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And nigh an ancient obelisk

Was rais'd by him, found out by Fisk,
On which was written not in words,
But hieroglyphic mute of birds,
Many rare pithy faws, concerning
The worth of astrologic learning :
From top of this there hung a rope,
To which he fasten'd telescope;
The fpectacles with which the stars
He reads in smallest characters.
It happen'd as a boy, one night,
Did fly his tarfel of a kite,

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The strangest long-wing'd hawk that flies, 415
That, like a bird of Paradise,

Or herald's martlet, has no legs,

Nor hatches young ones, nor lays eggs;
His train was fix yards long, milk white,

At th' end of which there hung a light,

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Enclos'd in lantern made of paper,
That far off like a star did appear :

This Sidrophel by chance espy'd,
And with amazement staring wide :

Blefs us, quoth he, what dreadful wonder

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Is that appears in heaven yonder?

A comet, and without a beard!
Or ftar, that ne'er before appear'd!
I'm certain 'tis not in the fcrowl

Of all those beasts, and fish, and fowl,
With which, like Indian plantations,
The learned stock the constellations ;
Nor those that, drawn for figns, have been
To th' houses where the planets inn.

It must be supernatural,

Unless it be that cannon-ball

That, fhot i' th' air, point-blank upright,
Was borne to that prodigious height,

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That, learn'd philofophers maintain,

It ne'er came backwards down again,
But in the airy regions yet

Hangs, like the body o' 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 levell'd right

Against the glow-worm tail of kite;

Then peeping thro', 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 should be Saturn: yes, 'tis clear

'Tis Saturn; but what makes him there?

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He's got behind the dragon's tail,
And farther leg behind o' th' whale;

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When, by mischance, the fatal string,
That kept the tow'ring fowl on wing,
Breaking, down fell the ftar. Well fhot,
Quoth Whachum, who right wisely thought
He 'ad levell'd at a star, and hit it;
But Sidrophel, more fubtle-witted,
Cry'd out, what horrible and fearful
Event is this, to see a star fall!
It threatens nature, and the doom
Will not be long before it come!

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When stars 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 shorten'd, let us strive
To make our best advantage of it,
And pay our loffes with our profit.

This feat fell out not long before
The knight, upon the forenam'd score,
In queft of Sidrophel advancing,
Was now in profpect of the mansion ;
Whom he discov'ring, turn'd his glass,
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 'em what they come about.

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