How many Years belong to each Sign and Station

[p. 119] This sung, and Times to Signs apply'd, the MuseWould beg release, and further Task refuse;But lo the Subject grows: The next must showWhat length of Times the several Signs bestow:This must be known when in your search for FateYou measure Life, and fix the gloomy Date.

Ten Years and One, but one third part withdrawn,The ²⁵Ram extends the wretched Life of Man;Poorly he gives, as frugal of his Store,Whilst Taurus adds two Years to these; the Twins two more.Full sixteen Years Eight Months, from Cancer flow.But two Years more the Lion's rays bestow.From Virgo twenty Years, eight Months convey'd,Enlarge the Birth: The Scales give equal to the Maid:Scorpio's as much as Leo's Rays dispense,The Centaur equals Cancer's influence;Of Years, twice seven, eight Months the Goat conveys;Though young Aquarius shines with feebler rays,Four Years he trebles, and doubles six score Days,To the same space, with which the Ram began,The Fish plac't, next extend the Age of Man.

[p. 120] But farther yet, 'tis not enough to knowThe length of time which single signs bestow;For you may Err, when in your search for Fate,You measure Life, and fix the gloomy Date;Because the Heavenly Stations claim their share,As Planets intermix their Force declare,In this Contrivance, and make Life their Care.To single stations now what Years belong,(With Planets join'd, they claim ²⁶another Song)In well wrought Numbers let the Muse impart,And teach the simplest Elements of Art;

This done, these things prepar'd and fitly join'd,With greater Ease, she'll raise the Work design'd,If when the Moon is in the Hinge at East,The Birth breaks forward from its native rest;Full Eighty Years, if you two Years abate,This Station gives, and long defers its Fate:But if in Heav'ns midst point, this large DecreeShe shortens, giving fewer Years by three:With Eighty Courses in the Zodiack Round,Substracting Four, the Western Hinge is Crown'd:The lowest Hinge on all its Births, derivesYears sixty two, and then concludes their Lives.The ninth, which makes upon the Right the Trine,Gives sixty Years, and bates but One of Nine.

[p. 121] The Fifth o'th' Left, as frugal of its store;Gives sixty three, and can enlarge no more;Th' Eleventh station, that which rises high,Almost an equal of the Middle Skie,Yields six score Springs, and lest that Gift should beToo scanty, lengthens that vast Summ by Three.The Third which lies at equal space belowThe Eastern point, doth fifty Years bestow,Mean is the station, and its Gift is so.The second Forty Courses of the Sun,And two bestows, and when that term is done,The Man goes off, e're half his race be run.The Twelfth gives twenty three, then hasty Death,Comes on, and in his Bloom, the Youth resigns his Breath.The Eighth next o're the Western Hinge can bringBut fourteen Years, nor adds another Spring.The sixth but Twelve bestows, then Death destroysThe Parents Hopes, and crops the growing Boys;Diseases following, from their Birth createA feeble Frame, and fit the Prey for Fate.