The five books of Mr. Manilius containing a system of the ancient astronomy and astrology : together with the philosophy of the Stoicks / done into English verse with notes by Mr. Tho. Creech.

MANILIUS. The Fourth Book. (Book 4)

After a short Reflection on the vain Cares of Mankind, he brings several Arguments to prove Fate: 1. Several unaccountable pas∣sages in the Roman and Grecian Histories: 2. Sudden Death, and unexpected Recove∣ries, contrary to all the powers of Art and Physick: 3. The difference between the Children of the same Parents: 4. The few∣ness 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. Prophesy: And then endeavours, 8. to take off some Objections that might be rationally propos'd against this Doctrin: Then. 9. He shews what Tempers and Inclinations the twelve Signs singly consider'd do bestow, and to what Arts they incline: 10. Vnder the Ram, are born all sorts of workers in Wool, Broakers, Men of unsetled Fortunes, fearful, inconstant, and covetous of Praise: 11. Vn∣der

the Bull, Plowmen, Aspiring, Reserv'd, Strong, and Amorous: 12. Vnder the Twins, Musicians, Songsters, Men of merry Tem∣pers, and Astronomers: 13. Vnder the Crab, Covetous Fellows and Vsurers: 14. Vn∣der the Lion, Hunters, Beast-keepers, Plain, Open-hearted, easily provok'd, and easily appeas'd: Vnder the Maid, Philoso∣phers, Orators, Notaries, shamefac'd and indifferently good: 16. Vnder the Scales, Measurers, Gagers, Accountants, Lawgivers, Lawyers, and Judges: 17. Vnder the Scor∣pion, Hunters, Gladiators, Men of War∣like and Military Dispositions: 18. Vnder Sagittarius, Chariot-Racers, Horse-breakers, Tamers of Wild Beasts, Men of acute Vn∣derstandings, and strong and nimble Bodies: 19. Vnder the Goat, Miners, Coyners, Gold∣smiths, Bakers, Broakers, Inconstant and Lascivious in their Youth: 20. Vnder Aqua∣rius, Men skill'd in making Aqueducts, and Water-works, and Spheres, and Globes, tracta∣ble and prodigal: 21. Vnder Pisces, Ma∣riners, 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, tho the Task seems to grow upon him, and to be

very difficult, because 'tis a Noble Study, and the Object truly great: 24. He shews 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 diffe∣rent 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 shews what Signs are call'd Eccliptick, and why: 28. He propo∣seth such Objections as are made to deter Men from this curious search, and answereth them.

WHy should our Time run out in useless years,* 1.1 Of anxious Troubles and torment∣ing Fears? Why should deluding Hopes disturb our ease, Vain to pursue, yet eager to possess? With no Success, and no Advantage crown'd, Why should we still tread on th' unfinisht Round? Grown gray in Cares, pursue the senseless strife, And seeking how to Live, consume a Life? The more we have, the meaner is our Store; The unenjoying craving Wretch is Poor: But Heaven is kind, with bounteous Hand it grants A fit supply for Nature's sober wants: She asks not much, yet Men press blindly on, And heap up more, to be the more undone: By Luxury, they Rapine's Force maintain, What that scrapes up, flows out in Luxury again;

And to be squander'd, or to raise debate, Is the great only use of an Estate. Vain Man forbear, of Cares, unload thy Mind, Forget thy Hopes, and give thy Fears to Wind; For Fate rules all, its stubborn Laws must sway The lower World, and Man confin'd obey. As we are Born we Dye, our Lots are cast, And our first Hour disposeth of our last. Then as the influence of the Stars ordains, To Empires Kings are doom'd, and Slaves to Chains. Then Poverty, that common Fate comes down, (Few Stars are Regal, and design a Crown) What make a Wit, a Knave, a Saint, or Dunce, Are hudled then together, and fixt at once. The Ills that are ordain'd we must endure, From not Decreed how fatally secure? Prayers are too weak to check fixt Destinies, And Vows too slow to catch the Fate that flies. Whether with Glory rais'd, or clogg'd with Scorn, The State, that then is setled, must be born. For did not Fate preside,* 1.2 and Fortune lead, Had parting Flames the good ¹ Aenaeas fled? Had Troy's sunk Fortune been sustain'd by ² one? And only Conquer'd then, when overthrown? And did not Stars the rise of States dispose, Had mighty Rome from such beginnings rose? Had 3 Shepherds built, or Swains without controul Advanc'd their 4 Cottage to a Capitol? Plac'd on whose heights, our Caesars now survey The lower Earth, and see the World obey? From their 5 burnt Nest, had Conquering Eagles flown, And the World yielded to a ruin'd Town?

