[two rules]

AN
Astrologer

I2s one that expounds upon the Planets, and
teaches to conſtrue the Accidents by the due
joining of Stars in Conſtruction.
He talks with
them by dumb Signs, and can tell what they
mean by their twinckling, and ſquinting upon
one another, as well as they themſelves. He
is a Spy upon the Stars, and can tell what they
are doing, by the Company they keep, and the
Houſes they frequent. They have no Power to
do any Thing alone, until ſo many meet, as
will make a Quorum.He is Clerk of the Com-
mittee to them, and draws up all their Orders,
that concern either public or private Affairs.
He keeps all their Accompts for them, and
ſums them up, not by Debtor, but by Creditor
alone, a more compendious Way. They do
ill to make them have ſo much Authority over


the Earth, which, perhaps, has as much as
any one of them but the Sun, and as much
Right to ſit and vote in their Councils, as any
other : But becauſe there are but ſeven Electors
of the German Empire, they will allow of no
more to diſpoſe of all other ; and moſt fooliſhly
and unnaturally depoſe their own Parent of its
Inheritance; rather than acknowledge a Defect
in their own Rules. Theſe Rules are all they
have to ſhew for their Title ; and yet not one
of them can tell whether thoſe they had them
from came honeſtly by them. Virgil's Deſ-
cription of Fame, that reaches from Earth
to the Stars, tam ficti pravique tenax, to carry
Lies and Knavery, will ſerve Aſtrologers with-
out any ſenſible Variation. He is a Fortune-
Seller, a Retailer of Deſtiny, and petty Chap-
man to the Planets. He caſts Nativities as
Gameſters do falſe Dice, and by ſlurring and
palming ſextile, quartile, and trine, like ſize,
quater, trois, can throw what chance he
pleaſes. He ſets a Figure, as Cheats do a Main
at Hazard ; and Gulls throw away their Money
at it. He fetches the Grounds of his Art ſo
far off, as well from Reaſon, as the Stars, that,
like a Traveller, he is allowed to lye by Au-


thority. And as Beggars, that have no Money
themſelves, believe all others have, and beg
of thoſe, that have as little as themſelves : So
the ignorant Rabble believe in him, though
he has no more Reaſon for what he profeſſes,
than they.