An Epiftle to Sir R---D ST---LE, occafion'd by the Eclypfe.

W

HILST Crazy W3mongst the Wits,

To teach 'em Senfe, at Buttons fits;

I mean in Stars and dire Eclypfes,

Which tell our Fortunes well as Gypfies: A

Firft taking Care, his Maw to fate

With good Bohea and Chocolate,

Defperfe the Vapours of the Mind,

Whilft Nantz or Burdeaux keep out Wind:
Then, after many Hums and Paufes,

* He opens and explains the Causes,
How Bodies 'bove the Atmosphere
Affect our Mortal Bodies here;

As when himself and Brother Flamstead,

With fiery Balls on Hill of Hampstead,

Fathom'd the Air, and thought they cou'd

By that find out the Longitude.

N. B. Mr. Whilton reads Lectures at Buttons.

So

So he, by Syllogifms ftated,

Proves that the Stars are all created

As Meffengers, to let us know

What things will happen here below.

Skilful as * PATRICK,

MOOR, or RIDER

He, tho' not tall as BENDER,

Can reach to any Star or Plannet;

And, well as PRIOR, Verfes, fcan it
That is, defcribe its Force and Motions
By Old Copernicus's Notions;

Or forge a Syftem of his own,

To put off which amongst the Town,
He can by Scripture + Text defend it,
Invented by himself to mend it:
For he, like any || Bellarmine,

Can Legends form for Things Divine,
And make 'em pafs for Sacred Writ,

With any Beau, or Button's Wit,

1

Who, tho' unlearn'd in Nicene Creed,

Can Manufcripts like B- -ly read;

Which honeft *T-Ind gets Abroad

From

fome Dutch Hogen-Mogen Lord.

For Wits to credit Tales incline,

And love 'em well as Tokay Wine;

Since they, by Tranfmigration ftrange,

To Worms (fays + POPE) from Maggots change; Which, being fprung from Putrifaction,

In any Carrion find Attraction.

As Weather-Cocks, on High-Church Steeple,

That ftand for th' Ufe of Chriftian People,

Can't long in any Station laft,

But turn about with every Blaft:

So their poor weak and feeble Minds

Are fubject to all varying Winds

Of Church, or State, of new Invention,
Whether of good or bad Intention,

It matters not to Folk Free-Thinking,

More than to Sots it matters Drinking.

See the Preface to Nazarenus. † See his Worms.

As

As* NAILER JAMES, and * DANIEL BURGESS,

With Fear of Firebrands and Scourges,

Stirr❜d up the Affes of their Faction

To any vile rebellious Action :

So this Fanatick of the Stars

Stirs People up to Civil Wars

Against the Church, and its Defendants,

With as much Zeal as Independants ;
Carp at th' Establish'd Conftitution,

Tho' fince the Glorious Revolution

By th' way of Liberty of Confcience

All Sects have leave to preach their Nonsense:
And he by that Permiffion (blefs us!

Why, + BICKERSTAFF, don't you redress us)

Sets up ftrange Forms of new Devotion,

Calm, undisturb'd, without Emotion ;

;

Now, good Sir Knight, be pleas'd to view him,

Grave as Profeffor VANDER BRUIN,

That I recite no Problems, Pardon,

For I'm not skill'd in Starry Jargon.
Perhaps he told by Tellescope,

Who'd 'fcape, and who deferv'd the Rope,
And who fhou'd live to fee the Nation

Freed from each Houfe of Convocation,
Leaft they fhou'd cenfure Nazarenus,

And raise another Strife between us.

The MOON; in Imitation of

Buchanan.

E'ER puzzle thy Noddle, Dick Flamf-d,

NR

Why I fo unstable change all things below;

(to know

Why I've Spots in my Face, and Light not my own›

Or why I'm in changing fo conftant alone.