Of Opposites

[p. 65] But more, the Signs oppos'd in Site, that lieWith Beams directly darting thro' the Sky;Tho' much remov'd they seem, yet mix from farTheir friendly Influence, or declare for War;As the Sun's Aspect and the Planet's FireFor Peace determine, or to Rage inspire.These Signs ²¹adverse would you distinctly note?Let Summer's Crab oppose the Winter's Goat.

The Scales, the Ram where Day and Night appearEqual in adverse Seasons of the Year:The Fish oppose the Maid, the watry UrnWith adverse Fires sees raging Leo burn.When Scorpio fills the highest Arch of Skies,Then bending Taurus in the lowest lies,And when the Centaur sets the Twins arise.

Yet though in Site oppos'd these rowl above,Yet joyn'd by Nature or by Sex they love:Thus Males to Males strict Leagues of Friendship bind,And Female Signs to their own Sex are kind.The Fish and Maid oppos'd are friendly Signs,For Nature couples what the Place disjoyns:But Nature sometimes yields, the Trines prevail,And Females Females fight, and Males the Male:Tho' Female both the Goat the Crab defiesWinter in this, in that the Summer lies;

[p. 66] Here Snow makes white, and Frost binds up the Fields;There Sweat o'reflows, and Winter's Rigor yields;Here Day exults, there Night extends her Sway,And Winter's Darkness equals Summer's Day:Thus Nature fights, nor must we hope to findThe Signs of disagreeing Seasons kind.Tho' differing Seasons hold the Scales and Ram,They are half Friends, and mix agreeing Flame:In this gay Flowers the painted Beds adorn,This fills the Plains, and stores the Barns with Corn;Their Days and Nights in equal Balance meet,Not vext with too much Cold, nor too much Heat:They Summer's Wars and Winter's Rage compose,Nor will these Seasons let their Signs be Foes.Thus are the several Aspects taught——