large Mouths; the Skies can boast no more  
Of Planets, 
The rising and Setting of the Signs first. By Stadia: and Hours.  vomit with impetuous Roar,  
And beat the Ocean from the foaming Shore.  
Now learn what ¹⁷ Stadia, learn what times in Skies  
Signs ask to Sett, and what they claim to Rise:  
Observe, short rules my Muse, but full she brings,  
And Words roll from Her, crowded up with Things.  
For Aries, Prince of all the Signs comprise  
Full forty Stadia, for his time to rise,  
But Eighty give him when He leaves the Skies:  
One Hour, and one third part his rise completes,  
This space of time, He doubles when He sets.  
The following Signs to Libra rising, claim  
Eight Stadia more, and Setting lose the same.  
And thus in order following Signs require  
Still sixteen Minutes more to raise their Fire,  
And lose as much, when setting they retire:  
Thus signs to Libra, ¹⁸ as they rise increase;  
And thus they lose when they descend to Seas:  
For all the Signs that do from Libra range,  
Take equal measures, but the Order change;  
For Signs adverse to equal times engross,  
But setting Gain, and still arise with loss.  
Thus Hours and Stadia which bright Aries gets  
When rising, Libra loseth when she sets;  
And all the time, which when He leaves the Skies,  
The Ram possesses, Libra takes to rise:  
By this Example, all the rest define,  
The following imitate the leading Sign.  
This rightly fixed, if you these Rules pursue,  
The Horoscope lies open to thy view;  
Securely work, since you can fix in Skies  
The times, and Stadia, for the Signs to rise:  
From that Degree and Sign, in which the Sun  
Gins to start, his daily Course to run,  
Count fairly on, and all the work is done.  
Another method, if you this refuse,  
Shall lead thee right, 
Another Method.  and be as plain to use:  
For if the Horoscope you seek by Day,  
Observe these Rules, which show the surest Way;  
First find what ¹⁹ Hour, the Birth is born, and then  
Add five to that, and multiply by Ten:  
Add five, for every Hour the Signs ascend  
Thrice five Degrees, in the Celestial Bend:  
This done, take that Degree in which the Sign  
Then rolls the Sun, and to this Number join;  
From this whole Sum, one Thirty parts applied  
To the Sun's Sign, nor to the rest denied,  
As following they in order lie, will show  
The thing you sought for, and design to know:  
For where the Number ends, that Sign and Part  
Is Horoscope: Thus speak the Rules of Art.  
By Night your search demands a different way;  
To the Night's Hour, ²⁰ add all the twelve of Day,  
From this whole Sum the Thirty parts apply  
To following Signs as they in order lie;  
And where the Number ends, that Sign and Part  
Is Horoscope: Thus speak the Rules of Art.  
Thus you may find the Horoscope in Skies,  
And tho' Obliqne the Circling Zodiac lies,  
This Point determined, you may fix them all,  
What Crowns the Top, and what supports the Ball:  
The Signs true Setting, and true Rising trace,  
Assign to each their proper Powers and Place,  
And thus what stubborn Nature's Laws deny,  
Our Art shall force, and fix the rolling Sky.  
Nor is o'er all the Earth, 
VIII. Third Argument against the Chaldaeans.  the length of Night,  
And Day the same; they vary with the sight;  
Nor, would the Ram alone and Scales agree,  
In Day and Night; in every Sign would be  
The Equinox, if as these Rules devise,  
Two Hours were given to every Sign to rise.  
In that Position where Directs the Sphere, 
The length of Days and Nights in a Direct Sphere.   
And in the Horizon both Poles appear;  
The Day maintains an equal length to Night,  
And that Usurps not on the others Right:  
No Inequality in Skies is found,  
But equal Day, and equal Night goes round.  
Those Days and Nights which Spring and Autumn bear,  
They see unvaryed through the rolling Year,  
Because the circling Sun in every Sign  
Runs round, and measures still an equal Line;  
Whether through Cancer's height he bears the Day,  
Or through the Goat opposed He bends his way,  
The Day's alike, nor do the Night's decay.  
For tho' Obliqne the Zodiac Circle lies,  
Yet all the Zones do at right Angles rise  
Still Parallel; and whilst the Sphere is Right  
Half Heaven is Hid, and half exposed to sight.  
Hence take thy way, 
In an Obliqne Sphere.  and o'er Earth's mighty Bend  
From this midst Region move to either End,  
As weary Steps convey thee up the Ball  
By Nature rounded and hung midst the All  
To either Pole; whilst you your way pursue  
Some parts withdraw, and others rise to view.  
To you thus mounting as the Earth doth rise  
So varies the Position of the Skies,  
And all the Signs that risen Direct before  
Obliquely mount, and keep that Site no more;  
Obliqne the Zodiac grows, for whilst we range,  
Tho fixed its place, yet ours we freely change;  
'Tis therefore plain that here the Days must prove  
Of different Lengths, since Signs obliquely move,  
Some nearer roll, whilst some remoter rove,  
And measure still unequal Rounds above.  
As nearer to the Arctic Round you go  
The Hours increase, 
On this side the Arctic Circle.  and Day appears to grow;  
The Summer Signs in ample Arch invade  
Our Sight, the Winter lie immersed in Shade;  
The more you Northward move, the more your Eyes  
Their Lustre lose; they set as soon as rise:  
But pass this Round, 
Beyond the Arctic Circle.  as you your way pursue,  
Each Sign withdraws with all its parts from view,  
Then Darkness comes, and chases Light away,  
And thirty Nights excludes the Dawn of Day:  
Thus by degrees Day wastes, Signs cease to rise,  
For bellying Earth still rising up denies  
Their Light a Passage, and confines our Eyes.  
Continued Nights, continued Days appear,  
And Months no more fill up the rolling Year.  
Should Nature place us where the Northern Skies  
Creak round the Pole, 
In an erect or parallel Sphere.  and grind the propping Ice;  
Midst Snows eternal, where th' impending Bear  
Congealed leans forward on the frozen Air;  
The World would seem, if we surveyed the whole,  
Erect, and standing on the nether Pole.  
Its sides, as when a Top spins round, incline  
Nor here nor there, but keep an even Line,  
And there Six Signs of Twelve would fill the sight  
And never setting at an equal Hight,  
Wheel with the Heavens, and spread a constant Light.  
And whilst through those the Sun directs his way  
For long Six Months with a continued Ray  
He chases Darkness, and extends the Day.  
But when the Sun below the Line descends  
With full Career, and to the lower bends,  
Then one long Night continued Darkness joins,  
And whilst he wanders through the Winter's Signs  
The Arctic Circle lies immersed in Shade,  
And vainly calls to feeble Stars for Aid:  
Because the Eyes that from the Pole survey  
The bellying Globe, scarce measure half the way,  
The Orb still rising stops the Sight from far,  
And whilst we forward look, we find a Bar:  
For from the Eyes the Lines directly fall,  
And Lines direct can ne'er surround the Ball;  
Therefore the Sun to those low Signs confined  
Bearing all Day and leaving Night behind,  
To those that from the Pole survey denies  
His cheerful Face, and Darkness fills their Eyes:  
Till having spent as many Months, as past  
Through Signs, he turns, and riseth to the North at last:  
And thus, in this Position of the Sphere  
One only Day, one only Night appear  
On either side the Line, and make the Year.  
What different sorts of Days and Nights are known  
In all Positions thus my Muse hath shown;  
Her Work goes on, and she must next comprise  
What Signs appear, what Times they claim to rise  
In all Positions of the moving Skies:  
That when you follow Art, and boldly press  
To find the Horoscope, a just Success  
May meet thy search, and into knowledge raise thy guess.  
But who can all their various times rehearse?  
Compute so much, and state Accounts in Verse?  
Therefore this part let general Rules define,  
Let those that follow my advanced Design  
Apply them right, but let the Rules be mine.  
wherever placed; 
9 Another way to find the Trine the Signs Rising and Setting by Hours.  by these few Rules proceed,  
By Nature settled, and by Art decreed;  
First count how many ²¹ Hours complete the Night  
Or Day, when Cancer in the Summer's height  
Bears Phoebus, and short darkness bounds the light.  
Day's Hours by Six divide, one sixth devise  
To following Leo as his time to rise:  
Night so divided too one Sixth bestow  
On Taurus, that his rising time will show:  
But then observe the difference of the time  
Which Leo takes, and which the Bull to climb,  
That into Three divide, and thence apply,  
Beside the time which Taurus takes to mount the Sky,  
One single Third to Naked Gemini.  
The like to Cancer, and the like Account  
To fiery Leo as his time to mount;  
Then reckon all, you'll find the Sum the same  
Which from the first Division to Leo came,  
When one sixth part of Day was given to raise his Flame.  
By the same Method Virgo's time define:  
But this Condition runs through every Sign,  
The following keeps those Hours the Sign before  
Obtained to rise, and vulgarly adds more:  
As these an orderly Increase maintain,  
So Signs from Libra still decrease again;  
But different Order they observe in Skies,  
The Hours these claim to Set, those take to Rise.  
But if you count by Stadia, 
By Stadia.  change the Name,  
But keep the Method, for the Rule's the same:  
Seven Hundred Twenty Stadia fill the Round,  
No more in Day, no more in Night are found:  
Hence take as many as complete the Night,  
When glowing Cancer in the Summer's height  
Bears Phoebus, and short darkness bounds the light.  
The rest by Six divide, one Sixth devise  
To fiery Leo as his time to rise;  
Night's Stadia so divide, one Sixth bestow  
On Taurus: Take the Difference twixt the Two,  
That Sum divide by Three, and thence apply,  
Beside the Stadia Taurus takes to mount the Sky,  
One single Third to naked Gemini.  
Thus to the rest proceed, but still confine  
To following Signs the Stadia of the former Sign,  
With one Third Part's Increase; till Libra's Ray  
This Reckoning stops, and shows another way:  
For Signs from Libra different Rules comprise,  
A different Order they observe in Skies,  
The Stadia others claim to Set they take to Rise.  
Those Stadia too in which the rest ascend  
These Winter Signs in slowly setting spend.  
Thus having fixed the Stadia, now pursue  
The Horoscope, 'tis open to thy view;  
From that Degree in which the Sun doth mount  
Observe my Method, and begin to count;  
Give proper Hours to every Sign to rise,  
And proper Stadia to ascend the Skies,  
Work by those Rules which I have shown before,  
Securely work, for you can err no more.  
By what advance the Winter Months increase, 
10. How Days increase from Capricorn 〈◊〉 Cancer.   
(For they advance not by the same Degrees  
Through every Sign, till on the Ram they light,  
Which equals Time, and Day adjusts to Night)  
Must next be shown to all that press to learn,  
Short are the Rules, but yet of great Concern.  
First take the measure of the shortest Day  
And longest Night, when with unequal Ray  
Through Caper Phoebus drives the narrow way.  
Then count the ²² Hours which Day must yield to Shade,  
And in three Portions let the Sum be laid;  
One of these Parts to th' Middle Sign applied  
Shows the Increase of Day on either side:  
For as the First is by the Midst surpassed  
One Half, so that's exceeded by the last.  
Thus through Three Signs the Day's Increase is shown,  
The following taketh what to the Last was grown,  
And adds an equal Portion of its own.  
For Instance: To the Conquest Night assign  
Full Fifteen Hours, and give the Day but Nine:  
Three Hours the difference. Now the Goat hath Power  
To lengthen Day the space of half an Hour,  
One Hour Aquarius adds, the Fishes join  
As much as Both, and with the rest combine;  
Thus three Hours filled, adjusted Time they bring  
To Aries; and he equals Day and Night in Spring.  
The Sixth part of the Time, or more or less,  
whate'er it proves, is the first Sign's Increase;  
The Second doubles what the First surpassed,  
And gives it to be trebled by the last.  
But from the ²³ Equinoctial point the Day  
Receives increase, but in another way;  
For Aries takes as many Hours from Night,  
As Pisces seized before in their own Right;  
And to complete the Rapine Taurus joins  
One Hour, one Half is added by the Twins;  
Thus whilst these Signs the Time to Day restore,  
Night justly loses, as it gained before.  
From Caper thus Decreasing Nights appear,  
And Heaven turns up the right side of the Year;  
The Day proceeds to lengthen all the way,  
Till high in Cancer raised it finds a Stay;  
The Solstice then: when Day and Night are found  
Equal to Night and Day that drove the Winter round.  
Then by the same degrees again the Light  
Decreasing, what it took returns to Night.  
Thus far advanced in Art my Verse defines  
The proper Years, 
11. The Years, Months, Days, and Hours of Signs.  Months, Hours, and Days of Signs:  
These must be shown; for Signs have Days & Hours,  
And Months, and Years when they exert their Powers.  
First then, that Sign in which the Sun appears,  
Because the Sun measures out the time in Years,  
Claims the first Year: On following Signs bestow  
The following Years as they in Order go.  
And so the Moon, for as she rounds the Skies,  
She measures Months, to Signs the Months applies.  
Of Days and Hours the Horoscope possessed  
Of the first parts, to following. Signs commits the rest.  
This Nature orders, all her Months and Years,  
And Days, and Hours, she parcels out to Stars;  
That as they run their Course they all may find  
The different Signs, and vary in their kind.  
This Nature order too; and hence there springs  
That various Discord that is seen in Things;  
In one continued Stream no Fortune flows,  
Joy mixes Grief, and Pleasures urged by Woes:  
Inconstancy in every part appears,  
Which Wisdom never trusts, but Folly fears.  
Thus Years from Years, and as they roll the round  
The Months from Months, and Days from Days are found  
To differ: no returning Hours restore  
That sort of Fortune which they brought before:  
Because the Times, as round their Course they run,  
Meet different Signs, and are not bound to One;  
The Days and Hours their ruling Signs obey,  
The Month's the influence which they give convey  
And temper all things by their fatal Ray.  
Some Author's Write, 
Some Astrologers Opinion. concerning the Years, Months and Days of Signs.  (for who can hope to see  
Opinions join, or find the World agree?)  
That from the Horoscope our Art defines  
The Days, the Hours, the Years, and Months of Signs;  
From that alone let the Account begin,  
And all the rest will orderly fall in:  
And whilst the others, as before 'twas shown,  
Three Heads of reckoning ask, the Moon, the Sun,  
And Horoscope, these still demand but One:  
Yet still as great, their difference must appear,  
Month disagrees with Month, and Year with Year,  
And Hours and Days: For with uneven pace,  
Tho' starting all together, they run the Race,  
And never make Returns in equal space:  
Twice to the Signs each ²⁴ Hour the Days restore  
Twice every Month, brings round the Days, and more:  
Once every Year the Months to Signs are born,  
And when Twelve Years are run, the Years return.  
'Tis hard to think, 
Refuted.  and Nature's Laws reject  
One single Time, so differing in effect:  
That when one Sign for Years and Months appears,  
Bad Fate should clog the Months, Good Crown the Years:  
Or that the Sign which through the Months conveys  
Bright Fortune, should with Black infest the Days:  
Or that the Star, which with afflicting Power,  
The Day oppresseth, should exalt the Hour.  
Vain therefore their attempt, who fond hope,  
The Times to reckon from the Horoscope,  
And think because with an unequal Date,  
They come to Signs, that these Returns create  
Their different, odd varieties of Fate.  
Absurd Opinion! which with fruitless pain,  
They strive to prop with mighty Names in vain,  
It sinks, and falls with its own stupid weight again.  
This sung, 
12. How many Years belong to each Sign and Station.  and Times to Signs applied, the Muse  
Would beg release, and further Task refuse;  
But lo the Subject grows: The next must show  
What length of Times the several Signs bestow:  
This must be known when in your search for Fate  
You measure Life, and fix the gloomy Date.  
Ten Years and One, but one third part withdrawn,  
The ²⁵ Ram extends the wretched Life of Man;  
Poorly he gives, as frugal of his Store,  
Whilst Taurus adds two Years to these; the Twins two more.  
Full sixteen Years Eight Months, from Cancer flow,  
But two Years more the Lion's rays bestow.  
From Virgo twenty Years, eight Months conveyed,  
Enlarge the Birth: The Scales give equal to the Maid:  
Scorpio's as much as Leo's Rays dispense,  
The Centaur equals Cancer's influence:  
Of Years, twice seven, eight Months the Goat conveys;  
Though young Aquarius shines with feebler rays,  
Four Years he trebles, and doubles six score Days.  
To the same space, with which the Ram began,  
The Fish placed, next extend the Age of Man.  
But farther yet, 'tis not enough to know  
The length of time which single signs bestow;  
For you may Err, when in your search for Fate,  
You measure Life, and fix the gloomy Date;  
Because the Heavenly Stations claim their share,  
As Planets intermix their Force declare,  
In this Contrivance, and make Life their Care.  
To single stations now what Years belong,  
(With Planets joined, they claim ²⁶ another Song)  
In well wrought Numbers let the Muse impart,  
And teach the simplest Elements of Art;  
This done, these things prepared and sitly joined,  
With greater Ease, she'll raise the Work designed,  
If when the Moon is in the Hinge at East,  
The Birth breaks forward from its native rest;  
Full Eighty Years, if you two Years abate,  
This Station gives, and long defers its Fate:  
But if in heavens midst point, this large Decree  
She shortens, giving fewer Years by three:  
With Eighty Courses in the Zodiac Round,  
Substracting Four, the Western Hinge is Crowned.  
The lowest Hinge on all its Births, derives  
Years sixty two, 
Vid. Fig. 9  and then concludes their Lives.  
The ninth, which makes upon the Right the Trine,  
Gives sixty Years, and bats but One of Nine.  
The Fifth o'th' Left, as frugal of its store,  
Gives sixty three, and can enlarge no more;  
Th' Eleventh station, that which rises high,  
Almost an equal of the Middle Sky,  
Yields six score Springs, and lest that Gift should be  
Too scanty, lengthens that vast Sum by Three.  
The Third which lies at equal space below  
The Eastern point, doth fifty Years bestow,  
Mean is the station, and its Gift is so.  
The second Forty Courses of the Sun,  
And two bestows, and when that term is done,  
The Man goes off, e'er half his race be run.  
The Twelfth gives twenty three, then hasty Death,  
Comes on, and in his Bloom, the Youth resigns his Breath.  
The Eighth next o'er the Western Hinge can bring  
But fourteen Years, nor adds another Spring.  
The sixth but Twelve bestows, than Death destroys  
The Parent's Hopes, and crops the growing Boys;  
Diseases following, from their Birth create  
A feeble Frame, and sit the Prey for Fate.  
Now nicely view the Tropic Signs that lie  
Opposed in the four Quarters of the Sky; 
13. The Tropic Signs   
Called Tropic Signs, because when these appear,  
The World than Turns the Seasons of the Year:  
Thus Spring in Cancer, in Autumnal Scales  
The Summer turns, in Caper Autumn sails;  
Thence shivering Winter creeps congealed with Frost,  
Yet melts again; and in the Ram is lost:  
These lose the Seasons, to their full Career,  
And make the Course of the Revolving Year;  
And these being Hingers of the World, create  
New Powers in Stars; and fix new Rules for Fate.  
In Heaven's high Arch, 
Cancer.  and on the utmost Line  
Of Summer progross, Cancer seats his Sign:  
There stretches out the greatest length of Day,  
And then declines, and makes it soon decay;  
But all the time which, as he bears the Light  
He takes from Day, He still conveys to Night.  
Then Corn grows yellow on the fruitful Soil,  
And lusty Reapers bare their Limbs for toil:  
Then Seas grow warm, the Floods forbear to roar,  
And Billows languish on the quiet Shore.  
Then Mars goes forth, nor is the Scythian Coast  
From Roman Arms defended by her Frost:  
And whilst their Pools and Marshy Grounds are dry,  
Fearing our Force, the conquered Germans fly:  
Then Nile overflows, and Egypt's fruitful Plain,  
Rich Harvests yields, nor needs the aid of Rain.  
Thus lies the World, when with exalted Ray,  
I'th' Summer Solstice Phoebus bears the Day  
Through Cancer's Sign, and drives the highest Way.  
Opposed the Goat in narrowest rounds of Light,  
Wheels Winter on, 
Capricorn  but long extends the Night;  
Yet soon Ascending, He contracts the Shade,  
To Day returning all the waste he made;  
The Fields unwrought, then lie, unploughed the Seas,  
And Mars in Quarters, lies consigned to Ease:  
Rocks cleave with Frost; and by the Cold, oppressed,  
All Nature's Powers, are stiffened into Rest.  
The next in Power are those two Signs that rise  
With equal Revolutions of the Skies;  
Which times of Day and Night adjust, 
Aries.  and bring  
The Autumn on, or else advance the Spring.  
The Sun returning in his Yearly Race,  
To Cancer's Sign meets Aries midst the Space,  
Seated between the Point, from whence he bends  
His upward Course, and that in which he ends.  
There placed as Umpire in the midst o'th' way,  
Contracted Night, he well adjusts to Day.  
And as through him the Sun goes on to climb  
The Heavenly steep, He makes a change in time;  
For Day, that shortened in the Winter bend,  
The Ram first lengthens; and the next extend,  
Till raised in Cancer, to the utmost height  
Of Summer's pitch, He wheels the longest Light.  
Then Seas lie hushed: Then Earth grows bold to bear,  
And trusts young Flowers to the serener Air:  
Then Beasts in Fields, and Birds in every Grove,  
Press on with Fury to consummate Love.  
With joyful Songs the vocal Forests Ring,  
And various Leaves adorn the gaudy Spring:  
With such brisk Powers are Nature's parts possessed,  
When waked, she rouses from her Winter's Rest.  
Opposed to Aries, Libra's Stars appear  
With the like power to sway the rolling Year, 
Libra.   
She equals Day and Night: But soon the Scale  
O'repoised by Darkness, let's the Night prevail;  
And Day, that lengthened in the Summer's height,  
Shortens till Winter, and is lost in Night.  
Then from the burdened Elms, the generous Vine  
Descends, and Presses overflow with Wine:  
Then Wheat is sown, whilst Autumn's heats remain  
To lose the Clods, and mollify the Grain.  
These have their Powers, and as these Signs create  
A turn in Seasons, so they do in Fate:  
From Tropic Signs (for by their name, we guess  
Their turning Natures) who can hope for less?  
But wide in their mistake, who think to see  
These Powers spread equally in each Degree;  
Not every Portion of the Tropic Signs  
Turns Seasons, 
What Degrees in the Tropic Signs are to be considered.  and the Planets force confines,  
But one Day only, in the blooming Prime  
Of Spring, in Autumn One adjusts the Time,  
One Day in Aries doth to Time restore  
Equality, and Libra boasts no more;  
One Longest Day in Cancer's Sign is born,  
One Night of equal length in Capricorn:  
The other Days roll on with different Light,  
Now gaining from, now losing time to Night.  
Thus One Degree in Tropic Signs creates  
A change in Heaven, and turns the Rules of Fates;  
No fixed Decrees secure, their boundless sway,  
Extends to all, and makes the Stars obey.  
But which that is that governs, Fate's Decree,  
There Authors differ, nor can Art agree;  
For some the Eighth, and some the Tenth assign,  
The First Degree— is only Thine,  
Thine, but the Muse with scorn, forbears the Name;  
Unworthy mention, and too mean for Fame.  
The End of the Third Book.   

