As sure as if they knew the moment
Of Native's birth, tell what will come on't.
They'll feel the pulses of the stars,
To find out agues, coughs, catarrhs: 610
And tell what crisis does divine
The rot in sheep, or mange in swine:
In men, what gives or cures the itch,
What made them cuckolds, poor, or rich;
What gains, or loses, hangs, or saves, 615
What makes men great, what fools, or knaves;
But not what wise, for only of those
The stars, they say, cannot dispose,[1]
No more than can the astrologians.
There they say right, and like true Trojans. 620
This Ralpho knew, and therefore took
The other course, of which we spoke.[2]
Thus was th' accomplish'd squire endued
With gifts and knowledge per'lous shrewd.
Never did trusty squire with knight, 625
Or knight with squire, jump more right.
Their arms and equipage did fit,
As well as virtues, parts, and wit:
Their valours too, were of a rate,
And out they sallied at the gate. 630
Few miles on horseback had they jogged,
But fortune unto them turn'd dogged;
For they a sad adventure met,
Of which anon we mean to treat:
But ere we venture to unfold 635
Achievements so resolved and bold,
We should, as learned poets use,
Invoke th' assistance of some Muse;
However critics count it sillier,
Than jugglers talking t' a familiar: 640
We think 'tis no great matter which;
They're all alike, yet we shall pitch
- ↑ Sapiens dominabitur astris (the wise man will govern the stars), was an old proverb among the astrologers. Bishop Warburton observes, that the obscurity in these lines arises from the double sense of the word dispose; when it relates to the stars, it signifies influence; when it relates to astrologers, it signifies deceive.
- ↑ i. e. did not take to astrological, but to religious imposture.
