Meteors

[p. 32] But these are constant, these adorn the Night,Whilst Others seldom shine and then affright.For few have view'd a Comet's dreadfull train,Which Wars foretells, and never shines in vain,Soon catch on Fire, and die as soon again.

The Reason's this; when days serenely fairHave chas'd the Clouds, and cleans'd the lower Air,And mists breath'd out from Earth rise through the Sky,The moister parts are conquer'd by the Dry.And Fire entic'd by the Convenient MassDescends, and lights it with a sudden blaze:But since the Body's thin, the Parts are rareAnd Mists, like smoak, lie scattered through the Air;As soon as e'er begun, the feeble fireMust waste, and with the blazing Mass expire.For did they long exist, their constant LightWould seem to bring new Day upon the Night;Whole Nature's Course would change, and from the DeepThe Sun would rise, and find the World a-sleep.

[p. 33] Several sorts of Meteors

But since in various Forms the Mists must rise,And shine in the same Figures o'er the Skies,These sudden Flames thus born by Chance at Night,Must shew as much variety of Light.

Stella Crinita

Some equally diffus'd, like flaming Hair,Draw fiery Tresses through the Liquid Air.

Barbata

And streight the Mass that fiery Locks appear'dGrows short, and is contracted to a Beard.

Trabs

Whilst some in even and continu'd streams,Are round like Pillars, or are squar'd like Beams.

Pithetes

And some with Belly'd Flames large Tuns present,Alike in shape, and equal in extent.

Bostruchias

Some ty'd in knots like hairy Curls are spread,A narrow Covering o'er the Comets Head.

Lampadias

The Meteor Lamp in parted Flames appears,The Sheaf uneven shakes her bended Ears.

Stella cadens

But still when wandring Stars adorn the Night,The falling Meteors draw long trains of Light,

Acontiae

Like Arrows shot from the Celestial Bow,They cut the Air, and strike our Eyes below:

Fire lies in every thing, in Clouds it formsThe frightfull Thunder, and descends in storms,It passes through the Earth, in Aetna raves,And imitates Heaven's Thunder in its Caves.In hollow vales it boyls the rising Flouds,In Flints 'tis found, and lodges in the Woods,For tost by storms, the Trees in Flames expire,So warm are Nature's parts, so fill'd with Fire.Therefore when Mists, which wandring Flames retain,Pursue and catch, and leave as soon again,Blaze o'er the Skies when through the parted FrameThe Meteors break in one continued Flame,Or when midst Rain, or through a Watry CloudQuick Lightning flies, or Thunder roars aloud,Wonder no more; for o'er the spatious AllIs fire diffus'd, and must consume the Ball.When eating Time shall waste confining Clay,And fret the feeble Body to decay.

[p. 34] Thus far through paths untrod my Muse has gone,Found different Causes, but not fixt on One,Such various Flowers in Nature's field inviteHer gathering Hand, and tempt her greedy sight;That drawn by many she scarce one enjoys,Lost in the great Variety of Choice.

Different Opinions about Meteors

For Earthy Mists involving Seeds of FlameMay rise on high, and fiery Comets frame;Or little Stars by Nature joyn'd in OneMay shine, though undiscover'd when alone.Or they are constant Stars, whose Natural CourseThe Sun o'erpowers by his prevailing Force,Draws from their Orbs, and shadows by his LightThen frees again, and opens to our sight.Thus Mercury, thus Venus disappears,Then shines again, and leads the Evening Stars.

Comets presage

Or God in pity to our Mortal stateHangs out these Lights to shew approaching Fate;They never idly blaze, but still presageSome coming Plague on the unhappy Age.No Crop rewards the cheated Farmers toil,He mourns, and curses the ungratefull Soil;The meagre Ox to the successless PlowHe yoaks, and scarce dares make another Vow.Or wasting Plagues their deadly Poisons spread,Encreasing the large Empire of the Dead.Men die by Numbers, and by heaps they fall,And mighty Cities make one Funeral.On groaning Piles whole huddled Nations burn,And Towns lie blended in one Common Urn.

[p. 35] The Plague of Athens

Such Plagues Achaia felt, the fierce DiseaseLaid Athens waste, and spoil'd the Town in Peace.It bore the helpless Nation to the Grave,No Physick could assist, no Vows could save;Heaps fell on Heaps, and whilst they gasp'd for Breath,Heaps fell on those, and finisht half their Death.None nurst the Sick, the nearest Kinsmen fled;None stay'd to bury, or to mourn the Dead.The Fires grown weary dy'd beneath their Spoils,And heapt-up Limbs supply'd the place of Piles.Vast Emptiness and Desolation reign'd,And to so great a People scarce one Heir remain'd.

Such are the Plagues that blazing Stars proclaim,They light to Funerals their unlucky Flame.They shew not onely private Plagues to come,But threaten Mortals with the Day of Doom.When Piles Eternal Heaven and Earth shall burn,And sickly Nature fall into her Urn.

Wars

They sudden Tumults, and strange Arms declare,And when close Treach'ry shall start up to War.When faithless Germans did of late rebell,And tempt their Fate, when Generous Varus fell,And three brave Legions bloud the Plains did drown,O'er all the Skies the threatning Comets shone.E'en Nature seem'd at War, and Fire was hurldAt Fire, and Ruin threatned to the World.These things are strange, but why should these surprize,The Fault is Ours, since we with heedless EyesView Heaven, and want the Faith to trust the Skies.

[p. 36] They Civil-Wars foretell, and Brothers rage,The Curse and the disgraces of an Age.Never more Comets drew their dreadfull HairThan when Philippi saw the World at War.Scarce had the Plains drunk up the former Bloud,On scatter'd Bones and Limbs the Romans stoodAnd fought again; disdaining meaner Foes,(A wretched Conquest where the Victors lose)Our Empire's power did its own self oppose;And great Augustus o'er the slaughter'd HeapsPursu'd bright Victory in his Father's steps.

Nor did the Rage end here, the Actian fight,That bloudy dowry of a wanton Night,Remain'd, and rais'd by Cleopatra's CharmsThe headlong Nations ran again to Arms.The Chance for the whole World was thrown again,And the Skies Ruler fought upon the Main,Then […]. Timbrels stroveWith Thunder, Isis with the Roman Jove.Nor stopt it here, but the degenerate SonStain'd all the Glory that his Father won.The Seas great Pompey freed He seiz'd again,His Pirates lay like Tempests on the Main.The Relicks of the Wars, the Impious SlavesWere arm'd for fight, and ravag'd o'er the WavesTill the torn fleet di'd all the Seas with Bloud,And Asia's Chains reveng'd the injur'd Floud.

We left a few demeaning words out here. They are on page 36 of the printed book.

Let this, O Fates! suffice; Let Discord cease,And raging Tumults be confin'd by Peace.Let Caesar triumph, let the World obey,And long let Rome be happy in his Sway.Long have him here, and when she shall bestowA God on Heaven enjoy his Aid below.