NOTES.  
1. This and the seven following Verses relate to the several particulars of Medea's story.  
2. I use this Interpretation rather than that of Scaliger and others, because I think Manilius speaks only of that famous Siege of Thebes, when the seven Generals attacked it; and as the Story says, Capaneus had almost ruined the Town before he was struck with Thunder.  
3. Oedipus Married his own Mother Jocasta, and had Children by her; so that each Son was Brother to the Father, and Grandchild to the Mother.  
4. This respects the Story of Atreus and Thyestes.  
5. Xerxes is said to have dug a Channel round Mount Athos, and to have made a Bridge over the Hellespont.  
6. Thus, for instance, in whatever Sign the Lot of Fortune is placed, the next that belongs to the next Sign, is the Lot of Warfare: Civil Employments must be given to the third, etc.  
7. For the Lot of Fortune being in all Nativities that belong to Day to be accounted for from the Sun, and in all Nativities that belong to Night from the Moon; and those two Planets not always possessing the same place in every Nativity, and the other Lots following the disposition of that of Fortune; it is very evident that the same Lot is not to be always applied to the same Sign.  
8. The Poet never finished this part, or it is now lost.  
9 For instance, let the Sun be in the 20th Degree of Aries, the Moon in the 10th Degree of Libra; from the 20th Degree of Aries (counting through the following Signs Taurus, Gemini, &c) to the 10th Degree of Libra; are 170 Degrees: Let the Horoscope be the 10th Degree of Cancer; from that 10th Degree of Cancer, count through the following Signs, viz. Leo, Virgo, etc. and you will find the Number 170 to end in the 10th Degree of Capricorn: Therefore in the 10th Degree of Capricorn place the Lot of Fortune: This I take to be the meaning of Manilius.  
10. Suppose the Sun to be in the 21, 49 ' ' ' ' ' of Leo, the Moon in the 26, 31 ' ' ' ' ' of Virgo; the Horoscope in the, 1, 0 ' ' ' ' ' of Leo; The Moon is distant from the Sun 325, 18 ' ' ' ' ', which number being distributed amongst the Antecedent Signs, viz. Cancer, Gemini, Taurus, etc. ends in the 5, 42 ' ' ' ' ' of Virgo, that there is the place of the Lot of Fortune.  
11. To explain this Method which the Chaldeans used to find the Horoscope, Scaliger gives this instance: Let the Sun's place be the 13, 25 ' of Libra, let the Birth be at the end of the Seventh Hour of the Day: Now because every Sign hath thirty Degrees, and fifteen Degrees make one Hour, these Seven Hours are three Signs and an half, or one Hundred and five Degrees: Now reckon those Degrees through the following Signs, viz. Scorpius, Centaurus, etc. The Number ends in the 28125 ' ' ' ' ' of Capricorn, and therefore that is the Horoscope.  
12. Sic media extremis, etc. The middle Signs here are Aries and Libra, and these are said to be opposite to the Extremes, Cancer and Capricorn, because in them the Days are equal, but in the others unequal to the Nights: This I take to be the meaning of the Poet, rather than what Scaliger and other Interpreters pretend.  
13. Thus in Cancer the Days are longest; in Capricorn, which is a Sign adverse to Cancer, the Nights are of the same length, that the Days were of in Cancer: The like holds in Leo, and Aquarius, and so in the rest.  
14. The Italians divided all the time betwixt the Rising and Setting of the Sun into Twelve Hours, and all the time between the Setting and Rising of the Sun into Twelve Hours: And therefore, those times being various and unequal, the Hours must likewise be unequal.  
15. According to the Opinion of some Ancient Astronomers, who placed the Winter Solstice in the Eighth Degree of Capricorn, the Summer Solstice in the Eighth Degree of Cancer, and the Equinox in the Eighth Degrees of Aries and Libra: Thus in the End of this Book, 
Has quidam vires octava in parte reponunt.   
16. Eudoxus wrote of the Sphere at the 36th Degree, Elevation of the Pole, and Manilius follows him.  
17. A Stadium in Manilius is half of a Degree, and therefore in the whole Zodiac there are 720 Stadia. In the Zodiac are 360 Degrees, to every Hour we reckon, 15 Degrees, therefore every Hour is equal to 30 Stadia, and for the same Reason, each Hour containing 60 Minutes, every Stadium is equal to two Minutes.  
18. The rising and Setting of the Signs according to Manilius.  

Rising.  Signs. Stadia. Hours. Minutes. Degrees. Aries. 40 1 20 ' ' ' ' ' 20 Taurus. 48 1 36 ' 24 Gem. 56 1 52 ' 28 Cancer. 64 2 8 ' 32 Leo. 72 2 24 ' 26 Virgo. 80 2 40 ' 40 Libra. 80 2 40 ' 40 Scorp. 72 2 24 36 Cent. 64 2 8 ' 32 Capr. 56 1 52 ' 28 Aquar. 48 1 36 ' 24 Pisces. 40 1 20 ' 20 Signs Stadia. Hours. Min. Deg.  

Setting  Signs. Stadia. Hours. Min. Deg. Aries. 80 2 40 ' ' ' ' ' 40 Taur. 72 2 24 ' 36 Gem. 64 2 8 ' 32 Canc. 56 1 52 ' 28 Leo. 48 1 36 ' 24 Virg. 40 1 20 20 Lib. 40 1 20 ' 20 Scorp. 48 1 36 ' 24 Cent. 56 1 52 ' 28 Capr. 64 2 8 ' 32 Aquar. 72 2 24 ' 36 Pisces. 80 2 40 ' 40 Signs. Stadia. Hours. Min. Deg.  
19 Let the Child be born in the Fourth Hour of the Day, add five to four, the Sum is 9, Multiply 9 by 10, the Product is 90. Let the Sun be in the 10th Degree of Gemini, add 10 to 90, the Sum is 100, of this 100 give 30 to Gemini, the Sign in which the Sun is, 30 more to the following Sign Taurus: 30 to the next Aries, 10 remain, therefore the 10th Degree of Pisces is the Horoscope.  
20. Let the Birth be in the Seventh Hour of Night, add to that the Twelve Hours of the Day, and that Seventh Hour will be the Nineteenth, from the Suns Rising: Then add, multiply, and work, as in the former Method.  
21. Let the longest Day in Cancer be of 16 Hours, the shortest Night of 8: Divide those 16 Hours into 6 parts, each part contains 2 Hours 40 Minutes: Therefore allow Leo 2 Hours 40 Min. for his Rising time: Divide likewise the 8 Hours of Night into 6 parts, each part will contain 1 Hour 20. m. and that is the rising time of Taurus. The Difference between the Rising Times of these two Signs is 1 Hour 20 Min. Divide this Difference into three equal parts, each part will contain 26 Min. 40 Sec. Add these 26 Min. and 40 Sec. to the Rising time of Taurus, and the whole Sum makes up the Rising time of Gemini, viz. 1 Hour, 46 Min. 40 Sec. To this add another third part to make up the Rising time of Cancer, viz. 2 Hours 13 Min. 20 Sec. And so of the rest, as in the following Scheme.  
Signs Hours Min. Sec. Signs Aries. 0 53 20 Pisces. Taur. 1 20 0 Aqua. Gem. 1 46 40 Capr. Cancer 2 13 20 Cent. Leo. 2 40 0 Scorp. Virg. 3 6 40 Libra.  
But it must always be observed, that the Southern or Winter Signs are opposed to the Northern or Summer Signs. The Rising-time of the Summer is the Setting-time of the Winter; and the Setting-time of the Summer the Rising-time of the Winter Signs.  
22. The Example which Manilius himself gives, sets this Doctrine in its true Light. Let the longest Night in Capricorn be of 15 Hours, the Day consequently must be of 9 Thus the Night exceeds the Day by 3 Hours. Divide these 3 Hours into 3 Parts, give one Part, that is, 1 Hour to the Middle Sign, viz. Aquarius, and thence conclude that in Capricorn the Day increases half an Hour, and in Pisces an Hour and half; Aquarius being the Middle Sign in which the Days increase one Hour.  
23. According to the Doctrine of Manilius (let the Example be the same with that in the preceding Note) in Aries the Day increases one Hour and half, in Taurus one Hour, in Gemini half an Hour.  
24. There being 24 Hours belonging to each Day, and but 12 Signs, more than 24 Days in each Month, and 12 Months in every Year.  
25. A Table of the Years and Months that belong to each Sign.  
Signs. Years. Month's Signs. Aries. 10 8 Pisces. Taurus. 12 8 Aquar. Gemini. 14 8 Capr. Cancer. 16 8 Sagit. Leo. 18 8 Scorp. Virgo. 20 8 Libra.  
26. This was never finished by the Poet, or is now lost.   

