The Good and Bad Degrees of each Sign

[p. 21] Thus Fate's dispos'd, but yet the Work's not done:For though the Powers of all the Signs are known,And how they joyn, how each rules every part,The Skill is small, and incompleat the Art:Observe the numerous parts of the DegreesWhat Heat doth scorch or what the Cold doth freeze,(Unfruitful both) where too much Moisture flows,Or Drought doth drain, and various Fates dispose:For different Qualities in Signs controul,There's nought all-over-equal in the whole.

For view the Earth, the gliding Streams, or Flood,Faults are on all sides, Bad is mixt with Good.Thus Barren Seasons midst the Best appear,And a small Turn blasts all the Blooming Year.A Port turns Shelf, and the inglorious SandForfeits that Praise which once its Safety gain'd.Now Streams through Plains in smooth Meanders play,Then Roar o're Rocks, and force a rugged way.Such Inequality above appears,And thus the Sky is vary'd in the Stars;As Sign from Sign, so from it self the sameDoth disagree, and spread unequal Flame;And Signs, whose Sovereign influence Births do findIn One Degree, are in the next unkind:Those things these parts o're-rule, no Joys shall knowOr little Pleasure over-mixt with Woe.

[p. 22] The difficulty of putting Doctrin into Verse

These parts, if such can be to Verse confin'd,My Muse must Sing, and ease my troubled Mind;For though 'tis various, yet the Subject's boundTo words but few, and all of equal sound;So that it must be mean, it must refuseThe turn of Verse, though fashion'd by a Muse.And that, though labor'd, Line must bald appearThat brings ungrateful Musick to the Ear.

But since I must the Laws of Fate rehearseThe settled Matter must direct my Verse;No Room for Fiction, I must things declare,Not as they may be feign'd, but as they are.It is enough the God is barely shewn,Rich in himself he shines, and great alone:Nor should the World be so to Words betray'dAs to be thought ennobled by their Aid:This spurs me on, and I forget my Ease,The World must be oblig'd, and I must please;I must, if plainly I these parts comprise;Then learn the noxious portions of the Skies.

The hurtful Degrees in Aries

²⁷The Fourth, and the Sixth Portions of the RamAre hurtful parts, and spread unlucky flame;Nor doth the Seventeenth or the next displayA kinder face, or shed a milder Ray:The Twenty First, Fifth, Seventh spread noxious BeamsThe Twelfth, and Fourteenth leaning to Extreams,

[p. 22] In Taurus

The Bull's Ninth portion, did the Sign dependOn me, should never shine upon a Friend:Add Three to Ten, or double Ten and Three,Take Two from Thirty, all these parts agreeTwice Twelve, and twice Eleven count, and joynThe Seventeenth part as noxious in this Sign,Nor is the Thirtieth better than the Rest.

[p. 23] In Gemini

The Twins First part doth hurtful Rays dispense,Nor doth their Childhood prove their Innocence;They're froward, pettish, and unus'd to smile,Their Third, and Seventh Degrees agree in Ill:The Fifteenth equals these, and Twenty seesClose on each side immoderate Degrees:To Twenty reckon Seven, or Five, or Nine,And all are hurtful portions of this Sign.

In Cancer

Should Cancer boast a kind and gentle Reign,The First, and Third, and Sixth would plead in vain;The Eleventh, Fifteenth, and the Eighth Degrees,The Twentieth too could hope no more success:The Twenty Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, severely sway,The Seventeenth too with a malignant RayRules o're the Birth, and stamps the easie Clay.

In Leo

The flaming Lion in the First we fear,Nor doth the Fourth a milder Image bear;The Twenty Second, the Fifteenth, Tenth presageWith th' Eight and Twentieth an unhappy Age.With hurtful Powers the Twenty Fifth is Curst,The Thirtieth too as noxious as the First.

In Virgo

The First, and the Eleventh of the Maid,The Sixth, the Fourteenth, Eighteenth parts are bad:The Twenty First, and Fourth this Sign disgrace,Nor can the Thirtieth shew a better Face.

In Libra

Next view the Scales, the Seventh, and Fifth degreeIs bad; add Eight to Ten, or Ten to Three:To Ten twice told add Seven, or Four, or Nine,All like the Thirtieth hurtful in this Sign.

[p. 24] In Scorpio

I'th' First, Third, Sixth, and Tenth black Scorpio's ClawsAnd in the Fifteenth make Malignant Laws;The Twenty Second, Eighth, Fifth, and Ninth betrayHis poys'nous Rage in an unhappy Ray:

In Sagittarius

Would Fate allow thee choice, forbear to chooseThe Centaur's Fourth Degree, the Eighth refuse;The Twelfth, the Sixteenth, Twentieth parts portendA wretched Life, and an untimely End:The Twenty Fourth, Sixth, Eighth Degrees molest,Nor is the Thirtieth better than the Rest.

In Capricorn

The Thirteenth of the Goats contracted Star,Nor Seventh, nor Ninth shall be my earnest Prayer;Nor that which Twenty doth of One deprive,Or Three, or adding gives it Six or Five.

In Aquarius

To Ten add One, or Five, or Nine, or ThreeAnd you are sure to find a bad Degree:Add One, Five, Nine to Twenty, hurtful StreamsFlow from the Urn, and spread unlucky Beams.

In Pisces

The Fishes close the Signs, their parts confestAs noxious, and as guilty as the Rest;For Three, Five, Seven, or Ten when joyn'd with Seven,Or One, mark hurtful Portions of the Heaven.Five multiply'd by Five is hardly clear'd,And Seven to Twenty added's to be fear'd:All these are noxious Portions of the Sky,Too Hot, or Cold, or else too Moist, or Dry.