Had Jove been storm'd; or ⁶ Mutius safe return'd From baffled Flames, or vanquish'd whilst he burn'd? Our Towns and Bridges guard, had ⁶ Cocles stood, Or the weak ⁶ Virgin swam rough Tiber's Flood? Had one ⁶ Horatius our sunk hopes restor'd, Or Three have fall'n beneath a single Sword? O Glorious Victory! what Arms before, E're won so much, none ever fought for more; Rome and her hopes of Empire hung on One, His o're matcht Lot was Hers, a Yoke or Throne. Why should I ⁸ Cannae's bloody Plains relate, And Africk's Ensigns threatning at our Gate, How Thrasymene Drown'd Flaminius's Shame, And after Fabius, wise Retreats o'recame, The Conquer'd Carthage shone with Roman flame? How Hannibal on the Campanian Plains, Rome's Terror once, then destin'd to our Chains; Whilst waiting on his Proud Bithynian Lord, Stole a base Death, and scap't our Nobler Sword? But turn and view the 9 Civil Wars of Rome, There opens wide a various Scene of Doom: See Marcus ride with Cimbrian Lawrels Crown'd, Then in the Dungeon stretcht upon the groun'd; Now Slave, now Consul, Consul, Slave again, His Curule Chair, succeeded by a Chain; Now a mean Ruin on the Lybian Sands Despis'd he lies, and streight the World Com∣mands; Like Thunder from low Earth exhal'd, he rose From the Minturnian Pools, And scatter'd Vengeance on his haughty Foes.

These wondrous Changes Fate and Stars advance, O mighty turns, and much too great for Chance! Who ¹⁰ Pompey could (that saw thy Conque∣ring Fleet Regain the Seas, and Kings beneath thy Feet, Proud Pontus yield, fierce Tyrants make thy Train, And crowding Monarchs beg thy leave to Reign, That saw Victorious Lawrels Crown thy Head, And Worlds in thy repeated Triumphs lead; And all that Glory which thy Sword had won, Fixt and supported by as great a ¹¹ Son) Have thought that Thou, upon a Foreign Sand, Should'st steal a Burial from a common Hand; That shatter'd Planks, the Sea's dishonest spoil Should hiz beneath thy Trunk, and be thy Pile? That Thou, the mighty Thou, should'st want an Urn, What Power, but Fate, could work so strange a turn? E'en ¹² Caesar sprung from Heaven, and now a Star, Tho' midst the dangers of the Civil War, Secure He stood, and careless of Repose, Was ne're surpriz'd by his most watchful Foes; Yet Crown'd with Peace, in all his Pomp and State He fell a Victim to o're-ruling Fate: No dark suspitions, but bright hints were brought, He knew what Cassius spoke, and Brutus thought; How far advanc'd, how far they meant to go, And saw the minute of the fatal Blow: Yet dark Oblivion did his Memory blot, He all his warnings, and Himself forgot; And in the Senate, whilst his Right Hand held The faithful Bill, which all the Plot reveal'd; To prove that Fate will sway, and Stars controul, He fell, and with his Blood defac'd the Scroul:

O mighty power of Fate, and prov'd too well! The Best, the Wisest, and the Greatest fell. Why should I mention Kings 13 and Empires falls, Shew Conquering 13 Cyrus on the Sardian Walls? Or Croesus shrinking at the rising Flame? Or 13 Priam's Trunk, a thing without a Name? Unhappy Prince! the Beasts and Vultur's spoil, His Troy was burnt, but Priam wants a Pile. The Wreck of 13 Xerxes, who wou'd scourge the Gods, A Wreck, much greater than the threatned Floods? Or 13 Tullus's Reign, who by the power of Fate, Was born a Slave, yet Rul'd the Roman State? Or shew 13 Metellus snatch the Vestal Fire, And as he pass'd, prophaner Flames retire? How oft do suddain Deaths the Healthy seize,* 1.3 Without the formal warning of Disease? And yet how often from the Piles retire, E'en 14 fly themselves, and wander thro' the Fire? Thus some have from their Graves return'd, and known Two Lives, whilst others, scarce enjoy but One. A small Disease destroys, whilst greater spare, Good Methods fail, and Men are lost by Care. Some temperate Diet, with Diseases fills, And Poyson's Innocent, when Physick Kills. Some Children prove a mean degenerate Race,* 1.4 Some shew their Father's Mind, as well as Face; In One, their Vertue, and their Fortune rise To greater height, and in Another dyes. One 15 mad in Love, to Troy will carry War, Or swim the Flood, and view the Torch from far, The Other is determin'd to the Bar.

A Son his Father, Father kills the Son On mutual Wounds two headlong Brothers run; These Combats prove the force of ruling Powers, For they are too unnatural to be Ours. That every Age no new Camilli's breath,* 1.5 The ¹⁶ Decij dye, 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 brib'd by Wealth, enlarg'd the Rich with more; There Riches lose their force, the shining Years Of glorious Tyrants must be turn'd in Tears; They dig a Grave for Kings, and fix the Day; How great must be that Power which Crowns obey! Successless Vertue sinks whilst Vice prevails,* 1.6 And Folly wins the Prize when Prudence fails: He argues ill that from the Fortune draws The goodness or the badness of a Cause: Success or Merit do not always Crown, Midst good and bad Men they are blindly thrown, Without Respect, sixt fatally on One. For some superior Power's impetuous force Marks out our way, and still directs the Course; The Years that we must run, the length, the pace, And all the various turnings of the Race. Besides,* 1.7 what Monstrous Births, the Nurses fear And Mother's shame, half Man, half Beast appear? Such wondrous Creatures ne're from Seed began, For what hath Beast that's common to a Man? And what mean Soul would with his Lust comply, And Sin on purpose for a Prodigy? No; Stars dispose, they Counterfeit a Rape, And mix a Monster of amazing shape.