MANILIUS. The Fourth Book.  
After a short Reflection on the vain Cares of Mankind, he brings several Arguments to prove Fate: 1. Several unaccountable passages in the Roman and Grecian Histories: 2. Sudden Death, and unexpected Recoveries, contrary to all the powers of Art and Physic: 3. The difference between the Children of the same Parents: 4. The fewness of Worthy Men, and the certainty of Death: 5. The ill successes of Wise and Good Men, and the prosperity of Knaves and Fools▪ 6. Monstrous Births: 7. Prophecy: And then endeavours, 8. to take off some Objections that might be rationally proposed against this Doctrine: Then. 9 He shows what Tempers and Inclinations the twelve Signs singly considered do bestow, and to what Arts they incline: 10. Under the Ram, are born all sorts of workers in Wool, Brokers, Men of unsettled Fortunes, fearful, inconstant, and covetous of Praise: 11. Under the Bull, Plowmen, Aspiring, Reserved, Strong, and Amorous: 12. Under the Twins, Musicians, Songsters, Men of merry Tempers, and Astronomers: 13. Under the Crab, Covetous Fellows and Usurers: 14. Under the Lion, Hunters, Beast-keepers, Plain, Open-hearted, easily provoked, and easily appeased: Under the Maid, Philosophers, Orators, Notaries, shamefaced and indifferently good: 16. Under the Scales, Measurers, Gagers, Accountants, Lawgivers, Lawyers, and Judges: 17. Under the Scorpion, Hunters, Gladiators, Men of Warlike and Military Dispositions: 18. Under Sagittarius, Chariot-Racers, Horsebreakers, Tamer's of Wild Beasts, Men of acute Understandings, and strong and nimble Bodies: 19 Under the Goat, Miners, Coiners, Goldsmiths, Bakers, Brokers, Inconstant and Lascivious in their Youth: 20. Under Aquarius, Men skilled in making Aqueducts, and Water-works, and Spheres, and Globes, tractable and prodigal: 21. Under Pisces, Mariners, Pilots, Shipwrights, Rowers, Fishers, Fruitful but Inconstant: 22. He Discourses of the Tenths of each Sign, and what Sign is Lord of each third part of every Sign: 23. He encourages his Scholar to go on, though the Task seems to grow upon him, and to be very difficult, because 'tis a Noble Study, and the Object truly great: 24. He shows what degrees of each Sign are hurtful, what not: 25. He Teaches, that the Tempers of those that are Born when the Sign riseth, are different from those that are Born at other times: 26. He draws a Map of the Earth and Seas, and Teaches what Signs govern particular Countries: 27. He shows what Signs are called Eccliptick, and why: 28. He proposeth such Objections as are made to deter Men from this curious search, and answereth them.  
WHy should our Time run out in useless years, 
Short Reflections on the Cares of Men.   
Of anxious Troubles and tormenting Fears?  
Why should deluding Hopes disturb our ease,  
Vain to pursue, yet eager to possess?  
With no Success, and no Advantage crowned,  
Why should we still tread on th' unfinished Round?  
Grown grey 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 squandered, 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 confined 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 Empire's Kings are doomed, 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 huddled then together, and fixed at once.  
The Ills that are ordained we must endure,  
From not Decreed how fatally secure?  
Prayers are too weak to check fixed Destinies,  
And Vows too slow to catch the Fate that flies.  
Whether with Glory raised, or clogged with Scorn,  
The State, that then is settled, 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 sustained by ² one?  
And only Conquered then, when overthrown?  
And did not Stars the rise of States dispose,  
Had mighty Rome from such beginnings risen?  
Had 3 Shepherds built, or Swains without control  
Advanced their 4 Cottage to a Capitol?  
Placed on whose heights, our Caesar's 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 stormed; or ⁶ Mutius safe returned  
From baffled Flames, or vanquished whilst he burned?  
Our Towns and Bridges guard, had ⁶ Cocles stood,  
Or the weak ⁶ Virgin swum rough Tiber's Flood?  
Had one ⁶ Horatius our sunk hopes restored,  
Or Three have fallen beneath a single Sword?  
O Glorious Victory! what Arms before,  
e'er won so much, none ever fought for more;  
Rome and her hopes of Empire hung on One,  
His o'er matched Lot was Hers, a Yoke or Throne.  
Why should I ⁸ Cannae's bloody Plains relate,  
And Africk's Ensigns threatening at our Gate,  
How Thrasimene Drowned Flaminius' Shame,  
And after Fabius, wise Retreats o'ercome,  
The Conquered Carthage shone with Roman flame?  
How Hannibal on the Campanian Plains,  
Rome's Terror once, then destined 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 Laurels Crowned,  
Then in the Dungeon stretched upon the grouned;  
Now Slave, now Consul, Consul, Slave again,  
His Curule Chair, succeeded by a Chain;  
Now a mean Ruin on the Lybian Sands  
Despised he lies, and straight the World Commands;  
Like Thunder from low Earth exhaled, he risen  
From the Minturnian Pools,  
And scattered 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 Monarches beg thy leave to Reign,  
That saw Victorious Laurels Crown thy Head,  
And Worlds in thy repeated Triumphs lead;  
And all that Glory which thy Sword had won,  
Fixed and supported by as great a ¹¹ Son)  
Have thought that Thou, upon a Foreign Sand,  
Shouldst steal a Burial from a common Hand;  
That shattered Planks, the Sea's dishonest spoil  
Should hiz beneath thy Trunk, and be thy Pile?  
That Thou, the mighty Thou, shouldst want an Urn,  
What Power, but Fate, could work so strange a turn?  
Even 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'er surprised by his most watchful Foes;  
Yet Crowned with Peace, in all his Pomp and State  
He fell a Victim to overruling Fate:  
No dark suspicions, but bright hints were brought,  
He knew what Cassius spoke, and Brutus thought;  
How far advanced, 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 revealed;  
To prove that Fate will sway, and Stars control,  
He fell, and with his Blood defaced the Scroul:  
O mighty power of Fate, and proved too well!  
The Best, the Wisest, and the Greatest fell.  
Why should I mention King's 13 and Empires falls,  
Show 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 would scourge the Gods,  
A Wreck, much greater than the threatened Floods?  
Or 13 Tullus' Reign, who by the power of Fate,  
Was born a Slave, yet Ruled the Roman State?  
Or show 13 Metellus snatch the Vestal Fire,  
And as he passed, prophaner Flames retire?  
How oft do sudden Deaths the Healthy seize, 
II. Second Argument.   
Without the formal warning of Disease?  
And yet how often from the Piles retire,  
Even 14 fly themselves, and wander through the Fire?  
Thus some have from their Graves returned, 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 Poison's Innocent, when Physic Kills.  
Some Children prove a mean degenerate Race, 
III. Third Argument.   
Some show their Father's Mind, as well as Face;  
In One, their Virtue, and their Fortune rise  
To greater height, and in Another dies.  
One 15 mad in Love, to Troy will carry War,  
Or swim the Flood, and view the Torch from far,  
The Other is determined 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, 
IU. Fourth Argument.   
The ¹⁶ Deccis die, or ¹⁶ Cato conquer Death,  
'Tis 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 bribed by Wealth, enlarged the Rich with more;  
There Riches lose their force, the shining Years  
Of glorious Tyrants must be turned in Tears;  
They dig a Grave for Kings, and fix the Day;  
How great must be that Power which Crowns obey!  
Successless Virtue sinks whilst 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, sixth 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 turn of the Race.  
Besides, 
VI Sixth Argument.  what Monstrous Births, the Nurse's fear  
And Mother's shame, half Man, half Beast appear?  
Such wondrous Creatures ne'er 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 Sergeant a Rape,  
And mix a Monster of amazing shape.  
Besides, 
VII. Seventh Argument.  were not Events by Fates enrolled,  
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 answered.  Fate denies  
Rewards to Virtue, and must plead for Vice:  
Absurd; for who less hates a Poisonous Weed  
Because 'tis bred from Necessary Seed?  
Or who loves Corn the less; who hates the Vine.  
Because by Nature raised, 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 settled by Debate,  
'Tis 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 Zodiac 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 increase the Fold,  
And makes the Rams to shine in native Gold;  
Betters the Wool, and whilst the Subject grows  
He forms men's Minds to use what he bestows;  
To Pick, to Card, to Spin, and Wove, to deal  
In Cloth with gain; to Buy, Exchange, and sell:  
All useful Arts, whose constant Works supply  
men's 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 tilled:  
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 toil'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 own  
The brave Serrani, he i'th' Fields did Rods bestow,  
And sent a great Dictator from his Blow.  
Reserved, 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 even their Pains are Pleasure;  
Wars they avoid, Old Age they chase with Song,  
And when late Death o'ertakes 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'er 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 tossed  
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'er 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 seized the Store  
Of this, search other Worlds, and seek for more.  
Or else at home prove griping Usurers,  
Complaining at the slowness of the Years,  
Wish swifter Suns, and set too vast a rate  
On Time itself, 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.  'tis 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'er his Prey.  
Hence he inclines men's Minds to Hunt, and fills  
Our Nobles spacious Halls with grinning spoils;  
There Skins and Horns do spread a dismal grace,  
And stand as certain Heralds 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 theatres,  
And feast their Luxury with Brutish Wars;  
Cruel in Sport: Their Posts are graced with Spoil,  
And they get shameful Honour without Toil:  
He makes Men warm, their Passions quickly raised,  
Like Boys soon angry, and as soon appeased:  
But Plain and Honest all their Thoughts sincere;  
Pure as the Sun, and like the Water clear.  
But modest Virgo's Rays give polished parts, 
XV. Of Virgo.   
And fill men's 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 Rhetoric strong  
They rule, and are even Monarches by their Tongue.  
Through Nature's Secrets too, they boldly press,  
Tho' deeply hid, and meet a just success;  
In Shorthand skilled, 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 Eyes,  
The best of Vices, yet 'tis still a Vice,  
Because it stifles, checks, or nips like Frost  
A blooming Virtue, and the Fruit is lost.  
Besides, though strange such Influence should come  
From Virgo's Rays, she gives a fruitful Womb.  
Libra, 
XVI. Of Libra.  whose Scales, when Autumn turns the Signs,  
And ruddy Bacchus treads the juicy Vines;  
In equal Balance, poise the Night and Day,  
Teach how to measure, and instruct to weigh:  
And Rival ²¹ Palamed, (who Numbers found,  
And into Letters framed unpolisht sound;  
To Him the Art of Words, and Speech we own,  
Till then Men only Spoke, but knew not how.)  
Besides, He'll know the Niceties of Law;  
What guard the Good, and what the Guilty awe,  
What Vengeance wait on Crimes, with Skill declare,  
His private Chamber, still shall be the Bar.  
What He determines, that for Right shall stand,  
As Justice weighed her Balance in his Hand.  
This Ruled at ²² Servius' Birth, who first did give  
Our Laws a Being, rather than Revive;  
The Tables seemed Old, Reverend Senseless Lines,  
Mere waxed Things, and fit to serve Designs,  
As Fools mistake, or Crafty Knaves would draw;  
Till He infused a Soul, and made them Law.  
Bright Scorpio Armed, 
XVII. Of Scorpio.  with poisonous Tail prepares,  
Mens Martial Minds, for Violence and Wars;  
His Venom heats, and boils their Bloods to Rage,  
And Rapine spreads o'er the unlucky Age.  
Yet, when the Sun drives there, Men tear the Earth,  
And cast their Seed to an increasing Birth,  
As if he led mistaken Men to toil,  
And sweat for Matter for a future spoil.  
Yet 'tis not Prey they seek, as much as Blood,  
For even in Peace they fiercely trace the Wood,  
O'er Forests range, and every Plain infested,  
Now Fight with Man, and now Engage with Beast;  
To please the Crowd, they unprovok'd engage,  
And sell their Lives, to the dishonest Stage;  
And when calm Peace doth Public Rest bestow,  
Yet still to Fight, each seeks himself a Foe.  
They spend their leisure Hours in fierce Alarms,  
And all their Recreation is in Arms.  
The double Centaur different Tempers breeds, 
XVIII. Of Sagittarius.   
They break the Horse, and tame the fiery Steeds;  
They love the sounding Whip, the Race, the Rein,  
And whirl the Chariot o'er the dusty Plain:  
Nor is their Humour to the Fields confined,  
They range the Woods, and tame the Savage Kind;  
Young Bears they break, and Tiger's heats assuage,  
And hear Young Lions roaring without Rage.  
Discourse the ²³ Elephant, and Teach the Mass  
A mimic Action, and a decent Grace;  
To Act in Plays, or raise th' unweildly load,  
To Dance, and be the Darling of the Crowd.  
For in the Frame, in double forms expressed,  
The Man is uppermost, and rules the Beast;  
His Bow full drawn implies, his Rays impart,  
Strength to the Limbs, and Vigour to the Heart.  
Quick active Motions, full of warmth and heat,  
Still pressing on, unknowing to retreat.  
But Sacred Vesta guards thy fatal Fire, 
XIX. Of Capricorn.   
And thence 'tis guessed, what Minds thy Rays inspire,  
Contracted Goat; by thee that Art's infused,  
Which Fire assists, and where a Flame is used;  
By thee the Miners burn the Womb of Earth;  
And see the place of Metals fatal Birth:  
By thee they melt; by thee they work the Mould,  
Refine, and Stamp it into mighty Gold:  
By thee, the Silver, Iron, Gold, and Brass,  
The Forge dissolves, and forms the easy Mass:  
By thee, the Ovens heat, and Baths acquire,  
And Happy ²⁴ Chemists blow enriching Fire:  
Thy Cold (for thou o'er Winter Signs dost reign,  
Pullest back the Sun, and send'st us Day again)  
Makes Brokers Rich, for whilst you spread your Ice,  
Their Wares go off, and they enhance the Price:  
From thee our Youth unconstant Tempers prove,  
And eagerly pursue unlawful Love,  
' Cause Goat above; but these the Fish behind  
Corrects in Age, and fixes the soft Mind.  
Aquarius pouring out his Urn, 
XX. Of Aquarius.  imparts  
An useful Knowledge in resembling Arts,  
To find out Springs, and with new Streams supply  
The Barren Countries, and refresh the dry;  
To raise in Pipes, or to extend in Beams,  
And in high Rooms imprison Foreign Streams;  
Affront the Sea, for State, not use, restrain  
The Waves with Moles, and curb the raging Main;  
Or Engines raise, whence Waters mount above,  
And mix the lower, with the higher Jove.  
A thousand other Arts, which Waters sway,  
As Channels lead, or else as Pipes convey,  
Depend upon the influence of his Ray.  
And to his Births the World obliged shall owe  
Spheres, Cycles, Orbs, and turn new Skies below.  
Soft, easy Tempers, loving Coin for use,  
Not forbid, but inclined to be profuse;  
Not pinched, nor yet too swelling in Estate;  
Thus flows the Urn, and fixes this for Fate.  
Last double Pisces, 
XXI. Of Pisces.  from their shining scale,  
Spread watery influence, and incline to Sail;  
To trust their Lives to Seas, to blow the Deep,  
To make fit Rigging, or to build a Ship.  
In short, what e'er can for a Fleet be framed,  
A thousand Arts, too numerous to be named.  
Beside to steer, observe the Stars, and guide  
As they direct, and never lose the Tide;  
To know the Coasts, the Winds, the Ports, and Shores;  
To turn the Helm, or ply the bending Oars;  
To sweep smooth Seas with Nets, to drag the Sand,  
And draw the leaping Captives to the Land,  
Lay cheating Wires, or with unfaithful bait,  
The Hook conceal, and get by the deceit:  
To fight at Sea, to slain the Waves with blood,  
Whilst War lies floating on th' unstable flood:  
Fruitful their Births, of Pleasure fond, engage  
In Love, are quick, but changing with their Age.  
Thus rule the Twelve, 
XXII. The Tenths and the Lords of the third part of each sign.  these Powers they singly own,  
And these would give if they could work alone.  
But none rules All its own degrees, they join  
Their friendly forces with some other Sign,  
As 'twere compound, and equal parts receive  
From Other Signs, as they to Others give:  
Thus each hath Thirty parts, and each resigns  
Two Thirds of those degrees to other Signs:  
We call these portions (Art new words will frame,)  
The Tenths, ²⁵ the Number doth impose the Name:  
So hid is Truth, so many Vails are spread  
Coy Nature's Face, and hid her Gloomy Head,  
So many are the little Niceties,  
So intricate, and puzzling are the Skies,  
Not easy to be read by common Eyes.  
For one appearance in another lies,  
Conceals its Powers, and Acts in disguise;  
And that which Lurks, and subtly interferes  
Hath different Powers from that which then appears.  
Not Day, but piercing Thought must clear this Sky,  
The Labour of thy Mind, not of thy Eye;  
Press bravely on, and pass the Gloomy Cloud,  
Enter, and view the inside of the God;  
The Path is dark, and lest thy Mind should stray  
I'll boldly lead, and show the nearest way;  
I'll Sing what League the different Parts combines,  
And show how others Rule in other Signs.  
For instance, 
Of Aries.  Aries shakes his shining Fleece,  
And governs the First Ten of his Degrees:  
But next the Bull, and next the Twins do claim  
The second, and third Portions of the Ram:  
Thus three times Ten Degrees the Ram divide,  
And He, as many others as preside  
In his Degrees, so many Fates affords  
His proper Powers being tempered by his Lords.  
Thus lies the Ram, 
Of Taurus.  next view the threatening Bull,  
His case is different, he hath none to Rule:  
For in his First Ten Parts the Crab's obeyed,  
I'th' Second Leo, and i'th' Third the Maid.  
Yet he seems stubborn, and maintains his Throne,  
And all Their Powers he mixeth with his Own.  
The feeble Twins just Libra's Scales possess, 
Of Gemini.   
Then Scorpio, and the rest of their Degrees  
Bold Sagittarius subjects to his flame,  
With Bow full drawn, as to defend his claim.  
An equal share in Empire all maintain,  
But keep not the same order in their Reign.  
For Cancer's Sign, 
Of Cancer▪  as in the Goat he sways,  
Resigns his first third Portion to His Rays:  
For when he bears the Sun opposed in site,  
His Day is equal to the Others Night:  
This is the Reason why these Two combine,  
And each hath the same Portion in each Sign.  
His second part the Urn with watery Beams  
Overflows, and Pisces rule in the Extremes.  
The Lion minds his Partner in the Trine, 
Of Leo.   
And makes the Ram first Ruler in his Sign;  
And then the Bull, with whom he makes a Square,  
I'th' Second Reigns; His Sextile Twins declare  
Their Third pretence, and Rule the other share.  
The Crab is chief Honoured by the Maid, 
In Cancer.   
The first place his, and there his Sway's obeyed;  
The next is Leo's, and the last her own,  
She Rules unenvied in her petty Throne.  
The Ram's Example Libra takes, 
In Libra.  and bears  
A likeness in this Rule, as in the Years;  
For as He in the Spring, Her Scales do weigh  
In Autumn equal Night with equal Day:  
The first She Rules herself, next Scorpio's placed,  
And Sagittarius Lords it o'er the last:  
In Scorpio's first Degrees the Goat presides, 
In Scorpio.   
Next Young Aquarius pours his flowing Tides;  
Next Pisces Rules, for they in Waves delight,  
The Flood pursue, and claim an easy Right.  
The grateful Goat doth Cancer's Gift repay, 
In Capricorn.   
His First Third part resigning to his Ray;  
I'th' next the Lion shakes his flaming Manc,  
The last feels modest Virgo's gentle Rein.  
The Young Aquarius Libra's Scales command, 
In Aquarius.   
Restrain his Youth, and check his turning Hand;  
The next Ten parts bright Scorpio's Rays enjoy,  
Then Sagittarius Rules the giddy Boy:  
Pisces comes last, 
In Pisces.  and sheds a watery flame,  
Its First Degrees resigning to the Ram:  
The Bull's the next, his own the last are found,  
Content with the last Portion of the Round.  
This thing considered well thy Mind prepares  
To know the secret guidance of the Stars; 
The usefulness of this Doctrine of the Lords.   
They interchange their Powers, they mix their Laws,  
And all agree to make one Common Cause;  
For these Divisions do unite the Sky,  
The more they part the closer is the Tye.  
But now, lest Error should thy Mind surprise,  
Believe not the Appearance of the Skies;  
They make a show, they spread a Glaring Light  
To lead thee on, but never guide thee right;  
Let Active Thought assisting Sense pursue  
Goy Truth's retreat, and take an open view:  
What ever Things are born, their Minds receive  
The fatal Temper which that sign can give  
That governs in the Tenths, the Foreign Ray,  
Tempers the Mass, and forms the easy Clay.  
A Thousand Reasons for this Truth appear  
From different Births belonging to One Star;  
Of all those Creatures, that at once do see  
The Light, scarce Two can perfectly agree;  
But different Tempers all the shapes adorn,  
As various as the Bodies that are born:  
For though one Chief Rules, yet others join  
And change the proper influence of that Sign:  
These Interchanges all our Thoughts distract,  
We think on other Signs, whilst others Act.  
Thus neither singly will the Ram bestow  
A Love to Clothing, nor the Bull to Plough;  
To Hunt the Lion, nor the Crab to Trade;  
Learning the Twins, nor Eloquence the Maid;  
The Scales to weigh, to measure, and to gauge,  
Nor Poisonous Scorpio arm unhappy Rage;  
The Fish to Sail, nor the Youth's Urn inspire  
To work in Water, nor the Goat in Fire.  
But many join, and these mixed Signs bestow  
Mixed Inclinations on the Births below:  
A subtle and surprising Task is shown, 
XXIII. Encouragements to this Study.   
Much have I passed, yet still you lead me on;  
These things seem dark, whilst I the rest explore,  
Enjoy my Precepts, and complain no more.  
'Tis God you search for, by my Aid you try  
To climb, and view the inside of the Sky;  
Confined by Fate, you search its boundless sway,  
And seek to know the Laws you must Obey:  
The narrow Bounds of your own Breast you pass,  
Enjoy the World, and rove in the vast space:  
Painful, but always noble things are hard,  
Great is the Task, but equal the Reward:  
Nor let the various Maze thy Thoughts repress,  
Enter, and you are certain to possess.  
Is Gold thy Aim? What mighty Pains attend?  
Mountains are levelled, and the Mines descend  
Through Earth's deep Centre; though she hides her Store  
We tear her up, and reach the hidden Oar:  
For shining Gems we cut the burning Zone,  
Such Dangers are the value of a Stone:  
The fearful Farmer makes his Yearly Vow,  
And Pain still presseth the deceiving Blow:  
In War no Danger's shunned, we fight for Spoil,  
Even lazy Luxury leads us on to Toil;  
For Food● and clothes from East to West we run,  
And Spendchrists often sweat to be undone.  
Are perishing Goods worth so much Pains and Cost,  
Hard to be got, and in enjoyment lost?  
Then what must Heaven Deserve? ²⁶ That Gold, that buys  
The rest, how disproportionate a Price!  
It asks a higher value, and to gain  
The God, lay out thyself, The Price is Man:  
Thus Fate's disposed, 
XXIV. The Good and Bad Degrees of each Sign.  but yet the Work's not done;  
For though the Powers of all the Signs are known,  
And how they join, how each rules every part,  
The Skill is small, and incomplete the Art:  
Observe the numerous parts of the Degrees  
What Heat doth scorch or what the Cold doth freeze,  
(Unfruitful both) where too much Moisture flows,  
Or Drought doth drain, and various Fates dispose:  
For different Qualities in Signs control,  
There's nought all-over-equal in the whole.  
For view the Earth, the gliding Streams, or Flood,  
Faults are on all sides, Bad is mixed with Good.  
Thus Barren Seasons midst the Best appear,  
And a small Turn blasts all the Blooming Year.  
A Port turns Shelf, and the inglorious Sand  
Forfeits that Praise which once its Safety gained.  
Now Streams through Plains in smooth Meanders play,  
Then Roar o'er Rocks, and force a rugged way.  
Such Inequality above appears,  
And thus the Sky is varied in the Stars;  
As Sign from Sign, so from itself the same  
Doth disagree, and spread unequal Flame;  
And Signs, whose Sovereign influence Births do find  
In One Degree, are in the next unkind:  
Those things these parts o'errule, no Joys shall know  
Or little Pleasure over-mixt with Woe.  
These parts, 
The difficulty of putting this Doctrine into Verse.  if such can be to Verse confined,  
My Muse must Sing, and ease my troubled Mind;  
For though 'tis various, yet the Subject's bound  
To words but few, and all of equal sound;  
So that it must be mean, it must refuse  
The turn of Verse, though fashioned by a Muse.  
And that, though laboured, Line must bald appear  
That brings ungrateful Music to the Ear.  
But since I must the Laws of Fate rehearse  
The settled Matter must direct my verse;  
No Room for Fiction, I must things declare,  
Not as they may be feigned, but as they are.  
It is enough the God is barely shown,  
Rich in himself he shines, and great alone:  
Nor should the World be so to Words betrayed  
As to be thought ennobled by their Aid:  
This spurs me on, and I forget my Ease,  
The World must be obliged, and I must please;  
I must, if plainly I these parts comprise;  
Then learn the noxious portions of the Skies.  
The Fourth, 
The hurtful Degrees in Aries.  and the Sixth Portions of the Ram  
Are hurtful parts, and spread unlucky flame;  
Nor doth the Seventeenth or the next display  
A kinder face, or shed a milder Ray:  
The Twenty First, Fifth, Seventh spread noxious Beams  
The Twelfth, and Fourteenth leaning to Extremes.  
The Bull's Ninth portion, 
In Taurus.  did the Sign depend  
On me, should never shine upon a Friend:  
Add Three to Ten, or double Ten and Three,  
Take Two from Thirty, all these parts agree;  
Twice Twelve, and twice Eleven count, and join  
The Seventeenth part as noxious in this Sign,  
Nor is the Thirtieth better than the Rest.  
The Twins First part doth hurtful Rays dispense, 
In Gemini.   
Nor doth their Childhood prove their Innocence;  
They're froward, pettish, and unused to smile,  
Their Third, and Seventh Degrees agree in Ill:  
The Fifteenth equals these, and Twenty sees  
Close on each side immoderate Degrees:  
To Twenty reckon Seven, or Five, or Nine,  
And all are hurtful portions of this Sign.  
Should Cancer boast a kind and gentle Reign, 
In Cancer.   
The First, and Third, and Sixth would plead in vain;  
The Eleventh, Fifteenth, and the Eighth Degrees,  
The Twentieth too could hope no more success:  
The Twenty Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, severely sway,  
The Seventeenth too with a malignant Ray  
Rules o'er the Birth, and stamps the easy Clay.  
The flaming Lion in the First we fear, 
In Leo.   
Nor doth the Fourth a milder Image bear;  
The Twenty Second, the Fifteenth, Tenth presage  
With th' Eight and Twentieth an unhappy Age.  
With hurtful Powers the Twenty Fifth is Cursed,  
The Thirtieth too as noxious as the First.  
The First, 
In Virgo.  and the Eleventh of the Maid,  
The Sixth, the Fourteenth, Eighteenth parts are bad:  
The Twenty First, and Fourth this Sign disgrace,  
Nor can the Thirtieth show a better Face.  
Next view the Scales, 
In Libra.  the Seventh, and Fifth degree  
Is bad, add Eight to Ten, or Ten to Three:  
To Ten twice told add Seven, or Four, or Nine,  
All like the Thirtieth hurtful in this Sign.  
I'th' First, 
In Scorpio.  Third, Sixth, and Tenth black Scorpio 's Claws  
And in the Fifteenth make Malignant Laws;  
The Twenty Second, Eighth, Fifth, and Ninth betray  
His poisonous Rage in an unhappy Ray:  
Would Fate allow thee choice, 
In Sagittarius.  forbear to choose  
The Centaur's Fourth Degree, the Eighth refuse;  
