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: * He opens and explains the Causes, 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 Or forge a Syftem of his own, To put off which amongst the Town, Can Legends form for Things Divine, 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, 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 ; Tho' fince the Glorious Revolution By th' way of Liberty of Confcience All Sects have leave to preach their Nonsense: 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. Who'd 'fcape, and who deferv'd the Rope, Freed from each Houfe of Convocation, 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. |