Epigrams theological, philosophical, and romantick ::

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

Sheppard, S.

[section]

[dedication]

The Language Of The Frontispeice.

To Mr. Sheppard on His Epigrams.

To the Author on his exquisite Epigrams and other Poems.

To the Author on his Epigrams.

To my much honoured Friend the Author, on his most Excellent Epigrams.

A due Encomium on the Author and his Ingenious Epigrams.

To the Author on his excellent Epigrams.

The SOCRATICK SESSION,

A MAUSOLEAN MONUMENT, ERECTED By a Sorowfull Sonne over His Deceased Parents: With Three Pastorals. Two of them alluding to some Late Proceedings between Parties. By S. Shepard.

To the Reader on the Errors of the Presse.

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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:

118

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.

University of Virginia Library

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