bickerstaff-partridge papers(比克一帕特拉奇文件)-第4节
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then asked him why he had not calculated his own nativity； to see whether
it agreed with Bickerstaff's prediction？ at which he shook his head； and
said； Oh！ sir； this is no time for jesting； but for repenting those fooleries；
as I do now from the very bottom of my heart。 By what I can gather from
you； said I； the observations and predictions you printed； with your
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almanacks； were mere impositions on the people。 He reply'd； if it were
otherwise I should have the less to answer for。 We have a common form
for all those things； as to foretelling the weather； we never meddle with
that； but leave it to the printer； who takes it out of any old almanack； as he
thinks fit； the rest was my own invention； to make my almanack sell；
having a wife to maintain； and no other way to get my bread； for mending
old shoes is a poor livelihood； and； （added he； sighing） I wish I may not
have done more mischief by my physick than my astrology； tho' I had
some good receipts from my grandmother； and my own compositions were
such as I thought could at least do no hurt。
I had some other discourse with him； which now I cannot call to mind；
and I fear I have already tired your Lordship。 I shall only add one
circumstance； That on his death…bed he declared himself a Nonconformist；
and had a fanatick preacher to be his spiritual guide。 After half an hour's
conversation I took my leave； being half stifled by the closeness of the
room。 I imagine he could not hold out long； and therefore withdrew to a
little coffee…house hard by； leaving a servant at the house with orders to
come immediately； and tell me； as near as he could； the minute when
Partridge should expire； which was not above two hours after； when；
looking upon my watch； I found it to be above five minutes after seven； by
which it is clear that Mr。 Bickerstaff was mistaken almost four hours in his
calculation。 In the other circumstances he was exact enough。 But whether
he has not been the cause of this poor man's death； as well as the predictor；
may be very reasonably disputed。 However； it must be confess'd the matter
is odd enough； whether we should endeavour to account for it by chance；
or the effect of imagination： For my own part； tho' I believe no man has
less faith in these matters； yet I shall wait with some impatience； and not
without some expectation； the fulfilling of Mr。 Bickerstaff's second
prediction； that the Cardinal de Noailles is to die upon the fourth of April；
and if that should be verified as exactly as this of poor Partridge； I must
own I should be wholly surprized； and at a loss； and should infallibly
expect the accomplishment of all the rest。
______________________________________________
An Elegy on the supposed Death of Partridge； the Almanack…Maker。
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Well； 'tis as Bickerstaff has guess'd； Tho' we all took it for a jest；
Partridge is dead； nay more； he dy'd E're he could prove the good 'Squire
ly'd。 Strange； an Astrologer shou'd die； Without one Wonder in the Sky！
Not one of all his Crony Stars To pay their Duty at his Herse？ No Meteor；
no Eclipse appear'd？ No Comet with a flaming Beard？ The Sun has rose；
and gone to Bed； Just as if partridge were not dead： Nor hid himself
behind the Moon； To make a dreadful Night at Noon。 He at fit Periods
walks through Aries； Howe'er our earthly Motion varies； And twice a Year
he'll cut th' Equator； As if there had been no such Matter。
Some Wits have wonder'd what Analogy There is 'twixt Cobbling* and
Astrology： How Partridge made his Optics rise； From a Shoe…Sole； to
reach the Skies。
A List of Coblers Temples Ties； To keep the Hair out of their Eyes；
From whence 'tis plain the Diadem That Princes wear； derives from them。
And therefore Crowns are now…a…days Adorn'd with Golden Stars and
Rays； Which plainly shews the near Alliance 'Twixt cobling and the
Planets Science。
Besides； that slow…pac'd Sign Bootes； As 'tis miscall'd； we know not
who 'tis？ But Partridge ended all Disputes； He knew his Trade； and call'd it
**Boots。
The Horned Moon； which heretofore Upon their Shoes the Romans
wore； Whose Wideness kept their Toes from Corns； And whence we claim
our Shooing…Horns； Shows how the Art of Cobling bears A near
Resemblance to the Spheres。
A Scrap of Parchment hung by Geometry （A great Refinement in
Barometry） Can； like the Stars； foretel the Weather； And what is
Parchment else but Leather？ Which an Astrologer might use； Either for
Almanacks or Shoes。
Thus Partridge； by his Wit and Parts； At once did practise both these
Arts； And as the boading Owl （or rather The Bat； because her Wings are
Leather） Steals from her private Cell by Night； And flies about the Candle…
Light； So learned Partridge could as well Creep in the Dark from Leathern
Cell； And； in his Fancy； fly as fair； To peep upon a twinkling Star。
Besides； he could confound the Spheres； And set the Planets by the
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Ears； To shew his Skill； he Mars could join To Venus in Aspect Mali'n；
Then call in Mercury for Aid； And cure the Wounds that Venus made。
Great Scholars have in Lucian read； When Philip； King of Greece was
dead； His Soul and Spirit did divide； And each Part took a diff'rent Side；
One rose a Star； the other fell Beneath； and mended Shoes in Hell。
Thus Partridge still shines in each Art； The Cobling and Star…gazing
Part； And is install'd as good a Star As any of the Caesars are。
Triumphant Star！ some Pity shew On Coblers militant below； Whom
roguish Boys in stormy Nights Torment； by pissing out their Lights； Or
thro' a Chink convey their Smoke； Inclos'd Artificers to choke。
Thou； high exalted in thy Sphere； May'st follow still thy Calling there。
To thee the Bull will lend his hide； By Phoebus newly tann'd and dry'd。
For thee they Argo's Hulk will tax； And scrape her pitchy Sides for Wax。
Then Ariadne kindly lends Her braided Hair to make thee Ends。 The Point
of Sagittarius' Dart Turns to an awl； by heav'nly Art； And Vulcan；
wheedled by his Wife； Will forge for thee a Paring…Knife。 For want of
Room； by Virgo's Side； She'll strain a Point； and sit astride***； To take
thee kindly in between； And then the Signs will be Thirteen。
*Partridge was a Cobler。 ** See his Almanack ***Tibi brachia
contrahet ingens Scorpius； etc。
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An Epitaph on Partridge。
Here； five Foot deep； lies on his Back； A Cobler； Starmonger； and
Quack； Who to the Stars in pure Good…will； Does to his best look upward
still。 Weep all you Customers that use His Pills； his Almanacks； or Shoes；
And you that did your Fortunes seek； Step to his Grave but once a Week：
This Earth which bears his Body's Print； You'll find has so much Vertue
in't； That I durst pawn my Ears 'twill tell Whate'er concerns you full as
well； In Physick； Stolen Goods； or Love； As he himself could； when above。
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＇Partridge's reply＇
'Squire Bickerstaff detected； or； the astrological impostor convicted； by
John Partridge； student in physick and astrology。
It is hard； my dear countrymen of these united nations； it is very hard
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that a Briton born； a Protestant astrologer； a man of revolution principles；
an assertor of the liberty and property of the people； should cry out； in vain；
for justice against a Frenchman； a Papist； an illiterate pretender to science；
that would blast my reputation
