Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Are then the Sybils dead? what is become
Of the loud Oracles? are the Agures dumb?
Live not the Magi that so oft reveal'd
Natures intents? his Gipsisme quite repeal'd?
In Fryar Bacon nothing but a name?
Or is all Witchcraft brain'd with Doctor Lamb?
Does not the learned Bungies soul inherit?
Has Madam Davers dispossest her spirit?
Or will the VVelchmen give me leave to say
There is no faith in Merlin? none though they
Daresware each letter Creed, and pawn their blood
He prophesied an age before the flood
Of holy Deo, which was as some have said,
Ten generations ere the Ark was made.

All your perdictions, but impostures are,
And you but prophecy of things that were.

And you Cœlestial juglars that pretend
You are acquainted with the stars, and send
Your spyes to search what's done in every sphear,
Keeping your State-intelligencers there;
Your art is all deceit, for now I see
Against the Rules of deep Astrology,
Girls may be got when Mars his power doth vaunt,
And Boyes when Venus is Predominant.
Nor doth the Moon though moist and cold she be
Alwayes at full, work to produce the she:
Had this been true I had foretold no lye,
It was the Art was in the wrong, not I.
Thence I so dully err'd in my belief,
As to mistake an Adam for an Eve:
O grosse mistake, and in the civill pleas
Error personæ, Master Doctor saies,
And may admit divorce, but farwell now
You hungry star-fed Tribe, henceforth I vow
Talmud, Albumazar, and Ptolomie,
VVith Erra Pater shall no Gospel be.
Nor will I ever after this! swear
Through Dice upon the shepherds Calender.
But why do I t'excuse my ignorance
Lay blame upon the Art? no, no, perchance
I have lost all my skill, for well I know
My Physiognomy two years ago
By the small Pox was mar'd, and it may be
A fingers losse hath spoild my Palmistry.

But why should I a grosse mistake confesse?
No, I am confident I did but guesse
The very truth; it was a male-childe then,

But Aunt you staid till 'twas a wench agen.
To see th'unconstancy of humane things,
How little time great Alteration brings!
All things are subject unto change we know,
And if all things, then why not sexes too?
Teresias we read a man was born
Yet after did into a woman turn,
Lovinus a Physitian of great fame,
Reports that one at Paris did the same.
And devout Papists say certain it is,
One of their Popes by Metamorphosis
Indur'd the same, else how could Ioan be heir
To the succession of Saint Peters Chair.

So I at Chairing Crosse have beheld one
A Statue cut out of the Parian stone
To figure great Alcides: which when well
The Artist saw it was not like to sell,
He takes his Chizell, and away he pares
Part of his sinewy neck; shaving the haires
Of his rough beard and face, smoothing the brow
And making that look amorous, which but now
Stood wrinkled with his anger; from his head
He poles the shaggy locks, and had o're spread
His brawny shoulders with a fleece of haire,
And works instead more gentle tresses there;
And thus his skill exactly to expresse,
Soon makes a Venus of an Hercules.
And can it then impossible appear,
That such a change as this might happen here.
For this cause therefore (gentle Aunt) I pray
Blame not my Prophecy, but your delay.

But this will not excuse me; that I may
Directly clear my self, there is no way

Unlesse the Jesuites will to me impart
The secret depth of their mysterious art.
Who from their halting Patriot learn to frame
A Crutch for every word that fals out lame.
That can the subtile difference descry
Betwixt æquivocation and a lye.
And a rare scape by sly distinction finde
To swear the Tongue, and yet not swear the minde.
Now arm'd with Arguments I nothing dread,
But my own cause thus confidently plead.

I said there was a boy within your womb,
Not actually, but one in time to come.
Or by Antiphrasis my words might be
That ever understands the contrary:
Or when I said you should a man-childe bear,
You understood me of the sex I fear,
When I did mean the minde; and thus define
A woman but of spirit masculine.
Or had I said it should a girl have been
And it had prov'd a boy, you should have seen
Me solve it thus; I meant a boy by fate
But one that would have been effeminate.
Or thus I had my just excuse begun,
I said my Aunt would surely bring a son
If not a daughter; what we seers foresee
Is certain truth, unlesse it falshood be.
Or I affirm because she brought forth one
That will bring boyes, she hath brought forth a son:
For do not we call Father Adam thus,
Because that he got those that have got us.
VVhatere I said by simple Affirmation,
I meant the right by mental reservation.