Canidia, or, The witches a rhapsody, in five parts / by R.D.

CANTO XIII.

At Babels Hell confounded Spire, We Giants began first to aspire. I know not how we were derided, And all our Company divided. This spoil'd our Job, that fatal Day, We were all glad to run away. We ne're had the luck thus, Never to know the Hand that struck us.

But in Aegypts famous Land, We were taught better to understand, What belongs to a Command, And how none should dare withstand, What we presume to take in hand.

From thence we did advance to Greece, Where we got the Golden Fleece. Philosophers and Poets woe us, But hang 'um, they long to undo us.

Travelling Sophs came in like Fools, To work Journey-work with our Tools. A flock of Owls staring and hooting, Gave their attendance at our mooting. The young Scholars were our Darlings, We had many pleasant Parlings. They lov'd to see us in our Fits, And we delighted in fresh Wits.

The Moon labouring in Eclipse by us Strumpets, Calls for Cymbals, Drums and Trumpets, Homer's Ballads, Hesiod's Ditties, Were the Inventions of Witches. Bring in the Ashes of a Flower, And bring them back to try your power. Play Tricks by Magick Aspersions, To entail Mischiefs upon Reversions.

Apelles Alexander painted so gay, As made Bucephalus neigh. The Birds peckt Zeuxis's Grapes, but the Boy Did not fright them from that Toy. Parrhasius Curtain of Lawn, Was attempted to be drawn. We rockt and knockt Jove in his Cradle, He made Latona's Eggs Adle.

Idaei Dactyli hug'd in our Arms, Found out the Six Ephesian Charms.

Thence grew the Proverb, as they say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Greeks stole the false Palladium, Aeneas brought the true to Latium. Apuleius, Jannes and Jambres, Apollonius Thyanaeus, came out of our Chambers. Semhamphorash's dark Intentions, Palestine Lots were our Magick Inventions.

King Prusius feared more by half Than Hannibals, the words of a Calf: But Caesar wafted to Africa, Tho all the Augurs did gainsay. Alexander marching to the Red-Sea, Was bid halt, 'cause a Bird stood in his way; But Mosellanus shoots and kills her, saying, She could not save her self by staying.

Plato's Commonwealth was ground by Mice, In Tully's Study, that day that Cateline did Rise. Troy's enduring Ten years Test, Was charg'd on Chalca's Sparrows Nest. To Midas's mouth Ants carried Wheat, From Plato's, Bees suckt Honey meat. I doubt this and that Feat, Were no better than a Cheat.

Varro at Cannae fouly falls, Not celebrating the Circaean Festivals. The German Prophecy disannuls us, By that Neck Verse, Vulpes, Leo, Nullus. Pompey, Julius, Augustus, Tony, Lepidus the idle Chrony. Candidates for Universal Rule, Augustus rid th' Imperial Mule.

Delphos basely Philipiz'd, Sybils Caesar Idoliz'd. He may be Lord, or any thing, But he must not be a King. Caligula swept the way from Rome, And sprinkled it as far Belgium. He marcht with Forty thousand Men, Fetcht Cockle-shells and so came home agen.

We dine at the Philosophers Table, Scorning to be amongst the Rabble. In Muses Chamber we come Into Apollo's Dining-Room. In Plato's Academy we stalk, Zeno's Porch, Aristotles Walk, Ptolomy's Library we scan, And study in the Vatican.

If on a Tree ten thousand Figs, If in Sows belly be ten Pigs. Chalcas and Mopsus could not agree, 'Bout this famous Controversie. Lady Hypasia understood Cartesius, Better than men do Hobs or Amesius. Bacchus, Garagantua's red Noses, Pantagruel's triple Chin discloses.

Pythias sinks into the Cell, Sits brooding t'hatch an answer from Hell. Virgins Menstrua's cannot breed, Without help of the Male Seed. Egyptian Hieroglyphicks we write, Delphos Oracles we endite. We wash the Ethiopian white, Choak the fair Day with black Night.

‘ My Spirit's up, all in a heat, ‘ Ready to bewitch all I meet. ‘ Keep off ye Dogs, ye mungrel Curs, ‘ For fear I make more dismal Stirs. ‘ Fools and Slaves will needs be ridden, ‘ By Rogues and Knaves before they're bidden. ‘ Perhaps sometimes I may relent, ‘ But I can never Repent.

‘ Who dares lay an Embargo, ‘ In any Port, upon my Cargo? Alcaeus was a Giant able, To purge more than the Augaean Stable. Scavengers, Fencers, Fidlers, Dancers, Mimicks, Players, and Romancers. Patching Matchevilian Tinkers, Mummers, Roary Tory Drinkers.

Menippus watches, jeers and winks, Epicurus Hogsty stinks. Each Deipnosophist has his Punk, And murders his Rival Drunk. O Rome, Jove must be Capitoline, Before he be acknowledg'd Thine. And Mars must be Quirival, Or else not own'd for a God at all.