Besides,* 1.8 were not Events by Fates enrol'd, How can their certain Order be foretold? How can the Prophets Sing of future Doom, And in the present read the Age to come? To this there's one Objection;* 1.9 Fate denies Rewards to Vertue, and must plead for Vice: Absurd; for who less hates a Poysonous Weed Because 'tis bred from Necessary Seed? Or who loves Corn the less; who hates the Vine. Because by Nature rais'd, and not Design? Thus Virtuous Minds deserve the greater Love, Since Heaven consents, and all the Stars approve; And we should hate those more whom Fates have sent To commit Crimes and suffer Punishment; For how, or whence these noxious faults begin No matter, since each is certainly a Sin. Nay this Opinion's settled by Debate, 'Tis Fate that we should thus dispute of Fate. This settled,* 1.10 I must now attempt to climb Celestial steps, and run the Round of Time, The Zodiack travel, go through every Sign, Their Powers rehearse, and sing how all incline. First Aries shines,* 1.11 and as he oft doth lose His Fleece, and then as frequently renews, 'Twixt sudden Ruin, and a fair Estate He fixes the variety of Fate; He gets, then loseth, then returns to Gain, Then Loss steals in, and empties all his pain; He rears new Lambs, he doth encrease the Fold, And makes the Rams to shine in native Gold; Betters the Wool, and whilst the Subject grows He forms Mens Minds to use what he bestows; To Pick, to Card, to Spin, and Weave, to deal In Cloath with gain; to Buy, Exchange, and sell:

All useful Arts, whose constant Works supply Mens real Wants, not only Luxury: This ¹⁷ Pallas owns, nor doth disdain to claim Arachne's conquest as her greatest Fame. These are the manners, these the various Arts Which Aries Rays, and secret force imparts; To anxious fears he troubled Minds betrays And strong Desires to venture all for Praise. Dull Honest Plowmen to manure the Field Strong Taurus bears,* 1.12 by him the Grounds are till'd: No gaudy things he breeds, no Prize for worth, But Blesseth Earth, and brings her Labour forth: He takes the Yoke, nor doth the Plough disdain, And teacheth Farmers to manure the Plain: He's their Example, when he bears the Sun In his bright Horns, the noble toyl's begun: The useful Plowshare he retrieves from Rust, Nor lies at ease, and wants his strength in Dust. To him the ¹⁸ Curij, and to him we owe The brave Serrani, he i'th' Fields did Rods bestow, And sent a great Dictator from his Plow. Reserv'd, aspiring Minds, Limbs slow to move But strong in Bulk his powerful Rays improve, And on his ¹⁹ Curled Front sits wanton Love. Soft Gemini to easier Arts incline For softer Studies fit an Infant Sign.* 1.13 They tune rough Words, or they incline to Sing, To stop the Pipe, or strike the speaking String; Through Reeds they blow the Natural Sound in Measure, Gay their delight, and e'en their Pains are Pleasure; Wars they avoid, Old Age they chace with Song, And when late Death o'retakes them they are Young.

Sometimes to Heaven they mount, and trace the Stars, Then fix in Globes, or turn the Signs in Spheres: Their Wit reigns o're their Nature, and refines Its Powers; This is the Influence of the Twins. But glowing Cancer (where the Summer Sun With fiery Chariots bounds the Torrid Zone,* 1.14 Drives fiercely up, then with a bending Rein Sinks down, and runs in lower Rounds again.) As close in's Shell he lies, affords his Aid To greedy Merchants, and inclines to Trade: His Births shall sail, through Seas and Dangers tost To reap the Riches of a Foreign Coast. What thrifty Nature hath but thinly sown In Many Countries, they shall bring to One; Intent on gain ne're heed the Poors complaint But thrive on Scarcity, and live on Want: For Wealth undaunted gather every Wind, Out-sail good Fame, and leave Repute behind, And when their greedy Hands have seiz'd the Store Of this, search other Worlds, and seek for more. Or else at home prove griping Vsurers, Complaining at the slowness of the Years, Wish swifter Suns, and set too vast a rate On Time it self, to raise a quick Estate: Their Bodies shall be Strong, inur'd to Pain, Their Wits Contriving, and intent on gain: What Inclinations Leo's Rays dispense Is quickly known,* 1.15 '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're his Prey.

Hence he inclines Mens Minds to Hunt, and fills Our Nobles spacious Halls with grinning spoyls; There Skins and Horns do spread a dismal grace, And stand as certain Heraulds of their Race; This Beast was mine, and that my Father's Game, They cry, these are the Annals of their Fame: That generous Youth which France and Spain did fear Now prove the Humble Terror of a Deer. Nay some in ²⁰ Towns pursue this wild delight, There barbarous grow, and breed up Beasts to fight; Then bring them out for sight in Theaters, And feast their Luxury with Bruitish Wars; Cruel in Sport: Their Posts are grac't with Spoyl, And they get shameful Honour without Toyl: He makes Men warm, their Passions quickly rais'd, Like Boys soon angry, and as soon appeas'd: But Plain and Honest all their Thoughts sincere; Pure as the Sun, and like the Water clear. But modest Virgo's Rays give polisht parts,* 1.16 And fill Mens Breasts with Honesty and Arts; No tricks for Gain, nor love of Wealth dispense, But piercing Thoughts, and winning Eloquence; With words persuasive, and with Rhetorick strong They rule, and are e'en Monarchs by their Tongue. Through Nature's Secrets too, they boldly press, Tho' deeply hid, and meet a just success; In Short-Hand skill'd, where little Marks comprise, Whole words, a Sentence in a Letter lies; And whilst Obedient hands their Aid afford, Prevent the Tongue, and Fix the falling Word. But bashful Modesty, casts down their Eyes, The best of Vices, yet 'tis still a Vice, Because it stifles, checks, or nips like Frost A blooming Vertue, and the Fruit is lost.

Besides, though strange such Influence should come From Virgo's Rays, she gives a fruitful Womb. Libra,* 1.17 whose Scales, when Autumn turns the Signs, And ruddy Bacchus treads the juicy Vines; In equal Balance, poize the Night and Day, Teach how to measure, and instruct to weigh: And Rival ²¹ Palamed, (who Numbers found, And into Letters fram'd unpolisht sound; To Him the Art of Words, and Speech we owe, Till then Men only Spoak, 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 de∣clare, His private Chamber, still shall be the Bar. What He determines, that for Right shall stand, As Justice weigh'd her Balance in his Hand. This Rul'd at ²² Servius's Birth, who first did give Our Laws a Being, rather than Revive; The Tables seem'd Old, Reverend Senseless Lines, Meer waxen Things, and fit to serve Designs, As Fools mistook, or Crafty Knaves would draw; Till He infus'd a Soul, and made them Law. Bright Scorpio Arm'd,* 1.18 with poys'nous Tail prepares, Mens Martial Minds, for Violence and Wars; His Venom heats, and boyls their Bloods to Rage, And Rapine spreads o're 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 e'en in Peace they fiercely trace the Wood,

O're Forests range, and every Plain infest, 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 Publick 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,* 1.19 They break the Horse, and tame the fiery Steeds; They love the sounding Whip, the Race, the Rein, And whirl the Chariot o're the dusty Plain: Nor is their Humor to the Fields confin'd, They range the Woods, and tame the Savage Kind; Young Bears they break, and Tygers heats asswage, And hear Young Lions roaring without Rage. Discourse the ²³ Elephant, and Teach the Mass A mimick 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 exprest, The Man is uppermost, and rules the Beast; His Bow full drawn implies, his Rays impart, Strength to the Limbs, and Vigor to the Heart. Quick active Motions, full of warmth and heat, Still pressing on, unknowing to retreat. But Sacred Vesta guards thy fatal Fire,* 1.20 And thence 'tis guess'd, what Minds thy Rays inspire, Contracted Goat; by thee that Art's infus'd, Which Fire assists, and where a Flame is us'd; 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 easie Mass: By thee, the Ovens heat, and Baths acquire, And Happy ²⁴ Chymists blow enriching Fire: Thy Cold (for thou o're Winter Signs dost reign, Pull'st 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,* 1.21 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 Engins 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 oblig'd shall owe Spheres, Cycles, Orbs, and turn new Skies below. Soft, easie Tempers, loving Coin for use, Not sorbid, but inclin'd to be profuse; Not pincht, nor yet too swelling in Estate; Thus flows the Vrn, and fixes this for Fate. Last double Pisces,* 1.22 from their shining scale, Spread watry influence, and incline to Sail;

To trust their Lives to Seas, to plow the Deep, To make fit Rigging, or to build a Ship. In short, what e're can for a Fleet be fram'd, A thousand Arts, too numerous to be nam'd. 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 stain 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,* 1.23 these Powers they singly own, And these would give if they could work alone. But none rules All its own degrees, they joyn 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 hide her Gloomy Head, So many are the little Niceties, So intricate, and puzling are the Skies, Not easie 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 shew the nearest way; I'll Sing what League the different Parts combines, And shew how others Rule in other Signs. For instance,* 1.24 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 temper'd by his Lords. Thus lies the Ram,* 1.25 next view the threatning Bull, His case is different, he hath none to Rule: For in his First Ten Parts the Crab's obey'd, 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,* 1.26 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,* 1.27 as in the Goat he sways, Resigns his first third Portion to His Rays:

