bickerstaff-partridge papers(比克一帕特拉奇文件)-第4部分
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own I should be wholly surprized； and at a loss； and should infallibly
expect the accomplishment of all the rest。
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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； most inhumanly bury me alive； and
defraud my native country of those services； that； in my double capacity； I
daily offer to the publick。
What great provocations I have receiv'd； let the impartial reader judge；
and how unwillingly； even in my own defence； I now enter the lists against
falsehood； ignorance and envy： But I am exasperated； at length； to drag
out this cacus from the den of obscurity where he lurks； detect him by the
light of those stars he has so impudently traduced； and shew there's not a
monster in the skies so pernicious and malevolent to mankind； as an
ignorant pretender to physick and astrology。 I shall not directly fall on the
many gross errors； nor expose the notorious absurdities of this prostituted
libeller； till I have let the learned world fairly into the controversy
depending； and then leave the unprejudiced to judge of the merits and
justice of the cause。
It was towards the conclusion of the year 1707； when an impudent
pamphlet crept into the world； intituled； 'Predictions； etc。' by Isaac
Bickerstaff； Esq； Amongst the many arrogant assertions laid down by
that lying spirit of divination； he was pleas'd to pitch on the Cardinal de
Noailles and myself； among many other eminent and illustrious persons；
that were to die within the compass of the ensuing year； and peremptorily
fixes the month； day； and hour of our deaths： This； I think； is sporting with
great men； and publick spirits； to the scandal of religion； and reproach of
power； and if sovereign princes and astrologers must make diversion for
the vulgar why then farewel； say I； to all governments； ecclesiastical
and civil。 But； I thank my better stars； I am alive to confront this false and
audacious predictor； and to make him rue the hour he ever affronted a man
of science and resentment。 The Cardinal may take what measures he
pleases with him； as his excellency is a foreigner； and a papist； he has no
reason to rely on me for his justification； I shall only assure the world he is
alive but as he was bred to letters； and is master of a pen； let him use it
in his own defence。 In the mean time I shall present the publick with a
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faithful narrative of the ungenerous treatment and hard usage I have
received from the virulent papers and malicious practices of this pretended
astrologer。
A true and impartial account of the proceedings of Isaac Bickerstaff；
Esq； against me
The 28th of March； Anno Dom。 1708； being the night this sham…
prophet had so impudently fix'd for my last； which made little impression
on myself； but I cannot answer for my whole family； for my wife； with a
concern more than usual； prevailed on me to take somewhat to sweat for a
cold； and； between the hours of eight and nine； to go to bed： The maid； as
she was warming my bed； with a curiosity natural to young wenches； runs
to the window； and asks of one passing the street； who the bell toll'd for？
Dr。 Partridge； says he； that famous almanack…maker； who died suddenly
this evening： The poor girl provoked； told him he ly'd like a rascal； the
other very sedately reply'd； the sexton had so informed him； and if false；
he was to blame for imposing upon a stranger。 She asked a second； and a
third； as they passed； and every one was in the same tone。 Now I don't say
these are accomplices to a certain astrological 'squire； and that one
Bickerstaff might be sauntring thereabouts； because I will a
