bickerstaff-partridge papers(比克一帕特拉奇文件)-第8节
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pleased to tax me with a mistake of four whole hours in my calculation of
that event。 I must confess； this censure pronounced with an air of certainty；
in a matter that so nearly concerned me； and by a grave judicious author；
moved me not a little。 But tho' I was at that time out of town； yet several
of my friends； whose curiosity had led them to be exactly informed （for as
to my own part； having no doubt at all in the matter； I never once thought
of it） assured me； I computed to something under half an hour： which （I
speak my private opinion） is an error of no very great magnitude； that men
should raise a clamour about it。 I shall only say； it would not be amiss； if
that author would henceforth be more tender of other men's reputations as
well as his own。 It is well there were no more mistakes of that kind； if
there had； I presume he would have told me of them with as little
ceremony。
There is one objection against Mr。 Partridge's death； which I have
sometimes met with； though indeed very slightly offered； That he still
continues to write almanacks。 But this is no more than what is common to
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all that profession； Gadbury； Poor Robin； Dove； Wing； and several others；
do yearly publish their almanacks； though several of them have been dead
since before the Revolution。 Now the natural reason of this I take to be；
that whereas it is the privilege of other authors to live after their deaths；
almanack…makers are alone excluded； because their dissertations treating
only upon the minutes as they pass； become useless as those go off。 In
consideration of which； Time； whose registers they are； gives them a lease
in reversion； to continue their works after their death。
I should not have given the publick or myself the trouble of this
vindication； if my name had not been made use of by several persons； to
whom I never lent it； one of which； a few days ago； was pleased to father
on me a new sett of predictions。 But I think those are things too serious to
be trifled with。 It grieved me to the heart； when I saw my labours； which
had cost me so much thought and watching； bawl'd about by common
hawkers； which I only intended for the weighty consideration of the
gravest persons。 This prejudiced the world so much at first； that several of
my friends had the assurance to ask me whether I were in jest？ To which I
only answered coldly； that the event would shew。 But it is the talent of our
age and nation； to turn things of the greatest importance into ridicule。
When the end of the year had verified all my predictions； out comes Mr。
Partridge's almanack； disputing the point of his death； so that I am
employed； like the general who was forced to kill his enemies twice over；
whom a necromancer had raised to life。 If Mr。 Partridge has practised the
same experiment upon himself； and be again alive； long may he continue
so； that does not in the least contradict my veracity： But I think I have
clearly proved； by invincible demonstration； that he died at farthest within
half an hour of the time I foretold； and not four hours sooner； as the above…
mentioned author； in his letter to a lord； hath maliciously suggested； with
design to blast my credit； by charging me with so gross a mistake。
_______________________________________ A famous prediction of
Merlin； the British wizard。
Written above a thousand years ago； and relating to the year 1709；
with explanatory notes。
Last year was publish'd a paper of predictions； pretended to be written
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by one Isaac Bickerstaff； Esq； but the true design of it was to ridicule the
art of astrology； and expose its professors as ignorant or impostors。
Against this imputation； Dr。 Partridge hath vindicated himself in his
almanack for that year。
For a farther vindication of this famous art； I have thought fit to
present the world with the following prophecy。 The original is said to be of
the famous Merlin； who lived about a thousand years ago； and the
following translation is two hundred years old； for it seems to be written
near the end of Henry the Seventh's reign。 I found it in an old edition of
Merlin's Prophecies； imprinted at London by John Hawkins in the year
1530； page 39。 I set it down word for word in the old orthography； and
shall take leave to subjoin a few explanatory notes。
Seven and Ten addyd to Nyne； Of Fraunce her Woe this is the Sygne；
Tamys Rivere twys y…frozen； Walke sans wetyng Shoes ne Hozen。 Then
comyth foorthe； ich understonde； From Town of Stoffe to farryn Londe；
An herdye Chyftan； woe the Morne To Fraunce； that evere he was born。
Than shall the fyshe beweyle his Bosse； Nor shall grin Berrys make up the
Losse。 Yonge Symnele shall again miscarrye： And Norways Pryd again
shall marrye。 And from the tree where Blosums feele； Ripe Fruit shall
come； and all is wele； Reaums shall daunce Honde in Honde； And it shall
be merrye in old Inglonde； Then old Inglonde shall be no more； And no
man shall be sorre therefore。 Geryon shall have three Hedes agayne； Till
Hapsburge makyth them but twayne。
Explanatory notes。
Seven and Ten。 This line describes the year when these events shall
happen。 Seven and ten makes seventeen； which I explain seventeen
hundred； and this number added to nine； makes the year we are now in； for
it must be understood of the natural year； which begins the first of January。
Tamys Rivere twys； etc。 The River Thames； frozen twice in one year；
so as men to walk on it； is a very signal accident； which perhaps hath not
fallen out for several hundred years before； and is the reason why some
astrologers have thought that this prophecy could never be fulfilled；
because they imagine such a thing would never happen in our climate。
From Town of Stoffe； etc。 This is a plain designation of the Duke of
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Marlborough： One kind of stuff used to fatten land is called marle； and
every body knows that borough is a name for a town； and this way of
expression is after the usual dark manner of old astrological predictions。
Then shall the Fyshe； etc。 By the fish； is understood the Dauphin of
France； as their kings eldest sons are called： 'Tis here said； he shall lament
the loss of the Duke of Burgundy； called the Bosse； which is an old
English word for hump…shoulder； or crook…back； as that Duke is known to
be； and the prophecy seems to mean； that he should be overcome or slain。
By the green berrys； in the next line； is meant the young Duke of Berry；
the Dauphin's third son； who shall not have valour or fortune enough to
supply the loss of his eldest brother。
Yonge Symnele； etc。 By Symnele is meant the pretended Prince of
Wales； who； if he offers to attempt anything against England； shall
miscarry as he did before。 Lambert Symnele is the name of a young man；
noted in our histories for personating the son （as I remember） of Edward
the fourth。
And Norway's Pryd； etc。 I cannot guess who is meant by Norway's
Pride； perhaps the reader may； as well as the sense of the two following
lines。
Reaums shall； etc。 Reums； or； as the word is now； realms； is the old
name for kingdoms： And this is a very plain prediction of our happy Union；
with the felicities that shall attend it。 It is added that Old England shall be
no more； and yet no man shall be sorry for it。 And indeed； properly
speaking； England is now no more； for the whole island is one Kingdom；
under the name of Britain。
Geryon shall； etc。 This prediction； tho' somewhat obscure； is
wonderfully adapt。 Geryon is said to have been a king of Spain； whom
Hercules slew。 It was a fiction of