For when he bears the Sun oppos'd 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 Vrn with watry Beams O're-flows, and Pisces rule in the Extreams. The Lion minds his Partner in the Trine,* 1.28 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 chiefly Honour'd by the Maid,* 1.29 The first place his, and there his Sway's obey'd; The next is Leo's, and the last her own, She Rules unenvy'd in her petty Throne. The Ram's Example Libra takes,* 1.30 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 her self, next Scorpio's plac't, And Sagittarius Lords it o're the last: In Scorpio's first Degrees the Goat presides,* 1.31 Next Young Aquarius pours his flowing Tides; Next Pisces Rules, for they in Waves delight, The Flood pursue, and claim an easie Right. The grateful Goat doth Cancer's Gift repay,* 1.32 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,* 1.33 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,* 1.34 and sheds a watry 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 consider'd well thy Mind prepares To know the secret guidance of the Stars;* 1.35 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 shew, 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 easie 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 Chiefly Rules, yet others joyn 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 Cloathing, 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 gage, Nor Poys'nous 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 joyn, and these mixt Signs bestow Mixt Inclinations on the Births below: A subtle and surprizing Task is shown,* 1.36 Much have I past, 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 trie To climb, and view the inside of the Sky; Confin'd 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 level'd, and the Mines descend Through Earth's deep Center; 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 Plow: In War no Danger's shun'd, we fight for Spoyl, E'en lazy Luxury leads us on to Toyl; For Food•• and Cloaths 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 injoyment 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 thy self, The Price is Man: Thus Fate's dispos'd,* 1.37 but yet the Work's not done; For though the Powers of all the Signs are known, And how they joyn, how each rules every part, The Skill is small, and incompleat 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 controul, 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 mixt 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 gain'd. Now Streams through Plains in smooth Meanders play, Then Roar o're Rocks, and force a rugged way. Such Inequality above appears, And thus the Sky is vary'd in the Stars; As Sign from Sign, so from it self 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're-rule, no Joys shall know Or little Pleasure over-mixt with Woe. These parts,* 1.38 if such can be to Verse confin'd, 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 fashion'd by a Muse. And that, though labor'd, Line must bald appear That brings ungrateful Musick 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 feign'd, but as they are. It is enough the God is barely shewn, Rich in himself he shines, and great alone: Nor should the World be so to Words betray'd As to be thought ennobled by their Aid: This spurs me on, and I forget my Ease, The World must be oblig'd, and I must please; I must, if plainly I these parts comprise; Then learn the noxious portions of the Skies. The Fourth,* 1.39 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 Extreams. The Bull's Ninth portion,* 1.40 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 joyn The Seventeenth part as noxious in this Sign, Nor is the Thirtieth better than the Rest. The Twins First part doth hurtful Rays dispense,* 1.41 Nor doth their Childhood prove their Innocence; They're froward, pettish, and unus'd 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,* 1.42 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're the Birth, and stamps the easie Clay. The flaming Lion in the First we fear,* 1.43 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 Curst, The Thirtieth too as noxious as the First. The First,* 1.44 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 shew a better Face. Next view the Scales,* 1.45 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,* 1.46 Third, Sixth, and Tenth black Scor∣pio's Claws And in the Fifteenth make Malignant Laws; The Twenty Second, Eighth, Fifth, and Ninth betray His poys'nous Rage in an unhappy Ray: Would Fate allow thee choice,* 1.47 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,* 1.48 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,* 1.49 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 Vrn, and spread unlucky Beams. The Fishes close the Signs,* 1.50 their parts confest As noxious, and as guilty as the Rest; For Three, Five, Seven, or Ten when joyn'd with Seven, Or One, mark hurtful Portions of the Heaven. Five multiply'd by Five is hardly clear'd, And Seven to Twenty added 's to be fear'd: All these are noxious Portions of the Sky, Too Hot, or Cold, or else too Moist, or Dry. This known,* 1.51 the Work is not compleatly 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,* 1.52 and proudly turns His bending backward Neck before his Horns

To Mortal Eyes, the wretched Births are Curst With Ravenous Tempers, and inflam'd with Lust: All Modesty shall be to Gold betray'd, Nor Parents Care secure the easie Maid: These Tempers are his own; as Fancy leads He roves, and wantons o're the flowry Meads: Forward to push, and as the Grass renews His wasted Strength, he Courts the willing Ews. To Travel he inclines through Lands unknown, He Ploughs new Seas, and makes the World his own: This he prefigur'd when his Back convey'd Young Phryxus safe, and lost the falling Maid. The Bulls bright part that first appears,* 1.53 creates Vile Pathicks scandals to the other Fates. The Cause, if it be fit to search for one When Nature works, may easily be shewn; His Back-part first appears, in that he bears The narrow Cloudy Train of Female Stars: And thus the Posture, and the Sex combine To shew the Influence of the rising Sign: He bends to Plow, and o're the Fruitful Plains The Labouring Ox grows Fat upon his Pains. But when their Feet the rising Twins do shew,* 1.54 And half appear above, half lye below, The Births are happy, all their Parts refind, And Arts enrich the Treasures of their Mind; Ready their Wit, persuasive is their Tongue, In Musick skill'd, and excellent in Song: These are the Powers their rising Rays dispense, They Wit bestow, and fix that Wit with Sense. When rouling Cancer riseth vaild in Clouds,* 1.55 I'th' Skies as deeply hid as in the Floods,

The Moon resembling when depriv'd of Light; The Births are Blind, and wish in vain for sight: By Fates a Verse condemn'd to double Death, Dead whilst Alive, and Buryed whilst they breath: But when the Lion shews his ravenous Jaws Prepar'd for Rapine,* 1.56 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 fill'd: And whilst his Appetite proceeds to crave He eats his Funeral, and he spends his Grave. When Virgo rises,* 1.57 (who whilst Right prevail'd Rul'd here below, retreating when it fail'd) To awful Honors all the Births must rise Profoundly skill'd in Sacred Mysteries: Good, Pious, Just, Devout, unus'd to Rage And great Examples to the looser Age: But when Autumnal Scales do first appear Happy the Birth,* 1.58 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,* 1.59 but Scorpio's Tayl displays A double Influence from his Forked Rays; For when that first appears, tho Peaceful Child Shall Cities Raise, and be inclin'd to build; The World shall see him with his ²⁸ Plow surround The place design'd, and mark the fatal Bound;

