Classic Poem

Goe Little Book, and once a week shake hands
With thy Good Reader, whome (by High Commands)
The Stars are made to wayt on dayly, Shew
Futurityes unto him; Bid Him view
Seasons of th' Year, and Tides orderly set
As Higher Influences them beget.
Shew Him how swift his Time is and how He
Should swiftly pace it with the Hierarchy
I' th' Firmament above the Hasting each Day
New ponderous Talents to the world to weigh
Of proffitable Opportunity.
Also foreshew Him seasonably (by
Letters Dominicall) the Holy Day;
That Hee the great Commandment may obey.
This Doe yet look to be [For 'tis thy Fate]
An Almanack the next year out of date.
Reader!
Lend me thy Favour, to initiate
My tender Genius, whilst I calculate
Heavens Motions say not, that each poring Jack
Is (only) fit to make an Almanack:
Gods wond'rous works they are of men below
That in them pleasure have sought out. O know
The Moons Eclipses thay are not too mean
For the Amozian Tables, Nor the scene
Of bright Arcturus course, Nor yet (to these)
The Influences of the Pleiades
Accounted are too low for the Divine:
They therfore well deserve the Harvardine.
Forgive me yet, Good Reader, If that I
The Names impos'd by old Idolatry
On Months and Planets still reteyn; Because
I'm forc't thereto by cruel Customs Laws.
Forbear thy Censure too, though thou mayst find:
Some Aspects Epithets against thy mind.
Theyr dayly Influences to define
Infallibly is far beyond the Line
Of finite Skill; so likewise to deny
Theyr great Dominion, is to defie
The sacred Oracle itself, besides
Each Days Experience in Winds and Tydes:
Theyr Maker made them signs and why I grow
Except to signify; Then man may know
By Observation and Experience:
What 'tis they signify, (In my poor sense)
If None can see what 'tis that these signs shew us
They'l be but insignificant unto us.
Yet think not that I'le give my Affidavit
Each Star shall prove as Ptolemy would have it:
I know the contrary: yet let them stand
Modestly Epitheted to thy hand
By former Ages-Sages, Visiting
A Clime unknown, where if they do not bring
The same Effects that theyr Experience gave,
Through Mounts, Lakes, Seas that do the passage pave
For Winds excited by them; They may be
Exact in other climates, while that wee,
Humbly adoring the Divine Decree
To Nature given, Do observe how far
These Epithets will hold and where they jar.
Observe, or not observe, yet me (pray) damn not
Judicial Astrologer I am not:
That Art falsly call'd I loath, I hate
Both Name and Thing I much abominate.
Harmless Astronomy yet (I confess)
(Wherin my Skill is small, my practise less)
I please my selfe withall, in vacant Houres
Veiwing the Gloryes of th' Aethereal Powrs
On which th' Eternall Powr and Godhead are
To Observation Super-Ocular
Clearly apparent, Here I find the clew
Of Heavenly Manufacture which doth shew
The way unto the Labarynth Divine
Where the Eternall Glory's brightly shine.
In the Aethereall bodyes Mirrours be
Whereat, Good Reader, Wonder still with me.
In Joshuah's Solstice at the Voyce of man
The Rapid sun became Copernican.
Afterward th' Heavenly hand directly made
Sol's Excellency to turn Retrograde.
The Heavenly Soveraign Powr the Charioteer
Made drive apace when Heaven aloft did hear
The Siserean Iron Chariotts rattle
(No fewer then Nine hundred) in the battle
The Stars then also in theyr courses fought
And the Jabinian Army's put to rout.
But to Conclude, Light was before the Sun;
Most Radiant Light shall be when Sol hath done.
But first His Brightness th' shakings sore shall feel,
And the Off-Takings of his Chariot wheel:
Veiwing His Beauteous Queen, all turn'd to Blood
And all his Host drown'd in a fiery flood;
Of th' day Divine the Dawnings hence we date
And hence they that survive may calculate
The Blessed Epicyclar Perigee
Of much Expected long Eternity.
Oh Eighty Six; Thou'rt quickly come about!
This Sheet that brought thee in shall lay thee out.