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Epigrams theological, philosophical, and romantick

Six books, also the Socratic Session, or the Arraignment and Conviction, of Julius Scaliger, with other Select Poems. By S. Sheppard

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Epig. 9. A Constellation betwixt bad and good Fortune, for Antiquitie, and Supremacie.
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Epig. 9. A Constellation betwixt bad and good Fortune, for Antiquitie, and Supremacie.

The glorious Senate of the skies was set,
And all the Gods in State,
When Happy-Fortune, and Ill-Fortune met,
Striving for Heaven Gate,
Confusedly as Floods do passe
Their bounds, their enterance was.
The Gods disturb'd admire their strange approach
Censuring their anger by their eyes,
Ill-Fortune was attended by reproach,
Good-Fortune Virtue stellifies:
The Gods divided yet agree,
The Fates should judge their Pedigree:

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Good-Fortune drawes from Heaven her high Descent,
Making Jove roote of her large tree,
Shee shewes from him how many Godheads went
Archangels, Heavens posteritie,
Annexing to her line,
Honour, Virtue, Endlesse time.
Ill-Fortune yet would needs be elder-borne,
[As sprung from Saturn, Joves wrong'd Syre]
And Heaven, and Earth, and Hell, her Armes have worne,
(Bleeding Hearts in a Field of fire)
Just proofe may her great praise commend,
All that Best-Chance begins, Ill-Chance doth end.