The Twelfth, the Sixteenth, Twentieth parts portend  
A wretched Life, and an untimely End:  
The Twenty Fourth, Sixth, Eighth Degrees molest,  
Nor is the Thirtieth better than the Rest.  
The Thirteenth of the Goats contracted Star, 
In Capricorn.   
Nor Seventh, nor Ninth shall be my earnest Prayer;  
Nor that which Twenty doth of One deprive,  
Or Three, or adding gives it Six or Five.  
To Ten add One, 
In Aquarius.  or Five, or Nine, or Three  
And you are sure to find a bad Degree:  
Add One, Five, Nine to Twenty, hurtful Streams  
Flow from the Urn, and spread unlucky Beams.  
The Fishes close the Signs, 
In Pisces.  their parts confessed  
As noxious, and as guilty as the Rest;  
For Three, Five, Seven, or Ten when joined with Seven,  
Or One, mark hurtful Portions of the Heaven.  
Five multiplied by Five is hardly cleared,  
And Seven to Twenty added 's to be feared:  
All these are noxious Portions of the Sky,  
Too Hot, or Cold, or else too Moist, or Dry.  
This known, 
XXV. How the Signs Act when they rise.  the Work is not completely done,  
The Labours still increase as you go on;  
The Time makes difference, as they Rise, new force  
They gain, and after lose it in their Course.  
Thus when the Ram ascends, 
Aries.  and proudly turns  
His bending backward Neck before his Horns  
To Mortal Eyes, the wretched Births are Cursed  
With Ravenous Tempers, and inflamed with Lust:  
All Modesty shall be to Gold betrayed,  
Nor Parents Care secure the easy Maid:  
These Tempers are his own; as Fancy leads  
He roves, and wantoness o'er the flowery Meads:  
Forward to push, and as the Grass renews  
His wasted Strength, he Courts the willing Ewes.  
To Travel he inclines through Lands unknown,  
He Ploughs new Seas, and makes the World his own:  
This he prefigured when his Back conveyed  
Young Phryxus safe, and lost the falling Maid.  
The Bulls bright part that first appears, 
Taurus.  creates  
Vile Pathics scandals to the other Fates.  
The Cause, if it be fit to search for one  
When Nature works, may easily be shown;  
His Backpart first appears, in that he bears  
The narrow Cloudy Train of Female Stars:  
And thus the Posture, and the Sex combine  
To show the Influence of the rising Sign:  
He bends to Blow, and o'er the Fruitful Plains  
The Labouring Ox grows Fat upon his Pains.  
But when their Feet the rising Twins do show, 
Gemini.   
And half appear above, half lie below,  
The Births are happy, all their Parts refined,  
And Arts every the Treasures of their Mind;  
Ready their Wit, persuasive is their Tongue,  
In Music skilled, and excellent in Song:  
These are the Powers their rising Rays dispense,  
They Wit bestow, and fix that Wit with Sense.  
When rolling Cancer riseth veiled in Clouds, 
Cancer.   
I'th' Skies as deeply hid as in the Floods,  
The Moon resembling when deprived of Light;  
The Births are Blind, and wish in vain for sight:  
By Fates a Verse condemned to double Death,  
Dead whilst Alive, and Buried whilst they breathe:  
But when the Lion shows his ravenous Jaws  
Prepared for Rapine, 
Leo.  and unsheaths his Paws,  
A Spendthrift's born, who minds himself alone,  
He wrongs his Father, and he cheats his Son;  
His Race in vain with expectation wait,  
For in himself he buries his Estate;  
So vast his Gluttony, his Lust so wild  
That he devours himself, yet is not filled:  
And whilst his Appetite proceeds to crave  
He eats his Funeral, and he spends his Grave.  
When Virgo rises, 
Virgo.  (who whilst Right prevailed  
Ruled here below, retreating when it failed)  
To awful Honours all the Births must rise  
Profoundly skilled in Sacred Mysteries:  
Good, Pious, Just, Devout, unused to Rage  
And great Examples to the loser Age:  
But when Autumnal Scales do first appear  
Happy the Birth, 
Libra.  he shall be known from far,  
The Glory of the Bench, and of the Bar;  
He justest Laws shall make, and Life and Death  
Depend upon the Issues of his Breath;  
Him Towns shall fear, the Earth observe his Nod,  
And after Earth the Heaven enjoy a God.  
Thus Act these Signs, 
Scorpio.  but Scorpio's Tail displays  
A double Influence from his Forked Rays;  
For when that first appears, though Peaceful Child  
Shall Cities Raise, and be inclined to build;  
The World shall see him with his ²⁸ Blow surround  
The place designed, and mark the fatal Bound;  
Or he shall waste what others Pains did raise,  
Where Populous Cities stood, there Beasts shall graze,  
Or Harvests grow; He leads to these Extremes,  
And Power agreeing waits upon his Beams.  
Bold Sagittarius, 
Sagittarius.  when he first appears,  
Heats the gay Birth, and makes him famed for Wars;  
In Triumphs great, the Wonder of the Crowd,  
By Captives carried, he almost a God  
Shall climb the Capitol, bright Fame pursue,  
Old Cities raze, or grace the Earth with New:  
But ill succeess, (his Forehead's wreathed with Frowns)  
Shall waste his Fame, and blast his gathered Crowns.  
Thus Conquering Hannibal, by this Sign betrayed  
Before his slight perceived his Wreaths to f●de,  
He paid for Trebia's and for Cannae's fame,  
And recompensed our Losses by his shame.  
But when the narrow Goat erects his Tail  
He drives to Sea, 
Capricornus.  and much inclines to Sail,  
Ignoble Trade than Ploughs the dangerous Main,  
And precious Life is meanly staked for Gain.  
The Good, the Pious, and the Just are born  
When first Aquarius pours out his Vrn. 
Aquarius.   
But could I rule, 
Pisces.  could I the Fates design,  
The rising Fishes ne'er should govern mine;  
They give a Hateful, Prattling, Railing Tongue,  
Still full of Venom, always in the wrong;  
That blows up Jealousies, and heightens Fears,  
By mutterring Poisonous Whispers in men's Ears.  
Faithless the Births, and full of wild desire;  
Their Faith is Treachery, and their Love is Fire.  
For when the Skies grew weak, when Giants strove,  
And snaky Typhon shook the Throne of Jove;  
Fair Venus fled, and in a Fish's shape  
(This Syria knows) secured her mean escape;  
Then did she through the Scaly Kind inspire  
New Heats, and with the Ocean mixed her Fire.  
No single Births, for when this Sign gins,  
Twins shall be Born, or those that shall have Twins.  
Now learn what Signs o'er different Lands control,  
But first take this short figure of the whole:  
East, 
The winds called Cardinal.  West, and North, and South, on either side,  
These Quarters lie opposed, the World divide:  
As many Winds from these four Quarters fly,  
And fight and rattle, through the empty Sky:  
Rough Boreas from the North, bears Frost and Snows,  
And from the East, the gentle Eurus blows.  
Wet Auster from the torrid South is thrown,  
And pleasing Zephyrus cools the setting Sun.  
'Twixt these two other Winds their Seats do claim, 
The Collateral winds.   
Alike in Nature, different but in Name.  
Around the Earth the liquid Ocean plays,  
The Ball enclosing with a soft Embrace;  
But yet on many parts, Earth's bending sides,  
Or open Bays receive the flowing Tides.  
The Sea admitted from the Western Shores, 
The Mediterranean Sea and and the several parts of it.   
Doth on the Right Hand wash the swarthy Moors;  
And Lybia's Sands, where once great Carthage stood,  
Then o'er the Syrteses whirls the rapid Flood;  
And thence to Egypt it directly flows,  
Where what dry Heaven denies, the Nile bestows.  
The Left Hand Sea by Spain and France extends,  
And follows Conquering Italy as it bends;  
Till into Streights the barking Sylla draws,  
And whirls it round Charybdis greedy Jaws;  
Loosed from these straits, the Floods spread wide again,  
And freely flow in the Ionian Main:  
Then on the left they turn, and winding flow,  
Fair Italy surround, and drink the Po.  
Then make rough Adria's Gulf; the other side  
Illyrium washes with a gentle Tide,  
Sees Epire's Cliffs, and Corinth's lofty Towers,  
Then winds round plain Morea's open Shores.  
Thence Northward into vast recesses tossed  
The Sea confines the Learned Achaia's Coast:  
Thence North and Eastward the unwilling Flood  
Consigned by straits, and stained with Helle's Blood  
To famed Byzantium cuts its winding way,  
And joins Propontis to the Euxine Sea;  
Behind whose back the Lake Meotis lies  
Receives full Tanais, and the Sea supplies.  
Hence when the Circling Waves return again  
The weary Sailer to the Open Main,  
He cuts th' Icarian, and th' Aegaean Tide  
By Asia's Coasts, and wonders at their Pride:  
And whilst the left hand Course he still pursues  
As many Trophies, as he places views;  
A thousand Nations, ²⁹ Taurus mount, that threats  
The Floods, the Bay that from the Sea retreats  
Parched Syria's Plains, and the Cilician Seats,  
Till he at last to Egypt turns his Oars  
And sees the Waves die on the swarthy Shores.  
Thus ruling Nature draws her bounding Lines,  
Checks midland Seas, and all their Rage confines.  
Yet midst this Sea a thousand Islands rise; 
The Islands of the Mediterranean.   
Shaped like a Foot the low Sardinia lies  
Near Lybia's shores; Trina●rid filled with Fires,  
But just cut off from Italy, retires,  
And adverse Greece Euboean Cliffs admires.  
Jove's Birth-place Crete appears, a goodly Isle,  
And Cyprus beaten by the adverse Nile.  
A thousand lesser Isles Command these Seas,  
Rhodes, Delos, and the equal Cyclades,  
Famed Aulis, Tenedos, and by Sardinia's side  
Lies Corsica, and breaks the coming Tide;  
Near the Streight's Mouth the Baleares Reign,  
And strong Ebusus Triumphs o'er the Main.  
Ten thousand smaller Rocks the Waves disperse,  
Too little to be named, too mean for Verse.  
Nor doth the Ocean but one single way  
Attempt the Earth, 
The Caspian Sea.  and force an open Bay,  
It tries on every side, but Mountains bond  
Insulting Billows, and preserve the Ground;  
For 'twixt the Summer East and Northern Pole  
Through narrow Channels secret Water's roll,  
Till spread at last upon the open Plain  
They make the Caspian like the Euxine Main.  
Southward encroaching Waters doubly press, 
The Persian Gulf.   
O'erflow the Earth, and in a vast recess  
One part more East runs on, and breaks a way  
Through Persia's Banks, and makes the Persian Bay:  
More West the other soft Arabia beats  
Where Incense grows, 
The Arabian Gulf.  and pleasing Odour sweats,  
Which sends us Gums soft Luxury to please,  
And reconcile the angry Deities:  
Strange that the same, when differently applied,  
Should calm the Rage of Heaven, and serve our Pride.  
This Bay is called th' Arabian Gulf, the Name  
The Country gives it, and 'tis great in Fame.  
Thus lie the Seas; 
Africa.  Earth midst this mighty Flood  
Contains, first afric, where proud Carthage good;  
Once great in Arms, and whose extended sway  
O'er Libya stretched, and made the Spain's obey:  
When Hannibal wrapped Alban Towns in flame,  
And eternised the bloody Trebia's Name;  
When led by Fate he Marched to overcome,  
And poured his swarthy Libya upon Rome:  
When gasping Consuls groaned on every Plain,  
And Canna's Fields were burdened with the slain.  
Here Nature angry with Mankind prepares  
Strange Monsters, Instruments 30 of future Wars;  
Here Snakes, those Cells of Poison, take their Birth,  
Those living Crimes and grievance of the Earth;  
Fruitful in its own Plagues, the Desert shore  
Hears Elephants, and frightful Lions roar;  
Serious it seems in all these Monstrous shapes,  
But sports in the lewd Limbs of Mimic Apes.  
The Country's large, the Barren Plains extend  
A mighty space, and then in Egypt end.  
Thence Asia spreads, 
Asia.  a fruitful Soil, the Streams  
Roul Golden Sand, the Ocean shines with Gems;  
The Trees drop Balsom, and on all the Boughs  
Health sits, and makes it Sovereign as it flows.  
Thence India lies, a Land more large than thought,  
The Parthians oft, though not securely fought;  
They flying still delude Rome's firmer Powers,  
And yet Command a different World from Ours.  
These Taurus bounds, whose threatening Mountains rise  
To awful Heights, and wound the lower Skies;  
A thousand Nations lie by Tanais flood  
Which cuts the Scythia's, stained with humane blood;  
By Lake Meotis, and the Euxine Tide  
Which Nature sets as bounds to Asia's Pride.  
Europe remains, 
Europe.  which first the Beauteous load  
Received, and where the Bull confessed the God;  
Hence came its Name, in that the grateful Jove  
Hath Eternised the Glory of his Love:  
Here Greece is seen, with Ruined Ancient Troy,  
And showed what Fates attend unlawful joy:  
A Country Rich in Men of wondrous parts,  
The place of Learning, and the Seat of Arts:  
Here Athens stands, which makes the best pretence  
To Sovereignty in Wit and Eloquence:  
For Courage Sparta, and for Deities  
Famed Thebes, whose Heroes People half the Skies:  
Epirus, Thessaly, whose lasting Praise  
One single Pyrrhus, and Achilles raise.  
To these Illyrium joins, and Warlike Thrace,  
The Seat of Mars, and breeds a stubborn Race.  
Thence ³¹ Germany, a mighty Country runs,  
And wonders at the vastness of her Yellow Sons.  
Thence South and Westward in a fertile Plain  
Lies France, for Tribute famed, for battles Spain:  
But Italy Crowns all, whom Rome hath given  
Command of Earth, and joins ³² herself to Heaven:  
These Bounds the Earth, 
What Signs govern each Country.  and these the Seas confine,  
And God allots to every part a Sign;  
No Land is free, no stately Town denied  
The kind Protection of a Starry Guide:  
For as in Man, the work of Hands Divine,  
Each Member lies allotted to a Sign;  
And as the Body is the common care  
Of all the Signs, each Limb enjoys a share:  
(The Ram defends the Head, the Neck the Bull,  
The Arms bright Twins are subject to your Rule;  
I'th' Shoulders Leo, and the Crab's obeyed  
I'th' Breast, and in the Guts the modest Maid;  
I'th' Buttocks, Libra, Scorpio warms desires  
I'th' secret parts, and spreads unruly fires:  
The Thighs, the Centaur, and the Goat Commands  
The Knees, and binds them up with double bands.  
The parted Legs, in cold Aquarius meet,  
And Pisces gives protection to the Feet.)  
So in the greater World, the Members share  
Celestial Rulers, and enjoy their Care:  
Hence different Men, 
Why different countries' bear Men of different Shapes and Colours.  in different Climes we view,  
They vary in their shape, or in their Hue;  
The Matter's common, and in all the same,  
But private Stamps, distinctly mark the Frame.  
Vast Yellow Offsprings are the German's Pride,  
Whilst Neighbouring France is not so deeply died:  
But hotter Climates narrower Frames obtain,  
And low-built Bodies are the growth of Spain:  
Hesperia mixeth sweet with many Grace,  
And tempered Mars appears in every Face:  
Whilst active Greece produceth finer parts,  
Their looks betray their Exercise and Arts:  
Short Curled up Hair the Sons of Syria grace,  
Whilst Ethiopia's Blackness stains the Face,  
With Horrid Shapes she does her Sons expose,  
Distends their swelling Lips, and flats their Nose:  
Lesle India blackens, less it Crusts the Mass,  
And mixeth Colours in the Tawny Face:  
But Egypt's slimy Plains affect the sight  
With brighter Colours, and approach to White.  
Parched Lybia burns her Sons, the vilest Shapes  
She shows, and scarce divides her Men from Apes:  
Whilst Mauritania doth disgust the Eye,  
(Her Name betrays it) with the blackest Dye.  
Tho' each Speech Organs framed alike employs,  
How many Languages confound the Voice?  
How different Virtue's Reign, how different Crimes?  
men's Manners are as various as the Climes.  
Like Trees transplanted by the Farmer's Toil;  
Vice turns to Virtue, in another Soyl.  
Tho' Seed the same, yet different Fruits are born,  
Thus Yellow Ceres varies in her Corn.  
Nor doth the Vine on every Hill produce  
Like Grapes, nor Bacchus press an equal Juice.  
Rich Cinnamon, not every Country bears,  
Nor are all Fields bedewed with Myrrha's Tears.  
Nor is this great variety expressed  
In Man, and Fruits alone, but it divides the Beast:  
Here Lions roar, and there in dreadful Wars  
The high-built Elephant his Castle rears;  
Looks down on Man below, and strikes the Stars  
As many parts, so many Worlds appear,  
For every part is subject to a Star;  
They spread their Influence, and the countries' pay  
A due compliance to the Fatal Ray.  
Placed midst the pleasing Vernal Signs, 
What Countries are governed by Aries.  the Ram  
Commands the narrow Straight o'er which he swum;  
When from the Mother's Rage, his Fleece conveyed  
The Brother's safe, and dropped the falling Maid;  
Content he swum, and with his Burden pleased,  
He mourned his Loss, and grieved to be so eased:  
The near Propontis too his Beams obeys,  
And Syria feels the Influence of his Rays:  
The lose Garbed Persians, know his gentle Rule,  
Their Garments bear Relation to his Wool:  
With Nile that swells at Fiery Cancers Beams,  
And Egypt drowned by its o'erflowing Streams.  
Cold Scythia's Rocks; Arabia's wealthy Groves,  
And powerful Asia, 
By Taurus.  Taurus' Empire proves,  
Rich in their Corn, and wanton in their Loves.  
The boisterous Euxine, 
By Gemini.  bend like Scythian bows.  
Beneath the Twins subjection gladly flows,  
And they of Ganges infant Streams dispose.  
The swarthy Indians Fiery Cancer sways, 
By Cancer.   
His Rule the Blackness of their Hue betrays,  
And Ethiopia's heated with his Ray.  
The Phrygian Plains the large Bithynian Woods  
The 33 Servant of the Mother of the Gods,  
The Lion own, 
By Leo.  the Cappadocian Shoar  
With fierce Armenia, hear the Lion Roar.  
And Macedon, that all the World subdued,  
Submits to the Great Monarch of the Wood  
In happy Rhodes the gentle Maids adored, 
By Virgo.   
Rhodes, the retirement of our future 34 Lord:  
Blessed Island truly Sacred to the Sun,  
ere since in thee the Glorious Caesar Shone,  
The World's great Light, whom with expecting Eyes;  
Mankind desires, and longs to see him rise.  
The Doric Plains, the rich Ionian Towns,  
Arcadia Rival to the waning Moons:  
With Warlike Caria high in Ancient Fame  
Own all Subjection to her modest Flame.  
What Sign, 
By Libra.  could you dispose the Signs, should fall  
To Latium's share, but that which poizeth all;  
To which by Nature, it must needs belong  
To value things, and separate Right from Wrong.  
In which the Times are weighed, and Day with Night  
Are met, the Darkness equal to the Light:  
The Scales rule Italy, where Rome Commands,  
And spreads its Empire wide to Foreign Lands:  
They hang upon her Nod, their Fates are weighed  
By her, and Laws are sent to be obeyed:  
And as her powerful Favour turns the Poise,  
How low some Nation's sink and others rise:  
Thus guide the Scales, and then to fix the Doom,  
They gave us ³⁵ Caesar, Founder of our Rome.  
The following Sign rules Carthage Conquered Towers, 
By Scorpio.   
Subject they lie, to Scorpio's Scaly Powers;  
With Lybia's Sand, and Egypt's fruitful Soil,  
The slimy ³⁶ Gift of the o'erflowing Nile.  
Large Bounds, but yet too narrow to confine  
The vast Ambition of this craving Sign;  
He claims the Isles of the Italian Main,  
And low Sardinia's subject to his Reign.  
To Crete the Centaur makes an hateful claim, 
By Sagittarius.   
And still keeps up the Memory of its shame:  
It bore a Centaur once, and that confines  
The Isle to the same Figure in the Signs:  
To him their Skill and Darts, the Cretans own,  
And imitate the sureness of his Bow.  
Trinacria follows, Crete's Example draws  
Her Sister Isle, and yields it to his Laws;  
And Latium's Shores, which narrow Friths disjoin,  
Here baffle Nature, and in him combine,  
Nor would be differenced by another Sign.  
The West, 
By Capricornus.  and Northern Parts, rich France and Spain,  
Contracted Goat, are subject to thy Reign,  
And Germany, since ³⁷ Varus stained thy Shore,  
A Seat for Beasts, and fit for Man no more:  
This monstrous Sign hath variously engrossed,  
(He Rules at Sea and Land) thy doubtful Coast,  
Now Earth appearing, now in Water lost.  
But Young Aquarius with his watery Fires, 
By Aquarius.   
From Egypt to the Clydae Isles retires;  
The stout Cilicians, and the Neighbouring Plain  
With Sailing Tyre are subject to his Reign.  
When Heaven grew weak, 
By Pisces.  and a successful fight  
The Giants raised, and Gods were saved by flight;  
From Snaky Typhon's Arms, a Fishe's shape  
Saved Venus, and secured her from a Rape:  
Euphrates hide her, and from thence his Streams  
Own all Obedience to the Fish's Beams.  
Wide Parthia's Plains confined by mighty Rocks,  
The Nations round, long bend unto its Yokes  
With Tigris Streams, the Red-Sea's shining Shores  
Are Subject to the Heavenly Fish's Powers.  
Thus Earth's divided, 
What Influence these Signs have in the seveveral Country's subject to their Rule.  these the Signs that sway  
Its Portions, and the Parts their Beams obey;  
These Signs the Tempers of their Empire's show,  
The Parts above, directing those below,  
Their Powers infuse: And thus as Ruling Signs  
Are now Opposed, and now agree in Trines,  
Or other Site maintain, which Site directs  
Their Fatal Influence, various in Effects;  
So Towns with Towns, and roaring Seas with Seas,  
And Land with Land, or differs or agrees.  
And as these Signs direct, so Men should choose  
This Town, this Country, or that Seat refuse;  
Here Hate expect, there surest Friendship prove,  
As Heaven directs, and Stars decree above.  
But now attend, 
XXVII. What Signs are Eccliptick.  for Signs Eccliptick claim  
Thy Care, and learn the Reason of the Name:  
For some, as wearied in their tedious Race,  
Grow restiff, dull, nor keep their usual pace.  
Nor is this strange, for through the mighty Frame  
There's nothing that continues still the same:  
As Years wheel round, a change must needs ensue,  
Things lose their former State, and take a new.  
Now tired with Births, the Fields refuse to bear,  
Now unmanured, prevent the Tiller's care.  
Dilated Vapours tear the solid Earth,  
Strong the Convulsions at the Fatal Birth;  
Vast Mountains sink: And now his large Command▪  
Neptune extends, and Seas o'erspread the Land,  
Contemning Shores: Thus were the Towns overflowed  
When Mankind's single Heir Deu●alion stood  
On steep Parnassus, to repair the Stock,  
The spacious World possessing in one Rock.  
And when bold Phaeton, with unequal force  
The Chariot filled, and drove the Flaming Horse;  
The Earth took Fire, Heaven saw the Stars recoil,  
And frighted Nature feared one common Pile.  
So much as Years roll round, the mighty Frame  
Is changed, yet still returns to be the same:  
And so the Stars, whilst they revolve their Course,  
Now lose their Power, and now regain their force.  
The Reason's plain, 
Why called Eccliptick.  for when deprived of Light,  
The Moon Eclipsed, lies veiled in sudden Night;  
Whilst hindering Earth diverts her Brother's Ray,  
These Signs Eccliptick feel the same decay;  
They feeble grow, they hang their bending Head,  
And mourn, and pine, as if the Moon were dead.  
Now Signs Eccliptick (see the Name betray  
Unusual Languor, and a weak decay,)  
Grow weak by Pavis, and those not Neighbouring Signs,  
But Opposite; for thus our Art defines,  
Because the Moon then only feels decay,  
When Opposite unto her Brother's Ray.  
Nor is this Languor, nor these Times of Grief  
Alike to All, foam quickly find relief;  
Some Languish long, and e'er their Mourning's done,  
The Sun goes round, and all the Year is run.  
But when their Grief is o'er, 
In what Order the Eccliptick succeed one another.  the next in turn  
Begin to Languish, and prepare to Mourn;  
The next in turn, that are in Order placed  
On either side, the Two that Languished last:  
To speak distinctly, ³⁸ those two Signs that view  
And leave the Earth before the former two.  
Not that the Earth doth noxious Powers dispense,  
Or Subject Heaven to its dull Influence;  
But since the World turns round, the Orb obeys,  
And Signs abate the vigour of their Rays,  
Not by Earth's Influence, but by their place.  
But what avail my Songs, 
XXVIII. This Artho ' difficult, yet may be obtained.  if all refuse  
The proffered Aid of my obliging Muse?  
If puny fear forbids our Hopes to rise,  
To enter boldly, and enjoy the Skies?  
What Nature hides, (for thus Objections teach)  
Is deeply hid, too deep for Man to reach.  
Vast the Recess! Though stubborn Fate should Reign,  
And we know this, yet all the search were vain,  
Since none can find the Links that make the Chain.  
Fond Mortals! why should we ourselves abuse?  
Nor use those Powers which God permits to use?  
Basely detract from the Celestial mind,  
And close our Eyes, endeavouring to be blind?  
We see the Skies, then why should we despair  
To know the Fatal Office of each Star?  
To open Nature, to unveil her Face,  
Go in, and tread the Order of the Maze?  
Why should we not employ the Gifts bestowed  
By Heaven, in knowing the kind Author of the Good?  
Our Work grows short, we may surround the Ball,  
Make the whole World our own, and live in all:  
Through what remains, we now with Ease may pierce,  
Take, and enjoy the Captive Universe:  
Our Parent Nature we, her parts, descry,  
And Heavenborn Souls affect their Father Sky:  
For who can doubt that God resides in Man,  
That Souls from Heaven descend, and when the Chain  
Of Life is broke, return to Heaven again?  
As in the Greater World aspiring Flame,  
Earth, Water, Air, make the Material Frame;  
But through these Members a Commanding Soul  
Infused, directs the Motions of the whole;  
So 'tis in Man, the lesser World, the Case  
Is Clay, unactive, and an Earthly Mass;  
Bloods Circling Streams the Purple Soul convey,  
The Ruling Mind uniting to the Clay:  
Then who can wonder that the World is known  
So well by Man, since he himself is One?  
The same Composure in his Form is showed,  
And Man's the little Image of the God.  
Now other Creatures view, how mean their Birth,  
The Rubbish, and the Burdens of the Earth:  
Some hang in Air, some float upon the Waves,  
Born for our use, and bred to be our Slaves.  
All their Enjoyments are confined to Sense,  
The easy Works of wary Providence.  
But since they Reason want, their Tongues are mute,  
How mean, how low a Creature is a Brute?  
No Mysteries disclosed, commend their Parts,  
Nor are they Subjects capable of Arts;  
How hard the Labour, yet how often vain  
To bring them foolishly to Ape a Man?  
But ruling Man extends his larger sway  
Beyond himself, and makes the World obey;  
Wild Beasts are tamed, The Fields are forced to bear,  
And Recompense the Labours of the Share.  
In vain the Sea disjoins the distant Shores,  
His Sails the Winds command, the Floods his Oars.  
Alone erect his Form doth nobly rise,  
Up to the Stars he lifts his Starry Eyes,  
And takes a nearer Prospect of the Skies:  
He searches Jove, and whilst his Thoughts do trace  
His kindred Stars, in them he finds his Race.  
No outside Knowledge fills his vast Desires,  
The more he riseth, he the more aspires.  
We think it Reason that in Augury  
We should on Birds, and slaughtered Beasts rely;  
And can the Fates be less in Stars expressed,  
Than in a Bird, or Entrails of a Beast?  
When God his Mind in meaner things declares,  
Should he neglect the Glory of the Stars?  
Besides, the World is eager to be known,  
Our search provoking still; for rolling on  
It shows us all its parts, displays its Light,  
And constantly intrudes upon our Sight:  
His Face unveiled, God doth so plainly show,  
That if we will but look, we needs must know:  
He draws our Eyes, nor doth our search forbid;  
What Powers he hides not, he would not have hid:  
Then who can think it impiously bold  
To search what we're encouraged to behold?  
Nor think thy force too small, too weak thy Mind  
Because to Clay unequally confined;  
Its Power is wondrous Great; how small a Mass  
Of Gold or Gems, exceeds vast Heaps of Brass?  
How little is the Apple of the Eye?  
And yet at once, he takes in half the Sky:  
Nor dreads the disproportion to the Sense,  
The Organ small, the Object is immense:  
And from the narrow limits of the Heart,  
The Active Soul doth vigorous Life impart  
To all the Limbs, its Sway the Members own,  
Wide is its Empire from its petty Throne.  
Man know thy Powers, and not observe thy Size,  
Thy noble Power in piercing Reason lies,  
And Reason conquers all, and rules the Skies.  
Nor must you vainly doubt that Man's allowed  
To know Heaven's mind, since Man can make a God:  
A Star ³⁹ new raised, the Sky enlarged contains,  
And Heaven must still increase whilst Caesar Reigns.  
The End of the Fourth Book.   