Or he shall wast what others Pains did raise, Where Populous Cities stood, there Beasts shall graze, Or Harvests grow; He leads to these Extreams, And Power agreeing waits upon his Beams. Bold Sagittarius,* 1.60 when he first appears, Heats the gay Birth, and makes him fam'd for Wars; In Triumphs great, the Wonder of the Crowd, By Captives carry'd, 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 wreath'd with Frowns) Shall wast his Fame, and blast his gather'd Crowns. Thus Conquering Hannibal, by this Sign betray'd Before his slight perceiv'd his Wreaths to f••de, He paid for Trebia's and for Cannae's fame, And recompenc'd our Losses by his shame. But when the narrow Goat erects his Tail He drives to Sea,* 1.61 and much inclines to Sail, Ignoble Trade then Ploughs the dangerous Main, And precious Life is meanly stak'd for Gain. The Good, the Pious, and the Just are born When first Aquarius pours out his Vrn.* 1.62 But could I rule,* 1.63 could I the Fates design, The rising Fishes ne're should govern mine; They give a Hateful, Pratling, Railing Tongue, Still full of Venom, always in the wrong; That blows up Jealousies, and heightens Fears, By mutterring Poys'nous Whispers in Mens 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;

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Fair Venus fled, and in a Fish's shape (This Syria knows) secur'd her mean escape; Then did she through the Scaly Kind inspire New Heats, and with the Ocean mixt her Fire. No single Births, for when this Sign begins, Twins shall be Born, or those that shall have Twins. Now learn what Signs o're different Lands controle, But first take this short figure of the whole: East,* 1.64 West, and North, and South, on either side, These Quarters lie oppos'd, the World divide: As many Winds from these four Quarters flie, And fight and rattle, thro' 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,* 1.65 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,* 1.66 Doth on the Right Hand wash the swarthy Moors; And Lybia's Sands, where once great Carthage stood, Then o're the Syrtes 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; Loos'd from these Streights, the Flouds 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 Gulph; 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 tost The Sea confines the Learn'd Achaia's Coast: Thence North and Eastward the unwilling Flood Consin'd by Streights, and stain'd with Helle's Blood To fam'd Byzantium cuts its winding way, And joyns 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 Parcht Syria's Plains, and the Cilician Seats, Till he at last to Egypt turns his Oars And sees the Waves dye 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;* 1.67 Shap'd like a Foot the low Sardinia lies

Near Lybia's shores; Trina••rid fill'd 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, Fam'd 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're the Main. Ten thousand smaller Rocks the Waves disperse, Too little to be nam'd, too mean for Verse. Nor doth the Ocean but one single way Attempt the Earth,* 1.68 and force an open Bay, It tries on every side, but Mountains bound Insulting Billows, and preserve the Ground; For 'twixt the Summer East and Northern Pole Through narrow Channels secret Waters roul, Till spread at last upon the open Plain They make the Caspian like the Euxine Main. Southward encroaching Waters doubly press,* 1.69 O'reflow 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,* 1.70 and pleasing Odor sweats, Which sends us Gums soft Luxury to please, And reconcile the angry Deities: Strange that the same, when differently apply'd, Should calm the Rage of Heaven, and serve our Pride. This Bay is call'd th' Arabian Gulph, the Name The Country gives it, and 'tis great in Fame.

Thus lie the Seas;* 1.71 Earth midst this mighty Flood Contains, first Africk, where proud Carthage good; Once great in Arms, and whose extended sway O're Libya stretcht, and made the Spains obey: When Hannibal wrapt Alban Towns in flame, And eterniz'd the bloody Trebia's Name; When led by Fate he March'd to overcome, And pour'd his swarthy Libya upon Rome: When gasping Consuls groan'd on every Plain, And Canna's Fields were burd'ned with the slain. Here Nature angry with Mankind prepares Strange Monsters, Instruments 30 of future Wars; Here Snakes, those Cells of Poyson, take their Birth, Those living Crimes and grievance of the Earth; Fruitful in its own Plagues, the Desart shore Hears Elephants, and frightful Lions roar; Serious it seems in all these Monstrous shapes, But sports in the lewd Limbs of Mimick Apes. The Country's large, the Barren Plains extend A mighty space, and then in Egypt end. Thence Asia spreads,* 1.72 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 threatning Mountains rise To awful Hights, and wound the lower Skies; A thousand Nations lie by Tanais flood Which cuts the Scythia's, stain'd with humane blood;

By Lake Meotis, and the Euxine Tide Which Nature sets as bounds to Asia's Pride. Europe remains,* 1.73 which first the Beauteous load Receiv'd, and where the Bull confess'd the God; Hence came its Name, in that the grateful Jove Hath Eterniz'd the Glory of his Love: Here Greece is seen, with Ruin'd Antient Troy, And shew'd 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 Fam'd Thebes, whose Heroes People half the Skies: Epirus, Thessaly, whose lasting Praise One single Pyrrhus, and Achilles raise. To these Illyrium joyns, 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 fam'd, for Battels Spain: But Italy Crowns all, whom Rome hath given Command of Earth, and joyns ³² her self to Heaven: These Bounds the Earth,* 1.74 and these the Seas con∣fine, And God allots to every part a Sign; No Land is free, no stately Town deny'd 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 obey'd 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,* 1.75 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 dy'd: But hotter Climates narrower Frames obtain, And low-built Bodies are the growth of Spain: Hesperia mixeth sweet with many Grace, And temper'd Mars appears in every Face: Whilst active Greece produceth finer parts, Their looks betray their Exercise and Arts: Short Curl'd 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: Less 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. Parcht Lybia burns her Sons, the vilest Shapes She shews, 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 fram'd alike employs, How many Languages confound the Voice? How different Vertues Reign, how different Crimes? Mens Manners are as various as the Climes. Like Trees transplanted by the Farmer's Toyl; Vice turns to Vertue, 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 bedew'd with Myrrha's Tears. Nor is this great variety exprest 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 Countreys pay A due compliance to the Fatal Ray. Plac't midst the pleasing Vernal Signs,* 1.76 the Ram Commands the narrow Streight o're which he swam; When from the Mothers Rage, his Fleece convey'd The Brothers safe, and dropt the falling Maid; Content he swam, and with his Burthen pleas'd, He mourn'd his Loss, and griev'd to be so eas'd: The near Propontis too his Beams obeys, And Syria feels the Influence of his Rays: The loose Garb'd Persians, know his gentle Rule, Their Garments bear Relation to his Wool:

