That, fhot i' th' air point-blank upright,
Was borne to that prodigious height
That, learn'd philofophers maintain,
It ne'er came backwards down again,
But in the airy region yet

Hangs, like the body of Mahomet :
For if it be above the fhade

That by the earth's round bulk is made,
'Tis probable it may, from far,
Appear no bullet, but a star.

This faid, he to his engine flew,
Plac'd near at hand, in open view,
And rais'd it till it level'd right
Against the glow-worm tail of kite,

Then peeping through, Blefs us! (quoth he)
It is a planet, now, I fee;

And, if I err not, by his proper
Figure, that 's like tobacco-stopper,,
It fhould be Saturn: yes, 'tis clear
'Tis Saturn; but what makes him there?

He's got between the Dragon's tail

And farther leg behind o' th' Whale;
Pray Heaven divert the fatal omen,
For 'tis a prodigy not common,
And can no lefs than the world's end,
Or Nature's funeral, portend.
With that he fell again to pry,
Through perfpective, more wiftfully,
When, by mifchance, the fatal string,
That kept the towering fowl on wing,

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Breaking

Breaking, down fell the ftar. Well fhot,

Quoth Whachum, who right wifely thought
He 'ad level'd at a ftar, and hit it;
But Sidrophel, more fubtil-witted,
Cry'd out, What horrible and fearful
Portent is this, to fee a ftar fall?
It threatens Nature, and the doom
Will not be long before it come!
When ftars do fall, 'tis plain enough
The day of judgment 's not far off;
As lately 'twas reveal'd to Sedgwick,
And fome of us find out by magick:
Then, fince the time we have to live
In this world 's fhorten'd, let us strive
To make our beft advantage of it,

And pay our loffes with our profit.

This feat fell out not long before

The Knight, upon the forenam'd fcore,.

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In

Ver. 477.] William Sedgwick, a whimsical enthufiaft, fometimes a Preíbyterian, fometimes an Independent, and at other times an Anabaptift; fometimes a prophet, and pretended to foretel things, out of the pulpit, to the destruction of ignorant people; at other times pretended to revelations; and, upon pretence of a vifion that Doomiday was at hand, he retired to the house of Sir Francis Ruffel in Cambridgeshire; and, finding feveral gentlemen at bowls, called upon them to prepare for their diffolution; telling them that he had lately received a revelation that Doomfday would be fome day the week following. Upon which they ever after called him Doomfday Sedgwick.

In queft of Sidrophel advancing,
Was now in prospect of the mansion;
Whom he discovering, turn'd his glafs,
And found far off 'twas Hudibras.

Whachum (quoth he) look yonder, fome
To try or use our art are come :

The one 's the learned Knight;-feek out,
And pump them what they come about.
Whachum advanc'd, with all fubmiff'nefs
T'accoft them, but much more their bufinefs:
He held a ftirrup, while the Knight
From leathern Bare-bones did alight;
And taking from his hand the bridle,
Approach'd, the dark Squire to unriddle.
He gave him first the time o' th' day,
And welcom'd him, as he might fay:

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He afk'd him whence they came, and whither

Their business lay? Quoth Ralpho, Hither.

Did you not lofe ?-Quoth Ralpho, Nay.

Quoth Whachum, Sir, I meant your way!
Your Knight, quoth Ralpho, is a lover,
And pains intolerable doth suffer;

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For lovers' hearts are not their own hearts,

Nor lights, nor lungs, and fo forth downwards.
What time?-Quoth Ralpho, Sir, too long,

Three years it off and on has hung.

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Quoth he, I meant what time o' the day 'tis ;
Quoth Ralpho, Between feven and eight 'tis.
Why then (quoth Whachum) my small art
Tells me the dame has a hard heart,

Or

Or great eftate.-Quoth Ralpho, A jointer,

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Which makes him have fo hot a mind t' her.

Meanwhile the Knight was making water,
Before he fell upon the matter;

Which having done, the Wizard steps in,
To give him fuitable reception;
But kept his business at a bay,
Till Whachum put him in the way;
Who having now, by Ralpho's light,
Expounded th' errand of the Knight,

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And what he came to know, drew near,

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To whisper in the conjurer's ear;

Which he prevented thus: What was 't,

Quoth he, that I was faying laft,

Before these gentlemen arriv'd?

Quoth Whachum, Venus you retriev'd,
In oppofition with Mars,

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And no benign and friendly stars

T'allay the effect. Quoth Wizard, So!

In Virgo? Ha! quoth Whachum, No:

Has Saturn nothing to do in it,

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One tenth of 's circle to a minute?

'Tis well, quoth he.-Sir, you 'll excufe

This rudeness I am forc'd to use;

It is a scheme and face of heaven,

As th' afpects are difpos'd this even,
I was contemplating upon

When

you arriv'd; but now I 've done. Quoth Hudibras, If I

appear

Unfeasonable in coming here

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At fuch a time, to interrupt
Your fpeculations, which I hop'd
Affiftance from, and come to use,
'Tis fit that I ask your excufe.

By no means, Sir, quoth Sidrophel :
The stars your coming did foretel;
I did expect you here, and knew,
Before you spake, your business too.
Quoth Hudibras, Make that appear,
And I fhall credit whatfoe'er
You tell me after, on your word,
Howe'er unlikely or abfurd.

You are in love, Sir, with a widow,
Quoth he, that does not greatly heed you,
And for three years has rid your wit
And paffion, without drawing bit;

And now your business is to know

If

you fhall carry her or no.

Quoth Hudibras, You' re in the right, But how the devil you come by 't

I can't imagine; for the stars

I'm fure, can tell no more than a horse;
Nor can their afpects (though you pore
Your eyes out on them) tell you more
Than th' oracle of fieve and sheers,
That turns as certain as the spheres:
But if the devil's of your counsel,
Much may be done, my noble Donzel;
And 'tis on his account I come,

To know from you my fatal doom.

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