NOTES.  
1 The Poet did not think of the Palladium as Scaliger imagines, but only of the Fire at Troy, which parted to let Aeneas go through with his Father, and his Household Gods.  
2 Manilius makes only short Reflections on History, and therefore is frequently obscure: He says here, that it was impossible one single Aeneas should have raised the Glory and Reputation of ruin'd Troy, and made it then conquer, when it was overthrown, by building Rome which subdued the whole World; for Rome risen out of the Ruins of Troy; unless some overruling Power and Fate had ordained it should be so.  
3 Romulus and Remus, the Founders of Rome, were but Shepherds.  
4 I choose to read Auxissent Culmina rather than vexissent, or duxissent Fulmina, and render Culmina a Cottage.  
5 If Manilius be supposed to keep the Order of Time in his Historical Reflections, I must own I have not hit his meaning in this place; for no doubt he had an Eye upon the Wars between the Sabines and Romulus: but then I cannot imagine what those Words Captus & à Captis Orbis foret mean: I cannot think with Scaliger and Huetius that he runs back to Troy, which he had left several Verses before, and therefore apply this passage to the taking and burning of Rome, and the besieging the Capitol by the Gauls: And 'tis certain the Poet in his following Reflections neglects the Order of Time very much.  
6 The Stories of Mutius Scaevola, Horatius Cocles, the Virgin Claelia, and the Combat between the three Horatij on the Roman, and the three Curiatij on the Alban side, are well known.  
8 Short Reflections on the great Accidents in the Second and Third Carthaginian Wars, together with the Death of Hannibal.  
9 He goes on with the Roman History, the unaccountable Fortunes of the Great Marius.  
10 Pompey the Great, was a very notable Example of the variety of Fortune, being on a sudden raised to the highest, and as soon thrown down to the lowest Condition in the World.  
11 Cum jam etiam posses alium cognoscere Magnum: I hope I have given this Verse a better Sense, than the other Interpreters have done.  
12 Caesar is said to be sprung from Heaven, because he was descended from Aeneas the Son of Venus: After his Murder an unusual Star appeared, which the Flatterers of Augustus said was the Soul of his Father Caesar.  
13 The Poet closeth his Examples with Reflections on the overthrow of Croesus, the Famous wealthy King of Lydia, who was taken by Cyrus; on the wretched Condition to which old Priam was reduced; on the unaccountable overthrow of Xerxes; on the Advancement of Servius Tullus, who was the Son of a Bondwoman, and yet came to be King of Rome, and on the Conduct of Metellus, who broke into the Temple of Vesta when it was on Fire, and brought out the Image of the Goddess.  
14— Mortes seque ipsae rursus fugiunt, errantque per Ignes.  
15 To reconcile the different Interpreters, I have hinted at both Paris, (or rather Hercules) and Leander.  
16 Furius Camillus was the restorer of Rome, after it had been taken and burnt by the Gauls: Of the Family of the Deccis there were Three, who voluntarily devoted themselves to Death, for the Good and Prosperity of their Country: Cato Vticensis, who killed himself that he might not survive the Liberty of Rome.  
17 Alluding to the Trial of skill between Pallas and Arachne, described by Ovid, in the Sixth Book of his Metamorphosis.  
18 M. Curius Dentatus and Serranus were both fetched from the Plough, to Command the Roman Armies, fought bravely, and Triumphed.  
19 For this the Poets fancied to be the Bull that carried Europa into Crete.  
20 Scaliger thinks Manilius means such as keep Beasts for public Shows, and to fight in the theatres; and this Interpretation I rather follow than that of Huetius, who fancies the Poet means by this pompous Description no more than innocent, honest Butchers.  
21 Palamedes is said to be the first Man amongst the Greeks, who invented Ciphers, and taught Men to cast Account: I have enlarged his Character, and taken notice of his invention of Letters.  
22 Servius Sulpitius, the Great Lawyer, and Acquaintance of Cicero.  
23 Of the Docility of Elephants, we meet with numerous Examples: Seneca mentions one, that played at Ball: Another, that would Dance on a Rope, etc. The Travellers in the East are full of strange Stories concerning those Animals; and Lipsius in his Epistles, will furnish any Man with more Stories than he will readily believe.  
24. If Alchemy was more Ancient than Manilius, as Huetius himself grants, I see no Reason why the Poet might not speak of the Alchemists: The Interpretation I have given, I am sure, sounds better than that of Huetius.  
25 The Tenths: This is a new word, but answers to Decanica in Manilius: Decanica signifies Ten Degrees, and the Decanus is Lord of Ten Degrees: The several Lords are these, 

