Double Signs by Place
Signs that are double because of where they sit, at the turn of a season.
[p. 56] Midst double Signs the Pious Maid may claimA place, not from the Figure of her Frame,But 'cause in Her the Summer's Heats decay,And gentler Autumn spreads a weaker Ray.But to be short; the same account definesThat Double still precede the ⁹Tropick Signs,Because in those two Seasons mixt uniteTheir Powers, and make them double by their Site.Thus of the Twins the one the Bull requires,The other feels the Crab's unruly Fires;
[p. 57] One sees the fading Flowers, and Spring decline,The other Boy leads on the hottest Sign:But naked both, for both feel scorching RaysAs Summer comes, or as the Spring decays.Thy Face, bright Centaur, Autumn's Heats retain,The softer Season suiting to the Man;Whilst Winter's shivering Goat afflicts the HorseWith Frost, and makes him an uneasie Course.Thus thou midst double Signs mightst doubly claimA place, both from thy Seat, and from thy Frame:
The like in Pisces is observ'd, one bringsThe Winter's end, the other leads the Springs;In them Spring's Dews, with Winter's Rage combine,Both moist, and both agreeing to the Sign:How wise, and how obliging in her GrantsIs Natures Bounty suited to our Wants!With Moisture she the Watry Signs supplies,And they enjoy their Ocean in the Skies.
The notes
⁹ The Tropick Signs are Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. (Creech’s note, 1697)
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The text is Thomas Creech's 1697 verse translation, checked word by word between three scans of the same type (the 1697 printing, the 1700 printing and a third copy). The long s is printed as s; every other spelling is Creech's. Pages are cited as the 1697 printing numbers them. The portrait is William Marshall’s engraving of Lilly from the front of the 1659 printing (Wellcome Library, public domain).