With Nile that swells at Fiery Cancers Beams, And Egypt drown'd by its ore-flowing Streams. Cold Scythia's Rocks; Arabia's wealthy Groves, And powerful Asia,* 1.77 Taurus Empire proves, Rich in their Corn, and wanton in their Loves. The boysterous Euxine,* 1.78 bent like Scythian bows. Beneath the Twins subjection gladly flows, And they of Ganges infant Streams dispose. The swarthy Indians Fiery Cancer sways,* 1.79 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,* 1.80 the Cappadocian Shoar With fierce Armenia, hear the Lion Roar. And Macedon, that all the World subdu'd, Submits to the Great Monarch of the Wood. In happy Rhodes the gentle Maids ador'd,* 1.81 Rhodes, the retirement of our future 34 Lord: Blest Island truly Sacred to the Sun, E're since in thee the Glorious Coesar Shone, The World's great Light, whom with expecting Eyes; Mankind desires, and longs to see him rise. The Dorick Plains, the rich Ionian Towns, Arcadia Rival to the waining Moons: With Warlike Caria high in Antient Fame Owe all Subjection to her modest Flame. What Sign,* 1.82 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 weigh'd, 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 weigh'd By her, and Laws are sent to be obey'd: And as her powerful Favour turns the Poize, 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 Conquer'd Towers,* 1.83 Subject they lie, to Scorpio's Scaly Powers; With Lybia's Sand, and Egypt's fruitful Soil, The slimy ³⁶ Gift of the o're-flowing 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,* 1.84 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 owe, 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 dis∣joyn, Here baffle Nature, and in him combine, Nor would be differenc'd by another Sign. The West,* 1.85 and Northern Parts, rich France and Spain, Contracted Goat, are subject to thy Reign, And Germany, since ³⁷ Varus stain'd thy Shore, A Seat for Beasts, and fit for Man no more:

This monstrous Sign hath variously engrost, (He Rules at Sea and Land) thy doubtful Coast, Now Earth appearing, now in Water lost. But Young Aquarius with his watry Fires,* 1.86 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,* 1.87 and a successful fight The Giants rais'd, and Gods were sav'd by flight; From Snaky Typhon's Arms, a Fishe's shape Sav'd Venus, and secur'd her from a Rape: Euphrates hid her, and from thence his Streams Owe all Obedience to the Fish's Beams. Wide Parthia's Plains confin'd by mighty Rocks, The Nations round, long bent unto its Yokes With Tigris Streams, the Red-Sea's shining Shores Are Subject to the Heavenly Fish's Powers. Thus Earth's divided,* 1.88 these the Signs that sway Its Portions, and the Parts their Beams obey; These Signs the Tempers of their Empires show, The Parts above, directing those below, Their Powers infuse: And thus as Ruling Signs Are now Oppos'd, 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,* 1.89 for Signs Eccliptick claim Thy Care, and learn the Reason of the Name: For some, as weary'd 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 tir'd with Births, the Fields refuse to bear, Now unmanur'd, 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 Com∣mand▪ Neptune extends, and Seas o're-spread the Land, Contemning Shores: Thus were the Towns o're-flow'd 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 fill'd, and drove the Flaming Horse; The Earth took Fire, Heaven saw the Stars recoil, And frighted Nature fear'd one common Pile. So much as Years roul round, the mighty Frame Is chang'd, 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,* 1.90 for when depriv'd of Light, The Moon Ecclipst, lies vail'd in sudden Night;

Whilst hindring 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, fome quickly find relief; Some Languish long, and e're their Mourning's done, The Sun goes round, and all the Year is run. But when their Grief is o're,* 1.91 the next in turn Begin to Languish, and prepare to Mourn; The next in turn, that are in Order plac't On either side, the Two that Languish't 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 dis∣pense, 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,* 1.92 if all refuse The profer'd 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 our selves 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 unvail her Face, Go in, and tread the Order of the Maze? Why should we not employ the Gifts bestow'd 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 Heaven-born Souls affect their Father Skie: 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 Infus'd, 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 shew'd, 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 confin'd to Sense, The easie Works of wary Providence. But since they Reason want, their Tongues are mute, How mean, how low a Creature is a Brute? No Mysteries disclos'd, 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 tam'd, The Fields are forc't to bear, And Recompence the Labours of the Share. In vain the Sea disjoyns the distant Shores, His Sails the Winds command, the Floods his Ores. 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 slaughter'd Beasts rely; And can the Fates be less in Stars exprest, 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 rouling on It shews us all its parts, displays its Light, And constantly intrudes upon our Sight: His Face unvail'd, God doth so plainly shew, 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 encourag'd to behold? Nor think thy force too small, too weak thy Mind Because to Clay unequally confin'd; 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 allow'd To know Heaven's mind, since Man can make a God: A Star ³⁹ new rais'd, the Skie enlarg'd contains, And Heaven must still encrease whilst Caesar Reigns.