In Aries 

Aries  
Taurus  
Gemini 

In Taurus 

Cancer  
Leo  
Virgo        
In Gemini 

Libra  
Scorpius  
Sagittar. 

In Cancer 

Capricor.  
Aquarius  
Pisces        
In Leo 

Aries  
Taurus  
Gemini 

In Virgo 

Cancer  
Leo  
Virgo        
In Libra 

Libra  
Scorpius  
Sagittar. 

In Scorpius 

Capricor.  
Aquarius  
Pisces        
In Sagittar. 

Aries  
Taurus  
Gemini 

In Capricor. 

Cancer  
Leo  
Virgo        
In Aquarius 

Libra  
Scorpius  
Sagittar. 

In Pisces 

Aries  
Taurus  
Pisces          
26 Quantum est quo veniat Omne, I have followed the Interpretation of Scaliger; but do not reject the Opinion of Huetius: Though of less force than Scaliger's.  
27 The Hurtful Degrees.  

In Aries 

4. 6. 12.  
14. 17. 18.  
21. 25. 27. 

In Taurus 

9 13. 17.  
22. 24. 26.  
28. 30.        
In Gemini 

1. 3. 7.  
15. 19 21.  
25. 27. 29. 

In Cancer 

1. 3. 6.  
8. 11. 15.  
17. 20. 25.  
27. 29.        
In Leo 

1. 4. 10.  
15. 22. 25.  
28. 30. 

In Virgo 

1. 6. 11.  
14. 18. 21.  
24. 30.        
In Libra 

5. 7. 13.  
18. 24. 27.  
29. 30. 

In Scorpio 

1. 3. 6.  
10. 15. 22.  
25. 28. 29.        
In Sagittar. 

4. 8. 12.  
16. 20. 24.  
26. 28. 30. 

In Capric. 

7. 9 13.  
17. 19 25.  
26.        
In Aquarius 

11. 13. 15.  
19 21. 25.  
29. 

In Pisces 

3. 5. 17.  
11. 17. 25.  
27.         
28 Alluding to the Custom of the Romans, who, when they designed to build a City, took a Blow▪ and made Furrow a where the Walls were to stand.  
29 Vossius, In his Observations on Catullus, P. 204. Reads, 
— Taurumque minantem  
Fluctibus.—   
30 Pyrrhus made use both of Elephants and Snakes, in his Wars against the Romans.  
31 Germany, which comprehends all the Northern tract of Land beyond Thrace.  
32 Rome had Temples Dedicated to her, and was looked upon to be a Goddess.  
33 The Poets feigned that Cybele, the Mother of the Gods, road in a Chariot drawn by two Lions.  
34 Tiberius being under the displeasure of Augustus, was sent to the Island Rhodes, and lived there some time.  
35 Vossius out of his Ancient Manuscript Reads, Qua genitus Caesarque meus qui hanc condidit urbem.  
36 I know Donata Regna may bear another Sense, but this will do as well.  
37 Whom▪ in the time of Agustus, the Germans destroyed, and cut off all the Legions he Commanded.  
38 Thus when Aries and Libra are Eccliptick, the two next Eccliptick are Pisces and Virgo.  
39 Alluding to Julius Caesar, Deified by Augustus.   