The Monky stroaks the Carved Crown, And calls him pitiful dull Clown. Thyestes Rapes, and monstrous Feast, Declare him a very Beast. Oedipus the Ridler, such another, Fill'd Jocasta his Mother.

Dionysius rob'd Jove of his Robe of Gold, Too hot for Summer, for Winter too cold. The same bold King was not afear'd, To spoil Aesculapius of his Beard. To wear a Beard, a sawcy Son, When his Father had none. Why was Apollo always young? With Lyes, when will Hermes a done?

The Ass, whose wit lies in his Tail, Gives Palm to Cuckow from Nightingale. Issa Bills sweeter than the Dove, Or Venus the Goddess of Love. Issa's more blith than Molls or Cisses, No Pearls can value Issa's Kisses. What Issa's this? 'Tis Publius's Bitch, O she was a Roguish Witch.

A Dog in Ladies Bed hath room, Not forgetting her rank Groom. Publius dallies with his Bitch, Better than with his Laundress Witch. Catullus bills his Sparrow, a poor Trade, Rather than his Boy or Maid. Take heed of eating Turky Cocks, That make men out of love with Smocks.

Who but one troubled with the Brimps, Would pick up Mal Cutpurses Nymphs? If fair Ladies had not been chaste, Joan would not be look'd upon in haste. A Fairy Else in Cradle chang'd, Grows up for a Witch to be hang'd. See you a fawning Saint, look to your Hits, When she gets into her mad Fits.

A demure simpring Saint is naught, The still Sow eats up all the Draught.

Tell us of Fictions and Chimaera's, Aegyptian Epocha's and Aera's. Reckon Solar or Lunar years, Before, or since Adam appears. How Muliters and Grooms Crowded into Imperial Rooms. Draw Lots with Lybians for your Dads, Mothers are sure to Bastard Lads.

Verus Emperor, by a Pleonasmus, Buried honourably his Horse Panasmus. Others clad Saints, by scornful Jests, In Devils, Fools Coats, Skins of Beasts. Is there a Magnetick Sphere? Or a Revolution of Plato's Year? When all in the same shape shall appear, Or is all this but a Jeer?

Apollonius understood the Sparrows Tale, (If you please, o're a Pot of Ale.) To a Flock of Sparrows, That at the Gate An Ass had spill'd a Sack of Wheat. An Elm with Female voice articulate, Welcom'd Apollonius to the Gate, Where Aegyptian Gymnosophists sate. Orpheus taught the Postern Lust, Of Boys or Brutes, Buggery just.

Tell me, you that say 'tis a Tale, How Vulturs breed without a Male? Amphyctione, a Virgin pure,

Before her Husband Aristo knew her, Conceiv'd Plato by Apollo; Who could Divine what would follow? Whether Athens or Rome had the best Laws? Caesar or Pompey the better Cause?

Clazomenes, his Soul made a Sally Out of his Body into a Vally: For a Diversion now and then, To take the Air, and home agen. But for fear he should be too bold, He hasted least it should be cold. Euphorbus the Ivy-thigh and Shouldred-Boy, Wore Plato's Soul at the Wars of Troy. If Nero had the Senate at a Beck, What need he wish them all but one Neck?

‘ After all this, ask me the Reason, why ‘ You think I've told so many a Lye? ‘ I'le answer you by and by, ‘ I don't know when I shall be drawn dry. ‘ When the World's honester and better, ‘ I shall cease to be a Setter. ‘ I'le promise you, when all the Store ‘ Of Rogues are took, I'le hunt no more.

‘ I'm just like others of my kind, ‘ That never any Goddess mind: ‘ And yet I cannot but commend ‘ Vertue, and Vice reprehend. ‘ And howsoe're I seem to rail, ‘ Vertue will hold, and Vice will fail. ‘ And though I Rant it at this rate, ‘ The Truth is, Hell must be our Fate.

‘ Howe're from Goodness we turn Tail, ‘ Honesty will at length prevail.

‘ You may be honest still, ‘ Tho it be against our will. ‘ You may be just, tho we ‘ Desperate resolve to be. ‘ And so at last I Congee make, ‘ And you may better Courses take. ‘ Leave us then, for we're resolv'd ‘ To be damn'd, as long as damning will hold. ‘ Tho you promote Vice in Fact or Letter, ‘ If you love your selves, you will grow better.

‘ After all this you may mend, ‘ But we shall never make good End. ‘ You may take care to bless your selves, ‘ Tho we be ever Cursed Elves. ‘ Thus by us you may be befriended, ‘ Tho you're good, we ne're intended. ‘ So out of Evil, Good may come, ‘ We are past hopes, and know our Doom. ‘ Leave us then, tho we ne're leave you, ‘ All our aim is to deceive you.

‘ You may deceive us, if you can, ‘ And be saved every Man. ‘ So we bid you all, Farewel, ‘ For our Portion is Hell.