The End of the Fourth Book.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Short Re∣flections on the Cares of Men.
• * 1.2

  1. The first Argument for Fate.
• * 1.3

  II. Second Ar∣gument.
• * 1.4

  III. Third Ar∣gument.
• * 1.5

  IV. Fourth Ar∣gument.
• * 1.6

  V. Fifth Ar∣gument.
• * 1.7

  VI. Sixth Ar∣gument.
• * 1.8

  VII. Seventh Argument.
• * 1.9

  VIII. An Objecti∣on an∣swer'd.
• * 1.10

  IX. The Influ∣ence of the Signs.
• * 1.11

  X. Of Aries.
• * 1.12

  XI. Of Taurus.
• * 1.13

  XII. Of Gemi∣ni.
• * 1.14

  XIII. Of Cancer.
• * 1.15

  XIV. Of Leo.
• * 1.16

  XV. Of Virgo.
• * 1.17

  XVI. Of Libra.
• * 1.18

  XVII. Of Scor∣pio.
• * 1.19

  XVIII. Of Sagitta∣rius.
• * 1.20

  XIX. Of Capri∣corn.
• * 1.21

  XX. Of Aqua∣rius.
• * 1.22

  XXI. Of Pisces.
• * 1.23

  XXII. The Tenths and the Lords of the third part of each sign.
• * 1.24

  Of Aries.
• * 1.25

  Of Taurus.
• * 1.26

  Of Gemi∣ni.
• * 1.27

  Of Cancer▪
• * 1.28

  Of Leo.
• * 1.29

  In Cancer.
• * 1.30

  In Libra.
• * 1.31

  In Scor∣pio.
• * 1.32

  In Capri∣corn.
• * 1.33

  In Aqua∣rius.
• * 1.34

  In Pisces.
• * 1.35

  The use∣fulness of this Do∣ctrin of the Lords.
• * 1.36

  XXIII. Encourage∣ments to this Study.
• * 1.37

  XXIV. The Good and Bad Degrees of each Sign.
• * 1.38

  The diffi∣culty of put∣ting this Doctrin in∣to Verse.
• * 1.39

  The hurtful Degrees in Aries.
• * 1.40

  In Taurus.
• * 1.41

  In Gemini.
• * 1.42

  In Cancer.
• * 1.43

  In Leo.
• * 1.44

  In Virgo.
• * 1.45

  In Libra.
• * 1.46

  In Scorpio.
• * 1.47

  In Sagitta∣rius.
• * 1.48

  In Capri∣corn.
• * 1.49

  In Aqua∣rius.
• * 1.50

  In Pisces.
• * 1.51

  XXV. How the Signs Act when they rise.
• * 1.52

  Aries.
• * 1.53

  Taurus.
• * 1.54

  Gemini.
• * 1.55

  Cancer.
• * 1.56

  Leo.
• * 1.57

  Virgo.
• * 1.58

  Libra.
• * 1.59

  Scorpio.
• * 1.60

  Sagittari∣us.
• * 1.61

  Capricor∣nus.
• * 1.62

  Aquarius.
• * 1.63

  Pisces.
• * 1.64

  The winds call'd Car∣dinal.
• * 1.65

  The Collate∣ral winds.
• * 1.66

  The Medi∣terranean Sea and and the se∣veral parts of it.
• * 1.67

  The Islands of the Me∣diter-ane∣an.
• * 1.68

  The Caspi∣an Sea.
• * 1.69

  The Persi∣an Gulph.
• * 1.70

  The Arabi∣an Gulph.
• * 1.71

  Africa.
• * 1.72

  Asia.
• * 1.73

  Europe.
• * 1.74

  What Signs govern each Country.
• * 1.75

  Why diffe∣rent Coun∣treys bear Men of dif∣ferent Shapes and Colours.
• * 1.76

  What Coun∣treys are govern'd by Aries.
• * 1.77

  By Taurus.
• * 1.78

  By Gemi∣ni.
• * 1.79

  By Cancer.
• * 1.80

  By Leo.
• * 1.81

  By Virgo.
• * 1.82

  By Libra.
• * 1.83

  By Scor∣pio.
• * 1.84

  By Sagitta∣rius.
• * 1.85

  By Capri∣cornus.
• * 1.86

  By Aqua∣rius.
• * 1.87

  By Pisces.
• * 1.88

  What Influ∣ence these Signs have in the seve∣veral Coun∣tries subject to their Rule.
• * 1.89

  XXVII. What Signs are Ecclip∣tick.
• * 1.90

  Why call'd Eccliptick.
• * 1.91

  In what Order the Eccliptick succeed one another.
• * 1.92

  XXVIII. This Ar∣tho' diffi∣cult, yet may be ob∣tain'd.