MANILIUS. The Fifth Book.  
Having explained the general influence of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac, and given a particular account of their interchanges with one another, and how they incline when they rise; after a short Preface, in which he magnifies his own Industry, and unwearyed diligence in this Subject: He goes on, 1. To show what Constellations rise with the several Degrees of the Twelve Signs, and then what Tempers they bestow, and to what Studies they incline: For instance, 2. The Northern Rudder of the Ship, riseth with the fourth Degree of Aries, and those that are then Born, shall be inclined to Sail, and prove good Pilots: 3. Orion riseth with the same Degree of Aries, and those that are Born under his Influence, shall be Men of busy, active Tempers, Solicitors, cringing Parasites and Flatterers: 4. Heniochus or the Driver, riseth with the fifteenth Degree of Aries, and makes Charioteers, Horse-Racers, and Men skilled in all sorts of Horsemanship: 5. With the Twentieth Degree of Aries, the Hoedi or the Kids rise, and those, being wanton Stars, produce nothing that is Virtuous or Noble: Their Births are wanton, light, and lustful, and never Courageous, but in pursuit of some shameful lewd Pleasure; some of their Births, are peculiarly delighted in feeding and keeping Goats: 7. With the Twentyseventh Degree of Aries, rise the Hyadeses: And their Births are always turbulent and Seditious, prone to Factions, restless fanatics, or else, they give their Minds to Country Affairs, feed Cattle, or turn Waggoners: 7. With the Thirtieth Degree of Aries, the Goat riseth; and those that are Born under that influence, shall be fearful, jealous, suspicious, and inconstant, or else inclined to Travel: 8. He says the Pleyades rise with the sixth Degree of Taurus; and the Men that are then Born, shall be gay, and humorous, witty, but too effeminate and soft, minding nothing but Dress, Gate, and Love: 9 The Hare riseth with the seventh Degree of Gemini or the Twins; and her Births are active and nimble, fit for all sports, all feats of activity, and slight of hand: 10. The Asses rise with the first Degree of Cancer; and those that are Born under their influence, shall be employed in all sorts of Hunting and Fishing: 11. With the twentyseventh Degree of Cancer, protion or the little Dog rises, and that produceth such as wove Nets, make Spears, and all other Instruments of Huntsmen: 12. The Great Dog riseth with Leo, and being himself a Constellation of excessive heat; those that are Born under his influence, shall be full of Passion, Hate, Jealousy, and ungovernable suspicion, and given to excess in Wine; their Heat shall lead them on to to dangers, and engage them to hunt wild Beasts. 13. With the last Degree of Leo, the Bowl appears, and inclines to plant and dress Vines; the Births shall be somewhat intemperate, inclined to Merchandise, and to trade in those Commodities, which cannot be brought to perfection without moisture: 14. With the fifteenth Degree of Virgo, the Crown of Ariadne riseth, and then the Births shall be Florists; they shall delight in making and perfuming Garlands, be Gay; Amorous, and 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 Bowmen, 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 lose, 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 Horsemen, Charioteers, and Farriers. 21. With the fifth Degree of Sagittarius, Arcturus appears, and breeds Collectors of Customs, Treasurers for Kings, or Stewards for private men's 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, etc. all their Employments shall be about Birds. 23. With some part of Capricon, Ophieuchus, or the Snake-holder riseth, and produceth such as are skilled in during poisoned Persons, and such as cannot be poisoned themselves. 24. With the last Degrees of Capricorn, the Southern Fish rising, breeds Anglers, Divers, Fishers for Pearls, etc. 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 designed for Guardians, or Tutors, Tragic 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, headstrong, and bloody, greedy of spoil, 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, etc. 30. With the twelfth Degree of Pisces, Andromeda riseth, and breeds Gaolers, 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 Physicians 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 Jugglers and Rope-dancers. 33. With the same Degree of Pisces, the Whale riseth, and produceth Fishers, Fishmongers, makers of Salt, etc. 34. The Bears (Manilius tells us, what he means by their rising) are joined with Leo and Scorpio, and breed such as are employed 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 confessed that Manilius shows no great exactness in the Astronomical part of this Book▪ but the Astrology is perfect and, may for the most part be applied 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 designed, what Mars did dare,  
Or Luna thought on in her Gloomy care:  
What Sol would work, how Saturn looked on Jove,  
And Venus managed 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 raised 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 toil refuse,  
Whilst constant Industry can aid my Muse.  
Here vast Orion Heaven's great part, 
The Southern Constellations.  the Streams,  
Whose Spacious Wind 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'er all the World are rolled,  
The watchful Keeper of the growing Gold;  
And Heaven's high Altar graced with Gifts invite  
My eager Muse to take a larger flight.  
There where the Serpent twines betwixt the Bears, 
The Northern Constellations.   
Where rolls the Driver, and still minds his Cares:  
Where slow Boötes drives his lingering Teams,  
Or Ariadne's Crown spreads Heavenly Beams:  
Where Perseus soars with Gorgon's Spoils above,  
And wields his Falchion to secure his Love:  
Where wretched Cepheus and his Wife beside  
The fair Andromeda still Curse their Pride;  
Or where ¹ opposed 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 Framed, the Mighty Cause  
These Powers bestowed, 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 swum  
Lost part of's Freight, and gave the Sea a Name:  
Whose ² Skin destroyed himself, whose Golden Spoil  
Forced fierce Medea, from her Native Soil;  
Then Magic Arts to Colchis Shores confined  
First Sailed abroad, and Poison swelled the Wind:)  
And now as Victor o'er the Conquered 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 joins the Ram:  
Who ever's born, shall be to Sail inclined,  
He'll Blow the Ocean, and he'll tempt the Wind;  
He o'er the Seas shall Love, or Fame pursue;  
And other Months, another ⁴ Phasis view:  
Fixed to the Rudder, he shall boldly Steer,  
And pass those Rocks which ⁵ Tiphys used to fear.  
Had not such Births been born Troy's Walls had stood,  
No ⁶ Wind-bound Navy, bought a Gale with Blood;  
No ⁷ Xerxes Persia o'er the Ocean roul'd,  
Dug a new Sea, nor yet confined an old.  
No Athens sunk by ⁸ Syracusian Shores,  
Nor Lybia's Seas been choked with Punic Oars,  
Nor had the World in doubt at Actium stood,  
Nor ⁹ Heaven's great Fortune floated on the Flood:  
Such Births as these their hopes to Seas resign,  
Ships spread their Sails, and distant Nations join,  
The World divided, mutual Wants invite  
To close again; and Friendly Ships unite.  
But when Orion on the left doth rise, 
III. Orion.   
Orion ¹⁰ the large Portion of the Skies;  
At whose appearance Day the Night invades,  
And frighted Darkness folds her Gloomy Shades:  
One fit for Business, quick of Mind is wrought,  
Of Body nimble, and of Active Thought:  
As if he were the ¹¹ People, all the Town  
He shall inhabit, every House his own:  
And one Salute, when ¹² Morning peeps, extend  
Through every Street, to All a Common Friend.  
But when the Ram first shows thrice five Degrees, 
iv Heniochus, or the Driver.   
The Driver rears his Chariot from the Seas;  
And climbs that Steep, whence blustering Boreas brings  
His North-East Blasts, and shakes their freezing Wings.  
He keeps his old Concern, and thence bestows  
Those various Arts which here on Earth he chose.  
To drive the ¹³ Chariot, to direct the Course,  
And hang with forward Lashes on the Horse;  
Now press directly, now wheel nimbly round,  
Outstrip the Wind, nor raise the dusty Ground;  
Or cross athwart, and force the rest to yield,  
Disperse the Crowd, and clear the gapeing Field:  
And tho' outstripped, yet scorn to stoop to Fear,  
But, drive on Hope, and leave behind Despair.  
Or midst the Race from ¹⁴ Horse to Horse to leap,  
Sport o'er their Backs, and fix the dangerous step:  
Or singly mounted break the Foaming Jaws,  
Throw▪ well the Dart, and force a just applause.  
Hence influenced at his Birth ¹⁵ Salmoneus strove  
To vie with Lightning, and to Rival Jove;  
His Brazen Bridge, and Chariots fiercely hurled  
Must roar like Thunder, and must shake the World.  
Vain the attempt: But yet his Pride was high,  
And now he thought he had brought down the Sky:  
Proudly he road, but winged Bolts pursue,  
And his feigned Thunder's noise provoked the True;  
He fell, and by his sad Example showed  
IT was Fate for Man, to be esteemed a God.  
The famed Bellerophon first viewed the Light  
When this appeared, and took his Airy Flight:  
O'er Seas and Land he fled, and first began  
Through pathless Skies, a way unknown to Man.  
But when the Ram twice Ten Degrees doth show, 
V The Hoedi, or the Kids.   
Where on the Right rough Boreas' Tempests blow;  
The Kids appear: But never hope to find  
Severe in Manners, nor correct in Mind  
Their Births; from them no Censuring Cato's come  
To settle Virtue, and adorn their Rome.  
No temperate Scipio's, whose obliging Charms  
The Spaniards Conquered, and excelled their Arms:  
Too great a work for them, their Rays inspire  
Soft Love, than heat that Love to fierce Desire:  
Still urging on, they boil that Lust to Rage,  
And Lust, not Courage, make the Youth engage:  
By Death bafe Pleasure is ignobly bought,  
And the Misfortune heightened by the Fault:  
By them are some to keeping Goats inclined,  
The Kids being always mindful of their Kind:  
Thence Goatherds rise, whose Pipes in every Vale  
Soft Love inspire, and tell the moving Tale.  
But when the Ram hath doubled Ten Degrees, 
VI The Hyadeses.   
And joined seven more, then rise the Hyadeses;  
Whose Births delight in Tumults, hate soft Peace,  
Seditions seek, and live averse to Ease:  
The Desks the ¹⁷ Gracchis, Soldiers crowd the Town  
They love to see, and scorn the peaceful Gown.  
They seek Contention, and when none appears  
They heighten Jealousies, and nourish Fears.  
Or meanly bend, they o'er the fruitful Plain  
Their cattle feed, or drive the lazy Wain:  
Such Minds these give, such Tempers these bestow,  
Cursed Influence! raised too high, or bend too low.  
But when the Ram hath trebled Ten Degrees, 
VII. The Goat.   
Shines all above, excluded all from Seas;  
The Goat (whose Brutish Dugs did once improve  
The mighty Babe, and nursed the growing Jove;  
Who gave him strength to Thunder) first appears,  
Breeds timorous Births, and fills their Breasts with Fears.  
On slight Occasions, they with Doubts are Cursed,  
Suspicious, jealous, fearing still the worst.  
Or Travellers bend on foreign Lands they breed;  
Thus o'er the Rocks Goats wander as they feed:  
Now seek this Plain, and then as fast pursue  
What tempts their sight, leave old, and seize the new.  
Thus far the Ram's concerned, 
VIII. What Constellations rise with Taurus.  and next the Bull  
Joyns other Stars, and varies in its Rule:  
For mounting upward in his backward rise  
When Six Degrees appear, and grace the Skies,  
He shows the Pleyades: 
The Pleyades.  Whose Rays incline  
To Joys of Venus, and the Charms of Wine:  
Feasts their delight, where witty biting Drolls  
Raise Mirth, and Health swims round in flowing Bowls.  
Such are these Stars gay Births; their Face, their Dress  
They chief mind, and 'tis their work to please:  
Offended with their Sex, their Manly Hair  
With Pumice kill, and Curse those Limbs that bear.  
Female they seem; now borrowed Curls must raise  
Their Heads, and Love must play in every Maze:  
Now Gems must bind them up, now lose behind  
Their Locks must flow, and wanton in the Wind:  
Affected in their Gate, grow Fops by Rule,  
And with great study, finish Nature's Fool.  
Yet high Ambition, and a Thirst to please  
(The Name of Virtue covers the Disease:)  
Still fire their Breasts, nor from their Souls remove,  
They would not only Love, but would be known to Love.  
The Twins succeed, 
IX. What Constellations rise with the Twins.  and when their Seventh Degree  
Swims rising o'er the Surface of the Sea;  
The Hare appears, 
The Hare.  whose active Rays supply  
A nimble force, and hardly Wings deny:  
The Whirlbats falling Blow they nimbly shun;  
And win the Race, ere they begin to run.  
Let Feasts unbend the Clowns, let Labour yield  
To Sport and Mirth, and Pastime Crown the Field;  
None give so sure, and none avoid the Fall  
So well; or catch and turn the flying Ball.  
To vigorous stroke their active Arms command,  
Or with their Foot supply the place of Hand.  
Or when in Sport they shall the ¹⁸ Balls divide  
From Hand to Hand, and toss on every side;  
Now throw the flying Globes, and now retain,  
Or play them back upon themselves again:  
Now back, now forward, round, and every way  
O'er all their Limbs the active Balls shall play,  
As taught to know their meaning, and obey.  
Whilst Crowds admire, and think the constant cares  
Of Art effect what is the work of Stars.  
Waked whilst asleep, they tame by active Pleasure  
Their growing Troubles, and Sports employ their leisure.  
Thus those agree. 
X. What Constellations rise with Cancer.  And next my Songs comprise  
Stars near the Crab, with whom the Asses rise:  
Then Births appear, whose Skill infests the Woods,  
Lay Snares for Beasts; 
The Asses.  nor do they spare the Floods:  
On all they Pray, they boldly search the Caves;  
Nor are the Fish secure in deepest Waves:  
Then ¹⁹ Meleager risen, whose fatal Brand,  
And Life too wasted in his Mother's Hand;  
Unhappy Noble Youth! who must atone  
Her wretched Brother's Slaughter by thy own!  
Half buried whilst alive! Whom Love betrayed  
To give the Hero's Honours to the Maid;  
To rob thy jealous Uncles of their Fame,  
And by their Death secure the Beauty's claim.  
Then Atalante risen, who pressed for Fame  
Through thickest Woods, and saw and overcame;  
Her Dart first reached the Boar, and won the Prize,  
She Conquered with her Arrow, and her Eyes;  
The Monster groaned, 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 Toils,  
Or hunt with Spears, and Grace their House with Spoils.  
Another puts to Sea, infests the Lakes,  
Draws monstrous Fish, and starts at what he Takes.  
Whilst some through Nets the wand'ring Waters strain,  
Their Game they follow through the pathless Main,  
Where no Scent lies, yet seldom Hunt in vain.  
As if the Earth were not profusely stored,  
They fly to Seas, they search what Floods afford,  
And Nereus from his Waves supplies the Glutton's Board: 
XI. protion, or the little Dog.   
But when the Crab hath doubled Tèn Degrees,  
And reared seven more, bright protion leaves the Seas:  
His Influence mean; But tho' his feeble Flame  
No Hunters breeds, yet it supports the Game:  
Inclines to Wove 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 scorched Neptune mourns contracted Floods,  
Herbs die, 
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 joined in one.  
Air's turned 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 Jealousy make up his Births unhappy Fate:  
Each little Cause doth scorching Thoughts inspire,  
Their Soul's inflamed, 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 than who e'er are born, their Minds incline  
To water Meadows, and to dress the Vine.  
To Hills, Lakes; Rivers: To what ere 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 displayed  
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 Recompenses 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 Blow the Ocean, and forsake their Fields  
Till tossed 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 betrayed,  
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 influenced then shall raise fine Beds of Flowers,  
And twine their creeping Jasmine round their Bowers;  
The Lilies, Violets in Banks dispose,  
The Purple Poppy, and the blushing Rose:  
For Pleasure shades their rising Mounts shall yield▪  
And real Figures paint the gaudy Field:  
Or they shall wreathe their Flowers, their Sweets entwine,  
To Grace their Mistress, or to Crown their Wine▪  
The Odours fair Arabia's Groves dispense  
Sovereign for Health, or grateful to the Sense,  
Shall bathe 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 Pleasure's 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,  
Shows 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 Use.  
Build Barns for Grain, for Nature those contrives,  
And in the Ear itself 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 employed 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 repelled, the angry Fire  
Did fear his Shafts, and sullenly retire;  
The other bore Troy's Fate, more dreadful far,  
He sat Exiled, than all the Greeks in War.  
He owned those Stars, ²³ who when the Serpent lay  
Twined round his Child, and Sucked the Bleeding Prey;  
Ventured to shoot: The pious Arrow fled  
As sent by Fate, and pierced the Dragon's Head:  
To be a Father then was Art, and Love  
By Stars unaided, had but vainly striven;  
They drew the Bow, restored the flying Breath  
To the lost Boy, and waked the Youth from Death.  
But when the heedless Goat ²⁴ Exalts his Beard, 
XVII. The Goat.   
Alone, as straggling from the other Herd;  
Then Tempers quick, and piercing Minds are wrought,  
With Cares unwearyed, 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 enlarged 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 injured 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,  
(Lose are their Words, and loser their Desire;)  
Lewd Love and Wine indulge, and waste their Age  
In Mimic Dancing, or affect the Stage.  
Next shines the Harp, 
XVIII. The Harp.  and through the Liquid Skies  
The Shell as lightest, first gins to rise;  
This when sweet Orpheus struck, to listening Rocks  
He Senses gave, and Ears to withered Oaks;  
Parched Pluto's ²⁵ Cheeks grew moist, and Death resigned  
Her Spoil, and unrelenting Fates grew kind.  
These skill in Music, and in Songs impart;  
How Sound is varied 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 even 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 armed Jove's Hand, no Thunder roared  
Till here as Priest he stood, 
The Altar.  and first adored;  
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 rattling 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 threatening Bow, 
XXI. What Constellations rise with Sagittarius.   
Whose Fifth Degree doth bright Arcturus show:  
And he that than is born shall ne'er 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,  
Blessed he shall live, and see the thriving Heir  
In Wealth increased; Or he shall still defend  
The People's Right, and be a Common Friend.  
But when this Centaur hath advanced his Fire  
Thrice Ten Degrees, 
XXII. The Swan.  and shows 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 itself an open War;  
They take them flying, or they set their Toils  
On Boughs or Fields, and catch the Feathered Spoils.  
Sometimes besiege their Nestswith treacherous Reed,  
Or draw the Net, and take them whilst they feed:  
Thus Luxury toils; 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, 'tis more than Fowl,  
The Feathered part confines a noble Soul;  
And when cold Death comes on, the God dilates  
His Powers, and softly murmurs o'er 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 Master's 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 joins the Goat,  
Those that are born shall live an Antidote  
To strongest Poison; they may safely take  
The frightful Serpent, and the Venomed Snake  
Into their Bosom: Whilst the Monster's Cling  
About their Bodies kills 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 fortified, whilst these can dive,  
All shall be dared; and they immersed shall rove  
Through Depths, despaired, 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,  
Ashamed 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 completes 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,  
Pleased with the sounding Virtues 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 skulking Gild 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;  
Steeled 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:  
As Wisdom gave the Sentence, Strife shall cease,  
Both sides be pleased, at least consent to Peace.  
But when the Dolphin's Fires begin to rise  
With Stars like Scales, 
XXVI. The Dolphin.  and swim in Liquid Skies;  
It shall be doubtful which shall most Command  
The Inclination for the Sea or Land:  
Both shall conspire, and in one Mass combined,  
Now this way draw, now that way force the Mind:  
For as the Dolphin mounts, now dives again,  
Now turns, now leaps, and figures all the Main:  
So those that shall be born shall now divide  
With wide stretched Arms, and beat the swelling Tide;  
Now thrust them downward, and with secret Oars  
Their Body's row, and visit Foreign Shores;  
Now tread the Water, with their Feet maintain  
Themselves Erect, and wade the deepest Main,  
As 'twere a shallow; like the firmest Field,  
The Floods shall bear them, and refuse to yield:  
Now on their Backs or Sides securely keep  
One constant place, and lie upon the Deep:  
No Oar to Boy them up; but Floods forget  
Their natural yielding, and sustain the Weight:  
Or they shall dive, through boundless Oceans go,  
And visit Nereus, and the Nymphs below;  
Or take up Shipwrecks, Merchants Spoils restore,  
And rob the greedy Ocean of its Oar.  
To these join those, who from an ²⁷ Engine tossed  
Pierce through the Air, and in the Clouds are lost;  
Or poise on Timber, where by turns they rise  
And sink, and mount each other to the Skies:  
Or leap through Fire, and fall on hardest Ground  
As on soft Seas, unhurt, and safe from Wound:  
Tho' void of Wings, their Bodies boldly rear,  
And imitate their Dolphin in the Air.  
Or if they want the skill, yet Nature's part  
Performed, they shall be nimble without Art:  
Not run, but rather fly, be swiftly born  
O'er Fields of Wheat, nor bend the standing Corn.  
When with Aquarius Cepheus mounts, 
XXVII. What Constellations rise with Aquarius. Cepheus.  require  
No sportive Tempers from so grave a Fire:  
But stiff, morose, severe, affected Fools,  
With Looks as starched, and heavy as their Souls:  
Whose Guardian's roughness, or an Uncle's force  
Praise, and in Cato's Sentences Discourse:  
Designed for Tutors, whom the noble Heir,  
Although he keeps them, shall be forced to fear;  
Shrink at their Nods, and of their Looks afraid,  
Worship th' Imperious Idol he hath made.  
Or Tragic Poets; Those whose Style must slay  
In Paper, and be Barbarous in a Play:  
Who must kill Heroes to delight the Crowd,  
And seek to please with Horror, and with Blood:  
Antigone ²⁸ must fall the Tyrant's Spoil,  
And Brothers disagree upon their Pile:  
Thyestes eat his Babes, the Sun retire,  
And jealous Rage the mad Medea Fire;  
Her Father, Brother, Sons must Murdered lie,  
Whilst Dragons bear her through the Guilty Sky:  
Or she must Youth renew; such Themes as these  
Shall raise their Thoughts, and make them strive to please.  
But then if softer Themes their Fancies move  
In Comedy, the heated Youth shall Love;  
The Maid be stolen, the witty Slave defeat  
The covetous Father, and enjoy the Cheat.  
Thus famed ²⁹ Menander in immortal Rhymes  
Exposeth Humour and instructs the Times;  
Nature to him her Parts might safely trust,  
His Words expressive, and his Thoughts were just;  
And when he copied her, she hardly knew  
Her own Original; he wrought so true.  
But if unequal to a Poet's Rage  
They cannot Write, yet they shall serve the Stage.  
Their graceful action and their voice shall raise  
The native value of another's Plays;  
The School's Simplicity, the Court's Address,  
The Soldiers Huff so decently express;  
As if they acted not fewer part;  
And all was simple Nature, and not Art.  
In one short view they shall present to sight  
Whole Crowds, make Kings engage, and Armies fight:  
Before the pleased Spectators Troy shall lie  
In ruins, and the wretched Priam die.  
But now the Eagle must my Songs employ, 
XVIII. ●he Ea●●e.   
He shines upon the left hand of the Boy,  
Whom first from Earth he did to Skies convey,  
And now with wide stretched Wings hovers o'er his Prey.  
This Bird, the Armour-bearer of the Skies,  
Brings back thrown Thunder, Jove with Arms supplies,  
And with the YouthsYouths twelfth part gins to rise.  
And then shall spring a violent ravenous Brood,  
Eager to rob, and purchase Spoil with Blood:  
On Men and Beasts with equal Lust they seize,  
Nor make a difference between War and Peace.  
Their Friends and Enemies alike they awe,  
They every thing to wild contention draw,  
Their Will their Ruler, and their Sword their Law.  
But if their Violence aright they place,  
Their Vice turns Virtue; conquered Spoils shall grace  
Their happy Country; when in Arms they dare,  
Success shall wait, and Victory crown their War.  
But since the Eagle is employed above  
Not to throw Thunder, but to wait on Jove,  
And bring him Arms, they hope in vain to bear  
The highest Office, and Command in War;  
They must be meaner, equal to their Star:  
Wait on a General, bear his ponderous Shield,  
And serve him bravely in the dangerous Field.  
When mourning Cassiopeia, 
XXIX. Cassiopeia.  graced with Stars,  
Upon the left hand of the Youth appears,  
And joins twice ten Degrees, her Beams impart  
In Metals skill, and fill the Births with Art:  
The precious Matter they shall nobly mould,  
And raise the native value of the Gold;  
Hence shine our Temples, and our Roman Jove  
Fills here a Heaven as bright as that above;  
Happy this Art employed on things Divine,  
To frame a Statue, or adorn a Shrine;  
But now how low her Head she strives to hid,  
Whilst chained to Luxury, and a Slave to pride!  
Now precious Metals common Roofs enfold,  
Rival the Temples, and we feast in Gold.  
But great Augustus doth its state maintain,  
Shows its old worth, and makes it rise again;  
His Temples shine, and now such Works are wrought  
As Mithridates lost when Sylla fought;  
The Sun's outshone, and Caesar's glorious Gems  
Excel the native lustre of his Beams:  
And hence with joy we view that wondrous Prize,  
The Monuments of ³⁰ Pompey's Victories;  
Though those did first a Lust for Gems inspire,  
Which still burns new, and spreads a growing fire;  
The Ornaments of Kings now serve to grace  
A shape, and raise the value of a Face;  
Now Neck, Feet, Hands are decked, and every Dress  
Shines with the Spoils of groaning Provinces;  
Yet 'tis the Lady's Sign, their wants supplied  
Advance its worth, they love what decks their Pride:  
Lest want of Matter should the Work restrain,  
The Art grow idle, and the Sign be vain,  
By the same Powers are wretched Men decoyed  
To dig for Oar, and work to be employed;  
To turn the Globe to search where Metals breed,  
And see young Gold first blushing in its Seed;  
Harmless it lies, till the mistaken worth  
Deludes poor Man, and brings the Monster forth.  
And lest Temptations too obscure should lie,  
Too far removed from every common Eye,  
Mixed with the Sands they shine on every Shore,  
These he shall gather, and extract the Oar,  
Or dive for Jewels, and, intent on Gain,  
Pierce thro' the Floods, and search the deepest Main;  
Draw Gold and Silver from the Waves embrace,  
And work them singly, and adorn the Mass;  
Or in Electrum both ignobly join:  
These are the Powers and Tempers of this Sign.  
Next shines Andromeda; 
XXX. What Constellations rise with Pisces.  she leaves the Sea,  
And on the Right joins Pisces twelfth Degree.  
Bright she appears, and gay with sparkling Fires,  
As when young Perseus first felt warm desires.  
Unhappy Maid! 
Andromeda.  exposed to rage's Divine,  
A faultless Victim for her Mother's Sin:  
When Seas let lose o'erflowed the fruitful Plain,  
And Earth now feared its ruin from the Main;  
Nought could appease, but to the injured Flood  
The Maid resigned, to quench its rage with Blood.  
This was her Bridal, in her Robes of State;  
But not provided for so sad a Fate,  
Glorious she looked, and like the setting Sun,  
Greater, though not so sierce, her Beauty shone.  
No joyful Torch its ominous Flames did spread,  
No Vows were heard to crown her fruitful Bed;  
But Groans and Tears, ere Death pronounced her doom  
The Maid was born alive to her own Tomb.  
Hence fly my Muse, and on the naked Shore  
Leave the poor Maid, and dare to look no more;  
'Twill melt thy Song to turn again to view,  
The weeping Parents bid their last adieu;  
To see her fettered, and exposed to pain,  
Designed by Nature for another Chain:  
To see her hang on Rocks, and by her side  
Grim Death appear, and point to the swollen Tide.  
Yet turn, and view how she her Shape retains,  
How fair she looks, and glorious in her Chains:  
With what becoming fear her flowing Vest  
Forsakes her Limbs, and leaves her naked Breast:  
What hidden Beauties are exposed to sight,  
Like Lightning glare, but must be lost in night.  
By her the Halcyons mourned, and round the Coast,  
That so much Beauty should in vain be lost,  
The Nymphs repined; and Nereis from the Deep  
Bewailed her Fate, and did consent to weep:  
The gentle Breeze that fanned her golden Locks,  
Turned into Sighs, and murmured to the Rocks:  
All Nature seemed concerned, despairing Grief  
Was general, but too weak to yield relief.  
Then Perseus, glorious with the Gorgon's Spoil,  
By Love directed to a nobler Toil,  
Kind Fortune brought; and at the wondrous sight  
He checked his Horse, and stopped his airy flight;  
His Hand scarce held his Spoil, Medusa's Eyes  
He bore, but now grew stiff at this surprise;  
The Chains that held her, and the burth'ned Stone  
He happy called, and envied joys unknown.  
Amazed a while he hung, her Form surveyed,  
Then heard the Story from the weeping Maid;  
Straight in his Breast high generous thoughts were bred,  
To spoil the Ocean to adorn his Bed:  
And should a thousand frightful Gorgon's rise;  
He would oppose them for so vast a Prize:  
Fixed on these Thoughts he leaves the mournful Shore,  
Her Parents cheers, and bids them weep no more,  
For Aid was come: And their Consent desired  
Was granted soon, and nobler warmth inspired.  
Back he returns: Now teeming Seas did roar,  
Waves fled the Monster, and o'erflowed the Shore;  
High raised his Head, he spouts the Floods around,  
All Nereus echoes, and the Shores resound:  
Wide gapes his Mouth, and as on a vast Rock  
Dashed on each Tooth the foaming Billows broke:  
His winding Tail o'er half the Main was spread,  
The Ocean groaned, Rocks feared, and Mountains fled:  
Unhappy Maid! though such an Aid was near,  
What was thy Mind, and how surprised with fear?  
How pale thy Look? and how thy Spirit fled  
In a deep sigh, and hovered round thy Head?  
How bloodless all thy Limbs, when from deep Caves  
The Monster rushed, and bore the foaming Waves  
And Fate along? and all designed for thee  
A Prey how little, for so vast a Sea!  
But Perseus nimble Aid descends, and hides  
The Gorgon's Falchion in his scaly Sides;  
He twists upon the Wound, then strives to rear  
His head, and shoots up forward thro' the Air:  
Perseus retires, and still deludes his Foe,  
Hangs in the Sky, and aims a surer Blow:  
He presses on, and casts his Jaws around,  
Bites at the Air, but bites without a Wound.  
Then tosses Seas to Heaven, spouts purple Floods  
At his high ●oe, and drowns him in the Clouds.  
The Maid beheld this Fight, and, grateful grown,  
Feared for his danger, but forgot her own;  
Doubtful which way the various Fate inclined,  
In Body less suspended than in Mind:  
Her doubt not long; for now Success did prove  
The great advantage, and the force of Love;  
The Monster groaned, and from his Wounds there flowed  
A mighty Stream, and stained the Seas with Blood.  
Down deep he sinks, but soon he floats again,  
And his vast Carcase covers all the Main;  
Breathless he lay, yet than his shape did fright;  
Tho dead, he was too dreadful for her sight.  
Now big with Conquest, from the cleansing Flood  
Bright Perseus' rose, and more August he stood;  
Then to the Rocks with eager haste he flies,  
Unbinds the Virgin, and enjoys the Prize.  
And thence Andromeda now shines a Star,  
The Cause, and the Reward of such a War,  
As freed the Ocean, and restored the Main  
To Neptune's sway, and fixed him in his Reign.  
And he that sees her rising Beams, shall draw  
The Sword of Justice, and shall smite by Law;  
Dungeons shall be, and Whips and Racks his care,  
Steeled against Pity, and averse to spare.  
At his stern feet shall wretched Wives complain,  
And weeping Mothers tell their grief in vain:  
Though late at night to kiss a parting Son,  
And draw his flying Soul into his own;  
A Father sues, in unrelenting Ears  
His Prayers are lost, nor shall he yield to Tears.  
Or lean pale Hangmen shall her Beams create,  
Those solemn Murderers and Salves to Fate:  
Who on the Curses of the pitying Crowd  
Ignobly thrive, and live on shedding Blood.  
But he that sees her chained to Rocks, shall find  
A meaner Fortune, though as fierce a Mind;  
A Gaoler he shall be, secure for pains  
Poor Slaves, and be a ³¹ partner of their Chains.  
With Pisces twenty first Degree to fly  
The Horse gins, 
XXXI. The Horse.  and beats the yielding Sky;  
His Births shall Health, and vigorous Strength enjoy,  
For Action quick, and nimble for employ.  
They in thick rounds shall rein the managed Steed,  
Or sweep the Plain, deceiving with their speed:  
Or proudly mounted they shall boldly dare  
Heroic Acts, and lead the Crowd to War:  
Or else be nimble Messengers, and move  
With greater swiftness than a flying Dove;  
Send both with like Advice, the one shall bring  
Returns, whilst t'other lags with lazy Wing.  
Or they shall study Herbs, and strength impart  
To Beasts, and even to Man enlarge their Art.  
But now go on; 
XXXII. Hercules, or the Kneeling Constellation.  with Pisces last Degrees,  
The humble Constellation on his Knees  
O'th' Right appears: And those that then are born  
No virtuous Powers, nor useful Arts adorn,  
But they're for treachery, mischief, spoil designed,  
Guilt's in their looks and Rapine in their mind.  
Or if to Arts he shall incline the Breed,  
Such, where the Danger doth the Skill exceed,  
They chief follow; 'tis their only scope  
To mount a Precipice, or dance a Rope;  
Tread 32 Airy steps, and whilst thro' Clouds they reel,  
Draw up the Crowd, and hang them at their heel.  
But on the Left is opened to our view  
The Whale, 
XXXIII. The Whale  who now doth thro' the Skies pursue  
With eager haste, as through the injured Flood  
The fair Andromeda, and still thirsts for Blood.  
And He that than is born shall be inclined  
To spoil the Sea, and kill the Scaly Kind,  
No Fish shall swim secure whilst Nets can sweep  
The troubled Ocean, and confine the Deep:  
Those that but now could wanton o'er the Main  
Shall lie fast bound, and wonder at their chain;  
Till with a touch He shall the Cords command,  
And draw the Dancing Captives to the Land.  
Or whilst He shoals expects even midst the Flood  
Destroy, and slain the Ocean with their Blood.  
Yet then his works not cease, or pains decay,  
His various Arts increasing with his prey:  
For on the Shore He shall his spoil divide  
For different uses. This when lightly dried  
Is better Meat; and that when moist is good,  
Whilst other parts are hardened into Food.  
Can Gluttons see, they would not bear the sight  
Of preparations for their Appetite,  
Whilst Blood and Guts in a polluted Mass  
Lie mixed, and are corrupted into Sauce;  
Till all in filthy Gore distils to treat  
The fashionable Palate of the Great.  
Or if to meaner Arts his Thoughts incline,  
Then Salts his care; he shall the Floods confine  
In narrow Pitts, and to the Beams expose,  
Till what was liquid now a solid grows,  
Then lay the crusted froth with careful hand  
In heaps, and cleanse it, and divide the Sand.  
And thus the brackish and unwholesome Flood  
Proves vital Salt, and poison's turned to Food.  
The Great and Lesser Bear which still maintain  
One constant Round, 
The rising of the two Bears.  and never touch the Main,  
Scarce know a Rise; yet when each front appears,  
Take that to be the rising of the Bears.  
The First with Leo, and the last is joined  
With Scorpio, and prove friendly to their kind.  
For those that then are born to Beasts shall bear  
Kind tempers, and oblige them by their Care;  
Give Law to Lions, with a Panther play,  
Teach Tigers peace, and make a Wolf obey;  
Maintain Converse, and give them Arts unknown,  
And such as Nature never thought her own.  
But yet their thoughts to Bears shall most incline,  
And there improve the Kindred of their Sign.  
Or ride the Elephant, his Bulk command,  
And make the Monster tremble at their Wand.  
Base the submission, where such strength in vain  
Possess't must tamely yield to feeble Man:   

