Some of these predictions are already fulfilled; and it is highly
probable the rest may be in due time; and, I think, I have not
forced the words, by my explication, into any other sense than
what they will naturally bear. If this be granted, I am sure it
must be also allow'd, that the author (whoever he were) was a
person of extraordinary sagacity; and that astrology brought to
such perfection as this, is by no means an art to be despised,
whatever Mr. Bickerstaff, or other merry gentlemen are pleased to
think. As to the tradition of these lines having been writ in the
original by Merlin, I confess I lay not much weight upon it: But
it is enough to justify their authority, that the book from
whence I have transcrib'd them, was printed 170 years ago, as
appears by the title-page. For the satisfaction of any gentleman,
who may be either doubtful of the truth, or curious to be
inform'd; I shall give order to have the very book sent to the
printer of this paper, with directions to let anybody see it that
pleases, because I believe it is pretty scarce.
_____________________________________
[Dr. John Arbuthnot and Alexander Pope]
Annus Mirabilis: or,
The wonderful effects of the approaching conjunction of the
planets Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn.
By Mart. Scriblerus, Philomath.
In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas corpora.....
I suppose every body is sufficiently appriz'd of, and duly
prepar'd for, the famous conjunction to be celebrated the 29th of
this instant December, 1722, foretold by all the sages of
antiquity, under the name of the Annus Mirabilis, or the
metamorphostical conjunction: a word which denotes the mutual
transformation of sexes, (the effect of that configuration of the
celestial bodies) the human males being turn'd into females, and
the human females into males.
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