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ALMANAC VERSE (1679)

March

TH' Imperial Prince of Light shall now arise,
And banish darkness from the Cloudy Skyes,
And having won and worn the Golden Fleece
Will promise unexhausted Springs of Peace:
But yet in's HORNED forehead you may read
That now the Queen of heav'n is Queen indeed,
Who's Face shall screen the Earth fro's scorching Ray,
And so this Equal moneth shall March away.

April

NOw such as all their food to Labour owe
The rugged Earth and Surging Sea must plow:
The Farmer joye's when he (his Labour ended)
With Showrs of Blessing, see's his toile attended,
Fair Winds on Seamen, work the same effect
When to the Hav'n, their course clear Heav'ns direct.
But first i' th' Cloded Earth the Seed must dy,
Or 'twill not to the Ploughman multiply.

May

THe subtil Chymists now begin to act,
Who Quintessential virtues will extract
That so from bitter weeds Sweet may proceed
To serve the Rich mans pleasure, Poor mans need.
Now Freemen in their Liberty rejoyce
Of Choisest men to make a Worthy choice;
The which, who e're are wise or otherwise
This moneth agree with joy to Solemnize.
179

June

OUr Lights one Phenix now doth lightly fall
Into the bosome of his Cardinall:
The Cattled Earth he doth compassionate:
And to her speeds apace in Pompous state:
But seing Saturns Chariot very neer
He cryes adue! and Posts away for fear.
Solsticial Heat's and Cold's each in their time,
Do much distemper this our Temp'rate Clime.

July

THe noble Ships, which the vast Ocean try,
And nothing neer them see, but Sea and Sky,
Now homeward with their Wings advance apace,
And having periodiz'd their restless race:
The Merchants house will fill with plenteous Store,
But Silver Angels onely ope' the dore:
The Sun from th' Lyon now will make retreit
In truth 'twould joy a blind man much to se it.

August

BY Planet's Vote this sound surrounds the Sky,
The Garland giv'n must be to Mercury:
When to the Peerless Sun (who scorners scorn's)
The Dog shalt shew his heels, the Moon her horns:
To all (but Doctours now) the seeds of Woe
May quick be sown, by such sweet fruits as doe
First give th' Inamour'd eye a pleasant taste
And then between the watering teeth are plac't.

September

THe Starry Ballance now doth poized stay,
The Golden Talent of our time to weigh;
Whereof each moments value far surmounts
All Finite numbers and conceiv'd accounts;
He may expect no fruitfull harvest now,
His Springing Seed who did neglect to sowe,
Wheras the Prudent Farmers constant care
Provides enough to spend and some to spare.
180

October

DIana's dwelling Saturn doth possess,
And Jove to Citharea doth no less:
Apollo joynes with Hermes to destroy
And rob poor Venus of her house and joy:
VVhilest that Lucina's Courses do decide
VVhat Changes shall both Winds & Tides betide,
Her head and horns unto the Earth she'l show,
That thirteen Moons unto the doz'n may go.

November

NOW Sol and Venus take their sweet repast
And blust'ring Boreas storm's the world: At last
Joynd with Appolo's foll'wer Mercury
His Edicts Echoe round the spangled sky:
Whose thundring voyse ('though all ye world withstand it)
Will never Court attention, But Command it.
Whose thunder-threats you need not fear or flee,
If Winter-tite your Woollen brestplates bee.

December

NOW he that time's our Time & rules the Light
Doth make our Shortest Day & longest Night,
And in his Antique Mode, his Chariot turn's,
And to our Artick world with Cold return's.
The Fal is fal'n & Winter holds his throne.
Doom's idle hands to Cold: when Such alone
Who Sowe the Seed of Diligence in Time,
Shall Reap Heats harvest in the Coldest Clime.

January

WHite Winter now our loss of heat repairs
With th' New years Guift of clear & healthy Aires.
A cleanly Dish Indeed! (and so 't had need)
Whereon each minute every man must feed.
And now the Potent Blasts of Mercury,
Will chain the Northern Seas and Surges high,
And each confine unto his proper seat
While living Springs retaine their native heat.
181

February

SOL ended hath this YEAR: But not his Race,
But thither whence he came, He speeds apace.
Seed time and Harvest shall with Cold and Heat
(While th' Earth endures) retain their proper seat;
So neither Winter nor shall Summer miss
Their wonted Courses: And a Time there is
All Sublunary Labours to begin,
Except (which every day we do) to Sin.
O' th' large Extent of Time this Year hath shown,
The Instant only can we call Our own.
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