The third sized Stars the Pleiad's form do grace, 
The several magnitudes of the Stars.   
They shine with virgin blushes in their face:  
Four in the Dolphin are observed to rise,  
And in Deltoton Three of equal size:  
The same the Eagle, and the Bear display,  
Nor can the Draco boast a greater ray;  
Of size the Fourth and Fifth securely take  
A measure from the others of the Snake.  
But yet the greatest part we spare to note,  
Too small to be discerned, or too remote:  
These lie obscure, and seldom spread their light,  
But when the Moon's withdrawn to lower Night,  
When great Orion from the Skies retires,  
Plunges in Waves, and quenches his bright Fires;  
Or when gay Phoebus doth his sway resign  
To shades, than They have a short leave to shine,  
Then Heaven with little Lights is spangled o'er,  
That not the Sand upon the crooked Shore,  
That not the Billows in Tempestuous Floods,  
That not the leaves when Autumn shakes the Woods,  
Can equal the great Train; they all surmount,  
Even Number is too short for the account.  
And as in Cities, where in ranks decreed  
First ³³ Nobles go, and then the Knights succeed,  
The next in order may the People claim;  
The Rabble next, a Crowd without a Name:  
So is the Heaven by different ranks possessed;  
Some like the Nobles with more rays are dressed,  
Some shine with less, the numerous crowd with least:  
Were these endowed with a proportioned heat,  
Were they in Power, as they're in number great;  
They long ago must have dissolved the Frame,  
Nor could the world have born so fierce a Flame.   
The End of the fifth Book.   

NOTES.  
1.— Celerique Sagittaè  
Delphinus certans—  
We may read,— Celerique Sagitta Delphinus certans— and interpret the words, not as others do, The Dolphin seated opposite to the Arrow: But The Dolphin of equal swiftness with the Arrow.  
2. The Ram having a Golden Fleece, as the Poets fancied, the King of Jolcos' killed him that he might enjoy the Treasure, and Jason being sent to fetch this Golden Fleece carried away Medea the King's Daughter.  
3. The Ship hath two Rudders, a Northern, and a Southern Rudder.  
4. A River of Jolchos, whither Jason with the Argonauts first Sailed.  
5. Typhis, the Pilot to the Argonauts, who in his Voyage steered through the dangerous moving Rocks called the Symplegadae.  
6. The Grecian Navy lay Wind-bound till Iphigenia was Sacrificed, and appeased the anger of Diana.  
7. Vossius, in his Observations on Catullus, Reads— Invehet undis Persida— The Expression is bold, and therefore proper for the Poet. That Xerxes dug a new Channel, and made a Bridge over the Hellespont, are known stories.  
8. Manilius mentions several notable defeats at Sea, such was that of the Athenians near Syracuse, which brought the Athenians very low: such were those of the Carthaginians by the Romans: And that of Antony by Augustus near Actium.  
9 Heaven's great Fortune: Because the Conqueror was to be deified.  
10. Orion is a very large and bright Constellation, and deserves this pompous Description.  
11. Instar erit Populi: This is one of Manilius' bold Expressions, which my English cannot reach.  
12. Alluding to the officious Salutations, which the Clients amongst the Romans carried early every Morning to their Patrons.  
13. Manilius is very accurate in describing the particular Niceties observed in the Roman racing: Those are not now observed amongst us, and therefore we must be content with such Expressions as our Language will afford.  
14. An Exercise much used amongst the Romans; the Horseman road one Horse, and led another, and in the midst of the Race would throw himself on the led Horse, and so back again as often as he was required; or else would stand upon the Horses back, and in that posture ride the Course.  
15. Salmoneus built a Bridge of Brass, and driving Chariots over it fancied he Thundered: This he did to procure himself divine Honours, but was killed by a Thunderbolt for his impious attempt.  
16. The Poets fancied Bellerophon road upon the flying Horse Pegasus.  
17. A Family amongst the Romans, famous for their seditious Harangues, which they made to the People of Rome out of the Desks, or Rostra, standing in the Market place.  
18. Amongst the Romans one Man would take several Balls, and toss them, sometimes behind, and sometimes before, now on this hand, and now on the other, so that some of them should be always up in the Air: And this feat of Activity Manilius Describes.  
19 The Story of Meleager runs thus: At his Birth his Mother heard one of the Destinies say, the Child should live till the stick that then lay in the Fire was burnt: The Mother snatched the stick out of the Fire, and perserv'd it. When Meleager was grown a Man, he with a great many others went to hunt a Wild Boar; at the same time Atalante a Nymph of extraordinary Beauty came into the Field, and had the good Fortune to wound the Boar first: Meleager fell in Love with Atalante, and having killed the Boar presented the Head to her: His two Uncles who were present at the Hunting thought themselves injured, and would not suffer a Woman to carry off their Spoil. Meleager in defence of Atalante kills his two Uncles: Meleager's Mother, to revenge the Death of her two Brothers, puts the stick into the Fire, as that burnt Meleager wasted.  
20. Formidine Mortis: Huetius Reads Formidine Pennae: For when they Hunted, they used to see stakes in the ground, to which they tied Feathers which frighted the Deer, and made them keep within that compass, or take that way the Hunters thought most convenient for their sport.  
21. Philoctetes was Servant to Hercules, and when Hercules burned himself, he left his Bow and Arrows to Philoctetes: Without these Arrows Troy could not be taken: Now it happened that Philoctetes, either by a contrivance of Ulysses, or because, being wounded by one of the Poisoned Arrows, he became offensive to the Grecian Camp, was sent away to Lemnos: But the Siege going on slowly, he was fetched back again: With his Arrows he killed the chiefest of the Remaining Commanders, and so Troy was taken.  
22. Teucer was Brother to Ajax, and he with his Bow beat back Hector when he came to burn the Grecian Navy.  
23. The following Verses relate to Alcon the Cretan, who shot a Snake that lay twisted round the Head of his Son, and did not touch the Boy.  
24. This Goat or Hoedus Scaliger could not find, but Huetius says, the Single Hoedus is put by Manilius for those two Haedi that are in the left hand of Heniochus, or the Driver. Thus Horace. 
— Archeri cadentis  
Impetus, aut orientis Hoedi,  and Propertius Purus & Orion, purus & Hoedus erit.  
25. The Poets fancied Orpheus went down to Hell, charmed Pluto and the Destinies, and brought back his Wife Eurydice.  
26. Alluding to the Fable, which says Jupiter Courted Leda in the shape of a Swan.  
27. Several Feats of Activity amongst the Romans, in which they equalled if not excelled all the following Ages.  
28. The common Subjects upon which Sophocles, Euripides, and other Tragedians amongst the Ancients wrote their Plays.  
29. A famed Comedian, who flourished in the hundred and fourteenth Olympiad.  
30. Pompey having conquered Mithridates, brought to Rome more valuable Jewels than ever had been seen there: And from that time, as Pliny in the first Chapter of his 37th. Book complains, the Romans began to value and admire Jewels.  
31. The Romans did not only put Notorious Malefactors in Chains, but likewise chained them to their Keepers; and this Custom the Poet hints at.  
32. Vossius out of his Ancient Manuscript reads, 
Et Coeli meditatus iter vestigia perdet,  
Et Perna pendens populum suspendet ab ipsa.   
33. These were the several Orders in the Roman Commonwealth.  
FINIS.   

INDEX.  

A.  
AStronomy, its rise and progress, part 1. p. 3.  
Axis of the World, part 1. p. 13.  
Plague of Athens, part 1. p. 34.  
Aspects, part 1. p. 60.  
Aspects friendly and unfriendly, part 1. p. 74.  
Aries' Influence, part 2. p. 9 et 24.  
Aquarius' Influence, part 2. p. 15. et 27.  
Astronomy to be studied, part 2. p. 39  
Aries' Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 56.  
Aquarius' Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 72.  
The Fable of Andromeda, part 2. p. 76.   

C.  
Northern Constellations, part 1. p. 14.  
Southern Constellations, part 1. p. 17.  
Figures of the Constellations not real, part 1. p. 20.  
Northern Polar Circle, part 1. p. 24.  
Tropical Circle of Cancer, part 1. p. 24.  
Equinoctial Circle, part 1. p. 24.  
Tropic of Capricorn, part 1. p. 24.  
Southern Polar Circle, part 1. p. 25.  
The Colours, part 1. p. 25.  
Comets presage, part 1. p. 34.  
Chaldeans refuted, part 1. p. 106. and 110.  
Cancer's Influence, part 2. p. 11 et 25.  
Capricorn's Influence, part 2. p. 14. et 27.  
Countries governed by particular Signs, part 2. p. 36.  
The Influence of Cancer joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 61.  
Capricorn's Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 70.   

D  
Dodecatemorion, part 1. p. 76.  
Dodecatemoria of the Planets, part 1. p. 77.  
Day Births, part 1. p. 104.  
Bad and good Degrees of Signs, part 2. p. 21.   

E.  
Earth the Centre of the Universe, part 1. p. 9  
Earth round, part 1. p. 10.  
Geographical description of the Earth, part 2. p. 28.  
Eccliptick Signs, part 2. p. 38.   

F.  
Friendship, part 1. p. 72.  
Fortune's Lot, part 1. p. 103.  
Fate, part 2. p. 4.   

G.  
Guardians of the Signs, part 1. p. 66.  
Gemini's Influence, part 2. p. 10. et 25.  
The Influence of Gemini when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 60.   

H.  
Horizon, part 1. p. 26.  
Influence of the Heavens, part 1. p. 51.  
Signs hear and see, love and hate each other, part 1. p. 67.  
The Celestial Houses, part 1. p. 80.  
Horoscope, part 1. p. 105.  
Hours various, part 1. p. 106.   

L.  
Twelve Lots of the twelve Signs, part 1. p. 99  
Leo's Influence, part 2. p. 11. et 26.  
Libra's Influence, part 2. p. 13. et 26.  
Leo's Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 63.  
Libra's Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 66.   

M.  
Meridian part 1. p. 26.  
Milky way, part 1. p. 27.  
Various Opinions about the milky way, part 1. pag. 29.  
Meteors, part 1. p. 32.  
The several Magnitudes of the Stars, p. 2. p. 82.   

N.  
Night Births, part 1. p. 104.   

P.  
Southern Pole like the Northern, part 1. pag. 19  
Providence asserted against Epicurus, part 1. pag. 21.  
Planets, part 1. pag. 32.  
Pisces' Influence, part 2. p. 15. & 27.  
Pisces Influence joined with other Constellations, part 2. pag. 76.   

Q.  
Quadrates, part 1. pag. 61.   

S.  
Soul of the World, part 1. p. 12. & 51.  
The several kinds or sorts of Signs, part 1. p. 55.  
Sextiles, part 1. p. 63.  
Stadia, part 1. p. 108,  
The several positions of the Sphere, part 1. p. 110.  
Scorpio's Influence, part 2. p. 13. et 26.  
Sagittarius Influence, part 2. p. 14. et 27.  
Sagittarius Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 69.  
Scorpio's Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 68   

T.  
Trines part 1. p. 60.  
Taurus' Influence, part 2. p, 10. et 25.  
Tenths, or Lords of the Signs, part 2. p. 16.  
The Influence of Taurus joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 60.   

V  
Virgo's Influence, part 2. p. 12. et 26.  
Virgo's Influence when joined with other Constellations, part 2. p. 65.   

W.  
Different Opinions about the Beginning of the World, part 1. p. 7.  
The order of the World, part 1. p. 8.  
The bigness of the World, part 1. p. 23.  
The World animate, part 1. p. 51.  
Wind's cardinal and collateral, part. 2. p. 28.   

Z.  
Signs of the Zodiac, part 1. p. 13.  
Zodiac, part 1. p. 27.    

ERRATA.  

Part I.  
PAg. 5. lin. 7. read looked. pag. 12. l. 2. r. feet. p. 15. l. 27. r. stretch. p. 16. l. 33. r. the Tempests. p. 19 l. 15. r. their starry. p. 24 l. 15. r. Light. l. 18. r. Summer's Solstice. l. 22. r. sees. p. 46. l. 19 r. Fayus. p. 47. last line r. World. p. 49. l. 6. r. preside. p. 51. l. 22. r. Pearl. p. 53. l. 2. r. draws. p. 59 l. 13. r. Cretan. p. 65. l. 31. r. Times. p. 66. l. 17. r. to more. p. 70. l. 16. r. then. p. 75. l. 26. r. which, and marks. p. 76. l. 21. r. which. p. 77. l. 10. r. Twelfth. p. 82. l. 32. r. point. p. 83. l. 6. r. Influence. p. 84. l. 6. read Typheous. l. 16. r. 'tis. p. 86. l. 17. r. the. p. 97. l. 9 r. sells. p. 100 l. 27. r. speeds. p. 104. l. 4. r. unfold. p. 107. l. 23. r. Carr. p. 109. l. 8. r. do equal. p. 110. l. 26. r. site. p. 114. in the margin blot out the Trine. l. 24. r. regularly. p. 116. l. 13. r. longest. p. 119. l. 15. r. she. p. 121. l. 28. r. fails. p. 124. l. 8. r. is.   

Part II.  
PAg. 4. lin. 24. read Marius. p. 8. l. 10. r. enlarge. l. 19 r. Successes. p. 10. l. 18. r. wastes. p. 16. l. 28. r. o'erspread. p. 17. l. 2. r. in a Disguise. p. 26. l. 3. r. averse. p. 31. l. 2. r. stood. p. 32. l. 7. r. which. p. 33. l. 21. r. manly, l. 28. r. flats. p. 39 l. 7. r. Pairs. p. 55. l. 9 r. Carr. l. 30. r. Cars. p. 59 l. 6. r. makes. p. 67. l. 18. r. growing. p. 70. l. 18. r. kiss. p. 72. l. 33. r. who. p. 83. l. 22. r. nor.