The Tenths and the Lords of the third part of each Sign

[p. 16] Thus rule the Twelve, these Powers they singly own,And these would give if they could work alone.But none rules All its own degrees, they joynTheir friendly forces with some other Sign,As 'twere compound, and equal parts receiveFrom Other Signs, as they to Others give:Thus each hath Thirty parts, and each resignsTwo Thirds of those degrees to other Signs:We call these portions (Art new words will frame,)The Tenths, ²⁵the Number doth impose the Name:

[p. 16] So hid is Truth, so many Vails are spreadCoy Nature's Face, and hide her Gloomy Head,So many are the little Niceties,So intricate, and puzling are the Skies,Not easie to be read by common Eyes,For one appearance in another lies,Conceals its Powers, and Acts in disguise;And that which Lurks, and subtly interferesHath different Powers from that which then appears.Not Day, but piercing Thought must clear this Sky,The Labour of thy Mind, not of thy Eye;Press bravely on, and pass the Gloomy Cloud,Enter, and view the inside of the God;The Path is dark, and lest thy Mind should strayI'll boldly lead, and shew the nearest way;I'll Sing what League the different Parts combines,And shew how others Rule in other Signs.

[p. 17] Of Aries

For instance, Aries shakes his shining Fleece,And governs the First Ten of his Degrees:But next the Bull, and next the Twins do claimThe second, and third Portions of the Ram:Thus three times Ten Degrees the Ram divide,And He, as many others as presideIn his Degrees, so many Fates affordsHis proper Powers being temper'd by his Lords.

Of Taurus

Thus lies the Ram, next view the threatning Bull,His case is different, he hath none to Rule:For in his First Ten Parts the Crab's obey'd,I'th' Second Leo, and i'th' Third the Maid,Yet he seems stubborn, and maintains his Throne,And all Their Powers he mixeth with his Own,

Of Gemini

The feeble Twins just Libra's Scales possess,Then Scorpio, and the rest of their DegreesBold Sagittarius subjects to his flame,With Bow full drawn, as to defend his claim;An equal share in Empire all maintain,But keep not the same order in their Reign.

Of Cancer

For Cancer's Sign, as in the Goat he sways,Resigns his first third Portion to His Rays:For when he bears the Sun oppos'd in site,His Day is equal to the Others Night:This is the Reason why these Two combine,And each hath the same Portion in each Sign.His second part the Urn with watry BeamsO're-flows, and Pisces rule in the Extreams.

[p. 18] Of Leo

The Lion minds his Partner in the Trine,And makes the Ram first Ruler in his Sign;And then the Bull, with whom he makes a Square,I'th' Second Reigns; His Sextile Twins declareTheir Third pretence, and Rule the other share.

In Cancer

The Crab is chiefly Honour'd by the Maid,The first place his, and there his Sway's obey'd;The next is Leo's, and the last her own,She Rules unenvy'd in her petty Throne.

In Libra

The Ram's Example Libra takes, and bearsA likeness in this Rule, as in the Years;For as He in the Spring, Her Scales do weighIn Autumn equal Night with equal Day:The first She Rules her self, next Scorpio's plac't,And Sagittarius Lords it o're the last;

In Scorpio

In Scorpio's first Degrees the Goat presides,Next Young Aquarius pours his flowing Tides;Next Pisces Rules, for they in Waves delight,The Flood pursue, and claim an easie Right.

In Capricorn

The grateful Goat doth Cancer's Gift repay,His First Third part resigning to his Ray;I'th' next the Lion shakes his flaming Mane,The last feels modest Virgo's gentle Rein.

In Aquarius

The Young Aquarius Libra's Scales command,Restrain his Youth, and check his turning Hand;The next Ten parts bright Scorpio's Rays enjoy,Then Sagittarius Rules the giddy Boy:

[p. 19] In Pisces

Pisces comes last, and sheds a watry flame,Its First Degrees resigning to the Ram:The Bull's the next, his own the last are found,Content with the last Portion of the Round.

The Use of the Lords

This thing consider'd well thy Mind preparesTo know the secret guidance of the Stars;They interchange their Powers, they mix their Laws,And all agree to make one Common Cause;For these Divisions do unite the Sky,The more they part the closer is the Tye.

But now, lest Error should thy Mind surprise,Believe not the Appearance of the Skies;They make a shew, they spread a Glaring LightTo lead thee on, but never guide thee right;Let Active Thought assisting Sense pursueCoy Truth's retreat, and take an open view:What ever Things are born, their Minds receiveThe fatal Temper which that Sign can giveThat governs in the Tenths, the Foreign Ray,Tempers the Mass, and forms the easie Clay.

A Thousand Reasons for this Truth appearFrom different Births belonging to One Star;Of all those Creatures, that at once do seeThe Light, scarce Two can perfectly agree;But different Tempers all the shapes adorn,As various as the Bodies that are born:For though one Chiefly Rules, yet others joynAnd change the proper influence of that Sign:These Interchanges all our Thoughts distract,We think on other Signs, whilst others Act.

Thus neither singly will the Ram bestowA Love to Cloathing, nor the Bull to Plough;To Hunt the Lion, nor the Crab to Trade;Learning the Twins, nor Eloquence the Maid;The Scales to weigh, to measure, and to gage,Nor Poys'nous Scorpio arm unhappy Rage;The Fish to Sail, nor the Youth's Urn inspireTo work in Water, nor the Goat in Fire.But many joyn, and these mixt Signs bestowMixt Inclinations on the Births below: